Crafter in The Spotlight 54 - Itsy Bitsy

Hello arty-crafty folks,

Thursday is here again and it’s time for me to introduce you to yet another talented crafter to our wonderful crafting group. This week the lime light is on Sindhu Manokaran from Tamil Nadu, who has made Bangalore her current home town.

Sindhu has been fond of crafting from her very childhood. Her interest in crafting field is quite extensive as she enjoys multiple creative approaches starting from painting, thread work, clay art, rangoli, paper crafting, to many others.

How did Sindhu get into crafting, what inspires her, what are her tips for fellow crafters, her favourite quote, how would she contribute to the crafting world if she had magical powers? Read answers to all these questions, discover more about her interesting journey and catch a glimpse of a step by step project by Sindhu in this interview. Don't forget to leave your comments for her.

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

Sindhu Manokaran: I am so happy to be featured in “Crafter in the Spotlight”.  I extend my heartfelt thanks to Rashmi, Anitha and the entire Itsy Bitsy team. I am Sindhu from Tamil Nadu, currently living in Bangalore. I hold a master degree in Information Technology and am a stay at home mother for two lovely kids. My family supports my crafting passion.

RC:   How did you get into crafting?

SM: I love crafting from my childhood. I enjoy making flowers, painting, crochet, embroidery, clay art, rangoli and sewing. I always want to learn crafts which fascinate me. Five years back when I was doing my son's school project, I came to know about paper punches and I got interested in paper crafting.

RC: What is your favourite type of craft?

SM: Flower making, recycling and interactive cards are my current favourite crafts.

RC:   What are your favourite products at Itsy Bitsy?

SM: Two years back, when we shifted to Bangalore, the first place we visited was new BEL road, Itsy Bitsy. Handmade papers, foam sheets, stamps, dies, embossing folders, chalk paints and embellishments are my favourite products at Itsy Bitsy.

RC: If you had magical powers, how would you contribute to the crafting world?

SM: If I have magical powers, I will open craft library in all places, so that everyone can access all the craft tutorials and supplies to their hearts content.

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

SM: More than 70% of my craft supplies are from Itsy Bitsy only!! I love their handmade papers, dies and embossing folders.

RC:   How would you describe your style of crafting?

SM: For me, there is no specific style. I just do what comes to my mind at that time.

RC: How do you organize your time for crafting?

SM: There is no specific time for me for crafting. As my kids too love crafting, I can craft whenever I feel.

RC: Tips for people who want to craft.

SM: Please don't hesitate to start crafting because of limited supplies. Just start doing. Once you start, the ideas will flow and with the limited supplies you can create wonders.

RC: Your all -time favourite quote? 

SM: "Do what you Love. Love what you do" That’s what I am doing …. ‘Crafting’!!

Here is a gorgeous project by  Sindhu  & step by step procedure:

Materials required for this altered cup are stencil,chalk paints,Silicon glue, few embellishments and a cup.

Step 1: I took a clean ceramic cup and applied Lemon Chiffon chalk paint to it.

 Step 2:I gently dabbed the Lemon Chiffon chalk paint with a brush.

Step 3 :Thereafter I used the brick stencil for stenciling and used Sailing Sky chalk paint this time to get that pretty yellow and blue look!

Step 4: I stenciled it at equal intervals to maintain uniformity.

Step 5: The base is ready. Now it's time to embellish. This is the best part...and I enjoyed it thoroughly. I put a few strands of ribbon around the cup and stuck them with silicon glue.

Step 6 :I distressed the die cut with peacock feather distress ink.To match the back ground I painted white flower with matching chalk paint. I added the sentiment from Live Laugh Love stamp set and finished it with some pearls.

Here are a couple of  Sindhu's other awesome creations:

Many congrats Sindhu 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!

Dream Cut - Manual Embossing & Die Cutting Machine

Hello friends,

This is Tanvi & I am here with a very special product today - the newly launched DREAM CUT, the first die cutting machine brought to you by an Indian company! 

I have been playing around with this for a few days now & am loving its sleek & compact design & let me tell you it is compatible with most dies! Isn't that wonderful!

Some distinct features of the Dream Cut - 

1. Body is made up of high impact Polymer with smooth edges for easy handling.
2.  The platform & the frame is made of high quality, non – corrosive Alloy.
3. The cog wheels ( gears ) are made of high speed steel for durability & rough use.
4. The gear tips are smoothened to give excellent user experience.
5. The Roller diameter is larger than many other standard machines to increase the point of contact with the cutting die which enables to get a superior cut quality.
6.  Roller mounts are designed to give a bit of cushion which helps in proper pressure distribution on the cutting die.
7. High precision in the Casting & Assembly of this unit will last a long time compared to other machines.
8. The cutting plates are made of moulded Acrylic which has self-healing properties compared to Acrylic sheets which are used in other machines.
9.  The Bevelled edges of the cutting plates is a great feature which puts slow pressure on the Rollers & really gives you a Dream Cut experience!
10. This machine is designed for crafters & promises to give an ultimate user experience!
11. Spare parts & support from Itsy Bitsy will be made available.
12. The icing on the cake is the pocket friendly price.

The Dream Cut comes with

1.One white base platform 'A'

2.Two 'B' plates

3.One 'C' plate

REMEMBER these points & you can never go wrong with your cutting sandwich

*The white base platform plate 'A' is NOT the cutting surface

*Plate 'C' is thicker than Plates 'B'

*Plates 'B' & 'C' both have bevelled edges 

*Both the plates 'B' are of the same thickness

*By using the right combination of the plates 'B' & 'C' most standard dies can be used in the Dream Cut

*When using intricate dies add one or two layers of the accessory cutting pads to act as a shim

Here is a video, an answer to many queries regarding its cutting & embossing feature - 

Along with the Dream Cut Itsy Bitsy also introduces 3D dies in four designs to create fun & magical party decor in minutes.

Here are some images of the product launch party decor using these dies -

The Dream Cut is available online (remember it comes with free shipping) & can be purchased here or visit your nearest store.

Thank you for visiting today!

mixed media on burlap canvas

Hello My Dear Sweet Crafters,

                Roshini here today to inspire you with one more project, I am using the new burlap canvas 8x8 inches, which I transformed into a mixed media project using very limited supplies from Itsy Bitsy store.

Have a look at the pics and then I will explain you how to make it in few simple steps.

I have used a reverse side of mini canvas bought from store.

The chipboard feathers hanging below are from the dream catchers chipboard.

    Bubble stencil on the canvas for texture and thin cut doily die, and spiral rose die to make burlap flowers.

I hope you liked it. If so, please have look at the steps below to know how to make it.

1. color the burlap with Little Birdie black chalk paint.
2. Add some texture with bubble stencil on the canvas.
3. make burlap roses using thin cut die from store.
4. stick the mini canvas as shown in the pic above and arrange the flowers, chipboard shapes, butterfly and embellishments.
5. Apply 2 coats of black chalk paint, making sure you cover all the elements glued.
6. Once everything is dry, start spraying color splash sprays - Bubble gum pink and Orange, randomly .... make sure to cover the flowers too.
7. Heat dry the canvas and start dry brushing with feather light strokes using the Monte Marte metallic colors to highlight the elements and texture.

Materials used:

THIN CUT DIES SCALLOPED FLOWER 1PCS PBCI IB

METALLIC ACRYLIC PAINT 4 SHADES SET PMHS0012 50ML BLISTER MM

HOME DECOR CHALK PAINT CHARCOAL 60ML BOTTLE

Add caption

MINI DISPLAY CANVAS 70MM X 70MM X 10MM 4PC 1PK IB

  

BURLAP CANVAS PANEL 8X8 1PC

COLOR SPLASH HOT PINK 50ML BOTTLE IB

Add caption

COLOR SPLASH TANGERINE 50ML BOTTLE IB

CHIPBOARDS SHAPES COGS 1PC PBCI

CHIPBOARDS SHAPES DREAM CATCHER 1PC IB

Crafter in The Spotlight 45 - Itsy Bitsy

Hello arty-crafty folks,

It’s Thursday and time for me to introduce you to a talented crafter and her amazing craft skills. This week’s chosen one is Ashwini Vinayraj, a B.E in Computer science from DSCE, Bangalore.

Ashwini is a seasoned crafter and has been pursuing her craft passion for many years.  Art and craft gives her enormous joy and she is also a certified decoupage instructor from Bangkok. Some of Ashwini’s specialities are Tanjore painting and creations with water colours, which she is pursuing for twelve years.

How did Ashwini get into crafting, what inspires her, what are her tips for fellow crafters, her favourite quote, how would she contribute to the crafting world if she had magical powers? Read answers to all these questions, discover more about her interesting journey and catch a glimpse of a step by step project by Ashwini in this interview. Don't forget to leave your comments for her.

Here are excerpts of my interview with Ashwini Vinayraj:

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

Ashwini Vinayraj :Thanks Rashmi Harish, Anitha Mallesh and the entire Itsy Bitsy team. This is such a wonderful moment for me.  I am a certified decoupage instructor from Bangkok, Thailand. I have been doing Tanjore painting and water colours from 12 years. During my school days I have won many certificates for art and craft. Being an artist or a fashion designer was my dream and being an engineer was my parents dream. In fact both are fulfilled now. I wanted to create my own identity. For me, art and craft gave lots of happiness and it's a stress buster too. It gives me immense joy and it's my "SOUL".

I LOVE working with younger generation kids and older generation women. In the pretext of teaching, I also learn a lot.

My strongest support for crafting comes from my hubby, parents and sisters who always encourage and stand by my side.

RC:How did you get into crafting?

AV: My passion brings me here as a crafter. As I laid my hands on scrapbooking a Decoupage, it turned out well. I started trying on new techniques and getting new ideas. It made me so crazy that I started creating new themes with new ideas each and every day.

RC:What is your favourite type of craft?

AV: I love Decoupage and Scrapbooking. I also do mixed media, altered art and journaling.

I can work on any surface as a base for my project. I love to play around with colours and create textured looks. It makes me invent new ideas of creativity. Chalk paints are a ‘must’ in my games to play.

RC:What are your favourite products at Itsy Bitsy?

AV:Itsy Bitsy is the best place to walk in and pick up all the raw materials required for my creations. Of course chalk paints are my favourite. You heard me right!! More stuffs like paint brushes, gesso, colour paints colour sprays, DCWV paper packs, cardstock are also in the favourite list. Not to forget shabby chic burlap…

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

AV: If I had magical powers, I would really introduce art and craft as an equivalent subject to children in schools.

I would love to make them explore their creativity and make them LOVE themselves for being so creative.

There are many children who love creativity but lack behind due to time constraints and need of guidance. “I would love to support such children”.

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

AV: Chalk paints, stamps, dies, spray paints and papers.

RC: How would you describe your style of crafting?

AV: My way of working is quite simple and unique. My style of crafting means, "Best Quality, Perfection and Satisfaction to soul”. It's a true motivation to keep you going the miles……

RC: How do you organize your time for crafting?

AV: I work for about 3 to 4 hours a day. I work with lots of passion to get the quality of customization.

RC:Tips for people who want to craft

AV: Craft with passion with an expectation of SOUL satisfaction.  Keep it close to your heart as you put in your precious time and feelings.The seed (passion for craft) you sow,the fruit (satisfaction and success) you reap.

RC:Your all -time favourite quote?

AV: "Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time.Vision with action can change the world".

 Here is a gorgeous project by Ashwini & step by step procedure:

For making the tags, firstly I used a thick white cardstock measuring 3" × 6", Artists acrylic colours and colour splash.

Sprayed colour splash all over the paper. Dabbed with artist acrylic colours. Let them dry.

There after I embellished them with white linen cloth, burlap, black corrugated paper, flowers, beads, lace, butterflies and leaves. Stamped some sentiments.

Here are a couple of  Ashwini's other awesome creations:

Many congrats Ashwini 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!