The Greatest Pleasure

 This month's Gothic challenge at Gecko Galz is a really fun image...check her out.

I made this fun card...

I cut out a window in the front of the card and hand drew the spider webs on a piece of acetate. I added a touch of color to her lips and eyes but left the rest of her b/w.  

The sentiment reads - The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.

So true and I think it fits her perfectly.

Gecko Galz April Gothic Challenge

Ho Ho Ho...

 This month's Christmas challenge at Gecko Galz is a fun Santa image....

I printed the image twice then fussy cut Santa from the background (which was black). I then cut out the lantern, his hat and the frosty frame from the second image. The lantern and his had were added to the image with a single layer of foam tape and to give it more dimension the frame was added with two layers of foam tape. 

I used some faux fur for his hat trim and ball then added glitter to the frame and lantern. 

Oh I used a vintage page from a ledger (page #25) from 1957 which I painted with a mica watercolor.

Thanks for checking it out...

Have a lovely day!

Gecko Galz April Christmas Challenge

Create Magic

 Gecko Galz has a new challenge this month...Fantasy!

Here is what I created using this month's image...

I printed the image with muted colors then used some mica watercolor paints to add color to and make it sparkle. I wish I could capture the shimmer. It is so amazing IRL.

I also had the perfect wax seal for the canvas....

Go create some magic of your own!

Gecko Galz Fantasy Challenge

Viva La Spring!

 Today I have a small journal I made for the monthly challenge over at Gecko Galz. The theme is Ethereal Spring.  I used the Junk Journal kit - Viva La Spring and Charming Words sentiment sheets  along with some Prima papers as well as other bits and pieces from my stash.  I hope you enjoy!

Gecko Galz April Challenge - Ethereal Spring

My Spirit Animal....

Another fun card to share with you for the current challenge Let's Fly. This time I used one of my favorite Hard Luck Pixies - Lucy.....she's got such a great grumpy going on...it's so easy to love her.

I started off by inking up a scrap of orange/pink pattern paper that was in my stash. I stamped Lucy in the center and then stamped off a second image for a mask. I did the same with the Unicorn sentiment. I then stamped a grungy background using stamps from Brush Strokes and parts of the background stamp Grunge Black Swirl here and there.

Remember there is plenty of time to join in on the fun as our challenges run for the entire month now. Pull out your stamps that will let your imagination FLY!

 

Little Red Riding Hood ATC's

 This month's ATC challenge at Gecko Galz features the Gothic Red Riding Hood ATC sheet. I wanted to make something a bit different so I dug through my ATC/Playing Card stash and found these fun crooked cards! They are from a real deck of cards but the shape is so much fun...just for a change of pace....

Gecko Galz ATC Challenge 03/24

A Strange Story

 I must admit that this month's Gothic Challenge at Gecko Galz has given me a run for my money. I started a Goth/Halloween junk journal last year and have been slowly adding new lay-outs each month. Well I really had to give this a think but I am thrilled with how it finally turned out!

Gecko Galz Gothic Challenge 0324

Magical Mushroom Magnets

 The theme for the month at Gecko Galz is Magical Mushrooms. Their monthly newsletter was filled with delightful mushroom images. I liked them so much I decided to do a bit of decoupage and makes some 3D mushroom magnets.  I made them fit into my mini Swedish tart tins I bought on a little shopping trip dh and I found at an antique store recently.

Each image has 3 layers plus a little moss at the bottom.

I am hard pressed to choose a favorite image but I think the little multi-color watercolor mushroom might be it.  Which is your favorite?

Gecko Galz Magical Mushrooms 03/24

Asian Beauty

 This month's image for the Card challenge at Gecko Galz is this lovely floral Asian beauty. I used one of my dies from Spellbinders to make this lovely background. It turned out exactly as I envisioned it. I love it when that happens!

Gecko Galz Card Challenge 03/24

Gecko Galz Traditional Christmas

Hello everyone...

Today I want to share my creation for the Gecko Galz Christmas challenge this month. I decided to go traditional Christmas with red, green and gold. I used metallic papers for the background, frame and mats. 

Gecko Galz Christmas Challenge 03/24

Steampunk Wander Card

Time for another fun challenge and this time I went a wee bit Steampunk...

I wanted this to like they were plans to build a set of wings so I started by stamping the Steampunk Fly Girl on a piece of grid pattern paper. I then stamped the Ledger background in brown ink specifically using the column of figures and the months on the opposite side of the card.  I stamped some text - Pieces of Calligraphy - in red and added some fingerprints and smudges here and there so it looked like these were well worn plans.  I finished the card off by stamping the Not all Who Wander sentiment in the corner.

I hope you join in on the Let's Fly theme this month. 

Sunflower Lighted Box

 The quarterly challenge at Gecko Galz is to "Just add lights" to your project. One of the new collage sheets this month is Stained Glass Beauty so I thought why not make a lighted "stained-glass" box....

And here it is... This photo is in regular daylight with the lights off.

And this is with the light box on in the dark.

And a 2nd pic...it's amazing how simple paper can look like stained glass isn't it?

It's a secret on how I did it...wanna know how?

I printed the image on regular weight copy paper. After the ink had cured for a day or so I swiped the back of the print with baby oil and let it set again for 48 hours. Once the baby oil dried you are left with a vellum like print! It really does look like stained glass when lighted :)

Gecko Galz Quarterly Challenge - Just Add Lights

Happy Easter Banner

 Well, today I have a banner I made using the current digi stamp challenge over at Gecko Galz....

I printed 18 of the eggs but ended up using just 15 of them.

Each egg was colored with markers, colored pencils and posca pens.

I then used die-cut letters to spell out the sentiment.

Gecko Galz Stamp Challenge 03/24

Exotic Steampunk Card

 Hello Everyone!

I don't know how the weather is where you are at but it's been unseasonably warm here in Indiana the past few days. That is unfortunately coming to an end with the return of cold weather.

It's a new month and that means new challenges over at Gecko Galz. I have started off with the Steampunk challenge because I have a new wax seal I just had to use ;)

This image was longer than normal and I instantly thought of making a slimline card.  So I took a bit of liberty and stretched her out a bit more and smooshed her to make her a bit skinny (yes, those are technical terms - LOL) but I think she turned out looking in proportion. I added a few stickers, a postage stamp and my new clock wax seal. Yes, I have jumped on that band wagon. I loved making them when they were popular back about 15 years ago and I'm so glad they have returned :) See - it pays to be a craft hoarder...it all comes back around - LOL!!

Gecko Galz Steampunk Challenge 03/24

Giraffe Postcard Art

 Trying a new challenge out today. I've been subscribed to the Sunday Postcard Art Challenge blog for a long time now but I never seem to get my act together to participate as their challenges are 1 week in duration.  Well, this weeks theme was Giraffe - they are my favorite animal so I knew I had to give it a go. 

So, the only requirement is that the postcard should be 4x6" and follow that week's theme of course. So I wanted to make a vintage looking postcard so I started off by stamping the "Ledger Background" from Lost Coast Designs with acorn Versafine Clair ink onto a piece of cream colored cardstock. I then added the vintage photo of the giraffe's (Gecko Galz).  I used another GG giraffe image to make a giraffe themed postage stamp, added a couple number stickers and a sentiment.

I'm glad I finally decided to play...it was really fun to make.

Sunday Postcard Art - Giraffe

The Green Man...Come On Spring!!

Today I have a card that I hope will help usher in Spring without too much more of that white stuff...Green Man.

To create this card I started off by stamping the Leaves background image on the card using multiple colors of greens and browns. I then stamped the "Green Man" from the Victoriana set in a darker green. I then used some text from the Pieces of Calligraphy one or two images from Pieces of Architecture and dots from the Brush Strokes.  I then die-cut the Oak Leaf branches from Honey Bee Stamps to frame him.

There is still time to join in on the fun...

 

Christmas Canvas

 Here is what I created using this month's image for Gecko Galz Monthly Christmas Challenge...

Getting a jump start on next year's decorations with this chunky canvas....

The trees are from Honey Bee Stamps. I LOVE their dies! So many cool designs.

I added some faux snow on the bottom which really adds such great texture.

Gecko Galz Monthly Christmas Challenge 0224

Kindred Spirits

 Playing with the Gothic image of the month at Gecko Galz...

A gothic take on Little Red Riding Hood...I love it!

A bit of gesso, watercolors, acrylic paint, vintage ephemera, washi tape, some stamping, stencils, Creative Medium and more!

Gecko Galz Monthly Gothic Challenge 0224

Medieval Gothic Arch

 Another challenge from Gecko Galz - this time it's the Stamp Challenge. They give you a free "digital stamp" to color and incorporate into a project.

This month's image is very medieval so I thought what better way to showcase it than a Gothic Arch!

 I colored this image with lots of different mediums - I started with colored pencils at the base then added alcohol markers, mica watercolor paints, gel pens and metallic markers. It was so much fun to color.

GG Stamp Challenge 0224

 

 

A Little Love

 Been playin' with a few more collage images for the challenges on the Gecko Galz blog.

My first card was made using the February Card Challenge image..

I printed the image twice and cut out a few of the bits to pop them off the background but before I did that I used colored pencils and glitter gel pens to enhance the colors for both the image and cut outs.

I then layered it on a bit of black cardstock and added it to this stunning Anna Griffin die. Isn't it magical.  I wish you could see all the glittery accents from the gel pen. It really makes the image pop IRL.

Gecko Galz Month Card Challenge 0224

Steampunk Dragonfly Pin

 I've finally gotten a chance to play in my craft room and this months challenges at Gecko Galz have been my goal today.

Each month Gecko Galz gives you a free collage image to play with in various categories. I decided to turn this months Steampunk image into wearable art! I made this fun dragonfly pin...

I started out by printing the image 3x so I could cut out the different parts and pieces and one for the base.  I then glued these pieces to grunge board (Thank God I'm a craft hoarder...I still have a nice stash of the stuff). and cut each piece out. I sanded the edges because some were a bit rough here and there.

If you've not used grunge board it is a nice flexible material that is also soft and light weight. Perfect for making jewelry bits.

Next I used glitter pens (yes, you know how I love glitter) to pump up the color volume and give it a bit of sparkle.  I then added a nice pile of glitter on the dragonfly.  Each piece was then glued down to the base in it's proper place.

Finally I affixed a pin to the back. I haven't decided if I'm going to blacken the back yet or not. 

Hope you have enjoyed this little project.

Gecko Galz Steampunk Challenge 0224

Flights of Fancy Mobil

 Hello all...

This month's main challenge over at Gecko Galz is Flights of Fancy. The monthly newsletter was sprinkled with some beautiful hot air balloon images which inspired me to create this fun mobile using an old wood hanger as the base. 

I covered the wooden hanger with some lovely Faux Fur "yarn" from Lion Brand...if you haven't seen this stuff it's AMAZING. I love it!!

I printed each balloon twice - keeping one as the original image then flipping the second for a mirror image. These two pieces were then glued back to back (remembering to insert the ribbon of course) and trimmed.  The ribbon is silk ribbon from May Arts.

Each of the balloons were then tied to the hanger with pretty little bows.

I love how this turned out and I can't wait till summer so I can hang it in my open window so they will catch the breeze and gently float along.

Gecko Galz Monthly Challenge
February 24 - Flights of Fancy

Guess What?!?!

 Excited to share some news with you all....

I was asked to join the design team of a new-ish Canadian Etsy store which features AI generated collage images....

Conjurer of Dreams!

Each month I will be sharing my creations made using their images. This month I used a combination of images from their Etsy store and a couple free images that Kim (the owner/creator) shares on her FB Page - Conjurer of Dreams Inspiration Group.  I invite you to come and take a look as she has lots of wonderful artists on her team that share lovely makes through out the month as well as a new challenge each month. 

Here is what I created this month for the theme Winter Morning....

Shaker card - I used StazOn Cotton opaque ink to stencil on a snowflake design directly onto the acetate which was wrapped around the background and filled with sparklie goodness.  I added the sentiment, image and lots of fun bits.

For this card I wanted to really make the snow shine so I added lots and lots of glitter...you know how I love the stuff ;)  LOL!!

This is one of the free images from the COD Inspiration group page.  I printed it on X Press It cardstock and colored with Spectrum Noir alcohol markers.

The background for this card was made using various Distress Oxide inks. I then added the Arctic landscape and polar bears. Again...glitter was used in abundance - LOL!!

Finally I used this cute pair of penguins which were a free image on the FB page as well.

Hope you enjoy these and the projects I will be sharing with you all in the future. I am very excited about next months theme....Gothic Romance!!!! I can't wait.