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

More cards for Japan Redcross

Hello lovely bloggers out there,

Hope you are having a nice morning, afternoon or evening where ever you are...

I made these similar looking cards at the week end. 

Have used Peachy Keen clear stamp - mini turtle and coloured it in with my Darwent water colour pencils along with distressed ink on the sides of the paper.

The background paper is from Terry's blog candy.

The chocolate paper has been embossed with Cuttlebug. 

The mosaic at the bottom is from my stash and the teeny tiny bit of twine has been recycled from a gift. 

The sentiment is handwritten with a Calligraphy pen.

I have used the same stamp, coloured it in with Darwent water colour pencils but  gave it a touch of glitter with glitter glue and my Sakura metallic pens ... wish you could see it in real life. 

The watches you see in the background are from Hero Arts stamp. 

I used different distress colours to stamp it and distressed the borders as well. 

Embossing done with my beloved Cuttlebug and the lace border has been punched with my Martha Stewart border punch. 

Which one do you like more?

I will link this to Michelles's Monday Linky party at http://michelle-pinkpaperparadise.blogspot.com/

Happy crafting with loads of love,

Monica

Crochet cards with my new woolen yarn

Hello bloggers,

While I was in Singapore I bought lots of woolen yarn from Spotlight - like a typical hoarder ... and made plenty of flowers when ever I got the chance...

So here are my flowers... the paper roses too are home made from a Carla Craft punch.

The lovely papers on the first two cards are from Terry's blog candy. I have finally come to terms with using those wonderful papers now... Might as well enjoy them and not leave them for my grand-children throw away... lol!!!


The leaves and stems in the second card have been cut manually and the crochet flower centres are actually coffee beans... aren't you impressed???

The third card is partly recycled as the foil is from the kitchen shelf and all the other scraps of paper on it were lying around on my table...

I am going to enter the first card for:

the linky party at Monique's - www.naturallymecreations.blogspot.com
http://aspoonfullofsugarchallenge.blogspot.com/ - ribbons and roses
http://craftyourpassionchallenges.blogspot.com/ - show your appreciation
http://craftsandmechallenges.blogspot.com/ - anything goes
http://liliofthevalleythursdaychallenge.blogspot.com/ - punches
http://cinspirations.blogspot.com/ - no square allowed in the card (mine is a rectangle)
http://polkadoodle.blogspot.com/ - spring has come
http://stampingwithdragon.blogspot.com - bring on spring
http://totallygorjuss.blogspot.com - spring has sprung
http://suchins.blogspot.com - anything goes (my ever favourite challenge)


Hope you like them.

Hugs,

Monica

The versatile blogger award

Wow - Lucky me! I am delighted to receive this award from two great crafters:
 Bea at http://beadeesblog.blogspot.com/ and Fiona at http://beehivecards.blogspot.com/ 

Thanks so much for the joy - no wonder I love blog land! Full of loving, caring and sharing.

I am supposed to share 7 things about my self  in order to receive this award. I think most of you would be bored to death by now about my waffle with each and every post... But I will give it another go:

1. I have a dream to write a book ( I know I have mentioned this earlier on and not much has progressed since then... Somehow I feel that by putting it down in writing I just may move a step closer to my dream!) Lol!

2. I am one of those people who cannot be compelled to do something that I do not enjoy doing.

3. If I like something I cherish it for dear life... and if I don't I quietly walk away.

4. I have met the nicest people through blogging and it has become the most pleasant distraction of my life... so much so that I am busy blogging away when I should be getting cards ready for my charity batches.

5. When I go out to the cinema or for dinner with my family, I always carry some crafting tools in my bag - that can be off putting for others, you know but certainly not for me. Lol!

6. I have to order new craft cupboards as I am a bit fed up of the plastic drawers I use at present.

7. I cannot imagine that I started working at age 17 and gave it up at age 32 to have babies and tend to them.  Crafting helped me stay overboard and provided the most delightful stimulation for my mind. One day I hope to take my charity crafting to another level.

I'm going  pass it on to the following wonderful, wonderful bloggers who have changed my life for the better:

Sandra - http://rosepetalcreations.blogspot.com/

Shirley-Anne - http://shirley-anne-stampingforjoy.blogspot.com

Leigh - http://charitycrafter.blogspot.com/
Lynn - http://creativecraftsbylynn.blogspot.com/

Kym - http://kyms-crafty-cards.blogspot.com/
Sylvia - http://happycraftytimes5.blogspot.com/
Katrin - http://katrin-hobby.blogspot.com/
Monique - http://naturallymecreations.blogspot.com/

Aud - http://hippieaud.blogspot.com/ 

Terry -  http://terryeo.blogspot.com/

Sandy - http://angsandy.blogspot.com/
Helen - http://helenmade.blogspot.com/
Iram - http://artscraftsnhobbies.blogspot.com/

Catherine -http://catherineshandmadecards.blogspot.com/
Andrea - http://andreajbpiecesofmine.blogspot.com/
Elizabeth - http://nuttysnews.blogspot.com/
Beverley - http://isastampingoodtime.blogspot.com/
Cameo - http://blissmadedesigns.blogspot.com/
Susan - http://shogan03-timetoplay.blogspot.com/


I would be delighted if you could visit these awesome blogs and leave them some love. You will be the richer for that, I promise.


Just a small foot note - in case anyone does not wish to pick up this award for any reason, I understand ...



Hugs,

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

Card for my aunt



Hiya bloggers,

We are in Singapore to see my husband who has been unwell again... Poor guy, I hope he recovers soon and is back to his feet soon.

This is a card I made for my grand aunt in Baltimore as she is recuperating from a knee replacement surgery.

It is a simple card as usual with my handmade roses - they are made with a scalloped round punch so they are a little different.

The stickers are from Ek Success - wish the picture quality was better because the stickers look really rich in real life. The silver tissue paper and ribbon are from my stash.

I hope my lovely aunt likes this card.

Hugs and smiles to all of you. Happy crafting as well,

Monica



Card for Haeli

Hiya everyone,


While I was doing my blog rounds, I read the following on  Charlene's latest post:


This week's Teapot Tuesday Destination is a sweet little 6th grade girl named Haeli who is undergoing chemotherapy for ovarian cancer.  If you have a minute, please read Haeli's story here.   



Here is my card for the very arty - crafty Haeli. I hope it brings her cheer and makes her spirits better.

Materials used:


Solid creme coloured cardstock


Stamp: Penny Black - 'Out and About' coloured by Zeenya (my design consultant) with Darwent water colour pencils. 


Distress ink : Faded jeans


Flowers : you don't need to guess - my home made ones


Sprigs : actually from a tree punch!!!


Fiskar's border weave punch 


Ribbons - turquoise and royal blue from my stash


Gems - Papermania




I am going to enter this for : 


Michelle's Monday Linky party


www.squigglefly.blogspot.com/ - spring theme


www.cutedaisymay.blogspot.com/ - pile on the flowers


http://www.alyssundaychallenge.blogspot.com/ - anything goes


http://www.gingerloftchallenge.blogspot.com/ - use those flowers


http://sendasmile4kidschallenge.blogspot.com/ - anything goes


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


http://cheerfulstamppad.blogspot.com/ - spring




Hugs,


Monica