Happy Christmas !!!

Hi people!

Taking few minutes to wish you all Happy Christmas, peace, love and joy!

Thanks for stopping by!

George x

DoCrafts Goody Bag Inspiration by George Panayiotou (September/October 2013)

Hello hello!

In every goody bag (which is released every 2 months along with the Creativity Essentials from DoCrafts, are included supplies that go well together. Papers, stamps, ribbons, embellishments, decoupage kits and many more). What is great about the goody bag is its price!(you get supplies at half price that buying the separately!!!)


So, today I am sharing my inspiration for the newest goody bag from DoCrafts. I used the Christmas one, that included:

• 12 days of Christmas 12x12 papers
• First Noel 6x6 paper pad
• First Noel 5x7 border stamps
• Spots and Stripes - Jewels designer die-cuts
• Spots and Stripes - Jewels polka mini buttons
• X-Cut embossing folder - 12 days of Christmas - Tree
• Country Companions - Winter Wishes A4 die-cut sheets
• Country Companions - Winter Wishes die-cut sentiments

Along with few other supplies I hand on hand I created the following projects! Enjoy!

Decorative Rosettes for Christmas

A simple Christmas idea for using papers and few other little accents for decorating your house during Christmas holidays!!

Here simply I made rosettes using papers from the '12 days of Christmas 12x12 papers'.

For the blue one:

I used 3 stripes of 12 x 4 inches paper stripes, scored every 1/2 inch and folded them back and forth. I glued all the rosettes with hot glue (strong and fast drying). I also used one of the newest X-Cut edge punches and before to fold all the pieces I punch the edge for some fun! 

The small center snowflake it is done with Tim Holtz and Sizzix ' Snowflake Rosette' die, which I run through my die-cutting machine.

For the gold one:

I die-cut a circle and embossed it (with an embossing folder), then I added the Tim Holtz and Sizzix ' Snowflake Rosette' die-cut and added pearls around the rosette and one in the center.

For the red one:

I did the fold again with 2 stripes of 12 x 3 inches paper, but along the outer edge, I used wash tape from the '12 days of Christmas' collection.The center rosette is from Tim Holtz and Sizzix ' Snowflake Rosette' die and I added 7 pearls in a circular pattern in the center.

I added ribbon or twine on the back of all the rosettes, so there is a place to hang them.

Peace - Love - Joy Card

That card features the 'X-Cut embossing folder - 12 days of Christmas - Tree' which I used with a piece of card stock, run it through my die-cutting machine and I got that gorgeous background. I trimmed to size, got a piece of vellum and I wrapped it around. Then I used a piece of washi tape from '12 days of Cristmas' and adhered it in the middle of the vellum. I heat embossed a stamp greeting on a piece of white card stock with gold embossing powder, trimmed and adhered with foam dots in the middle of the vellum panel. 
I scatted few sequins in gold and few clear gems!

Tree

For that card I used a piece of white card stock, which I scored for added texture, I adhered it on the diagonal on the card and then I added few papers from the 'Spots and Stripes - Jewels designer die-cuts' and the'12 days of Christmas 12x12 papers'.

What is interesting about that card is the tree. I simply cut a triangle out of white card stock (you can eyeball it or print a template using Microsoft Word). I heavily inked it with 'Mowed Lawn Distress Ink'. After letting it dry a bit, I stamped with 'Colobox Frost White pigment ink' on top using 'First Noel 5x7 border stamps'. Finally I added the red gems with 'Ranger Glossy Accents'.

Christmas Wishes

That card features again the 'First Noel 5x7 border stamps'. I used one border to repeatedly stamp and heat emboss with gold on one of the  papers of 'First Noel 6x6 paper pad'. After that, I used another sheet of paper from the same collection, cut the 2 poinsettias out. 

Using the Free stamp with Creativity Magazine (issue Sep/Oct 2013) I heat embossed on some vellum with white, part of the stamp . I adhered the poinsettias on the right with foam dots and I added a pearl in the center.

Special Christmas Wishes - one layer card

One layer cards are perfect for sending out through the mail. They are flat and simple. That card is one of them!
First of all, I stamped the Free stamp with Creativity Magazine (issue Sep/Oct 2013) on a kraft card base with 'Coffee Archival Ink'. Then I stamped the same image again on a post-it (on the sticky part). I cut it out, and adhered it on the card to cover the banner. Then I got a stamped set with many snowflakes and stars (is an older one from Papermania) and I stamped the images along the card, again with 'Coffee Archival Ink'. 
I also masked the borders of the card by cutting 1 cm stripes of typing paper and adhered it around with some removable adhesive.
Then I got my white gel pen and added some dots here and there. And I colored some snowflakes white. And I went around the card with faux stitching lines...
Then I removed the masks and finally stamped the greeting from the Free stamp with Creativity Magazine (issue Sep/Oct 2013).

Hope it inspires you to create!
You can get your goody bag along with hundreds of other products for card making, scrapbooking and others, from DoCrafts official stockist in Cyprus, Stitches, stitching and craft supplies in Limassol Cyprus!

George

Merry Christmas !

Today i have a simple design with an impressive technique.

Faux letterpress is wow! Simply, use a piece of a good quality white card stock, and run it through your  die-cutting machine, but before, run an ink pad on the female (flat side of the embossing folder). Here I used Soft Pool shadow ink from Hero Arts, and I stamped (the inside of the folder) with Soft Granite shadow ink from Hero Arts the Envelope Liner background. Then I run it through and voila! A simple technique to use with embossing folders.

Hero Arts inks are great because they start splotchy but as they dry, they even and smoothen out! 

George

DoCrafts Goody Bag Inspiration July – August 2013

Hi!

This post is published a bit late – sorry but time goes by so fast.

This goody bag is super fantastic. Why? Because it brings to crafters a bit of Christmas goodness in July! Amazing papers from Christmas in the country collection along with some embellishments (bows and die-cuts) and papers, a nice velvet ribbon and a decoupage card kit from At Christmas collection from Lucy Cromwell.

Below are the cards I made with the contents of the goody bag…

For that card, I used a craft card base which I embossed with a newest set of dies from X-cut. I simply used my Sizzix big shot, the multi purpose platform at tab 1 + 1 clear plate + embossing mat (from sizzix or spellbinders) card stock + die face down + 1 clear plate! Simple and easy and another way to use your dies! Actually, we create a 'sandwich' which is not enough to press the dies into the paper, and because we use the embossing mat, dies do not cut the paper but they press into it, creating an embossed design!

The papers I used for that design, are from 'At Christmas' collection, the stamp is included in the goody bag, which here I inked up with Versamark Ink, stamped and heat embossed in silver. I used a bow from 'Christmas in the country' collection, a button and some twine for decoration. Finally I inked the edges of the card with Colorbox frost white ink and I added some dash lines with a silver gel pen!

These little cuties, as smaller cards that can go on a gift! They are made of by cutting half of a standard size card, some paper from 'Christmas in the country' collection and a ready made bow from the same collection. And of you are in need of christmas gift cards, these are easy to make and inexpensive!

For that design I decided to go a step further. I heat embossed in white that stamp that is included in the goody bag, then I used 'Festive berries' distress ink which I applied on my craft sheet, spritzed some water and I pressed the heat embossed design in it! I let it dry and I repeat to get some fun splotches of colors. The silver snowflake on the right, is a die cut from this set from X-cut, which I inked with versa mark, and I heat embossed in silver. Finally after I had all the pieces glued down, I used few sequins and gems!

And finally for that design, I crated a one-of-a-kind embellishment by covering a triangular piece of white card stock with the velvet ribbon that is in the goody bag. I torn few pieces of white card stock to represent  a snow hill, and layered them. The tree is adhered with foam adhesive and I finished the card with a star die cut in silver. And by the way the background is heat embossed on a cream card stock, and I simply used random snowflake images from my stash! 

You can get your goody bag along with hundreds of other products for card making, scrapbooking and others, from DoCrafts official stockist in Cyprus, Stitches, stitching and craft supplies in Limassol Cyprus!

Thanks for stopping by!

George x

DoCrafts - Goody Bag Inspiration - May2013

Hello creative people!

Welcome! Here is another inspirational post, using the newest goody bag from DoCrafts!
Lots of supplies in this goody bag! Bright and cheerful! Happy and summery!

These are the projects I created using the supplies from the goody bag...and I have plenty more left....!


1 - Thank You Card

The card base was fully covered with stripes of pattern paper from the Capsule collection 'Spots and stripes - summer brights' and the circle sentiment was created by stamping the word 'thank you' in black Stazon Ink with an alphabet stamp set and adhered on a larger black circle.


2-Summery Candle Holders

A great way to use empty jars your might have around the house! These ones are ideal for decorating the house or the table during summer dinners !
I simply covered the top part of the glass jars with a thin stripe of white fabric, I added some brown string from the goody bag, and finally adhered these cute 'pleated mini fabric flowers' from the capsule collection spots and stripes summer brights ! Easy!


3- Flower Decoration

For these flower sticks, I started by die-cutting some flowers from paper and felt using the 'Tim Holtz Tattered florals die - and then I layered them using hot glue, finishing the off with a 'pleated mini fabric flower' from the capsule collection spots and stripes summer brights! I used also some scraps of ribbons and some beads I had on hand!


4-Birthday Wishes/Pea seeds Card!

The new 'Home to nest' collection is great for gardening lovers! Here I used a craft card base, I distressed the edges and rubbed some white ink around, and I adhered some green card stock and some book paper, I wrapped some brown twine and adhere one of the 'Memory Pocket' from the 'Home to nest' collection! I even use a small green card to go inside the memory pocket! I finished the card with one of the 'Die-cut sentiments' of the collection!


5 - Memory Pockets with tags

This is another great way to use the memory pockets from the 'Home to nest' collection, that are included in the goody bag! I simply created some tags, punched a hole on top, added some brown twine and added the tags on the pockets! I added some seeds on the memory pockets for the receiver to plant! 

You can get your goody bag along with hundreds of other products for card making, scrapbooking and others, from DoCrafts official stockist in Cyprus, Stitches, stitching and craft supplies in Limassol Cyprus!

Thanks for stopping by,
I hope you find inspiration to create!

George x

DoCrafts March Goody Bag - Inspiration by George Panayiotou @ Stitches, stitching and craft supplies

Hello hello!

I am here to share some cards I made using the March 2013 DoCrafts goody bag that just arrived in the store, along with hundreds of new supplies! You have to check them out!

Here are the projects I made.... 

BON VOYAGE CARD

Navy look is such a trend right now....getting inspiration from that I made the card above!

1. Cut 1cm stripes of red card stock and adhere with double sided tape onto a white card (standard size)

2. Cut in half the tag from the 'Travel Labels' pack that is in the goody bag, punch a hole on the top, feed some twine  and tie a knot. 

3. Cut the words 'Bon Voyage' from a paper of the 6x6 pad and adhere in the middle. 

4. Use some foam adhesive to adhere the tag in the center of the card.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU CARD

On that card, I did a technique called 'paper weaving'. An effective technique for using paper and giving a totally different look.
1. Cut the papers form the decoupage pack that is in the goody bag in different widths and weave together. Adhere the weaved piece with a glue stick on some white card stock, let it dry and trim to size to create the center piece of the card. 
2. Die-cut 2 hearts using some vellum, layer them together and glue them in the center of the piece. Hide the adhesive behind the sentiment strip.
3. Print out using lightweight card stock, my Digital stamps volume 2, trim the banner and adhere using some foam adhesive. 
4. Punch out some small hearts from the pattern papers and scatter them around along with some pearls.
5. Cover all the tiny hearts with glossy accents! You can see the shine after they dry!

YOU MEAN THE WORLD TO ME CARD

This is my favorite of all! 

I simply stamped twice the 'All aboard-Map' stamp that is in the goody bag with Versamark Ink, White embossed it and with my ink blending tool, I applied some Peacock feathers and Mowed lawn distress inks.

Then I cut the strip from my digital stamps vol.2 'you mean the world to me', adhered it in the middle, I punched a red heart for contrast and I glued it with foam adhesive. Then I covered the heart with glossy accents, and mount the piece onto a black top-folded card.

And finally, something different!

FELT HAIR CLIPS

Some hair clips for the cute little girls in our lives!

In the goody bag, there is a 'Felt heart strip', hearts are attached with a long piece of ribbon. I cut the ribbon, removed it and I got the hearts. 

What I did, is that I used some of the felt hearts, and adhered them with hot glue on some hair clips I bought (some cheap ones).
I used some ribbon, buttons and pearls for the center! Simple and easy!
And if you have no need for hair clips, you can skip the clip and adhere it on a card! It makes a great embellishment!

Like here...

I've used some Distress Ink in picked raspberry and some water, mixed it and using a brush, I created splatters of ink in the card base.

After letting it dry, I adhered a piece of ribbon in the center, 2 consecutive circles that I die-cut using my die-cutting machine, one in kraft and one in white.

Finally I adhered the hearts in the center with glossy accents and then I finished the card with a white button and some twine! 

Check the goody bag here:

http://www.stitchescyprus.com/store/product.php?productid=17314&cat=0&page=1

Hope that inspires you to create!

Happy Crafting and thanks for stopping by!

George x

Computer Generated Sentiments/Digital Stamps Vol 2

Hello people!

I keep using computer generated sentiments for my cards - so easy... highly recommended!

I wanted to share with you the second volume of my digital stamps:

You can get it free and print it :-)



CU Soon
George x

Hero Arts Contest February2013B - FAB 5 !

Hi people!
Hero Arts yesterday announced the winners for their monthly contest ... and guess what!
I am a fab-5 again!
Please check out my card below and click here for more and to see the other winners too!

Thanks for your time and for the kind comments over my flickr account!!!

George 

Workshops.....

Hi readers!
I was busy busy teaching workshops for 2 stores in Cyprus, that I forgot that I have a blog....

We had so much fun at Stitches, stitching and craft supplies with 3 workshops with vintage shabby style projects!

We started with the Artsy Time Canvas....

Then some cards.....

and finally a lovely handmade mini book for special occasions, that can be used as notebook, photo book or recipe book!

And I had a lovely time teaching Distress Inks @ Splash 'o' colour in Larnaca ! That was a loooong workshop (3 weeks, once a week, 2.5 hours)!
Many many techniques, enthusiasm and inky fingers!


Here is the display that Leoni (the store owner) created....
Beautiful!

See you soon!!!

George

Happy 2013 :-)

Dear blog readers,

I am taking 5 minutes to share my heartfelt wishes for the new year, hoping that will be better, more creative, more productive and happier than the previous!

So,
thanks for your support and the wonderful comments (here, flickr, fb, HA blog)!

Happy New Blessed 2013 to you !!!

And of course, I cannot end this post without sharing a card!

Thanks for stopping by!
George