gecko galz circus journal pages

happy july! each month at gecko galz one of the design team members takes a turn sharing a journal page and a tutorial for the page.  this month i'm up!  but first let me tell you that the customer challenge on the gecko galz blog this month is "in a mermaid's garden."  

link up your mermaid creations for the chance to win gecko galz prizes; additional info on how to play along is at the bottom of this post. now, for my journal pages!

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last month our theme was circus and i am so in love with all things circus that i stayed with that theme for my journal pages.  i started by printing several circus themed collage sheets and cutting out the images i thought i'd like to use.

and then of course the fussy cutting began.  i wasn't sure which images i would ultimately use so i cut out a lot that i liked.  the ones i didn't use went into an envelope for a future project.  i also remembered there were a couple other sheets i wanted to work with so i included those in this photo.

next i had to decide which journal to use, a large one or a small one? 

i chose the smaller (6x6) and next explored what layout of images i might like.

for the background i knew i wanted to use watercolor spray inks and lots of washi tape.

after spritzing the pages and impatiently waiting for them to dry i started to apply washi tape.

at this point i got so busy making that i forgot to take additional photos.  here are the completed pages.

some flowers and enamel dots made for a nice finishing touch. so here is my happy little circus fantasy, i hope you like it!

by the way, here are the collage sheets i used:
circus circus
circus life
darling dragonflies
charming words.

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cone back here on july 14 to see my mermaid creations for our monthly theme!  now, here's how you can play along with the mermaid customer challenge!

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you must use at least one item by gecko galz.  if you sign up for the monthly gecko galz newsletter you'll get a free collage sheet every month.  sign up at the blog here, on the top left.  there are also wonderful freebies at the gecko galz pinterest page.  and there are always wonderful deals at the etsy shop -- and if you are a newsletter subscriber you'll also get notice of the special one buck wednesday deals! for this challenge your deadline to link up is july 30.  we all look forward to seeing what you make on this lovely undersea theme!

love to all.

reindeer tag

our theme at tag tuesday this week is reindeer or stags.  i wanted to play but admit i didn't have much energy or time for creativity this week.  i managed this:

the reindeer is a digital stamp by gecko galz and the paper is from gecko galz as well.  the rickrack and border are from my stash.

a reminder that at the gecko galz customer challenge blog the theme is "deck the halls."  link up a creation on that theme that includes at least one item by gecko galz and you'll be up for a cool prize from the gecko galz shop.  gecko galz freebies are available at the gecko galz pinterest page.

love to all.

gecko galz customer challenge -- man o man!

it is june, the month for fathers, and a perfect time for a gecko galz challenge blog customer challenge focused on men!  our theme this month is "man o man!"

i've made an ATC to get us started.

supplies: pre-cut ATC base; gecko galz "steampunk paper pack;" gecko galz "man o man" collage sheet; moonlight journey "steampunk wings" (sadly the moonlight journey online shop has closed); tim holtz word stickers; distress inks

instructions: i covered the ATC base with papers from the "steampunk paper pack" and distressed the edges.  i fussy cut the strong man and the wings and glued them together, then glued them to the base.  the final step was cutting out and adding the words. simple but fun.

how to play along: link up a creation on our theme at the challenge blog, being sure to use at least one item by gecko galz.  you can obtain freebies from gecko galz at the pinterest site, or if you haven't done it already, go to the log and sign up for the email newsletter and you'll get a free collage sheet each month.  the gecko galz etsy shop also has great deals at great prices -- check out the sale section!

i hope you will play along.  stop by this blog again on june 6 for another manly ATC and a digital freebie as well!

love to all.

"garden of dreams" may customer challenge at gecko galz

this month at the gecko galz challenge blog you are invited to create on the theme of "garden of dreams."  this is a lovely opportunity to envision the garden of your dreams in your art!  here is my inspiration for you:

garden of dreams altered tin

supplies: altoids tin; gecko galz "zen garden" paper pack; gecko galz "a rose is a rose" paper pack; gecko galz "blue birds of happiness" collage sheet; gecko galz "vintage vixens" collage sheet; washi tape; paper flowers; anna griffin "birds and butterflies" sticker set.

instructions: i measured and cut papers from the "zen garden" and "a rose is a rose" paper packs and adhered them to the tin.  i fussy cut images from the 2 collage sheets and also glued them to the cover.  using washi tape to cover the sides is an easy way to avoid a lot of additional measuring, cutting and gluing!  i added the butterfly to the top and the paper flowers to the bottom last.

to participate in the challenge you must use at least one item by gecko galz.  check out the etsy store, the pinterest page (for freebies) or sign up for the monthly newsletter on the blog to get a free collage sheet every month.

come back here on may 6 for more inspiration and for a digital freebie by gecko galz!

i'm also linking my tin to the anything goes challenge at eclectic ellapu.

love to all.

gecko galz december inspiration -- and a freebie!

for december our customer challenge theme at gecko galz challenge blog is "faraway places."  i have a few more pieces to share with you today, featuring brand new products this december at the gecko galz etsy shop.

"dreaming of faraway places"

 



supplies: "greek to me" collage sheet (woman); baroque icons (butterfly); "road less traveled" paper pack (background paper); "within your heart" stamp by penny black; flowers and enamel dots.

"czarina and birds"

 

 

supplies: "czarina" paper pack (background papers); "czarina collage sheet (woman); "czarina icons" (design at top); silver border, ribbon.

 

"czarina of the insects"

supplies: "czarina" paper pack (background papers); "czarina collage sheet (woman); "czarina icons" (behind the woman); flower and enamel dot, ribbon.

 

our DT members were asked to make a special christmas tag to share with you all:  here is mine:

 

 

finally, as we do each month, please enjoy a digital freebie courtesy of gecko galz!

 

 

 

you may join our challenge though you must use at least one item by gecko galz.  there are freebies at the gecko galz pinterest page if you do not have any.

 

love to all.

use your wings -- gecko galz inspiration

faces always fascinate.  and with wings you take flight!  two of the new gecko galz collage sheets this month are called "face to face" 1 and 2.  i used images from both of those collage sheets for these tags.

the background sheets on both tags are gecko galz also, the "merry and bright" paper pack.  the wings on both are from lunagirl and the sentiment on the tag below is from tim holtz.

 

i'm linking these to the take a word challenge "wings."

 

although these flying women are not technically sugar plum fairies as a gecko galz challenge blog DT member i do want to remind you of the "sugar plum fairies" challenge at the blog.  you must use at least one gecko galz item to qualify but there are plenty of freebies available on the gecko galz pinterest site.

 

love to all.

inspired by a picture

vicki at the cheerful stamp pad selected a fun picture from pinterest and asked us to use it as inspiration for a creation.  so for the next two weeks you are also challenged to use this picture as inspiration for a creation of your own!  here is the picture:

cake makes me think birthdays and so i decided to make a bookmark with a child all dressed up for a birthday party!

i combined designer papers with tissue tape, vintage lace, and other goodies to frame the vintage image of a precious little girl all dressed up for a special occasion.  this challenge is a bit more abstract than usual but that makes it a bit more fun, eh?

enjoy; love to all.