I am back!!!

Hello bloggers,

I am back at last from our vacation to a beautiful island in Malaysia called Langkawi. It was fascinating to say the least... 

Below are some pictures which were taken on my phone camera. They are morning and evening shots - I thought for once I did a good job with taking pictures. Lol. 

Hope you enjoyed viewing them... It was heavenly! The sea was calm and so were we!

Off to the playground now otherwise Aleeza will never get off the idiot box. Will come and visit your blogs later tonight.

Hugs,

Monica

Will be back soon!

Hello bloggers,

Thanks so much for the kind comments on my last post...

And a warm welcome to my latest follower - Bhavana. Thanks so much for following my blog.

Just to let you all know that we are on an autumn break and will get back coming Sunday and you will find me coming and visiting. Nonetheless I have carried my craft kit with me and have made some cards as well. They are rather simple and quick cards which I will need for the Christmas Bazaar.

I am taking part in the Zeenya's school Christmas Bazaar as well. No idea what the response will be but I am excitedly getting a range ready. After that there is another Christmas Bazaar that I will participate in, that is if I manage to get a table... I believe it is quite a big thing to be able to grab a table in this Bazaar so am keeping my fingers crossed.

Catch you soon.

Hugs,

Monica

Diwali cards that sold

Hello bloggers,

TGIF!!!

Remember I mentioned that a friend had given me an order for 10 Diwali cards? 

Here are some of them - and I am happy to say that she liked them all.

The papers for these cards are from Terry, thank you so much for them. I use them so sparingly! Hoarding and me are inseparable partners. Lol.

You know what my excuse for not taking better pictures is? That I do not have enough time... And that is quite true apart from the fact that I seriously need to concentrate on this skill.

I hope you like them...

Hugs,

Monica

One more for sale

Hello lovely bloggers,

I hope you are all happy, healthy and enjoying crafting in all it's glory.

It is 9.30 pm as I write this post and I have to say that I had a pretty good day even though the morning started with the telly talking about Steve Jobs. I was a big fan of his and I did have a tear in my eye. 

Anyway on a positive note, started with my Christmas cards - happy about that because I want to make enough to sell at the Bazaar.

I have some good news - met one of my sweet friends in the playground and she said that she would be happy to put up posters for me at the Spanish Embassy. I was almost dancing with delight... how nice is that!

This is a pretty quick and simple card I made a few days ago while I was experimenting with this background stamp. It is a great stamp and I could have done more justice with it. Never mind!

Supplies:

Base cardstock - purple

Back ground stamp - All night media

Butterflies - K and Co

Border punch - MS with purple ribbon underneath

Insert - Turquoise card stock

I am going to enter this for:

http://flutterbywednesdays.blogspot.com/ - butterfly and anything goes

http://atsblog.typepad.com/wednesdayschallenge/ - anything goes

http://mymumscraftshopchallenges.blogspot.com/ - all creatures big and small

Catch you soon.

Hugs,

Monica

Black and white Christmas card - really nice in real life!

Hello bloggers,

Welcome aboard, Tracey... thanks for becoming my latest follower. Yaaaay!!! I have crossed the one hundreth mark - actually I lost some followers when I changed the name of my blog in the very beginning.

Aleeza is on autumn break so she keeps me and the telly real busy. Sometimes she keeps the telly more busy than I. Lol.

I have made this black and white Christmas card with a huge stamp that has been sent to me by a dear, dear blog buddy, Sandra. My picture does not do justice to the card - not one bit.

Supplies:

Base card stock - white

Stamp - from dear Sandra

Sakura silver pen - to touch up the stamp

Glitter glue - for snowflakes and silver embossed paper

Silver embossed paper - at the bottom

Sequins - from stash

Am going to enter this for the following challenges:

http://www.cupcakecraftchallenges.blogspot.com/ - black and white Christmas

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

Hugs and have a nice Wednesday,

Monica

Getting some more cards ready to sell

Hello bloggers,

I was getting cravings to post a card because it is already October the 3rd so here is my card:

Here is a baby card I made a few days ago.

I have used my Spellbinders nestie for the second time and am loving them.

Supplies ( pretty self explanatory):

Base card stock - white

Embossing on card stock - CB
Embossed baby pram - CB

Nesties - Spellbinders (love it to bits)

Ribbon - actually green and matching with the paper but looks blue in the picture!

Gems - Prima (actually got them here at a premium but am sooo chuffed)

Am going to enter this for the following challenges:
http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/ - anything goes

http://www.cardcupids.org/blog/ - make a card and donate it or give it away

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

http://pictureandscrap.blogspot.com/ - embossing and/or distressing


Catch you soon.

Hugs,

Monica

Featured Blogger of the month - Linby

Hello lovely bloggers,

I hope you are having/had a good weekend where ever you are...

It is Monday morning here and it is almost 8 am in the morning. It is a bright sunny day and Aleeza begins her autumn break today. I must, must be very patient with her and try not to neglect her while I make my cards or blog. I will try my best to keep away from my card table and blog so that she is not tempted to watch telly.

I took Aleeza for a Minnie Mouse birthday party on Sunday afternoon and it was lovely. She actually participated in  musical chairs and gave a hand at breaking the pinata. I was in too relaxed and lazy a mood to take pictures.

Now for the featured blogger of the month - it is Lovely Linby  and here is her link:

 http://craftylinby.blogspot.com

Apart from being such a nice follower, she is a great crafter and her interests are macrame, crochet, knitting, dressmaking, quilling, pergamano, fimo, stencilling, card making and scrapbooking. Gosh! How talented is that!!!

Do visit her blog and see the different techniques she tries and the beautiful cards she creates.

Have a nice week ahead. Will come and visit you, Aleeza permitting!

Hugs and many thanks for the loving comments you all leave me,

Monica

I sold this one as well

Hello lovely bloggers,

Welcome to my newest follower - Monica! I was trying to visit her blog but the profile sadly did not show her link.

TGIF!!! Tomorrow I don't have to put contacts into Zeenya's eyes at 6.30 am! Yes, she has started wearing soft lenses at almost 12... I know it is a bit early but she wanted them so bad.

Here is very quick card I made with stuff lying around on my table and it sold - so happy. So far the count is 62 cards and I have to make another ten for a Diwali order for a dear friend.

Supplies:

Base cards stock - red

Punches - MS and Ek Success on maroon coloured cardstock

Flower - made by your's truly with Ek Success scalloped round punch and distressed with Tim Holtz soot black

Hugs and have a nice weekend,

Monica

For Less is More

Hello bloggers,

Thanks for the encouraging words about my last post...

Here is a quick card I made for Less is More.

Actually I had stamped Happy Birthday but the stamp shook and I had to stick this boring Best Wishes embossed sentiment which was lying in my embossed sentiment case.

Supplies:

Base card stock - white

Rounded edges - Ek Success punch

Pale Green nestie - Spellbinders

White embossed cupcake stamp - Cuttlebug

White gems - Prima

Sentiment - Cuttlebug

It looks much nicer in real life... must learn to take better pictures!

Hugs,

Monica

Another one that sold

Hello lovely bloggers,

I sure have been having a busy week... sold 62 cards so far considering it was a bit slow because I did not take up a table in school. Am planning to take up a stall in one of the Christmas bazaars in town. So I better get moving since I don't have many cards ready.

Here is a card that sold off a few weeks ago but I did not post the picture because I thought it was rather simple... 

Supplies:

Base card - off white

Stamp - Hero Arts (I think) touched up with my Sakura gold metallic pen

Distress around the sides - Tim Holtz rusty hinge

Dull gold embossed paper for layering at the bottom - fancy gift wrap

Corners -  from a wall paper sample

Am going to enter this for the following challenges:
http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/ - anything goes
http://www.cardcupids.org/blog/ - fall
http://www.gettingcricky.com/ - fall, autumn
http://www.gingerloftchallenge.blogspot.com/ - vintage, distressed
http://sparklesforumchallenges.blogspot.com/ - something that sparkles

I will surely come and visit your blogs soon.

Hugs,

Monica

Oshibana workshop

Hello sweet bloggers,

Hope that you are having a lovely Saturday. It is almost 9 pm as I write this post and I am ready to go to bed since I had a full day!

I was lucky enough to attend an Oshibana workshop last Tuesday. Oshibana means 'pressed flowers' in Japanese and this class was rather interesting to say the least.

Here is a card I made with the pressed flowers that were supplied to us in a kit.

Below is a book mark.

The workshop was great fun for me and I had a really stimulating morning. Such luxury to find something like this in Jakarta. Indonesia is so very rich in ethnic art and craft but there are not many structured workshops and classes that one could attend.

Will visit your blogs tomorrow...

Hugs,

Monica

Another one for sale...

Hello bloggers,

This is a card I made yesterday with the same teddy stamp that I have used in the previous post. Zeenya asked me why the teapots were there below the teddy. I replied, "because I find the teacup punch so cute  and cute things go well with teddies!"

Supplies:

Base paper - light creamy yellow

Flourish design on paper - Used a mask from Prima and coloured it in with my Plaid chalks

Stamp - Inkadinkadoh stamped with Amercan Craft clay

Border punch - MS (love it!) distressed with old paper and filled in with Sakura gold pen

Distressed inks - Tim Holtz rusty hinge, walnut stain

Teapots - from punch

Sentiment - Penny Black

Am going to enter it for the following challenges:

http://craftingforallseasons.blogspot.com/ - fall

http://digistamps4joy.blogspot.com/ - anything goes

http://www.ibrakeforchallenges.blogspot.com/ - fall

http://morethanfavors.blogspot.com/ - fall

Will come and visit you all later... 

Hugs,

Monica

Partly recycled card

Hello dear bloggers,

Hope you are having a good week...

A warm welcome to my new followers - Jane and Sasha. Delighted to have you on board!

Here is a card I made late last night for a friend who has undergone a surgery.

Supplies:

Base card stock - multishaded mocha

Teddy stamp - Inkadinkadoh, stamped with Amercan Crafts clay and popped up with foam dots

Border punch - MS, distressed with Tim Holtz wild honey

Printed orange patch at the bottom - recycled from a Starbuck take away cup

Orange rose - made by me with coiled paper, distressed with peeled paint

Small flowers -punched from MS border punch

Leaves - punched from leaf punches and distressed with Tim Holtz wild honey and crushed olive

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

http://scrap-creations1.blogspot.com/ - anything goes

http://toptiptuesday.blogspot.com/ - for kids/teenagers

http://tuesdaythrowdown.blogspot.com/ - fall
http://ooh-la-la-creationschallenges.blogspot.com/ - punches and dies
http://incywincydesigns.blogspot.com/ - distressing
http://heartsonginspirations.blogspot.com/ - orange and/or buttons

Will come and do my rounds soon.

Hugs,

Monica

Helen's new Etsy store

Hello bloggers,

You know Helen of  www.helenmade.blogspot.com has opened her new Etsy store with her beautiful handmade crafts.

She is an amazing crafter and makes great paper craft - a visit to her blog will endorse what I am saying.

Do check out her new store if you have a moment:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/HelenCreations

Hugs and have a nice week ahead,

Monica

This one sold as well...

Hello sweet bloggers,

First of all, I am sorry that I have not been around much. We were away at the weekend to a special friend's 40th birthday. It was loads of fun, laughter, champagne and good company all the way!!!

The card that I am posting is the one that was randomly picked up by the same lady who ordered 20 cards. Incidentally, she was kind enough to buy 26 cards in all and was I on cloud nine! So far I have sold 43 cards for Japan red cross...

Supplies:

Base card stock - white distressed with Tim Holtz wild honey and crushed olive

Embossing on card stock - CB

Stamped background - Hero Arts block done with Tim Holtz rusty hinge

Dragonfly - Inkadinkado stamp heat embossed with matt gold 

Distress around dragonfly - crushed olive and rusty hinge

Gold flowers - punched with Carla craft out of a very fancy brochure and that means I recycled!

Brown leaves - embossed and decorated with Sakura gold pen

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

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

http://www.cardcupids.org/blog/ - anything goes

http://corrosivechallengesbyjanet.blogspot.com/ - punches or dies

http://www.unityopportunity-challenge.blogspot.com/ - fall/autumn

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

I will come and do my rounds soon - that is a promise.

Hugs,

Monica

My third set of cards for order

Hello lovely bloggers,

I got 10 cards delivered to the lady who ordered them and I was a bit nervous... but yaaay, she liked them all.

Now here is the next set - hope they are well received, too.

Supplies:

Base cardstock - black with green inner

Orange paper - stamped with Hero Arts block using Tim Holtz distressed peeled paint and forest moss

Green paper with black print - stamped with another Hero Arts block using Tim Holtz soot black and distressed with chalks, peeled paint and forest moss

 Large butterflies - from K and company

Small butterflies - stickers from stash (saving them for the past 12 years!!!)

Border punches - MS

Embossing - dear CB

Ribbon - white and distressed with peeled paint - you are impressed, aren't you??? 

Mosaic (only on one card) - from stash

I am going to enter this for the following challenges:

http://digistamps4joy.blogspot.com/ - fall colours
http://flutterbywednesdays.blogspot.com/ - butterfly
http://www.ibrakeforchallenges.blogspot.com/ - background
http://anythingchallenge.blogspot.com/ - anything goes
http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.com/ - anything with wings


Thanks for all your support - means so much to me and my little blog.

Hugs and off to do my chores before Zeenya sleeps,

Monica

Still making more cards for order

Hello lovely bloggers,

Thanks for the kind comments on my last post.

Here are another five cards I have made for the lady who ordered 20. I just sent her 10 cards this morning. I do hope she likes them. Am on my way to make the rest of the cards now...

Below are some individual pictures of the cards.

Supplies:
 Base card stock - shaded mocha and pale creamy white
Stamp - leafy stamp from Hobby Ideas, India stamped with Amercan crafts clay and filled in with water colour pencils.
Glitter - Uniball copper metallic
Chalks - from stash
Embossing on the side - CB


Am going to enter in the following challenges:

http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/ anything goes
http://mimchallegeblog.blogspot.com/ - monochrome
http://craftingwhenwecanchallenges.blogspot.com/ anything goes
http://thecraftypad.blogspot.com/ - brown, orange, gold


Will come and do my rounds soon - off to pick up lil' Aleeza from school now.


Hugs,


Monica

Yippeeee! Order for 20 cards...

Hi bloggers,

Welcome to Corinna - my newest follower.

Just to give you an update... so far I have sold 17 cards for Japan red cross and I have got a new order for 20 cards.

Down below are the first five cards that I managed to make since yesterday. The lady who ordered them chose the designs  from my blog and did not want any sentiments on the cards. 

Down below are the pictures of the individual cards. 

Supplies: 

Base card stock - different colours

 Background stamp - Hero Arts block with Brilliance pearlised lavender and pearlised blue stamp pads

Small metallic butterfly - from the book store close by

Big metallic butterfly - die cut with Sizzix using kitchen foil (Yaaaay, I recycled!)

Dragonflies - Carla craft punch and glittered with metallic blue and silver Sakura pens

Metallic paper - Paper chase tissue

Ribbon - from stash

Hope you are having a good weekend. I am going to see the movie, "The Tree of Life" this afternoon so I am very excited!

Will come and visit you soon and thanks for your kind comments.

Hugs,

Monica

Getting more cards ready for Japan redcross!

Hello bloggers,

Wowsie! It is Friday again and thank God for that. I have to say this week went so fast.

Here is a card I made while Aleeza tried her best to snatch away my glue, distress inks and sponges. Somehow I managed to keep my cool.

I have followed the sketch by http://mytimemadeeasy.com/blog/ (you can see it down below after my card)
The layout is a tribute to 9/11 and as you can guess it resembles the American flag.

Here is my card - I think it looked better without the touch of bling. I created my own paper - yaaaay! And I distressed it with Tim Holtz old paper - as usual the real colours cannot be seen well.

Supplies:

Base card stock - white distressed with Tim Holtz old paper (I love how it turned out)

Printed paper - Hero Arts design block stamped with Brilliance graphite black

Leafy panels - MS  border punch distressed with Tim Holtz soot black

Heart stamp - from Hobby Ideas, India, stamped in graphite black and distressed with Tim Holtz fired brick

Heart punch on stamp - Carla craft with recylced scrap on table. I used a heart because I feel so deeply about what happened on that horrible day. 

Red colour on the two centre panels - filled in with metallic red Sakura pen (looked much better without it)

Bling and glitter - from stash

Down below is the sketch

I am also going this card in the following challenges as well:

http://jffchallenge.blogspot.com/ - vintage

http://blog.therubbercafe.com/ - no designer paper

http://atsblog.typepad.com - anything goes

Wishing you a relaxed and crafty weekend.

Hugs,

Monica

Distressing printed paper!

Hello bloggers,

First of all, a welcome to my new followers, Marlena Pedussi and Dusty Davi  - it makes me so happy to see my list of followers grow!

I made this card to participate in the challenge hosted by http://diecuttindivas.blogspot.com/ the theme being a sketch. Sorry, am too lazy to copy and paste the sketch.

I have done a lot of distressing here and that kinda of de-stressed me... lol!

Supplies:

Base card stock - red

Black stock - light weight card

Printed paper - new wrapping paper, distressed with Tim Holtz fired brick

Red embossed paper - distressed with Tim Holtz soot black

Sentiment - embossed with CB and distressed with Tim Holtz fired brick

Heart shaped border - MS and distressed as well with fired brick

Black Ribbon - American crafts

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

http://anythingchallenge.blogspot.com/ - vintage/shabby

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

http://thepapershelter.blogspot.com/ - embossing of any kind

Hope you like it...

Hugs,

Monica

Another card today!

Hello bloggers,

Life is good because I am getting to blog to my heart's content... what else does a little blogger like me want!!! Lol.

Here is a card I made yesterday and finished off today. 

Supplies:

Base card stock - light blue and distressed with grape (American craft pigment stamp pad)

White strip - punched with MS border punch and distressed with grape and Tim Holtz broken china
Also coloured in with Sakura metallic purple and silver pen

 Pop up butterfly border at the bottom - with a pop up punch and glittered

Flower - homemade by me using Sizzix flower dies and Carla craft punches - glittered as well

Flower centre - rhinestone from stash

Flourish stamp - Inkadinkado and stamped with Tim Holtz broken china

This is a closeup of the flower - a pretty hopeless picture!!!

Am entering this card for the following challenges:
http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/ - anything goes (my second entry this week)

http://www.craftyourpassionchallenges.blogspot.com/ - flowers

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

http://heart2heartchallenges.blogspot.com/ - fave colour combo

http://heartsonginspirations.blogspot.com/ - distressing and/or use paint

http://incywincydesigns.blogspot.com/ - make your own flower


Thanks for all the inspiration!


Hugs,


Monica

Less is More

Hello bloggers,

Here is a card I made for Less is More - the theme being metal. Getting a decent picture was the hardest thing - to say the least!

Supplies:

Base card stock -  beautiful metallic dark blue (sorry, that it kind of looks deep grey and that makes my heart grey, lol!)

Presents - punched with Jeff  on metallic mauve 

Lilac metallic tissue paper - Paper Chase

Metallic ribbon - Anchor

Rhinestones - from stash

Glitter - purple and silver from stash

I am also going to enter this card in Michelle's MIM - Make it Monday Linky party.

I think this is a rather uncreative card but the card stock looks really nice in real life and that adds some charm to it's otherwise staid look.

Hugs,

Monica

Karin's blog candy

 Hello dear bloggers,

Hope your week has started on a good note...

Karin at "With an i for paper"  is having her 2nd blog anniversary and she will be giving away stuff every week.
Here is what she is giving this week - Spellbinders dies!

Do hop over to her lovely blog and see the finer details of the blog candy. And also see her wonderful cards!


Hugs,

Monica

Partly recycled card

Hello bloggers,

Hope you are having a relaxed and happy weekend... I am getting to craft and blog so am a truly content being!!!

Here is a partly recycled I made with a paper mat with a cane print.

Supplies:

Base card stock - white

Brown faux cane mat effect paper - recycled table mat from a restaurant (I pinched it in the name of Aleeza!)

Designer paper - kind courtesy Terry

Leafy border - MS punch (love my new acquisition to bits)

Black and brown border at the bottom - new gift wrap (I hoard gift wrap and then I complain I don't have enough space in my card room)

Sentiment - Hero Arts on white paper and distressed with Tim Holtz wild honey and crushed olive

Ribbon - originally white but distressed with  Tim Holtz crushed olive 

Beads - from Hobby Craft

Am going to enter this card for the following challenges:

http://challengeupyourlife.blogspot.com/ - for a man

http://sugarcreekhollow.blogspot.com/ - vintage, shabby chic or primitive, trash to vintage

http://suchins.blogspot.com/ - simply sentiment

Have to take Zeenya for a hair trim and I need one as well... but am feeling a bit rough and she is kind enough to understand.

Catch you soon!

Lots of hugs and blog love,

Monica