The tag here is from the bark of a tree

Hello sweet bloggers,

Gosh, life has been busy. I went to do a training course for children which was fairly enjoyable and I met nice people there as well. Apart from that, it has been home and children and card making OFCOURSE. How lucky we are to have a passion and get such happiness out of it. 

Here is my card to show you today which fits in the challenge over at CAS(E) this Sketch this week and for Virginia's View challenge which is all things metallic. 

The gold border stickers were sent by Merry to me and the tag has actually been die cut from a bark of a tree and I have gone over the edges with a metallic Sakura pen in copper. Now, how creative and eco-friendly is that. The key charm is from my stash and the sentiment is a wooden one stamped with a metallic Brilliance. I am unable to recall the name of the stamp, though.

I have been missing the land of blogging so yet could do little about it. I hope you all have been well and healthy. Will make my rounds soon.

Lots of love and thank you for not giving up on me,

Monica

Happy Halloween

Hello sweet peeps,

Happy Halloween to all those who celebrate it. What a fun day we had in school this morning with the entire school celebrating in all it's glory. I will post pictures another time as I am yet to load them on the computer.

We were away to Hong Kong as we wanted to take Aleeza to Disney World - she is going to be seven next year so we thought let her enjoy these fun places. It was a wonderful experience and since it was fall, it was nice and cool. Singapore is hot and humid all year long so it was a luxury for us to be in pleasant clime.  Zeenya also met up with a friend of hers from her previous school so it was a win-win for everyone.

Here is a card I have made with handmade paper from India. The chipboard images are from my stash as is the sentiment. The blue glitter pop up dots are fabric glue from India. I love their texture.

Happy weekend,

Monica

My new border punch

Hello sweet bloggers,

Yesterday we went to watch a film called, "The Rewrite" which was quite a nice one with dry humour here and there. Hugh Grant was really good. What luxury to enjoy a good film and have a laugh too. And Singapore is more prone to getting English films unlike Jakarta so that is indeed something to be grateful for.

Here is a card to show you made in my new apartment with my new border punch. The sentiment is store made and the black and white chevrons are a ribbon and the bottom is washi tape. 

 I will enter my card in the following challenge:

http://craftingattheweekend.blogspot.co.uk/ - anything goes

Wish you a happy Sunday,

Monica 

Hello there!

 Hello sweet peeps,

Thank you for not giving up on me even though I have not been regular with my visits and comments. Here is my card for you today made in my new home. Yes, I actually could manage to make a card and how wonderful is that. That must mean I am getting back to me. Lol.

I will enter this card in the following challenges:
http://partytimetuesdays.blogspot.ca/ - anything goes
http://www.ttcrd.blogspot.sg/ - always anything goes

Hoping to come and see you soon.

Lots of love,

Monica 

Lady bugs

Hello sweet bloggers, 

That was a big break of 10 days there. Life is just keeping me so busy and vital issues like school are taking much of my time.

Over the weekend, we took Aleeza to a Hairy Maclary Show and was she happy to see it. She wished it would go on for 'four hours'. Even though it was a bit babyish, she loved it. It is such a blessing to have an almost 15 year old along with an almost seven year old. Oh how nice to have an innocent view of life. She finds happiness in the smallest of things and it makes me marvel at the psyche of a child.

Here is my card to show you today which was made while we were in our temporary accomodation. The stamp is a tiny one and I made a border out of it. I have coloured in the stamp with Aleeza's Faber Castell's and the fabric tape is from Indonesia. The sentiment is store made while the black and while check paper under the sentiment is part of the packaging from the fabric tape. The very tiny button is from my stash.

I would be happy with lots of good energy coming my way.

Happy day,

Monica 

Happy Birthday to Mahatma Gandhi

Hello sweet bloggers,

Today is Gandhi's birthday - yes, the famous Mahatma Gandhi who believed in non-violence. How I wish he could bring peace to this troubled world of today.

Meanwhile on a smaller note, here is my card which brought me lots of peace while I made it. The background is a stencil which has been sponged in with distress ink and a butterfly added to give company to the bamboos.

Here is Aleeza's version

Here is my little artist assembling a decopaged image with my help. The joy she derived from this activity was beyond words. Thank you, dear Sandra for sending these images to us. 

Down below is the final result  which looks far more three dimensional in real life

Thank God tomorrow is Friday,

Monica 

Hello

Hello sweet peeps,

Here is the second card I made since I moved into our apartment. I will show you the first one later. It has no printing on it - all store bought embellies yet it looks nice, doesn't it? It could be ideal for a man - less is more for them. Lol.

I will enter this card for the challenge at LIM which is mostly words - well, it kind of qualifies or so I think>

I wish you a great Tuesday and thank you for not giving up on me,

Monica 

Hello from me!

Hello sweet bloggers,

Gosh, life has been so hectic of late. We had my hubby's nephew and girlfriend visit us from the UK and then we took off to Jakarta for two days to see our friends. It was lovely to go back and meet everyone, even though it was a wee bit early to do that. Nonetheless it was worth every minute!!!

Here is a card that I made while we were househunting. I have used recycled black card to die cut the birds and have layered them with a shiny paper at the bottom for added dimension. The sentiment is handmade. 

Wish you a happy day,

Monica 

Art work by Aleeza and a very dear friend

Hello sweet bloggers,

Gosh, I have been missing so much haven't I? Just settling in and getting used to life here and having house guests seems to be taking all of me. It is barely a month since we moved here but it seems longer for some reason.

Here is something to share and it is not a card... It is Aleeza's art work created in her art class. I loved it and am sure you will do. It reminds me of juicy watermelons. Lol. What does it remind you of?

Here is Aleeza (on the right) with her new friend Tatiana in her PE uniform. Yes, we are adapting to a "uniform" culture here. Lol.

More friends of Aleeza

This painting was made by a dear friend many years ago, maybe seven years ago. Isn't it so very vibrant?

I promise to come and visit soon. Pardon my tardiness.

Lots of love,

Monica 

Hello there!!!

Hello sweet bloggers,

Yes, I found some "me" time to blog and here I am with a simple but pretty card. I bought this embossing folder with much excitment two years ago and this is the very first time that I have used it. 

I will enter this card in the following challenges:

http://pictureandscrap.blogspot.sg/ - make what you want

http://cardsgalorechallenges.blogspot.co.uk/ - make a card

Wish you a happy and healthy Wednesday,

Monica

I have been missing blogging so much!!!

Hello sweet bloggers,

I have been so busy ever since we moved into our own home on the 16th. The girls started their school on the 18th and we are trying our to make our new apartment look like our home. The art room is the last to receive my attention as there is so much to do even though we have come a long way.

Here is a card I made with a recycled image from a brochure. Zeenya was mighty disappointed with my attempt at recycling but I do like what I did even though it was not much.

I promise to come and visit your blogs as soon as my life looks a bit normal. As of now, I am obsessed with hanging pictures, sorting out book cases, arranging cupboards and more.

Have a lovely Thursday,

Monica 

Cute froggie

Hello sweet bloggers,

The innocent teachers from my children's ex-school in Jakarta are still in detention but there are two petitions that have been getting substantial support and the media in Canada has done many stories on this unfortunate case. So we are hoping for justice to prevail... And what touches me most is the bravery and the stoic approach of these two teachers. The school community is sending them three meals a day and ensuring they are well in which ever way they can. What amazes me is their positive and humorous attitude.

Now to my card made with my new striped paper, polka dotted ribbon and froggie stamp bought from a book shop here. The ribbon is store made but the sentiment is not - it is handwritten. I like this happy-chappy's smile and that is what attracted to him.

The card below is made by Aleeza. I helped her die cut the sentiment and the cupcake and she coloured them herself. I love the vibrant colours she has used.

I will enter my card in the following challenges:

http://www.lovesrubberstampschallenges.com/ - stripes

http://fattastictuesday.blogspot.sg/ - anything goes

http://www.craftysentiments.blogspot.sg/ - add a sentiment

Wish you a happy Wednesday,

Monica

All Pink

Hello sweet bloggers,

I hope you are having a good weekend and doing what you love and in case you are not, may you soon do that.

Here is a card for CAS(E) this Sketch this week where the challenge is to have something to do with  a tag. Here is my pinky, pink card to show you made with my new banner die cut and new sentiment from Pebbles and the image is a free one from a card making magazine from the UK. The washi tape and gems are from my stash. I can see that the ribbon on the tag needs to be trimmed off a wee bit but I was too eager to post this card so apologies and the photograph could have had a better background.

I will also enter this card in:

http://crazy4challenges.blogspot.sg/ - bunting or banners

http://time4scrap.blogspot.fr/ - anything goes with an optional theme animals

I wish you a happy day,

Monica

Partially recycled

Hello sweet bloggers,

Here is a card made with my new Hello and music notes die cuts. The sentiment and music notes have been recycled from the backing material of an embossing folder and the doily has been recycled as well (from a saucer in a coffee shop to be precise -lol). I ran the Hello sentiment in my CB to give it added texture. The butterflies are stickers from my stash. 

I will enter this card in the following challenges:
http://divasbydesignchallenge.blogspot.sg/ - anything goes
http://thepapershelter.blogspot.com.ar/ - anything goes

Wish you a pleasant day,

Monica

Hello there!

Hello sweet bloggers,

Thanks for the kind words of support you all expressed in my last post. I am hoping and praying that wisdom will prevail and the wrong doers will naturally own up to help save the innocent teachers who have been illegally arrested.

This card has been made from an image that I found on a brochure and felt it was just too beautiful to be trashed. So here is the simple beauty I created which gave me much joy.

As you know, we have moved to Singapore, so am contemplating which charity to donate my cards too. In Jakarta, I was supporting five primary schoolers with the sale proceeds of my cards. 

As of now I just may send these cards to the wives of the two teachers who are in prison with the hope that they will need cards very soon to send as thank yous when their dear husbands are released from prison.

I will enter this card in the following challenge:

http://thatcraftplaceblog.blogspot.co.uk/ - anything goes

http://chocolatecoffeecards.blogspot.sg/ - polka dots

Wish you a happy day,

Monica

Yellow tulips

Hello sweet peeps,

Hope all of you are well and if you are not, I send you healing wishes.

I am sad to state that two innocent teachers from my childrens' previous school in Indonesia have been arrested since the last eleven days as a group of mums have decided to accuse them falsely on charges of fabricated child abuse.

Mothers who support the school and these innocent teachers have started a petition to help them get released. An old student of one of these teachers has started a facebook page which has gathered great support for them. The Canadian press has also done stories on these two innocent men and we hope truth, wisdom and justice will prevail. 

I am doing my best in which ever way I cant to support the school and that takes a lot of my time apart from house hunting and tying together bits and pieces to get the new school admissions in place.

Now to my sweet and simple card... All store bought items and quick assembly here. 

I will enter this card in the following challenges:

http://crafterscafeblogchallenge.blogspot.sg/ - anything goes

http://thepapershelter.blogspot.sg/- anything goes

Wish you a day full of smiles,

Monica 

Cute teddy bear

Hello sweet bloggers,

Here is a card to show which has been made with a clear stamp sent by dear Sandra a while ago. I love it and think it is rather cute. And I must give a pat to myself as I have done a good job colouring it using my Prisma pencils. The printed paper was sent to me by Terry and the felt ribbon is what I picked up from Jakarta before leaving. The little blue ribbon is what Lynn sent me some years ago. Thank you, lovely ladies.

I am going to enter my card in the following challenge:

http://www.addictedtostamps-challenge.blogspot.com.au/ - anything goes

http://digistamps4joy-sa.blogspot.sg/ - for the boys

Happy Thursday,

Monica 

I love making thank you cards!

Hello sweet bloggers,

Here is a thank you card to show you today made with what Sandra sent me in the post some time ago. The sentiment and the butterflies came from her. I have die cut the banners from my new banner dies. Thank you, Sandra.

I will enter this card in the following challenges:

http://craftingattheweekend.blogspot.co.uk/- anything goes

http://pumpkinspiceblog.blogspot.co.uk/ - anything goes

Wish you a pleasant Sunday,

Monica 

Thank you, dear Sue

Hello bloggers,

Thank you, dear Sue, for sending me this cute heart embellishment which I have put on this card. It is so full of sweet details that I think it sufficed rather well and the ribbon and sentiment (also ribbon) were just right for it.

I will enter this pinky pink card in the following challenges:

http://crafting-with-dragonflies.blogspot.sg/ - anything goes

http://4kraftygirlzchallenges.blogspot.co.uk/ - anything goes

And thank God it is Friday,

Monica 

Turquoise

Hello sweet bloggers,

Here is my card to show you for today made with my new Spellbinder dies. I have coloured them with my Prismas. I simply adore peacock feathers and could not resist buying this die set.

I will enter this card in the following challenges:

http://www.kis-challenge.blogspot.ca/ - turquoise

http://www.craftforthecraic.blogspot.ie/ - your fave colours

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

Still trying to figure out a way to enter blogs and comment.

Catch you later,

Monica 

Hello Sunday

Hello sweet bloggers,

Here is a card to show you today with embossing and a die cut sentiment and a pretty butterfly from my stash.

Down below are pictures of the birdpark that we visited a couple of days ago.

I will enter my card in the following challenges:

http://sisteractcardchallenge.blogspot.sg/ - anything goes

http://qkrstampede.blogspot.co.uk/ - bugs

http://artbymiranchallenge.blogspot.ca/ - anything goes

Wish you a happy day,

Monica

From sunny Singapore and cloudy too

Hello sweet bloggers,

Here is a quick card I put together from our temporary home in Singapore. We are soon going to move into our own apartment and cannot wait to get settled.

The sentiment has been neatly cut from gift wrap that I bought at Arthur Dailey's in Melbourne while we were there last year. The 3D stickers are from the scrap booking store in Jakarta and the transparent dots, well, let me see if you can guess what they are? Okay, you give up? Let me tell you what they are: blobs of glossy accent and believe me when I say they feel so nice to touch. Nice texture!!!

Butterflies are my lucky symbol and I saw the same butterfly on three different occasions so had to share the pictures. Wonder what the angels are trying to say to me :-)

I will enter this card in:

http://www.southerngirlschallenge.blogspot.sg/ - round and round

http://scrapbookerphd.blogspot.sg/ - add texture

http://asyoulikeitchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/ - do your prefer images of animals or people?

(We had two dogs when we were kids and I learned much from them - how loving and kind they are)

Love from your frugal but stylish crafter (lol),

Monica 

We have just moved

Hello sweet peeps,

Lots has happened since I posted last... we have moved countries and we are now in Singapore which is actually just an hour's flight from Indonesia. We are yet to settle into our new home however I thought I must do post inorder to keep my sanity about me, lol. 

This card down below was made during the time we were packing away. The leaf has been die cut from the lid of a cheese balls container. I thought running it through my CB would give it a nice texture. Scoring and the crystal complete the picture.

I will enter this card in the following challenges:

http://miriamscraftingblog.com/ - metal

http://thesisterhoodofcrafters.blogspot.sg/ - monochromatic

Will come and visit soon,

Monica 

All shades of green and a wee bit of blue

Hello dear bloggers,

Thank you for the comments on my previous post. I still am not able to post comments on your blog posts hence the silence. Ofcourse life is still too hectic and that is another reason for the lack of visits.

Here is a card I put together with feathers (which have been recycled from a head dress that Aleeza wore for her UN Day school celebration). The die cut leaf is a piece of tissue that Aleeza coloured with inks in school. It was the exact size of the leaf - not less or more. The ribbon was not considered to be of much charm by my older one but that is all I had and frankly, I do like how it matches with the polkas in one of the feathers.

Down below is a card that my mum made for me. She is a paisley specialist and draws free hand on all her cards. She has used Sakura gel pens to colour it and it looks really pretty in real life. Mum left last Sunday and we are sure missing her but our coming move is keeping us busy.

I will enter my card in the following challenges:

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

http://craft-deebowz.blogspot.com/ - anything with a bow

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

Wish you a pleasant Tuesday,

Monica

Enjoy the little things...

Hello sweet bloggers,

For some reason, blogger is not letting me comment on other blogs. I wonder if anyone else is facing that issue as well. This has been happening since a month and over now. 

Life is rather hectic to say the least, however here is a card to show you. The round frame stamp is from Hot off the Press and the sentiment, phew, cannot recall it. It is a wooden stamp though. The butterflies are from my stash and the tiny circular blingy thingies were picked up at the The Range last summer.

I will enter my card in:
http://casethissketch.blogspot.com/ - sketch
http://sisteractcardchallenge.blogspot.com/ - anything goes
http://stampinfortheweekend.blogspot.com/ - anything goes

Wish you a pleasant weekend,

Monica 

Birthday Card

Hello sweet peeps,

Here is a card to show you which has been made primarily with washi tape and fancy gift wrap. The butterflies have been glittered to make it look glam and the sentiment stamp is from Hero Arts.

Wish you a happy Monday,

Monica 

Hello there!

Hello sweet bloggers,

Here is another card to show you today. It is from one of those peel offs that Lynn sent me. Thank you, Lynn. I had to add those pearls to camoflauge some stains and do realize that the pink pearls could have been avoided. Anyway, Aleeza approves of my card so I am happy. Lol.

Down below is a picture of paprikas that we grew in a pot. If you look hard enough you will spot them. All we did was sprinkle paprika seeds and they grew so very easily and so did our spirits. I understand that the picture could be better.

I wish you a happy Thursday,

Monica 

Flourescent card

Hello sweet bloggers,

A bright, happy and fun card to show you today with diecuts! 

A short post today as I have to take Aleeza to the doctor to get her pink eye treated.

Wish you a lovely week ahead,

Monica 

Black and White

Hello bloggers,

Here is a quick card to show you made with a background stamp by Penny Black which was bought . This is frugal crafting for sure but the card looks lovely in real life. Ribbon and a few pearls and it was all done.

There is a lot going on here which I will share in a few days.

Till then, enjoy my card and accept my apologies for not being regular with blogging.

Wish you a very happy weekend,

Monica 

Blue is the colour

Hello sweet bloggers,

Here is a card to show you made from a stencilled image which has been sponged in with TH distressed ink and has been glittered following which I added a little centre on each flower with stickles. I finished it off with glossy accents and it looks really pretty in real life. The bow had to be added to cover a faux pas.

Below is a picture of our Mother's Day lunch celebration at an Indian restuarant. My mum is visiting for a few days...

Wish you a happy day,

Monica 

What, wine again?

Hello kind people,

Here is a card from me made in a jiffy but looks nice, doesn't it? The first picture has been taken without a flash and the second one is with a flash. Since colouring is something I am still getting better at, I thought of using my Sakura silver gel pen. The image is from Hero Arts and  the sentiment stamp was bought at The Range in the UK this summer ( apologies that I am unable to recall the name). 

Wish you a happy and healthy week ahead,

Monica 

Hello, I am back

Hello sweet peeps,

Life got in the way again but here I am again with a simple beauty made with the stuff lying around on my table. The image is a rub on sent by Lynn and the ribbon and sequins are from my stash. I have used sparkly stickles for added interest and you can see them on this lovely creature too. The white nestie was sent to me by Shirley-Anne. Thank you for your kindness in every which way.

Will try and catch up later,

Monica 

Coffee anyone?

Hello sweet peeps,

Here is a card to show you today with a clear stamp from Kaiser Craft which I did touch up with my Prisma pencils. It could have been given livlier treatment considering all those ribbons and the coffee beans. But Zeenya liked it so I am pleased.

Wish you a happy Tuesday,

Monica