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

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

Get Sketchy # 57

My take on this week's sketch at Get Sketchy:

This is another 75th birthday card requested by mom. The 3 double-loop layers on the edge look much prettier IRL. You'll need to take a closer look to see the floral print on the PP... it was impossible for me to photograph it.

Till later,

Smita
PS: I had to edit this card before sending it across. I added a large layered scalloped flower, leaves and some flourishes.

A Girly Album

If you've been wondering why I am not posting, well,,, I am still around. I haven't had the time to breathe most of this last one week. But yes, over the past 2 weeks (yeah, that is a loooong long time) I did manage to complete a  little album that someone had asked me to make. The pics are dull and not nice, let me warn you... We've had a particularly gloomy day today.

This is a 9-page album that the lady wants to gift to her 9 year old niece. And the little girl loves butterflies, I was told. (Tejal, I hope that explains all the butterflies you'll see fluttering by in this post ;-) ).

I have provided secret and non-secret panels for messages ;-). And I have used tons of ribbon (I can't live without using ribbons) and my latest favorites - colored stapling pins - have found their way everywhere.

This looks like a particularly busy section though these were the easiest pages. I had a spring fold card ready and I just attached it here (on the left panel).

Juhi's gorgeous doily found its way here... And all that glaze (not at all clear in the pic) was a glue and glossed section. The wowie patterned paper here is from Itsy Bitsy. And that cute cute cute ice-cream cone paper clip is from a local stationery store. ;-)

Please do tell me that the silver doodling around the glitter heart is nice. The lady I made this for is my son's drawing teacher and I don't want her to laugh at my flowers and swirls ;-) She loved the ribbon weaving on my previous album, so I included it here as well.

Do tell me what you think, and please pardon the pics.

Ciao,

Smita

Card Patterns 80

My card for the latest Card Patterns sketch:

I kept it very simple.... can't get cleaner than this for me {wink}. I am not too much a fan of brown but I am slowly growing to like them on cards once in a while. I won this stamp by The Stamp Shoppe a few months back. Inked it for the first time for this card and I quite like the clean lines.

I have been dying to have a large scallop border die and till I lay my hands on one of those, I thought I'd make do with semi circles. Not neat enough but serves my purpose. This time I omitted my usual faux stitching with dots. I kind of like the effect :-).

Another card I want to share with you today is something I made a month back... wonder how I forgot to post it though.

Again very very simple but I like it. Embossed using border embossing folders on the top and bottom. I went over the embossing with my trusted 3D outliner [I hoard on this thing... I have it in every color I like :D]. The highlight of this card, though, is the flower. I stamped on fabric for the first time. Love how the flower turned out... a little out of place, but it is ok. ;-)

Hope you liked the cards.

Wait wait wait... I need help/tips again. I am finding myself getting addicted to albums. But can someone please help me with binding options. I have binder rings now but I'd like to know more too. If I use rings, how do I go about the binding? I have been trying to read up online but am more confused than ever.

Smita

PS: I also got a new set of papers from Itsy Bitsy finally!! Not sharing a pic, because most of you (my fellow Indian crafters) already have them :-). My brother in law came down from Bangalore on Saturday, and with him came my papers *chuckle chuckle*.

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

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

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

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

Card Patterns sketch 67

Hi all,

My take on Card Patterns Sketch 67:

CS: Base CS is Fabriano; everything else is from my stash;

DP: The pretty patterned paper is an RAK from Tanja.

Others: Stamp is from Hobby Ideas; ribbon and lace from my stash... some faux stitching using my white gel pen and the branch (yeah, it is a branch..LOL) is hand drawn and cut.

It turned out just the way I intended it to so I won't be cribbing this time around ;-). I am in love with all things pleated at the moment, which explains the pleated flowers and ribbon. And I am a lot wiser now so I am stitching up my ribbon treatments before adhering them [because the quality of double-sided tape that we get around here is kind of hopeless!].

Usually I save the sketch on my phone or draw it out in my notebook before starting on the card; this time I tried to test my memory.. I was kind of sure I remembered the sketch wrong... but yoooohooo!! I wasn't wrong!!

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

Beary cute

I was in the mood for a cute card and this week's Card Patterns sketch 65 let me make just that!

I've had this free digi image from Sassy Cheryl colored and ready to use since really long. And I bought a pack of cute little clothespins a while ago too. Just that I hadn't used it yet and it was calling out to me today. ;-) I found CS & DP matching to the socks and boxers in this picture and I just had to try something different... I layered the cute beary and held him with a clothespin :-) and I even attached some string to make it look more real. I popped up the bear using foam tape. The embossing is Swiss Dots.

PS: Did you notice the matching twine bag in the pics? LOL! That was just a happy coincidence ;-)

The outside sentiment says 'Caught you...' and the inside of the card reads:

Hope you like it. [pssst: my 3-year old son loved it and is wondering if I will let him have it :-).... Do you think I should give it to him? ;-)]

Ciao,
Smita

Simple projects

A donut-inspired gift card:

The sentiment is from Meljen.. I thought it suited my donut well.

And a simple everyday card:

This ribbon technique from Ashley Newell is to die-for! I'm still trying to perfect my hands..

Both made for my personal use. I finally had some success with this border punch!! Donna, guess my CS wasn't thick enough earlier. :-)

Ciao,

Smita

I'm going crazy....!!

"Ok, I think I won't post a thing for another 2 days now... I'm going crazy!!" ... My mind almost went blank while crafting; my head was spinning and I thought I'd die!!! Relax, I told myself... nobody dies while making a card... and so I am here fit and fine.

** This is going to be a long post... so if you are sleepy, don't bother ;-) **

A old school friend of mine asked me to make Mother's day cards for her mom and granny yesterday. Since she stays far away, I was almost in a fit. I panicked not knowing how I'd be able to live up to her expectations! I didn't do a thing yesterday. Finally sat down to the cards in the afternoon, itching to use the CPS sketch but not knowing how...

Finally, these are what I came up with:

Here is the story behind this card. I had wanted to make a flower pot card... I've made quite a few already so I thought it would be quick and easy. But I saw Kathy's card here and thought I'd attach my card to an easel card; I did't know how to make it like her, so I decided to have a little garden for granny  ;-) Well, right from the beginning everything went wrong. I made an inverted easel [if you need to know how to mess up an easel card, you know whom to contact!!]. Then I started all over again and came up with this one. Propped the butterfly on a piece of acetate inspired by Chhavi's ideas. (Thank you Kathy and Chhavi.) The pretty orangish lace is from mom; everything else is either punched or handcut...

I am submitting this for the Daring Cardmakers challenge - Easel does it. The closed card: (5" square)

Where the frame rests:

The second card follows the CPS sketch #62. Nowhere close to the gorgeous DT work, but here's my take:

I'm also submitting this one for:
> The Cuttlebug Spot - favorite flowers
>The Pink Elephant challenge - Mommy, I love you

I've again die-cut, embossed, and inked vellum here. The faux blanket stitch (ok, I'm not an embroidery expert, so whatever that v-shaped stitch is called) was done with a Signo gel pen. 'mom' are alpha stickers from Itsy Bitsy. And the reason why I chose this sketch.... the flowers... I loved them.. they are inspired by Betsy. I just had to try something from her tutorials!! They are sup fab. Mine is nowhere close.... wish I had some colored felt in hand!!! The pom-pom lace is from my stash... the gorgeous patterned paper is Heidi Grace (from Donna of course!).

Hope you enjoyed my little post ;-)

PS: My hubby hates pompoms! :-( And he didn't like them on this card either.

Signing off...

Smita

Sizzling Blue ...!

Here I am back again with the Mojo sketch card; and this time I did remember to make it square unlike the earlier one!!! ;-) As I mentioned earlier, my cards reflect my mood and what techniques I am waiting to try. Today it is a fun card with some elegance... I tried the awesome 'Shaker' card from the Whiff of Joy Tutorial blog. Love their tutorials though I don't own any of the gorgeous Whiff of Joy stamps.

I am submitting this card for:
> The Cuttlebug Spot - Favorite flowers (these layered beauties sure are my favorites!)
> Papertake Weekly - Do something different (never tried a shaker card like this before)
> Cute card Thursday - Make your own
> Our Creative Corner - Blooming blossoms
> Tanja's challenge of making the shaker 

Isn't it a beauty? :-) I loved it!!! But if I reveal what makes the shaker, I'm not sure if you will believe me.... ;-)  Well, the original tutorial asked for a cardboard ring 6mm high. I, of course, didn't have any such ring. I asked Tanja what to replace it with... she suggested 3D tapes. Now Smita was too lazy to neatly cut foam tape so she came up with another idea... 

I have loads of unused bangles with me... I layered 3 light metal bangles to create the height and dimension. Then I carried on with the tutorial ;-)...  I loved the card!! AND I loved my shimmering blue flower too... Nothing much to write about that - just layered scalloped circles secured with a brad and decorated in the center with a circle sticker and loads of 3D outliner! :-) 

The lace is from mom's stash!! And she has the most amazing collection ever!!

Hope you enjoyed my post...

Ciao,

Smita

This and that....

Hello there,

Here are a few simple cards I created yesterday to get myself back in the crafty groove...

This one follows the gorgeous Kazan's 2S4Y sketch (#51).... I think she'll faint seeing such an interpretation of her beautiful sketch..LOL!! Anyway... the image is a digi image from Birds cards. Love her very usable images. The ribbon treatment has another story. I learnt it from mom and though I haven't perfected it yet, I hope to work on it and get it right. Not visible clearly in the picture but the ruffles look gorgeous if done right. I'd done this flower earlier too and I love how I can add some texture and elegance to a plain foam flower.

This one is a simple notecard made from scraps of CS left after making the previous card:

I bought loads of these flowers on a recent shopping spree. Kind of find them useful.

The next two cards are just trial cards... I wanted to try the gorgeous bows from the Just Add Ink tutorials. I had to tweak it a bit based on my button type... liked it though.

All the embossing is Cuttlebug; the ribbons are from my stash; ink from Hobby Ideas; stamps are Stampin' Up; buttons from stash.

Cheers,

Smita