Partially recycled

Dear bloggers,

Life has been nicely busy... I just finished the last session of 'guided meditation and the science of happiness' session for the parents at school. It went well overall and I am grateful that the parents who attended the programme found it calming and enjoyable. We managed to collect a sizeable sum from the earnings of this programme and went to visit the shelter for abused women where we handed over the cash along with 20 handmade cards with love to be used for birthdays at the shelter for women and children. I also took small tubes of hand lotion from Bodyshop to spoil the ladies.

The card below is one of the 10 thank you cards that has been requested by the manager of the shelter. 

This time I concentrated on giving goodies to the staff at school and tried to include whoever I could and it was so nice to see smiles on their faces. A small pack of chocolates or biscuits can create such wonders!

Now to my card which has been created with silver washi tape, a strip of printed vellum and a sentiment which has been die cut from a yoghurt lid. I thought the photo was fine but obviously, it is not. Lol. There is always a new tomorrow to hope that it will be better next time.

I will enter my card in the following card challenge:

https://perfectlycas.blogspot.com/ 

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

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

https://thethreemuseschallenge.blogspot.com/ - white space

Happy card making,

Monica

Partly recycled

Hello dear bloggers,

Here is a rather bright birthday card made with leftover tape from Aleeza's acrylic painting. She used it as masking tape and when she got it off the canvas it was too nice to be thrown away. Known to be the recycling queen (title given by dear Lynn), I had to use it and this is what I did. 

The birthday sentiments are store bought. It looks a bit messy here as the background is too close to the colours on the card but in real life, trust me it looks really nice.

Happy card making,

Monica 

For CAS(e) this sketch

Hello dear bloggers,

Ever since I started these meditation sessions for parents in school, life has become full and busy in a nice sort of way. I would have raised something like 1600 dollars at the end of two terms. The good news is that the Singapore government will match each dollar donated so the contribution would get doubled.

Now to my simple card for CAS(e) this sketch. 

The flower has been die cut with the packaging paper of a bouquet. In the centre is a ready made pink flower from my stash. The silver nestie has been die cut from a yoghurt lid. The purple nestie under it has been die cut from a piece of cardstock. I embossed a piece of cardstock and stuck it on the card before sticking the rest of the stuff on it.

I will enter this card in the following challenges:
https://moo-mania.blogspot.com/ - use your scraps
http://cardsgalorechallenges.blogspot.com/ - anything goes
http://happycraftchallenge.blogspot.com/ -anything goes
http://challengeleannsworld101.blogspot.com/ - anything goes

Happy cardmaking to you,

Monica 

Happy Birthday card

Hello sweet bloggers,

Here is a card that Aleeza die-cut using a new die we bought over Amazon (for a fraction of the price I would have paid in a store here) and she used Pentel watercolour tubes to colour the flowers, leaves and borders. She said she found the border quite tedious to colour in. I stuck it over cardboard squares instead of double-sided foam dots to make it environment friendly. A pink ribbon saying happy birthday was tied over the rectangular nestie to complete the picture. I quite like this shabby chic kind of card.

I will submit this card to the following challenges:

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

artydivas - anything goes

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

Happy card making,

Monica

Thank You card by Aleeza

Hello dear bloggers,

Here is a card to show you today which was made a month ago. The green and gold effect was done Aleeza with a sponge. She basically used the leftover acrylic paints from a canvas to get this effect. 

I quite like how it turned out and the thank you sentiment was die cut after Aleeza went over a packaging sheet with Mala gold colours. There were some telltale signs on the white parts of the paper so I stuck rhinestones to cover it up. 

Down below is the room where I held the meditation sessions in school yesterday. There is a plaque which says, 'The purpose of our lives on this earth is to be happy' - by Dalai Lama. I am trying to learn that!!! Lol.

We had our first session for the second term and it went pretty well with a turnout of 10-11 people. We did a fun introduction of ourselves without talking of our children or our work followed by a guided meditation and we read randomly from inspiring books. 

It was fun and we did some more meditation. In the end, we watched a ted talk on slowing down which was quite interesting. 

I will participate in the following challenges with my card:

https://audsentimentschallengeblog.blogspot.com/ - thank you 

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

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

Arty Divas  - anything goes

Thank you for reading and happy card making,

Monica 

Partly recycled

Hello bloggers,

I have good news to share. Today my initiative hosted a meeting wherein I conducted a meditation and a speaker came to talk about essential oils and their therapeutic benefits. Tomorrow begins my second programme for meditation and relaxation in school for the parents.

Here is my card to show you today which has been upcycled using a chocolate packaging. The orange dots are shiny in real life. The hand made papers are leftovers from a larger sheet. The sentiment is a die-cut and I have put a rhinestone over the i of smile to jazz it up.

I will enter this card in the following:

artydivas - anything goes

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

https://artsystamperchallenge.blogspot.com/ - monochromatic

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

Happy crafting,

Monica 

Birthday wishes

Hello sweet bloggers,

Here is a card I made a few days ago. The butterfly has been die cut from watercolour paper to which I applied smoosh technique. I have layered butterfly die cut from watercolour paper on to another butterfly which has been die cut using a foil lid of a yoghurt container. Somehow I wish that could have been more clearly visible. In real life, it shines through.

The sentiment has been die cut from Sizzix dies using packaging from a perfume.

After die cutting the nestie on the top layer of cardstock, I used the chevron embossing folder and propped it up on strips of white carton.

I will enter this card in the following challenges:

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

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

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

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

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

Happy card making and happy everything,

Monica 

Wee little cups

Hello dear bloggers,

Here is a card that I have put together for CAS Colours & Sketches this week. 

The background has been made with watercolour brush markers from Camlin and I think I have used smoosh technique here. 

I have used 300 gms watercolour paper and propped it with corrugated packaging material as suggested by dear Maxine of https://kiwimeskreations.blogspot.com/. Thank you for always suggesting and helping come out with such brilliant solutions. 

The beige teacups were actually Starbucks cups lying around for years while the white one has been die cut using regular cardstock. I have used a Kaiser craft teacup die to die cut the cups.

The sentiment has been handwritten with a Zebra pen. I followed my childhood rule of first writing with a pencil and then going over with a pen. It worked much better than using a pen right on. 

I will enter this card in:

http://cardz4galz.blogspot.com/ - brown

http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.com/ - use up your scraps

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

Happy cardmaking,

Monica 

Love

Hello, dear sweet bloggers,

Here is my card to show you today. The top panel was embossed after spraying water on to it as I read somewhere that it helps the embossed surface to look more 3D. 

Aleeza went over the brick wall with brown chalk using her fingers.

I placed a layer of white cardboard under the brick wall nestie as suggested by my dear Maxine, who is always so helpful to share tips. 

The little jar is a die-cut from a Japanese die brand, the name of which is Wonderhouse or something similar. Pardon me! I have used watercolour paper which was coloured by the smoosh technique with Camlin brush markers from India. The centre of the jar has also been placed on a piece of white cardboard.

The washi tape is from Hokkaido, Japan and my card has been made with much love.

I will participate in the following challenges:

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

imaginethatdigistampcreative playground - anything goes

http://timeoutchallenges.blogspot.com/ - encouraging

https://themaleroomchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ - male room

artydivaschallenge - anything goes

Happy card making,

Monica 

Thin parchment

Hello dear bloggers,

Here is my card to show you today which was made some weeks ago. The sentiment has been die cut from an Indian wedding card. The butterflies have been die cut from a pastry base. The green and yellow paper you see is a thin parchment-like packaging paper from a t-shirt. I used it over a water colour paper the same way one would use a cling wrap. I followed the exact same technique except that I randomly coloured with water colour pencils and sprayed the paper with water and put the thin parchment-like packaging paper over the water colour paper. This is what came about which I am loving no end. I have the top and bottom paper which I can use without throwing anything away. So I did take care of mother earth too. 

I will enter the following challenges with this card:

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

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

https://crazy4challenges.blogspot.com - sentiment as focal point

http://challengeupyourlife.blogspot.com/ - frame

Happy cardmaking,

Monica 

Thank you card for a man

Hello dear bloggers,

I have had this Hero Arts cling stamp set with me for almost 9 years and finally, I decided to let it see some light. The hot air balloons have been coloured with Faber Castell pencils and I wrapped embroidery yarn on the stamped cardstock to give texture. I guess from its simplicity, it would make an ideal card for a man.

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

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

Happy card making,

Monica 

Aleeza's card today

Hello sweet bloggers,

Here is a card that Aleeza made yesterday totally on her own. She says the inspiration came from the internet for the cute birds which she drew directly on the cardstock. She coloured the birds with my Derwent water colour pencils without adding water. The washi tape is from my stash, rather our stash as is the thank you sentiment.

I will participate with this card in the following challenges:

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

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

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

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

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

Happy card making,

Monica 

Hugs

Hello beautiful bloggers,

Here is another card to show you today which fits with The Flower Challenge which is to make a card with flowers as the focal point. 

My card was water coloured with Faber Castells and the sentiment was die cut. 

http://addictedtostamps-challenge.blogspot.com/ - anything goes

https://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/ - think pink

https://watercoolerchallenges.blogspot.com/ - feminine

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

Happy card making,

Monica 

Thank you card

Dear sweet bloggers,

Here is my card to show you which was started some months ago and completed this morning. The mauve leaf was die cut from card stock after being treated with watercolours through a plastic bag. The yellowish pinkish-orange background has been done on watercolour paper with smoosh technique. For the sentiment, I have used a sentiment die cut that I picked up while we were in Australia over spring. The paper for the sentiment smooshed with Camlin brush markers from India.

I will participate in the following challenges:

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

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

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

http://craftygalscornerchallenges.blogspot.com/ - fall colours

Happy card making,

Monica 

Thanks - partly recycled

Hello beautiful bloggers,

Here is my simple card to show you today. The butterflies have been die cut from water colour paper which was smooshed with Camlin brush markers from India. The sentiment has been die cut from packaging material of a cotton hand towel from Daiso ( a Japanese store).

I will participate in the following challenges:

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

https://watercoolerchallenges.blogspot.com/ - feminine

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

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

Happy card making,

Monica 

Fall card

Hello dear bloggers,

Here is a fall card I have put together and the inspiration for it came from dear Google. I took water colour paper as well as card stock and used my Camlin brush markers from India and vegetable dyes respectively to do smoosh technique. After die cutting the leaves, I stuck on the card stock and twine was held together with two holes and knots on either side. 

The backdrop is yet another canvas I painted. Gosh, little did I know that painting a canvas is far quicker than assembling a card.

I will enter this card in the following challenges:

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

https://craftinghappinesschallenges.blogspot.com/ - orange

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

http://mmmchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ - autumn

Happy card making to you,

Monica

It is two tiny canvases this time

Hello dear bloggers,

Here is something different to show you today. Aleeza and I have been dabbling with acrylics on canvas since summer, to be honest. This is what I made with a toothbrush and multiple shades of red, orange and yellow Sakura tubes. Guess which tool I have used to paint with??? Guess, guess!!!

Well, it is a toothbrush I have used to achieve this effect and the inspiration came from Pinterest. 

The one down below has been painted by Aleeza, and she has used a stencil brush.

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/ - anything goes

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

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

http://welove2create.blogspot.com/ - always anything goes/mix media 

Happy card (canvas for me) making,

Monica 

How bright could bright be!!!

Hello beautiful bloggers,

Here is my card to show you today which was actually created a few months ago. The rose has been made by me with Pentel water colours and I fussy cut it. 

The leaves have been die cut and I have used different mediums of colour. 

Some have been coloured with a brush and water colours while the others have been coloured with a plastic bag with my hand inside it using Mala paints. 

The bright pink cardstock came about as a result of acrylics and a stencil brush. It was fun! 

The DREAM sentiment in gold is actually a small strip from a Washi tape.

I will participate in the following challenges with my card:

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

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

https://watercoolerchallenges.blogspot.com/ - occasions

arty divas - anything goes

http://everybody-art-challenge.blogspot.com/ - use a die

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

https://papercraft-challenges.blogspot.com/ - no designer paper

Happy card making to you,

Monica 

Leaves and leaves

Hello sweet bloggers,

Here is my card to show you today. I took some packaging material and painted the kraft side of it with Mala paints from Ikea. Green, blue and yellow paints were used and I put my hand in a thin plastic bag and just played with it on the packaging material. This is what I achieved. I die cut a rectangular zig zag nestie and popped it up with little bits of corrugated cardboard. This clever idea came from Maxine. Thank you, dear Maxine.

The leaves were stuck over the popped up nestie. Since the packaging material was pretty high in grammage, the leaves were stable enough to stand without bending.

I will participate in the following challenges:

http://cardz4guyz.blogspot.com/  - trees/leaves 

http://everybody-art-challenge.blogspot.com/ - use dies

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

http://useyourstuff.blogspot.com/ - recycle/upcycle

Happy card making,

Monica 

Green is the new black

Hello dear bloggers,

Here is my very simple creation to show you today. I have used food colour to dye the card stock and then a Sizzix die was used to cut the leaves. The first picture is slightly fuzzy, so I took one more which you see down below. I have used foam dots to pop up the leaves and the sentiment is handwritten. I know I could have done a better job with the writing. Next time, I promise.

I will submit the card down below in CASE(E) this Sketch this week.

Happy card making and happy everything,

Monica 

Pink feather

Hello sweet peeps,

Today I went to my younger one's school to host the third session of meditation and what we did was a guided gratitude meditation conducted by me and we watched two talks on gratitude and a Ted talk by Sam Berns who passed on in 2014 to Progeria. His talk was so full of good energy and motivation and in spite of watching it multiple times, I still seem to love it from a new angle. I also distributed small gratitude journals to the participants and we ended with eating oranges. By the way, the money from these sessions will be donated to an abused women's shelter in Singapore and I feel so blessed to be able to do that. 

Now to my very simple card which needs barely any explanation. The feather was bought in Indonesia from a lovely book cum stationery shop many years ago. I cut out a nestie and propped it on foam dots. The bright, oh-so-bright feather nested nicely inside the nestie and voila, my card was ready to fly. The backdrop for the photo is paper that was made from elephant poop. I have used it earlier and shared its deep-rooted background with you. Lol. My friend's daughter got it for me all the way from Thailand and the papers are actually so pretty that I dare not cut it. So I have decided to use it as a backdrop. A random thought just came to me which is that maybe I am not keen enough to make cards out of paper that was made out of poop. Lol.

I will enter in the following challenges with my card:

http://addictedtostamps-challenge.blogspot.com/ - CAS

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

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

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

Wish you happy card making,

Monica

Dance like no one is watching

Hello dear bloggers,

Here is a card I put together a few days ago. The guitar has been die cut from a fruit packaging carton. I popped it on foam dots for added dimension. The orangish coloured paper has been coloured with an egg yellow vegetable dye. I think the sentiment is a Penny Black one which I love, I have to say. The washi tape is from Typo, a very popular stationery store in town.

I will participate in the following challenges:

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

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

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

Happy cardmaking and happy everything,

Monica 

Ombre shombre

Hello beautiful bloggers,

Here is my 'oh so bright' card to show you today. The background has been made with watercolors that belong to my daughter. I used the reverse of a square nestie along with foam dots to achieve this arrangement. The butterfly has been recycled out of a pearly wedding card. 

I layered it with pink paper that is actually used for printing letterheads and it being thick really helped my butterfly. The smile sentiment completes it. I am sorry that I don't have the names of the brands of the butterfly and sentiment die handy.  I do like this simple beauty and hope you do too.

I will participate in the following challenges:

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

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

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

http://craftysentiments.blogspot.com/ - die/and or punch
https://casethissketch.blogspot.com/ 

Happy card making,

Monica 

Sizzix -blue flowers

Dear bloggers,

Here is my card to show you which is part of the same order I mentioned in the previous post. The Sizzix wild flowers you see here have been die cut with water colour paper. The same paper was smooshed around using Camlin brush markers from India. The base paper has been embossed and I tied a ribbon around it which says it all. I sprayed water on the cardstock I was going to emboss as per a tutorial on You Tube thinking this rather flat embossing folder would become more prominent. 

Now to some good news - I have begun hosting meditation sessions for parents in my younger one's school. Today was the second session and I feel it went well. Ah, the joys of spreading the word of meditation are indescribable in words. I also run a small initiative called United World Sanctuary which is a platform for peace and goodwill. We meditate, listen to a talk on a positive topic and eat nourishing food. It is basically a mini retreat for the mind, body and soul.

I will participate in the following challenges:

https://paperminutes.blogspot.com/ - flowery and delicate

Arty Divas - anything goes

https://papercraft-challenges.blogspot.com/ - handmade/stamped flowers

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

Happy card making,

Monica 

Stamped roses

Hello dear bloggers,

Here is my card to show you which is for a very special lady who ordered four cards from me. As I may have mentioned I am raising funds for an abused women's shelter in Singapore.

This is an acrylic stamp from Kaiser craft and I have coloured it with Faber Castell water colour pencils. I did it while we were in Japan and found it very relaxing. The ribbon is from my stash and I chose a bright green envelope to add the brightness of the card.

I will enter this card in the following challenges:

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

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

http://sirstampalotchallenge.blogspot.com/ - anything goes with flowers

https://craft-deebowz.blogspot.com/p/challenge.html - anything goes

Wish you peace, calm and card making,

Monica 

Poppies

Hello sweet peeps,

I am so chuffed because I have got an order from a very kind lady to make four birthday cards. This is one of them. The poppies have been stamped using a Penny Black cling set. I have coloured them with Faber colour water colour pencils. It was all done while we were holidaying in Japan. The red paper below has been coloured with Prisma pencils. I coloured a little more than the edges so that the paper with the image would sit nicely. The happy birthday ribbon is from my stash. Wow, I mentioned all the details - name of stamp etc for once.

I will submit this card for the following challenges:

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

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

http://stampotiquedesignerschallenge.blogspot.com/ - flower power
https://theflowerchallenge.blogspot.com/ - anything goes

Wish you much happiness making cards,

Monica

Thank you card

Hello peeps,

I have been away from blogland as it was summer holidays and we were away to India and Japan. We did not do much site seeing in India (which I wanted to) however Japan was a delight. We went to Hokkiedo and we saw the most beautiful flower fields, sunflower fields, apple orchards, grape vines and peaches and plum trees. The lavender fields had dried up yet and we could literally feel the oil in our hands when we rubbed the flowers. It was such a pretty experience for me since I am a big fan of lavender. 

We also saw Lake Toya, which is 110,000 years old and it was formed from the eruptions of a volcano. Visiting the earthquake museum was amazing. We also walked all the way to see an active volcano yet it but it was cloudy so we could not see it through the clouds.

I learned so much from Japanese culture - how kind and courteous they are, how they help visitors, how the ladies smile and bow at every thing, how they live from one earthquake to another, how they are so resilient and how they look at the blessings of volcanos to be the rich land they possess. I noticed Hokkiedo has the simplest of buildings and the humblest of restaurants with the tastiest food. 

Now to my card which I made some months ago. The green leaf has been die cut from packaging material and I water coloured it with Maya paints from Ikea. The sentiment has been die cut using recycled paper as well. The rectangular nestie paper is actually white and I really wonder why my camera decided to make it look this colour.

Sorry for such a text heavy post.

I will enter this card in the following challenges:

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

https://colourificchallengecorner.blogspot.com/?zx=db50d3e6d844c6fa - anything goes 

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

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

Happy card making,

Monica

Yellow roses on acrylic background

Dear bloggers,

Here is my card to show you with an embossing folder that I have used umpteen times and still love it so. 

The roses have been coloured with distress ink which I stamped on the top flap of the folder. 

For the leaves, I have used water colours as well as distress inks which I dabbed on an acetate sheet and used a brush to colour the leaves. 

After the embossed card stock was dry, I cut it along the roses and leaves for added interest. 

The bluish green background is actually Sakura acrylic paints which I dabbed on to a water colour sheet. I hope you like my messy and shabby chic creation.

I will participate in the following challenges:

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

https://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/ - anything goes

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

http://welove2create.blogspot.com/ - anything mixed media goes

Enjoy your card making,

Monica 

Water coloured roses at a workshop

Hello dear bloggers,

The roses on the is card were coloured in a water colour class I attended with both my daughters in July. It was meant to be a treat for my birthday. The black paper for the die cut sentiment has been die cut from a thick envelope. A square nestie was die cut on card stock and I stuck the roses and the leaves which have been die cut from cardboard. They have been coloured with water colours as well. The hand tied satin ribbon is from my stash. 

I will enter this card in the following challenges:

Arty Divas - anything goes

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

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

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

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

Wish you happy card making,

Monica 

Distress oxides and partly recycled

Hello dear bloggers,

Here is my card to show you today. The leaf has been die cut from the lid of a Nestle yoghurt jar and so has the thank you sentiment. The background has been done with three or four distress oxides. This card looks much prettier in real life.

The backdrop for this card is handmade paper from Thailand which has been made from elephant poop. Lol. A close friend's daughter got it when she went on a school trip. My younger one (who was all of seven then) kept smelling it from time to time to check for poop smell only to be surprised that there was none. 

I will enter this card in:

simonsaysstampblog - make your own background

https://watercoolerchallenges.blogspot.com/ - masculine

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

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

http://mmmchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ - thank you

Wish you card making full of joy and fun,

Monica 

Summer smiles

Hello dear bloggers,

We were off to New Delhi for two weeks as it is summer vacation here. It was a nice hot holiday with lots of yummy food. I saw some pretty sunflowers in the complex we were at as well as beautiful bougainvilleas at every nook and corner. It took me many years to realise that bougainvilleas grow in intense and very dry heat. I will try and post pictures of the flowers next time.

Now to my card which is yet another leafy die cut one. I have used the plastic bag technique similar to the one in my previous card. I seem to have lost the tiny dot on the i but my younger one said it looks fine so fine it is.

I will participate in the following challenges:

http://addictedtostamps-challenge.blogspot.com/ - CAS

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

https://livelaughstamp.blogspot.com/ - tropical

http://diecuttindivas.blogspot.com/ - diecut tropical

See you soon,

Monica

Smile

Hello sweet bloggers,

Here is another leafy card made today. The leaves were cut from super thick packaging material and as I shared in my last post, I marvel at how I kept running my Cuttlebug over and over again. Lol.

I coloured the kraft side of the packaging with water colours and a plastic bag which I wore on one hand like a glove and put colour on the palm. Water was sprayed on the paint and I went over the packaging sheet with this.  

Green, blue and a fluorescent yellow were used to obtain this result. I learned of this plastic bag technique on Pinterest. A zip lock bag is what was used in the tutorial but I chose to use a humble plastic bag as I did not deem fit to spoil a zip lock bag. I actually wash my zip lock bags and dry them before reusing them. That is how far my love affair with the environment goes. My children laugh at me but it is okay. Lol. Coming back to the card, the die cut black sentiment was also cut from packaging material. I used a square die to cut a window on the top layer. I quite like this simple beauty.

Ellibelle's corner  - summer scenes, treats or colours

https://watercoolerchallenges.blogspot.com/ - anything goes masculine

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

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

See you soon,

Monica 

Thank you to a special teacher

Hello sweet bloggers,

Soon my younger one will go to Middle School and here is a card I put together for her class teacher. I also repurposed a box to house little tokens of gratitude. On this card is gold matte paper from India. I really like it's crushed texture and the white oval die cut was also packaging material in it's previous avataar. The sentiment is a die cut as well and I popped up the white nestie on foam dots and added a gold cord for interest. The cord goes all the way inside and ties into a pretty bow. This teacher was such a lovely and kind soul and I quite like how this simple thing came about.

I will enter this card in:

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

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

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

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

Monica 

A very green hello

Hello dear bloggers,

Here is a very green card to show you today. The leaves were die cut using packaging material some of it so thick that I had to go over it a million times in my cuttle bug. To add to that there was lamination on the sheets so it took me even longer. I wish I was as persistent in areas where I need to be. Lol. 

I coloured the paper with water colours and an acetate sheet before die cutting it. I tried to be creative with the photo but I know there is too much empty space on the top. Too late now.

I will participate in the following challenges:

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

http://daisychainchallenge.blogspot.com/ - summer time

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

https://thehappycraftchallenge.blogspot.com/ - anything goes
http://addictedtostamps-challenge.blogspot.com/ - anything goes

Happy card making,

Monica