Busting my stash...

Hi! I love paper, especially handmade paper. Unfortunately I don't seem to use it much. I just end up hoarding it and admiring it from time to time! So I decided to make a dent in my stash inspired by a card by the talented Keeway Tsao who blogs at Kiwi Koncepts. You an see the original card here.

I took a bunch of scraps from my stash, cut them into strips and adhered them onto a piece of scrap paper. I stamped the blooms from the Carnations stamp set by Mudra Craft Stamps on the panel with Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I used the Mudra Stamping Mask sheets and they worked very well! The sentiment is from the same set and was heat embossed with Ranger's Gold embossing powder.

I trimmed the panel, matted it with some black paper and mounted it on a kraft card base.

Here is a closer look at the panel.

I really love how beautiful this card turned out!

Entering this in the following challenges:

Lea Lawson's Crafty Comeback Party Day 12 - Ink Road:
I was very inspired by the beautiful fall themed colors used.

The Flower Challenge #14 - CAS:

Mod Squad Challenge - It's All In The Color!

STAMPlorations CAS Card Challenge - November:

Watercooler Wednesdays Challenge - WWC144:

Love,
Nandini

Make My Monday Challenge #41...

Hi! The new challenge is up at the Make My Monday challenge blog and the theme this time is - Colors of the Rainbow. You need to use at least three colors from the rainbow.

I made a card using red, orange and green.

I was very impressed by a card by Jennifer Mcguire made from left over scraps of distress oxide backgrounds. You can find the original post here. I started with a panel of hand made paper that I cut with my DCAM Double Stitched Rectangles die. Next I cut long strips of handmade paper. I got several sheets of these papers from The Paper Shoppe by Naheed Hafiz. She has the most beautiful handmade papers at extremely reasonable rates. I simply wove the strips like a mat and then glued the whole thing on my panel. The sentiment die is by Simon Says Stamp. I cut it several times and then layered the die cuts for added bulk. The top most layer was from some gold foil paper. I die cut one last layer from the cream handmade paper and adhered it slightly offset over the gold paper. Here is a closer look at my card.

To finish I mounted the panel on a kraft card base. I am very pleased with this clean and simple card. Do visit the Make My Monday blog for some more amazing inspiration by my very talented team mates.

Entering my card in the following challenges:

The Paper Players: PPP334
I used the Painted Happy Birthday die by Simon Says Stamp for the sentiment and my scissors to cut the strips of handmade paper to create the background.

Cut It Up Challenge 116 - Birthday Cards

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Make your own background
I created a mat for my sentiment by weaving together strips of paper. I hope this qualifies for the challenge.

Crazy 4 Challenges: C4C374 - Use Your Words

Love,
Nandini

Addicted To Stamps & More #225...

Hi! Addicted To Stamps & More challenges are back after a lovely break for the holidays. We have some fabulous challenges lined up for 2017. I hope I will see all of you often in our gallery. The first challenge of 2017 is this beautiful photo.

Two things struck me the first time I say this lovely bloom - the bright colors and the radial arrangement of petals. I decided to go with one of my favorite techniques - teabag folding. This is a great technique for creating quick cards and using up your stash. Here is my card.

I used 16 squares cut from four different handmade papers. I used the arrow fold to create the units and glued them together to create a medallion. I embossed the circle on my black card base with a die from the Lifestyle Crafts nested circles die set. The sentiment is from the Painted Greetings set by Altenew. I stamped it with Versamark and heat embossed with Ranger's Gold EP.

I finished the card by adhering a wooden button from my stash to the center of the medallion.

I hope my card inspires you to create something beautiful. Please link your cards here and be sure to visit the ATSM blog for additional inspiration by my super talented teamies.

Entering this card in the following challenge:

CAS(E) This Sketch #204

Love,
Nandini

Make My Monday Challenge #36...

Hi! The new challenge is up on the Make My Monday Challenge blog and this time around we want to see some snowmen on your cards.

I was quite stumped when I sat down to make this card. I went through my entire stash and couldn't find a single snowman stamp or die! Easiest thing would be to buy one, especially since there are so many crafty sales happening. But I am seriously trying to curb my spending and decided to challenge myself to use the existing supplies. There is no lack of inspiration as the blogland is full of gorgeous creations with approaching Christmas. I pulled out my stash of basic dies and here is what I made.

I started with a panel of white card stock. I blended Broken China, Mermaid Lagoon, Blueprint Sketch and Faded Jeans for an ombré effect. I added some texture by sprinkling water and blotting it. I used a circle from my WRMK-Lifestyle Nesting dies set. This is a great buy since it has 21 dies ranging from ¼" to 5½" with ¼" increments. Since I don't have any oval dies, I did a bit of jugad and used the Ornate Mirror die by Crafters Companion. This is a frame die with an oval center. The arms are two branches from the Seasonal Tree die by Paper Smooches. I added the details with a black microtip pen and dressed him up with odds and ends from my scrap box. Here is a closer look:

The snowdrift was created using the MFT's Stitched Basic Edges and the panel was cut using the Stitched Rectangle dies by Diecuts & More. The sentiment is from Craftyscrappers, heat embossed with Ranger's Silver EP. I popped the panel on some double sided tape and mounted it on a plain white card base.

I hope you like my snowman card and are inspired to create something beautiful. Please link up your cards to the Make My Monday Challenge blog and don't forget to check out the awesome inspiration by my other teamies. Looking forward to seeing your creations in our gallery.

Entering this card in the following challenges:

CAS Mix Up December Challenge:
I have used sponging, distressing, die cutting, paper piecing, stamping and heat embossing.

Twelve Days of Christmas Cards Challenge:

Dies R Us Challenge #62 - Christmas

Love,

Nandini

Shaker Card...

Hi! Some cards come together so easily that they almost seem to make themselves! This card is one of them.

The starting point was the left over scrap of paper from my layered embossed panel using the Floral Fantasy set by Mudra Stamps. You can check the original card here. The panel turned out so beautiful that I couldn't bear to throw it away. And then I had the idea of turning it into a shaker card!

I stamped the sentiment from the Hip Hip set by Kaisercraft with Versamark on a brown card base and heat embossed with some Seafoam EP by Ranger. Then I added a mix of sequins from my stash and adhered the shaker panel on top. Here is a close up of the shaker:

Entering this card in the following challenges:

CASEplorations June Challenge:

CAS on Sunday Challenge #84 - Sparkle


Addicted to CAS Challenge #89 - Petals

CAS-ual Fridays CFC149 - Florals:

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Summer Garden

Love,
Nandini

A Special Card...

Hi! I am back today with a card for my cousin who recently completed her PhD. I am so proud of her and happy that she achieved her dream despite many, many challenges. Here is the card I created for her.

I started with pale green handmade paper which I embossed with the WRMK Next Level Embossing Folder - Woven. I am totally in love these folders as they add such fabulous texture to any card. The cream circle die cut is from my stash and I mounted it with some foam tape. For the roses, I simply rubbed the tips of Memento Dew Drops ink pads in pink and orange on some white card stock. I then used the LJD Scribbled Roses Overlay by My Favorite Things to die cut the card stock and some gold foil paper. After popping back all the die cuts into the card stock, I laid the gold outline over and glued it down. Here is a closer look at the flowers.

The sentiment is die cut using the Sizzix Phrase: Congrats #2 from some glittery gold paper and slightly offset over some black card stock. The leaves are cut using another Sizzix die - Flower & Leaf #5, from scarps of green handmade paper.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

CAS on Sunday Challenge #80 - Flowers

Southern Girls Challenge - Anything Goes

Creative Card Crew #109 - CAS (Clean And Simple)

Simon Says: Anything Goes

Creative Friday #150 - Celebrate

Love,
Nandini

The Indian Craft Room is back!

Hi! The Indian Craft Room is back! ICR was the one of the first challenge blogs that I started following and holds a very special place in my heart! The ICR challenges are back and I HAD to participate!

The first challenge is interesting with a great story board for inspiration.

I decided to take my love for quilting & sewing and adapt it to paper. I started with a bunch of rectangles sized 1" x 2". I folded them and started layering them to form the Somerset Star, a traditional folded star quilting pattern from the UK. I used this great tutorial by Janet Kan who blogs at Stitch n Sing. 

The challenge says use more than three triangles. I ended up using a lot more. Well, 40 triangles to be precise!

Rest of the card was easy. I used some dark brown cardstock. The sentiment is from the Deck The Halls Tobie set by Some Odd Girl Stamps which I won as part of blog candy by Simon Says Stamp. I heat embossed it and add two scored lines for some definition.

Here is a close up of the beautiful Somerset Star.

I am entering this in the Indian Craft Room's ICRCAUT01 challenge.

Also entering it in Beyond Grey Challenges BGC #72 - Anything Goes.

Love,
Nandini

A Blog Hop and Inspiration Card...

Hi! The CASE Study Challenge Blog, one of my favorite challenges, is celebrating its 4th anniversary. There is a blog hop and also a challenge. After going through the hop, we can make a card inspired by one of the pieces of art work. I really enjoyed the hop and all the great inspiration present. But the card that I really fell in love with was by one of my all time favorites, Jennifer McGuire. You can check out her awesome creation here.

And my take on her card is this:

The base is white hand made paper. I used some water color paints from my daughter's supplies. The strip on the left is paper pieced using strips that I painted with the same colours used for the flowers. The stamp set is from Itsy Bitsy. The sentiment is from CAS-ual Fridays and stamped on some translucent white paper with gold embossing powder.

I am entering this in the following challenges:

CASE Study Challenge Blog:
CASE Study 4th Anniversary Week #2

I cased Jennifer McGuire's gorgeous water color card.

CAS(E) This Sketch #88:
I used this lovely sketch

Crazy For CAS:
Challenge #51 - Watercolouring

Beyond Grey Challenges:
BGC #57 - Watercolours

Hope you liked this card. I sure did! 

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Love,
Nan

Card swap...

Hi! I made a bunch of cards for Swap Central India last month. I was really thrilled when Swap Central restarted, after a break, as I have enjoyed each and every swap I have participated in!

I had to wait till the cards were officially 'revealed' on their blog. So here I am, finally, with my set of cards.

The first card is a square 'Thank You' card.

The base is pink handmade paper. The DP is actually a tissue paper that is attached to some thick card stock using cling film. I had seen the tutorial for this a long time ago. Unfortunately I don't remember where. I tried it and it works beautifully! The sentiment is computer generated and printed. Some green twine and pearls finished the card.

For the second card, I went with a CAS but layered look.

The base is gold handmade paper. The DP is created by gluing diagonal strips of assorted papers onto a piece of scrap paper. I love this technique as it gives a lovely, rich look and also uses up all the scraps of paper that I hate to throw away. This particular strip is left over from two previous cards. You can check them out here and here. 

I used gold embossing powder for the sentiment. The floral gems are from my stash.

The third card uses a new technique that I tried for the first time. The original tutorial is by the amazingly talented Jennifer Mcguire. You can check it out here.

Supplies used are green and pink hand made paper. The embossing folder is from Itsy Bitsy. I used green and pink pigment inks for the embossed panel. I did struggle a lot to finish this card as nothing seemed to work after I had assembled the layers. Finally I decided to keep things simple and heat embossed the sentiment in white.

I used some tiny pearls to add a little bit of glamour to the card.

The final two are my favourites.

The card base is water colour paper. The panel is coloured using acrylic paints in blue and red. The butterflies are punched and then covered with glitter. I also covered the flourish die cut with glitter to make it pop.

I stamped the sentiment using my favourite Micia stamp set and dark blue sketch pen.

The fifth card turned out so much better than I imagined that I almost didn't send it!

The background is handmade paper, coloured using acrylic colours in pink, orange and yellow. I used my favourite Chloe Stem die by Memory Box. 

The sentiment is computer generated and printed on translucent paper. I added some pearls to finish the card.

Here is a consolidated image of all the 5 cards.

I really enjoyed this swap and am looking forward to the next. You can check it out here.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Love,
Nan

Second card...

Hi! Another super quick post today.

I made a second card based on the CAS(E) This Sketch Challenge #79.

The second card came about as I was making the first. I just flipped the sketch and used the leftover scraps of the pattern paper.

Supplies used are black card stock and antique gold handmade paper from Chimanlals. Some tear drop shaped gems in yellow from my stash and sentiment from a Micia set stamped in black completed this card.

Linking this card to the following challenges:

CAS(E) This Sketch Challenge #79
I used the sketch.

Iron Craft Challenge Week 2
I used Inspiration Collage 1.

Love,
Nan

One sketch, two cards...

Hi! Super quick post today.

I made a card based on the CAS(E) This Sketch Challenge #79.

My take on this fab sketch is this card.

Supplies used are dark brown card stock and antique gold handmade paper from Chimanlals. I created the pattern paper by cutting ½ cm wide strips from assorted scraps of hand made paper and gluing them diagonally on another piece of paper. The sentiment is from Micia stamps and embossed in black on some translucent white paper.

Some sequins in antique gold finished the card.

The second card came about as I was making the first. I just flipped the sketch and used the leftover scraps of the pattern paper. 

Linking the card to the following challenges:

CAS(E) This Sketch Challenge #79
I used the sketch.

Iron Craft Challenge Week 2
I used Inspiration Collage 1.

Love,
Nan

My first layout...

Hi! The latest challenge at Beyond Grey Challenges: BGC #51 is a wonderful sketch for a layout.

I was very happy when this challenge was announced as I have been wanting to get into scrap booking seriously for a long time. I have, of course, done several digital layouts, but physical layouts are a different ball game altogether!

So here is my take on this fun sketch.

I found this lovely pic of my husband and the kids playing and decided to use it. I wanted to use bright colours in the layout to convey a sense of joy and fun.

I converted the pic to gray scale to make it stand out. The little tab is to note the year this pic was taken.

The paper pieced band is made up of little squares of paper scraps that I die cut, pasted and then stitched over. The floral DP is actually a tissue paper that I stuck to a piece of card stock using cling film.

The car

the plane and 

the boat are all from the Shapeabilities Play Time Cut/Emboss & Stencil Die set which I bought from Itsy Bitsy ages ago. 

The glitter alphas are also from Itsy Bitsy. I changed the position of the title since I did not want to take away any thing from the band which actually reminds me of a warm and cosy quilt. The final touch were the dashed lines which add some movement to the design.

I am entering this layout in the following challenges:

Beyond Grey

BGC #51 - Layout Challenge

Sentimental Sundays

Challenge #206 - Wheelie Fun + sentiment

CAS-ual Fridays

CFC131 - Three Thirds

I have used 3 DPs, 3 toy die cuts and there are three people in the pic.

Virginia's View Challenge

Challenge #3 - Stitching

Hope you liked my first attempt at a layout. Would love to hear what you think of it!

Love,
Nan