Addicted To Stamps And More #438 - Birthdays...

Hi! I am here today with some inspiration for the Addicted To Stamps And More blog. The theme this time is:

I created a quick and simple card using the Sweet Cakes stamp set by Simon Says Stamp.

I simply stamped the cake image on some cream card stock and colored in using Altenew Artist Markers. after coloring, I re-stamped the outline with Versamark and heat embossed with gold embossing powder. The cake stand is heat embossed with Platinum embossing powder.

I stamped the sentiment with Versafine Onyx Black ink and heat embossed with Rainbow embossing powder by CrafTangles.

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 - Die-cuts:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Stamp It:

Use Your Stuff #466 - Food/Drink:

The Sweet Cakes stamp and die set and the polka dot wrapping paper are from my stash. Both are at least 5 years old!

AAA Birthday Game #41 - Mood Board:

Love,
Nandini

Pretty in Pink n' Green...

Hi. The card today is totally inspired by the May 2019 Inspiration Challenge by Altenew. 

I love the green, pink and grey combo. Here is my card.

I started with the banner in the background. The technique was inspired by a watercolor card by Kristina Werner. You can find the original post and video here. I just adapted it for the Altenew Artist Markers and used light shades of grey and green. Once the coloring was done, I cut it with the Fishtail Banners die by Itsy Bitsy. I also cut a larger mat out of grey card stock. Here is a look at the banner.

I inked the card base with Hickory Smoke distress ink and added some grey and black splatters. I adhered the mat to the card base and added the background popped up on foam tape.

The flowers and leaves were stamped and die cut using the Japanese Mums Build-a-flower set by Altenew. I used a mix of Altenew, Memento and Mai inks. I arranged them over the banner and then adhered them using glue and foam tape. Here is a closer look at the arrangement.

The sentiment is from the Sweetest Peas stamp set by Altenew. I just love the fonts used in this set. I heat embossed it on a strip of black paper with Vanilla White embossing powder by Wow!. Here is a closer look.

Here is another look at the completed card.

I just love this card! The Japanese Mums set is one of my favorite BAF sets and I had fun trying different color combinations. I have a bunch of flowers ready to go and I am looking forward to converting them into cards.

Entering this card in the following challenges:

Altenew A Year In Review Challenge 2019:
This card was inspired by the challenge for May 2019.

Yes, Virginia... December Show & Share:

The Flower Challenge #39 - Use A Die:

Love,
Nandini

Make My Monday #84...

Hi! The new challenge is up at the Make My Monday challenge blog. The theme this time is Winter Foliage. I decided to use the Kaleidoscope technique that Jennifer Mcguire shared some time back. You can find the original post here. She used the wreath builder stencil by Gina K to create her cards. Since I don't have it, I created my own template. Here is the card I made.

I used the Autumn Splendor stamp set by Sunny Studio and the Christmas Trimmings stamp & cut set by Hero Arts along with a bunch of inks from Altenew, Memento and Wendy Vecchi for the stamping. The process takes a bit of time and I had to figure out the placement etc. But once I got it, the stamping went pretty fast. And I love the results! I made another card today using the same technique which I will share later this week.

Here is a close up of the card.

The sentiment is from the Christmas Decors set by Mudra Craft Stamps. I first heat embossed with white EP and then added another layer with Ranger's Enchanted Gold to give it some shine.

I hope you liked my card and are inspired to create something beautiful. Please do visit the Make My Monday challenge blog for more inspiration from my talented teammates and to link your creations.

Entering my card in the following challenges.

Incy Wincy Designs - Christmas:

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Make Your Own Background:

Love,
Nandini

Altenew Academy Project #14...

Hi! I am here today with two cards that I created for the Altenew Educator Certification Program. These cards are my assignment for the Impressive Heat Embossing Techniques by Svetlana Marchenko.

I have always loved heat embossing and enjoy trying out new techniques. So I was really looking forward to this class. I would highly recommend this class to both newbies and experienced crafters. It covers the basics really well as well as giving several fresh ideas for using your supplies.

I chose to try a technique that I have admired for a long time but never tried. This was the lesson on Layered Heat Embossing. Here are the two cards I made.

I chose to use the Perennial Beauty stamp set because it is easy to line up and doesn't have an outline. I have a large collection of coloured Wow! embossing powders and I used them for my layering. I used glitter EP for the final layer. I don't have glitter blue EP. So I did the last layer with dark blue EP and then repeated the layer with Holographic EP.

Once my layered heat embossing was done, I thought the card needed something more. So I stamped the outline leaf image from the Peony Bouquet stamp set around the flower and heat embossed with clear EP. I didn't bother masking my flowers. I simply brushed off the clear EP off before heat embossing.

Here is a closeup of the blue flower.

There were lots of white specks on the card base after my embossing was done. To cover it I diluted some white poster paint, added a hint of blue and then flicked it all over my card. The sentiment is from the Birthday Greetings stamp set. I trimmed the sides and the bottom of the panel and mounted it on a bright blue card base with foam tape. Here is a closer look at the completed card.

Entering the card in the following challenges:

Simon Says Monday - Monochrome:

Allsorts Challenge Week 486 - Water or Colour Blue:

The Twisted Challenges TTC#4 - Celebrations + Monochrome:

Dare2B Artzy Septemper Challenge - Favourite Colour:
I really love the colour blue, especially when combined with black.


I wasn't too sure about the pink flower. In fact, I started stamping two pink flowers - one on black and the other on dark blue base. The dark blue one was abandoned after a couple of layers because it wasn't looking good. The paper was wrapping too much and the colours didn't work together. When the final layer was done, I loved it! Here is a close up of the pink flower.

I trimmed the flower panel and adhered it to a black card base. I die cut the second panel with an aperture out of the same cardstock and mounted it over the flower with foam tape. Before that, I stamped the sentiment from Birthday Greetings stamp set with glitter pink EP. I tried to re-stamp the sentiment with my stamp positioner. Unfortunately, the paper shifted slightly. So I heat embossed with clear EP. This gave a nice, off-set shadow to the sentiment. Here is a close look at the completed card.

Entering the card in the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Bling It On:

The Flower Challenge - #24 - Anything Goes:

Some of the lessons I learnt are:

• Use the anti-static powder LIBERALLY between layers. Otherwise, you will end up with a speckled mess. I use talcum powder with a makeup brush.
• Make sure your heat gun is very hot and you work very fast especially towards the end. If you apply too much heat, the layers will start melting together.
• Use a juicy ink pad for stamping and stamp couple of times to get a good coverage.
• Test the paper you are using beforehand. You don't want to abandon the card after putting in a few layers because the paper starts warping or the colours don't work well together..
• Use an opaque embossing powder for the base layer. Otherwise, it will not show up on the dark card base.
• Feel free to mix small amounts of embossing powders to create new colours or effects. 

Love,
Nandini

Addicted To Stamps And More Challenge #279...

Hi! The theme this week at the Addicted To Stamps And More challenge blog is

You can make anything like cards, scrapbook layouts, tags etc as long as it is Clean and Simple. This means that clean and crisp lines, minimal or no embellishments and lots of 'white' space.

This is my favorite style of card making and here is my inspiration.

I used the faux ceramic tile technique on the panel. I recently made another card with the same technique. You can check it out here. I referred to an excellent tutorial on the Faux Ceramic Tile technique at the Ellen Hutson blog by Julie Ebersol.

I hope you like my card and are inspired to create something beautiful. Please do visit the Addicted To Stamps And More challenge blog for more inspiration by my very talented team mates and also to link your creations to our gallery.

Love,

Nandini

A Four Fold Card...

Hi! The current challenge is up at the Make My Monday blog. This week the theme is Fancy Folds. Here is the card I made.

This kind is called a Four Fold card which I made for the first time. I also challenged myself to use pattern papers instead of creating my own. I used the Beary Hugs pack by Mudra Craft Stamps. This is a wonderful kit with a wide variety of pattern papers. 

I first took a long piece of kraft paper that was 7" tall and 16" wide. I scored at 5", 4", 4" and 3" and accordian folded the card base.I used chocolate brown paper as the mat and three different pattern papers. I adhered the papers to create the basic card.

The first sentiment panel was stamped and heat embossed with WOW! Metallic Copper EP. The stamp is Hip Hip from Kaisercraft. I love the boldness of the sentiment on this. I also used the tiny cupcake image from the Let's Party stamp set by Mudra Craft Stamps to create a border at the bottom. I popped up the sentiment panel with foam tape.

Here is the first fold opened.

The second sentiment is also from the Hip Hip stamp set from Kaisercraft. I stamped it with brown Memento ink. This time I used the banner image from the Let's Party stamp set by Mudra Craft Stamps at the top and colored it with sketch pens. The candles at the bottom are from the Sweet Cakes stamp set by Simon Says Stamp.

Here is the final fold.

I left this panel blank so that a message can be written. I just stamped the cute party hat from the Let's Celebrate stamp set by Pinkfresh Studio twice at the bottom right and colored them with sketch pens.

Here is the opened out card.

Here is a complete view of the card.

I hope you like my card and are inspired to make something beautiful. You can link your creations at the Make My Monday challenge blog. And don't forget to check out the blog for some amazing inspiration by my team mates.

Shopping Our Stash #337 - Getting Sentimental:
I was very happy to use the Hip Hip stamp set that I have had for 3-4 years.

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Add A Sentiment:

TGIF Challenges #tgifc143 - Awesome Friends:
This card is going for a special friend whose birthday is next month.

Words 2 Craft By W2CB #49 - Magic of Beginnings:
First time I tried my hand at the four fold card.

Craftyhazelnut's January 2018 Pattern Paper Challenge:

Paru's Card Making Challenges - January 2018:
First time I tried my hand at the four fold card.

Edited – 10-06-2021

Creative Creases Challenge #8

Love,
Nandini

Faux Ceramic Tile Technique...

Hi! I recently tried a new technique with heat embossing that turned out very well. This is the Faux Ceramic Tile technique. 

I have used the Floral Fantasy and Carnations stamp sets by Mudra Craft Stamps. You can visit the Mudra blog for more details on how I created this card. There is an excellent tutorial on the Faux Ceramic Tile technique at the Ellen Hutson blog by Julie Ebersol that I referred to.

Here is a close up of the card.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

The Card Concept #84 - Sweet Inspiration:

I was very inspired by the shades of pink, white and grey in the pic.

AAA Cards: CAS Game #106 - Quote:
I used the faux ceramic tile technique for the first time.

STAMPlorations January Theme & Sketch Challenge:
I used both the theme and sketch.

STAMPlorations January CAS Challenge:

Love,

Nan

Make My Monday #62...

Hi! A very happy new year to all!

I am here today with a brand new Make My Monday challenge. The theme is Blue and White. I love this theme since blue and white is one of my favorite combos. I also feel it is one of the combos that work well for both feminine and masculine cards. So here is my take on it.

I was very inspired by this beautiful card by Agnisezka who blogs at Just Made From Paper. I started with panel of white textured paper. This is the Fleece White paper by Itsy Bitsy. I stamped random images from the Folk Sentiments set by Docrafts with Bahama Blue ink by Memento. I mounted the panel on a blue card base. I heat embossed one of the sentiments on a die cut circle of the same blue. I die cut a larger circle out of the white paper, adhered it to the card and then popped up the sentiment with foam tape. To finish I added thin trips of the blue card stock. Here is a closer look at the card.

This was a quick and easy card that came together very quickly. I hope you are inspired to create something beautiful. Don't forget to check out the cards by my very talented team mates at the Make My Challenge blog.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

AAA Cards CAS Game #106 - Quote:
I have used a new stamp set and also a new technique.

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Something New:
I have used a new stamp set and also a new technique.

Just Us Girls - Word Week #422:

Paru's Card Making Challenges - January 2018
New stamp and new to me technique.

Stamping Sensations - January: Cold & Frosty Colours:
I have used white and blue.

Love,
Nandini

Make My Monady Challenge #57...

Hi! The new challenge is up at the Make My Monday blog. The theme this time around is Halloween - I Put A Spell On You. For people who don't normally send Halloween cards, like me, you can make a Thank You card instead.

A friend recently asked me to make some thank you cards that he can give out to his clients. He needs around 100 cards so they have to be simple. Here are the options that I came out with using his company colours.

I used the Dodec Star die by Altenew to cut out the medallions from red, blue and cream paper and simply inlaid the designs. The sentiment is from the Wonderful Words stamp set by CAS-ual Fridays. I stamped it with Versamark and then heat embossed with matching EPs.

This is a very easy design to mass produce or change up. I hope you like my card and are inspired to create something pretty. You can get more fabulous inspiration from my fellow DTs and also link up your creations at our gallery here. 

Love,
Nandini

Mudra Challenge #12 - Spotlight Technique...

Hi! Please check out my DT inspiration on the Mudra Craft Stamps blog. 

To know more please visit here

Mudra Challenge #12 - Spotlight Technique.

Love,
Nandini

Addicted To Stamps And More #249...

Hi! I am back with some inspiration for the latest Addicted To Stamps And More Challenge #249. The theme this week is

This is my favorite theme since I love making CAS cards. I decided to pull out my current favorite the Simply Florals stamp set by Mudra. I have been eyeing this set since it was first launched and received it as a part of my DT kit from Mudra Craft Stamps. Here is the card I made.

I started with a top folding white card base and a piece of red handmade paper. I trimmed the red paper slightly smaller than the card base and used DCAM's Double Stitched circle die set to cut a window in it. I lightly traced the window onto my card base with a pencil to serve as a guide to my stamping. I used the lovely Simply Florals stamp set to stamp with Versamark ink and heat embossed with the Primary Apple Red EP by WOW!. Here is a closer look at my heat embossed bloom.

To finish, I simple popped up the red panel with some foam tape. I deliberately avoided any embellishments as I wanted to keep my card super clean and simple.

Hope you like my card and are inspired to create something beautiful. Please don't forget to visit the ATSM gallery for some more fabulous inspiration from my super talented teamies.

I am entering this card in the following challenges.

CAS On Friday Challenge #111 - Flowers

Just Us Girls #400 - Word Week:

CWS Challenge #16 - Celebrate:

Love,
Nandini

Make My Monday Challenge #48...

Hi! I am back with a fresh new challenge at the Make My Monday blog. This time the theme is 'At The Beach'. Whenever I visit a beach I am always fascinated by the cute little crabs that run around in the sand. So I decided to make a card using a crab image.

I used an old Itsy Bitsy stamp set that has several cute sea creatures and stamped on a watercolor paper with Versamark. I heat embossed using black EP by Wow!. Originally I planned to use my watercolors to do the coloring. But then I came across this great tutorial by Julia Altermann of Just One More Card where she demonstrated a technique of using regular sketch pens to do the coloring of images. I decided to use my Camlin Brush Pens. And I loved the results! Here is a close-up of the panel.

I kept rest of the card super simple. I used the sketch from CAS(E) This Sketch. The sentiment is from the Woodland Creatures stamp set by Hero Arts. I stamped it with Versamark and heat embossed with white EP by Wow!.

I hope you are inspired to create something beautiful by my card. You can link up your creations to our gallery here. And don't forget to visit the Make My Monday blog for some amazing inspiration by my fellow DT.

Entering this card in the following challenges:

CAS(E) This Sketch #225:

STAMPlorations June CAS Card Challenge:

Cardz 4 Guys Challenge #171 - Something Blue:

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Make It Masculine:

Sparkles Monthly Challenge #92 - Four or More Legs:

Love,
Nandini