CAS cards swap...

Hi! This is one post I have been waiting a while to upload! In July, I participated in Swap #12 - Clean & Simple cards (CAS cards) by Swap Central India. Each participant had to make 10 CAS note cards. I was very excited as CAS has always been my style. I decided to use this as an opportunity to experiment with as many different techniques as possible.

For my first card I used stamping and crayon masking techniques.

Supplies used are handmade paper in white and purple. Here is a close up.

I used white crayon as a mask and watercolour pencils by Faber Castell to create the background. The basic tutorial for crayon masking is available at Splitcoaststampers. There is another excellent tutorial available at Stamp TV by Gina K. The stamping was done using a Micia stamp set and purple ink by Faber Castell. I used the same ink to stamp a sentiment.

For the second card, I again used stamping.

Supplies used are handmade paper in white and green. Stamping is with Micia stamp set and black Faber Castell ink pad.

Once again I used the crayon resist technique and combined it with die cutting.

My third card was the last one I used stamping on.

Supplies used are red handmade paper and cream cardstock. The red DP is from Chimanlals. 

The stamp set is Micia and I used red Faber Castell ink pad. A length of off white satin ribbon from my stash completed the card.

Since I had already done three cards with stamping, I decided to take a break and use a different technique. So I tried my hand at paper cutting. This is something I have been wanting to try for a long time.

Supplies used are cream cardstock, handmade paper in orange and golden yellow.

I traced the rose from an old Hobby Ideas stencil and cut it with my craft knife. Then I die cut the circle and layered it with a scalloped circle cut from orange paper. A length of golden yellow satin ribbon completed the card.

For the fifth card I used my old Cut 'n Tuc stencil.

Supplies used are handmade paper in pale pink and brown.

For added interest, I die cut a circle after mounting the cut medallion and stamped the sentiment inside the card.

Since I didn't have a coordinating ribbon in my stash, I cut a thin strip of the brown paper and added it at the bottom. Some pretty rhinestones in pink completed the card.

For the sixth card, I decided to go for a radical change. Normally CAS cards are associated with a white or light base. I used black and gold instead. And I used a technique with sequins that I have used extensively when I used to make gift envelopes and tags for sale.

Supplies used are cardstock in black and gold and a scrap of the red DP. I drew vertical lines on a piece of gold paper with an orange glitter pen. Then I stuck red and green sequins for a festive touch.

The red DP was punched with a border punch and placed below the gold panel. I used the Faber Castell red ink pad to stamp the sentiment. The final touch was rounding the corners.

Since I was happy with the look of sequins, I decided to use it on my seventh card as well. But this time I wanted a more subtle look.

Supplies used are handmade paper in red and antique gold. This time I alternated scored lines with red glitter pen. The sequins are almost the same shade as the paper and give a lovely look.

Some quilled flowers and punched leaves placed atop a green satin ribbon completed the card.

For my eighth card I decided to go back to my old favourite, teabag folding. I had used a similar design previously in this card.


You can find that post here.

This time round I used a more subdued palette.

Supplies used are handmade paper in cream and red. The red DP is, of course, from Chimanlals.

I used the arrow fold and six squares of paper to construct the fan. Half pearls in gold and a bit of cord completed the fan.

The sentiment was stamped with Faber Castell's red ink pad.

The idea for my ninth card came from this beautiful card by Angela Maine that I saw on Pinterest.

My take on it is this.

Supplies used are handmade paper in white and blue.

Luckily I had the same Cuttlebug die. To make the card pop a bit more, I used blue rhinestones from my stash. I drew the stems with a green gel pen. The sentiment was stamped with a green sketch pen.

The tenth and final card is my favourite. I cased another fabulous card. The original is by Brigit, who does really amazing work!

Isn't it gorgeous? You can find her blog here.

My take on it is this

Supplies used are orange handmade paper and cardstock in green and cream.

I used my Itsy Bitsy embossing folder on the orange paper. I cut away the cream paper to reveal the green paper underneath. The flowers were punched out of cream cardstock  I outlined them with an orange sketch pen for more definition. The white half pearls were the final touch.

I used a green sketch pen to ink and stamp the sentiment.

With that I come to the end of this loooong post! Here is a pic of all my cards


I had a lot of fun making these cards. It was great trying out new techniques as well as revisiting some old ones.

Hope all of you liked the cards as much as I did. Looking forward to listening from you.

Love,
Nan

Easel cards

Hi! This is the second set of cards that I made for the Multi-fold Note Card Swap at Swap Central India. 

I made 4 easel cards. There is an excellent tutorial at Splitcoaststampers for easel cards. Just to add some more interest, I made two square and two circular cards.

For the first card I wanted to use a kimono folding technique that I had seen on the Crafts Beautiful website. Here is the link to the video tutorial.

Supplies used were handmade paper in pale and dark pink, pink pattern paper, half pearls and pale pink satin ribbon, all locally procured. I ran the dark pink paper thru' my Itsy Bitsy embossing folder for added texture.

Folding the kimono took couple of tries, mainly to get the size right. But I really liked the look of it. I added the pearls for a more finished look and also to keep the card propped up.

I used teabag folding for the second card.

Supplies used were green card stock and white pattern paper. I also used small squares of blue and yellow batik paper to create the fan. I ran the green paper thru' my Itsy Bitsy embossing folder and used the debossed side.

For the fan, I used the basic arrow fold and distressed the sides with red ink. A pearl and tassels from an old rakhi finished the card.

I used circles for my third card.

I just cut scalloped circles from cream and orange paper. Actually I had plans of doing some quilling at the center. But the layered circles were looking so pretty, I decided against adding any thing elaborate.



I finished the cards by adding some butterflies punched from blue batik paper and pearls.

The fourth card is probably my favorite in this lot. And judging by the comments, most people loved it.

I had the concept of a watermelon-on-a-dish card. However, it wasn't quite clear in my mind. I actually cut and layered the circles and then almost threw them away as I wasn't very happy. Finally I decided to just make it as I was running behind schedule.

I am so glad I made the card as it turned out very well. The supplies were just various papers in suitable colors.

So these are the square easel cards

and the circular easel cards

A learning experience overall and had a lot of fun too.

I will be back soon with the next set of cards.

Love,
Nan

A quick origami project...

Hi! Back again after a break. I have been busy crafting and haven't found the time to actually sit and post the pics. So expect some quick posts now!

I put in my name for the swap at Swap Central India. I must say those girls come up with some really interesting challenges. This swap involved making four note cards each with five different types of folds. The twist? Each card has to be 4 x 4 inches only. I had so much fun doing this! And learnt loads. Just waiting till I can share all the pics here.

Anyways, I decided to take a break from card making for a day. I stumbled across this cool origami tutorial by Tweety Atelier and decided to give it a try. The result is:

Though the instructions are in a different language, the picture instructions are so good that the project came together in a snap.

Here is the close up

I have used some pattern paper in peach with a silver gray print which I picked up at a local shop. The finished size is 11 x 11 inches. Other than two square pieces of paper this frame doesn't need anything. 

A great project that comes together quickly. This has definitely whetted my appetite for learning origami!

Love,
Nan

Origami Heart Box - Snehal's Creation's challenge

A late, late post tonight...

The deadline for submitting entries for Snehal's Creation's challenge is tomorrow morning. So here I am sitting up late after everybody is fast asleep (thankfully!).

The challenge is interesting - make a box, any kind of box. Right up my alley, as I love making boxes. I originally planned to make a Pentagonal Gift Box; I had demonstrated this box on one of the episodes of Mogara Phulala on Mi Marathi in the Kala-kaushalya segment. But the concept wouldn't gel in my mind. So I tried another. And this is the result...

This a Heart Box made with origami. I have used simple chart paper in a pretty shade of turquoise. There is nothing except paper folding used. No glue, no scissors. You can find the fabulous tutorial by Jo Nakashima on YouTube.

The major challenge was making a bigger box, as the original box is made using A4 sheet and turns out to be rather petite. However, some trial and error yielded good results. My husband had just one suggestion. He said keep it simple, so that nothing takes away attention from the beauty of the box itself.

So I decided on a simple quilled motif. This also gave me a chance to break open my new mini shredder, which I have been just waiting to use!

I think this box is a good idea for Diwali, to give sweets or chocolates. Also a good idea for presenting little trinkets.



I am sure I will be making many more of these in the days to come.