Crafter in The Spotlight 32 - Itsy Bitsy

Hello Crafty Folks, Today, I am here to feature an extremely talented crafter who you are all familiar with! Yes, it’s Sharada Dilip Acharya! An MBA finance graduate, Sharada who always was inclined towards craft since childhood took to serious crafting in 2010. Sharada who calls herself a “Hobby Butterfly” likes & enjoys learning a new hobby every season!J She started out with handwork on sarees & has since then moved onto to card making, scrapbooking, stamping, album making & mixed media! Her creations are bright & cheerful & feature lot of layers! 

Making cards, favour boxes & more happens to be both an interest & business for this entrepreneur. This meticulous girl likes to stick to a routine for crafting each day to enable to balance both her passion & the loving family!J I have always enjoyed my interactions with this crafter & totally love her energy, bubbly spirit & enthusiasm!JJ 

What are Sharada’s tips for fellow crafters, her favourite quote, how would she contribute to crafting world if she had magical powers?? To know all these & to know more about her interesting journey & to see a step by step project of hers, please read the interview & leave your comments for her.

Here are excerpts of my interview with Sharada Dilip Acharya:

Rashmi Closepet, MD, Itsy Bitsy : Tell us a bit about yourself & your background? 

Sharada Dilip Acharya : Firstly I’m super duper exited to be on Spotlight , this recognition is indeed an honour and I just can’t thank enough the Itsy Bitsy team and Rashmi Harish! 

I am Sharada Dilip, An MBA Finance graduate from Mangalore currently settled in Bangalore and a stay at home, mom to my 7 year Old! I am a Hobby Butterfly. I keep hopping Hobbies every season, from school days I always loved making handmade Gifts for friends & family. Over the period studies took over & all my creations just adorned my home walls! 

In 2010 I chose to take on my passion and interest towards arts and crafts to the next level and that is when I ventured out to find Itsy Bitsy store. I always enjoy shopping at your stores and the staff is very friendly and helpful!!

RC: How did you get into crafting?

SD: I have been crafting since I was a little girl. Sitting by my Grandmother, watching her sew and craft, it became almost natural for me to follow in her footsteps. Fascinated by the beauty of Indian sarees, I went on to design & got trained to do handwork on Sari’s & Dresses. Over the years I got into painting and watercolours. I tried my hand at different mediums, each one equally interesting and challenging as the other.

Though I've made cards for my friends and family for as long as I can remember, I started "serious" card making with all the fancy tools in 2010. I started scrapbooking to organise my son’s photos, but it turned into a passion when I was asked to create some scrapbooks for friends and there it was, the niche I was looking for. I ventured into Birthday Invites & favour gifts and then there was no turning back!
However, none of this would have been possible if not for the immense love, companionship and support of my husband who is the reason for who I am and where I stand today creatively. He is my strongest critic who has always believed that I have it in me to do better and pushes me to open up and go for it and my little boy, my guiding angel, who has given me a sense of purpose I never thought possible and pushed me to be everything I can be.

RC: What is your favorite type of craft?

SD: I have been addicted to Layouts with some mixed media techniques, with a sense to details and layering. Now my passion are albums, mini and with bookbinding. I love that you can incorporate so many techniques and tips in one project. Also I love creating on the canvas, it allows me to think that I am a true artist :)

RC: What are your favorite products at Itsy Bitsy?

SD: I am very sticker person so I love the Itsy Bitsy sticker Embellishments, without them my creations are incomplete!!  I like every product available at Itsy Bitsy. Some of my favourites to name are Paper Stacks, Card Stock, Embellishments, Chipboards and ofcourse the latest release of Stamp sets :)

RC: If you had magic powers, how would you contribute to the Crafting world?

SD: I would really love to teach basic crafting, basic idea of tools and supplies available and create more opportunities for Budding Craft entrepreneurs.

RC: Your prized possession in your craft stash from Itsy Bitsy?

SD: My Big Shot machine and all the Dies and Paper Stacks that I have picked up from Itsy Bitsy over the years.

RC: How would you describe your style of crafting?

SD: My style would best be described as "bright and happy" though I do try out other styles, I like making grungy to look elegant, and being a gentle person all my creations look feminine and soft. But the main distinctive features of my projects are layering and thorough attention to the details that makes it usable and durable!

RC: How do you organize your time for crafting?

SD: I am a Planner Girl and I stick to routine of starting my day early and maintain the same every day, I prefer to complete a project to a certain stage and then wrap up for the day and I work from home so I can balance my two separate lives, enabling me to have complete flexibility to work as well as be around my boy. I’m working harder than ever but to be entirely honest, I’ve never had more fun in my entire life.

RC: Tips for people who want to craft?

SD: Push yourself beyond your comfort zone to explore new realms. That's all it takes, besides ample hard work. You really don’t have to be “perfect” Just go with the flow and create your own unique creations and Enjoy crafting!!

RC: Your all -time favorite quote?

SD: Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.

Here is a gorgeous project by Sharada & step by step description :

I love creating on the canvas so I went ahead with creating a Mixed media creation for all of you here

Step 1 - Gesso the canvas white

Step 2 - After it dries paint it with Pearlised Metallic paint from Itsy Bitsy

Step 3 - Layer it with paper scrap unevenly and do it till you are satisfied with the outcome

Step 4 - Stamp with Clear Acrylic Stamps unevenly to create dark background impressions on the canvas

Step 5 - Use color splash Ocean blue to create darker background and rub off the extra with waste cloth. I have tried giving different tones of blue on the canvas from top to bottom

Step 6 -  I have used Thin cut die and sprayed them with 3 different color splash shades

Step 7- Layered the die cut on the canvas

Step 8 - Added the chipboard embellishment, which I have coloured to gold shades

Step 9 - I have decorated it with Vintage flower which I have sprayed to the same shades to go with the background

Hope to have inspired you all with my Story and the Mixed media Creation !

Here are a couple of Sharada’s other awesome creations:

Many congrats Sharada for being the CRAFTER IN THE SPOTLIGHT – ITSY BITSY

You will receive Rs.500/- Itsy Bitsy gift voucher 😊 😊 & a Crafter in the Spotlight badge, which can be proudly displayed on the side bar of your blog and other platforms. Looking forward to many more creations, Happy Crafting!