Remember me??

Heya people,

I hope you haven't forgotten me! I know I have been almost absent in blogspace for a bit too long! But this time I hope I am finally back! ;-) I had to craft today, a little because I wanted to, a little because I wanted you to think of me, an a little because I was in a very good mood for no particular reason. :-)

By the way, in case you are wondering about my new header... (psst: if you are not, please do! LOL! ) let me tell you who the artist is:

AARYAN!

The painting is an evening scene with a reddish sky... the tree like structures, in his words, are mushrooms/toadstools that are stooping in the wind. Hope you like it :-)
[description of the painting: courtesy the little artist himself]

This card isn't really a favorite but I don't dislike it either. Crafting after so long can be quite challenging! The card is inspired by Laura's sketch 66 at 2Sketches4You... I flipped it. I made quite a large card with unusual dimensions because I have some huge envelopes to match ;-)

The Patterned Paper and gorgeous lace are from a kit sent by Yvonne; the leaf mask in the background is an RAK from dear Spardha; the stamp is Hobby Ideas and the beautiful white flowers are actually a Chinese Collar Button set that I picked up locally (I found them cute and very useful ;-) )... the fleur de lis punch is a not-so-recent purchase (also local).

Hope you like it!

Hugs,

Smita

Here I am!

Here I am back with a card and more after really really long. The Mojo's still not up and running as I want it to be though :-( Before getting down to my card, here's a little glimpse of 4 of the 15 cards my little Aaryan made for Diwali:

His drawing teacher taught him a fun background technique using crayons and he loved it so much that he made a card for each member of the family... he drew and colored the pictures himself :-) and he had a story attached to each picture (and a different picture for each card)! The second card from the left is what he gave me... he was trying to draw a kite.. the shape got distorted so he actually fixed it himself and told me that it was 2 kites stuck in a tree :-). I loved his explanation!!! And I loved every single card he made... He also wrote in each card himself (and he hasn't learnt the letters yet!! but he knew the basic shapes and wanted to write on his own... ) Proud of you, my darling Aaryan!

And here is my not so great card following the sketch at 2Sketches4You:

The stamp is Hobby Ideas and the PP is American Crafts. All other materials from stash...

ETA: I made it to top 5 at Get Sketchy for their Challenge #60 for this card! Thanks for letting me know, Juhi! I am soooooo happy and I didn't expect it :-)

Ciao,

Smita

Burgundy...

Th Play Date Cafe has a color splash challenge this week.... an amazing splash I must say:

My definition of amazing of course stems from the fact that I had something in Burgundy that I absolutely love ;-) and that I'd been waiting to use well :D. 

I used Laura's sketch from 2Sketches4You:

Oh yes, I used a new ribbon ruffling technique once again!! You know I love them and I just can't have enough of these... Well, this is technique by Nami of DeNami designs and I know I am nowhere close to her; but hey, I can add my own twist to it, can't I? And what did I add? Some more colored staples :D I love them...

I made this card on order for friends... they want to send it to their daughter who lives elsewhere... and I am hoping they like it.

Till later...

Ciao,

Smita

2S4Y and something new

A card I made for this week's challenge over at 2S4Y:

This card is totally made from scraps. And mostly handmade paper (to make it suitable for the occasion)...

The colors and the theme is inspired by my own challenge at my new blog (yeah, you read that right) ;-). Anyone who wants to celebrate festivals the Indian style, hop along to my Diwali Planner ;-). I am going to try and have a lo of fun while getting my home ready for Diwali this time (instead of being a nervous wreck like always!). Join me (even if you are getting ready for Christmas or any other festival) and let's get organized.

Ciao,

Smita

My cleanest card: 2S4Y

:-) Yes, this is , I think, the cleanest card I can manage ;-). My cards are never never CAS. It is based on the lovely sketch at my favorite sketch blog, 2 Sketches 4 You. 

My father-in-law gave me a weird look after seeing this card, and asked, 'Is this all? or are you going to add something more to it?'... Ha ha... Guess they are used to my going over the top with embellishments LOL. I used a gorgeous technique I learnt recently from the WOJ tutorial blog. All these scraps of PP are from one single sheet though :-) And I loved how the card turned out. PLUS I made it in record time - just 30 minutes ;-).

The ice-cream cone clip is a current favorite with me ;-) Check out my Girly Album and you'll know how I am currently crazy after these clips and colored stapling pins.

The Patterned Paper set was a gift from Donna (it is Heidi Grace). Everything else is from my stash.

I hope the 3D effect is visible in the pic :-/

Hugs,
Smita

2S4Y: Laura's sketch 60

My take on the sketch at 2S4Y this week:

Again, nothing complicated. I have kept it really really simple because I wanted the flower to speak in this card. ;-) Don't you love it??? I am truly in love with shabby chic flowers and I love making my own flowers (don't have the patience for elaborate punch craft though).

The patterned paper is, of course, from my new stack - Linnie Bell (Party Time Girl series). I love all these double sided papers and it sure is difficult to choose the side... I used both sides of this particular sheet though ;-) For the flower, I used a shimmery sheet that dad got me months ago from Australia. And yeah, the staples... I'm loving these colored stapling pins that I bought recently. Wish I had got all colors though ;-)

Ciao,
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

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

2S4Y: Laura's sketch 57

It has been a gorgeous day here today! And I am so glad it didn't pour :D... I am getting quite annoyed with the rains now... yeah, I know many of you look forward to it... but everything around here gets so messy that a day of sunshine is quite welcome :-)

Anyway, moving on to the card. This is my take on the gorgeous Laura's sketch at 2S4Y:

I made this card on request from a cousin's wife. This is a card for a guy.... ok, don't panic.... I think this works fine in our culture. Guys don't really mind a bit of bling sometimes... though I am not too sure DH would agree. 

I am finally liking my MS double scallop punch (luckily!) because I have found many ways to use it ;-)... also my Labels 3 dies (which weren't quite my favorite even after I bought them)!! Gosh, why am I cribbing?! ;-)

Isn't that bow pretty? I loved this gingham ribbon, which was an RAK from Juhi. The bow turned out fine at my first attempt... pat on my back! ;-)

The stamp, I think I inked it for the first time, is from Hobby Ideas. I think this stamp looks lovely as a monochrome silhouette. The chocolate embossed paper behind it is from The Paper Company (I've had it for almost 2 years now!! My sister's husband, Chirag, got it when he came down for his own wedding LOL). The roses are from Bombay Store.

Thats from me for now... 

PS: I did the inside of the card too... forgot to click pictures :-(

Ciao,

Smita

Mirror Image

Hey all,

I am here with my take on this week's 2S4Y sketch... but I am sorry it turned out to be the mirror image instead :-( Almost everyone in my family (me included) is down with viral fever... and what worried me most was that I couldn't craft for 2 days in spite of all my pending work :-( I was feeling a little better today and I had to share this:

My parents-in-law are celebrating their anniversary today. They live with us now and my MIL is the most supportive mother-in-law I have come across ;-) She loves my cards and I had to stay up yesterday to create something for her.

Did you notice the doily in the background (yes, my fascination with embellished doilies continues!!) ?!? Well, I got it in a super duper package as RAK from Juhi yesterday. Thank you so much Juhi!! Appreciate your gesture.

The felt flowers are from Yvonne's tutorial here.

Well, I was lucky twice yesterday. Just before hitting the bed, Vineet (my DH) told me that he had something for me. I was surprised to see a pack of decoupage/collage sheets (I am not sure if I have named it right) kit. He doesn't usually go picking up craft material for me so it came as a pleasant surprise... but then I was in for a bigger surprise. One of V's colleagues had bought the kit on a trip abroad... they had had it for a while... and he thought he didn't know of anyone who could use the kit better than me! I was thrilled and literally jumping in joy that someone whom I didn't know could send me something like this! :-)

I hope I am back on my feet really soon. There is soooooooooooo much to do!! I don't want to miss out on anything crafty now ;-)

Hugs,

Smita

2S4Y: Kazan's sketch 56

It is me again! :-) I decided to do 2 posts at the same time. LOL...

My take on the 2S4Y sketch:

I kept this one simple too.. no lace, no ribbon, no buttons and no bling :) !! The PP and rub-on are again from Hobby Ideas [I love this little boy!] and the rubber stamps are my own creations. The border punch is from Jef and I found it at a local store (my 'happiest ' purchase in recent times!!)..

Ciao,

Smita

2Sketches4You # 55 : Celebrate!

My take on this week's 2S4Y sketch:

How do you like it? It turned out almost just as I wanted it so I'm glad... This is again inspired by the embellished paper doilies that I mentioned here. I think there will be many more from me because I am totally smitten!!! It lets me use different textures and loads of my favorite embellishments without having to rely on patterned papers alone!

About this card... it is a kind of imperfect table setting. I didn't have place to keep one more spoon ;-) so I let it be only so much. The plate, cutlery, glass and napkin are from a pack of local stickers. The embroidered lace (black and red) are both from mom; the crochet lace is a recent purchase from a local store. I hoard on lace and ribbons and I love each bit that I have - my mom's totally vintage collection as well as the newer ones bought by me!

The background stamp is a polka dot, bee hive like stamp that I designed on Word (using the most basic drawing tools).. it has an almost distressed kind of feel and I love it.

Hope you enjoyed my post!

Till later...

Smita

One more for 2S4Y

Yes, one more card for the super duper sketch at 2S4Y. I couldn't help it... And I might do yet another one soon if the mojo's still working... ;-) I loved this sketch. 

A rather simple card but it works for me... I liked it. The paper pleated flower in the center was a nice find for me and I surely will do more of these. I also added some small ribbon flowers to the embossed scalloped circles. 

Hope you liked it...

Ciao,

Smita

Golden hues

Hey!!

My take on this week's 2S4Y sketch (#53) by the beautiful Laura.

Ok, it didn't quite turn out the way I wanted it to. Plus the fact that I put in so much time and effort into this card... not very satisfying but till I can find time to make one more based on the beautiful sketch, I'll have to submit this one. I love the papers though... rich golden hues on the base and the middle pink pieces.

Here's another view:

The ribbon (inspired by Ashley - how I love her work!!!!) is ruffled and hand-stitched [I didn't want to take chances by pleating it directly on to double-sided tape because the tapes here are sometimes terrible and don't hold too well; so I stitched the pleats and hot-glued it on the green CS].  I also did some 'real' stitching at the bottom [finally!!] :-). I made dimensional flowers again to match my theme [sentiment not added yet] - Bloom and grow! I ran over the embossed swirls with my 3D outliner. And I also sponged the base CS and the white CS with copper ink (it really shines).

One more card that I made a couple of days back (which again I was reluctant to post but hubby thought it wasn't that bad!):

till later...

Smita

Masculine ;-)... second post for the day -- double yahoooo!!

Hello once again people!!

I can't believe this is my second post for the day. It didn't look as if I'd manage even one though. This card is for 2S4Y's sketch no. 53 by the uber talented Kazan. How I love their sketches, only my archives can tell you :-) Though I don't manage to submit my card every time, I do love them so!! I can't believe it is their 2nd anniversary already. And I started blogging at around the same time :-) They've grown beyond imagination; and poor ol' me is still learning :-)

But here's one card I'm happy with:

Tell me the DP is gorgeous!... *waiting*.... thank you ;-) Well, do you know where it comes from? he he he.... We'd gone out for dinner at a pub last week with some cousins. They had these super tempting sheets of paper used as table mats. The first thing I said when I saw these was that I have to use them in a card. So my hubby obliged by picking up a new sheet from the counter on our way out :-) And I am loving this card now. Too bad I took only 1 sheet... next time I'll ask them to give me a few more :-)

I wanted the pattern to be visible so I layered a piece of vellum [I couldn't locate my acetate sheets :-( but no regrets now]. I flipped the sketch of course. Added simple foam letters and a chipboard diamond. I doodled the stars using my silver gel pen. The ribbon is from mom :-) and it is kind of elastic... it was fun working with it!! Do tell me what you think of this simple but truly masculine card [too bad the cask of whiskey is hidden behind the black CS] ;-)

Cheers [literally!],

Smita

Bejeweled

Bejeweled - well that's what my card is today! ;-) I started with a little bling... and then went on and on and on... till my card began to resemble a jewelery box LOL!! But I don't mind it one bit... I loved the card though the pics may not do justice to it yet again!

Disclaimer: If you don't like bling, stop rightaway and get on with your work (or you'll be down with a headache! ;-) )

The card is inspired by the awesome sketch at 2S4Y (Laura, you and the DT rock this week too)... It is my favorite sketch blog and I am happy to be able to take part this time... 

I am also submitting my card for the Cinema Saturday Creative challenge (gosh! I miss it almost every week...) - use silver in your creations.

A little about my card:

CS: Both red and black are from Fabriano. I embossed the black one.

Others: Silver metallic CS; embossed and inked vellum

Embellishments: Lace (thanks Mamma) and rhinestone are from stash... all other forms of glitter are using my favorite 3D outliners; flowers are handmade [ my take on 5 petal dimensional flowers]; the swirls are hand drawn and the sentiment is from Stampin' Up.

I randomly stuck rhinestones for that 'chicken pox- like' effect :D...

Hope you liked my card. I'd love to read your comments and suggestions :-)

Hugs,

Smita

Simply red

Hi all,

This is going to be a short post. Here is my card for this week's 2S4Y sketch by the gorgeous Kazan. I have kept my card very simple. It is part of a set of cards a friend of mine asked me to make. He wants the cards without any sentiment so that he can use them generally. 

Yeah very simple... but I loved it. The flower is a kind of paper bow that I made with strips of thin red cardstock. And yes, I am now finally enjoying my MS border punch... I really had a tough time getting it to work right though :D. Thanks to Donna and Linda for all the help!

Ah yes...! and I scribbled on the edges and on the petals with my Signo gel pen ;-)

Ciao for now,

Smita

:-)

This is my cutest card for now ;-) Been dying to use this color combination for a while but I never seemed to have the right supplies.

I am submitting it for:
> 2S4Y : love their sketch (when do I not!?)

> The Cuttlebug Spot challenge ("Bling"... though I am capable of much more bling ;-) )
> Cute Card Thursday: Touchy feely

The patterned paper is from Hobby Ideas; the pink oval behind the stamped image is a glitter paper my dad got for me from Australia (not visible perhaps but it has a nice shimmer); all other papers are from stash. Ahhh, yes, I have finally managed to emboss and ink Vellum... can you seeing it peeping behind the light pink rectangle?? :-) That's thanks to Beth Norman (love her tutorials!).

The image is again Meljen's digital stamp; the sentiment is Stampin' Up; the flowers and lace are from stash. I've also used some gel pens and 3D outliners for added bling and dimension.

Hope you enjoyed my little post...

Cheers,
Smita

Vintage love

Tried something different today. I have been in a horrid mood since mid-morning so I don't know what I've been doing with this card... I mis-positioned many things on this card. Anyhow, here it is:

Tried a better view in the next.

The sentiment is printed. The image is a free digital stamp from Sliekje. Something that is not visible in the previous images is this clock that has been masked in the background:

The folded Label 3 is an inspiration from something similar in Laura's card (nothing close though!) and the ruffled ribbon is inspired by Heather (not close either) [both 2S4Y].

And aaah... the only bit I truly loved is the distressed red background... Loosely based on the Acrylic distressing technique in SCS.

I am entering this card for:
> 2S4Y : Laura's sketch #49
> The ABC Challenge: R is for Red.

Cheers,
Smita

Will you ... marry me?

A card that I am quite happy with. :-)

The image is a digital stamp from Meljen's Designs (it is called Bunny Love). I used my Labels 3 Nesties for the first time today (and learnt a lesson too!). The image is colored using my Derwent Pencils and Turpentine oil. Lace and rhinestones are from my stash and the patterned paper is Hobby Ideas. 

The sentiment is handwritten and my own... The card front reads 'Ummm... Will you... Umm...' and the inside reads '...Marry Me?'. I wanted to write a sentiment that matched the blushing rabbit images :-) And I am in love with this card.

This is my card for this week's 2S4U sketch.

Cheers,

Smita