Crafts Galore Encore Challenge #144 February 2026

 Welcome to the Crafts Galore Encore February 2026 challenge. 

Crafts Galore Encore challenge theme as always is

Anything Goes 

and you can enter up to 3 different projects.

This challenge ends on 27th February at mid-day GMT.

This month our sponsor is Nikky from Polkadoodles.

Nikki is offering our random winner 3 digi stamps of their choice from her Etsy store. Head over to see the beautiful products she has in stock.

And here is what I created...

I made both of these creations by designing a card using  the digital stamps in Canva. These designs were then printed out on 110lb cardstock which I colored using a combination of Prisma colored pencils, a bit of ink and glitter.  Sadly the glitter wasn't captured in these photos. 

I originally designed the Bee Happy card but I loved that little reading bee so much I had to use him. He's just so darn cute!

I hope you are inspired to play and join in on the fun!!

Halloween Tag Book

 Hello Friends!

Today I have a fun Halloween Tag Pocket book I want to share with you...loads of fun collage images from Gecko Galz. I used images from the following collage sheets - Frightfully Delightful Junk Journal Kit, The Witches, Boo-Tiful Too, and Spooktacular Halloween. I added some pattern papers from my stash as well as a few frames, glitter, ribbon and more! Hope you enjoy....

and the tags....

Hope you have a spooktacular day!!

Hello Pumpkin!

 Hello Friends!

Just wanted to share a fun card I made using an Anna Griffin die...

Such a fun card! I went with very traditional colors for this one but I think I am going to experiment with different color combinations for my next ones. I couldn't resist adding a bit of pen and ink to the pumpkin...it was just a little too clean for my liking  - LOL!!

Magic Pocket Letter

 Hello Friends -

The current monthly challenge at Gecko Galz is All Things Dark and Beautiful. The new Junk Journal Kit - Book of Magic is perfect for this theme so I created a pocket letter full of Magical goodness!!

Everything you see here minus the white sentiments which I made myself is from that kit! I just love the beautiful witches, saying cards and the extra little bits and bobs included in the kit! Everything you need for junk journals and more!

Gecko Galz All Things Dark and Beautiful

A Bit of Witchy Fun

 A couple more challenge projects ...

This is the image for the Gothic challenge at Gecko Galz this month.  Isn't she beautiful?  I just love her. Added some gold paper to mat the image, some sparklie rhinestones and that darling little pumpkin.

These ATC's were made for the ATC Challenge - this month's collage sheet was called Vintage Witches. I decided to make some "salt" paper - watercolor paper, inky spray and coarse salt. Always amazing results.  

Beauties of the Far East Challenge

Hello Friends -

Long time...things have been crazy busy and not much time for crafting but I finally had a chance to make a few things so I'm going to be sharing them with you now.

As you may or may not know Gecko Galz is a collage store on Etsy. They have been around for many years and I've been enjoying their monthly challenges hosted both on the blog and facebook page. The blog has a main themed challenge each month which you can use any of their images to create a project as long as it follows the theme. This month it is Beauties of the Far East and this is my creation...

I used a couple images from the Beautiful Geishas Tin Toppers sheet for this candy tin - one for the front and one on the inside of the lid... 

The text is part of an element from the Asian Waters Junk Journal kit to line the bottom of the tin.

And of course you have to have something to put inside the tin so I made 3 domino magnets using images from the Asian Beauties image kit.

They fit inside very nicely don't you think?

So there you go - my take on the Beauties of the Far East challenge for August 2024.

 

Mermaid Embroidery Hoop Plaque

 A new creation for the Gecko Galz Fantasy Challenge. Each month Gecko Galz shares an image to be used for the current month's challenge. This is the Fantasy Challenge image and what I made with it...

I printed the image on regular copy paper then I applied baby oil over the entire image. I let it dry for 3 days. This process creates a translucent image. I used an old embroidery hoop for the frame, added lots of die-cuts and some real shells to finish it off. 

This is what it looks like in the window...it really does look like she is under the sea! So pleased with how it turned out.

Gecko Galz Fantasy Challenge 0624

Signs of Summer Flamingo Welcome Sign

Hello Everyone

 New month of challenges over at Gecko Galz. Today I have a project that fits into both the monthly challenge (Signs of Summer) and their quarterly challenge (Altered Wall Plaques). 

I used images from the Flamingo Court Junk Journal kit plus lots of diecuts and the fun plaque that had a funky photo decoupaged on it. A couple coats of paint and a whole new plaque appears!

GG Monthly Challenge 2024

GG Quarterly Challenge 2024

 

 

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!

 

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

Frightful Evening

Ahhh...another fun day of Halloween goodness.

For todays card I started off by applying 3 colors of Distress Oxide inks to a white card panel using an acetate circle to create a moon. I then flicked on a bit of water and blotted it off (creating such a lovely look).  I used the negative circle die to apply Brilliance White ink (give it a bit of shimmer) to the moon area.

 Next I stamped the Ledger background stamp using Dove Grey ink.   The Cityscape image was stamped along the bottom.  The Witch 2 was then stamped riding across the moon.  I used markers to color her in a bit.  Finally I used a glitter pen to add stars and outline the moon for a bit of sparkle.  I added the  "frightful" sentiment which I outlined with a marker.

Nevermore

Hello hello hello my inky friends....welcome to my favorite time of the year!!!

The 31 Days of Halloween Challenge kicks off today over on the Lost Coast Designs Blog...are we ready to get things started???

Here is my first offering for the month...Nevermore!  Yes, I do love a bit of Poe at Halloween.

I began by inking up a piece of white cardstock using a die-cut acetate circle to create the moon. I then stamped the Tree with Birds several times overlapping a bit here and there to create my spooky forest.  I then added the sentiment Nevermore.  A bit of glitter (which I couldn't capture in the photo) plus a bit of white paint pen stars finished it off. The panel was then mounted on a black card base.

I hope you join in on the 31 days of fun we have in store for you...

the more entries, the bigger and better the prize!!

 

Lost Coast Designs - Use Some Words challenge #169

 Ink Stained Roni here with my first contribution for the Use Some Words challenge.  I just love this stamp - Georges & Lewis.... Such a fun vintage image of childhood past.  I stamped the image once with Dove Grey then a second time using a few shades of blue Distress Inks.  I fussy cut the blue hat and coat and glued it to the grey image. The image was then die-cut and inked here and there with a bit more dove grey and blue.

I paired the image with the perfect sentiment from Carmen's Veranda - Be the Person.  It was all added to a card base with some vintage scrapbook paper in my collection.

Hope you join us for this fun challenge.... Use Some Words!

Be a GOOD one!

Recently I heard someone on TV use this quote and I knew I had heard it before...actually, I thought I even had a stamp and sure enough, I went digging around and found it!  It is from a Glitz Stamp set (listed below).  After the kick start of seeing it on TV I thought it would be fun to use it (since it had never been inked up- gasp!).

I also incorporated some way fun glass glitter I had gotten recently.  I tell you what - I LOVE that stuff...it's like a dose of regular glitter on steroids - LOL!!  I know some people don't care for it because yes, it's real glass and it is sharp but hey...no pain, no gain ;)  Anyway, I think it really adds so much to the chipboard bird.

I started off by stamping the corner flourish (from the Afternoon Muse stamp set) on a piece of pattern paper from the Glitz Uncharted Waters paper stack.   I also stamped the Black Eyed Susan on a piece of vintage text.  I colored the flowers using Distress Inks and a Niji Waterbrush.  I mounted the flowers onto the background.   The sentiment was stamped on plain old white cardstock and colored with Spectrum Noir markers.

I glued glass glitter to the bird image (champagne for it's belly and ocean blue over the rest of the bird.) and inked up the crown with Delicata Gold ink.  

While the bird was drying I printed out the eggs and bird collage images, trimmed and inked the edges. 

Once everything was dry I added the collage image, sentiment, eggs and finally the glittery bird.  Three little brown pearls finish it all off.

Leaky Shed Chipboard - Barn Swallow with Crown

Altered Pages Products Used:  Glitz Uncharted Waters, Vintage Text, Glitz Afternoon Muse Stamps, Brown Ink, Niji Waterbrush, Glass Glitter - Blue, Champagne, Delicata Ink, Glitter Glue, Black Eyed Susan Stamp, Vintage Eggs,  Little Spring Birdies

Other Supplies:  Brown Half Pearls

Hope you're all having a wonderful week!!

Have you been inky lately????

Picnic Club Scrap Blog Hop & Give A Way!!

Welcome everyone to the

Picnic Club Scrap Blog Hop

and

HAPPY SUMMER!!!

This months kit was so bright and cheery - 

just perfect for welcoming in summer and all the fun that goes along with it.  

I was so tickled when I saw the huge slice of watermelon stamp that was included in the Picnic UM Collection.  It was the starting point for my whole idea for this months project.

Since everyone owns/prefers different brands of ink I thought I would share the colors I used when creating with this kit.  I used a combination of Archival and Distress Inks and they are as follows:

Archival Inks:  Leaf Green; French Ultramarine & Magenta Hue

Distress Inks: Mowed Lawn, Picked Raspberry, Salty Ocean & Spun Sugar

and here's what I created....

I used the dark green cardstock to make a pocket - with a bit of the pink seed printed cardstock as it's sides to imitate a slice of watermelon.  The stamped slice of watermelon is actually the closure for the little pocket.  I added a dot of velcro hook & loop to hold the lid closed. 

Once you open  up the flap a nifty little book pops out!

The book dimensions are 3.5" x 5.5" - 

the watermelon pocket is of course a bit larger. 

Here it is totally open.....

(pause for intermission...I had to pick up my goodies and race inside as it started to rain again!)

Back on dry land - here are the various inside pages.  The book pages are laid out in sections - a large one on the left, a small page in the center houses a card that will only pull out so far where you can add journaling, small photos or other info. and one large page on the right side.  As you can see from the photo above there are 5 of these sections for a total of 20 pages as well as 5 pull out cards.  Lots of real estate for such a small book.

As I mentioned the pull out card can be viewed from both sides..

more opportunities for decorating as well!

I made a hot dog from the hamburger stamp by first stamping the bottom bun twice.  I then stamped the hamburger patty on red cardstock with a brown ink creating a pretty good likeness.  I added a bit of Liquid Pearl "Mustard to top it off.  The glass of lemon aid was stamped twice on vellum...once in yellow, once in  blue.  I fussy cut the drink portion out and mounted it over the blue glass image.  The slice of lemon was stamped on plain old cardstock.

and the rest of the book....

And I didn't forget my Gnome friend...  He's gettin' ready to barbecue in his watermelon leisure suit!  Smartly outfitted in deep watermelon green pants and belt with a pink watermelon seed designer shirt topped off with a light green check hat!  I'm sure he'll win best dressed at all the picnics this summer.  LOL!!

It's time to skip on over to Deb's blog....

Lift Bridge Cards & Crafts

remember, if you get lost along the way as you hop

you can find the complete list of blogs at:

Club Scrap Creates

Have a wonderful day friends!

OH MY!!!  I forgot to mention the give-a-way!!  Anyone who leaves a comment will be entered to win the Slice of Watermelon Mini Album!!

You have until 7-2-14 to post a comment to be entered into the drawing!

Good Luck :)