Calligraphy

Hello sweet peeps,

Here is a card I have made with smoosh done with distress oxides. The fern leaf was done many months ago with a similar technique using watercolours.

I am trying to learn calligraphy and here is an attempt at it. 

 

I will participate in the following challenges:

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

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

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

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

https://audsentimentschallengeblog.blogspot.com/ - anything goes with a sentiment

Monica

Self painted flowers

Dear bloggers,

I have drawn and water coloured this bouquet entirely on my own using Pentel watercolours. The layer beneath the flowers was painted on the edges. I find that very calming to do. Lol.

The bow is from my stash. I wasn't too pleased with the bottom of the bouquet so in came the bow. 

 

 I will participate in the following challenges:

ArtyDivas - anything goes

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

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

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

https://tuesdaytaggers.blogspot.com/ - neat and tidy

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

https://creativecraftcottage.blogspot.com/ - ribbon, lace/ or pearls

https://girlzcreativecrafts.blogspot.com/2020/08/challenge-4-girlz.html

Neon dragonflies

Dear bloggers,

The dragonflies here have been punched from cardstock that I painted with Mala paints from Ikea.   Orange and pink paint was randomly squeezed on to an acrylic block before smooshing it on to paper. A Sakura gold gel pen was used to add interest to their veins. 

The eyes of the dragonflies were done with a black Copics marker while the sentiment was handwritten with the same marker.  

The punched dragonflies were lying on my table for a quite a long time as a result of which some of them lost one of their antenna. Instead of throwing away the entire dragonfly I stuck it in a way that the missing antenna would not be visible.

Down below is a closeup of the gold penwork.

I will participate in the following challenges:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Monica 

Black and white die cut roses

Hello dear bloggers,

This card has been made with my latest rose corner die. I had to use ribbon on the left with the knot covering the marks left behind with edging of the die. On the inside of the card base, there is a black and white fancy gift wrap (which I have been hoarding for years) to add more interest to the card. I stuck an inner as well so that the card looks professional. I thought the backdrop looks nice but maybe it is too monochrome.

 I will enter this card in the following challenges:

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

http://cutitupchallenges.blogspot.com/ - old school

http://asyoulikeitchallenge.blogspot.com/ - fave way to add ribbon and why

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

Ellibelle's corner - beginning with b (black here)

Frillie and Funkie  - it is a wrap (well, I have used gift wrap)

Monica 

Fans

Hello dear peeps,

This card was made with my new fan die. The bronze-ish paper is handmade and it is from India. The pink fan has been cut on paper that was smooshed with Camlin watercolour brush markers. The fan at the bottom has been die cut using gold paper. The baby pink nestie with gold edging was sent to me by dear Shirley-Anne many years ago while we lived in Jakarta. The paper underneath the nestie was dyed using Camlin watercolour brush markers. I quite like this busy yet charming card.

I will take part in the following challenges:

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

https://cutecardthursday.blogspot.com/ - inky

https://kraftychickschallenge.blogspot.com/ - all occasions

https://thethreemuseschallenge.blogspot.com/ - layers

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

Monica

 

Feathers

 Dear bloggers,

Here is a card that Aleeza, my younger one put together. She hand drew the feather and coloured it with her Magic Markers from Hamley's and did fussy cutting around it. The design, layout and sentiment was chosen by her while the sticking and stamping (of the sentiment0 was done by me. 

I will participate in the following challenges with this card:

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

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

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

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

http://sweetstampinchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ - doodling

http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.com/ - picture perfect

Monica 

Floral image

Hello dear bloggers,

The image on this card was a pretty paper napkin in its previous life. While we lived in Mumbai, one of my charming friends called us to tea and the paper napkins were just too special to be used to wipe my hands with. So I carefully brought it home. That was in 2006 or 2007 - yes!!! I tried to make a card out of it but it was left undone and just a few days ago, I managed to put it together. Trust me, it took a while to fit the napkin under a reverse nestie because the napkin was too small to fit. After many trials, this was the result. I embossed it all and left it sentiment free.

 I will participate in the following challenges:

https://thepapershelter.blogspot.com/ - punches and dies

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

http://thepapergirlschallenge.blogspot.com/ - emboss like a boss

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

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

Monica 

LIve, Love, Laugh

Hello sweet peeps,

I had the reverse of a Spellbinder's nestie lying the bottom of which I had punched with a border punch.  Found matching ribbon and die cut leaves from my newest dies to add on to. The Live, Love, Laugh sentiment die was picked up from the cutest craft store when we went to Gold Coast last year. The paper out of which the sentiment has been die cut was painted with Mala paints from Ikea after smooshing it over an acrylic block.

I will enter this card in the following challenges:

Arty Divas - anything goes

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

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

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

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

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

Monica 

Hello and Happy Birthday

Hello sweet peeps,

These two entries are for CAS(E) this Sketch. My younger daughter, Aleeza smooshed cardstock with very ordinary watercolours and wrote the calligraphed the sentiment. I layered it with two round nesties, embossed it and stuck it off the card so as to follow the challenge. The embossed white strip at the bottom was to hide some glue stains that decided to stay on the paper.

Here is my second card for CAS(E) this Sketch - my very new die on black paper. I hope it is not too bland.

 

I will also enter the first card in the following challenges:

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

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

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

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

Monica 

Monochromes

 Hello lovely peeps,

Here is a card to show you today which has been created with distress oxides and Mala paints. The leaf on the right has been inlaid while the one on the right has been stuck over it. The background was done with an acetate sheet and distress inks. 

I will participate in the following challenges with this card:

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

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

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

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

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

Monica

Black white and red

Hello lovely bloggers,

Here is my card to show you today. The image was stamped with a Kaiser craft clear stamp on a scrap piece of paper however for some reason it did not look clear and crisp. So I picked up a very ordinary black Pilot gel pen and tried to follow the flowers, stems and leaves. 

The border has doodled with the same black pen. A piece of cardstock was embossed and I layered the image on a red paper which was from a Starbucks cup (after cutting it out) on it. The black paper is also from fancy packaging material. 

The ribbon and button are from my stash and it sure took me a long time to position them right below the image. All is well that turns out well.

I will enter in the following challenges:

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/ - flowers, floral paper

https://aaacards.blogspot.com/ - maximum white space + option flowers

http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/ - flowers all over

http://craftycalendarchallenge.blogspot.com/ - use your paper scraps

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

Monica

Water colour background

Hello dear bloggers,

I watercoloured the background on this card using the smoosh technique. The sentiment is handwritten.

I will participate in the following challenges:

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/ - sentiment as the focus

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

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

https://crazy4challenges.blogspot.com/ - make a collage background

Monica 

Embossed daisies

Dear bloggers,

Here is my card to show you today. I had this piece of embossed cardstock which I coloured with distress ink. I stuck it on to a card and put a recycled strip of black paper with a ribbon on it and a button that was sent to me by Skye with many other yummy craft goodies. This simple beauty was left sentiment free for many reasons.

I will submit this in:

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

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

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

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

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

https://cccdigicreations.blogspot.com/ - no patterned paper

https://creativecraftcottage.blogspot.com/- just add flower/s

Monica 

Colourful hearts

Hello sweet peeps,

The card below was made by Aleeza (my 12 year old daughter) who drew the hearts directly on to a piece of cardstock and coloured them with the magic markers that her sister got for her when she went to South Africa. The sentiment is handwritten by Aleeza as well. 

I will participate in the following challenges:

ArtyDivas - anything goes

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

https://aaacards.blogspot.com/ - max white space

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

Monica 

Black Beauty

Hello dear bloggers,

Here is my black beauty to show you today. The red frame is a reverse of a nestie and the horse has been die cut using an old calendar. Simple, easy peasy card. 

I will participate in the following challenge with this card:

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

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

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

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

Monica 

Black, white and red

Dear bloggers,

I had this stamped image lying around for many years and it finally saw itself on a card a few days ago. It was actually a scrap piece of copy paper that stamped.  I have used a black gel pen to go over the image and shade it lightly. The border was also created by the same pen. The background on the cardstock was painted with black acrylic paint. The ribbon is from American Crafts.

I will submit this card for the following challenges:

https://pinkgemchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ - a gem of a challenge

http://craftycalendarchallenge.blogspot.com/ - just add ribbon

http://disdigidesignschallenge.blogspot.com/ - use your paper scraps

http://inkspirationalchallenges.blogspot.com/ - painting or colouring

http://cutitupchallenges.blogspot.com/ - create your own background paper

https://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/ - flowers all over

Monica

Red rose

Hello sweet peeps,

Here is a card that I put together with a single layer of a pretty paper napkin. The frame is the reverse of a nestie. I embossed the napkin for more texture. Leaving it sentiment free is always a good option since my cards sell better that way.

I will participate in the following challenges:

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

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

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

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

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

https://just-add-ink.blogspot.com/ - flowers + texture

Monica 

Life is full of beauty...

Hello lovely bloggers,

Thank you for your kind comments on my last post. Blogging is indeed a blessing and to open the comments section awaiting moderation is even more so. I look forward to it each time with much happy anticipation. 

This card is from the inside of the front page of the magazine from a super market in Jakarta, Indonesia. This quote was too nice to be thrown away. So it was cut most lovingly and carefully and layered on to white cardstock to give it more prominence. The shiny pink paper you see under the quote is from Paddy's market in Sydney and it has been with me since the last 16 years. Wow, I sure am a keeper. No, not a hoarder. The ribbon on the left is actually sticky fabric tape which has lost it's glue and I used more glue to stick it. Embossing on the bottom most layer with one of my fave folders and it is all dressed and ready to party.

I will enter the following challenges with this simple beauty:

artydivas - anything goes

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

http://tuesdaythrowdown.blogspot.com/ - polka dots

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

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

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

http://countryviewchallenges.blogspot.com/ - do what makes you happy (recycling does)

https://creationsinpink.blogspot.com/ - mainly in pink

https://craft-deebowz.blogspot.com/ - anything goes

Monica 

Green and gold

Hello dear bloggers,

Hope you are all well and healthy. I think we are a blessed community because creativity keeps us happy and when we are happy, we are healthy. 

Now to my card - the background has been hand painted with acrylic paints and I have also added a touch of gold to the greens. The gold leaf is part of a set that I bought from London many years ago. It is meant to decorate cups and such but I thought of putting it on a card. This creation was left sentiment free so as to make it a generic card.

I will participate in the following challenges with my card:

http://craftycardmakers.blogspot.com/ - create your own bg

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

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

https://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/ - play with paint

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

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

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