Addicted To Stamps And More #408 - Birthdays...

Hi! I am so thrilled to be rejoining the ATSM team after a small break! Addicted to Stamps and More was the very first DT gig I got. And it is still one of the best teams I have worked with! Thanks, Kylie for giving me another opportunity to join this great challenge! The theme this time is:

This challenge is also the 9th birthday celebration for the ATSM blog! I created a shaker + easel card for a little boy who celebrates his birthday next week. 

This card came together really quickly, mainly because it had to be posted the next day! I used the beautiful Hello Dino stamp and die set by Lil' Inker and Memento dew drop inks to stamp and die cut the images.

 I inked the base circles lightly with distress inks. I used the Altenew Instant Dimension Foam Tape to create the shaker. I really love this tape as it is very strong and easy to work with. The sequins are from my stash.

This was a fun card to create and I am happy that I was able to combine a shaker element with an easel card. You can check out my other card with the same combination here. 

I hope you liked my card and will create something beautiful for this challenge. You can link your creations to the ATSM gallery. Please don't forget to visit the other DT who have some incredible inspiration for you. I look forward to visiting you in our gallery.

Entering this card in the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge:

Always Fun Challenge #219:

Dragonfly Dreams June Challenge:

Dare2B Artzy June Challenge:

Di's Digi Challenge:

Send A Smile 4 Kids Challenge:

Crafty Catz Challenge #556:

Simply Create Too Challenge #171:

Craft Rocket Challenge #82:

Stinkin' Inkers Challenge - You're the Man:

Crafty Gals Corner Challenge #220:

ModSquad Challenge - Masculine:

Paper Funday Challenge #30:

Love,

Nandini

Happy Little Stampers May Challenge...

Hi! The current challenge at Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with Dies is up. We have a new challenge each month. You can link any projects that include a die-cut. I have a set of three cards for you today.

I made the three cards using the same supplies. I took white card bases and put them into my stamp positioner. The stamp is from the Interlocking Backdrops set by Lawn Fawn. I placed it horizontally across the card base and started stamping with Altenew Crisp dye inks. Each time I moved the card base up. By varying the distance I moved each time, I got three beautiful backgrounds. Once my backgrounds were stamped I put together the cards with a variety of sentiments. Here are the individual cards.

I wanted a warm color combo for this card. So I used shades of yellow, orange, pink, and red. The sentiment is from the Enjoy Sentiments by Jillibean Soup. I stamped it and then die-cut it with the matching die. I also added a layer of vellum under the sentiment to highlight it a bit.

To finish, I added some clear gems from my stash.

I went with rainbow colors for my second and third cards. 

The sentiment is from Leaf Canopy set by Altenew. I die-cut the hearts out of black paper with nesting dies and heat embossed the sentiment with white embossing powder.

The last card was the most complicated. I decided to create a shaker element to put on the card.

I used the Labeled And Stitched Frame dies by Sizzix to die-cut white cardstock. I also cut a circular window at the center of the label. I added some white sequins inside the shaker and added translucent paper over the window. The sentiment is from the Sentiments of Hello stamp set by Poppy stamps. I did some double stamping on the translucent paper to create a shadow effect.

To finish, I added a butterfly made by layering a few die-cut butterflies that I cut with the Isabella Butterfly die by Memory Box. I also added two half pearls. Here is the completed card.

Here are the three cards again.

I hope my cards inspire you to create something beautiful. You can visit the Happy Little Stampers challenge blog for more inspiration and link your creations. I look forward to visiting you in our gallery.

Love,
Nandini

Altenew Academy Project #4...

Hi! I have been busy trying to finish my work for the Altenew Educator Certification. The courses are really great. And it is fun to put the concepts to work.

Today's card is based on the Clean & Simple Boutique Cards conducted by Jennifer Rzasa. It is a great course with loads of tips for adding that extra special touch to your cards.

Here is my card using a few of ideas from this course.

The starting point of this card was the beautiful pattern paper that I discovered in my local paper shop. I love the ornate design and the gold accents, which unfortunately didn't photograph well.

Since the paper is rather thin, I glued it to a piece of scrap paper. I used the Banner die by Itsy Bitsy to cut the banners. I also used circle dies to cut a gold frame for the window. The sentiment is from the Painted Greetings set by Altenew. I stamped it with Versamark and heat embossed with glittery red EP by Wow! 

I couldn't resist adding the shaker element which makes the card extra festive. The sequins are from my stash.

Entering this card in the following challenges:

CAS On Sundays Challenge #128 - Celebration with sequins:

HLS March Anything Goes with Dies:

TIME OUT Challenge #104:
I used red which is probably the strongest and boldest color in the color wheel! And combined it with gold.

Love,
Nandini

Addicted To Stamps And More #265...

Hi! We have a beautiful challenge up at the Addicted To Stamps and More blog this week.

There are so many ways in which you can interpret this lovely photo. I decided to concentrate on the pink and black combo.

I found a piece of watercolor paper on which I had tried a galaxy background in pinks and purples. I trimmed it to size and adhered it to a black card base. I  cut another black panel to size and then used the Text Block: Birthday die by Papertrey Ink to cut it. I love this die since it is large enough to cover the front of the card. 

I decided to make it into a shaker card. I popped up the panel with double sided tape and added a few sequins from my stash. Here is a closer look at the panel.

I love this quick and simple shaker card and hope you like it too! Please do check out the fabulous creations by my fellow DT at the Addicted To Stamps And More blog for more inspiration. And don't forget to link your cards to our gallery.

Love,
Nandini

Product review for Itsy Bitsy...

Hi! What do you do when one of the leading craft stores in India contacts you and asks you to do a review of their products? Yes! You jump up with joy!

Recently Itsy Bitsy sent me a goodie bag with their newly launched cardstock and some lovely embellishments. This is a premium quality, textured white card stock available in packs of 10 sheets each measuring 12 x 12 inches. It is a thick 270 gsm paper suitable for all sorts of crafts.

I made three cards using the paper and some of the embellishments.

For the first card I wanted to use the paper as is since it is such a beautiful, bright white. 

I made a shaker card and added the pretty felt blooms to finish it. The sentiment is from the Sweet Cakes stamp set by Simon Says Stamp.

For the second card I wanted to see how suitable the paper is for stamping.

I used the Freehand Florals set by Wplus9 and a bunch of Memento dew drop dye inks to create my panel.

For the third and last card I decided to try ink blending.

I used the All Occasion Sentiments stamp set by My Favorite things and several Altenew inks in shades of pink.

Here are my three cards together.

My thoughts on this paper? I loved it! Will I buy it for personal use? Definitely!

Some of the things I really liked:

1. Very sturdy paper with a beautiful bright white color.
2. Die cuts beautifully.
3. Though it is textured, stamping is very easy on this paper and the colors show up beautifully. I deliberately avoided using my stamp positioner. But each image stamped crisp and clear the first time.
4. Perfect for ink blending. I added several layers of ink without any patchiness at all. Also no bending while heat embossing.
5. I also tried a bit of watercoloring and it held up well. I will share that card some other day.

So a big thanks to Itsy Bitsy for introducing this wonderful product.

Love,
Nandini

A shaker card...

Hi! Christmas is over and 2017 is just around the corner. I made a card just for fun after a long time. I have been so busy lately that I generally just post my DT cards. I have a few non-DT projects that I will post soon.

I am a huge fan of both Mudra stamps and Die Cuts & More dies. Both are Indian brands that give world class designs and quality. I decided to combine both brands and make a card. Here is what I came up with.

I started with a piece of white card stock and my all time favorite Mudra stamp set - Botanical Blooms. This is their first multi-step stamp and I love it! It is very easy to line up the layers and the end result is always gorgeous. I used the Red Cosmos and Four Scoops mini ink pad sets by Altenw for the blooms and Memento dew drops for the leaves. I splattered some gold acrylic paint with a brush for some added colour.

Once the stamping was done. I cut my panel using the Double Stitched Circle dies by DCAM. I love that these dies cut like butter and they give a beautiful stitched detail on both sides. I raised the outer ring with foam tape and converted the central portion into a shaker. Here is a closer look at the panel.

I cut the Amazing word die by DCAM from black card stock and heat embossed it with some Black Sparkle EP by WOW!. To tone down the sparkle a bit, I reembossed it with black EP. The pink strip was colored with the mini ink cube and then I heat embossed part of the sentiment from the Lotus Delight stamp set by Peek-a-boo Designs with white EP.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Mudra Challenge #4 - Sketch

DCAM December Challenge - Die cut it

SIP Challenge 79 - Anything But Christmas

Love,

Nandini

Altenew June Challenge...

Hi! The photo inspiration for the current challenge at Altenew is absolutely gorgeous!

I was very inspired by the soft colors, the subtle texture of the dress and the sprinkle of crystals at the top. I also needed a special card for somebody celebrating her first wedding anniversary. So here is my take on this card.

I decided to combine a shaker with a circle easel card. Here is the card when open.

I started with a piece of some textured, translucent paper that I attached to some cream card stock. I really love that matte look! I stamped the blooms from the Painted Flowers set by Altenew and water colored them with distress inks. Once dry, I cut them out with the matching dies. The sentiment is from the Floral Fantasy set by Mudra Stamps. I stamped it with Versmark on a piece of acetate and heat embossed with black EP. Here is a close up.

I used the Gina Marie X-stitched Circles and Lifestyle Crafts Nested Circles sets to cut the circles and make the shaker. The sequins are from my stash.

Entering this card in the following challenges:

Altenew June Inspiration Challenge

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Add Some Shimmer:

Stamps & Stencils June Challenge - Floral Frenzy

Fairy's Challenges:

Penny Black and More June Challenge - Flower Power

CASEplorations June Challenge

Stamplorations Theme Challenge:

Mod Squad Challenge - All That Glitters

Virginia's View Challenge #22

Edited – 10-06-2021

Creative Creases Challenge #8

Love,
Nandini