Gecko Galz 13th Annual Blog Hop

30 September 2017

Createful Heart Digis & Design 30th September 2017 Inspiration


For my inspirational piece this month I have chosen "Worn Out Truck", another Createful Heart Digi, but this time this truck (or ute, as we call them in Australia) was designed by Mark Smith, Mary's talented husband. This digi can be found on the Createful Heart Digi Etsy shop here  https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/509668215/worn-out-truck-digital-image-stamp?ref=shop_home_active_6. As soon as I saw this digi, I knew it would be fantastic for any masculine card and as I was privileged enough to work with it for September, I thought it would be perfect for Father's Day.  I wanted to give it a rust effect and looked over a class I had purchased from Kit and Clowder but it was working with a copper vase, so I did some improvising of my own.  I am happy enough with my first attempt at rust, but since making the card, I have come across a few utes in paddocks on the way to my son's house, so I might even re-visit this digi after taking a few photos of the real thing.  I have used Copics, a few embellishments from my stash and the alphabet sentiment is from The Resin Rainbow, another Etsy shop, that sells resin embellishments and is situated in Australia.  This would be a great image to work with on our next Blog challenge.  Check out the Createful Heart blog here http://createfulheartcards.blogspot.com.au/ and join in our Fortnightly Challenge there.  Be sure to read the Challenge rules http://createfulheartcards.blogspot.com.au/p/challenge-rules.html and join us every fortnight.  There are some great prizes on offer!

I am entering the following challenges with this card:
anything-goes-gcc092517

Update on Winnings from these challenges


Featured photo on The Outlawz Challenges

Morgan's Artworld




21 September 2017

Ericraft Stamps "Bat Boy"

As inspiration for Halloween I have chosen Bat Boy to work with.  I must admit I am not big on celebrating Halloween - back when my kids were growing up, it was not a big thing in Australia, but I always have some lollies on hand if I get a knock on the door, but that didn't even happen last year.
I chose to make a treat bag and picked up this bag from the cheap shop ages ago and remembered I had just the right size for the image I had printed.  For the background I just used some Halloween papers I had on my computer. I hope you can see my creation OK, for some reason I had terrible trouble trying to save the image with the watermark through Picmonkey and had to try GIMP, which I know less of than Picmonkey.  If you want to check out Ericraft images on Etsy you will find Bat Boy here https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/385636918/digital-stamp-batboy-jpeg-and-png-image?ref=shop_home_active_21.  There is also another couple of digis that might suit your Halloween needs https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/470964523/digital-stamp-3-jacks-300dpi-jpeg-image?ref=shop_home_active_31, https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/472031967/digital-stamp-die-laughing-300dpi-jpeg?ref=shop_home_active_32 or even https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/468298329/digital-stamp-the-brew-300dpi-jpeg-image?ref=shop_home_active_40. Take a look if you want to make some Halloween creations.


15 September 2017

Simply Betty Digitals September 2017 Progressive Challenge - Cast a Spell Betty


This month with this image, we had to use polka dot paper and two ribbons.  I made my first seam binding flower with one of the ribbons.
I have entered this in:
http://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.com.au/2017/09/crafty-catz-challenge-384.html

Sweet Escape Digis - Music


This is a 13 year old birthday card I made for a friend's niece.  It is hard to know what to choose for that age group, but I knew Sweet Escape would have the perfect image.  Berenice has an Etsy shop and this is the link https://www.etsy.com/au/shop/SweetEscapeDigis?ref=l2-shopheader-name

I am entering this in a challenge a Facebook friend told me about:






Outlawz Progressive Challenge - September 2017


September's Outlawz Progressive Challenge features one of my favourite pets.  Thank you Anne Fenton, a very talented DT member of the Outlawz Challenges.  Anne has called the image, drum roll please, "Cat".  I have designed a birthday card to suit the image.  Anne's blog is called Anne's Digital Art and can be found here https://annesdigitalart.blogspot.com.au/.  Check her blog out, you will be pleasantly surprised by her portraits of animals.  She is a very good artist and colourist.

I am entering the following with this card:

12 September 2017

Createful Heart Digis & Design "Bouquet of Red Poppies"

Today I have decided to use "Bouquet of Red Poppies digital stamp from Createful Heart Digis & Design for my first go at the Outlawz "Sketch Challenge".  I had just finished colouring it in orange shades (I have to be different from the title) and decided to go looking as to what to do with it, into the Outlawz Challenges vault I went and signed up for the Sketch Challenge.  I really love this layout, so clean and simple.  I have gone with "Make it Crafty" chipboard in the small size, as truth be known I probably did the digital stamp a little big, before I knew what I was going to create with it.  I just love flower stamps and Mary at Createful Heart Digis & Design has some beauties.  I think I might have told you that in a previous post.  You can check out the Etsy store here https://www.etsy.com/au/shop/Createfulheartdigis.  I think I am going to stock up on some more of Zoe's chipboard too. http://www.makeitcrafty.com/chipboard-embellishments.html

I am entering the following challenge with this card:




11 September 2017

Createful Heart Digis & Design "Old Fashioned Rose"

I just love flower digis to work with, they are so versatile to use on any type of card.  I have added to my flower collection with some beautiful specimens from Createful Heart Digis & Design.  I guess if you don't have much success in your actual garden at home, which is the case with me, especially when you have taken in as a boarder, a 17 year old grandson and his mischievous blue cattle dog.  I have just given up on the garden, so why not indulge with some more flower stamps from https://www.etsy.com/au/shop/Createfulheartdigis?section_id=20966987. If you buy before 30th September 2017 you will be lucky enough to get a 10% discount, just read the announcement section at the top of the shop. 

I am going to enter this sympathy card in The Outlawz Challenge Paper ala Mode Saturday:

10 September 2017

Bugaboo Stamps - Stella CRS


I chose this digi to enter the Kit and Clowder 15000 member party "Crayon Challenge.  I love Stella, this one is a bit naughty, but a great sentiment for forgetting a birthday.  The crayons were easy to use on the big spaces like the letters, but not so on the hair, but Alyce is trying to teach us not to be a perfectionist with all we do, hence the challenge.  Most entrants just submitted their coloured images, but I could not resist turning mine into this card. If you are looking for this Stella CRS image, here is the link https://bugaboostamps.com/products/stella-crs


09 September 2017

Scrapper's Delights September 2017 Facebook Progressive Challenge



This month Janice has chosen "Elephant 1" as our progressive project.  Isn't he so cute?  If you played along last month, all you have to do is look for the September Progressive Request Here post, on our group https://www.facebook.com/groups/376140345820051/ or if you are new to our challenge, join in there too. If you request the image, use it, put it in the appropriate month's album, you will be eligible for the next one on request.  For those who aren't eligible for the freebie, he will be available at a discounted price on the website, in the circus section.  http://scrappersdelights.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=89_209. I hope you love this month's progressive challenge image and join us.  What a cute image to start your Scrapper's Delights experience with!
I am entering the following challenges with this card:


http://ttcrd.blogspot.com.au/2017/09/winner-and-top-3-picks-for-week-of.html


https://abitmoretimetocraftextra.blogspot.com.au/
http://abitmoretimetocraft.blogspot.com.au/2017/09/a-bit-more-time-to-craft-challenge-51.html


Update 15/9/2017, I was one of the entries chosen in World Wide Open design team challenge as Highly Commended.  Here is my Certificate:


Update I was a winner at A Bit More Time To Craft Challenge #51 Winners  http://abitmoretimetocraft.blogspot.com.au/2017/09/a-bit-more-time-to-craft-challenge-51_16.html





07 September 2017

Kit and Clowder Confidence Challenge CRAYONS


Well I had a go with the crayons, I think I need a class on how to learn to use them, but I never like to waste something I coloured, especially a Bugaboo stamp so here's my Christmas card featuring "Xmas Bear".

I am entering this in the following:


http://outlawzchallenges.ning.com/group/friday-color/forum/topics/festive-friday-s-challenge-september-1-2017
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.1874737545877474&type=1

Imagine That Digistamp September 2017 Link-up


For September's Link-up with Imagine that Digistamp, I have chosen to use "Dragonfly Lilacs Planter and the Friends Sentiment comes from the same set.  The Birthday Blessings sentiment comes from the set "Bloom where you are Planted"  I have kept this birthday card simple, but added a resin doily from "Resin Rainbow" an Australian embellishment company.

You can check out Imagine that Digistamp here http://www.imaginethatdigistamp.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html and be sure to have a good luck around their website, they even have a freebie section, and I know we all love a good freebie!
The Resin Rainbow can be found here https://www.etsy.com/au/shop/theresinrainbow?ref=ss_profile. Janet has some great products - I should know I get a Mystery Colour Kit with alphas off her every month.

I have entered this card in:


02 September 2017

Bugaboo Stamps "Meowy Xmas Cats"


I have told you before I am addicted to cat stamps and this one from Bugaboo Stamps is no exception.

I am entering the following with this Christmas card:
For the Catch the Bug Challenge Photo Inspiration, I chose this stamp, because it reminds me of my daughter's 3 cats (unfortunately I only have one, but my lucky daughter has three to love)