Saturday, December 27, 2008

Cinema Saturday Creative Challenge - #12 - An Affair to Remember

The challenge for this week's Cinema Saturday Creative Challenge is to create a card, scrapbook layout or altered project inspired by the 1957 Oscar nominated movie: An Affair to Remember, starring Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr. I hope you all take a peek at this challenge and play along! Its a great way to watch a movie, make a card and hear everyone's stories about their favorite parts of this movie :). Come on and check it out here.

This is one of my father's favorite movies and one of my favorites too! I remember watching this when I was little with my dad - although back then I missed some of the meaning of the dialogue. He was totally excited that we were doing this movie this week - we had a lovely talk about our favorite scenes from this movie and then we got into a whole conversation about the best Cary Grant movies :) I loved hearing my dad's stories of how old he was when he watched these movies and what his experiences were. I know watch this movie differently, because now when I watch some scenes, I know that they are my dad's favorites :)

This week, we are visitng my in-laws for Christmas vacation and I had a chance to watch this movie again with my mother-in-law and father-in-law. We are all just absolute fans of Cary Grant - that man defines elegance and grace - he is just classic. I loved sitting and watching this with my in-laws and sighing here and there at the same time with my MIL - by the end of the movie - we were both crying (even my FIL had a little tear)... sigh - i just love this movie!

Watching it again - I forgot how brilliant the dialogue is - it is so humorous and savy and this movie is full of very very smart writing. I mean this movie was released in 1957!!! AND it is SOOO clever in the writing - seriously - you have to see this movie if you haven't seen it yet! This movie has been voted as one of the most romantic movies of all time by the American Film Institute. This movie inspired Sleepless in Seattle with Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks, The movie Love Affair with Warren Beatty and Anette Betting and Mann with Amir Khan and Manisha Koirali. An Affair to Remember totally inspires love and is such a classic love story.

I love Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr's back and forth banter - so cute and clever and charming. I had so many ideas for making a card - but the two that I picked were inspired by 1) the fact that they both agreed to meet at the Empire State building 6 months later and 2) the song called: TomorrowLand.

The first card is inspired by the 6 month meeting place of the Empire State building. Deborah Kerr exlaims that it is the closest thing to heaven. I wrote the sentiment: You were heaven sent" inspired by this part of the movie. I use Jen's Sketch for You to Try for this sketch. This is the sketch from December 20th.
I loved the little circles on the bottom of the sketch and had fun making a little circle collage of purple-y colors.

Watching this part of the movie when he is waiting for her to meet him at the Empire State Building is just too sweet - esp. when you see him waiting in the thunder storm. Sigh! I love that the Empire State Building is a symbol of their love and a symbol of them being close to heaven. This is a little card that I have to save for my little tweetheart for Valentine's day :)

I also loved the song Tomorrowland - it was so sweet and the lyrics are just too sweet. The handwritten senitment: "May your troubles, like bubbles, vanish in the air" are the actual lyrics from the movie. I used bubble wrap over the DP in this card to represent the bubbles from the lyrics of the song....( on a sidenote, doesn't popping bubbles always help one's problems vanish into the air?)

I used Kazan's totally fun sketch from 2 Sketches for U. Love the circles in this sketch and love the wavy wavy wavy border. It was perfect for the bubbles in this card project. I punched out some DP from Provocraft with my CM circle punches and then cut out a similar circle from packing bubbles that I then adhered to the DP circle. The shiny silver paper is from paper Craft, the gray one is from my stash, the bottom DP is also from ProvoCraft. The buttons are from my MIL's stash (she was so sweet to let me raid her button stash) and I hand wrote the sentiment.

here is a side view - you can see the packing bubbles from this view. I totally love this song and I love the lyrics -  here are some more of the lyrics: "There's a wonderful place called tomorrowland, and its only a dream away, and the moment you get to tomorrowland, you'll forget about today. You'll forget every care, and your troubles, like bubbles, will vanish in air. Ask me how do you get to tomorrowland. Close your eyes, make a wish and you're there."  I totally loved this song growing up... always felt like a daydreaming kind of song... so sweet.... you can watch the video on YouTube here


here is a closer view of the bubbles:


here are both cards side by side:


I loved making cards for this challenge and I loved using these awesome sketches too! I seriously have fallen in love with this movie again - and with Cary Grant even more - sigh! If you haven't watched this movie - I would totally suggest renting it, snuggling on the couch with some popcorn and enjoy this beautiful era of filmmaking.

We would love it if you would play along with us! Go and check out the Cinema Saturday Creative Challenge Blog for more details! Its so much fun to see what everyone comes up with from the same movie!!

Can't wait to see your lovely creations!!

Thanks for visiting today! We are traveling tomorrow back to Iowa - so I will have a chance then to come around and visit all my awesome blog buddies! Hope you have been enjoying the holiday season!!

Sending you merry and bright wishes!
Lots of love always,
Sankari

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Merry Christmas Everyone!


Merry Christmas Everyone!!

We are on our family Christmas vacation in Minneapolis. Its been great to be here - with the grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins and friends. The kids are loving the snow and the cold weather (which, I am not a huge fan of -- but that's okay because I can stay inside with some hot chocolate and watch out the window while DH plays outside with the kids :)
We have done some sledding, some snowman building, some sleigh rides, wrapping presents and shopping and of course some snuggling by a warm cozy fire :) Its been great!

I had a chance to meet a wonderful blog buddy: Tracy of Zukes Girl Creates which was so much fun! Tracy also lives close by and was able to show me a few awesome scrap stores! Thanks for the enablement Tracy! I will have to post a pic of the two of us soon - we just have to download the pictures first :) It was so cool to meet a blogging buddy in person - and I hope to someday meet all of you!!

 This card was made for Melanie's sketch on PaperCraftPlaneta while ago - never had a chance to post it till now. You can check out the details here.

I did bring some craft supplies to make some stuff - but I clearly forgot the reality of vacation and family time. Every moment of every day has been packed with things to do and see and eat and I have barely had any time for myself. Tomorrow is my husband's birthday!! YAY! So we are planning a little surprise party for him and we even might even go out for dinner- while grandma and grandpa watch the kids! That is crazy - because we never have a chance to do that at home - so it will be very special :)

Hope that all of your christmases are wonderful and that all of you are enjoying this lovely holiday season with all those close to you! Wishing everyone happiness, merriment and the fulfillment of all your dreams!! 

Best wishes always,
Sankari and Family :)



Saturday, December 20, 2008

Cinema Saturday Creative Challenge # 11 - It's a Wonderful Life


Good Saturday Morning Everyone,

We are so happy to present the movie pick for this week's Cinema Saturday Creative Challenge: Frank Capra's Oscar nominated black and white classic movie released in 1946:  It's a Wonderful Life. 

I have so many favorite parts of this movie: the gym scene where they are all dancing, George and Mary falling in love, George meeting Clarence, George realizing his impact on all those around him and how the community comes forth to rally around them - but my favorite part is ZuZu's line "Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings." Just love it - because she is just so darn cute, and George holding her with his family near the Christmas tree saying that always makes me smile - you can watch the ending of this movie with this scene in it here:

In making the card for this movie, I used Adela's Sletch#6 from PaperCraftPlanet. I used the circle element of the sketch to carve out a little circle in the card to hand the bells. The red paper is handmade paper that I received as gift wrap on a gift, but saved because the paper is so pretty. The gold paper is from Paper Company, the bottom of which was crimped. The green cardstock is from K &Co., the red ribbon is from stash and the bling is a ribbon also - forgot where it came from. The bells are earrings that I poked a hole into the cardstock and wound up the post part around itself to stay in place. I cut the hole with my Creative Memories circle cutters and printed out ZuZu's quote on my computer. The inside of the card says Merry Christmas.

Even after seeing this movie so many times growing up - I loved watching it again - man - it is such a good movie. Jimmy Stewart is awesome and Donna Reed - is just so beautiful! My parents and I used to watch this movie growing up around the Christmas season - they are visiting us right now - and so it was fun to watch this with them and remember my childhood. 
I love the message that each of us has such power in all that we do and say and to never feel like we haven't made a difference. I just want to thank all of you that I have met through this site for inspiring and encouraging me - you guys are just too sweet!! Thank you so much for coming over here and playing along in our challenges - we have so much fun doing these and hope you do too!! Its so nice to be part of such an amazing blogging community and meet such wonderful artistes as yourself!!!

I hope you have a chance to play along in this week of holiday busy-ness!! Come on over to Cinema Saturday Creative Challenge and play along! 

All you have to do is : Create a card or scrapbook layout or altered project that is inspired by the movie: It's A Wonderful Life
 (it can be inspired from the movie jacket, the characters, the dialogue, the music, the costumes, the themes --- ANYTHING reallY!!) and then link your creation to us by commenting on the Cinema Saturday Creative Challenge blog site.  anytime from now until this Thursday, December 25th at 9pm PST!!!!

Thank you for coming over for a visit!
Best wishes and a warm cup of holiday cheer!
Sankari :)

Friday, December 19, 2008

Friday Sneak Peek

Hi Guys!

The Sneak Peek for Tomorrow's sneak peek is posted on Cinema Saturday Creative Challenge.

This one is a tricky sneak peek!! Hope you have fun guessing it!!!

See you at the movies tomorrow at Cinema Saturday for the big reveal!!!!!!
hugzzzzz,

Sankari :)

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Kristina Werner Color Inspiration Challenge #35 - Baby's First Christmas card


Good Evening Everyone,

Wow - it feels like forever since I have even looked at anything craft related - let alone blogged... I am so far behind on everything that I am just tired of thinking about it. After a crazy week of working double shifts (teaching and writing articles) I finally finished everything and submitted my last article just before the deadline today - phew!

I have been wanting to play Kristina's Color Inspiration Challenge for a few days - but have not had any time to play - nor the space - my parents are staying with us and so my craft corner has vanished and my craft table is more like a catch all for suitcases etc. Its been great to have them here (they came to celebrate our son's  4th bday) and I can't even believe how quickly the days are flying by! 
I am so glad that I had a chance to play today - its so nice to relax by coloring something cute! I love this cute little giraffe by Paper Works Co. from their Safari friends collection. This is such a cute set and a fun company. Check out the Paper Works Company group on Paper Craft Planet. This cute giraffe's name is Gordie the Giraffe and I had so much fun coloring him -- I kept 
going .. awwww -  :)  and  since I had to create a card for my friend who just had a little baby boy last month - I thought that Gordie would be perfect for the job.

Kristina's color picks for CIC #35 for this week were: chocolate chip, close to cocoa, baja breeze, so saffron and very vanilla.  I swiped the So Saffron SU!  stampin spot, on a piece of paper creating the background. The giraffe is colored with pencils and then popped up on dimensionals. I cut out a little hat (which is very glittery IRL) and popped that on dimensionals too.  Actually the whole thing is popped up on dimensioanls except the chocolate brown cardstock.

I based the card very loosely on Taylor's sketch #46 - which I totally missed doing. She called for two patterned paper and ribbon on the corner - but the ribbon didn't fit because of Gordie's hat and I didn't do the two patterned paper part of the sketch - oh well. I wish I had another whole 24 hours in a day, just to do cards and color and sketch challenges. It's so depressing sometimes to look at my little craft corner and wish I could make all the things that I am so way behind in making and finishing up before the holidays. Ah, well - can't do it all.... sigh! I am just happy that I had a chance to make this card :) I love KW's challenges and hate to miss out on doing them - and Gordie is just too cute not to get all inked up! 

It was so much fun to make this card - and so relaxing. Okay - now I have to go and clean up my scraps and give my parents back their room :)

Hope all of you are well and are enjoying the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. Can you believe that Christmas is in a week! WhaaaT?? I still have so much shopping to do - and still no idea what to get some people.... hopefully I can finish everything off this weekend :)

Sending you all happy holiday wishes,
Sankari

Card Ingredients:
Paper: Dark and lighter brown cardstock from the Paper Company, Baja blue-ish color from stash
Ink: SU! So Saffron Stampin Spot, Martha brown
Stamps: Gordie the Giraffe from Paper Works Co., sentiment from Taylored Expressions (SASI)
Accessories: ribbon (offray), corner rounder, paper piecing, dimensionals

Movie watched while making this card:  - A Muppets Christmas (fun for the kids to watch, while mommy makes a card :) LOL!) 
check it out on Hulu (its only available for another 2 weeks!)

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Cinema Saturday Creative Challenge - # 10 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone


Hello Everyone,

How are all of you doing? Things here have gone from crazy to just plain insane. My son's 4th birthday party is tomorrow and I have been running around like crazy trying to bake and make all kinds of fun favors... wow! I am both excited and exhausted!! :) Well onto something fun!
Today is Cinema Saturday's 10th Challenge and our movie pick is Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - yay! As soon as I saw Kazan's awesome sketch at 2S4U, I had an idea for a Harry Potter inspired card. The sketch reminded me of a door - and I started to think about the door opening into something magical.
The theme that I went with - was that of discovery - the first book is all about discovery to me - Harry's journey to discover who his parent's really were - who he really is and his entry into a whole new magical world. I was inspired to make this card from thinking of opening a door into a different world - and so the door on the outside of the card is opens and the inside of the door (where there is a pic of a hand holding a wand says: Magic Awaits...) the whole card then opens up - and the inside of the card reads: Hope your New Year is filled with Magic! I love these Harry Potter books (as soon as I would get my hands on a copy - I had to read the whole thing - it was impossible to put it down :) Its been so great to see these movies and watch Harry, Hermione and Ron grow up in front us on the screen. Love reading and seeing all the adventures that they find themselves in - and in this book - I love how JKR shows the reader this whole new world that Harry is entering into.


I had a lot of fun doing this movie challenge - and there were a TON of ideas running around in my head - man it was so hard to try to pick just one - there are just so many themes, characters and themes to choose from :)

Well, I am off to finish baking and making fun favors... can't believe that 4 years have flown by! crazy! Hope all of you are enjoying the holidays and are staying warm! We would love for you all to play along! Come on over to Cinema Saturday and check it out!! We hope that you will have a chance to play along!!!

Sending you all happy hugs!
Sankari

sorry if i have been a mite bit checked out - my parents flew in on weds. and since then its been a whirlwind!! literally! can't wait to see all of your lovely blogs soon!! best wishes to all!!!

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Kristina Werner Color Inspiration Challenge #34 - Let it snow

Hi Everyone,

 Kristina Werner  is back with another fun Color Inspiration Challenge (#34) from this picture of yarn that she took in NYC.  

I love yarn - totally makes me want to knit again- which I haven't done in forever - but am totally inspired  to get back into it after seeing this pic of this yummy yarn. The colors were so soft and wintery - so I went with the winter theme and created this snowman card. This was also made for the Stamp Something challenge - where this week's challenge was to create something with snow. So here is the snowman/snowmen/snowpeople card that I had fun making: 

I stamped the snowmen, colored in the scarves with Kristina's colors and then cut out the snowmen image and then applied liquid glaze (its hard to see in this pic). The snowflakes I punched out with photo paper - its kinda cool because it gives it this sheen and nice texture....Its funny in a way to look at this card with the sentiment: "Let it snow" because I made this card before our snowstorm here started. Now, when I look outside what I see is a blur of blowing snow and howling winds - wow! its amazing how quickly it went from freezing rain to blowing snow! Talk about winter weather ! 

Well, I am off to make some hot hearty soup for lunch - hope you are all staying warm!

Thanks for coming over for a visit!!
Ciao for now ;)
Sankari 

Card details:

Paper - all from my scrap stash - yay - love using it up so that I can feel justified in buying more :)
Stamps: sentiment from Taylored Expressions, Snowmen image from Stamps Happen Inc (Tara Reed Designs)
Ink: Stampin' Up: Bordering Blue (yay! my first SU! ink on a card!)
Accessories: Creative Memories oval cutters, Martha Stewart snowflake punch, bling (a light green) on the snowflakes, Prism coloring pencils, Paper liquid glaze, dimensionals, ribbon from offray
TVsode watched: Grey's Anatomy

All thanks to my daughter for taking a nap so that mommy could stamp :)

Monday, December 8, 2008

Taylored Expressions Cupcake Challenge #45 - Happy Birthday Cupcake Flowers

Good Morning Everyone!

Quick post before I run out for the day - (have the days suddenly become faster and crazier?) seems like there isn't enough time to get everything done. Here is Taylor's Sketch #45 from her Taylored Expressions Cupcake Challenge. Taylor does a sketch challenge every Friday where if you have cupcakes, why not use them in your card! I realized that for the last 2 sketches that I haven't used cupcake stamps! So I wanted to fix that right away! 

Last night, as I was talking to my friend - I was doodling some flowers on a piece of paper and it kind of reminded me of a birthday card that I got from my mother last year - which was a flower with a cake on it - so I thought how about a flower with some cupcakes!

 So I drew the whole image and then cut it out with my oval cutters from Creative Memories. I colored it in with some pencils and then a little stickle and liquid pearl for the frosting :)  I used the colors from 22nd color challenge the lovely ladies at the Color Throwdown this week  - which are pink, green and black (the black is very minimal in this card- mainly just for the drawing pen color) and I had to add a tiny bit of orange to give it a little pop - hope that's ok?)

The oval was matted onto a dusty pink oval. I used my Creative Memories decorative cutter to create a wave pattern for the bottom panel. And then embossed the sentiment "Happy Birthday" which is from Taylor's Sweet Celebrations. All of this was adhered onto a crystal glitter cardstock from DCVW - it is totally glittery and totally hard to take a picture of. I adhered some matching ribbon as a panel - the ribbon is from Taylored Expression - I was going to try to make a bow - but then it seemed too much - so I just kept it simple. The buttons are from my button stash - and the little butterfly is from my Creative Memories meadow makers punch. 

I had a lot of fun doing this card - and a lot of fun drawing - I haven't done that it a while and it was fun to do a little doodle :)

Hope you guys are having a fabulous day!!! I am off to run a whirlwind of errands with 2 kids! Wish me luck!!!

Thank you for coming over for a visit! 
Best wishes, 
Sankari :)

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Cinema Saturday Creative Challenge # 9 - The Sound of Music

It's time for another Cinema Saturday Challenge!! This week our movie pick is the musical by Rodgers and Hammerstein: The Sound of Music! This musical was translated into the silver screen in 1965, six years after it opened on Broadway. This movie musical has won 5 Oscars, including best picture! It is such a classic and has since then become one of the most famous movie musicals world wide. You can read more about this movie here on Wikipedia.

For me personally, this movie brings back so many childhood memories. I remember my cousin singing the song "Edelweiss" to me - I was seven years old - she was 6 and had the sweetest voice ever! I have loved that song ever since - and every time I hear it - I can also hear my cousins voice singing it... I have watched this musical I don't know how many times growing up... more than 25 times easily :) I had dialogs memorized and the songs totally memorized as well - although my singing ability was far from great :) And then when I was in highschool - I was on Stage Crew and in the Drama club - so I was psyched when our senior year we got to do The Sound of Music. I was the Art Director and got to design the sets (my favorite set that I designed and created was the Abbey for the Reverand Mother - I did this Stained glass window with colored tissue paper and lighting that was pretty cool --- and I got to have a very minor minor role ... I was Herr Zeller's wife (guess what my line was.... okay ready? My line was: " Shhhh...." when I shush him when he gets out of line (and then I exited with him stage right :) I loved getting into the theater wardrobe to try on our party gowns for that ballroom scene -- that was so much fun to pick out dresses and jewelry... ahhh good times :).

There are so many great songs and great inspirations in this movie - I almost didn't know where to start. When I was watching this again for this challenge - I got up to dance and sing along for one of the songs and my son (now almost 4) just looked at me in questioningly - and my littlest wee daughter joined along in the dancing... it was so much fun :)

I couldn't decide which direction to go - but finally landed on creating a little birthday gift for my husband from the song: "My Favorite Things". I loved this song growing up and it was fun to watch this with my son and see his enjoyment of this and all the other songs. Since this was inspired by the song of favorite things.. I gathered some favorite memories to put together for my husband. This wooden box was given to me by my father-in-law years ago when we first go married. It has since then held our spare keys, change and little kinck knacks.... I thought that it would be nice to have this box , house our favorite memories. I covered the box in shades of the blue and green that are inspired by the Sound of Music - love the shades of the blue and green of the hills alive with music :) - this paper is from K & Co.

The top half of the box has pictures of our children punched out in 1/4" circle and then popped up on dimensionals. The picture of our son holding his sister after we brought her home, has her little bangle adorning the picture - I can't believe that she wore that. There is a bell that I adhered with metal glue on the top panel also - I got this beautiful bell when I was visiting the Forbidden City in Beiging. The ringing of the bell is supposed to bring good wishes to your surroundings... and the kinda cool part is that every time the box is opened - it rings the bell.


The bottom half of the box contains a mini scrapbook that I made for my dear husband of just some precious moments. It also contains little forgoteen pictures of our children, my son's artwork,, including his hand print and pics of both our families, as well as little love notes to him and a little page from our little guy called: "why Daddy is awesome!". There is also a rock that we got when we were engaged in India, as well as a beaded necklace that he had dipped in the Ganges. Also a quarter from the year we were married and the 2004 charm from his graduation hat from the year he got his PhD.

I love how this project turned out and love that my son helped me create the mini scrapbook for his dad. My husband has a little drawer at work that is full of little pics, our son's artwork and so I thought this was something that could sit on his desk that he could open anytime he needed a little sunshine :)

Don't forget to check out Brooke's beautiful Cinema inspired work and also our Guest Designer Amy's beautiful card at our Cinema Saturday Creative Challenge Blog.

Come on over and play along -- its totally fun!
Thanks for coming over for a visit!
Best wishes,
Sankari :)

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Kristina Werner Color Inspiration Challenge #33 - Peace, Joy and Love Holiday card

Good Morning Everyone,

Guess who woke up super early today... me! With the house as quiet as a mouse - I was finally able to attempt Kristina's Color Inspiration Challenge #33 for this week. This week her challenge comes from a notebook that she took at her local Target store of a notebook covered with buttons.

The five colors are:
Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie, Taken with Teal, Certainly Celery and Whisper White. These felt like fun colors and so I tried to have fun with them. I don't know about you guys, but I need to get cracking on some holiday cards - so I used these non-traditional holiday colors to make a holiday card and here is what I ended up with: A Peace, Joy and Love Card:

I just found out about this great paper company called the Paper Temptress - there are so many awesome papers to choose from - I love the quality too. I used the Brown Column cardstock from the Paper Temptress for the base of the card. And the green and teal are from my scrap stash - which I am trying to reduce so I can get more papers :) The peace symbol is a foam cutout that I stickled orange, the face is created from 2 punches (one of the face and the other from a MS small circle scallop punch (also stickled). The heart I drew and then added an eyelet to pull the ribbon through into a knot (also stickled orange - i {heart} stickles :). The circle layers were created using the SU! scallop punch and the Fiskars 1" circle punch - which was then adhered to the squared alternating cardstock (one corner of which was rounded with a corner rounder). 

With the bottom half of the 1"circle punch, I embossed the words: peace and love - with white EP (from Taylor's SASI kit) and the word Joy was embossed with clear EP (from Martha's Christmas stamps). 

Overall - it was a fun project and I had fun with the colors. Totally not a traditional holiday card - but ...that's okay, right?? 

This card marks me doing 20 of Kristina's color challenges in a row! You can check out all of her color challenges: here. I remember reading her blog and seeing the color inspiration pieces and then the round up - and was always so inspired - and then finally I thought maybe I would try it so I created this blog - and posted my card and was totally hooked to CIC's :)  Just wanted to say a big thank you for all of the amazing lovely friends that I have met doing KW's challenges - you all totally inspire me! And a big hello to everyone who I haven't had the chance to meet yet! and of course a big thank you to KW for continuing with these fun challenges!

Alright - off to make lunch for my little munchkins...! 
Hope you are all doing great!

Thanks for coming over to visit!
Ciao for now!
Sankari

PS - can you believe its 20 days till Christmas Eve (Whaaaat??? when did time just start flyyyyyyyyyyyyyyying by???)

Sunday, November 30, 2008

On the 4th day of Christmas......!!


Hi All,

Guess what??!? As some of you know, I am totally fortunate to be on PaperCraftPlanet's Design Team and today it is my turn to host DAY 4 of the 12 days of giveways at Paper Craft Planet. YAY!!! I am so excited to host the challenge!
All you have to do for each of the days , is to make a card or project with the theme for the day. My day is Day 4 - so guess what I have today?!!! 4 Calling Birds (the themes for the days before3 me have been --- you guessed it... 3 French hens, 2 turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree :)

So for this project all you have to do is to make a card with ANYTHING with a BIRD on it and you are automatically entered into the 12 days of Giveaways Contest - where each day a different sponsor is giving away a different gift. Today's Sponsor is Our Daily Bread!!! They have beautiful stamp sets, cardstock, paper, inks, rub ons and more - check out this awesome company created by Kelly Holland (click here)  Kelly is giving away the stamp set "Sing to the Lord" you can check out this beautiful stamp set here.

In making this card for today's challenge - I kinda had an idea that I wanted to use my new Penny Black stamps that I just got (thanks Tammy for tips on where to get them!) - but then as soon as I saw this awesome and fun sketch from Taylor's Friday Cupcake Challenge, then I immediately knew that I wanted to incorporate my card with that sketch because of her four square elements in the sketch and the 4 calling birds :)

Here is Taylor's fun sketch:

and here is my take on her sketch:

I totally enjoyed these two challenges and cannot even tell you how much fun I had making this card. Those birds with their cellphones (calling birds) totally crack me up. Here are some other pics of it:





So - are you ready to join in the fun!!!??!!!

Here are the rules:

1. Upload your card/project to PaperCraftPlanet starting from Monday, December 1 today at one minte after midnight till no later than 12:01am EST of December 2nd (basically - till the end of today!)

2. Include the tag 12day4 (all in lower case) - you will find the tag spot under the description for your card/project when you upload the picture of your card/project. This tag allows me to find it and then drag it into our Day 4 Album. It will also make sure that your project will be entered to win a fabulous gift from our sponsor for Day 4: Our Daily Bread.

PLEASE NOTE: Paper Craft Planet does NOT automatically load your project into the album. I have to do that manually - so don't worry if you don't see your creation right away - I will be checking throughout the day - a few times every hour to add them in. Just make sure you use the above tag so that I will know where to find it - otherwise it will not show up when I search for items with that tag.

Can't wait to see all of your beautiful creations!!Don't forget to check out the blog candy at Cinema Saturday Creative Challenge - this week's challenge at Cinema Saturday is Miracle on 34th Street! 

And happy December 1st to all of you!! Can you believe that its December!!!!

Thanks so much for visiting!!
Best wishes!
Sankari :)



Supplies:

Paper: K & Company (love love this green DP), Paper Temptress (Red Column paper - seriously awesome paper!)
Stamps: Penny Black stamps: 12 days of Christmas
Ink: Martha Black ink
Accessories: Scallop punch from Stampin Up!, Stickles (Candy cane, Waterfall, Orange, Crystal), Making Memories brads, color pencils from my son's crayola pencils, ribbon from Offray
Movie watched: A River Runs Through It

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Cinema Saturday Creative Challenge # 8 - Miracle on 34th Street

Good Saturday Morning Everyone,

Hope you are all doing great! The Cinema Saturday pick for this saturday is: Miracle on 34th Street! Man some of you are hard to fool with the sneak peeks that Brooke posted here. I have to admit, one of my favorite part of this challenge is to read what everyone writes for their guesses -- you guys are awesome! This week's pick is a classic - the original movie was made in 1947 in black and white and a newer version was made in 1994. I don't know how many times I have seen this movie - and always what I remember: is the feeling that miracles can happen and that they do happen.

I remember watching this movie as a child and loving theme of miracles. Any story with that tagline always made me so hopeful and left me feeling like we were all connected and that our dreams could come true. This card was inspired by the theme of miracles and that larger theme of human goodness. As I was making this card, I have been watching the news of the current situation in Mumbai, India - and have been feeling this surrealness. I remember being in the Taj Hotel and now to see its state on the news is just surreal. Thankfully the family and friends that I have there are not injured - but my heart goes out to the thousands injured and all of those whose lives were taken from this tragedy. This card is inspired by the feeling of hope and of miracles from the movie and I hope that in the world that we live in today, the dream of a united world, one world family, is something that will come true.


I used the sketch that Kim has created for this week's sketch challenge at PaperCraftPlanet. You can find the sketch here. I created the mother and daughter in photoshop - because it reminded me of the daughter (Natalie Wood) teaching her mother (Maureen O'Hara) how to love fully. I cut out the figures and painted them and then pasted them on a universe scene that I created in Photoshop. I stickled the stars with Diamond stickles and painted the North Star. The cardstock is all from my scrapstash, the DP is leftover Oragami paper, the bow is from Martha Stewart and the embellishments are from a stash of scrapbook stuff from eons ago. I typed the sentiment and then printed it and adhered it.

All of those who enter the Cinema Saturday Challenge this week are entered to win some awesome Blog Candy. Don't forget to check out Brooke's awesome scrapbook layout for this week's challenge and her pictures of her adorable cutie patootie son!!!

Come on over and join the fun!!!
Check out all the details here: at Cinema Saturday Creative Challenge.

Thanks so much for coming over to visit!!
I hope that you are all blessed with miracles in your life!

Best wishes,
Sankari

Friday, November 28, 2008

Kristina Werner Color Inspiration Challenge #32 - Two Cards

Good Evening Everyone,

Hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving. We had a wonderful laid back day and I feel so very grateful for all the blessings in my life. And all of you reading and who come over to visit and are my dear blog friends totally are part of those blessings :)

Here are two cards made for Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration Challenge # 32. It's amazing that we are on the 32nd challenge - wow! This week's color inspiration comes from the above cool picture from Crate and Barrel. It is from their section on Oversized Light Bulb ornament set. I enjoyed these colors together and made two cards for this challenge. The colors for this challenge was riding hood red, sahara sand, very vanilla and whisper white. We could also use a metallic color (gold or silver) to substitute for the sahara sand

The first card is made for a sweet friend of mine who has been such an inspiration to me. I created a little sundae using my littlest circle punches which then I painted with liquid pearls and glitterized using Martha's coarse crystals. The background DP is also Martha's. The sentiment is from Taylored Expressions and the Ribbon is Offray. The button is from my stash and I added a little red liquid pearls to the "cherry". The sundae container I cut out of a kraft like paper from an image that I drew and then outlined it in platinum stickles. 

I followed Jen's Sketch For You to Try for this second card whose base is the very vanilla  color. The red cardstock and the embossed gold cardstock have been in my paper stash for more than a year - as has the white with gold dots paper - so I am not sure which company they are from. The hearts are translucent stickers that I had since Valentine's day last year (not sure from whence they came) and I matted them twice for a little color contrast. I stamped the sentiment from Clear stamps and then matted it on to the red cardstock and cut it with some wavy scissors and adhered some red buttons onto one side.

Kristina also posted an informative entry about hot-linking. You can read about it here and here. I thought it was very informative and I learned alot. I usually save the color challenge image onto my computer and then upload it from there onto my blog - crediting Kristina for the image and from now on will also credit the source of that inspiration. It was good to read it and get a good reminder in blogging etiquette. 

Well, I hope I will make it before the deadline cut-off ... its been crazy here to write this post in the middle of getting jammies on for 2 wee ones... Hope you are having a great weekend!

Thanks for coming over to visit!
Best wishes,
Sankari


Sneak Peek Friday #8

Check out the fun Sneak Peek that Brooke has left over at Cinema Saturday  for tomorrow's challenge!!!
Come over and play tomorrow - we have a fun blog candy that can be yours for all who enter this week's challenge ...
come over and check it out here!

Also check out the fun 12 days of giveway at PaperCraftPlanet - the fun has already started!

Ciao for now!
Sankari

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Blog Awards and Cinema Saturday Creative Challenge # 7 and Blog Candy

Good Evening Everyone,

Hope everyone's Tuesday is going great! Just wanted to thank everyone who has nominated me for an award - you guys are the sweetest - and I am totally honored that you have chosen me - and totally humbled that you even read my blog or leave such sweet comments - you guys are just toooo sweet!

My friend and fellow PaperCraftPlanet Design Team Member Adela awarded me the Arte y Pico award to me - thanks Adela - you are so sweet and totally inspire all with your beautiful creations. Here are the rules for this award:

1. Select 5 blog that you feel deserve this award for their creativity, design, intreesting material and also for contributing to the blogging community, no matter what language.
2. Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his or her blog.
3. Each award winner upon acceptance should show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given him or her the award.
4. Link to the Arte y Pico blog, so that everyone will know the oribin of this award.
5. show these rules

So I would like to pass this Award to these amazing bloggers - if you don't already check them out - you have to see what these amazing crafters are up to - no doubt you will be inspired!
2. Anthonette of Chavez Designs
4, Tina of Traveling Mama
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My SCS blogging buddy Traci, nominated me for this beautiful Butterfly Award - so sweet Thank you so much Traci, I am totally honored! You have to check our her site and see all her lovely creations - along with reading her fun stories that she shares with her blog posts. The rules for this award is to

1. pick 10 people to pass this award to them
2. Contact them and let them know that you have chosen their blog for this award
3. Link to the person who gave this award to you

The 10 People I chose for this award are absolutely wonderful creative bloggers who always amaze me with their creativity and inspired me with their sweet comments.

1. Samantha S. of The Scrapmaster's Paradise
2. Curt - Curt's World
3. Maria - of Stampin' Inspirations -
4. Carolina - Carolina's Creative Pad -
6. Sherri - Roses in My Heart -
7.. Ann - Creative Antics -
8. Erin - Cards by Fishlips -
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Traci also nominated by for the Kreativ Blogger Award - Traci - you are tooooo much!! you really know how to spoil a girl!!! Thank you so much for this double honor!!!
1. pick 5 people to pass this award to
2. Contact them and let them know that you have chosen them for this award and then
3. Link back to the person who gave this award to you.
The five bloggers who I chose for this award are just stellar crafters - they are amazing, funny, creative and total sweethearts.

1.Mackenzie - Midnight Scramper
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So in the midst of Award fever :) I thought I would make a little inspiration award too - to give to some of the amazing crafters in our blogland who I have had the chance to get to know- here are twenty wonderful ladies who never cease to amaze me in both their crafting and in who they are as a person. Ladies, I have totally enjoyed getting to know you through the magic of blogland and in our conversations either on the phone, through emails or the discussion boards. Check out these wonderful bloggers :)

1. Brooke of Designs by Brooke
2. Catherine of Inksomnia
3. Amy 0f Tethered 2 Home
4. Savitri of Scrapbit
5. Christiane of Eye Can Stamp
8. Adela - Creations by AR
9. Lynn - Stamperosity
12. Susanna of Card of the Week
14. Lori - Inking out loud
15. Dianna G - Stamping with Di
16. Jessica - iembellish
17. Melanie - Hands, Head and Heart
18. Erika - Stampin' Mama


This award is also for all those who are reading this - I am totally blown away by all the wonderful crafters I have met doing this blog! Even if your name isn't here - you are totally tagged!!!If you would all like to post this award on your blog and pass it on that would be great. Choose however many you would like...its hard to choose a set number... :) and pass it on!
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I have been so far behind in posting... that I didn't even post my Cinema Saturday Card !! How did I forget that?? Probably because I already posted it on our challenge site...sigh...

This week,Brooke and I picked the movie: A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving - for the Cinema Saturday Creative Challenge since it is just a classic - for the Thanksgiving Holidays that are fast approaching!


Originally,  I wanted to make a popcorn card - from the scene where snoopy tries to make popcorn and toast - but after 3 or 4 failed attempts and paper strewn about the floor - I thought I would go a different direction and go with Linus. I used Tammy's awesome sketch for the Sketch Challenge over at PaperCraftPlanet for my "Thankful Linus" card. Join our sketch challenge group here on PaperCraftPlanet - and stay tuned because this Friday, we are launching our 12 Days of Christmas giveaways!!!
I love Linus and I love that he loves his blanket. I never grew up something like a favorite blanket - but my husband did - and my mother in law has saved his blanket his little memory box of treasures, where it is preserved in its tattered glory. I printed a blank and white image of Linus from this site, and then colored him in and used some waterfall stickles on his blanket for a little extra something. I cut out the image and popped it up on dimensionals and on the oval cut from my CM oval cutters. I wrote the sentiment on some leftover foam and adhered the buttons from Making Memories. The cardstock and DP are from my scrap stash - so not a clue from whence they came...  :) This was a really fun card and the best part was making this card for my nephew and also making this card with my son.
Did you know that this Charlie Brown Special has been running on air for the last 35 years! WOW! Even listening to the theme music evokes so many memories of watching this on our couch when I was a little girl. So this year it was fun to watch it with our son who is 3. He really enjoyed the scene where Snoopy makes toast and popcorn! Brooke and I thought that it would be fun to have the kids make a Charlie Brown inspired card to post on our site too - and invite everyone to have their children or grandchildren make cards and post them too.

Here is my son making his card - he wanted to make the toast and popcorn scene. That's Charlie Brown's squiggle shirt that he drew there : totally cracked me up watching him do that... :)


And here is the finished product... He put a lot of time and effort into it and let me tell you - it was one of the cutest things watching his little hands glue everything together and explain everything to me as to what is what. Here is a picture that HE took!!! He was so excited to have take a picture for the blog :)

If you want the explanation - look no further... here it is in his words as to what is what in his picture  (I wish I had it on tape to record his little voice while he was telling me all the parts of his card..)

It was so funny to see that he drew a car for Charlie Brown and he totally insisted that the stamped sentiment that he picked out - had to be upside down. It was so nice to have some quality craft time with my son - and the cutest thing was that after he finished he told me that he had "blogged"

And as a special Thanksgiving treat - we are giving away a special little Blog candy for this challenge. We are so thankful to all those who follow our challenge site and to all those who play along. All you have to do is to make a card inspired by A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving and post it to the Cinema Saturday Creative Challenge site and you will be entered in a drawing to receive this sweet stamp set:


So, what are you waiting for!! Go on over to our Cinema Saturday site  for more details (click here) and join in the fun. And we would love to see the cards or projects that your children or grandchildren have made too!!! 

And that's not all. this coming Saturday's challenge has a special blog candy prize all of its own!! So come on back this Saturday for another Cinema Saturday Creative Challenge movie pick!!! 

Hope you are all having a great week so far!!!
Lots of stamping hugs to all!!

Best wishes,
Sankari :)