TheGypsyChick.BlogSpot.com

Your Inspiring Designs

2012-02-22T16:50:00.005-05:00

Just have to share some gorgeous digital layouts using Jodie Lee digital products I found cruising the Jessica Sprague Gallery today!

Jana Holden from the Creative Team at Jessica Sprague has created a gorgeous layout using the Jodie Lee Chai Tea Papers (below). So stunning!

Jennifer Papadimitriou has made a super-sweet retro themed layout using the Jodie Lee At Grandma's Digital Duo - Crochet Fun.

laurmadsen used embellishments from the Jodie Lee Ooh La La Kit, and a paper from the Jodie Lee French Market Papers to create this pretty layout:

completelyrandom used the Jodie Lee Art House Textured Overlays 2, Vintage Brush Club Kit #1, and French Market Papers to create this gorgeous work of art:

Mandi used the Jodie Lee Vintage Brush Club 1, and the Jodie Lee Art House Textures 1 to create a pretty cover for a custom mini album. Very inspiring. I love that idea of cutting up a whole bunch of papers to create a patchwork design!

and if that's not gorgeous enough ... Mandi also created this adorable Artist Trading Card (below) which could also pass as a business card! She used the Jodie Lee Gypsy Canvas Textures, Antique Junk Brushes, Steam Punk Brushes, and the Vintage Etsy Banner Set 1.

and finally, mindeth used the Jodie Lee Gypsy Canvas Textures to create this stunning layout that I'm sure she'll cherish for years to come... isn't it so, so pretty?

and finally, Camille Robinson created a stunning hybrid album from the Jodie Lee Gorgeous Hybrid Bracket Album. This is really beautiful. I want one!! :) I retired this hybrid album, but if I get anyone interested, I will list it again!

There are many more digital delights to come ... I will feature some more next week!

Your Inspiring Creations!

2012-02-13T17:14:00.002-05:00

It's really inspiring to see what some crafty talents have been whipping up with the designs from my new book 'Create Your Own Printable Scrapbook Papers'. The book is now available for sale on www.GypsyChickStudio.com and Amazon.

Check out what my good friend Paul Browning from the UK has created! I just adore Paul's style and love checking out his blog to see his latest card designs.

These are the papers Paul chose from the book, then customized in Photoshop to use in his card designs.

And here is the beautiful card and tag he created, using the papers.

Aren't they just so beautiful?! Thanks once again for the inspiration Paul, and do hop over to Paul's BLOG to check out all his GORGEOUS creations!

(Photos courtesy of Paul's blog: http://theartsiders.blogspot.com/)

Vintage Valentine Cards - Free Printable Download!

2012-02-12T12:38:00.002-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

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Here in the U.S.A February 14 is a special day to celebrate not just love, but friendship as well. I've been helping my kids make Valentine cards for their classmates this weekend. Instead of buying them this year, I thought it might be fun to get a little creative and make some of our own, using vintage Valentine cards.

Here's what we came up with ... and I thought I'd share it with you as a free download. Simply print, cut, and then cut a little double slit with a craft knife so you can insert a mini lollipop! Aren't they adorably cute?

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Here are the 8.5x11 printable downloads (below).

Download the GIRL'S sheet from HERE.

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Download the BOY'S sheet HERE.

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New Paper Collection: Fairy Belle

2012-01-29T05:05:00.004-05:00

It's been a bit hard keeping this little project under wraps! But now the time has come that I can reveal all! ... I'm talking about my new paper collections with Prima Marketing! Yes, one of the most gorgeous and inspiring paper crafting companies on the planet today .... Isn't that just SOOO exciting?!! Too exciting for words!

♥ ♥ Flowers and ribbons and vintage, oh my! ♥ ♥

Me thinks it is somewhat of a match made in heaven! I have always LOVED Prima, and all their amazing products. They really are leaders in their industry for creating the most innovative paper and silk flowers to hit the planet, aren't they? And then with the introduction of the very talented IOD ladies a few years back, they kicked off some really cutting edge designs that took the paper crafting industry by storm. And no wonder ... Prima's creative director (Tami) has such a talent and reputation for being so open to trying new and exciting creative ideas ... I love that!

I am grateful to Tami for believing in the Jodie Lee brand, and inviting me to team up with Prima to bring you some incredible new designs! I was thrilled when Prima approached me (over two years ago now) to create some collections for them ... and these collections are the result of lots of hard work, long sleepless nights and well... rather sore hands from drawing an incredible amount of detail with a mouse!! :) ... I know, I know, I need to drag out the graphics tablet and learn how to finally use it.

I think you'll agree when you see these collections in person that these are my best to date. The detail is sometimes lost here in the web previews, so do be sure to try to see them in person. They are being launched at the CHA convention (happening as I write), and they should be making their way to a store near you within the next few weeks, months. Do be sure to get in FAST to put an order in on this collection with Prima or your local scrapbooking store before they sell out ... because they will go fast!

The first collection I'm showing you today is called 'Fairy Belle.' The name was inspired by an antique song sheet in my collection, titled by the same name. It fits perfectly with the little 'stars' on this line - an amazing collection of beautiful hand-drawn images of Ballerinas from the last century. I sourced these rare images from the Victoria and Albert museum in London and approached them to license them for a scrapbook collection. They were delighted, and so I got to work building up some very detailed decorative floral scenes using hundreds of antique flower images in my collection. And if you're wondering, yes, I was greatly inspired by the Mary Cicely Barker 'Flower Fairies' drawings :) ... I've always been such a big fan of hers since I was a little girl (thanks Mum! :)

Some of these papers took weeks to create, with hundreds of different textural layers. I had to restore the images of the ballerinas from the originals, which had faded and gotten a little moldy :) I wanted to bring them back to life for the world to see :) ... so I hope you like the results :) .... The ballerina images hail from the romantic period when Ballet was at it's height and ballerinas were often cast into ethereal type roles and seen as other worldly (fairies, goddesses etc). Prima added the titles to the papers and the product description - 'Prima's own midsummer night's dream'. That's one interpretation. This collection can be anything you want it to be. That's the power of fantasy!

Ok, let's take a look. Here are the original images that I had to work with ....

And here are the papers I created from these images (front and back). Make sure you click on the image to see the larger preview with all the details!

Here are some pretty chipboard stickers to match ...

... and some journalling chipboard pieces ...

... here are some sweet note cards ...

... and here are some pretty clear stamps and a set of cling mount rubber stamps

Prima have added their own amazing embellishments to this collection ... these are just BEAUTIFUL!!

A4 paper packs, and 6x6 mulberry paper packs are also available!

Well, there we have it. The new Fairy Belle Collection by Jodie Lee for Prima. Hope you enjoy it. Retailers can order the items from the Prima website here. They will be sold online and throughout local stores soon!! Make sure you ask your local scrapbook store to order this gorgeous new collection.

I look forward to posting some layouts and other projects created with this collection soon ... and please, DO leave a comment here to let me know what you think of the new collection! Your comments and feedback are really important and I want to know what YOU think about these collections, because I spent a lot of time making them for you! ... and Prima has done an incredible job on manufacturing these amazing goodies! :)

stay tuned when tomorrow I show you 'Nature Garden'.

Create Your Own Printable Scrapbook Papers: 135 Vintage Designs for Use with Photoshop Elements by Jodie Lee Patterson

2012-01-17T18:44:00.006-05:00

Look what has arrived ... personal copies of my new design book, just released with Dover Publications!

There are 135 perfectly repeating digital patterns included in this book/CD, created from some of Dover's most beautiful antique design motifs. And guess what? They are all ROYALTY-FREE! That's right, you can use these ready-made designs for any of your personal or commercial creations. Image files are provided in JPEG, PNG, and TIFF formats. The patterns range from basic spots, stripes, checks, hearts and Fleur-de-lis, up to more complicated vintage floral and damask patterns. Easy tutorials are included on how to add your own colors and textures to the designs to create an infinite range of possibilities, then print out at home! This is a fantastic design resource that will save you hours of work, and one that you will come back to time after time!

Note: Photoshop Elements is not included. You will need either Photoshop Elements, Photoshop, or any graphic editing program that can edit JPEG, PNG, and TIFF files to create and print your own papers.

You can purchase my new book on the Dover website HERE, or on Amazon (click the link below):

Want an AUTOGRAPHED COPY? You can purchase one here below with Paypal. Your book will be sent to the address you have on file with Paypal. Postage is included in the pull-down menu. Simply choose whether you will be purchasing within the U.S. or Internationally.
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35% off Sale! ... Jessica Sprague Store

2011-12-03T19:21:00.001-05:00

Jessica Sprague is 35% off all through the month of December. This means all digital products - including all products in my Jodie Lee store - and online classes.

If you've ever thought about launching into digital photography, photo editing, or digital scrapbooking then this is a great time to do it! Jessica Sprague has some really amazing classes from everything to restoring family vintage photos to learning Adobe Illustrator. I've taken a few classes myself, and have picked up lots of new skills! I really enjoy the video tutorials that teach Photoshop and Illustrator. Watching an instructional video on how to use these programs as opposed to reading a textbook is SO much easier! So do check out her site when you get a chance!

Trade Card Tuesday - Christmas Freebie

2011-11-30T18:01:00.005-05:00

Here's another gorgeous Victorian Trade Card freebie for you, taken from my collection.

This week's Trade card comes from the late 1800's and features a Christmas themed graphic of a girl in a red coat and hat holding a rabbit. Isn't she adorable!?

As always, I'd love to see what you create with this. Feel free to post any pics of your creations onto my Facebook fan page here: www.facebook.com/gypsychickdesigns

The reason I'm posting this on Wednesday instead of Tuesday is that my iMac hard-drive failed, and I had to get it replaced this week at the Apple Store! Thankfully, they gave me a brand new one, even though the 1 year warranty was up :)

This is a strictly personal use version only. You can post creations you make with it on your blog, just be sure to provide a link-back to this blog. Please do not steal or give away the trade card on your site. Thank you!

A commercial-use license for hand-made crafts is available HERE.

The original Trade Card is for sale HERE.

Trade Card Tuesday Winner!

2011-11-22T17:26:00.001-05:00

Paul Browning is the winner of this week's 'Trade Card Tuesday' challenge. Paul has created an adorable greeting card with the Fairy Tradecard Freebie I gave out on my blog last week. Here is Paul's card! Isn't is so pretty! I love his attention to detail. He even used a 'Jodie Lee' printable paper from the 'French Market' pack, and sewed it onto the card!

And take a peek at Paul's blogger page 'The Artsiders' when you get a chance. He has some very gorgeous creative ideas for card designs - very inspiring indeed. Congratulations Paul, check your mailbox for a signed copy of my new book:

My First Book Published! :)

2011-11-15T23:32:00.001-05:00

Create Your Own Printable Scrapbook Papers: 135 Vintage Designs For Use With Photoshop Elements
- A new Dover Publication by Jodie Lee Patterson -

Create an endless supply of uniquely designed scrapbook papers for use in digital scrapbooking, paper scrapbooking, card making, and other crafts. This easy-to-use and versatile book/CD contains 135 beautifully crafted royalty-free vintage patterns that were designed from a stunny array of antique motifs and images!

This collection is a wonderful resource not only for scrapbookers and crafters, but also for graphic designers who will find these designs suitable for a wide range of applications. Step-by-step instructions are included in the book on how to add your own color and texture to the paper patterns in Photoshop Elements to create myriad combinations of designs that you can print out at home!

Also included are 40 colored, ready-to-print A4 sized files. Instructions are given for use with Photoshop Elements, but any graphics editing program that will accept JPG and PNG files may be used. All pattern designs are provided as either high resolution JPG and PNG files in both 12x12 inch and A4 sizes. Please note: Photoshop elements is not included.

Whether you're a beginner scrapbooker, or an experience graphic designer, I know you will find this book a wonderful, inexpensive design resource to fuel your creative spirit!

Available for pre-order now on Amazon (ships January 19, 2012).

It's Trade Card Tuesday! ... that means a freebie! :)

2011-11-15T16:09:00.002-05:00

I have another freebie for you to download here on my blog ... today, and every Tuesday! Let's call it 'Trade Card Tuesday'.

I started collecting trade cards to use in my scrapbook collections a couple of years ago, and I must say, it's very addicting!! The graphics on some of these cards are just incredibly gorgeous, using the old chromolithograph style of printing that you don't see a lot of today.

So, what is a trade card, you may ask? Well, these were an early example of a modern business card. Starting in the early 17th century in London, businesses would distribute these small advertising cards to potential customers, sometimes even including a map on the back that gave directions to their store! Their designs became increasingly sophisticated as printing methods improved, and they very soon became collectibles.

My collection of Victorian trade cards is starting to pile up here, and so I really wanted to share some of these wonderful little treasures with you, as I know some of you love these old images as much as I do.

We will also be having a little challenge :)

CHALLENGE: I want to see you incorporate these into your card designs, your altered art designs, and your scrapbook layout designs. This is a chance for you to show me 'what ya got' in terms of your design style, (rumor has it that I will be on the lookout for a CT team very soon, so what better way to showcase your work) :) So, the challenge is to use this card to create something with a Christmas theme - anything your heart desires ... scribble outside the lines, do something unique to you.

Post a photo of your creation onto my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/gypsychickdesigns by next Monday 12pm (USA/EST), and I will pick a winner. The winning entry will receive an autographed copy of my brand new book 'Create Your Own Scrapbook Papers', see my blog later tonight for more details on that :)

Here is the first trade card below. Isn't she a sweetie? This is one of the most gorgeous cards I have ever seen ... quite rare. The bidding war over at Ebay was fierce on this one, I can tell you!

This is a strictly personal use version only. You can post creations you make with it on your blog, just be sure to provide a link-back to this blog. Please do not steal or give away the trade card on your site. Thank you sweeties!

Paris Bunting Freebie to Download!

2011-11-11T18:27:00.004-05:00

Here's a free mini-bunting for you. Download, print, hang, enjoy. Buntings are so fun and easy to make and they provide instant eye candy for any space that needs a little design inspiration. You can also use them on cards, or your scrapbook layouts (simply print at about 70%). These were created with images from my antique postcard collection!

You can download this bunting instantly from my Facebook page: www.facebook.com/gypsychickdesigns

Just look for the 'VIP FREEBIES' link in the left hand column. You need to 'like' the page to get the download - I want you on-board so I can send lots more freebies your way! :)

Here's what you'll get in your free download. Two 8.5x11 printable buntings. Love to see what you make with them!

... And here's what Paul Browning from theartsiders.blogspot.com created with the bunting! Check out The Artsider's Blog ... he's a paper craft genius of sorts, and women from all ends of the earth swoon over his shabby chic card designs, which are just gorgeous! :) Thanks for the inspiration Paul!!

Happy Digital Scrapbooking Day! :)

2011-11-06T01:13:00.004-04:00

Happy Digital Scrapbooking Day/Weekend to all my digi-scrap friends out there! Here is a free digital scrap paper I created for you.

Download the high res version HERE (12x12 inches/300 dpi).

To get a low res version, click on the image, right click and save to your computer. Low res version is 5.3 inches (300 dpi).

©Jodie Lee 2011 (personal use only)

Jodie Lee Wall Art and Home Decor!

2011-11-04T23:06:00.003-04:00

Dear friends, I'm very excited to annouce that I have just been signed to Art in Motion, a division of ICA Home Decor to produce a range of fine art prints and home decor products.

Art in Motion is a leading fine art publisher and art licensing agency, creating collections of fine art prints for sale to wholesale frames, retail stores, distributors and designers in over 70 countries.

I am very honored to be creating art for such a reputable company, who represent a high calibre of international artists and photographers, including the Royal Photographic Society in the UK.

Over the coming months, I will keep you up-to-date on all my new creations and where you can find them. Thank you for taking and interest in me and being here to support my art! For further information about Art in Motion and ICA Home Decor, click the images below to visit their websites.

FREE Etsy Store Banners!

2011-10-29T14:21:00.003-04:00

Do you love Etsy? Then these FREE store banners might come in handy!

I'm slightly addicted to Etsy :) Maybe you know the feeling. I go there a lot to browse vintage images to work into my designs. A lot of designer and crafter friends I know like to hang out quite a bit there too. So I thought it would be fun to create some Etsy Store Banners in a whimsical vintage collage style! You can add your own name to these banners. If you aren't sure how to do that, I do have a custom service (one banner for $12). Email me at jodiepatterson@gmail.com

So I whipped these up for you late last night, and they are FREE for the taking for at least the next week or so. You can grab them from the Gypsy Chick Facebook Page here.

If that link doesn't work for you, simply go to www.facebook.com/gypsychickdesigns and click the 'VIP FREEBIES' link in the left hand menu.

NEW! Printable Scrapbook Papers - French Market

2011-10-10T15:47:00.008-04:00

I've just released a BEAUTIFUL pack of printable scrapbook papers today, called 'French Market'. These papers are an eclectic mix of vintage florals designs, pretty damask patterns, and antique french ephemera!

Normally digital scrapbook papers are designed at 12x12 inches, but to make it easier for you paper crafters out there, I have also included an 8.5x11 version in this pack! That way you can download, print at home, and use in all your paper projects!

There are 10 papers in the pack (see the previews below), and you can purchase and download them instantly from my store at the Jessica Sprague site from the link below.

As an added bonus, I've also included a FREE ATC (Artist Trading Card) sized collage sheet! These are great to print and cut for use as background designs for card making (see preview below also).
Purchase FRENCH MARKET PAPERS COLLECTION here.

Included in your download - a FREE Printable Collage Sheet (Artist Trading Card size).

Here is close-up preview of each paper:

New Digital Papers! .... French Summer

2011-10-03T03:06:00.004-04:00

Just in time for the end of Summer and NEW from Jodie Lee ... the French Summer Paper Pack! This is an inspiring pack of richly textured papers with plenty of nostalgic charm! These are a DIGITAL paper pack, and can also be used as photo textures or backgrounds! Now available for purchase from my Jessica Sprague Store HERE for just $3.50.

Here are close-ups of two of my fav papers in the pack :) Click to see the larger preview.

And here are some really cool layouts by the Creative Team over at Jessica Sprague!

Layout by Jana Holden, using French Summer Papers.

Layout by Antonia using French Summer Papers and Vintage Paper Textures.

Free Designer Color Palette: Fabulous Fall

2011-10-01T23:23:00.003-04:00

Etsy is a great place to go for color inspiration ... and with the seasons changing, I'm seeing some fabulous Fall colors all around. I created this palette for you from an auction I discovered on Etsy. Don't you just love the colors in this 1950s barkcloth fabric? Enjoy!

This lovely vintage embroidery frame is from ccaappp on Etsy

Check her stuff out!

My New Logo

2011-09-30T19:44:00.005-04:00

What do you think? Simple and sweet - here is my new logo which will feature on some very exciting new signature collections sometime in the very near future (but I can't reveal anything just yet :) If you liked the Butterfly Garden Collection ... you will LOVE what I have under wraps ... I've been working on some very exciting creations for months now, so stick around and all will be revealed soon!

Your Butterfly Garden Creations!

2011-09-30T19:23:00.012-04:00

I've been collecting these for a while now, so thought I would show you some of the prettiest Butterfly Garden creations around! All creations below incorporate the Butterfly Garden Scrapbook Collection (Gypsy Chick/Pink Paislee). Other materials may have been used as well. Aren't these so pretty?!!

Butterfly Garden Layout by Gabrielle Pollacco

Butterfly Garden Layout by StarSallorScrapper.

Butterfly Garden Letter Box by Nancy Damiano.

Butterfly Garden Collage by Luuuuv2scrap at Scrapbook.com

Butterfly Garden Altered Box by Mammatiffy at Scrapbook.com

Butterfly Garden Layout by Gerry V. Ghent at Scrapbook.com

Butterfly Garden Mask by Steph Devlin at PinkPaislee.com

Butterfly Garden Layout by Paulien Vandenbosch at PinkPaislee.com

Butterfly Garden Layout by Jana

Butterfly Garden Mini Album by Ilene Tell at twopeasinabucket.com

Butterfly Garden Card Creation by Vio

Butterfly Garden Mini Album by Stephanie

Butterfly Garden Layout by Joycekers at Scrapbook.com

Butterfly Garden Layout by Mammatiffy at Scrapbook.com

Butterfly Garden card creation by MagdaLena at Scrapbook.com

Butterfly Garden Layout by Mona Pendleton.

Butterfly Garden card creation by Joanna

Butterfly Garden card creation by Stephanie Kraft

Well, there we go! Just a few of the amazing creations I've seen around and about online. It's wonderful to see all the fantastic creations you've created with the Butterfly Garden Collection! If you have one yourself, email me a photo and I will add it here.

Free Printable: Butterfly Garden Gift Tags!

2011-09-16T19:16:00.009-04:00

I have a free printable for you today ... a collage sheet of pretty butterfly tags!

These images were sourced from a beautiful vintage book on butterflies ... and the tags were actually the inspiration for the whole Butterfly Garden Collection that I created and licensed to Pink Paislee!

These would make really pretty gift tags, embellished with glitter, ribbons and antique buttons! Have fun, and I'd love to see what you create with these!

To download on a Mac: Click the image above, then right click 'open image in new window'. This will take you to a larger preview. Click again, to get the maximum image. Right click, save to your computer.

If that didn't work for you, (I noticed blogger recently changed the way we view images), you can also DOWNLOAD HERE.

Are you going to Spraguefest? :)

2011-09-15T13:49:00.005-04:00

Have you heard? Spraguefest 2011 (October 7-10) promises to be a lot of fun this year with classes from Heidi Swapp, Carina Gardner, and the wonderful Jessica Sprague herself :) Registration is only $79 for a weekend of learning and fun ... You can check out all the details HERE.

I won't be able to make it myself for this year :( ... but anyone that goes is sure to have a fantastic time. Are you going?

Butterfly Garden Gift Tags Tutorial - you will LOVE these! :)

2011-09-13T23:51:00.007-04:00

I know this is really crazy ... but I've had my own personal copy of the Butterfly Garden Scrapbook Collection which I created for Pink Paislee, sitting unwrapped on my shelf since it was first published a few months ago!! One of the reasons is that I've been so busy working to deadline on some awesome new collections and I just don't get time to play! But the other is kinda silly ... I was afraid to create something with this collection because it looks so pretty in the packet I was afraid that if I took it out, and started making stuff, I could mess up. Isn't that crazy? I know!

Well, tonight (after months of hesitating), I finally decided to get down and dirty and just GO FOR IT! I've been dying to use the clear stamps anyway, so I just took them out of the packet and started to PLAY. In fact my daughter Georgia and I started experimenting and then decided to make a fun little video about it. It was never meant to be published - OK?! :) It started out as a fun family video ... and here's what we came up with!

I hope you like this easy-to-make gift tag idea and get inspired to create some yourself :) If I can make something like this, then you can do it too!

OH, BTW ... this is my *first ever* crafting video, so *be kind* :):) and don't mind the quality (shot on my Blackberry phone in the bathroom with desk lamps). I promise, I'll get pro at this soon! :)

Here are some preview pics as well ... let me know what you think!

and here is the video tutorial!

Credits: Thank you to my daughter Georgia Rose for being the camera person. Thank you Tim Holtz for the inspiring products. Thank you Pugly Pixels for the awesome blog embellishments (doiley, washi tape, french invoice medallion). All other graphics by Gypsy Chick/Jodie Lee. The Butterfly Garden Collection Stamps and pop stickers are sold out. You may find these on ebay or etsy, but feel free to substitute these stamps for any other type of botanical type stamps and stickers. Have fun!

One Buck Wednesday Sep 8: Junk Mail Overlays

2011-09-07T12:11:00.004-04:00

If you love the look of grungy postal marks, cancellation stamps and messy handwriting, then you'll love Junk Mail Transparent Overlays! These are on sale for just $1 TODAY at my JessicaSprague store! These add instant artistic flair to your photos or digital scrapbook layouts (check out some of the sample layouts done by the Creative Team at JessicaSprague.com here below).
Junk Mail Overlays 1
Junk Mail Overlays 2

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New Digital Product: Vintage Polaroid Blog/Photo Frames

2011-08-24T09:56:00.006-04:00

Vintage polaroid frames get 'upcycled' into shabby chic photo frames in these two pretty sets! There are 6 frames included in each set, created at actual polaroid photo frame size. I have also included a blog version so you can use them on your blogs! Here is a preview below of what they look like, and another preview of how they look in action. Go to these links to purchase these items from my JessicaSprague.com store:
VINTAGE POLAROID BLOG/PHOTO FRAMES 1
VINTAGE POLAROID BLOG/PHOTO FRAMES 2
And grab a FREE sample frame at the end of this blog post :)

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Here is your free sample frame. Use it to dress up your blog! :) Click on image to get to the larger image, click again, then right click on preview to download to your computer.

And here is another example of the damask frame in action! Thank you Georgia for modelling for me :)

You can purchase my frames at www.JessicaSprague.com/jodielee

Ooh La La! ... Postcards from France!!

2011-08-10T22:39:00.001-04:00

It's the small things in life I sometimes get so intensely excited about ... and lately one of those things is going to the mail box each day to collect my little Etsy goodies :)

Look what arrived today for me ... Check this out!! This is sooo cute, and sweet, I just had to share this with you. I can't believe the attention to detail in the packaging of this letter which came all the way from France.

Mademoiselle Janet (a wonderful Etsy seller) crafted an envelope from vintage wallpaper, then wrapped my vintage postcard in an inner envelope that she created from an antique French fashion magazine!!! A hand-stamped muslin ribbon with an artsy flower and heart embellishment top it off.

The next envelope was folded up in a semi-transparent tracing paper, stamped 'Merci', and sealed with a shabby chic style handmade sticker featuring a sweet antique mother and daughter portrait.

I was so impressed that she took the time to package my purchase so creatively! I think I want to buy something again from here just to see how she packages my next purchase!

Now, I'm dying to show you the actual postcard that arrived as well ... it was equally gorgeous ... but alas, you will have to wait till January 2012 when it will be released as part of a paper in a scrapbook collection I'm working on. I promise you will love it, it's turning out simply gorgeous!

But I do want to celebrate the art of gift giving in style by offering you another of my favourite French postcards here ... click on the last image below to get to the bigger image, then right click and save. Enjoy!

New Digital Product: Vintage Postcard Frames

2011-06-13T13:52:00.002-04:00

I've 'upcycled' some of my favorite vintage postcards into some really pretty shabby-chic style collage photo frames for you! There are six in the set, each frame sized for 4x6 photos ... PLUS I've also included a blog version as well! Check them out HERE.

©Gypsy Chick/Jodie Lee

Jessica Sprague Digital Scrapbooking Birthday Sale!

2011-06-13T13:38:00.002-04:00

UPDATE ON SALE .... I just heard from Jessica Sprague the sale has been changed to start June 14. Here is the info:

JessicaSprague.com is FOUR! To celebrate, we're throwing a HUGE Birthday Bash & Summer Sale. From June 14-26, you can save 20% off of every self-paced class, and 35% off of ALL digital products. In addition, grab all 27 episodes of Jessica's amazing Photoshop Friday tutorials for just $1 each before they're retired on June 26! As part of the celebration, starting on June 24, you can participate in an incredible 49-person blog hop, picking up a sweet digital freebie at each stop! Best of all, on June 26 Jessica will be making a special announcement of a brand new class coming up in July. We only put our site on sale two times a year, so don't miss out on this GREAT savings opportunity! For all the info on the Summer Sale, Photoshop Fridays, blog hop, and the new class, just click HERE.

Freebie: Vintage Children Postcard

2011-06-10T13:49:00.004-04:00

As promised, here is your free vintage postcard! Such an adorable portrait of a little girl with her cat taken around the early 1900's. Click to get to the larger preview, click on it again to see it expand, then simply right click and save to your computer. Enjoy!

Don't forget you can purchase a set of 40 vintage children postcards HERE from my store at JessicaSprague.com. Each portrait was lovingly hand restored by me :) They are just gorgeous, and perfect for crafting and digital design.

©Gypsy Chick/Jodie Lee

Butterfly Garden Cards!

2011-06-08T11:47:00.001-04:00

One of the most exciting things about designing for the craft industry is seeing what people just like you create with my scrapbook papers! Today I'm featuring some really talented card designers and their work.

First is Amy Sheffer from Virginia. Amy has created some really gorgeous collage cards using the Butterfly Garden Collection. I love her work! You can see more of Amy Sheffer's work on her blog Pickled Paper Designs. Check out her 'Life is Like a Butterfly' card:

Credits: Papers (Butterfly Garden Collection by Gypsy Chick for Pink Paislee), Innosense 2 Flower Colleciton (Prima), Coconut Paper Bloom (Kaisercraft), Glitter (Stardust Stickles, Krystallos Vintage Glass Glitter Shards), butterfly die cut (Martha Stewart), bling (Zva Creative), die cut panels (Creative Book Page Dies by Donna Salazar from Spellbinders), Fleur-de-lis Doily Accents Shapeabilities (Spellbinders).

And I adore her 'Hello Fairy Friend' card as well:

Paper: Butterfly Garden Collection papers by Gypsy Chick for Pink Paislee, Stampin' Up Naturals White card stock., Bloom and Grow, Hope Blooms stamp (Verve Stamps). Inks by Versamagic Jumbo Java, Sage, Tea Leaves, Wheat and Thatched Straw, Ranger Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain Distress. Accessories by Verve Elegant Leaves and Floral Circles dies, seam binding, paper piercer, needle, thread, sewing machine, muslin, Zva Creative bling, Maya Road Kraft tickets, May Arts burlap string, Cuttlebug Seeing Spots embossing folder, sanding block, Stampin' Up dimensionals.

Next is the lovely Karola Witczak from Poland. Karola is such a talent! I love the cards she created using my Butterfly Garden Collection papers for Pink Paislee here:

Happy is the Heart by Karola Witczak.
Butterfly Garden Collection papers by Gypsy Chick for Pink Paislee.

New Digital Product: Vintage Children Postcards!

2011-06-06T23:56:00.001-04:00

I have been collecting Real Photo Postcards of children for a while now, and so I thought I would make some of my favorites available to you for purchase.

Here is a set of 40 high resolution postcards - each one lovingly hand-restored to perfection. They are fantastic to use in altered art, hybrid projects, or even just to print out and display around the home!

You can grab them HERE at my Jessica Sprague store for just $7.99 on a personal use license, or $19 on a commercial use license. Here are some previews for you, and some close-ups as well. Click on each preview to see a larger preview. I will put one of these little cuties in the freebie section of my blog tomorrow for you to download.

New Digital Products: Photo Textures!

2011-06-06T23:20:00.000-04:00

Turn your photos into works of art with these Vintage and Shabby Texture sets! You will LOVE these! They are so much fun to use. You can use them to create layered textured effects with your photo, or simply use them as a frame or backdrop for a special portrait. Easy instructions are included with each set.

These are available exclusively to my Jessica Sprague store. Click on each preview to see more.

Freebie: Vintage Postcard Blog Frame

2011-06-02T22:48:00.007-04:00

I've found another use for my vintage postcard collection! .... UPCYCLED Vintage Postcard Frames! These were a lot of fun to make, and there are much more where these came from! :)

I have a NEW set of these little pretties due for release at my Jessica Sprague store on June 13 ... so make sure you check them out! They will be sized at 4x6 inches, just perfect to frame your photos! But for now, I thought I'd give you a little FREEBIE. I've included both the blog frame (450 pixels, 72 dpi), and the full print version below it (4x6 inches). Feel free to use the blog frame on your personal and small-business blogs (don't forget to credit Gypsy Chick/Jodie Lee, thank you.). Click to go to the larger images, then right click and save.

400 pixel blog frame (©Gypsy Chick/Jodie Lee)

4x6 inch frame (©Gypsy Chick/Jodie Lee)

Featured In: Mary Janes Farm Magazine

2011-05-16T19:20:00.001-04:00

My digital designs have been featured in the latest issue of Mary Janes Farm Magazine (Vol 10 #4 pg. 26, 28, 29, 43.). I was delighted to discover this today as I was sipping green tea and flipping through mags with my girlfriend Dabney at our local bookstore :)

Mary Janes Farm Magazine is an 'everyday organic lifestyle magazine' ... I love the layout and design of this magazine, and all the fantastic green articles, green crafts and green tips they offer. If you enjoyed Mary Englebreit's Home Companion, you'll love Mary Janes Farm ... available at your local bookstore.

French Flower Brushes

2011-05-16T18:38:00.000-04:00

If you hadn't guessed by now ... I LOVE using VINTAGE FLOWERS in my designs!

For those of you who are into digital scrapbooking ... Here is a new Photoshop Brush pack created with original illustrations from the Art Deco period (early 1920's). You'll love the hand drawn quality of these brushes, and the bonus is that you can use them for both personal and commercial use! You will find these brushes in my new Jessica Sprague Store here.

Butterfly Garden Burlap Mini Album

2011-05-09T15:01:00.001-04:00

It's fantastic seeing all the amazing things you have been creating with the Butterfly Garden Collection! I came across this wonderful idea recently ... a gorgeous Burlap bag album by a very talented paper artist called Tiffany. The album is being auctioned on Ebay. Nice work Tiffany! The album is made with chipboard pages covered with burlap bags. Tiffany used the Butterfly Garden papers, embellishments, and some Prima flowers as well :) Check it out ...

In-Store Appearance on National Scrapbooking Day

2011-04-29T17:29:00.000-04:00

If you live in the Virginia Beach area, I would love to see you at Beach Scrapbooks on National Scrapbooking Day! There will be fun Make-N-Takes, including a really pretty Butterfly Sun-catcher using the new Butterfly Garden Collection. So come out and say hi, and see the new Butterfly Garden Collection revealed at Beach Scrapbooks. Hope to see you there!

Featured In: Somerset Memories Magazine Spring 2011.

2011-04-26T16:52:00.002-04:00

I've always adored the Somerset crafting Magazines ... so it was an absolute delight to get published again recently in the Spring 2011 edition of 'Somerset Memories'. Here is the piece that was published on page 144, titled 'Follow Your Bliss'. I've made it available as a gift here for you. Feel free to use it as wall art, or as a card. Click on the image to get the large version, right click and save to your computer. Personal use only please :)

Love,

I'm Launched on JessicaSprague.com!

2011-04-26T14:06:00.008-04:00

I am very excited to announce that you can now purchase my digital scrapbook creations and photo editing tools on JessicaSprague.com! Check out my new store, selling under the brand name of 'Jodie Lee' HERE.

Many of you will have heard of Jessica Sprague. This very talented lady is somewhat of a legend in the digital and hybrid scrapbooking arena!

As a well known contributing editor to the Creating Keepsakes Magazine, her passion is helping people tell the stories of their life with paper and pixels. Her tutorials on Photoshop are absolutely awesome. I've been sampling a few myself lately, and even though I've been using Photoshop for 20 years, I'm still learning some fantastic tips and tricks from Jessica!

A few years back, Jessica featured some of my Vintage Boho Frames from ScrapArtist.com in her 'Computer Tricks for Scrapbooking 3' Magazine.

So I am more than excited to be now selling my digital products on www.JessicaSprague.com and I look forward to bringing you a ton of awesome new creations!

Freebie: Happy Easter!

2011-04-25T01:23:00.003-04:00

Here's hoping you had a blessed Easter everyone! I have a free digital scrapbook paper to share with you today. Click on the preview to see a larger image of what you'll be getting. Then, download your free 12x12 inch digital scrapbook paper from HERE. Enjoy!

©Jodie Patterson 2011.

And now a few quick photos to show ... I'm So thankful for spring and pretty blooms outside my bedroom window!

This Easter egg was given to me by a very special friend ... love the the message!

And here's a quick picture of my beautiful daughter Georgia (9) doing an Easter Egg hunt at our place :)

Happy Easter everyone!

Love,

Butterfly Garden In-Store Now!

2011-04-24T20:36:00.008-04:00

Hi friends, I'm SO excited!! ... My Butterfly Garden Collection for Pink Paislee has been shipping to craft stores and scrapbook stores internationally for a few weeks now ... and from what you've been telling me you are LOVING this new collection!!

I hear the products are flying off the shelves as fast as they are stocked ... AND I've had several STAR CRAFTERS, including VICKI BOUTIN, write to tell me they are really enjoying working with Butterfly Garden - so awesome!

I received my own copy of Butterfly Garden in the mail recently, and I must admit it was a great thrill to see this collection as a finished product after months of hard work. I LOVED the pretty packages so much, I almost didn't want to open them up!! :) But I'm glad I did ... because I've been having a lot of FUN making some 'oh, so pretty' things lately that I cant' wait to show you (soon) :)

Have you bought your copy of the Butterfly Garden Collection? I would absolutely love to see YOUR Butterfly Garden creations! It gives me such a thrill to see your incredible creations, and I can't wait to share them with everyone here on my blog, so ... so get crafting and send me some pics of your projects (I love to see them). Send to: gypsychickdesigns@yahoo.com. You can purchase the Butterfly Garden Collection online HERE at the Two Peas in a Bucket site.
Love,

FREEBIE: Shabby Blog Frame

2011-03-19T02:00:00.004-04:00

Hi everyone, the weeks have just flown by so quickly since the launch of Butterfly Garden at CHA in L.A. ... and no let up in sight of all that I have to do here at the Gypsy Chick studio!!

I've been flat out with a few exciting design projects which are set to launch soon! I will be debuting my digital products soon at a very exciting location (details TBA), and I'll be releasing a design book with Dover Books which I can't wait to show you! This book has been months in the making, and I know you are going to love it. To top it all off there are some REALLY exciting things happening for Gypsy Chick in the paper world (and beyond!!!) which I will reveal in due time :)

In the mean time, just wanted to say a quick hi and give you a little freebie. For all you bloggers out there, here's a shabby blog frame for you :) Feel free to use it in all your personal or business blogs (no redistribution please). Click on the image to get to the larger grahpic, then right click and save. This is a .png file (transparent). Use your favorite graphics program to open and layer your photos underneath and then trim. Want a .jpg version instead? Get it here.

Love,

Butterfly Garden Launch: CHA Los Angeles 2011

2011-02-08T20:38:00.067-05:00

The Craft and Hobby Association Convention (CHA) is the largest craft convention in the world - and what an exciting time it was last week in Los Angeles as I saw the launch of my first full paper collection with Pink Paislee - 'Butterfly Garden'. It was a great time of catching up with some old friends, and making lots of new ones. The Pink Paislee booth was buzzing with lots of activity and the Butterfly Garden collection won quite a few hearts :) .... Thought you might like to see a few photos ... I didn't get as many detailed shots as I would have liked, cause I got too caught up in the excitement! Ooops! But if you want to see close-up details of the collection itself, I have some detailed images here, and on the Gypsy Chick Facebook Page here.

Here I am with the owner of Pink Paislee, Rebecca (left) in front of the

Butterfly Garden display.

The Pink Paislee Booth Winter CHA 2011.

The Butterfly Garden display.

Butterfly Garden Creations

Some of the embellishments from Butterfly Garden

Demonstrating with the Butterfly Garden Collection.

Heidi Swapp at the Pink Paislee booth.

Rhonna Farrer and Janet Hopkins were there too.

Me with Cosmo Cricket.

Debby Schuh dropped by the Pink Paislee booth to say hi to me.

Still can't believe we graduated from the same small-town College

in Ohio some years ago. What a small world! :)

and finally, check out this video created by BlueMoonScrapbooking.com which gives a quick tour of the Pink Paislee booth from Winter CHA 2011!

Winner Announced: Buttefly Garden Prize Pack!

2011-02-02T11:19:00.001-05:00

Hi friends .... had the most incredible time at the recent Craft Hobby convention (CHA) in Los Angeles! There was an overwhelming response to my new scrapbooking collection with Pink Paislee, 'Butterfly Garden'. It was an awesome time meeting up with old friends, and making some new. I will post some pictures soon! ... In the meantime ... my apologies for announcing the winner of the Butterfly Garden Prize Pack a day late! I am now stuck on the east coast with a friend in Laguna Beach (what a place to be 'stuck', right?! :). I'm waiting for that big storm to clear so I can fly back to the East Coast.

Casie at mainemaddness is the winner of the Butterfly Garden Prize Pack!! Thank you for all your heartfelt comments everyone!! Make sure you ask your local retailer to stock Butterfly Garden, which is shipping very soon! Congratulations Casie!

New Paper Collection: Butterfly Garden

2011-01-24T18:42:00.009-05:00

Look what has just flown in! 'Butterfly Garden', my new paper collection with Pink Paislee has set my heart all a-flutter, and I have a feeling you will love it too!

"Nestled among the trees and the winding paths of a plush flower garden you will discover inspiration waiting in the wings. Take flight as you explore our latest craft collection inspired by Mother Nature's most delicate creature."

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this new collection! Leave your comments here (in the comment box below the post) and you will go in the draw to win a Butterfly Garden Prize Pack from Pink Paislee! The winner will be announced HERE at the Gypsy Chick blog on February 1st.

I'm so excited about this collection I can hardly breathe!!! :) ... many thanks to the Pink Paislee team for their wonderful collaborative effort on this collection. I just know it's going to rock CHA in L.A. in just a few days!!! Check out the details in this video created by Scrapbook.com

Flower Blooms

Dragonflies

Butterfly Wings

Dew Drops

Nature Sanctuary

Botanical Gardens

12 x 12 Paper Pack

6 x 6 Petite Paper Pack

Epherma Die Cuts - 88 pieces

Laser-Cut Wood Shapes, Press Ons

Impressions Clear Stamps, Expressions Cardstock Alpha

Clear Pops, Metal Charms, Baubles

Group Shot

Ephemera Tags

Clear Stamps

Press Ons

Clear Pops

Wood Shapes and Baubles

Baubles Close-up

Metal Charms with Vintage-inspired Safety Pin

Happy New Year - opening the pages on a new book!

2011-01-01T15:32:00.000-05:00

Happy 2011 dear friends! I hope 2011 brings you peace, prosperity, and many new wonderful memories.

"We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day.” ~ Edith Lovejoy Pierce.

I want to share some vintage postcards with you today from my collection - all with a 'New Year's' theme. Feel free to use these in all your personal and commercial creations (small business), bu please don't redistribute (work them into your own designs). Provide a link-back to this page if you can and I will be most grateful! :)

How to download: click on the image, then click again to get the largest size. Right click and save to your computer. Please leave a comment if you download, thank you!

I love the sweet graphics on this one ...

... and this adorable angel arrives with New Year's Greetings ...

... Isn't she just the sweetest?!

Happy 2011 everyone ;)

Happy Christmas! ... it's snow much fun here!

2010-12-27T02:50:00.006-05:00

Happy Christmas friends! I hope you are certainly having a special time with family and friends as you enjoy all the good things that the season brings ... and if you live anywhere on the east coast of the USA, that probably includes snow ... and a LOT of it!

It's SO different to experience a white Christmas, because where I'm from (Sydney, Australia) we would normally be surfing or sunbaking at this time of year ... but instead ... here we are SNOWED IN (literally) on Boxing Day, and loving it!

Jodie & my daugher Georgia (9), boxing day 2010.

It's given us lots of time to be creative (I've been working on my new Dover Book, due for release Spring 2011), and to enjoy some fun times together at home ... Check out the Gingerbread House we made with a fabulous kit from my favorite gourmet grocery, Trader Joe's. It took just a couple of minutes to put together, but a couple of days to completely devour :). Isn't it adorable?! Yes, that's the old witch in the corner. We ate her first so she wouldn't eat the children before we got to :)

{worn photo overlay courtesy Vera Lim}
Trader Joe's GingerBread House Kit Authentic German "Hexen Haus" with Candy & Cookie Decorations.

And of course, we've had our favorite music playing in the background every day this week - the latest Christmas CD from Starbucks. LOVE this album! Seriously RETRO, but funky ... even caught myself doing an Elvis Presley impression to 'Blue Christmas' - much to the embarrassment of my hubby and kids :).

Starbucks Collection Presents Sleigh Ride, Side by Side

The real HIGHLIGHT of Christmas for me though, was putting my kids to bed after reading the Christmas story to them from 'The Jesus Storybook Bible'. It is a beautifully illustrated book that tells the inspirational story beneath all the stories in the Bible. Before going to sleep Luca (6) said to me 'Mummy, I know why we give gifts to each other at Christmas. It's because God gave us the best gift of all when he gave us Jesus'. Thank you Luca, for that precious reminder of what CHRISTmas means to us.

Happy Christmas, happy Holidays, and Season's Greetings to you all! Check the blog for a new FREEBIE arriving tomorrow! :)

Freebie: Christmas Angels with Harp Vintage Postcard!

2010-12-23T03:33:00.001-05:00

Here is another gorgeous restored antique postcard from my collection! I thought you might like to use this stunning image for your Christmas crafts or cards. Click on the image to go to the larger preview, click again, then right click to download and save the image to your computer. Personal use only. You can purchase a limited commercial-use copy (10x7 inches!) from my Etsy Store (Vintage Scrap Box) HERE.

Happy Birthday to Me :) 40 years old today.

2010-12-17T12:46:00.004-05:00

Yes friends, there's no use denying it, and I can't escape it, so I may as well celebrate it :) I'm 40 years old today. My birthday is actually the 18th of December, but since I was born in Australia (they are a day ahead), and I live in the USA, I'm celebrating it today ... and tomorrow :) ... excuse me while I get a little nostalgic here and show you some 'vintage' photos :)

Jodie, 1971.

Jodie, 1972.

Jodie, 1973.

Jodie, 1977.

1979. Mum & Dad - love you!

20 yrs old. Long live the 80's!

Me (40) with my little cuties, Luca (6), Giorgia (9), 2010.

Winner Announced: Father Christmas 6x6 paper pack!

2010-12-17T10:16:00.000-05:00

REBECCA LOVELL of Rebecca's Scraps:
http://rebeccasscraps.blogspot.com
is our winner of the Pink Paislee/Gypsy Chick 'Father Christmas' 6x6 paper pack!

Check your mailbox Rebecca!

Thank you to everyone for leaving your wonderful comments on the pack here on the Gypsy Chick Blog. I really wish I could send all of this pack!

I did notice that if you do a google image search for 'Pink Paislee Father Christmas' you will come up with a few small online scrapbooking sites that still have the 6x6 inch paper pack in stock.

Tutorial: Design your own cards from vintage images!

2010-12-16T04:03:00.007-05:00

It's easy to create your own collage-style cards from vintage images ... and the results can be quite enchanting, as I'm about to show you. One recent creation of my own is this free 'French Bird Christmas Card' which you can download HERE (pictured in the final image below).

Here are the ingredients I used to create this card in Photoshop, but you could also figure out how to create a paper version without too much difficulty.

Easy Directions for Photoshop:
1. Take an old illustration of a bird or other animal/object. You can find vintage images to download on Etsy. Try searching 'digital collage sheet' + 'bird'.
Choose an image that would create a nice silhouette. Select the background area behind the bird with the magic wand tool. Inverse the selection.
2. Open another image of vintage flowers, or foliage or other design. Choose an image that would bring out the character of the bird shape, or create a crazy abstract effect. You might find the perfect vintage image in my 'Vintage Scrap Box' store at Etsy HERE.
3. Copy and paste this image into the selected area of the bird image (edit > paste into).
4. Select the background area again, fill with a color, then stamp with vintage text and antique printer's ornaments.
5. You may like to add a background pattern (I've used damask here), and a calligraphic style box with text. These books by Dover have some gorgeous calligraphic boxes!

Amazon.com Widgets

6. You can then print, paste onto cardstock and embellish further if you like.

That's it! How fun is that? So, please try it out, and email a picture of your creations with a link to your blog to gypsychickdesigns@yahoo.com, and I will post them here.

Freebie: French Bird Christmas Card!

2010-12-16T02:21:00.010-05:00

I worked up a little Christmas card design to send to some friends today, and I thought I'd share it with you as well. There should still be enough time to print, paste and post before Christmas! You get two different colored versions of the card in this freebie (see below).

I can't get enough of the 'French' and 'bird' motifs so popular in design these days, (that, plus this Aussie girl is not used to these freezing North American winters, so I'm dreaming about warm Spring weather, lovely twittering birds, pretty blue sky, ... etc, etc :).

How To: The image is 4 x 5.5 inches in size. Print onto either watercolor paper for a softer effect or glossy photo paper for a brighter effect. Attach to a 4.5x6 red or yellow card, add ribbon, embellish.

You can click on the images below to see the bigger previews, but you must come back and click HERE to download the French Bird Christmas Card, and please leave a comment below. I always love to see photos of your creations, please send to gypsychickdesigns@yahoo.com. This card is personal use only.

Want to see a tutorial on how I created this card? Go HERE to see how you can create your own cards from vintage images!

Freebie: "Santa Calling" Digital Scrapbook Paper!

2010-12-14T15:01:00.008-05:00

Got a little freebie for you today ... a 12x12 inch digital scrapbook paper by Gypsy Chick. Click the preview to see a detailed image of what you'll be getting, then simply download HERE, and enjoy!

Feel free to leave a comment if you like it! :)

Win the 'Father Christmas' 6x6 inch paper pack!

2010-12-13T23:11:00.002-05:00

All you need to do is leave a comment here on what you think of the new 'Father Christmas' collection by Pink Paislee/Gypsy Chick and you will go in the running to receive this 6x6 inch paper pack! It's a lot of fun for scrapping your favorite Christmas memories or even making Christmas cards!

The winner will be announced December 16 here on the blog!

Freebies From the New 'Father Christmas' Collection!

2010-12-10T11:52:00.002-05:00

Make sure you stop by the Pink Paislee Blog where they have featured all kind of fun project ideas and downloadable freebies from my new 'Father Christmas' paper scrapbook collection at their '12 Days of Christmas' promotion.

Here is just one of the many freebies you'll find there (pictured below) ... a cute Christmas quick-page I created for you. Go HERE to download it from the Pink Paislee blog.

You can also read about me in their 'meet the artist' feature as well (blush:) ... thank you for the kind words Pink Paislee!

New Paper Collection: Father Christmas

2010-12-10T11:20:00.003-05:00

Oops ... Thanksgiving has come and gone, and time is just flying by! For all my friends in the USA, I hope you had a fantastic Thanksgiving like I did! After eight hours in the kitchen that day, our family had one of the most amazing meals I've ever cooked (if I don't say so myself! :) ... it was awesome!

and now... Christmas will soon be upon us ... bringing many wonderful memories I'm sure you'll want to scrapbook. SO, if you haven't had a chance to check out my new paper collection (by Gypsy Chick), then here it is!

This collection was released with the very wonderful 'Pink Paislee' brand, and they tell me it sold out a few weeks ago :( ... however you may still be able to grab a few bits and pieces from various online scrapbooking stores, or your local scrapbook store if they stock Pink Paislee (if they don't, tell them you want it! :)

The 'Father Christmas' collection is a fun vintage collection featuring those nostalgic Victorian Santa images that we've all grown to love ... take a look! Leave a comment and you will go in the draw to win a mini paper pack (6x6 inches) of the whole collection! Happy Christmas everyone.

Designing With Vintage Scraps!

2010-10-04T12:21:00.002-04:00

Vintage scraps are a great way to add instant nostalgia to all your digital designs! Most of the older designs are now in the public domain, so there are no worries about copyright.

Dover has some great clipart books with CD that feature lots of royalty-free die-cut scraps, but you can also find these lovely little bits of ephemera on places like Ebay.com and Etsy.com.

A lot of the scraps can be quite small, (1-3 inches) but if you scan them at a high resolution, you can usually bring them up to a size that will work perfectly for your designs.

Here's one I restored to perfection for you ... feel free to use it any of your personal or commercial designs, just give me a credit if you can either on your blog or in your terms of use file.

How to download: Click the image to get to the larger image, then click the image again to get the largest size. Right click, then save to your computer. This is a JPG file with a white background. To make a transparent PNG file, simply choose your magic wand tool in Photoshop with a tolerance of 1, Select white area, select inverse, then select modify and feather it by 1. Copy and paste into a transparent document, and there you have it.

Gypsy Chick @ Pink Paislee!

2010-08-29T13:01:00.000-04:00

Hey friends, I am really excited to announce the upcoming release of my first collection with Pink Paislee! This is a wonderful paper scrapbooking company who have some really gorgeous designs ... so how exciting!

My new collection, titled 'Father Chrismas' features all those wonderful vintage images of jolly old Santa from the golden age of postcards (early 1900's). Due for release into stores soon, you won't want to miss this one for all your holiday creations! Do keep checking the Pink Paislee website for further details, and retail/wholesale information on where to purchase 'Father Christmas'.

It's an honor to be designing for Pink Paislee alongside such designers as the very fabulous House of 3 designers (Rhonna Farrer, Heidi Swapp, and Janet Hopkins). They have a gorgeous new collection out called 'Parisian Anthology' - check it out on the sneak peek page at the Pink Paislee website.

Goodbye to Summer :( broken butterfly wings

2010-08-29T12:37:00.001-04:00

OMgosh friends, I can't believe the summer is gone! And look how long it's been since I last posted! I trust that you have all had a wonderful summer full of fun family times together.

As for me, I've been spending a lot of time with the kids. I taught my nine year old daughter Georgia how to sew, and she'll soon be surpassing me in her sewing skills, I'm sure! My little son Luca (6) has learned how to swim and loves getting dumped by waves at our favorite little beach getaway, down at 89th street Virginia Beach :)

I have a very special freebie for you today from Georgia, who came running inside with this precious little find - real butterfly wings! It was a bit sad to find these wings on the ground like this, and we do wonder what happened to this beautiful butterfly, but the wings left behind are a gift from nature, and so we thought you might like to use them in your designs.

Click on the image to get the larger version, then right click and save to your computer. This is a jpg, so open it in Photoshop and select the white area with the magic wand and a tolerance setting of 1. Go select>inverse and there you have your beautiful wings! You may use these commercially. If you can give a credit to my daughter 'Georgia Gandolfi', that would wonderful.

Photos that Pop? Get in on the Action!

2010-04-03T01:05:00.002-04:00

As a designer of digital scrapbook products, I've always felt that the photos we take of our beloved family and friends should always be the central focus of our layouts, not the designs we dress them up in. After all, design trends come and go, but photos are forever.

One way to make your photos really POP is with Photoshop actions. If you look around at some of the gorgeous photography blogs out there created by avid 'mama-razzi' photographers, you'll find that a lot of these photographers are using actions or plugins on their digital photos to get incredible results, often with the touch of a button. Let me show you one example (below).

Here is an adorable digital photo of my new nephew, Bondi, that my sister sent me this week from Australia.
I wanted to bring out the magic in the shot, and thanks to actions, I knew I could do this with just a few simple steps in Photoshop.

You can find all kinds of portrait pop actions for free on the internet. It's just a matter of trying them to see what you like. First, use an action that makes the photo pop (lightens, and works on contrast issues), then use one that has a softening, skin smoothing effect (but don't overdo it here).

Here is the recipe I used for this shot. Keep in mind that you may need to adjust to suit the needs of your photo. If you're not sure about how to load an action or use one, google for tutorials (don't worry, it's really easy).
1. Run 'Color Boost' Action by Shannon Beauford, available for free here: http://www.atncentral.com/image_enhance.htm
2. Run a plugin on from Topaz Labs called Adjust 4 ('portrait smooth' or 'simplify' preset), available from http://www.topazlabs.com/adjust/ . They are a bit pricey, but they do have a free trial version.
One of my favorite FREE plugins for portrait effects is 'Virtual Photographer' from OptikVerve Labs available at http://www.optikvervelabs.com/. And of course there is always http://www.deviantart.com/ which has an incredible array of free Photoshop actions (always check their terms of use).

So, now you can get in on a little action and rev up the 'OOooh' factor on your photos
BTW ... isn't he adorable? Totally LOVE that hair!!!

As Seen In: Altered Hearts E-zine

2010-03-19T17:11:00.002-04:00

This month's issue of the digital scrapbooking magazine 'Altered Hearts' features an interview with me, PLUS my steampunk brush set is also included as a freebie (personal use version). This is an amazing digital design magazine featuring tips, tricks and all kinds of wonderful resources. You can grab it here for just a few dollars.

As Seen In: Digi Shop Talk

2010-03-18T15:57:00.002-04:00

Oohh, it's a little overdue to mention ... but I was the featured designer at DigiShopTalk to kick of 2010! Here is the kit for gold members on the site, and here are some layouts below that I created for the kit.

Freebie: Spring Bird Card

2010-03-18T11:44:00.002-04:00

It's Spring here in the USA! I've been enjoying nature walks with my kids and waking up to the chirps of little birdies outside my window :). So in celebration of Spring, here is a little freebie for you - a 4x5 inch greeting card you can customise/print. Click to go to the larger image, then simply right click and save. Personal use only.

Freebie: Designer Palette

2010-03-15T18:48:00.003-04:00

I love collecting vintage children's books, particularly ones from the 1920's. These books are a wonderful resource for designers, particularly in terms of the inspiration they provide when you are looking to add some vintage charm to your modern digital designs!

Here is a FREE designer color palette that I created for you from one of the antique books in my collection. You can use this in all your designs both personal and commercial. Just right click and save!

As Seen In: Somerset Digital Studio

2010-03-03T14:41:00.006-05:00

Gypsy Chick is published in the 2010 Spring Edition of the Somerset 'Digital Studio' Magazine!

Digital Studio is a gorgeous magazine featuring 150+ inspirational digital layouts. You can find my layout (pictured below) on page 100 of the magazine. You can purchase the magazine from any Barnes and Noble store, or directly from Stampington.com here.

Like the layout? You can purchase it as a 'Quick Page' from my Gypsy Chick store at ScrapArtist.com here.
Other brushes used in this layout can be found in my store here, here, and here. Thanks to TKWhimsy for use of the 'TKDoodle Font' which you can find at http://www.thedigichick.com/.

Nw Paper Collection: Gypsy

2009-09-23T19:17:00.013-04:00

My new 'Gypsy' paper scrapbooking collection was released by Bo Bunny Press at Summer CHA in July 2009.

Papercraft's Creative Editor, 'Cath', reviewed GYPSY on the 'Moxie Fab World' blog, calling it a 'yummalicious collection', and over 200+ bloggers gave it a big thumbs up! You can see their comments here.

Here are some sample layouts below by the Bo Bunny Creative Team. Aren't they pretty?

I think the combination of rich Fall hues, and wonderful bohemian styled textures in the papers has made this collection a huge hit in stores internationally ... I noticed that http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/ have already SOLD OUT of a lot of the papers.

So, if you can't find the GYPSY collection at your local crafting/scrapbook store ... grab it here below today from Amazon.com!

You can read more about GYPSY and see creative samples on the Bo Bunny Blog here.

New Paper Collection: Love Shack

2009-09-23T14:33:00.017-04:00

My new 'Love Shack' paper scrapbooking line was released by Bo Bunny Press at winter CHA in January 2009.

I had a lot of fun creating the bright, beachy papers, while the Bo Bunny design team went all out in making some gorgeous embellishments to match!

Here's an adorable layout created by the Bo Bunny creative team.

Memory Makers Magazine raved about the GYPSY collection here in their review of new products.
You can find the LOVE SHACK collection at your local crafting/scrapbook store ... or grab it here below from Amazon.com!

You can read more about LOVE SHACK and see creative samples on the Bo Bunny Blog here.