Gecko Galz Christmas Tag Celebration

Welcome to all my friends visiting from the Gecko Galz blog. Today my tags are featured on the blog and you are likely here to find out how they were made.

I love the vintage metal look of these tags. It reminds me of an old Victorian Copper Ceiling. It's hard not to go all Victorian when Christmas come to the blog. Its everything I love, lavish laces, ornate decorations, fresh pine swags and bows, It is my favourite era this time of year.

Vintage Tag How To:

The tags were created using a cover weight white cardstock. I used the tag die from Heartfelt Creations Snow Kissed Flake and Tag.

Using the round Tim Holtz ink sponger I applied Faded Jeans, Ground Espresso and Forest Moss to the tag. I tried to colour a triangle shaped area of each colour.

Next  I lightly misted the tag with water to activate the ink. Use a damp paint brush to mix the ink to achieve your desired pattern.

While the tag is still damp, gently put it in your chosen embossing folder. I used the leaf flourish folder from Darice. To add interest to the piece I only put 2/3 of the tag inside the folder and turned it slightly to create an angled effect.

Once the tag dried I applied a tiny amount of Faber Castell Texture Lux. Be sure to barely get any on your finger as it goes a long long way. Gently rub the raised area of the tag. Be sure to be sporadic and don't cover the entire embossed pattern.

Using Kraft Cardstock I created a neutral base for the tag and glued it down.

Once the two pieces were dry I used my cropadile to punch a hole in the top of the tag, being sure to go through both layers for added stability.

Using the beautiful Gecko Galz images I fussy cut my focal image and popped it up using foam squares.

To finish the tags, I tied a pretty crimson ribbon to each.

I hope you enjoyed my tags and can't wait to create more projects for you in 2017.

Gecko Galz 6th Annual Blog Hop

Hello Everyone!

We want to welcome everyone to the

Gecko Galz 6th Annual Blog Hop

This is your Eleventh stop on a wonderfully Wicked Blog Hop! 

We have 16 AMAZING blogs for you to visit this weekend, each with some gorgeous projects created using the Gecko Galz collage sheets that we are giving you for FREE! Each blog you visit will have another free Gecko Galz Collage sheet for you to download, the one here is

"Winter Wonderland".

Also make sure you leave a message on each blog site you visit and on the last blog there will be a phrase that you will email to us to be entered in our drawing for a wonderful treat pack.  So sit back, relax, take your time and enjoy the hop!

We have FOUR amazing prizes up for grabs:

·        First is a Gecko Galz shopping spree for $100!

·        Second prize is a $50 Shopping spree with Gecko Galz.

·        Third prize is a $25 shopping spree!

·        And our Grand Prize ONE FULL YEAR of Gecko Galz PRODUCTS!!! This includes the 6 new collage sheets each quarter, a new stamp set each quarter, a new paper pack each quarter!

 This is a $100 value!

First of all, you will need to visit all 16 blogs and leave a comment on each blog :) **This is important so we know you have been to all the blogs **. Collect the phrase at the end of the hop on the Fripperies and Butterflies site there will be a link to email the phrase to Gecko Galz.

This enters you in the contest. On October 31st we will randomly draw the 4 winners and email each of you, then we will post the winning names on the Gecko Galz blog site.

For an extra chance to win make a purchase from the GECKO GALZ ETSY STORE between the 27th of October and the 30^th of October and your name goes in again for a better chance of winning (each purchase you make that weekend gives you another chance to win) 

Please enjoy this free Gecko Galz Collage sheet

“Winter Wonderland”

Now have fun visiting each Blog

Gecko Galz

Gerri Herbst

Barbara Bird

Nancy Smith

Lena Hermanson

Dana Tater

Michele Storms

Jackie Neal

Vicki Romaine

Margaret Ashby

Tracy Sagriff

Katie Lamb

Heather Hudson

Marilyn Hughes

Patti Fisher

Leanne Seed

If you did not start at the Gecko Galz Blog you might want to start there so you will not miss a thing!

Gatefold Valentine Using Gecko Galz Ephemera

Here is another simple but high impact Valentine that you can create with very few supplies and very little effort.

What you Need:
Red Cardstock
Digital Image from Gecko Galz
Digital Design Paper from Gecko Galz
White Enamel Accents (or white paint)
Paper Flowers
Adhesive Backed Pearls
White Paper Doily

Tools:

Scoring Board
Bone Folder
Paper Trimmer
Heart shaped die and machine or scissors to freehand the Heart Cutout

How To:

1. Using your paper trimmer cut a 12x12 piece of red cardstock in half. Set one piece aside to make another valentine if you so desire.
2. Using your score board, score at the the 3 and 9 inch marks.
3. Use your bone folder to give a nice clean crisp edge to the two folds as you bring them forward. You should now have a 6x6 card base with a cut down the centre front.
4. Use your heart die or freehand cut a heart out of the centre front being sure not to cut through to back paper. Be sure to align heart so that it is perfectly even on both sides of the cut.
5. Adhere a doily over the heart cut out space and carefully trim it to match the opening and also cut it so that it opens with the card.
6. Using a scrap piece of cardstock cut a heart shape larger than your operning and then cut it again to create a hollow heart shape. 
7. Glue the cardstock heart image to the left side panel only so that the card can still open.
8. Decorate the face of the card with the white enamel or white paint.
9. Adhere your flowers to the bottom of the card, ensure that they do not inhibit the card opening.
10. Add some adhesive backed pearls around the heart.
11. Cut a 53/4 square piece of design paper and adhere it to the inside of the card.
12. Centre your focal image (in my case gecko Galz Ephemera) making sure it is showing properly through the heart cutout.
13. Add any sentiment you wish to the inside of the card using stamps or pens.
14. 
    
15. Once you get the hang of this card it becomes an incredibly easy card to create. It is a cute layout for any occasion.
16. 
    

Romantic Vintage Inspired Necklace Using Images from Gecko Galz

Need a last minute gift for someone special. Just wait until you see how easy this beautiful vintage inspired necklace is.

What you need:

Blank silver cabochon (the type with a back in it, not a hole).
Silver chain
Digital Image from Gecko Galz
Glossy Accents
Resin Rose
Small charm that is big enough to hold resin rose

How To:

Its so simple I am not even going to break it into steps. Just cut the image to the size of the opening. I make a cardstock template first and once I get it sized right I trace it on my image and cut. Apply and even coat of glossy accents beginning in the middle of the image and allowing it to pool towards the sides. Leave the necklace to dry overnight. In the meantime you can adhere the resin rose to the charm. Once the pendant is dry you can add a jump ring to it and the charm and attach it to your chain. There you go. One sweet vintage necklace just in time for Valentine's Day.

Little Fairy Wall Hanging using Gecko Galz Digital Fairy Stamp

I think this little wall hanging turned out so stinking cute. It would be wrong though for me to force my now teenaged daughter to hang it in her room. I guess I will have to wait for someone to have a baby girl. Have you noticed the number of boys being born right now. Whoa..there must be something in the water.

How To:

1. Coat the smooth side of the coaster with Gesso.
2. Transfer the image by coating the paper in Gesso and adding it face down to the coaster.
3. Once dry remove backing paper by saturating it with water and rubbing gently with your finger.
4. Colour the image using alcohol markers.
5. Coat the coloured image only with Glossy Accents.
6. Once Dry use any paints or inks that you have to create the background. Spray it with water to create the soft flowing effect.
7. I gave mine a coat of mod podge to seal it all in.
8. Add adhesive backed gems to the outside perimeter of the circle.
9. Create a loop using your favourite ribbon and adhere it to the back of the coaster.
10. Centre a bow on the top of the design and adhere with Glossy Accents.
11. Allow all the glue to dry overnight before hanging.

I think this would look really sweet with a vintage teddy or Peter Rabbit as well. You can change the image to suit the theme of the room. Maybe even some vintage floral design for the bathroom. Have fun making your wall hanging, I certainly did.

Decorative Ceramic Tile using Gecko Galz images

Have you tried image transfers yet? I have tried several times with varied results but I purchased some Gel Medium and it works every time. I would suggest investing in some if your budget allows. A little goes a long way. 

What you need:

ceramic tile

background paper

mod podge

gesso

flowers

framed image

adhesive backed gems

strong glue

How to:

For this particular project I laid down a coat of gesso on a ceramic tile. It was the type that looks like smooth rock not the type that is smooth and heavily glazed. After the gesso dried I applied a coat of mod podge to seal it. I then applied a second generous coat and while it was still wet I covered the inked side of my paper (Gecko Galz Tara's Garden) with mod podge and placed it face down on the tile. It is really important to get all the air bubbles and wrinkles out, so use your hands or a squeegee and really make it smooth. 

Put it aside and don't even think about doing anything else until tomorrow.

After you have had your first coffee go ahead and take out your tile. You are going to need a spray bottle or sponge and water. You will totally saturate the entire surface of the paper. Let it sit for 5 minutes and then spray again. 

Using your finger, gently draw little circles on the paper. You should see little piece of the paper begin to ball up. Keep going gently. If you find the paper is drying, wet it again and continue. Keep going until you can see your image clearly. This will take some time so be patient.

When you are convinced you have all the white paper off the tile, set it aside to dry.

I added another coat of mod podge just to be sure nothing moved or soaked up colours from my embellishments later on.

I then adhered, using Glossy Accents (Craft Medley Premium Craft Glue works perfectly I was just out) all of my flowers and my framed Gecko Galz image from the Isn't It Romantic Collage sheet.

What do you think?

I stamped my sentiment using a Graphic 45 stamp from the Mon Amour collection and Daisy White ink from Close To My Heart. Using some white glitter embossing powder and my heat tool I embossed the sentiment to make it stand out. The finishing touches were the adhesive backed crystals which to me make it the cutest Valentine's Day Decor item.