The Straits Times loves to quill :D :D

Hello Everyone,

~I am typing this post doing a little happy dance~ (Yes, I can manage to dance and type!! :D :D)

I know I have been a lousy blogger but its so not my fault...those having a faulty laptop will understand my condition...you cannot update blog with tablets and phone as nicely as you can do with a desktop or laptop (may be some people can, but I sooo can't!! :(

But this news was toooo good not to be shared with my lovely readers and students...:))

I got an exclusive craft bite with our very own The Straits Times on March 8th, 2013 (which is also International Women's day). I am soo happy to see quilling making news, (more happier that I am the one making it!! hahahaha!!)

Okay!! not being very modest..:P But yeah, I am really very happy that quilling is getting its fair share of attention in our not so crafty Singapore...I can now proudly say that Singapore is not only about condos and cash but about crafts and cards too (hope not sounding silly!! :D).

Have a look - 

This bite is dedicated to all my near and dear ones, both personally and those whom I met during my crafty pursuits...

Happy Quilling

Just Love Crafts xx

Self framed shadow box for Quilling - 3

Dear All,

I have promised you that I will be posting regarding my shadow boxes which I have framed myself and which hold my precious quilling designs. However, I am keeping busy with a number of things these days and blogging has become a luxury. But finally before this month ends, I would like to display another one of my shadow boxes.

This box is displaying my mini cherry blossom creation and one of the best that turned out to be. Have a look-

I have used a shimmery navy blue thick construction paper to make the shadow box and a contrast light pink paper for the frame border. With the lovely flowers inside, I could not figure out how to decorate the frame and it took me endless ideas to finally come up with the butterflies.. my weird color combination was not making it look better in any way :P
So finally I added some butterflies I had in my stash for 1.5 years now.

A close up of the design inside.
and one final look of the shadow box-

Please do leave your precious comments to let me know how did you find this work.

Thanks a lot.
Love all,
Just Love Crafts xx

Tricolor Quilled card *UPDATED*

Hello Everyone,

This morning I posted another self framed shadow frame in the series and here is my second post in the row. 
This card is totally inspired by Itsy Bitsy's tricolor challenge. I have been thinking about making it since the moment I saw the challenge..which was about 10 days back but look at the odds of me participating in this challenge. I am entering my card just when its 2 hours to the deadline...:P :P

No No, I am not feeling proud about it..Just the last moment habit has seem to stuck and it will just not go.. Sigh!!
Have a look-

Do let me know how this card is. Though I am totally thrilled about the interesting and of course much patriotic challenge, but more than the challenge it was the theme that really pushed me to make this card. I somehow wanted to quill something in Indian Flag Tricolor combo but never really got a chance to do so. Even though Independence Day is long gone, I didn't want to lose a chance to make something that connects me to my beautiful country.
I am so glad and kind of satisfied that Itsy Bitsy came up with this challenge.

So, I have used Only and Only the 'tricolor' colors to make this card and I am glad the way its turned out.

Linking up to Itsy Bitsy Challenge here.

Details of materials used - 
This card is completely made of paper apart from the little ribbon which is a piece of a satin ribbon I had recycled. (From an old Indian Rakhi)
All the paper I have used for this creation is from the collection I bought from India when I moved to Singapore (Yes!! I did carry my paper collection here :P)

*UPDATE* - Yayyy!! We won!!! This card has been selected as one of the winners of this challenge!! So happyyyyy!!!! :D :D

Thanks for dropping by.
Just Love Crafts xx

Self Framed Shadow Box for Quilling - 2

Hello,

I hope you all remember my previous post about the framed shadow box for your precious quilled creations. For those who haven't seen it so far, you can find it here.

This is the second one in series I have prepared and is smaller than the other versions. 
Here it is - 

I have used an A4 size sheet to make the shadow box. The reason it appears smaller than the others is that the width of this frame is more than the other boxes I have made and is perfect to hold a pretty 3-D petal quilled flower.

The 'frame' is made up using a polka dot patterned paper from Primary Basics scrapbook paper collection.

I have added a little punched daisy flower made from a daisy craft punch with a rhinestone for that teeny weeney hint of bling (I seem to love a blingy effect on my creations! :P).

Here is a close up of my quilled flower. You can see a hint of bling here too :P. The flower has protected it well enough by the faux glass frame made from an acrylic sheet (OHP) and the patterned paper.
Simple and Effective??

Hope you like it. I will be uploading more shadow box frame designs with quilling inside. Keep checking the blog.

Linking it to the following challenges - 
1. Do More with Less 
2. Lulupu - The craft Lounge
Thanks all,
Just Love Crafts xx

A Very Special project - Framed Card for a Wedding!!

Dear All,

I am really excited to show you this very very special project of mine. How is this special? Well, there are a number of reasons for that. 
Firstly, it was my very first commissioned order in Singapore. 
Secondly, This is the first time I made something like this. 
Thirdly, I had a total of 24 hours, that is one day to make this (including designing, framing, delivering.... everything). 
And finally I was actually successful in it as my client was very very happy which is what that made the whole process worthwhile. :)

Here it is, my first project of its kind-

Framed Final Version

It is an A4 size framed card to be gifted on a wedding. I was not sure if I will be able to manage everything in one day but I am glad it worked out as it has really given me that extra dose of confidence that I know I can accept a challenge like this again as well.

Unframed Version

It was very difficult to picture the framed version in the normal circumstances and even the unframed version couldn't be captured properly due to the shimmer of the background paper. But I was totally in love with this project and took loads of pictures. Of course can't put all, so here are a few more :) :) :)-

Wedding Rings

 My client wanted Doves, heart, rings, wine red and purple color and the messages to be written in both English and German so it gave me a fair idea of what all 'has' to be there. Now the task was to set up everything neatly and in a way that none of the component gets overshadowed by another.

Heart to be the main focal point and should be between the doves

 They wanted the word 'Jaaaaa!' in the heart. :)

The border

I did the borders at the very last moment. I was damn unsatisfied that being a wedding gift it got to be special and nice and nothing was clicking. Finally, during my brief sleep spell something clicked and I made the border as soon as I got up. (Subconscious mind does help!! :P)

Niki- The Groom

Our very handsome groom :)

Nora- The Bride

Pretty pretty bride with a beautiful necklace.

One last shot

This was taken a minute before it went to its new owner. I was kinda sad as I knew I might not see it again. It flew to Germany the very same night. The 24 hours I spent making were certainly stressful, not because I could not make it, but because I wanted to make them perfect. 

However, I do realise that perfection is not easily achieved and it does have its share of flaws but the happiness I saw on the faces who took this away was more than perfect and that just made this perfect.

P.S -Though I am the maker of this entire project, I wish to express my thanks to all my amazing contemporary crafter friends who have always shared their awesome creations inspiring each other in more than one ways. Thank you all very much :)

Lots of love :)

Just Love Crafts xx

Quilling Shape Beginner's Chart

Hello everyone,

Ever since I began taking workshops in Singapore,I had a hard time explaining and making basic shapes and I did not want to waste time making them also every time. So I came up with an extremely simple yet effective chart for basic quilling shapes. I know its not comprehensive but it was all I could fit on an A-4 size sheet. Here it is - 

I enjoyed making its border a lott...It took my one friday evening and little bit of Saturday morning to finish the border and it took about 140 coils.

I framed this chart in an A4 size frame almost immediately so that I can show it to my students every time without it getting damaged..we all know how fragile quilling can be.. :)

Please do let me know how it is. Your comments are always appreciated :))

Thank you all.
Just Love Crafts xx

Candy Land card!

Hello All,

I made this card just like that. I somewhat wanted to make something which looks like candies and when I assembled the whole card it gave me a feel of a candyland. Lol!!
So here it is-

This card gives such a sunny, cheerful look that I made it apparent in the sentiment. The sentiment is hand written. The 'candies' are quilled circles of various shades.

The other supplies used for this card are patterned papers from assorted collections and a valentine theme twine from doodlebug.
Some more pics-

Do lemme know if you like my candy card or not..:D

Thank you all!
Just Love Crafts xx

Another two tone card!!

Hello everyone,


Presenting another two tone card after the first one in shades of pink n purple..I have tried a bolder combination this time...here it goes...

I am enjoying making two-tone cards a lot, however thinking of a generic color theme which will go with my kind of designing takes a bit of experimentation for me..but guess its just me..

I feel this card will go well for both genders...kinda 'HOT' combination...:D
Do tell me your views about this card.... :) :)
Just Love Crafts xx

My first Beehive card for a first anniversary...:)

Heya all,


I was never confident of trying Beehive technique as such before for one project..I used to try making swirls with some leftover strips to get a knack of it..but this is my first project using this technique as such...Of course all thanks to Susan and Pritesh for inventing and promoting this technique...:) :)


Well, I wanted to make a card by incorporating quilling technique at the same time make it for the 'first' anniversary event...so I decided on making a big number '1' as the main motif on the card and simply added some patterned paper, ribbon and sentiment to it.

The beehive swirls I have pasted here are the ones I made during my practice and hence the assortment of colors and neatness in swirls.. :P
I tried to incorporate my friend's favorite color as the main backdrop and hence the purple color background, but plain purple was looking very odd, so to spice up the whole thing, I added a piece of gingham red pattern paper..

 I am not sure how it has come out...yet to hear from my friend as she hasn't received it so far...

But please do let me know your comments/ views about the card...it helps me to improve :)


Loads of love..
Just Love Crafts xx

A flowery card

Hello,


This card was made for my hubby's colleague and friend of mine :). I asked her, her favorite colors and she told me - hot pink and cyan.
Both the colors are bright and cheery and I had to figure out a way to make both the colors stand out..this is what I came up with..

I know the stem is a little offset :( :(
Its a result of my impatience with my creations..but I loved the look of daisies.

The flowers look nice but I am really not liking the stem.. :(

please do let me know your views about the card.. It will help me do better :)
Love all
Just Love Crafts xx

Two tone card 1

Hello All,


Today I am in a mood for posting. This is my fourth post in a row and I am happy but touchwood before I get jinxed again and I stop posting for another month :P
I have been pondering over making two tone cards in Quilling for very long but never really put the idea on paper. But one evening, while randomly sorting out my paper stack, I saw these lovely girly complementary colors and I had to make something using both of them as main colors.
Anyways,
Let the pictures do rest of the talking..:P

Though we took dozens of pictures, I can't possibly put them all up :p. So putting just a few...

As usual, nothing fancy or elaborate, just a simple post with my simple creation. Comments welcome :)
Just Love Crafts xx

Flourish!!

Hello friends,


The card I am presenting today is very special to me. Not that I have special sentiments to it, I am sentimental about all my creations anyway :P. I didn't know how it will turn out to be when I started it because I was making it from scrap strips. Remember in my older posts, how I started quilling after coming to Singapore with only 3 colors (red, pink and blue) of shredded strips and this project was supposedly a left over kinds. But on completion it looked pretty much wholesome and nice!!

I don't have much to write about it. Just loads of pictures to share...My sweetheart photographed it nicely for me and I am sharing the ones I liked..

Its a very simple, no fuss, happy go lucky card and I really love it...

Hope you like it.
As always your precious comments will tell me that...Do let me know how it came out..
Love all
Just Love Crafts xx

Comeback series 3 - Neha's Exhibition

Hello Everyone,Here I am back again with one more update on my comeback series. This one is about a friend's exhibition. Well, she was holding her first craft's exhibition in her office and being her first time, she was really nervous. I offered a little help and took up the quilling part. She wanted to put some shadow boxes for the exhibition, so I offered to fill them up with quilling :). Neha, this post is based on the work I did for your exhibition.
*Neha is an amazing crafter and her blog is a must visit- www.stepstowardscrafting.blogspot.com*

That's how I started. She made these beautiful shadow boxes using heavy weight pastel sheets and 6x6 patterned papers. Now my task was to fill them up with quilling in different forms.
On her request I made my this butterfly again and it fitted perfectly in one of her shadow boxes. The quilling strips she gave me were 5 mm and of shiny texture so this butterfly came out beautifully.

Although I made this shadow box in the last as I couldn't really figure out what to make and I had to return her the completed shadow boxes the next day, while watching tv, this idea struck me. Also, much to my amusement the color of the shadow box and the patterned paper at the base gave a sea like effect. So I decided to make a bubbly and colorful fish (don't ask me what fish it is lol!!). You can see this fish here at her blog. She entered them in a few challenges and I am soo happy that it even won a place. :)

This shadow box is very close to me as I enjoyed the most while making it. It is a layered flower in 2 colors and complimented the color and background of shadow box very much. In fact, this shadow box was the first one to get sold and she got another order for the same which we happily made together. She featured this shadow box on her blog here.

I like this shadow box a lot as well. Not only I love the bright color of the shadow box but also because it was a challenge to make something that will stand out against such a bright color. But it came out well and I was satisfied. This shadow box is featured at Neha's blog here.

This final shadow box served more as a display tray for these little cake and pastry miniatures which I managed to make as I assumed that they will definitely fascinate people as they are entirely made of paper and I so hope they did. Since guests were not allowed in her office during the exhibition timings, I could not attend myself but I am glad I could help and my quilling reached people in some way or other.

Finally, I made this fairy on Neha's request.. we were browsing through the quilling book I have - 'Beautiful Quilling' and she loved the pretty fairy. At first I was wary and wasn't really sure if I will be able to make this one. But I am so glad I tried this as it came out really well.I just struggled with the hair part but it was looking fine in the end. Neha used this fairy to craft a beautiful b'day card and it can be seen here.

I made one more card based on new year theme. She made the entire background. I just did quilling over it. I will upload a picture of it from my laptop (right now using hubby's laptop). But it can be seen here on her blog.

Well, I am sure this is one of the longest post so far :P and you enjoyed looking at all the pictures and reading little stories behind them. I am glad I could help a fellow crafter with her exhibition and thankful to her as I tried so many things for the first time. Her exhibition definitely gave me an opportunity to exlpore and come out of my comfort zone in quilling and try different things.

Now I am tired and will go eat something..lol..:D. Do leave me your precious comments.

Hugs

Just Love Crafts xx