No Bones About It

This particular ATC is created for the Repurpose, Re-cycle and Re-invent blog challenge: October-Halloween-No Bones About It   and the Bonus Round to use bones (skull on bottle label and of course the arm)

The recycled material I used is hard plastic packaging.  To show the plastic, here is a "before" pic.  I stamped the bottles on the plastic packaging and then cut them out.   (I see the reflection of the sun in this photo looks like the bottles are double stamped! Too late to retake the photo-- the bottles are already cut out! And you can see in the ATC the stamped images are fine.)  I printed green paper and placed it behind the bottles.  I was going for "slimy green goop"!

The sentiment (an Alice in Wonderland quote) tells the story--a little too much from these bottles led to this person's demise!  All that's left is a ghostly warning and the remnants of a boney arm!

I'm also entering this ATC at the Gecko Galz Papercrafting Yahoo Group Ephemera Emporium Halloween challenge due October 7.  Lots of challenges here so please join in.

This ATC will head to the Unruly Paper Arts Yahoo Group for their Eerie ATC swap.  The swap sign up is closed, but please consider joining our group.  Something is always happening  there.....

Materials and how I used them:
Bottle labels, green paper for bottle backing and sentiment, and ATC paper base all from Gecko Galz Hocus Pocus digital paper pack
taller bottle from Studio 490 Wendy Vecchi Art Inspiration (Stampers Anonymous)
smaller bottle from Red Lead Story Stamps A Halloween Tonic Story
bottles stamped with Staz-On black ink onto plastic packaging
bottle cap stamped second time onto paper and pounced with Ranger Distress Inks in Weathered Wood and Black Soot
sentiment from Heartwarming Vintage Crafty Secrets Greetings from Wonderland stamp set
arm from Boneyard Skeleton garland bought at the dollar store
I used Ranger Glue and Seal to glue paper onto the plastic and to glue on the skeleton arm
Ghost fussy cut from Graphic 45 The Wizard of Oz Collection Journey to Oz paper
Black Sharpie for outlining

Getting Eerie with Edgar

The entire month of October prompt is October and Halloween at Art With No Boundaries.  The dt work displayed at their blog is down right eerie.  Got me in the mood to make what I consider the ultimate eerie in Halloween art--Edgar Allan Poe.

The image of Poe and the bird with Poe's words are both from the Gecko Galz collage sheet, Poe.
So I'm also entering this ATC at the Gecko Galz Papercrafting Yahoo Group Ephemera Emporium Halloween challenge due October 7.  Lots of challenges here so please join in.

This ATC will head to the Unruly Paper Arts Yahoo Group for their Eerie ATC swap.  The swap sign up is closed, but please consider joining our group.  Something is always happening  there.....

Materials used:
background ATC paper: Memory Box Blackbird 6x6 collection
Tim Holtz Alterations Movers & Shapers Sizzix die Artful Dwellings:  I took the arch shape and turned it into a tombstone, using thick mulberry paper for texture and gesso mixed with a bit of black paint to create a gray color.
Gecko Galz Poe collage sheet.  Punched one inch circle around Poe photo.  Glued on top the rim of a circle tag.   Fussy cut raven and adhered with foam dot.
Martha Stewart fence punch
Tim Hotz Ideaology metal pen nib

A Very Special Pink Saturday

I'm linking up to Beverly's Pink Saturday, a great blogging idea to post something pink each Saturday and to visit others who do the same.

Today's theme is Show Us Your Fall or Pink.  Last weekend we visited a pumpkin patch and came home with some pumpkins to add to the mums outside.  But today it's cold and raining so no photo of the outdoor decor.   I'm still decorating inside so no photo of that either.

Instead, I'm going the traditional pink route this weekend with a very special shirt.  To take this photo, I put it on a dress form that I won over at Heartwarming Vintage/Crafty Secrets.  (I haven't altered it yet and decided to put it to work for this photo.)   
Yes, this is how big the dress form is!  
It will take me a while to get it altered.  I'm working towards January for a special design team post.

The breast cancer awareness shirts are being sold by our local Breast Cancer Support Group.  At the complex where I work, there was a huge outpouring of support and many of us have purchased and are wearing these shirts to work every Friday in the month of October.   Because so many bought the shirts, the local newspaper is taking a group photo of us wearing the shirts next week.  We're to meet prior to the start of our work day to snap the pic.  I think it's a great opportunity to continue awareness and support for such a worthy cause.  

Regarding my Mixpod song playing:  I love Adele and was so happy for her that she got the new 007 movie theme song. These lines from the lyrics are perfect for both this supportive post as well my new artistic venture, Fall Fearless and Fly at Artists in Blogland.  I'll be back by week's end with a post for that challenge.

Let the sky fall, when it crumbles
We will stand tall
Face it all together

Autumn Picnic

Today I have my first post on the Rogue Redhead Designs LLC blog. I used the Getting Grizzly stamp plate to create a sidestep card.  For details, please visit HERE.

Christmas Shopping Mini

For my design team project for October, to highlight the release of the Gecko Galz holiday paper sets, I made a Christmas Shopping Mini for my purse.

Size of the mini is 4x4 inches. All papers used for this mini are from the Gecko Galz Grandma's House digital paper pack, printed out and folded in a technique that uses no glue or scissors (technique learned at my Prairie Stampers Club).  All images are Gecko Galz.  The spine is a tag printed on linen paper and then glued on top of the mini for a finished look (optional).  

Both inside covers feature ATCs.  Various images from the Alter Me set are used for shopping lists and "to do" lists.   A library pocket was made to hold the library cards (shopping lists).  

Tickets are adhered on 3 sides with red line tape to form a pocket for receipts.  (Note the Gecko Galz on-line order receipt tucked inside the pocket!)  A word search is included for that long wait in line during gift buying.

This month when you buy $25 or more in Gecko Galz
Products you get a FREE Mini Digital Stamp Set "WHIMSY
DOODLES 2". It has 12 fun and whimsical stamps for you to
use in your paper crafting! Gecko Galz.   And don't forget to stop by the Gecko Galz site each week for a holiday craft idea/tutorial.

Gecko Galz products:

Grandma's House digital paper pack:  Ives (covers), Evergreen, Through the Woods, Dear Santa

Happy Holiday Circles

Christmas Tags

Ephemera Sets:

A Rockwell Christmas

Winter time

Chic Christmas

Old Fashioned Christmas

Alter Me

Other materials used:

Colorbok Warm Earth Tones textured cardstock in green (matched perfectly)

black Bazzil card stock

ivory linen paper from stash

1-1/2 inch circle punch

Sizzix Framelits—8 circle dies

Stampin’ Up Sizzix texture embossing folder: Petals a Plenty

Spellbinders Shapeabilities Pendants: Renaissance Hearts

Ranger Distress Inks: Old Paper, Wild Honey, Antique Linen

gold foil waste for buttons on coat

trims from stash

Ranger Xmas Red Stickles

foam adhesive

Ranger Vintage Photo Distress Marker

black Sharpie marker

computer generated word strips
library pocket template of your choice

I've Joined the Rogue Crew !!!

I'm honored to announce that I'm a new design team member of the Rogue Redhead Crew! Please drop by the blog, and FaceBook page!

The current Rebel challenge is to use the colors lilac, navy and white.  Enter before October 7 for a chance to win a $15 voucher to the Rogue Redhead store.   Here's my design team contribution:

Supplies Used:
Rogue Redhead Designs LLC RR007 Milliner Misses stamp
Cuttlebug embossing folders:  Swiss Dot and (unknown) Gate
Spellbinders Nestabilities Lacy Squares die cuts
DCWV Summer Dream Glitter Cardstock
Navy mat paper from stash
VersaMagic Dew Drop Chalk Ink in Night Sky
Martha Stewart punches:   butterfly and lace
Sweet Garden flowers from the Flying Unicorn
ribbon trims from my stash (polka dot from Lickety Split)
Stampin' Up Basic Pearl Jewels

Stampin' Up Sympathy Cards

It's a difficult time when one loses a parent.  I was able to make a couple of sympathy cards at our last Stampin' Up card club.  It turned out that I needed them to send to an adult daughter and an adult son who just lost their father.

All stamps, papers, and inks are Stampin' Up

Back to Blogging

My son got married Saturday to an amazing woman. I'm so happy for both of them and for us as a family. The wedding preparations-- and then a full week of entertaining out of town guests who came to help us celebrate-- kept me away from the computer, blogging and crafting (although I made the guest book and some thank you cards). I now am on the downside of housecleaning and can get back to blogging.  A big thanks to Shar and Leanne for graciously giving me time away from my design team duties.

My friends at Prairie Art Stamps in Springfield, IL helped me glue the spine of the guest book.  While there at the store, they insisted that I do the Make and Take card.  To be perfectly honest, I was a bit preoccupied with the wedding to really relax, but I listened to my friends, sat down, and put together this:

USArtQuest Materials used: Gildenglitz, Texture Sponge, Duo Adhesive, Mica Color water color paints

I think this is a great card to complement my new blog look for the autumn season. 

Playing with PSE

The Gecko Galz design team was challenged to make their own individual banner for their personal gallery on the website.  So I played with PSE and the Gecko Galz digital images and came up with this:

I think it expresses my individuality--very vintage--like me.  hahaha.

Gecko Galz ephemera sets:  A Rose is a Rose; Edwardian Beauties; Pretty Little Butterflies

This is a png file but blogger has placed it on my maroon photo frame.

I'm not sure when these will be posted at Gecko Galz, but I'm happy to have it made.

Win Win Situation

Did you get your Gecko Galz e-newsletter yesterday?  I already downloaded my free ephemera sheet of images.  Congrats to my dt teammate Gerri Herbst for being the designer featured this month as well as to my blogging friend, Shawn Johnson, for being our featured guest designer.  Yup, that's all in the newsletter including the announcements of the September releases as well as two promotions.  You can sign up for the newsletter and get all the latest info and inspiration (we're starting Christmas projects!) by clicking HERE.

ONE:

The Countdown has begun to our annual blog hop. Come join us October 26th-28th for our annual blog hop.

 

FREE EPHEMERA SHEETS

A CHANCE TO WIN A HUGE PRIZE

AND AMAZING DESIGN IDEAS

Our big prize a years worth of FREE collage sheets!

And here is another chance to win a big prize help us spread the word by placing our blog hop badge on your blog site or face book site or pinterest site and your name will be placed in a drawing to win a free collage set each month for a full year. Just email us at geckogalz@yahoo.com and we will send a copy of the badge below to place on your sites. Once it is up just email us with the link and we will place your name in the drawing. Do it on all three places get your name in 3 times!

TWO:


Also this month we are continuing our "Follow Us" campaign so for everyone who have not joined us on Pinterest or our Blog or Facebook all you have to do is follow us on all three spots and you will get a FREE set of "Artsy Doodle" Stamps....so easy...but wait there is another catch get your friends to follow us and you get a second set of Artsy Doodle Stamps...just have them-- when they drop us an email saying they joined us-- mention your name and email and we will send you your second set for FREE!

BLOG

PINTEREST

FACEBOOK

We want to thank all of you for helping us spread the word about Gecko Galz we would not be here with out the support of our followers!

Here's what I did with one of the Artsy Doodles--I printed the pumpkin and colored it with Copics. I made a card for it with one of the papers from the Hocus Pocus digital paper pack released this month (edged with Ranger Distress ink in Shabby Shutters).

I also used a Spellbinders Nestabilities Lacy Square die for the mat. I created the card base with green cardstock from Stampin' Up.