Valentine's Day 4x4 Canvas using Gecko Galz Ephemera

I like making special little pieces of art to give to bus drivers and teachers to let them know we appreciate what they do for our children. Unfortunately with three children all in separate classes and even schools it gets a bit hard on the family coffers. If you are like me, it's really important to be as thrifty as possible. This next project certainly fits the bill.

What you need:

4x4 Canvas (I picked mine up at the Dollar Tree 2 for $1.25)

Crystal gems (again $1.25 at Dollar Tree for a huge package)

Tissue Paper

Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist (I used Scarlet and Dazzling Diamonds)

Plastic Vines from the Dollar Store (One vine was $2.00 and I will be able to create hundreds of projects from it)

Rolled Paper Roses

Mod Podge (it's even thriftier to make your own)

How To:

1. Prep canvas with a thin even coat of mod podge (you can make homemade mod podge with equal parts white glue and water)
2. Take a piece of tissue paper slightly bigger than the canvas and scrunch it up in your hand. Really give it a good crumple. Then flatten it out slightly and use it to cover the canvas. Don't rub out the creases as it creates texture for your background.
3. Lightly dab mod podge over the tissue using a brush.
4. Spray it thoroughly with Tattered Angels glimmer mist.
5. Allow it to dry.
6. Adhere your Gecko Galz image and use the the crystals to create a frame around the focal image.
7. Attach your greenery (I used Craft Medley Multipurpose glue) and once it is secure and the glue has dried add your rolled flowers.
8. One last step, spray a light mist of Tattered Angels Dazzling Diamonds on the entire project.

This project definitely costs less than $1 to create if you are making multiples and will use up all the leftover supplies. If you want to turn it into a magnet just add a round magnet to the back of each corner using a strong glue. They are going to love it.

Quick and Easy Valentine's Day Tag Using Gecko Galz Ephemera

This cute tag is perfect for sending off to school with the kidlets with a little package of cinnamon hearts for their teacher. Its quick and easy and requires very few supplies.

What You Need:

Cardstock to cut out a tag shape
Glitter paper or glitter glue
small white paper doily
Red Ribbon or Lace
Foam squares
adhesive backed crystals

How To:

Cut a 51/2 by 3 inch tag out of red cardstock
Punch a whole in the top using a punch or scissors
Adhere doily to top of tag leaving space between the doily and the hole you punched.
Use your glittle paper or glitter glue to create a sparkly bottom to the tag and also create a couple of little glittery red hearts.
Add your crystals in flourishes around the tag. Be sure to press them down well.
Add your focal image (in my case ephemera from Gecko Galz) by popping the four corners up using foam squares.
Tie a ribbon on the baby and you are done.

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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