Queen Bee

Hello,
I love thinking up ways to use scraps, bits and sometimes even items destined for the trash in my art. Here is a collage that used the waste from the mini ornate frame shrine from Retro Cafe Art. I also used the their nature sketch book ATC collage sheet and Stickles. Since it is Spring, I am also sharing some photos of our gardenias blooming in the front of our home. I just adore them!

Take care
Gerri

"Queen Bee"

Gecko Galz 6th Annual Wicked Blog hop

Hello Everyone!

We want to welcome everyone to the

Gecko Galz 6th Annual Blog Hop

This is your Second stop on a wonderfully Wicked Blog Hop! 

We have 16 AMAZING blogs for you to visit this weekend, each with some gorgeous projects created using the Gecko Galz collage sheets that we are giving you for FREE! Each blog you visit will have another free Gecko Galz Collage sheet for you to down load, the one here is

"Greek Goddess".

Also make sure you leave a message on each blog site you visit and on the last blog there will be a phrase that you will email to us to be entered in our drawing for a wonderful treat pack.  So sit back, relax, take your time and enjoy the hop!

We have FOUR amazing prizes up for grabs:

·        First is a Gecko Galz shopping spree for $100!

·        Second prize is a $50 Shopping spree with Gecko Galz.

·        Third prize is a $25 shopping spree!

·        And our Grand Prize ONE FULL YEAR of Gecko Galz PRODUCTS!!! This includes the 6 new collage sheets each quarter, a new stamp set each quarter, a new paper pack each quarter!

 This is a $100 value! 

First of all, you will need to visit all 16 blogs and leave a comment on each blog :) **This is important so we know you have been to all the blogs **. Collect the phrase at the end of the hop on the Fripperies and Butterflies site there will be a link to email the phrase to Gecko Galz.

This enters you in the contest. On October 31st we will randomly draw the 4 winners and email each of you, then we will post the winning names on the Gecko Galz blog site.

For an extra chance to win make a purchase from the GECKO GALZ ETSY STORE between the 27th of October and the 30^th of October and your name goes in again for a better chance of winning (each purchase you make that weekend gives you another chance to win) 

Please enjoy this free Gecko Galz Collage sheet

“Greek Goddess” You will see my projects at the end of the post. Please scroll down.

Now have fun visiting each Blog

Gecko Galz

Gerri Herbst

Barbara Bird

Nancy Smith

Lena Hermanson

Dana Tater

Michele Storms

Jackie Neal

Vicki Romaine

Margaret Ashby

Tracy Sagriff

Katie Lamb

Heather Hudson

Marilyn Hughes

Patti Fisher

Leanne Seed

If you did not start at the Gecko Galz Blog you might want to start there so you will not miss a thing.

Here are my projects using the Greek Goddess Collage Sheet:

Follow Your Heart

Happy Birthday 

Heart of Gold

I'll Sing For You

Dreamland 

Gecko Galz Man Oh Man June Design Team

Hello Friends,
Today I am  a featured designer on the Gecko Galz  site. For June the theme was "Man oh Man", so I have 2 collages that I am sharing with you. I don't usually do man themed projects so this was an exciting challenge. I hope you like them. Not to get away from my girly style, I took the free digital image of the Victorian lady, and printed it out then watercolored it. Its is all soft colors, glitter and dainty embellishments.

Hope you have an art filled week.
Take care, Gerri

You must do

Go Confidently

Uniquely You

I am enchanted to see you

Well it's a new year and I am pleased to say that I am on the Gecko Galz Design team once again. 

Their collage sheets and papers are beautiful and so inspiration. Here is a piece using the a Gecko Galz image, that will be used on their site as my design team emblem.

Hope you will have a very creative year.

Gerri

July Gecko Galz Design Team

Today I am featured on the Gecko Galz blog as a design team member. There are so many pretty collage sheets for all your paper  needs available from Gecko Galz. You can check out their etsy store here. Collage sheets, Papers and stamps for your digital paper crafts are offered there too. Each month there is a customer challenge and you can win prizes...the theme  this month is Seaside memories. LeAnne has even given me a free image  to celebrate being featured , you can find it at the bottom of this post. In July Gecko Galz's  stamp theme is "Midsummer Nights Dream" and it is pretty little fairy stamps.   

I do hope you like my two projects, both so totally different from each other!!! Its a wonder how our creative minds work. Don't you agree.

Do take care,

Gerri

"To be of the Sea"

"Lady Luck"

To make these collages, here are the instructions:

"Sea Nymphs"

I painted some card stock with water blue and green  metal colors and layered the Sea Nymphs image on the top.

The embellishments  added were netting, sea shells, sea shaped confetti, pearls, gold edge stickers and  sea shell stickers. The final accents included blue and green glittery Stickles and the hand cut sentiment that says  "She knew at last what it meant to be of the sea"

"Lady Luck"

Starting with an over sized playing card as the base, I then layered the Ace of hearts  pinup image from Jokers Wild on top. The embellishments added include Las Vegas location stickers, a cigar band, dice, tiny playing cards, tiny stickers that say LADY LUCK and Vegas lights. The final  accents are  gold glittery Stickles and the hand cut sentiment that says: What did you have in mind?

Gecko Galz Free Stamp

The Heart Has Wings

"The Heart Has Wings"

Heartfelt Details

Here's a  canvas collage that I made for Gecko Galz. Black, white and red is always an easy go to color scheme. Having been in the fashion industry.... I adore the image with the  combination of  a sewing mannequin with  wings.  I added the hand stitching, ribbon trim and the tiny bow to keep with the theme.

Hope your heart flies this week.
Take care, Gerri

Yield to Temptation

I think this Oscar Wilde quote is hilarious! I knew when I saw this  divine Retro Cafe Art image just how to portray the quote in images.  I do hope you understand my sense of humor.
Hope you will yield to temptation this week,
take care, 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

Railroad Flirt

Hello dear friends, the final piece in the June spotlight for Gecko Galz is the piece below that I call  "Railroad Flirt" . The unusual thing about this is the embellishment I used...trashed wine wrappers! Before you uncork a bottle of wine, you have to remove the foil wrapper. I noticed that they were embossed and colorful and decided to use them in this piece! That's what I call trash to treasure!

To make this card, I started with the  vintage luggage tag printed paper and stamped the world images in the corners. It was layered on copper then navy paper. The central images include the Free June Ephemera of the" train" that I watercolored, June beauty from the "Her beautiful color"  Gecko Galz sheet and the Rail Way "Flirt" paper. The accents include some old hat netting, an old flag, gold brads and wine wrappers from unsealing wine bottles. They are the circles that look like seals. Stickle and watercolor accents were added last.

Hope you will turn trash to treasure this week.

Sincerely, Gerri

"Railway Flirt"

Anatomy of a Motorcycle Mama

I was honored as Designer Spot Light on the Gecko Galz newsletter this month.
Here was my favorite piece for this spotlight: To make this collage I was inspired by the "Miss Louise" image from the June Gecko Galz sheet with Miss Louise and two sharp shooters. I layered her on a leather frame and added the copper sticker grommets and the metal gear halo. She was layered on a city map with the "Anatomy of a motorcycle" free image, a transparency that says "Life is a daring adventure" and  watercolored chip board license plates. The motorcycle image was painted and brads were used to spell "MAMA". Additional accents include metal gears and clocks in the corners, stitched leather  trim and Stickles. All this was layered on a piece of brown paper that looked like wood.

"Anatomy of a Motorcycle Mama"

Here are the questions they asked me, if you read them you will learn a little bit more about me and my art.

How long have you been paper crafting?

Since I could hold a pair of scissors..LOL. Our family is a creative one and often  we had to move the art projects off the kitchen table, so we could eat dinner. In regards to true paper arts, I would say  I have been creating probably about 10 years or more .

   

What is your favorite kind of projects to do?

I love making cards and ATCs (artist trading cards). I like these formats since I can then share my art. I get pleasure in sending my little beauties into the world for others to enjoy. For me, it's the exploration during the  process of creating as much as, the finished art it'self.

In the industry who do you most admire and why?

OK, I must admit I am in totally love with Tim Holtz. I have been following him for many years. Also  Ranger Industries is in New Jersey, where I am originally from so, he's been on my radar forever.

  

What brands (besides Gecko Galz) do you enjoy working with? 

Retro Cafe Art is one of my favorites for the variety of mixed media items that it offers. They have Chip board items, 3 D items, German scrap, jewelry pieces and so much more. Kristin  Hubrick the owner has really has an amazing selection. I happen to be on their Design Team so,  I am lucky because they have everything I could ever want to create with.

My other favorite brand is  anything from Ranger Industries including  their stamping inks, alcohol inks, Stickles , embossing powders etc...I could go on and on. They really make  great products.

  

What is the one thing in your crafting tote that you cannot live without? 

That's a hard question, but I would say my  numerous bottles of Stickles. I do so adore glitter , shine and sparkle. It is the finishing accent that tells me my project is done. After that, it would be a black sharpie marker to outline my fussy cut images and my watercolor paints to add, change or correct colors on everything.

Where have you been published? 

I have been honored to be published in Take Ten and Stamplers Sampler, both Stampington magazines.

What is the best thing about being on the Gecko Galz Design team?

I would have to say the friendship and support of my art. The Gecko Galz team members are really there for you and always offer  words of encouragement and praise. I am thankful for their friendship.

What is your favorite scrapbook shop and where is it located? 

I do go to Michaels a lot...they are  a large art and craft chain  store located in Bluffton , South Carolina. They have great coupons and sales too.

But my favorite haunts are thrift shops, around here they always have craft supplies. It's the  hunt for bargains and unusual items that excites me.

Truthfully, if you saw the size of my art stash, I really shouldn't be buying anything more!

How would you describe your crafting style?

Sparkly Vintage inspired Story telling

If you could have a job in the crafting world what would it be and why?

I would like to teach and travel to art conferences around the country. I love  travel, meeting different people and funny... I do like figuring out the logistics of getting it all done. To be able to help  people to explore their creative side is a very important aspect of life that  I believe sometimes gets lost in our day to day living.  We are all creative individuals and sometimes someone just has to encourage us to try.

  

Share your blog site:  

http://gerriherbst.blogspot.com

It's called "it's all treasure"  cause "Everything and anything we create, is all treasure".

Any last words for our friends and followers? 

You go Gecko Galz !

Keep on creating!

Alas! How light a cause my move

I do so adore the Renaissance time period, especially for it's art but also for it's clothing style. I am particularly fascinated by the men's clothing., they were such peacocks. With tights, jerkins and of course the occasional codpiece, it is so very different from our time. Can you imagine the men in your life dressing this way? Ha! To continue with this theme, today I am showing you a hanging collage using Retro Cafe Art products.

I started by painting with neutral two pieces of chip board then over stamping them with a 100 proof press medallion stamp in black. I tied them together with some ombré red ribbon. The Renaissance couple are fussy cut from the Medieval Magick RCA sheet. I added gold Dresden border scrap border, some jeweled button and gold Stickles accents. A tiny red heart and the hand cut sentiment finished the piece. It reads " Alas, how light a cause may move dissension between hearts that love."

How you will get to visit a different period of time this week.
Artfully yours,
Gerri

"Alas, how light a cause may move dissension between hearts that love."

Two for One

Today it's two for one, that means two projects from two wonderful suppliers in one post.The two companies are 100 Proof Press which I am a Design Team member and and Gauche Alchemy.The two paired up and mixing  their supplies was a fun challenge for me. I adore 100 proof press rubber stamps and when GaucheAlchemy sent their kit with Real vintage magazine pages, laces, scrap book pages, rhinestones, buttons and brads, I just knew what I would create.

 In the first collage I used the darling ostrich plume stamp from 100 proof press for the vintage beauty's hair. The pink lace, rhinestone, ring with happy image and finally the heart punchella; which I used as a stencil  were all in the kit. The hand cut sentiment came from a Gauche Alchemy vintage advertisement. Some Stickles and watercolor paint were all it needed as the finishing accents.

In the second collage it was the GaucheAlchemy advertisement for "opportunity" had started me. The scrapbook working office images just went with it.The row of books stamp from 100 proof press fit  right into the creation.The hand cut sentiment says "Work with me people to acquire this personal power....knowledge, education, training, facts!". I layered this on some painted paper with staples, Stickles and some pretty twine to complete this.

Hope you will have a great week acquiring your own personal super power.

take care, gerri 

"But look at my ring, he wants me for Life"

"Work with me People"

A Sunny Day

Let's try something different, how about a mod collage! It's going to be sunny all week here in the Carolina low country and only in the low 80's with no humidity. If you listen closely you can here me say.... Ahhhh. So for Retro Cafe Art here's a  bright collage I plan to frame and put on my studio wall. Seeing a rainbow always cheers me up!

To make this sign. I stenciled  Retro Cafe Arts's Retro rainbow over the clouds on some black and white graphic paper. I added the colored metal alphabet tags to say "Sunny Day" and tied them with two different color  RCA twine. This was layered on blue and yellow paper and accented with RCA red washi heart tape. Some red rhinestones and Stickles accents finished it off.

Hope you will have a sunny day ...all week!
take care, gerri


"Sunny Day"



"Rainbow details"



Here's a rainbow over our neighborhood



A Big Wish to travel

We have some exciting news at our household. Of all the artists on Etsy, my husband was choosen to have a video made about him and his junker car art. They even had original music composed for it. It took two days of taping to create a 4 minute piece. I just love it, but my husband won't really look at it yet. LOL. I am including the video in todays post, please watch it and feel free to pass it on. In his honor I am presenting this vintage rust colored travel collage piece using Gecko Galz images.

To make this postcard collage, This Postcard is covered with linen, painted and stamped with a map. The suitcase image is from the Great Adventures Paper Pack, The young girl is from Monday Child collage sheet. The Letters  for "Big Wish" are punched from the Great Adventures Paper Pack.The accents include a tag with a leather tie, some printed diecuts and dotted paint details.

Hope you will get to travel this week whether on your computer or in your car.
take care, gerri

"Big Wish"

"Wishful details"

Here's the video that Etsy did on my husbands art,
 just click the arrow to play.

Sea Side Bliss

Been to going to the beach, since it's so hot here...high 90s everyday. I love looking for shells and always come home with a few. Here's one that that I found....a pretty clam shell,  but guess what? It's actually a  collage when you twist the top shell. The images today are from Gecko Galz  on the Seaside Beauties collage sheet . The big clam is from their Mermaid Garden Stamps.

The piece is about 4" square and I started by cutting out the clam and painting it and adding Stickles and gold dots. Sorry about the photography, I just couldn't capture the shine! On the inside of the shell, it too was painted and then the all the different images were layered. There's a Sea Side beauty on some pale yellow Stickles sand. Some gold sticker shells and a coral seahorse are there too. A ticket to "Bliss" and the words " Sea side" were painted then added to the mix. A glitter topped brad holds the entire piece together.

Hope you will find some "bliss" this week.
take care, gerri

Closed

Just a Peak

All opened to see the "Sea side Bliss"

"Sea side details"