August 2018 Challenge

Hello!!!

Thank you all so much for your amazing creativity for 

the July BIRTHDAY Challenge!

In India, we celebrate the wonderful festival of 'Rakshabandhan', in the month of August.

It is a sweet festival where brothers and sisters pledge their love for each other.

The sister ties a thread, usually with a charm on it, around the brothers wrist to signify her love and the brother vows to love and protect her always!

So I thought it would be appropriate to have 'FAMILY' as the theme for the challenge.

Here is the challenge for August 2018.

HOW TO PLAY

Make a card or tag using the theme given. 

Take a photo of your creation and link it up below.

If you have a blog, write a post about our challenge and link it back to our challenge, including photos of your card or tag.

Please display this storyboard prominently in your blog post so that others may be inspired to play.

ALSO, please display this logo prominently on the sidebar of your blog so that others may join us.

FOLLOW/JOIN  THIS BLOG

 FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM AND TAG YOUR SUBMISSIONS ON SOCIAL MEDIA WITH THE TAG

#PCMCHALLENGES

If you don't have a blog, post your photos on social media and TAG them with #PCMCHALLENGES

If you don't tag them, we will not see them on social media.

VERY IMPORTANT

PLEASE Link your blogpost/social media post to the linky below.

INSPIRATION

I have the fabulous 

Tracey Mcneely

as my Guest designer this month!!

I've gottten to know Tracey through Instagram and am a huge fan of her work. I'm so thrilled she could guest design for my challenge this month.

Here is what she says about her project!

Hi, I'm so excited to be Guest Designer for the July challenge at Paru's  Card Making Challenges! 

I'm Tracey McNeely and my blog is In My Creative Opinion. 

I live in the beautiful Muskokas of Ontario, Canada and I have had a life long love of pretty paper.

This month the theme is FAMILY, and I have a lot of girls in mine. 

I am always looking for birthday cards or words of encouragement and the Essentials by Ellen Inner Mermaid stamps and designer dies are perfect for the mermaids in my family.  

I started off by laying some Salty Ocean and Cracked Pistachio Distress Oxide inks on my craft mat and then it was spritzed with water. 

For the card I made a quick pass across the inks with some Bristol Smooth cardstock on an angle so that I didn't transfer the ink on the entire panel and then I set it aside to dry. 

Before the ink dried up I took a second panel cut down to 2 3/4" x 4 1/4" of Bristol Smooth and repeated the process for the tag.

While the panels were drying I stamped and heat embossed my images with gold embossing powder on some Neenah Solar White 110 lb cardstock. 

I like to use the thicker cardstock when embossing. 

The images were then coloured with Copic markers.

The sentiments were stamped on to both projects with VersaFine Onyx Black 

and then I adhered the images with foam tape for dimension.

To inspire you some more, 

here is what I made.

I just love this first card!! I used the 'Magical Dragon' stamp set from 

My Favourite Things to make this card. 

I intended to show the dragon, but it was so cute, that, I didn't think it appropriate to slay it!! ;-P

So, I decided to show just the flames!

Isn't it super cute!

Other stamps used are from Craftangles and Paper Smooches. 

I used tim Holtz distress inks to colour.

The second card is a card for brother and sister in law..in some communities in India, rakhis are gifted to sisters in law too. So I decided to make this simple card with two rakhis 

for brother and sister in law.

I used Simon says Stamp rectangle dies, Stampin' Up stamps, Flora and Fauna stamps and Die cuts and More dies, to make this card.

Its a fairly simple card. The rakhi is held in place with a piece of washi tape on the inside.

I hope you have been inspired to create a card for a family member! 

I'm looking forward to seeing what you create.

As there wasn't much time for last month's winner to design in time for this post, I'll have a winners post up around the 15th of the month..to keep inspiring us.

I will also have a great Guest Designer  creating more brilliant cards to inspire us, 

as well as cards designed by the three honorable mentions, 

during the month of August, 

so stay tuned!

PRIZES

I will choose ONE winner , 

who will then be the GUEST DESIGNER  for the next month's challenge, to be posted around the 15th of the month.

I will also pick THREE other winners for an honorable mention, who will also get an opportunity to design a card each for this challenge blog.

Sounds fun?

The challenge will run till the 25th of August...

The winners will be announced on the 28th of August.

Don't forget to stop by!

Please link up your creations below.

To be eligible to win a prize, please follow all the instructions carefully...

you will find them above and in under 'how to play' in the right sidebar.

Thanks so much for stopping by...

Have a great day!

Paru Mahtani

An InLinkz Link-up

June 2018 Challenge

Hello!!!

Thank you all so much for your amazing creativity for the May Mother's Day Challenge!

Father's Day is on June 17th 2018. 

So here is your chance to make a fun masculine card or tag.

Here is the challenge for June 2018

HOW TO PLAY

Make a card or tag using the theme given. 

Take a photo of your creation and link it up below.

If you have a blog, write a post about our challenge and link it back to our challenge, including photos of your card or tag.

Please display this storyboard prominently in your blog post so that others may be inspired to play.

ALSO, please display this logo prominently on the sidebar of your blog so that others may join us.

FOLLOW/JOIN  THIS BLOG

 FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM AND TAG YOUR SUBMISSIONS ON SOCIAL MEDIA WITH THE TAG

#PCMCHALLENGES

If you don't have a blog, post your photos on social media and TAG them with #PCMCHALLENGES

If you don't tag them, we will not see them on social media.

VERY IMPORTANT

PLEASE Link your blogpost/social media post to the linky below.

INSPIRATION

I have some fun cards for Dad this month!

For the first two cards, I have used the most beautiful floral card stock from 'My Happy Packs'..my wonderful sponsor for the month!

Who says floral is not masculine???

For the first card, 

I started out with a die cut square (Simon Says Stamp stitched squares) of the floral card stock whcih I adhered to a 5"x5" square card base.

To this, I adhered a stamped, coloured and fussy cut image from 

the Craftangles 'Dad you rock' stamp set.

I stamped the sentiment (also from the same set) onto white cardstock and adhered it to the card using 3D foam tape.

I die cut the work Dad using a Simon Says Stamp die and adhered it to the floral panel,

 to finish the card.

I wanted to create a whimsical scene of happiness and fun between a father and daughter.

For the second card, I started off again with another die cut square (Simon Says Stamp Stitched squares) floral panel.which I adhered to a 5"x5"square card base 

To this I added the MFT dienamics Open road die cut.

I then die cut and adhered the Volkswagon bus (from Flora and Fauna clear) using 3 D foam tape, 

to the panel.

I die cut and adhered the word Dad (Simon Says Stamp) and finished the card with this cute sentiment from Technique Tuesday.

In both the cards, I think, the paper does all the work!

For the next card, I started out by stamping the Impression Obsession 'Map' stamp using Versafine Smokey Grey ink onto white card stock.

I then watercoloured the map...something I've never done before!

I just love how it turned out!

I then die cut the map using Simon Says Stamp stitched circle dies.

I then die cut and embossed the compass using the Recollections 'Nautical' die set, 

from white card stock, and adhered it to the centre of the map using 3D foam tape.

I then die cut the word Dad (Simon Says Stamp) and adhered it to the top of the map.

to finish the card, I printed out the sentiment and adhered it to the card using 3D foam tape.

I had a bit of the map scrap left over, so I used my PTI bookmark die to cut it out.

I cut out two panels, so I could use it like a tag.

I stamped a simple sentiment and image from 

Three Room Studio

which just seemed perfect for this bookmark tag.

What do you think?

I am linking my cards to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge (Anything goes) and the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge (Masculine)

To inspire you further, I have the amazing

Ardyth Percy Robb

Good Morning!

I'm excited to be the Guest designer for the June challenge at Paru's Card Making Challenges

where the theme is MASCULINE.

I decided to use some Essentials by Ellen product from the latest release (and and older one, too!) and my favourite, Catherine Pooler inks.

Plaids and straight lines are often featured in masculine cards, so I started by using Plaid Maker to create a bold plaid background with Melon Ice.

This may not always be considered a 'masculine' colour, but teaming it up with black and grey definitely gives it a modern masculine look. I ended the plaid on one edge to leave room for my sentiment.

I stamped the biggest stripe with Black Jack ink to create a border between the plaid and my sentiment area.

I added accents with Black Jack and stamped my sentiment (from Totally Random Sayings, volume 2) in midnight ink.

These big bold letters are perfect for masculine cards!

I stamped and die cut a coffee cup from Oh Frappe and created a coffee sleeve with a piece of white card stock I had stamped with the white solid square stamp in Melon Ice ink.

I tied my tag in to the card by using a lot of the same elements. My plaid is smaller, to reflect the smaller size of the tag and I used the same stripe, a sold area of Melon Ice inking and the little heart with stickles in it.

We hope you have been inspired by our creations!! 

I can't wait to see what you make!

THE PRIZES

A paper pack from 

My Happy Packs

and 

A Rs.1500 gift voucher 

from me from an 

Indian Craft store of your choice!

The challenge will run till the 25th of June...

The winners will be announced on the 28th of June.

Don't forget to stop by!

Please link up your creations below.

To be eligible to win a prize, please follow all the instructions carefully...

you will find them above and in under 'how to play' in the right sidebar.

Thanks so much for stopping by...

Have a great day!

Paru Mahtani

An InLinkz Link-up

September 2017 'Rainbow' Challenge

Hello everyone!1!!! 

Thank you so much for playing along with the 'Anything Goes' in August!

I was thrilled by the response! So many beautiful cards!

Here is the September  challenge!

It's 'Anything Goes'..so let your creative juices flow!!

HOW TO PLAY

Make a card or tag using the theme given. 

Take a photo of your creation and link it up below.

If you have a blog, write a post about our challenge and link it back to our challenge, including photos of your card or tag.

Please display this storyboard prominently in your blog post so that others may be inspired to play.

ALSO, please display this logo prominently on the sidebar of your blog so that others may join us.

FOLLOW/JOIN  THIS BLOG

 FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM AND TAG YOUR SUBMISSIONS ON SOCIAL MEDIA WITH THE TAG

#PCMCHALLENGES

If you don't have a blog, post your photos on social media and TAG them with #PCMCHALLENGES

If you don't tag them, we will not see them on social media.

Link your blogpost/social media post to the linky below.

Now for some inspiration...
I have used this beautiful stampset deisgned my my talented guest designer
Deepti Malik called Kathryn's Rainbow.

For my card, I stamped and masked the umbrellas to create a floating pattern on a watercoloured sky.

I then painted them with rainbow colours and added the lovely sentiment from the set.

I added the clear sequins from Craftangles to complete the card.

To make the tag, I started with a stitched circle die cut on which I stamped the rainbow and clouds and watercoloured them.

I then cut part of a sentiment from the set and stamped it on the larger cloud which I popped up using 3D tape.

I then die cut some seagulls from the Recollections Nautical die set.

I finished the tag using Craftangles clear sequins and black and white baker's twine.

To inspire you some more, I have as my Guest Designer today 

Deepti Malik

of 

Dee's Art Utopia

Hi.

Thanks for having me over.

 I am sketch artist by default and a card maker by choice. My card making started with making some new year cards back in 2013 and now it has turned into a passion.

I moved a step ahead in 2015 as I started to illustrate my own stamp designs with my line of stamps

"Dee's Artsy Impressions" 

under the umbrella of STAMPlorations:)

I am also an instructor at Craftsy where I teach a class on Watercolour Cards made Simple.

I love all things clean and simple, but I also love to experiment. Water colours are my passion when it comes to a specific medium :)

Besides doing all the creative work, I am also, mom to a 19 month old siddharth, who keeps me on my toes 24x7 ;)

Here is a little  about how I made the card and tag-

I had so much fun making these! 

Lately, my love for inking is back and that led me to make the rainbow background for these.

To make these cards, I drew some diagonal lines using a ruler and then masked off and inked the stripes in rainbow colours using distress inks on both the card panel and the tag.

I then splattered some water on the top.

Next, I stamped, fussy cut and coloured the images and put those together on the base. To finish the card, I stamped the sentiment and added some clear sequins.

I look forward to seeing what you create with this set!

***

I just love Deepti's unique work..I hope you have been inspired to play along!

THE PRIZES
As always we have some awesome sponsors!!

We have the stamp set
Kathryn's Rainbow

 from

Dee's Artsy Impressions

And a 

$20 gift certificate from Pink and Main

The winner will be announced on the 28th of September, so don't forget to stop by!

Please link up your creations below.

To be eligible to win a prize, please follow all the instructions carefully...

you will find them above and in under 'how to play' in the right sidebar.

Thanks so much for stopping by...

Have a great day and have lots of fun!!

Paru Mahtani

An InLinkz Link-up

July 17 Challenge

Hello everyone!1!!! 

Thank you so much for a fantastic challenge participation in June! All the interactive creations were mind-blowing! I'm so glad I could create some fun for everyone!!!

Here is the July  challenge!

It's my birthday month!! So this month's challenge has to be 

to make a 'BIRTHDAY' card or tag!!

HOW TO PLAY

Make a card or tag using the theme given. 

Take a photo of your creation and link it up below.

If you have a blog, write a post about our challenge and link it back to our challenge, including photos of your card or tag.

Please display this storyboard prominently in your blog post so that others may be inspired to play.

ALSO, please display this logo prominently on the sidebar of your blog so that others may join us.

FOLLOW/JOIN  THIS BLOG

 FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM AND TAG YOUR SUBMISSIONS ON SOCIAL MEDIA WITH THE TAG

#PCMCHALLENGES

If you don't have a blog, post your photos on social media and TAG them with #PCMCHALLENGES

If you don't tag them, we will not see them on social media.

Link your blogpost/social media post to the linky below.

Now for some inspiration...

Birthday cards are my favourite..they make the recipient feel so special and,
really sweeten their day!!

My card today is a faux shaker..I created a donut box using Lawn Fawn's donut stamp, Queen and company's rectangle frame die and a sheet of acetate.
I then placed this box that I created on a patterned paper base and added the sentiment on the 'box'.
Sweet and simple, but packs a punch no?

For these birthday tags, I used Neat and Tangled stitched stamps and Simon Says stamp Stitched dies.

 The tags turned out really dainty and pretty no?

As a last minute creation, I decided to make a box card using my brand new

 Lawn Fawn scalloped box card die.

Oh! It's so much fun!!!

I know a lot of people make these box cards without the die, but with it, it super easy!!

I used sentiments and images from Hero Arts, Simon Says Stamp and our sponsor this month Concord and 9th stamp sets. Its my first attempt, so its not perfect, but not too bad I think...its quite celebratory!!

I am showcasing Condord & 9th products  this month and it would be great if you could too!

I am submitting this card for the Simon Says Stamp  Wednesday 'Anything goes' Challenge

To inspire you some more, 

I have Ardyth Percy-Robb of Maskerade as Guest designer! 

She is one of my absolute favourite designers..she has a brilliant CAS sensibility and I'm super thrilled to have her on my blog today!!!

Here is what she has to say about herself and her creations!

Ardyth Percy-Robb

 I am so thrilled that Paru has invited me to be Guest Designer for this month's Birthday Challenge! I had so much fun making my card and tag to be as happy and bright as possible!

I started cardmaking in 2006, at a Stampin' Up party and have never looked back. I started my blog, MASKerade in 2012 to be able to join in all the fun challenges. I've been on a number of Design Teams and own a couple of my own cardmaking challenges..Muse Card Club and Christmas visions. Do check them out!

I live in Toronto, Canada with my husband and two children (but not for long-my son is leaving for University soon!)

To make these cards, i cut the balloon out of masking paper four times  (one for each colour) and used the negative space, distress ink and a swirling motion to fill in with a lighter centre, which gives a bit of dimension. I spritzed the balloons for more texture and interest. I knew that some bold black would give this pretty card a graphic feel.

And, of course, you can't have a birthday card without some sparkle!

I hope Ardyth and I have inspired you to make some fun birhtday cards and tags of your own!!

THE PRIZES
As always we have some awesome sponsors!!

A $25 gift certificate
from
Concord and 9th

 and 

A $15 gift certificate from 

CAS-ual Fridays

The winner will be announced on the 28th of July, so don't forget to stop by!

Please link up your creations below.

To be eligible to win a prize, please follow all the instructions carefully...

you will find them above and in under 'how to play' in the right sidebar.

Thanks so much for stopping by...

Have a great day and have lots of fun!!

Paru Mahtani

May Challenge

Hello everyone! 

Thank you so much for fabulous challenge participation in April!!

As always, you made it really really hard for me to pick a winner!! 

Keep it up people!!

May 14th is Mother's Day, so lets see some beautiful cards for MOM this month!

Here is the May challenge!

HOW TO PLAY

Make a card or tag using the theme given. 

Take a photo of your creation and link it up below.

If you have a blog, write a post about our challenge and link it back to our challenge, including photos of your card or tag.

Please display this storyboard prominently in your blog post so that others may be inspired to play.

ALSO, please display this logo prominently on the sidebar of your blog so that others may join us.

FOLLOW/JOIN  THIS BLOG

 FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM AND TAG YOUR SUBMISSIONS ON SOCIAL MEDIA WITH THE TAG

#PCMCHALLENGES

If you don't have a blog, post your photos on social media and TAG them with #PCMCHALLENGES

If you don't tag them, we will not see them on social media.

Link your blogpost/social media post to the linky below.

Now for some inspiration...

I have made lots of cards for  for Mother'sday!

Lets start with some shaker cards that are really simple..

For the first card, I printed out the sentiment (inspired by a card that I saw on Etsy),
directly onto the card stock.
I then used the PaperSmooches wine glass die to die cut the shape to create a shaker window. I inlaid just the stem of the glass and added deep red sequins to the glasses.
I finished the card by adhering it to the cardbase using 3Dfoam tape.
I just love the way the card turned out!

For the second card, I used the Die-versions Old Globe East die. 

After adhering the plastic sheet to create the shaker window, I inlaid the die cut to create this super simple card.

I added some heart and flat sequins in deep red to the shaker.

I finished the card with a sentiment from mftstamps 'Space Explorer' stamp set.

I just love the CAS look of both cards.

For the third shaker card, I used the PaperTrey ink mason jar cut out on a panel on which I had printed out the sentiment.

After creating the shaker window, I added the buttons and used Craftangles 'Hearts All around stencil' to fill up the background.

Fun no?

Our sponsors this month are Newton's Nook and Craftangles.

So, I have used supplies from both brands to make these cute mother's day cards.

I love the newly released Craftangles 'Hearts All around' stencil..and I felt it paired beautifully with the Newton's Nook stamp set 'Wild about you'

I used the 'Lawn Fawn' grass diecut, sentiments and dies from Hero Arts and Simon Says Stamp, patterned paper from bob and Betty, inks from Memento and sequins from Pretty Pink Posh to finish the cards.

To make these two cards, I used the newly release 6"x6" Craftangles paper pack 'Timeless Treasures' and mftstamps 'I'm Owl yours' and 'Purrfect friends' stamp set.

This last card is a fvourite...

I used the newly released Craftangles superhero paper pack and the 'Supergirl' stamp set aslong with a sentiment from Simon Says Stamp.

I hope you have enjoyed these cards as much as I have making them. 

I haven't made any tags this month as I have made so many cards!

To inspire you further this month

I have the awesome 

Khyati Kothari 

Mothers day Inspiration using CrafTangles Products

Hello Crafters,

With Mothers Day just round the corner, I thought I would share some inspirations with you all. As most of you know CAS has never been my forte so when I had to guest design for Parus Cardmaking Challenges I was terrified, but I decided to give it a go and I am glad I did :)

So without further wait, here are the tags I made for the challenge -

Few more tags -

And One card that I made -

Products that I have used are -

CrafTangles Co-ordinated Stamp and Die Set - Super Boys
CrafTangles Co-ordinated Stamp and Die Set - SuperGirls
CrafTangles Stamp - I am Stuck on You
CrafTangles Stamp -  Mom you Rock
Zig Markers
Kuretake Gansai Tambi Starry Watercolors
CrafTangles Stitched Rectangles Dies
CrafTangles Stitched Circle Dies
Canson Watercolor Paper
A2 note cards
Distress Inks 
Black cardstock 
Embossing Powders

I hope you are inspired to play along!!

THE PRIZES

As always, we have our fabulous sponsors giving away some amazing prizes!

A fabulous goodie bag  from

Craftangles

worth Rs.1000.00

and a 

$25 store credit from 

Newton's Nook

The winner will be announced on the 28th of May, so don't forget to stop by!

Please link up your creations below.

To be eligible to win a prize, please follow all the instructions carefully...

you will find them above and in under 'how to play' in the right sidebar.

Thanks so much for stopping by...

Have a great day and have lots of fun!!

Paru Mahtani