MY TOP 10 CRAFT SUPPLIES FOR 2012

Hi readers!
Today, as this year is coming to the end, I decided to share my top 10 craft products for 2012!
Here we go!

10-BUTTONS
Buttons are a huge addiction of mine. I like them on cards, frames, altered projects ... on everything!
And here are some of my favorites!


etsy.com also carries a huge variety of buttons !

9 - PEARLS AND GEMS
These can be scattered around a card to create a nice effect, I can say that I use them quite often...
I like use the self-adhesive, but I also like to use the Anita's ones that come in a million of colors and sizes and you can adhere with a tiny dot of glossy accents!


8 - BAKER'S TWINE
Nice addition to every project. Doodlebug twines are my faves, but Queen & Co also makes nice twines - in the most wonderful colors!

etsy.com also carries a huge variety of twines!



7 - FISKARS STAMP PRESS
A really nice tool that can give you great stamp images with precision due to its foam feet...with gridlines so can really help to line up stamped images!

6 - HERO ARTS SHADOW INKS
All of them are great! Crisp images that smooth out as they dry, ideal for bold stamped images and backgrounds!
All of their colors are great! A must have!

5 - GLOSSY ACCENTS
This is the must have adhesive. It can adhere EVERYTHING, EVERYWHERE !



4 - DIES 
What can I say about dies! Such a great investment, versatile and you can use them over and over again...
Some of my very faves are the bigz dies and the wafer thin dies (Sizzix and Memory box).

3 - SIZZIX BIG SHOT
The best die cutting machine ever!


2 - DISTRESS INKS/STAINS
Distress Inks are addictive! You know it?
These inks with water do really fun things, a truly artistic result is what you get every time you use them. There are many many techniques out there and they are a really good investment. In 2012 I finally completed the full collection!
Stains are the liquid form of these inks. I personally love the white picket fence and the metallics that came out few months ago...!



1 - HERO ARTS STAMPS
My number one for 2012 is Hero Arts stamps! Why?
Fabulous designs, great quality, hundreds of techniques involve stamps! Need more?
These are my favorite designs - can't get enough! And their new 2013 catalogue is fantastic - I am still waiting my order to arrive...
Also, the stamp and die combos are fantastic right?

Anyways, thanks for visiting!
Have a happy, creative and joyful 2013!

George Panayiotou

Merry Christmas :-)

Merry Christmas everyone !!!!

Just a quick share, a christmas tree ornament I made few days ago... 
I love the Caged bird Sizzix bigz die from Tim Holtz, with which I cut a piece of chipboard covered with fabric!
The bird was cut from grungeboard - I like how distress inks work with it so well. So after I inked the bird with broken china, peacock feathers and salty ocean, I added some touches of walnut stain around the edges. After was completely dry, I applied a THICK layer of clear rock candy distress crackle paint and let it dry on its own. To intensify the cracks, I went over with a blending tool and some walnut stain distress ink...
The back of the birdcage is covered with a piece of acetate, stamped with white Stazon Ink.
Simple, even though it needs some time to put it together is totally worth it :-)

And here is another one - in red ! The cage was covered with vintage book paper - and lightly inked with brushed pewter distress stain - nice metallic effect! Here the bird was inked with festive berries and fired brick distress inks !

Again, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

George x

HeroArts contest - November Round 2 - Fab5 again:-)

Hi readers!
I am happy! And winning for 3rd time on HeroArts monthly contest is more than I expect!
Here is my card for November round 2 winners ! Hope you like it :-)
Congratulations to all winners - check them out HERE !

Cu soon!
Love, George