So when KJD cajoled and encouraged (and pushed) me to give it a shot this Christmas and also agreed to help ….  I finally decided to take the plunge. And with some marketing volunteers who promised to help with the promotion and business aspect I can happily stick to making the cards.

I have called the venture Little Piggy Design (we are still working out the logistics of the website) which is currently featuring Christmas Cards and Gift Tags for the festive season.  We are also offering handmade paper bags and  packaging services to suit your style

Below is a showcase of the cards I have made so far. Some are original ideas and others have been inspired by the work of other card crafters. I will keep adding to these

Christmas Cards

Christmas Gift Tags

All these cards have been made with a lot of love. If you would like to order the cards or know anyone who is interested drop me an email at littlepiggydesign@gmail.com

Related posts

• The week that was Christmas (1)
• The 12 Days of Christmas – A Gift Idea in Itself (2)
• Picture perfect Christmas ‘07 (3)
• Party for 8 (0)
• Merry Christmas Everyone (4)

Plenty happened over the  last month, so let me fill you in.

I took the last of the management entrance exams the CET on the 15th Feb. Had to trudge all the way to Malad to the Atharva College of Engineering. Met up with a chatty girl in the bus to the venue and was thoroughly entertained all the way The paper was good but the environment really noisy! Met up with Malcolm after the paper and over coffee, pav bhajji and onion uttappa, discussed the merits of poets.

Ryan was in town for his birthday after 4 years and so he got treated to 2 birthday parties! Priyanka asked me to make the cake, which suited me just fine as it saved me the hassle of thinking what to get him. I made a chocolate cake with a topping of white chocolate cream. It was yummy even by my standards:)

Now the question was how to transport the cake in rush hour traffic while carrying a costume to the party!? I guess these facts were the only reason I got into the new BRTS (Birhanmumbai Rapid Transport System) bus that transported me all the way to Sion in sheer comfort. Had fun at the party – sang to my heart’s content. We wished Ryan at 12 and sat up half the night chatting away. Had breakfast with them and headed to Andheri and Ajay

I’ve been wanting to visit the Mumbai Time Cafe (which is located on the fifth floor of Crystal Shoppers Paradise, diagonally opposite KFC in the same lane)  for some time since hearing raving reviews of the place. Ajay treated me to dinner there 20th night.

I loved the ‘By the Sea” ambience with the sand floor, little yellow canoe and deck chairs (which can be tad uncomfortable for dinner and conversation). We ordered the Seafood Pulao – a combination of rice, clams, prawns and squid lying in a bed of chappati. The prices were pretty steep, the service cheerful and the quantity plenty for two people.

Next came Ruth’s 21st Birthday celebration although she celebrated her birthday on the 10th, we finally got down to having the party on the 21st! We had the family and close friends over for dinner. I did up the place in fairy lights – must say it looked very pretty and warm Had a blast dancing with my 6 year old cousin, Craig. Come to think of it I had a merry time with the little fellows Dad when I was that old Here are some pictures.

While I enjoy war themed movies, Valkyrie was not one I particularly wanted to see in the sense that the end was predictable. Anyway the company was worth the time spent. You can read a review of the movie here.

Dinner at Dynasty seems to be a common phenomenon with Ajay and me. We seems to end up there more often than not. I think they should start us on a frequent visitor program! Anyway as usual, the food was lovely and the service good.

I’ve decided to pay some attention to the people who have been badgering me to go commercial with my craft.  I’ve decided to launch a  new venture – this will consist of me making and marketing handmade cards, bookmarks and gift tags as of now. I hope to progress to fancy art and craft work once the venture kicks off. Wish me all the best. Will keep you updated on that front.

Much against my wishes, I was taken along to watch the Pink Panther 2 movie. Boy, I’m so glad I went along, I was in splits through out the movie.

Here’s the review from the man who made sure I came along.

Related posts

• My Happy 25 (0)
• It was a hap – hap – happy day (0)
• A month in a post (2)
• Weekend Happy (0)
• Two Years (0)

Below is the card I made her – yup you do see 21 candles on it! The lucky girl also got a big box filled with 21 birthday gifts from the family.

Hope you had a fun day kiddo and yes I remember there is a party coming up  too

Here’s how you can make the card yourself.

You will need:

• Colored sheets of paper (for as many candles as you want to put on the card – you will have to cut the sizes to suit your card size. I used random sizes)
• Silver / Gold paper for the wicks
• A black chart paper to mount the candles
• Cellotape
• Glue
• A pair of scissors

Cut the coloured sheets of paper to a size you like. Roll each of the cut sheets and tape the ends with cellotape. Make all the candles first as the assembling will be easier that way.

Place all the candles on the chart paper so that you can move them around and finalize how you would like to place them. Glue them down on the chart paper. I started with the candle in the middle and worked my way to either end.

Cut out tiny flames from the silver/gold paper and stick them at a small distance from each of the candles.

Decorate the card with writing/ stickers/etc if you like and Viola! you have a lovely birthday card.

You could try it out and send me pics.

Related posts

• The Festival of Lights (0)
• Pink Party (2)
• Liturgy Booklets and Confetti Pouches (2)
• Happy Birthday Almeida (3)
• Birthday Wishlist (13)

Here is how the Carol goes -

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, a partridge in a pear tree
Symbolizing Jesus Christ
On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, 2 turtle doves
To signify that the Bible is divided into 2 parts – The Old Testament and the New Testament
On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me 3 French Hens
Symbolizing Love, Hope and Faith
On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me 4 Colly birds
The 4 Gospels – Mathew, Mark, Luke and John
On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, 5 Gold rings
Representing the first 5 books of the Bible called the Torah Law
On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, 6 Geese a laying
Symbolizing the 6 Days of Creation
On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, 7 Swans a swimming
Symbolizing the 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit – Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exortation, Mercy, Contribution and Leadership
On the eight day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, 8 Maids a milking
The 8 Beatitudes
On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, 9 Drummers drumming
Representing the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit – love, joy, peace, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, goodness, self control and patience
On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, 10 Pipers piping
The 10 Commandments
On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, 11 Ladies dancing
To tell us about the 11 faithful disciples
On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, 12 Lords a leaping
Symbolizing the 12 points of belief in the Apostles Creed

This prompted me to think along the 12 Days of Christmas lines while I was thinking of what to get Pri and Ryan for Christmas. So this is what I did.

For every day of Christmas (12 days) I left a gift under their tree corresponding to the day. These are what I thought of, you could think of other items to use as gifts.

First Day of Christmas – One potted plant
Second Day of Christmas – 2 handkerchiefs (one each)
Third Day of Christmas – 3 Magnets
Fourth Day of Christmas – 4 Candy Canes
Fifth Day of Christmas – A set of 5 boxes containing 5 exotic spices
Sixth Day of Christmas – 6 Chocolates
Seventh Day of Christmas – A comic strip wall hanging with 7 “Love Is” comics
Eight Day of Christmas – 8 marshmellows
Nineth Day of Christmas – 9 pieces of Christmas decoration for their tree
Tenth Day of Christmas – A set of 10 tea lights
Eleventh Day of Christmas – 11 handmade gift tags
Twelfth Day of Christmas – A CD with 12 love songs

Related posts

• The week that was Christmas (1)
• Picture perfect Christmas ‘07 (3)
• Party for 8 (0)
• Merry Christmas Everyone (4)
• Little Piggy Design (1)

I began hand making our family’s Christmas cards 6 years ago after years of being inspired by a friend of my Grandma – Aunty Gilda. The friendship which has survived and been strengthened since World War 2 has seen our home graced every year with a different Christmas card and not a single design repeated!

This year I decide to go with a Christmas Wreath for the motif.

I settled on cream paper which had flecks of gold in it, green buttons for the wreath and finished with a red bow and writing.

Here’s how it is done.

While I got the text printed from my usual printer, you could also hand write the same.

Draw a circle in the center of the card to guide you with placing the buttons for the wreath. Go over the circle with glue and place the buttons along the circle (This will allow you to make adjustments while arranging the buttons). Press each button down so that they stick firmly.

Make a small bow and place it at the bottom of the wreath between the bottom 2 buttons. Hold in place till the glue dries.

Now sit back and enjoy your creation.

Related posts

• Little Piggy Design (1)

We went to Priyanka’s place on Sunday to help her with the liturgy booklets for the nuptials and the confetti pouches – (Below is proof that we actually worked!)

(From left to right: Chetna tying the ribbon on the booklet, Priyanka in the foreground with the last of the confetti and the rest of the ’slaves’ in the background’, Wilbur desperately trying to punch holes in the paper – with the punch and template I must add)

For the booklets we printed the hymns on ordinary A4 size white paper. This we used as the inlay. We used a blue printed wax paper for the jacket and printed the couple’s monogram on the upper right and the details of the date and church at the bottom. Finally we covered the front of the jacket with silver spangled white wooly paper (Thank you Dad for cutting them to size for us) and tied a pretty bow with blue tissue ribbon. Below is the final result which I was very happy with!

After almost 5 hours of some serious ‘labour’, we called it a day. I was quite pleased with the fact that we got through putting together 48 hymn booklets and almost 75 confetti pouches – not bad for a bunch of people who don’t do this on a regular basis ! 

Ryan and Priyanka went off for some food and we cleared up the mess we had ended up making! Then Malvika went shutter happy and captured some our antics

We said Rosary and had a  round of sing song with Wilbur accompanying on the guitar. Finally got down to dinner and by the time I hit the bed it was 1 in the morning.

Couldn’t resist this picture of me with Pri’s yellow wall and ethnic piece of art

Related posts

• Wedding Bells (3)
• Wedding Daze (5)
• Wedding Bells (0)
• The Festival of Lights (0)
• Sweety and Mark (0)

Related posts

• Liturgy Booklets and Confetti Pouches (2)
• Ganapati Celebrations (0)
• “Happy 21″ Baby Sis (0)