suburbNgypsy

Graphic 45 Design Team 2012 Audition

2012-02-26T22:23:00.000-08:00

hello gypsies! it's been a hectic few weeks and i have a special blog post this week. i am auditioning for graphic45's design team and you get to see the whole event!

step 1 - create a blog with 6 projects i've created. well, i did some digging and pulled out my very favorite and most diverse projects. it's like a little walk through gypsy history, starting with my first and most favorite project!

and now fellow gypsies, away we go!

project #1 - wickedly minibook

project #2 - delightful dress form

project #3 - quilt of life

project#4 - cabinet of wonders

project #5 - 10 things i love about you

project #6 - play fair minibook

paper doll

2012-01-30T00:01:00.000-08:00

hello gypsies and welcome back to the authentique paper blog. i am very excited to share my new little friend with you today. she's only 8" tall, and crafted with our new "delightful" collection. and she is delightful!

her bodice is covered in tiny hand-spun roses tipped with walnut distress ink. her skirt is created with layers of hand-washed papers - yep! i got the paper that i go completely wet, then crumpled it into balls, then uncrumpled and let dry until damp but not completely dry. the result is a fabric to mold and shape, tear and scrunch.

be sure to keep visiting - especially with CHA coming (craft & hobby association tradeshow for those of you new to the caravan). there'll be lots of beautiful and inspiring projects to see as i make my first pilgrimage to crafting nirvana!

winter wonder

2012-01-25T00:01:00.000-08:00

hello gypsies! the holidays are over but winter is not so i wanted to celebrate the season with a very special cabinet.

whites and blues

snow and ice

glitter and sparkle

i hope you are as inspired by winter as i am.

my next adventure is starting - the gypsy is going to CHA to see authentique at its very first show!

be sure to keep checking the authentique blog for CHAdventures!

product reports, critiques and random elements!

materials - "journey" collection papers

tissue tape - tim holtz

random elements and miscellaneous winterness

you are my sunshine

2012-01-07T23:58:00.000-08:00

authentique's monthly sketch challenge inspired me to create this little tribute to my blue-eyed girl. i've always loved this picture of her as a baby. and orange is my favorite color!

just a little something to brighten my day, and hopefully yours too.

feeling up to a challenge? check out authentique's january sketch challenge and create a little brighteness yourself!

card sketch challenge

layout sketch challenge

merry and bright

2011-12-30T18:51:00.000-08:00

hello gypsies and happy almost new year!

it's been a whirlwind of craftiness this month, but i wanted to sneak in one last holiday project. i'm really proud of this one and it features my number one gypsy herself. this is a xmas canvas, but just change up the colors and it can be any holiday, birthday, or any day at all!

grunge letters, chunky sparkle paint, and stickles combined

paper curls create a festive tree

paper doll with a cutey face!

accordian-folded paper arms and legs, free-hand cut mittens and boots, button trimmed festive hat!

i hope you all have a festive and happy new year! see you back at the caravan in 2012 for more creating, more fun, and more gypsiness!

alterered jeans

2011-12-26T00:01:00.000-08:00

today's project started out with a little pair of jeans i couldn't get rid of. they were my daughter's, and they were just too cute to part with. but i didn't know what i wanted to actually do with them. and then i thought "ALBUM COVER" and so gypsies, here we go!

i used a combination of paper collections for this albumn - "uncommon", "gathering", "journey", "blissful", and "splendid" as well as some pieces from our "freebird" papers. i also used some cardboard from a xmas box for the inside covers, and miscellaneous buttons, flowers, and sparkly bits. i left the pockets intact and the make great extra little tag and keepsake pockets.

tim tag mania #4

2011-12-19T00:01:00.000-08:00

welcome back authentique fans!suburbngypsy here with inspiration for the holiday season and beyond. today i'm going to introduce just one of the many techniques i used for this tag. upcoming blogs will highlight others including using "acrylic paint dabbers" to create a release, and creating gilt leaves with "glycerine paper".

so are you ready gypsies? well then away we go!

it's been an amazingly creative month. so many company challenges, so many incredible blog hops. and what would the season be without tim's "12 tags of christmas". after totally immersing myself in craftiness, i started to try putting everything i'd seen and learned into some sort of order. and i found myself wondering what would happen when i took two inspiring techniques and put them together. the result? tiny crystal roses!

these delicate little beauties are made with our "wonder" collection, but any of our papers would do. the heavier the paper the better the results, and the more white on the paper the more translucent your flower.

these first steps are inspired by tag #10 from tim holtz's "12 tags of christmas"

the first thing you need is some very clear packing tape - yep! packing tape. and some paper - for these i used pieces from our "wonder" collection..

adhere the tape to your paper, burnish it down, then cut it out.

next dip the strip in very warm water. the warmer the water, the easier the next step is.

once the strip is completely wet, take it out and turn it over so the paper side is facing up. then rub rub rub away the paper. keep rubbing until no paper is left on the tape - you'll have an imprint left from the ink though, that creates a translucent strip.

pat the strip dry with a paper towel - don't use a heat gun! once dry, take a second piece of packing tape and tape the backside of the strip, creating a two-sided glossy strip of translucent paper.

now we're ready to make the roses. this is inspired by christina colon at the twisted muse.

next, cut 2" squares, then cut each square down to a circle. you can use a punch, but hand cutting will give your rose a more organic look. take your circles and cut them into spirals, leaving a round circle in the center.

now use tweezers, and starting at the end, twirl the paper around the tweezer tip. you'll see the paper curl into a cone shape, and once you've reached that little circle you left in the center, stop and pull the paper cone off the tweezers. keeping a good hold on the cone, let it open up and relax a little so you can see the "petals" start to form. use the tweezers and your fingers to loosen or tighten the layers. once you're close to a shape your like, dab a little hot glue on the circle you left at the end of your spiral, and press the flower gently onto it. you can continue to shape the petals while the glue sets.

once the hot glue has set, the final touch comes by applying a little bit of glossy accent along the edges of the petals, and dipping the flower in diamond dust.

by creating your own transparent "paper", the roses become luminous in a way paper can't match. you can vary the roses - buds to full blooms - by playing with how tightly you wrap the spirals. you can also play with the size of the petals by how thickly you cut your spiral - the wider the spiral the bigger the petals.

i hope you enjoyed today's technique tutorial. the tag i created to highlight the crystal roses is a compilation of lots of techniques - too many for one blog! so be sure to come back on december 22 for the "gilt leaves" tutorial!

materials used
"wonder" - authentique papers
glossy accents
diamond dust
special thanks to tim holtz and christina colon for their inspiring work.

tim tag mania #3

2011-12-13T22:49:00.000-08:00

hello gypsies!
well tim may have wrapped up his 12 tags of christmas, but that doesn't mean the fun has to stop! presenting...tag #3! this one is inspired by techniques from a couple of tim's tags this year. so are you ready? well hold onto your sleigh bells 'cause here we go!

so the inspiration for tag #3 came from

tag #10 "believe letters"

and tag #8 - background

and tag #6 - rugged metal

so i created the rugged metal following tim's technique. first i used a texture folder on a piece of crafting metal and ran it through the sizzix. the i gently painted over the embossed metal with a "snow cap" paint dabber. once the paint dried i lightly sanded it and then rubbed "walnut stain" over the surface and around the edges to create a vintage patina. final touch was to sprinkle embossing powder over the whole piece and hit it with the heat gun to seal in the ink and add a shiny finish.

next i cut letters to spell "i believe" from idea-ology "alpha parts" and dabbed them with the "gold" metallic paint dabber. after the paint dried i covered each letter with a thick layer of glossy accent and set them aside to dry.

to create the background of the tag i first stamped it a couple of times with a stamp covered in "snow cap" acrylic paint. the paint creates a resist for step 2 - dying the paper. to do that, i dribbled distress stain directly onto my craft mat, spritzed the tag with water and swirled it around in the distress stain. i used a heat gun to speed up the dry time because it was so exciting!

once all of the separate elements were dry, i assembled the tag. note the santa face embossed on my "homemade" kraft paper, and the tissue tape banner. the ribbons and lace are all dyed using distress ink pads - tim's seasonal color set was great! i sanded the finish off the "believe" washer to brighten it up, and finished the tag off with a bell, ala "the polar express", because i believe!

coming soon - steampunk xmas! and a happy elf for giving!

tim tag mania #2

2011-12-11T00:01:00.000-08:00

welcome back gypsies! day two/tag two. i was very inspired by this tag from tim

now, the tag itself didn't do much for me. in fact i refer to it as the "license plate tag" - sorry tim!

but the technique is what turned me on and inspired me to create this -

i was really stoked when i figured out how to do this. so are you ready gypsies? then away we go!

i created the tag itself by cutting it out of a sheet of metal, using tim's big tag die.

one trip through the sizzix and we were ready for action.

then i cut a bunch of leaves out of chipboard - tim's leaf die of course - and arranged them on the backside of the metal tag. then i sandwiched everyone together with cutting pads, and one trip through the sizzix!

leaving the leaves in place i then burnished around the edges with one of those big paper "thumbs" to really sharpen the edges.

then i broke out the alcohol inks and painted the leaves. i used a paint dabber on the background then rubbed it off and burnished it. next i used a point to create the veining down the centers. the final step was applying glossy accent and diamond dust to the leaf edges.

while the tag dried, i took those chipboard leaves i used to emboss the tag, and saturated them with "pine needles" distress stain. after they dried i sanded the edges and then rubbed them with "walnut stain" distress ink, using the sponge blending tool. the final effect was distressed layers of colors. final snowy touches of white paint dabber and the leaves were good to go.

but i had too many leaves, so i cut the stems down and part of the leaf off, and ta-daah! instant tiny trees!

i also played with embossing and created the ticket and lightpost - tim stamps of course. for these i actually did the embossing on white cardstock, then rubbed "walnut stain" distress ink over the paper to create a subtle kraft paper. and of course i inked the edges after cutting them out.

final touches included velvet ribbon "berries" - tie a tiny knot then cut very close so there's no ribbon hanging out. some more ribbon and trims and we're done!

i really enjoyed this tag - thanks for the inspiration tim! or should i say, "timspiration"?

materials used

metal - 10 seconds studio

"tattered leaf" and "tag" dies - alterations, sizzix

"walnut stain" - distress ink pad

"pine needles" - distress stain

"snow cap" and "espresso" acrylic paint dabbers

tim tag mania! #1

2011-12-09T16:48:00.000-08:00

so it's xmas, and evidently that means that tim holtz creates his "12 tags of christmas", and everyone else goes crazy. it's really amazing to watch. every day mario rossi starts tweeting behind the scenes shots and commentaries on that day's tag. we get peeks and teasers of what the tag will look like, and we build up to the big reveal at midnight. people challenge each other to post first on the tim blog, and this year we're able to post our own tags on tim's blog, to show off our own inspired spin on his idea.

it's a friggin party every night!

i didn't realize how ~~crazy~~ devoted tim fans are, and since i'm one of them, i think it only fair that i coin a new "gypsy jargon".

timaniacs - n. a person who stays up until midnight to get the first look at a tim tag, after spending several hours following on twitter, making shopping lists for the next day, and trying to be the first to post a comment when the tag goes live at midnight.

bonus jargon:

timania - n. state of being one with the timaniacs

i'm not saying i do all those things....ok, maybe i am just a little.

so in the spirit of timania i am starting my own set of tim inspired tags. i'm not doing a literal one-for-one, but rather creating tags that might be inspired by techniques from a couple of tim's tags. so are you ready gypsies? well here we go!

timaniac tag #1 - inspired by tim's day #1 tag

and it's inspired by...

so my first decision was to not copy the tag, as copying is boring

so, i started off with one of my newest and most fun techniques - i made sweater letters out of the "noel". for those of you who visited during my "so knotty" tutorials, you'll remember my sweater letters, and i hope you're as excited as i am with the result.

next i added my other favorite new technique - homemade icicles

then i created some paper flowers from tim's cool tape. next i die cut some leaves and then crumpled and inked them for extra gypsiness.

final bits were the reindeer, which cut from a ribbon of them, and the lace at the bottom that i misted with water and then inked with "walnut stain" distress ink. some dabs of gold stickles and we're almost done!

to finish off the tag, i misted and inked some plain white ribbon with "iced spruce" and "festive berries", added some twine and sparkle charms and tied everything together around a glittered twig i ~~stole from a decoration~~ found around the house.

i really had a lot of fun with this one, and i hope you're now inspired to try your own tag! don't forget to join the party on twitter tonight as we all await tim's #8 tag. and come back tomorrow for my timspired tag #2!

materials used:

"wonder" collection paper - authentique

"maraccinno" twine - the twinery

"iced spruce" and "festive berries" inks - tim's seasonal ink set

tim tape, bits and pieces, this and that

caffeine - starbucks

smash this!

2011-12-06T05:00:00.000-08:00

take one K&Company SMASHjournal, a box of Echo Park papers and some bits and pieces and what do you get? an awesome vintage journal to die for. i received the journal and papers in my design team project box from scrapbook island. never paid much attention to them in the store but now...

this is actually the "pretty style" SMASHjournal with the bright pink spine and pen holder. the inside papers are muted and vintage, so to coordinate better with the mood of the pages, and the Echo Park papers, I covered the spine first thing. then i used "worn lipstick" and "iced spruce" distress inks to bring out the beautiful embossing on the cover. a spritz with "cappuccino" pearl mist add just a little bit of glam - vintage glam that is.

next i divided the book into sections. since this is a project destined to become a store sample, i focused on embellishing the divider pages, instead of trying to make over the whole book. and frankly the papers inside are so cool, it would have been a shame to cover them up. i used SMASHpockets, and SMASHpad notes, and papers, stickers and paper bits from the Echo Park "Times&Seasons" collection. the sticker sheet comes with number flags, which made perfect section dividers.

the final touch was replacing the flamingo pink elastic pen holder with a loop of cream ribbon instead. the pen is a combo pen and glue pen - sweet!

after wrapping up the book, i have to say i'm thinking of getting one for myself! i wasn't impressed with them on the shelf in the store, but after having a chance to play with one i can definitely see the potential for fun, especially for tween and teen girls. this seems custom-made for younger scrappers who want to journal and save keepsakes without the heavy time and craft investment of more traditional scrapbook.

**gypsy disclaimer - i was not compensated for expressing my opinions on this product. and i wasn't invited to offer my opinions either. as always, the gypsy calls it like she sees it.

"wonder"ful shadow box

2011-12-01T05:00:00.000-08:00

hello gypsies!
i hope you've enjoyed following the "so knotty" tutorials as much as i've enjoyed making them. and now the reason for today's post.

our "so knotty winner" is - "debb"
congratulations! email me your shipping info at suburbngypsycaravan@gmail.com

and now for the first oh-so-jolly xmas project!

it is officially the xmas season - i love the nip of cold in the air, the smokey smell of wood fires, the twinkly lights in the neighbors' trees. i also love the feeling of nostalgia i get, reminiscing as i unwrap the ornaments and trinkets i've collected through the years. to celebrate my warm fuzzy side, i would like to share this little shadow box with you. so hold on to your sleigh bells, and away we go!

a timeless shaker in a snowbank, hanging icicles and snow-tipped trees.

a happy santa, greenery, and a tiny strip of film - do you remember film?

a tiny bottle of captured winter - snow, branches, and a jingle bell - snow flakes and snow drifts.

"dear santa" just started, grandpa's pen nib, and jolly santa - do you still write to old saint nick?

i hope this inspires you to make magic this xmas.
stop by again to learn how to make your own icicles and snow drifts!

materials used

papers and elements ~ authentique's "wonder" collection

paper tray ~ 7 Gypsies

trinkets and what-nots ~ idea-ology, 7 Gypsies, Theresa Collins, and random keep-sakes

so knotty tutorial - sweater letters

2011-11-26T00:01:00.000-08:00

welcome back for the very last "so knotty" tutorial. this one is actually my favorite, and it looks like it was a hit with a lot of you gypsies. so hold on to your knitting needles, and away we go!

now, i made xmas letters, but you can use this technique to create letters for any time of year. and the best thing is that you can use any left-over chipboard letters for this.

i secured the end of the twine with a little dab from the hot glue gun,
to anchor the twine and make it easier to "knit"

once the anchor point is secure, start wrapping the twine around the letter.

keep wrapping until the entire letter is covered, then use another little dab of hot glue
to secure the end of the twine on the back.

and that's it! really! that's all there is to it.

thanks everyone for coming to the caravan for "so knotty" this month. i hope you've learned some tricks and been inspired. the "so knotty" prize winner will be announced december 1. so make sure to return and find out if you've won, and also to see the first oh-so-jolly xmas project!

so knotty tutorial - xmas tag

2011-11-23T05:00:00.000-08:00

welcome back gypsies! it's beginning to look a lot like xmas, so what better way to celebrate that to get our hands dirty and make a xmas tag!

this tag has lots of different techniques going on, and using twine is just the icing on the cake. so are you ready gypsies? then hold onto your sleigh bells and away we go!

so let's start by making our holly and berries. i used tim holtz's "tattered leaves" die and a piece of authentique's "free bird" paper to make the leaves, and chose the twinery's "marachinno cherry" twine, which is an awesome xmas red.

to make the berries, i put a dab of "glue n seal" on a piece of scrap paper, then used my burnisher to hold the twine in the center while i coiled around until i got a berry that i liked. you might need to sculpt a little and flatten a little to get the shape. remember to stay small.

you'll need three berries for the tag. while the berries dried i shaped the leaves by misting them with water and crumpling them up. then i flattened them out and folded each in half, to get the "vein" down the center, and curled the edges a little for a more natural look.

next came the green layer. i took a piece of authentique's "free bird" paper and ran it through my sizzix using an "alterations" texture fold. using ranger ink's acrylic dabber in "pearl", i lightly painted the embossed paper, giving it a metallic look.

next i glued down the leaves and berries to the edge of the card - i like to use a glue gun because i can't stand waiting for glue to dry. once glued in place, i tipped the edges of the leaves and bits of each berry with glossy accent, and then sugared them with twinklets "diamond dust".

while the diamond dust dried, i prepared the tag. cutting a 3 1/2"x6" tag from a piece of authentique's "gathering" collection, i sanded the heck out of the edges, then edged it heavily with both "festive berries" and "evergreen bough" distress inks. lots of blending and layering gave me the vintage color.

once all the pieces were dried and ready, i glued down the green card onto the tag, added a strip of crumpled and inked craft paper, and hand stitched down the card with twine. i used my biggest paper needle and sewed a back stitch.

then it was time for the fun stuff. i took a chipboard scrap and used tim holtz's "fleurish" die to cut a fleurish. i coated the whole with the pearl dabber and glued onto the edge of the tag., the pom-pom trim is from my treasure drawer, and the xmas quote and "to" tag are elements from authentique's "wonder" collection. red stickles adds sparkle to the tree, and of course the edges are all sanded. i used "iced spruce" distress ink on the edges of the xmas quote. a punched hole and some more twine, and the tag is ready to give.

i hope you have been enjoying my "so knotty" tutorials as much as i've enjoyed making them. don't forget to leave your comment below for your chance to win this fabulous prize.

have great journeys this week, and come back to the caravan for the final "so knotty" on nov 26 - "sweater letters"!

so knotty tutorial - home sweet home hanger

2011-11-19T05:00:00.001-08:00

welcome back gypsies for today's "so knotty" tutorial, the "home sweet home hanger"

for this project i used papers from authentique's "splendid" collection, a beautiful combination of blues, greens and golds. the twinery's "stone", "cappuccino" and "buttercream" coordinate beautifully.

so first, i sanded and shredded the heck out of a 3 1/2"x 5 1/4" piece of the "foundation" paper that comes with every collection. it's really a great idea - you get two 12"x12" sheets in a base color with subtle pattern that coordinates with the whole collection.

i also chose a "headline" card from the collection as the main element of the hanger and sanded the heck out of that too.

to make the "knotty" flower, i started by tracing 5 circles onto a piece of scrap paper. i used "glue n seal", filling a circle with a liberal amount. then, starting in the center and using my burnishing tool, i set the end of the twine {the twinery's "lemon drop"} in the circle's center and started working it into a coil. you'll want 5 circles to make a daisy.

the great thing about "glue n seal" is that it has a fairly long dry time, and dries clear, so you have time to work and your glue doesn't show!

while the flower petals dry, it's a good time to braid the hanger. using "stone", "cappuccino" and "buttercream" twine, cut 5 strands of each color ~14" long. keep each color bundled together, and tie a knot at one end, leaving a bit as the "tassel". then braid the entire length leaving about 2" at the end to tie a knot, but don't tie it yet.

assemble the card, layering the "home" element on top of the blue paper, then onto a 4"x5 3/4" paper that's been sanded and inked with "iced spruce" distress ink. punch two regular-sized holes in the top corners of the card. feed through the braid so your knot is on the card front, then thread through the loose end of the braid, and tie it off leaving the knot and a tassel on the front of the card.

to assemble the flower, start by tieing a bit of twine into a button, and glue the button as the flower's center. then glue the petals around, leaving a little space in between. i used a piece of authentique's "free bird" paper, and tim holtz's "tattered leaves" die to create the leaf, crumpling the paper and inking the edges with "iced spruce" for added leafiness. a tiny heart lock tied with twine completes the hominess.

i hope you were inspired today to make good things - things for home and hearth. don't forget to leave a comment below so you're entered to win this fabulous prize.

and make sure you come back on november 23 for my very festive xmas tag. there's lots of techniques in that one so you won't want to miss it.

thank you for stopping by my caravan, have great journeys this week, and stop back soon!

quilt of life

2011-11-18T09:46:00.000-08:00

hello gypsies. it's november, which for me means family, and reminiscing and family. so to celebrate, i created the "quilt of life". i'm very fortunate to have a mom who loves genealogy, and so our family has a wealth of photos dating back to the 1800s. six generations are on this quilt! so are you ready gypsies? well here we go...

i used papers from our "free bird" series, grabbing and mixing and matching to create the quilt. to get a softer, more fabric-like effect, i dipped each piece in warm water and crunched it into a ball. then i opened them up and let them dry flat. because the paper is so thick it can take the abuse, and the end result is a softly rumpled look.

while the paper was drying, i printed out the photos on canvas. you can buy ink jet canvas at your local office supply store. i converted the photos to sepia tones, for a more antique look.

once the papers were dry, i tacked down the photos and other papers with a bit of adhesive, and then sewed each 6x6 panel - stitching the photos and paper trims onto the squares, and adding extra stitching for accents. then i sewed the squares into rows and stitched the rows together into the quilt.

final touches meant treating each square like a tiny page layout. i used authentique elements as well as lots of trinkets from my stash of random elements. i also used some bottle cap charms i've been experimenting with.

i hope this provides you with lots of inspiration. keep stopping by for more as the holiday season unfolds. don't forget to come back for the next "so knotty" tutorial tomorrow, and starting december 1, i'll be posting xmas projects galore!

materials used:
"free bird" papers and paper elements - authentique
trinkets - tim holtz idea-ology, marion smith, prima
"walnut stain", "vintage photo", "frayed burlap" - tim holtz distress inks

so knotty tutorial - loop-d-loop card

2011-11-16T05:00:00.000-08:00

welcome back gypsies! i hope you've had fair travels so far this week. today's "so knotty" is the "loop-d-loop" card, a variation on the faux spiral notebook. ready? set? away we go!

first off was choosing the materials. for this card i chose some craft paper and some sheets from authentique's "free birds", little 6"x6" sheets you can buy individually for your own matching - sweet! and the twinery's "pink sorbet" is a perfect color match.

the craft paper is the card base, so after cutting it to 6"x 8", i tore 1/4" off the bottom edge of the card front. the floral paper is trimmed to 3"x5". the ledger paper is trimmed to 2"x4", making sure to fit in the watermark of bicycles.

next i pierced all around the edge of the card at 3/8" increments - tim holtz's acrylic ruler is perfect for this by the way, now that he's told me there are piercing holes in the ruler! i also lightly sanded the edges of the card because of course i can't have any plain edges.

using my biggest paper needle, i am able to thread the twine through and sew all the way around the card. i worked very loosely, using my pinkie as the loop guide and adjust as i went.

after lightly inking the edges of the ledger paper with "worn lipstick" distress ink, i layered the card papers and then pressed and flattened the twine loops into place.

and then the final touches - i love this part of the project! this time i chose a selection of random cool words and applied them to card's inside bottom edge, so they show below the torn cover edge. a postage stamp bicycle, circle type and a wheel tied on make for a joyful ride!

i hope today's "knottiness" inspired you, and was as much fun for you to see, as it was for me to make. don't forget to leave a comment below, and return to the caravan on november 19 for the "home sweet home hanger".

remember, every time you visit, you are entered to win this oh-so-knotty prize, so please enjoy your journeys this week, and see you back at the caravan.

don't bug me i'm crafting

2011-11-14T11:03:00.000-08:00

so, i'll be the first to admit that i get a little focused when i'm designing. i noodle the ideas around in my head for days, working through what i want to do while i'm - driving the girl around, doing laundry, scooping up after our saint bernard. my eyes glaze over during other people's conversation as i solve a technique problem, or come up with a great new concept.

i spend a lot of time just thinking, so when i've finally noodled enough and sit down at the craft table my mantra is "don't bug me" often accompanied by dirty looks and heavy sighs. because you know, as soon as i sit down at my craft table, everyone needs me.

now, i love my family. i have a husband, a daughter, a saint bernard, two cats, a rabbit, assorted fish and a lizard in my house. i have loving parents, friends, and lots of aunties and uncles and cousins. but why do they all need me as soon as my butt hits the chair?

this weekend i was in creative overdrive - mostly self-created of course. i had lots i wanted to get done, and the family was going to be gone for most of the day for "daddy/daughter time". here's how it went:

9:00am - family gone out, time to work
9:01am - dog needs out
9:05am - dog needs back in
9:25am - fat cat tries to jump onto craft table, grabs glue gun cord as he falls off the table edge, i can't stop laughing, cat tries to pretend he just really needed the glue gun
9:30am - i need coffee for this, run to starbucks
10:00am - dog needs out
10:05am - dog needs back in followed by extensive petting and love
10:15am - dog shakes head and showers me, the craft table and the project with drool
10:16am - clean up drool, shoo dog onto giant dog cushie
10:20am - phone rings, i ignore it and listen to the vmail from my mom wondering why she never gets to talk to me, she always gets the answering machine. no comment.
10:22am - working, finally
10:45am - dog needs a cookie
10:47am - grey cat is playing with something...alive
10:48am - after screaming like a big girl i get the lizard away from grey cat and release it back to the wild where it plays dead - probably in shock from my screams
10:49am - working, finally, again
11:00am - family home, "mom what's for lunch?" me: "i thought you guys would eat out", child: "but we wanted to eat with you..."
11:01am - put head down on table and cry

happy crafting everyone! if you stopped by for the "so knotty" tutorial, click here

so knotty tutorial - faux spiral notebook card

2011-11-13T05:00:00.000-08:00

hello gypsies and welcome to the first "so knotty" tutorial. today i'm showing how to make a faux spiral binding. the project i used this for was a card, but this can also be used in page layouts - think "back to school" - and smaller minibooks as binding instead a coil binding.

so are you ready? well here we go!

first i chose something rosey and bright - it's been grey and rainy for days here, and i needed some bloominess. i chose authentique's "uncommon" papers and the twinery's "stone" twine - perfectly matched!

now if you're new to my caravan you should know that i hate clean untouched edges. so after choosing a paper and cutting it to 4"x6", step one is sanding! i sanded down the edges of the papers and the "unique" element. don't be intimidated by sanding - authentique papers are very thick and take a lot of abuse so grind away. {i use a mat to protect my table.}

next i pierced a row of holes along one edge of the card. tim holtz's acrylic ruler is great for this - did you know it has a line of holes along one edge just for this kind of work? i didn't until he told me! for the spiral binding look you'll want to pierce at 1/8" increments.

next i used my biggest paper needle and threaded the twine through, and sewed. i kept the twine very loose, and occasionally adjusted the loops as i went. you can also use a pencil for this part - lay the pencil along the card's edge and sew around it to maintain your "coil".

now that the spiral binding is done, it's time to build the card. i lightly inked the edges of the "unique" element and all of the card papers with "worn lipstick" distress ink.

i selected 2 more pieces of paper for the card's base - one striped piece cut to 4 1/4" x 6", so a little piece of striping shows below the top layer, and one piece 8"x6" folded in half to make the 4"x6" card base. i layered all the papers then set the "unique" element with a double stack of pop-squares for extra height.

final touches are stamps - these are cut from a 12"x12" sheet from the "uncommon" collection, with the edges sanded and inked, of course!

i hope you've been inspired by today's "so knotty" tutorial. make sure to leave a comment below and come back for the next "knottiness" on november 16 - the "loop-d-loop" card. remember, every time you visit and leave a comment, you're entered in the drawing for this fabulous prize!

so enjoy your journeys this week, and see you back at the caravan!

time to get knotty!

2011-11-12T05:00:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the Authentique ~ The Twinery Blog Hop!
Blog Hop Prizes: {*2 total winners*}
From Authentique Paper – Authentique Paper prize pack ($20 retail value)
From The Twinery – Colorful Bunch Sampler Pack ($20 retail value)
To win: Participants should leave a comment on each blog along the hop. (Winner will be chosen randomly from all comments on the manufacturer blogs AND the DT blogs.) {Winner must have a US/Canada address}
Blog Comments Close: Monday, November 14th @ 11:59pm (Pacific)
Winner Announced: Wed, Nov 16th (on Authentique Paper's blog and The Twinery's blog).

Welcome gypsies! You've probably just come from the blog of Deena Neimat. If the gypsy caravan is your first stop, make sure you travel back to the start of the hop at the Authentique blog.

"So Knotty Tutorials"
What would a trip to the gypsy be without fabulous prizes? All month I'll be featuring tutorials on the techniques used today. Every time you stop by and leave a comment, you're entered in the drawing for ... twine from The Twinery, and a Free Bird Nest from Authentique Paper - sweet!
And now fellow gypsies, onward we go!

Faux spiral notebook card - tutorial Nov 13

Loop-d-loop card - tutorial Nov 16

Home Sweet Home hanger - tutorial Nov 19

Xmas tag - tutorial Nov 23

Sweater Letters - tutorial Nov 26

All right gypsies, I hope you found inspiration today. Off you go to visit Ivona Foster and I hope to see you back tomorrow for my first "So Knotty" tutorial!

joy at the beach

2011-11-10T14:50:00.000-08:00

every year my little gal and i meet up with my best and oldest friend and her daughter. they live in new mexico now, so every time they come, we head to the beach. this year i loved watching sicily play with the waves - her whole body says "joy".

this layout features some authentique "free bird". i loved the muted colors and the fast matting i could do with these cute little papers. i added a couple of different crocheted trims, and some sand for extra beachiness, and used one of my favorites - vintage buttons.

the layout was also a part of the authentique "november sketch challenge". make sure you stop by the blog and check out the other awesome ideas. you can also enter your own layout or card for the challenge, and maybe win a fabulous prize! tell them the gypsy sent you!

materials used:
authentique "free bird"
authentique "gathering"
crochet trim
vintage buttons
chipboard letters
tim holtz distress ink in "frayed burlap"
mudpuddles "malibu beach"

Welcome Gypsies to the Handmade Holidays Blog Hop!!!

2011-11-06T00:01:00.000-07:00

Calling all crafters! We’ve gathered designers from some of our favorite manufacturers to show you ways to create something from the heart this holiday season. This 3 day Hop includes over 60 stops with inspiration brimming from every corner. Explore all thoughtful and frugal handmade gifts you could make for the holidays, all in one place on this Hop!

To sweeten to Hop, we’re offering a gift for you! How does one of the 6x6 Bundles from EACH of Authentique Paper's current 7 collections sound?

For every comment you leave on the blogs in the Hop, you'’ll be entered to win a prize pack from one of the participating manufacturer sponsors (including the fabulous prize pack from Authentique Paper)!
Visit the list of blogs below and leave a comment on each by Nov 7, 2011 at 11:59 PM {PST}. Each day we will be sharing a brand new list of blogs with brand new projects for you to explore, be inspired by, and create from!
You've probably just visited the amazing Karen Clark. Be sure to visit the blogs of some more design team members from all over the industry. What a privilege to see my name on this list of fabulous artists!

Clearsnap
Spellbinders
Hampton Art
Zutter
Graphic45
Donna Salazar Designs
The Twinery
Authentique Paper
Glue Arts
Sabrina Alery – Clearsnap
Laura Denison – Graphic 45
Karen Taylor – Donna Salazar Designs
Beverly Sizemore – Hampton Art
Kazan Clark – Spellbinders
Janeen Shember – Authentique Paper
Charlotte Jenkins – Clearsnap
Grace Hester – The Twinery
Nicole Eccles – Graphic45
Audrey Pettit – Donna Salazar Designs
Nan Paturzo – Zutter
Jeannie DeGruccio – Authentique Paper
Tamara Tripodi – Glue Arts
Cheers to creating gifts from the heart this holiday season!
Happy Hopping and now for my handmade holiday madness!

Part 1 - the great frame-up!

We're starting with a simple pine frame from the local craft supply store, Authentique Paper's "Gathering" collection, and some Glue n Seal.

First I cut the paper into thin strips - less than 1/4" is best. Starting in the top corner, I applied a thin layer of Glue n Seal to a small section, and place strips in random order, side by side. I left the edges hanging over both sides of the frame.

After allowing a little dry time for the front, I applied Glue n Seal to the sides, wrapped the strips and trimmed to fit.

Keep going until the entire frame is covered. Go for randomness, don't try to create a repeating pattern. The charm is in the spontaneity.

Part 2 - And now it's time for flowers

I started by hand cutting 5 circles, each about 2". It's easiest if you cut 2" squares with a trimmer, then hand cut the circles from them.

Next, I misted 4 circles and crumpled them into balls. Then I pulled them open and folded them each in half, and in half again. Then I scrunched and shaped each piece into a flower bud shape.

Finally, I glued the 4 flower bud shapes onto that fifth circle, scrunching and shaping to achieve a carnation-style flower. I also made additional buds by misting, scrunching and folding circles, but not gluing them into a flower form.

Part 3 - time to get it all together!

I like edginess. So I used a Ranger Ink Acrylic Paint Dabber and dabbed Espresso around the inside and outside edges of the frame. Then I hot glue gunned the flower and buds onto the frame.

And finally I added some special touches. Prima's "Say it in crystals", trinkets from Maya Road, Authentique "Elements" and some felt leaves from my special drawer combined quite nicely, giving the frame the look of a page layout.

Thank you for stopping by the gypsy caravan. I hope you join the caravan and become a gypsy yourself! Make sure you keep hopping along to get more inspiration for a handmade holidays!

Materials:
Authentique Paper "Gathering" collection papers and elements
Pine frame from Michael's craft store
Adirondack Acrylic Paint Dabber in "Espresso"
Glue n Seal
Prima "Say It In Crystals"
Maya Road lace doilies and cameo roses

And if you're just joining the hop today, take a look at what's been going on all weekend!

November 5th:

Donna Salazar Designs

The Twinery

Authentique Paper

Jan Hennings – Glue Arts

Kim Sonksen – Donna Salazar Designs

Jamie Harper – Hampton Art

Jenny Suchin – The Twinery

Heather Conklin – Authentique Paper

Glue Arts

Gloria Stengel – Graphic 45

Christine Emberson – Spellbinders

Julie Overby – Spellbinders

Julie Ranae Murray – The Twinery

Mary Dawn Quirindongo – Clearsnap

Lea Sanders – Zutter

Tara Orr – Graphic45

Patti Milazzo – Glue Arts

Emily Lanham – Authentique Paper

Jessy Christopher – Donna Salazar Designs

November 4th:

Donna Salazar Designs

The Twinery

Authentique Paper

Glue Arts

Sherry Cheever – Graphic45

Claire Towle – Hampton Art

Emily Leiphart – The Twinery

Andrea Budjack – Glue Arts

Lesley Langdon – Spellbinders

Daniela Dobson – Clearsnap

Natasha Naranjo Aguirre – Donna Salazar Designs

Lisa Day – Glue Arts

Lynne Forsythe – Zutter

Jennifer Priest – Clearsnap

Tifany DeGough – Authentique Paper

Holly Simoni – Spellbinders

Fleur Smith – Zutter

Stephanie Johnson – The Twinery

Robyn Weatherspoon – Clearsnap

eek...boo...eek...boo...

2011-10-24T20:00:00.000-07:00

it's almost time for my favorite holiday, and as it approaches i immerse myself in spookiness, creepiness, and new techniques.

i needed to create a project for the authentique paper color challenge this month. the challenge colors were awesome - olive, black, white. perfect for halloween. i started by painting a 6x6 canvas square in avocado acrylic, and for the paper challenge i created a more paper-focused version.

using paper from authentique's "glowing" collection foundation paper, i created tiny paper bones - misting the paper heavily then squeezing and forming into boney shapes. then i used olive green from the "freebird" series to create smooshie flowers and stems.i tried paper quilling to create the word "eek", starting with thin strips of the foundation paper. then a little tearing, a little inking, a little stickling and we were in business.

of course after i created and submitted this, i wanted to do more. so i took a curley flourish stamp and stamped the edges of the canvas. i used black stickles to cover black chipboard die cut flourishes, and then decided i needed more. so next came a tiny black stickle spider - eek! a tiny raven finished it off.

i really like the way the second version turned out, and my note to myself is to not hold back on the authentique challenges - it's ok to load up the project a little more. after all, there's no such thing as too sparkly is there?

bewitching

2011-10-05T05:00:00.000-07:00

...double, double, toil and trouble...fire burn and cauldron bubble...

...eye of newt and wing of bat...smallish witch in charming hat...

...caw of raven...rings in the hours...hat bedecked with paper flowers...

...witch's fingers made from bone...rattle fences as you roam...

...double, double toil and trouble...fire burn and cauldron bubble...

...dress up with some authentique...then you'll truly be unique...

magical elements

"glowing" collection
"ripe persimmon", "gathered twigs" & "black soot" - tim holtz distressed ink

"black" stickles

one black crow

two dead hands

powerful spells

"on the fence" die - tim holtz alterations

"tattered florals" - tim holtz alterations

looking for some inspiration?

2011-10-01T12:25:00.000-07:00

check out authentique's monthly challenge! the sketch challenge is up and not only did the team create some beautiful cards and layouts, you can enter the fun too.visit the blog and pick a sketch, make something wonderful and post on your own blog.

spooky treat bags

2011-09-30T05:00:00.000-07:00

halloween is my very favorite time of year. it's spooky, and creaky, and it's not just for kids. adults can get into the spirit of things too. saturday is oct 1, and at our house it means the count down to halloween begins. 31 days of tricks, treats, creaks and groans. witches and bats, and ghosties and cats. and what better way to start the season than with a "glowing" treat bag!

using the Glowing collection of papers and trinkets, i created three treat bags that anyone would howl for. the Haunted House bag features a rickety fence and hand-knotted bag closure.

the Boney Head bag is gathered and tucked, decorated with tags and of course, a boney head. there are a couple of paper scrunch rib bones as well. i spritzed the paper, crumpled and then twirled it into spooky bones that sculpt and hold their new shape wonderfully.

paper curls, cobweb punches, and a cheery Jack make this bag my personal fav. i love that the paper takes to curling so well! fabulous corkscrews and spirals make for extra seasonal swag.

i'm really looking forward to more spirited projects this month and hope you are too!

Product List
Papers, trims and tags - Glowing Collection
Die cuts - Tim Holtz for Sizzix
Inks - Distress Inks in "Black Soot" and "Rip Persimmon"
Cobweb punch - Martha Stewart

freckle face

2011-09-21T05:00:00.000-07:00

hello fellow gypsies!
today marks my first official authentique post. yes i posted in september, but that wasn't a sparkly brand new project like today's!

i was asked to design either a layout or a minibook, and after some pondering i thought "hey! why not do both?"

so here we go!

i have this wonderful picture of my daughter that inspired this layout. her freckle face and impish smile were a perfect match for some of the "blissful" collection. the "prosperity" sheet is full of great rulers, which is what i used to make the hand-curled ruler border. i added scraps of other rulers and related trims, and started to get a real "school time" feel going. i added the the top border by trimming some "distinct" paper from the "uncommon" collection. the deep pink is a perfect match and a great example of mixing the authentique collections a bit.

and surprise! there's a minibook! tucked into a paper lunch bag, to go along with our school feel. this is a tiny book made from one of the "blissful" tags and paper pieces. i used some of the collection's "icons" and "noteables" to embellish it, as well as to create the tag dangles.

some random elements - paper flowers and vintage buttons, baker's twine and distress ink, finish off the layout and minibook as well.

thank you for stopping by the blog, and i hope i made your freckle face smile! - janeen shember

product list
"blissful" collection - papers, "icons", "noteables"
"uncommon" collection - "distinct" paper
"diction" word stickers
ranger ink - "frayed burlap" distress ink
random flowers and vintage buttons
assorted ruler trim
tiny piece of baker's twine

for more smiles visit my blog at www.suburbngypsy.blogspot.comf

her lifetime

2011-09-11T22:09:00.001-07:00

this year has been marked by many important events in my daughter's life. she went to sleep-away camp for the first time. she rode horses. she wrote her first play. she was a student of the month at her school. she turned 10.

and today as i spent time remembering the horror, and the grief of this day 10 years ago, i can't help also feeling that my daughter's life is irrevocably tied to 2001, as are all of the children born that year. they will always be "the 2001 children", the children born in a year of grief and anger, heroism and pride. and for every annual milestone they pass, our country will be marking a solemn anniversary. their lives forever shadowed by our grief and our memory.

when osama bin laden was killed, my husband and i drank a quiet toast that night. our daughter asked why we were celebrating. who was this man whose death we were drinking to. my answer was this. that this man hated our country with such vicious passion that he lashed out at us and tried to destroy us. that the united states had spent her lifetime trying to find him.

her lifetime spent looking for a terrorist. her lifetime spent fighting in countries she can't pronounce. her lifetime spent looking backwards at the new york skyline the way it used to look, and at traveling the way it used to be. and i can't help but feel that her lifetime will always be marked by that pivotal morning, on september 11, when hatred changed our world.

well, that's unexpected...

2011-09-09T00:06:00.000-07:00

hello gypsies, evidently i'm teaching a class...

i didn't actually plan this. i actually planned to teach a minibook class - "pretty little things". i was expecting beachiness and crispy clean blues and greys.

then i took the "cabinet of wonders" into the store - it's my august design team project. the next day 4 people had already asked when the class was going to be. i was so flattered! so i thought "well let's not get too excited, let's wait and see". one week and thirteen interested people later and i'm now making the cabinet a class.

so beachiness has been replaced with cobwebs, mummies, and skeletons - oh my!

my little summer minibook has been left in the dust - only one person signed up and i suspect it's my mother. but i can't say i'm too sorry - i do love halloween. and it did give me a bit of a rock star buzz when i heard so many ghouls wanted to hang out with me and get their spook thing on.

so if you're in the san jose area, and want to get your spook on, reserve your grave site...
"halloween cabinet of wonders" class
Sat Oct 8 ~ 11:00-3:00
$90
scrapbook island - 408-978-8900

joyous layout

2011-09-05T21:27:00.000-07:00

hello gypsyies!
this past saturday was authentique's first official challenge. the team was presented with a layout sketch and turned loose. visit the authentique blog to see the whole team's answer to the challenge. and you can join the fun too! enter your own answer to the sketch challenge by wed. sept 14th.

but first things first - the sketch!

i couldn't take it as-is, so i turned it 90 deg. just to be different. i chose to use the "splendid" collection - a beautiful group of pinks, blues and yellows in muted and distressed textures. these wouldn't be my first "go-to" colors, but they are truly inspiring!

then i went to work. instead of creating a title, i decided to use the banner space for an all-paper element, starting with paper quilling and smooshie flowers. i'd never quilled before, but i recently was inspired by some truly fabulous work and decided to give it a twirl.

the paper really lends itself to quilling - i didn't even need an actual quilling tool. i simply curled it around the handle of my paper piercer and got beautiful results - the paper curled and spiraled, yet maintained shape when i uncurled and shaped it.

once the stems were done i turned my attention to the smooshie flowers. this is a special technique of mine and again, the heavy quality of the paper really lends itself to this technique. the flowers are made by literally balling up and then reforming the die-cut flower layers. once dried, i touched the petal edges with distress ink and gold stickle for added charm. die-cut daisies make excellent leaves by the way!

in the sketch, there was a section for journaling. i decided to use that area for a typographical element instead. using "diction" stickers, i cut and shaped an area of words, removing some and rearranging others.

i really loved the effect of random words here, and the little peek-a-boos of paper behind them.

so i really enjoyed working with the paper this time around and hope you've been inspired to try new tricks! this week i'll be doing my first "tech[nique] of the week" which involves authentique's "glowing", chipboard, and my favorite lucky number...

materials:
"splendid" paper collection, "diction" and "petite type squares"
"walnut stain" distress ink- ranger
"gold" stickles
"glue & seal" - ranger

do not fear the minibook...

2011-09-01T00:25:00.000-07:00

or should we...

a gypsy commented on my "pretty little things" minibook post and said that she had always been afraid of minibooks. i found this intriguing... what could she be afraid of exactly... paper cuts? pointy objects hidden in the pockets?

but then i started to think about it and she's right! minibooks are frightening! sure they look small and innocent, sitting there on the shelf all pretty and proud. but how do you start one, and once started how do you know when to stop!? what if you just keep making page after page until the minibook becomes the size of a phone book? then again no one uses those but they keep showing up on our doorsteps so maybe we should be afraid of them instead.

and then i thought maybe the scary part is, what do you do with a minibook when it's done? i have to admit i have a small army of minibooks in my crafty corner. they're beautiful, and quirky, and so perfect by themselves that i've never actually put anything in them. now i wonder if this makes them angry... like one day i'm going to look over at the crafty corner and the minibooks will all have set themselves out on my table...neatly arranged...like a crop circle...or that scary "blair witch" symbol. a silent paper protest to being made but never used.

i think i need to sleep with my light on...and with a craft knife...

cabinet of wonders

2011-08-22T22:22:00.000-07:00

halloween is coming and it's one of my most inspirational seasons. i can never get enough of vintage rhymes, eclectic keepsakes and random spooOOOookiness.

so what better way to celebrate than to combine my scrapbook island team project box o' joy - containing authentique's "glowing" papers how's that for serendipity - with tim holtz's configurations. the result?
a cabinet of wonders.

each tiny box is a vignette, a story all its own. and each one features a special technique or discovery inspired by the "spirit" of someone special. can you find them all? tortured block letters, wrappings and rappings, edgar allan poe, potions and quotations, and trappings of woe?

hold on to your coffins gypsies, and away we shall go...

rattling and groaning and scratching at the door...

{i love happy accidents. when i took the heat gun to the 13 to save some time, it bubbled and blistered instead. love this look and i'll to do it on purpose next time.}


haven't we met in the graveyard before? {the quote on the door is George Bernard Shaw's and as soon as i read it, i knew i needed a project with a skeleton, and a closet. i love how random elements can come together.}

dead man's hand will slowly creep...
{ghastly vapors (made from a not so ghastly cotton ball) pour from the glass bottle. the leering witch is stamped on acrylic and lit by "candlelight". the hand from the grave is a "shaker" box with dirt, bones and gravestone sealed behind a piece of acrylic - cut from the sheet that comes with the configuration.}

skeletons scratching while you sleep...
the mummy is created by layering cheese cloth over one of the idea-ology "creepy dolls". i was inspired to make something of both "creepy dolls" after doing tim's classes. they just have so much potential! can you spot the smaller doll in disguise? and just to go outside the box, i created a hanging graveyard along with a tavern-inspired black cat to hang at the door.}

you've made it to the end of the road, but you're not out of the woods yet.
next week i'm starting a new feature - "technique of the week" - and you get to help choose what the first 'nique will be. choose one of these spookiliscious objects from the cabinet of wonders , post your choice as a comment by 8/28, and the one with the most votes wins!

1) wrapped up mummy
2) witchy votive
3) tortured letter blocks
4) door #13

ok, it's authentique!

2011-08-20T21:16:00.000-07:00

yes, it's true. the gypsy is authentic, and authentique!

a couple of weeks ago i held my breath, answered the questions, and submitted myself to authentique for their new design team. AND I MADE THE TEAM!

so not only am i exorcising the ghosts of playgrounds past, when i was never picked for the team, i am creating new and interesting projects with authentique's paper.

so stay tuned for plenty of bad puns, but great work, as i embark on my newest adventure - official paper company design team member.

and it wouldn't be very gypsy of me to not give a very special and heartfelt thanks to laurie at scrapbook island in san jose, ca. i've gone from dedicated customer to a member of her store design team. because of laurie's belief in me and support, i was able to get the courage to try something bigger. i will always remember that i started because of her. thanks laurie!

i have a creative hangover...

2011-08-01T23:01:00.000-07:00

so i spent this weekend totally immersed in the world of tim holtz - and it was fab-u-lous. but now my head hurts. really there's only so much extra space in there anyway, and i spent all weekend filling that space with things like bees-waxing, tissue-taping, and how to creatively express myself all over the place.

the local store - scrapbook island - has been waiting for 5 years for tim to come. (i was stunned to learn that tim's store waiting list is SEVEN YEARS LONG - hopefully stores stay in business long enough for him to get to them). and it's like having a twilight premier - hundreds of screaming women waiting to see one guy with spiky hair and a cool "look".

this was my first experience with this kind of crowd and i learned some important things:

1. scrapbookies are crazy. they drive for hours to stand in line for hours to spend hours in the presence of a guy who shows everyone how to get dirty and feel good about it.

2. scrapbookies are just darn mean. if they think you are getting something they are not like a better seat, better place in line, the last pink ink pad, whatever. just watch your back around them 'cause they're a rough crowd.

look kids - my "new word of the week":

scrapbookie (n) - someone who is obsessed with scrapbooking and proud of it. think "treckie" with inky fingers and a penchant for anything to do with immortalizing their memories. willing to travel long distances and pay huge amounts of money to play with paper, scissors and glue.

some things i learned about myself this weekend:

1. i must resist the urge to grin like an idiot while lurking near tim - tim's a nice guy and all but this just creeps him out

2. i must resist the urge to elbow best friend out of the way to get an autograph, or the better seat, or the better embellishment - just distract her instead with a quick "ooh look over there, tim's doing something" then go for it while she's trying to figure out how to copy tim.

3. i must resist the urge to buy every tim product and hide it so the hubby won't find it right away - the hubby may not notice the stuff, but might just notice the negative balance in the bank account and want to know why i'm spending money on another man.

it's the day after my ~~scrapbookie~~ creatively enlivening weekend and i'm hungover. my head hurts, i can't remember what i did all weekend, and i'm out of cash. it's awesome

pretty little things

2011-07-22T00:30:00.000-07:00

so now that CHA is done and i can keep my cyber-clothes on (see the last post and you'll understand why you should now feel safe in your own home) it's time to actually create something!

this month's design team project was all about authentique paper's new line "journey". in honor of trips and summer time, i created a suitcase full of memories. i took a stack of paper bags and turned them into a minibook stuffed full of cards, with plenty of room for loose photos and keepsakes.

check out the details - each card features something different. we've got acrylic tags, flocking, "sugaring", ribbon distressing as well as my traditional ripping and inking. all of the cards fit into the chipboard suitcase made from tim holtz's alteration die.

in the center of the minibook is a spread made with one of my favorites from the paper line, a little bit of prima bling, and a tim holtz tissue tape flower.

my favorite card is this one with "sugaring" around the edges, and custom tinted flower ribbon using tim holtz distress ink and ribbon flowers.

look closely at this ocean-inspiring swirl - it's actually flocked! i fell in love with "sparkly fluff" from "our craft lounge, which i came across at last year's scrapbook expo. note the tiny - and real (!) sea star too!

both the tags on the suitcase, and the tags here are made ala t!m holtz, using his acrylic tags adhered over authentique papers.

i love this fold-out - so reminiscent of maps! imagine tucking tiny picks in this multi-fold "map", tucked into the minibook

hope you enjoy the techniques featured. the combination of authentique papers and tim holtz embellishments made for an awesome exploration and a beautiful minibook, if i do say so myself!

yes, i have become a contest slut

2011-07-17T23:35:00.000-07:00

so this is my first big "scrapbook industry year". up until now i have been one of the ink-stained masses, innocently shopping the local scrapbook store, not aware that there was a whole crazy scrapbook industry out there working tirelessly to get my attention as well as my dollars.

now however, i've moved up a level. no longer only an innocent ink-stained consumer, i'm now on a design team, i "like" scrapbook companies on facebook, and i have a blog. this also means i've been initiated into the mysteries of CHA, "sneak peeks", and swag contests.

it started out innocently enough. companies asking me to "like" them, post comments and share them, use their badges on my blog and facebook page, and write about them on my blog. it's fabulous. i entered one about my best/worst glitter experience and won - thanks jack&cat curio.

and now i can't seem to stop from throwing myself out there again and again.

which leads me to my latest contest...the gals at glitz design are launching three new and very beautiful lines at CHA this week - notice how i sound like a pro now - and while pink and blue would not normally be my first paper pull, i have to admit that their "beautiful dreamer" line is...well..dreamy.

the papers themselves look gorgeous - pinks, blues, browns, with that vintage distressed look that makes me all goosebumplie. but even better is the huge amount of embellishments available as well - journaling and title stickers, ribbons, jewels, tiny sticker letters and even a chipboard album. my favorites are the "whatnots" and "peek-a-boos"

so yes, i know i am selling myself like a naughty little contest slut. but hey, i get to satisfy myself, and you get an instant preview into a new line, and maybe even a new-to-you company. so we all go home winners!

sneak peak overload

2011-07-15T17:42:00.000-07:00

so it's CHA season - that's Craft & Hobby Association for the uninitiated - and that means it is SNEAK PEAK WEEK. this is the week that all of the scrapbook vendors show peaks of their new lines via their websites, blogs and facebook pages. it also means contests. lots and lots of contests.

at this point i've entered so many i've lost track and now can't remember where i need to check to see if i've won any fabulous free swag.

in spite of my mild confusion, i did want to take a moment to list out a whole bunch of sneak peaks for you, my fabulous fans, so that you don't have to randomly search the internet, googling your fingers off trying to find who's premiering what this week like some cyber-hobo looking for change.

so here in no particular order are links to new and beautiful products for you to drool over, or if you're like me, to criticize the hell out of. happy browsing!

Tattered Angels - they aren't actually sneaking peaks but you can virtual glimmer mist a new product on their site!
Prima Marketing - they are linked to the Tattered Angels site, but they seem to be the scrooge of sneak peaks - i know they have them but after going through 4 diff links still wasn't sure i actually found them. not good for a company with "marketing" in their name.
Tim Holtz
Graphic 45
Bella Blvd
Authentique Paper
Claudine Hellmuth
Pink Paislee
Cosmo Cricket

pardon me while i glue myself to the table

2011-07-14T03:00:00.000-07:00

so insomnia, creative outbursts, and glue, just shouldn't mix. witness the fact that i am wide awake at a god awful hour of the morning with my elbow glued to...

but let's go back a bit shall we?

it all started at 1:00am, when my brain, as it should have been drifting off to dream about russell crowe, instead started thinking of cool make-and-take ideas and promptly went into overdrive. ink...glue...stamps...distressing...more ink...a skeleton...because it's not good unless there's a skeleton involved...more glue...

by 1:30am i had given up trying to sleep, and frankly the snoring husband and saint bernard next to me just weren't helping anyway.

at 1:35am i am happily seated at the crafting table and i'm thinking "hey, this is great! i'm alone, it's quiet, i can do anything i want..." so i start fiddling with things. looking at papers, opening every stamp drawer, poking my ink pads to see what happens.

after a few minutes of generally farting around, i actually get my groove. i'm die cutting, inking and stamping, distressing edges, tearing open every embellishment drawer looking for that cool little trinket that will make this the best make-and-take ever!

and then i find it...the perfect button, plus some crystals to make it bling bling. i just pour on the glue, add the crystals and wait for it to dry before attaching it to my make-and-take and reveling in my creative awesomeness.

and then i rest my chin in my hands for a bit, thinking about how fabulous i am and how this will be the best make-and-take ever.

and when it's time to glue the fabulous bling bling thing to the make-and-take it is also time to discover...

i have glued my sleeve to the table.

so the moral of the story is that i should probably not drink so much caffeine, and stay the hell in bed instead of wandering around the house affixing myself to stuff.

i'm feeling so authentique!

2011-07-13T17:31:00.000-07:00

my continuing adventures as a scrapbook store design team member have taken me from discovering new creative heights, to teaching my first class, to peaking this month with one of my projects getting taken to CHA by a very cool and groovy vendor - more on that tomorrow.

so each month i get a pizza box of joy, plain white on the outside but filled with color and texture on the inside.

this month's adventure is "authentique" - the new paper company everyone has been waiting for. i was lucky enough to get a whole pizza box full of their "journey" line - all blues, beiges and browns with travel-themed extras.

while i haven't yet started my "journey" yet, i was very excited to visit authentique's facebook page and website today. it seems everyone is buzzing about them, and since my design project this month is all about them, i thought i'd buzz a little for them too.

stay tuned to see what i make this month. i'll be sure to post everywhere!

gypsy on the go

2011-07-11T14:42:00.000-07:00

the blog is now optimized for mobile phones! thanks to technology i barely understand, by words of wisdom and fantastic creations can now appear on cell phones and iPads around the world in a nice little layout.

Dignity ~ Authority ~ Dollars

2011-06-17T11:01:00.000-07:00

father's day is looming, so of course i received a "father's day theme" challenge for my design team project. most of the dad-day pages etc i see are designed either for vintage photos of grandpa as a young man, or to feature babies with their dads for that first father's day.

i was inspired by cosmo cricket's "social club" line to create something more upscale and "mad men"-inspired. chic, elegant, retro. it's still all about dad, but dad as a man, a husband, a sophisticate.

back to work!

2011-06-14T18:23:00.000-07:00

now that school is out, and the end of year craziness is done, it's time to get back to work. things have been busy at the gypsy camp - design team projects for june, and teaching my first class at scrapbook island. it's very exciting!

for the june design team project, i was given a special request - make something for father's day using the very groovy cosmo cricket "social club" product line AND these super girlie frilly embellishments from Prima by Marion Smith.

my response? "um...sure! no problem!"
my husband's reaction? "you need to make something that men will want to make? good luck!" - LOL

and actually it was a pretty good design challenge - how to take very feminine items and turn them into something that makes sense for a dad. first up, page layouts with an old-fashioned feel. tomorrow? a minibook that's all about why i'm so glad ur my dad. full of contrasting textures and rich colors, this manly spread makes a great layout to highlight that romantic man in your life.

special feature here is the corragated banner across the middle of the layout. i used pieces from a shipping carton and peeled off the top layer, exposing the ridges and leaving some fragments. a happy accident left a long narrow fragment that was the perfect place for "my tweetie".

the block letters are curtesy of tim holtz. the master of distress, the letters are chipboard squares and letters, acrylic paint, distress ink and glossy accents - thanks tim!

the "oh-so-girlie" embellishments by Marion Smith got a new treatment here. by taking pieces apart and attaching new metal treats, i created the watch chain. and i believe you can never have too many places to attach small photos, journaling, and keepsakes so i turned the clips into memorablia holders on both pages of the layout.

and my special treat of the month - create the look of corragated patinaed metal using cardboard and glimmer mist. take cardboard and peel off the top layer exposing the ridges. the mist with tuorquoise glimmermist, and follow up immediately with copper glimmer mist. the result is a copper patina look that transforms ordinary cardboard into a metal scrap! use them by themselves as accent pieces, or add a cropped photo on top and turn them into a photo matte.

stay tuned tomorrow for a mad men-inspired minibook all about dad!

"All about me" Minibook

2011-05-11T10:44:00.001-07:00

project #2 for the scrapbook island design team - the "all about me" minibook. i got to use the "sweet threads" paper and embellishments from basic grey. and just like in the "happy-ness" layouts, i built lots of cool smooshie flowers, inky layers and glimmery accents. and of course went crazy with the zipper flowers - again!

zipper trim makes a great pocket accent

take a canvas dress form, stamp it with a texture stamp, paint it with glimmer mist, then paint it again with splashes of glam glimmer paint. add some stick pins for decoration, or to hold small pics, journaling or a keepsake right onto the dress form!

more smooshie flowers. die cut petals from the basic grey papers, mist, scrunch, smooshie them and let dry. then add a little ink or stickle to the petal edges. luminarte's radiant rain in "autumn leaf" is a beautiful bronzey accent color. use viva's "pearl pen" to create pearl button accents. it's a great look, especially when you do it along existing lines on tags and pocket edges.

happy-ness

2011-05-10T09:37:00.001-07:00

another box of joy. being on a design team is great! i get a box of products and free license to create. this month's box was filled with basic grey's "sweet threads" line - "SWEEEEET"

my big discovery with this project was making "smooshie flowers". take a close look at the flower details and check out what happens when you mist and then smoosh up die-ut paper. the result is wonderfully whimsical. add a little ink or glitter, and the final look is so sweet. and check out my newest zipper flower! i used maya road's zipper trim and created a dahlia.

the other bit of fun was working with maya road's canvas dress forms. layers of tattered angels glimmer mist, add a cool stamp for texture, and you end up with a beautiful accent. add a couple of stick pins, and you also get a unique place to mount some small pics or keepsakes!

and finally, why not tuck away some fancy tags? a matted photo can become a great pocket to hold more photos, journaling, and keepsakes!

overall, i had a blast making all these elements, and using so many different products! stay tuned tomorrow for a whole minibook made of "sweet threads", zippers, glimmer mist and more!

Play Fair Minibook

2011-04-21T12:34:00.000-07:00

i proudly present my first design team project. the challenging thing about this was getting a box of paper and embellishments. period. now you would think that having an open field would make it easy but no! faced with wide open choices, it took me some time to settle down and choose a project - minibook. then i needed to find a cohesive theme - i'm very high concept and firmly believe that everything should tell a good story not just be pretty things lumped together.

so here it is, the "play fair" minibook. made of the glitz "love games" paper line and many of their embelishments, it has lots of little special features. zipper ribbon flowers and a secret heart made from maya road's zipper ribbon. fold outs, hidded pages and a minibook in the minibook. flowers made from paper, acrylic, crepe paper and zippers. a custom charm and spinner game! so many details!

computer - paper - scissors

2011-04-18T12:51:00.000-07:00

i recently read an article about digital scrapbooking and why it's better than paper scrapping. the article raised good basic points we all know - cost, space, being able to crop at starbucks with only a laptop. but then the author started talking about how "lumpy" her pages would get, and how her albums were just so much neater when they were bound in neat book-like volumes of digital output and i thought - "well then what's the point of that???"

i mean let's face it. we all started cropping to satisfy that secret crafty craving. inking, sanding, tearing, gluing, glittering - come on! it's a grown up version of preschool! it's our excuse to get messy fingers, smudgy faces and mysterious marks on our clothes.

i've always laughed at the digital scrapbook embellishments. all that effort to make a digital button look like an actual button. just use a button! while i do see the environmental side of not using papers and plastics, the flip side is the use of chemicals and dyes to output and bind the digitally created albums. what's the lifespan of that CD used to archive your digital scrapbook, not to mention the chemical processes used to make the CD in the first place? the bottom line is everything we create impacts the environment in some way, it's just a matter of which way you can justify to yourself.

so for me, as much as i enjoy the cyber world of untouchable art, when it comes to my creative outlets i'm a paper junky at heart - the feel of it, that new paper smell, the sparkle of embedded glitter that a computer just can't reproduce. and don't forget the embellishments - buttons, flowers, brads, bling, and bits and pieces of memorabilia that tell a story by themselves. yes you can have all of those in a digital layout, but you can't touch it. it's only a picture of the real thing, missing the spirit of the thing itself.

if a picture's worth 1,000 words...

2011-04-09T15:34:00.000-07:00

ok, i'll confess. i am not a huge journaler. i remember things visually and so when i lay out my scrapbook pages they are chuck full of photos, colors, textures and blingage. and then maybe a comment written very small, tucked under a photo.

my crop friends always seem to have so much to say on their pages. they write a full 4x6 card full of beautiful script, or nifty printing. i'm always amazed. how do they know what to say? how do they write so much without repeating?

i always catch myself trying to "fill out" my journaling, and it ends up sounding like the narration in one of those boring high school science movies. "here are the preschoolers in their native habitat, eating sugar-based treats and engaging in vocalizing..." bleck!

so gypsies, here is the question of the day. if a picture is worth a thousand words, how much is good journaling worth?

the creative pot is boiling

2011-03-28T18:50:00.001-07:00

hi fellow gypsies,

after my flurry of kick-off postings it's time to clear the decks and create MORE. and to start figuring out what techniques i do that would be worth sharing...

look for upcoming projects-in-process: "Book of Life", "Skeleton Closet", and "I am the sum of my parts". and look for new (hopefully new to you) techniques for distressing photos - yes you can distress and ink your photos without losing their beauty.

but what about you, fellow gypsies? what do you see out in the world that you would want to be able to do yourselves? a special technique? a project that makes you say "i wish i could make that"? post your desires and see what the suburbngypsy can provide...

Upcycling Signage

2011-03-24T09:00:00.000-07:00

A couple of years ago a local Safeway store closed. Walking by one night I spied a shopping cart filled to over-flowing with wooden letters from the store. Who could resist a huge pile of typography? Not me. My family helped me load everything into the back of the Jeep and off we went.

Over the next few months the letters sat in the garage while I worked on other things. Then finally last summer I pulled everything out into the backyard and starting laying out an abstract typography study. As I arranged the letters into a random collection of letters, I hid words in the piece as well. Tucked away are "grass", "frogs", and "USA". The whole piece was screwed together with wood screws and painted black. Then we mounted it to the wall in our backyard. It makes a fabulous and whimsical focal piece while we lounge and play.

Unbroken Chain

2011-03-23T17:51:00.001-07:00

I wanted to make something really special for my mom for Mother's Day. My mom is totally into genealogy and has pictures of our family dating back to my great-great-great-grandparents. Since this was a Mother's Day gift, I decided to focus on the chain of mothers and daughters in our family.

This piece is built from chipboard panels covered in cardstock that was distressed and inked. Accents include micro beads, scraps of lace and buttons. I used a fern leaf and gold paint to make the gold prints, and then added the leaf itself to the cover. Repeated on each panel is "mother" and "daughter" because each woman in the piece has been both, except for my daughter at the very end. But of course she will be a mother one day too.

Random Elements

2011-03-19T17:10:00.000-07:00

I love using random little things, and turning them into something special. Today's project started as a plain little birdhouse from Michael's that cost a whole dollar. Add a paper scrap left over from a minibook class, some bits of greenery left over from a school project, some pebbles stolen from the neighbor's yard (shhh don't tell), a twig and some Ranger Walnut Stain, and we have a fabulous tiny house. It could be for a fairy, a pixie, a teeny weeny house sprite - who knows

Inaugural Blog

2011-03-18T14:54:00.000-07:00

For my very first blog I wanted to make sure I had something really special. Here's my newest project - my "Wickedly Minibook". Inspired by Wicked, both the musical and the novel, it features a lot of techniques. Metal embossing, alcohol inks, stamping, distressing, all combine to represent the Witch's life of random bits and scraps of life. The minibook tucks into the Witch's boot - a tranformed paper mache boot I've had for years but have never known what to make of it.