Ah yes...

The inspiration for the accordian card in my previous post came from here:
http://pickledpaperdesigns.blogspot.com/2008/08/project-hope.html

Now, you don't expect me to be better than Amy, do you?!? :-) Her card is fabulous!! And I just was inspired to make one for my DH!!!!

Love,
Smita

A little spice, a little romance...

Hi,
I know I have these terribly long intervals between two posts these days. I have been a little busy with other things. Aaryan had not been keeping too well over the weekend, and though I was able to craft, I hardly had the time to take pictures and put them up.
Coming back to the cards. Two cards are for the Cinema Saturday Creative Challenge hosted by Sankari and Brooke. I have been meaning to participate in their challenges since long but somehow haven't been able to. And this week, the challenge is not so difficult and I could have done a better job than what I have done... :-( I am a little upset. This week's theme was the movie, Bride & Prejudice. I have seen the movie... and the Indian element should have made it very easy for me to create a nice card. I am also a lover of bling and have loads of it in different formats in my stash (ribbons, laces, rhinestones, paints... everything....) but all I could come up with was these two.

The blue card (with the cake on it) is for my DH. It is his birthday on Monday and I made this one to match with the gift... he he... I am not revealing that as yet.. I am sure he will peek in here to see what I have been writing ;-).

Cardstock: Silver CS from the DCWV metallic stack, blue handmade paper, parchment paper
Rub-ons: From Hobby Ideas
Other: Ribbon and bling from local craft stores; 3D outliner from Fevicryl (used to fill in the hearts)



Our friends are celebrating their 2nd wedding anniversary tomorrow. This card is for them. I am also hoping this qualifies for the 2S4U challenge- Kazan Sketch # 21.
Cardstock: Gold and copper CS from the DCWV metallic stack; red and yellow textured handmade paper
Others: Lace and eyelets, rub-ons from Hobby Ideas

And a sneak peek into another card for Vineet. This is my favorite... I loved how it has turned out and have made a matching post-it note holder for him. Hope he will like it. I love the brown leather textured paper from the Paper Company (yeah, I am going international ;-) ). I found the tutorial online and now I have forgotten where.... I will post the link as soon as I remember. I have written a poem inside that I found to be one of the most romantic ones I have read... It begins with 'Lay thy hand in mine, dear...' . Try to read it online if you can... I will post the entire poem after the 9th. :-)

Love,

Smita

Hit it!!!

I have finally added a Hit Counter to my blog! Time to set targets I guess. I had just been too superstitious about it till now because I thought I might just stop blogging after I added it... But now I think I need it. And I also need to make more cards and participate in more challenges if I want to be a known name in the card making world in general. Phew!! Too many goals, huh? But what to do... this part-time hobby is growing on me now... and I am all the time thinking of new patterns and new techniques for my cards... Touch wood.

I am hoping that the few people who follow my blog pray for my success!! I need your prayers and best wishes...

Love,
Smita

What I have been up to...

Hi all,
Pics of what I have been creating in this past week or so.


Card for my brother... well, too much of white, but I had to try this waterfall card for him and I had less than half an hour to do it! :-) I hope he likes it.... His exams start on Monday and I hope he does well.

Mamma's 50th birthday card. As you all can see, I have generously used eyelets in both these cards! Couldn't resist showing off with my new tool. :-) I love the pink and green of Mamma's card (and of course the touches of gold).

And this is the notebook I altered for my grandpa (Baba). I hope he likes it too.

Cheers,

Smita

Back at last...

I am back after a sort of blog break... What have I been up to? Well, nothing much actually... Clearing up a lot of pending housework...baking for my darling son...watching TV...reading my favorite magazines...yeah, that should be about it.
Slumdog..has made waves at the Oscars, I hear! :-) and I am proud to be an Indian!! Proud of AR Rehman more than of anyone else on the SD team. May God bless him and may he continue creating class music... by the way, I love the 'Masakalli' number from Delhi 6. It is quite chirpy I think (and my caller tune for the moment).
I got back to crafting yesterday. Made a card for Mamma's 50th birthday (which was yesterday) and altered a spiral notebook for my grandpa. Both have come out very nice and to my expectation but I will post the pictures later.

And did I tell you that I finally found eyelets and a super eyelet tool. I am so happy!!! :-)

Love,
Smita

Bai - we will miss you

Lead kindly light,
Amid the encircling gloom,
Lead thou, me on
Keep thou my feet, I,
Do not ask to see
The distant scene...
One step enough, for me...

I lost my grandma today. And I am going to miss her forever. A lot. I think we will all miss her.
May her soul rest in peace. She had undergone a lot of suffering over the past one year. Hope she finds peace in the other world.

The one on the right (brownish saree) is her. Pic taken on November 15 during Richa's sangeet function.

Bai, you will be in our hearts for all that you taught us, for all that you did. I think you are by far the most creative person in the family. I will treasure the sarees, dresses, shawls, dressing table sets, and all other things you embroidered for me!!

No posts from me for the next 10 days or so. I will be leaving for Kolkata tomorrow.

Love,

Smita.

If you can't find them..make them!!!

Hi all, I am a happy woman today!! :-) Why? Because I made 2 cards and I am quite happy with the results. And secondly, because I have decided not to brood over the fact that all the crafty materials people the world over use for their cards are not available here! I think I will stick to my resolution of trying out at least 2 new techniques a month and make whatever is possible with the material available to me. :-) And I am moving in the right direction... I have tried quite a few techniques this month - the explosion box, a brand new water coloring technique, the dahlia fold flowers, the votive holder and ribbon blossom (both in this post)! Yay!!! I have every reason to be happy, don't I? :-)

About today's cards...
The first card is for Laura's sketch # 18. I don't know if it matches the sketch exactly but I have based it on that. I have used a ribbon blossom (tutorial on SCS by Pam Basset). Of course, mine doesn't look half as nice because 1) I have used less ribbon 2) I should have used organza ribbons.
I don't know whom this card is for. I want to send it to an ex-colleague and very good friend (her birthday is long past) but I don't think it can go by courier :-(.

The second card is votive holder. I got the tutorial through Sheetloads Shortcuts. Again, here I think I should have used thicker cardstock. What do you think? This one is again for Vineet. I don't know how many Valentine's Day cards I am going to give him this year ;-))) I think I will need to give one every 3 days in Feb. :D

I used the Mojo Monday sketch. Not really a good attempt, but I have been wanting to take part in the challenge for a while, so I will submit it anyway. They have a right to kick me off ;-))

By the way, I have used a playing card (not a fancy embellishment) here. My husband's very fond of playing cards and his current favorite pastime is playing 'Poker' on Facebook :D...

The king of my heart...

Cheers,
Smita.