Hello, I am back

Hello sweet peeps,

Life got in the way again but here I am again with a simple beauty made with the stuff lying around on my table. The image is a rub on sent by Lynn and the ribbon and sequins are from my stash. I have used sparkly stickles for added interest and you can see them on this lovely creature too. The white nestie was sent to me by Shirley-Anne. Thank you for your kindness in every which way.

Will try and catch up later,

Monica 

99 percent recycled

Hello sweet peeps,

I have been so busy trying to resettle into my regular routine after our big travel however it seems to take longer than ever. Maybe it is a good idea to just be and let things flow at their own pace rather than rush them. The kids are back to school and that is what is most important I guess. My exercise and sleep routine are still all over the place and inspite of not much time difference from India to Indonesia I am all over the place.

Now to my card which I made for Aleeza's friend. Can you beat that everything on this card has been recycled from the reverse nestie to the image and the name, Alex. And let me tell you where the image came from? Okay how about a wild guess? You give up, right? Well, they came from a free origami kit that Aleeza got when we flew Singapore Airlines. I thought we were lucky to find a card that was perfect for Alex. What a coincidence that was.

 Thanks for kind comments and condolences on my mum in law's passing away. Hubby who is so strong otherwise is a changed man. Funny how older the parents, more the loss. I thought it was easier to let go when parents are old but I am noticing that even though my hubby is in his fifties and his mum was 97, he is still finding it hard. Infact out of the three siblings that they are, he seems the most affected.

Catch you later.

Love,

Monica 

Happy Birthday card

Hello sweet bloggers,

Here is a card I made with my new clear stamp from Dove Crafts. I have coloured the image with my Prisma pencils and have added glitter glue to the flowers, icing, strawberries and cherries. The ribbon is new and the gingham was lying around on my table.

Down below is a bee that Aleeza copied from the internet and coloured it with pencils. I had to share this happy picture with you :-)

I will enter this card in the following challenges:

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

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

http://craft-deebowz.blogspot.com/ - anything goes with a bow

Wish you a happy Tuesday,

Monica

Kraft and Text at CAS(ual) Friday

Hello kind crafting buddies,

Here is my card to show you for today which I will enter in CAS-ual Fridays which is all about Kraft and text. Now this card has been made from a clothing tag and I actually clicked a picture to show you the proof, lol.  Those little wooden beads were introduced to me by Aleeza's ex teacher and I just love them. So off I went to the store and bought a few small packs. I added black photo corners to match with the black eyelet and the sentiment is from Wonder House which is also my new buy. I have sponged the punched paper from a scrap with Tim Holtz Antique Linen and the text has been given the same treatment.

I have to say that I had lots of fun creating this card :-) and hope you like it too.

Down below is the tag...

Here is a card that Aleeza's present teacher showed me to admire... sent to him by his mom who makes greeting cards in Canada. It is so beautiful and it looks brilliant in real life with the tiny diamonds on the flowers. I thought I must share it with you :-)

I will enter my card in the following challenges:

http://die-cut-divas.blogspot.com/ - celebrate

http://blog.oozak.com/ - anything goes, diecuts/punches

http://seemacrafts.blogspot.co.uk/ - monochromatic
http://unstampabelleschallenges.blogspot.com.au/ - scraps/or old stash
http://rubysrainbow.blogspot.com/ - a male thing

Have a pleasant day,

Monica 

For CAS(e) this sketch this week

Hello lovely bloggers,

Here is my card for CAS(e) this sketch this week. It is rather similar to the card I made a few days ago but all the material was lying handy on the table so I went for it. The only difference is the border punch this time and yes, the sentiment which is my new acquisition from the art and craft store in town. I have stamped the sentiment with bark and I went over it with my Sakura brown metallic pen. 

I will also participate in:

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

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

http://laineyscraftyspace-justforfun.blogspot.co.uk/ - anything goes

Hope you are having a good weekend,

Monica 

Happy Birthday card

Hello sweet bloggers,

Thanks so much for your kind comments on my last post... Glad that you like that card :-) What would card makers do without the world of blogging. I just love sharing my little cards and getting all those delightful comments considering at home, all I have is little Aleeza to show my cards to since Zeenya is not into card making anymore and her father never was. But ofcourse I do have friends who really appreciate my cards but they are not necessarily my followers.

This was another card I made in minutes for Zeenya's friend - and thank God that I have stuck the ribbon the right way (unlike one of my previous cards which had it the other way round, lol) The cake is from my stash - cannot remember where it is from as I have thrown away the packaging. The crystals are from Prima and I have sponged the Spellbinder's nestie. The birthday sentiment is from Penny Black.

I will enter this card in the following challenges:

http://www.addictedtocas.blogspot.com.au/ - birthday

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

http://pumpkinspiceblog.blogspot.co.uk/ - candy or anything sweet
http://crafts4eternity.blogspot.com/ - sweet tooth
http://sisteractcardchallenge.blogspot.com/ - anything goes

See you later.

Love,

Monica 

Birthday card

Hello sweet peeps,

Here is my card to show you for today. I have used two different kinds of fancy gift wrap and washi tape. I was really happy with this card and then something happened when I was sticking the embroidery yarn. I tried being extra creative with it and tried to cover it up with the red and black card stock with a sentiment (from Penny Black) on it.  I feel this card is quite non-descript considering I started out fairly well with the papers. I am also realizing that buying lots of fancy gift wrap is not so economical an option - it is like penny wise and pound foolish... lol. However I cannot deny my love affair with gift wrap - there is something so delightful about it that it becomes hard to resist. Lol.

I will enter this card in the following challenges:

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

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

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

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

Will come and visit your blogs now.

Love,

Monica 

For CAS(e) this sketch and CAS(ual) Friday - 2nd entry

Hello sweet bloggers,

Hope you are enjoying the weekend which ever part of the globe you are in. It is almost the end of Sunday here. 

Here is my second entry for CAS(e) this sketch and CAS(ual) Friday this week which is Chevron and Flowers. I have used a Penny Black image and coloured it in with water colour pencils.  The chevrons were stencilled in with American Crafts white ink. The sentiment is handwritten and the ribbon and flower are from my stash. I stuck a pearl and in the flower centre and on the top of the tag to make it look more interesting. The leaves have been punched and lightly coloured with water colour pencils as well.

Have to go to bed soon so good night all.

Love,

Monica 

Cupcakes

Hello sweet bloggers,

Here is a quick post and another simple card. The cupcake has been cut out from a larger image. I have glittered it and used pop fabric glue on the icing and the flower centres to give added texture. The embossed card stock has been coloured with water colour pencils and I have used glitter on the icing too. Done some faux stitching and the sentiment is actually a ribbon cut and mounted on card stock. I have rounded the corners of the card with my Carla craft punch - not sure they look rounded enough though!

Down below is something that a friend sent me - she is a brave lady and is going through a trying time and yet this came from her.

I will enter this card in:

http://www.charismacardz.blogspot.com/ - anything goes

Thanks for the get well soon wishes for Aleeza. She seems on the mend for sure. Hopefully she will be back to school on Monday morning.

I cannot believe another week has gone by so quickly.

Wish you a pleasant weekend.

Love,

Monica

Purple is the colour...

Hello lovely bloggers,

I have been meaning to post a card but just could not get down to it... 

Here is a card I made a while ago and I like how it turned out.

The background stamp is from Kaiser craft (I think) and the sentiment is from Spellbinders. Used punched flowers with pearls in the centre, a feather and  a butterfly to finish it off. On the left, I created this faded look with the same stamp with the left over ink on it. I did not re-ink it but just randomly stamped it on the cardstock.  I did the same on the right as well. I like the dreamy effect that it produced. Would love to know what you think?

I will enter this card in:

ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/ - anything goes
http://challenges4everybody.blogspot.co.uk/ - anything goes
http://dreamvalleychallenges.blogspot.com/ - anything goes
http://thesquirrelandthefox.blogspot.com/ - anything goes

Wish you a pleasant week ahead.

Much love,

Monica 

Sold another six cards to two ladies and have met my target

Hello sweet bloggers,

I have sold enough cards to provide for educating five children for one year... Yaaaay!!! :-) Much credit goes to my blog buddies for all love and encouragement that kept me motivated. And of course I cannot forget the support of kind friends, neighbours, acquaintances who bought the cards.

This morning, I went to a Christmas bazaar and guess what I got from there - Fiskars clear stamps and pretty ribbons. So are two quick cards supposedly (supposedly masculine) that I made with one of the stamps. Stuck buttons, ribbon and did some scoring and that's it.

Next time I will try and colour in the stamps to make the card look more alive.

Love,

Monica

Sold another 21 cards!!! Yay...

Hello lovely bloggers,

Hope you had a good weekend... 

This is a card I made in seconds this morning following the sketch at Clean and Simple but did not quite get it the way it was meant to be so am not sure whether I will submit it at all.

Just used three different kinds of  laces from my stash, stamped the sentiment and that's it.

And yes, am so glad that I have sold another 21 cards in hubby's office. Have to get down to Christmas cards now.

Gotta go as Aleeza has just got back from school. She is watching Charlie and Lola (one of her fave shows) but I just gotta remind her when time's up. 

Love,

Monica

For less is more - pink and brown

Hello sweet people,

Here is a vey quick and simple card for Less is More - the challenge being pink and brown this week.

I have used baby pink card stock and have stamped a Hampton Art cupckake in Brilliance fast drying coffee bean. 

The mesh border is from Hero Arts while the sentiment is from Penny Black - all stamped with the same ink.

I have coloured in the cupcake with a pink water colour pencil and also the mesh border. Stuck some pink gems and voila my card was ready.

Would love to hear what you feel about this card... a bit too basic isn't it?

Off to do some housework now - to dry the laundry actually.

Love,

Monica

Aleeza's card for her classmate

Hello sweet bloggers,

Here is a card that Aleeza stamped by herself for her buddy. The owl stamp came from my dear blog buddy cum soul mate - Sandra. And the sentiment stamp is from Penny Black.

She kind of made a mess at the bottom so I stuck the black and white ribbon to hide the flaws.

She also stuck googly eyes with some help from me. I tried colouring the balloon and the dots on the owl's hat with a metallic gel pen but it looks a bit untidy, doesn't it?

I have some good news to share - I sold 11 cards to a few friends today so am so happy...

Thanks for all your support and kind words of encouragement.

Hugs,

Monica

A card for a friend

 Hello bloggers,

Hope you are doing well and enjoying the beginning of the week. I am off to book my table for one of the bazaars tomorrow. I have to be there at 7.30 am so it it will be an early start for me. Let us see how it turns out...

This is a card I made yesterday because I wanted to try out my new stamps from Spellbinders. I am going to give this card to a lovely friend who has her birthday tomorrow.

Supplies:

Base card stock - pink which has been covered with designer paper that came free with a magazine subscription.

Nestie - Spellbinders

Stamp - Spellbinders (cling right - saw it at the scrap booking corner and grabbed it for dear life!!! Lol)

Used Brilliance pearlised lavender

Ribbon - from stash

Flowers - made by me 

Leaves - MS leaf punch

Crystals - Prima

Hope my friend likes it - she is a such a sweet lady and has a daughter who is Aleeza's age (almost) so that makes it even better.

Will come and visit soon.

Hugs,

Monica

A commissioned card

Hi bloggers,

I am having some fun again with blogger for whatever reason...

How I wish I could be more regular with blogging. Life has been so busy and hectic of late.

Here is a commissioned card I made a while ago (sorry for the poor picture quality).

Supplies:

Baby pink pearlized card stock
Paper - from Terry's blog candy
Sentiment - handwritten and heat embossed
Flower stickers, pink cord and buttons - from stash
Guess what the round shiny stickers on the bottom left hand side are? Bindis from India!!!

I was not very pleased with this card but the lady I made it for seemed quite happy with it.

Will come and visit soon.

Hugs and I have been missing blogging so very much,

Monica

Preparing for my next Charity card sale

Hello bloggers,

I made these cards yesterday with the same stamp... they are so different from each other, right? 

I am trying to build up a collection to have another sale but I am a bit laid back about it. 

This cards above was stamped with a Docraft square stamp using Jim Holtz  distress ranger ink in broken china.

Over the square blue layer I stamped the cherry blossom from Hero Arts which I just picked up from the book shop close by a few days ago.

I rubbed glitter all over the blue square after stamping the cherry blossom tree stamp to make it look more lively.

The shimmery flowers in blue and green are from my stash.

The strips you see on the side are scraps that were lying on my work table - collecting dust. They are pearlized handmade  papers in two colours. The cardstock is pearly white but it doesn't show in the picture. The Happy Birthday stamp is from Hero Arts, I think.

This is another variation of the same card... used Brilliance ink in pearlized beige on shimmery blue cardstock to stamp the cherry blossom tree from Hero Arts. 


The strips at the bottom are bits of ribbon and pearlized papers from scraps lying around on the table. The tiny white shimmery flowers are from my stash. Don't know whether this looks like a perfect "thank you card"... looks more like a "sympathy card" I think!


The sentiment is handwritten... I seem to be getting back my confidence to write with a pen...


Hope the daffodils are beginning to smile...




I am going to enter in the following challenges:


www.simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/ - anything goes


www.craftyourpassionchallenges.blogspot.com - anything goes


www.aspoonfullofsugarchallenge.blogspot.com - vintage or shabby (I hope the first card is shabby!)






Hugs to a very special lot of crafters,

Monica

A special card

Hello bloggers,


It is the 7th and I have not posted a  single card so far... just so occupied with the kids!


This card is ideal for me right now... wish I could do that but I hardly get time to wear heels!  I think the caption for me should be "just kick off your shoes and have fun".


This card has a history to it - I will try not to bore you with the details but Zeenya stamped this shoe from my new Hero Arts clear stamp alongwith the sentiment. She did a good job with distressing the sides as you can see in the remaining bits where she stamped the sentiment.

Tip: She decided to distress with Marvy brush markers instead of actual distress ink and it worked quite well.

While she was decorating the shoe with glitter it got a bit messy and I - Miss Smarty Pants tried to help her and made it worse... She was heart broken and so was I. 

However, I was determined to make this card happen beautifully so I cut out the shoe and hand tore the sentiment and coloured in the shoe with Zeenya's Sakura nail pens and see what I did. I also added in some Sakura glitter pens. I do like it now.


The quilled flower on the shoe has been made by me and the rest of the stuff is from my stash.


Am going to enter this card for Michelle's Monday Linky party and for following challenges:

www.onestitchatatimechallenge.blogspot.com/  - old stash new stash (the Hero shoe stamp is new for me)

 http://liliofthevalleythursdaychallenge.blogspot.com/ - my fave things (I love this shoe stamp and the polka dotted ribbon)

www.movingalongwiththetimes.blogspot.com/ - for someone special

www.freshbreweddesigns.blogspot.com/ - red, pink and white


Hugs,


Monica

Zeenya's birthday card

Hello bloggers,

Today is Zeenya's 11th birthday and silly me - did not think of making a card earlier... made this before midnight in a bit of a rush. She is not into pinks anymore so I had to think hard.

I could have stuck to blues but this teddy bear had browns in it and she does like browns.

This is a Penny Black stamp ( I think) which I coloured in with my water colour pencils. I coloured the mustardish paper with my wild honey distress ink and hand tore the paper.
The printed paper is from Terry's blog candy... oooh! I just love the papers I won in my blog candy.

By the way way, Zeenya is NOT into teddy bears anymore but I am... lol!
She did like the card when I gave it to her in the morning - thank God for that!

Love,

Monica