Pink and brown

I am back after a really really long break from crafting. As mentioned earlier, it wasn't really an intentional break. Sometimes family needs become priority over my own crafty itch ;-)

Today's card is mostly pink (with a touch of brown) LOL. It almost gave me a headache after I completed it because it ended up pinker than I wanted! Anyway, the card goes for 2 challenges:

1) Card Patterns sketch 79 

2) CraftyJC Challenge #2 (1 Patterned paper; 2 colors (pink and brown); and 3 embellishments)

The patterned paper was an RAK from Tanja. The stamp is my own. The embellishments - stickers from local craft store, the flowers from Itsy Bitsy and the little flower charm from a local shop. (Now I am wondering if the 3 'same' flowers are counted as 1 embellishment or 3!!) 

Hope you like it....

Ciao,

Smita

PS: I am now working on one of my own very challenging projects just because I want to... I hope to get it done soon and put it up ;-)

PWCO: Voting begins

****** This is a sticky and will stay on top till the voting lines for the PWCO challenge are open (August 28th)... scroll down for newer posts ****


The voting lines are open.... Visit the page:


http://paperworksco.com/blog/?page_id=7615


to cast your votes. 

I am listing out all the projects here... so you know what the Indie Stampers have done so far :-)

The first project was by Tejal...Sketch challenge..Here's the card..

The second project was by me.... It was a color inspiration channel. This was my backpack/3d project:

The 3rd project was an inspiration challenge. This LO was done by Spardha:

And finally, the card by our team lead... it was a technique challenge and Shalini created this gorgeous background paper used in this card:

Do vote for the Indie Stampers... 

Hugs,
Smita

Blog absence

Hey friends,

I've been MIA for so long that I had to write this post. I have been terribly busy and have not even had the time to sit in front of the computer. 2 of my sisters in law (Vineet's cousins) were visiting from Kolkata for Rakhi and we had a super fab time together. They were both teeny tiny girls when I got married and it is amazing to see how much they've grown and how much I can talk to them now! We shopped a lot over the weekend and even these last couple of days.... girls are so much fun to have around :)

I, of course, didn't get to craft even one bit. But I am hoping to be back soon. Tomorrow is another busy day with Aaryan having a dance show in school (I'm waiting to watch his program ... sigh... I love my little boy so much that I can't believe he is ready to perform infront of a crowd LOL)

A special apology is due to Jaya and also to Shalini and Rachana for the big delays in everything. I hope you understand!! :-( 

Hugs,

Smita

Are you with us?!!

Hello everyone,

Have you seen Tejal's gorgeous creation for the PaperWorks Ultimate Summer challenge yet? If not, hop on to her blog and ogle at the awesome-st shaped card! Here is a sneak-peak:

Tejal's take on the sketch was mind blowing! I loved her choice of colors and her coloring is, as always, very very neat!!

Well, anyone else would have been inspired to create something very pretty after seeing her card.... After Sunday's sketch, it was my turn to create... and I was paranoid ;-). Those who know me also know that this isn't anything new. I get nervous, jittery, and all that when I am under a pressure to perform. Ask Shalini, Tejal and Spardha and you will know what a  nervous wreck I became :D LOL. Anyway, my challenge was a color inspiration:

Yes, pretty basic... but using all these colors together was kind of tricky for me. But one point in the rules list was pretty well highlighted in my mind - the project could be anything from a card, a scrapbook page, 3D project - hmm... interesting. And I knew I had only one image set in hand (kindly donated to us by Chi Chi Memories for this challenge); so within around half an hour of seeing the challenge, being inspired by my little boy's colorful shorts of the same colors, I decided to go cutesy (as I would with any animal themed card)... and I started hunting my documents for a tutorial I had copied down (literally handwritten) from a blog a couple of years back.. Of course, I couldn't find it... So I searched online again and this time wrote it in my 'technique book' ;-). This is what I came up with:

A backpack... it was quite a rage in 2008 I think and even I had made a few back then. I had a nice time thinking of the layers... since the challenge is basically an Animal Edition, I embossed the yellow and red cardstocks with the Birds and Swirls folder (it is supposed to be an open land with lot of trees... only I understood till now; I hope you can see my thoughts too LOL ;-) ). Of course, I covered the image with Glue and Gloss (Tejal, thank you for introducing me to this!!)... and I used a little 3D outliner (glitter) for bling... The backpack is complete with little straps at the back (and the sentiment - always by your side):

Do keep reading our blogs for the next 2 challenge updates too :-)... and yeah, vote for us when the "voting lines are open"... chuckle chuckle... :-) We'll keep you posted.

And, if you wish to make the backpack too... here is the link. The best part is that you can customize it as you wish and there are no scary tools involved.

Ciao,
Smita

Happy Independence Day!!

A very happy Independence Day to all my fellow Indians. I wanted to make a card in honor of the country's Independence Day... and what could be better than a combination of 2 great challenges that truly inspired me to create:

1) The bonus sketch at India's very own Challenge blog - CraftyJC Challenge by Jaya.

2) Cinema Saturday Creative Challenge's movie of the week - Gandhi - and the challenge requirement to use a quote inspired by the movie

The card may not be gerat but I had fun making it. I made it last night but I was out all day and couldn't write about it... :-) Also, right after I saw the challenge on the Cinema Saturday blog (you are the best - Sankari and Brooke), I knew I wanted to combine it with Jaya's beautiful sketch. The colors of course came naturally.. what could be better than the colors of the Indian tricolor :-) [PLUS the Blue from the Asoka Chakra that my son insists I must have!] ... to top it all they were showing Gandhi on TV at the same time so I made it while watching the phenomenal movie :-)

Long live the Independence!!

PS: And yes, I used the perfect Paisley embossing folder on the saffron and green layers.... I always correlate paisley patterns to ethnic Indian designs so I had to use this!!

And thank you all for the tips both for the McGill punch and the block for clear stamps :-)

Smita

Flashback!!!

Amy of Tsuruta Designs has a flashback Friday post and wants to see more of her readers showcasing their oldest work on their blog. Well, I thought it would be fun to do a flashback (scary) post too!

But I have 2 cards to share..

This first one is the card that actually made me take real good interest in making cards. This was my son's first birthday invite... I stayed up at night for almost 1.5 months to get these invites ready. No knowledge of card making, I had never visited any blog, nothing...

(Gosh, the picture!! :-/ Anyway, people did preserve it for a long long time... the kids were really happy to see the invite :D)

And this one is my first ever for my blog (and for a challenge too!! :-/ )

God! What was I thinking when I clicked this?!?! Anyway, for this card, I had learnt a little bit of miniature punch craft, bought a little lace and used something from my collection of decorative scissors.

And another one that is close to my heart... made this for Aaryan to give to DH. Aaryan was just over a year old then and used to kick a football quite well... DH is also extremely fond of sports...

[Sorry about the bad light].

On another note, 4 of us..Shalini, Tejal, Spardha and I are in a contest at Paperworks and Co. Blog. Our cards are going to be submitted from 15-18th. Each one will attempt one challenge. And then the voting will begin on 22nd -28th Aug. You will be able to vote for top 3 cards in each of the four challenges. And we will need your votes to win! 

We will be posting details on when and how to vote, but please stand by us as we attempt something like this with the least amount of supplies. 

Good luck all Indie Stampers!!

Hugs,
Smita

Card Patterns 76

If you are looking for my 2S4Y card, please scroll down to the next post.

This card is based on the Card Patterns sketch this week. It is a lovely sketch with room for loads of layers. Of course I loved it… both the sketch and my card (ahem… ain’t I modest!?) Ok, I did smudge some ink on the edges of the vellum L

The background (over the beige CS) is printed vellum that I have embossed using the Textile Texture embossing folder. It looks better IRL than in the pic though. I have embossed the orange scallop layer also with the same folder…

The gorgeous stamp is Inkadinkado. I just love the ornate circular medallions and the everyday sentiments in this set.

Do you know, I am using my clear stamps without any acrylic/transparent blocks! :-( I am finding it very difficult to stamp... Can someone suggest replacements to a block (since I can't figure out where to look for a block around here)?

Till later,,,

Smita

Corrugated!!

Ok, so this is another first from me… never used corrugated sheets before but here I am today.. in love with corrugated paper when everyone else must be already fed up J I bought my first few sheets yesterday [actually I had never even seen these sheets before!]

2s4Y Laura's sketch # 58

This card is based on the 2S4Y sketch by the talented Laura. I chose to keep my lines straight – that is, no rounding, no fancy corners. But yes, I did use the corrugated paper in abundance! ;-) Also the latest addiction – our local glossy accents (thank you for the tutorial, Tejal).

The lace, button and papers are all local buys. The sentiment is Inkadinkado. The photo corner sticker is also a local buy. The heart background is stamped using Chestnut ink by Color Box.

I love my Labels 1 dies and the Fiskars border punch (because it is so easy with even thin paper).

Hope you liked it.

Hugs,

Smita

A mini album

Heya,

I tried my hands at a mini album yesterday. It was just a random thought that finally took shape. A cousin's wife is expecting their first child soon. And this kid is going to be the first in my paternal family so everybody is looking forward to the baby's arrival. :-)

The 'Bhatter' here is my maiden surname. 

I have monogrammed the letters of 'Bhatter' on all the right hand side pages.

Added a few die cuts, some chipboard stickers and little embellishments here and there...

We don't know if it is a boy or a girl, so I have used all colors ;-

The rub ons are from Hobby Ideas.

 I love my cuttlebug border embossing folders.

The cute stickers are a local find...

Thanks a ton to Juhi and Tejal for always replying to my SOS messages :-) I've used some glue n gloss inspired by Tejal (still waiting for her tutorial though) and my brother in law helped me with the ring and binding. :-)

Do tell me your opinion on my try... what can I change? (for the next one, that is)... and what are the binding options!!

Hugs,
Smita

2S4Y: Kazan's sketch 58

My take on this week's sketch at 2S4Y:

Nothing much to write about actually... I am in love with my Labels 1 die ;-) [who isn't??]. Read my next post and you'll know! The embossing is one of my new Embossing folders; so is the border. It is a gorgeous Fiskars punch. I managed to punch out one tag using my McGills punch (grr.... wish I had got one more EK success or Fiskars punch instead!!). And the cute little flower pot is a wooden embellishment that I picked up locally.

Enjoy!

Hugs,
Smita

Envelope Card

Yes, my second post for today. If you are looking for my card for the Card patterns sketch, go here. 

I made this card last week. It is a 4 pocket card made using an envelope (No. 10 size) and I have 'again' hopelessly lost the link to the tutorial!! :-( But it is very easy and I really loved it.

 The front of the card

The back (I kept it very simple because it was just a trial card)

The tags

And now I am off to find out the link... I can't believe I didn't save it :-(

PS: I just realised that Tejal made this a few days back. Tejal, do you have the link??

Yay! yay!! She did have the link... here it is, girls:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjzRGSevuuQ&feature=related


Thanks Tejal!

Hugs,

Smita

Card Patterns 75

My take on this week's sketch over at Card Patterns:

Yes! I have used some of my new supplies :-) My younger brother was visiting our sister in the US. He got me this lovely MS punch,  a stamp set and also the stuff I had ordered online [grinning from ear to ear!].. 

The pretty lace is an RAk from Juhi and the stamp is Hobby Ideas.

Here is a pic of all that I got:

Mom sent over all my stuff just last night and I am already worried about the McGills Retro Word Tags punch. Can someone please tell me how to use it :-/ (the Cardstock thickness also). I have never seen any punch so huge :D

Please mail me if you know where I could be going wrong with the punch :-(

Hugs,
Smita