Poetry In A Pot Of Tea: Hocus Pocus

Fall is my favorite season of the year. I love the colors, scents, and flavors of Autumn. Gecko Galz asked me to be their Guest Designer for September and I couldn't wait to make some crafty projects with their collections. What a nice honor and such fun! I had the opportunity to create with the Gecko Galz Hocus Pocus paper line, the Autumn Days Collage Set and the Midnight Hour Digital Stamps. Let's get started - I am excited to show you what I cooked up in my scrap room!

Nevermore Book Club Tea Invitation

Using the Gecko Galz Hocus Pocus papers and Edgar Allen Poe and raven digital stamps, I created this "Book Club Tea" invitation with pockets for small party favors.

The pockets hold a book mark and tea bag for my invited guests to enjoy before attending the party. I've used this pocket card design before and have a tutorial here. The Gecko Galz collection works well together and the ability to print out as many sheets as you need is so convenient!

September has come,

It is hers whose vitality leaps in the autumn,

Whose nature prefers
Trees without leaves and a fire in the fire-place;
So I give her this month and the next
Though the whole of my year should be hers who has rendered already
So many of its days intolerable or perplexed
But so many more so happy;
Who has left a scent on my life and left my walls
Dancing over and over with her shadow,
Whose hair is twined in all my waterfalls
And all of London littered with remembered kisses.

- Louis MacNeice

Autumn Tags

I got 'inky' with these tags! I used Ranger Distress Inks and water to create the colorful backgrounds on these 2.5"x 5" white tags. Next, I ran them through my Cuttlebug for texture and dimension, before spritzing them with Tsukineko Walnut Ink. The green-eyed girl and mums postcard are part of the Gecko Galz Autumn Days Collage Set. I simply added a silk leaf to each, a bit of ribbon to the tops, and added glittery K & Co word stickers.

Floral Arrangement

Like to upcycle? Want to make an easy craft with the kids or grandkids?

Simply take an empty can and cover the label with one of the Hocus Pocus papers, then decorate as desired. Push a piece of wet floral foam into the can if you are using fresh flowers, otherwise use styrofoam. I purchased a Fall flower cluster at Michael's for around three dollars. Regular visitors to my blog know I am a bird watcher so I was happy to find this charming bird image in the Gecko Galz Autumn Days Collage set. I made a punched matting for the bird duo, pushed the silk flowers into the styrofoam, then tied dangling charms around the top of the can.

This project was quick, easy and inexpensive! It would make a wonderful decoration for the 'kids' table at Thanksgiving.

BACK SIDE

You could also use it on a covered porch or patio or place it in the guest powder room.

Alice Ornament

This vibrant hanging ornament was made with the Gecko Galz Hocus Pocus papers, a Stampendous Wonderland Alice stamp, a bottle cap, Glossy Accents, and silk and felt leaves. I can't wait to display this in our kitchen!

I fussy-cut the background shape - but you could use your Cricut or Cuttlebug to cut out your favorite shape - then ran it through the Cuttlebug for texture. I started layering paper, leaves, and the stamped image of Alice onto the textured piece.

I used two different stamps for the sentiment, then punched out the crow design from the Gecko Galz collection and placed it inside a bottlecap. To seal the crow image inside the bottlecap, just squeeze a small amount of Glossy Accents over it and let dry. I adhered a couple of the leaves to the back of the ornament for more dimension and completed the piece by covering the reverse side with another cute Hocus Pocus print.

Octopus Bottle

The Hocus Pocus Collection comes through with flying colors for versatility. If you are not a scrapbooker or card maker you can use the images for home decor!

I took an olive oil bottle I had in the kitchen and decorated it with the octopus label, nautical netting, a starfish and a painted grungeboard skull. I finished the look by tying some raffia around the bottom, attaching an orange gem to the skull, and using black tulle for a bow at the top.

There are many fun and spooky labels in this collection - what will you make with them?

Party Favor Bags

Just print, cut out, and glue the side and bottom of these party favor bags for a chillingly cute treat for your guests! I used my Crop A Dile to insert eyelets in the sides of the bags through which I tied a handle. Since these bags have designs on the front and back you don't need much to complete them. A little glitter, a bow, some faux spiderweb and they are ready to fill with goodies.

Trick or Treat card
I love the gorgeous Midnight Hour Digital stamps, especially this Trick or Treat design! I printed the image out on photo paper, then used orange card stock for matting.

I used a corner punch in the black card stock so I could insert the orange matting and Trick or Treat image. To finish the card I simply added a bit of Ranger Crystal Stickles on the spiderweb. I like the crisp black and white print, don't you?

Witch's Cafe Hanging Sign

A little bit of Photoshop (I added 'brewing up tea'), a piece of plywood, black Adirondack Paint, Mod Podge, and some chain combined to create a home decor sign for Halloween. I printed out the Gecko Galz Witch's Cafe image, inked the edges, before using Mod Podge to adhere it to a painted piece of plywood. I used my Crop A Dile to punch holes in the top, then used sheer dotted ribbon and pretty floral chain to suspend it. I bought the chain at Tuesday Morning in the craft section for under three dollars.

I really enjoyed using the Gecko Galz Collections and even have a few more ideas up my sleeve on ways to use the papers and images. Keep your eyes open in the following weeks for another project or two! Head over to their website to look at all of the vintage, seasonal, and versatile paper prints and images - you might want to get a head start on making some Fall creations too.