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

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

Happy Diwali

Wishing all my Indian friends a very Happy Diwali and a prosperous year ahead. 

I've been quite tied up of late and am hoping to have at least one post next week; but I am not too sure. Aaryan's having vacations now and I have my hands full at the moment. I will come back soon to post some [around 12] cards that my little boy made 'on his own'. Proud of him :-)

Sorry I have not been blog hopping either... just too busy!! :-(

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

Now I know...

...that Diwali is here! :-) The home's clean and fresh again ;-) and there was a card in my mail:

This awesome awesome card is from dearie Spardha! I always love the red and gold combination - it is truly Indian! And I love her handwriting too :-) She also sent me some lovely RAK cut with her Silhouette. I'll reveal them as and when I use them ;-)

And here are 2 cards I made for someone on order. I don't like them too much but she wanted it this way :-(

The Flower Pot card is one I have tried many times; the same SCS tutorial always :-); and the other one is a simple fancy fold one. I used ceramic beads after eons I guess. I got those long back and still have a few left.

I've been lurking in my favorite blogs for the past few days. But since I browse on my phone, and the silly thing doesn't always let me post comments, pardon my anonymous presence! :D I don't think I'll be very regular till after Diwali. Let's see...

Keep crafting... 

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