Recycled feathers

 Hello dear bloggers,

The feathers on this card were die cut using Ferraro Rocher chocolate foil which I stuck on to a thick card before putting in through my Cuttlebug. The feathers were embossed to make them appear more natural. The fluorescent paper was a result of painting with neon paints as well as gold poster colour. It looks really rich and vibrant in real life.

I will enter the following challenges:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Monica 

Another self painted one

 Hello dear bloggers,

I have used Pentel watercolours to paint the flowers here. They have been painted directly on paper which is a big achievement for me. The layer under the watercoloured flowers was painted on the edges with Pentels as well. The background on the card base was done with acrylics. 

The link of the video which I followed is https://youtu.be/13VnbA9zXMs. The videos are called "Calligraphy by Mukta". They are very inspirational, to say the least. 

I will participate in the following challenges with this card:

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

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

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

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

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

https://ikesworldchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ - Under the weather/anything goes

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

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

Choose happy

Hello dear bloggers,

The leaf die here was cut using paper that I had smooshed with neon paints. Some of the veins of the leaves were left in for more effect.  I gave an outline to the top layer with pink neon paint and stuck it on a cardboard piece. I just love this sentiment.

 I will participate in the following challenges:

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

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

http://heart2heartchallenges.blogspot.com/ - anything goes

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

https://tuesdaytaggers.blogspot.com/ - CAS

Monica 

Feathers again

 Dear bloggers,

The background of this card was painted with black acrylic paint on the front and back as suggested by my mum who is quite an artist. She asked me to take multiple cardstocks and paint over them with different colours. Here is the black and white one with die cut leaves on them. The leaf on the left was painted using distress oxides while the one on the right was done on a packaging material with neon tubes.

I purposely let it be sentiment free.

I will enter the following challenges with this card:

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

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

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

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

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

http://cardz4galz.blogspot.com/ - card for gals

Monica 

Peaches and cream

Hello dear bloggers,

I stamped this image many years ago and every time it brings me so much joy to use it. I know I should be mentioning the names of the stamp etc but you know I am sitting too comfortably on my big Lazboy to get up and find the name for you. So please do overlook that. I stamped the image with distress ink and coloured in with watercolour pencils and went over it with Prismas to add more life to the flowers. The edging was coloured in with a Prisma pencil as well. I only coloured the edges of the cardstock under the image instead of using a whole sheet of coloured paper. Frugal crafter me. The bottom has two layers of lace for added effect. No sentiment here so as to make it more flexible.

 

I will take part in the following challenges:

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

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

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

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

Monica 

A happy chappy card

Hello dear bloggers,

My younger one painted a thick piece of card with fluorescent paints and I stuck it on to a card base. She also wrote the sentiment and it was all set to go. Simple yet fun.

 

I will enter the following challenges:

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

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

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

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

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

Monica 

My second Mindful Art and Card workshop

Hello sweet bloggers,

Here is a card I put together a couple of days ago. The background has been painted with Mala tubes from Ikea. I diecut the nestie and slapped on the sentiment stamp on it. A felt peace sign sticker on the left to complete the picture and the card is all set to make peace. I hope...

I hosted the second Mindful Art and Card workshop today and my student and I had lots of fun painting abstract canvasses with acrylic paints. She said that had a purple cover for her bed so she matched the colours on the canvas. Guess, what she painted with? A piece of foam that came along with a Baby G watch that Aleeza bought.  I thought they came out quite neat. What do you think?

Below are the same canvasses painted by my student along with an abstract acrylic painting on water colour paper done by Aleeza. She used a piece of cardboard to paint it.

This is my student - a very charming and confident young girl of 11 with her abstract acrylic on 300 gsm water colour paper. She used a comb to paint this.  It looks much nicer in real life.  

Aleeza took the spare paint from the sponge and very quickly dabbed it on a card, hand wrote the sentiment and put it all together in minutes. I thought that was cool.

I will submit this card for the following challenges:

 https://colourcrazychallenge.blogspot.com/ - anything colouring
https://polkadoodle.blogspot.com/ - anything goes
https://laviniaworldchallenges.blogspot.com/ - anything goes using rubber/acrylic stamp
http://timeoutchallenges.blogspot.com/ - peaceful
http://fabnfunkychallenges.blogspot.com/ - use a real stamp
https://www.thehousethatstampsbuilt.com/ - anything goes
https://watercoolerchallenges.blogspot.com/ - anything occasion goes
http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com/ - anything goes

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 

For Casual Fridays - celebrate the women in your life

Hello lovely bloggers,

Hope you are having a relaxed weekend...

Here is a card I made with my new Prima mask which I sponged in with distress inks and coloured it later with water colour pencils. Distressed the sides - which is not very visible and backed it with pink paper. Added some pearls and pink ribbon to make it more interesting. As usual it is sentiment free as it makes it easier to sell.

Am going to submit this card for Casual Fridays - celebrate the women in your life. It may be a wee bit too busy but I do like the way I coloured it... Would love to know what you think of it.

Will come and visit later.

Lots of love,

Monica

This one sold instantly!!!

Hello lovely bloggers,

Hope you are having a decent day/evening which ever part of the globe you are in.

I had a lovely day with some friends over, we had a yummy potluck lunch and lovely conversation along with it. I don't know what it is about potlucks but they are such fun.

Now to my card, I have used a Hero Arts block to stamp the background in Aqua and then went over it with my green and yellow water colour pencils. Also glittered some of the flowers in the image. Stuck a butterfly and a flower alongwith some pop up glue over which I dabbed some silver nailpolish.

Am going to submit this card for the following challenges:

Addicted to stamps and more - Spring

Crafting for all seasons - Things with wings

For fun challenges - Use a stamp

Paper shelter challenge - Anything goes

Tomorrow is Aleeza's sports day and she has been soooo excited about it since the last three weeks... But this afternoon, when I remarked, "Tomorrow is sports day, Aleeza, aren't you excited?" Pat came the answer, "No, I am not". And when I asked why, she responded, "Because I have been excited all these days, today I am not!!!" Some logic there...

See you soon.

Love,

Monica

Shades of pink and white

Hello sweet bloggers,

Here is a card I have made for Annabelle Stamps Blog - the challenge being shades of pink and white.

I have used my latest Sizzix embossing folder, sponged it and added touches of white in the embossed image with my Uniball white pen. I have stuck the embossed paper with foam dots to give it dimension.

The flowers have been punched and stuck foam pads as well.

Zeenya (turning 13 this November and who speaks very little) acknowledged that the card was attractive and I think so too.

Gotta finish my lunch and get Aleeza from school.

Will come and visit later.

Lots of love,

Monica

Out and About...

Hello sweet bloggers,

I have coloured in these two images with water colour pencils while I was stamping with Aleeza... 

I have used this stamp umpteen times, yet haven't fallen out of love with it.

The two cards have the same colours but I have sponged them with different inks.

The embellies vary as well...

This is a Penny Black stamp and the first card has been hand torn. All the embellies are from my stash. 

Am going to enter these cards for the following challenges:

The Poodles Parlour - Here come the girls

Inspire me Fridays - Anything goes

The quote above touched my heart - saw it on Face book and thought I should share it.

Taking Aleeza for her swimming class now - seems a tough task as she is trying her best to get out of it. 

Have a wonderful weekend. 

Love,

Monica

High heels

Hello lovely people,

Hope you had a good weekend... Ours was rather quiet, too quiet. And I could not find much time or inclination to craft.

Here is a card I made a few days ago with a stamped image that was gathering dust on my table. It is from Hero Arts and if you recall, I have used it many a time before and don't seem to tire of it.

Rather simple card - glittered the shoe on the outside to add glamour to it. And used shiny paper which is not visible in the picture. Used Carla craft corner punch on one side and MS border punch on the other. 

Off to spend time with Aleeza now.

Thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

Monica

Butterflies

Hello lovely bloggers,

Hope you all are well out there... it is 830 am as I write this post... Aleeza's school is still closed and she is down with this horrible cough which just does not seem to go away. So I took her to the doctor's yesterday and you know why she wasn't getting better - because I was giving her the wrong dosage. 

How silly and unmindful could I get??? Anyway, I have resolved my mistake and it is not much point crying over spilled milk.

I made this card a bit differently - randomly cut off a part from the front and stuck layered rectangular card stock on it at an angle.

The butterfly image has been fussily cut from a larger handprinted and handmade paper. The antennae have been made with floral wire by yours truly.

Added some pop up glue on the butterfly as well on the embossed butterflies on the left (embossing folder - Tim Holtz alterations.) Stuck some crystals from Prima on the butterflies. 

The tiny circular stickers you see on the inside are from my dear, kind friend Sandra. Thank you for all the sunshine you bring into my life. The pink border on the right is a shiny paper and those cords on the left of the butterfly image are from my stash.

Below is a saying that I have copied from a page on Face Book... it touched me so I thought I would share it with you all.

Have a wonderful Friday...

With love,

Monica

Stencilling with Aleeza

Hello sweet bloggers out there,

Hope you are having a pleasant weekend... it is a slow, lazy Sunday morning here with the girls and I colouring, painting and now I am on to one of my fave activities - blogging.

Aleeza (all of four and a bit) coloured in these stencil with sponge dipped in a white stamp pad. I helped her as well but she wanted to be independent and seemed to enjoy it thoroughly. 

I have used one of my new Ek Success border punches to create border and stuck a Martha Stewart punched border on white stock on the edge. 

I have touched up the stencilled design with my Sakura silver pen to add some glamour but I think it made it a tad messy. It was meant to be a male card which looked rather bland. So landed up adding butterflies in silver (which does not reflect in the picture). In the end, it landed up looking quite elegant, if I may say so myself.

Have a lovely, healthy and crafty Sunday.

Love,

Monica

My new embossing folder

Hello lovely bloggers,

So happy to blog again... 

Here is a card I embossed and little Aleeza colored with pastel chalks for me... 

I put some bows (which Aleeza didn't seem too impressed with) and gems on the roses to dress them them.

I LOVE this embossing folder because flowers do something to me. Lol.

Below is a card that I embossed and colored with chalks... so one from daughter and one from mum.

Hope you are having a decent weekend... it is 10 am as I write this post. 

Wish you a healthy day!

I am going to be good - will go and exercise to shed some extra kilos.

Hugs,

Monica

Another commissioned card

Hello lovely bloggers,

I have been busy - Mum is here and we have a visitor from the UK staying with us for three months... and to top it all, Zeenya came back with this unpleasant flu' from her school trip. She had loads of fun though and the fever was a free gift I guess... So that is why I have not been able to visit you all. 

Here is another commissioned card ... 

I have used Penny Black's Stickaroos from The Sticker Store sent to me by Merry. 

I just love these feminine looking stickers - so English, aren't they?

The textured paper at the bottom is handmade from Indonesia and the gems are from Prima.

The ribbons are from my stash.

I do like the colours on this card but could have done better with the layout, I think. Mum suggested that I put the bow on the side to fill up the empty space. I have glittered the border of the mauve paper which makes it more charming.

Will come and catch up soon.

Hugs and thanks for all the kind comments...

Monica

Second entry for Less is More

Hello lovely bloggers,

Here is another card I made with left overs of a previous creation... the leaves were just gathering dust on my table so I decided to use them.

I have used pearlised baby pink card stock which looks pretty different in the picture...

Rather simple card which does not need much explanation... 

I am going to submit this for Less is More - use your scraps

Am a big fan of Less is More - just after my heart and hands!!! Lol.

Hugs,

Monica

CAS card with scraps lying around

Hello my sweet bloggers,

I made this super simple and quick card last night using scraps lying around on my table...

Supplies:

Base card stock - textured white

Bird border punch - MS

Red border punch - EK Success

Check ribbon - Amercan craft

I quite liked it - simple and sweet and not much stress on my hands or neck...

I am going to submit this card for Less is More - use up your scraps!




Thanks to a suggestion given by one of you kind souls out there I am trying to punch and stamp with my feet and it seems to be working out fairly well. Thanks so much... You opened my mind. And lifted my spirits!!! Lol.

Have a good weekend.

Hugs,

Monica