Second entry for Cas(e) this Sketch

Hello sweet bloggers,

It is a hot, sunny day here on this Saturday morning and I am sure it will rain soon to break the heat.

Here is a another quick card I made for Cas(e) this Sketch.

The image was stamped by Zeenya some two years ago - it is a Hero Arts one and she has used peeled paint distress ink to stamp it. She sponged it with the same ink as well I think. I have also sponged the card base with crushed olive distress ink after embossing it. It kind of looks yellow in the picture but in real life it blends in quite well. Stuck ribbon and hand wrote the sentiment after three lousy attempts.

The card below is the previous one I posted which I thought was rather bare so dressed it up with pink cotton lace to fill up the empty space on the top. 

Wish you a pleasant weekend,

Monica 

For Teacher's Day...

Hello lovely bloggers,

Here is a card I made yesterday as Aleeza's school wanted us to make something for the teacher as an appreciation... The images have been sent to me by my dear blog buddy, Sandra - thanks ever so much

Actually I was going to make this card to sell but thought I would give it to Aleeza's teacher instead. The ribbon looks a bit wonky but in real life it is fine.

Below is a quick poem for Ms Dorothy - the teacher. I used to love writing verses as a child! 

Catch you soon...

Love,

Monica

Autumn leaves

Hello sweet bloggers,

Hope you all are having a relaxed and pleasant weekend...
I have just come returned home from grocery shopping, had my cuppa and Aleeza and I indulged in some fun stamping.

Now to blogging - here is a card that I just stamped randomly with Hero Arts clear stamps. Used distressed ink to stamp the images and coloured them with water colour pencils... Not as good as you do but this is almost my maiden attempt with such kind of stamps. 

The panel at the bottom was embossed and sponged with distressed inks.

The sentiment is handwritten on punched labels propped on foam dots. 

Am going to enter this card for Casual Friday - the theme being Fall.

Catch you later.

Love,

Monica

Butterflies

Hello sweet bloggers,

Hope you all are well and happy where ever you are... 

Here is a card I made a while ago - the base is peach cardstock and the butterflies are from Petaloo. The paisley punch is from Ek Sucess and I have used metallic paper which is not visible in the picture. There is printed paper under the border punch so it looks really nice in real life. The sentiment is handwritten.

Will come and visit you later... thanks for all the blog love you leave me.

Hugs,

Monica

A commissioned card

Hello lovely bloggers,

Hope you are doing well and are enjoying the sunshine...

My mum is over to visit me from New Delhi so there is a nice feeling in the air...She will make some of her famous paisley cards for me for sure... and of course some yummy food as well.

Zeenya got back from her five day school trip and she had a ball... she bonded with her peers did lots of activities one of them being a 12 km walk in the mountains!!! Kayaking was another and batik painting too. 

Here are two cards I made for a lady who wants thank you cards - she can choose the one she fancies.

The blue textured paper is from the book store close by and the creamy paper is from a wall paper role... Funny how different the two cards look even though they have the same paper.

The butterflies are from Petaloo and the label is from Spellbinders. The ribbon is from my stash.

The creamy butterflies have been punched and the tiny pearls on them are from my stash.

What do you think of these cards? Which one do you like?

The sentiment is handwritten the first card and embossed on the second one.

They look nicer in real life  though.

Wish you a happy weekend,

Will come and visit a bit later as am off to eat my lunch.

Hugs,

Monica

This one sold as well

Hello lovely bloggers,

My craft space is looking better and better. All I need to do is to clear out the little bits and pieces scattered around. I feel like just putting them in a box for the time being.

Here is a quick card I made for sale which sold quite quickly...

Supplies:

Base card stock -  metallic white

Printed paper - paper napkin (from Zeenya's friend's birthday party)

Embossing - CB

Sentiment - handwritten

Will come and visit soon.

Lots of warm, sunny wishes for those who live in cold climes,

Monica

Another thank you card!

Hello bloggers,

I just don't seem to stop making thank you cards - for some reason they are a hot favourite!!!

Sorry if I am boring you with the same old sentiment...while you guys inspire me with so much variety.

It was not very easy to make this card... I like to use black only with a few other colours such as red or white. So here I have been a bit adventurous, you know.

Supplies:

Base card stock - black (not high grammage, so used a heavy inner card)

Border punch - MS

Embossing - CB

DP - made by me using  Hero Arts design block ( stamped it on orange printer paper with Tim Holtz peeled paint and distressed it with the same ink to tone down the orange)

Image - glossy sticker stuck on handtorn orange paper (which was distressed as well) and then on to black card stock

Sentiment - handwritten (surprise, surprise) directly on to paper

Card inner - used a pale green (the exact colour cannot be seen in picture)

Am going to enter this card for the following challenges:

http://alotarubberstamps.blogspot.com/ - green, yellow, orange

http://cutecardthursday.blogspot.com/ - use atleast one punch

http://rainbowladyschallengeblog.blogspot.com/ - emboss
http://stlukescharitycardschallenge.blogspot.com/ - card buffet

Hugs,

Monica

My very own designer paper!!!

Hello bloggers,

Saturday is here at last... there is celebration in the air here because Idul Fitri is almost here. 

Happy Idul Fitri to all my friends who celebrate it. May it bring cheer, good health and peace to you and yours.

Here is a card I made last night and it took me forever to match the embellies. Peach is a colour that I don't work much with though I do think it is lovely.

Supplies:

Base cardstock - dual shaded beige

Designer paper - created with Hero Arts designer block, stamped with blush (American Crafts)

Peach paper - from a paper ribbon

Flower - handmade by me on the spot and distressed with clay (American Crafts)

Leaves - from MS border punch (scrap lying on my table)

Pot - die cut from Sizzix using hand made paper, distressed with Tim Holtz old paper

Border punch - MS

Corner punch - Carla craft 

Crushed ribbon  - from my top!!!

Sentiment - handwritten with a slight change in writing

Aren't you impressed with the designer paper?

I am quite pleased with the way this card turned out eventually. Hope you like it as well.


I am going to submit this card for the following challenges:

http://www.sewmanychallenges.com/ - edge punch
http://jellyparkchallenges.blogspot.com/ - punches or die cuts
http://www.phindysplacechallenge.blogspot.com/ - make your own embellishments

Hugs,

Monica

Indian motif

Hello bloggers,

First of all, a warm welcome to my new followers - Romina, Jovi, Deb's creation, Anita, Karuna, Kiddo, Chronically creative and Carolyn - thanks so much for following my blog!

It has been a while since I last posted a card... just been so caught up with life in general.

Here is a card I have made with my Indian motif stencil... 

Supplies:

Cardstock - red

Embossing with Cuttlebug

Image - stencil with Indian motif coloured in with black.

Ribbon - American craft

Flowers - homemade with Sizzix mini diecut, Carla craft and my new stamen punch.

Flower centres - blob of metallic pop up glue

Sentiment - Thanks (handwritten)

Close-up of my homemade flowers

Another variation of the same card - the black and white printed paper is fancy gift wrap.

I am submitting this card for http://cheerfulstamppad.blogspot.com/ - flowers.


Will try and visit later this evening...

Hugs,

Monica

Thank You Cards





Hello bloggers! I have been missing since I have been recovering from house invasion  by house guests and  am in the process of getting my apartment painted... And Aleeza has been behaving rather strangely after we have got back from our vacation... She is so clingy and cranky - hopefully it is a phase. Just that sometimes I am strapped of patience.

Now to this card - Have used white card stock and have stamped it with a Hero Arts Design block in green. Distressed the sides with crushed olive.

 The labels have been cut with my new punches and distressed as well. 

That 'oh so cute' flower with a lady bug on it has been sent to me by dear Sandra.  It is  a wooden embellie and looks really cute, doesn't it? Thanks, dear friend!

  

Another version of the same card on purple card stock which looks  blue! Have used a metallic stamp pad here...The strips of paper at the bottom are metallic  tissue papers which have been hand torn. The ribbon is from my stash. The metallic butterfly is store bought and the sentiment is hand written  - surprise, surprise!

 

This card is so simple and plain but it sold!!! I have gone over the stamp with a purple Sakura pen which made it look quite nice in real life. Have used the same metallic paper and the sentiment is handwritten as you can guess. The metallic flowers and butterflies are from my stash.


Hope you are all well and enjoying summer...

I am trying my best to resume crafting  and blogging full swing.

Hugs and thanks for your never-failing love and encouragement which has added so much sunshine to my life,
Monica

Thank You Card



Hello bloggers,

Hope you are enjoying your weekend wherever you are...It is 9:45 pm here as I write this post.

 I made this card for Zeenya's teacher to thank her for the kindness she had shown in our time of need.

It was rather simple but the embossing (Cuttlebug) looked great on shimmery white paper and I finished it off with ribbon and the three pahua shells from New Zealand (which I have been hoarding for almost 8 years and over!!)

I better leave as I am writing this post from Zeenya's laptop and she wants to chat with her friends...

So bye for now and have a pleasant weekend.

Hugs,
Monica

Sold 84 cards for Japan Red cross so far...

www.

Hello bloggers,


See, I could not resist blogging... so am back! Thanks for your good wishes - my fingers will get better soon, I guess.

This is a card I have made for an order... remember I made the same card in blue a few days ago? The lady who wanted to buy it wanted it in pink - so here it is. Thanks, Sandra for the cute sheep.

The pink background paper with touches of blue is actually wall paper !!! The buttons are from the extras that come  along with clothes and the safety pin has been recycled as well. The grey base under the sheep is a price tag from a garment. The ribbon is from my stash. Aren't you impressed???

I am going to enter this for Monique's weekend linky party at www.naturallymecreations.blogspot.com/

By the way, did anyone see the Royal Wedding? I did and found it so light and relaxing to watch telly for a change... I felt I was transported to another world - sometimes we need these kind of happy distractions, you know. I thought Kate looked really elegant in her wedding gown. I do sooooo hope this marriage stays forever.

Hugs,

Monica

61 cards for Japan Redcross so far...

Hello bloggers,

I hope all is well in your neck of the woods...

Here is a card I finished today...

I have used pearly white cardstock.

The designer paper is hand block printed from India.

The little bit of crushed gold paper is handmade and from India as well.

The sentiment is from a Sizzix embossing folder.

Some of the flowers have been punched and I have stuck sequins on them.

The metallic daisies are actually confetti from Paper Chase. I just shaped each daisy with the end of a satay stick.

This card looks far prettier in real life... that is sadly often the case with me. 

Anyway I do hope you like it.

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


http://creativecraftchallenges.blogspot.com/ embossing
http://karensdoodlesnetherlandschallenge.blogspot.com/ - punches
http://ladybugscraftsinkchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ - anything goes
http://babybuddesigns.blogspot.com/ - flowers
http://naturallymecreations.blogspot.com/ - anything goes

Happy crafting and many thanks for all the lovely comments you all leave me. It is such a source of joy and inspiration...

Hugs,

Monica

Thank You Card

Hello bloggers,

It is a nice Tuesday morning as I write this post to you all and the time here is 11 am.

This is an aperture card and it went haywire because I did not use my newly acquired Ek Success punch properly. So from a square this is what it finally came to be - a rectangle which is just as well because the sheep fits in well.

This cute sheep came in the adorable treasure box from dear Sandra.

The paper is actually new gift wrap that I bought for it's crackled appearance.

The ribbons are from my stash. The safety pin is from a garment tag while the buttons are the extras that come along with shirts and stuff like that.

The sentiment is handwritten - isn't it cool??? Thank you from the 'baatom' of my heart! I promise I did not copy that from anywhere - it is my creation!

I am going to enter this in the following:

http://bunnyzoescrafts.blogspot.com/ - one for the boys
http://mygraficocrafts.blogspot.com/ - anything goes
http://card-ideas.blogspot.com - for guys
http://littleclairesdesigns.blogspot.com/ - animals

Hugs and happy crafting,

Monica

Thank you card for a special friend

Hello bloggers,

I am back again with a card that I made two weeks ago... 

I used these multi stamps from Prima  - clear stamps that I placed randomly on a big block and stamped it with black pigment ink. 

I have been seeing a lot of black and white cards and it was finally Lynn of  http://creativecraftsbylynn.blogspot.com/ whose card inspired me to get down to making one. 

The sentiment is handwritten (thanks to the encouragement I have received from all of you, I seem to be getting more confident with writing my sentiments) and the ribbons are from my stash. The faux gem flowers are  from Paper Mania.

I have snail mailed this card for a very special blogging buddy (sorry, cannot disclose the name as it meant to be a surprise)... pity it has still not reached her. It is going to be two weeks tomorrow since I mailed it. Sob, sob! Hopefully one day, it will arrive at it's destination.

Hope you like it. 

Hugs and thanks for viewing,

Monica

I am back

Hello everybody, 

I am back with my family to Indonesia at last. Thank you ever so much for all your kind wishes - DH is surely on the mend.

These are quick cards I made before I left for Singapore. 

The rose on the card above has been made by me from handmade paper from India in vintage gold. 

The scroll stamp is from Prima which was stamped with clay coloured stamp pad.

 I went over the squiggly designs with my metallic gold Sakura pen. 

I am getting a bit bored of the same layout I have been doing for weeks. I think I should consider taking part in challenges which will stimulate me to be more creative in my layouts.

The stamp on the card above is from an art and craft store called Hobby Ideas in India - this is a craft store which is fairly similar to Hobby Craft in the UK. I have to say that I do miss it because there is no such place like this in Jakarta. You would be amazed if I tell you that I paid a pittance for a set of such stamps in India while in Jakarta, I have to fork out crazy money for such stuff - something like five times the actual price of the stamp. Even Singapore is pretty expensive but still cheaper than Jakarta. Okay, that was enough rambling about the pricing bulletin of stamps.
I have used clay coloured stamp pad again with a Darwent water colour pencil in dark brown on top and went over it all with a metallic copper Sakura pen to make it more interesting.
The long patch of mocha you see behind the stamp is actually an earthy chalk from Plaid.
The sentiment is handwritten.

This is a variation of the second card except  card except that I have used  just the clay coloured stamping pad and I went over it with my metallic gold Sakura pen. 

The ribbon is an addition and so is the twine ribbon which I bought from Hobby Craft in the UK some ten years ago.

 By now you would have guessed that I am a compulsive hoarder.... Lol!!! I tried my best not to expose this bit of my personality to my husband but sadly I have been caught out. And that is disastrous for me, you know. Lol again!

I am trying to build up a sizeable collection to sell for Japan and send the money to Japan Redcross.


I am going to enter the first card for Monique's linky party at www.naturallymecreations.blogspot.com

Now that I am back to full swing blogging, I promise I will come and visit your wonderful blogs.

Hugs until then and do stay well,

Monica

Thank you cards for Aleeza's birthday

Hello bloggers,

Thanks for your lovely comments on my last post...

Here are two simple thank you cards I made for Aleeza's play mates in nursery with paper lying around on my table.

I did not have the motivation to look for more paper lest I increase the mess on my slightly clean table... I got some inspiration from my dear friend, Sandra to clean my table so I went for it...

Now I know how Sandra makes breathtakingly beautiful cards with such detail and patience - because her uncluttered table helps her think clearly alongwith her brilliant creative instincts of course.

If you want to prove me right, just make a short trip to her wonderful blog and seeing is believing, right?


The first of the two cards is for a girl and the second is for a boy... they should have had a childlike appeal but it seems that I am trying to impress the mothers more than their kids.

I am going to enter them for the following challenges:

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

http://paper-craftingjourney.blogspot.com/ - anything goes

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

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


Happy crafting with lots of love,

Monica