Featured Designer Gecko Galz theme Winter Woods

 Hi y'all,

Today I am so pleased to announce that I am the featured designer on the Gecko Galz blog . Using this month's  January  theme of  "Winter Woods",  I created several ATCs. (Artist Trading Cards)

To see other creations this month, you can also check out the Gecko Galz blog and meet all our designers, PLUS you can get FREE images everyday . You can participate with all kinds of monthly challenges on Facebook too. We also have a Pinterest Page with a Page dedicated to each and every Designer. It is where you can see all of my past projects, shown in one place.

Todays ATC's

The  ATC Collection

To make these ATCs (Artist Trading cards), I started with standard playing cards and layered textured papers including brown packing paper, hand made white paper and a white and gold paper. The animal figures came next and were fussy cut from the Gecko Galz collage sheet found on Etsy titled Winter woods. Next came tiny stickers of leaves, mushrooms, snow flakes and a butterfly. The positive sentiments were added at the bottom. The final touch for me is always Stickles glitter glue as you can never have too much sparkle.

Artfully yours,

Gerri

Gecko Galz Winter Woods Customer Challenge Jan 2026

 Hello my dear friends both near and far,

Happy New Year . For January 2026 at Gecko Galz,  the customer challenge is "Winter Woods". Please come join the fun and enter our customer challenge shown on  the  Gecko Galz Blog. It runs from Jan1 to 29, 2026. Feel free to grab our  monthly badge at Gecko Galz, and share on your blogs or social media. There is only one rule, and that is you need to use at least ONE  product from Gecko Galz!!  It can be one of the free products, stamps, collage images, or digital papers... It is all up to you. 

The winner will receive a $25  Gecko Galz Shopping Spree. 

 Another place to find us is on Facebook and participate in our challenges . They are shown at the bottom of this post.  There is also lots of inspiration  and community for you there too. Find us also on Pinterest where you can see all our past creations.

Here are some ATCs I created  with positive sentiments for New Year for inspiration:

To make these ATCs (Artist Trading cards), I started with standard playing cards and layered textured papers including brown packing paper, hand made white paper and a white and gold paper. The animal figures came next and were fussy cut from the Gecko Galz collage sheet found on Etsy titled Winter woods. Next came tiny stickers of mushrooms, snow flakes and a butterfly. The positive sentiments were added at the bottom. The final touch for me is always Stickles glitter glue as you can never have too much sparkle.

Hope you have a Sparkly New Years,

Gerri

Facebook Challenges

Gecko Galz Wanderlust July 2022 Customer Challenge

 Today at gecko galz  for the month of July 2022 begins the customer challenge called "Wanderlust ".Come join the fun and enter this  customer challenge from the  Gecko Galz Blog that runs from July 1 to July  29, 2022.

 Feel free to grab our badge at Gecko Galz, and share on your blogs.There is only one rule, and that is you need to use at least ONE  product from Gecko Galz!!  It can be one of the free products, stamps, collage images, or digital papers! It is up to you!

The winner will receive a $25  Gecko Galz Shopping Spree. Also check out our Facebook group for fun challenges and community, called Gecko Galz Papercrafting Challenge group.You also can see all members projects on Pinterest too.

For a little inspiration, here are 2 ATC's  I made for you. To make these ATCs I started  with the Gecko Galz Wanderlust ATC blanks and added   Seaside Signs  and She sells Seashells Collage Sheets  from Gecko galz on Etsy. The   seashells, stamped trim and the fiber with charms were added embellishments. Some paint and Stickles glitter were added as the final touches at the end.

Have a lovely summer, hope you get to wander some , Gerri

Walk with Nature Trading Cards

 Today I am the featured Designer at Gecko Galz. Here are 2 nature inspired ATCs for you today....

To make these Artist trading cards , I used Gecko Galz ATC background "Storybook Garden"  digital craft kit  as the feature spaces, then  added the fussy cut out little animals  from the "Nature Sketchbook" collage sheet . Some gold stems  , glitter leaves and white and gold stickers  were added. The sentiments were  water colored and says "Find joy in the ordinary" and "Today is full of possibilities"     Take care my friends, Gerri

Upon the moon I fixed my eye

Here's an ATC that I've never shown on my blog using Retro Café Art products. I like making ATC's (Artist trading cards) since they are a small item and is easily shared!
Enjoy,
Gerri

Gecko Galz September Design Projects

Today for my Gecko Galz Design Team, I have a variety of projects to share with you today. The images  at Gecko Galz are so wonderful and always in a wide variety of themes and styles. Check them sometimes. I have  created 2 ATCs and a Halloween card to show you. To make these projects:


"I make no excuses."
This ATC started with a black printed playing card that was edged in gold. The tattooed girl image from Gecko Galz was layered with metal jewelry pieces to accent the fan. The extra details include gold german scrap , gold Stickles and rhinestones. The hand cut sentiment reads" I make no excuses."


"Only dreams come true"This ATC used the beautiful image from the tattooed girls Gecko Galz sheet. It was layered on green paper and placed under a Retro Cafe Art frame. The edges of the frame have tiny paper doilies and cut out red roses from Retro Cafe Art. Everything was touched with Stickles. The hand cut sentiment reads " Only dreams come true."


Black Cat Trick or TreatsThis greeting card was built around the cats with pumpkin image from the Ge mo Galz Halloween night collage sheet. The image was layered on a black Dollie, striped paper and put on a black card. The accents include black cats from Retro Cafe Art, candy corn stickers' tiny paint dots, Stickles and orange dotted ribbon. The hand cut sentiment was from Retro Cafe Art and says " Black cat Trick or Treats"

Hope you enjoy all my projects today.

Take care,

"Only Dreams are true"

"I make no excuse"

"Black Cat Tricks and Treats"

Its A Circus Out There with the Gecko Galz Design Team

For August the Gecko Galz team is presenting a " It's a Circus out there"! I do enjoy the circus theme since it has lots  of colors, patterns  and sparkly things! I you know what I always say.... "You can never have too much glitter". Well, enjoy my three Design Team projects and stop on over at the Gecko Galz Blog where I am the featured artist today! I even have a free peacock Gecko Galz image for you today. At Gecko Galz, there are amazing collage sheets and contests to participate in too. Come join in  all the fun,
Gerri

Up Up And Away

 

Amusement

It's A Circus Out There

To make the ATC
I painted a romance Retro Cafe Art ATC frame red, pink and white . The ballon image from the Gecko Galz " up up and away " collage sheet was painted and dotted with Stickles. The up up and away words were cut from the same. Sheet. A red heart from Retro Cafe Art was then added with more Stickles accents.

The card "amusement "used the circus image of the woman and her horse, which was hand painted and glued to a background paper of soda bottle caps.  I layered the hand stamped vintage circus poster and the medallions next. Both  were painted with water colors and accented with Stickles. The amusement definition was also water colored painted. A little banner from Retro Cafe Art was covered in Red Stickles and was the final accent.

The card"it's a circus out there" started by fussy cutting the balancing elephant, tight rope walker  and girl on horse from the Gecko Galz Circus collage sheet. All were were painted and touched with Stickles then added to a polka dot background. The other 3d items are from Retro Cafe art. The RCA fun tent was stamped and painted.  The RCA strong man was painted silver and given a red glitter heart. The RCA carousel horse was embellished. The final 3D piece was the two sized banners Stickled in Blue with a painted silver edge. The last piece to be added was the hand stamped sign "its a circus out there".
Here's a free Gecko Galz image for you today!

March Gecko Galz Projects

I've really had fun with the March collage sheets from Gecko Galz. For the design team  creations, I did 3 different types of paper crafts including an ATC,  a tag and a greeting card. Leanne offers such  varied, beautiful and gorgeous images. They are just such inspirational pieces.

Hope you will find inspiration this week.

Take care, Gerri

Harmony of Nature

Love is Grand

I love thee from my heart, I do.

To make these projects:

For this ATC. I watercolored the base with pastel colors then layer the in the garden pretty women under the mosaic frame from the Victorian Spring Kit -Icon. The pretty women was watercolored to achieve a soft effect. Behind it was a piece of white floral lace that I painted and a glittered pink flower piece. The entire piece was touched with  an Aqua paint markers, Stickles for shine and tiny rhinestones. The hand cut sentiment reads "Harmony of Nature". 

To make this tag I cut of Tim  Holtz  butterflies and Stickles them and added rhinestones. The Manila tag was watercolored with black and brown. I layered the Hollywood Glam  female image, the butterflies and an assortment of paper roses with a black feather. The final touches were the hand cut sentiment, more glittery Stickles, tiny rhinestones and an ombré ribbons. The sentiment reads, Love is Grand, she laughed."

To make this card i layered the pretty female image from the In the Garden collage sheet on multiple coordinating green and purple papers. The 3D embellishments include a lace heart, painted key, purple rhinestones, antique lace and a violet bouquet with tulle. The final touches were water color paint high lights and Stickles for a touch of glitter. The hand cut sentiment reads " I love thee from my heart I do".

Jolly Christmas Wishes

                Here's wishing all my friends near and fare a very Jolly Christmas to you all!
                Take care my friends, Gerri

In Many A Secret Place

Here are a pair of Artist Trading cards with the theme of an Artful Artist. I like this size and always have fun packing in so much in a tiny space.
The main supplies were from Retro Cafe Art, including:

Chipboard ATC frames   and the 

swirly background image:

Hope you will have an artful day.
Yours truly,Gerri

A crazy combination of Clowns, Geishas and Vintage Women

Hello Friends,
Here are my Gecko Galz August Design Team projects with three very different themes. One is of clowns ,geishas and vintage women ....how different is that! Have you ever thought of what drives us to create and how we pick our themes. I do, but I never seem to have an answer. LOL.
To create these three projects:

This fun ATC used the August collage sheet Clowning Around for the 2 clown friend images. The perforated ATC frame is from Retro Cafe Art and was painted red, yellow and blue and filled with Stickles with a  patterned background. The  sparkly red fringe edge  and blue confetti are the  accents. The hand cut sentiment reads "It is better, given the choice, to have friends."

This shrine project started with the lovely geisha image from the August Japanese Traditions collage sheet. It was added to a chipboard shrine that was painted black. The center of the shrine was dipped with gold paint and  the Japanese image was added. The shrine sides had red and gold paper added. The accents include red fans with tassels, coins, beads and Gold Stickles. The hand cut sentiment reads "She is more precious than rubies."

This collage started with the  ornate frame image from the cross promotional Itkupilla Primavera that was cut out. I than fussy cut the female image and the rose heart image  which was used  as her bodice. Accents include pink and white rose ribbon, organza flowers, green sequin leaves, pink ribbon rose buds and a pink bow. The entire piece was watercolored and Stickled for added dimension. The handout sentiment read "the memory of flowers of love."

Hope your week is filled with creating new and varied projects.

Take care, Gerri

It is better given the choice to have friends

She is more precious than rubies

The memories of flowers and love

Art Princess Exploding ATC

I love making ATC's they be small but powerful! To be able to cram so much on a piece the size of a playing card can be difficult, that's why I make exploding ATCs. An exploding ATC is one that spills over the edges. Like in life, I like to cram inalot of experience and sometimes they spill over the edges. LOL.

Today  I am showing two ATC's the Kristin had put on her blog and Facebook for Retro Cafe Art.To make these beauties I started with a black playing card and layered the 
Stage collage sheet by Cassandra Van Curen
Domino collage sheet by Cassandra Van Curen
They were topped with Stickled  RCA Hearts , Rhinestones and the corners are pleated sequins. The sentiment are little cut out  RCA paper cuts words that say Art Princess and Bloom Dreamer

Hope you will feel like an Art Princess this week.
Take care,
Gerri

Cute Santa Dollies

Now that Thanksgiving is over, my big push is Christmas. I make Christmas cards, Christmas ATCs and even Christmas ornaments to send to family and friends. I've been doing it for so many years that now I can not send a purchased card to anyone! LOL

So here's a Retro Cafe Art ATC that I've created. I just adore their  paper cuts especially these Santa dollie heads. I added their white pom pom and glitter on the fur hats There's also Red stars covered with glitter and all sorts of sparkle trim.

Here's wishing you a sparklie day!
take care, gerri

A Halloween Extravaganza

Happy Halloween my friends! It's my favorite holiday cause you know it's when I met my husband, at a Halloween costume party in NYC, oh back in the day. Of course, there is a Halloween decorated side board in our entry way to celebrate every year and I am sharing  it with you too.

I decided to show three  projects all using Retro Cafe Art supplies today. Kristin has been so kind to post several of them on her RCA Facebook page too. Today there's an spider web ATC with swinging spider, creepy bee woman with real(only kidding) spider webs. A  paper skellie shrine with cutout bats and a spider charm looking all scary in a  tiny tartlet pan . Finally,  my favorite modeled by Mary Lou is a  Halloween feather pin complete with green jewel, skull beads, metal roses, lots of black lace  and a cutout flourish swirl.

Hope you enjoyed my  sweet and scary selection today.
Happy Halloween,
Gerri

Wicked Spirits 

Scary Skeletons

Boo-tiful Halloween Pin

Our Halloween Display

Time is flowing backwards

For Retro cafe art here  is one of my all time favorites pieces,(at least for this month!), I call it an exploded ATC. The title is "Don't you wish time could flow backwards".... sometimes I do, especially when I see my beautiful baby girl all grown up and off to conquer the world! I remember when I got my first job and then apartment in NYC, it was a very thrilling time.

Well ,to  make this I started with the inside of a Fancy Frame shaped ATC center and covered it in foil. I over stamped it with my favorite script stamp. It was layered with a transparent clock image  from the Steampunk Collage sheet and then a moth cut out with the haunting face image from the RCA collage sheet Screen Sirens. This was put on the collage sheet image and then clear gold border stickers were attached. The back fan is actually an image of a  typewriter inside from the RCA Steampunk collage sheet that I added german scrap to. Some rhinestones, Stickles and the hand cut sentiment which reads Time is flowing backwards.

Hope you be able to have time flow backwards....
artfully yours,
Gerri

Time is flowing backwards

Follow your heart

Making ATCs is one of my favorite things to do. It's fun  to see how much detail I can incorporate  in a little space. It's great that you can hold this little art object in the palm of your hand .

This ATC uses images from gecko galz that I added touches of water color paints. Some 3 d elements such as a game spinner and a little heart add depth. Stickles and red German scrap add the shine.  

Hope you will find a little treasure to hold in your hand this week.

Take care, gerri



FOLLOW YOUR HEART