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

In pursuit of craftiness...

hello there...!

I just am unable to craft. All my free time is going away in doing bits of work for others at home (mostly shopping!!) for my BIL's engagement early next month. I was supposed to make some money envelopes for my MIL too but haven't had the time to get the right supplies :-(

Anyway. cribbing apart, I'm actually loving the shopping except that it eats up my time! But hey, don't go away, I did manage some crafting yesterday evening, when Aaryan decided that he could be on his own for a while and not disturb me.... But it isn't a card. Here is what I created:

Yes, I finally altered some snap clips... (ignore the line of buttons on the back clip; that was just an experiment). I made these fabulous ribbon roses from a tutorial at Really Reasonable Ribbon's Ramblings. I kind of like hair accessories and keep buying them from everywhere; I'd been wanting barrettes/snaps with flowers for a long time now but every time I saw one, I'd think I could try making it myself. And when I saw the rose tutorial, I knew where my first rose would go. This was just the thing I wanted! :-)

Do you like my hair accessories? Do tell me how they are... I'll probably make a few with bling now though my first attempts (with bling and buttons) have been hugely unsuccessful.

I may be MIA again for around 2+ weeks now. We're off to our hometown, Kolkata, on Sunday, and then to royal Udaipur for another wedding!

Take care!

Ciao,

Smita

Mad 'Bout U

Hello there,

Yeah, I am still doing the disappearing act now and then! But I've been visiting you more often, huh? :-) Busy month ahead again! My brother-in-law is getting engaged soon and that's keeping me busy!

But here's my card for today:

I am submitting it for two challenges:

Card Patterns : for their sketch 98

Really Reasonable Ribbon's Ramblings : for their Challenge 16 (Heart Theme)

I was in a mood to make a Valentine's Day card so the heart theme at RRR was just perfect.... 

I feel something's still missing in the card but can't figure out what. Here is the recipe anyway:

Cardstock : Fabriano from my stash

Patterned Paper : RAK from Yvonne

Stamps : The letter stamps are an old one from Hobby Ideas (I finally have got the hang of using them on a make shift block); the scattered hearts stamp is also from an old Hobby Ideas set

Others : I made the ribbon flower from a tutorial I saw at the RRR blog (wonder why I never saw their blog earlier!); the hearts are scallop punched and everything else is from my stash.

Hope you liked it.

Ciao,

Smita

Blessed!!

I am blessed to have made some lovely friends on blogland! If you remember, I had mentioned in a previous post that the birthday card that Shalini had sent me was lost in transition... Well, my darling friend made another card and sent it again to me. And this time it reached intact... And what a card it is!!!

She actually took the trouble of printing one of my recent vacation trips and using it on this card! Love you, girl!!Though my photography isn't too good, I hope you can see the brilliant card! It came in a matching box (you can see the lid in the background) that was filled with wooden shavings... awesome! And tied with a very pretty bow (I love!!).

Aaryan's first reaction was 'Wow! Mamma you got such a pretty card'! ;-) 

Thank you, Shalini, and everyone else for making this my bestest birthday ever by your thoughtful messages :-) I have never been joyously thinking about my birthday till mid Jan! :D

Ciao soon,

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

Cards at last!

I know I have been hopping around for a long time promising to be back soon :-p and hopefully I really am back now!! Life's been great though a little busy. This is going to be a post full of pictures so brace yourself ;-)

First, I'll share a card I (finally!) managed to create last night. I won't mention who it is for 'coz she just might drop by... It will go to her from her special somebody. ♥♥♥

Ok, now I want everybody to oooh and aaah over this card! It took me the longest time ever to make it :-( because I've been so out of touch!I could hardly think of anything romantic enough for the card and had to really really stare hard at my supplies to come up with this simple card :D In fact, I had even forgotten what supplies I had in hand! :-/ 

Anyway coming back to the card.. the PP is Pebbles Inc Sweetheart Follow Your Heart... I love it! Can you notice the layers on the light pink background? They are paper strips and are inspired by a card I saw on Ashley's blog (I've been following her work for more than a year now and though I can never reach her standards, I love love going through her creations and being inspired!). The silver circles are punched from silver CS and I added some rhinestones for a touch of bling ;-) Oh and yes, I have glue and glossed the entire PP layer LOL (thank you Tejal for introducing me to this!)

Here are the cards I received for my birthday:

Emily's card (photo from her blog) - the contents of her parcel were stolen!! The card too :-(

Rachana's card

Tejal's card (photo from her blog)

Juhi's card (photo from her blog) - one pearl was found missing and the card was crumpled slightly and delivered!

From a kid in my building - isn't it sweet? :-)

Shalini's card is lost in transition :-(

Note: I HATE THE INDIAN POSTAL/COURIER SYSTEM for stealing my stuff and for damaging these beautiful cards!!

Tejal also sent an adorable card for Aaryan's birthday and some lovely goodies for both of us. :-) But the little kiddo won't give me the card; I'll have to wait for him to click a picture of it :-)

Thank you all so much for your wishes once more!! 

Hoping that you see more of me this year! ;-)

Hugs,

Smita