December 7th Tag for the Gecko Galz 25 Tags of Christmas

Happy December, friends!

Thanks for stopping by Paper Play to see what's new.  It's hard to believe that Christmas is less than three weeks away.  I've been busy crafting design team monthly projects, gifts for friends and family, and Christmas cards.  Speaking of which . . . today I'm sharing one of my creations for the Gecko Galz design team.

This one of two tags that I created for our 25 Tags of Christmas event on the Gecko Galz blog.  My Twinkling Lights tag feautures the image if an adorable young girl posed in front of Santa’s list.  She’s surrounded by green garland and sparkling lights.  It’s a fun tag full of Christmas whimsy.

I hope that you enjoy it!  Until next time . . . be well!

Happy Holidays - Tuesday Morning Sketches

Hi, friends!

Christmas crafting is in full blown mode.  Just about everything that I’m working on lately has to do with the holiday season.  The sketch for this week also worked very well for a Christmas card.  I used paper and ephemera from Simple Stories to create this it.  It has a bit of a retro feel to it.  It’s such a fun design!

Thanks for stopping by Paper Play.  Until next time . . . be well!

Magical Christmas Designs - Gecko Galz November 2024 Challenge

Welcome back to Paper Play, friends!

The fun part about this time of the year is that we celebrate so many holidays.  This month we've moved on from all things dark and beautiful to the magic of Christmas!  November's Gecko Galz Challenge theme was Magical Christmas designs.  This was a fun twist on the typical Christmas crafts since the word magical may be interpreted so many different ways.  I decided to focus on the magical beings of the season - elves, beings of nature, and angels.

I created four projects for the challenge - a tag and three greeting cards.  For the cards, I went with a theme of using a line from a Christmas song as the greeting.  I think that I found the perfect images to accommodate them!

For the tag, I used a chipboard tag as the base so that it would be very sturdy.  I painted the tag, glued down the elf image, and then stenciled holly and ivy with colored grit paste.  I made the burlap wreath by cutting a chipboard circle with the center cut out and wrapping the burlap around it.  The burlap is glued down to the circle.  I added some vintage grunge to the wreath using Tim Holtz Distress Spray Stains, and then glued it down to the tag so that the elf image was in the center.  I glued down the sentiment strip and some additional floral elements and the tag was finished.

 

 

 

The first card design came to me as soon as I saw the image of the Green Man/Forrest Man.  I immediately thought, "Let heaven and nature sing."  Seeing as though he is a being of nature, I thought it appropriate that he be surrounded by nature.  I grabbed a wreath die and cut the wreath elements out of a darker green cardstock.  I lightly added some Tim Holtz Vintage Photo Distress Ink to darken it up a bit, and then spritzed them with some Tim Holtz Distress Spritz to get some shiny mica on there.  I glued the wreath down to the image so that it was in the center and then added poinsettias and acrylic bubbles.  I wanted a somewhat plain background so that it didn't take away from the beauty of the wreath and image.  To start, I cut a piece of brown packing paper down to 4"x5.25" and wrinkled it up into a ball.  This technique creates a beautiful dark background that looks vintage and has little veins running all over it when you adhere it down.  I opened it up and adhered it down to a cardstock base (A2).  I ink blended some Tim Holtz Walnut Stain Distress Ink over it to add more aging to it, and then ran a gold metallic marker around the edges of the card base.  I glued the wreath down to the card base and created the sentiment with a label maker.

 

 

 

 

 

I loved this beautiful image as soon as I saw it, and the sentiment "Sleep in Heavenly Peace" immediately came to mind.  I thought of this cute little angel and the fox sleeping by the moon.  I wanted a very metallic aesthetic for this card to offset the softness of the image and help accentuate a winter feel.  The card panel was created by ink blending some blue, green, and purple inks onto white cardstock.  I then spritzed it with some Distress Sprtiz colors.  Once dry, I ran some Walnut Stain Distress ink around the edges.  I created the moon by die cutting a circle from black cardstock and then cutting it into a crescent shape.  I rubbed it with some silver gilding wax and then with some Distress Spritz on a rag and let it dry.  I fussy cut the image and glued it to the backside of the moon, and then adhered the moon to the card base using double sided foam tape.  I created the sentiment with a label maker and adhered it to the card, and then glued down some crystals to act as stars in the sky.

 

 

 

 

 

There were three other angel images that I wanted to use.  I thought of a collage but couldn't find quite the right arrangement.  I then remembered this photo strip frame die that I have from Whimsy Stamps and knew it would be perfect.  I created a slimline card base with Kraft cardstock.  I die cut the frame from Kraft cardstock, blended Tea Dye and Vintage Photo Tim Holtz Distress Inks over it, and then spritzed it with some Distress Spritz.  I ink blended some Tea Dye ink over each of the images and adhered them to the dried frame with double sided foam tape strips.  I then glued the frame down to the card base.  I thought about a sentiment related to angels and these beautiful images brought to mind, "Angels we have heard on high."  I created it with a label maker and adhered it to the card.

 

 

 

 

I really love these non-traditional Christmas cards and hope that you do, too!  Thanks for spending some time with me on the blog today.  Until next time . . . be well!

Winter Wishes - Tuesday Morning Sketches

Hello, friends!

This week’s sketch for Tuesday Morning Sketches was a beautiful floral arrangement inside of an arch.  I was immediately drawn to a winter theme with blue and white flowers.  I used a Sizzix snowflake embossing folder on a piece of brushed silver cardstock that had the arch cut from it.  I added some vintage grunge to it with black ink.  The card panel behind it was created by applying Simon Hurley Midnight Snack ink to white cardstock with a baby wipe.  Don’t you love the marbled look of it?  A white and a blue Little Birdie flower were glued down inside of the arch and the winter wishes sentiment was added to finish it.  So frosty and beautiful!

Here are my card and the sketch:

Thanks for stopping by Paper Play today.  Until next time . . . be well!

Seeds of the Past - Tuesday Morning Sketches

Happy Tuesday, friends!

Today’s share for Tuesday Morning Sketches is a beautiful encouragement card that is is full of Autumnal colors.  It’s a beautiful way to remind someone that each experience brings us forward to a new one.  The floral paper and sentiment are both from Brutus Monroe.

Here is my card and the sketch it’s based on:

Thanks for spending some time here with me today.  Until next time . . . be well!

Holiday Wishes with Tuesday Morning Sketches

Hello, friends!

It’s Tuesday, which means that it’s time for this week’s Tuesday Morning Sketches share.  My mind automatically turned to Christmas when I saw this week’s sketch.  It reminded me of a candy cane and so I ran with that inspiration.  White and red with metallic green stripes.  An easy, yet fun, way to say Happy Holidays!

Here’s my card and the sketch:

Thanks for stopping by my blog today.  Until next time . . . Be well!

Dia de Los Muertos

Hello, crafty friends!

Today’s post celebrates Dia de Los Muertos - the Day of the Dead.  A day that celerates and memorializes family and friends who have passed and is widely celebrated in Mexico.  My card features the beautiful Day of the Dead Sacred Heart Sugar Skull from Blank Page Muse.

Here’s what I used to make it:

Day of the Dead Sacred Heart Sugar Skull

Brutus Monroe Clear Embossing Ink

Brutus Monroe Gilded Embossing Powder

Black A2 card base

Cream 4”x5.25” card panel

Black 3.75”x5” card panel

Scraps of Gold Metallic cardstock

Grabie Acrylic Markers

Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Tea Dye

Delicata Golden Glitz Metallic Pigment Ink

Brutus Monroe Tea Stain Spray

Prima Marketing Paper Flowers

Here’s how I made it:

Adhered cream card panel to black card base and blended Tea Dye ink around the edges.

 

Stamped sugar skull onto black card panel with clear embossing ink and then heat set gilded embossing powder.

Colored the skull with acrylic markers.

Spritzed the colored image with Tea Stain spray.

Dabbed the card panel with gold metallic pigment ink using a baby wipe.

Adhered card panel to card base.

Brushed paper flowers with Tea Dye ink and glued them to card.

Created sentiment with label maker, glued to gold metallic cardstock scraps, and cut them into strips.  Glued the strips to the card.

Here’s a closeup of the card:

Thanks for stopping by Paper Play to read about this project.  Until next time . . . be well!

Hop along with us by clicking here to view the other blogs!

https://blog.blankpagemuse.com/2024/10/halloween-and-day-of-dead-celebration.html

Enjoy the Little Things - Tuesday Morning Sketches

Hello, friends!

Today’s card for Tuesday Morning Sketches was inspired by the colors of some leaves that I saw on a walk the other day.  They were the most vibrant leaves that I have seen this season.  With this in mind, I decided to use the beautiful new Autumn Tweed paper from Brutus Monroe as part of the design.  The three upside down arches seemed like the logical use for it.  Add in some word patterned paper and a sentiment and the card was complete.  Here’s my card and the sketch it’s based on:

Thanks for spending some time with me here today!  U til next time . . . be well!

Gecko Galz Annual Blog Hop

Hello Everyone!

We want to welcome everyone to the Gecko Galz 14th Annual Blog Hop.

 This is our Tricks and Treats Blog Hop! 

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

GOTHIC LOVE

(Click Right on the image below to save)

Here are the projects that I created with my collage sheet:

 

 

  

 

 

  

   

Also make sure you leave a message on each blog site you visit, and follow that design team member if you do not already and on the last blog there will be a phrase that you will email to us to be entered in our drawing for a wonderful treat pack.  So sit back, relax, take your time and enjoy the hop!

We have FIVE amazing prizes up for grabs:

        First is a Gecko Galz Kit Club for 2025!

        Second prize is a subscription to the Gecko Galz 2025 Card Topper Kits!

       Third prize is a subscription to the 2025 Tin Topper Kits for 2025!

Fourth 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 Craft Kit each quarter, a ATC collections, 1 Paper Pack each quarter, one jewel it collection, Tin Toppers, and Card Toppers!

 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 the phrase at the end of the hop on the Fripperies and Butterflies site there will be a link to email the phrase to Gecko Galz at geckogalz2019@gmail.com.

This enters you in the give Away. On October 28th we will randomly draw the 4 winners and email each of you, then we will post the winning names  in our Newsletter on November 1st.

 For an extra chance to win make a purchase from the GECKO GALZ ETSY STORE between the 25th of October and the 27th of October and your name goes in again for a better chance of winning (each purchase you make that weekend gives you another chance to win) 

 Now have fun visiting each Blog!

Gecko Galz

Kim Rayko

Robin Francini

Julia Vasquez

Tanis Buckton

Susan Renshaw

Kelly Parker 

Suzanne Franin

Carole Jones

Mia

Gerri Herbst

Jessica Kaiser

Walter Zemrock

Leanne Seed

Happy Thanksgiving - Tuesday Morning Sketches

Hi, friends!

Today’s share for Tuesday Morning Sketches is a Thanksgiving card that is perfect ro send to a friend or family member.  It’s a fun layered design full of autumnal colors and leaves.  It was inspired by the sketch you see below it.  I hope that you enjoy it!

All Things Dark and Beautiful - Gecko Galz October Challenge

Welcome back to Paper Play, friends!

October's Gecko Galz Challenge theme was a very fun one to create for - All Things Dark and Beautiful.  I have always been a fan of all things eerie, spooky, paranormal, and creepy.  I'm also a fan of anything Gothic, which i why this challenge was so much fun for me.  But what defines dark and beautiful?  It's so varied from person to person and it was fun to see how each Design Team member interpreted it.

I created five projects for the challenge - A Gothic vampire curio box and four greeting cards.

For the curio box, I used a small wooden rectangular box and painted it black.  I used a Gothic print from the Nosferatu ATC Sheet as the background and fussy cut an image from Victorian Gothic Ladies as the focal point.  Some gems were added around the edge of the frame for a little sparkle.  I love the mischievous smirk on her face!

The first greeting card that I created is a shadowbox card.  The background is a Gothic print from the Nosferatu ATC Sheet that is adhered to a black A2 card base.  The image of the woman was fusst cut from an image in the Victorian Gothic Ladies set and a crystal was glued to the center of the spider web on chest.  I cut a gold arched frame to fit around the background, glued a piece of acetate to the back of it, and adhered it to the card base with double sided foam tape.  A few gems were glued down for added effect.  She looks like she's ready to star in The Curse of the Spider Woman!

The next card is a fun trio of photos preserved in a slimline film strip frame.  I felt like these three images go together well and tell the story of a woman who is haunted by both her past and her future.  I used a die to cut the frame and added distress to it with Tim Holtz Distress Ink: Tea Dye, Vintage Photo, and Scorched Timber.  I also added from distress to the pictures and then adhered them to the frame.  The frame was adhered to the card base with double sided foam tape, and the sentiment made with a label maker.

The third card celebrates el dia de los muertos, The Day of the Dead.  The gorgeous image is from the Day of the Dead Card Toppers collection.  I centered the image on an arch of black cardstock and adhered it to the card base.  A gold metallic gel pen was used to outline the black rose in her hair.  I rubbed little white flowers with some Tim Holtz Antique Linen Distress Ink and glued them down around the arch.  I created a small distressed rectangle and hand wrote the sentiment of hermosa eternindad, eternal beauty, on it.  It's truly dark and beautiful!

The last card is a a Gothic Wedding card.  For the background, I cut a piece of brown shipping paper to fit an A2 card base, wrinkled up the shipping paper several times, and then adhered it down to the card base with a combination of double sided tape and craft glue.  I ran Tim Holtz Vintage Photo Distress Ink over the card base and Scorched Timber around the edges of the card.  The blood spotted letter is from the Vampire Dreams Junk Journal Kit, and the image is from Gothic Halloween.  The skeleton mask for the husband was cut from an image from The Dark Library set.  I made a frame for it using some chipboard, gold gilding wax, and turquoise gilding wax.  The result is a perfect wedding card for a couple who enjoys everything dark and beautiful.

I hope that you enjoyed reading about my creative process for these projects.  Until next time . . . be well!