Dream a little magic

Hello sweet peeps,

Here is a Christmas card to show you today where I have used the reverse of a die cut from Kaiser craft and I have used foil from a yoghurt container under the die cut. 

I realized that one of the legs of the reindeer was not clearly visible so I decided to cover it with the sentiment which is a clear stamp that was sent to me by a very lovely blog friend called Sandra Baldwin. She doesn't blog anymore and I do miss her. She has a heart of gold, honestly and she was one of my first friends in blogland.

Coming back to my card, I have used a dotty silver washi tape to cover up the unembossed part of the cardstock. A silver cord was tied to hide the bumpiness of the dots under the washi tape. 

I will enter the following challenges with this card:

http://abcchristmaschallenge.blogspot.com/ - N is for no fuss / O is for over the top

https://christmas-craft-creations.blogspot.com/ - Christmas characters

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

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

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

https://ikesworldchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ - S is for show us Christmas

https://shoppingourstash.blogspot.com/ - Christmas in July

Monica 

For Less is More - white and cream

Hello bloggers,

Here is a card I actually made for Less is More which is about using white and cream. I have used a one piece die cut I bought many years ago in Jakarta, Indonesia while we lived there. It seems so long ago. It was 2014 when we left Jakarta for Singapore. 

I like the simple turn out of this card.

Besides Less is More, I will also participate in the following challenges:

https://52cct.blogspot.com/ - silhouette

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

http://cleanandsimpleonsunday.blogspot.com/ - use a die

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

Monica  

A bauble for Christmas with love and light in it.

Dear bloggers,

This card was designed by Aleeza. I used a die cut to make the ornament from a yoghurt lid and embossed it with a Christmas folder. Used a black ribbon and silver cord and that is it. Never mind that it took me forever to stick to the card. Just when I thought it was time to give up, I tried many layers of double sided tape and it worked.

I will participate in the following challenges:

http://abcchristmaschallenge.blogspot.com/ - E, F, G (embossing, free bee, gold respectively)

https://thepapershelter.blogspot.com/ - circles

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

https://aaacards.blogspot.com/ - maxi white space + optional metallic

http://blog.dare2bartzy.com/tag/challenge - anything goes

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

Wish you happy cardmaking, 

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 

Hello after a long time

Hello dear bloggers,

I have been wanting to blog but life just got in the way beside other commitments. Here is a card I made for Less is More a few weeks ago but did not get down to posting it. I have used brilliance lavender to rubber stamp and I dabbed it on to the white nestie below the text image. It looks quite shiny in real life but this is the best the camera decided to do. Gold cord and gold ribbon and it was done. I could have added sequins or rhine stones but my older one felt it was enough and did I go with her word. 

I will enter this card in the following challenges:
http://avenue613.blogspot.sg/ - anything goes
http://addicted-to-stamps-challenge.blogspot.sg/ - die cut plus stamp
http://cleanandsimpleonsunday.blogspot.sg/ - Christmas
http://lacysunshine.blogspot.sg/ - anything goes

Wish you happy crafting with lots of health and happiness,

Monica 

Christmas cards

Hello dear bloggers,

Here are two cards which I made last week to start building on my Christmas cards... I have coloured the inside of the embossing folder by which I mean the flat side. Bisque Versamark is what I used to colour and I also ran the stamp pad on the edges of the card stock. The embossed image was stuck with foam dots and the flowers were coloured in with Wink of Stella. The pretty ribbon is from Indonesia and the centre of the flowers was dotted with another shiny brush pen called Wink of Luna which doesn't shine as much as I would think. The second card is quite the same as the first one except that I added bisque pearls to the flower centres and used another ribbon.

I will enter my card in:

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

https://creativecornerchallenges.blogspot.sg/ - no patterned paper

http://crafting-with-friends.blogspot.sg/ - anything goes

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

Wish you a happy weekend,

Monica 

Lots to show here

Hello lovely peeps,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year,

Monica

Back after 10 days

Hello sweet peeps,

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

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

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

I will enter my cards in the following challenges:

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

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

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

Happy crafting,

Monica

Another Siberian theme card for WOAMS

Hello kind peeps,

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

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

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

I will enter this card in:

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

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

Happy crafting,

Monica 

I am back with great news!

Hello sweet bloggers,

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

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

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

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

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

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

Aleeza chasing a bird at the park.

I will enter this card in the following challenges:

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

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

See you very soon,

Monica 

Wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Hello sweet bloggers,

Here is another stampless Christmas card made with cork stickers and a store bought sentiment stuck on a Spellbinder die linked together with red raffia.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas,

Monica 

Christmas is so close

Hello sweet bloggers,

Here is a card to show you today - the snowflakes have been punched from the left overs of wedding paper.

The border at the bottom is actually dull gold but it looks brown in the picture. The gold dots which also appear brown are gold pop up glue. I cannot remember where the sentiment is from.

Wish you a happy Tuesday,

Monica 

Making Christmas cards

Hello sweet bloggers,

I hope you had a good weekend. I went to the nursery and bought pretty plants for our balcony which gave me much happiness. Aleeza was sick for over a week (she is back to school now) and I needed something to cheer me up. 

Here is a super quick Christmas card I made with my new cork stickers. The sentiment stamp is a clear one - it may be Kaiser or Penny Black (it is out of it's packaging, so cannot tell).

I will enter this simple beauty in Less is More this week which is all about Christmas.

I wish you a pleasant day ahead,

Monica

A few more Christmas cards

Hello sweet bloggers,

Another simple card for Christmas made with the bare minimum of material. The Christmas tree came from Sandra and the crystals are from Prima. I have used my Sakura silver gel pen to outline the window and the top layer has been stuck with foam tape. The ribbon and scoring finish it off nicely. A very common layout and I think I should have rounded the corners of the layer on top as well.

I will enter this card in:

http://4kraftygirlzchallenges.blogspot.co.uk/ - anything goes

http://craftyribbonschallenge.blogspot.com/ - anything goes with ribbon

Thank God it's Friday again,

Monica 

Thank you Lynn

Hello sweet peeps,

It is such a busy time, there is so much happening around, Christmas concerts at school, birthday parties and the coming holidays. So much to be grateful for, really.

This card I have today has been made with a clears stamp that was sent by my dear blog buddy, Lynn. Thank you for sending me that parcel a few years ago, bursting at it's seams with stamps and other goodies. I do love this stamp, Lynn and used it a lot last year. My friend who ordered four cards, bought six and this was one of them.

I have stamped the image with Brilliance pearlescent rust and have gone over it with my fave gold Sakura pen. Added tiny, shiny starry stckers along with organza ribbon and it was done.

The same card taken with the flash 

I will enter this card in:

http://craft-deebowz.blogspot.com/ - must have a bow

http://www.craftysentiments.blogspot.com/ - Christmas

http://www.lovesrubberstampschallenges.com/ - anything goes Christmas

http://www.lovesrubberstampschallenges.com/ - simple Christmas
http://simplylessismoore.blogspot.co.uk/ - metallic element plus one colour of your choice

Sorry that I have not been regular with my visits,

Monica

Frugal crafter here

Hello dear bloggers,

I have got an order for another four cards from a close friend - yaay.

My card to show you today is a frugal crafter's job really. The stars have been punched out of adhesive holographic paper and the ribbon is from my stash. This sentiment is from Penny Black and I seem to use it with delight every time. I have scored the paper on the right hand side to add interest.

I will enter this card in:

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

http://craftybootschallenges.blogspot.com/ - Christmas

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

Wish you a nice Tuesday,

Monica 

Ho Ho Ho and thank you, dear Helen!

Hello sweet bloggers,

My dear kind friend Helen who is an amazingly talented crafter sent me cards to sell and I managed to sell them with such ease. Thank you, Helen, for your kindness. I was lucky to have sold another ten cards (from Helen's lot and mine) and the amount I am donating to the Philippines Typhoon fund has gone up to USD 230 (from USD 165 initially) and I think I will stop at this.

Remember I said I went to Aleeza's class and baked cookies with the kids on Wednesday? Since they were not enough, I baked some more the next day and took them to class. The kids were so delighted and they LOVED them. Oh the joy I got was immeasurable, honestly. Sometimes giving gives the giver more pleasure than the receiver I feel. 

I was lucky to have sold another ten cards and the amount I am donating to the Philippines Typhoon fund has gone up to USD 230 (from USD 165 initially) and I think I will stop at this.

Now to my card... another CAS card with a very shiny sticker that came from Sandra. The ribbon is from Arthur Dailey in Melbourne and the holographic paper is from Hobby Craft in London. The holographic tape is Zeenya's and the silver cord has been recycled from a gift. 

These are the lovely cards Helen sent me to sell for charity

I will enter this card in:

http://qkrstampede.blogspot.co.uk/ - white with a touch of red and green

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

http://acreativeromance.blogspot.co.uk/ - sparkle at Christmas

http://cardcrafterscircle.blogspot.com/ - celebrations

Hope you are having a peaceful and crafty weekend,

Monica

Snowflakes

Hello bloggers,

What a busy day I had today!!! I had to go to Aleeza's class to bake shortbread cookies with the kids. They turned out rather good except that plenty of them got burned as I was not familiar with the oven. As a result the kids were left wanting for more. Aleeza's teacher is so kind and he explained to them that it was okay if they did not get enough of something. And they seemed to understand. For my part, I think I will bake the same cookies and send them to class to make up for the faux pas. I hope I do it sooner rather than later.

Then I had to take Aleeza for a birthday party in the evening which was a swim party but it began to pour along with thunder and lightening so the kids had to come out of the pool. Yet they seemed so happy to be together and had a great time. So did I though I could not wait to get home after a long and hectic day.

Here is my card to show you today. That crumpled gold paper is handmade from India and looks really beautiful in real life. I have stuck textured dull gold paper under the reverse snowflakes. The centre snowflake is my latest buy from the button store close by. I have decorated the snowflakes with gold glitter and added a thin gold border at the bottom which has been sent to me by Merry - many thanks. For the life of me, I don't know why I punched the bottom of the card stock. 

I will enter this card in:

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

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

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

Wish you a happy Wednesday,

Monica 

Thank You Sue

Hello kind people,

You know something, when I started my blog in 2010 at the behest of a very close friend, Aparna, little did I imagine that it would create such magic in my life. I have come across such talented as well as kind people who have added a sparkle to my life. A sparkle that makes me smile and glow and feel happy every time I look at the comment section. Words alone cannot express my joy... But you understand what I am trying to say, right?

The card that you see below is kind courtesy of Sue who sent me this beeeeeeeeeeautiful white  die cut which I have used as a bauble with a silver string and a handmade bow. The sequined border is my latest buy from the ribbon and lace store in the local market close by. A few sequins came off the thread so I stuck them in the centre of the bauble. Thank you so much, dear Sue for this delightful die cut.

 Aleeza took part in the Gymnatstics Festival at the weekend. She was so thrilled with the medal and goodie bag she received that she has decided to be more enthusiastic about Gymnastics. Lol.

I will enter this card in:

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

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

http://lexiscreations.blogspot.com/ - Christmas

http://craftcreatoins.blogspot.com/p/test.html - anything goes

http://thepapernestdollschallenge.blogspot.com/ - bow

http://www.vostamps.blogspot.com/ - Christmas with non-traditional colours

That was a huge number of challenges for me. Lol.

Have a nice Tuesday,

Monica 

Another Christmas card

Hello sweet bloggers,

A lady in our complex has asked me for cards so am making a few more. That is great news but my fingers are rather painful due to the stress so I need to go slow and make it as effortless as possible. This year has been excellent for me as I met my target of supporting five Indonesian children with such ease. And I have an extra USD 200 which I am going to donate to the Philippines Typhoon Fund. I could have raised more if my hands were in better condition.

This card is simple and did not take much effort at all. I have stuck a 3D wreath, stamped a sentiment and used self adhesive holographic paper at the bottom.

I will enter this card in:

http://blog.docerelashop.com/ - anything goes

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

http://totallypapercrafts.blogspot.com/ - Christmas

Wish you a happy Sunday,

Monica