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

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

Second card of the day...

Hi! Yesterday was one of the really rare days when I actually managed to make 2 cards. Of course I am very sleepy now! But it was fun.

My starting point was the current challenge at The Card Concept: Challenge #4 - Use a Floral theme

I used the sketch from CAS - Colours and Sketches Challenge #63.

I went for a Clean and Simple (CAS) look, which is my favourite style. I love the neon bright flower and the bold sentiment.

The sentiment was created digitally and printed out.

The flower is done using tea bag folding technique and finished with a wood button.



Also entering this card in the following challenges:

Addicted to Stamps and More: ATSM Challenge #84 - Clean and Simple

The Friday Mashup! FM149 - Spring Flowers

I hope you liked this card. I certainly did!

Love,

Nan

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

Fab Friday 19

Hi! I am back with a quick card I made for the Fab Friday 19 challenge. This was the  sketch given for this week

I really loved this sketch. It is so clean and simple. Yet the possibilities are endless! However, the card just wouldn't come together in my mind. I kept thinking and thinking and thinking. But no luck. Then yesterday I needed a quick 'Congrats' card for a friend and this sketch came to my mind. After that everything just fell into place (don't you love it when that happens!)

So here is my take on the sketch

I used a light cream card stock and a small piece of bright pink handmade paper. The handmade paper was embossed with an embossing folder from Itsy Bitsy. The focal point of the card is the flower made with tea bag folding. I used the Dahlia fold with eight scalloped circles cut with my Bigshot from a pretty pink pattern paper sourced locally. Since the paper was one sided, I painted the other side with Chrome Yellow acrylic paint from Hobby Ideas. Leaves were hand cut from scrap pieces of green card stock. A large gem in dark pink finished the flower.




The sentiment is from a stamp set by Micia. I coloured the stamp with a dark pink sketch-pen. Then I layered the PP, yellow handmade paper and the cream card stock to form a long strip.




Then it was only a matter of laying out and pasting the elements to match the sketch.

A quick and simple card, which my friend loved!

Hope you liked it too.

Love,
Nan

Back after a break...

Hi! Back after almost two months! Can't believe how time has flown. The summer holidays are almost over and rains are just around the corner.

I conducted two Summer Camps in April & May for kids. These were probably the toughest I have done so far. Firstly because I had to manage with my son, aged one, who refused to leave me even for a minute. And secondly because we had really little kids this time round. The oldest was 6 years old; most of them were two and three year olds. But it was fun. I'll post the pics of the camp and our projects later.

In February I had participated in the Multi-fold Note Card Swap at Swap Central India. The challenge - make total 20 note cards each measuring 4 x 4 inches and using 5 different folds. So 4 note cards per fold.

I have already posted pics of Spring Fold Cards

And the Easel Cards. I made these in two shapes; circle

and square

Please do check out the relevant blog posts for more details and pics.

The third fold I used was the Double Diagonal Fold. There is an excellent tutorial at Splitcoaststampers for the Diagonal Double Pocket Card by Claudia Rosa.

The first card was probably one of the fastest I made.

Supplies used were handmade paper in red and gold and a ready made paisley motif. The gold paper and motif were in my stash. I found the red paper with the pretty gold print at my local stationary shop. I thought the papers looked so good together, there was little need of fancy embellishments. I simply die-cut a circle in gold paper and mounted it with double sided tape. The paisley motif was just glued on top.

For the second card, I decided to use teabag folding for embellishment.

I used a pale lilac handmade paper for the base and added a strip of dark purple mulberry paper for a contrast.

The tiles for teabag folding were downloaded from the Internet and printed out. I used the simple arrow fold to construct the flower out of eight tiles. A green gem in the center completed the card.

For the third card, I was again inspired by the paper I had. I had bought this paper some time back as I fell in love with the lovely, soft colours as well as the subtle silvery sheen. I thought the paper was perfect for a baby card.

Supplies used were handmade paper in white and pale lilac, printed paper with a cabbage rose design, a bit of green satin ribbon and some pearls.

I die-cut the lilac paper with a scalloped circle and punched hole with my single hole punch on each scallop. I fixed another circle in white over the lilac paper and mounted both with double sided tape.

The inspiration for the baby dress came from the blog Stamping Sweet Spot by Barbara Dykhouse. I just loved the way it turned out! The funny thing is everybody who saw the card seemed to like the hanger as much! Well, the hanger is just a u pin twisted into shape.

For the fourth and final card of this series, I again went back to teabag folding.

Supplies used were white handmade paper and eight circle tiles.

I used the zigzag fold for the flower and a green gem in the center. After I finished, I thought the card looked a bit too stark. So I added stitching lines with a green glitter pen.

So here are the four Diagonal Double Pocket Cards.

And the close-ups



Hope you liked them.

I'll be back soon with the rest of the cards.

Love,

Nan