Hello, do you still remember me?

Hello sweet bloggers,

It sure seems a long while and gosh, I have been busy. Volunteering in school and trying to go about life to the best of my ability. Lol.

On the good side, I have been able to craft more often which is wonderful, isn't it? 

Here is my card to show you for today which gave me much pleasure.  New Washi tape and the 3D flip flops I have had since over a year along with a double layered sentiment die cut out of an old Indian wedding card. Now if you ask me about Indian wedding cards, I could write a book on this oh so vast topic. They are as elaborate as weddings themselves and their designs are fit for kings and queens. Honestly, sometimes I feel proud and at other times sad because in a poor country such as India it makes me wonder, why? Then wisdom prevails and I say to myself, "who am to judge"? Let each one be. Lol.

I will submit my happy chappy card in the following challenges:

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

http://diecuttindivas.blogspot.sg/ - die cut

Wish you art in plentiful,

Monica 

Hello after a week

Hello sweet bloggers,

Here is my card to show you which was made for the challenge at Less is More last week but I decided not to link it as it was not a single layer card. The clear stamp is one of my faves from Kaiser craft and the best part is that I did not have to spend a bomb to get it. Lol. There are two versions here as the first version met with a high level of disapproval from Zeenya. She can talk, considering she does little art these days. Lol. On the good side, she has taken up Art as a subject this year and hopefully she will come back to herself.

The die cut sentiment has been layered as there was lots of glue in the first attempt. I do like the layering even though it may have taken attention away from the flat image. I did touch up the mug with Prisma pencils to make it more vivid. Rhinestones came to my rescue to make it glam. The backdrop is a hand woven batik from Indonesia. My lovely Indonesia. I would have preferred 'warm wishes' on this one but that is all I had and it sounded better than 'best wishes'.

Close up of the highlights with Sakura gold gel pen. 

Down below is the card that met with disapproval from Zeenya.

Wish you health, happiness and crafting,

Monica 

Owl be there

Hello bloggers,

Here is my card to show you today which I made a few weeks ago. The owl is a clear stamp from Kaiser and I have coloured it with my Prismas and the paper is from a pack that I bought at the local stationery store. I have worked a little bit harder here by using my MS border punch on the designer paper. Lol. The double ribbon bow is also hand tied by yours truly.

I will enter my card in the following challenges:
http://lauralcraft.weebly.com/dragonfly-dreams-challenge - girly
http://mytimetocraftchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/ - owls

Have a lovely day,

Monica 

Hello!

Hello sweet peeps,

Here is my card to show you today for LIM  which is spritzing. I have used Maya Mist (sand) and for the sentiment and hearts it is a stencil that I have never used in the 10 years that I have owned it. 

I thought it would look prettier than this but this sentiment looks a bit behind (or dated), I feel. In real life and in proper lighting the misted part looks subtle and shiny except that in the picture it looks plain subtle. The white and gold organza ribbon is from my stash and so are the sequins. The white nestie has been popped up with dimensional sticky pads. Over the sentiment and the hearts I did an etching kind of motion with my trusted Sakura gold pen and outlined everything too. And yes, last but not the least some glossy accent was used over the sentiment and heart to give it more depth. The picture with the glossy accents did not look becoming and I had luckily clicked a picture without adding them and that is what I am sharing with you. Better run to enter the challenge as it is 11 hours left for the deadline. Lol.

Found these pictures on FaceBook - so pretty that I had to share.

She or he seems to be saying something here. 

Pleasant weekend,

Monica 

Sold 18 cards last weekend

Hello sweet bloggers,

I have great news to share which is that I sold 18 cards last Friday to the ladies who live in our complex. I gathered enough courage to take a little cane box filled with cards to the pool and just casually showed the cards around without putting any kind of pressure on anyone and lo and behold!!! Cards just flew. Ofcourse it helped that some ladies were drinking wine and it kind of encouraged the sale, if you know what I mean. Lol.

To top it all, I got an order for 15 Rakhis which are actually friendship bracelets that a sister ties on a brother's wrist as a mark of love. So yes, all this money will go to Nepal Redcross and I feel truly blessed and lucky.

Thank you all for not giving up on me. Lol.

Here is a wedding card I made with new dies I bought at Spotlight and another paper crafting store called Paper Market. It is a simple card and could be mistaken for a sympathy message but I think the sentiment which has been embossed (not too happy with that) shouts loud and clear. My older one also asked me to glitter the ferns to make it more celebratory in nature. I like it, I have to say.

I will enter my simple beauty in the following challenges:

http://craftygalscornerchallenges.blogspot.sg/ - embossing

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

http://carabbiemomentsofcraft.blogspot.co.uk/ - add sentiment

http://lilredwagon.blogspot.sg/ - clean and simple

Wish you a happy crafting time apart from good health and laughter,

Monica 

Hello there!

Hello bloggers,

Every time I wanted to make a card or blog, something got in the way and that is how it has been. Gosh, helping settle a teenage daughter in her first week of a new school can sure be an experience.

Yesterday being Saturday, I decided enough is enough and managed to bring togther a card made with an image that has beens stamped (Penny Black) like four years ago. The designer papers were bought from the local craft store here and yes, after over a year of having them, they have seen the light of the day.

The black nestie behind the white one is a clothing tag and the rose is from my stash while the leaves are Spellbinder diecuts. I have used Marvey brush markers to colour the image and glossy accents over the hearts to make them pop. I quite like the serenity emanating from this card. Lol.

I will enter this card in the following challenges:

http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.sg/ - roses

http://crafting-with-dragonflies.blogspot.sg/ - make it floral

Wish you a happy weekend and I hope I can visit soon,

Monica 

"Rakhi" card

Hello sweet bloggers,

My older one, Zeenya is going to be entering Grade 10 and a new school yet again. After we moved from Indonesia last year, this will be her second school. Aleeza who will go to Grade 2 will continue in the same school as she is on a waitlist in the new school. However Zeenya's school will not require much time from me so it should work out fine as far as volunteering activities go. Or so I guess!!!

Today I am sharing a commissioned card for "Rakhi"which is an Indian celebration where the sister lovingly ties a friendship band (they are very ornate and often made of pure silver) on her brother/s. The brother/s spoil her by showering cash or gifts on her. The meaning of this ceremony runs deep implying that the brother will always protect and take care of his sister. It is indeed touching and sweet to watch the sister tying "Rakhi" on her brother. "Rakhi" is the name of the friendship band in Hindi. This card was ordered by someone I know and I had lots of fun making it. 

The 'oh so pretty' paper red and gold  on this card were sent to me by Terry some three years or so ago and I have used a gold cord and an actual "Rakhi" which has two beautiful rhine stones on it. The paper looks royal in real life and I wish the photo looked as nice. 

 Down below are pictures of the River Cruise that Aleeza and I went to. It was a fifteen minutes long scenic cruise.

These are pictures of water hyacinths that I saw along the walk way.

 I found this blossom so pretty that I had to picture it. The shades of pink on the petals are just so mesmerising for me. It reminds me of the paper flowers that I used to make.

 Wishing you health, happiness and crafting,

Monica