ScrapgalGR

Just a little christmas crafting

2011-12-17T19:23:00.001+02:00

Hello hello!

I wanted to wrap a present for a friend's birthday gift but I was too lazy to go and buy some wrapping paper, so I used my craft stash to make something and I came up with a ... gift basket. LOL!

I also made a l little tag/card for my wishes, I don't know what stamp it is, I actually found the stamped image in my stash (maybe from last year's crop?) and colored it.

That's all for now, I don't have any step by step photos because I just did it haphazardly in 10', without a pattern etc, I just did what came into my mind. I will make another one and take detailed photos, I promise!

Hope you're all well and thriving!

Hello darlings!

2011-08-10T01:18:00.000+03:00

Hello hello hello darlings, I know it's been AGES since I dissapeared, but, things happen, then I lost my mojo, then, well, I haven't actually found it but I 'm coming around slowly.

My first project after sooo long seemed like a true feat to me, I didn't know what I had in my stash (or where exactly was everything) or how to use it (lol!). So, after a lot of search and trial and error, I managed to finish this:

It is a tumbler from Starbucks, the one that has a sort of template paper inside so that you can personalize it, it costs about €9, I thought it would be a nice idea for a cheap but cute gift for a friend of mine.

Don't ask me how I did it, it is all a blur, I remember stamping like crazy, using distress inks like a lunatic and addding TONS of glittery stuff, trust me, it was SCARY!

The actual finished project:

And a close up (lovely Sarah Kay):

That's it for now, I hope you 're all well and thriving, see ya (hopefully in this century!).

Award!

2011-01-19T23:51:00.000+02:00

I would like to thank Maria Z and Sonia for giving me this award

and I will pass it on to the following crafter neighbours and friends (in random order):

for the inspiration and the encouragement they generously give me.

It goes without saying that there are many many more friends and crafters that I would like to thank but it would take me hours...LOL!

Sleep tight and sweet dreams

Christmas mini album

2011-01-05T20:23:00.002+02:00

This is a mini that I gave as a gift to a friend of mine during the holidays and since I had no time I did it hurriedly and without that much embellishing, but, I knew that my friend liked my minis (she 's not a crafter but loves everything I show her), so I included in the parcel a bunch of bits and embellishments so that she can personalize it.

I just used the leftovers I had from the Cosmo Cricket "Jolly by Golly"collection and for the covers I also used a My Mind's Eye pp.

Here's the inside of the front cover.

Some pages

Here I made a kind of flap, she can use it to add a bit with journaling, or an embellishment, etc. I used the "trellis" Martha Stewart deep edge punch to decorate the edge.
The rest of the pages are made in these two styles, only the patterned papers are different.

Here's the inside of the back cover, I used the "flower bed" Martha Stewart deep edge punch to decorate the pocket.

My friend loved it and she was really funny when she saw the little pouch with the embellishments I added, she was like a little child in a candy store!

Happy New Year!

2011-01-01T19:25:00.002+02:00

I wish you and your familes tons of happiness and joy, may 2011 make all your dreams come true!

Card making: Christmas card #6

2010-12-23T22:26:00.000+02:00

I made a few more cards, this one is for my niece. Don't ask me how I did this, I have no idea!!!

It all started when I attempted to make a flower like a paper rosette but it was a disaster, it was torn in two, so, I threw it away.
I cut the red cardstock for the card and then I cut a window and then the phone rang. So while talking, I absentmindedly played with the card and when the phonecall was over, I was looking at a bent card that looked like a futuristic hotel room! It goes without saying that it was rocking like a granny's chair, so I added the bottom round piece for some balance!

So, while I was thinking what I should do with it, I imagined a room with a window so I added this and that and guess what, I took the torn paper rosette out of the paper bin, I cut it in half and it was perfect on top of the window!

Of course no window is comlplete without a little hanging pot, so I made one too!

I also made another card, a totally different one, and I tried for the first time some Glimmer Mist in combination with a Tattered Angels mask. As you can see, I also succeded in making a paper rosette!
I don't have Tim Holtz's die, I just used my trimmer's scalop blade on a strip of pp and then scored it.

It is really fun to experiment, you never know what will come out!

Card making: Christmas card #5

2010-12-19T22:17:00.000+02:00

I finally managed to make some more christmas cards, here's the first

I adhered some pp behind the snowflake, I also added some stickles on top

For this one I used a Dovecraft stamp from a christmas set I adore, I also stamped a Hero Arts tree and the tiny ones are from a pp, I just cut them and adhered them on the card.

In this card I cut the snowy hills on white paper, inked the edges with Broken China distress ink and then layered the trees and the house. On the sky I just did some dots with stickles, I also added tons of stickles on the hills.

I also added stickles on the little house, actually I have covered just about everything with stickles, LOL!

One week to go before christmas, yay!!!

JYC 2010: December 13

2010-12-15T22:30:00.000+02:00

Music is the prompt so on the right I printed a Sinatra album cover, I chose this one because I really liked the desing. On the left I colored an image with my copics and the background with distress inks, I also printed a greek christmas song (I experienced some smudgiing though).

I also printed my favorite christmas song, Sinatra's White Christmas, I adhered it on a pp and folded it in too, when it's closed it's like a mini book. I used a Tattered Angels snowflake mask for coloring the white paper.

Can you believe it that I barely used the clear Sakura Stardust pen, just a little on the lamp!

I also remembered to find my cd with the christmas songs, it is currently in my car so I don't miss the christmas spirit even when I'm driving!

JYC 2010: December 12

2010-12-14T21:40:00.001+02:00

Christmas Past is the prompt, so I dug out a photo from my childhood!
On the left page, I printed a text from Dickens's "The Cricket On The Hearth", I inked it with Distress Inks, crumbled it and inked it again because I wanted to achieve this look.
On top I fastened with ribbon a colored image so that it flips upwards and on the back side I adhered the journaling card.
On the right I added a photo but I wanted to do some more journaling, so I made a kind of card. I also added some ribbon because the card was not centered on the page and it lacked balance, the ribbon was just perfect!

I watercolored the image with Distress Inks but my brush was not thoroughly cleaned from yesterday, so when I touched the paper it became green! While lamenting on my recklessness, I discovered that a green hue was actually just right because it gave a mouldy effect, which is perfect for old Scrooge's office!
Of course I also added a dash of shine on the border with Perfect Pearls.

For the cover of the card on the right, I stamped on the paper with embossing clear ink and then heat embossed with clear embossing powder. Then I thought to color it with my copics but I wanted to continue the color scheme from the left page, so I watercolored it with Distress Inks too, I also added Perfect Pearls on the bell. Then I dabbed more distress ink all over the card, I used a piece of rough bath sponge and the result is really interesting.

Today was a hectic day with work and all the streets jammed with traffic because of the strikes, but this little trip down to memory lane was just what I needed to relax!

JYC 2010: December 11

2010-12-13T22:14:00.003+02:00

Christmas tree is the prompt, so I took two night shots of our tree because I love the lights!

On the left I wanted to add a christmas tree, so I colored one with distress inks and Perfect Pearls, I also added some stickles.

I also colored an image, I had a water accident on the face, so I sketched one, it's sort of scary, LOL!

JYC 2010: December 10

2010-12-12T19:58:00.002+02:00

Wrapping paper is the prompt. First thing, I printed an envelope template, cut it and then covered it with a paper napkin. Then, I added the "presents" on the right and made a pocket on the back for my journaling. Then I added photos of my favorite christmas items made of paper, that is an old paperback with Dickens's Christmas Books and the current issue of Magnolia Ink magazine.

I colored the image with my copics and then highlited some details with the clear Sakura Stardust pen, I also added a tiny bow on top.

I used a bow from the pattern of the napkin in order to make the closure.

Here's the envelope open, I wanted to put a photo inside but we haven't purchased gifts so far, so I put a photo of the christmas gift I purchased for myself, I'm still waiting for it to arrive!

I like very much wrapping gifts, and this is another reason why I love christmas!

JYC 2010: December 9

2010-12-12T19:24:00.000+02:00

Traditions is the prompt and this time did a double journaling, inside the "magazine" on the left and on the journaling card as well.
On the right page there is my mom baking "kourambiedes", a greek pastry that we usually make for christmas. I also took photos of my favorite movies that I love to watch during the christmas. The idea was to picure them on a shelf, well, sort of...LOL!
On the left, I used an image that looks like a magazine cover and it opens like a card. I also used another image that I had colored the other day for another page but it was a disaster because I used too much water and Perfect Pearls. I didn't want to throw it away, so I kept it and used it here.

At first I didn't color the image, I lightly touched it with Antique Linen distress ink. Then I thought that it was too flat for my liking, so I added color with my copics here and there and then highlighted some details with the clear Sakura Stardust pen.

As for christmas traditions, my number one is red green and gold, I love my christmas tree and everything christmasy in these colors!

JYC 2010: December 8

2010-12-11T23:00:00.001+02:00

Sights of the season is the prompt, so on the right I adherd photos I've been taking the previous days. On the left I started by watercoloring an image but when I positioned it on my page, I thought that it lacked something.
While I was thinking how to incorporate it in my layout, I had the idea to transform it to a view from a window so I positioned the image on a white paper and cut around it so as to make a kind of shutters. Then I colored them with my copics and distress inks. I adhered it on my page leaving the shutters free to move and then I thought that it needed something more, so I added the tiny curtain on top!
Behind it there is a pocket for my journaling card.

I also used Ranger's Perfect Pearls for some shine.

Can you believe that we're only 14 days away from christmas?

JYC 2010: December 7

2010-12-11T22:18:00.002+02:00

To-do lists is the prompt, instead I did a layout about my wish-list! These are the items I 'm currently crazy about, I know that I 'm not actually going to buy anything (or maybe just the black handbag, I just love it!) bit I like to look at them.
On the left, I once more did a pocket for my journaling card. I colored an image with my copics, adhered it on a striped pp, I added some ribbon as well for some texture. If you 're familiar with my blog, the lady on the image probably reminds you of something!
The round embellishment is a colored image that I covered with UTEE, I had made a while ago a bunch of these but I totally forgot to use them until now!

As you can see, I also accented the red stripes and some details with...the clear Sakura Stardust pen, what else!

At last today we saw some (speckles of) snow, the size of a pin head, but, better this than nothing!

JYC 2010: December 6

2010-12-10T20:18:00.002+02:00

Tale of two christmases is the prompt. On the right is a photo of me and my closest co-workers decorating our tiny tree.
On the left, I adhered the colored image on a folded white paper so as to make a sort of card that I adhered on the page and I used the inside for my journaling. On the back of the "card" I left a pocket for the dated journaling spot.

I colored the image with my copics, I decided to color only the people and the rest is just touched with Antique Linen distress inks, I did it this way in cohesion with the journaling I did inside that is it doesn't mind where you are what you wear, etc, the only thing that matters is to be with your loved ones.
Of course I lightly added some shine with the clear Sakura Stardust!

The idea for this piece came from a Tim Holtz tutorial about making a flower with tissue tape, I used ribbon instead and on top I adhered a printed sentiment.

Now that I see it again it looks like an winner's award ribbon, LOL!

JYC 2010: December 5

2010-12-09T21:58:00.002+02:00

Advent calendars is the prompt but instead of making one, I had the idea to illustrate it with a "connect the dots" kind of way. On the right, I took some shots of the new decorations for our christmas tree also added a pocket for the journaling spot and a cute Tilda!

I remember that as a child I had lots of fun trying to reveal the hidden image by linking the numbered dots, so I sketched a tree and traced the outline, marked and numberd the dots and then colored it by stamping repeatedly with a small stamp and distress inks so as to make the folliage. Then I used stickles for some shine and ready!

Last step, I watercolored the Tilda with distress inks, I also used the clear Sakura Startdust for some shine.

Tip: if you try watercoloring an image that's printed with an inkjet printer, make sure that you don't use too much water or else the black ink will bleed. I found that out the hard way!

JYC 2010: 4th December

2010-12-08T22:37:00.002+02:00

Perfection is the prompt, so on the right there's one example of a very affordable perfection, a cute christmas sweater reasonably priced and on the left...well, I don't have to say anything, the image speaks for itself!

I once more watercolored the image with distress inks, I also added dashes of snow with a white pen.
I finally added some shine with a yellow Sakura Stardust pen, though I think I overdid it a bit while coloring the windows, I wanted to picture windows lighted from the inside, like from candles, fireplace, etc, instead what came out looks a little like a screenshot from Psycho!LOL!

I hear on the weather report that a tiny bit of snow is coming our way on Saturday, you can't see me but I'm doing the happy dance!

JYC 2010: 3rd December

2010-12-07T22:48:00.001+02:00

Cards is the prompt, so I incorporated little partial photos of the actual ones I managed to make so far and I used them to create the tiny "cards" on the right page.

Then I made the little envy on the left page, just a square piece of white paper that I folded and stamped, quick and easy, I also cut out a "stamp" and adhered it on top.

Last step, I haphazardly colored an image with distress inks, I also used once more a white pen to doodle some snow, so easy and so effective!

The streets are gradually getiing decorated and festive, slowly but steadily christmas comes in town!

JYC 2010: 2nd December

2010-12-06T23:31:00.001+02:00

Weather is the prompt, I dream of white christmas but it is sooo not happening, so as you can imagine I keep complaining about the insane weather, I start worrying that I'm in a Doctor Who episode and that I'm mysteriously transported (or should I say teleported?) to Australia! As you can see the flowers are blooming in my backyard, I won't be surprised if I see the Easter Bunny (ok, maybe it will be brain damage but I'm sure Dr House can find the cure!) see, I 'm already rambling!

My ideal christmas weather is illustrated on the left page, after I finished it I thought that it lacked something (snow, duh!) so I used a uni ball white pen and added snow on the branches and dots all over the images, it really made the difference! For coloring the Tilda I used my copics, I wanted an intense and vibrant result so as to contrast whith the backround.

The truth is that today it was a little chilly (11 *C in the morning, compared to the previous days you can call it chilly) so I think that maybe it will eventually get on track, I certainly hope so!

JYC 2010: 1st December

2010-12-05T22:10:00.003+02:00

Humbug...NOT!
Journal Your Christmas year 2, I really would like to give many kisses to Irini for giving me the chance to get to know this awesome online class from Shimelle! Here you can see how it all started and here are all my JYC 2009 posts.

This year I'm going to keep it simple, quick and spontaneous, so that I will be able to incorporate this project into my daily routine without stress, after all it is about having fun!
With this in mind I had already assembled the album (4''x6'') together with covers (that I will reveal at the end!) and all, so all I have to do everyday is to put together the elements that I see fit for every prompt. I have also printed or stamped enough christmas images so that I can choose one, color it and add it to my page.
One more difference from last year's JYC is that I'll also keep a mini journal for every day's happenings, regardless if it is in the spirit of the daily prompt or not, it will be really funny to read it in the future!

As for coloring, you know how I love it, and as it is expected you 'll see a lot of them! I 'll also do a lot of watercoloring with distress inks, it's really quicker than coloring with my copics and the result is more subtle and transparent.
So, dear friends, prepeare yourselves for my JYC 2010 posts, only 37 left!LOL

Card making: Christmas card #4

2010-12-02T23:01:00.000+02:00

Another color that I rarely use is dark royal blue, so I decided to give it a try for this christmas card and the idea was to create an outdoors night scene.

First thing, I made the snowy hills with white cardstock and Broken China distress ink and then stamped and embossed the little stars. Next step, I adhered the little deer (I colored it with distress inks), I had some difficulty with cutting around the tiny swirly horns so I threw them away and drew them right on the card with glue and then covered them with glitter.
Last thing, I heat embossed the tree with white embossing powder and then colored it with distress inks. When I adhered it on the card, the outcome was a little dull, so I lightly covered it with stickles and...ready!

Card making: Christmas cards

2010-11-29T20:52:00.001+02:00

I just made my first bunch of Christmas cards, this year I decided to try some color combos for the first time, like, red and light sky blue!

It is evident nevertheless that I was desperate for some traditional red and green, so I colored all the images using these colors, even the little house!

I accented some details with Sakura Stardust clear pen (remember how you liked Sakura Stardust pens in last year's JYC layouts? You only have to buy the clear, the sparkle is soooo good, much bolder and more intense than the clear Atyou Spica from Copic.

Run Forest, ruuuun! LOL!!!

Project: Christmas Tree

2010-11-23T00:20:00.001+02:00

All these lovely christmas projects, cards, etc that I see in your blogs made me realize I was wayyyy behind my christmas preparations, so I started with something very easy, fun and quick: a little flourish wooden tree by Kaisercraft. Sorry for the lousy photos but I couldn't take a decent one no matter what!

I made it for my office at work and I wanted a really lively and sparkly result, (can't you tell that I'm a traditional all red-green christmas girl?)LOL

The execution was quite simple:
- colored the trunk with copic markers
- colored the tree with distress inks except the flowers, birds etc. that I colored with copic markers
- sprayed the lot with the water-Perfect Pearls mix
- adhered Martha Stewart's microbeads on the flame and the flowers
- and finally covered the birds lightly and randomly with white glitter

Here's a close up

Last touch, I used tiny pearls for the eyes of the larger birds and...ready!

Project:: Shadow frame #2

2010-11-09T22:04:00.005+02:00

A friend of mine got married in July and I decided to make her a special shadow box: I made a fake magazine cover with a photo from her marriage using Photoshop, printed it and then embellished the frame.

All the flowers, leaves etc are from an Inkadinkado clear stamps set that I colored with my copics.

I highlighted a few details with stickles

I heat embossed with white embossing powder some metal butterflies I had and added a strip of Flower Soft at the bottom.

For the background I stamped with the Hero Arts "Old Letter" stamp and distress ink.
The result is really fresh and pretty, just like a new bride!

Card Making: Watercolor birdie

2010-11-04T20:39:00.001+02:00

It's been a while since I did a card, so here's a new one, I made this one for my friend's name day (Dimitris)!

After priniting a BW image, I decided this time not to use my copics (isn't that a first!) but instead I used distress inks as watercolors and did a fast coloring of the image. The truth is that the paper pilled a bit, next time I will use watercolor paper. I also drew with a black pen some details, like the outline of the bird, etc.
So, after coloring it, I just adhered it on a brown cardstock piece that I had already treated with the edge distresser and then adhered the lot on the card.
Last touch, a faux stich with a brown marker and ... ready!

Rania's Layouts: June 2010

2010-10-31T17:39:00.002+02:00

Hi ladies, it's been an awful week because I was sick with gastric flu (gastroenteritis) but yesterday I felt ok, so I thought, time to do something pleasant and creative but relatively simple and quick. So, here's a LO!

I just used a decorated paper with a lot of patterns, added the photos, cut the title on pink foam, a little journaling, a little doodling (lower right corner) and ready!

For the focal decorational piece I chose a cherry blossom (Inkadinkado clear stamp) because it sort of matched the cherry blossom on my niece's shirt, I spiced it up with a little glitter.

This is the last LO in my niece's first album, so I adhered on the inside of the back cover a little something I made, I used Precious Moments images I found online, I put them in place using Photoshop, printed it and colored them with my copics. Aren't they cute?

Project: Crafted Filofax!

2010-10-15T21:57:00.002+03:00

I must confess that I've never been into Filofax, because I found them too bulky for my handbags. But, one day, I saw the Filofax of a colleague on her desk, a cute Songbird, so I decided to take a look at Filofax UK. And guess what? I fell in love with the bright red Adelphi and I couldn't resist the temptation to make an early Christmas gift to myself! Here it is

When I got my hands on it, I was thrilled with the color, the size, the softness of the leather, I just loved it as is!
Hmm, maybe not exactly as is...but then again, you know me! The fact is that it needed a little something, so first step, I decided to make my own content dividers. So I printed some images in BW and colored them with my copics (sooo predictable!) Here they are, this is the first section with the diary:

And here are the tabs I made so far, they were in a Moleskine diary, I just stuck them on some clear acetate and adhered them on the back of the pages with Glue Dots:

Second section for birthdays, anniversaries etc:

Next section, Tasks:

Bills to pay (I could live without these, LOL!):

Shopping list (I could use a whole Filofax for this alone, I have to be ready for the day I'll win the lottery!!!)

And last but not least, books to download:

On the back there's vertical pocket and I thought to put a Moleskine Volant inside, for random thoughts, sketches, etc, but they were either too small or too big, so I experimented once more (what's life without burned eyebrows, LOL!) and I ventured to make a litlle book by myself. I just cut some photocopy papers, folded them in two, arranged them randomly in bunches (one inside the other), sthiched the "spines" and then adhered them to a thick cardstock piece that I had already stamped, embossed and varnished. The whole process took me about an hour and the result is simple because it is the first one and didn't want to spend too much time and materials on a thing that could end up in the garbage. Here it is:

And here's the back pocket:

It sits perfectly inside, because, as you can see below, the rings are really small (it is a Slimline, the rings are smaller than the standard size) and there's enough room for a notepad:

And that's about it, I haven't so far customized it the best possible way because I want to use it a while first and then figure if I want to add or remove something.
Last details (in case you wondered) the small pen is a Pilot Petit and the backround is an gorgeous scarf I bought from Marks & Spencer!

PS:I thought to share with you that Filofax Italia currently has sales!

Update: Here's the blank template

Project: Lavender letters and green butterflies Bracelet

2010-10-05T19:34:00.000+03:00

If you liked THIS bracelet, here's a new one:

I made it for a friend who likes subtle colours and I thought light purple and green look well together. I don't have any inks in purple, so I just used pink and blue distress inks.

This is how I made it:
1. I cut a strip of plain grungeboard at 1'' 1/4 wide
2. I covered it with thin white paint and let it dry
3. I colored it with randomly with blue and pink distress inks using the foam applicator, I varied the intensity of colour because I didn't want a uniform result
4. I stamped the butterfly with black ink and then heat embossed it with a Ranger's Holographique embossing powder
5. Then I masked the butterflies and stamped on it with the Hero Art's Old Letter stamp and blue distress ink
6. I colored the butterfies with a mixture of Perfect Pearls and Mat Medium and added the pearls
7. Then I covered the lot with Gloss Medium, I also used Mat Medium underneath it, as a sealer
8. Last step I added the fastener and adhered the cutout butterfly on it.

And she can wear it with the closure upwards or on the inside, as shown above.
Now that I see it again, maybe I should make one for myself too!

Project:: Shadow frame

2010-09-26T22:11:00.000+03:00

I bought a couple of shadow frames at IKEA, so I used one right away for a photo of my niece (who else???)

The photo is from Karpenissi, where she rode a horse with her mother, for the first time and he was sooo thrilled!

What I did in order to acieve a 3d look is that I printed the photo twice and then I cut out from the second photo my niece and the head horse and adhered them on the whole photo with 3d foam dots. You can't see it here, but it really made the difference.

Then I adhered the photo on a white cardstock and colored on it so as to "expand" the view and then I added the decorative pieces, they were adhered on 3d dot stacks I made and I also varied the depth.

Here I colored the front piece of a horse drawing and adhered it on the project right next to the back of a real one that was in the photo, so as the horse will look whole. I aslo added some glitter on the mane.

I made the "branches" by stamping with the same stamp on various cardstock and paper pieces, and then accented the flowers with Stickles and...ready!

Rania's Layouts: July 2009

2010-09-21T00:53:00.000+03:00

Here's a summer layout I did a few days ago, when my brother brought me the photos from their 2009 vacation - better late than never!
The background paper is K & Company, the seashells are stamps from a Hero Arts clear stamps set, I also used some glossy varnish for some shine. The title was cut from a piece of foam pad and I colored the letters with my copics. I also wanted to add something like a net for fish, so I used a kind of tulle I had, I just colored it with a copic in order to achieve the color I wanted.

For the flower I used a stamp from a StampTV stamps set, after coloring it with my copics I heat embossed it with some UTEE and moulded the petals in shape before it was completely cold. Then I added a few of Martha Stewart's microbeads, on top I adhered a foam dot and on top I positioned a charm that I had colored with a copic and then heat embossed with UTEE (this way the color will not fade).

Last touch some free hand doodling with a white pen and...ready!

Card Making: Summer 3d card

2010-09-15T00:35:00.001+03:00

After a long fun summer with a few technology hiccups with no apparent reason:
1.laptop crashed and I had to perform something despicable that starts with the letter F, (that is FORMAT, raise your hands in horror!!!)
2.internet connection got lost in space for about a week
3.photo printer decided to stop doing what it's supposed to do, that is to print
4. memory card mysteriously lost all content

I felt courageous enough to touch my keyboard without being afraid that it will decide to spontaneously combust just for fun (LOL!!!).

It's been a creative summer nevertheless, and here's a happy birthday card I made for a friend of mine:

It's a cute Sarah Kay stamp, the rest is just the ordinary, you know, inking, stamping etc I also ventured to add some shine and maybe I overdid it a bit but as they say there is no such thing as too much bling!

Here's a side view:

That's it for now, hope you're all well and busy crafting, see you soon!

Project: Wedding Mirror

2010-07-27T08:21:00.000+03:00

Here's another mirror I made, this one is a present for my friend's wedding (lousy photo though...):

And here's some close ups:

Just some pink paper strips, a doilly and a dash of Stickles,and voila! A bride's bouquet! (Ok, sort of...LOL)

See, there are more ways to admire a good book!LOL!

Wedding Card

2010-07-21T22:28:00.000+03:00

I wanted to make a wedding card for a friend of mine, so here it is!
On the cover I cut a round window and then stamped on it with the Hero Arts "Old Letter" stamp using pink distress ink. Then I adhered on top the images of the girl and the flowers that I had already stamped and colored, they're from a Crafty Secrets stamps set. Last step, I added the gold frame around the window.
I also used a small piece of a doily, some tulle and Stickles in order to make the flower.

On the inside I made a pocket and I decorated it using a doily colored with distress inks. On top of it I adhered a stamped and colored image, from anothe Crafty Secrets stamps set.

Last step, I stamped a tag, on the back of it I just adhered the banknote using a Glue Dot.

Needless to say, my friend went crazy when she saw it!

Project: Cherry Blossom Bracelet

2010-07-16T21:27:00.000+03:00

The other day I wanted to make a bracelet with grungeboard but I didn't have anything to use as a clasp. But THIS was exactly what I wanted, so I ordered Tom Holtz's fasteners and here it is!

I started with a piece of plain grungeboard 1 and a quarter inch wide. Then I covered it with white acrylic paint and while it was still wet I smudged with my fingers a drop of distress ink in Broken China and then sprinkled some water and Perfect Pearl mix on it.
When it dried, I stamped on it using a cherry branch stamp from an asian themed Inkadinkado stamp set and colored it with my copics. Then I added a drop of glue on the centre of the flowers and covered them with Martha Stewart's microbeads, while for the larger flowers, I used pearls.
When they dried, I covered the lot with some Claudine Helmuth's Glossy medium, so as to secure everything in place.
Last step, I added the fastener, then I didn't like the hole that much so I also stamped and colored a large flower from the same stamps set and glued it on top of the hole. This way I can also wear my bracelet with the flower on top or underneath, depending on my fancy!

And here is one more photo, to give you a better idea:

It takes a while to make one, but it's sooo cute!

Project: "Serious" Notepad

2010-07-12T22:28:00.001+03:00

A colleague of mine asked me if I could make her a notepad like mine, so I decided to make a more "mature" version. And here it is!

The fact is that I had already made the brown leather like cardstock piece, so I wanted to incorprate it in my project. It is very easy to make it, I just used various distress inks in green and brown shades, dried it with a heatgun, then embossed it using a Cuttlebug embossing folder and then lightly brushed with my Versamarc ink pad, sprinkled some UTEE and used my heatgun to set it. Here 's the result:

Then I embellished with a colored Tilda and some handmade flowers for the corners, for the yellow stems I just cut a piece of adhesive tape, made it like a cord and dipped it in some yellow glitter. Then I adhered an acetate piece on the lot for more endurance.
I kept the inside very simple, I just made a pocket using some cardstock where I adhered a piece of a doily, I also added a few tiny flowers that I covered with stickles.

My colleague liked it so much that she gave it to her daughter, she told me it was too pretty to keep for herself! LOL!

Tutorial: Quick and easy tulle flowers

2010-06-09T20:06:00.002+03:00

I bet you've already seen these flowers in my projects,

so here's how you can make them too (quick and easy)!
First of all, you need some tulle, I've bought mine from Jumbo. I fold the piece of tulle a few times and then I use an stapler as shown:

Then I cut a circle like shown, I also color randomly the center with a marker:

Then I fold it around the back end of a pencil and while I hold it in place with a pair of tweezers I use my heat gun so that the tulle starts to shrink. A little attention is required because if it gets too much heated, it will be ruined.

Here's the result:

Last step, I embellish the center with a pearl, or microbeads, etc.

Quick easy and pretty, as promised! Have fun ladies!

Thank you Lena!

2010-06-07T23:06:00.000+03:00

It has been a while since I received Lena's blog candy and I wanted to share with you all the goodies I got. The fact is that I don't buy embellishments etc so everything I received apart from very cute and pretty will be very usefull as well and I loved the vintagey touch on most of them.
So Lena thanks so much, I wish you all the best!

Project: IKEA altered photo frame

2010-06-02T19:06:00.000+03:00

May and June are the birthday months for the majority of my friends (I'm surrounded by a swarm of crazy Gemini, myself included, lucky me!!!). So, I was looking for a gift for a male friend who likes outdoor activities and the nature in general, and I had already printed the BW image and colored it with my copics in order to make a card with it. But, since I couldn't find an appropriate gift and given the fact that my friend likes the arts and crafts as well, I decided to turn the image into a decorative item by incorporating it in a photo frame I had already purchased from IKEA and was patiently waiting for some alteration.

First step, I lightly sanded the wooden frame and then covered it with white gesso. While the gesso was still wet, I added a drop of dark brown Distress ink on my craft mat, took it lightly with a foam brush and added irregular lines on the frame. Then I lightly brushed each side of the frame so as to make the dark ink blend more with the gesso.

Next step, I adhered with foam squares the colored image on a dark brown cardstock piece that I had already distressed its edges and positioned it on top of a white piece of paper that I had already cut according to the dimensions of the inner frame.

Then I used distress inks with the foam applicator and the idea was to "expand" loosely the "view" outside of the boundaries of the colored image. When the result was ok, I wanted to add a little texture so I covered the lot with Crackle Accents and when it was dry, I accented the cracks a little with Pumice stone. I had once more a "creative accident" that is that I forgot to heat set the distress inks prior to covering the image with the Crackle Accents so the colors diffused a bit, but the result was interresting nevertheless.

When I adhered the image on top of the background and inserted it inside the frame, it made totaly sense as a whole, so I'm very happy with the outcome. The only exception was that my colored image was too bright and I used the Antique Linen distress ink in order to give to it a vintage, weathered look.

I kept the original beige internal photo frame and the glass that was in the frame package and in case my friend gets bored with it, he can remove the image and use the photo frame as a photo frame!LOL!

Birthday Card for me!

2010-05-31T12:04:00.003+03:00

Do you recognize the style in the card?

Well, you guessed correctly, it is totally Joanna!
Today I didn't go to work because of a nasty tooth ache, actually I suffer from an inflammation of a nerve under a tooth so you get an idea....
So when the postman came, I was thrilled to find a birthday card from Joanna, it certainly made my day a whole lot brighter! Isn't she a doll?
The card is mostly in pink and green (have I ever mentioned that I love pink and green? LOL!) and it has several layers of material and a very pretty patterned paper. I also love the doily in the back as well as the pink distressed backround for the sweet Tilda (I think I'm addicted to Tildas, tell me doctor, will I survive it???). I also loved the pink ribbon detail because it reflects beautifully the pink dotted circle in the back.

Joanna, thanks so much for the gorgeous card, so fresh and cute and for your wishes, I wish joy and health to you and your family as well!

Mini albums: Birthday present!

2010-05-28T00:12:00.001+03:00

I really liked the process of making an album for Effie, so I decided to make another for my friend Maria whose birthday is approaching. I used a chipboard album from Sfragidomania and covered the pages with DCWV papers from the Garden Party paper stack.

As you can tell, green and pink is my favorite color combo, so I couldn't resist the temptation to use it once again! Also, I had the genious idea to write her name by mixing greek and english letters, but I just realized that it looks like I've written Mapia and not Maria! LOL!!!

As for the tiny flowers, I bet you've seen them again in my projects, it's a super easy and fast to make them, one of these days I'll make a post about how you can make them too!

I really love the image on the right page, it's a BW image I found online, I just printed it and colored it with my copics and on the back I wrote my wishes for my friend.

On this page I made a gatefold mini, I also added a separate photo tag on the back.

This is the back side of the photo tag on the right, I made a journaling spot, the stamps are from a Crafty Secrets clear stamps set, I colored it with my copics and finished it with colored pencils.

The image on the left is another BW image that I printed and colored with my copics, the "Mat Queen" was so suitable for my friend!

Here I made a trifold mini (on the left) and a booklet (on the right). The stamp is Crafty Secrets as well.

For the last two pages I made another tag and another mini mini (LOL!) the sweet Tilda was a loan from Joanna (thanks a bunch Joanna!) I was inspired from Effie's card and I made the background.

I guess my friend will like the album, she's not into scrapbooking but she loves the cards I make for her...and I hope you'll like it too!
Here 's a video as well:

Σας ευχαριστώ!

2010-05-22T20:50:00.000+03:00

Σας ευχαριστώ για τις ευχές σας, να είστε και εσείς καλά και να χαίρεστε τις οικογένειές σας και τους δικούς σας ανθρώπους!

Card Making: Happy Name Day!

2010-05-20T22:26:00.001+03:00

I wanted to make a card for my friend's Eleni name day and I wanted to use this sweet Tilda, and I had the idea to place her outdoors. So I started by making the tree, I just made a tree trunk drawing, I cut it and colored it with my copics. For the folliage I just inked a piece of cardstock with green distress inks and then embossed it with a Cuttlebug embossing forlder.
After positioning the tree on the card, it seemed too bare to me so I made a picket fence out of beige cardstock with a ruler and a pencil, I also inked it with distress inks. Then I used some green cardstock and made the grass and on top I adhered the Tilda with foam squares.
Then I added more strips of grass in front of the Tilda, but that was not enough, so I also made a May wreath with green Flower Soft and Martha Stewart's microbeads.
When I thought that it was done, I realized that I forgot to add a "happy name day", so I made two little rocks with cardstock and distress inks and wrote the wish on them (LOL!) and...ready!

Card Making: Wedding cards

2010-05-17T20:16:00.000+03:00

I had totally forgotten that I had to go to two weddings, so when the actual days approached, I realized that I had to make two cards for my wishes, ASAP! So I used the same pattern and I just varied the color scheme based on the color of the invitations.
After cutting the cardstock for the card base, I colored it with Ranger's distress inks (Antique Linen and Broken China). Then I stamped on a piece of white paper with a very cute Crafty Secrets clear stamp and colored the images with my copics and then cut them using an oval nestabillities die. Then I used a slightly larger nestabillities die in order to make the scalloped frame that I adhered on the colored image with foam squares.
The finishing touch was the two hearts I added, the red ones are colored with a Copic marker.
Quick and easy, but aren't they cute too?

Beba Layouts: March 2010

2010-05-16T19:50:00.001+03:00

For the March layout I chose a vibrant K and Company backround paper and I used the green and dark pink colors throughout the layout. After adhering the photos on green cardstock and positioning them in place, I
adhered two photos on a tag like cardstock piece and secured it in place with a photo corner because I didn't want to adhere it in place since I did some journaling on the back.
Then I started embellishing the page using color images that I had already mounted on dark pink cardstock for some contrast. Then I cut the Happy Easter and the date with the Cuttlebug "Harmony" alphabet and then made some flowers using pink tulle, they're very easy to make, I just used a round scallop punch to cut them and then added one layer on top of the other and before positioning them on the page I twisted the bottom a bit and then added a pearl in the centre. Last step was to add the butterfly that I had already stamped on acetate and colored with my copics and some glitter and...ready!

Mini albums: Swap at Scrapbookers in Greece III

2010-05-13T23:41:00.000+03:00

This is the gorgeous mini album I received from Effie for the Scrapbookers in Greece mini albums swap. I really loved the diversity of shapes, colors, embellishments, everything about it, a very beautiful mini, totally spring!
It is made from chipboard pages from Sfragidomania and I really liked the material and the shapes. She was so thoughtful and generous (thanks Effie!) so as to send me extra papers and tags in case I wanted to add something to it, as well as a pouch full with embellishments!

She also made me a super cute card with a Sarah Kay (I just love Sarah Kay)!

And here's a video:

Effie I loved your mini, thank you so much!

Project: Mother's Day Basket

2010-05-09T21:37:00.001+03:00

Today is a day of celebration for the moms all around the world, but here in Greece today was a day tinted with rage and grief due to the recent events in downtown Athens. We all realize that, alas, human life worths nothing these days, more so when it happens so close to you and under such circumstances, and after the spectrum of emotions that you go through, the residue is fear, fear for the next day and the next and the next, fear for ourselves, for our loved ones, fear for the human race all around the world.
That being said, I return to my little "safe" world, where I made a basket with flowers for my dear mom.

This is a basket that I've seen many times in various blogs and YouTube videos, so I decided to give it a try:
I started with a 8x8 paper (from the DCWAW Garden Party paper pack) and scored every side at 2 and a half inches. Then I cut four squares at 2 inches and a quarter and adhered them on the four square pieces. I only made four cuts on the whole thing, I added some red lines in the photo so as to give you an idea.
I also covered the lot with Ranger's Crackle Accents.

Then I added the strip of paper for the handle and secured the sides together with a brad, I also added on each side a flower and some green swirls I made.

Then I put inside it many layers of white thin paper that I had already stamped with the Hero Arts's "Old Letter" stamp and red distress ink and then positioned in the center a small plastic pot and...ready!

Happy Mother's Day to all of you moms out there, hope the children of the world will always be safe and happy.

Card Making: Happy Birthday!

2010-05-02T21:33:00.000+03:00

When I received this sweet "Tilda with 3 flowers" I knew I had to use it right away, it is so cute! So I made a happy birthday card for a friend, but since this is my first sitting Tilda, I had to think a little about where she would sit on!LOL!
So, being spring and all, I decided to put her on a tree branch! This is how:
First of all, I used green cardstock for the card base and stamped on it with Versamark and a folliage stamp. Then I heat embossed it with a clear but sparkly embossing powder and then colored the lot with distress inks in various shades of green. Then I wiped the lot with a lightly humid paper towel, so as to reveal the stamped leaves.
Next step was to make the branches, so I cut them freehand from a brown cardstock piece, did some sanding, inking, etc and adhered it on the card. The result was ok but a little flat, so I started punching some leaves using the Martha Stewart Oak Leaf punch, and adhered them in bunches using foam squares.
Then I thought that I should add some tiny flowers and decided to make them myself using a technique that I see everywhere and lately in Scrapbooking in Greece as well. The result was ok, but I decided to enhance it using some UTEE on the petals for a little gloss, I also added a blob of glue in the centre and added some Martha Stewart microbeads.
Then I added the little birds, I cut them from a Cosmo Cricket leftover paper, I think it is quite a cute detail!
Next step, I positioned the Tilda after coloring her with my copics, I chose pink for her outfit because I really wanted her to pop inside all this green!
At this point I thought the card was ready, but then decided to add the Happy Birthday banner, so I colored pink a piece of ribbon and wrote the Happy Birthday on it with a white pen, added some flowers and leaves and...ready! I went wild once more while making this, but it was so much fun!

Beba Layouts: February 2010

2010-04-29T00:01:00.001+03:00

I made for the first time a layout with only one photo! As you've probably noticed by now, I tend to cram many photos on a 12x12 page, but this time I wanted to focus on just one (it's me with my niece to a relative's christening). I also didn't embellish it that much, I just used a Sizzix die to cut two swirls (I also used the negative of the cut in order to make the journaling, cool huh?) and the only real embellishment is the flower I made using grungeboard and some leftover petals from the flowers of the mini book cover.
In the end, I couldn't limit myself to just one photo so I kind of cheated (LOL) and added a couple of photos on two tags and inserted them on the back of the large photo.
Oh, and I love these classic Basic Grey distressed papers!

Card Making: Just a note

2010-04-26T20:11:00.000+03:00

When I was ready to send the mini album to Effie, I wanted to include a little note and I made a card for this purpose: I chose a black and white image with the letter E from a flower fairy alphabet I found online and I colored it using Copic markers and distress inks.
Then I mounted it on dark green cardstock and then on the card I had already made (stamped the backround and then added the swirl borders) and finally I wrote my little note inside.
Isn't it cute?

Mini albums: Swap at Scrapbookers in Greece II

2010-04-24T16:51:00.002+03:00

Effie received my album for the Scrapbookers in Greece mini albums swap, so here it is!

I used six 6x6 cardboard pieces and I covered them with patterned papers from the K & Company Bailey collection.

For the cover, I used Pumice stone distress ink on the edges and the corners, I also stamped with it using the Old Letter Hero Arts stamp. Then I added the frame, I cut it using a Sizzix die, I also colored it with distress inks and some gold Perfect Pearls and also adhered a clear acetate piece on the back.Then I adhered it on the cover using thick foam squares, so that it would be easy to insert the photo mat I also made.

I also altered the little embellishment: I covered it first with green ink, then heat embossed it with a clear but glittery embossing powder and finally covered it with Ranger's Glossy Accents.

Next I made the flowers , I cut plain white thin paper with a Sizzix Build a Flower die, inked them, stamped them and then heat embossed them with UTEE. While the UTEE was still warm, I curled them and adhered the layers one on top of the other. Then I secured them together using a large brad after covering it with Martha Stewart's microbeads.

Final step, I cut the letters using Cuttlebug's Harmony alphabet and after adhering them in place. I colored them with a Red Sakura Stardust pen and finally covered them with Glossy Accents for some 3d look.

For the binding I wanted to use O'wires but after finishing the album it was too chunky even for the largest O'wire (deja vue), so I used ribbon instead.

For the first two pages I made two mini mini albums that can accomodate 10 small photos in total

Next two pages, I colored the flower image on the lower left corner and on the right side I used lace for the first time. I purchased it white so I can color it any color I want using a Copic marker!

I really like Vicky's envelope templates, so I made one for this page. I also made a paper flower using UTEE, I'm starting to really love the diversity of this medium. I also used microbeads on the "love" word, not so succesfully!

I had so much fun coloring the vase with the flowers and while making the photo mat on the right page!.For this, I adhered the pp on a piece of tulle and then I crumbled the tulle around it, heating it with my heat gun and sometimes with a lighter. Then I added the flowers and leaves around it, the result is quite interesting!

The corner was also a fruifull experiment, I adhered layers of lace on the back of an (almost) triangular pp frame I made and then adhered a piece of acetate on the back so that the tags will be easily inserted in the corner.

You can also watch a video I uploaded on Youtube.

So this is it, I really hope you like it!

Mini albums: Swap at Scrapbookers in Greece

2010-04-14T19:47:00.000+03:00

It's been a hectic week, extra busy, but I found time nevertheless to finish the mini album for the Scrapbookers in Greece swap.
My pair is Effie, I really hope she likes it, and here is a teaser :-)))

That's it for now, I'll wait until she receives it before posting the rest of the photos!

Project: Fairy Mirror

2010-04-05T19:50:00.001+03:00

A while ago I had purchased a plain wood mirror from IKEA, I wasn't quite sure how I would alter it but I bought it anyway. So, when Easter was approaching, I thought to make a fairy mirror to give to my niece as a special Easter gift for her new room. Here it is!

First of all, I chose my least favorite cheap Penguin paperback, tore a few pages in pieces and colored them with distress inks.

Then I covered the wood with Claudine Helmuth's Matte Multi Medium and put the pieces in place. Then I coated it with another layer of the medium where I had added a drop of Tattered Rose distress ink so as to have a lightly tinted pink glaze.

I had already colored with my copics some fairy images I found online

I also added some stickles, accented the edges with the Pumice Stone distress ink and then adhered them on the mirror. Then I covered the lot with another coat of the Matte medium where I had also added a drop of pink distress ink. The execution was somewhat cumbersome because the brush left pink streaks on the images, next time I will use a Making Memories foam brush instead.
Then I added some random splashes of glitter on the mirror and adhered the embellishments: I made the little pink blossoms with heating with my heat gun some round pieces of pink tulle so as to have this effect.
I had already stamped the butterflies on a clear acetate sheet and colored them with my copics, I adhered them on the mirror using Ranger's Glossy Accents, I also covered the top of the body with it and before it was all dry I sprinkled it with glitter.
Last step, I colored the plain chipboard letters with distress inks, I also sprinkled them with glitter and adhered them on the mirror with foam squares.
A trully fairy mirror, fit for a little fairy princess!

Happy Easter!

2010-04-04T18:16:00.001+03:00

Happy Easter to you, with health love and happiness!

ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ ΑΝΕΣΤΗ!

Card Making: Easter Card #6

2010-03-30T23:52:00.000+03:00

When I saw this image in BW, I wanted to color it right away! When I did, I wasn't so happy with the result because the colors were too flashy and intense for me, and I didn't know what to do with it, but then I had an idea: I colored it lightly with the Ranger Antique Linen distress ink and the effect was just what I wanted (without knowing it!), it took a light yellowish tint, like pages from an old book, so vintage looking! Then I mounted it with foam pads on a piece of white cardstock that I had already colored with the Tattered Rose distress ink, I also accented the edges with a dark brown Copic and then adhered the lot on the card using foam pads once more, it gave a 3d look to the card.
For the card base I used light green cardstock but decided to give it an aged look, so I colored it with Bundled Sage distress ink, I also used a Tim Holtz mask.
Last detail the ribbon, I colored it with my copics because I wanted it more coral pink, I also added the pearls. It was missing something, so I decided to use one of Tim Holtz's Fragments, I had already printed some vintage postcards I found online and adhered a piece behind the fragment using Ranger's Glossy Accents. Then I made it into a pendant and tied it behind the ribbon with some DMC embroidery floss after coloring it with my copics because I wanted it to match the ribbon.
I must confess, I seriously LOVE my copics!

Card Making: Easter Card #5

2010-03-28T20:05:00.000+03:00

This time I used a Cuttlebug embossing folder after inking it with distress ink. Then I stamped with Stazon on a thin transparent plastic sheet and colored the butterflies with my copics.
For the card base, I covered it with a piece of tulle and then inked it with distress inks. Then I removed the tulle and stamped on the card base with the Hero Arts Old Letter stamp using the same distress ink.
Finally I cut the colored image and adhered it on foam squares and then added the Happy Easter I did with my Dymo on a cardstock strip and...ready!

Card Making: Easter Card #4

2010-03-25T22:35:00.002+02:00

Well, this started not as a card but as an experiment in Claudine Hellmuth's products, in particular I bought the Mat Medium and the white color. So I mixed them and added a drop of Ranger Broken China and started playing with the brush. Then I added some strokes of brown and some greens, and I liked the impromptu sky view so I stamped a little bird and adhered it on a foam square.
Then I added some Crackle Accents on the corners, I must confess that this is my least favorite Ranger product, I can't make it work the way I want.
I finished the "experiment" and didn't want to waste it, so I adhered it on cardstock and made this card, I also accented the edges with the Pumice Stone distress ink. Then I thought to experiment a little more and did some machine stitching for the first time!
A not so ordinary easter card, maybe I should add a flying chicken!LOL!!!

Card Making: Easter Card #3

2010-03-23T20:12:00.000+02:00

In this card I ventured a bold color for the card base, that is a dark but vibrant red. Then I thought to combine it with green, so I used distress inks on a piece of white cardstock and then stamped on it with a Hero Arts Designblock stamp and cut the edges with a round punch.
When I mounted it on the red card, the contrast was too much for me, so I stamped on it with white ink and the Hero Arts Old Letter background stamp (on second thought I should probably have used ivory and not white...)
The combination was perfect for mounting the image, it is a freebie that I colored with my copics. Then I faced the dilemma: how do I adhere it to the card??? So I had the idea to use the tulle I recently purchased from Jumbo, so I colored it first with distress inks, then adhered the image on top with foam squares and...ready!

Crafter's Net: Craft Critique Spring Blog Carnival

2010-03-21T13:21:00.000+02:00

Quick post:

Goodmorning guys, I just wanted to share with you that Craft Critique has quite a few links of fellow crafters/blogers with spring projects in the Spring Blog Carnival post and among them you can find a link to my spring projects!

Check out the post, lots of links with beautiful/interesting stuff.

Card Making: Flowers for U

2010-03-20T21:25:00.000+02:00

I made this card for the name day of a friend of mine. After stamping and coloring the Tilda with my copics, I stamped again but this time I colored only a few roses and the tiny butterfly, I cut them and adhered on top of the colored image with tiny foam squares.
Then I had the idea to do a little something on the lower left corner of the pp (K & Co), that is to do some stitching with green twine, but the result wasn't to my liking and this part of the pp was a disaster. So I thought to try something else prior to tossing it in the garbage: I cut the lower left corner with a round nestabillities die and guess what, it worked! I also cut a smaller circle and when I positioned everything in place it came out so cute!
The detail I like the most is the button, I glued a Basic Grey alpha sticker underneath a clear button and adhered the lot on tulle that I had already cut with a nestabillities die.
I think my friend will love it!

Card Making: Easter Card #2 and Shaker Box Tutorial

2010-03-17T21:55:00.000+02:00

I liked my first shaker card so much that I decided to make another one, I'm so glad you liked it too girls!
Here's the finished card:

And the little bunny in the spotlight! (LOL)

So let's start:
1) I prepared the parts of the card, that is I cut a window in my card (after coloring it with distress inks, stamping on the inside and spraying the front with the water-Perfect Pearls mix, you know, the works). I also cut an oval shape about 1/4 of an inch larger than my focal image (freeby bunny that I printed and colored with my copics) and cut the acetate piece also at 1/4 of an inch larger than my focal image. I also cut a scallop frame.

2) Tip #1: I found this mesh like thing at Jumbo and I tried to use it with distress inks (on a piece of pattern cardstock I had already cut with the MS Trellis border punch) in order to make a pattern, really cool result!

3) Then I cut tiny thick foam pads in half and adhered them around the acetate piece, thank god I remembered to remove the protective sheet first! (LOL)

4) Tip #2. Do you like chunky glitter? I do nowdays but don't have any. So I made some!!! This is how:
I used two small leftovers from the acetate piece I had cut and covered them with Ranger's Glossy Accents. Then I covered the one with green Flowersoft and the other with glitter and did the same on the other side too. I left them to dry for half and hour and then cut them randomly in tiny pieces. How cool is that??? Especially the gliter ones are awesome in real life!

5) I put them inside the acetate frame and then adhered on top the colored image facing down, sealing the tiny pieces inside the shaker box.

6) Next step, I adhered it on the card window using Ranger's Glossy Accents on the perimeter and I colored the back so as to be more uniform with the inside of the card.

Finally I adhered the borders and the flowery Happy Easter and...ready!

Card Making: Easter Card #1

2010-03-15T19:31:00.000+02:00

This is the first of the easter cards I'm making this year, the image is a color freebie I printed and colored on top with my copics.
For the backround I used a Hero Arts Designblock stamp with blue distress ink. Then I cut the window with my nesties and then I thought to make it a kind of shaker card, so I cut a round piece of acetate slightly larger than the window of my card, adhered all around the acetate piece tiny thick foam squares and adhered the colored image on the foam squares. Before sealing it completely I threw inside some very tiny pieces of green cardstock and the two red flowers. Then I adhered the lot behind the window.
For the bottom I just used a leftover I had already cut with the MS Flower Bed punch and for the final touch, I added the Happy Easter sign and...ready!

Layouts: February 2010

2010-03-13T21:38:00.000+02:00

This layout is about a masquerade party that took place in February and I chose the backround paper because it matched perfectly my costume! The frame in the middle was cut with a sizzix die on a pink cardstock piece that I accented with distress inks and sprayed with the Perfect Pearls water mix for some shine.

I made this little book for my journaling, I had so much fun making it!
I cut a piece of pink cardstock, used distress inks and also frayed the edges with the Tim Holtz distress tool (I finally got one) and then sprayed it with the Perfect Pearls water mix.
Then I stamped on a white glossy paper with the Hero Arts Old Leter ruber stamp using red distress ink.I also used distress inks for the edges and a brown copic.
For the corners I used a round punch, I just eyeballed the piece I would cut.
Then I added the labels, I got myself two Dymo labelers from Plaisio, one in greek and one in english, this one cost me 11 euros, and guess what, you can use plain cardstock strips as long as you cut them at 9mm width, you just sand them lightly after the punching of the letters.
And that's what I did, and if you use white core cardstock the contrast is more intense! You can also use the Dymo 3d tapes, unfortunately the color range is restricted to black, red, yellow, orange, green and blue.
My favorite element is the butterfly, I stamped it with Stazon on a piece of acetate and then colored it with my copics, I also added some stickles underneath it for some shine.
I also hid a secret photo behind it, I always like such elements on layouts.

And I enjoyed so much being a queen for a night!LOL!!!

Project: Easter Basket Tutorial

2010-03-08T21:50:00.002+02:00

If you liked the easter basket, here's how you can make one too!

1) I cut 3 strips of paper, the outside decorative strip I cut with the Martha Stewart Flower Bed deep edge punch is an inch and a half wide, the green one is 2 and a half and the pink one is 3 inches. Then I placed one strip on the other and decided that I didn't like the sizes so I narrowed a bit the green strip. I scored on the last two measuring about half an inch from the straight end and then made little fringes with the scissors. The fringes will be glued on the round piece. In order to cut the round piece I used the largest nestabillitie from the large set. I also used distress inks.

2) I adhered the srip on the circle

3) Then I adhered the inside strip

4) Then I adhered the decorative strip and cut the fringes on the pink paper

5) Then I didn't like the inside of the basket, it seemed too plain to me, so I cut two circles, the green one the same size with the base circle and then trimmed it with the scissors so as to make it fit inside after adhering on top the patterned one. Then I cut anothed strip using the border punch, accented the edges with green distress inks and put it in place. I also used the bone folder to bend the pink strips and added some pink distress ink on top.

6) Then I used the Fiskars Threading Water border punch on a 12 inches long strip, I punched the one side from one end to the other, then cut it at one inch width and punched the other side too. I also cut 2 very narrow strips from the pp, one for underneath the green one and the other to be placed on top the green one.
Then I added the handle on the basket.

7) I used this cute little stamp and then I adhered it with foam pads on a larger round piece of paper. Then I made the "happy easter" strip using white paper and distress inks. I adhered it on the basket with foam pads, on the exact spot where the edges of the decorative strips meet, so the "seam" is not visible.

8) And here's the final result:

Ok, I think I overdid it a bit, but still, isn't it cute?

Project: Easter Basket

2010-03-04T23:22:00.003+02:00

I had some leftovers from the photo frame project and there was one I wanted to use in something, that was a strip of pp that I had already punched with the Martha Stewart Trellis border punch, about 5 inches long and didn't use it.
So I was fooling around with it, not sure how I could use it, when I bent it and formed a circle. Easter coming, I had the idea to use it in order to make a kind of basket, so I started experimenting:
I made a base by cutting a circle on cardstock at a size that the punched strip I started with would cover all around it. Then I realized that there was no way to adhere the border on the base, so I cut a strip of green cardstock about an inch and a half width and adhered that first on the base. The trick is to cut narrow fringes about a quarter of an inch deep, so as to glue theese fringes on the base following the round shape.
Then I didn't like the way it looked and used my scissors to cut irregular fringes on the upper part too.
Then I adhered the punched border around it, but it was still missing something. So I decided to add a handle, I just glued together two narrow strips, a pp on top of a cardstock strip.
Then I made two little bows and fastened them with some hidden stitches on the left and right of the handle.

Then it still seemed to me it needed a little something, so I used a wider strip of pink paper and adhered it inside the basket after making fringes to that too. I also accented the edges with red distress ink.
Final step, I threw inside the basket some crumbled pieces of pink paper and sprinkled the lot with the water and Perfect Pearls mixture for some shine. I didn't add anything else on this, and now I see it again, not too bad for an experiment!!!
If I'm not too lazy, I'll make a few for easter gifts for my friends and if I actually do this, I'll take photos of the steps so you 'll be able to make one if you like it!

Photo frame

2010-02-28T22:41:00.002+02:00

In this photo frame I used a standard 4x6 photo, so I can change the photo anytime with a new one.
In order to make this photo frame I cut a cardstock paper at 6x8 and drew with a pencil a frame on the cardstock leaving 1 inch on each side.
Then I cut a patterned paper in 8 pieces, the 4 of them at 1x1, the 2 of them at 1x4 and the other two at 1x6 inches. Next step, I covered theese strips with Versamark and heat embossed them 3 times with UTEE. When they were cool, I folded them in random because I wanted to have a crackled result. Next time I'll use Ranger's Crackle Accents because the result is prettier, but with UTEE the process is much much faster. Last step, I adhered the strips on my cardstock mat.
Then I cut a strip of green cardstock with the Fiskars Threading Water border punch and cut them in four pieces, 2 pieces at 1x4 inches and the other 2 at 1x6 inches. I sanded the edges a bit an covered the lot with a Sakura Stardust pen and finally adhered them on the frame.
Then I stamped the butterflies, they are from the Hero Arts Antique Engravings clear stamp set and colored them with my copics and before adhering them with foam pads on the frame I sprinkled them with the water and Perfect Pearls mix for some shine.
Last step, I used DMC pearlescent thread that I colored red with my copics around the frame and for the tiny bow, added the tiny Prima flowers and... ready!

Layouts: January 2010

2010-02-23T20:41:00.001+02:00

In this layout I used a patterned paper from Creative Imaginations (if I'm not mistaken), I really liked the muted tones of red green an brown because they complemented the color tones of the big photo which I mounted on red Coredinations cardstock and then adhered on the page with foam squares. Then I adhered the rest of the photos on a green Coredinations piece of cardstock, I like this cardstock a lot because the core color is a lighter shade of the main color, so it is ideal for distressing, tearing, sanding etc. Then I stamped on ivory smooth cardstock and colored with my copics the Sarah Kays and mounted them on dark brown cardstock after cuting it with scallop nestabillities and sanding it a lot in order to reveal the beige inner color. After that I added the title and the date using Basic Grey sticker alphas after changing the color with my copics. I also colored the tiny bows I made, that's another reason I love my copics, you can color on (almost) everything!
Next step was the little embellishment on the lower left corner, it is a Dover publications sample image that I colored with my copics, also used some Sakura Stardust pens and I coverd it with Ranger's Glossy Accents before adhering it on the page with foam pads.
Last thing I made is the flower on the left, I used the Slice and cut two pieces of pattered paper, same size and design, and then used a lot of distress inks in red and pink shades. After that I adhered the one on top the other with foam pads and covered the top one with Ranger's Crackle Accents. After it was dry, I cut two circles from pp, one slightly larger than the other and used the scissors to cut the fringes around them. Then I added the large flower underneath and finally secured the whole together with a velvet brad. Last step I lifted the fringes and pushed them closely around the brad and..ready!

Layouts: December 2009

2010-02-21T20:40:00.002+02:00

In this layout (background paper from the Cosmo Cricket "Jolly by Golly" collection) I used cardstock mats in green and ivory in order to create two different zones for two different events. Then I adhered the rest of the photos as well as some embellishments: on the left I added photos of two christmas cards I made and on the top left I made an embellished journalig spot buy using two circles and a tiny bow. On the top right I added a stamped image, this time I did it a little differently: I stamped the image on paper, colored it, then adhered on top a piece of clear acetate and then on top a second piece of clear acetate where I had already stamped the same image with stazon. It gave it a kind of 3d look, but couldn't take a decent close up, so you can't realy see it from the photo. Then I stamped the "Merry Christmas" on American Crafts ribbon (I had already colored it red with a Copic marker) and adhered the little banner with foam dots. The last embellishment I added is the one in the middle, they're Dover publications free sample images that I printed in different sizes and colored with my copics, I also used Sakura Stardust pens for some details and then covered them with Ranger's Glossy Accents.I used some gold thread (I used the Bow-Easy for the multiple tiny bow) but also adhered them on foam dots in order to keep them in place and...ready!

Layouts: November 2009

2010-02-18T21:05:00.001+02:00

This layout is about the first greek crop that took place in November. I wanted to create a colorful and vibrant page and I think I accomplished it! After adhering the photos and the cards that I made that day as well as some memorabilia, there was no room left, so I folded a piece of paper in two and used the inside for my journaling. I embellished the front of the card with distress inks, the Hero Arts "Old Letter" stamp and then I used a strip of a patterned paper where I added some Flower Soft. Then I added the label, I cut it using a Label One die (Nestabillities) and finally adhered the date and...ready!

Layouts: October 2009

2010-02-16T23:04:00.000+02:00

The inspiration for this page was a patterned paper I saw that had flowers and vines on the left side of the page. So I started from scratch and made at first the trellis using the Martha Stewart deep edge border punch. Then I cut the flourishes using a Sizzix Bigz die and then I was ready to use another Sizzix die for the flowers, but then I decided to try to make the flowers myself by distressing the edges of plain circles and putting one on top of the other. I also used tons of distress inks and added random strokes with markers on each circle and then crumbled them a little. When I assembled the flowers they needed something more for the centre, so I used clear buttons and twine. To be honest, I really love the result but didn't enjoy that much the process, I used a craft knife to distress the edges and it took me ages!
For the title I adhered the patterned paper (all the patterned papers are from the "Bailey" K & Company paper pack) on plain chipboard and run it through my Cuttlebug with the "You're not the boss of me" alphabet, I also accented the edges with a dark brown marker.
I think that the final result is lovely, even more so because almost everything came from my hands!

Baby Layout: January 2010

2010-02-15T22:26:00.000+02:00

In this layout I used two papers from the My Mind's Eye "Wonderful Winter" paper pack, I absolutely love this paper pack, gorgeous colours, all glittered, beautiful designs, and 54 pages, stunning collection. I used the Cuttlebug "You're not the boss of me" alphabet dies for the title, then I stamped the images (using Dovecraft victorian christmas stamps) and colored them with my copics, then I punched them with a round punch and adhered them on my page using foam dots, and finally I covered them with Ranger's Glossy Accents. For the journaling I just cut pieces of white paper and colored them with distress inks. I didn't feel like adding anything else, so...ready!

Baby Layout:: December 2009

2010-02-14T18:18:00.003+02:00

It seems to me that lately I 've lost my mojo :-( , but that's ok, I just keep going and hopefully it will come back!
In this layout my favorite element is the little envelope, I cut it in my CraftRobo using a template that Vicky created and generously shared, you can get it too HERE and you know what, she also shared a PDF template so you don't have to have a digital die cutting machine, you can just cut it by hand! Isn't that cool?
Then I used distress inks and also sprayed it with a water and Perfect Pearls mix and after it was dry I stamped on top with my latest favorite toy, the Hero Arts "Old Letter Writing" stamp, using green distress ink. Inside I put a copy of my niece's first "letter from Santa"!
I also used Ranger's "Crackle Accents" on the small printed embellishments, I didn't like it because it ruined the colors of the image, I think I'll only use it on cardstock, pp etc. The papers and the stiker are from the Cosmo Cricket "Jolly by Golly" collection. The "Twinkle Little Star" is a stamped paper piece that I coated with UTEE, I really like UTEE because it gives an epoxy finish very easily and quickly.

Baby Layout: November 2009

2010-02-05T20:35:00.000+02:00

In this layout I used once more a Martha Stewart deep edge punch, this time the "Flower Bed" and then used on the other side the scalloped blade in my Fiskars trimmer and finally I accented the edges with pink/red distress inks.

The papers are actually the two sides of the same sheet, from K & Company.

For the title I used American Crafts "Giggle" white foam alphas that I colored with my copics, and I added in the middle the embellishments, I used a stamped flower in the bottom, then added a bow and on top a clear button after adhering some paper at the bottom with stickles.

The "drink" in the lower left corner occured to me when I positioned the two photos with a little inclination and the gap between them seemed like a glass to me (LOL!) so I cut a white paper, adhered it under the photos and colored it in the quick with my copics, the result is childish but it matches the theme of the two photos.

The little gingerbread figure in the top right corner is a Slice design, the date was made with Basic Grey alphabet stickers that I covered with Sakura Stardust pens and....ready!

Baby Layout: October 2009

2010-02-03T20:34:00.002+02:00

For this layout I wanted something with a dash of purple, so I used this K & Company patterned paper and combined it with brown cardstock that I cut with the Martha Stewart Trellis deep edge punch. I used my Slice to cut the title and a white pen for the faux stitch.
After adhering the journaling, I noticed that I needed some embellishments, so I cut the petals of a Prima "Whispers" yellow flower and colored brown a few clear buttons with my copics. Last step, I added the big clear button after stamping on it with stazon and coloring it with my copics. It smeared a lot, so I tried to keep clear of the black ink, not so easy!!!
Althought the color combination is unusual to me, I think the final result is ok.

Card Making: 3d Card Frame

2010-01-31T20:55:00.001+02:00

I did it! I cut my first shape with my Craft Robo Lite! Whoooohoooo!
Well, to be honest with you, I had it standing on my desk for a month but was intimidated to use it...LOL!
I've been using the program without the actual cutting, just making shapes and trying to understand what it will cut...I definitely have to read the manual, step by step, but I'm too lazy for it, so I kept fooling around and I did the card template, hoping it would be ok.
So, today I thought to give it a try and I was overwhelmed when I saw that it did what I hoped it would do!
I have to make one adjustment to the file because I used the same size for the front and for the back while (I found it out after the cut) the back must be a little shorter so that the front is more recline backwards. As soon as I correct it I will post the GSD file that I made.
I also used a Basic Grey pp from the "Nook and Pantry" collection and the sweet Tilda. This time I colored her with Prisma pencils, I have to say that I prefer my copics but I'll try next time to combine them, like coloring with copics and adding accents with pencils, I've read about it somewhere but I can't remember where.
For the little bushes I just cut scallop circles on green cardstock and then used distress inks in green for the edges.
Last step I added the happy birthday, I cut a tiny cake from the pp, covered with Sakura Stardust pens and adhered it with a foam dot.
I like so much this pink oh so girly birthday card, my friend will love it!

If you like this kind of cards, here's another one I made a few months ago.

Crafter's Net: CHA Top PIcks

2010-01-28T22:39:00.000+02:00

New products are coming down like rain in the 2010 winter CHA, so here are my top picks!

For Slice:

Hands-free accessory - ain't that handy or what?
Fusible Web makes fabric cutting a piece of cake!

For Cuttlebug:

6" x 13" spacer mat, cutting mats and adapter mat, at last!

Tim Holtz die cutting machine and more

We R Memory Keepers "Cinch", a kind of Bind it All, interesting tool.

Sizzix Eclips die cutting machine

And here's an odd product from Spellbinders, the Presto Punch, well, not a winner in my humble opinion!

Enjoy!

Crafter's Net: Basic Grey Fabric

2010-01-27T19:06:00.001+02:00

Quick post:

check THIS out, Basic Grey goes FABRIC!
Yummmyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!
I see fabric flowers everywhere...LOL!

Baby Layout: September 2009

2010-01-26T21:08:00.000+02:00

Pink and green once more with a sprinkle of yellow here and there. The background paper is K & Company and I used green cardstock in order to make the details: for the thin scallop lines I used the scallop blade in my Fiskars paper trimmer and the frame for the main photo was made with the Fiskars "Threading Water" border punch and then I made the little bows with an American Crafts ribbon.
Then I stamped the little faces on a piece of white photo paper (Inkadinkado asian themed clear stamps set) but I made a mask because I only wanted to use the heads (I know it sounds weird, LOL!), I also masked the inside of the hair because I wanted to color them and then I adhered them with 3d foam on the dark pink scallop circles.
Finally I added the journaling (I just realized I mispelled the month, LOL!) and the title, it was made with American Crafts "Giggle" white foam alphas that I colored with my copics.
I really like the little faces!

Baby Layout: August 2009

2010-01-24T19:34:00.002+02:00

Once more I used my favorite color combo, pink and green. The backround paper is K & Company and used cardstock mats in order to enhance the focus on the large photos. The creative element that I like the most in this layout is the journaling spot I made: after positioning the photos, I took a piece of patterned paper and a ruler and drew the shape and rounded the corners with a corner punch. Then I used a Tim Holtz mini mask and distress inks and last step I added the white faux stitch around it.Then I added the date using the Cuttlebug "Harmony" alphabet and the green flower (Prima from the "Whispers" collection). The little button on the flower was clear and I colored it with a Copic marker.

A cute Sketchbook! #2

2010-01-23T19:15:00.003+02:00

I really liked this sketchbook so I made another one (background paper from the Cosmo Cricket "Earth Love" collection.)!
LOL!
I also noticed that I have to buy some O'wires, the only color I have is red!
LOL LOL!
Now, in order to give some meaning to this post
LOL LOL LOL!
I'll give you a tip: when you do something with the Bind it all, at the point that you cut the covers, always cut them larger than your actual pages, particularly in width, let's say half an inch, especially when you 'll use many pages in your book/album etc. This way the outcome of the binding is better looking. Of course this is also a matter of personal taste, but in my case I prefer it this way.
And another tip, about blending the colors with your markers: this time I colored the Tilda starting with the darkest color, then blended the color with a lighter shade and then blended the total with the lightest shade. I found that this way I color faster and probably don't waste as much ink as I do when I start with the lighest shade. On the other hand, putting a very dark color on "dry" paper may have as a result a not so uniform blending, because the paper is not already soaked with a lightest shade and that means that it will absorb all your dark ink, so if you use dark shades, that's something to consider.
Now, about this sketchbook, since I'll use it mostly for coloring with markers, in order to avoid soaking through the next page and wasting it, I used the idea of the repositionable Zutter pages: I punched a page and then used the scissors and cut the paper between the slots and the edge of the paper. This way I can secure this scrap paper behind the page I'm coloring and when I'm done I can remove it and put it behind the next page.

A cute Sketchbook!

2010-01-20T22:50:00.004+02:00

It's been a while now that I wanted to make a small sketchbook for stamping, experimenting with color combinations, etc.
So I made this one!
For the covers I cut chipboard pieces and covered them with paper. For the front cover I used a Basic Grey patterned paper from the "Nook and Pantry" collection. In order to make the frame I used the Sizzic "Ornate Frame" die on white paper and colored it with distress inks but the result was a little flat so I added some touches with my green copics. Then I wanted to emboss it with some sparkly clear embossing powder but I discovered after the embossing that it was accidentally mixed with some white embossing powder (I can't imagine how!!!) so the result was a little surprise! Then I added the colored Tilda, I also touched the roses with the red Sakura Stardust pen for a little sparkle, and finally added the little flowers and the "label".
Cute cute cute!

Candy Time from Eleni

2010-01-17T20:37:00.001+02:00

Eleni's blog "My Magnolia Creations" is celebrating its first birthday and has some candy for you!
Check it out!

JYC 2009: Cover

2010-01-17T19:53:00.004+02:00

In order to make the cover I cut two pieces of plain grey cardboard in 7x13 inch pieces. I painted using red distress ink, but then changed my mind and wanted it green (LOL!). So, I used Ranger's white paint Adirondack dabber after adding a bit of water in the bottle because I wanted it less thick and painted the whole thing in small circular movements going up and when reaching the top going down and so on. Then, while the paint was still wet, I sprayed the whole with a water and Ranger's Perfect Pearl mixture.
Here's a photo:

Then, I positioned the Winter Crystal Tattered Angel's screen (it's the first time that I use it and really liked it) and covered the whole thing with Ranger's Distress inks in green shades. And here's the result:

LOL!!!!!

Then I wanted to make a window in the cover so I used a round frame to draw a circle and then cut it.

Next step, I thinned a bottle of Ranger's Rock Candy crackle paint with water, mixed well and covered the front and back cover, using not the brush but a piece of foam to spread the paint.
Here's a photo:

Whent it was dry I made holes around the window and threaded red ribbon through them and finally added a bow. Last step, I added the title (Basic Grey chipboard letters that I painted with Ranger's Distress inks and then added Ranger's Rock Candy crackle paint) and added the hole on the right and the red ribbon for the closure.

And here it is:

For the binding I used the Bind It All and the biggest O'wires available, not the smartest thing to do because the album is very chunky, next time I want to do something fat I 'll propably do a gatefold album.

The binding was ok but I wanted to make sure that the pages wouldn't fall out, so I did some extra wiring: I used a nail to make a tiny wire:

and then catched the loops of the O'wire with it:

If you want to try this, it helps to tie one end of the wire to a table leg and then use the nail in circular movements, so as to make the tiny wire.

JYC 2009 officially over, can't wait for next year!

Sunshine Award!

2010-01-12T00:38:00.001+02:00

I just received a sunshine award from Thekla! Thanks girl!

So I have to post it, give it to 12 favorite bloggers and link to their blogs and notify them, so....drums please....the award (in random order) goes to...

JYC 2009: Day 37

2010-01-09T23:26:00.001+02:00

The last prompt was about the conclusion of this journey, and I thought this little waving girl (Dover publications free sample that I printed in BW and colored with my copics) would fit just right. I used a Cuttlebug embossing folder on white cardstock for the bacground and then I printed and wrote my journaling on the back of the little cards but for copyright reasons of the manufacturer (duh...) I messed them a bit on Adobe Elements so they can't be copied as they are (...).
Last step was the title, I used Basic Grey alphabet stickers that I colored white.
JYC 2009 almost ready, the only thing left to do is the cover!

JYC 2009: Day 36

2010-01-08T22:04:00.001+02:00

Prompt 36 was about putting the tree, decorations, etc away. So I took some photos, "cooked" them a bit with filters in Adobe Elements, adhered them together and then I adhered them on green cardstock in order to make the mat.
Then I did the red folder for the journaling tag: I used the Nestabillites Labels 1 die in order to cut the upper part of the cardstock and colored the edges with distress inks. Then I used the negative scrap paper of a snowflake die cut as a mask for the snowflake, where I first used distress ink in dark green and then I sprayed it with a Perfect Pearl and water mix (as seen on a Jennifer Mcguire video). For the tag I used two layers of cardstock and on the back I sprayed again with the Perfect Pearl water mix and then adhered a printout image on top.
Finally, I attempted to make the date using twine, well, we'll see if it will remain in place...LOL!

JYC 2009: Day 35

2010-01-04T22:46:00.002+02:00

Today's prompt was about organizing next Christmas by writing down things that we want to remember.
I kept it simple, but I really like the bookplates: I cut them on white cardstock colored lightly and in random with pink distress ink, stamped with Versamark using a stamp with a branch design and heat embossed with clear embossing powder. Then I colored again with deep red distress ink, so that it filled the spots that were not embossed and the result is almost a crackle/marble effect.
Then I used a clear Copic Atyou Spica pen on the tiny Prima flowers for a little sparkle and added the little embellishment on the left, it's a BW image (Dover Publications free sample) that I colored.
Last step, I added the title using ready made Basic Grey adhesive alphabet, it goes without saying that I used Sakura Stardust pens on them!

JYC 2009: Day 34

2010-01-04T22:33:00.000+02:00

Today was the first day at work after 2 weeks off, so the truth is that I don't feel any christmassy at all, but I thought to keep going with the JYC.
That being said, this prompt was about our favorite moment of the holidays and we "had" to use a special paper, ornament, etc. so I used a large chipboard ornament that matched an adhesive paper snowflake from the collection I've been using (Figgy from Basic Grey), I also used Ranger's Liquid Pearls around the photo and also in order to make the little pearls.
On the journaling spot I used a mini mask by Tim Holtz and distress inks.
Final step the title, I used ready made Basic Grey adhesive alphabet that I covered with Sakura Stardust pens and...ready!

JYC 2009: Day 33

2010-01-03T20:18:00.000+02:00

Prompt 33 was about moments of innocence during the holidays and the challenge was to use only white color. I used a photo where my niece is sleeping, I didn't do any journaling because I think that the image speaks for itself! Then I used a Cuttlebug embossing folder for the cardstock, cut the frame for the photo using nestabillities dies and white DCWV cardstock with glitter, stamped the butterflies (they are from the Hero Arts 2010 collection, it's a clear stamps set called "Antique Engravings") with Versamark on white glossy photo paper and heat embossed with white embossing powder.
Tip: if you want to heat emboss on glossy photo paper, be careful with the temperature: you have to use the heat gun on low temperature and for a few seconds each time or else your photo paper will melt. So I heated it for 5-6 seconds, let it cool for 5-6 seconds, heat again for 5-6 seconds, let it cool, and so on until the picture is overally embossed.
Final step, I added the title, I made it using the Cuttlebug Harmony alphabet and...ready!

JYC 2009: Day 32

2010-01-03T20:04:00.000+02:00

Prompt 32 was about resolutions for the new year and the challenge was to use something that we don't regularly use, like a color, etc, so I did a dark color combo. About the resolutions, I made seven pockets in the patterned paper and inserted a tag, each one with a resolution for 2010. Then I used the Fiskars Threading Water punch and made the borders, I also used Ranger's Perfect Pearls in order to make the little dots, and...ready!

JYC 2009: Day 31

2010-01-02T23:28:00.001+02:00

Prompt 31 was about the New Year's Eve (obviously). We also "had" to use sparkle, so I 've gone wild with stickles! I made a mini album, I made a frame for the cover using the nestabillities rectangle dies and DCWV glitter cardstock. Then colored the cute Tilda on the left, added the journaling and the title and...ready!

JYC 2009: Day 30

2010-01-02T23:13:00.000+02:00

This prompt was about looking back to the events of 2009, so I made a kind of timeline, but the events are picked rather in random because I did it really quickly and didn't have that much time to contemplate on 2009. I used stickles for the titile and when it was dry I coated with Ranger's Glossy Accents, it seals the stickles and it gives a nice glossy and 3d look, and...ready!

JYC 2009: Day 29

2010-01-01T22:14:00.000+02:00

In this prompt I journaled about the vasilopita that we make on the 29th, I distressed the edges of the cardstock for a worn look and also used (what else?) distress inks. The ribbon is American Crafts but I toned it down with a Copic marker. The christmas images are printed images from Dover publications free samples, and...ready!
Just to add that this year my niece Rania found the coin in her piece!

JYC 2009: Day 28

2010-01-01T22:08:00.000+02:00

Prompt 28 was about what we indulge in during the holidays, so here 's a quick layout. I did the journaling on the back of the tags and used the tiny printed images (Dover publications free samples) and brads that I colored red with my copics in order to secure them in place in combination with the green twine and..ready!

Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T22:02:00.002+02:00

Happy New Year to you all,
hope all your wishes will come true!

WWScrapDivas Blog Candy!

2009-12-31T00:57:00.001+02:00

Quick post:
Check out THIS blog candy from the Wild West Scrap Divas!
PS: Lena TFS!

JYC 2009: Day 27

2009-12-29T22:24:00.002+02:00

Prompt 27 was about sleep during the holidays, so I couldn't resist the temptation to use again the little sleeping girl image (Dover Publications free sample), I printed it on BW and colored it with my copics.
Then I used a nestabillities round scallop die on white cardstock and distress inks in order to do the clouds. I used the white Sakura Soufle pen to do the journaling, it's not visible in the photo, and then I added the title and the snowflake, I used distress inks and Stickles on it and...ready!

JYC 2009: Day 26

2009-12-28T22:45:00.004+02:00

Prompt 26 was about "Boxing Monday" a UK custom, so I didn't follow the prompt and did a layout about what I did on the 26th.
I made a mini accordion album on the right side of the page, I added the brad on the right to fasten it, then I noticed that it opened on the left side too (LOL) so I added another brad on the left. The thread is a pearlescent DMC that I colored red with a copic market, I really love the sparkle in these threads.
Then I added the journaling spot and the photo on the left and used silver stickles all over the page.
Final step the title, I used the Cuttlebug "Baby Face" and "You 're not the Boss of Me" alphabets on silver DCWV cardstock and ready!

JYC 2009: Day 25

2009-12-27T22:29:00.001+02:00

In this layout I wanted to use as many photos as possible, so I came up with the "gift" idea: I cut a patterned paper at 10""x12" and scored it at 4'' and at 8'', so I made something like a trifold card. I adhered the middle section on my page, and on it as well as on the two flaps, top and bottom, I adhered my photos, so I managed to fit three rows of small sized photos in this space. I used the white back side of the flaps to do my journaling, then I used distress inks on them and on top I did the gift image using a Pebbles stencil and the Sakura Stardust pens.
Then I added the ribbon and the images (Dover Publications free samples), I adhered the tiny image in the bottom using a thick foam pad so as the upper flap of the "present" will stay in place.
Then I added the title using Basic Grey alphabet stickers that I covered with a Sakura Stardust pen and ready!

JYC 2009: Day 24

2009-12-27T22:14:00.000+02:00

In prompt 24 that was obviously about the Christmas eve, I wanted to use the image of the little girl on the left (Dover Publications free sample). So I printed it in BW and then colored it with my copics. Cuuute!
Then I wanted to add a photo of the two last cards I did for this year, so I made a pocket, used the Fiskars "Threading Water" border punch on the top and some pink string, and inserted the little cards inside it.
Then I added the title using Basic Grey alphabet stickers that I enhanced with the Sakura Stardust pens (as usual!) and ready!

JYC 2009: Day 23

2009-12-26T22:28:00.001+02:00

Prompt 23 was about Christmas stockings and more generally the customs in the presentation of gifts.

So I just stamped and color with my copics the cute Sarah Kay (Noel Eve). Then I embossed a piece of white cardstock, I also used distress inks, and used it as a mat for the stamped image.

Next step, I folded a white cardstock sheet in half and I cut a piece about 5x4 inches so as to make a card. Then I sketched on it with a pencil the shape of a stocking and cut around it except from the upper part. I inked it with distress inks and used a white Sakura Soufle to make the faux stitches. Then I added a piece of white felt on top and the letters (Basic Grey) and finally I covered the letters with Ranger's Glossy Accents for a 3d look. I did my journaling inside.

Last step, I added the embellishments on the left (Dover Publucations free samples), I used Ranger's Glossy Accents on them too and ready!