Mojo-licious Monday! I found my Mojo in Vegas!

Hello!

I love Julee's blog Poetic Artistry and did my first Mojo Monday Challenges last week. Wel, I am hooked to her site and had to try the challenge for this week. I can't believe that I am making the card for this challenge so late in the week  - but hey! at least some mojo has been found :) These challenges are so much fun! Here is the challenge for this week: 

 I can't even tell you HOW much fun I had with this card! How much you ask..?

 Sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much (LOL!). Since this was the first Monday of the month - that means its time for the Mojo Madness Contest. So I wanted my card to be extra mojo-licious and suddenly thought of a the bright and glitzy town of Vegas. So here is what I slapped together :

  

The sentiment reads: Hope you hit the Jackpot! and was done on the computer imitating the Vegas font. Its nice to have a different kind of Good Luck card in my basket. The card was fairly fast to put together - the slot machine is from Jolee's Boutique, the background DP is from a mixed media pack from Colorbok. The three silver brads are from Spare Parts and was a perfect addition because they kinda look like coins for the slot machine. 

I have to admit that I went a little crazy with my Diamond Stickles on the DP because I was trying to make a glitzy casino background - I love stickles - its amazing how they can make a card pop. I could have stickled the whole DP, but I was starting to run out - and that was the only thing that made me stop :)

In the packet that the slot machine came from, there were also 6 little poker chips - which fit perfectly with the 6 scallops on the card (which was made with a circle cutter).  I love when things like that fit together.

I really had fun with this card. 

It's so great when you feel so happy after making a card. 

Hope all of you are having a lovely saturday!

 

Ciao for now

Sankari

COLOR INSPIRATION CHALLENGE! Get Up and Dance!

Hey Ya'll,

It's time for another fun Color Inspiration challenge from Kristina. I absolutely love these colors - (Chocolate Chip, Really Rust, Close to Coco, Certainly Celery and Whisper White) they remind me of the colors around my birthday which is in the fall (and also my favorite season). 

Having said that, I just had no mojo to make a card. Whaaaat??! That is crazy! So I couldn't let that be the frame of mind - and in trying to find inspiration, I read Kristina's earlier posts,and my interest was peeked when she mentioned the show So you think you can dance. 

WOW! I had just mentioned in one of my previous entries how I was in need of a new show, since Hell's Kitchen was coming to an end - so this was perfect!! Have you glimpsed this show yet - what an amazing amount of talent! and it also got my mojo flowing! So I came up with this card: 

I made the images in Photoshop and then printed it out into photo glossy paper. But when I printed it out the colors were a bit darker, so that was a bummer. But I still LOVE the card (the font is Baveuse and I loved the way it make the card a bit more funky). I really liked the layout of  Brooke's card for the challenge and did something a little similar to her card. Originally in the 4x6 photo, the back ground behind the dancers was Chocolate Chip, but when it printed it looked black - sooooo, I decided to take my handy dandy Xacto knife and cut the background out - which was tedious lemme tell you... Because of the hairs flying in the wind of the dancers were so small -- it was hard to exactly cut them out - but I did it listening to Greyboy Allstars - which made it go by fast! What's your favorite music that gets you movin' and shakin'?

After cutting out the images, I cut out circles from white card stock and mounted the images on the the paper that I had that was close to Certainly Celery. For the last dancer in green, I realized that I had to created a different background, to pop her out from the green background - so I created a background for her by punching out two squares from the dark brown paper. I also popped her out a bit with some 3D dimensionals. I then put the circles in the background to suggest motion   -  and I also wanted to incorporate the white circles from the Inspiration Picture into the card - so it seemed like a fun way to do both.  Then lastly, I finished it off with some ribbon from Offray. I thought it fun to put a watermark on the card similar to the circles on the card. 

I have to say that this card was sooooo much fun! It totally made me think outside the box because I wasn't expecting the colors to print differently - bu I have to say that I love the results. Makes me want to get up and dance!! 

That was such a great challenge - got me thinking and dancing outside of the box!

I love these all of these challenges (so many challenges, so little time)

Hope everyone is having a groove shakin' Friday!!!

Ciao for now!

Sankari 

Brilliant Weblog Award!!!!

Hi Everyone,

I just got my first award from Brooke (her blog is awesome - pop on over to Designs by Brooke for a visual treat of yummy crafting genius!).  

I met Brooke while doing the Color Inspiration Challenges by Kristina (which reminds me that I should go finish my card). Brooke is just awesome - she has such a great visual eye and her cards are just so elegant and beautiful - and when I am on her site my feet are always tapping to her great music choices - and I always leave smiling!! Thank you Brooke for your kind words - YOU are one awesome chickie! 

Here are the rules:

1) Put the logo on your blog.
2) Add a link to the person who awarded you.
3) Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4) Add links to those blogs on yours.
5) Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs.

Here are my 7 nominations:

1. Maria - (Stampin Inspirations) My whole blogging career started with Maria. I used to go on to her site everyday and then anytime I would email her with questions, she would email back right away with great answers and I always left feeling inspired. She is one of the sweetest people I have met and I absolutely adore her - Thank you Maria for inspiring me to start my own blog!!  You totally have changed 

2. Manuela (Papeluchosdamanu) - I met Manuela doing the KW Color Inspiration Challenges as well - we both started a blog right at the same time - and its been great to go on this journey into blog land with her. She lives in lovely Brazil (my most  favorite soccer team ever! Go Brasil!!!!) Manuela is just a total sweetheart and her work is just gorgeous.

3. Leslie  (Running with Scissors) - Leslie's work is just incredible - I have always admired her site/work from afar. She has such a lovely style and grace in all her cards and works. She is also just soooo super sweet and friendly and encouraging - Thank you Leslie, for your sweet words and your amazing works that always inspire me and make me go WOW!

4. Dawn (Treasureoilerdesignz) - Dawn just always blows me out of the water with her energy - she belongs to so many different design teams and is part of so many different projects and everyday she cranks out these incredible, yummy, clean and crisp, beautiful works of art. I don't know how she does it. She is also just a wonderfully sweet person -she is so positive, encouraging, inspiring and fun! She just oozes sweetness!

5,  Jean  (Stampin Cos its Fun) - I met Jean through the Color Inspiration Challenges and have to say that she is one talented artist! I always enjoy her cards and also how she puts things together. She has such a lovely eye for layouts and its always a pleasure to pop on over to her site.  I loved her take on the JohnnyCupcake Challenge - very cool Jean!

6. Yvonne (Campbell Creations) - I saw Yvonne's work through the KW Color Challenges and was so impressed by her awesome cards. She really nails it everytime in the Challenges and her cards are always so crisp and perfect. I am always wowed by her creations and leave her site wanting to try her designs. She is also just lovely!!!

7. Savitri - (Scrappin' & Stampin' with Savitri) - Savitri is one awesome hip chick. Her digital skillz are impressive and so very inspiring. I love the ease with which she makes her cards, her lovely designs, and her freshly designed scrapbook layouts! I want to CASE all her cards! And she bowls too!!!  :)

and I know that the rules said 7, but I must include 8

8. Christiane (Eye Can Stamp) - Chrisitane also recently created a blog like me and I have really been amazed at all the different techniques that she uses in all her cards. I feel so inspired to try out all these different techniques after popping onto her site. She is very sweet and I have really enjoyed meeting her!

Thank you so much Brooke for this total honor :) Its also such a great way to thank all those who have been so sweet, encouraging and inspiring. Hope all of you are excited that its friday and that the weekend lies ahead of us with open arms!! 

Yay!

Sending lots of love to everyone!!

:) Sankari

Thank You Allison!

Hi Everyone,

I just wanted to thank Allison from Stampinwhenican for putting my blog in her Newly Discovered Blogs post.  Allison has a great site, lovely cards and is on the DT for The Little Paper Shop. It was such a lovely surprise to see this little ole blog on her site. 

I started a blog at the end of May and can't believe that I didn't know this whole world existed. I have just really enjoyed meeting so many wonderful people and getting so inspired by all the lovely creations that everyone has made. 

Thank you Allison for the shout out!

Thank you also for visiting my site  - please drop a line and say hello!

Best wishes to all,

Sankari

1st Color ThrowDown!

Hi Everyone,

I was psyched to see that these amazing ladies (LeAnne, Tammy,  Broni, Kisa, Cathy and Tracy) had organized a new blog that does weekly color challenges. (if you click on each of their names, it will take you to their beautiful sites). Yep, I think I am slowly becoming a challenge junkie - who knew!?! For the first Color ThrowDown, the colors were Pretty in Pink, Sage Shadow and Regal Rose. 

This was a fun color challenge - it immediately made me think of flowers. Since I am new to the stamping scene, I don't have the SU papers and had to improvise on the colors. From the color pick chart, the shadow sage looks a little darker than this green that I had - but when I was scrapping at night, the colors seemed to work - anyhow, here is the card that I came up with: 

The flower image is from Clear Stamps (Garden Flowers) and the sentiment is from Clear Stamps (Heidi Grace Designs). The flourish that is made with a watermark is also from the latter company. I paper pieced the flower and leaves with DP that was as close to what I had with the colors. I then layered the images and tied the ribbon from Offray. The Brads are from American Crafts and I finished the card with some Crystal Stickles on the "&" sentiment. 

This was such a fun summery card. I made it while I was watching Hell's Kitchen on Hulu.... so sad that its all over - now which show should I get addicted to? Any suggestions? LOL! (for those of you who might not have heard of Hulu - be prepared to get addicted... it has so many great shows... and everyday there are more and more shows/movies that are added!)

Can't wait to see all the beautiful cards that were made with this color throwdown :) and can't wait for next week's challenge! woo-hoo!!

Hope all are well! 

Ciao for now!

Sankari

(PS - i just noticed how many exclamation points I use in a sentence! And I love it!!! woo-hoo!!)

Celebrate 12 Birthday Card!

Hi Everyone,

I have been MIA for a little while now. We made our big trip back from Baltimore on Sat. and returned back to Iowa this Sunday. It was really hard to leave my parents, and I am so grateful that we could all be there with them for so long. Thanks to everyone for the sweet wishes of good health for my father. On our way home, I got a really bad cold - major congestion etc.. The past 2 days, I have been trying to sort laundry, put away all of our things that we crammed into our Minivan and get my bearings again. I hadn't even touched anything craft related, but last night I realized that I needed to make a birthday card for my dearest Akhila who is turning 12 this sunday!! I can't believe she is so big - I remember holding her as a wee little one. I can't believe that she is almost a teenager!!! Whaaaa??? 

So out came some crafts and in the late hours of the night, I tried to make my little Akhila a birthday card. I was trying to figure out what I should do and so for inspiration I popped onto the OCC and saw this great sketch. The card sketch is from the gang at Our Creative Corner .  All of these lovely ladies are amazing and I especially LOVE Dawn Easton's work. Apart from being an amazing artist -  Dawn is just soooo sweet - she is so kind and uplifting and her messages are just so inspiring. She is just a lovely lady. What an amazing world of crafters we live in!! 

I really enjoy doing these sketch challenges - its such a fun way to use the space and to see all the other amazing crafters and their creations. (Note to Self: I think I am slowly becoming a challenge junkie! gasp!!) This weeks challenge was:

It is a great sketch and worked perfectly with the sentiments that I wanted to use. I am not sure where the paper is from - its from a stack of DP that is from the pre-blog days. The 2 sentiments were stamped with Stazon Black ink. The Celebrate sentiment is from SU! Tag Time set and the numbers are from Clear Stamps (Doodle Numbers). The brads are from Scrap Essentials (Bright Mini Brads and Bright Star Brads). The ribbon is from Offray. 

I would also like to give a shout out to Savitri for the inspiration for this card. She made such a great card for her MIL and I loved her use of numbers. She has got such a great style and her work is just awesome - go and check her out here. Go Savitri :)!

I am glad to finally post a card - phew! It's been so long since I made one, and its amazing how happy making a card makes me feel! So, now I am off to the post office to send this little card to my little Akhila who is not so little anymore (but she will always be my sweet little one - to me).

 Hope all of you are well and enjoying the sunshine of summer!

Best wishes to all!,

Sankari

Color Inspiration Challenge #14

Hi Everyone, 

Its time for another awesome Kristina Werner: Color Inspiration Challenge. I really loved this challenge because I haven't really used this color scheme yet - and I have to say that it was the most fun that I have had making a card.  

The five colors for the challenge were: Whisper White, Basic Black, Basic Gray, Ruby Red and River Rock. Since we could opt out of the Ruby Red/River Rock, I chose to opt out of the River Rock.  I just loved the look of the monochromatic with a splash from the red spectrum. 

Now first things first. I know, I know I know that this is NOT a practical card - in that it won't fit in your everyday envelope - but it was SO fun to make that, I just didn't want to focus on any practical issues :)

 

The black and gray cardstock is from my scrap pile. The DP is from me and my big ideas - I was going to use it for a scrapbook layout - but then thought that it would fit in with this challenge. The big beautiful butterfly is from Midwest Design and is made of dyed feathers with glitter. Its really soooo beautiful and lovely and makes the card so very unpractical but so very yummy :)  The metal ribbon charm is from Making Memories and the Gray/Silver ribbon is from Wrights (Casa Collection). The stamped sentiment is from Clear Stamps (Heidi Grace designs) and was stamped with Black Stazon Ink. I am not sure where the flowers are from - these were bought pre-blogging days, where I didn't keep the companies that made products. 

 

I can't even tell you how much fun this particular group of colors were - I totally loved it and had a million different ideas. I am not sure if this is particularly sassy?, but I was just going for a BIG, different, FUN, bold look.... and it was definitely fun. 

Hope all of you are well and are enjoying your almost weekends :)

Best wishes to all,

Sankari

Mojo-licious :)

Hi Everyone,

Here is a card I made for Julee's Mojo Monday (#44).  I really loved the sketch for this week's challenge - its such a versatile sketch. 

 

I chose not to use the optional layer and instead chose to add a ribbon - I was trying to avoid ribbons altogether - but felt like the card "needed" something. The birthday cake image from this card has a funny story behind it. I found this birthday cake image on..........(drum roll please)................ a paper plate!!!! I think it was almost a year and a half ago - I saw this image and fell in love with it. We used it for a birthday party and I saved one of the plates because I thought I could make it into something... someday. Well, after carrying it around with me for a year and half, I found it again in my scrap pile and thought that it might fit the vertical image on the Mojo Monday challenge. I love finding images in the oddest places like that - everything can be incorporated into a card, right??! :)

The very very very back background is burgundy cardstock. The other DP are from a stack of paper that I have had for so long, but have no clue where its from, its kinda organgy/reddish. I crumpled the background paper and then inked it with some #6 Brown from Marvy Matchables. The brads are from Paper Studio: Spare Parts, the ribbon is #148 Seville from Morex Corp., the sentiment is from Kolette Hall and was stamped in Stazon Black. The gold dots on the BP were painted on with gold paint. Oh and I have to say, I loved the little photo corner touch - never done photo corners before, and I have to say it was a really fun touch. The photo corner was layered onto black cardstock for a brighter look. 

I really loved this sketch and can't wait to use it again soon. I think that everytime I do one of these challenges, I learn a little something new and fun. Its a great way to get your mojo going.... its only taken me till Thursday to get mine going and now its almost the weekend! LOL!

Hope all are well,

Ciao for now :)

Sankari

Baby Boy Card

Hi all,

just a quick card I made to celebrate the birth and joy of little wee one of a close family friend.  I paper pieced the bird with DP -although you can't see it - and add crystal stickles to the tail and dots.... I had a hard time taking a pic of it - because it just looked a little cuter in person - but oh well..... 

hope all of you are well - things here are ok -- we have to start thinking of heading back to iowa and that is a bit rough because its really hard to leave my parent's house right now. my dad still has 4 more weeks for recovery from his surgery, but he seems to be in a stronger place these days. I can't believe that we have already been here for 4 weeks - time has just flown by. 

anyhow - now begins the process of starting to pack everything up .... i think i would rather stamp.... 

hope all of you are well,

best wishes to all,

sankari

Our Creative Corner Challenge - Brads and Buttons

Hi Everyone,

Here is a card that I made for the Our Creative Corner Challenge - Brads and Buttons. The inspirations for this card came from: Dawn Easton and Maria whose cards I CASED.  Before I continue with the card - I would just like to take a moment to thank Maria for being so sweet and welcoming. Way before I even had a blog, I would pop onto Maria's for a little inspiration and was always amazed by her crafts and more than that who she was. She has always been so open and so encouraging in her emails - she is just the sweetest sweetheart and a wonderful person. Thank you so much Maria! As my son would say: "You are just so tweet".  So go on over to Maria's site and check out her cards!

As to this card - I have to admit - it all started when I saw the paper -(Sparkle Cat Circles - from Cloud 9 designs). I just loved it! and then I remembered that I had some brads that matched, and then I found some buttons that would go and then I saw some ribbon that could tie it all together (all of these elements are from MakingMemories). I love how the brads look like buttons (these are epoxy buttons). As for the sentiments - the  Thank You ,  I think is from MSF! - but I am not sure because I didn't keep the packaging - will have to check on that.

And after I made the first one, I couldn't help but make a second one, using the same stamp set but a different Thank You sentiment.  I really loved all the circle elements - it just feels so very fun - you can't quite see it - but the paper has some glitter on the black circles -which makes it quite the disco card in the sunlight ;)

This was a really fun project and I have to say I am so into buttons now. Who knew buttons could be so fun!? I couldn't resist adding a button with the matching ribbon in the top right corner...  and had to control the urge to go button-wild :) 

I can't wait to see what new challenges they have today at the OCC. Hope you are all enjoying a sunny saturday! 

Best wishes to all

Ciao fro now :)

Sankari

TCP Tuesday

Hi Everyone,

This is a card that I made for the TCP challenge. These challenges are quite fun and this week it was hosted by Leigh O'Brien. I just recently started this blog (maybe like a month ago) and Leigh was so sweet and encouraging - she does some beautiful cards, so go take a lookie. The colors for this week were:

It was a really fun combination of colors and the card itself was a fun card to make. The color combination made me think of red flowers in the earth against a beautiful sky - so I went with that. The stamps for this I think are from MSF!, I am not sure because I got this stamp set a while ago and kept the clear stamps in a folder without labeling where it was from  - (I have since learned that lesson). 

I stamped the lotus image on the olive and red paper and then paper pieced them together on the sky blue circle punch. The papers were then layered, the circles were laid together at the bottom and then I put cherry red brads from American Craft: Elements between the sky blue circles. I tied soft sky ribbon and stamped the Thank You sentiment and finished with a little cherry brad in the "O" of the sentiment. At the bottom of the card I put little dots from my cranberry marker and then called it a day... well actually - I called it a night....  I love it when the kids are asleep and I have some moments to craft :) 

Can't wait to get some TCP stamps and see what the next challenge is :) I have to say - its really fun to do these challenges because the have made me use colors and combinations that I hadn't thought of before - and its great to see all the cards that all the other amazing crafters have made!

Hope all of you are well and happy and healthy!

Ciao for now!

Sankari

Graduation - Congratulations Card

Hello Everyone,

Two cards in one day! What!!! 2 posts in one day!! Que Pasa??!! I know, I know - its been that kinda of a day - trying to do too much... it feels like there has been 32 hours in this day... ever feel like that?  usually it feels the other way around - anyhow....

This is a graduation card made for the high school graduation of our family friends daughter -- ok ok - she graduated like.... 4 weeks ago - and I have been meaning to make a card (better late than never right?) and so I whipped this little number up,

 while I was in my craft space gettin' busy with the KW Color Inspiration Challenge posted below. Since this card was for a young lady (this one's for you Lakshmi!) I decided to give the owl some eyeshadow and then put some Crystal Stickles on her eyes -- for that fierce look (LOL!)... and of course once you bring the Stickles out --- you just want to put them everywhere - so I put them on her wings... and had to then put the Stickles away in case I just went a little Stickle-crazy :)....  Hopefully, I can get this out in the mail ASAP  - that part is whole other kinda ballgame...  I am not sure what all the ingredients of the card are ... (i am typing downstairs and i feel too lazy to go upstairs.... the only thing i remember is that the sentiment Congratulations is from G studio... I know this because I have used it sooooo often in the last few cards.  I will have to update this with the card ingredients later...

Tomorrow is Friday!!! YAY! since we are on vacation that doesn't have the same kinda oomph - but its a great thing because my mother will be done with work and we can all be together in this last weekend of June! Can you believe that its almost July! I surely can't.... Anyhow...I will end with my late night ramblings and sign off for today :)

Hope all of you are well and happy!

Best wishes, 

Sankari

Color Inspiration Challenge #13

Hi Everyone,

Time for another Color Inspiration Challenge from Kristina Werner - this time the five colors are: Whisper White, Purely Pomegranate, Regal Rose, Wild Wasabi and River Rock. Its interesting how these challenges make me actually post a card... and keep the creative fun juices going :).

 This card is really simple - quick and simple because one of my old highschool chums is coming over for a visit. The stamped sentiment (Thank you very much) is from MorningStar stamps, the flower in the middle of the sentiment is from Martha Stewart crafts, the papers are as similar as I could find to the SU colors from the challenge and the ribbon is from my scrap pile.  I couldn't get the lighting to work for me in taking this pic - anyone else have that problem? any advice? But anyhow -all in all it was a fun card to make. And its always nice to have some extra Thank you cards around :)

You know the other reason its kinda fun to do these challenges is because I feel connected to so many other crafters around the world who I imagine are also sitting in their craft space creating something yummy :) Crafters are awesome! Hope all of you are well and healthy and enjoying some nice summer sunshine,

Thanks for stopping by - its been really nice to meet all you sweet people :)

Ciao for now :)

Sankari

Happy Housewarming Card

Hi All, 

Here is a fun little card that I made for our friend's housewarming (which was today but we couldn't make it because our daughter who has been sick with fever this week is just starting to turn the corner - knock on laminated wood :). But I hope they all had fun. 

This card was so much fun to make and I have to admit that one or two... (okay - three) Klondike bars went into the creative process ---

along with watching a few episodes of Arrested Development on Hulu. First off,  Hulu rocks! (check it out) And second I just started watching Arrested Development and its so funny if you like that type of humor. I am usually laughing watching that while I am making cards (and in this card's creative process - also eating a Klondike bar :) 

Anyhoo.... I think the card recipe is pretty self-explanatory, the DP I am not sure where its from (I need to get better at recording these things) and the sentiment is from Inkadinkado (love it). I also embossed the yellow background with clear embossing powder with a stamp from Stampabilities. I also have to thank Manuel for the housewarming card idea (she made a really sweet one with a cute house) and also Kittie for the idea with the grass.  bottom of the grass was sponged with Stazon Olive and not sure where the ribbons are from... hmm.... note to self - keep craft space in order so you know which company makes which craft stuff... oh and also - Klondikes and cardmaking do not mix well.....too messydrippy

Anyhoo - thanks to the Klondikes - I am still up - when I should be sleeping - but these moments when the kids are asleep and I can just do whatever I want are sooooo nice that I want to savor it - but then again - they are going to be up by 6am ... hmmmmm...

well - wishing all of you a great night and sweet dreams!

Tell laters,

Sankari

Color Inspiration Challenge #12

Hi Everyone,

Its time for another color challenge from Kristina Werner. This time the challenge had four colors : Whisper White, Sahara Sand, So Saffron and Wasabi Green.  

I have to say it was a little bit of a hard challenge - just the combination of colors and all... but one thing that I have noticed in doing these challenges, is that I make cards that are outside my box - although I don't really know what my box is.... Anyhow - I have to say I liked how the card turned out - I was trying to follow the design of the placemat from the picture - with just little pops of color from the flowers. It's kinda fun to work with circles - I just wanted to keep cutting circles out - (the Cutting System from Creative Memories is awesome for circle cutting...) and the little flowers are just so cute and sweet.

I guess maybe - just that I think a little bit more of the design of the card then just throwing things together. Anyhow... the only stamp is the sentiment Congratulations, which is from G Studio stamps  (only a $1 at AC Moore - Holla!). All the papers are from my scrap pile -not sure from where - the only one I know is the Sahara Sand look alike is from American Traditional Designs and I love this DP - its so nice - feels so good and is double sided cardstock with beautiful vines on the back. The flowers and pearl embellishments are from Kaiser Scrapbook - they are both lovely and delicious.

 

I really do look forward to these challenges - can't wait till the next one!

Hope all of you are well and are enjoying this beautiful weekend!

Ciao for now!

Sankari