Giving dimension to handcrafted cards by Betsy Skagen

It is SaturYAY! The perfect day for rebuilding my stash of handcrafted greeting cards. One way I make my cards stand out from those purchased at a store is by adding dimension with layers.

Gypsy Soul's embellishments are perfect for this because many are small and light enough to still fit in a regular mailing envelope.

I wanted to share with you the basics of how to make these handcrafted cards so you can create some of your own. 

Begin by giving all your embellishments a coat of gesso and let dry. 

Paint the embellishments with acrylic paint and dry with heat gun.

Next cover each embellishment with embossing ink and clear embossing powder. Use a heat gun to set the embossing powder. 

Cut 4.25 x 5.5 inch rectangles of background paper. I used a variety of gelli prints that I made in an earlier craft session.

Layer images, ephemera, rub-ons, message and the embellishments on the card. 

Finish your card by adhering your creation to a blank 4.25 x 5.5 card that you previously made or purchased. 

Great Stuff

Five Petal Flowers with Flourishes

Feathery Flourishes Miniatures

Flourish Miniatures

Mini Flourishes Bella

Petal Corners

Leafy Corners

Vintage images

7gypsies rub-ons

Acrylic paint

Blank cards

Decorative paper

Embossing powder

Clear embossing ink

Pre-printed messages

Assorted ephemera

Hedgerow Across the field

Hello, it's Heather with you today with a simple project which can either be just a picture or made slightly smaller and used as a card. 

I recently bought a pad with various patterns of paper

When I saw the one in the background of this project I remembered that I had got quite a lot of Gypsy Soul Laser cuts items that I could use to make a hedgerow,

which I am sure anyone can see all over the world. I began by painting all the relevant parts with white Gesso, but I only did one side as they were all going to be stuck down in some way. When the Gesso had dried I used various greens and browns in distress ink to colour the fronds, and finished them off with Cosmic Shimmer gilding polish to give them a bit of a shine, I coloured the grass in green and the foliage in Powder blue gilding polish. Then I began to layer the fern fronds across the bottom of the paper in different directions, I stuck them down with everyday crafting glue and layered some on top to give some texture and density. We get lots of different birds, butterflies and dragonflies around where I live, so I thought I would add some of these to my project. 

I just coloured the birds with various distress inks and gilding polish then I discovered that I had some birds on branches in my stash so coloured those and added them into the hedgerow.

Because the background paper on the project is 12" x 12" it began to look a bit bare across the top and corner so I coloured some more of the little birds and a leafy corner (which I did with green gilding polish) and added these together with a butterfly from the butterfly and dragonfly set to the background.

If you decide to do this smaller, to give as a card, the sentiment can go in the upper half of the picture and I am sure that anyone would be only too pleased to receive it.

Gslcuts items used:

Grass & foliage

Fern fronds

Mini birds & nests shape set

Birds on branches assortment

Butterflies & dragonflies

Leafy corners

Other Items used:

Cosmic shimmer gilding polish

Distress inks

Cosmic shimmer Acrylic Glue

Nature's Sketchbook Folio

hi! Lynne here with a project I especially enjoyed creating-as soon as I saw the Folio & Mini Book I knew it would be so much fun to put together! I went to a big event called Scrapfest a few hours away from home and scooped up this wonderful Graphic 45 paper, which turned out to be perfect for the folio (which I plan to use for photos from daytrips taken this summer!)

Usually they are made to open like a book, but I decided to have mine open vertically, so when closed it would look like an envelope; on the back I placed a sentiment where the address would go, and added a pretty stamp sticker I had from another paper set.

The one end of the folio folds on the scored lines to become a pocket; attach this with a sturdy adhesive.

↖ This piece folds up and the side tabs are adhered to the lower section.

If you've read many of my other posts, I've mentioned that I don;t like to measure and usually trace around things, but I did do some measuring here; after cutting base pieces and attaching them to the outer sections, I measured pieces 1/2" smaller both ways to create a 1/4" border. I also did this on the covers of the mini books (I decided to make 2 with fold-out pages)

I added chipboard corners to each cover; they were painted with gold acrylic paint, then heat embossed with Ranger Distress embossing powder and rubbed with Art Alchemy Metallique wax.

I used the same finish on the stacked label, and attached an egg I cut out from the paper; it needed a little trimming but fit almost perfectly! It reminded me a bit of a piece of turquoise.

I used the belly band to hold the second album; tuck the folded ends under your cover paper and use a strong adhesive.

The insides of the albums are made to fit smaller photos (3" x 4") but of course you can use any size you prefer. I made a waterfall album by cutting 4-1/4" squares, then scoring 2 fold lines at half-inch intervals. When you attach them to each other, starting at the bottom, attach the lower line of the new piece to the upper line of the lower one....this is a sample I tried, as I had never made one before. I used a tape runner, which would be run above the first score line, then the next page would be adhered by placing the area between the score lines onto the tape. When you reach your final page, fold the remaining strip in the opposite direction to cover the open edge.

The finished waterfall album:

 

On the other page of this album, I used leftover paper to make fold-out pages which will hold 6 photos each.

 In the other album, I made a variation on a waterfall album with staggered pages, which were attached by using folded paper strips as "hinges"

I love that this folio album could be finished so many different ways, for specific themes like a new baby, Christmas, a school year, graduation, vacation etc etc etc. We'd love to see what YOU do with yours! Post your finished project in the Gypsy Soul Craft Group on Facebook!! have a wonderful and creative week! xoxo

GYPSY SOUL ITEMS USED

Folio & Mini Book, kraft

Leafy Corners

Printers Ornament Corners

Stackable Labels Shape Set

OTHER ITEMS USED

Graphic 45 Nature's Sketchbook papers

Various G45 paper scraps

Ranger Distress Embossing Powder-Vintage Photo

Art Alchemy Metallique Wax-Aged Brass

Darkly Delightful Bathing Machine for Grim Days at the Beach

The April showers might bring May flowers but right now they are making my landscape rather grim. Don't get me wrong, I am a fan of grim things and rainy days. Rather than fight against the current weather conditions, I'm going to embrace them and make something darkly delightful.

This little "Bathing Machine" is based on the 18th and 19th century change rooms wheeled into the sea by by-gone beachgoers. But what if the Adams' ancestors went to the beach? Or the Munsters? OR MARY SHELLEY OR EGAR ALLAN POE OR... well, you get the point. I'm sure they'd all visit the seaside on rainy days. I'd like to think they had a creepy little space for changing into their wading attire and doing a little fortune telling to see if the water was fine.

Gypsy Soul does have a proper Gypsy Wagon available if you're feeling more ambitious, but I like this little fella. It's a fun kit and there are LOADS of customization possibilities. Travelling snake oil salesman, a tiny portable library, a sideshow trailer... oooh, so many ideas!

Two tips I will mentions.

1. I am terrible at applying hinges so I glued my door in place and ajar. If you do the same, just be aware of the door placement so that you can still add the stairs.

2. I used the Chipboard Shingles - Half Scale Sampler for the shingles. One package is enough to do the entire roof. You might want to position the bottom row of shingles lower than I have. (Don't tell anyone but I think it would have looked a bit better with more of an overhang.)

If you'd like to see the process to create this particular piece, the walk through is available HERE.

And here are all of the supplies I used to create this version of this project: 

Bathing Machine

Chipboard Shingles - Half Scale Sampler

Round Table & 2 Chairs

Leafy Corners
Faux Metal Number Plates 1 to 25

Miniature terrain grass
Moss and faux flowers
Bead caps
Thin Looped Dresden Border
Black Zig Zag Dresden Borders 

Paper straw

1/8" doweling

Graphic45 - Rare Oddities
Acrylic paint

Glass marble

Tablet/Ipad/Phone Holder

Hi everyone!  Barbara here on the blog today, and I have a super fun and easy project that is going to be a must-have in every home.  Lately, I've decided I am tired of holding my phone or Ipad while I'm working, and I remembered seeing this nifty Tablet/Ipad/Phone Holder in the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts store.  It's easy to put together, and it can be embellished or left plain.  Of course, I am going to embellish mine.

There are only three pieces to put together.

Cut two pieces of paper the same size as the bottom of the holder.  Glue one paper to the top, cut out the slots, turn over and glue the second paper to the bottom.  Do not cut out the slots again.  You will want complete coverage on the bottom.

All three pieces are now covered with the paper.  Notice that the paper on the two side pieces are not covering the dovetails. You will want to keep them free so that they will still fit inside the slots on the bottom piece.

Distress all the edges with Frayed Burlap distress ink.  This will give a nice finish and cover the white edges on the paper.  In the photo below, the top piece has not been distressed, while the bottom piece has been.  Can you tell the difference?

Before gluing the pieces together, I used a gloss varnish to cover both sides of the paper on each piece.  This will protect the paper from use and abuse while using the holder, such as coffee spills or food stains.

Glue the two sides to the bottom piece, as shown.  I like to use a fast grab tacky glue for this.  Let the glue dry before handling it

Use a craft knife to cut away the "chads" that hold the laser cuts in place.  There are only two holding this Leafy Corner intact.

I decided to emboss my leafy cuts with a blue patina that matched the colors in my paper.  You can use any kind of embossing ink, or Versamark if you have that.

I embossed two leafy cuts and adhered one to the front and back of the larger back piece.

front side

back side

On the front, add flowers and berries, etc. along the front section, being careful not to place the flowers too high or it will obstruct your view of your phone or tablet.

However, embellish away on the back side.

Here are a few shots from the side, and  how it looks when in use with a phone or tablet.

Supplies Used:
GSL Tablet/Ipad/Phone Holder

GSL Leafy Corners

12x12 Print Paper (Stamperia SBB520)

PVA (white) glue

Fast Grab Glue (Aleenes)

Gloss Varnish (DecoArt)

Frayed Burlap distress ink (Tim Holtz)

Foam blender tool (Ranger)

Rustique Patina Azure embossing powder (Judi-Kins)

Clear Emboss It Dabber (Ranger)
Floral embellishments

I hope you enjoyed today's project.  Wouldn't these make such wonderful gifts to give to all your family and friends.  It would be so much fun to decorate each one differently to suit the recipient, after you've made one of your very own, of course.  So check out Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts for more inspiration and ideas.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a wonderful, creative day!

Barbara