Gecko Galzs February Feature Day

Welcome back friends visiting from Gecko Galz. We are glad you stopped in.  Here is the incredibly sweet image that Gecko Galz has provided as your freebie for the month.

I used it to make a really sweet shadow box. It looks like you are peeking out the window and catch the sweethearts smooching under the tree. It turned out so well my 13 year old son said he wanted it for his room but it was too girly. High praise from a teenaged boy.

If you are interested in using the image for a shadow box just follow the steps below.

 1. Prep your shadow box. I picked this one up at Dollarama for $3 which I thought was pretty cheap. Use painters tape (I also got that at the dollar store) to mask off the glass. I used newspaper to cover the centre of the glass pane. 

 2. Be sure to remove all the stickers. Do not use Goo be Gone or anything like that as it will create a spot that will not take the paint. (ask me how I know). Usually just a warm damp rag will get it off. Be sure to let it dry before trying to paint.

 3. Do 3 very thin layers of Gesso over the entire box. Let it dry well between coats. Then using your Tattered Angels spray colour the window with dark blue and greys. Be sure to make it splotchy and darker towards the corners. After the mist has dried apply a thin coat of watered down white acrylic paint. You should now have a weathered look on the box.

4. Now you can colour the image. I used spectrum noir markers but feel free to use whatever you like. Pencil crayons or watercolours would be lovely.

 Once I finished colouring all the little bits I placed the image in the box. Next I added some vines and paper roses to create the 3D effect. Finally I sealed the box shut so my boys could not come and dump out the girly stuff and take the box to put bugs in. (I'm no newbie Mama).

Enjoy your new shadowbox. Be sure to send me a picture of your creation.

Tracy

My Grandma's Teacups February Feature Project for Gecko Galz.

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.
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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.
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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.