Papercraft Challenge #27...

Hi! Welcome back to a fresh new challenge at the Papercraft Challenge blog. Summer is almost upon us and the weather is really getting hot. We are looking for some cards for the men in your life this month. If you want some inspiration, do visit us at the Papercraft Challenge blog where the DT has a great array of fabulous creations for you. You can also visit the Papercraft Business site for some great tools that can help you take your papercraft business to the next level. Like the awesome Papercraft Business Planner that helps you keep track of your favorite challenges!

Don't forget the great prizes we have for the winner every month. The March Challenge Prize is the Magnolia - Edwin with Teo Dragon stamp.

My card this month came together rather quickly. Like many crafters I know, I hate to throw away my 'experiments'.  You never know when one might inspire you to create a pretty card! Here is my card from one such experiment.

I found a panel of inked background in my stash. This was a leftover from my trials with Camlin photo inks, which are basically dye inks. I had combined it with some cling film to get a lovely background. To make my card, I simply trimmed the panel and flicked some gold acrylic paint over it. Here is a closer look at the panel.

I matted it with black and mounted it on a kraft card base. The sentiment is from the Persian Motifs stamp set by Altenew. I stamped and heat embossed it on a strip of black paper with metallic gold embossing powder.

Here is another look at the completed card.

I hope you liked my card and are inspired to create something beautiful. I look forward to your entries in our gallery.

You can get more information about Papercraft Challenge Planner here. It is an invaluable tool for all crafters who love taking part in challenges. The Papercraft Business site also has tools that can help you take your business to the next level.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Love,
Nandini

Addicted To Stamps And More Challenge #374...

Hi! I am here today with some fresh inspiration for this week’s challenge at the Addicted to Stamps & More challenge blog. The theme this week is my favorite

My card today is simple but striking.

This card was a quick make. I found a piece of background that I had made a long time ago in my stash. I had kept it aside as I didn't get the look I was aiming for. But it was too pretty to discard. I had heat embossed the flowers from a very old stamp set by Itsy Bitsy on some white paper with white embossing powder. After that, I used dye inks to color the paper. Here is a closer look at the panel.

I simply trimmed the panel and popped it up on a bright orange card base with foam tape. I stamped the sentiment under the panel with black ink. To finish, I rounded off the bottom corners.

Here is another look at the card.

I hope you liked this card and are inspired to create something beautiful. I look forward to seeing your creations in our gallery. Please visit the Addicted to Stamps and More blog to link your creations and also get more inspiration from my talented teamies.

Love,

Nandini

Altenew Academy Project #24...

Hi! I am here today with my assignment for the Stunningly Simple Watercolor Techniques by Lydia Evans. This was one of the classes I chose to do for my Level 3 of the Altenew Educator Certification Program. I am a big fan of Lydia Evans. Her cards are always beautiful and her videos are very easy to follow. The class gives several ideas for incorporating watercolour into your work. It also covers many watercolour techniques and mediums with tons of tips and tricks.

I decided to use the Dropped In Color technique to create a galaxy background. Here is the card I made with the background.

I started with a piece of watercolour paper. I sprayed some water to wet a section of the paper. After letting the water soak in for some time, I started dropping in the colour. I used the Photo Inks by Camlin in shades of green, blue and violet. I kept adding the inks till I was happy with the way they mixed. I mixed some Perfect Pearls with water and added that as well. This lightened the colour in places and also gave the background a lovely silvery shine. Once the paper was dry, I added some gold splatters.

For the flowers, I stamped the flower and leaves from the Striped Florals set on the same watercolour paper and cut them with the coordinating dies. I also wet them and then dropped some gold acrylic paint to make them pop. Here is a closer look at the flowers.

I trimmed my galaxy panel and popped it with some foam tape. This was attached to a dark blue card base. I also added a strip of gold paper below the galaxy panel. The sentiment is from the Painted Greetings stamp set. I stamped it twice. Once with black ink and then with Versamark and gold embossing powder with the panel slightly off-set. The sentiment panel was glued directly to the panel. I arranged the die-cuts on the card, popping up the flower with a piece of foam tape for some added dimension. To finish, I adhered a small white half pearl to the centre of the flower.

Here is another look at the card.

I had lots of fun creating this beautiful background and definitely want to make more with different colour combos.

Entering this card in the following challenges:

CAS On Sunday Challenge #149 - Flowers:

Yes, Virginia Show and Share:

Papercraft Challenge #29 - Bright Colours:

Kat Scrappiness Blog January Card Challenge - Anything Goes:


Love,
Nandini

Altenew Academy Project #18...

Hi! Today's card is my homework for the In The Mood For Color class by Stephanie Klauck, which is a part of the Altenew Educator Certification Program. This is a great class where we learn the different moods associated with different colours.

I wanted to challenge myself and made a card dominated by yellow, which is not a colour I use very often. Yellow denotes energy, cheer and optimism. So I decided to create a birthday card.

I started with a piece of yellow card base. I die cut two smaller panels, one out of the same yellow paper and the other out of watercolour plaid paper that I had created for another card. I inked the yellow panel with some Fossilized Amber distress ink. I stamped the sentiment from the Birthday Greetings stamp set with Versafine Onyx Black ink. I also created a background with the same stamp and Memento ink. This panel was popped up on foam tape and adhered to the card base. I stamped the large flower from the Free Freesia stamp set with Versamark ink on black cardstock and heat embossed with gold EP. I die cut it with the coordinating die and adhered it to the card.

To finish I added some tiny sequins from my stash.

Here is a closer look at the card.

I hope you liked my card. This style is quite different from my usual card making. I am very happy that doing the AECP has helped me expand my horizons.

Love,
Nandini

Altenew Academy Project #17...

Hi! I am almost at the end of the Altenew Educator Certification Program Level Two. I have really enjoyed my classes. Today's card combines lots of stuff that I picked up during this process.

Jennifer Rzasa, Debby Hughes, and Laura Bassen are three of my favourite crafters. So I was really looking forward to the Creative Watercolor Media class. And this class definitely didn't disappoint! I especially loved the idea of using reinkers as paints. I don't have any Altenew reinkers. So I used photo inks which are similar. Here is the card I created.



I started with a piece of watercolour paper. I used liquid masking fluid to draw a grid and then painted with yellow dye ink. Once the paper was dry, I added more masking fluid and used shades of blue and green to get a beautiful plaid pattern. I added some details with a very fine brush and dark blue and green dye ink.

While my plaid paper was drying, I took a scrap of yellow cardstock and stamped the outline and one layering image of the large bloom from the Peony Bouquet stamp set. I die cut it with the coordinating die. I stamped the leaves on watercolour paper and added drops of blue and green. I die cut the leaves with the coordinating dies as well.

I scored lines on a green card base. The sentiment is from the Birthday Greetings stamp set. I stamped and heat embossed it with white EP. I die cut the plaid paper and arranged all the die cuts on the card base.

Here is a closer look at the card.

I hope you liked my take on pop art. Looking forward to hearing from you. Entering my card in the following challenges.

Creatalicious Challenge #151 - Anything Goes + Layer It Up:

Watercooler Wednesday WWC196 - All About Occasions:

Shopping Our Stash SOS380 - Tic-Tac-Toe:

I used the middle line. The Camlin dye inks are used are several years old, definitely more than 6 years.

The Flower Challenge #26:

Love,

Nandini

Altenew Academy Project #13...

Hi! As promised I am back with my next project for the Altenew Educator Certification Program. My card is based on the Beyond Basic Backgrounds class by Lydia Evans. This class is really great as it teaches several techniques for creating beautiful backgrounds. I especially loved the Matt Watercolor Resist technique. Here is my card using this technique.

As I didn't have any freezer paper, I decided to do some experimentation or 'jugad' as we say in Mumbai. I die cut several pieces of regular card stock with the Dodecagram set. I applied Aleene's Tack-It Over & Over glue to the reverse with a blending sponge and allowed the pieces to dry. Once dry, I temporarily adhered the die cuts to a large sheet of watercolour paper. I sprayed the paper generously with water and then started dropping Camlin Photo Inks randomly. I went for a sort of rainbow effect. I allowed the sheet to air dry completely before removing the die cuts.

I cut part of the sheet to size for my background panel. For the gold mat, I simply covered two sides of a black paper with Versamark ink and heat embossed with gold EP. I tied a narrow black satin ribbon towards the bottom and mounted the sentiment panel over it with some foam tape. The sentiment is from the Birthday Greetings stamp set and I heat embossed it with Sparkle Gold EP. I mounted the whole panel on a black card base with foam tape.

I really love this bold background. Since I made an entire sheet, I have enough left to make 3-4 more cards. My only problem was that I didn't test the 'masks' I created on the watercolour paper. They did stick quite a lot. But I was able to remove them with a little patience. Since the watercolour paper was already quite textured, the damage didn't show much.

Here is a closer look at the card.

I had a lot of fun and learnt some wonderful new techniques in this class. I am looking forward to putting more of them to practice.

I am entering this card in the STAMPtember celebration by Simon Says Stamp.

Also entering the card in the following challenges:

Freshly Made Sketches #355:
I rotated the sketch for my card.

Back To The Basics and Beyond Challenge #12 - Inky Backgrounds:

Try It On Tuesdays - Slap It On:

Love,
Nandini

Addicted To Stamps And More #304...

Hi! I am here today with some inspiration for the current Addicted To Stamps And More challenge #304.

These cards are part of an order for 50 cards that I made for a friend. I was definitely looking for something quick and simple and I love the way these turned out.

I started with a piece of cream cardstock. I painted diagonal stripes in rainbow order with Camlin photo inks. I love these for their intense colours and quick drying. Once the inks were dry, I diluted some gold acrylic paint and splattered it over the sheets.

I used the Text Block Birthday die by Papertrey Ink to die cut the coloured panels. I adhered these to some cream and gold marbled handmade paper and popped them up with foam tape.
I used the Dotted Florals background stamp by Impression Obsession with the Sand Dunes ink by Altenew to stamp on the cream card bases. This gives a light texture without overwhelming or clashing with the rainbow sentiment panels. 

Here is a closer look at one of the cards.

I hope you liked my cards and are inspired to make something beautiful. You can link your cards to our gallery here. Also, remember to visit the Addicted To Stamps And More challenge blog for more fabulous inspiration by my talented teamies.

Entering my card in the following challenges:

Happy Little Stampers August CAS Challenge:

Addicted To CAS #142:

Create Something Catchy August Challenge - Watercolour:

I used photo inks to colour the rainbow sentiment panel.

Love,
Nandini

Product Review for Itsy Bitsy...

Hi! I am here today to do another product review for Itsy Bitsy. You can find my previous reviews here and here. I am reviewing a total of four products today.

I had picked up the Mixed Media Paste and Embossing Texture Paste some time ago. I found both these work very well with the Sparkle Paste and Mica Powder. So I decided to review all four products.

My first two cards are like a twofer. I wanted to see the difference between using Sparkle Paste versus Mica Powder. I started with two pieces of white cardstock. I blended distress oxide inks on both. I covered the panels with a stencil and applied Black Soot and Faded Jeans distress oxide inks through it. Without removing the stencil, I added Sparkle Paste to one with a palette knife. On the other panel, I brushed a the Mica Powder with an old make-up brush. I also added a light mist of water to fix the powder.

Here is the card with Sparkle Paste.

The effect is beautiful and sparkly. Perfect for a festive card. Here is another look at the card. I tilted it so that the sparkle is seen.

Entering this card in the following challenges:

Simon Says Monday Challenge - Add A Little Sparkle:

Use Your Stuff Challenge #321 - Birthday:


The Mica Powder gives a more subtle effect.

There is a beautiful, satiny sheen which is gorgeous in real life.

Inkspirational Challenge #165:

For my next card, I decided to mix the Mica Powder with Mixed Media paste which is a great product to have in your stash since it combines the functions of both gesso and modelling paste.

I diluted the Mixed Media paste with a little water and then mixed some Mica Powder with it. I placed a stencil over a panel of kraft cardstock and applied the paste with a palette knife. Once the paste was dry, I added a little distress oxide ink with a sponge dauber.

Here is a closer look at the stencilling.

You can see the lovely sheen that the Mica Powder brings to the mix.

To complete the card, I die-cut a heart from some pink paper. I added some sheen to the die-cut with the Mica Powder. I simply took a glue stick and rubbed it all over the paper. I brushed the Mica Powder with a makeup brush and let it dry.

The sentiment was stamped with Versamark on a strip of black paper and heat embossed with metallic pink embossing powder.

Entering this card in the following challenges:

Allsorts Challenge Week 476/477 - Flowers All Over:

Paru's Card Making Challenges - July:

For my third card, I decided to test the products on some dark cardstock.

I coloured the mix of Mixed Media Paste and Mica Powder with black photo ink and applied it to a piece of black cardstock through a stencil. The result was a gorgeous metallic grey texture. Here is a closer look.

I trimmed the panel and adhered it to a grey card base. I die-cut the hibiscus flower and coloured it with my Zigs. The sentiment was die-cut from a piece of cardstock that I coloured with two shades of green dye inks. I just rubbed a little Sparkle Paste on the die-cut to give it some extra pop. Here is a closer look.

To finish, I mounted a piece of black cardstock on foam tape. The flower is also popped with foam tape. I applied a little Sparkle Paste to the stamen for added interest.

Entering this card in the following challenges:

CAS Mix Up July Challenge:
I coloured my hibiscus die cut with Zig Clean Color Markers and the sentiment with photo inks. I stamped part of the sentiment with Versamark and heat embossed with silver EP. For the mixed media component, I did stencilling with texture paste.

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Use a die and/or punch:

Fusion Challenge - Outdoor Room:
I used only the sketch which I flipped.

Watercooler Wednesday WWC179 - Masculine Anything Goes:

The final card is probably my favourite. I decided to mix the Mica Powder with the Embossing Texture Paste. I wasn't sure it would work. But it did. And I love the result!

The Embossing Texture Paste pops up when you apply heat. The amount of popping depends on the thickness of application and dryness of the layer. Since I wanted less popping and used an intricate stencil, I allowed it to dry completely. The result after applying heat is a soft nap, almost like a rug. The Mica Powder gives it a lovely shine. Here is a closer look.

To complete the card, I trimmed the panel and mounted it to a turquoise card base. I die-cut a heart from the same paper and popped it up on foam tape. I die-cut the sentiment thrice and adhered the layers together. I also applied some Sparkle Paste to it for added shine. Finally, I die-cut some small stars and adhered them to the heart.

Entering this card in the following challenges:

Sunday Stamps SSC183 - Tranquil Cottage Colors:
I used turquoise, kraft and cream

The Sisterhood of Crafters - What's YOUR Favorite Color?:
I love turquoise colour. Especially when combined with kraft. 


I have really loved using these products. Initially, I wasn't sure how much use I would get out of them since my style is very CAS and I mostly make cards. But they are wonderful products to keep on hand. The Sparkle Paste is great for adding some shimmer and shine to your projects. I have used it before for making a card set.

As you can see, Sparkle Paste is very easy to colour and use with stencils.

The Embossing Texture Paste adds great texture without adding weight. It is also very easy to colour with inks. It spreads very well. So a little goes a long way.

My biggest surprise was the Mica Powder. It can be used to add some shimmer to your projects very easily. I used the clear glue stick with great results. It also mixes well with water and can be used with a spray bottle. And of course, it gives great results when mixed with Mixed Media Paste and Embossing Texture Paste.

Sparkle Paste and Embossing Texture Paste are both available in beautiful colours too. I picked up neutral colours since I wanted to test them with photo inks. But you can buy the ready coloured pastes as well.

Here is a photo of all the cards with the products I used.

I hope you found my review useful and will give them a try. I look forward to hearing from you. 

Love,

Nandini

Ombre with Sparkle Paste...

Hi! The current challenge at Mudra Craft Stamps blog is an all-time favourite theme - Anything Goes. I made some card sets as inspiration. You can check out the details here.
I have always loved using stencils. And Mudra has a very nice, exclusive collection of designs. I combined the stencils with some Sparkle Paste that I recently purchased from Itsy Bitsy.

I mixed the paste with a drop of Camlin Photo Ink to create the colours. The inks mix beautifully with the paste. I also got a gorgeous teal colour by mixing equal parts blue and green. The 'Thanks' die is by Mudra Cut3. Here are the other cards I made.

Dark Blue

Light Blue

Foliage Green

Violet

I loved the Sparkle Paste. It is very easy to use and gives a gorgeous, smooth, sparkly finish. It also dries quite fast and is easy to clean. I love that it mixes well with inks. It is slightly on the higher side price wise. But I made total six cards with full coverage and there is still a little left, enough for two more cards I think. I hope Itsy Bitsy is planning a larger jar size.

Here is a look at all the cards together.



I am entering these cards in the following challenge:

Simon Says Monday Challenge - Ombre:

Love,
Nandini