Hi guys, I am trying something different - yes, I created my first Art Journal page totally inspired by Vicky. Here's a video that describes what I did {because I was too chicken to record the actual steps, I did not think I would like what I make...} Anyways, here's the how-to explained and below you will find what I used. I do plan to make more of these and will share proper process videos as I create. For now, I hope you enjoy this walkthrough. Hugs! ~Varada

This post is part of an inspiration blog hop for Spellbinders New Holiday Collection for 2019.

So, here goes :-) The stamp and the paper used in this card came from Simon Says Stamp Feb 2022 card

For my stop I made two cards using stamps as well as our new cut files.

All the images are from Hot Air Balloon set from Sweet Summer July 2022 release. Sentiment"You're loved more than you'll ever know" from the January release New beginnings is printed

Hi friends, still have several more cards to share in the quick and easy series. Hope these cards give you lot of ideas on how to use some of your paper shapes, ephemera pieces included in card kits and such. Today’s cards use Spellbinders card kits – I combined the ephemera pieces from their September and October 2018. (I drew the black strings on the bottom balloons. Also the bottom ones are really hearts that came separately and the blue one I popped out of another tag.) No fancy techniques with these, but they look absolutely beautiful. The Spellbinders kits have so many great ephemera options along with dies and lately they have been adding stamp sets also to the kits. Click here if you’d like to check these out. (Just so you know: that is an affiliate link, which means when you make a purchase after clicking on it, I receive a small commission – at no extra cost to you. I use the money to run this blog. Thankful your support!) Here are all the reasons I love these card kits from Spellbinders: They are great value for money – each card kit includes papers, dies, ephemera, embellishments, adhesives and 10 ready-made textured white cards + envelopes. Oh, you can definitely make a lot more than 10 cards from each kit. Very reasonable shipping – flat rate $5 shipping on regular orders and free shipping at $75. You can combine card kit subscription with large die of the month and/or small die of the month and get more savings. A few days after you purchase any non-kit products, you get an email to review their products and each review gets you 50 reward points. Being a kit subscriber also gives you rewards points each month and you can convert the points to store $$ – so you get to buy even more of their awesome crafty goodies. Combine all these and you can really stretch your crafty $$. What’s not to love about that, right? Click here if you’d like to take a look yourself. Enjoy! ~Varada #neverstopmaking #Spellbinders #Quickandeasycards #Spellbinderscardkitofthemonth

Hi friends, hope you all had a great thanksgiving! I hope you got a chance to spend some good time with your loved ones, had some good food and overall had a good day. Although I don’t know most of you in person, I feel a connection of friendship. You inspire me with your talent and creativity. I am so grateful to you my friends, for the inspiration, the encouragement, support and kindness. In short? THANK YOU! Thank you from the bottom of my heart! Alright, now for some reality check – this post was supposed to be shared about a week ago, so I am very late. But I still decided to go ahead and share rest of the cards from this series because these ideas aren’t just for thanksgiving. You can simply switch up the papers and stickers for another type of card. For this set, I combined stickers with more die cuts and also added a couple wood veneer raccoons. Check them out. For the one above, I tore the paper so that the underside of white showed and then added a hint of walnut stain. I also foam mounted this layer to make it look like a pile of leaves under the tree where a squirrel is eating a nut. The tree was created with an embossing folder from Darice (link below). For this one, I used a circle die to layer a circle and also used a stamp for my sentiment from the Thankful Heart stamp set from Simon. For the wood veneer raccoon on this one, I layered it at the back with some black cardstock. For this one, I dry embossed the card from with Sizzix texture fades Birch embossing folder. I layered two pieces of the same patterned paper panel on top of each other. The bottom one, I tore off and distressed it a bit and in between these leafy patterned paper layers, I made my raccoon sit. I also fussy cut several of the tiny leaves from the left over piece and layered them randomly using foam squares. For the sentiment, I used two of the die cuts words Thanks. This die came from Hero Arts Thanks stamp and die set. SUPPLIES LIST For your convenience, I am sharing links to the supplies I’ve used or the ones you can use for making similar cards – click on the picture or link to go directly to the product. Wherever available, I have used affiliate links, which means when you make a purchase, I receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you) which I use to run this blog. I truly appreciate your support! Hugs! ~Varada #Quickandeasycards #Thankyoucards #Thanksgivingcardideas

Hello my dear crafty friends. Part two of quick and easy card ideas. Today we will introduce some die cutting, craft punches into these cards to take these a up a notch. We will use a pre-made card bases from the same set and then add stickers or ephemera on top. For one of these, we will also tear the patterned paper to give it more organic or distressed look. Just like in the last set, in some cards I have adhered the sticker directly, in some other places I foam mounted them with double sided foam tape. For this one, I used a heart die to cut out a shape to layer my stickers around. This one was more straightforward – used my paper trimmer to cut out the square. Again, used a circle die here. And same circle die again. Free hand cut out banners and used an attacher to hold them together. Used a rectangle die and tore one side to expose some white paper. Easy :-) So here’s the supplies list for today. Some of these are not exact ones, but can work equally well. You should also know that, when you make a purchase using one of my links, I do get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Hugs! ~Varada #Joann #Quickandeasycards

Hello my dear crafty friends, after a brief absence of a little over a week, I am back with more card ideas. I thought of starting a series of Quick and Easy Cards. I will share ideas that use ready-to-use card bases, patterned paper, stickers and such. Gradually I will show you how we can introduce some stamping / die cutting into these cards to take a up a notch. Okay then, without further ado, let’s dive right in to part 1. Today’s idea is to use a pre-made card base that has some kind of a texture or pattern (may be a bit of foiling?) and then adding stickers or ephemera on top. As you will see, in some places I have adhered the sticker directly, in some other places I foam mounted them with double sided foam tape. I found the stickers you see here in one of the bins in Joann’s that are next to the checkout counter. And I believe the cards are also from Joann, but not from this year. I will list a few items I think will work for something similar. Hope it will help you give this idea a try: Enjoy and don’t forget to share your creations and tag me :-) ~Varada #Joann #Quickandeasycards

We have made a heart shaped window card using Treasured Heart Flower Arrangement image from the new release

Today I am going to share a card which I made using “Bold Blooms” June 2022 release by Varada Sharma Amazing designs, love this new release.

Today I am going to share a card which I made using “Bold Blooms” June 2022 release by Varada Sharma Amazing designs, love this new release.