Love Notes Journal

Love Notes Journal

 Renee Camacho

  I decorated this album to hold little 'love notes' to my family.  With each
page being an envelope, it is the perfect book to insert thoughts, letters,
ephemera, and even pictures.  

Paper from the NEW Avignon line

I took apart the medium envelope album and started decorating each envelope by covering the bases with various patterned papers.  I used an x-acto knife to reveal the holes for the wire-o as well as to trim around the edges of each envelope.
quick tip:  when creating this type of project I ALWAYS decorate the base first.  It makes everything have a basic structure to build on, then you can get creative in making each page unique.

I went one step further in my decorating details by adding journaling and rhinestones to the dangling 7gypsies Vintage Hardwear attached to the side of the journal.  I also created a ribbon 'closure' by adding buttons to the top and bottom portion of the book front and wrapping a ribbon tie around the entire book. (see picture 1)

(click to enlarge)

 

 Vintage ledger paper on the flap side with a Avignon tag.  Tas black and cream striped paper on the right side.  Love that stripe, it just goes with everything!

 

I cut off the top portion of a 7gypsies Vintage tag to embellish the envelope side of the page...Venice paper is in the background.

I decorated the flap portion of two of the envelopes using paper tape.  Can you tell? On the first one, I layered the Venice paper tape, then trimmed off any excess.  I sewed on a button and hung one of the new Avignon tags.  On the back of the tag I wrote the name of whose "love note" will be found in the envelope.   For the second envelope flap, I layered navy polka dot paper tape, then punched a hole in the middle of the flap.  I added my ephemera playing card by attaching it with an eyelet. 

For the covering of this envelope, I used 'scraps' from several different patterned papers, as well as polka dot and stripe paper tapes.  I simply put adhesive on the envelope front,  then layered the scraps, trimming off any excess.  I placed the tape over the seams to secure the papers better as well as add another decorative touch.  I finished it off by adding a love quote (printed on vintage text paper) and a punched oval vintage text paper accented with a stamped cardstock and punched portion decorated with a velvet brad in the middle.  Note: both papers are from the NEW Avignon line...orange/cream is one side and black/cream is the other!

Hope you make the time to create your own book of "Love Notes"

-Renee

Christmas Project #13

Holiday Gift Tags

Rachel Carlson

I KNOW you are still wrapping presents, you are, YES you are.  I LOVE tags, I just do, all kinds.  7 Gypsies makes it so easy to alter an already printed tag for some vintage holiday paper packaging.  OR you can have them on standby for those last minute gifts you need to give the doctor, the mailman, the milk delivery guy, etc.  I used a lot of scraps for these tags but also some staple products that you should have on hand for these types of projects.

  Products used:
Vintage Tags

Shaped Vintage look tags
Large Clear Stamps:  97% Certifiable - Oval
Various Brads
Various scraps of yummy 7Gypsies paper

and ONE MORE from 

Renee Camacho

 The monogram set is just PERFECT for unifying present tags and keeping them clean and simple at the same time.  AND the kids will know exactly who’s present is who’s as soon as they see their initial!

Supply list for Tag:
Monogram: classic alphabet
97% certifiable Round Clear Stamps
Other: cardstock, pop-dots, rhinestone, black ink

Christmas idea #11

Renee has two great ideas for making Christmas decorations with store bought frames.  She also uses the same monogram stamp set we showcased earlier in the week for the product challenge.  

Easy is good... on Dec 16th.

 Christmas Frames 

artist Renee Camacho 

I purchased several photo frames at Pottery Barn last year during their after Christmas clearance sales.  I knew that eventually I’d actually find a use for them that was perfect for me and the way I decorate at Christmas time.  I love to keep things simple, with little splashes of color mixed in a monochromatic color scheme.  Since I take (or at least ATTEMPT to take) a photo of our kids for the Christmas card every year at this time, it seemed fitting to make a monogrammed picture ornament.  (and if you know me at ALL, you know I LOVE all things monogram and showcase our ‘C’ throughout our house all year long as well as the #5…because there are 5 hooligans in this house, lol!)

ANYHOO – the frame itself was rather simple, so I knew I wanted to make it just a bit sparkly (to match all of my German glitter and clear glass ornaments on our main Christmas tree).  And of course, I love red, but really didn’t want to make the picture black & white, so I decided to change out the ribbon, too.

I printed the photo and mounted it onto blank chipboard for added stability and covered the backside with 7Gypsies patterned paper (the 6x6 paper pads are PERFECT for adding interest to smaller projects like these).
I stamped the C monogram onto vintage text paper and punched it out.  I then mounted it on a circle chipboard piece that was covered with an additional stamped vintage paper on the backside.  I punched a hole in the top and bottom to add my ribbon and crystal for the perfect finishing touch.

AND since simple is always best in my opinion, but you can be TOO plain, as well…I had to add a trio of buttons and a stamped & embossed Family trimmed cardstock to the backside as well as the date of the photo (because you know I AM turning 36 on Sunday and that old memory will quickly fade away soon!)

I LOVE how this turned out and was so happy to be able to turn our traditional kids annual photo into something that I can now put on the tree each year.


Supply list for Christmas Photo Ornament:
Venice 6x6 paper variety pack
Monogram: classic alphabet
Seam Binding: Gypsy Market
Princesca Hardware
97% certifiable Round Clear stamps
Family Clear stamps
Blank chipboard
Other: cardstock, pop-dots, vintage text paper, black ink, clear embossing powder, vintage buttons, circle punch

Christmas Frame Stand

artist Renee Camacho

I like to have little vignettes of decorations around my home along with quotes and pictures.  One of the things that I like to do is create paper projects for various frames to be added into the mix…
Here’s a frame that I found on clearance at TJMaxx.  As soon as I saw it, I knew it would be PERFECT for this concept…  It stands tall on a stand and will add height and interest to my little Christmas vignettes (once I get the 10 Christmas Rubbermaid totes out of the garage and actually have stuff decorated!...ha!)

Directions:
1.  Cut a 5x7 cardstock base.
2.  Trim edges of base with various scraps of paper, gold trimmings, and chipboard accent pieces (all from my leftover pile…which is WAY TOO LARGE, lol)
3.  Cut cardstock and patterned paper rectangles of various sizes, rounding the edges with a corner rounder punch.
4.  Lightly ink the edges of each piece using vintage paper ink pad.
5.  Attach each piece onto cardstock base.
6.  Adhere various accents such as rhinestones, buttons, and stickers.
7.  Slide finished piece into frame and display.
TIP-Make this decorated frame a permanent display by creating a unique 5x7 insert for each season.  I imagine this particular frame will find a home on my entry table with a little seasonal vignette.  It will be fairly easy to change them out AND make such a cute piece to catch the eye. 
 
ANOTHER NOTE:  I removed the glass insert so that the bulkier items fit without a problem.  If you feel you need the glass, just use flat items for accent. 
 
Supply List for the frame stand:
Victoria 97% complete tags
ATC transparencies
97% complete stickers: joy
Gypsy Market scrap pack: 8x8
ATC Chipboard: decorative
Misc: buttons, rhinestones, felt leaf, gold trimmings and stars, vintage text paper

Gypsy Girl Life

Gypsy Girl Life is an ongoing series where we step into the lives and homes of our design team as well as our good gypsy friends.  This month DT member, Renee Camacho has welcomed us into her life to see a few beautiful images of her home and the bounty that nature provides in her area of the country.  For those of us in the USA, tomorrow is Thanksgiving.  Renee has also given us some great inspiration for decoration our homes and the Thanksgiving table.  Love it!

Thanks Renee for the beautiful images and inspiration.

And WELCOME to Gypsy Girl Life...

 

    
Growing up in Texas, I never truly got to experience Fall the way it’s meant to be experienced.  We moved to Nashville, TN 10 years ago this October.  I’ll never forget that first sight of the beautiful colors and changing leaves.  It was truly amazing.  I fell in love with the area that instant and found something new to love in our relocation. 

Ever since that first Fall I have made it a point to gather decorations and photos to display during this season.  I love capturing photos of the colors and décor around my home and city.  I display a variety of real and fake pumpkins throughout the entire fall season in little vignettes around my home (my favorite way to decorate:  little vignettes that capture color and seasons)  I absolutely ADORE fall and wouldn’t want to live without that color in my life again!