A quick post...

Here is my submission for the Play Date Cafe Challenge #89 and Card Patterns sketch #122:

Pardon the terrible pictures.... very gloomy weather out here :( The papers are all Pink Paisley (won at Michelle's challenge on Yvonne's blog). The envelope idea is from the uber -talented Juhi.

That's for now... I'll update this post later with more info on the card ;-)

Ciao,

Smita

Toasted and Not-my -Style Thank Yous :)

Heya people,

Ok, so I have been MIA again. The internet connection at home was down for more than 2 days and we had a problem in the family. Still praying that everything's alright very soon :(.

This is going to be a longish post... I hope you do read along though ;-) 

I managed some crafting though. This first card is called the 'Toasted Thank You' card!

The colors are from the Play Date Cafe Challenge #73... gorgeous colors (and thank you Shalini for describing them to me when I couldn't access the net):

I'm also submitting this for Your Next Stamp challenge - make it sparkle.

The sketch I used was an adaptation of a Papercrafts Magazine sketch (I don't know where but I think most bloggers had been posting about the cards that didn't make it; and I got the link/sketch from one of those). I love sketches anyway ;-). I added the kraft label frame to a die cut lavender sheet; then adhered the circles; and then embossed the whole thing (that seems to be my latest fascination....). Then I rubbed some clear ink over it and added embossing powder and heat embossed over the toaster (he he...). You'll need to look closely to see it shine I guess ;-) 

Now to the name of my card... well, I stamped the sentiment and added embossing powder; I was trying my best to use a tong to hold the little piece over the toaster but it fell right in!! {GULP}; I took it out before it was too late but the poor thing was almost toasted :-p

My next card isn't my style; and I was inspired by dozens of such cards that I've seen all over the place:

I've tried stepping out of my comfort zone (layers layers and more layers is what I like and do most of the time though I'm still finding my style!)... these gorgeous blooms are from the Hero Arts set that Emily sent for me. I love the versatility of this set. I'd tried a simple one layer card earlier... and this one is with some stamping, coloring and  paper piecing. I have not been able to take part in most of the challenges I love this year... This card is my entry for:

1) Michelle's challenge on Yvonne's blog - Get out of your comfort zone

2) Your Next Stamp challenge - make it sparkle (ok my red flowers are sparkling!)

That's it from me...

Smita

Inspired...

While making this card, I realised how much I love sketches! I just can't do without them :(. I had decided on the papers and on some things I wanted to include in the card, but I couldn't find a sketch that would go with all of them put together. And my mind went blank! So I randomly stuck pieces here and there :-/.

Did you notice my cute little banner? NO??? Oh, I thought you would :( Here it is:

Now this is where the title of my post comes from :) - this banner is inspired by one of my blog idols - Ashley Newell! Do I like her?? Uhh, I ADORE her work! She is fabulous... this came from one of her tutorials and I know I am nowhere close, but hey, I am trying!

I am submitting this card for this week's challenge over at The Play Date Cafe:

I chose to give my card a red splash (umm... more than a splash I think)!

Supplies:

CS: Fabriano Academia (White - thanks Tejal)

PP: Both Hobby Ideas

Others: Grosgrain ribbon (finally!) was an RAK from Shalini :) and my colored staples (yeah, they are back!) from a local stationer

Ciao,
Smita

PS: The card with a dictionary backdrop photo is also inspired by something similar I saw online a few days back!

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

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

PDCC63 and MOJO Monday 172

*** This is my second post for today. Scroll down for my previous post ***

Oh yes, I am on a roll :-D. I had been waiting for the PDCC colors because it has been really long since I played along. The colors are beautiful:

I based my card on the sketch at Mojo Monday:

A little about my card... I haven't used any patterned paper in this one. Instead I tried using a pattern I learnt in my painting class (nothing much, I can't draw and paint at all so I am taking lessons from Aaryan's teacher!). The green stripes pattern on the square panel is the pattern I created... I then embossed it with the Textile Texture embossing folder and then sponged some light green ink to create a nice effect on my pattern (I am not too sure if that is visible in the picture).

I have used Silver, Gold and Green gel pens for the faux stitching but they all look the same in the pic :-(. The stamp is from an Inkadinkado set. The Kraft CS was part of my birthday RAK from Emily (that was the only item the thief left behind :-/ ).

I am still trying to find my mojo... hope this post isn't too boring :-)

ETA: This is the card Tejal sent for Aaryan on his birthday :-)

Ciao,

Smita

Layered...

My take on this week's Card Patterns sketch (love it!) with The Play Date Cafe Colors ( difficult but interesting!) I wanted to make a masculine card (for my husband's brother who has a birthday this week) and the colors were perfect for the occasion. Just that they were really tough for me to use because I almost always use very bright colors!

I've used loads of dimensional foam tapes since I am anyway going to hand deliver this card! :-)

I am also entering this card for Julie's challenge on Yvonne's blog - something old and something new [the patterned paper is old, the buttons are new; the ribbons are old, the technique is new :-) ].

Ohh... and I just saw this lovely blog award that I got from dearest Spardha:

Thanks, girl! And things that make me different from others:

** I love to do things different from the usual... what everyone does is not something I am interested in usually!
** I love going out (for a stroll, for dinner, for movies, for brunch, for anything...) and according to my husband, it is best to take me out when I am unwell, because I am perfectly cured as soon as I step out!
** I love luxury items - jewelery, watches and perfumes are my weakness and I own loads of them all ;-)!
** I love my caffeine cups - both tea and coffee- with plenty of sugar :-) and I can have a whole pack of (sweet) biscuits with them at a time ;-)
** At the moment, I am not-so-eagerly awaiting my 30th birthday :-p {I normally start counting the days to my birthday when there are a few months to go}


I would like to pass on this award to:

Shalini
Juhi
Tejal
Savitri
Ujjwal

and to you too, Spardha!
Cheers,
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

Uncomplicated...

My entry for The Play Date Cafe Challenge 52. The inspiration is gorgeous... and they are celebrating their first anniversary. So hop over and play along.

I usually like bright colors and this palette was very very pleasing to my eyes. But it took me quite a while to come up with this simple card... Nothing seemed to match :-( But I kind of like the final outcome... 

I am so happy that I figured in the 'Cream in our coffee' roll of The PDC :-) for the previous challenge.

This card will go in the mail to my best-est friend whose birthday is next week :-). 

ETA: I forgot to mention this earlier... the patterned paper and the lace are from Yvonne. I won a candy at her blog a few weeks back and she sent me a beautiful scrapbooking kit :-)

Ciao,
Smita

Now, that was tough!

One look at the Play Date Cafe challenge # 51 colors and I knew it would be tough for me... but I wanted to try it anyway. This was what I came up with; with help from the sketch at Get Sketchy:

        

The colors are not the exact ones, I guess. But this was the best match I could find :-). I'm regretting not having ordered inks earlier... I realized today that I hardy have any :-(. But I am keeping my fingers crossed and hoping to get some colors locally soon.

The ribbon is courtesy T! :-) I tried a new ribbon ruffling technique (again!)... I really love ribbons and lace. The corrugated sheets are also a recent purchase when I went to meet T! The patterned paper is an old one from Hobby Ideas and the flowers are Itsy Bitsy. Buttons and twine are from my dear mom :-). I tried creating a matching envelope too...

Hope you liked it,

Ciao,

Smita

Nothing extraordinary...

A simple card and drawer box:

I wasn't happy with this project from the word go... anyway...

The colors are inspired by The Play Date Cafe PDCC 50:

I am submitting this box project for the 3D project challenge by Julie Elak at Yvonne's  blog.

I've not added sentiments to either yet... I'll add it based on the occasion.

Ciao,
Smita

Color-dicted!

Happy World Card Making Day!!! ( a bit late to wish my Indian friends though... )

Okay, I am officially addicted to the beautiful colors at The Play Date Cafe this week and I ended up making not one but 3 cards :-) with these colors:

Aren't the colors just yummy? Well, I didn't think I'd like them till I started crafting...

DH loved them so I am a happy girl :-)

Originally, I made only this card... then I decided to use up the scraps for the next and then the third happened :-) I am also submitting this card for the sketch challenge at Inspired Crafters. The stamps are Hobby Ideas, the patterned paper is Itsy Bitsy, the textured handmade paper is from a local store... everything else from stash.

This one is totally scrappy ;-)

I'm almost too scared to use a totally white card base but I am in love with this one :-) The flower is handmade and then stuck on a leather flower base. The leaf stamp is Hobby Ideas and the sentiment is Stampin' Up.

Oh God, I almost sound narcissist in this post LOL! But the colors are truly inspiring and cheerful... Play along with PDCC and tell me if you don't fall in love with these :-)

Hugs,
Smita 

Beautiful...

Here is a card I loved making... and finally, Pa in law is also convinced I haven't lost my mind.. ;-)

The Patterned Paper is again a sheet from Itsy Bitsy (Pebbles Inc). I loved it so much I couldn't cut even a centimetre more ;-) 

I am submitting this card for PDCC 48:

I have been ogling at The Play Date Cafe blog for some time now, and promising myself to play every week. This time, the colors were so yummy, that I decided to play without wasting any time. Though, now that I look at it again, my colors don't seem to be perfect, but still...

Though the challenge could mean grey or silver, do you think I would not use silver?!?! I love my bling and use it wherever I can. These metallic flowers are gorgeous and I wonder why I didn't get more.

I'm also submitting this card for Cinema Saturday Creative Challenge #96 (use metal in your creations). No inspiration drawn from the movie directly though :-( The little handbag charm and the flower centers are all metal.

Hope you like it.

PS: And ohhh... did you see the stapling pins at work again? I was going to use a different color because I forgot that regular silver pins exist :-p Such is my obsession with colored staples these days!! I just can't have enough of these :-)

Hugs,

Smita