Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge #213...

Hi! There is a new challenge up at Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge blog and this week it is

You can make your creations celebrating any holiday like Diwali, Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas. Something that celebrates may be a special vacation can also be entered.

Our wonderful sponsor this week is

SLSlines is the work of Sal Scheibe, a freelance illustrator and graphic designer who loves to draw and create fun illustrations. Sal works as the Art Director of ArtTrader Magazine. Prior to freelance illustrating, she worked as a Creative Designer for a music firm working with TV and advertising clients. 

Sal spends her nights drawing geeky things like RPG characters, zombies, fairies, awkward people, pretty girls and odd animals. She offers a broad range of fun digital stamps in many themes from geeky to cute and whimsical to realistic. Her digital stamps start life as sketchy little doodles which are then cleaned up digitally in Photoshop and made presentable and perfect for you.

Sal's favorite tools are Wacom pen and tablet as well as Copic markers, lots of fineliners and many types of erasers (which are used often). Her favorite artists include John Singer Sargent, Norman Rockwell, JC Leyendecker, Joe Sorren and Phil Hale. And Steve Epting too.

If you'd like a custom digital stamp made or have some suggestions, feel free to write to Sal with themes you'd like to see in the Etsy store.

Blog: http://slslinesdigitalstamps.blogspot.ca

Prize: 2 digital images

I made two cards as inspiration and they are very, very special to me since a bunch of them are going to the brave men in uniform who guard the borders of our country. I want to thank my dear friends Neha Gala and Tejal Mehta-Shah who have taken the initiative in putting this card drive together. You can find more details about Cards For A Cause - India here. Please try and join this drive and send at least a few cards for our brave soldiers who risk their life everyday for us. These men are stationed in one of the most inhospitable areas in the world, far away from their loved ones. We can surely send them a token of appreciation.

My cards are for Diwali, the festival of lights which will happen at the end of October.

I kept the design super simple. I find that is the best way when you are mass producing cards. I am planning to use the same template for all my Diwali cards. I will just change the colors. The pretty pattern paper is from a local shop. I stamped the beautiful sentiment from the Diwali Sentiment stamp set by Mudra Craft Stamps in Versamark and heat embossed with Ranger's Gold EP.

I hope you like my cards and are inspired to create something beautiful. You can visit the Addicted to Stamp and More Challenge blog for more inspiration from my talented DT friends. Looking forward to seeing your beautiful creation in out ATSM gallery.

Entering these cards in the following challenge:

Mudra Craft Stamps Challenge #1

Love,
Nandini

Make My Monday Challenge #31...

Hi! There is a new challenge up on the Make My Monday Challenge blog and the theme is No Pattern Paper. This is a rather easy theme for me as I rarely use pattern paper in my cards. I do like to hoard it though!

I decided to make a baby card for a friend who has recently been blessed with twins, a boy and a girl. I wanted to stay away from the cutsie cards and include the colors blue and pink. This is what I came up with.

I started with two pieces of plain white card stock. I smooshed three shades of pink on one and three shades of blue on the other. I splattered some water and dabbed it away with a paper towel for more texture. I also added some splatters with diluted metallic silver acrylic paint. After drying the pieces, I used the Stitched Star dies by Gina Marie designs to die cut both pieces. I ended up with two stars. 

Here is a close up of the star.

I took the Texture Mesh stencil by Memory Box and placed it on top of a panel of white card stock. I applied Hickory Smoke distress ink to get some pattern in the background. I mounted the star on two more die cuts to get a little dimension and glued it to the stenciled panel. 

The sentiment was cut with the Scripty Congrats die by Lawn Fawn from some silver glitter paper. I again glued three die cuts for some dimension and then added it over the star. I trimmed my panel a bit and added a strip of the same glitter paper to the left of the card base.

At this point I felt that the card needed a little more. So I used the tiny stars from the Let's Part stamp set by Mudra Craft Stamps. I stamped them with some silver pigment ink.

I finished the card by mounted the panel on the card base with double sided tape.

I hope you like my card and are inspired to create something beautiful. Be sure to visit the Make My Monday Challenge blog and check out the fabulous inspiration that my awesome teamies have created for you. Looking forward to seeing your creations in our challenge gallery.

Entering this card in the following challenges:

Mudra Craft Stamps Challenge #1 - Anything Goes

Memory Box Challenge #16 - Stencils

Lawnscapping Challenge #138: Geometric

CAS Colours & Sketches Challenge #192

Love,
Nandini

Craftyscrappers Craft Challenge #9...

Hi! The Craftyscrappers Crafty Challenge #9 is back with a new challenge. This is a easy one - Anything Goes. So you can create anything you wish - only the sky and your creativity is the limit!

Our sponsor for this challenge is 

Craftyscrappers is a great e-shop selling high quality die cuts, stamps and embellishments at very pocket friendly rates.

You could be the lucky winner to win amazing prizes from our CRAFTYSCRAPPERS SHOP

FIRST WINNER: a clear stamp set along with craft goodies.

SECOND WINNER: assorted die cuts.

THIRD WINNER: assorted embossed cards pack.

I made a birthday card using loads of die cuts for this challenge.

My starting point was the beautiful die cut window frame that was a part of my DT kit. Here are the supplies that I started with. 

I used the Tulips die set by Impression Obsession to get a bunch of flowers out of white card stock and the Sizzix Floral Wreath set to get some foliage. I then colored them with sketch pens. I also traced the die cut window onto a kraft card stock and cut it out with a craft knife. The stamp set is also from Craftyscrappers. It has loads of beautiful sentiments perfect for every occasion.

I changed the color of the die cut by applying Versamark and then heat embossing it with Ranger's Sea Foam White EP. I applied several coats to get a sturdy die cut with a lovely texture. Here is the die cut after heat embossing.

After I had finished my flowers and the window, it was time to assemble my card.

I used some red tacky tape that Shalini Mittal of Crafters Corner was kind enough to send to adhere a piece of acetate to my aperture panel. This tape is super strong and perfect for this kind of work. I then adhered the die cut window to the front of the card. I added some dark brown paper behind the die cut on the card base and added the aperture panel mounted on foam tape. 

I added the flowers and foliage die cuts and finally added the window box which also doubles as the sentiment panel. Here is a close up.

For the window box I cut a scrap piece of kraft card stock and shaped it. I then stamped and heat embossed the sentiment. I also added some texture by simply laying down my Tim Holtz Wood Grain stencil and tracing through it with my embossing pen.

I hope you like my card and are inspired to create something lovely. Please link up your to our challenge and maybe you will be one of the lucky winners! Looking forward to seeing you in our gallery.

Entering this card in the following challenges:

Penny Black and More September Challenge - Add a Sentiment

Mod Squad Challenge Blog - What's That You Say?

The Card Concept #57 - Rainbow Connection
I made a Clean and Layered card. The hanging baskets remind me of the multicolored tulips that I have used on the card.

Love,

Nandini

ATSM Challenge #211...

Hi! The theme for the Addicted To Stamps and More Challenge #211 is one of my favorites

You can create anything you wish for this challenge - sky and your creativity is the only limit! 

Our wonderful sponsor for this challenge is 

Sponsor

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

Since the challenge is anything goes, I decided to make a card that has been in my mind for some time.

I started with a piece to bright blue cardstock. I used the leaf dies from Folk Art Florals by Wplus9 and Seasonal Tree by Paper Smooches to die cut a border around the panel. Here is a closer look at the die cutting.

I stamped the sentiment from the Painted Greetings set by Altenew and heat embossed it with white EP. I added some paint splatters with white acrylic paint and then mounted the panel on foam tape on a white card base. The biggest challenge was popping up the tiny bits without the tape showing.

I hope you like my clean and simple card. Make sure you check out the awesome inspiration that my super talented teamies at ATSM have put together for you. And don't forget to enter your creations in the challenge. Looking forward to seeing you in our gallery.

Linking this card to the following challenges:

Virginia's View Challenge #23 - Spray, Mist, Splatter

Altenew's Ultimate Challenge Blog Hop

Love,

Nandini

Challenges Entries...

Hi! I made two cards as DT inspiration for the current challenge at Make My Monday Challenge #30. The theme is Autumn Leaves / Fall. You can check out the previous post for more details on how I made the card here.

Entering this card in the following challenges:

Just Us Girls #360 – Use Sequins

Time Out Challenge #65

I concentrated on the falling leaves.

CAS-ual Fridays CFC156 – Dimension & Bling

Fashionable Stamping Challenge #115 – Autumnal Colors

The second card is similar to the first, with different colors. 

Entering it in the following challenges:

The Paper Players – PP132

Addicted to CAS – Harvest

Addicted to Stamps Challenge #131 – Trees / Branches&/or Leaves

QKR Stampede Challenge #208 – Fall Colors

Love,

Nandini

Make My Monday Challenge #30...

Hi! The current challenge #30 at Make My Monday Challenge Blog is Autumn Leaves / Fall. This is a bit tough for me as we don't experience autumn in India. So my only reference is Pinterest. Luckily there are many wonderful creations with this theme on Pinterest.

I took my cue from the colors of the foliage and of course leaves.

I started with a piece of watercolor paper and my trusty Camlin photo inks. I put drops of red, orange, green and yellow inks on my craft sheet, sprayed generously with water and then swiped my paper through. I kept up this process till I was happy with the result. Since I used a fairly large piece of paper, I could get two panels out of it. Here is a close up of the watercolor background.

After the piece was dry I stamped various leaf images with Versamark and heat embossed with silver EP by Ranger. The stamp sets are In The Garden and Garden Leaves by Itsy Bitsy. These were recently introduced and are very reasonably priced. After the heat embossing, I used bleach to remove the color from the leaves. This is an interesting technique that I have used before here and here.

After my panel was ready I cut it into two with the Double Stitched Rectangle Dies by our very own Die Cuts And More. These are great dies as they come in a set of 6 with the largest die measuring 5.25" x 4". Their quality is absolutely great and they have the stitching detail on both sides of the cutting line. Here is the second panel.

I mounted the panels on the card base with double sided tape. The sentiment is from the Big, The Bold and The Extras set by Winnie & Walter. I heat embossed it on scraps of black paper with Fluorescent Tickled Pink and Metallic Pink embossing powders by WOW!

I hope you liked my inspiration cards. Be sure to go to the Make My Monday challenge blog and check out the awesome inspiration by rest of the DT.

Love,

Nandini

Craftyscrappers Challenge #8...

Hi! The Craftscrappers Challenges are back after a break. We are a bi monthly challenge now. We will choose three winners who will get goodie bags from Craftyscrappers.

Since Teacher's Day falls on 5th September, we want you to make creations with your teachers in mind. You can make anything - cards, tags, bookmarks etc. Please post your beautiful creations on the Craftyscrappers Craft Challenges Face Book page.

I made a Thank You card for this challenge.

I used a new-to-me technique called Ink Layering. The original post is by Jennifer Mcguire and you can check it out here. I have put together a short tutorial which I find will be helpful.

I started with a piece of kraft card stock which I attached to my stencil with washi tape. The stencil is Peonies All Over by Stamplorations.

Then I used an ink blending foam and applied Hero Arts White Unicorn ink. The result was a beautiful white pattern on the paper. Honestly I was tempted to leave it as is!

Next I reattached the stencil but offset it slightly and used my Camlin brush pens to apply color through the stencil.

Here is the final panel after removing the stencil.

And a close up of the final. Doesn't it look like little jewels?

Rest of the card was super simple. I trimmed and then mounted the panel on a black card base. The sentiment is from Wonderful Words by CAS-ual Fridays. I stamped it with Versamark and Heat embossed with white EP. I used a ready die cut from Craftyscrappers for the sentiment. These die cuts are available at Craftyscrappers in a large variety of shapes and sizes. They are high quality and make a crafter's life so much easier! I simply grabbed the die cut, colored it with Memento Black Tuxedo ink, stamped my sentiment and heat embossed.

This time I also decorated the inside of the card.

I simply put the stencil over the cream paper and traced the design with a black pen.

I hope you are inspired by my card to create something beautiful. Please make sure to visit the Craftyscrappers Craft Challenges Face Book page for more details. You will also find more gorgeous inspiration by my talented teamies. And remember to enter your creations in the challenge. It ends on 15th September and the winners will get a goodie bag from Craftyscrappers.

Entering the card in the following challenges:

Craft Stamper Take It Make It Challenge: September - Anything Goes
I have stamped the sentiment

Creative Friday #161 - Anything Goes

NBUS Challenge #7
I have had the stencil for a very long time and used it for the first time.

Sweet Stampin Challenge - No DSP

AAA Cards Game #72 - New To You Technique
First time I used the Ink Layering technique

Love,
Nandini