diy: globe paper chain

what you need: paper, scissors, adhesive and string. one. Use a circle stencil (or bottom of a tin can) to trace circles and cut. Each globe contains 7 circles. (the more the merrier!) we cut three different size circles to create dimension in our paper chain. two.  Fold each circle in half. three. Select two folded circles, use any type of adhesive (we used a tape runner) and glue two flat sides together. Repeat until you get to the last circle you need to glue. four. Place string in the middle of the circles before you glue the last one on, then glue the last circle on to form a ball. five. Repeat steps one through four until you have string of paper globes!

hang up anywhere your gypsy heart desires!!!

you can so do this: tissue paper skirt

one. Lightly sketch a female figure in pencil. Add details of a simple spaghetti strap top if you wish. Add watercolor paint and ink. two. Cut at least 2 strips of tissue from the 7 Gypsies tissue paper.  For the two tiered skirt shown, we cut two 1"x 8" strips three. Apply a strip of adhesive to the drawing where you want your skirt to hang.  Accordion fold or pleat the first strip of tissue down to the adhesive every 1/16 of an inch or at desired intervals, shaping as you go to gather the folds tighter at the top, allowing them to flare out wider at the bottom.  four. Repeat step three with the second strip of tissue. five. Add a 7 Gypsies 97% Complete sticker for a belted waist.  Tape drawing into your art journal!  (Ranjini used the venice patterned paper tape)

collage tissue garland and a new gypsy baby!!!

We are very excited to announce the arrival of our newest gypsy baby!

Lillian Belle

the sweet new addition to our caravan.

Congrats proud gypsy mama Amber!

We created a collage tissue paper garland to celebrate.

So cute, so simple, so 7gypsies!

Here's how we did it!

materials used:

modpodge

glitter

7gypsies collage tissues: birdsong and life

any 7gypsies chipboard alphabet & number set

scrap piece of chipboard

cover chipboard letters/numbers with glue and sprinkle on glitter~ repeat as needed
cut a 1"x 20" strip of life collage tissue for each letter you are using
cut a 3"x3" square of birdsong collage tissue for each letter
cut a 2 1/4" inch circle out of the chipboard for each letter

crinkle up each of the life tissue strips 

cover the chipboard circles with a thin, even coat of mod podge

carefully lay birdsong collage tissue square on top of mod podged circle
and gently smooth out wrinkles.
sand around edge of circle to remove excess tissue or wrap around back and mod podge in place.

apply a generous layer of mod podge around back edge of tissue covered circle

begin pleating one of the collage tissue strips around the edge of the circle 

backside view of pleating collage tissue around the edge of circle

additional view

additional view of backside

adhere glittered alphabet letter to front of circle.
repeat all steps for each letter.

Once you have each tissue circles completed~ connect them with 7gypsies crystal dangles and finish off ends with seam binding ribbon!

super simple collage tissue book cover

Have you heard the latest buzz on our collage tissues?

This decorative tissue is not just for gorgeous gift wrapping, it can be used in SO many other ways!

click here to see our previous posting

Because tissue is thin and workable, you'll find it can be decoupaged to just about ANY surface.  

Here's a quick tutorial for how to cover your surfaces with the new collage tissue.  We're demonstrating the FANTASTIC results you can get using tissue on a kraft colored book board to create a book cover.

For more inspiration be sure to visit our facebook page~ there's a super cute tissue star on there!

 Paint book board shape with a liquid adhesive such as gel medium or mod podge  (work quickly).

 Lay collage paper over adhesive covered surface. Smooth as much as possible. Many of the wrinkles will disappear during the drying process.

Use a fine sand paper to remove excess paper around the edges.

Let dry for 10 minutes or if you are a bit impatient (as most gypsies are) use a heat gun to speed up the drying time.

 Once dry, paint a final coat of gel medium or mod podge over the top to seal and protect the surface.

Punch holes and embellish to finish off your new book cover!

Ours is shown punched using the Binderie Punch and embellished with metal reinforcers, seam binding ribbon and diva crown charm.

YOU can so do this...

THE {KL_necklace} 

We all know how much gypsy artists Kerry Lynn adores texture. All of her fabulously vintage projects are adorned with lots of it.  So to create a piece of wearable art she used a gorgeous combination of french linen from her stash and our favorite seam binding ribbon to create this stunning necklace. 

And it's a lot simpler than you'd think!  Read on for simple instructions and in no time you'll have one of your own.

Supplies needed:

7gypsies seam binding ribbon

7gypsies travel binding ring dangle charms 

7gypsies crystal binding ring dangles

jump rings

vintage linen or other loose weave fabric

sewing machine or needle and thread

Stacked Linen Flower

Cut three varying sized circles of linen from your fabric. 

Stitch together in center and then rough up the edges so they are frayed by simply running them against your palm a few times.

Stitch along one edge of a 6”-8” piece of seam binding. I used a basting stitch {a loose wide stitch} on my sewing machine but you could also simply do the same with a running stitch by hand.

Once the stitch is in place pull one thread {if you used your sewing machine} or the single thread if you hand stitched, and gather your ribbon together.

Once gathered knot the ends together, then stitch to the top of your linen flower and stitch on a single crystal bead from the binding ring dangles. Set aside.

The Necklace 

Cut two 24” pieces of seam binding and double them and loop around a jump ring . 

Then stitch the other ends about 5” from the end so they would always stay together then tie that end around a jump ring.

Attach two crystal dangles together at the bottom of each 

Use the dangle clasp on each end of the dangle to clip to the jump ring at both ends of ribbon.

Clip the travel dangle charm to crystal near the bow.

Attach linen flower to crystal near the jump ring end.

Venice Card Set

by Debbie Crouse

I love the Venice clear stamp set.  I made a set of thank you cards using the stamp set along with paper, paper tape, bakers twine and ribbon, an old dictionary and 7g kraft envelopes.  

Cut cards to fit the 7g kraft envelopes.   Stamp card and add bits of paper and paper tape.  Include ribbon or twine in stitching on card and don’t forget the envelope flap.  Simple, easy and I love having some thank you cards ready and waiting when the occasion arises.

Card No. 1

sew over string

tie a bow

Card No. 2

Card No. 3

The Love Book

by Paula Cheney

What do you do with a great card once the birthday or anniversary has past?  I have kept the notes and cards my husband and I have written to each other over the years, but eventually they always ended up in box on the shelf where the sentiment is lost for a time. 
So for Valentines Day I decided to create a place for these cards, letters and personal notes I have saved.  I used a 7gypsies large Portfolio for the structure of the "book" and added manila file folder pockets on the inside to hold the cards.  Traditional Valentine colors felt a little cliche, so I decided to change it up a bit and create something in un-traditional colors just for him. Okay, the ribbon on the side is for me, but the color was for him.

File Folder Pockets

I used a rotary cutter to cut about an inch off the folded end of 3 file folders (so they will fit into the portfolio).

Cover the front of the file folders with paper.  I used three different kinds of paper:
Green script from the new Avignon line, brown stripe and one that has little envelopes on it called, Gondola from the Venice line.

Once the paper is adhered to the file folder you can use your sewing machine to embellish as I did with the little stem or you can just stitch up the sides and bottom to finish pocket.  I cut each stem by hand and embellished with a black pen, then words cut from an old book.   Repeat for each folder.
I also added a series of years to each tab so not only would I know where to file a card or note but I would also know where to find it later.

Once the folders are complete, lay them inside the portfolio to decide where to punch the holes.  I knew my book would end up being very thick, so I folded the portfolio along the 3rd score line from the center to create depth.  Punch holes in the 3 file folders to match the portfolio.  I used my Binderie Punch for all the holes in the book.

I cut an oval shape from Sticky Back Canvas and inked it with some distress ink.

I stitched around the oval about 4 or 5 times then peeled off the backing and added it to an oval I had previously cut from Terrassa paper (back of the brown stripe).
The whole idea for the name of the book came when I saw a House of 3 download for a Vintage Text Garland....thinking....thinking....I don't need a garland but I do need the word LOVE.  So, I printed it out (super easy), mounted the word on a piece of chipboard and cut it out.  Added a bit of Distress ink- Victorian Velvet (new from Ranger) and a touch of Vintage Photo on the edges. Done.

I cut various sizes of paper for the cover, really just a bunch of long scrap pieces left from the file folders and other projects.  I secured them to the cover with a UHU glue stick.  As I said, I used the same three papers from the file folders and just added a couple more: White/black script (the opposite side is the green script paper) and pages from a vintage book.
I also added Venice paper tape (that's the turquoise strips that are almost transparent) at the very end.  I love how you can see the brown stripe paper through the tape...I just love this stuff and I can't seem to get enough of it!

Once the cover is finished, wrap Gypsy Market gaffer tape (it's made from fabric) around the spine of the book to reinforce it.  Thread ribbon (I used the new Avignon seam binding) through the portfolio and file folder pockets. Tie bows on the outside to finish.

I know Valentines Day is upon us, so I hope you will think about making a Book of Love for someone  close to you.  Think birthday, anniversary...really any occasion to say, I love you...
You can find more information on the Love Book here .
Happy day of Love!
p

Valentines treat box & tag 

by kerry lynn yeary

I have always been a big believer in handmade gifts and I think on Valentine's Day there is nothing better than receiving sweets wrapped in a beautiful handmade package, especially a vintage style package. And, if you add a handmade gift tag, I guarantee your recipient will adore the time and love you put into making them something handmade.

To create the tag I first made a paper rosette with the Barcelona collection paper Sabadell pattern paper by cutting a strip 1.5" x 12" and then pleating it accordion style about every .25 inches.

Once your paper strip is completely pleated join the two ends so you have a pleated circle and then get a scrap piece of paper and punch a 1" circle and add heavy duty tacky tape like a ThermOWeb-Super Tape {or you can use your glue gun} to the circle.

Push the pleated circle down along the top edge so the center pleats meet and form a pleated flat circle. Then attach to the scrap circle. The important step here is to use a heavy duty adhesive so the circle stays shut. Simple adhesive like a tape runner will eventually give and your paper rosette will fall apart.

To complete the tag I stamped the Venice ledger column stamp {it's the long stamp to the bottom left corner of the Venice stamp set} on a large manila tag with a starlite black {gray metallic} brilliance ink pad from Tsukineko. I stamped two layers to make a "crosshatch" pattern by first stamping diagonally to the left and the switching to stamping diagonally to the right. Then I layered a extra large milkcap from my vintage stash of goodies, added the paper rosette to the top and then added the sweet vintage valentines piece from the vintage ephemera set {i trimmed down to only the cute figure}. The edges were distressed just a little by bending along the edge upwards for a slight weathered edge look. Lastly I added a punched mini heart {from the red coupon vintage ephemera piece} that I stapled to the boy right over the heart already on the card.

The inside of the box has a piece of vellum that I trimmed to fit and then I layered vintage paper circles and some more mini hearts that I punched from the rest of the red couple vintage ephemera piece and other random scraps of 7gypsies paper I had left from other projects. I added the four chocolate bordeaux truffles {YUM!} in sweet silver foil candy wrappers.

Then simply fold over the vellum and seal with one remaining red coupon mini heart. It really is those little added touches that will thrill your recipients. promise!

 

One the outside of the box I trimmed more of the Sabadell paper and a piece of vintage music and tied it all up with some seam binding. To get the crumpled look with the ribbon simply scrunch it up in your hands for a few minutes and the the heat from your palm will help "set" the crinkles.

Now simply tie on your beautiful tag and give to the one you adore.

Happy Love Day!
xo - kl