Altenew Educators "Floral with Geometric Elements" Blog Hop and Linky Party + Giveaway

Hi! I hope all of you are enjoying the latest blog hop by the Altenew Educators. You should have arrived here from the super talented Pam Boedeker. I am a huge fan of her beautiful work!

I completed my Altenew Educator certification in March 2018. The Altenew team, especially Virginia Lu, was a great help in planning and conducting the workshop. Since then I have been privileged to participate in regular blog hops hosted by Altenew. AECP has also given me an opportunity to be part of an amazing group of crafters who are warm, supportive, and encouraging. I still regularly enroll in the Altenew Academy classes. I feel they are a wonderful way to keep in touch with the current trends and keep improving my skills as a crafter.

Today’s project is inspired by the 3D Floral Focus class conducted by Therese Calvird. She is an amazing crafter and a great trainer! This class is a must if you love the gorgeous 3D dies by Altenew and want to get more out of them!

One big takeaway for me from this class was to look at my supplies differently. Experiment with colors and materials and you will be surprised by the possibilities that open up!

My project for today is a little clutch that I spiced up with my Altenew dies. I used three die sets for this project – Dodec Star, Fantasy Florals& Rose Flurries.

I have a detailed video for you that explains how I ‘dyed’ my felt and created this unique accessory. You can watch it here or head to YouTube.

Here are some more pics of my project. 

I used black foam to add some texture to the background. I also dyed my yellow felt for the leaves since I didn't have any green felt.

 Close-up of the large flower

And the smaller flowers

Another look at the completed purse.

I hope you liked my project and find it inspiring. I would love to know your thoughts on this. 

The next person on the hop is Amber Rain Davis. She is such an amazing crafter! I am a big fan of her work! Here is the complete list in case you want to go back to the beginning or missed someone.

Hop list:

Altenew Card Blog

Nenette S. Madero

Kari VanNoy

Helen Kalb

Teresa Litchfield

Colleen Balija

Rachael Shedeed

Pam Boedeker

Nandini Karmarkar - You are here!

Amber Rain Davis

Neha Aggarwal 

Amy Hill

Teri Wilson

Terri Marie Koszler

Eva Bussom

Sandra Woodson

Irina Fonina

Jaycee Gaspar

Roteja Galvan

Teri Stokes

Michelle Ochoa Murray

Rosie Neustaedter

Patty Mello

Virginia Lu

And finally, no Altenew hop is complete without some great prizes!

Altenew is giving away a $30 gift certificate to 1 lucky winner! Please leave a comment here on the Altenew Card Blog by 12/21/2020 for a chance to win. 

We’ll also draw a winner to receive a $15 Altenew gift certificate from the comments left on each designer’s blog on the blog hop list below. All winners will be announced on the Altenew Winners Page on 12/23/2020.

There’s MORE! What’s a hop without YOU?! We have included an Inlinkz below for you to enter your gorgeous Altenew “Floral with Geometric Elements” creations. We will pick 2 of our favorite handmade creations from those who joined the linky party and they will each receive a $15 Altenew gift certificate!

Love,

Nandini

Mixed Media Wall Decor with CrafTreat 3D Decoupage...

Hi! I am on the CrafTreat YT channel today with a brand new video featuring the beautiful Botanical Blooms I 3D Decoupage sheets. Click here to watch the video.

Here are some more pics.

Closeup of the bottom

Closeup of the top

Another look of the frame

Entering this frame in the following challenges:

Allsorts Challenge Week 601:

We Love2Create Mixed Media Challenge Week 12:

613 Avenue Create Challenge Blog:

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge:

Love,

Nandini

Slimline Card with CrafTreat 3D Decoupage...

Hi! I am on the CrafTreat YouTube channel with a very special slimline card. I used the beautiful Botanical Blooms 2 sheet to create the 3D decoupage. I also include some tips for extending your regular stencils to fit the longer slimline cards. You can watch the video by clicking here.

Here is a close-up of the card.

Close-up of the 3D decoupage

The flap flips up to show the sentiment

Here is the completed card once again

Entering this card in the following challenges:

Simon Says Wednesday - Anything Goes:

STAMPlorations December Stencil Challenge:

 STAMPlorations December CAS Challenge:

Mix It Up Challenge MIUCB#44:

Sparkles Challenge #134 - Use a Stencil:

Edited – 10-06-2021

Creative Creases Challenge #8

Love,

Nandini

 

Papercraft Challenge #34...

Hi! Welcome back to the December challenge at the Papercraft Challenge blog. I hope you are doing well.

The theme for December is Anything Goes. If you want some inspiration, do visit us at the Papercraft Challenge blog where the DT has a great array of fabulous creations for you. You can also visit the Papercraft Business site for some great tools that can help you take your papercraft business to the next level. Like the awesome Papercraft Business Planner that helps you keep track of your favorite challenges!

Don't forget the great prizes we have for the winner every month. December Challenge Prize is the sweet Tilda with Little Rudolf stamp by Magnolia Designs.

Here is my inspiration card.

When you pull the tab, the slider moves up displaying the larger sentiment.

I started with a dark brown card base that I inked woth distress oxide inks. The large dot stamp is a made by me using fun foam. I used white pigment ink to stamp it. Once the ink was dry, I took a bunch of stamps with leaf images and stamped them with Versamark ink. I used the Enchanted Gold EP by Ranger to heat emboss. 

The large sentiment is from the Hip Hip stamp set by Kaisercraft.

I used Jennifer Mcguire's videos for the background and the slider mechanism. You can find them here and here.

I hope you liked my card and are inspired to create something beautiful. I look forward to your entries in our gallery.

You can get more information about Papercraft Challenge Planner here. It is an invaluable tool for all crafters who love taking part in challenges. The Papercraft Business site also has tools that can help you take your business to the next level.

Love,
Nandini

Tag #4 - 25 Days of Christmas Tags

Hi! My fourth tag inspired by the 25 Days of Christmas Tags event hosted by Tracey McNeely on her blog In My Creative Opinion. 

This tag is inspired by two different tags. The background was inspired by Lindsay Larsen's beautiful tag on Day 19. Here is the link to her original post. 

The sentiment was inspired by Kathy Schweinfurth's tag on Day 10. I just replaced the flower with a cupcake. You can find her original tag here.

This tag is also part of the What a Sweet Holiday video hop. You can watch the video below or head to YouTube by clicking here.

Entering this tag in the following challenges:

Simon Says Monday Challenge:

Watercooler Wednesday Challenge #WWC229:

Cut It Up Challenge #214 - Christmas:

Yes, Virginia November Show And Share:

Love, 

Nandini 

Tag #3 - 25 Days of Christmas Tags

Hi! My third tag inspired by the 25 Days of Christmas Tags event hosted by Tracey McNeely on her blog In My Creative Opinion.

This tag is inspired by Lindsay Larsen's beautiful tags on Day 15. Here is the link to her original post. I loved the clean, graphic design. 

I changed things up by choosing a red and cream color combo. The poinsettia flower is from the Jingle Bells stamp set by Mudra Craft Stamps. The sentiment is from the Happy Holidays stamp set, again by Mudra Craft Stamps.

Love,
Nandini

Tag #2 - 25 Days of Christmas Tags

Hi! My second tag inspired by the 25 Days of Christmas Tags event hosted by Tracey McNeely on her blog In My Creative Opinion. 

This tag is inspired by Kim Hamilton's beautiful tags on Day 2. Here is the link to her original post. I loved the snowflakes and layered circles.

I used the Doily Blooms stamp set by Fun Stampers Journey to stamp on small squares of pale blue paper with Candied Apple distress oxide ink. After drying the ink, I created a star with teabag folding. This module is called the Spiralling Star and needs 5 squares. Here is the video tutorial that I followed.

I die-cut different papers with circle dies and layered them to create the base for the tag. As a finishing touch, I added some half pearls to the center and around the sides. Here is another look at my tag.

Love, 
Nandini

Tag #1 - 25 Days of Christmas Tags

Hi! My first tag inspired by the 25 Days of Christmas Tags event hosted by Tracey McNeely on her blog In My Creative Opinion. 

This tag is inspired by Lindsay Larsen's beautiful tags on Day 5. Here is the link to her original post. I was very impressed by her clean design. I just loved the combo of kraft, black and white. I also made a short video to show you my process of creating this tag. You can watch the video on YouTube here.

I used the Forest Friends stamp set by Pinkfresh Studio. The sentiment is from the Christmas Poinsettia stamp set by Mudra Craft Stamps. I designed this stamp set couple of years ago.

Love,

Nandini

Guest Designing for Retro Rubber Challenge...

 Hi! I am very excited to be a guest designer at the Retro Rubber Challenge! This is a great blog that hosts weekly sketch, color, or theme challenges. The main requirement is that we use at least one stamp set that is more than a year old. This is such a great way to give some love to the older members of our stash!

My card today features an old stamp set by Altenew called Big World. This set was released way back in July 2016. I bought it a couple of years ago and never got around to inking it. Here is the card I created.

This is an interactive card, based on a tutorial by Jennifer Mcguire. You can find the original post here.

When you pull the tab, the globe flips over.

I stamped the globes with Altenew inks in blue and green. This set is one of the easiest to layer. Once both the globes were stamped, I used circle dies to cut them ou. The stand and the sentiment on the main panel were heat embossed with the Lapis Lazuli Blue Gold embossing powder by Lindy's Stamp Gang. Here is a closer look at the interactive element.

I finished the card by putting the panel on a dark blue card base. The word 'Pull' on the tab is from the Interactive Card stamp set by Mudra Craft Stamps. As a final touch, I trimmed the tab and rounded the corners using a corner rounder.

Here is another look at the completed card with the flap closed.

And flap open.

I hope you liked my card and will give this style a chance! Don't forget to pull out your older stamps and give them some love. You can link your creations to the Retro Rubber Challenge.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Entering this card in the following challenges

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge:

Make My Monday Challenge #134 - Masculine:

NBUS Challenge #20

Edited – 10-06-2021

Creative Creases Challenge #8

Love,

Nandini

Rainbow Card Challenge - Sparkling Sapphire...

Hi! I am here with my inspiration card for another great challenge at the Rainbow Card Challenges. The mood board this month is gorgeous!

I created a card with layered stenciling as my inspiration.

I used two stencils by CrafTreat called Floral Fusion Positive & Negative Dots. These are 6" x 6" stencils that can be used separately or together.

I started with the Negative Dots stencil and applied distress oxide inks in shades of blue to a piece of white cardstock to create an ombre effect. After my stenciling was done, there was a lot of ink on the stencil. So I sprayed it lightly with water and pressed it against a piece of white cardstock. After drying my papers, I attached the Positive Dots stencil to the inked paper with washi tape and added some Little Birdie sparkle embossing paste with a palette knife. I allowed the panel to air dry.

Once both the panels were ready, I cut them into four parts and got two backgrounds out of them. I rounded the corners and popped up the pieces on some dark blue cardstock. 

The sentiment is from the Let's Celebrate stamp set by Pinkfresh Studio. I stamped it with distress oxide ink and adhered it to my card over a piece of vellum.

Here is another look at the card.

I hope you liked my card and are inspired to create something beautiful! Please do check out the Rainbow Card Challenge blog for more inspiration. And don’t forget to link your cards to our gallery. I look forward to seeing your beautiful creations.

Entering this card in the following challenges.

Simon Says Monday Challenge - Inspired by a Movie:

Inspired by the 1980s movie the Blue Lagoon

CAS(E) this Sketch #396:

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge:

STAMPlorations Stencil Challenge:

Make My Monday Challenge #134 - Masculine:

Love,

Nandini

Papercraft Challenge #33...

Hi! Welcome back to the November challenge at the Papercraft Challenge blog. I hope you are doing well.

The theme for November is Christmas Cards. If you want some inspiration, do visit us at the Papercraft Challenge blog where the DT has a great array of fabulous creations for you. You can also visit the Papercraft Business site for some great tools that can help you take your papercraft business to the next level. Like the awesome Papercraft Business Planner that helps you keep track of your favorite challenges!

Don't forget the great prizes we have for the winner every month. November Challenge Prize is the cute Santas Sleigh Die by Magnolia Designs.

Here is my inspiration card.

I decided to go for non-traditional colors for this card. I used the 2 Step Plaid III stencil by CrafTreat and distress oxide inks in shades of blue and pink. I started with a cream card base and inked the pink inks through the first stencil to create an ombre look. Once that dried, I used the second stencil along with shades of blue.

The sentiment is by Mudra Craft Stamps. It is a mini stamp called Christmas Wishes. I stamped it in shades of blue for an ombre look. After trimming the panel and matting it with dark blue paper, I popped it up on a vellum band.

To finish, I die-cut some snowflakes and added them to the card.

Here is another look at the completed card.

I just love the festive touch te snowflakes add to the card.

I hope you liked my card and are inspired to create something beautiful. I look forward to your entries in our gallery.

You can get more information about Papercraft Challenge Planner here. It is an invaluable tool for all crafters who love taking part in challenges. The Papercraft Business site also has tools that can help you take your business to the next level.

Entering this card in the following challenges:

WWC295 - Karen's Challenge: All About Occasions

CAS(E) this Sketch #396:

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge:

Aud Sentiments Challenge #263:

Just Add Ink #529:

Love,
Nandini