Lots to show here

Hello lovely peeps,

Some of you asked what my other half cooked for dinner the last time I did a post. Well, he made this veggie fried rice (vegetable biryani) with loads of onions, garlic, ginger, tomatoes and veggies. Along with this there was raita (spiced up yoghurt). Yes, it was pretty yummy.

Before I forget we are off to New Delhi for our annual vacation so I will see you next year. 

Here is a quick card made with ribbon and a store bought sentiment put up with 3 D foam dots. Sticking the 'oh so pretty' but thick ribbon on cardstock was quite an experience. After putting loads of weight on the card, it finally decided to stay on. Lol. 

Here is a picture of brown paper bags that Aleeza drew on totally free hand and coloured them as well. This was her labour of love for all for her fave teachers in school. She did not seem pleased with the tree but loved the penguin and the wreath. Sorry about the picture as it was a rainy day and that was the best I could manage. I know the tables could have been avoided.

The box below has been totally upcycled from a Body Shop container.  The rectangular piece of paper with the sentiment is actually the front of a Christmas brochure. I waited one year to use it in order to make it look new. Lol. The washi tape at the bottom was to camoflage the the commercial text at the bottom. What went in were my handmade cards. 

I will enter my card and upcycled box in the following challenges:

http://brownsugarchallenge.blogspot.sg/ - anything goes

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

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year,

Monica

Back after 10 days

Hello sweet peeps,

Today was one such day when I said to myself, "Enough is enough I NEED blogging." So here I am not cooking dinner but blogging. Hubby got home at a decent hour so asked him to take over the kitchen and he seems quite happy there. Ofcourse we don't know what he will turn out but from past records, he is a pretty good cook. So meself just needs to STAY CALM AND BLOG.

Here are pictures of my cards that I made at a 'Card Buffet' I attended at the scrap booking store in the city. We had a choice of the designer papers that we could use and I picked out the one that was covered in images. I cut out the images and stuck them on the card, using nesties, washi tape and a a die cut lamp that I found in one of the little boxes there. These are absolutely FLAT cards and Zeenya actually had words of appreciation for them. Lol.

I like the sentiment on the last one - it may not be good for consumerism and the economy yet for the environment it certainly is.

I will enter my cards in the following challenges:

http://lauralcraft.weebly.com/dragonfly-dreams-challenge - Christmas

http://glitternsparklechallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/ - Traditional or non-traditional colours

http://thegloryofchristmaschallenge.blogspot.de/ - anything goes

Happy crafting,

Monica

Pictures of my charity card sale on November 18th

Hello crafting soulmates,

Here are pictures of one my cards for the charity sale. The silvery paper was made my Aleeza. She spread glue on a recycled paper and sprinkled glitter on it and this was the result. I managed to make over 40 cards in a week.

This was my table which I decorated with black and red to follow the colour scheme of the venue which was a gymnasium on the 38th floor of a building

Down below is the sunset from the venue - pretty, isn't it?

I will enter my card in the following challenges:

http://crafterscafeblogchallenge.blogspot.sg/ - die cuts or punches

http://scrappers-delights-challenge-blog.blogspot.co.uk/ - Christmas, anything goes

http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.sg/ - anything goes

Happy crafting,

Monica 

Pretty much recycled here

Hello sweet peeps,

Here is a Christmas card mostly made with recycled paper from a wedding card. Yes, I have a really nice friend who saves up old Indian wedding cards for me and I store them and store them and then finally think of using them. Here is one of those instances when I actually used up the paper! The stamp is from my stash as is the ribbon. I added the rhine stone to make it look glam and by the way, the embossed emblem beneath the snowflake was part of the card. I stuck a snowflake on the emblem as inside the emblem was the bride and bridegroom's initials. Are you impressed?

I will enter this card in the following challenges:

http://stampedblessings.com/ - anything goes (no digis)
http://christmascardchallenges.blogspot.sg/ - anything goes, Christmas
http://cagichallenge.blogspot.ca/ - anything goes with sentiment


Wish you a great day,

Monica 

I think I need what this card says, lol

Hello lovely bloggers,

It was Diwali last week with lots of celebration in school and soon is Thanksgiving followed by Christmas and Valentine's and Chinese New Year. So the party goes on. Lol. 

I am coming along surprisingly well with the order of 40-50 cards for charity (Women on a Mission, Singapore).

This card was made when we visited Sydney a few weeks ago. Yes, I carried stamps, card stock and a few distressed inks along with my Sakura gold gel pen. There is lots of gold on the flower which could not be captured on camera. In real life, it looks quite pretty. And yes, I have used clear stamps from Hero Arts. The sentiment was part of the set and I love it.

I will enter this card in the following challenges:

http://brownsugarchallenge.blogspot.sg/ - no patterned paper

http://crafting-with-friends.blogspot.co.uk/ - anything goes

http://creativecornerchallenges.blogspot.de/ - black, white and one more colour

Wish you a happy weekend,

Monica 

Another Siberian theme card for WOAMS

Hello kind peeps,

I am making cards at top speed and have made 20 already for WOAMS (Women On A Mission Singpaore). Another 20 or 30 to go as per what I can manage.

This card was made with handmade paper from India bought in San Franscisco some years ago. Truly global is this paper, quite like me, lol. I had to put dots with stickles on the reindeer to cover up a stain.

The striped paper you see has been recycled from a pastry box. The silver cord was donated by a dear friend in Jakarta.

I will enter this card in:

http://www.2creativechicks.com/ - anything goes
http://pictureandscrap.blogspot.sg/ - Christmas
http://craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge2.blogspot.co.uk/ - anything goes with a Christmas theme

I am happy to be blogging again and have a feeling that I will be more regular from now on. 

Happy crafting,

Monica 

I am back with great news!

Hello sweet bloggers,

Yes, I was missing again and this time it was on a week's vacation to Sydney, Australia. I felt the energy much better this time around even though one evening was quite an experience when Aleeza and I got chased away by a "not so normal" person. Apart from that, it was mostly sunny skies and lovely time in the Royal Botanic Garden and just walking in the city. I also managed to visit the "Mind, Body and Spirit Festival" and bought amazing rose quartz tea light holders and a salt lamp. 

Now for the good news - as I was surfing Facebook, I stumbled upon a not for profit page called, 'Women on a Misson Singapore'. And I sent them a random Facebook message about making cards for charity. The lady there (who seemed a very nice person) got back to me in no time suggesting I could partner her and make cards for their big event on November 18th. This is an organization where the ladies go on serious expeditons and raise funds for women's charities. So to cut a long story short, I am doing a range of cards for them with a theme on Siberia as that is where their next expedition is.

I am very excited to say the least! Now the real work begins which is to make 40-50 cards before November 18th.

Below are two cards that I made yesterday they were quite appreciated by the team at WOAMS. So off I am...

Down below are pictures of Sydney - as you can see, I have great modelling there after a long walk from our hotel to the garden. The girls would rather be shopping but their father insisted they take some fresh air.

More happy pictures - they seem pretty done with the long walk. Lol.

Aleeza chasing a bird at the park.

I will enter this card in the following challenges:

http://crazy4challenges.blogspot.sg/ - Christmas

http://mfpstampshop.blogspot.ca/ - monochromatic layering

See you very soon,

Monica 

Mushrooming back!

Hello sweet bloggers,

Thank you for the comments on my last card and here is another card to show you which is totally hand drawn and coloured with Aleeza's Crayola water colour paints. Of course it was copied from a book and Aleeza did her share of art with me which you will find below. We did have lots of fun doing it together.

This is Aleeza's version of the mushroom. 

I will enter my card in the following challenges:
http://kreativeinkauf-challenge.blogspot.in/ - mushrooms

http://inspirationdestinationchallengeblog.blogspot.sg/ - anything goes

http://www.craftyourpassionchallenges.blogspot.sg/ - anything goes

http://craftingfromtheheartchallengeblog.blogspot.sg/ - anything goes

Happy crafting,

Monica 

I tried to be creative with the picture here

Hello dear bloggers,

Here is my card to show you today which has been stencilled with distress inks followed by Prisma pencils. I stuck printed paper (sent my dear Terry) on the entire card and also distressed around the image with a blue American Craft ink pad. The tiny flowers on the branch are from my stash - bought from an art and craft place called, "Something Special".  

Happy crafting,

Monica 

Hello, do you still remember me?

Hello sweet bloggers,

It sure seems a long while and gosh, I have been busy. Volunteering in school and trying to go about life to the best of my ability. Lol.

On the good side, I have been able to craft more often which is wonderful, isn't it? 

Here is my card to show you for today which gave me much pleasure.  New Washi tape and the 3D flip flops I have had since over a year along with a double layered sentiment die cut out of an old Indian wedding card. Now if you ask me about Indian wedding cards, I could write a book on this oh so vast topic. They are as elaborate as weddings themselves and their designs are fit for kings and queens. Honestly, sometimes I feel proud and at other times sad because in a poor country such as India it makes me wonder, why? Then wisdom prevails and I say to myself, "who am to judge"? Let each one be. Lol.

I will submit my happy chappy card in the following challenges:

http://kraftinkimmiestamps.blogspot.ca/ - anything goes

http://diecuttindivas.blogspot.sg/ - die cut

Wish you art in plentiful,

Monica 

Hello after a week

Hello sweet bloggers,

Here is my card to show you which was made for the challenge at Less is More last week but I decided not to link it as it was not a single layer card. The clear stamp is one of my faves from Kaiser craft and the best part is that I did not have to spend a bomb to get it. Lol. There are two versions here as the first version met with a high level of disapproval from Zeenya. She can talk, considering she does little art these days. Lol. On the good side, she has taken up Art as a subject this year and hopefully she will come back to herself.

The die cut sentiment has been layered as there was lots of glue in the first attempt. I do like the layering even though it may have taken attention away from the flat image. I did touch up the mug with Prisma pencils to make it more vivid. Rhinestones came to my rescue to make it glam. The backdrop is a hand woven batik from Indonesia. My lovely Indonesia. I would have preferred 'warm wishes' on this one but that is all I had and it sounded better than 'best wishes'.

Close up of the highlights with Sakura gold gel pen. 

Down below is the card that met with disapproval from Zeenya.

Wish you health, happiness and crafting,

Monica 

Owl be there

Hello bloggers,

Here is my card to show you today which I made a few weeks ago. The owl is a clear stamp from Kaiser and I have coloured it with my Prismas and the paper is from a pack that I bought at the local stationery store. I have worked a little bit harder here by using my MS border punch on the designer paper. Lol. The double ribbon bow is also hand tied by yours truly.

I will enter my card in the following challenges:
http://lauralcraft.weebly.com/dragonfly-dreams-challenge - girly
http://mytimetocraftchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/ - owls

Have a lovely day,

Monica 

Hello!

Hello sweet peeps,

Here is my card to show you today for LIM  which is spritzing. I have used Maya Mist (sand) and for the sentiment and hearts it is a stencil that I have never used in the 10 years that I have owned it. 

I thought it would look prettier than this but this sentiment looks a bit behind (or dated), I feel. In real life and in proper lighting the misted part looks subtle and shiny except that in the picture it looks plain subtle. The white and gold organza ribbon is from my stash and so are the sequins. The white nestie has been popped up with dimensional sticky pads. Over the sentiment and the hearts I did an etching kind of motion with my trusted Sakura gold pen and outlined everything too. And yes, last but not the least some glossy accent was used over the sentiment and heart to give it more depth. The picture with the glossy accents did not look becoming and I had luckily clicked a picture without adding them and that is what I am sharing with you. Better run to enter the challenge as it is 11 hours left for the deadline. Lol.

Found these pictures on FaceBook - so pretty that I had to share.

She or he seems to be saying something here. 

Pleasant weekend,

Monica 

Sold 18 cards last weekend

Hello sweet bloggers,

I have great news to share which is that I sold 18 cards last Friday to the ladies who live in our complex. I gathered enough courage to take a little cane box filled with cards to the pool and just casually showed the cards around without putting any kind of pressure on anyone and lo and behold!!! Cards just flew. Ofcourse it helped that some ladies were drinking wine and it kind of encouraged the sale, if you know what I mean. Lol.

To top it all, I got an order for 15 Rakhis which are actually friendship bracelets that a sister ties on a brother's wrist as a mark of love. So yes, all this money will go to Nepal Redcross and I feel truly blessed and lucky.

Thank you all for not giving up on me. Lol.

Here is a wedding card I made with new dies I bought at Spotlight and another paper crafting store called Paper Market. It is a simple card and could be mistaken for a sympathy message but I think the sentiment which has been embossed (not too happy with that) shouts loud and clear. My older one also asked me to glitter the ferns to make it more celebratory in nature. I like it, I have to say.

I will enter my simple beauty in the following challenges:

http://craftygalscornerchallenges.blogspot.sg/ - embossing

http://craftingbydesigns.blogspot.sg/ - anything goes

http://carabbiemomentsofcraft.blogspot.co.uk/ - add sentiment

http://lilredwagon.blogspot.sg/ - clean and simple

Wish you a happy crafting time apart from good health and laughter,

Monica 

Hello there!

Hello bloggers,

Every time I wanted to make a card or blog, something got in the way and that is how it has been. Gosh, helping settle a teenage daughter in her first week of a new school can sure be an experience.

Yesterday being Saturday, I decided enough is enough and managed to bring togther a card made with an image that has beens stamped (Penny Black) like four years ago. The designer papers were bought from the local craft store here and yes, after over a year of having them, they have seen the light of the day.

The black nestie behind the white one is a clothing tag and the rose is from my stash while the leaves are Spellbinder diecuts. I have used Marvey brush markers to colour the image and glossy accents over the hearts to make them pop. I quite like the serenity emanating from this card. Lol.

I will enter this card in the following challenges:

http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.sg/ - roses

http://crafting-with-dragonflies.blogspot.sg/ - make it floral

Wish you a happy weekend and I hope I can visit soon,

Monica 

"Rakhi" card

Hello sweet bloggers,

My older one, Zeenya is going to be entering Grade 10 and a new school yet again. After we moved from Indonesia last year, this will be her second school. Aleeza who will go to Grade 2 will continue in the same school as she is on a waitlist in the new school. However Zeenya's school will not require much time from me so it should work out fine as far as volunteering activities go. Or so I guess!!!

Today I am sharing a commissioned card for "Rakhi"which is an Indian celebration where the sister lovingly ties a friendship band (they are very ornate and often made of pure silver) on her brother/s. The brother/s spoil her by showering cash or gifts on her. The meaning of this ceremony runs deep implying that the brother will always protect and take care of his sister. It is indeed touching and sweet to watch the sister tying "Rakhi" on her brother. "Rakhi" is the name of the friendship band in Hindi. This card was ordered by someone I know and I had lots of fun making it. 

The 'oh so pretty' paper red and gold  on this card were sent to me by Terry some three years or so ago and I have used a gold cord and an actual "Rakhi" which has two beautiful rhine stones on it. The paper looks royal in real life and I wish the photo looked as nice. 

 Down below are pictures of the River Cruise that Aleeza and I went to. It was a fifteen minutes long scenic cruise.

These are pictures of water hyacinths that I saw along the walk way.

 I found this blossom so pretty that I had to picture it. The shades of pink on the petals are just so mesmerising for me. It reminds me of the paper flowers that I used to make.

 Wishing you health, happiness and crafting,

Monica 

Hello

Hello sweet bloggers,

Here is my card to show you today made while I was drawing and colouring with Aleeza. Yes, we both made the same owl and this is what I drew and coloured with her. I was quite impressed with myself and how this card turned out. The diecut leaves are from Spellbinders while papers are from my stash, probably Bo Bunny. I so easily over look using designer papers on my cards and it is a wonder that I remembered. Lol. I touched up the owl with my loyal Sakura gold gel pen which NEVER fails to lift up what I have created. The tiny sequins you see on the left are from my stash. I have tried to distress the edges of the image and have sponged it too. The sentiment is handwritten with a Staedler marker. 

 Below is a closeup of the owl with gold touches.

I will enter my card in the following challenges:

http://www.2creativechicks.com/ - showcase really of anything

http://animalfriendschallenge.blogspot.de/ - animals

http://craftandsmash.blogspot.it/ - orange, yellow, kraft

Happy crafting,

Monica 

Just some random pictures

Hello sweet peeps,

It is summer hols and sometimes I wish I could run away to Starbucks with my computer and just be with me. Anyway, since I don't have a dog or a cat, I decided to marry, have a husband (who is a workaholic) and kids (who are lovely most of the time but I am not). I would have loved a cat or a dog but am not sure how I would handle their poop and pee schedules. I wish someone would give me a medal for being a stay at home mother. Lol.

Below is Aleeza with her drawing she copied from the Ipad. She thinks using an Ipad is the hippest thing on earth. Lol.

This  Mandala art work was done by Zeenya and it got special place in the Visual Arts Exhibit in school when she was in Grade 8. She is soon going to be entering Grade 10 and does not a wee bit of art. 

This was also done in Grade 8 by Zeenya.

Wish you a happy, healthy and above all an arty-crafty day,

Monica 

Thank You card

Hello bloggers,

Here is a card to show you today made and the butterfly has been fussy cut from a paper napkin after removing the two layers at the bottom. I went over it with my Cuttlebug over it to make it stay on the cardstock as it was a wee bit flimsy to stick on. 

I will enter this card in:

http://stampedblessings.com/amusing-challenge - anything goes

http://thepaperplayers.blogspot.sg/ - CAS challenge

http://scrappers-delights-challenge-blog.blogspot.co.uk/ - anything goes

I will come and visit you soon,

Monica 

It has been a long time

Hello sweet bloggers,

I sure have been away for the longest time. We were gone to an island called Lombok in Indonesia which is close to Bali. It was a lovely trip and I will post pictures soon. However towards the end of our trip, my older one and I had real sore throats and are still recovering from them. Beside that, it was glorious to to see the sea and just relax on the beach or by the pool.

I do hope you all have been well and enjoying card making.

Here is my card to show you which I made a while ago. It is simple and sweet I think and does not really require much explanation.

I will enter my card in the following challenges:

http://www.craftysentiments.blogspot.sg/ - anything goes

http://www.ttcrd.blogspot.sg/ - anything goes

http://craftingfromtheheartchallengeblog.blogspot.sg/ - always anything goes

I will come and visit soon,

Monica 

Choose happy

Hello sweet peeps,

Thank you for all your kind comments on my previous post and here I am to show you another card. The green striped paper is recycled from a magazine and the washi tape is from my stash. The dragonfly was sent to me by Sandra two or three years ago. Aleeza and I glittered it for fun. I cannot remember the name of the rubber stamp but I LOVE it.

Happy crafting,

Monica 

Hello there

Hello sweet bloggers,

Summer is here and schools are closed so it is out with routine and in with lazy mornings and such. 

Here is my card to show you today made with an image that I painted with my fingers a while ago while I was doing art with Aleeza. I cut the image out and stuck it on the leaves which have been punched on hand made paper from India. I have used a thick coat of glossy accents on the rose as there were tell tale glue stains on it. I know this rustic card did not need the addition of gloss however I had little choice to cover up my faux pas.

I will enter this in the following challenges:

http://suzypantssmarty.blogspot.co.uk/ - anything goes with a twist - only use two colours

http://greatimpressionsstamps.blogspot.sg - anything goes

http://avenue613.blogspot.sg/ - anything goes with rose and or pearls

Happy crafting,

Monica 

I love my new thinlets from Sizzix

Hello sweet peeps,

Here is a another quick card to show you today. I do hope the background is not too overpowering. It is a cloudy evening and I could not find enough natural light to take a clear picture.

Well, this card is mad with my new Sizzix thinlets and I have to say that I LOVE this font. The printed paper has been recycled from a magazine and the chevrons are from an Ek Success border punch that has been lying with me since ages.

I will enter my card in:

http://crafterscafeblogchallenge.blogspot.sg/ - anything goes

http://kraftinkimmiestamps.blogspot.ca/ - anything goes

Lots of art and craft for you,

Monica 

I am beginning to love blue

Hello sweet bloggers,

Here is my card to show you today with an image that I stamped a while ago. I think this the clear stamp is from a Hero Arts set. It has been coloured in with Lyra pencils and I have stuck tiny glass beads for the centres. The paper and embroidery yarn are from my stash and the sentiment is a store bought one.

I will enter this card in the following challenges:

http://clearitoutchallenge.blogspot.sg/ - blue

http://www.lovesrubberstampschallenges.com/ - dots and spots

http://sweetstampsblog.blogspot.sg/ - anything goes

Wish you lots of arty-craftiness,

Monica