Hello after such a long gap

Hello bloggers,

I sure have been busy - firstly we moved home luckily in the same complex and secondly my older one, Zeenya left for university yesterday. It was a time full of emotions but we seem to be okay so far. She has been such a helpful little elf to me with technology and so many other spheres. I will be brave and learn to be happy without her. She will be back for Christmas which makes Aleeza and me very excited.

I have not made a card in the last few months and my mojo seemed to evade me. Yet I put together this very quick card which seems a tad crooked. I have used foam pad under the white paper and the die cut was delicately pushed into the reverse side. I took a little bit of glue and carefully stuck the tree. The green paper is very pretty in real life but looks dull in the photo.

Happy blogging,

Monica 

Kids Summer Vacation Challenge - from Aleeza

Hello dear bloggers,

Here is a card made by Aleeza entirely on her own for her dad's birthday in December. Yes, as early as that!!! She hand drew the image and used her water colour pencils to colour it in. Two kinds of washi tape, pop up foam dots with a hand written sentiment and her card was all done. 

Happy crafting,

Monica 

Back from Portugal and India

Dear sweet bloggers,

We were away to Portugal for the wedding of a friend's daughter which was a lovely affair. Since we had two days off after the wedding we did manage to go to two small towns called Cashcais and Sintra which were both so beautiful. Lots of fresh fish and vegetables is what we ate most of the time. 

I am sharing some pictures of the Palace we visited and the beach as well. 

Now to card made with smoosh technique and inlaid die cut. Just a simple beauty but I love the way it turned out. The green polka dotted paper from which the leaf has been die cut is actually a pamphlet from a mall. I could not but resist!!! I placed the leaf in such a manner so that it produced a wee bit of a shadow underneath.

I will enter this card in:

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

https://crafting-with-friends.blogspot.com/ - anything goes

https://colourcrazychallenge.blogspot.com/ - anything goes

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

Now to some pretty pics from Portugal:

 Flowers in the rose garden of the Palace

A tiled frame in the garden - the tiles of Portugal are breathtaking specially the ones on the outer walls of stand alone houses.

Ceiling in one of the sections of the palace

The inside 

Flowers in the garden - they were actually flourescent

Another ceiling

Stained glass window

Happy crafting,

Monica 

Dragonflies

Hello sweet peeps,

Here is my card to show you today made with smoosh technique using water colours. The shiny dragonfly has a slight bit of damage to it since it could not take the punch very well. This lovely paper came from Merry a few years ago and I have been hoarding it since. The rest of the dragonflies have been punched from smooshed paper as well. The sequins are from my stash. I decided to let this card be sentiment free so that it could have the flexibility to be used in which ever way the giver desires.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

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

https://paperminutes.blogspot.com/ - sequins

https://tuesdaytaggers.blogspot.com/ - things with wings

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

Happy crafting,

Monica 

Two sweet feathers

Hello dear bloggers,

Here is a card I put together yesterday with the paper that I had smooshed with distressed inks last summer. To be honest it was not the finest first attempt so after months rather one whole year of rumination, I die cut these feathers from the paper and suddenly they started to appear rather respectable.  A doily was stuck under the feathers and sequins (far more than desired) were adhered on to the card. I refrained from a sentiment as my customers prefer plain handmade cards. I have to share that the inspiration for this card came from Pinterest. 

I will submit this card for Less is More where the theme is to use items from your 'Bits Box". 

Well, I have several such boxes and my table, my shelves, my drawers and basically my entire craft room is a BIG BITS BOX. I have papers and embellies which are 17 years old and over. 

Sometimes I wonder how untidy one could get. Lol. Notice how I say one and not "I" as "I" is too close for comfort.

I will also submit this card in the following challenges:

http://lilpatchofcraftyfriends.blogspot.com/ anything goes

Happy crafting,

Monica 

Mr and Mrs

Hello sweet bloggers,

Here is a card I have made with Sizzix thinlets and I have used water colours for the roses and the leaves. The paper underneath the stamped sentiment is a pearly cream one and it looks quite nice in real life. I quite like it even though there is an overdose of roses here. But since it is summer and it is a wedding card I am allowed. Lol.

I will enter this card in the following challenges:

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

https://crafterscafeblogchallenge.blogspot.com/ - keep it simple

https://a-step-in-the-darkness.blogspot.com/ - anything goes

https://crafty-girls-creations.blogspot.com/ - anything goes
http://creativesketchygirls.blogspot.com/ - summer

Happy crafting,

Monica 

Water colour for CAS on Sunday

Hello dear bloggers,

This is my second entry for today. I was so taken in with the challenge on water colours at CAS on Sunday. So here is a card that was water coloured in the ombre style by my younger one, Aleeza and I die cut it and stuck it on this card. The die cut sentiment is also from a paper which was water coloured by me. I have embossed the white rectangular paper for added interest.

I will also submit this card for the following challenges:

http://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.com/ - dry or wet embossing

http://creativefingerschallengeblog.blogspot.com/ - anything goes
https://crazy4challenges.blogspot.com/ - ombre
http://cutecardthursday.blogspot.com/ - CAS

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

Happy crafting,

Monica