For CAS(e) this sketch

Hello dear bloggers,

Ever since I started these meditation sessions for parents in school, life has become full and busy in a nice sort of way. I would have raised something like 1600 dollars at the end of two terms. The good news is that the Singapore government will match each dollar donated so the contribution would get doubled.

Now to my simple card for CAS(e) this sketch. 

The flower has been die cut with the packaging paper of a bouquet. In the centre is a ready made pink flower from my stash. The silver nestie has been die cut from a yoghurt lid. The purple nestie under it has been die cut from a piece of cardstock. I embossed a piece of cardstock and stuck it on the card before sticking the rest of the stuff on it.

I will enter this card in the following challenges:
https://moo-mania.blogspot.com/ - use your scraps
http://cardsgalorechallenges.blogspot.com/ - anything goes
http://happycraftchallenge.blogspot.com/ -anything goes
http://challengeleannsworld101.blogspot.com/ - anything goes

Happy cardmaking to you,

Monica 

Partly recycled

Hello bloggers,

I have good news to share. Today my initiative hosted a meeting wherein I conducted a meditation and a speaker came to talk about essential oils and their therapeutic benefits. Tomorrow begins my second programme for meditation and relaxation in school for the parents.

Here is my card to show you today which has been upcycled using a chocolate packaging. The orange dots are shiny in real life. The hand made papers are leftovers from a larger sheet. The sentiment is a die-cut and I have put a rhinestone over the i of smile to jazz it up.

I will enter this card in the following:

artydivas - anything goes

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

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

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

Happy crafting,

Monica 

Birthday wishes

Hello sweet bloggers,

Here is a card I made a few days ago. The butterfly has been die cut from watercolour paper to which I applied smoosh technique. I have layered butterfly die cut from watercolour paper on to another butterfly which has been die cut using a foil lid of a yoghurt container. Somehow I wish that could have been more clearly visible. In real life, it shines through.

The sentiment has been die cut from Sizzix dies using packaging from a perfume.

After die cutting the nestie on the top layer of cardstock, I used the chevron embossing folder and propped it up on strips of white carton.

I will enter this card in the following challenges:

http://craftrocketchallenges.blogspot.com/ - pink

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

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

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

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

Happy card making and happy everything,

Monica 

Wee little cups

Hello dear bloggers,

Here is a card that I have put together for CAS Colours & Sketches this week. 

The background has been made with watercolour brush markers from Camlin and I think I have used smoosh technique here. 

I have used 300 gms watercolour paper and propped it with corrugated packaging material as suggested by dear Maxine of https://kiwimeskreations.blogspot.com/. Thank you for always suggesting and helping come out with such brilliant solutions. 

The beige teacups were actually Starbucks cups lying around for years while the white one has been die cut using regular cardstock. I have used a Kaiser craft teacup die to die cut the cups.

The sentiment has been handwritten with a Zebra pen. I followed my childhood rule of first writing with a pencil and then going over with a pen. It worked much better than using a pen right on. 

I will enter this card in:

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

http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.com/ - use up your scraps

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

Happy cardmaking,

Monica 

Thin parchment

Hello dear bloggers,

Here is my card to show you today which was made some weeks ago. The sentiment has been die cut from an Indian wedding card. The butterflies have been die cut from a pastry base. The green and yellow paper you see is a thin parchment-like packaging paper from a t-shirt. I used it over a water colour paper the same way one would use a cling wrap. I followed the exact same technique except that I randomly coloured with water colour pencils and sprayed the paper with water and put the thin parchment-like packaging paper over the water colour paper. This is what came about which I am loving no end. I have the top and bottom paper which I can use without throwing anything away. So I did take care of mother earth too. 

I will enter the following challenges with this card:

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

http://welove2create.blogspot.com/ - anything goes

https://crazy4challenges.blogspot.com - sentiment as focal point

http://challengeupyourlife.blogspot.com/ - frame

Happy cardmaking,

Monica 

Thank you card

Dear sweet bloggers,

Here is my card to show you which was started some months ago and completed this morning. The mauve leaf was die cut from card stock after being treated with watercolours through a plastic bag. The yellowish pinkish-orange background has been done on watercolour paper with smoosh technique. For the sentiment, I have used a sentiment die cut that I picked up while we were in Australia over spring. The paper for the sentiment smooshed with Camlin brush markers from India.

I will participate in the following challenges:

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

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

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

http://craftygalscornerchallenges.blogspot.com/ - fall colours

Happy card making,

Monica 

Thanks - partly recycled

Hello beautiful bloggers,

Here is my simple card to show you today. The butterflies have been die cut from water colour paper which was smooshed with Camlin brush markers from India. The sentiment has been die cut from packaging material of a cotton hand towel from Daiso ( a Japanese store).

I will participate in the following challenges:

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

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

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

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

Happy card making,

Monica 

Leaves and leaves

Hello sweet bloggers,

Here is my card to show you today. I took some packaging material and painted the kraft side of it with Mala paints from Ikea. Green, blue and yellow paints were used and I put my hand in a thin plastic bag and just played with it on the packaging material. This is what I achieved. I die cut a rectangular zig zag nestie and popped it up with little bits of corrugated cardboard. This clever idea came from Maxine. Thank you, dear Maxine.

The leaves were stuck over the popped up nestie. Since the packaging material was pretty high in grammage, the leaves were stable enough to stand without bending.

I will participate in the following challenges:

http://cardz4guyz.blogspot.com/  - trees/leaves 

http://everybody-art-challenge.blogspot.com/ - use dies

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

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

Happy card making,

Monica 

Dance like no one is watching

Hello dear bloggers,

Here is a card I put together a few days ago. The guitar has been die cut from a fruit packaging carton. I popped it on foam dots for added dimension. The orangish coloured paper has been coloured with an egg yellow vegetable dye. I think the sentiment is a Penny Black one which I love, I have to say. The washi tape is from Typo, a very popular stationery store in town.

I will participate in the following challenges:

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

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

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

Happy cardmaking and happy everything,

Monica 

Thank you card

Hello peeps,

I have been away from blogland as it was summer holidays and we were away to India and Japan. We did not do much site seeing in India (which I wanted to) however Japan was a delight. We went to Hokkiedo and we saw the most beautiful flower fields, sunflower fields, apple orchards, grape vines and peaches and plum trees. The lavender fields had dried up yet and we could literally feel the oil in our hands when we rubbed the flowers. It was such a pretty experience for me since I am a big fan of lavender. 

We also saw Lake Toya, which is 110,000 years old and it was formed from the eruptions of a volcano. Visiting the earthquake museum was amazing. We also walked all the way to see an active volcano yet it but it was cloudy so we could not see it through the clouds.

I learned so much from Japanese culture - how kind and courteous they are, how they help visitors, how the ladies smile and bow at every thing, how they live from one earthquake to another, how they are so resilient and how they look at the blessings of volcanos to be the rich land they possess. I noticed Hokkiedo has the simplest of buildings and the humblest of restaurants with the tastiest food. 

Now to my card which I made some months ago. The green leaf has been die cut from packaging material and I water coloured it with Maya paints from Ikea. The sentiment has been die cut using recycled paper as well. The rectangular nestie paper is actually white and I really wonder why my camera decided to make it look this colour.

Sorry for such a text heavy post.

I will enter this card in the following challenges:

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

https://colourificchallengecorner.blogspot.com/?zx=db50d3e6d844c6fa - anything goes 

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

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

Happy card making,

Monica

Water coloured roses at a workshop

Hello dear bloggers,

The roses on the is card were coloured in a water colour class I attended with both my daughters in July. It was meant to be a treat for my birthday. The black paper for the die cut sentiment has been die cut from a thick envelope. A square nestie was die cut on card stock and I stuck the roses and the leaves which have been die cut from cardboard. They have been coloured with water colours as well. The hand tied satin ribbon is from my stash. 

I will enter this card in the following challenges:

Arty Divas - anything goes

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

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

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

http://getcreativechallenges.blogspot.com/ - anything goes/monochromatic

Wish you happy card making,

Monica 

Distress oxides and partly recycled

Hello dear bloggers,

Here is my card to show you today. The leaf has been die cut from the lid of a Nestle yoghurt jar and so has the thank you sentiment. The background has been done with three or four distress oxides. This card looks much prettier in real life.

The backdrop for this card is handmade paper from Thailand which has been made from elephant poop. Lol. A close friend's daughter got it when she went on a school trip. My younger one (who was all of seven then) kept smelling it from time to time to check for poop smell only to be surprised that there was none. 

I will enter this card in:

simonsaysstampblog - make your own background

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

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

http://getcreativechallenges.blogspot.com/ - monochromatic

http://mmmchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ - thank you

Wish you card making full of joy and fun,

Monica 

Smile

Hello sweet bloggers,

Here is another leafy card made today. The leaves were cut from super thick packaging material and as I shared in my last post, I marvel at how I kept running my Cuttlebug over and over again. Lol.

I coloured the kraft side of the packaging with water colours and a plastic bag which I wore on one hand like a glove and put colour on the palm. Water was sprayed on the paint and I went over the packaging sheet with this.  

Green, blue and a fluorescent yellow were used to obtain this result. I learned of this plastic bag technique on Pinterest. A zip lock bag is what was used in the tutorial but I chose to use a humble plastic bag as I did not deem fit to spoil a zip lock bag. I actually wash my zip lock bags and dry them before reusing them. That is how far my love affair with the environment goes. My children laugh at me but it is okay. Lol. Coming back to the card, the die cut black sentiment was also cut from packaging material. I used a square die to cut a window on the top layer. I quite like this simple beauty.

Ellibelle's corner  - summer scenes, treats or colours

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

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

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

See you soon,

Monica 

A very green hello

Hello dear bloggers,

Here is a very green card to show you today. The leaves were die cut using packaging material some of it so thick that I had to go over it a million times in my cuttle bug. To add to that there was lamination on the sheets so it took me even longer. I wish I was as persistent in areas where I need to be. Lol. 

I coloured the paper with water colours and an acetate sheet before die cutting it. I tried to be creative with the photo but I know there is too much empty space on the top. Too late now.

I will participate in the following challenges:

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

http://daisychainchallenge.blogspot.com/ - summer time

http://happylittlestampers.blogspot.com/ - anything goes with dies

https://thehappycraftchallenge.blogspot.com/ - anything goes
http://addictedtostamps-challenge.blogspot.com/ - anything goes

Happy card making,

Monica 

Partly recycled for a man

Hello dear bloggers,

Here is my card to show you that was made a few months ago. I have used a yoghurt lid to die cut the tools and the jagged edged paper is handmade from India and quite shiny in real life. It looks like coal, as my older one remarked. The birthday sentiment is a sticker. I quite like this simple piece of mine. 

I will enter this card in:

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

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

http://dragonflydreamschallenges.blogspot.com/ - man

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

https://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.com/ - man/father

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

Happy card making,

Monica 

For less is More

Hello sweet bloggers,

As some of you may know, I run an initiative on meditation, wellness and all things positive. This month we celebrated three happy years and now the focus is to share this further. 

Coming back to my card, I have used used florist paper to die cut the flower. The inner flower was made many years ago and a tiny gem was put in the centre to complete it. I embossed two nesties together and stuck the flower on it.

I will enter this card in Less is More where the theme is embossing.

Beside Less is More, I will also enter this card in:

https://alphabetchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ - embossing

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

https://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.com/ - anything goes with optional twist - monochrome

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

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

Happy card making,

Monica 

Hello Spring - partly recycled

Hello dear bloggers,

Here is yet another recycled card to show you made with a brochure I found in a hotel as a give away. I have used Vibe II papers under the brochure which I cut carefully to fit on the designer paper. The flowers are handmade using shiny paper. The bead in the centre is actually a natural lentil like nut which grows on a tree. I just love this nut or whatever it is called.

I am also feeling grateful to the school shop at my younger one's school for accepting to sell my cards. I am hoping they do well. The staff at the shop is so kind and I always bless them from the bottom of my heart. 

I will enter this card in the following challenges:

https://creativfusion.blogspot.com/ - Easter/Spring

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

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

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

Happy art and craft,

Monica 

Partly recyled

Hello dear bloggers,

I have great news to share. As I may have mentioned in one of my previous posts, the school shop allowed me to place my cards there and two cards sold. Yes, two and I am very grateful for it. They do take a mark up yet I am happy that I have a platform to sell. I will also find out more about bazaars and take a table there to make my presence felt. Beside, I am thinking of opening a dedicated face book page talking about my recycled as well as other cards. Lots to do and much excitement too.

Back to my card which is partly recycled. I cut out the image from a birthday card that is 20 years old and popped it on foam dots. The flowery strip you see has been cut from the card as well. Under the strip is another nestie that I cut with a paper cutter.  

The crushed pearlised paper below is handmade from India. I stuck it on white card stock covering it totally. I am telling myself to hoard less and use more. This paper has been with me for 15 years and only a card maker would realise what I am talking about. Lol. 

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges:

http://cardz4galz.blogspot.com/ - flora and fauna

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

http://seizethebirthday.blogspot.com/ - birthday plus spring
https://thepapershelter.blogspot.com/ - spring

Happy card making and happy everything,

Monica 

Peacock feather bookmarks

Hello sweet bloggers,

Here are 36 bookmarks I made at the request of my mum who was visiting from India. She wanted to use them as give aways to friends. I have used glossy accents on most of them which I have to add made them look rather nice. The image was stamped first and a metallic gel pen was used to go over it. Glitter glue was used on some of them in the centre of the feather to add dimension. I used glossy accents to seal the metallic gel pens since their shine reduces after a while.

For the base card, I had these rectangular cards lying with me which were the extra trimmings from a larger piece of card stock I had bought in Mumbai some 14 years ago. Talk of hoarding!!! Anyway, my little bit of recycling for the day. The gold ribbon is from my stash. And that is my story. All in all a very lovely experience because I love peacock feathers so.

I will enter my card in the following challenges:

http://welove2create.blogspot.com/ - anything goes

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

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

Happy everything,

Monica 

Hi there

Hello dear bloggers,

Here is my card to show you made with fabric tape and an Alte new rose die cut. I have used handmade papers from India. The paper at the bottom has been upcycled from packaging material. 

I will enter this card in the following challenges:

https://digichoosday.blogspot.com/ - recycle

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

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



Happy crafting,

Monica