Hello

Hello dear bloggers,

The image on this card was painted by Aleeza with Pentel watercolour tubes. The strip of blue and white paper is from a Nippon paint brochure. Next to it is a strip washi tape. The sentiment is handwritten after a second attempt.

I will submit this card in the following challenges:

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

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

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

http://intaas.blogspot.com/ - blue as the main colour

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

http://challengeleannsworld101.blogspot.com/ - anything goes

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

http://casethissketch.blogspot.com/ - sketch

Monica

Partly recycled Christmas

Hello bloggers,

I was trying something else and this is what turned out. I have used washi tape of three types and the little gold dots were negatives from the cogs I had die cut from Ferraro Rocher foil. That is it really. 

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

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

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

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

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

Monica

Thanks

Dear bloggers,

Here is a card that Aleeza designed many months ago with washi and masking tapes. The sentiment is from a pack of alphabet dies and we water coloured the paper before die cutting. It did take a long time to manage to place them on the paper. I would love to know if there is an easier way to place die cut sentiments on the card. 

I thought the background below the card is a nice prop but on second thoughts I could have chosen something else. Yet the card seems quite happy.

I will participate in the following challenges with this card:

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

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

arty divas - anything goes

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

Masculine thank you

Hello dear bloggers,

Here is a masculine thank you card that was made with a Hero Arts rubber stamp. It is a set of three stamps and I have used one of them. Prisma pencils were used to colour in the image. 

I know I have used this stamp more than once and seem to really like it. 

I have popped the card on thin cardboard. 

The embroidery skeins were wrapped around carefully to keep the geometry in place. 

I will submit this card in the following challenge:

Arty Divas - anything goes

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

https://ikesworldchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ - rounds

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

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

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

Monica 

Ganesha for good luck!

Hello dear bloggers,

I generally share very universal cards on my blog but here is a card with the Ganesha, the Hindu God of good luck and good beginnings. I pray and hope that things improve for everyone. 

 The yellow base you see was achieved with acrylic paint which I have used on the front and back of the card stock.

I have used watercolours to colour in a stencil which I picked up at a craft village in New Delhi many years ago. This craft village is one of the nicest places in New Delhi as artisans bring in their handmade crafts, jewellery, clothes, textiles, Persian rugs, you name it and it can be found there. I believe the craftsmen bring in their stuff directly without middlemen which is even better. It is like an Alladin's cave. Not to forget the yummy food that is available there from many states of India.

Coming back to my card embroidery skeins were used at the bottom for added interest and the image was finally popped on thick cardboard.

I will submit this card for the following challenges:

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

http://dreamvalleychallenges.blogspot.com/ - all occasions

http://mmmchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ - use stencils

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

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

Monica

Thanks

Hello dear bloggers,

Hope you all are healthy and well. This card was made with acrylic paints and it was basically my Mom's idea to go over the entire card stock with strokes of paint with absolutely no water. It was a dry coat of paint and I had to exert force on the paper since acrylic paint right from the tube can be quite dry. This is what I achieved. The back of the card is pretty much the same. I

  die cut the buttons, sentiment as well as the nesties. 

I will participate in the following challenges with this card:

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

https://pinkgemchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ - woodgrain background

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

http://craftyfriendschallengeblog.blogspot.com/ - men and/ or boys

http://craftyfriendschallengeblog.blogspot.com/ - T is for technique

https://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.com/ - anything goes or black, white and one more colour

Monica 

My Mom's hand drawn paisley card

Dear bloggers,

This card was made by my Mom over 10 years ago. She hand drew the paisley with the markers straight on to the paper. Yes, she is quite an artist - she used to do oils many years ago and I still have her paintings. 

https://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.com/  - anything goes /option black white & one more colour 

https://kraftychickschallenge.blogspot.com/ = CAS

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

Monica 

Recycled masculine card

Hello dear bloggers,

Hope you are all well and safe. This card has been designed by Aleeza and the cogs were cut out of a die using Ferraro Rocher foil on my good ol' Cuttlebug. The sentiment is store bought and the I have used a window die to nest the cogs.

I will enter this card in the following challenges:

http://craftygalscornerchallenges.blogspot.com/ - for the man

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

http://paperfundaychallenges.blogspot.com/ - anything goes/masculine

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

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

http://2sistersontheblog.blogspot.com/ - two or more circles

https://creataliciouschallenges.blogspot.com/ - anything goes with no designer paper

Monica 

Thank you

Hello dear bloggers,

This is a card made with the flowers on a 'hung bao' which means a money bag in Mandarin. The flowers were fussy cut by Aleeza including the stems and tiny leaves. I stuck them on the cardstock. 

The 'thank you' sentiment has been die cut from a pair of gold cardboard party glasses. I die cut as many sentiments as I could since Aleeza was not going to use them and I wanted to save as much as I could. 

I will participate in the following challenges with this card:

http://dreamvalleychallenges.blogspot.com/ - summer colours

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

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

Monica 

Window sill with flowers

Hello sweet bloggers,

Here is my window card to show you today. I have had this die since 2013 and am glad that it has come out of the closet at last.

The big flowers were made by me many years ago. In fact, they are much older than the die. I punched the smaller ones and added them to make a cluster along with the tiny leaves. I have to say it took me a rather long time to get them all together in this arrangement.

The brick stencil in the background has been coloured with an eye shadow and I have used a Prisma pencil to fix the colour.

I will enter the following challenges with this card:

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

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

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

http://justusgirlschallenge.blogspot.com/ - frame it

http://mytimetocraftchallenge.blogspot.com/ - summertime

Monica 

You are berry kind

Dear bloggers,

Here is my card for CAS(E) this Sketch this week. The wee little strawberry image mounted on the red printed round serrated nestie was sent to me by Shirley Anne many years ago when we lived in Jakarta, Indonesia. I die cut two round red nesties to achieve the round border and the sponged cardstock was lying in my box of 'to be used' stuff. The sentiment was handwritten on a banner. The two tiny flowers on the right are from a longer border punch by Martha Stewart.

I will enter this card in the following challenges:

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

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

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

CAS(E) this sketch - sketch

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

Monica 

Sending love to you

Hello dear bloggers,

Here is lots of love coming your way from this little birdie. I bought this Hero Arts stamp more than 10 years ago when we used to live in Indonesia. It has been used but once, I think. It seemed to fit in well with this card. The pink border has been punched with a mini Carla craft punch on pearlized pink paper that I bought from Paddy's market in Sydney more than a decade ago. 

The mini heart punch was placed carefully keeping an equal distance on the paper before making a border. Those were the days when I did not possess border punches. I embossed a little strip of white cardstock for added interest.

Would love to know what you think of this little beauty?

I will participate in the following challenges with this card:

http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.com/ - wing it

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

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

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

https://laviniaworldchallenges.blogspot.com/ - anything goes with rubber/clear stamps

http://movingalongwiththetimes.blogspot.com/ - things with wings

Monica 

Round and round

Hello dear bloggers,

Here is my card to show you made with scraps lying around on my round craft table which does make me go round and round. And that makes it fun. Lol. 

The yellow pieces of round paper are scraps while the white one was specially die cut without any specific thought and it all seemed to fit together. 

The sentiment has been die cut and the black underlay beneath the 'smile' is a piece of recycled paper.

I hope my simple, sunny 'smile' card brings a smile on your face.

I will participate in the following challenges with this card:

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

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

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

http://paperfundaychallenges.blogspot.com/ - anything goes/optional twist, masculine

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

Monica 

Blogland is berry sweet

Hello dear bloggers,

Here is a card to show you today which is sentiment free as well as the cards I sell seem to do better this way. Of course the sentiments I possess are limited and much as the ones going around are really "berry" sweet, I am quite happy with what I have. 

Back to this strawberry which has bee die cut with a Sizzix die and I die cut the red and green paper twice for greater dimension and propped it on corrugated cardboard. There are three nesties under the strawberry which have been cut manually so it did take some time and I embossed the first one.

 I think I do like the clean look of this card. 

I am happy to share that my 100% recycled card shown below won the second prize over at Crafter's Cafe. Feeling good!!! I do get honourable mentions and do win challenges sometimes but the joy of blogging is far beyond these wins. So often I don't check or even post the badge if I have. And I have to learn how to use the widgets etc. 

I will participate in the following challenges with this card:

http://addictedtocas.blogspot.com/ - code word 'berry'

https://ikesworldchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ - dots/anything goes

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

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

Monica 

Geared up

Thanks

Hello dear bloggers,

This simple card was made with the reverse of a die cut and the birds were punched using black paper that I stamped with Brilliance pearlized ink. The yellow thanks sentiment is a brand called Pebbles. I bought it some years ago in a set and it does go a long way.

I will participate in the following challenges:

https://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.com/ - anything CAS

https://simplylessismoore.blogspot.com/ - border

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

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

http://movingalongwiththetimes.blogspot.com/ - anything with wings

100% recycled

Hello dear bloggers,

A few days ago, I had shown you a fully recycled card and here is one more such. 

The kraft cardstock was a carrier bag in its previous life. On the top of the card is a border of a wallpaper sample. I tried to position it in a way that the gold border would be the highlight.

The butterfly has also been die cut from the same wallpaper. A little shadow was created under the butterfly with die cutting a duplicate with recycled white paper. This card could be brighter, I think but it kind of looks subtle and charming in real life.

I will participate in the following challenges with this card:

http://movingalongwiththetimes.blogspot.com/ - anything with wings

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

http://daranddiane.blogspot.com/ - use scraps

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

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

Monica

Sending sunny sunflowers for strength

Hello dear bloggers,

I have noticed one blessing during Covid which is that I am able to blog more often. I was almost considering getting out of blogging and switching to Facebook. However, I realized that blogging is therapeutic as the interaction is more realistic and there is a certain amount of writing involved here which makes it a relaxing experience.

This is indeed a very sunny card... and it is dedicated to all those going through challenging times - races, communities and countries. I wish them sunshine and may they come out of this phase calmer and stronger. May humanity prevail.

The background has been made with a stencil and it has been lying with me for years. I had this yellow window from another card and everything came together after Zeenya, my older one, helped me choose these beautiful sunflowers from my stash. I had bought them from a craft store in the UK in Shropshire. That was in 2013! 

The sentiment is store bought. I quite like the happy vibe of this card.

I will participate in the following challenges with this card:

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

http://lilredwagon.blogspot.com/ - patterned paper or create your own

https://thecardconcept.blogspot.com/ - bright florals

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

https://artsystamperchallenge.blogspot.com/ - black / white and one colour

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

https://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/ - make your own background

Monica 

Thanks

Dear bloggers,

This new blogger will take a while, I think. This card was meant for the AAA challenge as well as the Less is More challenge. To cut a long story short, it is meant for neither now. All mixed up and nowhere to go but I will find some places to go to on Paper Playful. 

My card is a simple one made with my new dies that I got a few months ago from Stamps of Life. Everything is die cut here. The black paper is from packaging material. I had to fit the Thanks on to the black nestie and it did it take time.

I will take part in the following challenges with this card:

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

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

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

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

Monica