2 Sketches 4 you - Top 30 - Round 2

Good Afternoon Everyone,

As most of you know I have loved playing along with Laura and Kazan at 2 Sketches 4 You and their awesome DT's past and present with their beautiful sketches and their awesome inspiring creations of art and I can't even tell you HOW blown away and completely honored I was to be picked to be in the Top 30 with such amazing paper crafters for the first annual Ultimate Card Showdown in Celebration of their first Blogaversary. Wow - I am still reeling! Thank you so much Kazan, Laura and all the fabulous judges for this honor!

So for round 2 - we have this beautiful sketch to work with - and I had so much fun working on this sketch :)

 I used the sentiment: from Rabindranath Tagore who wrote the national anthem for India and whose visionary works earned him the Nobel Prize in 1913. This sentiment reads: "Faith is the bird that sings when the dawn is still dark." My father used to repeat this quote to me growing up - and I have remembered it during some dark moments in my life - its always taught me to trust, hope and believe.

Here is a close up peek at the stamped sentiment and the cut out bird (the bird is cut out from the designer paper) and I put the little birdie in a nest on paper clip from Spare Parts. 

Here is a closer look at the dimensions of the card. The tree house was stamped and paper pieced, sponged and then "hung" onto the tree with some embroidery thread. The birds are actually on the designer paper (Urban Prairie from Basic Grey) and I cut them out and popped them on dimensionals. The little flowers in the grass are also cut out from one of the papers in the pack, sponged and then popped up on dimensionals.

Here is another close up - facing the front of the card with some of the bling in the tree. I loved popping these flower bling (from my bling stash box) and after putting everything together - I put some liquid pearl (red) on the flowers on the bottom and some Diamond stickles on the little birdies. 

Card Details:

Paper: Basic Grey (Urban Prairie) and the blue/black and white cardstock are from stash

Ink: Stazon Black and Martha Stewart Brown

Stamps: Branching Out stamp set, Branching Out Accessories set and Faith and Hope set from Taylored Expressions

Accessories: Circle cutter from Creative memories, dimensionals, corner rounder, sponger, paper clips from Spare Parts, silver marker, embroidery string, prisma color pencils, ribbon from stash

Technique: Paper piecing (everything from the birds (the birds were images on the paper - that I also cut out and adhered ontop of the same image with dimensionals), the leaves, tree leaves all paper pieced, scalloped grass with corner rounder

This sentiment always brings me hope and deep contentment - and making this card with this sentiment in the back of mind was a really beautiful process :)  I simply loved making this card and feel just completely in awe to be part of this wonderful group of stampers. You can check out the rest of the Top 30 gallery here  - these ladies are simply amazing! I am totally inspired by their creations!

Sending everyone lots of good luck and cheer! Total honor to be with you all!!

Thank you so much for coming over to my little blog :)

Sunny smiles and hugs :)

Sankari 

Stampin Out Alzheimer's - Scrapbook Challenge

Good Morning Everyone,

Hope you had a wonderful weekend! You might have already heard about the huge even that my good buddy and fellow PaperCraft Planet Design Team member, Jen Tapler is hosting called Stampin' Out Alzheimers! Jen's father has Alzheimer's and this event that Jen is hosting is to raise awareness and money all of the proceeds which is donated to the Alzheimer's Associateion. For just a small fee of $5.00 you can join this forum where you will find a TON of challenges, free downloads and TON of prizes. The bar to the left shows you how you can enter and join this site.

Jen has asked the stamping community to help out and huge number of stamp companies and organizations has come forward to support!

One of the companies is Taylored Expressions and I am psyched to be the host of a scrapbook challenge that if you play along can win you a $25 Gift Certificate from Taylored Expressions.

Above is the sketch and below is a sample of the sketch that I made using Taylor's stamp set called Branching Out (paper pieced together). You can find this challenge of mine HERE and All you have to do is to play along is create a sample using this sketch and upload it to the Stampin' Out Alzheimers forum - but make sure to use the tag: scrappysketchte (all one word, all lowercase) so that I can manually put it into the album. From this - one lucky person will win this gift certificate to Taylored Expressions using Random.org!

***** If you use Taylored Expression stamps - you will be entered TWICE - so come on and play along!!!


I made this sketch for one of my dearest friends whose parents are at the early stages of Alzheimers. Her parents have been childhood sweethearts and it is hard to see them starting to lose their memory. I made this page and framed it to give it to her for her birthday on Friday - and the main sentiment is "Always" - that regardless of anything - that bond is always there - no matter what.... you can't see my journaling - it is written in light gray - I chose to write down the verse from the poet ee cummings that says: "here is the deepest secret nobody knows, (here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud, and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows, higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide),and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart: i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)."

Watching my friend go through this with her parents has just shown to me how precious and fleeting this thing called life is - and to treasure each other - to treasure our connections because in just a flash - things can change. The above pictures are her parents, a family shot of her family and one with her and her parents. Here is a close up of the stitching and the detailing:
Page Recipe:
Paper: Basic Grey, Martha Stewart paper pack and scrap stash
Stamps: Branching Out from Taylored Expressions
Ink: Martha Stewart brown, Adirondack Expresso
Accessories: EK success border punch, tombow adhesive, silver marker, thickers, American Crafts thickers chipboard letters, red embroidery floss and needles for stitching,
Show watched while making this: Jane Austen's Persuasion (a new fave!)

I REALLLLLLLLY hope that you will play along with me in this challenge. This is my first scrapbook page that I created the layout for and I would be soooo happy if you were to play along!!! So here is what you have to do:

1. Register at Stampin Out Alzheimer's forum: http://stampinoutalzheimers.ning.com/
2. You can find my challenge there: Taylored Expressions Scrapbook Sketch Challenge
3. Create a scrapbook page with my scrappy sketch above and upload the picture
4. USE THE TAG: scrappysketchte (all lowercase all one word) the "te" at the end is for taylored expressions
5. You have until MAY 31 to enter your entry till midnight!!!!

Can't wait to see your creations - if you have any questions - please let me know!!!
Thanks for visiting my little corner!
Sending you hugs and smiles!!!
Sankari :)

Kristina Werner Color Inspiration Challenge #48 - You're so sweet

Good Evening Everyone,

I am loving this latest color challenge that Kristina has posted for Color Inspiration Challenge #48 which are the color combinations of Chocolate Chip, Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze and Whisper White. I already made one card and after I was done, I wanted to make another one - its such a great color combo....

So this is what I came up with: a little scene of a Sweet Shoppe with ribbons for leaves and the sentiment "You're so sweet": the stamps are from Taylored Expressions ( the tree is from the Branching Out set and the shop and sentiment is from the Downtown Diva set).

I am running out the door right now - and so I will come back and write all the details of the card - just wanted to get it in before the deadline tonight! Ack!

Hope all are doing well!!!
More soon!

Thank you for visiting!
Sankari :)

Mini Bookcase with Drawers - project

Good Morning Everyone,

Have you checked out the Stamp a Sweet Impression Blog? This is a blog that showcases some of the amazing stamps and products at Taylored Expressions - its really amazing to see all the creations on this blog - as well as a place to find lots of tutorials on how to create something sweet - and recipes too for creating something sweet for your sweet tooth :) You can check out the blog and subscribe on the right hand side when you click here - so that you don't miss out on these great inspirations and ideas!

Today was my turn to contribute to the blog - so I create a little mini chest with drawers. Here is a mini sneak peek :)

I made this project with boxes and a mini drawer shelf for some projects that Paper Craft Planet was hosting. I got a few questions on what the dimensions were for the box holder - so I thought I would make a little tutorial on that... 

If you hop on over to the Stamp a Sweet Impression blog, you can see the tutorials and the full project here! 

Please check it out - its kind of my first tutorial (the kind with measurements and stuff :)

Thank you so much for coming over to visit today! This is the last day of march! Do you have any April Fool's tricks ready up your sleeve??  I am going to have to watch my toes around here tomorrow!!!

Have a wonderful day!

Sankari :)

Color Throwdown - 2 Cards - 2 Sketch challenges

Hi Everyone,

Have you guys seen the yummy colors over at the Color Throwdown? The color challenge this week is purely pomegrante, tangerine tango and kiwi kiss - aren't they just beautiful together?

The ladies at the Color Throwdown have some beautiful samples and I couldn't wait to play along. I used Julee's beautiful Mojo 

Monday Sketch challenge #79 for inspiration. This was such a beautiful sketch and a yummy color challenge!

The only thing is that I made this card last night... and what looked like a color closer to purely pomegranate... turned out to be more purple in the light of day... oh well.. 

 

I absolutely love Taylor's newest stamp set Branching Out - and so I pulled it out and went a little whimsy on it :) The tree bark is embossed with Versamark and Polysparkle EP on a magenta-ish cardstock. I put little dots for the tree as though leaves with Orange stickles. The birds are paper pieced together with a little bit of stickles on their wings. The sentiment reads: Your friendship is a blessing.

I have to say, that I loved making this card - it was just so much fun to paper piece, emboss and cut out that tree... it is definitely therapeutic to craft....

Here is a close up of the tree and birds -- you can see the embossing of the tree better and also some of the polysparkle EP :)

Card details:

Paper: K & Company for the green, DCVW for the magenta and the orange is Ambrosia (Basic Grey)

Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Versa Mark (polysparkle EP)

Stamps: Branching Out stamp set from Taylored Expressions

Accessories: Orange stickles, liquid pearls, Crystal Stickles, ribbon, corner rounder

2nd Card using these same yummy colors from the Color Throwdown

I loved these colors so much that I created a second card. Seriously - I love these colors so much - they just look delicious!! There is something about the orange and the green and the pomegrante colors together ... I guess it kind of reminds me of India - just bright and fun colors!

For the second card, I used Laura's awesome sketch #22 from 2 Sketches 4 You. I loved the small box on the side and wanted to made it a half circle. I used the same stamp set as above and went more pomegrante than purple on this card. I just adore this stamp set - it was fun to go whimsy and create different colored trees and birds and scenes.... the best thing was that it was so much fun to create. I cut out a half circle, added some grass from DP and then created the sky using Pebbles Chalks (pearlescent chalks).

 

Here is a close up  of the tree and the liquid pearls:

Card details:

Paper: K & Company and scrap stash

Ink: Stampin Up! Pumpkin Pie 

Stamps: Branching Out stamp set from Taylored Expression

Accessories: ribbon, liquid pearls, stickles, CM creative memories, Martha punch (mini scallop), markers, Pebbles Pearlescent Chalks

Thank you so much for visiting my little corner!
Hope you are all having a lovely day!

Ciao for now,

Sankari

KW Color Inspriation #45 - Just Because (TECC59)

Did I mention earlier how happy I am that today is friday ?? So happy that I sat down and made my second card of the day, this time using Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration Challenge #45 - which is to make a monochromatic card using the colors: Basic Black, Basic Gray and Whisper White. I haven't made a monochromatic card in awhile, so I was happy to jump into this challenge!

I used the same sketch from this morning's card to make this card, which is Taylor's Sketch #59  (i love Taylor's sketches!) and I also used Taylor's newest stamp set: Branching Out. , which as you probably know by now, I completely adore and LOVE!! had a lot of fun stamping and cutting and pasting... talk about stamp therapy! I don't know about you guys, but this week has been insane in the membrane (and now, that song is stuck in my head) anyhooo... I am so happy to be done with the work week and have some play time :)

Card details:

Sketch: TECC59

Paper: Beautiful handmade black tissue paper - sooo pretty and so thin - it was hard to cut it  - it was so pretty - but no use being so pretty stuck in my paper drawer :), white cardstock from stash, grey DP is from DCVW

Ink: Stazon Black

Stamps: Taylored Expressions Branching Out

Accessories: Kaiser Pearl drops, black liquid pearls, stickles, copic C3 (my one and only, lol!), pearl button embellie, ribbon sheer from stash, corner rounder

So, who is this card for? My DH! I hope he likes it :) He has been such a trooper this week helping me out - and I just wanted to show him a little love :) Its so nice to make cards for him because he totally loves looking at them...and that makes everything so worth it! 

I hope that all of you are having a wonderful friday and that it is full of fun, relaxation and laughter! 

Thank you so much for visiting my little corner :)

Ciao for now,

Sankari :)

Thinking of You Card

Happy Wednesday Everyone,

How are you all doing? I am as always excited about Wednesdays - because the weekend is within sight :) lol! Its been so long since I did a TCP challenge (The Cat's Pajamas) - this week the uber talented Jen del Muro is the hostess with the mostess and this week she has a color challenge for us (light pink, light yellow and light blue - with any shade of brown as an optional color).  

Jen also has a wonderful sketch challenge (Sketch for You To 

Try). So, I thought I would combine her sketch with the TCP color challenge that she is hosting - its such a fun combination of spring colors - so I had to pull out Taylor's newest stamp release: Branching Out.

 I love this stamp set -it is so super cute - and thought I would try a little something different. I wanted to go for a spring blossom tree - so I stamped the tree onto Basic Grey Paper and then paper pieced all the leaves from pink cardstock. I then stamped the tree branch in Adirondack Expresso and then dotted the tree in pink liquid pearls for a kind of flowery effect and then covered the whole thing in stickles and coarse crystals from Martha Stewart. Its pretty glittery in the sunlight - but its hard to tell in the picture. This is such a whimsy set - and so its so much fun to let the imagination take flight and go all whimsy (sure, trees can have pink leaves, lol!!) 

Card Details:

Paper: Basic Grey (I don't remember which one), blue is handmade/tissue paper, rest is from stash

Ink: Adirondack Expresso, Staz-on Black

Stamps: Taylored Expressions Branching Out

Accessories: Brads (Making Memories), blue rhinestones, buttons from stash, stickles, liquid pearls, Martha Stewart Coarse crystals, dimensionals

The light blue paper is a really soft pretty handmade paper that is kind of like tissue paper - its so pretty that I have been hoarding it - but I am trying to be better these days about actually using all the paper in my stash (so that I can buy more! lol!). 

Well, I am off to finish cleaning up the house - we have had two sick little ones - and its amazing how quickly the house can go from "somewhat clean and presentable" to "national disaster zone". Hope you are all in good health and are enjoying your wednesdays!!

Thanks for coming over for a visit to this little corner :)

Ciao for now,

Sankari