Paris in Springtime!

Hey all you crafty people,  today I am up on the Gecko Galz Scrapbooking blog with a little canvas I made using one of their wonderful ephemera pieces.  The theme for this month is Paris in Springtime.  I am going to Paris this summer so I was really excited to complete this project.

Here are the supplies that you will need.

One 4x4 canvas panel
One small embroidery hoop
Finnabair Art stones
Finnabair rust effects
Finnabair paint in copper
Viva Le France Digital Ephemera Sheet
Paint brushes and palette knives
Heavy Body Gel Medium
modeling paste

First you paint your canvas with the Finnabair Rust Effects paint until you achieve the desired effects.  Just follow the instructions on the packaging and you will not fail.
I then separated the hoop and used one half, either half will be fine.  I painted the hoop the copper color and let everything dry.  I used a heavy body gel medium to attach the hoop to the canvas.  I then added a mound of modeling paste to the bottom of the hoop and a bit on the top edge.  After that I added some large and small art stones to my liking.  I let the entire canvas dry overnight.  The next morning I came back with more of the Rust Effects paint and painted the stones to blend in with the background.  Lastly I chose my ephemera piece and using some of the copper paint, added a bit all the way around the edge of the piece.  Then using Gel medium, I glued the piece down.  I typed out my title and added the copper paint to the edges and then glued it in place.  That was it.  Easy Peasy!!

So my friends, you still have plenty of time to join in the fun!!! You never know when your art will be the favorite of the month and You will win the prize.  So, head on over to the Gecko Gals Blog and read the rules on the Gecko Galz Scrapbooking Blog and take a chance and enter.  I double dog dare you!!!

A Little Work of Art!

I just love creating wonderful works of art and creating little pieces of art helps us to use our scraps and left overs which in turn gives us an excuse to buy more supplies, lol..  Oh what a wicked way to justify my habit.

So, not only do I design for Gecko Galz Scrapbooking, I also love playing along with ladies from across the world in swapping ATC Cards.  Each month, there is a theme, and this month the theme is "Where's My Crown".  I will post my cards once I finish them.


Last month, the theme was Calligraphy  I created the following ATC Cards to send to my partner,  

 Moonglow

 Blissfull

Mandala

All three are a mixed media using sprays, inks, glitter, paint, ink, paper and sequins.  I just love them all and hope my partner does also.  

Until we craft again!!

March Customer Challenge on Gecko Galz

Over at Gecko Galz Blog  The March 'Spring Time' Challenge is on!

There is only one rule, and that is you need to use at least ONE  product from Gecko Galz!!  

It can be one of the free products, stamps, collage images, or digital papers!!  It is up to you!!

The winner will receive a $25 Gecko Galz Shopping Spree 

Hurry over, and I dare you to try!!!

Green with Envy

Good Morning my follower crafters,  today I am up on the Gecko Galz' blog sharing another ATC I made for our fantastic February Challenge.  There is still plenty of time to join in if you dare!!!

Here is the finished Card.

The supplies you will need are as follows:

1. Image from the Gecko Galz Visions in Green Digital Image Sheet
2. Base card 
3. patterned paper from my stash
4. ranger distress in Black Soot 
5. Wink of Stella in Clear
6. flower, mardi gras masks, sequins, mardi gras mask charm and jeweled flower from my stash. 

The steps are as follows:

 1. Cut out your base ATC Card to the appropriate size.  If you are unfamiliar with ATC Cards, you can go here to see what all the hype is about.  As you base card don't forget you can use old playing cards, recycled cereal or other types of food packaging boxes.  You can also use the packaging cardboard from your scrapbook supplies.  These make a good heavy weight for your cards.  You can either round your edges like I did or leave them square.

2.  Cover the front of your card with a patterned paper of your choice.  I found a nice green swirly paper in my stash but you could use this if you don't have anything in your stash. Don't forget to put a complimentary solid piece of paper on the back so you can add your information. 

The easiest way to adhere your paper to your base is to use a sticker maker.  Once your papers are adhered to your base you can move on to step 3. 

3.  The next thing I did was to fussy cut my image from the Visions In Green digital image sheet by Gecko Galz.

 

After fussy cutting my image I inked the edges with black soot using a ranger foam applicator. 

I then added fun foam to the back of my image so that it would be pooped up.  

4.  I then adhered the hologram mardi gras masks that I had in my stash on top of the patterned paper

5.  I added my image on top of the masks and then added my embellishments.  I finished off by adding a touch of Wink of Stella clear to the flower and fur trim on the image.  I think it added such an elegant pop!!! 

Here is the finished ATC Card again.  

That's it, simple as 1,2,3.  Hope you will join us in playing along with our other customers and friends.  Tick Tock, Tick Tock, the clock is ticking.  You only have 4 days left!!! 

Happy Crafting!!!

I'm Late, I'm Late!!!

We have had another set back with illness in our house.  I really can't take much more of this.  First my Grandson was diagnosed with RSV and then low and behold, the boy gave it to me.  I have been trying to cough up a lung for two weeks now, lol.  Anyway I was supposed to add the Gecko Galz Challenge Button before now but.... Better late than never, I say.  So without any further ado....

Saint Patrick's Day is just around the corner and he Ladies at Gecko Galz as put together this little challenge.  The  theme is "Putting on the Green"  Would you like to join in on our challenge, just click on the Gecko Galz challenge Button on the upper right side of the blog. 

Here is my project for "Putting on the Green"

And remember, it's not too late to enter the challenge.  You have until February 27th to enter and y'all, the prize is not too shabby.  Free product from Gecko Galz.  What we can't do with a little free in our lives. 

Courtly Love January Challenge Still TIme!!!

Hi there all you crafty people.  Today I am up on the Gecko Galz Blog to show you how you can make an easy peasy mixed media ATC Card for the January Challenge.  And yes, there is still time to make something to enter.

So here is my featured Card and the supplies you will need.

• One 3.5 x 2.5 heavy cardstock or any other material you would like to use for your base.
• Gecko Galz Iced Bound digital paper
• Xyron CreateASticker
• Neocolor II wax pastels
• Gecko Galz Digital Image Sheet entitled True Romance
• pop dots
• Art Alchemy Sparks Acrylic Paint Unicorn Hair
• glitter glass
• stickles in crystal

You can use anything you want to as a base because you will be covering it with a patterned paper.  I used a beautiful blue marbled paper called Iced Bound from the Gecko Galz Winter Wonderland paper pack.  I then used my xyron machine to make the patterned paper a sticker and then carefully stick the paper to the base.  I then added a moon glow behind where to couple would sit using my NeoII color pastels,  Next I fussy cut image of the moon and the couple from the Gecko Galz Digital Image collection called True Romance.  After that I painted the moon a shimmery silver color using Prima's Art Alchemy Sparks Acrylic Paint in Unicorn Hair. Next I added some glitter glass to give it some dimension. I then popped the image up using pop dots.   I then added the stickle dots to mimic stars and lastly added my title.

I hope you can take away a little something from this post and truly hope you visit Gecko Galz Etsy Store.

And go ahead, enter the monthly challenge, I dare ya to!!!!

Until next time...

ATC's for the Curious

So what exactly is an ATC  An ATC or Artist Trading Card is nothing more than an original piece of art made by an artist then traded to other artists like you would pokemon cards or the old fashion baseball cards.  This type of art is very fun because the cards can be made using any type of materials, media or techniques.   These cards are usually made as a one of a kind piece of art, but sometimes the artist will make a series of cards all with a similar theme.  These works of art are not usually sold but should be traded instead.  

There are a few rules where ATC Cards are concerned and they are as follows

1. The ATC must measure 2.5 x 3.5 inches or the exact size of a playing card.
2. An ATC is meant to be an original piece of ART not a photocopy or print.  Some groups allow digital works of art so it would be wise to check the swap requirements. 
3. The cards must be traded for other cards—not sold.
4. The cards should be flat enough to fit into a plastic trading card sleeve. 
5. The artist should add their name, contact information, the title of your work and the date it was completed. 

So how do you make one of these beauties, well let me tell you!!

You begin by selecting a base for your card.  This could range from a cut up cereal box, to  watercolor paper, plain cardstock, canvas panel, playing cards, the cardboard you get in packaging.  After that you cut your base to the appropriate size.  Your artwork can be in a vertical or horizontal orientation. 

You would then need to decide what you will put on top of your base,  Here the possibilities are boundless.  You could cover it with a patterned paper, after adding gesso your base you could paint it, with either acrylics or watercolors, you could apply modeling paste through a stencil, you could use a rubber stamp with a glue base and emboss an image on top of your base.  Again, the possibilities are just about endless.  

After finishing your base card you can now begin the fun process of adding 2d and 3d items to your card.  These could include digital or photographed images, paper flowers, beads, sequins, glitter, ribbon, fabric trims, and small chipboard pieces.  Just remember that your work should fit in an ATC envelope or sleeve.

Once completed, you should definitely find a group of like minded people to trade your cards with.  If anyone would like to trade with me, I'm up for the challenge.  My only stipulation is that I can only do one a month.  So the first one to ask will be my partner. 

Here are some examples of my ATCs through the years 

Happy swapping my crafty peeps!!!

Gecko Glaz Courtly Love January Customer Challenge

It's time for a new Gecko Galz Customer Challenge!!

This month our Challenge theme is "Courtly Love"

Feel Free to grab our badge and share on your blogs.There is only one rule, and that is you need to use at least ONE product from Gecko Galz!! It can be one of the free products, stamps, collage images, or digital papers!! It is up to you!! The winner will receive a $25 Gecko Galz Shopping Spree!!!

Hmmm?

This ATC Card has a mixed media background also. Here I used masking tape that was wrinkled up and added to the card. Then the card was painted with heavy body white gesso. When dry I painted with Black Gesso. I then came back over the top with Art Alchemy's Wax in Vintage Silk. Think I went a bit over the top with the wax. I wanted more of the black showing, What do you think? I cut the Image from Gecko Galz Vintage Flirtations. The image was inked with brushed corduroy and added to the card. I then added some strung pearls and rosettes from my stash, the butterfly was also from my stash. then added the words.

For a list of other design team members who have created some beautiful artwork, please go to http://geckogalzscrapbooking.blogspot.com/ or Gecko Galz

We can't wait to see your creations!!

Thank you for visiting!

You have until 11:55 pm Eastern time on January 29th to play along!

You can link up your creations or send a photo of your project to us at geckogalz2014@gmail.com.

Let Your Light Shine

Well its New Year's Eve and I am sitting at home going over this last year in my mind.  I have had some fantastic ups and some horrific downs, but when the dust settles 2017 has been a very blessed year.

So one of the up moments in 2017 was being chosen to represent a fantastic online shop which offers high quality altered art and paper crafting supplies. They also offer a variety of items which includes papers, collage sheets, digital stamp sets and products which are sure to inspire your creativity. 

So its my turn to post an example of my art which is a mixed media tag that uses an image from the Misty Memories collection. 

The steps needed to complete this project are as follows:  

Supply List: 

Image from the Gecko Galz collection Misty Memories. 

Brick stencil from Crafters Workshop

Palette knife. 

Modeling paste (any brand will suffice) I used one with a sandy texture. 

Fire Brick wax from Finnabair.

Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink from Ranger. 

Foam board square

Lamp post cut out (used my Cricut) 

Leaves and vines cut outs (used my Cricut) 

Dresden foil trim, flowers, pearl bead, glitter, watered down white paint and various ribbons from my stash. 

Step one. Apply the modeling paste to the tag and let it dry completely. 

Step two brush on Finnabair wax or any deep red metallic paint, using a stiff bristled brush. 

Let it dry completely. You can speed up the drying process using your heat gun. 

Step three:  cut out your Misty Memories image and ink with your favorite dark brown ink. I used Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink from Ranger.

Used a small square of foam board, cardboard or fun foam to raise your image up off the tag for added dimension.  

Step four:  Add the lamp post and the other embessishments. As you see fit.  The words were printed out using my computer and home printer inked and glued down onto the tag. The last thing I did was to add a touch of iridescent clear glitter to the flower and splattered the watery white paint to mimic snow. 

Here is the finished product again. 

An Update

So, After looking at my last few blog posts, you can tell that I am really excited to be on the 2018 Gecko Galz Design Team and I promise to not talk about it again today.  What I would like to do is to update you on what's been happening in my life since my last post.

On November 7th, I woke up and could not get out of bed.  I could not stand or sit up in bed.  My right leg was hurting so, bad...  First, I fell at home about a month and a half ago and bounced on my booty (you would think I had some cushion) and jarred my fused lower back. I was able to get up and move around without pain so I didn't think anything of it. Well as time progressed so did the pain until about three weeks ago when I couldn't get out of bed. After two trips to the ER I was admitted(November 12th) and finally told I had a bulging disc and needed surgery. That surgery was Friday, November 17th. After surgery I was moving like a champ, very little pain and I could sit up again and also stood with the physician by my side and found that to be a bit painful, but I HAD just had surgery so it was expected.  As time progressed (three days) I started to hurt again and could barely walk.  My foot started to turn inward and curl up so that I was walking on the outside edge of my foot.  So the Wednesday after my surgery that would have been November 22nd I had another MRI and the results showed that the L4 nerve above the surgery site was swollen to about twice the size it should be.  So my doctor said he needed to go back in and see if he had missed something.  So on Black Friday  (November 24th) instead of shopping, I was headed back into surgery for a second time in one week.  After surgery, my doctor stated that he indeed had found a small, sharp burr that was irritating the nerve as I moved.  So he cleaned that up, however, I was left with a lot of pain and a lot of difficulty trying to walk.  On Monday, November 27th, I was transferred to a rehab hospital.  I've been here a week now and am showing increased strength and a whole lot of pain/muscle spasms in both legs.  I even had a conversion episode one day scaring the crap out of everyone including me, lol..  

Thus, here I am stuck in a rehab hospital with the majority of my art supplies at home.  I do have a few supplies here so that I can bible journal.  The supplies needed to bible journal are simple, they include Prima water color pencils, Faber-castell gelatos, a cheap Michael's brand water color set and various sizes of Faber-castell Pitt artists pens, a sharpie and a Pentel roller ball pen that I love.  Therefore, what you will get to see are my creations in my bible and a water color picture I did in occupational therapy yesterday.  Please don't be too harsh with your thoughts, you have to remember, I'm still on major nerve pain medicines as well as muscle pain medicines ie, muscle relaxers and opioids.  

And here are a couple of bible pages that I did.  

 My interpretation of 

The bottom picture was also used in a weekly challenge on a Facebook group I follow.  The Challenge consist of one word and two colors.  The word was "adventure" and the colors were "green and yellow"  I know the yellow is hard to see, but it's in the upper left corner.  It looks very green because it was colored over the blue.  Anyway that's all I have to share for today, hope y'all enjoyed my ramblings.  

Happy crafting...

Donna 

Exciting Changes!!

There are some exciting changes happening in my life right now.  I have been honored to join a  wonderful design team for the fabulous Gecko Galz.  Gecko Galz is an online shop which offers high quality altered art and paper crafting supplies.  They offer superb quality digital images, digital papers and other items including, collage sheets, digital stamp sets and products to inspire your creativity all at an affordable price.  Gecko Galz offers monthly customer challenges and their blog and newsletter offer free digital stamps and images.  I have been using Gecko Galz digital images for several years now.  Leanne has a large variety of designs in a multitude of themes and topics.

Here are a few items that I have made using Gecko Galz products:

On this ATC I used digital stamps from Gecko Galz to add some dimension to my background

 This canvas was fun, it has bits of lace, shells, metal pieces and glass stones.  The Mermaid I used is from one of the collections found on Gecko Gals.

This canvas was done several years ago when Gecko Galz asked me to be a guest designer.  Again one of Gecko Galz beautiful digital ephemera pieces.

I will be sure to share all of my design pieces in the future.

Happy Crafting

Well I Made. It

For many years now, I have been secretly wishing I could be part of a scrapbooking/art design team. I was too scared to try out for a spot until this summer.  Before this summer I was either working full time, taking care of my children/grandchildren or recovering from an accident at work that left me with permanent nerve damage in my dominant hand.  But this summer, I was able to find some time to start creating something several times a week. I have been participating in ATC Swaps and challenges on the Gecko Galz Scrapbooking Site.  So, when Gecko Galz announced its design team call for 2018, I decided to try out.  AND GUESS WHAT????  I MADE IT!!!  Whoopeeeeeee  I am soooo excited that I finally took a leap of faith and was rewarded.  So, you will be seeing my post for my projects that I will be making for Gecko Galz.  I hope you will hop over to their site and check out all the fantastic ephemera and the super cute digital papers that are for sale.  Oh, and Wednesday is One Buck Wednesday, so be sure to check it the site on Wednesdays...

Happy Creating Friends,

Donna

So What's Up!!!!

So, what's up with Me?  After my mother passed away and my grandson started daycare three days a week, I found that I had more time on my hands and needed something to fill it.  I have always loved doing anything creative.  I have since I was a very young girl.  I can remember getting one of those weaving looms and making dozens of pot holders that my Mom used until they fell apart.  One Christmas I got a candle making set.  I made candles for everyone in the neighborhood.  The summer I entered Junior High my parents put me in Singer sewing school where I learned to sew well enough to make my children's Mardi Gras costumes in later years.  Then as a young adult, I fell in love with roses and gardening.  I became an avid gardener growing and tending to over 50 rose bushes and over 75 hibiscus.  I even entered my blooms in contests and won.  It was during the summer of 2005, after my husband had a minor surgery and was home recovering, that I discovered scrapbooking.  I couldn't go outside and play in my greenhouse, I needed to be close enough to hear if hubby needed something, so I was watching a tv show about scrapbooking and thought, I could do that.  We had a local scrapbook store at the time and I was very intimidated anytime I walked in there.  I had done two scrapbooks for the boys the year they were King of the Mardi Gras Krewe we were in,  It was a very traditional scrapbook, actually it was a sketch book that I just glued the pictures and stickers and used Mardi Gras Stationary from the scrapbook store to decorate the pages.  But in 2005, I decided that I would jump in feet first and create a scrapbook for my husband.  His mother had just passed away and I had taken all the photos from the house for my husband and his children.  So, I started creating my first book in 2005 and have not looked back since.

These days I enjoy doing a multitude of mixed media projects, incorporating mixed media into my traditional scrapbooking pages.  I have discovered that the more texture a page has the more satisfied I am with it.  Now there are times when I do not add too much to the pages, just to be able to get them finished and in the book, before my grandson graduates.  He's currently 3 1/2 years old going on 30.

So since July, I have been trying to get some crafting done every day.  I don't always make it but I try.  I have been doing ATC Cards for Blissful ATC Swaps and also entering Gecko Galz Scrapbooking's monthly challenges.  I did win the challenge for July.  It was a cute little card with a circus theme.

Well gotta go pick up Batman(the grandson) from daycare.

Happy Crafting, Y'all

Donna

An Interesting two weeks

Two weeks ago, I left to go on an art/scrapping retreat.  Most of the ladies that attended cropped, but I decided that I was going to make an art journal using an old book.  Before getting to the retreat, I had prepped the front of the book, so that all I had to do was decorate the front.  Here are a few photos of the process of altering this book.

 First thing I did was to cover the entire outside surface with heavy body gesso.  Then I added some crackle paste in a few strategic places and also used a stencil to add some additional texture.  Then I started added elements.  I used 3d Gloss Gel to adhere the elements to the canvas.  I let that dry over night and then painted everything with another coat of Gesso.  I let that dry then painted the entire outside surface with black gesso.

After painting the entire surface with heavy body black gesso, I used some Finnabair brand opal magic paints to paint the entire outside of the book.  I used the violet-gold and green-gold with a dry brush technique to add color and highlights to the surface.

Now that its finished I will be using it as an art journal.  I'm really excited about the outcome.  Oh, lastly I did add some Inka Gold on top of everything to make some of the textures really pop.

Anyway, when I returned from my crop, I was told that my little grandson had been sick with a stomach virus.  He came and spend the night with us Monday night so his dad could go to work and I took care of him.  Well, unbeknownst to me, he was still contagious and by Tuesday night I was sick.  I was soooooo sick, I had not been that sick in years.  I was up all night running to the bathroom and by Wednesday all I did was sleep.  Thursday was not much better, but by this day, my son was sick also.  So there are two sick adults taking care of one feeling much better, way to active, 3 year old.  I did not feel like myself again until the Saturday.  Ugh, I haven't been that sick in forever.  I was soooooo sore.  Well that's all I have for now....  

Happy Crafting!!

Donna