Docrafts Creativity March Issue

The spring is in the air, and even Creativity magazine has had a spring clean. The creative editor and team have designed a new look magazine, with lots of brand new features and workshops as well as lots of projects. Long gone are the days when docrafts Creativity magazine was considered to be a less challenging magazine, especially in the papercrafting circles which favoured mixed media projects, altered art and ideas of the Stampington school.

Nowadays docrafts Creativity can easily compete with the other crafts magazines. The editor Tina Piper said in her editorial that she was tremendously proud of the new look Creativity magazine, and so she should.
I love the Gorjuss range of designs from Santoro, and was delighted to discover several projects with this ethereal magical range, including a wonderful project which features on the cover - an altered art box called The Fox.

What I love about the magazine is that it always comes with lovely freebies. March issue didn't disappoint. There was a pack of quality Gorjuss satin ribbons in its unmistakable unique colours.
There was an A6 Decoupage pack from Bellissima range, with sweet tags and papers in pastel colours.

Plus a CD with a collection of digital papers, characters and embellishments for all fans of Forever Friends range.
This issue would appeal to crafters of all levels. There are features like Back to classroom which give tutorials for beginners to advanced crafters. This issue gives advice on the heat embossing.
My own crafting has gone a bit rusty, so I enjoyed reading the mini-tutorial on how to make ribbon roses, and even made one for my own card.
I loved the vintage look of the House of Curiosities created by talented Trish Latimer, smiled at the cute Bunny Puppet designed by Jen Wyatt, admired Becky Dryer's magical Gorjuss projects.
Having read the magazine, I was inspired to make my own card.

My Gorjuss card

I used one of the papers from the Bellissima pack, as well as Gorjuss ribbons. I have a few Gorjuss stamps, and this cute girl with a paper chain is one of my favourites. I used watercolours and crayons to colour in the stamped image (and yes, I have added a nose and a mouth to make the girl happy). The ribbons and the cut out image are attached to the card with the double-sided sticky tape. Plus the words on the ribbon were written with Pebeo Pearl Touch.
A new April issue of docrafts Creativity should be already out, but if you missed March issue, you can still buy it online (for example, The Glitter Pot) or in the Docrafts stockists (I know our local crafts shop usually sells a few different issues, which is always handy). Of course, you can always subscribe and never miss an issue.

For more information and inspiration, check out DoCrafts.

Disclosure: I received March issue of Creativity magazine for the purposes of reviewing. All opinions are mine.

Ethereal Gorjuss girls: a new collection from Santoro

I am probably not the right demographic for the pretty girlie things but I cannot but fall in love with the Gorjuss range of products from Santoro. As a crafter, I have been a fan of the Gorjuss products for papercrafters for quite a while, and I have a selection of Gorjuss stamps and papers.

The Gorjuss style is very distinct and easily recognisable, and the name Gorjuss is an easy one to remember. Funnily enough, when I came across the stamps with this name for the first time, I thought they were a Scandinavian range. Only later I realised that Gorjuss is of course the child-like spelling for the child-like style of drawings, very apt.
The little Gorjuss ladies are looking solemn, ethereal and enchantingly vulnerable, they remind of the fairy tales and the haunted stories.

Gorjuss™ is one of the three "latest collections from luxury design house Santoro, launched with a range of contemporary accessories, gifts and stylized stationery. Building on its remarkable, award-winning history, husband and wife founders Meera and Lucio Santoro have pushed the boundaries of innovation and design with these new collectable ranges"

"Starting in a little studio off Carnaby Street, Santoro has gone from strength to strength, transforming into a global design powerhouse and winning over 40 international design awards and accolades along the way. Meera’s innate design prowess and eclectic taste combined with Lucio’s fascination for paper and innovation was an instant recipe for success. Now available at Santoro and top-end stores including Harrods, House of Fraser, Seibu, El Corte Inglés and Galeries Lafayette, the brand continues to break design barriers and develop inspiring creations. 

Santoro’s Gorjuss collection comprises bags, stationery, accessories, homeware, dolls, collectables, clothing, ceramics and much more. Simply Gorjuss!"

Image credit: Santoro

And now I am the lucky owner of a beautiful Gorjuss bag, it is very spacious, and has a good length shoulder strap. There's a good sized pocket inside for the wallet. And the design is, well, absolutely, Gorjuss.
On one side you see a young girl on a swing with a black cat on her lap. On the other side, the same girl is looking at you intensely. The sides show the trademark stripes in black and chocolate black. Even the inside lining is beautiful, it reminds me of the vintage damask fabrics. There's a black cat tag in felt, as you can see the bag is made with a great attention to detail, something you are used to expect from the Gorjuss range.
Overall palette is subdued and very elegant.
You can also get a matching purse.

Image credit: Santoro

I love mugs and cups, and these Gorjuss mugs are now on my wish list. And if you visit the Santoro online shop, you will find the most beautiful teapot which I am very tempted to buy. Of course, I have three teapots already and one might argue I do not need the 4th one (that's me having an imaginary conversation with my husband). On the other hand, I could always sneak it in and then say "Oh, I had it for ages!"

Image credit: Santoro

This Gorjuss large coated shoulder bag Ruby retails at £30, a very reasonable price for a designer bag.

For more information have a look at Gorjuss FB page.

Disclosure: I received this bag for the purposes of reviewing, all opinions are mine.

Those little unsmiley girls are set on conquering the world, as they have already conquered the hearts of many crafters.

And for your delectation here is a beautiful card made by my lovely friend and a talented crafter Karen Brown.