Winners of the ItsyBitsy Picture Inspiration Challenge

Folks! We are here with the winners and finalists for the ItsyBitsy Picture Inspiration Challenge. This time we continued with the new methodology. We invited all your fabulous entries and then opened the gallery to audience votes. The judges made their choices after considering the audience feedback but  bear in mind that audience feedback was not the sole deciding factor, it was used to help choose a winner.

So without further delay the winners are Dr. Sonia for her fantastic Christmas Diorama in the Paper Crafting Category and Viola for this fun and festive quilled jewellery set in the Jewellery Making Category.  Well done winners!! You both get a voucher of Rs.1000 from ItsyBitsy so write in to info@itsybitsy.in to claim your award and winners badge.

Now on to the finalists. For Paper Crafting the creations that really stood out for us in no particular order were:

Viola for her fun and adorable quilled wedding scene. You can see more details of her project here.

Nupur's lavish and grand explosion box. You can see more details of her project here.

Sathya's delicate and ornate floral easel card. You an see more details of her project here

Kaija for her pretty and flirty card. You can see more details of her project here.

Anuja's adorable Christmas Ornaments! You can see more details of her project here

Shilpa for her stunning mixed media project. You can see more details of her project here.

Moving on to the finalists for Jewellery Making.  Here they are in no particular order:

Divya for this gorgeous foam rose bracelet. You can see more details of her project here.

Dr. Sonia for this awesome foam jewellery set. You can see more details of her project here.

Somadeepa for this adorable quilled cake pendant. You can see more details of her project here.

Congrats to all our winners and finalists. Please write in to info@itsybitsy.in to claim your badges. Hope you are all working on your submissions for the 'Make it Festive' Challenge. Can't wait to see your creations.

Till then, Happy Crafting folks!

The ItsyBitsy Make it Festive Challenge

Folks it's that time of year again when festivities are all around us. Whether it's Christmas or the New Year or Big Fat Indian Weddings, we're in the mood for celebrating. So the theme for our challenge this month is to Make it Festive! You can make anything you like as long as it complies with the festive theme. As always we have 2 categories - Jewellery Making and Paper/ General Craft. So put on those thinking caps and send in your entries. Scroll down for the rules and details on how to enter.



To inspire the Paper Crafters/ General Crafters, I have made some Re-usable Christmas Dish Labels for you. I usually have a Christmas Party every year in my home and I thought it would be pretty fancy to add a little label for each of the dishes I served.

Each label is designed to look like an Easel Card and shaped using the Spellbinders Cherry Pickin Frame  Die. This die is fantastic - I love the shape and design but I mostly love the stencil feature. All those cherries are part of the stencil. So after I cut my card, I leave it within the die and flip it over to start stencilling. I added some versamark ink to the exposed surfaces. Then I removed the die and added some Red WOW Embossing Powder. Once the excess was dusted off, only the cherries were coloured. Confused? No worries - I have done a tutorial on using the stencil feature of this die with another project. You can view it here.

The most exciting part about this project is that the label is re-usable. The top layer is an OHP sheet or transparency sheet so that if you write on it with a white board marker, it can be erased with a whiteboard duster or napkin. I've done dining labels before, which you can view here but they were one-time use creations. My Christmas party was last night and here are the labels proudly displayed on my table. 

Rules of the challenge:

1. For the Paper/ General crafting project, your submission can be a card, box, tag, scrapbook layout, dress, embroidery, crochet work etc - anything as long as it is handmade and
complies with the theme.
2. For the jewellery making project, your submission must be some form of jewellery and once again must comply with the theme.
3. Quilled jewellery or jewellery made out of paper beads will fall under the Jewellery making category.
4. Entries can be submitted until 10th January 2013.
5. Entries will be open to audience vote from 11th to 14th January 2013
6. Following this, the winners will be selected after combining both audience feedback and judges feedback.
7. In order to submit your entry, click on the inlinkz button provided at the end of this post, add your image and link to your blog post containing the submission. There is a separate button for each category.
8. If you do not have a blog, please create an album on any online photo gallery, ensure the settings are public and link it up as detailed in point 5. 
9. Each participant can submit a maximum of 3 entries within each category.
10. Submitting old projects is not permitted. All submissions have to be created after 15th December 2013
11. In your blog post, create a link back to this page - The ItsyBitsy Festive Challenge.
12. Entries are welcome from all over the world however if you are the winner, we can only ship your prize to an Indian address.
13. 2 winners will be selected, one for jewellery making and one for paper/general crafting who will each receive a voucher of Rs. 1000 each, redeemable online at 
www.itsybitsy.in.
14. In addition 3 to 6 finalists in each category will be selected all of whom will receive a badge to display on their blog.

Right that's it from me! I'm eager to see your creations so start loading them into the gallery! I'm sure it will be a feast for the eyes!!!

Submissions for Paper Crafting

Submissions for Jewellery Making

Supplies Used

A Look our Newest Store in Phoenix Market City Mall, Bangalore!!

We opened our 5th store in Bangalore this past Sunday in one of the most popular and well done malls in city, Phoenx Market City. We're thrilled to be part of such a exciting venue and our store was primed to the fullest for all the craft lovers in the city. 

We had reams and reams of paper on offer, in a variety of colours, sizes and finishes, all in our fabulous paper stacks all against one wall of the store. 

Our revolutionary bead bar covers the entire back wall of the store, this is just a glance at one section of it. Jewellery enthusiasts can pick and choose the bead so their choice and pay by the gram.

I was there as always to demonstrate die cutting and embossing. Curious and intrigued shoppers sat to view how the brand new Teal Big Shot works with some superb Spellbinders Dies and ItsyBitsy Embossing folders.

Kids and youngsters had a ball, perusing through all the fabulous craft supplies on offer. Our Christmas range as well was in full swing with trees, ornaments and decorations right at your fingertips.

As with all our new stores, we launched it with a slew of workshops for our lucky shoppers. Across the corridor in a borrowed space, we set up the demo stations and as you can see, this was bustling with activity all through the day

It's always a delight to shop at ItsyBitsy whether on opening day or any other day of the week. Very few people are able to leave without filling their baskets because the products are just irresistible. I myself had a basket that was overflowing before I decided to call it a day and head back home.

We hope to see you at the Phoenix store very soon and we guarantee you, it will be an experience for the memory books!

Gingerbread House Part 2 - The Windows are Full of Surprises

It's time for Part 2 of my Gingerbread House series and here I'm going to show you the house when it's all decorated, embellished and filled with fabulous Christmas embellishments from ItsyBitsy. To see Part 1, click here.

The first thing I did was to make this fabulous little fence around my Gingerbread House. I found this fabulous fence embellishment at the ItsyBitsy store. It was pink or purple. I used some white paint to white wash the fence all around the house and I literally felt like Tom Sawyer, the job was endless and I had no friends to manipulate into doing it for me!

Then I filled the windows with some fantastic Christmas embellishments from ItsyBitsy. If you haven't seen these, you're really missing out. I mean they are just adorable!! So many different designs and varieties, great for cards, tags or Gingerbread Houses. To see some tags I made with these last year, click here.

Each window is filled with a different embellishment so that each day as my son opens the window as he countdowns to Christmas, he will get a new surprise. It's actually going really well. Every day he jumps out of bed to run to the Gingerbread House and open the day's window!

As a final touch I added some Christmas craft in the garden of the Gingerbead house. The base layer is a green jute sheet to depict grass. I scattered some white foam spots all over the 'garden' to make it look like fallen snow. I also made a cute little snowman out of thermocol balls and a 3D Christmas tree on the corners.

I am really quite delighted with this project. I was a huge success with my kids and it's always a pleasure to craft with the little ones. Their glee and delight makes it all SO worth it!

Are you crafting for Christmas? Would love to see your work. Leave a comment and let me know and I'll be sure to stop by!

To see the fabulous Christmas range of embellishments, click here. All other supplies for this project can be found on the first part of this series.

A Decoupage Jewellery Box with Mod Podge

Deriving from the French very decouper, meaning to cut out, the craft of decoupage involves cutting and pasting cut-outs on to a surface to create a picture or a pattern. Originally intended as a form of furniture decoration it has evolved into a popular past time, greatly satisfying to the crafter. Whether you cut from specially printed decoupage designs or from other sources like napkins or magazines, the options are literally limitless and the outcome is sure to be original and one of a kind. 

I have always been interested in decoupage, numerous craft books in my stash have depicted tutorials on creating really pretty trays, frames and even tables using this fantastic form of craft. So when ItsyBitsy launched their decoupage range, I eagerly got to work. 

Decoupage begins with a blank base which you will decorate. ItsyBitsy has introduced a variety of such MDF blanks - photo frames, pen stands, tissue boxes and jewellery boxes. I was naturally drawn towards the jewellery box so that's what I chose. 

Then you can begin decorating. You can literally do anything you like. In my case, I painted the edges of the box white using some regular poster colours. Then I laid over some DCWV Decoupage distressed textured paper. This range is awesome as it is naturally distressed, perfect to go with a vintage themed project. I glued the paper in place with Mod Podge which is a decoupage glue. It works as a glue as well as a varnish.

Then I took a sheet from the DCWV Heirloom stack that was filled with vintage emblems like a chandelier, a gramophone player, Eiffel Tower and so on. I cut out each of those emblems and glued them on to my box using the same Mod Podge glue. Once everything was glued in place, I added another layer of glue all over the top of the box, over the glued down base paper and the glued down emblems. Mod Podge acts as a sealant, a varnish and a glue. 

At this stage, the decoupage part of the project is done. It was time to embellish the box and make it look a little more elaborate and detailed. I added one of the new fabric tapes as a border all over culminating in a large bow at the top edge. I also used my Tattered Floral die to make some pretty lush roses as a decoration on the lid. I used the Intricutz rose die as a flourish to continue the rose theme.

It was almost impossible to stop right there, but I forced myself to take a step back. My decoupage box was looking perfect. It was time to just let it be! I'm pretty thrilled with all the vintage elements and given this was my first real attempt at decoupage, I think it's pretty darn neat.

What do you think about my project. Are you still confused about Decoupage. Not to worry, I have done a video of how I put this box together so watch this space for all the details.

Supplies Used:

Announcing the Grand Opening of the Newest ItsyBitsy Store in Phoenix Market City Bangalore!!

Folks we are thrilled to announce that the newest ItsyBitsy store will be opening in Phoenix Market City Mall tomorrow Sunday 8th December 2013! As always with all our new stores, there will be fabulous discounts on offer, amazing craft workshops and a variety of craft supplies! So if you're in the vicinity, spend your Sunday with us at Phoenix Market City Bangalore!!

Check out the fabulous deals! Boutique Elements embellishments are a massive 50% off!! Quilling supplies too - 50% off!! Punches and more at 20% off and the fabulous Teal Big Shot is a whopping 30% off!!!

We're also stocking a variety of Christmas related decorations and other delectable delights!  

Hope to see you there folks!

Christmas Begins with a Gingerbread House Countdown to Christmas - Part 1

The festive season has begun and I just love this time of year. I guess it's all the more exciting because I have two little children and their anticipation is so infectious. Every day my son would ask me, 'how many days let for Santa Claus to come' so to make it easier for him, I decided to make a little Countdown to Christmas project in the shape of a Gingerbread House. It could also be called an Advent Calendar and helps the little ones look forward to the Big Day!

My Gingerbread House Countdown to Christmas is in the shape and colour of a Gingerbread House. It has 24 windows on it, on the front, sides and back. Each window has a number corresponding to the date. Each day from December 1st to December 24th, my kids will open the respective window and in so doing will be able to tell how many days are left for the Big Day. The 25th number is on the front door of the house and when they open this, they know it's Christmas morning! Here's a look at the side and back of the house. 

I numbered the windows totally randomly so that each day my kids will have to hunt around for the  appropriate window. Each window is cut using the Sizzix Mini Openings Die and embossed with the ItsyBitsy Spots Embossing folder. A silver ribbon ensures that the window is tied shut until the date it can be opened. For the numbers on each window, I used the scallop circle combined with regular circle dies from ItsyBitsy to cut the base. Then I glued  some die cut numbers on top. I finished with a layer of Mod Podge Satin Finish for that fabulous gleaming label! here are some closeups of the labels. 

For the snowy trim all over the Gingerbread house I used the  Rotary Cutter in a totally random manner ensuring that some parts were longer and others shorter much as snow would look. I also added a rim of pearl stickers all over the border just to glamourise it a bit. 

And if you're wondering what I used to make the house, guess what! I used one of my Itsy Bitsy courier cartons! I just covered it with card stock and made a peak. Check out the pictures below!

So what's inside the windows? Well that's going to be in Part 2 of my Gingerbread House Countdown to Christmas post. You can also look forward to the front garden all of which is still in progress and will be published very soon so watch this space for all the details!

How are you gearing up for the festive season? Would love to see your work! Leave a comment and I will be dropping by very soon!

Supplies Used