Blooming Beauties

A new month means a new Customer Challenge at the Gecko Galz and the theme for the month of April is 'Blooming Beauties'. So why not play along - join the challenge with the chance to win $25 at the Gecko Galz shop! 

image from Stay Young and Beautiful

backing paper overlay from Neverland Digital ATC Collection

splats & embellishments from CraftArtist

Gone yellow for this challenge, my favourite flowers are daffodils so wanted to bring their colour into my sample.

I hope you'll join in 'Blooming Beauties' Challenge, where the Winner gets a $25 shopping spree to spend at the Gecko Galz shop. (The only rule is that you must use at least one Gecko Galz product... this can be one of the freebies, or, of course, you can buy at the Etsy shop). 

If you sign up for the Gecko Galz monthly newsletter, you'll be kept up to date with new releases, Super Sunday weekly deals and be able to claim a free digital collage sheet. 

If you pop over to the Gecko Galz blog, you will see all the fabulous designs by the Design Team - and maybe grab a freebie or two. 

If you haven't a blog/and or/ on Facebook, head over to the Gecko Galz Papercrafting Group where there are more monthly challenges, with the chance to win a digital collage sheet. 

 Amanda xx 

Love through the Ages

A new month means a new Customer Challenge at the Gecko Galz and the theme for the month of Febuary, is of course love related - 'Love through the Ages'. If you fancy a play along - join the challenge with the chance to win $25 at the Gecko Galz shop! 

Using Hugs and Kisses I chose the main image, from The Written Word Paper pack (now an atc kit) I chose the letter for the background, I love playing with the transparency filters on Craft Artist, this took me about two hours to do, but I love how dreamy and vintage it looks.

(I actually printed this out onto aged antique 'fluffy' paper what I got from Amazon, orignally for Santa letters, and it looks even more dream like, something I will use for a Valentine decorartion once I have embellished it - I have a few dried rose flower heads off of a plant, so am going to have a play with those)

I hope you'll join in 'Love through the Ages' Challenge, where the Winner gets a $25 shopping spree to spend at the Gecko Galz shop. (The only rule is that you must use at least one Gecko Galz product... this can be one of the freebies, or, of course, you can buy at the Etsy shop).

If you sign up for the Gecko Galz monthly newsletter, you'll be kept up to date with new releases, Super Sunday weekly deals and be able to claim a free digital collage sheet. 

If you pop over to the Gecko Galz blog, you will see all the fabulous designs by the Design Team - and maybe grab a freebie or two. If you haven't a blog/and or/ on Facebook, head over to the Gecko Galz Papercrafting Group where there are more monthly challenges, with the chance to win a digital collage sheet. 

 Amanda xx 

Happy Haunting

A new month means a new Customer Challenge at the Gecko Galz and the theme for the month of October is 'Happy Haunting'. So why not play along - join the challenge with the chance to win $25 at the Gecko Galz shop! 

Went digital today, 6x6 page done in Craft Artist. 

Of Past and Present 

(aka The Sorting Hat having a bad day)

The Witches

Scripture mini paper pack

Oxford Great Hall by Waldo Miguez on Pixabay

I hope you'll join in 'Happy Haunting' Challenge, where the Winner gets a $25 shopping spree to spend at the Gecko Galz shop. (The only rule is that you must use at least one Gecko Galz product... this can be one of the freebies, or, of course, you can buy at the Etsy shop). 

If you sign up for the Gecko Galz monthly newsletter, you'll be kept up to date with new releases, Super Sunday monthly deals and be able to claim a free digital collage sheet. 

Pop over to the Gecko Galz blog and you will see all the fabulous designs by the Design Team - and maybe grab a freebie or two. 

If you haven't a blog/and or/ on Facebook, head over to the Gecko Galz Papercrafting Group where there are more monthly challenges, with the chance to win a digital collage sheet. 

Happy Haunting

 Amanda xx 

Summer Love

Wow! A new month already, which means a new Customer Challenge at the Gecko Galz and the theme for the month of AUGUST is 'Summer Love'. So why not play along - join the challenge with the chance to win $25 at the Gecko Galz shop! 

The past month has been interesting, what with mini lockdowns ending and new rules when you go places, hairdressers finally getting to open up - though I've not yet made an appointment, keep forgetting.

So with a bit more freedom and shorter hair, everyone can look forward to some good old Summer Love!  

A 100% digital piece this month, it looked simple enough to do but it wasn't, but the more time I spent on it, the more the chap looked like Gordon Ramsey. Eek. Thankfully I've recovered!

 

image from Retro Flair

background from The Written Word Atc set

I hope you'll join in 'Summer Love' Challenge, where the Winner gets a $25 shopping spree to spend at the Gecko Galz shop. (The only rule is that you must use at least one Gecko Galz product... this can be one of the freebies, or, of course, you can buy at the Etsy shop). 

 If you sign up for the Gecko Galz monthly newsletter, you'll be kept up to date with new releases, Super Sunday weekly deals and be able to claim a free digital collage sheet. 

 If you pop over to the Gecko Galz blog, you will see all the fabulous designs by the Design Team - and maybe grab a freebie or two. 

 If you haven't a blog/and or/ on Facebook, head over to the Gecko Galz Papercrafting Group where there are more monthly challenges, with the chance to win a digital collage sheet. 

Amanda xx 

Feature Day @ Gecko Galz

Today is my day to feature my Design Team project for the month of June over at Gecko Galz.

I've done a basic 6 x6 scrapbook page using Craft Artist, using an image from Poolside Princess as my photo and the backgrounds from Ocean Breeze by Rosie H. Obviously you'd use your own photo, but it gives you a layout idea which you could use as is or add stuff to it.

I hope you'll join our The Color of Summer challenge where the winner will receive a $25 shopping spree at the Gecko Galz shop. The only rule is that you must use at least one Gecko Galz product, which can be something you purchased from the shop or a freebie.
If you sign up for the Gecko Galz newsletter, you'll be able to claim a free collage sheet each month and get first claim on the weekly Super Sunday Deals!
Why don't you pop over to the Gecko Galz blog to see all the fabulous designs by the very talented Design Team, don't forget to grab the free digi stamp on each post!
 We also have a Facebook Group where there are more monthly challenges for you to play in, each with a Design Sheet to win.

Amanda xx

Fall Colours @ Digital Whisper

Its such a freezing cold day today! Its that cold and wet even my George the Beagle didn't want to go chase our chickens around when he was let out for his toilet break, he stood waiting patiently with Quinn the Collie to be let back in and that NEVER happens.

Been up since 6.30am, had to take Andrew to work, then sit in an empty freezing house (not mine!) for one and a half hours waiting for Log burner fitters to arrive, supposedly 8 / 830am but in actuality 9.30. There's only so many times you can walk round a house and up/down stairs to keep warm!
Then it was off to the hospital with my step mum for her appointment whilst dad house sat the fitters.

My feet are still blocks of ice even though our heating is on, and the laptop fan is making my hands & knees cold.

But there's lots of people who are in worse situations than me, so I shall thank myself lucky I can switch the heating on when I want and stop with the petty grumblings.

Over at Digital Whisper, this weeks theme is Fall Colours, so decided to do a matching piece to last weeks entry, which is the previous post on here.

image from Gecko Galz 'Autumn Days'

words from alfawrites on Facebook

This time I used an original photo taken by me at Clumber Park, Nottinghamshire, a National Trust estate and a favourite of ours along with Hardwick Hall in Derbyshire, under layered by the image from the Gecko Galz design sheet and played around with various transparency and effects.
She's representative of Mother Nature looking over her seasonal changes.

entering in: Digital Whisper = Fall Colours

                                                                    Amanda xx

Hollywood @ Digital Whisper

After a lovely walk at Cromford Canal with Andrew and the pooch this morning, sat this afternoon doing a digital page for Digital Whisper weekly challenge. 

Taken a female spin on Hollywood, Go Ladies!!

background 'Starlight Atc Collection' Gecko Galz

images 'Cinema Sweethearts' Gecko Galz

movie film negative from pixabay.com

entering in: Digital Whisper ~ Hollywood

Gecko Galz - Garden Bliss

Over on the Gecko Galz blog, the challenge for April is 'Garden Bliss'. Feel free to join in and have a play - there is only one rule, and that is you need to use at least ONE product from Gecko Galz shop or it can be one of the free products, stamps, collage images, or digital papers!! The winner will receive a whopping Spring-loaded $50 Gecko Galz shopping spree!

My garden, termed rather loosely, is one of my favourite places - if I'm not in the garden I have the front door open so I can hear the bird song and our chickens chortling. We've just put up a 6x6 wooden greenhouse. in which there will be tomato plants, lettuce etc - cannot wait to get going!
Its not a very scenic garden by any stretch of the imagination but there are shrubs and a few flowers and a lovely big Twisted Hazel tree which I had for my birthday. So I definitely feel  Garden Bliss.

'Floral Symphony Paper Kit'

'Free Birds Craft Kit'

I used the floral paper as my backing paper then overlaid the muscial one on top and altered the transparency of it so you can just see the notes in the background. The four birds came from the Craft Kit and I just placed them onto the page. The quote came from The Quote Garden.

Amanda xx 

For these and many more designs, check out Gecko Galz on Etsy.

By the Shore

Sat and did this page last week, playing with a new kit (freebie) I got off DaisyTrail, which sadly closes on the 11th of this month. Also purchased a few digi kits in the sale.
Only just found the time to upload it.

used 'vintage vacation' digi kit by Rosie H
image from Gecko Galz 'Splish Splash' sheet 1

entering in: gecko galz blog = August - by the shore

In a mermaid garden and a mythical creature

Day off number 3, alas back to work tomorrow :(  that'll mean no crafting for a few days.

But two for the price of one this morning, digi page done for two challenges.

6 x6 digi page

kit 'Natural Beauty' by Rosie H

image Gecko Galz

quote from web

Removed the image from its background, used the same splatter embellishment three times, re coloured to match the image & resized each time. Grouped together to make one big splat. Added text. 

entering in: gecko galz blog = in a mermaids garden

                    Gecko Galz Papercrafting Challenge Group  (facebook)

Did another 7 day stint at work, honestly they are trying to kill me off, I'm sure of it! Good news and slightly ironic due to the topic of hours on the other posts - my contract has been increased (officially) to 25 hrs from 13 hrs, very pleased with that outcome. 

Couple of days off now, went to Chesterfield to have lunch and a wander round, and of course peruse a few charity shops, ended up with 2 second hand books and then Andrew treated me to Nigel by Monty Don and a Richard and Judy pick , The Muse by Jessie Burton, not read any of her books but the gorgeous cover caught my eye. 

 Today, I ended up getting up at 6.30am..... so much for a lie in!!! Tomorrow is as yet unplanned.

Digi page I did this morning, using 'Fading India' digital kit by Vintaj, picture from yahoo search and a quote from Ramana Maharusi.

Calke Abbey

Thursday saw us visiting Calke Abbey, one of my favourite places. Not visited in over a year so it was time to go back! Left the pooches at home so we could wander round the house and gardens - you can take dogs in the estate grounds.

Had a lovely time, this year its all about Hidden Calke, so from 11 - 1215 each morning, they open the 'rooms' in which the last occupants lived in after abandoning the rest of the House, mainly 4 rooms - dining room, study, kitchen and a lounge. These are on the ground floor, the bedrooms and the bathrooms being at the top of the house so they still had a way too walk to go to bed! It was lovely to see how it 'was' lived in before turning it over to National Trust is n 1985 (I think).

After the 'apartments' we had a lovely walk round the estate to Staunton Herald Resevoir and back, took lunch then walked round the rest of the House and the gardens. Wonderful day out even if it rained for most of it.

Some people say its sad to see that state of it and why don't the NT do it up, but I think its hauntingly beautiful in all its decay, a life once lived allowed to rest for evermore.

Quote

Digitally Made Challenges have their new challenge up for this month and its "Quote - include a quote on the project or tell us the quote that inspired your project and how"

Doing things a little differently as usual,  I decided to use a quote from Supernatural. Oh boy, was it tedious looking through all the eye candy different characters quotes to pick one which I could use!

It actually took me just over 2 hours to do this page, as I kept trying different backgrounds but me being me, went with the first background I'd played around with...

There are quite a few layers/components to this page;

background 

Devils trap symbol

the Impala

material 

frame

writing

Had great fun putting it all together, especially love that the Devils Trap looks like its engraved into the picture, totally by accident when I was using the transparency tool to fade it.

The Impala image came from Pinterest, and the digi kit I used was "Grunge it" by Seaside Crafter over on DaisyTrail

entering in: Digitally Made Challenges = quote

It also looks freakin' awesome as a wallpaper on the computer:

okay, I'll stop channeling Dean Winchester now..... 

the letter M

So today is the first day of my June holiday, one weeks glorious sunshine at Costa d' Hilcote. or not, as the weather today is cold and wet,did I mention its very cold!!

Decided to do some crafting today and drink lots of coffee to keep warm. 

New challenges are up on the Gecko Galz facebook page, so I chose to do  ' letter M' 

I thought of mermaid straight away, just had to find a suitable GG image, then googled "mermaid poems" and the one I used was one of the first I saw, usually I end up trawling through loads of stuff and end up really fed up.

GG image from July 2015 email freebie

Coquette kit paper no 6

Edges and mint green

Didn't think I'd get time to do something for the current Butterfly challenge, if I have odd day off I don't get to craft much, but if the days off fall together I seem to be more organised.

Done something digital today, so can enter into two challenges.

Done in pastel colours to co-ordinate with the mint green butterfly, using a Butterfly digi kit. Plenty of tweaking and fading of things, so not going to go into details like I usually do.
I like this so much I'm going to buy a small box frame and hang it up somewhere, as a gentle reminder that its ok when things change, you just need to adapt.

entering in:Butterfly challenge = E for edges and/or mint green

and onto the 2nd challenge, with a heavy heart as its the very last challenge from this lovely Digital blog. Everyone on the DT and all the participants are lovely people and create some amazing projects, it will be a shame not too have this inspiration anymore.

entered into: Digitally Sweet = anything goes

Music

Having missed 2 challenges last week; a Merry Monday Christmas & Mrs A's Butterfly one, I wanted to get Digitally Sweets one in before it closed today.

digi kit used 'Graceful Dancer' by DaisyTrail

lyrics "Its Alright" Pet Shop Boys
100% digital

 

The background is pink with musical notes on, I placed another paper (black) on top and then used the transparency tool to merge the two, allowing the musical notes to appear, this had the added bonus of making the colour change to the one I used. I knew I wanted to get movement from the dancer but after trying every tool there was and not liking the effects, I used the other image and rotated each so it would appear that she was pirouetting into her last position, again I used the transparency tool to give each little dancer slightly more substance than the one before.

Its Alright is another firm favourite of mine, and I knew from the start of the challenge I wanted to use this verse with whatever I did.

entering in: Digitally Sweet = Music

Animal or Pet

In the midst of Christmas card making, so I thought I'd have a change of craft and go digital this evening.

100% digital layout done using CAP2 and 'Poppies' digi kit, not sure if this is a persons handmade kit or from Daisy Trail, apologies if I don't credit.

I have 5 cats, but  this layout is dedicated to 3yr old Poppy, sister of Daisy, both are tuxedo cats (love this description) with Daisy having more white on her coat. Poppy is a miaower and loves lots and lots of fusses, Dasiy is more offhand and will only come for a fuss on her terms, but is open to bribery if she knows her cat milk is in the fridge.

.

entering in: digitally sweet challenges = Animal or Pet

uh-oh...... here comes Daisy....

travel

Most of this digi page was done in the middle of the night, my brain would not switch off and let me sleep, so I got up and decided to start my piece for Digitally Sweet.

Used various elements from various digi kits free on the web, but the image is from Lunagirl 'Travel Posters'.

100% digital using CAP2.

I used the Travel theme with a twst - Time Travel - I guess the sentiment could be a statement or a question, with the steam train powering out of a fiery rip in time.


entering in: digitally sweet = travel

Gold & Green

Over at Gecko Galz Papercrafting Facebook page, gold & green is one of the five challenges. I haven't played digitally around for ages. I love losing an hour or two playing with masks, different materials, shadows etc and trying to find the right bits and bobs from all the digi kits and where they look the best.

And of course, just had to add some butterflies.

 

image from Gecko Galz- Gypsy Magic

elements from various digi kits, mostly free from Serif

sentiment in Juice font

 

entered in: Gecko Galz Papercrafting Facebook group

Fantasy

Something simple for this months challenge over at Digitally Sweet.

I wanted to use fairies and mushrooms/toadstools - I found the perfect fungi image from "spring has sprung" by Ephemeras Vintage Garden   and decided to use my favourite fae folk from  Fripperies and Butterflies.

With retrospect, that was the simple bit - I spent a very long time digitally cutting out the toadstools from their background, in the end it was millimetre by millimetre! All I then had to do was place the fae folk fluttering round, adding shadows here and there - the overall image reminded me of pictures from an old Lithographic book on Natural History or something of that ilk.

This image is 100% digital.

 

entering in: Digitally Sweet = Fantasy