I coloured the background here

Hello sweet peeps,

Here is a card that I wanted to post yesterday and could not find it in my iphotos. Well today, I did manage to. It is a new embossing folder (bought a few months ago) and I cannot remember the name. I sponged the flat side of the embossing folder with a Versamark stamp and see the result. I LOVE it because I am a big fan of cherry blossoms above everything else. 

At the bottom, the colouring went a bit fuzzy as it was my first effort at this. There is a way to close the embossing folder which I will master with practice. I saw this technique on Pinterest and fell for it. I have tried using distress ink stamp pads but the result is not as brilliant as this. 

The crochet ribbon tape is from my stash and the MS butterflies have been layered for more dimension. I went sentiment free to aid the sale of this card. A part of me wants to keep this card for life, though.

I will enter this card in the following challenges:

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

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

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

Happy crafting,

Monica 

Upcycled

Hello sweet peeps,

I am here again with another card which in my words is a simple and sweet beauty made with tissue box packaging. The diecut was done with the same paper and so was the heart.

I embossed the packaging to add more interest to it and slapped it on cardstock. That was pretty much it, really. It took me some time to cut through the thick paper though and I had to use the Sizzix machine two to three times back and forth to ensure success. And the embossing of course was done with my famous Cuttlebug.

I will enter this in the following challenges:

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

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

http://emeraldfaeries.blogspot.sg/ - anything goes
http://cuttlebugmania.blogspot.sg/ - anything goes

Happy Monday,

Monica 

Baby girl card

Hello dear bloggers,

Here is a baby girl card to show you today which I coloured in with Faber Castell pencils. The ribbon and stash is from my stash and the bow on the baby elephant is a punched one.

I will enter this card in the following challenges:

http://littlemissmuffetchallenges.blogspot.sg/ - anything goes
http://craftingwithanattitude.blogspot.sg/ - anything goes
http://audsentimentschallengeblog.blogspot.sg/ - anything goes
http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.sg/ - new beginnings

Happy crafting,

Monica 

Second entry for Casual Friday

Hello sweet bloggers,

While I was making the previous card, I went ahead to make this one as well since I had the background paper (hand drawn lines). The starts were die cut from packaging material and my younger one Aleeza coloured them with a cherry cobbler kind of red pen. I quite like the raindrop effect on them so I decided to put them on a card. The sentiment as you may have guessed is handwritten and two of the stars have been stuck with foam dots. I will enter this card in Casual Friday where they have a challenge with black, white and a pop of colour. 

Happy blogging,

Monica 

For Casual Friday

Hello sweet bloggers,

Here is my card to show you today. For the stripes, all I did was run a thick calligraphy marker in black and red on a piece of cardstock and I stuck it over black paper. For the thinner lines, I used the thin side of the marker. The red beetles came from Sandra, my dear blog friend who has not been blogging for a while now and I miss her. To add to that, many of my blog friends have been quiet so I am kind of missing them. I will enter this card in Casual Friday where the challenge is black, white and a pop of colour.

I will also enter this card in the following challenges:

http://cagichallenge.blogspot.sg/ - black, white and one more colour

http://scrappers-delights-challenge-blog.blogspot.sg/ - anything goes

http://mytimetocraftchallenge.blogspot.sg/ - anything that flies

Happy crafting,

Monica 

Cling stamp

Hello dear peeps,

Here is my card to show you which I made with a cling stamp (Penny Black or Hero) and I used old paper distressed ink to stamp and Derwent water colour pencils to colour and my new aqua brush. The matching embroidery yarn is from my stash while the button came from Skye in Australia. The green water colour effect at the bottom of the image was done with Derwent water colour pencils as well. 

I will enter this card in the following challenges:

http://craftysentiments.blogspot.sg/  

http://lemonshortbreadchallenge.blogspot.sg/ 

http://ttcrd.blogspot.sg/ 

Wish you happy crafting,

Monica 

Yaay, I made the background on this card

Hello lovely peeps,

Here is my card to show you on this lovely Sunday morning. The mauve or lilac background was created by yours truly while playing with liquid chalks. And did it give me a time and a half because when it dried up, it was all powdery and flying everywhere. Since I did not have a medium to fix chalks, I took a paper tissue and rubbed it off and after about three attempts this is what I arrived at. I used purple, hot pink and blue liquid chalks (sprayed water over them) and somehow purple seemed to dominate, gently though. A wee bit of embossing and layered butterflies (the bigger one) and organza ribbon with white butterflies on it completed the card. I popped up the rectangular paper on foam dots and it looks quite elegant. No sentiment here as it would help sell it quicker. Yes, the doily was lying around on my table and I felt it would enhance the softness of the card. I promise the butterfly is blue but here it seems to look different. Why or why do cameras have a mind of their own?

I will enter this card in the following challenges:
http://creativeartistemixedmedia.blogspot.sg/ - anything goes
http://mytimetocraftchallenge.blogspot.sg/ - embossing heat or dry
http://craftyfriendschallengeblog.blogspot.sg/ - anything goes
http://scrappers-delights-challenge-blog.blogspot.sg/ - anything goes

http://thesisterhoodofcrafters.blogspot.sg/ - close to nature
http://casmixup.blogspot.sg/ - spray 

Happy crafting,

Monica

Cute Panda

Hello sweet peeps,

So today was the day - summer holidays done and school begun. I had mixed feelings to see a 16 year old and an eight year old go back to school. The 16 year old is far too independent to be missed as she was busy this summer working and also travelling out of Singapore to do a photography course. I was a tad sentimental to see my eight year old whom I am clutching on to yet the day worked well for me. So here I am blogging without any distraction. 

I looked at the sketch over at CAS(E) this Sketch and found that my card below kind of fits the bill. Or so I think. Lol. The paper on this card came from a very special lady who lives in our complex and the image is actually from a diary cover which I have embossed and layered. The border punch was used to make it look leafy. The silver border is a sticky ribbon tape and oh what fun to have things to stick directly without applying glue. The hello as you may guess is recycled from cosmetic packaging.

I will enter this card in:

http://casethissketch.blogspot.sg/

http://cagichallenge.blogspot.sg/ - punches and dies 

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

Happy crafting,

Monica

Happy Birthday Card

Hello bloggers,

Here is my card to show you today where I have used a Penny Black stamp (I think) and coloured it in with my Prismas. As you may notice, I did try and create some background colour there with my water colour pencils and a wet brush. The designer paper came from Terry and I have used to a border punch and the blue dots are actually fabric glue. 

I will participate in the following challenges:

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

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

http://crafty-girls-creations.blogspot.sg/ - anything goes

http://seizethebirthday.blogspot.sg/ - anything goes with birthday

Happy crafting,

Monica 

Happy crafting,

Monica 

Another Hello Card

Hello dear peeps,

Here is my card to show you, the background of which has been stamped with pearlescent Versamark. It is a pretty Itty Bitty stamp I have used from Unity. The round foil has been die cut from a yogurt lid while the hello sentiment has been die cut from a cosmetic carton. In real life, the pearlescent ink looks quite pretty. The polka dotted ribbon is from American Craft.

I will enter this card in the following challenges:

http://cardsinenvy.blogspot.sg/ - with wings

http://craftybootschallenges.blogspot.sg/ - must use a stamp

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

Happy crafting,

Monica 

A Rakhi card

Hello sweet bloggers,

Here is a card to show you which I made with very fancy designer paper that Terry sent me some years ago. Rakhi as I may have mentioned in an earlier blog post is a Indian festival that is celebrated by sisters in honour of their brother/s. The sister puts on a band on the wrist of the brother (similar to a friendship band) and prays for good health and wealth of her brother. The brother in return hands over a cash gift to his sister and promises to take care of his sister.

My card was a quickie except that the die cut letters took me a while to stick as I thought of giving a shadow effect with gold layering. I think I need to invest in a very fine tipped glue to help me stick tiny bits together. I have used gold tape across the paper and a die cut flourish to enhance the card. MS border punch helped too and I think I may have used the punch upside down. Still looks nice, though.

I will participate in the following challenges:

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

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

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

Happy crafting,

Monica 

Hello

Hello dear bloggers,

Here is a quick card I made while trying to achieve results with double embossing folders. Ihave been noticing in blogland, crafters trying all kinds of techniques so I tried my hand at something new for me. Unfortunately what I did was to snap my C plate (Cuttlebug) into two and that is it. I did manage to tape it up for the time being. Back to my card - I used two colours to sponge the embossed paper instead of two embossing folders, lol, which did not happen.

 My new Washi tape helped make the felt butterflies from my stash look more elegant. The sentiment is handwritten with a thin tipped Staedler marker and the nesties have been sponged too. I have no idea why I chose such a very bright background with bougainvilleas. Maybe I wanted to show the plant and how colourfully it is blooming. Lol.

I will enter this card in the following challenges:

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

http://cardsinenvy.blogspot.sg/ - flat card with wings

Happy everything,

Monica 

My new thinlets

Hello sweet peeps,

I bought these thinlets some three months ago and did die cut them right away and found there was not much I could do with them. Sometimes, things look so good at the store and when you bring them home and try them out, hmmmm, the whole story changes. I got them with much excitement as roses are my fave flowers yet the results are different from what I expected. I have used old wedding card paper to die cut the roses and coloured them with Prisma pencils and went over them with Marvy brush markers. The nestie has been sponged with distress ink and the sentiment has been stamped with copper pearlascent Versamark ink pad. I have stuck pearls in the centre of the flowers to make them look more interesting.

I am going to enter this card in:

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

http://bunnyzoescrafts.blogspot.sg/ - summer florals

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

http://crafterscafeblogchallenge.blogspot.sg/ - flowers

Happy crafting,

Monica 

You need sun glasses here... Lol

Hello sweet peeps,

Here is my card to show you today which has been created with a background I made many years ago (almost seven) with my older one while playing with food colours and paper. I took a sheet of tissue paper and we put in vegetable colour randomly on it. Since I carefully removed the other two layers of the tissue paper, it was a very thin leaf I had left behind. So I took a rectangular piece of paper and folded the paper behind and stuck it too. The vellum sheet has been recycled from an old invitation card and the sentiment is one of my faves. I know I have been using it all too often. The striped banner was lying around on my table since months and I did not know what to do with it. It looked a bit crushed so I put in the whole arrangement in my new embossing folder. Sandra, my blog friend sent me these happy chappy dragon flies and this one seemed to match perfectly. 

I will enter this card in the following:

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

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

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

See you later,

Monica 

Hello

Hello sweet bloggers,

This is the life, really, when I can blog every other day. Aleeza (my younger one and all of eight) asked me why I like blogging so much and my answer was that it makes me happy to see so much creativity and be part of such a loving crafting community as well. So I have decided this pampering is important for me and blogging.

This cow image (Penny Black) was stamped a few years ago in red and I don't know why I chose red. So to get rid of the red, I went over it with my black Pilot pen and coloured the hearts with my Marvy markers and am not sure what it did to the hearts. I could have coloured in the nose pink. Could have and should have !!! Lol.

The Hello sentiment has been die cut from a cosmetic carton and the flowers are leftovers from another die cut (part of a yoghurt lid). The designer paper is from my stash and was bought at the local stationery store called Popular. I decided to air my MS border punch and it just so happened to match with the hearts on the cow.

I will enter my card in:

http://audsentimentschallengeblog.blogspot.sg/ - anything goes with a sentiment

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

http://inthepinkchallenge.blogspot.sg/ - rubber stamp to be coloured pink

Happy crafting and happy everything,

Monica 

Choose happy

Hello sweet peeps,

Here is a card I made today while Aleeza was hanging around in my art room. I had hand drawn this image while we were watching a you tube tutorial (sorry, that I cannot recall the link)and coloured it with my Prismas. I have sponged the image with scattered straw to match the designer paper which was sent to me by Terry some six years ago. Yes, I am trying to un-hoard the stuff I have been stocking. Lol. I stuck a googly eye and a ribbon around his collar to dress him up a bit. Aleeza was not impressed with my drawing but I seem to like it. The sentiment is from 7 Gypsies which I love.

I will enter this card in the following challenges:
http://craftysentiments.blogspot.sg/ - animals
http://lemonshortbreadchallenge.blogspot.sg/ - anything goes
http://tuesdaytaggers.blogspot.sg/ - make us smile
http://craft-deebowz.blogspot.sg/ - anything with a bow

Happy crafting,

Monica

LIfe is better when you are laughing

Hello sweet bloggers,

Here is a card to show you which has been made from designer paper that was given to me by a sweet lady who lives in our complex. Actually it was a big circle and I cut it into half and stuck it on to my card stock. The intricate oval die cut is one of my new buys from Spotlight and the chip board sentiment is store bought. The paper for the die cut was part of an Indian wedding card and is a lovely muted gold and looks much prettier in real life.

I had to share this picture below as I was very impressed with the reflecting colours of the lamp on the ceiling. I clicked it in Bali some months ago.

I found the two paintings so vibrant and colourful (from Bali as well)

I will enter my card in the following challenges:

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

http://tuesdaytaggers.blogspot.sg/ - make us smile

http://shoppingourstash.blogspot.sg/ - stitching real or faux

http://craftyourpassionchallenges.blogspot.sg/ - anything goes
http://stampartpapel.com/ - anything goes

Happy crafting,

Monica 

It's your Day

Hi sweet peeps,

Here is a card I made last night with an American Girl journalling book that belonged to my older on. I have used the cover and the inside front page to die cut all the circles and have embossed most of them until I realized I needed more such and had to use the un-embossed circles. The silver foil is actually the lid of a yoghurt container which I have embossed as well. The sentiment is a die cut from my stash. The strip of paper you see under the biggest circle is the biggest patch of paper I could manage without any text on it. It all looks easy here yet it took me almost one and a half hour to put all this together. Can you believe that? I do like the way it turned out particularly because I am a big fan of all the colours here. 

I will enter this card in:

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

http://craftyfriendschallengeblog.blogspot.sg/ - to use your dies

http://brokenfairychallenge.blogspot.sg/ - anything goes with embossing (dry or heat)

http://craftycalendarchallenge.blogspot.sg/ - punches or dies

Happy, happy crafting,

Monica 

Partly recycled

Hello bloggers,

Here is my card to show you which has been embossed and punched on cream pearlized paper which was actually an Indian wedding card.  I have followed the sketch at CAS(e) this sketch.

I will enter this card in the following challenges:
http://casethissketch.blogspot.sg/ - sketch
http://simplylessismoore.blogspot.sg/ - repetition

Happy crafting,

Monica

Upcycled card

Hello dear bloggers,

Here is a card with an image that was actually a brochure in its earlier avatar. The sentiment has also been salvaged from the text on the brochure. I did layer the sentiment on to black paper to give it formality. I chose a matching embossing folder to make it look unique. Lol. The red stripe too was part of the image which has been layered on black paper to give it more definition. The kraft like card stock is what I have used as a base. 

I will enter this card in the following challenges:

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

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

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

Happy crafting,

Monica 

Partly recycled card

Hello lovely bloggers,

We were away to Spain for two weeks and it was indeed a much needed vacation for us. We spent threee days in Barcelona and then went around visiting old and historic villages some of which were 1000 - 500 years old. I have to say that I find much beauty in antiquity. It was memorable to see how the old town centres and churches have been preserved inspite of random modern structures here and there. The ornate gold carvings and vibrant colours  in the cathedrals stole my heart. 

I will try and post pictures next time as I had used my hubby's phone to take pictures since my phone and wallet along with other stuff got picked in Barcelona. The good side was that I felt very free on this holiday with no bag or nothing. Lol. It was a very light a carefree feeling and I enjoyed that. To top it all, when we visited the police station and realized that there were many others in the same boat as us. Lol.

Now to my card which is partly recycled as the banners have been die cut out of packaging material. The sentiment too is part of the same stuff. The stars are from my stash and that is pretty much it. I think this would make a neat male card.

I will enter my card in the following challenges:
http://abitmoretimetocraft.blogspot.sg - anything goes
http://pictureandscrap.blogspot.sg/ - anything goes
http://crafterscafeblogchallenge.blogspot.sg/ - CAS
http://simplylessismoore.blogspot.sg/ - repetition

Happy crafting and happy everything,

Monica 

Hi there!

Dear bloggers,

I seem to be breaking my record for 2016 with my fifth post for the first time this year. Here is my card to show you today which is an anniversary card. The roses have been punched from Martha Stewart's punch on pearlized paper which was part of a wedding card in it's previous avatar. It is a border punch and I cut out the roses separately and stuck them on to the card stock. The sentiment has been hand written with my Sakura gel pen and the organza ribbon is from my stash and so is the pearl on the knot. The nestie with the sentiment has also been die cut from pearlized paper. This card looks pretty and elegant in real life many times more than the picture.

I will enter this in the following:

http://craftrocketchallenges.blogspot.sg/ - wedding/anniversary

http://crafty-girls-creations.blogspot.sg/ - anything goes

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

Happy crafting,

Monica 

Back in a day

Hello sweet bloggers,

I have been making cards pretty regularly so am trying to keep up with blogging as well. Here is a card I made with a tag. And behind are leaves that are actually post its which were picked up at a garden shop. The little sentiment is store bought and that is pretty much it. I like the vibrant colours here and I am sure someone with a little boy would like it. 

I will enter this card in:

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

http://craftforthecraic.blogspot.sg/ - masculine

http://stampingwithdragon.blogspot.sg/ - one for the guys

Birthday card

Hello lovely peeps,

It is summer holidays now and what a relief that is. Here is a card made with duct tape, yes duct tape that got stuck on my scissors and refused to get it's stickiness off them. Washi tape seemed like a breeze to put on and along came music signs. The sentiment is from Hero Arts and here is my card all ready and dressed up.

My mum was visiting from New Delhi and it was lovely to have her as she is a light and airy person (airy because she is pleasant company, lol). We went to the Botanic Gardens and down below are a few shots of the orchid garden.

Can you spot the chameleon in this picture? Now I have seen many such spineless creatures in my childhood as we lived in the midst of greenery in army cantonments yet the blues and greens in picture were the best colours I have ever seen. If my camera was better, it would have been even more impressive. 

I will enter this card in:
http://www.hidinginmycraftroom.com/ - masculine
http://artbymiranchallenge.blogspot.sg/ - anything goes
http://crafting-with-friends.blogspot.sg/ - anything goes

Wish you a happy and healthy Sunday,

Monica 

Recycled

Hello dear bloggers,

Here is my card to show you the image of which is from a box of tissue paper. I stuck washi tape over on top and bottom and an embossed sentiment came to my rescue as there was a stamping error hiding under it. It seems to show in the picture but in real life it has been nicely covered up. 

I will enter this card in the following challenges:
http://artisticinspirationschallenges.blogspot.sg/ - anything goes
http://craftingfromtheheartchallengeblog.blogspot.sg/ - anything goes
http://craftyourpassionchallenges.blogspot.sg/ - anything goes

Happy blogging,

Monica 

More roses

Hello bloggers,

Here is a card made with packaging material and the striped paper behind is fancy gift wrap. I was thinking to myself that it is a better idea to buy a pack of designer papers instead of fancy gift wrap. Penny wise and pound foolish sometimes is me. The pearls here are from my stash and the happy birthday sentiment is a washi tape.

I will submit this card in the following challenges:

http://craftingbydesigns.blogspot.sg/ - anything goes
http://ttcrd.blogspot.sg/ - anything goes

Happy crafting and happy blogging,

Monica 

Keep Calm and Drink Wine

Hello sweet bloggers,

Here is a card to show you after a long while. I have been making cards and I wish I could find time to take pictures and blog.

The sentiment is from a set of clear stamps and the image is from a clear set by Hero Arts. Added rhine stones and my silver Sakura pen helped finish it off. By the way, the nestie on which the sentiment has been stamped has been upcycled from packaging material.

Wish you a happy Sunday,

Monica 

Back

Hello dear bloggers,

I have been wishing to blog but life got in the way again. And my mum is visiting so that kind of fills up our life in a nice way. We also managed to go to Bali over the spring break and it was lovely.

I made this card in a real jiffy with pretty store bought stickers. I know I could have made the roses at home yet I find it a thrill to stick something right away on a card and be instantly gratified. 

I was so impressed with this bougainvillea plant in the hotel where we stayed.

This is the view of the paddy fields from our room.

Sunset from our room...

Aleeza being treated to a fish spa for her feet.

Down below are pictures of the Bali safari.

See you soon,

Monica 

Dearest bloggers,

Here are pics of Aleeza's birthday on 7th February this year. It fell on a Sunday and we actually invited two friends over which was a big change from last year which was quite big. 

Here is a close up of the balloons on the wall mounted with ordinary scotch tape.

Here is the foyer of our apartment - we chose hearts since Valentine's is so close to Aleeza's birthday on the 7th.

Here is a pic of the girls walking to the club close by our home.

Down below is them goofing around...

Here is a gift given by Zeenya's close friend to Aleeza and what I wanted to share here was the tag that was handmade. Isn't it impressive? 

Happy crafting,

Monica

Hello

Hello sweet bloggers,

Been away so long and did not even realize it. Yet missed blogging so!!!

For a change, I am posting a handmade necklace that a close friend of mine made some time ago.Isn;t it beautiful?

Down below is a picture of an old card that I may have posted earlier sans stamping.

I will enter this card in the following challenges:

http://carabbiemomentsofcraft.blogspot.sg/ - anything goes with a - music
http://inspirationdestinationchallengeblog.blogspot.sg/ - always anything goes

I hope I can come and visit soon.

Lots of love,

Monica