Scrapfriends Design Team!!! Woohoo!!!

Hello my friends!!!

I am really excited to announce that I made the design team over at Scrapfriends, an Australian scrapbook supplies store and challenge blog!

I must say that I was really surprised as there was just one spot available and I know how much talent there is out there!!! You are all amazing!!!

Angela Star, the owner, makes the MOST amazing and inspiring sketches!!!

I can't wait to get started in February! (I didn't have enough time to make something for January)

Congrats to all the talented ladies that are on the team! I have a lot to learn from them!!!

And here is a small interview for the introduction!

 ❤  ❤  ❤  

VICKY VARVADOUKA

Tell us a little about your background:

I live in beautiful,sunny Greece, I am happily married and have two little girls aged 5 and 3,5. I am 34 y.o. and I work as an assistant to the IR officer in a big gambling company. I only find time to scrap at night or during the weekend! It's my getaway and relaxing time!

How long have you been scrapbooking?

I discovered scrapbooking when I decided to make my daughter's baptism guest book on my own in 2008! However, I only started making layouts in late 2010 and have been obsessed ever since!

Type[s] of scrapping you’re ‘into’?

I love making 12"x12" layouts and mini albums (when I have the time).

…and your style?

...hmmmm...I would say shabby chic &; eclectic. Although I like to experiment with different styles and products so you could say "free styler" too!  The colors I like to use are usually bold and bright!

You love to use…

I love to create with flowers, altered chipboard, handmade bits and pieces and gauze!!! Can't live without my mists and stencils.

Current fave products?

I just bought some dylusions and I love their bright color! The Crafter's Workshop stencils are just awesome!

Vibrant & vivacious is Vicky...& so is her work. I'm sure you'll agree when you see what she's got in store for you! Big wave 'hello', Vicky, & an even BIGGER 'welcome to the team'!!

 ❤  ❤  ❤  

And here are my fellow designers:

Thanks for visiting!

I wish you all have a great,happy and creative 2013!!!!

Lots of hugs and kisses!!!!

xxxxxx

"Live in full color" - Susan K. Weckesser!

Hello everyone!

I am super excited as this is my 1st layout for Susan K. Weckesser!

 Now, let me tell you something...when you have Susan's papers in front of you, you really want to make something happy, fun and colorful!!! The papers are so good quality and the colors so vibrant...I LOVE them!!!

So, inspired by that saying "Live in full color", I made a layout with a photo of my daughter surrounded by flowers!!!

"Live in full color"

I have used Susan's papers which I have cut out in stripes!

I did some fussy cutting too and used that lovely purple flower, the clouds and the circles!!!

I have also used the stencil! 

The papers were too colorful so I applied some gesso in the middle and then I used Susan's stencil in various little places and applied distress inks with a sponge! The rest of the embellies are handmade by Purple Pumpkin!

Purple Pumpkin products:

I have used crochet flowers, a doily, tickets, twine, patterned fabric buttons and the beautiful purple felt banner!

Materials used:

Papers, stencil: Susan K. Weckesser

Handmade embellies: Purple Pumpkin

Gesso: Martha Stewart

Mist: Dylusions by Ranger

Inks: Distress inks by Ranger

Gauze

Sketch by Angela Star from Scrapfriends:

My wish for you is to always try to live your life in full color!
We only have one life to waste it....

Happy New year to you all!!!!

God bless you and your families!

Have a nice day!!

Vicky

"Little Sprout" - Green Tara & Scrapmatts

"Little Sprout"

Hello everyone!!!

This is my DD Nefeli her first days at home!!!
So sweet and precious memories!!!

It is a bizarre design but it just popped up in my head!!!

I have used the Rainforest Butterfly again in pink (love it)!!!

In this little cluster you can see the GORGEOUS Aster Batik 
 flowers and velvet leaves which are great together!!! The chipboard heart is from Scrapmatts!!!

One of my favorite funky ribbon is that Fuschia Cobweb!!!
It is SO impressive!!! You can also use it with gesso or molding paste
as a stencil!!! I will do that and show you next time ;)

In this cluster the big center flower is called  
Burgundy Laurel and is so delicate!! 

You can see the Aster Batik again, the beautiful Heirlooms 
and the pink Tutu which is perfect for girly/baby projects!!

The little white chipboard angel is Scrapmatts!!

These lovely heart shaped chipboard are Scrapmatts too!!!!!

Materials used:
Papers: Basic Grey
Flowers, ribbon, leaves, butterfly: Green Tara
Chipboard: Scrapmatts
Mist: Tattered Angels
Distress stain: Ranger

Thank you for visiting my blog!

Hugs to all!!!

xxxx

Christmas love campaign!!!

Hello again!

This post is to remind you about the "Christmas Love Campaign" organized by Susan K. Weckesser. It is such a sensitive and beautiful gesture!!! We are all going through difficult times and this is a message of love and kindness! We can show our sensitivity and humanity towards the people around us!

There is a contest that is going on right now for

 the Christmas Love Campaign.

So what do you have to do?

EASY!!!

Just make any kind of Christmas tag with any supplies you have to hand and you could win some AMAZING Westcott goodies..Wooohooohoooo!!!

Once you have made your tag, take a picture and post them to the CLC facebook page or leave a link on here in comments.

If you could stop by the Westcott facebook page here and say hi that would be Fabulous!!!

Have a nice day !!!

xxxxx

Christmas candy & DT call at Scrapfriends!

Scrapfriends is having a Christmas candy so make sure you visit and share for a chance to win!!

They are also having a DT call! So check this out too!!!

Have a nice day!!!

Στηρίξτε τα Ελληνικά ιδρύματα!!! ΟΠΑΠ Α.Ε.

Αυτά τα Χριστούγεννα ευχήσου σε έναν άγνωστο και εμείς θα στηρίξουμε το ίδρυμα της επιλογής σου - είναι για καλό!

Αυτά τα Χριστούγεννα η ΟΠΑΠ σε καλεί στο Facebook

να κάνεις το καλό με μια απλή ευχή

Τα Χριστούγεννα φέρνουν τους ανθρώπους πιο κοντά, είναι η κατεξοχήν γιορτή αγάπης και προσφοράς για όλον τον κόσμο. Ιδιαίτερα εφέτος, αυτή η ανάγκη για προσφορά γίνεται πιο επιτακτική και απαραίτητη από ποτέ.

Με αυτό το σκεπτικό η ΟΠΑΠ στηρίζει κοινωφελή ιδρύματα και με το «Δέντρο των Ευχών»: ένα διαδικτυακό δέντρο που «στολίζεται» με τις ευχές όλων όσων θελήσουν να τις γράψουν και να τις αφιερώσουν σε 10 κοινωφελή ιδρύματα. Τα Ιδρύματα θα ενισχύσει οικονομικά η ΟΠΑΠ !

Με δυο λόγια, λοιπόν, «Βάλε την ευχή σου στο Δέντρο των Ευχών και… κάνε το καλό!».

Το «Δέντρο των Ευχών» θα το βρει ο καθένας:

·        Στην επίσημη σελίδα της ΟΠΑΠ στο facebook όπου θα κάνει like. facebook.com/opapsocial

·        Θα ανοίξει στη συνέχεια το application «Δέντρο των Ευχών» και θα γράψει μια ευχή για έναν άγνωστο.

·        Την ευχή αφιερώνει σε 1 από τα 10 κοινωφελή ιδρύματα που επιθυμεί να ενισχύσει η ΟΠΑΠ.

·        Αν θέλει, τέλος, μπορεί να διαβάσει μία ευχή, που του χάρισε κάποιος άγνωστος!

Η πρόσκληση/πρόκληση ισχύει από χτες έως και τις 7 Ιανουαρίου 2013.

Στο «Δέντρο των Ευχών» συμμετέχουν τα παρακάτω ιδρύματα:

v    Αναρρωτήριο Πεντέλης (πρώην ΠΙΚΠΑ)

v    Κέντρο Αποκατάστασης Αναπήρων Παίδων Βούλας

v    Άσυλο του Παιδιού Θεσ/νίκης

v    Θεραπευτήριο Χρόνιων Παθήσεων Θεσ/νίκης «ο Άγιος Παντελεήμων»

v    Κέντρο Αποθεραπείας και Αποκατάστασης Ανάπηρων Παιδιών Θεσ/νίκης

v    Θεραπευτήριο Χρόνιων Παθήσεων Δωδεκανήσου

v    Οργανισμός Δημόσιας Αντίληψης Ζακύνθου

v    Κέντρο Φυσικής Ιατρικής και Αποκατάστασης Ηλείας

v    Κέντρο Αποθεραπείας και Αποκατάστασης Παιδιών με Αναπηρία Καρδίτσας

v    Κέντρο Αποθεραπείας και Αποκατάστασης Παιδιών με Αναπηρία Κομοτηνής

Όσο για την επιλογή, αυτή ανήκει στους φίλους της ΟΠΑΠ, αλλά και στους φίλους των Ιδρυμάτων.

Εύχομαι το νέο έτος να μας βρεί όλους υγιείς και χαμογελαστούς!

Κάντε μια πράξη αγάπης και αλληλεγγύης που δεν σας κοστίζει τίποτα!!!

Μόνο λιγα λεπτά απο τον χρόνο σας!

Καλές γιορτές!

Βίκυ

xxxx

"Cherish" - Green Tara

"Cherish"

Hello my sweet friends!!!

I must admit that I am a huge fan of Green Tara!!!

The more I use them the more addicted I get!!!

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE everything from the Green Tara range!!! 

This is a wedding layout and I wanted it to be romantic but bold and
 artsy at the same time! So I used lots of flowers and lace and
romantic stamps with Angels and love notes.

For the artsy part, I used a brick stencil, white texture effect
 by Martha Stewart, mists and white paint which I
 applied randomly onto the flowers and onto this GORGEOUS Scrapmatts chipboard frame!!! This frame was my inspiration for the design of this layout!!!

For the frame I used purple, walnut stain and green embossing powder and then some white acrylic paint here and there...

You can see below the sweet little 

Rainforest Butterfly and that lace trim 

which is perfect to use as a border!!!

I just can't get enough of gardenias, apple blossoms and roses!

 These colors make a perfect match with the purple velvet leaves!!!

The star of this composition is that Heirloom Silk and Organza flower 
combined with one of my favorite ribbon, Lavender Jute!!!

The chipboard title "Cherish" is from Scrapmatts and I have painted it with white acrylic paint, then randomly with green and purple and I inked the edges for definition with walnut stain distress ink! Oh and I put some stardust stickles for sparkle!!!

Green Tara Products Used

5 Aubergine/White Apple Blossoms

5 Plum Apple Blossoms 

5 Plum/White Apple Blossoms

Ivory Roses 2cm

**NEW** 50 3 Layer Gardenia Lilac

**NEW** Heirloom 6.5cm Silk and Organza Flowers 12 pcs Purple

**NEW** Heirloom 4cm Silk and Organza 12pcs Purple

**NEW** Velvet Leaves 3cm Purple

**NEW** Velvet Leaves 3cm Burgundy

Lace, 1.2cm White 

25mm Coloured Jute Ribbon Lavender 10m

Materials used:

Papers: Basic Grey

Flowers, leaves, ribbon, lace: Green Tara

Chipboard: Scrapmatts

Stencil: Prima

Embossing powders, acrylic paints, inks, stickles: Ranger

Mists: Tattered Angels, Studio Calico

Stamps: Tattered Angels

Thank you for visiting me today!!!

Hugsss!!!

xxx

Scrapmatts design team!!! Woohoo!!!

I have great news to share with you today!

I am the new designer for Scrapmatts Australian chipboard company!!!

Woohoo!!! I am really excited because I love working with chipboard and it was one of my goals to be on a design team for 2013! So, this goal is achieved as my term will commence from January 1^st, 2013 and will end on 31^st December, 2013!!!

Scrapmatts is a small family business run by Sofie and her husband Andrew Rossides (yes, they are Greek!!!) and have been in the Craft Industry for 27 years, both retailing and wholesaling. 

SOS: Scrapmatts ships to Greece !!!! Woohoo!!!

Their designs are gorgeous and I sure am a very lucky girl because Sophie is a very generous lady!!!! :DDD

I am also privileged to work alongside these VERY talented ladies!!!!

Scrapmatts is proud to announce the New Design Team for 2013

Click on each of the members names to view their blogs.

New Members
EVGENIA PETZER (South Africa)

HOLLY CONNORS (Australia)

SANDI SMITH (Canada)

KIM EWINS (Australia)

TANYA PRIVALOVA (Ukraine)

LINDA THOMPSON (Australia)

RENEA HARRISON (USA)

LAUREN TOMACEK (Australia)

VICKY VARVADOUKA (Greece)

HELEN TILBURY (South Africa)

Returning Design Team Members
ANGELLA PEARDON (Australia) DT Co-ordinator

JENNY GARLICK (Australia)

RENEE IVESON (Australia)

ANNE PATTERSON (Australia)

SONIA THOMASON (Australia)

SHARMAINE KRUIJVER (Australia)

I can't wait to get started!!!!
Have a nice weekend!!!
xxx

"Magic Carousel" - Scrapbooking in Greece

Hello my friends!

This is my post about the Greek challenge blog "Scrapbooking in Greece" so I'll be writting some things in Greek. Sorry about that :P...

"Το πνεύμα των Χριστουγέννων είναι εδώ και είναι το θέμα μας, γι’ αυτό το μήνα! Τα Χριστούγεννα είναι η αγαπημένη γιορτή όλων, μιας και η αγάπη, τα στολίδια, τα δέντρα, τα χαμόγελα, οι αγκαλιές, και αγαπημένα πρόσωπα γύρω από ένα τραπέζι συνθέτουν ένα μαγικό σκηνικό. Σκεφτείτε ποια ήταν τα ομορφότερα Χριστούγεννα για σας, τι τα έκανε ξεχωριστά, ποιο είναι το στολίδι του δέντρου που σας αρέσει, ποιο πρόσωπο θα θέλατε να είναι κοντά σας αυτά τα Χριστούγεννα, οτιδήποτε έχει να κάνει με αυτή την υπέροχη γιορτή και εποχή του χρόνου και δημιουργήστε, ακολουθώντας το sketch μας,  την σύνθεσή σας, την κάρτα σας ή ότι σας εμπνεύσει! To βατραχάκι μας σας περιμένει εδώ στα δεξιά του blog ;-)

This is my take on the sketch. It is my youngest DD Ioli on the carousel last Christmas, when we visited a "Santa village" in Trikala! It was really magic! Small lights and ornaments everywhere, chocolote, candies, lollipops...We will go there again this year because the children loved it!!!

"Magic Carousel"

As you see, I have used the gorgeous Green Tara flowers and trims!!!

Gardenia, cherry blossom, rose, maple leaves, bud & bow trim, self adhesive gold trim and gorgeous lace!!

And of course I usually use the fantastic Crafter's Workshop stencils with gesso and some Tattered Angels charcoal mist!

Thank you for visiting me today!

I have some great news to announce in a few days...super excited!!!

xxx

"Merry & bright" - GDT at Scrap friends!!!

Hello everyone!

I had the honor to be chosen as one of the top 5 layouts last month at "Scrap Friends" and I was invited to be a guest designer using this PERFECT Christmas sketch!!!

This is what I came up with:

"Merry & bright"

The photos are not so good (sorry) due to bad weather...
I have used a vinyl PP heart and a small craft tag on the left!

And here you can see the SOOO impressive,huge ribbon flower and the cute XL bear button!!!

Materials used:
Papers, die cuts, stickers: My Mind's Eye
Flowers: Petaloo
Handmade flower & embellies: Purple Pumpkin
Craft envelope: Maya Road
Pearls: Prima

I hope that you will find some free time to get creative and play along with this so inspirational sketch!!!

Have a great weekend!!!

xxx