Sweet chick

Hello sweet bloggers,

Here is a card I put together with a cute image that Aleeza drew free hand and coloured it in with water colour pencils without using water and I rested it on another nestie. The background paper has been coloured with food colours in green and egg yellow. The tag you see under the round nesties came from a garment and the green embroidery yarn is from my stash. The sentiment is one of my faves and I wish I could recall the wooden stamp. 

Happy everything,

Monica

December already!

Hello dear bloggers,

Here is my card for CAS(E) this Sketch made with stuff that was lying around on my pretty messy table. 

I have used a sizzix die cut and Aleeza water coloured it. It was slightly longer than the card so I folded it in and stuck it on the inside. 

The porcelain plate is over 53 years old and it belongs to my mum who generously let me have it. 

My mum copied it on a bottle and painted it with oil colours many years ago.

I will also enter this card in the following challenges:

http://4craftychicks.blogspot.com/ - anything goes
http://seizethebirthday.blogspot.com/ - birthday
https://aaacards.blogspot.com/ - anything

Happy crafting,

Monica 

Stencils

Hello bloggers,

Here is a card to show you today against a background which looked pretty matching with the card in real life. In the photo, it went haywire. Lol. 

I have used a stencil and green distressed ink has been sponged in. The outlines have been coloured with a gold gel marker. This background was made a few years ago and when I found it, all the gold gel had disappeared like pixie dust all that was left was a brownish outline. I coloured in some bits of the sponged bits with a gold gel marker. Stuck a fancy gold washi tape and a ready made sentiment and the card was done.

I will enter my card in the following challenges:

http://lemonshortbreadchallenge.blogspot.com/ - always anything goes

https://shoppingourstash.blogspot.com/ - washi, washi, washi

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

https://craftingfromtheheartchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ - anything goes

Happy crafting,

Monica 

For Cas(e) this sketch

Hello dear bloggers,

Here is my card to show you for the challenge at  CAS(E) this sketch. The rose die cut is from Altenew and Aleeza has used acrylic paints to colour the water colour paper. I have used two kinds of washi tape on the card. The broader one is from 3M while the narrower one is a shiny tape from India. 

I will also take part in the following challenges:

http://cleanandsimpleonsunday.blogspot.com/2018/11/ - washi tape

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

Happy crafting,

Monica 

Choose happy

Hello dear peeps,

Here is my card to show you today which has been made with fancy gift wrap. I stuck gift wrap on the entire card and did not know what to do with it. And thus it lay for many years - say six or more. Finally I tied a yellow ribbon and let it lay on my table. Aleeza suggested I use a tag which was lying on my table. I water coloured the tag and stamped the sentiment on it. It was attached to the ribbon with green embroidery yarn. Simple, yes, but it took years to complete. Anyway, all is well that ends well.

I will participate in the following challenges:

https://pinkgemchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ - anything goes

http://qkrstampede.blogspot.com/ - always anything goes

http://asyoulikeitchallenge.blogspot.com/ - monochrome or rainbow

Happy crafting,

Monica 

Anniversary card

Hello bloggers,

Here is my card to show you today made with the bare minimum of embellishments. I had this embossed sentiment lying around for years and when I tried cutting it, it got damaged so I used my corner rounder to round off the areas which needed mending. The shiny washi tape, yes shiny like a twinkling star came from India. I rounded off the corners of the card stock to synchronise it with the sentiment.

I will participate in the following challenges:

http://asyoulikeitchallenge.blogspot.com/  - rainbow or monochrome

http://cardsgalorechallenges.blogspot.com/ - anything goes
http://dianamlarson.blogspot.com/ - anything goes

Happy crafting,

Monica 

Recycled card plus Aleeza's art and craft

Hello bloggers,

Here is a partially recycled card to show you today. The two strips at the bottom were the waste bits of a Diwali paper craft. I added some shiny washi tape from India and another one with text to complete it. 

This is a rangoli design made by Aleeza at the India Heritage Centre open house

Down below is a little lamp decorated by Aleeza

Happy crafting,

Monica 

Happy Diwali or Deepawali

Hello sweet bloggers,

Here is a card to show you that I made many years ago - maybe 10 years ago. The image is from a fancy gift wrap paper from India and I have used fabric pop up glitter glue from India by the name of Fevicryl. I have also used red and gold sequins and I stuck them upside down so that the convex side was on the top to keep them from making a dent on the paper. The gold hand made paper below is also from India. It has been cut with scissors in an organic manner without using any lines or such. 

Below is a rangoli I made for Aleeza's Diwali celebration in class this morning. I used fresh flowers emphasising on Jasmine flowers for their lovely fragrance. The classroom did smell wonderful. I also related a story about Diwali and shared how it symbolised the victory of good over evil. I discreetly put in my two penny worth of wisdom about environment too which made me feel quite impressed with myself. Lol.

 I will enter this card in:

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

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

http://alteredeclectics.blogspot.com/ - altered eclectics

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

Happy crafting,

Monica 

An anniversary card

Hello bloggers,

Here is my super quick card to show you for today. The felt hearts were sent my Terry to me many years ago. Terry hardly blogs anymore and I miss her. The washi tape is from my stash and that is it. The sentiment is a clear stamp from a group of Kaiser stamps.

I will take part in the following challenges:

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

http://ttcrd.blogspot.com/ - always anything goes

https://craftingfromtheheartchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ - anything goes

Happy crafting,

Monica 

Wow, that was a long break

Hello dearest bloggers,

Here is my latest card to show you. The bird image has been sent by dear Shirley-Anne and the pink nestie as well. The Sizzix die cut flowers were die cut by me and I coloured with water colours. 

I will take part in the following challenges:

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

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

http://craftingwithanattitude.blogspot.com/ - anything goes
https://thehappycraftchallenge.blogspot.com/ - anything goes

Happy crafting,

Monica 

Made at a craft workshop

Hello dear bloggers,

Here is a card I made a while ago at a craft workshop. There are only papers that I have used here along with ribbon and buttons which I think I could have avoided. 

I will take part in the following challenges:

https://craft-deebowz.blogspot.com/p/challenge.html - anything with a handmade bow

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

http://craftyhazelnutspatternedpaper.blogspot.com/ - patterned paper
https://asnowflakespromise.blogspot.com/ - anything goes

Happy crafting,

Monica

Partly recycled

Hello dear bloggers,

Here is my card to show you today quite similar to the one I posted some days ago. I have upcycled foil from a yoghurt container for the silver nestie as well as the die cut sentiment. That is pretty much to it. 

I will enter this card in the following challenges:

http://avenue613.blogspot.com/ - anything goes CAS

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

http://welove2create.blogspot.com/ - anything creative

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

http://cutitupchallenges.blogspot.com/ - cut it up

Happy crafting,

Monica 

For Case This Sketch and thank you to Shirley-Anne

Hello dear bloggers,

Here is my card for the sketch over at Case this Sketch this week. All the material for the card including the nesties and stamp were sent to me by Shirley-Anne. I embossed the round nesties and stuck the sentiment that was also sent by Shirley-Anne. Thank you, dear blog buddy.

I will enter this card in the following challenges:

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

http://southerngirlschallenge.blogspot.com/ - spots and dots

Happy crafting,

Monica 

To a special friend

Hello dear bloggers,

Here is a card I have made with Sizzix thinlets which were water coloured by Aleeza and I cut them individually to place them around the sentiment. The sentiment was sent to me by dear Sandra a few years ago. 

Below is a close up of the same card 

I will enter this card in:

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

https://meganshappyhourcraftchallenge.blogspot.com/ - anything goes

Happy crafting,

Monica

Angels create miracles and so do our friends

Hello dear bloggers,

 I have made this card with a stencilled background and have used thick water colours to colour in the stencil. 

The sentiment was stamped many years ago and the sides of the paper have been hand torn and I have used my Marvy brush marker to go over them.  

I have also stamped a dragon fly in yellow and green around the sentiment which barely shows. 

The flower diecut is from Sizzix and I have used water colours to colour it.

I will enter my card in the following challenges:

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

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

http://sweetstampinchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ - die cuts

Happy crafting

Thanks

Hello dear bloggers,

Here is my card to show you for CAS(E) this Sketch. The red and black strip is part of some packaging material and I have had it for a while now. I tell you I am happy to see it on this card. The thanks sentiment was bought from the US last year. I cannot recall where it came from.

 

I will also submit my card for the following challenges:

https://crafting-with-friends.blogspot.com/ - anything goes
http://creativefingerschallengeblog.blogspot.com/ - anything goes
http://qkrstampede.blogspot.com/ - anything goes

Happy crafting,

Monica 

thank you

Hello bloggers,

Here is small card I made for someone special. The card stock came from dear Shirley-Anne. Thank you, Shirley. I have used a Unity stamp and the butterflies have been stamped in Brilliant pearlescent light blue. Aleeza suggested I go over the butterflies with Wink of Stella to highlight the butterflies. The card looks quite pretty in real life with the sparkle. The sentiment is a die cut from Kaiser. I have used Marks and Spencer tea packaging for the same. The embroidery yarn is from my stash. I ran the blue paper through my cuttlebug and embossed it with polkas. 

Happy crafting,

Monica 

Thanks

Hello bloggers,

Here is my card for http://cas-ualfridays.blogspot.com/ which is all about sequins. The big round aluminium nestie has been die cut from a yoghurt lid and so has the sentiment. The flower sequins are handmade from India. It was Aleeza who felt I should put them on the card so here they are. 

Happy blogging,

Monica 

Have a great day!

Hello bloggers,

Here is a simple card to show you today made with my altenew dies. The papers are from India and all handmade. The sentiment is from Hero Arts and I wish it was not a bit smudgy. I have used a brilliance ink to stamp it.

I will enter this card in:

https://aaacards.blogspot.com/ where there is a sketch to follow
http://avenue613.blogspot.com/ anything goes
http://dragonflydreamschallenges.blogspot.com/ - anything goes
http://lilpatchofcraftyfriends.blogspot.com/ - anything goes

Wish you a happy day,

Monica 

Thank you

Dear bloggers,

Here is a quick card I made a few months ago with my new Sizzix papers. All I did was add a die cut sentiment in the centre. The paper was coloured with purple acrylic paint by Aleeza, my younger one. I know this card is simple and does not boast of any skills yet I like the colours and the flowers here.

I will enter this card in:

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

https://cutencraftychallengeblog.blogspot.com/ - anything goes

Happy crafting,

Monica 

Oh so green card

Hello dear bloggers,

Thank you for your kind words on my previous post. With time, I will get used to Zeenya's going to the university. We do try and talk on the phone so that is a big blessing.

Now to my card which was made before summer holidays with food colouring in green and yellow. I tried some kind of smoosh and my own style. I die cut the green paper and stuck in a white die cut fern in the reverse bit. The sentiment is handwritten and it has been placed on foam dots for extra interest.

I will enter this card in the following:

http://dragonflydreamschallenges.blogspot.com/ - monochrome

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

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

Happy blogging,

Monica 

Hello after such a long gap

Hello bloggers,

I sure have been busy - firstly we moved home luckily in the same complex and secondly my older one, Zeenya left for university yesterday. It was a time full of emotions but we seem to be okay so far. She has been such a helpful little elf to me with technology and so many other spheres. I will be brave and learn to be happy without her. She will be back for Christmas which makes Aleeza and me very excited.

I have not made a card in the last few months and my mojo seemed to evade me. Yet I put together this very quick card which seems a tad crooked. I have used foam pad under the white paper and the die cut was delicately pushed into the reverse side. I took a little bit of glue and carefully stuck the tree. The green paper is very pretty in real life but looks dull in the photo.

Happy blogging,

Monica 

Kids Summer Vacation Challenge - from Aleeza

Hello dear bloggers,

Here is a card made by Aleeza entirely on her own for her dad's birthday in December. Yes, as early as that!!! She hand drew the image and used her water colour pencils to colour it in. Two kinds of washi tape, pop up foam dots with a hand written sentiment and her card was all done. 

Happy crafting,

Monica 

Back from Portugal and India

Dear sweet bloggers,

We were away to Portugal for the wedding of a friend's daughter which was a lovely affair. Since we had two days off after the wedding we did manage to go to two small towns called Cashcais and Sintra which were both so beautiful. Lots of fresh fish and vegetables is what we ate most of the time. 

I am sharing some pictures of the Palace we visited and the beach as well. 

Now to card made with smoosh technique and inlaid die cut. Just a simple beauty but I love the way it turned out. The green polka dotted paper from which the leaf has been die cut is actually a pamphlet from a mall. I could not but resist!!! I placed the leaf in such a manner so that it produced a wee bit of a shadow underneath.

I will enter this card in:

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

https://crafting-with-friends.blogspot.com/ - anything goes

https://colourcrazychallenge.blogspot.com/ - anything goes

http://simplycreatetoo.blogspot.com/ - no patterned paper

Now to some pretty pics from Portugal:

 Flowers in the rose garden of the Palace

A tiled frame in the garden - the tiles of Portugal are breathtaking specially the ones on the outer walls of stand alone houses.

Ceiling in one of the sections of the palace

The inside 

Flowers in the garden - they were actually flourescent

Another ceiling

Stained glass window

Happy crafting,

Monica 

Dragonflies

Hello sweet peeps,

Here is my card to show you today made with smoosh technique using water colours. The shiny dragonfly has a slight bit of damage to it since it could not take the punch very well. This lovely paper came from Merry a few years ago and I have been hoarding it since. The rest of the dragonflies have been punched from smooshed paper as well. The sequins are from my stash. I decided to let this card be sentiment free so that it could have the flexibility to be used in which ever way the giver desires.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

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

https://paperminutes.blogspot.com/ - sequins

https://tuesdaytaggers.blogspot.com/ - things with wings

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

Happy crafting,

Monica 

Two sweet feathers

Hello dear bloggers,

Here is a card I put together yesterday with the paper that I had smooshed with distressed inks last summer. To be honest it was not the finest first attempt so after months rather one whole year of rumination, I die cut these feathers from the paper and suddenly they started to appear rather respectable.  A doily was stuck under the feathers and sequins (far more than desired) were adhered on to the card. I refrained from a sentiment as my customers prefer plain handmade cards. I have to share that the inspiration for this card came from Pinterest. 

I will submit this card for Less is More where the theme is to use items from your 'Bits Box". 

Well, I have several such boxes and my table, my shelves, my drawers and basically my entire craft room is a BIG BITS BOX. I have papers and embellies which are 17 years old and over. 

Sometimes I wonder how untidy one could get. Lol. Notice how I say one and not "I" as "I" is too close for comfort.

I will also submit this card in the following challenges:

http://lilpatchofcraftyfriends.blogspot.com/ anything goes

Happy crafting,

Monica 

Mr and Mrs

Hello sweet bloggers,

Here is a card I have made with Sizzix thinlets and I have used water colours for the roses and the leaves. The paper underneath the stamped sentiment is a pearly cream one and it looks quite nice in real life. I quite like it even though there is an overdose of roses here. But since it is summer and it is a wedding card I am allowed. Lol.

I will enter this card in the following challenges:

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

https://crafterscafeblogchallenge.blogspot.com/ - keep it simple

https://a-step-in-the-darkness.blogspot.com/ - anything goes

https://crafty-girls-creations.blogspot.com/ - anything goes
http://creativesketchygirls.blogspot.com/ - summer

Happy crafting,

Monica 

Water colour for CAS on Sunday

Hello dear bloggers,

This is my second entry for today. I was so taken in with the challenge on water colours at CAS on Sunday. So here is a card that was water coloured in the ombre style by my younger one, Aleeza and I die cut it and stuck it on this card. The die cut sentiment is also from a paper which was water coloured by me. I have embossed the white rectangular paper for added interest.

I will also submit this card for the following challenges:

http://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.com/ - dry or wet embossing

http://creativefingerschallengeblog.blogspot.com/ - anything goes
https://crazy4challenges.blogspot.com/ - ombre
http://cutecardthursday.blogspot.com/ - CAS

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

Happy crafting,

Monica 

You Rock

Hello sweet bloggers,

Here is a card for a friend's grandson who has had several health issues which he seems to have overcome yet the road ahead is long for him. He is a wise old 10 year old boy and I will post this card  to him in Australia. 

The blue stars have been diecut from a Marks and Spencer tea pack. The red paper has been embossed with the star embossing folder. The buttons and washi tape are from my stash. The sentiment has been handwritten and I tucked it below the white button but now feel unsure about what I did. The star on the bottom left was diecut using two star dies one inside the other.

I will enter this card in the following challenges:

http://pinkgemchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ - red, white, blue

http://crafting-with-dragonflies.blogspot.com/ - baker's twine

http://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.com/ - anything goes with the option of embossing

http://simplycreatetoo.blogspot.com/ - for a male

Happy blogging,

Monica 

Thank you, Skye

Hello sweet bloggers,

There is some good news to share - I sold five cards last week to a dear friend and the proceeds would be going toward the education of the kids I support in Indonesia.

Here is a Pinterest inspired card made on pearlised paper. 

The die cut has another pearlised layer underneath which was sent to me by Skye from Australia. Thank you, Skye for sending me such lovely papers and embellies. The sentiment is from an embossing folder from Tim Holtz I think and the lace on the top and bottom of the pearlised paper is from my stash as are the pearls on the heart.

I will submit this card in the following challenges:

https://artisticinspirationschallenges.blogspot.com/ - anything goes

https://craftingfromtheheartchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ - anything goes

http://getcreativechallenges.blogspot.com/ - monochromatic

http://pathofpositivitychallenge.blogspot.com/2018/06/challenge-60-optional-theme.html - neutrals

Happy crafting,

Monica 

Thank you

Hello dear bloggers,

Here is my card to show you today made with my new die cut. I have used pearly vanilla paper which I picked up from Paddy's market in Sydney some 12 years or over. 

The little pearly flowers came out a pretty heart shaped die cut. I could not but add them to this simple card.

I have followed the sketch at http://casethissketch.blogspot.com/ for this card.

Beside the above challenge I will also enter my card in the following challenge:

https://colourcrazychallenge.blogspot.com/ - anything goes

https://a2zscrapbookingblog.com/ - anything goes

Happy crafting,

Monica 

Wild blooms

Hello sweet peeps,

Here is my card to show you today made out of Sizzix thinlets and the inspiration is from Pinterest.

 I have coloured the flowers with watercolours. 

The ribbon looks too bulky, I know yet I just let it be there. When I need broad ribbon, I use narrow and vice versa. Lol. 

Anyway, over all I quite like how my card turned out.

I will enter this card in the following challenges:

http://cardz4galz.blogspot.com/ - summer, sunny days

http://craftrocketchallenges.blogspot.com/ - birthday

http://movingalongwiththetimes.blogspot.com/ - June blooms

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

Happy crafting,

Monica 

Thank you card for a man

Hello sweet bloggers,

Here is my offering for today - a thank you card for a man. Apologies that I cannot recall the die that I have used here and neither the name of the embossing folder. The steel grey paper is quite shiny in real life and is from an envelope while the blue paper is from a tea carton from Marks and Spencer. The thank you die cut is from Kaiser Kraft. Thank heavens I remember that. Lol.

I will enter this card in the following challenges:

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

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

http://getcreativechallenges.blogspot.com/ - monochromatic

Happy, happy crafting,

Monica 

Happy Birthday card

Hello dear bloggers,

Here is my quick card to show you made with fancy gift wrap and the sentiment is a rubber stamp from Hero Arts.  I have used a pink versamark ink. The washi tape and rhine stones are from my stash. That is pretty much it, really.

I will submit this card in the following challenges:

https://craftingfromtheheartchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ - anything goes

https://cutencraftychallengeblog.blogspot.com/ - birthday theme

Happy crafting,

Monica 

Food colouring for smoosh technique

Hello dear bloggers,

Here is another card made with the same fern die from Sizzix. Green and yellow food colours were used to produce the colours for these two ferns. I made them in different lots to make the leaves have another shade. The base was also with the same food colours but the yellow food colour would not mix with water and I like the bokeh like effect it produced. The sentiment is from Kaiser Kraft and the embossing folder I am not sure. 

https://a2zscrapbookingblog.com/ - monochrome

https://a-step-in-the-darkness.blogspot.com/ - anything goes

http://www.happylittlestampers.com/ - anything goes with dies

Happy crafting,

Monica

Celebrate

Hello sweet peeps,

Here is a card to show you today where I have created the background with a lavender Brilliance pearlescent ink pad and it looks much better in real life. The fern has been die cut from a yoghurt container. The sentiment is a diecut and the rhinestones are from my stash. I wish my cardstock would not get warped inspite of being so thick. I try and use glues that are quick drying and yet this happens. I do like this card but am not sure of the sentiment.

I will enter this card in the following challenges:

http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.com/ - anything but white

https://simplypapercraftsforalloccassions.blogspot.com/ - anything goes

Happy crafting,

Monica 

Celebrate

Hello dear bloggers,

Here is another card made with the famous smoosh technique with distress inks after which the paper was die cut with a Sizzix die. I found the right side quite empty so die cut sentiments from Echo Park and stuck them on. 

I will enter this card in the following challenge:

https://audsentimentschallengeblog.blogspot.com/ - sentiment

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

http://movingalongwiththetimes.blogspot.com/ - girls birthday

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

Happy crafting,

Monica 

Water colour background plus butterflies

Dear bloggers,

Here is a card to show you that has been made with the smoosh technique. The butterflies were die cut from a water colour paper on which I did smoosh with a transparent plastic bag. A sentiment could have been added but a friend said that there is enough happening on the paper already. 

I will enter this card in the following challenges:

creativecraftsbylynn.blogspot.com - anything goes

https://craftingfromtheheartchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ - always anything goes

https://cutencraftychallengeblog.blogspot.com/ - summer time

Happy crafting,

Monica 

Addicted to CAS - rainbow

Hello bloggers,

This is my second card for the day which I will enter in Addicted to CAS where the theme is rainbow. I took a piece of white card stock and coloured it in the form of a rainbow with Derwent water colour pencils over which I went over with a water colour brush. The happy birthday sentiment has been die cut from the rainbow paper. The tape at the bottom is from 3 M.

Happy crafting,

Monica