Make a wish and live your bliss!

Hi there people,

I have a bright and fun card to share with you today. 

I tried to make it not-so-neat with splotches of color, embossing powder et al. When I get some new crafty supplies, I tend to forget the old ones.. Does that happen to you too?? Well, I decided to use a neglected item in this card and guess what it was? My cuttlebug embossing folder! I haven't used those in a long long time. And to think of it - I had been dying to own them last year! Evil me to have not used it!

I am submitting this card for a few challenges:

1) The Play Date Cafe challenge #70

2) Card Patterns Sketch #104

If you haven't seen Tejal's post on embossing techniques (with all unusual techniques listed out there, hop on to her blog NOW!)

A little about the card:

I created the quilted pattern with 2 patterned papers. I didn't have the shade of blue that I wanted so I painted them from a bottle of poster paint. Like a fool, I didn't order the big scallop border that I like so very much, so I used different sized circles to make that lime green line... I added embossing powder in bits and places using regular glue and then heat embossed the line with my toaster ;-) The flower is punched out of leftover wallpaper scraps from my parents' new home :)

Supplies

Stamps: All PTI (Background Basics-Retro, Cupcake collection, Mega Mixed messages)

PP: Pebbles Inc (green and orange); leftover wallpaper scrap for the flowers (thanks again to my sister and mom for preserving that one for me!) 

CS: Fabriano

Others: A beautiful Jasmine flower punch by Cristina Re (thanks Papa :-) )

My sister and her husband left for the US after a 3 week long stay here in India... and we are already missing them :( Why are holidays sooooo short???

Ciao,

Smita

Just Because...

Hi there,

Today I have a rather busy card to share with you. I have combined many challenges too (not something I usually can do!). Cutting short my blah-blah, here is the card:

Why do I call it a busy card - ah well! As most of my fellow Indian crafters know, we are finally getting some sort of embossing powder out here... I bought my first little jar over the weekend. If you look at my card base closely, you will notice that I have heat embossed flowers in the background (that's something 'new new new' for me!). Thanks to my good friend, Shalini, for introducing me to the method of heat embossing without a heat gun :-) a few months back. I've been trying it all day yesterday and did it again today :-). I also created a glitter strip inspired by the PTI Make It Monday Challenge. And I added some lace to outline the square PP panel.

The challenges I am submitting this card to, are:

1) Totally Hues Challenge #2 for the lovely colors (I tried getting the closest matches possible)

 

2) Mojo Monday Sketch #179

3) Make It Monday Challenge #3 - using a line of glitter

4) Incy Wincy Designs #82 - Use punches or dies

5) Really Reasonable Ribbon's Ramblings #18 : Spring Themed card

Supplies used:

CS: Fabriano (chocolate and aqua)

PP: Pebbles Inc

Stamps: PTI Beautiful Blooms II, PTI Mega Mixed Messages

Ink: Pretty Color (Hobby Ideas)

Others: beautiful flower brad (RAK from Yvonne), gorgeous lace from mom's stash, buttons from my stash, felt from local craft store

Tools: Dies from PTI and Spellbinders

ETA: FOR MY INDIAN COUNTERPARTS - Embossing powder is available at Hobby Ideas stores. How good or bad it is, I do not know coz I haven't used any other. the original Indian Stamping Queen aka Tejal may be able to help us with that :-)

See you around,

Smita

Celebrate Today

If you haven't yet seen the very interesting combined grind challenge over at the Play Date Cafe and Case Study challenge blogs, you must rush there now! I'm also submitting this card for the challenge at Simon Says Stamp - make your own embellishments. !

This was the inspiration at PDCC/Case Study -isn't it gorgeous?!? Well, I picked up some elements from this card and used the PDCC colors. Ah yes, you can see my new PTI dies and background stamp in action :) I take no credit for my 'beautiful' rhinestone arrangement (again a first attempt)... I was inspired by my friend, Shalini, who does this beautifully. I also distressed the edges (barely visible in the pic I guess) of the kraft cardstock with a good ol' nail filer and added some black soot Distress ink.

Other details:

CS: Fabriano (black), GinaK (kraft- thanks Emily)

PP: Hobby Ideas (red, red and green), RAK from Yvonne (used for the flower)

Stamps: PTI (background and sentiment), Hobby Ideas (leaves)

Ciao,

Smita

Friends!

Hey girls,

As promised, I'm back to share a little card. This is a first for me in many ways - my first one layer card (God! it is so difficult... Tejal/Emily- how do you do it so often?!) my first card using only stamping and my first card using a brand new Hero Arts stamp set {courtesy Emily - thank you so much!!}.

A rather uncomplicated card, I know! My sister has recently come down from the US and with her came a few supplies - this fabulous stamp set that Emily got delivered to my sister's US address and the gridline acrylic block to name two. The sentiment is from PTI's Mega Mixed Messages. I added a dollop of bling in the flower centers because I kept feeling that something was missing.

I am submitting this card for the Hero Arts February Challenge - Friendship and for Card Patterns sketch #102.

Hope you liked it!

ETA: I received the cutest chocolate bars by post today... Thank you Shalini  for making my day!!:)

Ciao,

Smita

Random ramblings

Heya girls,

I know I haven't been crafting at all of late and hardly have any posts for the past few months. I hope that hasn't erased memories of me from your busy minds! :-p We got back from our trip to Udaipur on Sunday evening; we had not slept well for the past 2 weeks and I've been catching up with all your blogs since yesterday. I may not have left comments everywhere, but a girl does need some time to get back in pace, right? :-)

I received this award from dear Tejal:

I need to write something about myself and pass it on to others... Well, I am kind of hopeless in writing about myself but let me try:

1. I love being on my own. It might sound strange but that's the way I am. I love being home alone for a while everyday so that the only sound I hear is of my own thoughts; the only things I do is of my own will and nobody can order me around!

2. I love vacations with my family (a contradiction of sorts with the previous point :-) ). If I could have it my way, I'd take off to some place every 2 months so that I am refreshed and recharged!

3. I love cooking for my near and dear ones; but I have to be in a really good mood to cook something special!

4. I love shopping - who doesn't? But I've noticed that my shopping sprees have significantly reduced of late - guess I'm growing up :-p ! I'm also a stickler for brands and am usually loyal to specific brands; I don't care much for fashion as long as the fit is comfortable.

5. We love eating out but that again has now reduced significantly because we have suddenly become health conscious! But yes, Italian is my favorite cuisine. When DH and I go for fancy dinners, we have to have our soup, starters/antipasti, and a main. Desserts are generally not on my list while eating out though I do love them [I'm usually too full for dessert and I really can't do without a nice warm bowl of soup]!

6. I think I've mentioned this earlier but here I go again - I love my tea and coffee extra sweet :-) and with sweet biscuits/cookies. In fact I can have cookies any time of the day or night even if I ain't hungry.

7. I am proud of my collections of jewelery, watches and perfumes; and I am hoping to collect enough craft supplies to be proud of them some day!

8. Crafting has been my biggest stress buster of all times! It has introduced me to some of my closest friends now. Like Tejal mentioned in her list, I too don't have many girl friends around because I've already changed 4 cities but I am now finally happy that I've found friends in the 'virtual' world whom I can bug at any time of the day!

I'd like to pass on this award to:

Shalini

Juhi

Savitri

Emily

Christina

Ciao soon with some crafty stuff!!

Hugs,

Smita