Sunday 31 January 2016

Heart Garland Tutorial ~ Crate Paper Fourteen ♥

  

Inspired by this heart Garland at Ikea I decided I wanted to do something more my style in time for Valentines day.
First- up I chose my papers from the Crate Paper Fourteen Range at Mystical.
 Grabbed some additional supplies: Craftworkz Twine (I used a mixture of colours but you could use just one), Glue Dots, eyelets and mini staples.


To make a Garland like this approx 3.5 metres long you need: 9 large Hearts (8.5cmW x9cmH ), 8 medium hearts (7cm x 7cm ), and 32 mini hearts (2cmW x 1.9cmH ) and 4.2m of twine (18 lengths of 23cm).

 I used a nesting die set on the sizzix but alternatively you could print 3 different sized hearts on the computer onto card to make templates to trace and cut. Because I wanted to get the most from my card I cut four hearts with each cut and used the spares on other projects.

I used one half of each 12x12 and cut the 6x12's down into three 6x4 sheets to die cut.

Be still my heart! :-) 

I punched a hole on each side of the hearts and then laid them on the floor large-medium large etc in a semi random order.

I tried to keep the two darker pinks separated.

I then added coordinated but contrasting eyelets to each heart for extra strength.

I placed a large glue dot on a small heart and then pressed the centre of my 23cm twine lengths into 
the glue dot.  


 Threaded the two ends of the twine into my hearts and then pressed the ends into the glue dot.

Placed another small heart on top and sandwiched  them together.

And then added two staples for extra strength. I chose to do it this way because I want to be able to hang the garland across a room and have it look good from both sides. You could just skip the mini hearts and tie the twine in a neat bow. Or if you only want to hang it on a wall just use one length of twine running it behind the hearts and tape it in place so the hearts don't move.



 Further ideas... 
  • It would be nice to add a string of hearts hanging vertically on each end of the garland.
  • You could embellish the hearts with the smaller hearts in a contrasting colour.
  • You could embellish the hearts with large letters to spell out a name or message.
  • You could embellish the hearts with anything that made your heart content.
  • You could make it to coordinate with the colour theme of a wedding or a babies room. 
I think we'll pull this one out on Birthdays as well as Valentines each year- and the colours would look too bad at Christmas either.

If you make one please be sure to share it in the gallery.

Saturday 30 January 2016

Sharing the Love - Crate Paper ~ Fourteen


Valentines papers don't have to be limited to Valentines LO's and cards. I think my Nana will be pretty happy with this birthday card. 

 
Pop layered hearts up with foam dots to add dimension.


We like to enjoy little celebrations to add some fun and love into our year. These Valentines are for my husband and kids- I'll put them on a valentines themed dinner table with a few small treats- nothing over the top, but a little more special than usual.


 Lots of layers and texture make a simple card more interesting... lots of foam dots here.




 This card uses a Project Life 3x4 card as the basis for it's design.


Left over hearts from another project form this hot air balloon. I start layering from the top and do the outside edges first then layer down the middle ending centre bottom. The 'Basket' is a chipboard tag I cut down to suit.

Friday 29 January 2016

Featured on Friday- DebiJ


This week I am picking Debi Layout from this weeks Cyber Crop Challenge. She chose to highlight a special relationship. I love the non-traditional colours she has used. The subtle distressed background and minimal embellishing makes sure the photo shines in the spotlight. 

Thanks for sharing Debi!

Thursday 28 January 2016

Just Arrived!

I'm totally in love with this new range from Cocoa Vanilla called Free Spirit!!  See the range in store now - Here

 

 

 
 


 

 


Wednesday 27 January 2016

Just sharing...

Hi all,

Gypsy here with a mid week share!

In honour of introduction to the Mystical Design Team I made a few of layout's to share with some of my favourite Mystical products. I'm a big fan of October Afternoon Products and so it seemed like a great place to start.



This first LO is about my hair which has gone back to it's natural brown since I took this photo- but I did love being a red head for a good 15 years of my life. These Jillibean Hexies are great not just as a spot for some journalling but as an embellishment in their own right, or a home for embellishments.

Products used: October Afternoon papers and stickers
Jillibean Soup Hexies
Chipboard and Foil Thickers 



This second layout is also about hair! My now four year old son used to have the sweetest head of curls. I have far to many photos of them, these ones with the sun forming a halo are a couple of my favourites. I used some metal dies to cut the paper shapes top and bottom of the page from the same paper as my photo mats.

Products used: October Afternoon papers and stickers
Cosmo Cricket Tiny Type Yellow


This last layout uses a central block, which is a go-to design for me when I have large single photo to scrap. The centred rectangle of white helps to balance and ground the large pattern of the background paper. Simple embellishing with a few stickers and flowers ensures that my block isn't competing with the patterned paper. 

Products used: Patterned Paper Echo Park For the Record, Bazzill White, October Afternoon Label Stickers, Jillibean Alpha, Green Tara Flowers, Kaisercraft Washi tape hearts, twine, sparklets.

I'd love to see what you've been scrapping lately, come share in the gallery!

Gypsy

Friday 22 January 2016

David Bowie Cyber Crop




Welcome to our first Cyber Crop for 2016 

We are taking our inspiration from a singer/song writer that I, and millions of others,  loved

Challenge 1 -created by Jane Howden

Using this album I have created a sketch ...



and my take on the sketch ....


I have used two 6x4 portrait photos in place of the three 3x4 and positioned two clusters to form a visual triangle. I am also yet to journal on this page although the card is in place to do so.

Products used :

Green Tara mini flowers (Black)
Twine


Challenge 2created by GypsStockley


Almost as iconic as David Bowie is his supermodel wife Iman. They were married for over 23 years, and together made for a very stylish and incredible pair couple. For this challenge I invite you to take inspiration from David and Iman.
  • Either scrap a significant relationship in your life
  • Or design a layout that reflects the classic and sophisticated style of Bowie and Iman.
I attempted to emanate the sophisticated Bowie and Iman style in this LO- but I have to say it doesn't quite match the feel I was going for in my head! That said I do like the clean lines, the black and white colour scheme with just a hint of sparkle!
And talking about hints: I did learn not to emboss directly onto Bazzill Bling cardstock... it buckles!

Products used: Bazzill Bling Black Tie, Basic Grey Little Black Dress: Black & White and Etiquette
  Sparklets, Kaiser Lace, Zing White Embossing powder.


Challenge 3 - created by Donna Cope

I loved Bowie's music, so my challenge is to use a song title or lyric as apart of your page, you can use it as a title, as a quote or sub title....it up to you.

Here's a few examples

The Wedding Song
  • I believe in magic
  • Angel for love
Heroes 
  • We can be heroes, just for one day
Words on a Wing
  • Just as long as I can walk, I'll walk beside you

Absolute Beginners
  • I absolutely love you

I got my songs title and lyric's from this web site - Song Facts

And here is my take...
I've use the line "Nothing prepared me for your smile"  from Thursday Child released 1999

For my page I've used;

Core'dination Card, Jet Black

Manor House - Thoughts Wandering

Zing Embossing Powder
AC Foam Thickers
Bling


You have a full week plus, to scrap these challenges, upload them to our gallery and be in the winning for a $20.00 store voucher or a pack of lovely goodies for being the DT pick.

Due date Sunday, 31st January- Midnight


Chatting is over on our Facebook page - Here
We love new scrappy people joining us, so just send me a message or email and will send you and invitation to join.

Have fun
Mystical Team

Friday 15 January 2016

January Challenge- Bowie Inspired



Welcome to our first challenge for 2016!

I think you'd have to be living under a rock to not know of the passing of David Bowie on the 10th of January. He was a man that inspired many and his music holds special memories for a lot of people. He even had a special connection with Australia- with the clip for his video Let's Dance filmed here.

So this months challenge asks you to be inspired by Bowie...

* You could use a song or title or lyric as a title, journaling or just a jumping off point. Think: Dancing in the Street, We could be Heroes, Starman, Modern Love or your choice.

* You could take inspiration from his eclectic style he was a man of many faces and had a pretty outrageous wardrobe.

* Use his words on a project. Here are a few of my favourite quotes
"I don't know where I'm going from here, but I promise it won't be boring."
" The truth is of course is that there is no journey. We are arriving and departing all at the same time."
“The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.”

* Use his death to inspire you to make a tribute page to someone or something thing has had an impact on your life as he and his music has for so many people.

* Or you could take inspiration from a Bowie Album cover... this could be a real challenge- but maybe it could inspire you to go big on your photo or title. 



This LO is inspired by the cover of Bowie's Space Oddity album and I picked the photo with Bowie's make-up in mind. This little guy starts school this year... I'm not sure where the time goes!

Products used: Maggie Holmes Blue Dot and Cameras, Cardstock, Sparklets, and Thickers.


Challenge Rules
  • Create a NEW project layout, set of 3 cards, canvas for this challenge  
  • Please upload your entry to our Inlinkz link up on the right side bar, and/or our Gallery by 11.55pm, 31st January to be eligible for the prize.  
  • Have fun and please share with your scrappy friends! 

International entries are welcome, however due to international postage cost a Creative Design Spot will be offered should the winner be from outside Australia along with a little surprise in the post.

Australia residents, this months prize is - Mini Alpha Set.1 sheet each of  Basic Grey and October Afternoon