Whimsy Stamps Monthly Guest Designer Call

I made this card for the Whimsy Stamps Designer call but got a little late; but I'll still go ahead and submit it just in case...

Here are the rules:

• Anyone from around the world may enter this design call.
• Monthly Guest designers must have their own blogs to share and promote projects featuring Whimy Stamps.
• Enter as many times as you would like.
• It is not necessary, for this particular design call, to use a Whimsy Stamps image, however if you have one, please do.
  

Monthly Guest Designers will receive free Whimsy Stamps, during their design period, and links on our website to their blog!

To enter the Whimsy Stamps Design Call for January 2009:

• Make a card or scrap book page using at least 3 layers and 3 embellishments with an animal image or Whimsy image
• Post this card on your blog and announce our guest designer call
• Upload a picture of your project on PCP and/or SCS with the tag whimsydesigncalljan09

Stupid that I am I misread it as "exactly 3 layers and 3 embellishments" and it was not until I posted this that I saw it says "at least 3 layers..." :((.

• Stamps: Penny Black "critter party"
• PP and CS: DCWV and Bazzill
• Ms Elizabeth adhesive ribbon, brads, stickers, die cuts, prismacolor pencils, OMS

A little bag

This bag is inspired from the Box in a bag @ SCS. I made the base 2" X 3.5" and the height is approximately 3"-4". The thing to keep in mind while making this bag is that the perimeter of your base should be less than the width of the patterned paper available to you. In my case, the largest size paper I had was 12 X 12. So the width here is 12. Now the first time I created a base of 3" X 4". The perimeter (sum of all sides) in this case is equal to (2X3 + 2X4 = ) 14. So I couldn't wrap around the PP if I chose to go with that base. Hence I changed the base to a smaller size.

Isn't it very cute?!?! Would make a perfect party favor or a treat bag for a kid!

Lovey Dovey Challenge by OCC

This is my entry for the Lovey Dovey Challenge at OCC. I made this as a wedding card for one my friends and I'm very happy that it turned as I thought it would.

• Stamps: Decorative dainties by CTMH, Flourished Words by Flourishes
• PP and CS: Bazzill and silver CS from paper co. (I think)
• Silver embossing powder, ribbon, silver cord, scalloped scissors, crop-a-dile

Embellies storage in a shoebox - Recycle at its best!

Ok, I HAD to give myself a pat on my back when I designed this storage solution for my ribbons and various embellishments.
I took a shoebox and decided to divide it vertically into two "floors". The bottom one consists of same-height boxes which can each have different embellies. The top "floor" has compartments for ribbon. In the middle it has a handle so that you can pick it up and look at the things at the bottom. If you want you can pick out any of the individual boxes at the bottom.
I'm so proud of it . It fulfills my need for storing my ribbons and also organizes all my embellies! AND it is zero cost - all I used was a shoebox, some cardstock and some PP!

The divider in the center can be used to pull out the "tray" to access things at the bottom.

Box for cards and whole lotta tags!

Ok I was so loving the process of making these tags that I made them in every possible combination I could think of; what could I do, I just loved them! This set from Inkadinkado is one of my favorites. I also wanted to use my new crop-a-dile so this was my excuse for using it :)

Then I thought I would make a gift box for my friends which could contain some cards and tags. So here it is:

Let me show you the card that is on the top...

The border is created using a scalloped scissors and crop-a-dile. Doesn't it look like the "threading water punch"?

Did you know that in Live Writer, when you insert a picture in your post it gives you the ability to add a watermark?!?! That's what I did above. Isn't that cool?!?!

Happy Holidays to all of you!

A new box

I was so dying to make this box since I saw Debbie's box that I was really excited when I got a chance! I wanted to make a gift of these Ghirardelli squares and decided that this kind of a box would be perfect. It fits 9 squares: 3 pieces in each of the 3 rows.

This was the first time I was making it all on my own: creating my own template, figuring out the dimensions, yadda yadda yadda; it does need some fine tuning for next time. Some things to change in future:

1. I think a solid cardstock would look better than the printed one as it would bring out the colors in the Ghirardelli squares. In it's present state, it looks a little busy.
2. I think 9 squares are too much to hold in the box. Maybe 6 would've been better.
3. I should add some corner flaps to give it more stability.

The Penny black stamp is from the Penny black clear stamp set that I got from my parents as a birthday gift recently. Of course they have no clue about these stamp sets :); I just tell them I want to buy it on my b'day - so simple!. Oh and I also got a crop-a-dile for my b'day and JustRite stamp set (which is on its way) and whole lotta ribbon!

Oh and there is this card that I made recently which I simply love:

On this one I used a quit pattern. When my DH saw it, his first question was "why's that bird crying?" :)!

• Stamp: Inkadinkado, penny black
• CS and PP: DCWV and Bazzill
• Prismacolor pencils, OMS, white gel pen, rhinestones, grosgrain ribbon, fiskars corner lace punch,cuttlebug textile folder, nestabilities

Pop up card and more

I really loved this card of mine...this is the first time I stepped into the realm of layered pop-ups.

[Stamp: LAD's Jolies Fleurs]

Next is another one close to my heart since it was on my mind from the time I'd bought the stamp and it turned out just like I'd imagined! The stamped image is clear embossed.

[Stamp: Inkadinkado clear stamps]

Finally, the last one is a house mouse stamp...who doesn't love these images! They're a delight to color.

• CS and PP: DCWV and Bazzill
• Prismacolor pencils, OMS, Nestabilities, Dew drops look-alike, ribbon, fiskars lace punch, clear embossing powder,Stickles stardust glitter.

Short on time

Here are some cards I've made in the past few days; they're all combined in one post as I never got the chance to post them individually. Due to time shortage I'm also lagging behind in viewing all your wonderful creations so I apologize - I'll be there soon.

I've been leaning towards pop-up cards these days; an attempt at doing something different. I just realized that I haven't yet transferred the photos for the other pop-up card that I made. It'll be in the showcase soon!

• Stamp: Fashion bella, don't know the monkey stamp
• CS and PP: DCWV and Bazzill
• Prismacolor pencils, OMS, glitter.

Something for the birds challenge

Here's my entry for Something for the birds challenge.

• Stamp: Inkadinkado
• CS and PP: DCWV and Bazzill
• Stickles Stardust glitter, Prismacolor pencils, OMS

My take on manly card...

This is my most uncomfortable zone and I think my card proves my point :(.

• Stamp: Noble deer by SU!, Decorative dainties by CTMH, FLourished Words by Flourishes
• CS and PP: DCWV and Bazzill
• Prismacolor pencils, OMS

Long awaited...

Here's a card that I was waiting to make for so long; the first time I saw this image I fell in love with it :). It is SOOOO cute!

Then there's another card that turned out much better that I thought it would, I guess I put all my heart into making it :).

Not sure if you can see the glitter on the card, it's all in the right places!

• Stamp: I think the flower one if from Great Impressions
• CS and PP: DCWV, Bazzill
• Prismacolor pencils, OMS, Stickles Stardust glitter, Adhesive ribbon from Miss Elizabeth (at dollar store).

I'm back!!

Yes I've been MIA; first a vacation and then a move. We moved to the Pacific north-west!

I'd made a couple of things in this duration but never got a chance to show them off :).

These are the acetate boxes to hold chakli (a south indian savoury, an absolutely delicious snack!) , which is also home-made. I gave these to my family and they all loved it!

This was for my aunt's 25th anniversary. My mom wanted to send something which had "25th anniversary" written on it and since everything in the market seemed to exorbitantly priced I'd the idea to make this. I printed a poem on silver CS and inserted it on the right side of the photo frame. The stickers are glued on top of the glass and not inside.

 

I was always so afraid whether I would be able to do justice to this peacock image that I would never pick it up until now when my DH said it would be nice to use this image. I'm glad that it turned out well!

I'll soon start my blurfing to see your beautiful creations which I've been devoid of for so long!

Clear embossed card - a question?

I tried clear embossing here and I've a question - at some places it left behind a pink tint. Can somebody tell me why that is so?

• Stamp: Decorative Dainties from CTMH, Jolies Fleurs from LAD
• CS and PP: DCWV
• Clear embossing powder, decorative scissors

Photo Frame - a going-away gift

I made this as a farewell gift for friends who were leaving town and I must say that it was very well appreciated! The photo frame had white background and I covered it with dark red CS.

It looks more beautiful in RIL. The paisleys are embossed in silver and look fabulous. The sentiment is computer generated.

• Stamp: Jolies Fleurs from LAD
• CS: Bazzill
• Rub-ons, ribbon

Friday Sketchers

Okay, even though life has been very busy at this end of the world I HAD to post this card for the Friday Sketchers challenge; didn't want to miss another challenge deadline. It would've been the third in a row!!

• Stamp: from image swap
• CS: Bazzill; PP: DCWV
• Prismacolor pencils, OMS, Sakura white gel pen, dew drops
  

Best wishes

I totally love this card that I made! LOL! Tooting my own horn...

The sentiment and the background is embossed with clear EP and faux stitching on the border using Sakura white gel pen.

• Stamp: LAD's Jolies Fleurs, Flourishes Flourished Words
• CS and PP: DCWV
• Prismacolor pencils, OMS, Colorbox pigment ink, white Sakura gel pen, dew drops.

P.S. Made this for 2 Sketches 4 You challenge but forgot to post it on time :(.

Set of cards/notecards

This was a longtime desire of mine which finally got fulfilled. Whenever I would see somebody's notecards they would look so tempting, now finally I got to make some.

Ideally I wanted to make 3X3 notecards but I didn't have envelopes for them so made these instead which are 3.75 inch X 5.25 inch. They're actually big enough to be used for regular cards too, I think. The flower centers have rhinestones on them and the veins on the leaves and flowers are done using a Sakura white gel pen.

Do you get your rhinestones from the jewellery section of the crafts store? If not then you should try. Though they're not self-adhesive like the ones in the scrapbook section but they're VERY cheap! Around $3-4 for 100-150 pieces and if you can use the 40% off coupon in M's then the deal is even sweeter! Of course, there is the trouble of gluing these tiny pieces to paper but it's small compared to the price. Spaces have been left to add sentiment later.

• Stamp: CTMH's Decorative dainties
• CS: Wasau
• Colorbox pigment inks, rhinestones.

CC183 Color Challenge @ SCS

Colors to be used: Pale green, grey and red

When I sat down to make this card, actually I should say the card because then I didn't have this card in mind, I wanted to make something for SCTL6. I was little confused about what colors to use so I looked at the Color challenges at SCS and picked the CC183. Then I don't know when I got off the track and made this card! The color of the background paper is pale green though in the photo it doesn't look so. I added some stickles to the jewels.

• Stamps: from image swap
• PP and CS: Bazzill and DCWV
• Stazon ink, Prismacolor pencils, OMS, Stardust stickles, dew drops, grosgrain ribbon.

Small gift bag

Now and then I search the SCS gallery to find something interesting to work on and on my latest scourge I came across this beautiful yet simple bag. You can find the instructions here. You can make the bag in probably 2-3 minutes; it's that easy! I stamped the front and the back with the flower from CTMH Decorative Dainties.

Here's how it looks when you open it up:

...and finally a sideways view:

I cut some splits at the top with a knife to thread the ribbon, that makes it easier to close the bag.

• Stamp: from image swap, CTMH Decorative Dainties
• CS: DCWV
• Prismacolor pencils, OMS, Stickles stardust, grosgrain ribbon

A shop and a cause

The shop: The Paper Shop.
The cause: an orphanage/old-age home in India.
How are they connected:
Sometime back I'd setup a shop at Esty, The Paper Shop. Recently I visited an orphanage/old-age home in India, Nethaji Mercy Home, and since then I wanted to do something for them. So I decided that I would use my etsy shop for raising funds for this home. Below is a picture (borrowed from their website) of the children from the home:
On the extreme left and right is the couple behind this home. It was so amazing to meet these beautiful people; they treat all the children as their very own and have devoted their life to the care of these children and the old-age people. On seeing such selfless service, I felt there could be something that I could do and came up with this idea: a dollar ($1) for each item sold at my Etsy shop, The Paper Shop, will be donated to this home.

How you can help?

1. Of course by shopping at The Paper Shop.
   
2. Spread the word: Word of mouth publicity - tell your friends about it, it would be great if you could publish a post on your blog (if you have one) linking to my shop or this post.
3. If you want you can send images which I could use to make these cards and other things.

There's a link to my shop at the right.

Papertake Weekly challenge

I wanted to send this for Katharina's Sketch #10 and even though I made it on time for the challenge, I couldn't post it before the deadline :(. Then it was supposed to be given to a friend on her b'day but we couldn't meet her. Never mind my sob story!

I used my new 3-in-1 Fiskars Corner lace punch to adorn the insides of the card :) :

• Stamp: Bella, Studio G sentiment
• CS and PP: DCWV
• Prismacolor pencils, OMS, ribbon, small flower punch, Stickles stardust, 3-in-1 corner lace punch

An anniversary photo book

This was a project that took considerable time but I was very satisfied with the end result. It was as if my imagination had materialized so there's no satisfaction like that.

This is a book that I made, the left panels are left blank for photos. It is also the project that used the stamp set Anna sent me.

 

• Stamp: Decorative Dainties by CTMH, Flourished Words by Flourishes, Amore number and lowercase by CTMH
• CS: DCWV
• Rhinestones, Pigment inks, white gel pen

A diversion

This is a diversion from my paper crafts to the world of beading! I read this idea on a thread @ SCS and was so fascinated by it that I HAD to try it. True to my imagination, it was very pleasing! If you're wondering what it is - it's a book thong (a type of bookmark). You can find the instructions here.

The thread does have signs of curling; that's because I bought a hemp and found it to be too thick so I unwound it into 3 individual threads.

Supplies: Acrylic beads, spacer beads, hemp, charm

Asian theme

I adore this image...though I don't know what occasion it would be suitable for. Any ideas? Earthy tones is not my comfort zone but somehow I was able to work with this one.

I applied li'l bit of glitter to her dress.

• Stamp: from image swap
• CS: Bazzill and PP: DCWV
• Prismacolor pencils, OMS, Stickles stardust, Flower punhc, dew drops, White gel pen, scallop scissors