We are off for Christmas holidays...

Hello lovely bloggers,

We are off for our Christmas vacation so I will be missing for some two weeks and over. 

So here is wishing you all a very warm and happy Christmas and a great new year. 

Here are two cards I made last night - now these were real quick!!! Stuck fancy gift wrap on them and some embellies like flowers, glitter, liquid pearls and ribbon... that's it.

There is glitter on the doves on the card above so it looks quite nice in real life. And I love the colours on it.

Happy holidays and much love,

Monica

Another lilac card

Hello sweet bloggers,

Today was a beautiful Chrtistmas concert in Zeenya's school and every minute of it was enjoyable even though I had to leave Aleeza behind with the helper.

I made this card last night with the same Penny Black stamp that I used on a card a couple of days ago (from ruin to restoration). This time I stamped the image on black card stock and coloured the flowers and leaves with metallic Derwent pencils. And then I went over with glitter glue on the flowers. 

This card was a quickie and I had plenty of fun making it while Aleeza coloured in her images. Finished it off with ribbon and buttons from stash. You may think the pink button looks out of place but trust me that there is some pink in the flowers.

  

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges:

http://everybody-art-challenge.blogspot.com/ - anything goes

http://highhopesstamps.blogspot.com/ - anything goes

http://ladybugscraftsinkchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ - sparkilicious

http://www.craftdoormagazine.com/ - anything goes

Wish you a happy Wednesday.

Love,

Monica 

Monochromatic card

Hello sweet bloggers,

Here is a card I made a while ago - I have used a stencil and coloured it in with distress ink and water colour pencils. Zeenya said it had too much of the same colour yet it it sold pretty quickly. I have also distressed and sponged the edges. The printed paper is from stash and so is the ribbon. I thought a double ribbon would give it more interest. 

I am going to submit this card in
http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/ - anything goes
http://artisticinspirationscrafts.blogspot.co.uk/ - anything goes
http://www.craftybloggersnetwork.blogspot.com/ - anything goes
http://houseofgilli.blogspot.com/ - anything goes
http://smudgyantics.blogspot.com/ - distress it
http://stampsfun-creativity.blogspot.com/ - no Christmas cards

Below are two ice cream cones that Aleeza (four plus) drew and coloured in her drawing book - this is to share some sunshine with you all. :-)

Thanks for visiting.
Love,

Monica

From ruin to restoration

Hello sweet bloggers,

This card was such a disaster from start to finish - this was my fifth, yes fifth attempt for Case this Sketch (having tried four cards earlier). I have used my new Penny Black stamp and thought I would use my aqua brush. All was going well until I decided to give it a black outline and what a hash that made of it all. I showed it to Zeenya who remarked, "What happened to you?" I thought using my Sakura gold gel pen would help me salvage the card (for me the answer to all ills is my Sakura gold or silver). Then came the ribbon and the sentiment also from Penny Black along with the punched butterflies sponged with old paper distress ink and then coloured them with the same gold pen.

I am going to enter this card into http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/ - anything goes.

Down below is a quote that I love... in fact I hand wrote it as a sentiment on a card and it sold quite quick.

Wish you a happy week ahead...

Love,

Monica 

For Less is More - 2nd entry

Hello lovely people,

It is a hot and lazy Sunday afternoon here and I thought of clearing up the perennial mess on my table. It kind of breathes now. But give me a chance and it will be back to it's shabby self. ;-)

Down below is my second entry for Less is More - the challenge being rows this week. Now how simple is that???

I had these pressed leaves that I had picked up while we were in France last year. Just sponged white card stock with three different distress inks, stuck the leaves and tied two kinds of woolen yarn to give it more interest.

I will also submit this into Casual Friday - knots. How easy can it get??? Lol.

Happy weekend to one and all.

Love,

Monica 

For Less is More - rows

Hello lovely bloggers,

The challenge over at LIM is rows...

Sorry that I am sharing a card similar to what I made a couple of days ago. Well, Shelley suggested that I should use metallic pens so here is my card coloured in with water colour pencils and then with my Sakura blue and green gel pen.

Sorry if I am boring you with the same card - but it seems to meet the challenge (I hope).

I would also like to enter this in Pinspirational - the theme being blue for this week.

Wish you a happy weekend,

Monica

Pink tulips from a perfume carton

Hello sweet people,

A warm welcome (tad late) to my newest follower - thanks so much for following my little blog.

Many thanks for all the kind words about me meeting my target - we crafters thrive on encouragement, don't we?

Now to my card -  the pink tulips have been die cut (Sizzix) using a perfume carton. I have mounted most of them on foam tape. The lace is my new acquisition from a teeny tiny haberdashery close by.

The card above is pretty much like the one above but I have sponged the tulips with milled lavender and see how it makes take on a prettier hue. The ribbon on this card is also recycled - it was used to pack the perfume. 

Which one do you like?

I am going to submit these cards for:

http://pennyschallenges.blogspot.com/ - anything goes

http://craftingforallseasons.blogspot.com/ - flowers

http://creativemomentsbloggersnetwork.blogspot.co.uk/ - anything goes

Off to do some commenting now...

Love,

Monica 

Sold another six cards to two ladies and have met my target

Hello sweet bloggers,

I have sold enough cards to provide for educating five children for one year... Yaaaay!!! :-) Much credit goes to my blog buddies for all love and encouragement that kept me motivated. And of course I cannot forget the support of kind friends, neighbours, acquaintances who bought the cards.

This morning, I went to a Christmas bazaar and guess what I got from there - Fiskars clear stamps and pretty ribbons. So are two quick cards supposedly (supposedly masculine) that I made with one of the stamps. Stuck buttons, ribbon and did some scoring and that's it.

Next time I will try and colour in the stamps to make the card look more alive.

Love,

Monica

Sold another 10 cards...

Hello sweet bloggers,

I have sold another 10 cards to two ladies who live in our complex. How lucky am I that they support my passion. So I have almost met my target for the fifth child's yearly education. 

Down below is a card I made with my new Sizzix folder. I just love this snowflake, don't you? 

But something went wrong and I accidentally used my Sakura gold gel pen instead of silver. I did go over all that gold with my silver pen but it did not do much. Doesn't look odd, I hope. Anyway it sold!!! Also sorry for the poor editing of the picture on the top right.

Stuck a rhinestone in the centre and the silver dots are with glitter glue and the ribbon is from my stash.

Hope you like it inspite of that mix up of silver and gold.

Love,

Monica 

Tried making a card for a male...

Hello sweet bloggers,

Here is a stencilled image that Aleeza coloured in with distress ink, of course with my help and I thought I would make a masculine card with it. Well, here is what it turned out like after I stuck buttons on it. 

I used my Sakura blue pen to outline and colour some of the blobby circles - not sure how manly it is with the ribbon though.

I must get better at making men's cards - that is going to my resolution for next year. Lol.

I am going to enter this card in

http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/ - anything goes

Thanks for the lovely comments,

Monica

Managed to sell another 8 cards in Aleeza's school

Hello sweet people,

Can you believe it that it is December 1st today???

Hope you are having a good weekend.

I have good news to share - I have sold another 8 cards in Aleeza's school apart from four earlier. So I just may meet my target of sponsoring five children for their yearly education. As of now, I have sold enough to provide for four children. But I just may meet my target! Fingers crossed...

Down below is a quick card I made for a friend who wanted general cards and she quite liked this one.

The sponging looks a bit lopsided in the picture but in real life it was quite pretty. I have used peach coloured card stock and an embossing folder that I really like. The ribbon is from my stash and so is the flower. I layered the big butterfly with a smaller one - not sure whether that was a good idea. Propped the butterflies with foam tape.

Have a happy and arty crafty weekend.

Love,

Monica 

Sold another 4 cards

Hello sweet bloggers,

Today I attended a raw food class and it was amazing - the instructor taught us such tasty and healthy dishes like green smoothies, almond milk shake, pasta made out of zucchini served with cashew nut cream and sun dried and fresh tomatoes. It was a fun class and I learned so much without having to cook anything.

The card above is a stencilled image which I sponged in with Worn Lipstick - touched it up with water colour pencils and my Sakura gold pen. Pity you cannot see the gold outline around the flowers.

I have tried to distress the card and sponged it as well. I wanted to use a brighter ribbon but this seemed to match. This is another flat card which can go easily through the post.

I am going to submit this to:

http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/ - anything goes

Love,

Monica

For Less is More - glamour and glitz

Hello sweet bloggers,

Am here with my second post for Less is More - glamour and glitz. I have always wanted to be the first one to submit my entry and this is my day... lol.

I made this card for an order a couple of days ago... 

I have used one of my newest folders... Embossed it on pearly white card and stuck it on a red card base. The hearts are punched on hand made paper and lots of glitter glued on to them. Some bling on the flowers and hearts alongwith a couple of ribbon on either side.

Have a pleasant weekend.

Love,

Monica 

Sold another 13 cards...

Hello lovely bloggers,

The bazaar on Thursday was a delightful affair... one of my dear friends invited me to share my cards on their table in the bazaar which was organized at the Singapore House here. I managed to sell 7 cards there and sold another 6 to friends. I am so happy that I have managed to raise enough funds to sponsor education of fourth child. Now my target is to go for a fifth child - let us see  how that goes.

Here is a card I made a few days ago - love it so much that I don't have the heart to sell it. And little Aleeza suggested that I keep it at home if I liked it so much. So that is what I am going to do.

I have used a Penny Black stamp and have coloured the doves with glitter glue. Went over the sentiment with my red fine tipped Staedler and coloured the leaves as well with the same medium. Used my green Sakura pen for the stems. The snowflakes have been punched from a variety of shiny papers, some of which have been embossed. The ribbon and gold cord are from my stash.

Above is a picture of the bazaar. My cards are right behind, close to the bags. Sorry that the picture quality is not the best but I wanted you to have a peep. I am the second from right - the short haired one.

Going to submit this card to:

 Delicious Doodles - something that flies

Crafty Anne's - birds or animals

Wags 'n Whiskers - Christmas

The Artistic Stamper - anything goes

and that's enough... need a cuppa now.

Have a happy weekend.

Love and gratitude,

Monica

Thank you, Sandra

Hello sweet bloggers,

I have been busy trying to make more cards to sell. Am so happy that I have been able to sell so many cards. A sweet friend has invited me to a special charity bazaar to sell my cards on Thursday so am trying to make more numbers.

Here are two cards which sold off last week. 

I have used pink card stock and doilies for both cards along with my new EK Success border punch. I have used both pearls and liquid pearls. The bow in the second card is handmade and the sentiment has been sent by dear Sandra to me - thanks so much, Sandra. I have used it like wild this year and all the cards that had this sentiment SOLD. 

I am going to enter these cards into the following challenges:

http://inthepinkchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/ 

http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/

Much love,

Monica

Monochromatic red for an order

Hello lovely bloggers,

Hope you are having a good weekend... My older one, Zeenya turns 13 tomorrow. Gosh, how I am holding on to her while she is this Miss Independent wanting her own life. What did I know that they grow up so quickly???????? Thank God Aleeza is still little and I will try and not be so shocked at her growing up quickly.

I have made this for a friend who wanted wedding cards with red in them. I am so into making white on white cards for weddings but she was not unduly taken in with that colour combo and insisted she wanted red hearts. So here is my card... I do so hope she likes it.

I have used red card stock, embossed it and layered pearly white and red paper on it with two hearts die cut with Sizzix minis. The hearts have been embossed and I went over them with my red Sakura pen. The double ribbon has been hand tied and the organza roses, crystals and ribbon with Happy Wedding sentiment is from my stash. 

Am going to submit this card for

jeanette-soartfulchallenges.blogspot.com - monochromatic red
http://inthepinkchallenge.blogspot.com/ - die cuts and punches

Here is a random something I liked on Facebook so thought of sharing it with you all just like my friend Shirley-Anne does.

Much love,

Monica

For Casual Friday - Blue

Hello sweet bloggers,

The challenge over at Casual Friday is blue for this week and here is my card..

I have used white card stock and stuck blue and white striped as well as polka dotted paper on it. 

The cupcakes are an Ek Success border punch. The little flowers have been cut off from a longer ribbon. The blue ribbon is from my stash and the crystals are from Prima.

Incidentally this card sold as well...
Thanks for all your love and encouragement,

Monica

Sold another 16 cards...

Hello sweet bloggers,

I sure have been missing in action - what a busy week but enjoyable nonetheless... On Monday there was a Diwali party in Aleeza's school where the teachers are ever so keen to showcase different cultures. I will try and share the photos soon to let you have a peep into all the fun we had. For those of you who are wondering what Diwali is - it is the festival of lights and it signifies the victory of good over evil. There is lots of eating, celebration and fireworks too.

Some good news to share - I sold another 16 cards to two kind friends today who love to buy my cards to help me raise funds for charity.

I have used light grey card stock for this card and the border has been on the top apart from some scoring. The sentiment is from Penny Black (I think) and the snowflakes have been punched using silver paper which was embossed as well. The ribbon is from my stash and I have gone over the embossing and sentiment with a silver Sakura pen.

This year, I have been raising funds to sponsor financially challenged primary schoolers. I am proud to say that with the kind support of all those who bought my cards, I have managed to donate enough to educate three children for the entire year. And lots of thanks goes to you lovely bloggers for all that you done for me - ever so thankful and grateful.

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges:

http://www.craftdoormagazine.com/

http://sweetstampsblog.blogspot.com/

http://www.craftysentiments.blogspot.com/

Much love,

Monica

For Less is More - houses

Hello sweet bloggers,

Here is my second post for the day - a feat I have rarely achieved! Lol.

The theme for Less is More this week is houses.

Rather simple card stamped with Hero Arts stamp using salty ocean distress ink. Sentiment is handwritten.

Wish you a happy Saturday.

Love,

Monica

Some more quickies

Hello sweet bloggers,

I have very good news to share - have managed to sell 27 cards in the past week. I was beginning to feel a bit nervous about my cards as I don't sell them in school any more. But at the UN day in school, one mother bought some and at the baby shower I sold a serious lot. 

These two cards were made in minutes with a set of clear stamps from Inkadinkadoh (I think).

I have used pickled raspberry in the first card and peacock feathers and salty ocean in the second.

The first card was embossed and both cards were glittered. Added gold ribbon on the second to dress it up.

I am going to enter the pink card in the following challenge:

In the pink - CAS and lots of pink space

Wish you a pleasant weekend.

Love,

Monica

Thank you, dear Terry

Hello dear bloggers,

It has been a busy week for me - I was volunteering in school for the UN day on Wednesday which was a very touching experience. To see different countries come together showcasing their yummy cuisines and culture can make one quite sentimental.

And then I was invited to a baby shower yesterday which was another enjoyable experience. 

My dear blog pal, Terry sent me parcel with such awesome goodies in it and here is a card to say thank you to her. 

The butterflies on the card are from Terry - aren't they sweet? I am just so grateful for the love I receive from blogland - sometimes words are too frivolous to explain how it feels.

I would love it if you visit Terry's blog and leave her some blog love. 

The sentiment is from Penny black and I rubbed Brilliance pearlescent purple over the Spellbinders nesties - they look quite shiny in real life. The papers are fancy gift wrap while the ribbon is form my stash. Sorry for the poor background, though. It is a cloudy day here with lots of rain so this was the best shot I could manage on the swing in the balcony. It is actually a dull shade of green but looks rather unappealing in the picture.

Thank God it's Friday once again.

Love,

Monica

Less is More - 3rd entry

Hello sweet bloggers,

This is my third entry for Less is More - what's up with me??? Lol.

The card stock for this card is a pretty pearly cream (cannot be seen in the picture) and the poinsettia image is an A.muse cling stamp.

 I have used worn lipstick distress ink to stamp it. 

Stuck pearls in the centre to give it some life. The sentiment is from Penny Black. Did some scoring and voila, the card was ready. I am getting quite confident in stamping directly on to paper.

Do tell me what you think of it? 

Off to do some blog commenting now. 

Love,

Monica 

For Less is More - 2nd entry

Hello lovely bloggers,

Hope all is well with you and yours. Thanks so much for all the compliments on my previous card.

Here is another card I have made for Less is More this week. Again a quick and simple creation which requires no explanation really. I do hope it has the necessary amount of pink, though.

I will also enter this card into
Make it Monday - anything goes as always
Unstampabelles - Monochromatic

Have a nice Tuesday.

Much love,

Monica 

For Less is More - pink

Hello lovely bloggers,

Hope you had a lovely weekend...
A warm welcome to my newest follower, Sarah.

Here is my card for Less is More which is all about pink this week.

I have used a stencil for the image and coloured it in with water colour pencils. The sentiment is from Docrafts - had it like forever in my drawer. The crystals are from Prima. I hope there is enough white space in this card or else I am in trouble ;-)

I have made a similar card like this a few weeks ago but this is even simpler. 

Wish you a happy Monday.

With love,

Monica

Flat cards for Christmas

Hello lovely bloggers,

My heart goes out to all those affected by Hurricane Sandy... and there is a hurricane in the South Eastern coast of India as well. Mother Nature needs certainly needs to calm down and be kind to her children on earth.

Here is a Christmas card I made for a friend who wanted flat cards. Now I have to own up that I find it rather boring to make such kind of cards even though they are envelope friendly. I had this divine looking tissue paper with silver poinsettias which I carefully stuck on cardstock,  ran it through my Cuttlebug and put silver ribbon on the top. Added silver glitter glue on the edges of the Spellbinders diecut and stamped a Merry Christmas sentiment (kind courtesy dear Lynn). I went over the sentiment with a silver Sakura gel pen.

And guess what? My friend loved this card and bought it at first instance. So I kind of feel good that she liked what I created for her.

I am going to enter this card for the following challenges:

http://divasbydesignchallenge.blogspot.com/ - festive

http://justkeeponcreating.blogspot.com.au/2012/08/christmas-is-just-around-corner.html - Christmas

http://thepapershelter.blogspot.com/ - anything goes

I could not visit you for the past two days - just been a bit caught up. But will catch up for sure.

Thank God it's Friday!

Love,

Monica

Baby shower card for a friend

Hello lovely bloggers,

Hope you had a good weekend... A very warm welcome to my new follower and a big thank you. 

I have been invited to a baby shower this week so here is a quick card I put together in like 8 minutes - with a printed ribbon,  dry embossing, teeny weeny bit of stamping (Hampton Art stamp) and a ready made bow. 

Since the baby's gender is not known I left it at silver and white. And be prepared for a lot of silver and white Christmas cards that I am making. 

I seem to be loving silver and white these days... wonder why??? And I am kind of making flatter cards  as a friend of mine has asked for them. She wants to post them overseas so doesn't want 3D stuff on them. At first I felt a bit restricted, but now am enjoying the idea of creating such cards. 

I am going to enter this card for the following challenges:

http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/ - anything goes

http://challenges4everybody.blogspot.co.uk/ - always anything goes

http://dreamvalleychallenges.blogspot.com/ - glitter and bling

http://glitternsparklechallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/ - monochromes

http://thesquirrelandthefox.blogspot.com/ - use a ribbon

Wish you a pleasant week ahead.

Love,

Monica

For Less is More - sketch

Hello sweet bloggers,

Hope you are having a decent weekend... 

Here is a card I made this evening for Less is More the theme being a sketch this week.

Rather simple creation with tiny snowman that were pretty hard to punch through 200 gsm along with punched snowflakes. The red squares have been stuck with dimensional foam dots to make the card look more interesting. Added pearls in the centre of the big snowflakes to finish the picture.

Now I have to share something funny - this picture was taken on the bath mat in the bathroom as I thought it would match with the colours of the card - such are the mad confessions of a crafter, lol. What a sight I looked sitting on the floor of the bathroom trying to capture my latest creation. Luckily Aleeza was fast asleep!!!

I like the way Less is More stretches my imagination in the most CAS manner.

Love,

Monica

Sold another 9 cards...

Hello lovely people,

Hope you all are well and enjoying autumn... For us it is the beginning of the rainy season - not that it doesn't rain otherwise but officially our rainy season here in Indonesia is from October to April. Since it is tropical weather, we don't really get to experience any seasons.

Over to my card... my second Christmas card for the season. The printed paper is fancy gift wrap in pearly white and shades of purple.  I have used a Penny Black stamp and a white stamp pad. Coloured in with water colour pencils and went over the outline with my silver Sakura gel pen. Added sparkle to the doves with Zeenya's silver nail polish. Also went over the leaves with a green Sakura gel pen.  Stuck silver snowflakes randomly around the image. This card is rather flat as one of my close friends wants to mail them and wants no 3D embellies. Almost my first time at making such a flat card.

 

I was lucky that a close friend bought five cards and another four were sold at hubby's office.

I am trying to make some speedy cards using the same stamp to get my momentum going...

Love,

Monica

For Created with Love

Hello sweet bloggers,

Here I am with a very simple card which I am going to enter in Created with Love Challenges  - something sweet. I have used my Sizzix die for the strawberry and popped up the green bit. Ran it through my CB and embossed the white background as well. Added some stickles on the strawberry with an MS border punch, red ribbon and some pop up glue in red. Completed it with three gems at the bottom of the strawberry.

Actually this card was made while I was playing with Aleeza so it is a bit childish but I like it's simplicity. I love CAS cards because that way I can make numbers, you see.

Love,

Monica

Happy to be back

Hello lovely bloggers,

We had a lovely vacation in Melbourne - little Aleeza loved visiting the aquarium, zoo, botanical gardens and the beach. 

Zeenya loved buying shorts in neon colours and I was besotted with the pretty flowers in the botanic gardens.

Down below are some pictures...

These frogs below (spotted at the aquarium) are not plastic!!! I was fascinated with their colour.

Aleeza feeding the lambs - it was a thrilling experience for her and she fed them thrice. The lambs looked so cute and they were really hungry - so much so that they almost snatched the bottles from the kids. It was like a tug of war...

Aleeza looked so focussed and dedicated - she even forgot to smile!

Petting rabbits...

 At St Kilda's beach

I have a busy day today but will try and visit you all. 

Much love,

Monica

Going to be away for a week...

Hello lovely bloggers,

First of all - a very warm welcome to my new followers. 

We are going away for a week as my older one has her autumn break... It is simply ages since we took a decent vacation. So you may not see posts from me for a few days. However I will come and visit if I can...

Down below is what Aleeza made in her art and craft class in school - I am sure there was lots of help from the teacher but I just felt that I had to share the brightness of this creation.

Do forgive me if I am not regular with my visits in the coming week.

Stay well, healthy and happy...

Love,

Monica

For Teacher's Day...

Hello lovely bloggers,

Here is a card I made yesterday as Aleeza's school wanted us to make something for the teacher as an appreciation... The images have been sent to me by my dear blog buddy, Sandra - thanks ever so much

Actually I was going to make this card to sell but thought I would give it to Aleeza's teacher instead. The ribbon looks a bit wonky but in real life it is fine.

Below is a quick poem for Ms Dorothy - the teacher. I used to love writing verses as a child! 

Catch you soon...

Love,

Monica