Chandelier Crystals And Some Fun Ways To Use Them!, and some tips on how to attach vines and heavy page elements |
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Chandelier Crystals And Some Fun Ways To Use Them!, and some tips on how to attach vines and heavy page elements |
 Sep 3 2009, 10:21 PM
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#1
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 MCS Design Team  Group: MCS Design Team Posts: 5,449 Joined: 20-April 08 From: Ontario, Canada Member No.: 11  |
More and more I'm finding that we as scrappers are using non-traditional embellishments on our pages. Things like flower vines, that are a little bulkier than the simple flat embellishments we used to use years ago.
So the question arises, what is a good way to attach them to our l/o's so that they stay in place and hold securely? This month you'll find the Limited Edition kit is PACKED with gorgeous embellishments, and along with the floral vines/branches there are also these wonderful chandelier crystals. As a design team we had so much fun working with these. For the past few months I'd been making something I call 'Page Jewellery' for my etsy site, and soon as I saw the chandelier crystals in the LE kit I thought these would work perfectly to make something similar. I simply took 2 different guages of copper wire to make these. I used a 20 gauge wire to make the base of the vine (just double it and gently twist them together and shape into a wavey pattern) I then began using finer guage copper wire to string through the crystal pieces and to wind onto the base (you can use 22 gauge wire or higher depending on how fine the wire needs to be to go through the hole in the beads/crystals) then just randomly wind onto your wire stem. For the page below I tinted the crystals with some alcohol inks to match the page.  But now the question arises, How do you attach these to a page so that it's nice and secure? My answer is more of the fine copper wire! Just poke a small hole on each side of a few key 'branches' of your vine. Now take a small piece of wire 1 - 2 inches long and bend it into a narrow 'U' shape. Poke each end of it into the marked holes (so that it's wrapping the branch) and bring through to the other side. Now just tighten like a twist-tie at the back of the l/o (see pictures below) Here's a close-up of my jewelled branch (hard to see how I attached it isn't it?)....  This is a closer picture of one of the spots I attached it.....  Here is the back view of the l/o......  You can also add a little non-acidic tape over the wire at the back for extra security if you like. The same could also be done with the beautiful flower branches that have been coming in some of the kits lately. .....You don't have copper wire? No problem, you can also simply use a needly and thread to attach you vine to the page at a few key spots. That's what I used for this l/o below. Head on you can't see the thread, try to hide the threads a bit by attaching under buds or leaves...  Side view of the vine I attached.....  So there you have it, some fun ways to use the goodies in this months (Septembers) LE kit and a secure way to attach your page elements. (Note: all the elements on my pages are all in the September kit except for the copper wire, these can easily be found at any hardware or craft store, I got mine at Michaels in the jewellery section) -------------------- |
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Sep 3 2009, 11:20 PM
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#2
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 Advanced Member Group: Approved Members Posts: 165 Joined: 3-July 09 Member No.: 745 |
Thanks for sharing these wonderful techniques and tips! I am going to have to try the crystal technique for sure!!!
And your LO is just gorgeous!!! -------------------- JULIANA
my blog...17turtles |
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Sep 4 2009, 03:30 AM
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#3
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 MCS Design Team Coordinator Group: MCS Design Team Posts: 4,089 Joined: 20-April 08 From: In the heart of Texas Member No.: 10 |
Wow Gabi!! This page is just gorgeous!! Thanks for sharing your ideas!!
-------------------- ~Robbie~
 I blog here----> Just the Scrap |
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Sep 4 2009, 03:35 AM
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#4
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 Advanced Member Group: Approved Members Posts: 1,396 Joined: 2-April 09 From: Colorado Member No.: 601 |
First your layout is gorgeous. And she is a beauty in the photo's..When I first saw these on your etsy site. I had to make one. Only I did it with large beads. So glad that the LE kit has one. I will be getting mine this month. And I used the floral wire and added leaves instead of wire. Here is the one I had did. But now that you showed how to make it. I am going to take this one apart and do it over..
http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/tt50/va68/100_7698.jpg I have not had any spare time with the contest and the flower swaps as well as another contest at another site. But can't wait to give it a try. Sorry that it is so dark. It is nine at night here. Hope you can see it better... -------------------- Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
Virginia |
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Sep 4 2009, 03:42 AM
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#5
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MCS Owner, Design Team Group: Root Admin Posts: 6,247 Joined: 20-April 08 From: Midwest Member No.: 6 |
Gabi,
Your layout is so beautiful.... and the way you used those crystals...just so amazing... thank you for showing us how you made these...love them... |
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Sep 4 2009, 01:46 PM
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#6
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Advanced Member Group: Approved Members Posts: 385 Joined: 2-June 09 Member No.: 696 |
QUOTE (virginiaabshire @ Sep 4 2009, 04:35 AM)  First your layout is gorgeous. And she is a beauty in the photo's..When I first saw these on your etsy site. I had to make one. Only I did it with large beads. So glad that the LE kit has one. I will be getting mine this month. And I used the floral wire and added leaves instead of wire. Here is the one I had did. But now that you showed how to make it. I am going to take this one apart and do it over.. http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/tt50/va68/100_7698.jpg I have not had any spare time with the contest and the flower swaps as well as another contest at another site. But can't wait to give it a try. Sorry that it is so dark. It is nine at night here. Hope you can see it better... That is gorgeous!! don't take it apart!!! It's great!!! |
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Sep 4 2009, 03:05 PM
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#7
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 Advanced Member Group: Approved Members Posts: 1,689 Joined: 11-August 09 From: Holland Member No.: 789 |
Wow, your layouts are so beautiful. Great idee of the chandelier crystals. I was always wondering about how to attach those vines, but your idea is great!
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Sep 4 2009, 05:46 PM
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#8
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 MCS Design Team Member Group: Approved Members Posts: 1,665 Joined: 28-November 08 Member No.: 434 |
I wondered if you just glue-lined them to death, Gabi!
 Thanks for the tips!
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Sep 5 2009, 06:57 PM
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#9
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 Advanced member Group: MCS Design Team Posts: 3,621 Joined: 20-April 08 From: Beautiful PNW Member No.: 7 |
Wow!! Thanks for the awesome tips Gabi!!! I used a bazillion glue dots and still had issues with the vines popping loose, so will stitch them down next time! I love your copper wire work and the way you colored the crystals!!! I will definitely give that a try too!! Gorgeous work as always my dear!!
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Sep 6 2009, 08:24 AM
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#10
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 MCS Design Team Member Group: MCS Design Team Posts: 3,174 Joined: 20-April 08 From: Swindon, UK Member No.: 12 |
What a fabulous tip Gabi, thanks for sharing
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Sep 6 2009, 06:53 PM
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#11
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 Advanced Member Group: Approved Members Posts: 400 Joined: 28-March 09 From: the Netherlands Member No.: 595 |
Very clever! Thanks for the tip
-------------------- Hugs,
Mieke Here's my blog  |
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Sep 8 2009, 02:50 AM
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#12
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 Advanced Member Group: Approved Members Posts: 317 Joined: 9-October 08 From: Melbourne, Australia Member No.: 359 |
Great ideas Gabi. I have been using glue but don't know how long they will stay in place. Will be stictching them in future. TFS!!
-------------------- Jenny
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Sep 8 2009, 03:27 AM
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#13
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 Advanced Member Group: Approved Members Posts: 652 Joined: 20-February 09 From: at my scraptable Member No.: 530 |
QUOTE (virginiaabshire @ Sep 4 2009, 11:35 AM) First your layout is gorgeous. And she is a beauty in the photo's..When I first saw these on your etsy site. I had to make one. Only I did it with large beads. So glad that the LE kit has one. I will be getting mine this month. And I used the floral wire and added leaves instead of wire. Here is the one I had did. But now that you showed how to make it. I am going to take this one apart and do it over.. http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/tt50/va68/100_7698.jpg I have not had any spare time with the contest and the flower swaps as well as another contest at another site. But can't wait to give it a try. Sorry that it is so dark. It is nine at night here. Hope you can see it better... awesome , Virginia ! that you can make your own ! we spend too much here on Prima's ! lol -------------------- |
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Sep 8 2009, 03:27 AM
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#14
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Advanced Member Group: Approved Members Posts: 652 Joined: 20-February 09 From: at my scraptable Member No.: 530 |
Great tips for us as always , Gabi !
awesome wire skills you have too ! what a crafty genius you are ! 
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| Guest_Canadiancandy_* |
Sep 11 2009, 03:05 AM
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#15
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Guests |
This is awesome, so pretty too. One thing that I wonder about though is once you poke the fine copper through your cardstock will it eventually rip through the paper. Expecially after having the layout for years and with continual opening and closing of an album.. I did something similar using wire to attach it, but once I pushed it though I feed it into a button and then I had something to twist apoun and gave alittle more support with the paper. I wonder if anyone else has done that. So far it seems to be holding up good, although its tucked away in an album, and has miminal people going through it, I feel it added more security to the paper, but I guess we'll see, with time, if it was a good thing or bad. I hope thats OK to share our ideas on the topics.
Sherry |
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Sep 13 2009, 05:13 AM
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#16
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MCS Design Team Group: MCS Design Team Posts: 5,449 Joined: 20-April 08 From: Ontario, Canada Member No.: 11 |
What a great idea Sherry!! So far it hasn't torn through (the paper I put it through is pretty tough, the heavy type of paper) but I've only done this for a few months now with vines etc. I think it's smart to put the extra support on the back to protect the paper from tearing through. Thanks
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Sep 13 2009, 03:47 PM
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#17
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MCS Owner, Design Team Group: Root Admin Posts: 6,247 Joined: 20-April 08 From: Midwest Member No.: 6 |
I have found that if you add a support piece of paper or chipboard on the back of the page that this takes care of the item tearing thru... I take my samples books to fairs and I have had layouts for years with heavy objects on them and these books take alot of abuse ...So it is working for me..
Gabi love this tutorial...what a money saver... |
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Nov 13 2009, 10:49 AM
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#18
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 Advanced Member Group: Approved Members Posts: 206 Joined: 11-November 09 From: Durban, South Africa Member No.: 988 |
THanks for sharing...
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Nov 16 2009, 09:31 PM
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#19
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Advanced Member Group: Approved Members Posts: 522 Joined: 29-May 08 From: Southern CA Member No.: 53 |
Another fabulous tutorial! I'll have to try this one out, too!!!
-------------------- ~ Sabine ~
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Nov 16 2009, 11:18 PM
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#20
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 Advanced Member Group: Approved Members Posts: 60 Joined: 16-November 09 Member No.: 999 |
stunning! I sewed on my last vine with twine I really liked the way it looked.
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| Lo-Fi Version | Time is now: 9th February 2010 - 10:06 PM |
