For charity card sale last week

Hello bloggers,

I have had a busy and happy week as I had a card sale in my younger daughter's school ... The first set of cards was made by my Mum - she and her famous paisleys. But I marvel how she draws free hand. She made some tea light cards also.

The rest of the cards were made by me...

Managed to make 66 cards and am proud to say that 40 sold off! Am so chuffed.

Have another sale in my older daughter's school on Tuesday. We are trying to help the volcano tragedy victims with the sale proceeds. I know I don't make much money out my cards but it keeps me happy and it is my small way of paying back.

Have a nice day or evening where ever you are...

Love,

Monica

Chirstmas card for challenges and then to a good cause

Hello bloggers,

Hope all is well in your creative world...

Here is a simple card I made at the weekend with my new Inkadinkado clear stamp. It is rather childish compared to the gems that you lovely ladies produce out there. But I have an excuse - since I make cards to donate I need volumes, hence cannot spend too much time on one card. Sounds convincing, doesn't it? So that is my answer for not working so hard on my cards. Lol!

The gemstones that I have used are actually tiny "bindis" - the stuff that Indian ladies wear on their forehead.

I have got permission from my younger one's school to host a charity card sale on this coming Thursday and Friday - so am working away. Happily for sure!!!

Am entering this card in the following challenges as well:

www.thepaperplayers.blogspot.com/ - anything goes

www.ellephantasticchallenges.blogspot.com/ - blue

www.fabnfunkychallenges.blogspot.com/ - clean and simple

www.michelle-pinkpaperparadise.blogspot.com/ - not a challenge but a no - pressure inspirational weekly linky party.



Love,

Monica

Halloween pics of my two-and-a-half-year-old Aleeza

For Halloween - uncovered
and



covered!!!

My little one Aleeza wore her wings just after her shower and I thought I had to capture the moment.

She dressed up as a butterfly for the fancy dress in school.

Enjoy!



Charity cards for Caring Hearts Drive at Ling's happy place

Hi bloggers,

Hope you had a good Halloween weekend... My kids had lots of fun - maybe I will post their pics when I get a chance.

Here are the cards that I am going to send to Vera at www.lingshappyplace.blogspot.com for Caring Hearts Card Drive. The deadline is November, 15th so hopefully they will reach before that... Thank you, Vera, for starting this wonderful drive!

These cards did not take very long to make which is just as well because I have a lot more to make.

The picture could have been better - anyway, I hope you like my cards. I love that poinsettia punch so much.

Love,

Monica

For challenges and charity

Hello bloggers,


Am so relieved that dear Sandra is back to crafting - she has been going through a not so good phase physically. She has made a beautiful card for Halloween - do check it out on her blog and leave her lots of love. She is such a special lady - full of kindness and warmth just like so many of you out there. Okay - enough of senti stuff...


This card has been made with lots of punches and OFCOURSE my home made flowers.


Incidentally these roses are made from a Sizzix mini die cut.


Guess what I have used for the leaves  - the remains of the punch used at the bottom!!! How thrifty I am - seeeeeeee... LOL.


The tear drops above the diamonds are also from the same remains.


The shimmery vase has been cut from  my Cuttlebug die cuts. My daughter - Zeenya is not very impressed with this card - she says it is cheap! Meanie! She does not approve of the vase.


Now to business - am going to enter is card for the following challenges:


http://kyliescardsandthings.blogspot.com/


http://www.aspoonfullofsugarchallenge.blogspot.com/


www.lexiscreations.blogspot.com/


www.simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/


www.creativecardcrew.blogspot.com/


http://www.papertakeweekly.blogspot.com/




It took me over half an hour to write this post with the names of the challenges - duh!


As you can see I am taking this business of challenges quite seriously - again I have got the inspiration from you bloggers... thank you all so much.


Anyway the bottom line is that it is another card for charity never mind challenge or not.


Hope you like my card.


Love,


Monica

Christmas card again for charity

Hello bloggers,

This is my third post in the last one hour... gosh! Is blogging addictive - SURE is... And as I said I am in need of lot more Christmas cards to sell or donate. So I am crafting away... my excuse not to go to the gym or swim!

I have used my lovely new companion - Cuttlebug on this card. I ran the whole card through it. And some parts could not be embossed so I ran the card a second time and there was a blank space without any embossing.  So I covered it up with ribbon to hide the error!

The striped paper is from Terry's blog candly. The sentiment is a repeat - Jingle bells from Hero Arts and I have used distress ink on the paper.

I did like the subtle colours of this card more than the earlier version I posted at the week end.

I am going to enter this card for Challenge 26 at http://craftyannschallengeblog.wordpress.com/ which says ribbon, gems and one paper embellishment. My faux gems on the bells are a trivial small but am entering anyway... And am going to also enter this for http://toptiptuesday.blogspot.com/


Hope you like this card...
Love,

Monica

Blog candy in memory of Amanda Mary

Hello blogger friends,

This lovely blog candy is being offered by Charity Crafter and Marion in honour of Amanda Mary who passed away a few weeks ago...Leigh was kind enough to share her experiences with Amanda Mary who has brought smiles to many faces. She was a much admired and respected crafter to say the least.
Do pop over to Leigh's blog and read more about this great soul.

Love,

Monica 

More Christmas cards for charity



Hello dear bloggers,

I hope all is well in your world... Indonesia is having some adventurous weather conditions but with the grace of God we are fine in Jakarta.

These are some of the Christmas cards I made today. I will either donate them or sell them for a good cause.

The heart on the first one has been die cut from my Sizzix mini from guess what??? A Ferraro Rocher wrapper!!!

The distressed effect was achieved by yours truly while experimenting with my newly acquired distress inks - it was great fun! 

I have used a Hero stamp on the paper for the swirls. The orange circle at the back has been made from my Hobbycraft punch. 

The gold ribbon and metallic mini hearts are from my stash. The bow look okay in real life but for some reason looks distorted in the picture and I just could not manage a good picture with this shimmery paper.



This is the inside of the card - a red insert punched with my Carla craft mini heart punch.





This card has been made on the same shimmery card stock as the one on top. The gold ribbon and red cherries are from my stash. I have to make a lot of cards and quickly too because I will be needing a lot of them.

Hope you like my simple creations.

Love,

Monica

Another Christmas card

Hello bloggers,

Hope you are healthy and happy...

I made this Christmas card with the Jingle bells stamp from Hero Arts. And I punched the bells from my Carla craft bell punch and then ran it through my newly acquired Cuttlebug (so excited with it that I haven't been able to keep my feet on the ground - as a result of which not much has been achieved with it yet and DH will not be very happy about that! Lol.)

Everything else is from my stash. The thick blue vertical line of glitter has been produced by spreading PVA craft glue and thick blue glitter over it which was actually from Zeenya's stash... 

I am going to submit this for Sara Hurley's challenge no. 14 which says Christmas but no red and white. And ofcourse I am going to link it Michelle's Monday Linky party which is a real fun thing with no pressure of competition... Do visit her blog and check it out.

Ultimately this card will go to charity like all my other cards.

Hope you like my creation.

Love and joyful crafting where ever you are,

Monica 

Sympathy card

Hello bloggers,

This is a card I made for Pauline of UK Aid who recently lost her mum. If you get the chance do visit this site and have a look at what they do for felsted children. I donated 20 cards to them through dear Leigh (Charity Crafter) and am making some more.

The card stock is pearlised and the quilled flowers and leaves have been made by yours truly. The ribbon and lace are from my stash. I shaded the area below the pot in pink to give a base to it.

I have to add that the card looks prettier in real life.

Hope you like it...

xxx Monica

Coffee beans on a card!

Hello bloggers,

Hope you are well and happily crafting away...

Here is a card I made this morning with almost everything natural... the leaves are from my flower press.

The cardstock is handmade paper and by now you may have guessed what the round stuff is - coffee beans! My younger daughter bit into one of them and it smelled awfully good. I thought she would freak out but she ACTUALLY liked the flavour... Lol!

The green background paper is what Zeenya and her classmates painted in Grade 1 when they were experimenting with the Eric Carle style of painting. The teacher gave it to me before trashing it as she knew how crazy I am about such things. Lol! No wonder my art and craft space resembles a junk yard... I collect 'most anything and believe you me - it always comes in handy. And then as they say - "Creative minds are rarely tidy".
That is my excuse for keeping a messy table at all times!!!

By the way, sorry for the poor picture quality.

Love,

Monica

Baby girl card

Hello bloggers,

Thank you all for your motivating words... they did work wonders on my spirits! Zeenya was teasing me about the fact that I was looking for sympathy from all you lovely ladies out there! Not true I promise...

I was trying to make a birthday card for a two year old girl and ultimately this is what it looked like - a baby girl card. Can you believe that?!!! Now I will either sell it for charity or donate it.
And make another card which will hopefully befit a two year old.

The teddy stamp is from Inkadinkado while all the lace and ribbons are from my stash. The happy birthday sentiment has been cut from a ribbon. I seem to have gone overboard with the use of ribbons here - they make the poor teddy look bland, don't they? But if you zoom in on the picture, teddy actually looks glam because I have added a bit of glitter to her.

Wishing you a nice day or evening where ever you are...

Love,

Monica

Basically natural X'mas card -- by Zeenya

Hi Bloggers,

It's me again! Once again, I got motivated to make another card, cuz of your awesome comments. I decided I was making way too many cards that were blue, so I made this Xmas card with green and red.  So usual!! 

All the papers including the card stock are handmade from India. The red paper is recycled from a wedding card (I think!! I get so confused with the amount of stuff my Mum has!!)

The stocking stamp is from 'Inkadinkado'. Then I cut the stocking out and stuck it with double sided foam tape. The beads are from MY stash (for once!!) LOL.

Love,

Zeenya xxx

A card at last!

Hello bloggers,

Hope you are fine where ever you are...

My blog has been taken over by Zeenya as you can see - help!!!

Thanks for the loving encouragement you have been giving Zeenya. She is not stopping... and I am not starting!!! Lol!

I made this card with my newly acquired Design block called Holy Flourish from Hero stamp. It is huge!!!

The holly leaves have been punched from my Carla craft punch and the Merry Christmas sentiment is from Penny Black. The ribbon is from my stash.

I seem to be starved for card making ideas of late... I feel that my cards are not as good as the ones that you talented ladies make.

Anyway, I better not bore you with my waffling.

Hope you like this card.

Love,

Monica

Zeenya strikes again!!



Hello Everybody!
Hope your weekend is going well.... My weekend is almost over as it is Sunday, 8:20 pm and counting... But lucky me! I don't have to sleep early for the next seven days - we have autumn break!! *YAY*
Thank you so much for your kind comments on my previous card. It encouraged me to make another one of my bluey cards! (BLUE ROCKS!!!)

I made this card, without any of my mum's help yet again… I’m so proud of myself!! LOL

The big blue and black polka dots are a stamp from 'Hero Arts' My mum went out and came back with a bag full of stamps today! I was thrilled! :D I went over them with glitter. And the outline with a metalic Sakura pen.

The ribbon is also new – it came in that lovely bag…  The wool is from her wool drawer.

I would love to read how you like this card.

Love and hugs,

Zeenya

Card by my older daughter - Zeenya

Hiya Everybody!


It's me - Zeenya, Monica's older daughter. Hope all of you are well. I have made a card after a very looong time 'cause I am so busy with homework etc... I thought I would post this card - my mum gets all the comments and why not me for a change??? LOL!


I made it from A to Z without ANY help from my mum what so ever!! I was pretty pleased with the result (don't mean to sound too show-offy though!)


I used polka dotted paper for the background which my mum got from the local bookstore.


The dark blue paper has been embossed with our new Cuttlebug machine.


The ribbon and yarn are from my mum's stash. The beads are from long back when I was around 3 and I had braided my hair in Krabi, Thailand.


The sentiment is from 'Whisper Words - Docrafts.


If you have the time, I would love to read your comments.


Hugs,
Zeenya
xxx

Mum's birthday card

Hello bloggers,

Today was a real hot and sunny day... And it was my mum's 69th birthday. I made this card at 12 midnight as that was the only time I could manage...Am not too pleased with it and the sentiment hardly shows... pity!

The lace on this card has a 90 year old history, yes, 90 year old history!!! Can you believe that? My great grandpa bought it from Europe in the 1920s. I am lucky that it was passed on to me. It cannot be seen well as the sentiment has covered it all.

The paper is from Terry's blog candy and the roses are home made.

Love,

Monica

Card with Terry's blog candy and home made flowers

Hello bloggers,

Today it poured buckets again and the clouds were as thunderous as could be and my two and a half year old kept saying,"Mummy, I scared, I scared!" Some parts of the city were flooded yet again.

I have made this card with paper from Terry's (http://terryeo.blogspot.com)  fabulous blog candy. Added my homemade flowers and  dried leaves from my flower press. The card stock is handmade from India. Thank you again, Terry!

The sentiment is handwritten... not impressed with my handwriting - rather shaky here. Generally it is not too bad. 

I got inspired by  Lynn (http://creativecraftsbylynn.blogspot.com/) to do a thank you card after reading her lovely post with her butterfly card. Thanks, Lynn.

Hope you like this card.

Thanks for visiting... If you wish to leave a comment I would love it.

Have a nice day where ever you are...

Love,

Monica

Some more for charity - still going with pink!!!

Hello everyone, I am back again... Here is another card for charity quite like the other one I posted today. I used my Inkadinkado stamp and I coloured it in with Do craft chalks... looks much nicer and brighter in real life.  :(  

The papers are from Cardmaking and Paper craft magazine - they came along with my subscription. Pity the pearlised chalks look bland in the picture. 

If you have a minute to zoom in on the picture, I promise you the colouring looks much better...

Wonder if you will like this card?

Love,

Monica



New batch of charity cards - pretty in pink!

Hi bloggers, hope you had a nice week end... I am yet to make cards with my blog candy from Terry but I made this on Friday.

This is for my next batch of charity cards. I am due to have a charity sale but since I have been donating online, I have not been able to work on that front.The pink flower stamp is from Inkadinkado (yippee - at last I can spell that!). I have heat embossed the image even though it does not show in the picture. The pink smudgy paper is what I painted while dabbing with a sponge and paint on paper with my younger one. 

The leaves are from my flower press and the lace from my stash. The Happy Birthday sentiment has been cut from a ribbon.

It is a rather simple card - hope you like it.

Love,

Monica



Terry's anniversary blog candy



Hi bloggers, it is Sunday, 11.30 am here and it is hot and very sunny - typical, unpredictable tropical weather...

Hope you are having a good weekend where ever you are...

My weekend was great because I  received Terry's anniversary blog candy at last.  Yippppeeeeeee!

I had to ask Terry to post it to the UK because I don't trust the post here. My hubby got it for me when he went there on work. At last!

Thank you, Terry! I am thrilled with my new goodies. I love them all but what I like most is the delightful assortment of papers.  I will show you what I create soon. Right now I am too excited to do anything!!! Sorry the picture is not very clear but I couldn't wait to show of my prize.

Love,

Monica



99 percent natural!

Hello bloggers,

Hope you are having a good time crafting where ever you are...

Here is another card I made over the last two days... I kept sticking leaves and flowers and all sorts of natural stuff to it till I felt it was complete.

The dried leaves and flowers are from my flower press - the big green leaves that you see are curry leaves that are used as a spice in the south of India.

I have used handmade stock and the creamy paper on the background is handmade as well. Just stuck some natural stones (dyed red) to bring some colour to the earthy appearance.

The kitty stamp is from Inkadinkado - I did distress the paper but it somehow does not show in the picture.

Hope you like it.

Love,

Monica

Award from dear Sandra

Hi bloggers,

This afternoon was full of rain and thunder.... love you, Indonesia!

One of the best things that has happened to me in the last few days is this award from lovely Sandra. Thank you, Sandra, for all your encouragement, love and support.

I would like to pass this award to another 15 wonderful ladies. Here goes:


Terry - www.terryeo.blogspot.com/

Leigh - www.charitycrafter.blogspot.com/

Loraine - http://www.lorainescardsandcrafts.blogspot.com/

Jenny - http://www.myinkyhands-jennifer.blogspot.com/

Michelle - www.michelle-pinkpaperparadise.blogspot.com/

Amanda - www.amandascraftspace.blogspot.com/

Helen - www.helenmade.blogspot.com/

Marie - www.cardmakingbird.blogspot.com/

Dawn - www.cardsdelight.blogspot.com/

Lynn - www.creativecraftsbylynn.blogspot.com/

Susie - www.susiestacey.blogspot.com/

Tania - www.javabeanscreativeescape.blogspot.com/

Andrea - http://www.andreajbpiecesofmine.blogspot.com/

Rosalee - http://www.rosaleescrap.blogspot.com/

Jenn - www.jennspapercuts.blogspot.com/

Do visit these lovely blogs and see their wonderful creations.

Love,

Monica

Jumbo home made flowers for Christmas



Hello everyone, thanks so much for your comforting words when my daughter was ill. Thanks to your loving wishes, she is much better now... And I am back to crafting!!!

Yours truly made these  jumbo flowers yesterday with a Sizzix mini. I promise I will post the instructions soon. I need to get better at clicking pictures for tutorials. I was quite thrilled with the way these flowers turned out and could not wait to put them on a card.

The roses have been stuck on handmade card stock from India - it has a very nice distressed look to it with splashes of gold. The ribbon is from a dollar store in Sydney (from my stash) and the red faux gems are from Paper Mania. The holly leaves have been punched out of Carla craft holly punch on handmade gold paper.

Hope you like it...

Lots of love,

Monica



Umbrella painting



Hello bloggers, hope you are all well out there... it has been a bit stressful for me as my younger one (two and a half) has been down with high fever. Got her tested for dengue - thank God it was negative but she has does have a viral infection. It is the third day today (it seems like 3 years!) and luckily she seems to be on the mend. That's enough of my sob story! Indonesia has shortage of good medical facilities so falling ill here is not much fun.

In the midst of all this, my mum and I went to attend an umbrella painting class. As you can see the yellow umbrella is hers (she seems to be a paisley specialist LOL!) I was strapped for ideas so I just picked up some leaves and stamped with them in different hues on that reddish umbrella...

Hope you like them.

It was theraputic to attend the class because it took my mind off my little one for a while and I needed that break.

I have not been upto making cards but will do that soon.

Love,

Monica

Mum's free hand card

Hiya everybody, today is a clear day after all that rain yesterday... it poured buckets and buckets non stop! Some parts of the city were flooded, to say the least.

Here is one of the cards that is my mum's creation (she is visiting us...) The paisleys have been drawn free hand and coloured in with Sakura pens and glitter glues. It looks better in person than in the post. Hope you like it.



I will be posting it to a wonderful lady who also makes cards for charity... any guesses? Don't want to give out her name in this post because it is meant to be a surprise.


Thanks for having a peep - I would love to read your comments.

Love,

Monica

Owls ... for the wise or otherwise ;)

Hi blogger friends, hope you are having a nice weekend... it is 1.17 pm, Sunday today... These are rather childish cards but I fell in love with the owl print gift wrap at the book shop and had to buy it.

The first cardstock is made of pearlised paper (which cannot be seen here) and I have cut out the owl from the gift wrap. Have added pop up glitter fabric paint to dress up the owl. The blue and brown ribbon and gems are from my stash.
In the second image I have chalked the image in pearlised blue (Docraft chalks) and the yellow paper is from Cardmaking and Paper craft.

The  uneven strips of  shiny teal have been cut by hand. Have added glitter on the owl and faux crystal on the eyes. The yellow polka ribbon is from my stash and the flowers are my creation.


Wonder if you will like them?

Sarah Hurley Challenge - Autumn

Hello blogger friends, I am back after a 4 day break and it seems like forever! Thank you for all your lovely words of encouragement for my last post. It means the WORLD to me...

I have got inspired by Shirley-Anne (I am a big fan of her's) to submit this for Sarah Hurley Challenge - Autumn...
I am not a great one for taking part in challenges but for once ...

The gold paisley paper on the base is from India while the orangish paper leaves are from a pound store in London. The flowers are homemade OFCOURSE... :)  I went over with gold glitter to make it look fancy.

The cream and gold mulberry leaves in the background have been cut manually from paper from my stash.

Hope you like it.

For UK Aid, with love!

Hi everybody, thanks for your lovely words of encouragement...

These are some cards I have made in the last few days for donation to UK Aid. Hope you like them.


Am in the process of packing 20 cards for UK Aid which I will be sending to Leigh - and she will do the needful.
Thank you Leigh, for suggesting their name.

And below is a collection of all 20 cards!  
Happily crafted with lots of love and joy...

Dog with handmade flowers

Hello there, it is 4.26 pm, Sunday as I post this card. I am not a big fan of Sunday because it is a reminder of Monday which comes all too soon. This dog stamp is from Indadinkado. (Gosh! I could barely read the name on the stamp - asked my daughter to read it for me because it was soo... tiny)

The flowers are NOT roses for a change but are home made scrunchie flowers which have been shaped with a quilling tool. The flowers are made of handmade matt gold and wine coloured paper.

Here is another dog image on handmade textured paper stuck on handmade cardstock as well. The dried leaves are from Bali and the flowers are obviously handmade by yours truly. The sentiment 'Best wishes' is from Do crafts - Whisper words.

Some change seems to be coming over me... am making cards instead of flowers - thank the good Lord! LOL!

Close up of my famous flowers.

Gold skeleton leaf

Hello dear friends, am back to making cards...

The skeleton leaf (from Paper Chase) has been stuck on handmade card stock. The flowers have been made by me.

The green leaves that are peeping out have been pressed in my flower press.

The gold border has been drawn manually with a Sakura gold pen.

I am getting my cards ready for another charity donation... if only I would stop making flowers and make more cards.

B is for Bali

B for BALI

Hello, dear blogger buddies, these are the flowers I made while I was holidaying in Bali... and ofcourse I swam and had lots of fun in the pool and by the beach. For once I did  not eat like a pig - instead ate soups and salads to help my flab from getting flabbier!

More flowers... crazy me... but my blogger friends will understand.

I cannot show you pictures of Bali because yours truly has misplaced the charger for the camera!!! Doh! These pics have been taken on my mum's camera (she is visiting us).

Beautiful handmade roses by Helen

It is midnight, rather past midnight and I am still blog hopping and surfing... it is addictive, to say the least. I better go to bed after this post.

I had to share this exciting information that I happened to stumble upon -

I came across Helen's blog -
www.helenmade.blogspot.com/ while I was at Michelle's . I was delighted to see that on the left she has a rose making tutorial...

For those of you who are as crazy as me about making flowers, do visit her blog.

I have been struggling to post a flower making tutorial myself but I think it may take me a few years to get there... just kidding! :) I need to get more savvy at blog stuff.

Good night for now, my dear blog buddies.

Love,

Monica

Make it Monday Linky party

The credit for this card goes to my blogland buddies (Loraine in particular who gave me the blog address of the lady who made these flowers, which I have sadly misplaced) and You tube tutorials.  Sorry, Loraine!

You could see one of the tutorials here. Sorry, I am still not good at all this... I'm afraid, still learning...

When you reach this site, go to tutorials on the top right and look for spiral roses.

I have made the yellow flowers by swirling them and ofcourse some trial and error.

The leaves have been cut manually from crepe paper. The green stamp on the background is from Hero Arts. I have coloured the pot ( made from Sizzix mini die cuts) brown with crayons to make it look natural. Ran over the edges of the card with green Versa stamp pad.

Am entering this for Michelle's Make it Monday Linky party.

Handmade flowers

Oh, me and my famous handmade flowers... I just don't seem to stop!!!

This paper was given by my daughter's Japanese friend and I love it. The leaves at the bottom have been punched out from my Carla craft mini punch. Have added pop up glitter glue to the flower centres to make it look more attractive.

Instead of making cards, all I do these days is make flowers, flowers and more flowers!!!

Embossed tea pots

I have manually embossed these teapots with a stencil from Spotlight. The flowers on the bottom right have been made by yours truly... while the blue flowers on the top left have been cut out from a ribbon.
I ran over the teapots with chalk and glitter glue (which is not visible inspite of using hubby's camera).
I wish my blog friends lived close enough so that we could sometimes share a cuppa together.
Never mind, I am lucky enough to know such a wonderful bunch of ladies... and that is enough to be grateful for, I guess.