In love wid blues...

In love wid blues...

Posted by Rajni Chawla

Hello all
As you all know I am always  in love with my distress inks.Can't stop myself from using them. Today I'm sharing two of my cards that I previously made in different colors but tried this time in blues on clients request. I have used salty ocean, broken china and peacock feather to ink the backgrounds of my cards. Here are the pics...

CARD 1..

CARD 2...

Entering my first card to Lulupu challenge #22 ...."Cook it up' and blog hop.
(I have cooked my recipe with stamps ,die cuts and embellishments)
Ladies...don't forget to participate in blog hop at Lulupu...so many chances to win...so many categories to choose) 

Crafting needs no restrictions and need no recipes at all...

Crafting needs no restrictions and need no recipes at all...

Posted by Rajni Chawla

Hello all..
I have been in creative line and production work since years. When I do creative work, I don’t worry about being right or wrong. I simply allow the ideas to express themselves. My experiences with different clients...with their different requirements...with different budgets have made me learn at all steps. Also every little question of  my student has made me move one step forward.  
Today I'm here to share my experience of making handmade paper flowers. 

It's been more then 3 months that I have been taking paper flower workshops now. I always try to guide my students that while creating any type of flower don't restrict yourself to use same die or punch that I use. Check your own collection and think before you buy anything new. I also guide them not to restrict themselves to number of petals used while making any flower. Use as many petals as you want to give a complete and finished look to your flowers. No limitations and no restrictions at all when you are crafting.

 I came across quite a lot of queries while conducting my workshops.

What all dies I love to use for making flowers and why ?

What paper and what gsm I prefer?

Please share some video tutorials.... mam?

How do I take out production work of handmade  paper flowers?

My this post is reply to all these queries.

What all dies I love for making flowers?

As it is with most of all  the crafters, my greed of buying craft supplies also never ends. I have a huge collection of flower dies and punches but I love using following dies.
 

Spellbinders Rose Creation

Sizzix  Bigz Tattered Floral Die

Heartfelt Creations  Sunfluer Kissed Die

Joycraft floral flourish 1,2,3,4 and 5

For me  all the above listed are....theee best. My spellbinders rose creation and Sizzix Bigz is good for production. I can cut more then 1 paper at a time because of  their deep blades. I can cut two different shades of papers and cut for two different colored flowers simultaneously. More over for few flowers I need a hole in the center....so I can avoid that extra step of punching if I m cutting it with my spellbinders rose creation. I get a good sized flower with both these dies.

 Heartfelt  Creations Sunfluer Kissed die is also equally good. But I love it more because I save my time as i get so many sizes of die cuts in just one go...I don't have to arrange loose dies. Here I want to share my one secret....I use this die more to cut  green sepals for my flowers. Different sized flowers need different size of sepals and that I can do with this die in one go. 

And I also love all the five of my Joycraft floral dies. I love them because of their designs. Though few of the designs I have in my punches but I find dies more easier to work with and also they are long lasting. Punches can loose their sharpness after few regular uses. But I get a medium sized flower with these dies....that is not perfect for my packaging and  door decoration.   

What paper and what gsm I prefer?

Earlier I was making my flowers with fabriano card stock which is 220 gsm. Now I can work with paper as thin as 80 gsm also. May be its just because I have already done so much of production now. You just have to choose a paper which has good capacity to soak water well. If u think the paper you are using is thin and will tear while pinching.....try to pinch 2 or 3 petals together. The one I'm using now is a local buy in the name of Neelgagan and Lotus. Keep trying on new papers  as well as you never know sometime you might find something better then this.  

What all videos I follow ?

I specially thank to all those crafters who took out their precious time in making and sharing so many interesting videos on you tube. I not only enjoy watching videos but also enjoy trying different techniques. It depends from person to person how they apply every technique after watching videos. Few of my favorite videos for making crumbled flowers are listed below. Each one has something special to learn.

Crumbled paper gardenias

 (tutorial by Luvleescrappin showing how to crumble each petal individualy) 

Paper blossom bloeman tutorial 

(for assembling the paper flower if you are using punch or a die which has loose petals)

video by Jolanda Bergmans 

(one of the best video by Joycraft's deigner using all the five joycraft flower dies with same technique) 

video of joycrafts paper blossom

(how to make flowers using punches)

rose tutorial using joycraft dies

(easiest way to make roses)

Tutorial on handmade paper gardenia flowers
(an awesome tutorial by Varshitha  Nagarajan which she made for Lulupu,the craft launge, showing what all inks you can use to create naturally looking gardenias)

How I take out production of handmade paper flowers?

 I use my handmade flowers for packaging, on cash envelops, as hair accessories, for door decorations, for cards n scrapbooks, corner arrangements and many more. And mostly I am into production work....always need good quantity. For different projects I need different sizes of flowers . Also to me, a single big flower looks less pretty then the one when tied in a small sweet bouquet .

You know what....all my tools are very friendly. They happily work together and help me enough in bringing out production. My spellbinder dies and Joycraft dies don't cry when I force them together and roll them through my Bigshot. I put them together and cut and also sometimes combine them to take out production. 

Have a look at this picture. I made this flower for challenge at CCC blog which was hosted by me. This was my very first try at these flowers I tried only few and tried only with Spellbinder's Rose Creation. 

Watch these 2 video tutorials.

Video by one of the joycraft designer Jolanda Bergmans
(this particular video will show you how u can use different dies with same technique)

Video by Archana Joshi 
(this will show you that you can even use your punches for the same technique...You must must follow her tutorial board on pinterest for her mixed media flowers )

I have followed the above mentioned tutorials and made these flowers.  When I was working on my bulk order for hair accessories for one of my client I really went short of time and also short of my staff who generally help me in cutting. It was my first big order of these flowers and I was quite new in making the same. I was little stuck up but then got an idea of combining my joycraft and spellbinders together to save little time in cutting. If you take a closer look to joycrafts floral die (6002/0156) , ( 6002/ 0158) and spellbinder's rose creation the flower petals are more or less same.....and more over once the petals get crushed  it hardly makes any difference.You can either use your dies separately or you can also combine them together....the results will be more or less same. Let them be like that as even nature has not created exactly the same flowers. 
Everything depends on your own creativity and your own satisfaction...the end result should be eye pleasing....that's it!!
As far as I'm getting good production and good results I can combine anything.....any brand...any die....any punch.

Here are the pictures of some flowers with same technique....with different dies....and  almost same results....though the sizes are bit different.
Never mind!!

Now...here they are when tied in a small bunch...

Don't you think they are pretty enough to catch anybody's attraction??
 Can you point out which 1 is with which die??
So think twice before you buy any floral die....the one already in your stash can create wonders....but only if you give yourself lots of tries. 
 For me...
 Crafting needs no restrictions and  need no recipes at all. The phases of crafting are discovery, self satisfaction and production. Every crafter must discover the recipe of its own and then create the item.
Art prefers no rules. Do whatever you want. Also sometimes if you impose rules and restrictions on creativity......your requirements can force you to be creative in unusual ways.


That's all for today. If You still have any queries leave a comment below and I will definitely reply back.

(HUGS)
   

My garden of thoughts...(blue)

My garden of thoughts...(blue)

Posted by Rajni Chawla

Hello ladies..

Its long that i have not shared any of my quilled creation here on my blog. Sorry friends got stuck up with some other projects. I have loads of quilled projects to share, that I created in last few months.....will try to be regular in my postings for quilling now. 

Today I'm sharing my quilled project that I named My Garden of Thoughts....Yess i shared the same in pink few months back.You can click here to have a look. This particular panel was specially customized for one of my client. It took near about 20 days to complete and more than 6 months in posting. 

 Hope u enjoyed watching and got inspired.

Sorry again....will come back soon with few more quilled creations of mine. 

Layered stamping...

Layered stamping...

Posted by Rajni Chawla

Hello lovely ladies...

Today I m here to share a post that I made as  DT for color Conception Challenge Blog for their current challenge.....and I am sharing a beautiful mistake that I did yesterday.
Yes ,don't get surprised...I m really sharing my mistake. Let me know who all make mistakes while trying something new....I mean who all are like me??
We all are same... Right??
but don't admit sometimes :D
Few of us also leave everything and jump onto other new things but I always try to check what mistake I have done and now what can be done to get a little better results with the same. 

Just a little revision now....this was what I shared with u all as an inspiration for the current challenge. 

 I have shared embossed resist and layered stamping.  First of all I would love to share the tutorial which I myself followed while making my inspiration card for this month's challenge.  Click here and watch how Shari Carrol uses acrylic blocks for creating wonderful backgrounds. 

Now onto my mistake card. I was in bit hurry and instead of clear embossing powder I sprinkled seafoam white embossing powder..actually got confused between their bottles......and here are the results I got.

Look at the beautiful background. Isn't it amazing !!
At the first glance i was not at all happy with the results as i wanted my background stamp to show. Got little confused...and in that confusion i tried to rub off the embossing powder with foam sander.  

Just follow these few steps...

1. I used Hero Arts news paper stamp and stamped it using black archival ink.

2. Then stamped Penny Black background stamp using Versamark and sprinkled white seafoam embossing powder. I didn't even gave a small thought that white embossing powder is opaque and most of the part won't show. I was not happy with the backgrounds as it was more of whites.
3. I gave a little rub with my sanding block and added Withered wood distress ink.
4. At last little touch up with koi brush using Peeled paint distress ink and a little rubbing with a wet tissue and it was done.

Here is another one that came in my mind.

This is just simple....yet awesome!!

Its not layered stamping.....its only heat resist on vellum. Simply stamped with versamark and heat set using white embossing powder and flowers were colored with distress inks using koi brush. It has nothing like layered stamping but still I'm excited to share with u all because I created it when I was trying to create something else.
 

 Isn't it that trying new things does not cost anything but sometimes gives big and beautiful returns. Trying new things  stirs my creativity in ways I could never have imagined. So, you all also stir your creativity and  try to learn from your mistakes. 

Sometime it  turns out and sometimes not...... it is fun!! 

Making mistakes. Sometimes laughing at my own attempts......Still trying new things. Growing and changing..... learning n living every day.... gaining confidence. 

Hope you too share your mistakes :)
(Hugs)
Huggs

"It's In The Bag!"

"It's In The Bag!"

Posted by Rajni Chawla

Hello friends..

I am back again with my new project that I created for this year's last JustRite Friday Challenge .....this time the challenge count is #111....an awesome tipple digit no :)

This week's challenge was to create any gift packaging item. I decided to make something for Valentine's Day. I created a love platter with a set of two treat bags using red, black and gold shades. I have downloaded the templates from net and followed the instructions to make these bags. I have decorated both the bags with black die cuts of APG  Filigiree Corner die, pasted on golden shimmer paper and then fussy cut. One of the bag has its sentiment embossed with golden embossing powder on black fabriano and the other has its sentiment simply stamped with deep maroon and black archival ink. The sentiments are from Justrite's Antique Vintage Tag Clear stamp set. I have used small  crystal blings and black organza ribbon to garnish these treat bags.

 I was having small crystal showpiece at home . I simply glued a red heart die cut to enhance the complete love theme at the back of show piece and placed in one corner of the platter. I really liked the end results of the platter and feel it could be a perfect gift for your loved one on valentine day or can also be presented with wedding ring on your very special day :)     

Hope you all like it.

Thanks for stopping by :)

Entering ..
JustRite Challenge #111

Lulupu Challenge#22 Cook it up! & Blog Hop 2013
(I have cooked my recipe with die cuts(APG filigiree corner die) embellishments( flower, ribbon n pearls) and stamped image (justrite stamp)
Ladies...don't forget to participate in blog hop at Lulupu...so many chances to win...so many categories to choose)

Quiz Time - Day 6

Quiz Time - Day 6

Posted by Rajni Chawla

Hello lovely ladies!!

      As we announced earlier it is celebration time for us, as our blog has received immense support & love from you all & we have crossed 100 followers soon.

       We have compiled a photo quiz for you for 6 days. We have five questions each day which will be announced by my team on their personal blogs. So make sure you visit our blog to know who the host is for the day & remember you have time only until mid night to participate.

     Remember this is just for FUN, we are not here to test your knowledge. So lets all play along in the right spirit. Exciting???  Well here are some points to remember

·         You must be a follower of our blog and challenge blog.

·         Be as specific as you can with your answers.

·         Add your name to the linky below (EVERYDAY)  to let us know your participation.

·         The linky closes at mid night on that day. SO REMEMBER YOU HAVE JUST A COUPLE OF HOURS TO ENTER.

·         Person with maximum right answers will be the winner of the day. In case there are more than one, the one that replies earliest will be the winner

·         There is a BUMPER prize for 1 person, who participates on all 6 days!!

·         The decision taken by the DT will be final.

Please mail your answers in this format to tanvee10.shah@gmail.com – Subject of the mail should be CCQUIZ Answers.

NAME –

DATE –

NAME OF THE QUIZ HOST (ON THAT DAY) –

ANSWER –

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Would love to answer any specific queries you have regarding this.

So join in to have some fun over all 6 days!!!!

1.      MANY OF US JUST CAN’T HAVE ENOUGH OF THIS PRODUCT!!

2.      NAME THE PRODUCT USED on the ornaments HERE –

3.      IDENTIFY THE PRODUCT

4.      IDENTIFY THE PRODUCT

5.      IDENTIFY THIS TOOL -

Alcohol ink backgrounds

Alcohol ink backgrounds

Posted by Rajni Chawla

Hi all..


A super quick post today. Sharing few of my cards in which I created backgrounds using alcohol inks. Lots of layering of dies and lots of handmade flowers....Hope u like them.

Entering...

CraftinDesert Diva's (tags).....monday 9th dec

Lulupu Challenge#22 Cook it up! & Blog Hop 2013 (winner card)
( i have cooked my card recipe using dies ,embellishments and stamped images)Ladies...don't forget to participate in blog hop at Lulupu...so many chances to win...so many categories to choose)