September Free Stamp from Gecko Galz

September! Do you remember what September was like as a child. The freshly sharpened box of 24 new pencil crayons, the white eraser still wrapped snuggly in its protective cellophane and the brand spanking new pair of indoor running shoes that you tried on every couple of days just to feel how nice cushy they were. Good times. My children have a staggered start this year, they are each attending a different school this year. My oldest son started Tuesday, my wee munchkin will start next Monday and my daughter will head off the week after that. As you can imagine it has had me in a tailspin getting everyone organized. That left little time in the studio.

I decided to take the beautiful image contributed by Gecko Galz on the road with me, so to speak. I used my Samsung Galaxy tablet and Auto desk Sketchbook Pro to colour the digital image, creating a wonderful fall picture.

Be sure to grab your copy of the image and stop over to the Gecko Galz etsy shop for more adorable digital designs.

Happy Mother's Day and a free digital stamp from Gecko Galz

Happy Mother's Day to all of your wonderful women out there. This post will be brief as it is in fact Mother's Day that I am writing it as I have had some issues getting my network to cooperate with me this week. It took just over 35 hours to upload a youtube video...bleh.

This is my Mother's Day layout. Enjoy!

Here is your free image from Gecko Galz:

Still Catching My Breath From Scrapfest in Kitchener

I know these pictures are far overdue but I have literally not had a moment to sit at my computer and put a proper post together in weeks. I love these pictures of my partner in crime Juanette Fillery and I.

As I wrote in a post last year, I have been unable to attend Scrapfest for several years. It had become for me another huge hurdle that I just could not overcome. I was afraid returning to Scrapfest would hurt too much, make me remember how much I miss my friend Rebecca who used to attend with me every year.

I know that Rebecca was watching over us on April 9th as our bus load of fabulous ladies hit the road to Kitchener. I was so blessed that Rebecca's mother-in-law decided to come with me. I think it was good for both of us to make the return together.

A big shout out to Nicole at McCoy transportation who opted to upgrade our bus rather then take any risk with a bus with a minor issue. We loved the extra space (more room for our shopping treasures). Our bus driver was a hoot.




Lisa Sales-Furtney was a wonderful hostess, as always, and made each of us feel like VIPs. Her sense of humour kept us all in stitches. She even came as we were leaving and checked out the bus. We wanted to keep her but were promised that we will see her again soon.



There were so many beautiful displays this year. Everyone went all out to make the event a huge success.

Some of my favourite stops were Kraftin Kimmie Stamps, Southern Ridge Trading Co., Local Kings Rubber Stamps, Frog's Whiskers, Scrapping Turtle....there were so many this is just the short list.


I will be posting the goodies that I purchased while I was there throughout the week.

We are already planning our road trip to Kitchener for next year. Give me a call if you want to get in on the adventure.

One of the highlights of my day was grabbing a photo with Creative Scrapbooker Magazine's Publisher Katharina Doyle.

Recycled Egg Carton Roses

A few weeks ago I told you that I was working on several projects that I would be finishing and posting as they were complete. This project was part of that job lot. Rather, the flowers were.  I have seen these lovely roses on Pinterest and wanted to give them a try. They were very easy to make. Unfortunately it took me this long to find a project big enough to use them on. 


This week I needed to have an entry for a homemade flower challenge being hosted at Girls, Giggles, Glitter and Glue  . I had intended to submit my cold porcelain roses that I used on my Spring Fairy House but at the last minute I found the perfect project to hold the egg carton roses.

I apologise that this post is up after Easter but it might give you an idea for an end of year/ happy summer vacation gift for your child's teachers or a beautiful Mother's Day gift.

All you need to make these roses is a cardboard egg carton and some spray ink or paint. 

How To:

1. Cut the cups out of the bottom of the egg carton. I rounded off any extra pieces to make them uniform.
2. Cut the cup into 5 petals. Try to get the cut all the way to the bottom of the cup as this will give you more room to roll the sides.
3. Spray the cartons will colour of your choice. Allow to dry until they are just barely moist to the touch.
4. Use a hot glue gun and overlap the edge of one petal onto the the next. Do this with the next cup but push the petals closer together. 
5. On a third cup roll the petals up starting at one side and rolling as tightly as possible. This makes the bulb of the flower. 
6. Glue the bud to the centre of the medium sized layer by adding a dollop of hot glue to the bottom only. 
7. Do the same with the final layer. 
8. Use your fingers, a pencil or tweezers to roll back the edges of your petals. 
9. Spray with additional colour and allow to dry completely.

Quick and Easy Easter Card

Its getting close to Easter. If you still have a few people left on your card list, this is a lovely Easter Card that can be created in minutes.

Materials Needed:

White card base
Green cardstock
coloured image (I used the Gecko Galz bunny stamp and coloured it with Spectrum Noir Markers)
Embossing Machine (I used my cuttlebug)
Embossing Folder
Circle Die
Scalloped Circle Die
Large Blossom
Greenery
Bow
Ribbon
Button

How To:

1. Emboss the coloured cardstock using your embossing folder and adhere it and the ribbon to the card base, ensuring the ribbon end are tucked securely behind the cardstock.
2. Put the circle die directly on the coloured cardstock and wrap the back of the card base behind the cutting plate.
3. Use the scalloped die to cut a frame for the circle and adhere it.
4. Arrange the image on the inside of the card so that it peeks through the cut out area and adhere it.
5. Add your large bloom, bow, greenery and button to finish off the embellishment

Gecko Galz Papercrafting Challenge:Moo??????

This is my sample for the Gecko Galz Challenge for March which required the creation of a MOO. This of course required a google search on the topic first to see what in the world a MOO was. I have become acquainted with ATCs, inchies, and twinchies but this was my first MOO ever.

Moo - 1-1/8" x 2-3/4" rectangles
Wasn't that helpful? I searched the forums and that pretty much sums it up. They are attributed to the tiny business cards made famous by the print company MOO. Makes sense right.

Here is my first attempt at a MOO. It was challenging to decide how to use the precious space available.

I don't believe I have said MOO this many times since reading my little ones Mr Brown can Moo can you, by Dr Seuss. I have a feeling that book may make a comeback at storytime tonight.

Ok, so get out there and create a MOO. Its just as much fun to make as it is to say. Be sure to share your pictures. MOOs are meant to be shared.

Thinking of You Card featuring Gecko Galz Ephemera

Yesterday my work table was covered in half finished projects that I just could not muster the mojo to work on. I decided instead to do the logical thing and push them all of to the side and start something new ;) 

My little guys program coordinator (she is amazing) had a funeral to attend yesterday so I decided to make a simple card to leave on her desk. Well, that was at 10:00, at 11:45 as I was rushing to get out the door for my appointment I realized I had overdone it just a bit.

Showers and combed hair are totally overrated anyway. I did take time to brush my teeth.

This is the card I created:

Materials: 

12x12 heavy cardstock (I used Bazzil)
(2 )12x12 design paper ( I used a design from the  Kaisercraft "Little Toot" collection)
White cardstock
Vintage Image (I used this image from the Gecko Galz spring release available in April)
Ribbon
Flowers
Leaves
Crystal Gems (mine are from the Dollarama)
Stamps (Close to My Heart S1601 Beloved Bouquet. D1584 Big Hug Occasions, D1476 Card Chatter-Sympathy Occasions)
Ink (Close To My Heart Indian Corn Blue)
Metal Charms
Teal Pearls
Multipurpose Glue (I used the Craft Medley Premium Craft Glue)
6x6 Envelope (For looks only, the flowers make it too puffy to put in, if you want to mail it use flat flowers)
2 Paperclips

How To:

1. Create a card base using the heavy cardstock (5 3/4 x 11 1/2)
2. Fold the base into a gatefold by scoring at 3 1/8 and 8 7/8 on the long side.
3. Crease all the edges using a bone folder for a crisp professional look
4. (Cut two of these pieces one for the front and one for the inside) Create the front mat using a 5 1/2 square and then a 5 square of the reverse side. Adhere the lighter patterned 5" square to the 5 1/2" square ensuring that it is centered nicely.
5. Cut the **1** of the matted squares in half and adhere on half to each side of the gatefold base's front
6. Using your vintage image, create another mat that will complement the size and shape of your image. Be sure to repeat the matting pattern you used for the front of the card. 
7. Place the matted image on the left panel of your gatefold. Move the image around until you are satisfied with its location. You want it to be as far to the right as you can, while leaving an inch on the left side and not going outside the mat on the right side.
8. Adhere only the portion that is on the left side panel.
9. Open the card and create mats for the inside of the card. You can now adhere the mat you prieviously created to the centre space of the inside.
10. Cut a 5 1/2 x 3 piece and then a 5 x 2 3/4" piece of the reverse pattern.
11. Adhere this to the inside right panel.
12. The final mat for the inside will be more challenging as you need to match it up with the overhanging piece with your vintage image on it. I cut a strip of patterned paper 5 1/2 x 8 7/8 and adhered it to the left side panel. I then used my scissors to trim away the excess paper, being sure to match the matting size on the other panels. 
    
13. Using white cardstock I created panels for all three inside sections and one to hide on the outside of the right panel under the vintage image. 
    
14. Using stamps I created a background type paper with the desired sentiment and inked it all with a piece of sea sponge.
15. Now for the fun part, add your crystals, beads, charms and flowers to create the look you like.
    
16. I added a paper clip between the base and mat on the left inside panel so I could attach a hand written note. This way the card can be easily regifted to the next person needing a pick me up.
    
17. The second paper clip I used to attach the envelope to the back of the card. Why? I am not sure, but it felt unfinished without the envelope.

Great job! I am sure the recipient of your card will cherish it.

If you like my card please share it, tweet it, instagram or pin it!

March Feature Day On Gecko Galz Blog- plus a free digi stamp

You are going to love the digital stamp that Gecko Galz gave for me to share this month. First off, welcome digital stamp collectors from the Gecko Galz blog. Make yourself at home, we love having visitors.

Secondly, how cute is this guy?

What will you be doing with your adorable digi this month?

I made a cute mixed media canvas. The roses are hand made from white cardstock and Tattered Angels glimmer mist.....and water....lots of water.... Then I covered them in UTEE and took my heat gun to them. The lace and trim are Value Village finds and all the beautiful background images are from Gecko Galz. Its hard to see in the pictures but the canvas is very distressed and has lots of texture that was created using Finnabair stamps and Faber Castel Gel Medium. I am having so much fun playing with that stuff. The little bits of floral fill are from that same stem I bought at Dollarama a few weeks ago. Best buy ever.

Easter Decoration using Gecko galz Ephemera

Do not be surprised if you see this adorable little guy on several projects this month. I think he is just the cutest little bunny ever. No offence to the other bunny I am working with for my March Feature project. I seem to never tire of colouring this sweetie. 

How to:

I printed the image from Gecko Galz on regular white cardstock then coloured it with my Spectrum Noir markers. You will remember that you have to be careful when colouring inkjet images with alcohol markers (for my technique see the post about my art journal found here).

I cut the Christmas wreath using my Cricut and then covered it with leaves and flowers from the Flower Shoppe Cartridge. I cut the leaves out in green bazzil cardstock and then added shading using my distress inks and Spectrum Noir markers. 

The ribbon was lighter than I would have liked but I am giving up buying craft supplies during Lent. My husband wishes Lent would last all year long.

The adhesive backed "pearls" were a Dollarama buy. They come attached by glue in long strings which is handy when you are making flourishes etc. By the time I had separated them I had to use a bottle of glue as they were no longer adhesive backed. My studio table was sufficiently covered in the adhesive though. 

Finally,  I added a bit of green glitter glue and a hand written sentiment. Nothing feels finished until it has a bit of glitter!