Gecko Galz blog Hop with a FREE image

Hello Everyone!

I want to welcome everyone to the sixth destination of

Gecko Galz 5th Annual Blog Hop!

If you started here you might want to go back and start at the beginning at the Gecko Galz blog so you won’t miss anything!  

We have 14 AMAZING blogs for you to visit this weekend, each with some gorgeous projects created using the Gecko Galz exclusive blog hop collage sheets, that we are giving you for FREE! Each blog you visit will have another free Gecko Galz Collage sheet for you to grab, the one here is

"FLY FREE".

Also make sure you collect all the “secret” words on each blog so at the end of the hop you can send in the phrase to enter our drawing for a wonderful treat.  

So sit back, relax, take your time and enjoy the hop!

My samples using this collage sheet:

First up is a mixed media canvas.  I used all of the images plus some other goodies from my stash to make it.  Love all of these images!!!

Next, a few Christmas ornaments.  This is one of my favorite Sizzix dies from ages ago.  Each ornament was cut from chipboard then painted with a sparkly acrylic paint.  I added the images between acrylic pieces and added them to the ornaments.  Large bows and a bit of glitter complete them.

A mini journal.  After playing with Altoid tins at the Gecko Galz retreat, I had some ideas rolling around.  I decided to make this mini journal using one of the tins and love how it turned out.  The tin was alcohol inked with greens and blues to match the images.  I also used some Tim Holtz rub-ons and some other Gecko Galz papers and tags.

The inside is an accordion book.

And of course I had to make a tag (for my tag wall).  I chose to use scraps from my work table to make this little cutie.  Rolled flowers.  Lattice background.  And of course those beautiful butterflies!

You may remember this from a few weeks ago.  I brought it back because it uses the same images.  This is by far one of my favorite tags ever!  Many Gecko Galz images were used for this tag.

We have FOUR amazing prizes up for grabs:

·        First is a Gecko Galz shopping spree for $100!

·        Second prize is a $50 Shopping spree with Gecko Galz.

·        Third prize is a $25 shopping spree!

·        And our Grand Prize ONE FULL YEAR of Gecko Galz PRODUCTS!!! This includes the 6 new collage sheets each quarter, a new stamp set each quarter, a new paper pack each quarter and a kit club pack each quarter!

 This is a $150 value! Plus you get a prize pack from some of our favorite sponsors worth $150!

 Read on to learn how you can win!

First of all, you will need to visit all 14 blogs and leave a comment on each blog :) **This is important so we know you have been to all the blogs **. Collect all 14 words (one on each blog site except the home site) and at the end of the blog on the Fripperies and Butterflies site there will be a link to email the phrase to Gecko Galz. 

This enters you in the contest. On November 2nd we will randomly draw the 4 winners and email each of you, then we will post the winning names on the Gecko Galz blog site.

For an extra chance to win make a purchase from the GECKO GALZ ETSY STORE between the 29 of October and the 1^st of November and your name goes in again for a better chance of winning (each purchase you make that weekend gives you another chance to win) 

Your Secret Word is;

TO

Now that you have it go to the next blog on the list below 

Michele Storms

Amanda Phillips

Gerri Herbst

Joan Liddle

Vicki Romain

Nancy Smith

Heather Hudson

Leanne Seed

Thank you for joining the hop and enjoyed your free collage sheet and my samples!

Something wicked this way comes

"Double, double, toil and trouble;

Fire burn and cauldron bubble.

Double, double, toil and trouble;

Something wicked this way comes!"

Halloween is on its way.  I think the lines above are from a Harry Potter movie but I can say that I have heard different versions of this my entire life.  I do really enjoy Halloween.  I don't mean the evil, scary Halloween.  I mean the fun, cute costume, cool decorations type of Halloween.  

Each year when my children were smaller I made their costumes.  Thoroughly enjoyed doing it too!  Princesses, pumpkins, Buzz Lightyear, Simba, more princesses, various saints, Woody, anything Star Wars, ...........  And of course the costumes were passed down to the younger ones.  I remember the year of the capes - there was a huge argument over who got to wear the brown Star Wars cape I made.  Well, everyone got one that year.  Each one of them had a costume with a cape!  And I love that we still have those capes and the kids (even the adult ones) still wear them!  We had not 1 , but 2 costume bins in our house.  I guess with 5 children there was a need for a lot of costumes!  Just recently we purged the costume boxes.  Very sad to see some of those leave my house.  I kept a few just because I couldn't let them go (like the Simba head that I hand made! and the St Nicholas costume.   Oh, and the St Michael costume).  I do wish I had taken a picture of each and every one of them.  I guess I do have them in  a way - I am sure I have a picture of the children wearing them and that is better.

Each year I make a Halloween mini album.  Of course when all of the kids were home I had lots of pictures.  Not so much this year.  But I made the album anyway :)

I chose to use the new Tim Holtz Regions Beyond paper stash and all the goodies that go with it.  I love the papers but as I made the album I felt it needed "more".  So I added some Gecko Galz images to it.  Perfect.  The vintage nature of the paper and the vintage images I chose perfectly complimented each other.  I used Gecko Galz Wicked Words 1 and 2 and Halloween Kids 1 and 2.  Visit Gecko Galz to see these sheets and so much more (the papers for October are fabulous!)

So, I thought I would show you some of the pages:

 This is the spine of the mini.....I used canvas that I painted with Spiced Marmalade distress paint and then distressed it further with Black Soot distress ink.  The Tim Holtz Halloween line also has these cool plastic words (Alpha Words) - the 31 and the spider were part of those.  I also added some of the charms from the collection and a mini wishbone from earlier releases.

 Inside cover.  You can see I have used Gecko Galz images here.  Just a mixture of the papers and GG images.  I also pulled out all of my Halloween die cuts to use (the 31 on this page).  Each of the mini album pages have pockets flip out pages, and extra large side pockets.  Loads of room.

 I love this page.  It is a simple flip top.  You can also see that one of the tags for the side pocket hangs over onto the page.  I love this page because of the "boo".  It is an older die but still available from Sizzix. It is rather fragile when cut so I cut it from chipboard, painted it with black soot distress paint and then topped it with glossy accents.  I was in a hurry when I added the glossy accents so not all of it got covered.  I think the spotty texture adds to the effects of it.

 These are 2 of the tags from the album.  Again I used the Alpha Words to add to the tags.  I also made many of the tags "cards".  I think it adds some interest when they hang out of a pocket and then you can pull them out all together.  GG images....perfect addition.

 Another fav page....it has a mini gatefold.   Like Christmas.....you just keep opening it!  You can see more of the GG images here as well.

 A few more tags.....another card fold tag.  Don't you just love those chalkboard images?

 And this.  The coffin tag.  I have made coffin tags before but this one is larger, almost 6 inches, and has a bit more detail.  I used the Washi tape, the brads and an image from the paper stash for the front.  I like using Washi tape but sometimes find that it wants to peel off.  Frustrating.  So I usually add a light coat of Ranger Matte Medium over it (dries super fast) or depending on where it will be I may add some adhesive underneath it.  I used Washi around the edges on the tag and then coated the front with the matte medium when I was done adding my image.  It dries clear and matte so you don't even notice it.

 Inside of the coffin tag....another GG image (to cover the back of the brad at the top).  I also added a tiny pocket on the right bottom.....perfect to hold a tiny tag with a GG image on it!

And the back.  What a perfect way to end the mini than with a GG chalkboard tag.  Again, I used the matte medium to attach the tag.  It seals it down so that it will not lift off.  You can also see the black lace I added to the covers.  It is some of my vintage stash.  I found a huge roll of it years ago for $10!  Score!  It is not all that old, from the 50's.  But I love using it!

Well,  I hope you enjoyed a little wickedness!  Stop by again....I can hardly wait to share my projects for the GG Blog Hop (last week of October).  I had soo much fun making them!  And there will be some freebies too!  Enjoy your day.

A little birdie told me

Good morning.  Today is Gecko Galz day for me!  I have had the best time playing with the October images from GG.  Just in case you don't know, each month Gecko Galz has new images and a kit club that has papers, stamps, and other images.  This month they are fall type images and boy are they lovely!  Visit Gecko Galz to see all of the amazing images.

No further ado....

I will apologize for the pics....the sun was bright and shining today!  And unusually fall-like!

For this card I used the fall papers and one of the dominoe images from this month.  The image is just stunning.   I could just dream about being at that exact spot!  I paired the paper and the image with some die cut leaves and fun textile yarns from my stash.

A little birdie told me......I love birds.  Don't know why.  Maybe because they are amazing!  Anyway, there are some of the most adorable bird images this month.  The card pictured below is made with one of the October papers and the precious bird image.  I have layered the paper, corrugated board, ribbon, moss and some bling to create this card.  I really love how it turned out and decided to re-create it for my Thanksgiving cards this year.

And another little birdie.....again using one of the papers and this simple bird image.  This reminds me of the Aspen leaves in Colorado.  So serene.  I double matted the image on cardstock then on top of some die cut leaves.  All of this is placed on top of one of the yummy papers.

Well, a little birdie will always be around here!  I hope you enjoy your fall day!

This and that

It seems that life is rolling on by.....I think I stay so busy I forget to blog sometimes!  I thought today I would share just some different things.  Usually I am posting my Gecko Galz designs about this time each month but I changed it up a little this time.  Go grab a cup of tea and enjoy.

First up:

I wanted to share this because I just LOVE how it turned out.  You see, here in Texas we are silly crazy about all things Texas!  This was a 3d layout class I had in August.  I love how the paper looks like old leather.  How the flowers turned out.  How the grungepaper looks like real leather.
Just all over goodness.

The flowers were made using Elizabeth Craft Designs dies.  I used the Garden Notes Rose 2 and the Bluebonnet dies.  I had never made the flowers before.  I think they turned out awesome!

The star is made from paper as well.  Once I made the 3D star I painted it with silver precious metals.  Love that stuff!  Then I added it to the red bandana rosette (made from a napkin!).  The picture is extra special because I made it for a friend.  That is her and her husband.  Such lovebirds!  And the fenceboards are from Scrapp n' Savvy!  Just so many things to love!

Also this summer I had a class in which we made a mini suitcase.  We built the whole thing from scratch and then added a mini album inside!  They were so much fun to make and decorate.  Just a tidbit to show here:

Well, as we say in Texas, I hope y'all have a good one!

Goblins and Ghosts and Fall Fun

Oh what a wonderful time of year.  I love the cool evenings and the pretty days.  And the colors - oh, just stunning.  Even though I live in a part of the country that doesn't really see the bright Autumn colors, I still look forward to it every year.

This month Gecko Galz has some stunning images to get you in the Autumn spirit. Or maybe just in the spooky spirit!!

For my first sample I made a tiny lantern to highlight the fun black and white images.

The picture is not the best...but there is a flameless candle in the mini lantern!  The images are perfect and "glow" with the candle.

I fell in love with the vintage children images this month too.  They are just so cute.  To highlight them I decided to make some pumpkins with the images in the centers.  I drew a pumpkin shape on chipboard and then made another center area for the pumpkin out of chipboard as well.  I painted these with distress paints giving them highlights and shadows.  I then added the image to the center panel using matte medium.  The center panel was them adhered to the pumpkin and extra shadowing was added.  Finished them with bows and wooden leaves.  It is a little hard to see but I added a sparkle to the main pumpkin too.  They look so cute in my entrance hall!  Images are from Halloween is for Kids collage sheet.

 This one is made with one of the chalkboard images from Wicked Words collage sheet that is part of the craft kit this month.  I think I have made a dozen of these now.  Everyone wants one!  It is made the same way as the pumpkins above but I stenciled on the base pumpkin with texture paste.  The are painted black and then the textured area is rubbed with silver to make it stand out.  The center panel has Glass Bead Glitter Gel on it.  It is iridescent so it really picks up the silver color.  A big bow and dangling leave complete it.

These are just a sampling of the images this month.  So many to choose from!  Stop by Gecko Galz and take a look at the beautiful images.  Get your SPOOK on!!!

Happy Fall Y'all!

Gecko Galz fun today - and a free image

Does life ever get in the way of your creativity?  (hehe)  I am pretty sure you could lock me in my craft room, slide food under the door, and I would be perfectly happy!  Yesterday I saw a t-shirt that read "Yes, I do have a retirement plan.  I plan to scrapbook."  Very fitting...

Life has gotten in the way of my crafting this month.  Maybe it's going back to school for a few.  Maybe it is just summer closing down.  Maybe it's all that stinkin' housework!  Whatever is has been I have been on a roll the last day or so and it feels great!

Today I want to share with you some fun Gecko Galz projects.  These are all made using the August issues that were just so much fun!  I just love working with a digital image because I can make it the size I want.  I can change the coloring on it.  Sometimes I even crop an image out of it.  So let's take a look:

First up is this wonderful balloon image.  I just adore the colors and the image itself.  Great masculine card:

This is the card I submitted for the Gecko Galz Challenge.  This image is one from the Jewel It sheet but it just spoke to me.  So, I grabbed it and resized it for a card.  The girlfriend I gave it to LOVED it and actually framed it for her desk.  Sure made me feel good!

Another hot air balloon.  This one has an "Up" (the children's movie) feel to it since there is a house dangling from it.  Just made me happy:

And my personal fav this month.  This is a mixed media tag I created using multiple image.  I began by printing the large butterfly piece from a 1 x 1 sheet (again sizing it to my needs).  I also printed a smaller butterfly so I could use the wings.  I used several of the tags from other sheets and combined it all in the tag.  The butterfly wings is a  G45 metal butterfly that I folded in half off center to create the landing butterfly.  I adhered the cut out mini butterfly (just the wings, and cut apart) onto the outer wing.  The round piece at the lower edge is also from the 1 x 1 sheet but circle punched and topped with a flat marble.  I just couldn't part with it so it is hanging in the crop room!

This image is one of the circus stamps.  He is just so cute!  Printed in black and white on white card stock.  I colored the image with water color pencils.  Adhered to the black card stock and then onto a white card base.  But it just needed something more.  So I add the saying and all of the doodles using a white sparkling gel pen.

Another card -  Just a fun piece that has multiple image from the circus theme.  Great birthday card.

Last card - I couldn't resist one more mixed media piece but this time using the hot air balloons!  So much fun!  Lots of goodies on this one. Perfect for a guy's birthday card I think.

This is the last piece for the month.  I absolutely fell in love with the 1 x 1 butterfly images from this month!  There were so many beautiful images to choose from.  And the colors......oh, perfect!  I wanted to make this encased necklace using an image.  So easy!  But of course I chose the day to play when it was so rainy!  It took FOREVER for the enameling to dry!  It was so hard to get a good picture of all that is encased within the enamel.  There are beads, glitter, the image of course, some micro beads, and much more.  I made the small dangles as well.  When I'm not wearing it I have it dangling from my light on the nightstand!

So much fun!!!  You have to go check out all the images here.  And just because you stayed, played, and flipped through all this yummy goodness, here is a FREE stamp image for you:

I hope you enjoy your day.  I have grand plans of crafting all day.  I hear a Halloween album calling my name!  I have decided to be better at adding blog entries for this quarter.  I am trying a "schedule".  Hopefully I will have more for you more often.

Happy crafting all!

Seaside memories with Gecko Galz and FREE image

This month Gecko Galz has some gorgeous beach/seaside images for you.  I had a hard time deciding which ones to use.  So, there are quite a few for you to see!

This is one of my favorite images!  I love the texture it creates and all the levels of images.  I decided to make a mixed media canvas to showcase it.  I printed my image on cold press watercolor paper and adhered it to a chipboard base using gel medium.  Next I created the sand color by mixing chocolate gelato with texture paste.  I applied it to the edges with a palette knife.  The blue "water" was created the same way using blue gelato and texture paste.  Before the paste dried I added some sand, shells, other shell and a crab image from Gecko Galz, and a bit of glitter.

This is one of the August stamps.  Again I printed it on watercolor paper and colored it with water colors.  I love how vibrant the colors are.  It is added to a textured card base to finish it.

And this....a favorite for sure.  I'm not even sure I can give this card away I like it so much!  I printed the 1 x 1 images and cut out the ones I liked trying to keep a blue tone among them all.  The 3 seahorses image is double matted.  The 1x 1's are foam taped on the card around the edges.  The seahorses are foam tapped in the center.  Love it!

This image was just so fun to start with.  It is matted on the striped paper from the kit and then onto multiple mats.  The card base is stamped with a shell stamp randomly with a deep turquoise ink.  Add the matted image and voila!

This picture and the next show 2 mini cards I made.  I think these images are so sweet.  I actually have already given them to people!!!  Each are matted on the kit papers and placed simply on white card bases.  Very simple embellishments.  Perfect!

There are of course more than seaside and beach images this month.  I could not resist this cute and fun "joker" image.  The stamp reads: where words fail, music speaks.  I have matted the image on some of the kit paper and some other scraps I had.  And a bow.....always the perfect compliment.

Gecko Galz is super generous.  Each month there is a FREE image on each of the Design Team blogs.  Here is mine:

Please stop by the Gecko Galz blog to see all of the Design Team projects (they are wonderful!) and see what other stamps are available.  Also, all of the images I have used are available at Gecko Galz Easy shop.  

Have a wonderful day!