Pretty Little Petits Fours

Spring and flowers everywhere..
All the fabulous challenges are also blooming and colorful.
 
This week in Moxie Fab, the inspirational photo, was simply too sweet to resist.

I originally started with a literal interpretation, but something didnt fall through, so I put it on backburner and turned my thoughts elsewere. After a while, I decided that I wanted to make another one..
The soft pinks against wood grain, really captivated me.
Slowly, and painfully, this is what I came up with ..

The story behind it.. 

I wanted to do a stamped interpretation.. Since I dont have a wood grain, background stamp, I had to improvise.. I inked up one side of the Sizzix Embossing folders with Antique Linen Distress Ink, and ran it through the BigShot, with my cardstock, one plate replaced with the Silicone Rubber mat from another Sizzix Textured plates set.
Got a soft wood grain pattern, without the embossing. Exactly the way I wanted.
After much thought, decided on this glass bottle flower vase, from Inkadinkado.
But a single flower wasnt enough, for me.. So pinked up the flower portion of the stamp and created a boutique. Then inked up the bottle in walnut stain and stamped the bottle.
Added stems using my water color pencils.
On a gut feeling, inked up the bottle in a lighter color, masked the already stamped bottle, and added a couple of other shadows. For the second one, I used a couple of distress inks. 

For the sentiment, since my son is graduating from Kindergarten, I wanted make this as a Thank You card for this class teacher.
What more than prefect than using the lovely Unity Stamps - Thank You set, which I got from Lets Craft and Create.
Die cut the stamped sentiment, using Spellbinders circles and inked the edges.
Feeling that the card needs more pink, I used a pink cardstock for the base, running it through the Sizzix Embossing folder - Wood Grain twice, as it is bigger than 4.25*5.5, distressed it to make it a bit shabby.
And I was done..

A couple of other shots

Remember, I had said, painfully, heres why.
The embossing folder, fell behind my table I crushed finger retreiving it.. :-(
May be next time, a little lighter on the brown.. 
 

Entering in these challenges :

Moxie Fab : Pretty Little Petits Fours. ( My first time entering here :-) )
Lets Create and Craft - Flowers ( A Thank You card, created from the stamps from you lovely ladies :-) )

Normal, come again?

So, I had made this card Normal, are you sure?
for Casology's this week's theme.

I decided I will make one for each of my family members
For all the "normal" things we had done, and for the "normally we would do it, but ...."'s :-)


This time wanted to make it in chalk board style. This is one style I am deeply falling in love with.
And I really really wanted to force me not to use any kraft for a CAS card.. :-)

Here it comes,

For the background whitish look. I Used talcum powder instead of wiping with white stamp ink..
And lightly sponged with a wet baby wipe, that I usually use to clean off the stamps.
Shadowed by hand using a watercolor pencil.

Entering this in :
Casology Week 41 : Giggle
Simon says stamp - Anything goes
And since this is a one layer remade card of , entering this in - OLW137 - Makeovers

Normal, Are you sure?

Casology's , cue for this week is,

After all the sentimental cards, I had been making for Mothers Day,  I so wanted to lighten up things around here..
A funny card, provided the perfect opportunity...
After being over worked for the week, the Eureka moment, came, when I got this idea, to mix these cute set of stamps and create this one..
I guess, this is one card, every one will want for their family :-)

Here is the card :

This alien family, is a part of a cling stamp set from Recollections, which, as usual, I picked up as soon as I saw it, at Michaels.. But this was waiting, for so long, almost long forgotten.

The sentiment is from a Inkadinkado, I dont know which collection though. My original intention of this stamp, was for my scrap booking.. (which I have almost forgotten after this card making craze of mine)
This was again an impulse purchase, perfectly fits my family:-)

The background for the sentiment is recollections page tab (I guess) rubber stamp
Lightly distressed with olive green. And gave a red background, to add a little bit more interest.

Since I wanted to keep this card, CAS, I had to go with a 5*7 stamp, since this cute aliens aren't small to fit within a 4.25*5.5 card..
One more reson, why this is exactly my family, he he..
The standard joke being, we all will not fit into a single picture frame :-)

I had fun creating this, as well as fun looking at this..
Hope this makes you all giggle :-)

Entering in these challenges :
Casology Week 41 : Giggle
Simon says Stamp : Anything goes.

Arrived....

My Royal Air Mail arrived.

This awesome set of Thank You stamp from Uniko Studio..
And a lovely handwritten thank you from Mandy and the girls at Lets Craft and Create.

Cant wait to use this stamp..
Thanks you once again ladies..:-)

A very girlie Birthday card

Spring.. Blooms.. (Other than the couple of days where it felt like summer and bouts of allergies, aside)
So wanted to make a girlie card..
Some time back I had bought this blooming meadow HA stamp, which I thought would be perfect to try out..
Last few cards were very rusty ones.. So soft colors came to play..
Here is the card..

And here is the story......
HA Bloooming meadows stamp, stamped in multiple versafine dew drops chalk inks  on glossy paper lightly distressed using worn lipstick, sides distressed again to make it darker,

For the little flowers, I punched out mini scallops from crepe paper ribbon, ruffled them up and made them into little blooms, a mini brad holding each flower.
Happy Birthday was die cut out from white scrap paper, shaded in similar tones, using a sizzix die.
Wanted to add a couple of butterflies, but decided against it, since I thought it would make the card very crowded.
This matching paper from recollections garden florals paper pack,just fit perfectly, I feel.
2 more pearsl, and I guess I could call the card done..

Entering in these challenges.

Lets craft and create - Flowers #68
Hero Arts - Just For her April2013B
Simon says stamp challenge - Anything goes
Crafters Corner India (BINGO) - Middle column : Pearls/Pattern Paper/Die Cuts


Supplies Used :
HA blooming meadows stamps
Versafine chalk dew drops
Sizzix die, Big shot
Recollections pattern paper.

My shortest card ever, so far..

(Will write more by EOD)
Need to submit to CASE This Sketch #24

58th Hero Arts Scramble - With Sympathy

I am still living in the excitement from the last scramble, it was already time for the next.
Today at 6pm PST, was the 58th Hero Arts Scramble, hosted by Karen.

And it was the last day of Spring break.
My little one goes back to school.
What better way to celebrate :-)

And 6pm PST was perfect timing.
I was all set - mentally.
Craft corner wasn't set at all.
The hour after work, was spent battling my migraine...
But I still wanted to give it a try.

Karen, had the perfect challenge. A 1 layer sympathy card.
The image of the the toothless grin of the 8 year old Richard, the grim reality of life...
The victims and the horror still so fresh..
Similar bad news from India..
The sentiment of the card, was an opportunity for me to pay my respects.

I guess the colors turned out gloomy.

My first sympathy cards.

A little offering to the folks who lost their loved ones.



Supplies Used :

Momento Dew Drops dye inks
Hero Arts Hydranegea stamp
Tim Holtz Visual Artistry
Water Color pencils
Washi tape from recollections.

Birthday with flowers and colors

Time for another card making session.
For a change I wanted to give pattern papers a try.
I usually get a brain freeze whenever I think about paper matching.
So the color Challenge from Paper Players, provided the right oppurtunity.
Lets Craft and Create dedicated this fortnight to flowers, &
Hero Arts was Just For Her..
What better than to combine it all into one?

The card

The Story
I went through my small collection of papers and found matching papers, the closest to the week's Challenge colors.

I have been having this Tim Holtz On the Edge Die, Ornate for some time. And been wanting to use it.
And this was once again the right excuse.
After a bit of thought, decided on the layout and this card was almost done.

The cheery Stamp from Hero Arts, gave a boost to the spirits
And little flowers using Sizzix Flower #4 die on the corner... And I loved how this card turned out.
Flowers, is there a girl who doesn't like flowers?

The craft stock, the blue and the flowers, so remind me of Hawaii and the crystal blue beaches there..

Sun, sandy beaches, more sun and more sandy beaches...
A girl's dream vacation..


Entering in these challenges.

Paper Players #141 - Anne Marie's Colors - http://thepaperplayers.blogspot.com/2013/04/paper-players-141-anne-maries-colors.html

Lets Craft and Create Challenge #68 - Flowers - http://letscreatechallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/challenge-68-flowers.html

Hero Arts - Just For Her - http://heroarts.com/blogs/club/april-2013-contest-details/

My first Mixed Media stamping

My fascination with peacock continues.
This time, gave mixed media stamping technique, from Hero Arts a try.
Turquoise is another one of my favorites.
There was a time, when I was so totally obsessed with Turquoise.
So I automatically chose two of my favorites for this maiden attempt.
And so here is the card.

And here is the story.
First swirled around and painted turqoise acrylic paint with gel medium.
Impatiently heat dried it.
Then stamped a recollections swirls background stamp in Momento Bamboo ink.
Then waited for it to dry. Had a cup of coffee..
Then came the fun part.
I had just bought this Stampendous Peacock feather stamp. A perfect companion to my favortie Peacock stamp from Hero Arts.
I wanted to use a matching blue but since it was dye ink, and dye inks didnt quite stamp well on the canvas, went with Versa fine vintage sepia .
Am glad that I actually went with this.
On another gloss cardstock, distress inked using green
Stamped the vintage peacock again in bamboo ink from Momemto.
Die Cut a matching oval in same colors and feel.
Sentiments are from 7 gypsies and Hampton Art.
Guess the card was ready.
The hard part came, when I had to make up my mind whether to go with adhering this with glue dots/foams or paste it evenly.
Then thought a little 3d effect would be better and was done..

The texture and the uneven surface of the card..
The Gel medium gives a nice sheen.. 
Like it much.
This is one technique I am surely going to try out more..

Couple of other angles.

Nikhil's Super Hero BDay 2012

(Pulling a favorite post from my other blog. Since I am using this more.)

Let you be forewarned 

For I have already scribbled enough

And am not gonna let you go, till you finish reading it.

The Making

Why???

As if it wasn't emotional enough for me to see my little kinder, repeatedly say that he was "missing his old friends", "they will be searching for me", ''I want to go back to my old school", "will I never see my old friends forever again?' now I had to keep him safe from getting hurt again(which is quite a story which I get into a later date).

And so, I wanted make this BDay as memorable as possible +

I wanted him to have fun and play without any physical strain.

Absolutely no bouncers, which is the perfect and easiest way to keep the 5 year olds busy, if you ask me.

So, mommy had to use her brain. ( Which by itself is quite a rare event, as daddy puts it)

And so Nikhil's 5th BDay transformed into A Super Hero Mission.

What started as a little thought, then slowly grew and grew until it became this Super Hero Party.

In the end, all turned out well and the kids had fun.

What I didn't expect, was the sense of peace, accomplishment I would feel, after the party was done.

The last time I had felt such, was when I completed my college final semester exams.

Phase 1 : Innovations are born because of necessity

First , Mr.BusyBeeDaddy declared only on Aug-5th that he wanted Nikhil's BDay Bash on the 18th.

So I had a quick couple of weeks+1 weekend to take care of everything.

( The effective manager that he is, his job was done, as soon as he had delegated this task to me, and given an ETA :-) )

Then, Mr.Budding Manager wanted an Amazing Spiderman BDay(till he changed like in an hr ). I went around one party store to another, on a requirement gathering spree.

After assessing, the available decorations , I wasn't happy, and definitely not convinced.

And I came back.

Then after a couple of hours, Nikhil declared that he wanted an Avengers BDay.

After, just short of making him sign a document with witnesses, getting umpteen # promises that he wont change his mind again,

I sent out the invite, with an Avengers theme in mind after deciding on The Tech Museum to host his party.

There was a variety of Super Hero Fonts that I was able to find on the net. I especially loved, the "AmazingSpider", "BatmanForeverAlternate", "SoundFX", "Palooka BB", "ironman", "SF Arch Rival" & "SF Arch Rival Extended"

The invite

Nikhil is bringing the party to you.
The little super hero is turning five.
And, its time for the earth's mightiest little heroes to assemble and have fun.

Kiddos, SMASH!!

But Niki wanted to "play forever in the party". What else would a 5 year old want?

And I have this sudden addiction to anything DIY & reusing, and was soooooooooooooo waiting for an oppurtunity to try out things.

So, 1+1=

 And so , pinterest+google were heavily bombarded in the days to come.

My poor old laptop, hadnt seen so much use in a while and was there cringing and crying, slowly down things at every possible way.

There were so many ideas for BDay parties and so suddenly, there I was planning my very first DIY(as much as possible) Super Hero BDay Party.

Phase 2 : Ready Start Action

It was a rewarding search, of finding interesting yet not common games to train the little ones. The super hero training camp's curriculum was designed & redesigned  catering to the liking of the Kinders. Then again modified to be more gender nuetral. Girl Power Eh!.

The New York City Backdrop took quite some time, to find the best possible way to do it.

Had to be light, and right color, right height.

Went through quite a few attempts. Paper on top of colored paper turned out quite messy and heavy.

Cardboard sheets were heavier.

Then I figured out a solution and it was using a table cover as the base.

And painting, sticking, coloring on top of it.

Then came the Super Hero lollipops.

The Buildings from my cardboard boxes with all of Niki's fav super heroes waiting to jump out in action.

My most favorite - the comic themed photo frames which I had made, out of unfinished wooden frames from Michaels.  This one took quite a while, as I mastered the art of decoupaging, painting, sanding and was very very happy with the results. Since my little master, ran away with the rest of his SpiderMan comics, I had to use pages from Super Man. :-)

Oh Yes, I forgot the certificate. Designing the certificate, itself, was quite fun. And I was able to locate the perfect SpiderMan image for the background.

And, there was a couple misses. I missed 2 of Nikhil's close friends, getting confused with the email ids, I forgot the thank you note , I forgot the Game callouts, and lighter.
But overall, I should say, it was a fun event.

The D Day

The Daily Bugle, has a news report

There was a newspaper clipping from Spidey's The Daily Bugle, waiting at the membership desk, setting the mood of a Super Hero Party.

Here's the clipping - The Daily Bugle, Saturday, 18th August 2012

Top Secret Mission Manual

The Super Heroes had the  Super Confidential, Top Secret, For your Eyes Only, Super Secretive Mission Manual, waiting for them, as soon as they entered the party room, with a list of tasks, which they had to accomplish, to win their very own certificate from "The Amazing Spiderman"

Here's the manual - Super Hero training manual

The Super Hero Training Mission Starts now

Secret Identity

I had made a variety of masks, Captain America, Wolverine, Thor, Spiderman, Green Lantern, and a glittery version for the girls, Hulk, SuperMan, Iron Man, Batman from templates I found on the web, using foam sheets.

And as I made each piece, each one went through multiple rounds of quality and acceptance testing, where I showed Nikhil the mask, not mentioning how it is supposed to represent, eagerly hoping that he would recognise it correctly. As each and every mask passed the test with flying colors, I set on to complete all of them

Took almost a day to finish the 30 odd pieces.

And so, the little super heroes had the masks available, and they quickly chose one and covered their true identity.

Super Hero wristbands

Next came the "rigorous" task of designing your very own Super Hero Hand-piece, for which I had strips of different colored foam, with a bunch of stickers and double sided tape.

Voila!! The Super Heroes were all ready for the mission now.

The radioactive Slew crossing

This is an idea which I got in the last minute. I had the black sheet, which I didnt want to just throw away, and just when I was thinking what to do, my little one was playing his Lego Batman game which resulted into a Green/Pink Radioactive Toxic Slew , which the Super Heroes had to navigate without getting their feet burnt.
I Modpodged pieces of tissue paper into the black sheet.

 Do you have Spider Sense

This one was a box filled with items and the Super Heroes had to use their Spider Touch Sense, and figure out whats inside the box without peeking. I dont have a picture of this, but was really surprised that quite a few kids were able to contain their curiosity and really not peek. ( Very much unlike mine :-) )

Give Spidey a Nose

This was a new twist to the age old Pin a tail to the donkey.

The kids had to affix, a sticky nose to the Spider Man's face. Sadly I dont have a pic of this too.

Spin Super Webs

The Super heroes had cans of webs(silly strings) that they had to use the catch the Bad Guys.

I should say that this was the best training exercise the kids loved. I was really scolding myself, for not getting more cans. So much so that, next time around, I am going to have a party just with silly strings.

Strongest hug to your mummy/daddy

I heard quite a few crushing bones, when the Super Heroes tested their strength.

And my shoulders are still paining from my share of the hug :-)

Loudest roar on planet earth

And my, ear shattering roars, that reverberated through the party room..

My little Super Hero, all he could do was a baby roar, getting all shy as people watched him.

Bash the Bad Guys

                                                                 The buildings were cut out from fabric, kapow printed on paper and ModPodged into the blue fabric. All thanks to the versatile ModPodge.

This one again was a hit with the Super heroes, who really didn't need a reason or any more training to bash the bad guys up.

Mission Accomplished - We are Certified Super Heroes now

As each of the Super Hero were handed over their certificates, there was huge round of applause and cheer.

And the Super Heroes, proudly displayed their Certificates.
Here's the link to the Certificate(pdf).

The "bomb" pinata 

Ever since he saw a pinata in a friends BDay, Niki has been wanting one. I knew there would be no place to hang a traditional pinata. So I came up with my own.

A Paper lantern ( which had already seen the wrath of our very own demi god), was strengthened with layers of paper & Modpodge n then given a spray of black paint and then finally had the words BOOM painted in gold.

Niki, cdn't wait for the pinata time, and in fact it was him who loaded this into the car.

And the kids really had fun, diffusing it :-)

The Party Settings

• The BirthDay banner, was one that I modified n reused one of the banners from the previous years, now fitted with Spidey 
• Made a Spider Web Banner, spelling out NIKHIL
• Center pieces were Nikhil's super hero board books, fanned out
• Of course, the super hero lollipops, all dressed up as SpiderMan and a few as masked crusaders. This again, the little Super Hero loved it.
• Then there was the plain red table sheet, which I had painted and customized for with his name
• Supero Hero jellos and juice
• My favorite was the comic themed photo frames which I had made, out of unfinished wooden frames from Michaels. 

Thanks

A special thanks to below sites and the Super Hero mummies who inspired me to organise this party

• Thanks to my mother, who took care of EVERYTHING at home and was there helping me at every step and offering valuable suggestions, most of all, taking care of the little tornado. Without her, this party wouldn't have definitely happened. 
• Thanks to the mask templates from Cutesy Crafts
• Thanks to Page Turners Hollow for the Daily Bugle Template 
• Thanks to jollymom  for the callout signs

Chalkboard Retro girl card

So when Michaels had a one day super sale, with 50% off for all rubber stamps, obviously I had to go.
And came out with a load of stamps..
And so this card, started with this retro paper girl stamp I got from Michaels.

The card...

And the story...

I wanted to try it out at once.
Such a fine line image.
Gave a couple of try stamping with various inks.
For a change, I had to do, gentle stamping, which for people who know me, can easily understand why it is more than just difficult.. :-)

And last 2 weeks, I was doing a tech talk at work, and was actually reminiscing the presentations, mannerisms and problems and jokes with my mother.

So I was so reminded of college days; school days; viva; teachers; classroom; teaching ; chalk boards
Or so was the thought journey how I landed with chalkboard..
And the left and right side of my brain, decided to meet and I wanted to use a chalkboard in my card.
Initial idea, was to "hang the sentiment from a chalkboard" ( I still like this idea.. Will be making one soon)

But somehow, didnt feel like doing this today.
Wanted something different..
How do I simulate white chalk effect?
hmmm

Then I stumbled across a post in the hero arts blog, which provided an alternative solution for the anti static bags. - Talcum powder.
Voila, I knew how to simulate the chalk.

And after Last weekend Hero Arts Scramble, the first purchase was Brilliance White Ink Pad.
So I was all set.

Such a newbie to the stamping world, cummon, I shouldnt be the first to come up with this idea.
A quick search on the internet, proved me right. I was beat in this race :-)

I decided to go with a full chalkboard card.
Dusted talcum powder all over the black cardstock.
Hand drew the lines on the sides, using white water color pencils.
Inked up the HA Girl Stamp and stamped on the dusty chalkboard card.
(Since I dont have white/clear embossing powder I went with the ink. Cant wait to try one with white embossing powder)
Traced around the right side of the girl with a white water color pencil, to give a shadow effect.
A Studio-G flag banner on the right..
The banner needed a peg, I used the back of a crayon for it..
The news girl, is so stylish, and hence decided to come up with my own sentiment.
"Celebrate in style"
Finally blotched up some more white ink here and there to give a more lasting dusty chalky look.
(Apparently talcum powder disappears every time you handle it :-) )

I so like this style, I think I am gonna be stuck with this for some time...
Tonnes of techniques to better and make perfect..

Entering in the following challenges :

Hero Arts - Just for her, April 2013
Lets Craft and Create - Anything goes.

My first Challenge Win - On cloud 999

As I said in my previous post, a lot happened the week before..
But I was just able to get to writing about it..
The most exciting thing, was my first Challenge Win..
My cards won the One for Boys challenge for the second fortnight of March.
The winner announcement page - One for the Boys winner announcement.

I am soooooooooooooo happy..
The day I saw it, I had a smile, a mile wide!!
A big thanks to the lovely ladies, at Lets Craft and Create.

Still smiling and enjoying the feeling :-)

Graduating in style and in pink

I have been making lots of girlie cards but the the cavet is, my stash of Hero Arts stamps are just forming.
For that matter, my stash of stamps is just getting started.
Last week. there was a Hero Arts Card dash, as I would call it.
My maiden attempt at the challenge.
The theme was black and white.
And since both the boys are graduating, one from Kindergarden and the other from Business school,
I wanted to make one.
And for the Challenge used the HA Time stamp and made this card.
This was made within 45 minutes, I guess.
OMG, the creations that the ladies churned out..
I guess, it is going to take me forever to even graduate from kindergarden from this stamping school.. :-)

And then, started to think, how to make a graduation card for a girl.
And after much trials and errors, like, wrong colors, wrong paper, then accidentally spilling water on the stamped paper, losing the stamped papers, spraying too much water over the distress inks, and much much more, these 2 cards were born, I should say in a really painful delivery.

But as any mother would say, the pain was worth it. Pretty decent I guess.
Being that this is my 4th month into papercrafting. But a long long way to go...

The Kitty stamp is from Studio 112, priced at $1 each(Joanns), they are offering nice variety and much better than the Studio-G counterpart from Michaels.
The Graduation hat for the kitty, was a purrfect fit!

A variety of stamps and inks. The base theme around the HA time stamp. 

Now need to find a use for these 2 cards.
Finally spruced up the courage to share these cards for the HA challenge.

Supplies Used :
Stamps from Hero Arts, Hampton, Studio 112, Recollections
Variety of distress inks
Dew drops chalk inks

A pink baby shower

After a weekend filled with activities, finally got down to make a baby shower card, for a colleague, for whom we are throwing a surprise shower.

Lot happened yesterday, and will write about all of that soon.
Now, keeping myself to this card.

Since we had many people to sign in the card, I made 6*8.5
Which meant, I had to think around the box, to use the standard embossing folders.
Then I remembered, this fortnights layout from HSS, would be perfect for this theme and I could enter the challenge too, of course I should say I managed to enter it, within hours of the closing day.
This is my first baby shower card, and think the white and pink suits the mom with the sweetest smile.
This is a washi tape, that again has me drawn to it.
And Die cut divas has this has the challenge too.
So bordered one side with it
And little cute baby, needed a little cute butterflies to finish it off.
These tiny butterflies are again something, thats becoming indispensable in most of the cards I am making of late.

The baby actually looks cute in real.

 A closer shot of the baby.












Challenges being entered :
Am happy that this actually falls into 3 challenges.

1) HSS Challenge #156 - http://www.handstampedsentiments.blogspot.com/2013/03/hss-sketch-challenge-156.html

2) Die cut divas - Washi challenge - http://die-cut-divas.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/washi-birthday-challenge-for-april.html. I guess this is one card, that made the maximum runs through my Big Shot. A proper die-cut diva card.

3) Crafters Corner - Distressing + pattern paper + butterflies - http://crafterscornerindia.blogspot.com/2013/03/crafters-corner-7-bingo.html
My first time entering a challenge here.

Supplies Used :
Recollections stamp set for shower.
Cuttlebug 4*4 baby die
Spellbinders oval die (need to get the exact name)
Washi tape
Victorian velvet distress ink.
Dew drops chalk ink
Recollections punches - butterfly and square
martha stewart scoring board and stylus

Birdie Birdie

A very inviting sketch from CAS(E).
I decided to give it a try.
Somehow anything CAS makes me choose brown by default.
I need to train to think in other colors and yet be simple.
Beautiful cards from the DT, and colorful too.
I am learning a lot.

Since I couldnt think anything else other than brown, and this month being the month of Earth Day.
I decided that I should use something on the card that's recycled.
Just finished up a box of pasta, so used the cardboard box to make little 2 inch strips.
Used one in this card.
The bird stamp are from the dollar bin at Joanns.
And turned out to be one of my favorite.
The nest with eggs was on sale at Michaels, for 50 cents and I again picked it up on impulse.
The other stamps are all from Martha Stewart.

Once done I do like this card lots.
My son, is right, "Mommy, you like pink, why do you keep making brown cards"
:-)
I think it is beginners brain freeze.

:-)

Entering these challenges :
Simon says stamp birthday challenge - http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/2013/04/simon-says-happy-birthday.html
CAS(E) Sketch #22 - http://casethissketch.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/case-this-sketch-22.html

Phew I made it!!

It was 8 when I saw that the retrosketches #57 challenge was still open.
Dinner done, the boys occupied, and I had to choose between cleaning and crafting..
What do you think I chose? :-)

And almost for a week, had been waiting to do something with washi tape for the die-cut-divas challenge.
And Lets Craft and Create, had anything goes.
+ I got a set to new ink pads, and a few unopened stamps, that I so wanted to give a try.
All together, I ended making a few cards.
Some turned out totally different. And couple unfinished.

Suddenly the stars all moved in favor, and I finished this one.
Of all the things that troubled me today, the main challenge here turned out to be the lack of many acrylic blocks.
Hmm, I need to stock up on them.

Here it is. A very girlie, card to a friend whose Birthday is coming soon, if I remember right..
My  first attempt at retorsketches and chalk inks..

  I created a paper mask with the 2 not-so-staight-boxes. Cut them and blotched the area using dew drops chalk inks.
Apprently these inks take theit own sweet time to dry. Since I couldnt, wait, I used the heat gun to dry it.
Then turned it around and chalked up the rest of the boxes.
Traced around the boxes free hand with a black stamp marker.
I wanted to use this set of stamps, and the colors, for the card I made before, was very ungirlie ( as my son put it, "mommy, you like pink, but why you keep making brown cards?")
Now was stuck, as I didnt have any bakers twine.. So decided to use the washi tape, and quickly ran the bottom part through the big shot.
A pink giggle brad, hand-scripted "happy birthday" and I think I am done.

 

Here are the challenges being entered :
Retro Sketches $57
Die Cut Divas
Lets Create and Craft

The vibrant colorful Peacock

The beautiful peacock..

Maybe it is the vibrant hues..
Maybe it is the majestic walk...
Maybe it is the beauty of the eyes...
Maybe it is the lovely feathers swinging and dancing...
Or may be it is just that I am from India... After all it is India's national bird..
Whatever may be the reason, My fascination with this intriguing, elusive creature has its beginning even as a child..

The days when I used to hunt for peacock feathers..
Innocently believing that peacock actually make a little feather if hidden in the pages of an old book.
And then the disappointment when it didnt
Searching for the rare sights of peacocks on our visits to hills around my city.
Hoping that one day I would see a peacock dance in person.
The funny part, is, I did get to enjoy a peacock dance in splendor, with its feathers all  fanned out..
But not in India, but in the San Francisco Zoo..

So it is not a big surprise, that this was one of the first stamps that I got on impulse, as soon as I saw it..
Didn't think how I am going to use it.
Just went ahead and got it.
Every time, I look into my stamp collection, or I should say, the beginning of my stamp collection, this peacock, stared at me, longing to be held, inked and stamped.

And finally I spruced up the courage to use it.
Had a presentation in the morning, which was on a pretty heavy topic.
I sooooo needed a break, unwind, relax... And so I headed to the messes of craft corner, with this stamp in hand.

What happened next is actually a blur..
I remember using various distress inks..
A beige pattern paper with hexagons on it..
Then the peacock stamp.. I had intended to use the black ink for this, but somehow ended up using rhubarb instead..
But was mighty pleased with the result..
Only that, it didnt go with any of the layouts I had in mind..
So I Rummaged thru my stuff and ended up with totally different result than I had envisioned.

Something was missing, and I made feathers with pieces of scraps, mod podged to pieces of brown packing paper cords, Knotted around an couple of diecut's and scripted Mom by hand, a few pearls added and called it done..

I think the card does justice to this magnificent creature.
But will wait for your verdict.

This is my entry to the Hero Arts April Challenge - Just for Her  and Pause Dream Enjoy challenge #7 - Dew Drops

On Facebook as  MyOtherCuppaJava

Mojo 287 - Thinking of You

Its monday again, and Mojo Monday's sketch # 287 is out..
Amazing cards from the DT and all the participants.
I needed to really do a small pep talk to myself, to make a card and share it..

An exciting sketch.. Lots of possibilities...
Got a short break, before I work again..
Since I couldn't find any flowers and embellishments to fit the spring mood..
( Inbetween Cleaning up and setting up my craft space, I need a search algorithm for my stuff.. :-) )

Hmmm..
Brown had me drawn to it..
So things fell in place and out came a simple simple card..
Not very springy, though..

Since I didnt have a Stamp for Thinking of You, I wrote it down by hand, in my script :-)
The bottom circle, was replaced by a postage stamp.
The 3 dots on the left of the middle panel, I used the back of a pencil..
I liked how it turned out, not fully there, but yet there..

Here is the sketch :

Hopefully I will find more time, to make another very springy one..

Supplied Used :
Spellbinders LG circle dies
Stamp from Inkadinkado
Momento Inks
Cardstock from recollections.
Paper from DCVW