Geared up for Diwali

Hello everyone,

No cards from me for now. As I mentioned earlier, I have been preparing myself and my home for Diwali. It is now just around the corner, and I haven't had any time to sit with cards. I don't think there will be another card from me for a long time now. I will be off to Kolkata on the 4th for Richa's wedding and for 2 other weddings in the family. Will be back only by December 9. I hope I am not forgotten in blogspace by then!!!

Wish you all a very happy holiday season... just in case I don't get time to post anything soon...

Love,
Smita.

A li'l bit of shimmer

Hi all,

Don't ask me why I am so late and why I haven't had any creation since last week's card. I am now just waiting for Diwali... For the uninitated, Diwali is the Hindu festival of lights. It is one of our biggest festivals... we believe that Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth, visits our homes on that day. We wear new clothes; offer our prayers to Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi; have wonderful food and burst crackers (traditionally, though many have shunned this part of the celebration in recent years). All in all, it is a fun festival. But pre-preparations for Diwali include cleaning the entire house thoroughly (else, the Goddess might decide not to come over ;-) )... and this is what I have been busy doing the last few days. Cleaning all the cupboards and rooms... trashing the unwanted stuff and generally keeping myself busy for the festive season!!

Anyway, coming to this week's card. This one is based on Kazan's sketch # 11 at 2S4U. I spent quite a while on it due to the number of layers I have given. I have added some hint of glitter to bring in the essence of our weddings... and because I personally love the shimmer! I liked the effect though I still feel something is missing. Hope y'all like it. I will be giving it to my cousin, who is getting married in December.

Cheers,
Smita.

Laura's sketch # 10: It's a boy

Hi all,

I am terribly late for this challenge on 2S4U. I have been very busy all this week with my in-laws visiting. I have also been cleaning up my home for Diwali... gosh, there is hardly any time left and I am not even half way through... I have not had the time to create anything much so far. A few gift bags and this one card is all I have managed in the last few days.

Here's the card story. My mom-in-law wanted a card to give to somebody on the birth of their baby boy. After an almost 4 month long search for a tool to cut circles, I finally found one on Friday. I was so happy that I immediately knew what I wanted to make for Mummy. In the same store, I also found some amazing colors in textured papers. I didn't want handmade paper because I was having trouble cutting them neatly. So I bought the bright yellow, awesome red, and green textured papers. I made the pram using normal blue cardstock. Mummy had also liked the two-pocket card I made earlier using Maria's tutorial, so I knew I had to use the technique in this card. Accordian style cards are a personal favorite and I tried using both techniques in this one. And of course, 2S4U is one of my favorite places to visit, so I based my card on Laura's sketch # 10. That's about it!!

For the first time in ages, I absolutely loved my card!! I really don't mind if nobody else does!!

Here's a bit about the gift bags. I made the blue backpack based on DeeDee's tutorial. Her's definitely looks lovely. I didn't have any choice of patterned paper, so I made do with whatever I had. I will be putting in a gift for one of Vineet's friend's newborn baby boy. I loved the idea of making a backpack gift bag!!

The red and green gift bag uses handmade papers. I love the golden tint in them. This bag is also based on one of DeeDee's tutorials.

The pink and offwhite bag is based on Paula Goff's tutorial. She has some superb gift bag tutorials.

The red and green one is made with handmade paper. I love the golden tint in these papers.

That's from me for now.

Cheers,

Smita.

WCMD

Hi all,
Like I mentioned yesterday, I intended to stay up all night to take part in the WCMD celebrations. Well, things didn't turn out as planned. No, I didn't sleep off... I was awake till past 3 am. First, our internet connection had a problem, so I couldn't be online before midnight. Then, after creating a card for my fav 2S4U challenge, I was unable to upload the image. :-( I tried that for almost one hour and a half!! Finally, it was done with a lot of help from 2S4U and SNR. Thanks to them for the help.

Anyway, I did not make any other card after that. I have attached pics of the card here. I drew the butterflies on a clear plastic sheet and glued glitter powder. I learnt that technique on one of the blogs. The sequins, 3D stars, and ribbon I bought from local craft stores.

Well, I wanted to take part in the celebrations and by means of this card, I did. I am glad I could be part of this mega event. :-)

Cheers,

Smita.

World Card Making Day

Today is World Cardmaking Day!! The advantage of being in India is that I get to finish all my housework and attend to everyone at home during the day and keep the night free for creating cards (when it actually is being celebrated in other parts of the world too)!! :-)

Well, for starters, I just gave my blog a much needed facelift! I think it looks damn cute now... whaddya say?

Love,
Smita.

Confused colours...?

Hi all,
Yeah, I know I have been dormant for a while... but I did a lot of work too ;-). I made some gift bags after reading tutorials at DeeDee's blog and at one more blog. It was fun making those bags. Will post pics of the bags later... I also did some stitching - attaching lace to some cloth for an ongoing festival... It is festive season out here in India and we really decorate the pictures/statues of our Gods and Godesses; so I decided to go religious and decorated the shelves where they reside in my home. :-)

Here is one confused card from me. Sorry about the quality of the pics. Please bear with me for some more time. I hardly get any time during the day, and I click pics also after Aaryan's gone to bed.

The card has 2 pockets (I learnt this technique from a tutorial on Maria's blog. I had been wanting to try it for the past couple of weeks, and when I saw Kazan's sketch, I thought I could give it a try.

I bought a lot of laces and ribbons on Monday. Aaryan and I had quite a nice time looking at the dozens of laces in the little craft stores in our area. The pink and green lace used here are out of the same roll... it is shaded pink and green... I had to hand stitch the lace (another thing I had been wanting to do since long)...The embellishments are some sort of Chinese 3D stickers that I found in a local stationery store... they are called 'Dingdong stickers' LOL!!

I have left the tags blank so I can fill them with personalised sentiments when I decide whom the card is for.

Cheers,
Smita.