Gypsy Journal with Gypsy Soul and 7Gypsies/Canvas Corp

Hey there crafty friends! I'm excited at the chance to combine goodies from two great companies to put together a fun project; as soon as I saw the 5x7 Naked Journal, I knew I wanted to work with it! I just happened to have some older 7Gypsies paper in my stash that worked great with the newer line, and I put it all together to create what I have called my "Gypsy Journal":

I used the burlap for the cover; I just love the natural, earthy feel and texture of burlap and thought it would create a great backdrop for the Botanical journalling block from GSLC and the other pieces I used.
I painted the journalling block gold, then brushed it with crackle finish; when that was dry I finished it with black acrylic paint and then ran jute through the holes along the edge.

On this page, the chipboard pieces were painted black, then heat embossed in clear before being treated with Dusty Attic Rust Paste and Prima Aged Brass Wax. I used crumpled pieces of a sewing pattern and some similar-coloured burlap as added embellishments.

For this page, the image from the paper takes center stage, but I added a music note which was heat-embossed first with Ranger Antiquities California Stucco, then Lindy's Adobe Fire. A tulle skirt and gemstone "sun" add some extra dimension.

This page features quotes from both the Wanderlust and Gypsy Moments collections-I love how well they work together! I covered the chipboard balloon in patterned paper, then sanded and inked the edges; the horseshoe was heat embossed with Stampendous Aged Copper embossing powder. The feather is real; I found it on the ground at work the other day!(I work at a golf course)

I started this page with an Architextures background, then used the Architextures baskets sticker and an image & quote from the Gypsy Moments paper as the focal points here. I then added the baggage ticket from the Wanderlust paper and the lasercut propeller and hasp. Both pieces were painted black, then rubbed with silver ink. It doesn't take much to alter your chipboard pieces to match any page theme or colour scheme; that's something I love about them!

The chipboard doodles here were painted black then heat-embossed with Lindy's Midnight Gold.

I absolutely loved this image from the Wanderlust paper but had a bit of a freakout when I realized I also loved something from the other side of the paper...(the struggle is real....sigh....) so I used the upper part of the image  and saved the rest for the following page! I thought these celestial pieces were perfect accompaniments to this image; the moon was dry-embossed with this Darice stencil, then painted antique white and brushed with Perfect Pearls. The stars were painted burgundy then brushed with Perfect Pearls as well.I dabbed a tiny bit of water onto my brush to make a paste with the powders.

I loved the door image along with the Milton Berle quote, so created a 2-page spread here. The Architextures wheel sticker was lightly brushed with Aged Brass wax, which I also used on the GSLC lock. The Parchment rub ons are fabulous; they go on so easily and are full of great images and quotes! By the way, I used packaging from the journal on this page-it's the beige patterned rectangle in the middle!

There are six pages left in the journal, and I plan to add quotes, images and embellishments I find that speak to me of the "free my gypsy spirit" theme. Thanks so much for stopping by, and I hope I've been able to inspire you a little; I so enjoyed putting this project together and sharing it with you-have a wonderful and creative week!

GYPSY SOUL ITEMS USED

Botanical Journaling Blocks
Steampunk Shape Set (crown, gear)
Music Symbols Shape Set
Birthday Shape Set (balloon)
Feeling Lucky Charm Set (horseshoe)

Hasps
Propellers
Doodles Set 1
Celestial Shape Set
Wooden Shape Set-keys and plates

OTHER ITEMS USED

burlap from Canvas Corp
Architextures Parchment Rub-ons: Live
7Gypsies 5X7 Naked Starter Journal
Architextures Treasures: Stacked Wicker Trunks
Architextures Junque Pack-Garage
7Gypsies Wanderlust papers, 12x12
7Gypsies Gypsy Moments papers, 12x12
Ranger, Stampendous and Lindy's embossing powders
Plaid FolkArt crackle medium

Snowflake Shawdow box

Hi and welcome to the blog today. It's Teresa here and I am sharing a gorgeous wintery shadowbox frame that I did for my daughter and her new husband.  He actually proposed to her high up on a snowy mountain last year so I thought this would be a nice gift to give them for their anniversary this year and to remind them of that very special day that started it all for them.

1. So to make this project you will start with the Deco Front Shadowbox.  I took apart all the pieces and wiped around the edges to clean them up and then started to glue it together.

2. Glue the sides to the base first and then let it dry.

3. Then glue on the top frame and let it dry too.

4. Then I painted the box inside with silver paint inside and on the back.  For the top of the frame I used a blue ink that matched my papers and let it dry. ( Using inks to stain the pieces keeps the edges cleaner and then you don't have any drips.)  Then I used a little chalk ink and just barely touched around the edges to first darken it and then add white to make it look like snow. ( See below)

5.  Then I added papers from the Kaisercraft Frosted collection to create a base for my picture inside the shawdowbox.  The 6x6 paper pad comes with borders and stickers so it was easy to create a simple design for the inside bottom of the frame.

6.  The snowflakes are from the Snowflake Shape Set and these I kept in the brown color to make it a little more rugged looking and not so girly.  The snowflakes in the set are beautiful and you can add little rhinestones like I did to make them pop more.

7.  And to finish it I added some adhesive letters from Ruby Rock-it and a few little word tags to add a little more wow to it.  Oh and the arrow is also from GSLC and there is a whole bunch of them in that set too so it's perfect to add to all of your other projects.

This was such a fun and easy project to make and these are great boxes to make up for gifts for the holidays too.  Imagine how fun for a wedding, a new baby or even for those special christmas memories you want to save.

Here is a supply list for you just in case ....

GSLC- Snowflake Shape Set

GSLC Arrows shape set

GSLC Deco Front Shawdow box

Kaisercraft Frosted Collection 6x6 paper pad

Ruby Rock-it adhesive alphabet letters

Gloss enamels shimmering silver

Folk art white chalk paint

Versamagic Aegean Blue and Ocean Depth

Prima chalk in white

scissors, paper trimmer and rhinestones

Thanks so much for stopping by today!!

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Postcards from the road--Never pack light by Betsy Skagen

I just don't "get" people who manage to pack light. Even when I travel to the family lakeside cottage less than two hours from home, I manage to fill an entire minivan with vital stuff I simply cannot live without. 

This particular postcard, which I made as part of the "Postcards from the Road" set I created for the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts/Canvas Corp Match Up, drives home this point.  

To make the postcard, begin with the American Vintage Collection Wish You Were Here paper and cut out the Mountains postcard.  

Cover stars from the Celestial Shape Set with black gesso and dry with heat gun. ( Talk about versatile--I have used Celestial Shape Sets so many times for so many completely different projects!) Alternate layers of Quinacridone gold acrylic paint and a gold paint pen until you reach desired effect.

Add ephemera from the Architextures 8x8 Paper Pack  and a piece of the Canvas Corp Burlap Sheet and adhere to the back of the postcard. 

When dry, trim the excess. 

Add water to acrylic paint to create washes and paint areas of your postcard, drying between applications to prevent muddy colors. When dry, use stencils and ink to add apply more color. Freehand paint on white starbursts. Some of the paint will seep through to the other side. Don't worry about this as it will just add dimension.  

Apply a quote and image or two from the Architextures Parchment Rub-On Build It. Adhere the stars.

Print and cut out the Questionable Characters. Add three dimensional foam adhesive to the back and adhere to the postcard. Print out a sentiment, ink with brown ink and adhere to the postcard as well.

You might think I was facetious about not being able to pack light. To offer proof, I am sharing this photo from a weekend getaway to our cottage earlier this year. To be fair, it included supplies for the first trip of the year and we were bringing four people and two large dogs.

Great Stuff

Celestial Shape Set

Paper Calliope Questionable Characters

American Vintage Collection Wish You Were Here 

Architextures 8x8 Paper Pack 

Canvas Corp Burlap Sheet

Architextures Parchment Rub-On Build It

Quinacridone gold acrylic paint 

Acrylic paint assorted colors

gold paint pen

Ink assorted colors

Stencils

Vintage Deco frame Shadowbox with Canvas Corp

Hi All,
This month we have been lucky enough to do a product swap with Canvas Corp. I have used the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Deco Front Shadowbox as my base, and Canvas Corp products to embellish the inside.

First, I coated all my pieces with gesso, then assembled the shadowbox and adhered together.

I covered the inner board with 7Gypsies paper and distressed the edges. I then added some parchment rub ons to the base. This included a title for my piece.  I then built up layers using various textures from Canvas Corp. This included canvas (which I treated with paint mists, and frayed the edges), hessian, tags and textured stickers. I used a stock photo from the 7Gypsies Architexture paper. I adhered this over the top of the layers using a layer of foam dots.

Meanwhile, I added colour to my shadowbox base using paint mists. I started with light colours and heat set between layers to prevent too much bleeding while I built up the colours. I then added a coat of metallic embossing powder around the inner edge of the frame. This added texture and a little shimmer. but also disguised the tabs where the side panels attach to the front of the frame.

Once everything was dry, I adhered the base into the shadowbox using a triple layer of foam dots. I added some extra texture using some sandy glitter mix.

Finally I added a few small flowers with gauze to the different layers of the project.

Supplies used:
GSLC Deco Front Shadowbox

Canvas Corp 7 Gypsies Architexture paper collection
Canvas Corp 7 Gypsies Architexture parchment rubons
Canvas Corp 7 Gypsies Architexture  texture stickers

Fall Note Book by Sandy Trefger

Hello! Sandy here today with a quick and fun Fall project. It's early September and it's time to think of Fall projects as the season will actually change on the calendar in just a few weeks.  What I've created for you today is a Fall note book.  I purchased this blank book with Kraft ruled pages and a Kraft paper cover. I believe I bought it last year from Michael's but any blank book will do.  I then colored the cover and added some Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts chippies that I altered. The whole thing was done in under 30 minutes.  Really. I timed myself. Perhaps you'd like to make something similar for yourself. 

Supply List:

• Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Wildflowers C7J
• Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Lace Frame Sheets D120 * New Item--Contact Store
• Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Miniature Bookplates Shape Set  D701
• Blank Notebook with Paper Cover - Kraft
• Nuvo Embellishment Mousse - Indian Gold, Cosmic Brown, Fresh Copper, Lemon Sorbet, Spring Green
• Stampendous Embossing Powders - Gold & Aged Taupe
• Emboss It Ink Dauber
• Glossy Accents
• Tim Holtz Black Soot Distress Ink
• Tim Holtz Mini Metal Brads

Instructions:

Step 1:  Punch out all your chipboard pieces and wipe the edges with a damp baby wipe to remove any laser residue.

Step 2:  Use a damp baby wipe and cover the chipboard pieces with Nuvo Embellishment Mousse as desired.  I used gold on the frame and book plate, other colors on the floral piece.

Step 3:  Dab embossing ink onto the frame and bookplate.  Add random areas of embossing powder and use a heat gun to melt the powders.

Step 4:  Alter the front, back and spine of the note book cover using the  Cosmic Brown Nuvo Embellishment Mousse.

Below is how the inside of the note book looks:

Step 5: Apply a bit of a lighter embellishment mousse to the center of the cover such as Lemon Sorbet.

Step 6:  Use Glossy Accents and attach the floral chipboard piece down on to the center of the front cover.  Also attach the frame on top of the flowers.

You may need to place a heavy weight on top of the chipboard pieces to ensure that they dry flat.  I use a vintage iron for my weight piece.

Step 7:  Once the chipboard pieces have dried and are firmly attached to the cover, lightly dry ink Black Soot Distress Ink over the frame.  Also prep the bookplate piece--see step 8.

Step 8:  While things are drying, insert two small metal Tim Holtz brads into the book plate, use wire cutters to clip the brad prongs off shorter so they do not stick out on the sides as these will not be inserted into the cover.   Also apply embellishment mouse to the chipboard rectangle that came out of the book plate as you will use that for your note book title.  Add some embossing powder on to the book plate and heat to melt the powder.

Step 9:  Use a black marker such as a fine Sharpie to write the word "Notes" onto the chipboard rectangle.  Glue it and the book plate to the lower right corner of the book.

Your note book is completed.  If desired, lightly brush some of the black Distress Ink on to the cover in a few areas and then add embossing powder and melt for some added texture.  This would make a lovely (and quick) gift for someone special or would make a very nice book for your favorite quotes.

Thank you so much for following along.  I hope I've inspired you to use some of these wonderful Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts chippies on your projects.  I will be back on September 20th with a fabulous project combining Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts and Canvas Corp Brands 7 Gypsies products.

Happy Crafting!

Sandy

P.S. For more of my crafty projects, visit my blog/website at:   www.sandytrefger.blogspot.com