Make My Monday Challenge #85...

Hi! Today the new challenge is up at the Make My Monday challenge blog. The theme this time is to use non-traditional Christmas colors in your creations. An easy and fun theme that everyone can participate in. Here is the card I made.

I started with a piece of watercolour paper and smooshed some yellow, orange and pink distress inks with an acrylic block. I added some ink splatters with the same inks and let the panel dry completely. I die cut the panel and stamped the sentiment from the Christmas Trimmings stamp set by Hero Arts. I popped up the panel on some foam tape and adhered it to a bright yellow card base. I die cut some snowflakes from white paper and adhered them to the card. To finish, I added some white half pearls.

Here is a closer look at the card.

This card came together very quickly and I love the end result. It is a bit like Holi meets Christmas actually!

Entering this card in the following challenge.

Aud Sentiments #217 - Christmas/Winter Sentiment

Love,
Nandini

Make My Monday #84...

Hi! The new challenge is up at the Make My Monday challenge blog. The theme this time is Winter Foliage. I decided to use the Kaleidoscope technique that Jennifer Mcguire shared some time back. You can find the original post here. She used the wreath builder stencil by Gina K to create her cards. Since I don't have it, I created my own template. Here is the card I made.

I used the Autumn Splendor stamp set by Sunny Studio and the Christmas Trimmings stamp & cut set by Hero Arts along with a bunch of inks from Altenew, Memento and Wendy Vecchi for the stamping. The process takes a bit of time and I had to figure out the placement etc. But once I got it, the stamping went pretty fast. And I love the results! I made another card today using the same technique which I will share later this week.

Here is a close up of the card.

The sentiment is from the Christmas Decors set by Mudra Craft Stamps. I first heat embossed with white EP and then added another layer with Ranger's Enchanted Gold to give it some shine.

I hope you liked my card and are inspired to create something beautiful. Please do visit the Make My Monday challenge blog for more inspiration from my talented teammates and to link your creations.

Entering my card in the following challenges.

Incy Wincy Designs - Christmas:

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Make Your Own Background:

Love,
Nandini

Make My Monday #79...

Hi! I am here today with my inspiration for the current Make My Monday Challenge #80. The challenge went live on 17th September. You can link up your entries till the 30th of September. So you have around 10 days more to enter.

The theme this time is Autumn / Fall Colours. I love this because it allows me to use lots of colours on my creations. I did a whole lot of die cutting and created this card.

I was quite clear about the card I wanted to make. So I dived into my stash and pulled out a background that I had made a long time back with ink smooshing. I die cut lots of leaves with the coordinating dies for the Autumn Splendor stamp set by Sunny Studios and then stamped the veins with Versafine Onyx Black ink. I took a panel of ivory paper and flicked some diluted black paint for a splatter effect. I arranged the leaves in a pleasing pattern and then adhered them down with dabs of liquid glue. I trimmed the ready panel with my scissors and matted it with some black cardstock. The panel is popped up on foam tape.

The sentiment is from the Many Thanks stamp set by Momenta Stamps. I stamped it with Versamark and then heat embossed with gold EP. To finish, I trimmed the sentiment panel and popped it up with foam tape.

I hope you liked my card and are inspired to create something beautiful. Don't forget to visit the  Make My Monday Challenge blog for more inspiration from my talented teammates.

Entering the card in the following challenges.

Cardz 4 Galz Challenge #80 - Thoughts of Fall:

Sparkles Monthly Challenge #108 - Dies or Punches:

Mix it Up Challenge MIUCB#17 - Anything Goes + Layering:

Words 2 Craft By W2CB#57 - When It Gets Crisp In The Fall:

Aud Sentiments Challenge #212 - Fall + Sentiment:

That's Crafty! Challenge - Forever Autumn:

Cards In Envy - Feels Like Fall:

Stinkin' Inkers Challenge - Leaves Are Falling:

Love,
Nandini

Make My Monday #77...

Hi1 I am here today with some inspiration for the current challenge at the Make My Monday blog. The theme this time is very interesting - Oriental.

The first thing that came to my mind was the Japanese art of origami. I have always been a huge fan of this and decided to incorporate it into my cards.

I started with a piece of pattern paper from my stash. This is actually a gorgeous gift wrap with gold accents. I followed a wonderful tutorial for the Origami Crane Card I found on YouTube by Origami 4ik. You can find it here. 

I took a piece of paper that was 5 inches long and card bases that measured 4.25 x 5.5 inches. After folding I adhered the cranes to the card bases. The sentiments are both from Pinkfresh Studio stamps, first from Say It With Florals and second from Let's Celebrate. I stamped them with Versamark and heat embossed with gold embossing powder.

I hope you find my cards inspiring and create something beautiful. Please don't forget to visit our blog at Make My Monday for more fabulous inspiration and also to link your creations. I look forward to seeing your creations in our gallery.

Entering this card in the following challenge:

Pixie's Snippets Playground Challenge #332:
The pattern paper was left over after I made this card as part of my Altenew Educator Certification Program.

Love,
Nandini

Make My Monday Challenges #74...

Hi! The new challenge is up at the Make My Monday challenge blog. This time around the theme is 'Ice Cream'. You can use actual images of ice creams or just use the colours. 

I recently bought the Ice Cream Dreams stamp set by Simon Says Stamp. This is a great set with cute ice cream images and great sentiments. I made a very simple card using this set as inspiration.

To make this card, I started with a piece of cream cardstock and die cut it with the stitched rectangle die. I masked the stamped image with Mudra masking paper and then started stamping the sentiment with distress oxide inks in rainbow order. This is very easy if you use your stamp positioner. This is a technique that Jennifer Mcguire calls sentiment backdrop. You can check out the original video here. I made a slight change by leaving a narrow margin around the image. Once the stamping was done, I heat embossed with clear embossing powder.

I stamped the ice lolly with Onyx Black ink and then heat embossed with clear embossing powder. I fussy cut it and popped it up on the card with some foam tape. I adhered the ready panel on a dark teal card base.

I hope you like my card and are inspired to create something beautiful. Please do visit the Make My Monday challenge blog for more inspiration and to link your creations. I look forward to seeing your creations in our gallery.

Entering the card in the following challenges:

Allsorts Challenge Week 473 - Sweet Treat:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Bright And Cheerful:

Sweet Stampin' Challenge - Food & Drink:

Love,

Nandini

Make My Monday Challenges #73...

Hi! This week's Make My Monday challenge is hosted by yours truly. My choice is a favourite technique - Resist Embossing. There are many ways to do this wonderful technique and many different looks can be achieved based on the supplies you use.

Here is my inspiration card.

I stamped the Penny Black Blissful stamp set with Versamark and heat embossed with clear embossing powder. But I took a pattern paper with a small print instead of plain paper. This gives a completely different look to the project. After heat embossing, I used Faded Jeans distress ink to colour the open areas.

Here is a closer look at the panel.

Rest of the card was super easy. I die cut the coloured panel with a stitched rectangle die and trimmed the bottom with the Stitched Basic Edges die by My Favorite Things. The sentiment is from the Floral Fantasy set by Mudra. This is one of my very favourite sets to work with! I stamped it with Memento dew drop ink. The finished panel is popped up on the white card base with some foam tape.

I hope you like my card and are inspired to create something beautiful. Please do visit the Make My Monday challenge blog for more fabulous inspiration and to link your cards. Looking forward to seeing you in our gallery.

Entering my card in the following challenges.

Paru's Card Making Challenges:

The Flower Challenge #21:
I based my card on:
#11 - Focus On Background Stamping

Love,

Nandini

Make My Monday Challenge #71...

Hi! The new challenge at the Make My Monday is up. The theme this time is 'Hint of Summer to Come'. A bit funny since here we are in the middle of summer with scorching hot days! I am looking forward to the monsoons which will start next month.

I made a few floral cards as inspiration.

I used the Perennial Beauty stamp set by Altenew to stamp the large flower with Altenew inks. I love this stamp since the flower is so large and it is very easy to align the layers. The leaves are from the Peony Bouquet set. The sentiments are from the Painted Greetings set and stamped with Versafine Onyx Black ink. I love this ink since it stamps very crisp and dark in one shot. 

I used a grey card base and some black matting to finish the cards. I love the way these cards turned out. I hope you like them too and are inspired to create something beautiful. Please visit the Make My Monday blog for more inspiration and to link your creations.

Here are close-ups of the individual cards.

I used a mix of pinks from the Altenew inks. I love that they work so well with each other. 

Entering this card in the following challenges:

Inspired By All The Little Things #85:

All Sorts Challenge Week 467 - In The Pink:

The Card Concept #92 - Bold Bloom:

I used the Sea Shore set of Altenew mini ink pads for this flower.

Entering this card in the following challenges:

Freshly Made Sketches #336:

Time Out Challenge #109:

AAA CAS Game #115:

Love,
Nandini

Make My Monday Challenge #66...

Hi! The Make My Monday Challenge #66 is up. The theme this time is very simply. You need to add some gold or silver to your card.

I started with a panel from my stash that I had made ages ago. The stamp is Blissful by Penny Black. I stamped the background stamp with gold acrylic paint. After it dried I did some coloring with distress inks. Here is a closer look at the panel.

I trimmed the panel to size and also colored a piece of scrap paper with direct to paper technique. I cut this piece with a circle die. The sentiment is from the Painted Greetings set by Altenew. I stamped and heat embossed it with gold embossing powder.

I hope you like my card and are inspired to create something beautiful. Remember to visit the Make My Monday blog for some amazing inspiration by the DT and also to link your creations.

Entering this card in the following challenges:

Freshly Made Sketches #326:
I really loved this week's sketch.

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes:

CAS Watercolour March Challenge:
Used distress inks to colour my panel.

The Flower Challenge #18 - Anything Goes:

Allsorts Challenge #457 - Ladies Only:

Love,
Nandini

Make My Monday Challenge #64...

Hi! It is Monday and the latest challenge at the Make My Monday blog is up. Emma has chosen a very interesting theme - Going In Circles. So pull out your circle stamps, dies, stencils, embellishments and make any project with at least 3 circles. Of course you can put more - more the merrier!

The first thing that came to my mind was a stamp set that I has designed for Craftyscrappers called Doodly Blooms. I had based the set on doodled circles. Here is my card.

I pulled out a bunch of pink inks by Altenew. I stamped the circles starting from the palest Frosty Pink, Cotton Candy, Coral Berry, Ruby Red and Grapevine. I stamped the three tiny dots with Versamark and heat embossed with gold EP. The sentiment is from the Bold Wishes stamp set by CAS-ual Fridays. I heat embossed it with gold EP on a piece of black card stock and popped up the panel with foam tape. To finish I added few of the beautiful gold couture sequins by Mudra Craft Stamps.

Here is a closer look at the card.

I love the way this card turned out. I hope you like it too and are inspired to create something beautiful. Remember to visit Make My Monday challenge blog to grab some more inspiration from my very talented teammates and also to link your creations to our gallery. 

Entering this card in the following challenges:

Sunday Stamps SSC171 - Pops of Pink:

I was very inspired by the shades of pink and gold.

Craftyscrappers Challenge #20 - Love is in the air:

I have used the Doodly Blooms stamp set by Craftyscrappers.

Allsorts Challenge Week 453 - Spots and/or Stripes:

I have used both large and small sized dots in my design.

Cardz For Galz Challenge #64 - Think Pink:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes:

Love,

Nandini

A Four Fold Card...

Hi! The current challenge is up at the Make My Monday blog. This week the theme is Fancy Folds. Here is the card I made.

This kind is called a Four Fold card which I made for the first time. I also challenged myself to use pattern papers instead of creating my own. I used the Beary Hugs pack by Mudra Craft Stamps. This is a wonderful kit with a wide variety of pattern papers. 

I first took a long piece of kraft paper that was 7" tall and 16" wide. I scored at 5", 4", 4" and 3" and accordian folded the card base.I used chocolate brown paper as the mat and three different pattern papers. I adhered the papers to create the basic card.

The first sentiment panel was stamped and heat embossed with WOW! Metallic Copper EP. The stamp is Hip Hip from Kaisercraft. I love the boldness of the sentiment on this. I also used the tiny cupcake image from the Let's Party stamp set by Mudra Craft Stamps to create a border at the bottom. I popped up the sentiment panel with foam tape.

Here is the first fold opened.

The second sentiment is also from the Hip Hip stamp set from Kaisercraft. I stamped it with brown Memento ink. This time I used the banner image from the Let's Party stamp set by Mudra Craft Stamps at the top and colored it with sketch pens. The candles at the bottom are from the Sweet Cakes stamp set by Simon Says Stamp.

Here is the final fold.

I left this panel blank so that a message can be written. I just stamped the cute party hat from the Let's Celebrate stamp set by Pinkfresh Studio twice at the bottom right and colored them with sketch pens.

Here is the opened out card.

Here is a complete view of the card.

I hope you like my card and are inspired to make something beautiful. You can link your creations at the Make My Monday challenge blog. And don't forget to check out the blog for some amazing inspiration by my team mates.

Shopping Our Stash #337 - Getting Sentimental:
I was very happy to use the Hip Hip stamp set that I have had for 3-4 years.

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Add A Sentiment:

TGIF Challenges #tgifc143 - Awesome Friends:
This card is going for a special friend whose birthday is next month.

Words 2 Craft By W2CB #49 - Magic of Beginnings:
First time I tried my hand at the four fold card.

Craftyhazelnut's January 2018 Pattern Paper Challenge:

Paru's Card Making Challenges - January 2018:
First time I tried my hand at the four fold card.

Edited – 10-06-2021

Creative Creases Challenge #8

Love,
Nandini

Make My Monday #62...

Hi! A very happy new year to all!

I am here today with a brand new Make My Monday challenge. The theme is Blue and White. I love this theme since blue and white is one of my favorite combos. I also feel it is one of the combos that work well for both feminine and masculine cards. So here is my take on it.

I was very inspired by this beautiful card by Agnisezka who blogs at Just Made From Paper. I started with panel of white textured paper. This is the Fleece White paper by Itsy Bitsy. I stamped random images from the Folk Sentiments set by Docrafts with Bahama Blue ink by Memento. I mounted the panel on a blue card base. I heat embossed one of the sentiments on a die cut circle of the same blue. I die cut a larger circle out of the white paper, adhered it to the card and then popped up the sentiment with foam tape. To finish I added thin trips of the blue card stock. Here is a closer look at the card.

This was a quick and easy card that came together very quickly. I hope you are inspired to create something beautiful. Don't forget to check out the cards by my very talented team mates at the Make My Challenge blog.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

AAA Cards CAS Game #106 - Quote:
I have used a new stamp set and also a new technique.

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Something New:
I have used a new stamp set and also a new technique.

Just Us Girls - Word Week #422:

Paru's Card Making Challenges - January 2018
New stamp and new to me technique.

Stamping Sensations - January: Cold & Frosty Colours:
I have used white and blue.

Love,
Nandini

Make My Monady Challenge #57...

Hi! The new challenge is up at the Make My Monday blog. The theme this time around is Halloween - I Put A Spell On You. For people who don't normally send Halloween cards, like me, you can make a Thank You card instead.

A friend recently asked me to make some thank you cards that he can give out to his clients. He needs around 100 cards so they have to be simple. Here are the options that I came out with using his company colours.

I used the Dodec Star die by Altenew to cut out the medallions from red, blue and cream paper and simply inlaid the designs. The sentiment is from the Wonderful Words stamp set by CAS-ual Fridays. I stamped it with Versamark and then heat embossed with matching EPs.

This is a very easy design to mass produce or change up. I hope you like my card and are inspired to create something pretty. You can get more fabulous inspiration from my fellow DTs and also link up your creations at our gallery here. 

Love,
Nandini

Make My Monday Challenge #48...

Hi! I am back with a fresh new challenge at the Make My Monday blog. This time the theme is 'At The Beach'. Whenever I visit a beach I am always fascinated by the cute little crabs that run around in the sand. So I decided to make a card using a crab image.

I used an old Itsy Bitsy stamp set that has several cute sea creatures and stamped on a watercolor paper with Versamark. I heat embossed using black EP by Wow!. Originally I planned to use my watercolors to do the coloring. But then I came across this great tutorial by Julia Altermann of Just One More Card where she demonstrated a technique of using regular sketch pens to do the coloring of images. I decided to use my Camlin Brush Pens. And I loved the results! Here is a close-up of the panel.

I kept rest of the card super simple. I used the sketch from CAS(E) This Sketch. The sentiment is from the Woodland Creatures stamp set by Hero Arts. I stamped it with Versamark and heat embossed with white EP by Wow!.

I hope you are inspired to create something beautiful by my card. You can link up your creations to our gallery here. And don't forget to visit the Make My Monday blog for some amazing inspiration by my fellow DT.

Entering this card in the following challenges:

CAS(E) This Sketch #225:

STAMPlorations June CAS Card Challenge:

Cardz 4 Guys Challenge #171 - Something Blue:

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Make It Masculine:

Sparkles Monthly Challenge #92 - Four or More Legs:

Love,
Nandini

Make My Monday #47...

Hi! I am back with a new challenge at the Make My Monday challenge blog. The theme is Victorian Romance.

Here is my inspiration card.

I had a tough time coming up with this card. Victorian style of design to me means lots of girly lace, multiple layers and soft pastels. Which is rather different from my style. I always admire such designs by others. But I really struggle to with it. At the last moment I remembered a pack of pattern papers called Sofiero from Maja designs that I have had for years. This was the very first giveaway I ever won and I love the beautiful, feminine designs.

I simply cut a few pieces from the papers and adhered them to a piece of scrap paper. I trimmed the panel to size and added faux stitching lines with the Stitches stamp set by Bo Bunny. I used Versamark and Metallic Pick EP by Wow! for the heat embossing. The scrap of lace is from my stash. Here is a close up of my card.

I used the Downton Abbey - Ornate Mirror die by Crafters Companion to cut a piece of handmade paper and few pieces of white card stock and layered them together. The sentiment is from the A Tree for All Seasons stamp set by Winnie & Walter. I stamped it with Versamark on a piece of paper from Sofiero stack and heat embossed with Vanilla EP.

I hope my card inspires you to create something beautiful. Please don't forget to link your creations in our gallery here and also check out the fabulous creations by my fellow DT.

Entering this card in the following challenges:

ModSquad Challenge - Birthday Bash

Stamps & Stencils - Fabric & Fibres

Allsorts Challenge Week 417 - Vintage Style

Sweet Stampin' Challenge - Use Your Old Stash
The pattern papers I used are from the Sofiero collection by Maja Design which I won in a giveaway in 2014. I have used stamping for adding faux stitching detail and the sentiment. 

Crafter's Cafe Challenge #173 - Birthday

Love,
Nandini

Make My Monday Challenge #46...

Hi! I am here with the latest challenge #46 at the Make My Monday challenge blog. This week's theme is Sugar & Spice. There are many ways to interpret this theme and I am looking forward to lots of wonderful entries in our gallery.

I went with the sweet part of the theme and created a card as inspiration.

I started with a piece of the Floral Exotica paper which is a product of Dress My Craft, the in house brand of Crafters Corner. This is the first time I used this paper and I loved the smooth texture and the lovely color of the paper. Also the paper held up very well during heat embossing and water coloring.

I used the Strips N Stripes stamp set designed by me for Craftyscrappers.

I stamped the chevron stamp twice with Versamark ink and heat embossed with Vanilla EP by Wow. I then used the Clearly Kelly mini ink pads to do a bit of watercoloring. I allowed the panel to dry completely and then trimmed it with the Double Stitched Rectangle dies by Die Cuts & More. Here is a close up of the panel.

Since my panel was very colorful, I decided to keep rest of the card simple. I used a stamp from the Let's Party set by Mudra Craft Stamps and a sentiment from an old Some Odd Girl stamp set. I stamped both on some watercolor paper with Memento Tuxedo Black ink with my Stampaholic. I die cut the paper with the Double Stitched Circle dies by Die Cuts & More.

To finish I popped up the panel with some foam tape on the card base. The circle panel was also popped up, I just added a larger circle of translucent paper under it. Here is another look at my card.

I hope you like my card and are inspired to create something beautiful. I look forward to seeing your creations in out gallery. And please don't forget to check out the Make My Monday blog for more fabulous inspiration by my fellow DT.

Entering the card in the following challenges:

TIME OUT Challenge #83:
The challenge is to CASE this beautiful card by Hannelie of Desert Diva. My attention was caught by the multicolored background with the white lines and the plain flowers stamped in black.

AAA CAS Game #90 - Embossing:
I used heat embossing.

Mod Squad Challenge - Let's color:
I did water coloring with dye inks.

STAMPlorations May CAS Challenge:

Craft Stamper Magazine Make It Take It - May:

Love,
Nandini