30 tags of December #2

Here's my 2nd tag for you, using a Gecko Galz image from the design sheet "Christmas Cuties' and bits n bobs from my stash, though the Poinsettias are a new purchase as I needed something small and Christmassy to fill the space on the tag and I didn't have anything suitable.

To see these designs and much more, drop by the Gecko Galz on Etsy

Frosty the Snowman

Retro style Christmas card today, using a cute Snowman image from Gecko Galz 'Frosty' design sheet. The blue backing paper is a HunkyDory one - one of the crafting magazines digital freebies I came across, I printed it out onto an A4 sheet of card and it just about matches the blue  in the image.

In one of the swaps I took part in over at CardExchangeUK was some gorgeous patterned holographic card - the red one was just perfect to bring out the red hat & gloves Mr Snowman is wearing.

Totally in love with my stringed snowflake die at the moment, so I cut another one out and snipped the individual flakes out, to embellish this card, then stuck silver gems in the middle, and used a silver peel off sentiment to finish off.

Pop over to the Gecko Galz on Etsy to find many more retro/vintage images.

30 tags of December #1

Join in with the Gecko Galz and celebrate all things Christmas this month, with our 30 tags of December.
All the lovely DT's got to make 2 tags each, so check in at the Gecko Galz blog every day this December to see what we all got up to!

A cute retro Christmas tag this afternoon, using Gecko Galz 'Baby It's Cold Out Here' design sheet, backing paper from stash, silver peel offs, silver stick on gems, snowflake embellishment, round sentiment stamp and a length of ribbon I recycled from a gift.

Using Craft Artist, I brought in the design sheet, then cropped it down so the image I wanted was the only one remaining. Then, using one of the edit programmes I removed the rest of the scene, leaving Mini Santa & friend. Resized the end image to fit the tag then printed, and fussy cut round them.


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Dashing thro' the Snow

My very first post as a member of the Gecko Galz design team for 2018! Never mind a drum roll, I'll make do with  a very strong coffee or maybe a glass of wine.

Two Christmas cards and an altered item up this morning.

6x6 cardstock

'Baby, its cold out here' design sheet

Spellbinders sentiment die

M Company square die

festive twine

silver glitter

The image was so pretty and gorgeous, I kept it plain and simple for this card, only adding a touch of silver glitter over the stars and the blue/white twine to pull the colours together.

*****

I can't skate, I did try when I was a teenager - never let go of the wall encircling the rink which meant I only skated round half of it for about two hours....... but to skate like the couple in the picture at Christmas would be a dream and so romantic, possibly with a lovely hot chocolate afterwards, with not a trip to A & E in sight!

6x6 cardstock

'Baby, its cold out here' design sheet

Free stamp

Red ink

Xcut snowflake punch

M Company snowflake border die

white pearlescent card stock

chritmas card stock from Joy!

blue gems

clear embossing powder

The image is quite pale so I jazzed it up a bit with the bright background paper just peeking out from under it. I used the snowflake punch and stuck them onto the card and popped blue gems in the middle, but I thought it didn't look quite right, so I quickly pulled the gems off and decided to use the snowflake border die and snip the flakes off and use individually, then I popped the blue gems back on. 

*****

I recently watched a YouTube video of a lady doing an Altered Mail Art Envelope, using an envelope destined to go in her recycling bin. It looked easy, so I thought I'd give it a go.

bog standard white envelope (had a bill in it!)

'Dashing Thro' the Snow' paper kit

glittery peel offs

white pearls

xmas ribbon strip

red glitter in glue form

red glitter

hole punch 

red ribbon

First thing I did was to tidy the envelope up by straightening the torn edge using my guillotine:

then I cut the other length and one end open, so it opens up:

I cut three pieces of the patterned papers to the same length of the envelope, but kept one A4 sized so I could stick it on the front of the envelope and overlap both side edges by about two inch so it continued round the back, making it a pocket.

The second piece I glued down to the front centre for my 'topper' and the last piece glued on the back of the envelope covering the remaining whiteness and the edges of the first paper. Remember to keep the open end at the top at all times - which I nearly didn't!!

Once everything was firmly stuck down I glittered and embellished.

The envelope flap was made from a piece of card measuring about two inches high and a width to fit snugly into the envelope mouth. I folded about half an inch over, longways, and put double sided sticky tape onto it, this is the bit that slides into the mouth and sticks to the inside..... slightly tricky and I had to trim the width to get it to fit straight. That was the only fiddley bit!

I used a hole punch, two in the flap and two through the back of the envelope and threaded a lovely red ribbon  through. 

Makes a lovely envelope for hand delivery, or a gift envelope instead of wrapping paper.

For these and many more designs, check out the GeckoGalz on Etsy