Less is More - second entry

Hello sweet bloggers,

Here is my second entry for Less is More this week for their scallops challenge.

I have had this tiny clear stamps from Imaginisce for ages in my stash so I decided to air them this morning. Lol.

I have used two Imaginisce stamps on this card, stamping the blue background with scallops with Archival Brilliance in pearly blue. Over that I stamped the wee little boat and sentiment with American Craft danube blue. The sentiment kept getting messed up so I had to try many times to get it right (you don't want to know how manay, lol) Finally, I just decided to go with it and went over it with my Staedler pen in blue. Popped up the white stamped image on foam dots and the blue lace is from my stash.

Happy Sundaying!

Love,

Monica 

For Less is More - scallops

Hello lovely bloggers,

Here is a card (after many failed attempts) which I have made for Less is More where the theme this week is scallops. I thought this was going to be rather easy for me but that was obviously not the case. When I showed this card to Zeenya, she would not even want to look at it and said it would be best if I not ask for her opinion. Really is it that bad??? 

Hope you are having a good weekend...

Love,

Monica 

For Cas(e) this sketch

Hello lovely bloggers,

Here is my card for Cas(e) this sketch - sorry that I have not linked the sketch. The lady bugs were stamped horizontally with one of Aleeza's stamps that she hardly uses. I have used water colours to colour the lady bugs after stamping them with Stazon jet black. The striped paper and buttons are from my stash. The Penny Black sentiment has been stamped with American Craft white ink. The buttons were used to cover smudges from the stamp. I could have stuck tiny butterflies but I had buttons lying close by on the table so I went for them. Lol.

 I will also enter this card in: 

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

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

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

This card below is the one I posted for the last Less is More challenge. I added multicoloured strings at the bottom to make it look more attractive. I think it looks better with the strings, doesn't it?

Love,

Monica 

We were away to a hill station for two days

Hello sweet bloggers,

We were up in the mountains for two days and we also managed to go to the Animal Safari close by.  We have been here many times, but it always seem like a new and refreshing experience every time. What luxury to go to a hill station and sit there just watching the beautiful scenery and admiring the breathtakingly beautiful flowers. Oh beautiful Indonesia!

We also drove through a picturesque tea estate and bought tea from there.

Be warned - this is a picture heavy post. Lol.

Flowers in the resort ...

More pink flowers...

And still more flowers... these are zinnias down below. Incidentally Zeenya is named after this flower but we changed the spelling of her name.

Down below is the beautiful view from our villa

Another angle...

 View from  the tea garden - a bit cloudy

 Tea gardens...

Down below are pictures of animals we saw from our car... Aleeza loved them and so did Zeenya (even though she is not so much into animals)

Guess what this is - a hungry hippo ;-)

 I guess one has to pay a price for everything - the price I paid for this was a flu' that I came back with. Never mind, it was still worth it - of course Zeenya could not wait to get back to wifi as their was poor wifi there. She even tried her best to pre-pone our departure... Lol.

Thanks for all the lovely comments on my previous post. 

I am all ready on the mend so will come and do my rounds soon.

Love,

Monica 

Second entry for Less is More - beads

Hello bloggers,

It is me again with my third post for the day...

Here is a card I have made for Less is More with beads as is the theme this week. I started out this card with much excitement but there were many a slip between cup and lip. Finally this is what turned out.

I have used a stamp by Penny Black and it has been coloured in with water colour pencils. The beads are what I had in my stash from Zeenya's hair braiding in Thailand many years ago. The sentiment

is from Docrafts. The white bits you see in the centre of the beads is undried glue. Maybe I should have waited for the glue to dry.

See you later.

Love,

Monica 

For Less is More this week - beads

Hello sweet bloggers,

At Less is More the theme this week is beads... I have plenty of beads in my stash but just could not think of a clean and simple card. Anyway here is my take on the beads. Simple card but sweet I think. These hearts were bought in Singapore the last time I visited. They came in a pack and I have thrown away the the flap on the top which had their name. The embossing folder is a Sizzix one and the beads came free with a magazine called Card Making and Paper Craft some seven years ago. This is the first time I used them. Talk of hoarding, yet again. Lol.

I just realized that I could also enter this card in CAS(ual) Friday this week for their no stamp challenge.

Second card for Casual Friday - no stamps

Hello sweet bloggers,

Here is a quick card I made last night with paper in my scrap folder. I had these piece of cards tock that I had embossed in dark green and I cut the squares with a punch carefully positioning the embossed lines in the centre. Stuck green gems in the centre along with scoring lines on the top. Topped it with green yarn on the top. It seems too green and a tad incomplete to me but I just could not think of what to do with it. I did think of making Christmas gift boxes by tying ribbons on the top - changed my mind as it is too early for me to make Christmas cards. Lol. This will be my second card for CAS(ual) Friday  this week - no stamps.

Wish you a crafty Sunday.

Love,

Monica

For CAS(ual) Friday - NO stamps

Hello lovely bloggers,

Over at CAS(ual) Friday this week they have a challenge which involves using no stamps. So here is my take. Very simple but I kind of like it. And the congratulations sticker was sent to me by Shirley-Anne. Many thanks! The other stickers and washi tape are from my stash.

Off to see a film called Argo now which has come after a long wait. 

Catch you later.

Love,

Monica 

Monochromatic card

Hello lovely peeps,

Welcome to my newest follower Bbt Barton and many thanks for joining me.

Here is a card I made yesterday with my Do craft stamp which I have had for almost 12 years and never used it - can you believe that??? I have coloured it in with water colour pencils after stamping it with Brilliance graphite black. The sponging has been done with wild honey and crushed olive. The tiny little flowers are from India and the ribbon is from my stash. 

I will enter this card in the following challenges:

http://paper-craftingjourney.blogspot.co.uk/ - ribbon or lace

http://milkcoffeechallenge.blogspot.com/ - go green (use green or anything recycled)

http://stamp-n-doodle.blogspot.co.uk/ - anything goes

Wish you a happy weekend.

Love,

Monica 

Angels create miracles and...

Hello sweet bloggers,

Here is a card I made this afternoon for http://trystampinontuesday.blogspot.co.uk/  with stuff left over from a previous card. The printed paper was actually a recycled gift wrap which I have punched with an MS punch. This little strip is all that I could save of it and I have stuck it over pink gingham paper. The rose is a stamped image from Hero Arts. It is from a larger stamp and I cut out a flower and leaves after colouring it with water colours. The corner punch is from Carla Craft and the sentiment is from Penny Black - it is one of my fave sentiments and the pearls are from mys stash. 

I will also enter this card in:
http://www.craftdoormagazine.com/ - anything goes
http://shoppingourstash.blogspot.com/ - spring

I cannot believe it is Thursday all ready...

Will come and visit later.

Love,

Monica 

Another variation with the same sentiment stamp (which I love)

Hello lovely bloggers,

Thanks for the comments on my last post and that prompted me to try the same sentiment stamp (from Penny Black) again. The striped paper is fancy gift wrap while the black and white keys have been stamped with a small Prima stamp. I had to stamp it twice to cover the entire length. Used Brilliance graphite black ink and am quite happy with the way it turned out. Actually I love this stamp even though I have to go over it with a fine tipped marker almost everytime and that can be a bit trying you know.

I have used Washi tape at bottom of the white stamped strip. This was another attempt at a making flat card though I was tempted to add crystals or pearls BUT I resisted. Lol.

I will enter this in the following challenges:

http://bearlymine-challenges.blogspot.com/ - anything goes

http://creativecardcrew.blogspot.com/ - masculine

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

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

Down below is something I saw on Facebook and had to share it.

Will come and visit later.

Love,

Monica 

Third entry for Less is More - Frame it

Hello sweet bloggers,

Here is my third entry for Less is More and I will enter this in CAS on Sunday and Addicted to CAS as well.

Not sure how this card turned out as the sentiment stamp (from Penny Black) did not work too well on the textured card stock. I was fairly certain it won't work but since I am getting quite confident in stamping directly on to card stock I took the risk. I had to go over the stamped sentiment with a permanent marker and that may have made it smudgy. The background stamp is from Prima and I have used American Craft Aqua to stamp it. The butterfly has been punched out of glittery paper and the gems are from my stash. 

Wish you a happy Tuesday :-)

Love,

Monica

Second entry for Less is More - frame it

Hello sweet bloggers,

Welcome to my newest followers, Satya and Linda - many thanks for joining my blog as a follower.

Here is another five minute card I made this morning to add to my stock (having sold off most of the ones I had).

It is an Inkadinkado stamp and I have used my blue Brilliance pearlescent ink while the sentiment is from Hampton Art. The nestie is from Spellbinders and the pearls are from my stash. I am quite happy with how it turned out and hope you like it too. It is going to be my second entry for LIM this week.

Wish you a pleasant week ahead.

For Less is More - frame

Hello sweet bloggers,

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

We went to see a film called, "Flight" which was actually quite nice inspite of the language. Such luxury to see a Hollywood film here. 

This is a card that I made in minutes this morning with this lovely Itty Bitty stamp from Unity which I have had for months in my drawer. I randomly stamped it on the card stock with Stazon black and I do like the way it turned out. I was tempted to colour in the roses in red or even add some red flowers or something red but resisted it all.  I am going to enter this in Less is More this week for their theme of frames. 

Down below is something that Aleeza (my little one) painted after drawing it. She calls it a web and she took the photo herself - bit shaken but I wanted to share the bright colours with you. 

Another one with Aleeza making a heart out of play dough. She calls it an Indian heart :-D

Catch you later.

Love,

Monica 

Second entry for Cas(e) this Sketch

Hello sweet bloggers,

It is a hot, sunny day here on this Saturday morning and I am sure it will rain soon to break the heat.

Here is a another quick card I made for Cas(e) this Sketch.

The image was stamped by Zeenya some two years ago - it is a Hero Arts one and she has used peeled paint distress ink to stamp it. She sponged it with the same ink as well I think. I have also sponged the card base with crushed olive distress ink after embossing it. It kind of looks yellow in the picture but in real life it blends in quite well. Stuck ribbon and hand wrote the sentiment after three lousy attempts.

The card below is the previous one I posted which I thought was rather bare so dressed it up with pink cotton lace to fill up the empty space on the top. 

Wish you a pleasant weekend,

Monica 

For Cas(e) this sketch

Hello sweet bloggers,

I have had quite a busy week hence could not blog or visit. But I will surely come and do my rounds. My mojo is not with me and I could hardly get any ideas. Then finally came Cas(e) this sketch for this week and here is my take. Sorry about not loading the sketch - I still haven't figured out how to copy a picture with ease on to this laptop. 

Anyway, here is my simple card which Aleeza said was a bit dull ! I have used an Inkadinkado stamp and a Brilliance pearly orchid stamp pad. Trust me it shines in real life. Stuck three crystals on the left to make it more lively. The base card stock is baby pink by the way.

I will come and visit soon.

Thank God it is Friday !

Love,

Monica

Baby girl card

Hello sweet bloggers,

Thanks for the lovely comments on my last card. Today is a holiday here so while Aleeza was engaged in stamping, I made this quickie. The ribbon with footprints is new as is the stamp from Penny Black. I did make a card with it a few weeks ago (yet to post it) and it sold off instantly. So I thought I would make one more and I am happy with it. The pink ribbon on either side of larger ribbon (with footprints) was used to hide stains on it. The rose is from a larger ribbon and the flourishes were just sitting around on my craft table. I finished off the card with pearls. The sentiment is sweet, don't you think?

I am going to enter this in the following challenges:

http://www.craftyourpassionchallenges.blogspot.com/ - two colours only

http://www.cupcakecraftchallenges.blogspot.com/ - sentiment as the main focus

http://fashionistachallenge.blogspot.co.uk/ - pink

http://housemouse-challenge.blogspot.com/ - ribbon and pearls

http://houseofgilli.blogspot.com/ - anything goes with pastels

http://dustinpike.blogspot.ca/ - pastels

I hope you like my sweet little card...

Love,

Monica 

The perfect pear

Hello sweet bloggers,

This is a card I made this morning after really pushing myself. The image is a stamp from Hampton Art and it has been coloured with water colour pencils. The printed paper was won two years ago in Terry's blog candy. The sponging on the paper below the image was done by Zeenya (my older one) in the good old days when she used to love card making. The flowers are from my stash as is the ribbon. The leaf at the bottom left is a pressed leaf which has sentimental value as I picked it up while walking in a park in France !!! I have to add that I do like this card and the colours on it.

I am going to enter this in the following challenges:
http://addicted-to-stamps-challenge.blogspot.co.uk/ - bring on spring (lots of flowers)
http://challenges4everybody.blogspot.co.uk/ - anything goes
http://opus-gluei.blogspot.com/ - spring has sprung
http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/ - anything goes
http://sketchsaturday.blogspot.com/ - sketch

Hope you are having a good week...

Catch you later.

Love,

Monica 

For a man

Hello sweet bloggers,

This card is for a friend's son and she wanted a flat card which she could post overseas without any fuss. Much as I was tempted to put twine and real buttons, I restrained myself to keep it this way. The buttons were sponged and the sentiment is from Penny Black. The papers are from my stash. In real life the buttons match well but my camera decided to change their hues.

I will enter this card in:

http://casethissketch.blogspot.co.uk/ - sketch

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

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

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

See you later.

Love,

Monica 

Pastels

Hello lovely bloggers,

I am so happy that I have sold a total of 43 cards all ready so am kind of taking a break from card making.

Here is a card I made a few days ago with an embossing folder that I love. It was almost a five minutes job except that I had to wait longer for the liquid pearls to dry up. The lace is my new buy and the butterfly is from a scrap booking section of a stationery store in India.

I will enter this card int he following challenges:

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

http://stampinroyalty.blogspot.com/ - CAS

http://everybody-art-challenge.blogspot.com/ - butterfly

I must do my blog visits this evening.

Love,

Monica 

Sold another 15 cards

Hello dear bloggers,

I forgot to mention that a friend bought six cards from me in Singapore and this afternoon I sold another nine cards this afternoon which makes a total of fifteen. So my tally is a total of 43 cards sold so far and I will continue to support schooling of financially challenged primary children. 

Now to my card... I have stuck fancy gift wrap on this card and have touched up the music notes with a silver Sakura gel pen. The white music punched out shapes are the left overs from my Ek Success border punch ( used for another card) which I actually coloured with the same silver Sakura pen as well. So they look quite glittery on the card. Stuck shiny stickers, crystals and ribbon and my card was complete.

I did not sell this card but gave it to a dear friend who supports my passion by buying my cards.

I will enter this card in the following challenges:

http://anythingchallenge.blogspot.com/ - make it manly

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

http://cardsformen.blogspot.com/ - masculine and monochromatic

See you soon.

Love,

Monica 

All pink and white

Hello sweet peeps,

Here is a card I made a couple of days ago... I have stamped a Penny Black image with Brilliance Archival in pearlescent pink. The paper is my latest acquisition from Singapore and buttons and ribbon are from stash. I have used my MS corner punch for the corners to add more interest.

I will enter this in the following challenges:

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

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

http://songbirdchallenges.blogspot.com/ - Mother's day

See you later! 

Love,

Monica 

Second entry for CAS(E) this sketch

Hello sweet bloggers,

Here is my second entry for CAS(E) this sketch this week and it took me all of five minutes to make. The lace and ribbon are from my stash and so are the pearls. The sentiment is from Hero Arts which I stamped with Brilliance pearlescent blue and went over it with my blue Sakura gel pen to make it stand out. I do like this card, I have to say.

I will also enter this card in:
http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/ - anything goes
http://challenges4everybody.blogspot.co.uk/ - anything goes
http://www.creativeinspirationspaint.blogspot.com/ - anything goes

Wish you a pleasant week ahead.

Love,
Monica 

Second entry for CAS-ual Friday

Hello bloggers,

I had a nice weekend as it was a friend's birthday party we went to and had a great Friday evening there. This afternoon we went to see Silver Lining which had a good story apart from poor language. Of late we have not been getting Hollywood films here so this was a treat.

Here is a quick post to share my second card for CAS-ual Friday this week. The theme is stamping your own background. I have used an Inkadinkado stamp to create this simple card and have touched up the image with a silver Sakura pen and given it a border as well. I thought of adding on crystals or ribbon but they did not seem to match with these Oriental flowers.

I will also enter this in:
http://ladybugcrafts.blogspot.com/ - the colour blue.

It is 840 pm here so the weekend is almost over...

Love,
Monica

For CAS-ual Friday

Hello sweet peeps,

I would like to welcome my newest follower Lindsay - many thanks for joining my blog.

Down below is a card I have made for CAS-usal Friday, the theme being to stamp your own background. I have used my Hero Arts cling stamp which I had lying in my drawer for months. The stars were sent by Shirley-Anne and the buttons and blue cord are from my stash.

I will also enter this card in:

http://ladybugcrafts.blogspot.com/ - the colour blue

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

http://addictedtocas.blogspot.com/ - masculine

Wish you a pleasant weekend,

Monica 

Waiting for mojo to come back

Hello sweet bloggers,

Here is a card I made for Case this sketch - not quite pleased with it. I had handwritten the sentiment but it was crooked so wrote on another piece of hand torn card stock which I swear is cream but seems yellowish here. That kind of ruins it, I feel. The rose is a Sizzix emboss and cut mini die. The embossing folder is also from Sizzix. The flower has been coloured with pearl pastel chalks. I tried to place the buttons as though they were tiny florets on the embossed image. 

Cheers to Friday,

Monica