ATSM Challenge #209 - Clean & Simple...

Hi! We have a new challenge up on the Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge blog. This time it is

You can enter any creation as long as it is Clean and Simple. This means that clean and crisp lines, minimal or no embellishments and lots of 'white' space should be used. Though White space does not need to be 'white'. It can be any colour. White space is a term used for the area of your card with no stamping, embellishments etc.

Our lovely sponsor is

QKR Stampede and Eureka Stamps was purchased by Stamp On It in 2013 from the state of Colorado and moved to its new home in Michigan! We(Stamp On It) had its humble beginnings over 25 years ago and is now a mobile(on-the-road) family owned and operated business. We travel coast to coast and attend as a vendor over 25 retail stamping and scrapping shows each year. 

Blog: http://eurekastamps.blogspot.ca

Prize: 3 digital images 

Clean and Simple or CAS as it is commonly referred to is my favorite style of card making. Here is the card I created for this challenge.

I started with a piece of water color paper and stamped the images from the Peony Bouquet stamp set by Altenew with Versamark and heat embossed with silver EP. I colored the images with several distress inks, both Ranger and Artistry. Here is a close up of the bloom.

After the inks were dry I cut out the images with the matching dies and then arranged them to my satisfaction. I clicked a picture of the arrangement with my phone. This is a great trick. Especially if you tend to spread out your card making over a couple of day. 

Then it was time to create the base. I was very inspired by the current Stamplorations sketch challenge and decided to follow it. I took a piece of kraft cardstock and used the Die Impression background technique with my Lifestyle Crafts nested circle dies. This technique is explained in detail by Jennifer Mcguire and you can check out the post and the video here. I dabbed the Indian Jamun distress ink by Artistry before running the paper through my Big Shot. The result was a lovely, subtle background of concentric rings. I used another technique by Jennifer Mcguire (tutorial here) to add some silver splatters to my card. I simple flicked some plain water on the card and covered it with silver embossing powder. I then heat set it normally. It does take some time to set the EP, since the water needs to dry. But the effect is gorgeous. Here is a closer look.

I used some thin double sided tape and silver glitter to create the silver strip on the side and mounted the whole thing on a cream card base with foam tape. The sentiment is from the Big, The Bold and The Extras set by Winnie & Walter.

I hope my card inspires you to create something beautiful. Please do check out the Addicted to Stamps and More blog for more inspiration by my super talented and amazing DT teamies. And be sure to add your entries to our gallery here!

Entering my card in the following challenges:

Stamplorations August Sketch Challenge:

Penny Black and More August Challenge - Anything Goes with a Stamp

AAA Cards Game #72
I used two new techniques - die impression background and using water to add splatters and heat embossing.

Love,

Nandini

Make My Monday Challenge #29...

Hi! The new challenge is up on the Make My Monday Challenge blog and the theme this time is Back to School.

I was honestly stumped with this theme as I don't have any stamps or dies in my stash that fit. One thing that I often do to get over my mental block is to sit with my stamps and just go through the stash.

I did just that and then hit upon the idea of making bookmarks. My daughter makes a bunch every year for her teachers as a thank you. I decided to do the same. I also decided to use the same stamp to make two totally different looks. And here are my creations.

The stamp is from the Bookmark Bits & Pieces stamp set by Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps. Here is a closer look at the individual bookmarks.

I used the Overlap Stamping technique by Jennifer Mcguire for the background. You can find her blog post and video here. I used the Plaid Builder stamp set by My Favorite Things along with Memento dew drop inks and Hero Arts White Unicorn ink for the stamping. For the sentiment, I stamped with Versamark and heat embossed with white EP. Then I stamped again with Versamark off setting the stamp slightly and heat embossed with black EP. I stamped and heat embossed over it with some custom black glitter EP which I created by mixing equal parts of black EP and Black glitter. I trimmed the panel and mounted it on a kraft base.

Entering this bookmark in the following challenges:

Peek-a-boo Designs Challenge #9

AAA Cards Game #72
I used the Overlap Stamping technique for the first time.

The basic design is the same in the second bookmark.

For the second bookmark, I used a background that I had created ages ago using the Faux Watercolor Stamping technique by Shari Caroll during the Stretch Your Stamps 2 class. I made my own DIY background stamp with some sunboard, double sided tape and die cut fun foam.

I dabbed several shades of acrylic paints randomly on the stamp and then sprayed liberally with water. I pressed a piece of watercolor paper over the stamp and got this beautiful background. Here is another card made with the same technique. For more details on this card you can go here.

I stamped the sentiment with Versamark and heat embossed with metallic copper EP. I trimmed the panel and mounted it on a kraft base.

I hope you liked my inspiration. Please visit the Make My Monday Challenge blog for more, fabulous inspiration by my fellow DT. I hope we inspire you to create something beautiful. Looking forward to seeing you in our challenge gallery.

Entering this bookmark in the following challenges:

Cupcake Inspirations Challenge 373

Words 2 Craft By - W2CB #32: A Single Step

Stamping Challenges August Challenge - Anything Goes

Penny Black and More August Challenge - Anything Goes with a Stamp

Love,
Nandini

ATSM #207 - Make Your Mark

Hi! A brand new challenge is up at the Addicted to Stamps and More challenge and this week it is

You can Make Your Mark with anything, be it markers, paint, watercolor, chalk, pencils, pens. And don't forget to share what you have used if it isn't obvious.

Our wonderful sponsor this week is

Founded in June 2013, California-based STAMPlorations™ is owned and managed by husband-and-wife team, David & Shery Russ. From just a handful of stamps, we now have 100+ stamp designs, 4 stamp designers, our exclusive line of stencils, and 20 amazing crafters spread across 3 teams who constantly produce gorgeous projects featuring our products. Our clear stamps are perfect for creating CAS, one layer, and mixed media cards, and they can be combined to create a variety of paper crafts. All of our stamps are proudly made in the USA. Our clear stamps are made from the finest, non-yellowing photopolymer resin. Through our stamp line, we hope to encourage crafters of all ages and

experience levels to "Stamp with all your ART!" 

Blog: http://stamplorations.blogspot.ca

Prize: 2 digital images

I made a set of thank you cards for this challenge.

I started with a piece of watercolor paper and stamped the 12 pointed star from the Dodecagram stamp set by Altenew with Versamark ink. I used gold EP to heat emboss. Of course I used my trusty Stampaholic for precise placement and stamped twice to get a really good impression.

I used Nirmal watercolors to paint the stars. I love the intense shades that these colors give. A big thanks to Tejal Mehta-Shah for introducing them to me. You can check out her blog here.

Here is a closer look at one of the cards.

Once the panels were dry, I cut them with the Gina Marie x-cut rectangle dies and stamped the sentiment from the CAS-ual Fridays Wonderful Words set and heat embossed with gold EP. The Stampaholic was again invaluable in helping me position the stamp correctly. I finally mounted the panels with foam tape on a kraft card base and that finished the cards.

I hope you liked my clean and simple cards and are inspired to create something beautiful. You can link up your creation here. And make sure you visit the ATSM blog for more inspiration by my super talented teamies!

Entering the card in the following challenges:

Stamplorations August CAS Card Challenge

Mod Squad Challenge Blog - The Die's The Thing
I used a rectangle die to cut out the panel.

CAS-ual Fridays Challenge: CFC 154 - Time to Color

Just Us Girls #356 - Trend Week

Love,
Nandini

Exciting Announcement...

Hi! I have an exciting announcement to make today. I am now a part of the Make My Monday Challenge Design team! This is a fun blog that hosts bi monthly challenges with really interesting themes and a super talented DT. 

The current challenge #28 is a photo inspiration challenge.

There are so many beautiful elements in this photo that are inspiring! I loved the texture, the pretty colors and the large shell. I was also heavily inspired by Loll Thompson of Stamping With Loll, who creates the most gorgeous CAS cards.

I started with a piece of white card stock that I inked randomly with different distress inks. Then I sprayed it heavily with plain water and sprinkled salt. I let the whole thing air dry overnight. The result was this beautiful swirl of colors. Here is a closeup of the panel.

Rest of the card was super simple. I stamped the sentiment from the Warm Wishes stamp set by Some Odd Girl on black card stock with Versamark and heat embossed with white EP. I mounted the panel with foam tape on a turquoise colored card base, adhered the sentiment strip and added some shells from my stash as the finishing touch.

I hope my card inspires you to create something beautiful! Please do check out the Make My Monday Challenge Blog for more inspiration from my fabulous teamies. You can link your creations to the Make My Monday Challenge #28 here.

I am entering this card in the following challenge:

CAS Mix Up August Challenge

Love,
Nandini

Inlaid Die Cutting...

Hi! Did you ever start a card that went in a completely different direction? That is exactly what happened to me with this card! I started with a watercolor card using inks and then the Simon Says Stamp Heart of Roses die just took over the whole thing! Here is the card that I ended up with.

I was very inspired by the current CAS(E) this Sketch challenge and used it as the starting point.

I started with a white card base and painted stripes on it with a flat paintbrush and my trusty Camlin Photo inks. 

I added some splatters with gold acrylic paint.

This was the point where I got stuck. My original idea was to use a die cut butterfly in gold foil paper. But it just didn't work. I kept trying different things till I picked up the Heart of Roses by Simon Says Stamp. And then everything seemed to fall into place. I used a dark green metallic paper to die cut the heart and then painstakingly popped the pieces back into place. It was rather like putting a jigsaw puzzle together. 

Here is a closeup of the inlaid heart.

The sentiment is from the Celebrate Artsy set by Stamplorations. I stamped it with Versamark ink and heat embossed with black EP.

Linking this card to the following challenges:

CAS(E) this Sketch #183

Allsorts Challenge Week 374 - A Touch of Sparkle.

I used metallic green paper and gold splatters

Less is More Two Week Recipe Challenge - 286 & 287

I used inlaid die cutting which definitely adds some interesting texture to an otherwise one layer card.

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Fabulous Florals

Simon Says Monday Challenge - Celebrate

Love,

Nandini

ATSM Challenge #205 - Photo Inspiration...

Hi! The challenge #205 this week at Addicted to Stamps and More is Photo Inspiration.

The sponsors this week are

DRS Designs - a family owned company since 1950 - boasts hundreds of original rubber stamp designs. All images are available fully mounted, completely unmounted or mounted on cling cushion and are proudly hand crafted in the USA. 

Our rubber stamp collection includes a wide assortment of images including sentiments for all occasions, easy background designs and fun technique stamps such as our stained glass and plaid designs.

The DRS Designs website features a huge card sample gallery, online demos and tips, a secure shopping area and more. Be sure to visit our daily blog with posts from our fantastic design team for inspiration and ideas.

Website: http://www.drsdesigns.com

Prize: $10.00 gift certificate

There are so many ways to interpret this challenge! You must go visit the ATSM blog to check out the gorgeous inspiration projects by my teamies. 

I decided to concentrate on the beautiful watercolor wash and white lettering.

I used one of my favorite coloring mediums, the Camlin Photo inks to create the green panel. I put drops of yellow, blue and green inks on a large acrylic block, sprayed the whole thing with plenty of water and then placed a piece of white card stock over it. After the paper was dry, I dropped some water over it and blotted with a clean rag for a more textured and distressed look. The stamp is Joy! Crafts Hydrangea Silhouette. I staped with Hero Arts White Unicorn pigment ink and them heat embossed with some opaque white EP. I cut the panel with my Gina Marie Xcut Rectangles die and mounted it on a kraft card base with some fun foam. The sentiment is from The Big, The Bold and Extras set by Winnie and Walter. Here is a closer look at the card.

Hope you like my card and join in the fun at the ATSM blog. You can link your beautiful creations here.

Love,

Nandini