Note Cards with Stampaholic...

Hi! Recently my husband asked me to make a set of note cards for him. I thought this was a good opportunity to try my new Stampaholic by Die Cuts and More. I also put together a mini tut for anybody who is interested.

I started with a large piece of water color paper.

I cut the water color paper into 8 pieces, each approximately measuring 4 x 6 inches.

I placed two pieces on the Stampaholic and stamped two leaf images from the Hero Arts Stamp Your Own Plant set with Versamark. Since I was using the Stampaholic, I stamped the images twice. This ensured a clear impression even though the paper is slightly textured. I was also able to work very fast.

After the stamping was done I heat embossed the images with Ranger & Wow embossing powders in metallic gold, silver, platinum and copper.

I die cut the papers into smaller panels with a rectangular die. I also used a border die by Memory Box to add some stitched details around the edges.

To finish the cards, I simply embossed my card bases with three different embossing folder - two from The Next Level Embossing folders - Woven set and the Argyle folder by Darice.

The stamped and embossed panel was mounted on the card base with some foam tape. Here are all the eight cards together.

And the best part? Thanks to the Stampaholic I was able to finish all eight in one day, which considering both kids were home, is some sort of record for me!

Entering this card in the following challenges:

Stamplorations March Challenge - Stamps & Texture

Stamplorations March CAS Card Challenge

Hope you liked these simple note cards. Would love to hear from you.

Love,
Nandini

A new technique...

Hi! I love trying different techniques. Sometimes the technique doesn't work out exactly as it should. I tend to save these panels and recycle them later. Today's card is made from one such panel and a slightly modified version of the Watercolor Lifting Technique by Jennifer Mcguire. 

I started with a piece of watercolor paper on which I had smooshed different shades of Camlin Photo Colours.

I stamped my DIY leaves stamp with Versamark and heat embossed with clear EP. I used water to 'lift' the color from the background. My twist was mixing some bleach with the water. I was very happy with the result. Here is a closer look at the panel.

The card is a case of a beautiful card by Shari Carroll. You can check out her original card here. I used a pale green handmade paper as the card base. The stamped sentiment is part of the Petals from Scratch by Fiskars and the die cut sentiment is by Wplus9. I diecut three from black cardstock and one from metallic gold paper and stacked them, off setting the gold one slightly.

Entering this card in the following challenges:

CAS Mix Up March Challenge

I used stamping, watercoloring and heat embossing.

AAA Cards Game #59 - Embossing

CAS(E) this Sketch #162

Simon Monday Challenge - Make Your Own Background

Love,
Nandini

Another watercolor card...

Hi! I am back with another card that I made with the watercolor panel I showed in the previous post.

This time I went for a grey card base. I matted the floral panel with a glittery black paper. I wrapped a narrow satin ribbon twice around the panel and mounted my sentiment, die cut from a green glitter paper on top. The sentiment die is from Wplus9.

Entering this card in the following challenges:

Less is More Colour Week - Citrus
I have used Twisted Citron for the little leaves.

Freshly Made Sketches #226

CAS Mix Up March Challenge

I have used stamping, water coloring with distress inks and a die cut for the sentiment.

NBUS Challenge #6: Anything Goes
The Studio G stamp set that I used was bought more than a year ago, since it was on sale. First time I used it.

Simon Says: Touchy Feely
The glitter papers and ribbon add a lovely texture to the card.

Love,
Nandini

Watercolor Florals...

Hi! A quick card today with some stamping and water coloring.

I started with a piece of watercolor paper and a stamp set by Studio G which I had picked up from Itsy Bitsy a long time ago. I stamped the flower trio with Versamark Black ink pad. I used a few Ranger distress inks to color the flowers. After the panel was completely dry, I went over the outlines with a black glitter pen. The sentiment is also from the same stamp set and embossed on vellum with white EP. I simply layered it with stripes of grey and black card stock for more emphasis.

Entering this card in the following challenges:

Less is More Colour Week - Citrus
I have used Twisted Citron for the little leaves.

Freshly Made Sketches #226

CAS Mix Up March Challenge

I have used stamping, water coloring with distress inks and heat embossing for the sentiment.

NBUS Challenge #6: Any thing Goes

The Studio G stamp set that I used was bought more than a year ago, since it was on sale. First time I used it.

Love,
Nandini

One Layer Card with Altenew...

Hi! One of my all time favorite stamps is the Striped Florals by Altenew. I decided to combine the Striped Florals with the Artistry Distress inks to make a one layer card . This is similar to another card I had made some time ago. You can check it out here.

I simply stamped few stamps from the Striped Florals set by Altenew with Memento Tuxedo Black ink.. Then I used the solid stamps from the LJD Circle Scribble Flowers by My Favorite Things to stamp with Artistry inks Lush Lilac, Dry Weed, Ocean Reef and Elegant Emerald.

I loved the background so much that I decided to go without a sentiment. A simple green ribbon tied across the top of the card completed this simple card.

Hope you like this simple little card.

Entering this card in the following challenges:

CAS on Sunday Challenge #77 - One Layer Wonder

Seize the Birthday: Anything Goes

Love,
Nandini

A Floral Card...

Hi! I am back with a floral card which I made using some of my older supplies.

I started with the two step floral stamp by Leane Creatief which I had bought ages ago. I used the Hero Arts mini cubes for stamping. I trimmed the panel to 3 inches wide by 7 inches long and mounted it on a 5 x 7 inch top folding card base. Then I used the Fancy Frame die by Sizzix to cut the sentiment panels. I heat embossed the top layer 4 times with silver EP for a lovely metallic finish. The sentiment is from the Woodland Creatures stamp set by Hero Arts, which was a gift from The Craft Shop.

I heat embossed the sentiment with silver EP to match the frame.

Entering this card in the following challenges:

Hero Arts Fabulous Florals Challenge

I used the Woodland Creatures stamp set and the inks are also from Hero Arts.

Sketch Saturday Challenge Week #401

Time Out Challenge #50: Home Sweet Home Photo Inspiration

I was inspired by the monochromatic look and the scattered graphics.

Hope you liked my card. Looking forward to hearing from you.

Love,
Nandini

Joseph's Coat Stamping Technique...

Hi! I am back today with my final post as Guest DT for Craftyscrappers. I have thoroughly enjoyed my term and enjoyed the great crafters that I have met through this.

Since Craftyscrappers has recently started dealing in stamps, we decided to make stamping techniques our main focus.

I chose to do the Joseph's Coat technique. It is an emboss resist technique, also called Emerging Colors technique. I have put together a small tutorial which I hope is helpful.

I started by going through my stash. I have a bunch of backgrounds that I tried some technique on. Sometimes there are extras and other times the technique didn't work. But the colors were really pretty. I tend to keep these and recycle them. The Joseph's Coat technique is really great for this. I selected three that I really liked.

I added a bit of texture on the first by stamping with the Kaisercraft Texture Script Stamp and Artistry Amazon Trail ink. For the second, I covered my Memory Box Texture Mesh stencil with gold acrylic paint and pressed it on the paper. For the third I used gold acrylic paint again with my daughter's Guides woggle.

Once the papers were dry, I went to next step which is to make the emboss resist with clear embossing EP. I used Striped Leaves stencils by Crafter's Workshop, Garden Flourish background stamp by My Favorite Things and a DIY stamp I made some fun foam.

Here is a closer look at the embossed papers.

Now comes the last step of the technique, which is most fun!

I applies several layers of the Artistry Dark Garnet ink with a blending foam. The ink blending tool is from Papericious and I love how light it is.

I cut the piece on which I had used the Garden Flourish stamp and applied Artistry Dark Garnet ink on one and Memento Tuxedo Black on the other.

I ended up making three cards with two of the backgrounds. The third one is in my stash.

Here are some closeups of the cards.

Finished with some cream ribbon and a button from my stash. The sentiment is from Altenew's Persian Motifs set and stamped with copper Delicata ink by Tsukineko.

I stamped the kraft card base with Ranger's Ground Espresso distress ink. The sentiment was die cut from gold foil paper with the Simon Says Stamp Happy Birthday die and mounted on translucent paper from my scrap bin.

This was my daughter's favorite. The sentiment is Wplus9's Hand Lettered Hello die which I die cut from some sparkly glitter paper.

I hope you liked my cards and will give this fun technique a try. Also do check out the Craftyscrapper's FB page for an amazing variety of die cuts and stamps. Their products are super high quality and very pocket friendly. And definitely check out the Craftyscrapper's blog for all the different stamping techniques that the DT have put together. I am sure you will be inspired to make something beautiful and participate in the Craftyscrappers Challenge #7 - Stamping Techniques.

Entering the cards in the following challenges:
Can You Case It - CYCI #108

Happy Little Stampers February Mixed Media Challenge: Paint

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Anything Goes

Love,
Nandini