Tuesday, May 15, 2012

ONLINE INSPIRATION MAY 2012 - Spring Seasonal Distress Inks

Hello :-)
New Spring Seasonal Distress Inks are super wow!!!!
So for this month's ONLINE INSPIRATION, I decided  to make 3 cards, one for each color!



Of course my favorite is Peacock Feathers!
And for all the cards I used the new Hero Arts + Basic Grey Flower Medley Background !!!!

Lets start:


PEACOCK FEATHERS


Here I decided to make something special! I covered completely a piece of regular card stock with the ink. I let it dry and then I inked the stamp with Picket Fence Distress Stain (another wow product). I spritzed some water with perfect pearls and I stamped. I have no words to describe the result..... You have to see it in person to understand ! It is amazing! And tough by Jennifer McGuire !
The sentiment is stamped with VersaMark on some vellum and white heat embossed. And of course is wrapped around the card and secured with adhesive on the inside.

SQUEEZED LEMONADE


This color is so refreshing! I did nothing fancy here. I simply used the same stamp and some good quality watercolor paper, heat embossed the stamped design, applied the ink with a foam applicator and the blending tool and then I spritzed water. Lots of water. This created paddles of ink and water and made some areas lighter and some darker. 

SHADED LILAC


At first I thought that this color is awful! (Sorry!!) But when I've used it I though is really good (But I prefer Dusty Concord instead) !!!
I added some perfect pearls mist after I did what I did with above card (Squeezed Lemonade) !


Here are some details of the cards!


And a little nice decoration for my craft room .... :-)




Thats All Crafty People!
Happy Inking!

George

Supplies:


Friday, May 11, 2012

(Heart) U Mom All The Time Card




Hi!
Today I was inspired from the new My mind's Eye Indie Chic Nutmeg paper pad and I decided to use it make to a Mother's Day Card.
I spent around 3 hours to have it done but totally worth it!
The sentiment is inspired by Kristina Werner but I took it one step further by adding the clock and have it say 'all the time'. 
So, Happy Mother's Day!


Thanks mom for everything you've done for me ! xxxx


George

Supplies: 

Sunday, May 6, 2012

Artistic Birthday Card Set


Hello  crafty people!
I have a quick birthday card set to share today. Artistic, colorful and fun! And of course I've used once more (!) my favorite stamps since I started stamping: HERO ARTS !





HOW TO:

1 I’ve used white thick cardstock to create the card base for all the set. You have to use thick cardstock because this will help the ink later to be absorbed better….

Then I’ve used my favorite distress inks…by dabbing some ink into my Ranger’s craft sheet. Then I added a bit of water and using a brush I splattered the ink allover the card base, both front and back sides!

Then after letting it dry completely and using the die from Hero Arts that coordinates the stamp and my Sizzix big –shot, I die cut a window on the front.

After that, I’ve stamped the Birthday Wishes stamp from Hero Arts with Versamark and I heat embossed in white. Then I’ve used my favorite distress inks again…and I went over the image with the blending tool. Try use contrasting color, it really makes the card bright and fun ! Then I die-cut the embossed resist images out using the Hero Arts Die.

At the end, I glued the pieces on the inside of the card right on the die-cut window!
Simple, fun and super easy!

Hope you enjoyed it!

LIST OF SUPPLIES:

George x

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

ONLINE INSPIRATION - APRIL 2012 - 1 Stamp for 5 cards!



Hello!


My ‘Online Inspiration’ is basically an online step by step workshop and will be on my blog each month, around the 15th of each month. Each time, I will be showing something different, this might be a card, more that one card, or some kind of technique. All products will be linked under the post. I am waiting your comments, thoughts or questions. Enjoy!


This month, I decided to challenge myself! To use the same stamp as the main element, for 5 cards! And I made it!!!
There are so many techniques you can make with stamps and inks...more than you can imagine...


I am posting this earlier this month (because of Easter Holidays) ! Hope you like it!
Happy Easter to all of you! 




 Hello Card

Cut 3 stripes of color paper of your choice, about 4cm x 8.5cm and using strong adhesive (I like double sided tape) stick the pieces on some scratch paper, to create a strong base. Then ink the stamp with Distress Embossing Ink and stamp. Apply clear embossing powder and heat emboss. Let it cool down and mount the piece on some white cardstock leaving a small frame around.

Stamp on the left corner the greeting (In this case I used the hello greeting from the set) with Archival Ink in Jet Black.

Stick the piece in the center of a black standard size card.


Enjoy Your Birthday

Use a piece of cardstock (don’t use porous paper – it will not work) and cover completely with Dusty Concord distress ink by applying the ink directly using the pad. Let it dry.
Ink the stamp with Picket Fence distress stain (great product – cant get enough!!).
Spray some water with mini mister ( or use some perfect pearls in white color if you want to be shiny) and carefully stamp the flower in the center of the purple cardstock. Don’t lift the stamp immediately, allow few seconds letting the ink to be absorbed! Let it dry.
Round the corners of the standard size card, and the corners of the piece we created and glue it to the center of the card.
Stamp a large greeting on top of the flower using Archival Ink in Jet black.
Go around with a black pen and create small dots or faux stitching. This brings in the black and balances the card!


Thank You
Simple and elegant. And you can reproduce this card in minutes.

Use a card base which is thick and absorbent. I like using watercolor paper.
 Using markers (there are a lot of markers in the marker that 
you can use coloring directly on the stamp – I like the Zig ones – Memento are good as well – and Tombow….) 
color directly on the stamp starting with the lighter colors first and then moving on to the darker shades.
Then go over with a mini mister filled with water, 
mist the stamp a couple of times. Now stamp the design on the right side of the card. Let it dry.
Go around with an Inksentials blending tool and Walnut Stain distress ink and ink the edges of the card to make them darker.
Stamp the greeting on the left corner. Here I used the Thank You greeting with Archival Ink in Coffee.

Note that if you don’t have any markers, you can use distress inks and 
apply several shades of ink to the stamp. You will mist with water again and stamp.





  
Thinking Of You

Cut a piece of scratch paper 7.5cm x 11cm and apply some removable adhesive.
 Place it dead center on the front of a standard size card with the fold on top.
Use a mini mister filled with water and add 6 drops of walnut stain distress ink re-inker. 
Shake and spray 3-4 times to achieve an even coverage.
 Let it dry and remove the scratch paper.
Cut 1.5 cm stripes of scratch paper and apply removable adhesive. 
Place them around the card to cover the border we created by misting the ink before.
Use Archival Ink in Coffee color, ink the stamp very well and then stamp 
the image off to the right side.
Remove the scratch paper and go around the inside border with a brown marker or pen to crate dash lines.
Use a small greeting  (I like these small stamps by Hero Arts) and stamp on some brown cardstock using Versamark. Apply white embossing powder and heat emboss.
Attach the greeting to the card


Simple Hydrangea - No greeting

Cut a piece of watercolor paper 8.5 cm x 12 cm. Ink the stamp using Distress Embossing Ink and stamp. Press very well as the watercolor paper is rough and textured and we need a crisp image. Apply some white embossing powder and heat emboss.
Then apply Scattered straw distress ink starting from the top up to the middle. Then start applying Evergreen bough distress ink (is one of the 3 new colors from seasonal distress ink released during Christmas). Overlap the inks in the center. Then spray with some water and perfect pearls mixture (or use plain water). This will blend the colors and will create a nice look - you have to try this....
 Let it dry and glue the piece on some craft cardstock. Trim leaving a small border and using 3D adhesive mount the piece of the center of the card.




Thanks a lot! Cu next month with another 'Online Inspiration' ! George x


SUPPLIES:

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Upcoming workshop at Stitches !

Hello!!! It is officially spring! Me favorite season of all 😄!
I will be teaching this wonderful wreath made of paper flowers that we will create ourselves! These flowers are so versatile because can be used on so many projects, even in cards!
The workshops will take place on 4th and 7th of April from 10:00 to 12:30 at Stitches, stitching and craft supplies, 59 Griva Digenis Street, Ayios Tychonas, 4521 Limassol, Cyprus,
If you want to attend, call the store 25345618
Join me for another creative adventure!!!!!!

George