2 Sketches 4 You - Groovey Owlies

Good Morning Everyone,

I can hardly believe its Thursday already - when did that happen? Yesterday has been filled with errands, dentists appts for little wee ones who won't sit still, doing laundry from camping (ugh!) and unpacking... (still not fully unpacked! - does it take you guys forever to unpack - it always seems to me that there are more clothes coming back then going... :). Even though we got home 

Mon. night - I had to wait till Tuesday afternoon after work 

to get our mail from our neighbor who has been holding it while we were gone and I was b-e-y-o-n-d pysched when I saw a big 

package of yumminess from the wonderful ladies at 2 Sketches 4 You!   I let out a big Whoooooop!

Thank you so much Laura and Kazan and beautiful DT for the wonderful sketches and encouragement during the Ultimate Card Showdown - I am still in happy shock :)!!! It was such a total 

blast!! I was so psyched to open my package - but I wanted to take a quick picture - so I ran home to get my camera and had my neighbor snap a quick pic - I was so excited that I opened it right at her house! - lol!!! She was cracking up at my shrieks of delight :) She told me I was speaking a different language when I was explaining to her what the different products were - lol! 

I couldn't wait to make a card with the yummy goodies! And so here is a quick card I made using Laura's sketch 31 and I used the 

yummy papers from Teresa Collins and cut out the little black swirlie patterns on the paper from the package to go on either side of the oval - I loved stamping and coloring these cutie pie owlies from Inky Antics - seriously there is just something about owls that is just so adorable. I popped the side swirlies on dimensionals and added a little bit of yellow bling on the sides. I loved making this little owlie card and can't wait to ink up the rest of the owlies - they are such a hoot! (sorry couldn't resist! ;) Here is my card for Laura's sweet sketch:

Card Details:

Paper: Teresa Collins

Ink: Stazon Black and Martha Brown

Stamps: Groovy Owls - Owl Trio from Inky Antics

Accessories: Martha punch, ribbon from Taylored Expressions, bling from K&Company, oval cutters from Creative Memories prisma color pencils,

Sketch: Laura 31 from 2 Sketches 4 You

Well, I am off to the exciting and glamorous world of finishing laundry, lol!! A huge thank you and even HUGER HUGS to the lovely ladies over at 2 Sketches 4 You and I am so glad I am back from our vacation so I can get back into the crafting corner and catch up and get to come over and visit all of you!

Thanks for coming over to visit!

Big owlie hugs to all!

Sankari :)

ps - a huge hug to Clouds Shadler - she has been an amazing DT member for 2S4U and is leaving to prepare for her final year of college. Please check out her sweet blog: Cloud's Color Garden - and drop some love - she is amazing! 

pps- hope you all have a fantastic Thursday! (its almost friday! yipeeeeeeeee!!!)

Let It Snow in July!

Good Morning Everyone,

We are back home! YAY! It was nice to go on vacay - and its nice to be back home :) I took some craft/card stuff when I was away - but just couldn't craft everyday like I wanted - so for the last week - I just packed it away and enjoyed my time with family, friends and the great outdoors :)  So finally after getting home last night - I couln't wait to get crafting but my mojo had taken a canoe ride south - so I went to Julee's awesome Mojo Monday Sketch #97 and made a card for the Christmas Stampin All Year Long blog - where the hostess this week was me (and I didn't even have a card made for my own challenge in time (hanging my head down in shame!) but better late then never?!) And the challenge this week was to make a card with snowmen/man/people :)

 I love snowmen images - they are just so fun and one of my FAVE snowmen images is this little cupcake snowmen from the Home Sweet Home set from Taylored Expressions (the sentiment "Let it Snow" is also from the same set)- I just think he is totally a-d-o-r-a-b-l-e! I am trying to make at least two cards per Christmas Challenge and in that way its kinda nice to have a number of holiday cards around and not have to crank out a ton at the last minute. Maria who is the inspiration behind this Christmas blog is also going to be issuing a multiple card challenge on Thursdays - which is a great way to make a multiple number of cards in one shot (so watch out for this blog on Thursdays!!!)

Here is an individual shot of one of the snowmen cards: 

Card Details:

Paper: Paper Temptress - Blue Ice - Kiwi Double Sided Sorbet Cardstock

Ink: Staz-On Black

Stamps: Home Sweet Home from Taylored Expressions

Acessories: Bling, snowmen punch from Martha Stewart, brads from Making Memories, Dimensionals, liquid pearls, frosted lace stickles, snowmen was paper pieced from scraps

Well, it was fun to come home and make a card - and now I am swamped with laundry, catching up with emails, grocery shopping and getting back in the work routine...

Hope you are all doing well and are enjoying the summer! And if you need a way to cool down - join us and make a snowman card! Check out all the beautiful cards from my fellow teamates from this week's snowman challenge!!!

Can't wait to visit your blogs - a big thanks for visiting my little corner!

Big hugs to all!

Sankari :)

My Graphico Digi Stamps Blog Hop :)

Good Morning Everyone,

I am so pysched to be part of the Paper Craft Planet Blog Hop today, where we have a really fun challenge for you today -- it's a product challenge, sponsored by MyGrafico. To play along, create ANYTHING using one of the MyGrafico images -- they have a ton to choose from, but if you're trying to cut costs, here's  a link to some free images.  

Post your project in the Paper Craft Planet photo gallery, and use the tag "PCPgrafico". (Here is a tutorial on adding pictures to the gallery, if you need it.)  MyGrafico has generously  offered a       $10 store gift certificate  to one of our lucky challenge players

I was never quite sure about digital stamps - until I realized that you can resize things, print the images on different paper, and that its always there waiting for you on your computer!  This morning for our blog hop - all DT from PCPlanet used the Forest Friends digi stamp set for our cards. I used the tree and bird stamp set from and loved working on it and playing around with it! Here are two cards that I created using the same stamps:

For this card - I used Jen's Sketch For You to Try from this last week and used the bird stamp and one of the tree stamps from this set - in photoshop I created a little scene (and flipped one of the birds so it faced the other way).

Card Details: Paper: Ann Griffen,  and scrap, Stamps:Forest Friends digi stamp set from My Graphico and the sentiment stamp is from Year of Sweet sentiments from Taylored Expressions, Accessories: Circle Cutter from CM, ribbon from TE

I LOVE this tree (I think I am getting to be a tree image addict :) I could have printed it directly and colored it in - but I colored the images in photoshop and then printed it out twice and cut out some of the leaves and birds to give it more dimension. My DH's aunt and uncle are coming over today and we missed celebrating their golden anniversary - so I made this card last night for them. After making this card - I had an idea for another one - and it was so easy to use the same images and change it a bit in photoshop - and create a silhouette kind of image from the tree and just have the birds be colorful - so here is the second card (printed out two and then cut and popped up some of the leaves and birds on dimensionals):

Card Details: Paper: Scrap paper, Stamps:Forest Friends digi stamp set from My Graphico and sentiment is from Doctor's Orders from Taylored Expressions, Accessories: Circle Cutter from CM, EK success punch,  EK success punch, K&Co rhintestones, white color pencil, ribbon from my MIL's stash :) and corner rounder.

It was so much fun to make this second card  - can't wait to make some more (I resized the images so that they were about 2" or 3"). This is one of the nice things about digi stamps and it was fun to create a silhouette kinda card :)

If you haven't worked with digi stamps before, here are some little info tidbits:

• You do NOT have to have a photo editing software.  You can just open and pri these jpg images.
• If you have a photo editing program, the images come in both jpg and png files.  You can resize the images and combine them into scenes with just a click of the mouse.
• Digital images last forever and require very little storage space!
• There are several great tutorial videos over on Paper Craft Planet that will show you how to use digital images, if you have any questions.

Check out the awesome creations that the rest of the Super Novas came up with:

Adela Rossol

Lynn Mercurio

Kim Burmeister

Wendy Price

Tammy Hershberger

Erika Martin

Lori Tecler

Jessica Fick

Susanna Boyd

And now, it's your turn!  Take the challenge and let's see what you make! 

Thanks so much for visiting my little corner! 

Hugs!!!

Sankari :)

PS - I have to say that this is the craftiest vacation I have had, LOL!!! :)

 Hope you are all having a fabulous Weds!

Mojo Monday - Summer Cards :)

Good Evening Everyone,

I am on vacay and am sorry that if I haven't visited everyone's blogs - but I promise I will. I brought a few sets of stamps and some Key Ingredients packs (I had too! It felt weird to not pack that in too :) and of course as soon as I saw Julee's Mojo Monday sketch number 96- I LOVED it!!! and so here are two quick cards that I made using the same paper pack which is the Beach Bum Key Ingredients from Taylored Expressions and using the Beach Bum stamp set with this same sketch.

I absolutely adore adore adore this Key Ingredient set (cardstock with 20 sheets!!! of coordinating DP, ribbon, stickers and bling!!!) because of its bright summery papers, ribbon and bling! Here is one of my fave images: Cuppie sunning himself (lol!) - everything is paper pieced with the different papers in the kit. We mailed this card out to our niece who is at camp - and we all signed this card for her - I hope that she likes it - I remember getting mail when I was a little one and feeling excited to open it ... and I still get that way because all I seem to get are bills.... not very "fun in the sun" :)

Card Details:

Paper: Beach Bum Key Ingredients kit

Stamps: Beach Bum stamps

Ink: Ruby Red from SU!

Accessories: ribbon, bling are from the Beach Bum Key Ingredients kit - also - Circle Cutters from CM

This second card uses the same papers - but also uses a die cut and transparency flower from a kit that Taylor used to carry at the store from the Delighted Paper set - that is now sold out - man, I wish I had ordered more! 

Card Details:

Paper: Beach Bum Key Ingredients kit

Stamps: Beach Bum stamps

Ink: Ruby Red from SU!

Accessories: ribbon, bling are from the Beach Bum Key Ingredients kit - also EK success punch, scallops made from corner rounder.

Well, as I type this my SIL just came over - so I am off to go and hang with the fam - but am so happy that I got some craft time squeezed into the day! I might have to craft some more tonight maybe while watching a movie - :) Anyhooooo - I hope you are all having a wonderful tuesday! and that you are all having Fun in the Sun!

Thanks for visiting my little corner :)

Hugs!!!

Sankari :)

Out of Difficulties

Good Morning Everyone, 

Here is a little card that I made for a friend of mine who is going through a difficult period - I absolutely love this sentiment from the Faith and Hope stamp set from Taylored Expressions: "Out of difficulties, grow miracles"  because it is so uplifting. I made this card using the Top 30 sketch that Kazan created from 2 Sketches 4 You - I love this sketch and had to use it again. 

Card Details:

Stamps: Faith and Hope from Taylored Expressions

Paper: Taylored Expressions (from the kits that Taylor puts together - the kits are perfect for creating a whole card)

Accessories: Spellbinders and white gel pen (everything else is from the kits)

Taylor has moved to Iowa - and is all settled in and will be starting the Friday Cupcake Sketch challenge again so make sure to check out her blog today!

Well, this weekend is a busy one and I have been up super early this morning trying to get everything done! Hope you are having a great Friday and have a great weekend!!!

Thanks for visiting my little corner!

Hugs to All!!!

Sankari :)

A Bomshell Challenge from Paper Craft Planet

Good Morning Everyone, 

Today Paper Craft Planet is having a bomb awesome challenge! Its an inspiration challenge, sponsored by Bombshell Stamps. To play along - just pick something that you think is "the bomb" and make something from it!!! Post your project in the Paper Craft Planet photo gallery and use the tag "PCPBOMB". Shannon at Bombshell stamps has generously offered 2 stamp sets as the prize!!!

My inspiration came from my little DS who loves to play with his hotwheel cars - seriously he could play for h-o-u-r-s - he lines them up, rearranges it and is just so cute with how he takes care of his cars - so here is my inspiration pic:

and here is what I came up with:

Card Ingredients:

Paper: MME and DCVW

Ink: Stazon Black

Stamps: Vintage Raceway from Bombshell stamps

Accessories: circle punch and star punch from CM, SU scallop punch, spellbinders, ribbon stash

Check out what the rest of the Super Novas from Paper Craft Planet came up with:

Susanna Boyd

Kim Burmeister

Jessica Fick

Diana Gibbs

Erika Martin

Lynn Mercurio
Melanie Muechinger
Wendy Price

Adela Rossol
Jen Tapler
Lori Tecler

Alright, now its your turn - what inspires you? - create something that you think is "da bom" and upload it to the gallery at Paper Craft Planet with "pcpbomb" tag and you could win some sweet prizes!!!

Thank you Shannon for these wonderful prizes and a big thanks to Susanna for organizing all of this!!

Hope your week is going well! Its almost Friday - woot!

Thanks for visiting my little blog!!

Hugs,

Sankari :)

A Taylored Expressions Christmas in July Blog Hop

Good Morning Everyone,

I am excited today to be part of the Taylored Expressions Christmas in July Blog Hop! Taylor has these awesome Perfect Packages in her store that you might have seen her use before and they have been a large and small square size (they are awesome because they are sturdy and have a magnetic closure that snaps it tight! and you can decorate it anyway you would like) - Well - Today - Taylored Expressions will offer a new rectangle size Perfect Package that will is PERFECT for A2 size cards and envelopes - this is called the Perfect Package Card Box! This is truly the perfect package to create a gift set o notecards - and so for today's blog hop - I decided to make some Christmas gifts using the Perfect Packages and the beautiful sentiments from the Faith and Hope stamp set from Taylored Expressions. 

A Christmas Present for DH's Aunt:

This is a Christmas present made for one of my DH's aunts - she is such a wonderful and giving person and has been a sweet inspiration of mine - I adore her and am excited that I have a gift for her for this Christmas and its only July! I used the new Perfect Package Card Box and it can easily hold a 8-12 layered A2 cards - but since mine also had some dimensionals, I made 4 A2 cards with envelopes that fit perfectly in the box. 

I loved decorating the box - the sentiment from the Faith and Hope stamp set reads: Faith can move mountains. 

Here is a top view of the box:

This is the view of the box closed:

And this is a picture of the box opened:

I created a little pocket on the inside of the box that can hold stamps and also created a ribbon holder to hold a pen - so that letter writing and mailing are within reach:

I made 4 cards total - 2 of each kind - here is the card set that reads: Faith can move mountains with the envelopes:

And here are the 2 cards with the sentiment that reads: "The peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." 

And just one more picture - I simply love this product! I can't wait to make one for me! lol! :)

Ingredients:

Paper: Basic Grey Wisteria - Cardstock for the cards are from Taylored Expressions: Classic Purple and Birchtone Medium

Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa

Stamps: Faith and Hope stamp set from Taylored Expressions Lasting Impressions line

Accessories: EK success punch, Ribbon, white gel pen, pearl accents, spellbinders, SU! circle punch

Christmas Note Card Gift set for DH's other Aunt :

I had so much fun making this gift set in the recatangle Perfect Package - and had to make one more using the small square Perfect Package. This is perfect for little notecards - and I made this for another one of DH's aunts using the Tiny Dancer paper Collection along with the Faith and Hope stamp set: 

Here is a picture of the box closed

And here is the picture of the box opened:

I made six notecards all of the same - and kept it really simple so that I could make alot and also with the layers being minimal - the box can hold more!

Ingredients:

Paper:Cardstock for the cards are from Taylored Expressions: I love these cardstock papers :) Birchtone Medium,  Nautical Blue Light, Razelberry Light, Tiny Dancer Collection for the DP

Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa

Stamps: Faith and Hope stamp set from Taylored Expressions Lasting Impressions line

Ribbon:  Wine Poly Twill

Accessories: tree punch from Martha, snowflake die, brads, stickles for the snowflakes, liquid pearls for the snow, 

Well, I had so much fun making these gift boxes for DH's Aunts - I love how these boxes are so sturdy and have the magnetic closure! 

And guess what Taylor is having a little Christmas SALE SALE SALE!!! over at the Taylored Expressions store!! All Christmas stamp sets will be 20% off from July 15-25 and Taylor will be giving away a set of 5 of the new perfect Packages in a random drawing - so be sure to head over to Taylor's for a chance to win these FABU boxes!!!  

But also be sure to check out all the beautiful and awesome creations that these awesomely amazing ladies have created with these awesome Perfect Packages!!! 

Ana Wohlfahrt

Charmaine Ikach

Donna Baker

Jodi Collins

Karen Giron

Karen Motz

Laura Fredrickson

Jami Sibley

Rachel Sztonyk

and of course! Taylor Van Bruggen!

Thanks so much for visiting my lil corner :)

Sankari :)

Merry & Bright Monday

Good Monday Morning 

This week over at Christmas Stamping All Year Long, Debbie challenged us to decorate our holiday cards not only on the outside - but also on the inside. I decided to keep things simple because I wanted to do two cards at the same time. I think I want to do two of each card - it could be nice to have some extra xmas cards on hand - just in case :) So here are two cards made from one sheet of  8.5 x 11 paper, a punch and some liquid pearls.

Card Details

Paper: DCVW paper and white cardstock

Stamps: Season's Sweetings and Home Sweet Home from Taylored Expressions

Ink: Garden Green

Accessories: red stickles, red ribbon, star punch

There is so much to do this week - I am slightly in a panic... aie! But I have my lists - which have lists - so hopefully things will get checked off today :)

In the meantime - if you need to get a handle on your christmas/holiday cards - check out the Christmas Stampin' All Year Long blog - its such a great place to find inspiration to get started and going on your holiday cards. 

Thanks so much for visiting my lil corner!

Wishing you all a happy monday!!!

I am off to try and get some "things to do checked off" from my list!

Hugs :)

Sankari :)

2 Sketches 4 You -Cherish the Moments and Enjoy

Happy Saturday Everyone!

Hope your week was wonderful! Things here have calmed down a bit - I finally have a laptop - after almost a week of it crashing and losing everything - my finger is 90% back to normal after being burned and we are amazed at how quickly the summer is flying by! 

I can't even begin to express my thanks to the dynamic duo awesomeness of Laura and Kazan (thank you girls!) for their lovely words of encouragement from last week's festivities! I am still stunned!

My heart is filled with gratitude to the 2S4U community! All week, I was looking for pockets to do the 2S4U sketch challenge and I am so happy that finally this morning I could sit at my craft table again (that's right - I am no longer crafting on my closet floor since all our guests are gone! lol!) What a great feeling to sit down at a table and not hunch over on the floor! 

I loved Kazan's Sketch #30 and this is my "Cherish the Moments & Enjoy" card - which is what the mood was here today as I am so amazed that we are almost in the middle of July! I love the summer with its lazy haziness, the swimming pool lessons, the drippy popsicles on sticky fingers, the watermelon wedges that drip juice down your chin... and just the warmth and heat that sinks into the earth and concrete... sigh.... so my goal is remember to savor it first and foremost :)

Here is close up part of the first half of the card: "Cherish the Moments &...."

and... ENJOY! I added little bling in the corners and in a swirl and little photo corners and the whole thing was sponged a little.

Card Details:

Paper: K & Company

Ink: Martha Brown

Accessories: bling from stash, Martha glitter on some white liquid pearls and also some platinum stickles and 1 3/4" circle punch to round things out, ribbon - organdedy sheer from Taylored Expressions, liquid pearls magenta

I had a lot of fun with this sketch! I wish I could have this much fun folding the laundry or doing dishes ... buttttt - that never happens  :)

Thanks so much for visiting my little corner in blogland!

Hugs and sunshiney smiles :)

Sankari :)