Gecko Galz June Good Old Summertime

hi Friends,
For the month of June the Gecko Galz Customer Challenge is titled “good Old Summertime”
Just make any kind of project using a Gecko Galz image and enter on the Gecko Galz blog to win $25.00 in free images

I’ve made this card as inspiration for you.... it happens to be titled you inspire me.
To make this card I started with white card stock and layered 3 different papers including anchors, water colored paper and black fiber paper. The Gecko Galz bathing beauty came next. Accents include blue anchors, a sea shell stamped strip and a woven label that says you inspire me. I hope this card will help you decide to enter.

Take care,
Gerri

Bingo you make me smile

This week at Gingersnap Creations during the month of March's focus on family, the challenge is Copper, Rust, Ginger,  #GC144 .  Did you know that Gingersnap Creations was my first Design Team position! As this is the last challenge at Gingersnaps, I want you all to know how much fun I have had and that I will miss everyone. But do remember that Gingersnaps will be transformed into Unruly PaperArts, so we really aren't saying goodbye... we can still play together!

Retro Cafe Art Galley was the generous sponsor throughout this month at Gingersnap Creations. You know if you read my posts, that they carry  awesome collage sheets and images in a variety of formats,  fun altered art supplies, fabulous vintage finds and more.  They are also offering prizes  to one randomly drawn winner from the qualifying participants for this challenge. Don't forget to check their facebook page, they are always giving away freebies too. Also, please do come back to Gingersnap Creations to vote  for the 10 Ginger Gems for this challenge.

To make this collage, I started with a Bingo card that I watercolored and added chipboard copper trimmed flowers to the edges. I layered Retro Cafe Art Steampunk parts transparencies and rhinestones. In the center is a copper and glittered painted RCA Gothic shrine with a friends image from the Vintage Belles Collage Sheet. Some glittered butterfly cutouts and metal buttons came next. The finishing touches were some ribbon trim, rhinestones was the sentiment "You make me smile".

Hope you will smile when you think fondly of Gingersnap Creations.
take care, gerri

"Bingo, you make me smile."

"Ginger details"

The power of love is infinite

This week at Gingersnap Creations during the month of March's focus on family, the challenge is Last Century  #GC144.  I created this 3d  Steampunk Shadowbox with a girlie twist.

Retro Cafe Art Galley is the generous sponsor throughout this month at Gingersnap Creations. You know if you read my posts, that they carry  awesome collage sheets and images in a variety of formats,  fun altered art supplies, fabulous vintage finds and more.  They are also offering prizes  to one randomly drawn winner from the qualifying participants for this challenge. Don't forget to check their facebook page, they are always giving away freebies too. Also, please do come back to Gingersnap Creations to vote  for the 10 Ginger Gems for this challenge.
To make this piece I started with the Retro Cafe Art Shadow box Shrine Steampunk Gear and painted it pink. Inside  the frame is a  picture of  vintage children that I water colored and a RCA rust mini paper flower  that I crushed .  On the outside there are also mini little gears attached with pink brads. There is also some paper doilies and some pointed lace layered underneath. A beige lace ribbon ties it off and the sentiment  is attached with pink brads and says " The power of love is infinite".

Hope you will experience the power of love this week.
take care, gerri

"The power of love is infinite."

"Infinite details"

My Little Sweetie Pie

This week at Gingersnap Creations during the month of March's focus on family the challenge is Border Punches #GC142.  This  card is for my daughter, my little sweetie pie who used to wear bunny ears around the house at Easter time when she was little!

Retro Cafe Art Galley is the generous sponsor throughout this month at Gingersnap Creations. You know if you read my posts, that they carry  awesome collage sheets and images in a variety of formats,  fun altered art supplies, fabulous vintage finds and more.  They are also offering prizes  to one randomly drawn winner from the qualifying participants for this challenge. Also please do come back to Gingersnap Creations to vote  for the 10 Ginger Gems for this challenge.

Well, to make this little Easter card I painted some printed paper that was not my favorite, this is how I can use any paper I have in a totally new way. I used a border punch on two of the edges and was glued on a polka dot base. Lots of die cuts with Stickles were layered under the sweet little girl image. To the sweetie pie image I added the darling Retro Cafe Art bunny ears cutouts and at her feet some their cute little Easter eggs cutouts too. They were both detailed with Stickles and a little paint. I added the sentiment "My little sweetie pie" and the pretty pink lace bow to finish up.

Hope you will meet a little sweetie pie this week.
take care, gerri

"My Little Sweetie Pie"

"Little details"

Radiant

Did you know that  this month is Gingersnap Creation's third birthday! Happy Birthday dear Gingersnaps!
For the month of March, Retro Cafe Art is sponsoring Gingersnap Creations  and the theme is  "Family" with a focus on heritage pieces with antique or distressed art. If you read my blog you know how wonderful Retro Cafe Art is for amazing altered art supplies!  I am  lucky to be on both  design teams so, this month will be a dream come true. Don't you love when different  people, experiences or events intersect in our lives. Well, back to this week's  Gingersnap challenge which is called GC141 Granny's Photo Album.  I imagined this card today to be the front of an antique photo album with  working hinges and a cross.

I started with the lovely woman image from Retro Cafe Art collage sheet called Pretty Women. I layered the transparent text from Retro Cafe Arts collage sheet called Daguerreotypes and put her in the Fancy ATC frame that I painted an aged green brown and edged in gold. She was layered on  beige tattered lace on some patterned background paper. I added the Retro Cafe Art Cross Cut outs using a large one with a smaller cross on top for dimension. They were painted gold and red. Some paper hinges came next. Details included glittery Stickles, shiny red pearls and green metallic thread. The sentiment says "Radiant" and was layered on some glittery golden ribbon.

Hope you will have a radiant week.
take care, gerri

"Radiant"

"Radiant Details"

To visit Retro Cafe Art our wonderful  Sponsor this month, Please click here:

Let them eat cakes

Why it's Pink Saturday again and I thought you deserved something sweet. How about a taste of some sweet little cakes. These twincies (2x2") art pieces are something I made for the Gingersnap Creations  current swap. I adore making tiny pieces of art from inchies, to twincies to moos and ATC's. It's surprising how much you can pack into such small spaces.

To make these darling pieces I started with  some cross stitched printed paper and added some tiny rose stickers and pink rhinestones. A layer of pink tulle came next. They are topped with Retro Cafe Art Cakes images. The little cakes have Perfect Pearl accents and green tickles too.The sentiment is different on each one and expresses  my feelings as I savor a sugary treat. A tiny hand dyed rosette with pink Perfect Pearl trim was the finishing sugar these little cakes needed.

Hope you will savor a sweet treat this week.
take care, gerri

"Let them eat cakes"

I have someone

This month at Gingersnap Creations it's "Tell it like it is" with a focus on faux techniques. This week's challenge is GC140: "Two colors only" and the month is being sponsored by Rouge Redhead Designs. They do have such pretty stamps. Check them out then, come play with us at Gingersnaps Creation, there's lots to see  from the Design Team  and you might even win a prize!

So this card is just cream and black. I knew that would be my color combo when I saw these cute silhouette profiles from Retro Cafe Art. I painted them black and spied the big text ledger stamp from the Relish Reading RougeRedhead Designs RRD001 sheet.  I stamped the background scalloped square base and also a cream painted  Retro Cafe Art ATC Fancy Frame insert  with this text ledger sheet stamp. I layered some black paper cut to mimic the ATC insert and added some lace, black rose appliques, rhinestones and the sentiment "I have someone."

Hope you will be able to spend the week with your someone.
take care, gerri

"I have someone."

"Two color Details"

Read in order to Live

This month at Gingersnap Creations it's "Tell it like it is" with a focus on faux techniques. This week's challenge is GC138: Masking Tape. The month is being sponsored by Rouge Redhead Designs. They have such wonderful stamps, as you will see. If you have a moment , please check them out. Come play with us at Gingersnaps Creation, there's lots to see  from the Design Team  and you might even win a prize! As you know, I'm always reading and that was my inspiration today Right now I'm reading  "Wolf Hall'.  Just started so, I  haven't gotten my teeth into it yet. (get it wolf ...teeth?) LOL.

So this dimensional  tag uses masking tape, can you see it? Well, it's the pretty blue ruffle!  I wanted to do something different, so I made up with is tag template using some patterned paper and stamped the sentiment " Read in order to Live." on both side edges. The lady image is from  a Retro Cafe Art collage sheet called Pretty Women. The books and the sentiment are from the Relish Reading RougeRedhead Designs RRD001 sheet.  After stamping the books, I fussy cut them out and water colored them to match my piece. The bling on the tape and on the woman's wrap is actually chunky sparkle nail polish my daughter left behind. Hope she won't mind me using it for art projects.  Some tiny rhinestones and silver Stickles add the additional needed shine. A crystal bead hanger and my reading beauty was all set..

Hope you will get to escape with a good book this week.
yours truly, gerri

"Read in order to Live."

A Garden Carried In Your Pocket

Its February already, where does the time go? This month at Gingersnap Creations it's "Tell it like it is" with a focus on faux techniques. This week's challenge is GC137: Words of Wisdom. The month is being sponored by Rouge Redhaed Designs. They have such pretty stamps. Check them out. Well my words of wisdom are about reading and gardening. I have always had a book in my hand and love gardening. They are my favorite things to do, so when I saw this quote. I knew I had to use it!

So this card is a my take on a faux watercolor technique. I used Photoshop on some rose  photos I took. awhile ago. I fussy cut  a big rose out and layered it with tulle netting  and green braid trim. The stamped  came next "A book is like a garden carried in your pocket." The little reading girl is stamped watercolored and fussy cut too. Both stamps are from the Relish Reading RougeRedhead Designs RRD001 sheet. Some rhinestones  in each corner and  a touches of Stickles add the glitter bits.

I am also entering this for a new challenge for me the PanPastel#3 Glitter and Glitz.

Hope you will get to read a new book this week.
artfully yours, gerri

"A book is like a garden carried in your pocket."

"Watercolored details"

Glorious Greens

At Gingersnap Creations they are in the midst of winter weather with white and gray dominating the landscape. So what are they going to do? They're going to inject some "Glorious Green" for this week's GSC136  challenge. One randomly drawn winner from the qualifying participants for this challenge will become our new Home Page Artist for a week as well as winning a $30 voucher to the Stampotique Originals store.  Now here's it is 70 degrees and sunny, so I'll give you some green photos  of our palm trees for inspiration too. Don't be jealous! LOL.

To make today's card I used a mask to mist the first layer of green ink on the tag. It is over stamped with three different Parisian themed stamps. The tag was layered on a green dot background that has black ink kissed edges. The pretty embellishments were die cut corners, Stickled butterflies, green roses from Retro Cafe Art, green ribbon and black lace. The sentiment says "Thank You".

Hope you will see some glorious green this week.
take care, gerri   





                     

"Thank you"



 

"Thankful details"



"Our Green Palm Trees"



Life's a Journey

Well, today's card really expresses how my life has been lately. "Life's a journey" especially since we have moved from the metropolitan northeast to the low country here in the south. I am getting use to the slower pace but sometimes it can be abit frustrating,  but the nice weather, gorgeous flora and fauna make up for all that.

I made this card because  at Gingersnap Creations, we're focusing on using our scraps this month as well as getting them all organized. We know you have some fabulous scraps just hanging around your craft table. For this challenge, GSC#135 we want you to grab a scrap of your favorite designer paper. There's a random prize given by Stampotique , who is this month's sponsor too. Come on over and join in the fun.
The background paper  is from Italy and I have had it for 20 years, I do use it sparingly! I layered an old bicycle poster image from a calendar that I had kept since 2005. LOL. Some gold ribbon, 3 glitter flowers, gold edges and some layering of gold and green paper came next. The sentiment reads "Life's a journey." And I certainly agree with that!

Hope you will have a wonderful journey this week.
take care, gerri

"Life's a Journey"

"Flower details"

Wishes, wishes,wishes

This month at Gingersnap creations it's all about...Organization especially using scraps. This week's supply challenge GSC134 is about  Ribbon Scraps. Come on over and paly there's a  pretty prize or just come look at the gorgeous design team creations. So, if you're like me I just can't bear to throw away ribbon scraps. I keep them in a big clear bag and fish around whenever I need a little piece of somethin'. I know there must be a better way, maybe when I unpack my new scrap room, I'll figure out something!

To make my card today, I painted the pale blue background cardstock with black watercolor to give it some punch. The little bits of ribbon and lace came next; there are six different kinds used. I made the  butterfly that was layered on the top too. I added gold stickers, Stickles, ink and rhinestones to a picture of a pretty blue butterfly. The rub-on sentiment of wishes, wishes, wishes completed this little card.

Hope all your wishes will come true this week.
take care, gerri

"Wishes, wishes,wishes"

"Scrappy details"

Look Closely

The final challenge at Gingersnap creations for the December Holiday Lights is one all about color. GSC#132 is all about the combination of soft yellow and white. Come on over and play with us or just stop by to see the amazing artwork of the brilliant design team. This month is sponsored by Pennywise Arts so check it out you could win a prize too!

To make today's tag I painted a sheet of  already embossed card stock pale yellow, this made the swirls stand out. I added rub-ons of the opera glasses and the sentiment "Look Closely". The lovely female image was edged with white german scrap. Using my new favorite supply "Glubbers" I made the lace rose using scraps of different laces I had. Glubbers are big dots of glue that you can create flowers with! Some lace trim, pearls and white Stickles and my little yellow tag was all done!

Hope you will "Look closely" this wee.
sincerely, gerri

"Look Closely"

"Close details"

May your days be Merry and Bright

This month at Gingersnap Creations we continue our "holiday lights" with a challenge using chandeliers GC131. This challenge is sponsored by Pennywise Arts.Come join us and see the other design teams art or to enter this challenge for a RAK prize.

To make this card I used Graphic 45 Christmas Emporium and stenciled the chandelier with liquid pearls. I added gold german scrap. I added some details with rhinestones and gold filigree stickers. The final touch was the sentiment "May your days be Merry and bright."

Hope you will have a time of merry and bright this week.
sincerely, gerri

                

Starry Night

This month at Gingersnap Creations it's all about "Holiday Lights". This week's challenge is "Starry night" GSC# 129. It is being sponsored by Pennywise Art who is offering a prize of micro beads to a random selected artist who enters. Come step into the light and join us in this bright challenge. There is also alot of amazing art from my fellow Gingersnap Design Team members to see there too.  My creation this week is a glittery  holiday card. Don't know who I will send it to yet...it might even be you!

I used the beautiful pale Pion papers from the Flying Unicorn store as the base for this creation.They are layered with a little gold edged frame from Retro Cafe Art. A sprinkling of gold stars and a pretty angel were layered around the Christmas tree image. Some Stickles, gold ribbon and the sentiment "Star" complete this little card.

Hope you will enjoy a starry night this week.
sincerely, gerro

"Starry Night"

"Starry details"

We Give Thanks

We are continuing this month "On the farm"  at Gingersnap Creations. My Design Team post this week is all about autumn color. The colors are Yellow, Red and Brown and the challenge is GC#128. Come join the fun with us. One randomly drawn winner from the qualifying participants for this challenge will become a Gingersnap Creation Home Page Artist for a week as well as winning a $15.00 US voucher at the Rogue Redhead Designs store. It's their 1st anniversary this month so there are lots of great deals to be had until December 30, 2011 at their brand-new website! Also come see all the inspiring creations from my other Design Team members.

My card this week is for Thanksgiving and says "Thanks". I started with my fav turkey stamp and layered it on red and yellow(gold) burlap fabric.  These layers were put on a red ticking patterned paper. Some cream painted alphabets, a big ivory button, brown grosgrain ribbon and some brown Stickles complete this card.

Hope you will have a Happy Thanksgiving tomorrow. Enjoy your time with you families and friends.
yours truly, gerri

"Thanks"

"Turkey details"

Pretty Autumn Leaves

Hi everyone! Today over at Gingersnap Creations I have a about stamp kissing. It's a great way to make a fabulous new stamp image by combining two of your stamps! I used this technique as the base of my Autumn leaf collage tag.

Let's start with our stamping supplies. You'll need a stamp that has very little detail as your base. I'm using the big autumn leaf. The other detail stamp will be the "Kissing" stamp and provides the texture. I used the tiny leaf stamp on the block. I will be using a variety of ink colors.

The first step is to cover you base stamp - big leaf - with ink. I did a mottled look, but you could use just one color too.Try to keep it a lighter color than what you will use for your detail stamp.

The next step is to quickly ink your detail stamp -tiny leaf - and kiss it (stamp) it onto your base stamp - big leaf. You need to do this rather quickly so the inks don't dry out.

Here is a photo of the stamped leaf image.

After cutting the stamped leaf out, I will add the embellishments. First, there are some velvet leaves touched with ink and Stickles. There's also a chipboard bird that I covered with green and red ink, then stamped my detail tiny leaf stamp. A few shiny colored flowers were layered too.

Here are the embellishments placed on the tag.

This is the finished tag with the embellishments.It needed a little something more so I layered some sparkly green leaves, a Stickles edge and a tiny rhinestone eye on the bird. A pretty orange organza ribbon allows me to hang this autumn tag.

Here's a close-up of the pretty bird.

Hope you have enjoyed this tutorial today and I hope you will be kissing, I mean stamp kissing this week!

take care, gerri

Little Rabbit you are truly special

For the month of November, Gingersnap Creations' theme is "On the Farm" and this week the challenge is to use "Raffia" (#GC126). Come on over to plant your creation, sow the seeds of friendship and harvest ideas from my fellow Design Team members.

This card started with the adorable musical rabbit  paper by October Afternoon called Thrift Shop Good Junk. You can find this paper at Flying Unicorn.  I layered it on green burlap added some pretty ribbon and put it on yellow paper that was ink kissed with green ink. The embellishments are layered paper flowers that I added the musical centers and pink pearls. The grass around the little rabbit is painted raffia. LOL. The "You are truly special" sentiment completes this card.

Hope you will be able to spend time with someone truly special this week.
sincerely, gerri


"You are truly special"