Behind the Scenes
By Debbie Crouse
7gypsies – wearer of many hats
Don’t you love the portfolios? We do too and thought you would be interested in how this product came to be. I was having a girls retreat at my house. As a thank you gift one of my friends brought me this fabulous portfolio with snippets of goodness, glassine envelopes filled with treasures and some really fun and unusual ephemera. All were tucked, clipped and tied to this very cute portfolio. We all loved this cute little folder, it was different and had so many possibilities. We found out she had gotten it at an office supply store of all places. Of course we all wanted one (or a dozen) so while they were there that became our mission, along with our other fun shopping. We scoured the valley looking for them. In our search we discovered that they were no longer available and of course we bought all we could find in our area. I sent one to Donna, the gypsy who started it all, she also loved it and so it was the inspiration for a new 7gypsies product.
Here are a couple of projects we made with them:
The original portfolio I received as a gift.
The original inside….As you can see on the above photo this was made in 2005. I took these pictures today, everything still intact from the day I received it. It’s too dang cute to use!
This one I made for Home Companion magazine. (My favorite magazine of all time….don’t get me started, I’ll tear up.) It was an invitation/journal for another girls retreat.
This project shows the large size portfolio. The other projects we have shown use the medium size that comes in red, black, and naked. The small size (4.5 x 6″) is fun for photos or cards. We would love to see what ideas you come up with! Post to the gallery or email us images of your project….we love good inspiration!
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'' have 18 comments
January 13, 2010 @ 3:52 am Tracy
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January 13, 2010 @ 3:56 am Tracy
Love the portfolios and I love your examples. I totally have the HC article in my inspiration folder! Keep turning your finds into new 7Gs products!
I have to add that I too miss HC as it had more scrappy inspiration than the scrapbook magazines. I also miss Blueprints and Domino. I have every HC issue.
January 13, 2010 @ 4:22 am Angela H
Love this idea!! Now I want to go on a hunt to find some portfolios. Too cute!!
January 13, 2010 @ 10:52 am Michelle*G
Well these pictures make me need to go shopping for some of these! Love the inspiration!
January 13, 2010 @ 9:01 pm Paper Dolls
I loved the one in the Home Companion when I first saw it in the magazine and have that page ripped out to use as inspiration. I bought the portfolio and still have not used it, I guess I better get busy!
January 13, 2010 @ 9:31 pm Rachel Carlson
these are great deb!
January 13, 2010 @ 10:21 pm Sandi
Thanks for the inspiration! I have 5 mof these portfolios sitting in my stash, just waiting for the chance to sit down and play. I knew I loved them when I bought them, just did not know what to do with them
January 13, 2010 @ 11:03 pm Anonymous
These are so beautiful!I’ll have to find the HC article.
Thanks, Carrie P
January 14, 2010 @ 5:25 pm Laura Ziegler
Oh man! I can’t take it! These portfolios are so amazing! I love it Deb!
January 14, 2010 @ 8:56 pm heidig
Love these. I guess I need to find some portfolios.
January 14, 2010 @ 9:28 pm Linda Lipford
I also have ripped out and kept the HC article. It was a HOLY COW moment and I began actively looking for 7Gypsies products and have not looked back. Please keep these folders in your product line.
January 15, 2010 @ 2:32 am fairyrocks
This is very clever and so nicely coordinated!! Love It!!
January 15, 2010 @ 2:55 am Bethany Kartchner
I totally loved that article in HC! I had no idea it was you! How cool!
January 16, 2010 @ 6:39 pm Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions
Just found your blog through CosmoGirl. I love this! I probably wouldn’t have used it either; it is just too pretty. I know you give the color and sizes at the end of the post, but I’m just getting back into my creative side. Are these made of cardboard, card stock, or plastic (like binders}?
January 16, 2010 @ 8:19 pm Paula
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January 18, 2010 @ 6:25 am Georgette
I am loving all the portfolio ideas, does anyone know where I can get them in Australia? Please 7 Gypsies can you start shipping to Oz?
January 19, 2010 @ 5:34 pm LanguageTimothy
Wow its so beautiful 😀
January 20, 2010 @ 1:57 am sandalloons40
so darn cute! Love this possibility!