March First With the Gecko Galz

Can you imagine, March already. I have already started my countdown to camping. Spring is by far my favourite season. The warm breezes and return of green grass lifts my spirits. It is also my favourite time to be a crafter. All the challenges become focused on soft palettes and flowy themes, My kind of themes.

Here is my sample for the March Customer Challenge on Gecko Galz: Shabby Chic Easter. Be sure to visit the blog for lots of inspiration and then enter your own creation to win a F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S prize.

I decided on a tag, mostly because I only had one of this particular colour of rolled flower left and wanted to use it. I made a whole bunch of rolled flowers a couple of years ago so that I would be ready in case of a crafting emergency. That is my standard practice though, if I am cutting out die cuts or leaves or anything I always cut a few extra for future use. It has served me well over the years as I am able to quickly put together a card for a forgotten event in lightning speed.

Gecko Galz Pink and Blue Colour Challenge Sample

When you hear pink and blue do your thoughts immediately run to nursery decor? Once I got past that thought it was a pretty simple palette to work with. Gecko Galz has allot of vintage images that fall into that category. The challenge really was choosing just a few.

For this card I used the background paper from Bygone Days. I loved the soft flowy feel of the design. The two focal images came from the Beautiful Birds Collage sheet. Finally the sentiment is from the Close To My Heart stamp set "A bit of thanks".

Jane Austen Inspired Valentine Card using Gecko gals Digital Stamps and Ephemera

This is my absolute favourite project so far this month. The soft colours and imagery are so me. The lovely girl in the stamp caught my attention because she reminds me so much of Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice. I don't think you would be shocked to know that it is my all time favourite movie. The first time I saw the movie (the A&E version with Collin Firth) was somewhere around 16 years ago. It was playing on A&E at some ridiculously late hour and they were in fact playing it like a true mini series. I ended up missing a couple of the chapters but fell in love with it none the less. I ordered the DVD series right away at a whopping $80 US plus way to much shipping to discuss in polite company. It arrived on my birthday and I sat down and watched all 5 hours in one shot. Then I invited my girlfriend over a couple of days later and we sat up and watched it again. It is now my birthday tradition to watch the entire 5 hours of this wonderful show. My husband has been a sport some years and sat up with me to watch it. My daughter has watched with me a few times. It is that special thing I look forward to every year. If you have a chance try to watch this classic and definitely read the book. They don't make love stories like that anymore (especially not in shades of neutral colours ;) )

To Make This Card You Will Need:

tiny pink rosebuds
sheer ribbon
white paper doily
5x7 card base
Tim Holtz Distress Inks (Tattered Rose and Victorian Velvet)
Graphic 45 stamp from Mon Amour
Gecko Galz Ephemera, Digital Stamp and Digital Design Paper
Glue or double sided tape

How To:

1. Ink the edges of your card base using the tattered rose distress ink
2. Print off your digital paper and trim it to 4 3/4 x 6 3/4
3. Ink the edges of the design paper
4. Using a length of ribbon just longer than the paper, adhere it to the lower third of the card and fold over and tape to back of the paper.
5. Adhere the paper and ribbon to the card base.
6. Ink the white paper doily and adhere it just to the left of the card centre and slightly closer to the bottom.
7. Adhere the pocket watch image slightly askew.
8. Colour your focal image using alcohol markers and then distress the edges with the tattered rose ink. Go back over the very edge of the image with the Victorian velvet to create some shadow.
9. Adhere the focal image just over the corner of the pocket watch.
10. Glue on the rosebuds and a bow to finish off the embellishments.
11. Stamp the sentiment on a piece of cards stock and ink the edges with both colours of distress ink.
12. Adhere to the bottom right of the card.

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.