Looking Forward to 2013......COME WIN!!!!!

As we draw to an end of 2012 I am looking forward to more creative enterprises in 2013 and what better way to start off the new year than with some wonderful valentines cards. In January I am teaching my annual Valentines card class and with the help of wonderful products by Gecko Galz and Paper studios have come up with 6 elegant cards.
If you are in the Houston Area on January 27th myself along with fellow Design Team artist Kristin Rhodes will be doing a double class of Valentine Goodies. My class will start at 2pm-5pm and will cost $25 if you would like more info just go to GECKO GALZ CLASSES

JE TAIME CARD

ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE CARD

VALENTINE SECRETS CARD

LOVE ME DO CARD

HEARTS DELIGHT CARD

L-O-V-E CARD

Starting January 16th Gecko Galz will start their 30 DAYS OF VALENTINES which will feature 30 diffrent Valentines day cards by their amazingly talented design team with instructions on how to create each card so check in each day on their website to see all the amazing cards! And in celebration of this as well as Valentines day I am doing a fun little giveaway  for all my followers......

VERY VALENTINE GIVEAWAY

to celebrate Valentines day I am doing a fun little giveaway where one lucky follower can win

the New Digital stamps set from Gecko Galz "HEART & SOUL" (this includes 25 amazing valentine digi stamps)

and the digital paper collection "Vintage Red" by Jenni Bowlin Studios.

And what do you have to do to win? Nothing Much just leave a comment  to this entry and make sure you are a follower of my blog. Then on February 1st I will randomly draw 1 winner! So easy so leave a comment and you might just win your hearts delight!

Have a happy New Year!

Leanne 

Merry Little Christmas Cards

Hi Everyone!

Well Christmas draws ever closer and as we run about doing our last minute gift buying or like me a day of baking let us pause and remember what Christmas is all about. Christmas is that special time of year when we reflect on how rich our lives truly are because of the special people in them, a time that you should stop take a breath and marvel in the beauty of the season and for no reason help those who are less fortunate than yourself. Hold your loved ones close, partake in a tradition that perhaps might have gotten lost along the way and celebrate the true meaning of the season. I wish all of you a very happy holiday season.
I thought I would share some of my holiday cards with you as my final entry before Christmas...remember a hand made card is a present all in itself because you took the time to create it for someone.

7th DAY OF CHRISTMAS

I used Gecko Galz Vintage Christmas Stamps, Grandmas House papers, red foil, Butterscotch Alcohol Inks, May Arts Ribbon, and rustic metal snowflake from Hobby Lobby.

JINGLE BELLA

For this I used Gecko Galz "In Vogue" collage set Glossy paper painted with Red Pepper Alcohol Inks, Embossing folder, red jingle bell and jewelery wire and pearls by Mark richards.

CHRISTMAS JOY

I used Gecko Galz Vintage Christmas digital stamps, jeweled twig by reflections, brass brads by MM, Grandmas house papers by Gecko Galz, fabric letters from my stash.

HOLLY & MISTLETOE

I used Gecko Galz Grandmas House Papers, Gecko Galz Vintage Christmas Digital Stamp set, wood snow flakes from Hobby Lobby, Radiant rain ink in red, gold acrylic paint, metal embellishment by Blue moon beads and gingham ribbon by Bazill Basics.

WINTER WONDERLAND

for this card I used GCD papers, Gecko Galz Vintage Holiday digital Stamps, gold braiding and fringe from JoAnns, rust ribbon from Hobby Lobby, Copic Markers, red Stickles, wooden snowflake from Hobby Lobby, key charm from Hobby Lobby, and pearl head pins from Hobby Lobby (in wedding section)

WARM WISHES

I used K&Co paper, Gecko Galz Free Stamp Image, Copic Markers, Ranger Ice Stickles, May Arts Ribbon, Distress Inks in Peacock Feathers.

LITTLE ANGEL CARD

I used Bo Bunny Paper, Silver Shimmer paper, Gecko Galz Angelica digital Stamps, May Arts ribbon, copic Markers, Distress ink in Peacock feathers.

SILENT NIGHT

I used K&Co printed paper, red Velvet paper from Micheals, Gecko Galz On the cover of a Magazine ephemera set, amber bling by Paper studio, and cream Viva Pearl Pen.

DECO CHRISTMAS

I used Paper Studios paper, black card stock, Gecko Galz Chic Christmas collage set, May Arts Ribbon, clear bling from Paper Studios.

ANGELIC

I used Gold Shimmer card stock, hand made paper from Texas Art Supply, ombre ribbon from May Arts, Angel image from Gecko Galz "Angels" collage set, and bling strand from Micheals.

Happy Holidays One and All

Leanne

FREEBIE FRIDAY WITH A TWIST!

Hi everyone!

Well the holidays are in full swing and as we all run about searching for the perfect gifts for our loved ones I thought it might be fun to have my monthly Freebie Friday with a little Twist! So what I have decided to do is share some of my favorite pictures with you and challenge you to create something with one of  the images below, you know.....a card....a tag.....an ornament......what ever your imagination can dream up. Then place a comment to this thread and a link where we can see your creation (or you can email it to me at fripperiesandbutterflies@yahoo.com ) and then on January 19th (my birthday) I will feature a blog entry that shows all the entries and will let all my followers email in a vote on who their favorite is....and the winner will be announced on  January 29th. And what does the winner get? You will get a $25 shopping spree at Gecko Galz on line store www.geckogalz.com . And 4 runners up will get a collection of images put together by me! So this will be my last blog challenge for 2012 and I hope everyone will take part...I want to see your art!
Have fun with the images!

THE CATS MEOW IMAGES

Have fun with them!
Leanne

SPEND CYBER MONDAY WITH GECKO GALZ

Hi Everyone!

I am very excited to share with you the great deals that Gecko Galz is having this Cyber Monday.

On Monday November 26th Gecko Galz will be having a huge Cyber Monday sale! We invite you to check back for the following HUGE sales!

• Buy One Get One; On all of our regular Priced items when you buy one you get another of equal or lesser value all day Monday!
  

• $1 Collage Sets; Selected collage sheets will be $1 per set all day so come collect all of them!
  

• FREE Gift Pack; When you spend $50 or more you will get an exclusive gift pack which features a paper pack, stamp set and collage set
  

• Get a $5 gift card; When you purchase a gift certificate worth $25 or more you will get a gift card for yourself worth $5!
  

Hope all of you can Visit their online shop at www.geckogalz.com and take advantage of all the wonderful deals!

And as their thankyou here is a free image for you to craft with. Have fun and happy crafting!
Leanne

Let's Celebrate Small Business Saturday!

Hi Everyone!

As we get ready for the holidays and begin our Christmas shopping or our Christmas holiday crafting  I wanted to remind everyone that on Saturday November 24th it is Small business Saturday so I am asking all my followers and friends to step out this Saturday and go to their local shops and buy from them. If you have a local craft shop or scrapbook store please go and support them, remember without them there would not be amazing classes by teachers such as myself. all the small independent scrapbook companies would not have anywhere to showcase there products thus people would never get to discover amazing products.
And even if you don't have a craft or scrapbook store that is okay you can still get out and support your local businesses and get some of your Christmas shopping done. I plan not nly to go to my favorite local scrapbook store on Saturday (Novel Approach) but also I am having lunch at my favorite independent restraunt three Olives (it is a great Italian restraunt...yum!
So what I am going to do in celebration of Small Business Saturday is give away a free set of Digital stamps from Gecko Galz, a small business that is online....and all you have to do is leave a message on this entry telling me what shop is your favorite small business and where it is located (so people can maybe visit it) and on Monday I will draw the name of one lucky winner who will recieve the FREE stamp set....so just check back here on Monday.
Also on Monday it is CYBER MONDAY and I will be giving away a FREE fun image for your to craft with courtesy of Gecko Galz so please check back with us!
I hope you have a lovely weekend!
Happy Scrapping
Leanne

Adventures at the International Quilt Show

Hi everyone!

So yesterday I wandered downtown (I live in Houston Texas) to the George R Brown Convention Center to take a peek at the International Quilt festival.....and all I can say is OMG! If you have never been to this quilt festival let me start by saying these are NOT you Grandmas quilts, there is some amazing artistry that goes into each quilt I saw! There  is also a wonderful display of art dolls, which I am going to give a shout out to my friend Cat Woody who won for her Gypsy of the Lake doll...go Cat...go Cat! But after you spend a few hours walking around and being totally blown away by the fiber art you slowly creep into what can only be discribed at the Meka of all vendor halls. And after you pick your self up off the ground because you are so taken with all the colors and products you begin making your way through 20 rows of packed vendors.
Now I am not a quilter...I dare say I don't touch a sewing machine if I dont have to...but I will tell all of you there is something for everyone!
I being a paper crafter and altered artist I look for items to enhance my work and here they had that like you would not believe....so I thought I would share a few of the most amazing of the shops I made purchases at and share with you what I got (oh so much altering planned).

Okay I know I told a few of you about the International quilt festival going on
this weekend but REALLY if you get a chance go down there today. It is the last
day but I went yeasterday and got a bag of goodies to scrap and make cards with
that is to die for. It is not all quilts and the vendor hall has some of the
best booths I have ever seen!

BAZZILL was the first booth I hit and they were selling their button packs and flowers and jewel
pieces for $1 and $2 a pack....now if you have ever looked at them at Archivers
then you know these packs are $4 to $7 a pack, I got 13 packs for $20 yesterday!

HABERDASHERY...dont you love their name? They had amazing little items, they sell Buttons Galore
which is also sold at Archivers and JoAnns. I got  button packs for $1 and little fabric
flowers for $1 as well as a nutrel color pack of 100 buttons for $3...oh the things I will do with them!

FIBER ON A WHIM booth #1445  for all you altered artist they have
amazing hand dyed cheese cloth for $3 a roll and other amazing things and also
carry Tim Holtz Items

Okay I did not get the name of this booth but you will know it when you see it for they are selling Radiant rain inks, twinkling H20's (and they have the new colors) for $2.75 a pat and Viva pearl pens for $4 which I LOVE!

SANDY SHORE who is on row 800 Sandy and his lovely wife also named Leanne has an amazing selection of beads,  vintage pearl buttons, and metal trinkets all for good prices.

TREASURES OF THE GYPSY Also on row 800 is they have killer decorative trims and ribbons as well as a collection of amazing stamps and asian and day of the dead trinkets. And wander around and gaze upon all the incredible dolls that people have made using her products.

TRIM ON WHEELS this cornicopia of mind blowing trinkets and treasures has a section where you can by 4 items for $20 and I got a huge roll of cream and brown tulle ribbon I am talking 100 + yards plus, yardage
of trims, fabric flowers for $1....yes your head will explode in his booth!

And last my creme de la creme shop MISS ROSE SISTER VIOLET booth #950 they have
the most incredible vintage lace, trims, baubles and little vintage velvet
flowers...I seriously started vibrating when I entered this booth. There trims are
$6.50 a yard but they are so sweet and charming that one cant help and fall in
love !

 

So If you live in the Houston Area it is going on for 1 more day and if you are not from Houston this show is an annual show that takes place in the fall each year so if you can come down for it please try to next year it is SOOOOOO worth the trip!

If you are comeing today You can park at the hotel
parking and take the sky bridge over on the second floor.

Like I said if you have some time today it is so worth checking out!

Pumpkin Fun

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE!

I want to thank everyone for joining in the Gecko Galz Blog Hop it was so amazing to hear your comments on my work and I love that I gained a few new friends following my blog (that is always fun). So I am gearing up for another craft show in November and thought I would share with you a few new frames I have done. You know me I love altering wood items and these little frames are so much fun to decorate (and would make amazing gifts for friends and family). So I thought I would share some of my fun designs and also at the end of this entry check out a fun giveaway from me!

Oh Pumpkin Frame

For this frame I used some amazing papers from BO BUNNY, I have to admit that I am very smitten with their papers and they lend themselves well to making these frames. The wooden frames I got at Micheals for $1 so you can imagine how fun and inexpensive these gifts are to make. The brown trim is from Hobby Lobby and the big wooden button I got from a huge pack of buttons I got from Oriental trading.

POPPIES FRAME

Okay so as you can tell there is a trend going on with my frames I again used BO BUNNY papers to create this stunning red frame. I cut out the poppies from another sheet of paper and using pop dots made them 3 diminsional. I used black paint to distress my edges and added some red bling...because everything is better with bling! Then I found a fun font and printed the words LIVE LAUGH LOVE and mounted it to a wooded blank I found at Micheals in the wod working area and distressed with "Festive Berries" ink by Distress Ink.

OH BABY FRAME

Again I used BO BUNNY papers to cover ther frame and used cream velvet ribbon from Mya Road and paper flowers from Prima and antique pearl buttons from Gecko Galz to decorate. I then stamped the saying on a sheet of white cardstock that I distressed with pink ink. I made flourishes using my VIVA PEARL PEN. This is a simple but charming gift for a baby shower.

BY THE SEA FRAME

So for this frame I stepped away from the Bo Bunny paper and used my other favorite papers GRAPHICS 45. I again distressed the edges with black paint and made my embellishments from other pieces of the Graphics 45 papers from that line and finshed it of with some bling...because Diamonds are a girls best friend after all!

LOVE WISH DREAM FRAME

Now this frame was inspired by weddings...this is what happens when you sit and watch the 4 weddings marathon one afternoon. I used BASIC GREY papers to cover the frame, I love this paper because it reminded me of wedding lace. Then I took a piece of white lace trim and ran it down the left side of the frame and placed a sentiment plaque on the left side center and a pretty flower from FLYING UNICORN at the top. Then using my lilac ink distressed the edges and using my VIVA PEARL PEN added some pearls around the center edge.

I hope you enjoyed my little frames and will be inspired to do your own as gifts.

Now for something fun I am going to give away  to three lucky followers three of my designs I did for the Blog Hop....The altered Bottle, The plaque, and the tag. plus there may be other goodies thrown in just for fun.

So what do you have to do to win? that is simple if you are not a follower of my blog become one and then leave a comment on this blog entry...easy hu? Then on November 15th I will randomly draw three names and each person will win one of my designs (plus other goodies). Good luck everyone and thank you for following me and my paper crafting antics!

Leanne

Welcome to the Gecko Galz Blog Hop

GECKO GALZ TRICKS AND TREATS BLOG HOP

Welcome Everyone to the 2^nd Annual Gecko Galz Tricks and Treats Blog Hop

 I am the next stop on your “hop” welcome to my blog! If you started here you might want to go back and start at the begining at the Gecko Galz blog so you won’t miss anything!  

We have 15 AMAZING blogs for you to visit this weekend, each with some gorgeous projects created using the Gecko Galz collage images, that we are giving you for FREE! Each blog you visit will have a free Gecko Galz Collage sheet for you to download, mine is "Picture Perfect". Also make sure you collect all the secret words on each blog so at the end of the hop you can enter to win our wonderful treat.  So sit back, relax, take your time and enjoy the hop!

We have FOUR amazing prizes up for grabs:

• First is the ephemera collections for each month for an entire year. That is 60 different sets! This is a $120 value
• Second prize is a $50 shopping spree at the Gecko Galz website….you pick it and we send it!
• Third prize is one free digital collage set each month for an entire year, you get to pick the collage sheet you want each month and we send it off to you! This is a $24 value
• And our Grand Prize ONE FULL YEAR of Gecko Galz  COLLECTIONS!!! That will be 1 paper pack, 1 digital stamp set, and 5 collage sets for the entire year! This is a prize worth $240

Read on to learn how you can win!

First of all, you will need to visit all 15 blogs and leave a comment on each blog :) **This is important so we know you have been to all the blogs **. Collect all Fifteen words and at the end of the blog on the Fripperies and Butterflies site there will be a link to the Gecko Galz website where you will email us the phrase the words make up. This enters you in the contest. On October 31^st we will randomly draw the 4 winners and email each of you, then we will post the winning names on our website and on the Gecko Galz blog site.

For an extra chance to win make a purchase from the Gecko Galz site and your name goes in again for a better chance of winning (each purchase you make that weekend gives you another chance to win) 

Finally, we are having one more give away! If you post our Gecko Galz badge (found on the Gecko Galz Blog) on your blog or website you will be entered to win a Gecko Store Gift Certificate worth $25 - super easy right?  Just post a link to your blog on the Gecko Galz Blog so we can come visit :).

My Secret Words are;

SOMETHING 

BEAUTIFUL

Now take all 15 words that make up the secret phrase and email the phrase to Gecko Galz at geckogalz@yahoo.com  or go to the gecko galz website and use their comment box and send the phrase, good luck. Thank you for joining our blog and don’t forget for another chance to win make a purchase at either their website at www.geckogalz.com or at their Etsy store at http://www.etsy.com/shop/geckogalz .

Here is the Blog Hop Rotation 

 Carol Salisbury

Hazel Harler

Starr Timmons

Barbara Bird

Joan Lindle

Penny Walker

Sherri Levington

Debi Ryan

Heather Hudson

Sharron Rogers

Gerri Herbst

Jules Eickmeier

Helene Huber

Leanne Seed

Please enjoy this free Gecko Galz Collage sheet “Asian Beauty”

As well as the samples I have made using the images

(Just click on the picture for link to full size sheet)

MY SAMPLES

Lady Of Roses Tag

by

Leanne Seed

For this tag I started with a pack of  Inkssentials #8 tags and using my Distress inks in Festive Berries and Crushed Olives and smeard on the ink colors on a piece of wax paper and then spritzed with water so the colors blended together. Next I took my tag and swirled it in the colors and it created this amazing pattered on my tag. Then using a blank CD as a template I took a piece of Washi Paper that I got at Micheals and cut into a circle and adhered half on and half off my tag using liquid glue. Cut off part of circle that is sticking off. Next I cut out the girl with the rose and hand tinted the rose and adhered her flat to the tag. Using my paper piercer I made a small hole in the center of the bottom edgeand pulled through a piece of red twine by May Arts. I then took the bird cage image and cut it out and poked a small hole in the top and looped the twine through it and tied in a bow to create my dangle. Using some fun red ribbon from my stash I tied several small pieces through the hole to resemble a fire cracker top and added a small appoxy sticker by Creative imaginations.

Bird Song Frame

by

Leanne Seed

I had so much fun doing this frame, it was a combination of doing it for the blog hop and for the Graphics 45 challenge for this month. As you can figure all the papers are from Graphics 45 "Birdsong" collection. The lady I enlarged to 5" tall and cut her out then inked her edges using brown ink. The frame I got at Micheals in their wood item area (it was only $1). The twine I got at hobby Lobby as well as the mini oriental coins and red cinabar beads. For the edges I used gold acrylic paint and a paint brush (not foam a regular bruch) and flicked the edges creating this wonderful texture effect. Then I cut another piece of the paper to slip in the picture area as well as a piece of acetate I got at Archivers.

Asian Dream Bottle

by

Leanne Seed

I have always wanted to try my hand at creating an altered bottle and had this stash of great bottles I bought last year at Hobby Lobby. So I started with my Marvy 2" circle punch and punched out a piece of Graphics 45 Bird Song paper and layered it on the bottle front using Glossy Accents. Then I cut out one of my charming little asian girls and positioned her on the front and added an appoxy sticker that reads Life from Creative imaginations. Then using red line tape I adhered a piece of black lace around the bottles neck then tied on some colorful fibers and red twine. To the red twine I ties on asian charms and beads. And finished off the bottle using my Viva white pearl pen. For an added touch you can alcohol ink the bottle as well.

Princess Peacock Plaque

by

Leanne Seed

So for this little plaque I started with two pieces of wood I found in the wood section of JoAnns and layered on Gecko Galz "Zen Garden" Papers a great peacock feather I got at Hobby Lobby, tiny oriental coins and brown seqined ribbon also from Hobby lobby. I punched holes using my crop-a-dile and tied it together with wonderful orange ribbons and dangled two cinabar beads from the bottom using black twine by May arts. This is an amazing gift that only took 30 minutes to make.

Have Fun creating your own designs using these images!

I hope you enjoyed our little blog hop and dont forget to leave comments and take your phrase and email it in to Gecko Galz!

Happy Scrappin

Leanne

 

Rustic and Elegant Designs

So this week The  Shabby Tea Room is holding a new challenge where you must do a project in a Rustic Elegance's. And this got me thinking about what I see as rustic and elegant. Having just been to the big Antique weekend in Warington and Roundtop and I saw a bushel of Rustic items to inspire me then put a soft elegance touch to my designs.....and so here is what inspired me to do a few rustic but elegant works.

Discoveries Altered Composition Book

by

Leanne Seed

For this book I worked with K & Co papers which I feel they capture that elegant rustic feel. Also I used gold acrylic paint  on the edges of the book and the spine to give it an aged rustic look, this also hides any short papers on the edge. Next I took two images I got from Gecko Galz and made the monarch butterfly double sided and pulled up the wings to create a 3-D effect. And on my trip to the antique weekend I found this amazing doillie flower made with a mini crochet doillie and twine which I thought was an amazing rustic look.

Too Tweet Altered Composition Book

by

Leanne Seed

Now for this composition book I was inspired by music and birds so I started with Paper Studios Musical background paper (found at Hobby Lobby) and using Distress ink in Vintage Photo I inked the edges. I love the Distress brand inks because they themselves have that amazing Rustic look. I then took an image from Gecko Galz and a piece of their Grandmas House papers and covered a wooden cut out of a bird and inked the edges with the same ink. Then something I love for a rustic look dyed cheese cloth I took a piece and died it using gold dye then cut into a square and adhered it to the top of the book. I added some great vintage style flowers and for their centers antique pearl buttons then ties tulle ribbon around the cover which ties in that elegant look.

Autumn Wishes Fairy Jar

by

Leanne Seed

So as most of you know I am so into doing these wonderful little fairy jars, I love finding fun little vintage pieces to use on them. For this one I started with an old Mason Jar and using alcohol ink I made it look as if rust was running down the glass and colored the metal lid to look as if it were rusted a bit. Then using a vintage doillie and brown tulle and placed it under the lid. I wrapped a string of rustic metal stars around the top and tied on old fibers I found in my stash. I also used a great fall flower as my jar topper. Inside I used the forth coming fairy children collage set from Gecko Galz, moss and some festive berries.

Angelic Tag

by

Leanne Seed

One product I absolutely love when creating a rustic look is UTEE and my favorite brand is B & J Art Stamps brand, they have amazing colors and they melt so chunky and look like aged metal!  Where alot of people will use clear embossing ink I like to use glossy accents you get nice rises and valley's when you use liquid adhesive. I inked the tag using dried Marigold ink by Distress Ink and the image is from Gecko Galz "Angels" collage set.

I hope you enjoyed my take on Rustic Elegance and I would love to see your take on this so pop over and join the Shabby Tea Room for this challenge!

Happy Scrapping!

Leanne

You Can Win with Gecko Galz

Gecko Galz is gearing up for their 2nd annual blog hop and you to help them spread the word and possibly win a prize! All you have to do is place the blog badge below on your blog site, facebook page or website.... then in the comments section on the gecko Galz blog Site at http://geckogalzscrapbooking.blogspot.com/2012/10/you-can-win.html
let them know it is on your site with a link to the site and on the 26th one lucky person will win their November product collection...thats right the winner will get the digital paper pack, the digital stamp collection and all 6 collage sets for November just for putting a badge on your blog or facebook page. I look forward to seeing all of you on October 26th where I will unvail my free collage page just for you along with some fun little design ideas! So what are you waiting for GRAB THE BADGE!

Pretty In Pink

Okay So I am on a roll today and I did a few cards that were inspired by a challenge on the Shabby Tea Rooms blog site. There challenge going on right now is a pink, green and white challenge and I love pink and green together it is a beautiful vintage color pallette and I thought I would share some fun cards and a frame I did inspired by the color pink. And remember October is Breast Cancer Awarness month so get checked!

Pixie Dust Card

by

Leanne Seed

Enjoy Life Card

by

Leanne Seed

Thinking of You Card

by

Leanne Seed

Perfectly Pink Card

by

Leanne Seed

Just Be You Card

by

Leanne Seed

Now this month I am starting something a little bit fun, each month I will pick a color pallet and and give away some fun images for you to use in your crafting. So this month inspired by pink these are the images I found to share with everyone!

Have fun and happy scrapping!

Leanne