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

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

April Challenge

Hello everyone! 

Thank you so much for great challenge participation in March!!

I can say you made it really really hard for me to pick a winner!! 

Keep it up people!!

This month is an easy one, so hope to see lots of you participating!

Here is the April 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...

As the theme is anything goes, I decided to make  a Spiderman themed notecard and tag!

For the card, I started by using my oval punch to create the basic shape.
I then used a Steadler XS tip pen to create the web.
For the eyes, I die cut the Impression Obsession spectacles in black and white; Cut the black spectacles in the middle and added the white centres.

I die cut a white square using Simon Says Stamp Stitched squares, to use as the background.
I drew the spider web using a black micro tip pen.
I then adhered it to a kraft 3"x3" kraft card base to make a fun note card.

For the tag, I started by using an Oval die cut.

I drew a spiderweb using a black micro tip pen.

I used the love sign hand from Paper Smooches 'Helping Hands' to create Spiderman's hand!

I drew the spider web on the hand using the same micro tip pen as before, and added it to the centre of the web.

I added a sentiment from Stampendous'  'Cupcake Numbers' stamp set.

I'm quite thrilled the way these two turned out! I hope to have inspired to play with your supplies and create something different!

To inspire you further, I have a fabulous Guest Designer this month...

Sathya Kala 

Hi Friends

Am delighted to guest design here today at ParuCardmaking Challenges. Its such an honor to be invited and Thanks much for the lovely opportunity, Paru.

Little bit about me!

I Am SathyaKala, Toxicologist by Qualification and Passionate Papercraft Enthusiast. Am from Chennai, currently residing at UAE. Married to a wonderful friend and we are blessed with 8 year son. 

Am inclined towards art forms from childhood. Its much with Dance and Music in earlier part of my childhood with coloring, embroidery being my favorite hobby. When i stumbled upon a Food-Art blog in 2011, i discovered my passion for Quilling, which led me to where am today.

I dabble with different art forms - Quilling, Cardmaking, Mixed media, Coloring and Brush Lettering. This keeps things fresh and my mind inventive. I find that one passion crosses over the next, giving a different spin to it.

You can find me at my blog : Paperie Expressions and at Instagram : sathyakala.23 

This month’s theme is  "Anything Goes" at PCM and i have come up with a Mixed media card and a Tag.

 First up is Mixed media Card.

                                                                       

Made a mixed media square card. Lot of stamping , stenciling and texture pastes on the background.

Floral cluster along with tinted cheesecloth, twine bow are made on a doily.

Few vellum butterflies, generous splashes of white gesso and few clear droplets are added as finishing touches.

Next up is a Simple Tag.

                     

Made a simple Tag, with watercolor bg using Brusho crystals.

Stamped leaves stamp using Green archival ink followed by Watereffects Stamp using black archival ink.

Sentiment is stamped over Vellum and added with few vellum butterflies.

As a final touch, added glossy accents to few raindrops.

I hope you feel inspired to play along this month’s Challenge - "Anything goes”

Cheers,

Sathya

THE PRIZES

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

A fabulous goodie bag  from

CraftyScrappers

and a Stampset worth Rs. 975/- from 

Letz Craft

The winner will be announced on the 28th of April, 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

June challenge

Hello everyone! 

Welcome back to all of you who have played  our challenges before and a big welcome to those who are stopping by for the first time! 

I hope you have great fun playing  along!

Fathe's day is on June 19th this year, so I thought I should dedicate this challenge to all those awesome fathers who make our lives so very comfortable!!

The challenge for June is..

HOW TO PLAY

Make a card or tag using the theme given. 

Take a photo 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 made this card for my pizza loving husband!! Sunday dinner is usually pizza night...an activity which my husband and teenage son  have fun sharing...they usually argue about the pizzas though!!

When I was looking through my stamps, I thought this stamp from the PaperSmooches 'Think Fast " stamp set was perfect for the occasion!

For the background, I used the cutlery background cling stamp from Hero Arts.  The sentiment stamp is from Simon Says Stamps Fathers' Day stamp set.

I used two  stamps from the same Paper smooches stamp set as well as the same background stamp as above for this tag!

I cut the circle using Simon Says Stamp stitched circles  and punched a hole to add the bakes twine to finish the tag. All images are watercoloured using Sakura Koi watercolours, fussy cut and popped up with 3D foam tape to add dimention and interest.

I hope I have inspired you to think outside the box on this theme!

JUNE GUEST DESIGNER

Virginia L

What can I say about her that you don't already know!!!! She is the queen of card making!

I am so honoured that she is my guest designer for this month!!!!

Here's what she has to say about herself!

About Me

I'm blessed with two wonderful adult children and a loving and supportive husband. In my little world,I love creating cards, traveling and making yummy food.  I am currently on Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge DT. I am the founder/host of Virginia's View Challenge.  I discovered stamping nearly 20 years ago and has been fascinated by it. I have entered countless challenges and contests, with many failures. But no matter how good I feel about each card, I strive to make the next one better! Being passionate about trying new techniques that intrigue, I love to share ideas and creations in my blog. I truly appreciate the fellow card-maker/bloggers' positive feedback and I hope to encourage other fellow card-makers as much as I can. Thank you, Paru, for inviting me to be your guest design for June!

About the card:

I created the background with the stencil (Tim Holtz Layering Stencil Gear) with Distress Crayons. By applying and mixing the colors with my finger tips, the background was easy to create. I then lightly applied some Wendi Vecchi Embossing Paste (white) over and let dry. After that, I stamped the sentiment from Brushed Happy Sentiment Set (from The Ton Stamp). For final touches, I attached the globe from TH Souvenir Adornments with strings.

About the tag: 

I stamped the Hero Arts Goldfish in Distress Inks (Carved Pumpkin and Festive Berries) with the help of MISTI. After stamping the image, I clear-embossed the fish. I did the same with the sea weed/grass in Mowed Lawn Distress Ink and Scuba (Simon Says Stamp). After that, I sprayed blue mist (  Lindy's Gang Steel Shimmer Glitz Spritz and Heidi Swapp Project Life Spritz). Once the paint dried, I embossed the sentiment with Hero Arts Platinum EP. I added the droplets with Per White Opel Liquid Pearls. I added the adornment/twines for the tag.

The tag is for my son who is leaving for an Engineering internship in San Francisco ( I live in Canada) tomorrow! Oh boy, I am gonna really miss him! 

THE PRIZES

As always, we have some fabulous sponsors lined up for this month.

$25 gift card from Neat and Tangled

A paper pack from Papericious

I hope that we have inspired you to bring out your  thoughts for Father's Day!

This challenge will run from the 1st of May till the 25th of June.

I will announce the winner of this challenge in July 

as I will be travelling in the second half of June.

You can 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