Love ya

Welcome to my first project in 2011.Kinda late isn't it? Well better late than never I say!!!

This card turned out better than I had hoped. This image is one from Hearts and soul rubber stamps, and I absolutely love it. Coloring it was a challenge, but I decided to break out my newest purchase, Derwent Inktense Watercolor pencils. Oh my gosh! They're the bestest pencils ever...if I could get more colors I would gladly give away my Faber-Castell watercolors. I just didn't find any good skin colors in Derwent. A little color goes a long long way! If you want the best, get these colors..they're no where near Prisma color pencils, but in the watercolor pencils, it can't get better than this. (at least in India).

Isn't this image gorgeous?  When I'd seen this image on Dina's blog 2 yrs ago, I had to have it..though its only the second time that I'm inking it. I used Fabriano Watercolor paper to stamp and color it. This paper holds the water beautifully. There is a learning curve to these colors, and I'm still learning.

I've used a new technique to glue those punched out hearts. I took and embossing stylus, and embossed from the back to create dimension on the hearts. Then added glue and gloss under the hearts so it holds its shape (Thanks for the tip Dina) It doesn't show in this photo but its nice and puffy.

This card uses the sketch from Annabelle Stamps ABSC033 and the colors from Annabelle's Stamps Challenge : Say it In-Red and White.

Also entering it into a couple of more challenges:
Mark's Finest Papers - To use Hearts on your card
Really Reasonable Ribbon - Hearts Theme and Ribbon
Bunny Zoe's Crafts - Theme is "Love is in the Air"
Crafty Cardmakers Challenge -To use pencils to color

New year cards

I've been MIA for almost a week, what can I say...my DH has way too many holidays in the last 3 months of the year...diwali vacation, then the winter break, thankfully now no more vacations for him till May..which means I can stay at home and not travel around...
I got back from our winter break just yesterday night and what a wonderful sight to see 3 beautiful cards waiting for me on my door-step...Thanks girls you made my day..well night, technically!

 This beauty came all the way from Anita in Kolkatta...love the layers and so effortless, it would take me 3-4 hours to do so many layers!! Thanks so much for this card girl..

This gorgeous one is from Juhi..you don't even need to think twice before you can know her style..love the felt, {DH kept running his fingers over the felt and asked, did she use cloth on a card? she used a stitching machine on a card...what will you use next? (he keeps hearing that I want the cuttlebug, and now that I want the stitching machine, he's lost it) } You gotta take classes and teach me how to stitch...

And this gem made it all the way from Srilanka, from Michelle...its just sooo pretty...love the snowflakes and the tiny  dots of sparkles!! Thank you so much Michelle!!

Thank you all for making my start to the new year a wonderful one!! Big hugs to all of you!!

Five butterflies

I wanted to end the year with a card that I loved. Ever since I saw this card on Tina's photostream and on Hero arts blog, I’ve wanted to CASE it.

But I had no heat gun then, no white embossing powders, no background stamps and no butterfly stamps either. Then as the year progressed, I ordered my heat gun.. I managed to get a printout of butterflies. And in Dec, I finally got my white EP. So everything fell into place.

But this card didn’t come easy. It had its share of goof-ups. . On my first attempt at embossing with white EP, I managed to blow half the powder around my table. I decided to re-do it.

2nd attempt.

And in the process figured out my mistakes.  I used a foam pad underneath my work surface to get good even print (which I didn’t do before), poured generous amount of powder and held the heat gun to the side while it heated and the held it vertically over my image, rather than on a slant which seemed to blow all the powder away! Well the results speak for themselves.

Ok, enough of the rambling, feast your eyes on this!!

The cloudy weather did not let me get a good photo..but this is the best I could get.  Here's a closeup of the coloring, I wanted a stained glass effect..do you think it does justice?

I wished I could have given this card or the butterflies more dimension. I wasn’t sure my sheer ribbon would hold on to the foam tape, so ended up using glue dots. 

But as I sit here on the last day of  the year, I love looking at this card on my desk…Have a happy happy new year!!

Top Ten Cards

This is another wonderful opportunity for me to join in a journey down memory lane..I didn't have many cards to choose from, but since I got all my supplies in May of this year, it was more like choosing cards from 6 months..but I loved making each and every one of them!!

This year saw me change my style to more of CAS after finding and falling in love with Susan's blog, Simplicity. It was love at first sight and I knew what my strength was. Not layering, but being simple and true to what I love. So hope you can join in the fun HERE and I will make it a point to hop across all your cards!!

Clicking on the logo will also take you the blog hop! 

 

Thank you for being along with me on this wonderful journey of this year!! Hope to see you soon next year!!
The hop ends Dec 29. Don't wait.

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year!!

Best work of 2010

I generally end my year with a post on introspection..this time prompted by Kavitha, I'm doing a little different post..(mind you, I'm going to ramble a lot before the year is over), I'm sharing what I think was my best work of the year...its hard to narrow it down to one card or one project...maybe I won't choose one, I'll pick two!!

The highlight of my year has been my return to my craft supplies after a year and a half..finding supplies and then bringing all my stuff over here to Ahmedabad and then buying more stuff...it was like Christmas all throughout the year!!  And the baby albums...those are a killer to make, but in the end, I couldn't stop turning the pages myself and feeling proud. My albums take way long to make coz I have to love each page I make, else I throw that page away..but in the end, I feel it worth spending 3 hours to make one page!!

So here's my bestest work of this year!! Aarav's baby album, it was my first attempt at making an album, I loved the whole process of making a page at a time, not knowing how it will look later on with all the photos and journalling! Lets just say, that I love this one coz its my first one!!

Sharing one card that I absolutely loved..for its colors, for its simplicity and for its butterflies!!!

So those are my best creations for this year..but not the only ones...Hope you can join and share what you thought was your best work..there's a lovely prize up for grabs..Thanks for that awesome candy Kavi!!

Embossing overdrive!!

Christmas is around the corner and the weather is fantastic..nothing to complain about, just hate getting out of those blankets every morning!! So hows life with you all...haven't been posting but have been hopping around to your blogs.
I kind of went overboard on the embossing with this card...its just fantastic to see that powder melting into the beautiful glaze. I went on embossing and forgot to add a sentiment which was my original plan...maybe another card..This card goes for the Simon says Stamp Challenge-Anything goes.

The lack of sunshine makes it tough to get a good pic, but I love how the embossing is shining on this card..and yup, I got my new doily lace punch..its fantastic and one of the best punches I invested in. You're gonna see a lot of this punch..
This card is CASE of a card by Kelly Rasmussen, damn if I can find the link. I loved the combination of grey (or is it gray?) and pink ..

Both the dark pink butterflies are clear embossed with the script background and all three are handcut. I had a different idea in my head about the ribbon..it looks kinda weird..but hey when it comes to ribbons, I'm still on a learning curve..I'm still learning how to tie the perfect knot and bow!! Imagine that!

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Couldn't leave without showing you my skinny Christmas tree...Wishing all of you a very happy and merry Christmas...May all your wishes (ahem!! your crafting wishes) come true! :D

New card and some enabling!

This is my second post in 2 days, scroll down for my new album

I'm feeling so happy right now, stamping, coloring and glitter! What else does a girl need...maybe some diamonds but lets stay real!! :D
My card is based on the OLW31, Back to the beginning and for the Moxie Fab World- Birthday card challenge.   For me the thing that got me hooked onto to stamping was the technique of masking. I was awed by it. And watercoloring. The first time I brought a clear stamp, I didn't know what to do with it, the store just had the product, no clue on how to use it. Then came Gina K.'s blog and Maria Bell's blog and I found SCS. That was the day I was in, hook line and sinker!
I fell in love. Here's a peek at my first attempt at masking - here

This card is based on the Get Sketchy Card challenge #67. 

My card showcasing all 3 aspects of my love for stamping, Masking, water coloring and glittering! To be very honest, I just love this card..And love how the coloring came out..sometimes I just amaze myself..honestly! The stamp is from Inkadinkado. This is as simple gets!

And a shot of the bling..I think it is dazzling diamonds from Stampin Up! I love this stuff..Need some more! Will my needs and wants never end? I shop today and tomorrow I find something else that I love and need to have.

Well that's the card, and then some enabling..I promised to show you my new stash, so here goes-

Beautiful butterfly papers, had to grab more than one.  The pink plaid, and the snowflakes..yumm

 These are a bit vintage styles...never found any before, I just picked them up. Lets see where and when I'll use them.

 These soft colors, perfect for a baby album or baby cards ..

And the felt flowers. I love black and white, so in-spite of them having these in Christmas colors of green and red, I chose this. So anyone heading out to hobby ideas today?

I was given this beautiful award by Spardha and Rachna, and ETA: from Smita too!!  and have to pass it on to 5 other crafty people. I think each and every one of your deserves this, so if you're reading this please accept this award and post it on your blog and pass it to 5 other crafty gals..

3 things about me that are different :

I'm lazy..very very lazy. I think I could be related to the sloth bear by the lowest fraction, but related nonetheless. 

I love perfumes, at the last count I had 25 bottles.

I'm a true libran by heart and soul. I can argue both sides of the coin so well, I never really know which side I'm taking and by the end of 5 mins, I've confused myself thoroughly!

That's it for today..

A Quick Card

I needed a very quick anniversary card, since I'd totally forgotten to make one for my very sweet friend. We've met like 3 times in the last 14 yrs, but never forget to keep in touch over the phone, a simple text or just a hello. What better card to make than CASE my own card, which is a CASE of Erum's card!!

A close up of the bling bling!!

It is fast to make and quick to embellish! This time around I wanted to play with my favorite color combination- white, black and turquoise..and it looks fab..a little bit of bling never hurt anyone..not even if its a card for a boy!! :D

I'd initially used black ribbon, but that seemed to be standing out, so dulled the black with a bit of organza sheer ribbon. Image is again from cuddly buddly. And no white gel pen for me this time..wanted to keep it clean and neat.

Sending this card to Meljens Design challenge Blog. This week the challenge is to use Sparkle. bling it is for me.

See ya soon,

Hey

Long time no see..two weeks of vacation for hubby means no time for me to play with my cards and stamps! Phew that vacation is coming to an end, so hopefully I'll get some time in the next week to create..
Hope everyone had a rocking holiday season...

I'll just leave you with a beautiful card that arrived on my doorstep as I came home from my vacations..

Pic from Ujjwal's blog.

This beautiful card came to me from Ujjwal. Love the simplicity of it..truly stunning! Thanks so much girl!

Love is..

in the air..Its not Valentine's day yet, but I had to make an engagement card on request..and well I had been wanting to CASE at least one card by Erum. That girl can take card making to a whole new level and gives "handmade" a completely new meaning! I love how she uses handcut elements in her cards...so this card is a compliment to you girl...You Rock!!
Drop by her blog and see the awesomeness that this girl is...I can't really cut that well on free hand, ..but  I do like this card...

 

This image is freebie from cuddly buddly..they've got a whole lot of cute digi images and elements..colored it with sharpies and the hearts have a bit of gloss to it..The embossed white paper is with my Fiskar's textured plates..

Just a bit of bling..
That's all folks :D

Will be missing from my posts for a week or two..visiting my MIL for the holidays..Have a Happy Diwali everyone!!