Snowy Day Challenge at Gecko Galz

I entered this shadow box late into the Snowy Day Challenge over at the Gecko Galz Yahoo Group.  I just wanted to share it so it doesn't matter if I don't win.  I had a blast creating it!

I started with a house blessing tile from like the 70s or 80s, which I found at Goodwill for $2.99.  I turned it over and it was a wonderful shadowbox.  I painted it white, added a background paper, and just started to add my elements.  There are glitter snowflakes from a tag set at Target.  There are Jesse James snowflake buttons. Pink Paislee diecut label, angel images from Gecko Galz, fake snow from Wal-Mart, a red glitter bow from Target, red velvet scallop ribbon from American Crafts, Icicles from Savers, another thrift store, along with the sled, snowballs, and snowman. The pearls are from Darice.

Enjoy! Happy New Year and Happy Scrappy Savings!

Jess

Gecko Galz and More Challenges

There are a few contests going on right now, hosted by the members of the Gecko Galz Design Team.  Two of them require a project, the 3rd just a comment to enter.  Each is giving away $25 in product from Gecko Galz, so you need to get over to them and enter!  And don't forget to come back here on Monday because I am hosting a giveaway as well for another $25 gift certificate from GG!

So, here are the contests and my entries:

Heather Hudson, over at My Artistic Adventures, is hosting, and all you need to do to enter is to create a project using any image from Heather or from Gecko Galz.  My card uses an image from Winter Wonderland, from Gecko Galz. I used glitter glue on the edges of the green patterned paper, smearing it so it would dry irregular.  Then I put dots of it on the doily. The glittered leaves are actually parts of a snowflake. This image was one of my favorites and I just had to use it. I am also entering this into the Little Scrap Pieces Fun Friday Challenge for any kind of Christmas project, and into the Red and/or Green challenge at the DL.ART Thankful Thursday Challenge.

 

Helene over at LOTSA Scrap blog also has a contest where you use an image she has provided to make any kind of project.  The image is from the new collage sheet, Beauties Unveiled. I decided to have her be Mary, and created a religious Christmas card. Again, I used glitter glue, which I love, around the word Night, for the word HOLY, which were stickers that I covered with glue, and also as a halo treatment abover her head. I also stamped white snowflakes in the background.

 

The third contest, hosted by Debi over at My Bird Flying Free, has some wonderful tags to show off using awesome Christmas images, and all you have to do to enter is to leave a comment telling her which products from Gecko Galz are on your wishlist and become a follower of her blog.  Her creations are amazing so it is worth following!

Thanks so much for coming by to see my entries!  Don't forget to enter yourself and come back next week for another contest!

Happy Scrappy Savings!


Jess

Gecko Galz Cyber Monday Goodies

I posted a free image the other day from Gecko Galz to promote their sale. Each design team member had a different image. I collected them all and made a set of Christmas cards. I love how they turned out!

For the card bases and many of the backgrounds I used items given to me in a swap this past July, from my friend Barbara. The colors and papers aren't normally what I would buy but they worked perfect for this project. One background, the music, is an image from Gecko Galz as well as all of the children/animals, and some of the sentiments. The red crochet lace and the red and white flowers are from Michael's. The snowflakes are from either Walmart or Target.

They were fun to make! Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gecko Galz Cyber Monday Sale

On Monday, November 26th Gecko Galz will be having a huge Cyber Monday sale! Head over for the following HUGE sales:

• Buy One Get One: On all regular priced items when you buy one you get another of equal or lesser value all day Monday!


• $1 Collage Sets: Selected collage sheets will be $1 per set all day so come collect all of them!
  


• FREE Gift Pack: When you spend $50 or more you will get an exclusive gift pack which features a paper pack, stamp set and collage set.
  


• Get a $5 gift card: When you purchase a gift certificate worth $25 or more you will get a gift card for yourself worth $5!

To start off this HUGE sale, enjoy this free image from Gecko Galz! I would love to see what you create from it! Oh the possibilities! Let Gecko Galz know that Jess sent you over for some great savings too!
 

Here are some holiday projects I have been working on with Gecko Galz images. There are so many ways to use the images from GG. Enjoy!

 

This is a jar for matches. I needed to do something with leftover matches from a altered matchbox swap that I am a part of, so I made it into a gift for my sister since she has a fireplace. I found a short mason jar, wrapped burlap around it using my favorite adhesive for ribbon...Scor-Tape! Did the same with the red ribbon on the lid. I covered a chipboard label cut from a Tim Holtz die with some music from a GG Christmas collage set, and added Merry Christmas on top, also a GG image. The Santa Claus on the lid is a GG image, along with the holly leaves, which I fussy cut. Then I wrapped burlap ribbon into a flower, added some holly berries, and voila! Simple and quick gift for my sister!

 

This is a small wreath that I covered with burlap strips cut from a yard of burlap. I added red string around it, various glitter snowflakes from Target. The little girl has been fussy cut and the red has been covered in red glitter glue. I added a little white pom pom to her hat. I printed the "Let It Snow" words and inked it with some Distress Ink. This was my favorite piece of the weekend, which has inspired my altered matchbox ornaments, to be shown later.


So come join us for all the fun and savings over at Gecko Galz!

Happy Holidays and Happy Scrappy Savings!

Jess

Burlap Wreath with Felt Flowers

So I finally made a burlap wreath while pumpkin chocolate chip cookies were cooling. I had bought a couple of small foam wreaths from the Target dollar spot last month or so. Now I wish I had gotten more! I got the burlap from JoAnn Fabrics while I was in FL. I don't know if I can find any here in Hawaii. I think I might call the local fabric store and ask. The cost was $3.99 per yard, and I used 1/4 yard for this.

I cut several strips of burlap. Beware of the hairy mess it can make on your clothes as you wrap the wreath. It can be prickly through them. I used pins to secure the burlap as I wrapped it. Don't use hot glue directly on foam wreaths. It will melt.

I decided to make felt flowers because I had plenty of felt from various kid crafts. I cut a small circle, several flower shapes, folded the flowers into quarters, snipped the point, and glued them on the circle. Once I made 3 flowers, I hot glued them to the wreath. I plan on tying a ribbon on top and hanging it up in my kitchen.

Total cost was less than $5.00. Awesome!

Cabinet Card Finished - The Madness Within

I wasn't able to finish this cabinet card in time for the AlphaStamps swap. We had to fly back to the Mainland for a funeral. I was almost done when we left so it only took an hour or so to finish. My daughter had fun making foam turkeys for her classmates while I worked.

 

 

I started with a 7 Gypsies cabinet card from AlphaStamps. I put the photo of Edgar Allan Poe into the cutout, then covered the inside with paper. The brick treatment is modge podge mixed with shredded toilet paper to give it dimension. I smeared over a stencil that I cut out of some leftover packaging from the cabinet card. Nothing is wasted!

 

I used collage images from AlphaStamps, Gecko Galz, and a few misc. places online. I printed the tree on my pattern paper before adhering it to the cabinet card. Then I went over the entire tree with a black glitter paint. For the label behind Poe, I used a leftover cereal box cutout from my Poe shrine project. I painted it then stamped silver paint with a woodgrain stamp. The wood represents the planks in The Tell Tale Heart.

 

I tried to represent some of his more creepy tales, showing the madness within. That is why the exposed brain. Also, the eyes in the wall are his. I had fun making this. Glad to have finished it!

Halloween Inspiration

I am loving the Halloween goodies out there! And one of my favorite blogs, Cherry's Jubilee, has had some awesome ideas! This post with the altered block inspired me because I owned the same chipboard frames. And I have all of these vintage images from Gecko Galz that were begging to be used.

I used a tea tin, from Goodwill $0.99. I am entering this for the Kitchen Sink challenge over at the Gecko Galz Yahoo Group. The pumpkin paper is from Bo Bunny, which I ordered in bulk last year because I absolutely love it.

The chipboard frames are from Maya Road, which I got from their warehouse sale. I covered them with Washi Tape from K&Company, and used Images from Gecko Galz to decorate, some misc. buttons and some Doodlebug twine.

The glittery stickers are from Making Memories, the tulle, wooden spools, and black flowers from Darice, and the orange ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon.

Swaps keeping me busy!

I have been working on two swaps for a Yahoo Group I am a part of, a September Surprise for one person and a Fall/Halloween swap for 11 people.

My surprise swap could be any theme/occasion and my person likes brighter colors. When I saw the butterflies from Gecko Galz, I knew I had to use them. Also, the doily dress was something I have been wanting to try for a while.

Supplies: will add them later

For the Fall/Halloween swap, I knew I had to make 11 of them so I needed supplies that I had in large quantity, like beads, spools, ribbon, and flowers; rubber stamps; printed images from Gecko Galz, paint and inks. Edgar Allan Poe is my favorite author, has been since I was 10, reading his stories in 5th grade. He is also very popular right now for Halloween artwork so I had to use him in a shrine/shadow box made from a mini cereal box. I want to make ones for the authors of Dracula and Frankenstein so I can have a nice literary trio. I am such a nerdy librarian!

Supplies: will add soon

Happy Scrappy Savings!

Jess

I Won!

Just saw that I won the Lessology Challenge #17 , using envelopes!  This is so cool! Here is the post from my winning card.

 I can't wait to do their current challenge, Lessology Challenge #18, It's a Wrap.  I will have to brainstorm tonight about what I can use.

Thanks Lessology!

Happy Scrappy Savings!

Tag You're It!

Here is a tag wall hanging that I made my mom for her birthday. It started as a single tag for a birthday card but turned into something more.

I loved using fun background stamps on each, inking, blending, and dripping water. I also loved using the white rub-ons from American Crafts, and collage images from Gecko Galz.

This was entered into a challenge at Gecko Galz and I am linking it to a giveaway at Paper Issues.

Happy Scrappy Savings!

Jess

I Won a Prize at the Rubber Cafe!

Okay, WOW!  I won the grand prize at the Rubber Cafe's Blog Hop!!  This is so cool because the prize is awesome!  Check it out!

I get 3 cool stamp sets and an awesome fence die that can be used for rosettes too!  I cannot wait to get my hands on this prize!  I keep telling you it pays to read the blogs!  All of these awesome companies want to get their products out there we are doing our part by participating in the blog hops, sharing on Facebook, joining their blogs.  It takes a few minutes of your time, but you get some amazing inspiration for your time, and maybe, if you are lucky, a great prize. 

How to keep track of all of these wonderful hops and giveaways?  Use your blog!  On the left column of mine I keep a list of giveaways and hops that I did so that I can remember to check back for the winners.  If I want to follow for future ideas and such, I add them to my blog roll, which is on the right side under the blinkies.  That way I can see the latest posts from them, and usually that is how I find hops and giveaways.  I am usually following someone who is a designer for a hop.  Then I spread to word to my BFFs, add the blog to my giveaway list, and away we go!

On a different note, I know I haven't been creating much this week.  My 3 year old started school this past Tuesday and it has been crazy!  We are not used to waking up at such an early time and keeping a set schedule.  Both of my kids would sleep past 8 am if you let them.  Which is how I like it.  Now I can't stay up past their bedtime, I am so tired!  That is usually my creative time and all I want to do is rest! So it has been an adjustment to say the least! 

Be on the look out for some goodies soon.  I have a bunch of swaps and challenges for the next couple of weeks that need to be worked on.  Hopefully I can get them done and really start on Halloween stuff!  Can't wait to use all of my goodies from Gecko Galz.  You should check out their new collage sheets, which include Edgar Allan Poe, my favorite author of all time.  The digital stamps are also awesome.  I need to either win some challenges or whip out my plastic to get my hands on those!

Hope you have a good weekend, I am so far!

Happy Scrappy Savings!

Jess

A Note for Teacher

I decided to make some teacher gifts for my daughter's teacher, and found this idea on Momenta's Blog. I had some scraps left from a big project so these were perfect.

I am linking this to the Paper Issues Blog Hop which has a back to school theme.

Happy Scrappy Savings!

Jess

Card Set For My Mom's Birthday

I made this card set for my mom, which includes 5 cards, stamped envelopes, and a box to put them in. I got the box idea from Pinterest, here. It was perfect timing because I was about to look for a way to package the cards.

I am entering this into a ScrapFit: Workout #75 Challenge, where twine is the star. I loved using the twine and was glad I had enough for this project.

This project also made use of the leftovers from the AlphaStamps Gypsy Swap, which I still haven't put away. I try to get the most out of a set of paper before it is out of sight, out of mind.

 

 

Supplies:

Cardstock - Stampin' Up
Stamps - Stampin' Up and Pink Paislee
Pattern Paper - Kaiser Craft
Twine - Etsy
Flowers - Prima
Ink - Stampin' Up

Thanks for stopping by!  Happy Scrappy Savings!

Jess

Gecko Galz Challenge Winner and Great Savings!

Yea, I won a challenge over on Gecko Galz for my Garden of the Birds canvas! Now I get to choose 5 collage sheets as my prize. Choices, choices! They have some of the best collage sheets around, and a lot of variety.  I am trying to gather stuff for Halloween and Christmas, so I guess that narrows my choices.

Also, my Zva Creative blog hop prize came today, so it has been a lucky day! Remember, enter as many blog hops, enter challenges whenever you can. It will inspire you and possibly pay out in return, helping you to save money!

 

Another way to save money is to take advantage of Warehouse Sales from various companies. Last month Pink Paislee had one where I got over $150 worth of stuff for $39 + shipping. When the box came it was so heavy! I couldn't believe what I got! Check out the pictures!

 

 

 

 

 

Well, there is another warehouse sale, this time from Maya Road, where you pay $44.95 + $6 shipping (which is half the cost of the medium flat rate box they are using) and you get $175 worth of stuff! To get these notices, subscribe to Northridge Publishing, the publishers of Scrapbook Trends, Cards, and all of those great idea books!

Happy Scrappy Savings!

Jess

Gypsy Fortune Teller Swap Pieces Done!!

I have just finished my swap pieces for the AlphaStamps Gypsy Fortune Teller Swap. I am so pleased with the finished pieces that I am trying to decide if I want to make a 2nd set for myself! I did with the last swap, which were (3) 4" coasters that I plan on connecting and hanging up. Check those out HERE.

Supplies:

Chipboard Shapes - AlphaStamps
Pattern Paper - Kaiser Craft
Dresden Gold - AlphaStamps
Ink - Distress Ink Walnut Stain
Bead Trim - AlphaStamps
Lace - Offray
Lace Stain - Distress Stain Victorian Velvet
Label - Kaiser Craft
Alphabet Stamps - Studio G
Images - AlphaStamps
Grean Leaves - Prima
Teal Leaves cut with Cricut Storybook
Rhinestones - Studio 18
Tree Branches - Daisy D's Pattern Paper
Buttons - misc.
Coins - AlphaStamps
Gold Flourish - AlphaStamps

Birds in Hats Swap Coasters are HERE!

My first swap with AlphaStamps is a success! Thank you to Cheryl, Alice, and Beverly for these wonderful works of art!

The first one is from Alice, and I just love the metal! The wing is my favorite, making the bird seem so dimensional! And the colors are great!

The second coaster is from Beverly. The colors are great and the dimension, again, is awesome. She partially glued some areas higher to pop it out just a bit. And the layering is cool.

The third coaster is from Cheryl, and makes me think of a 3-D Victorian greeting card. She used pop dots to give dimension. I love it!