Monday 30 April 2012

Orange is the colour...

Hello sweet people out there,

Quite a trial for me to stay away from blogging...
Missing my visits to your blogs like crazy.
Zeenya - my older one has gone for her first long trip (five days) away from home. And it felt kinda sad in the morning but I went for a swim and then to the physio and that took my mind off. Gosh! To think one day, these kids will leave the nest... 
Some of the mums shed a tear or two and my eyes welled up as well but now I am more cheered up as I am blogging. 

Some more good news... sold another 20 cards and the count has gone to 50 so far...So I have managed to fund the education of three primary schoolers for six months. Thanks to all the love, inspiration and support I have received in every which way.


Below is a card that sold as well. 
I made the flowers while I was painting with Aleeza and cut them out fussily and stuck one on top of the other with double sided foam tape.
The rusty orange paper is from dear Shirley-Anne while the polka dotted one  is from Terry and the paper with swirls is from my stash. The flourishes are from Sizzix and the gem in the centre is from Prima.


I found this card too bright and loud but glad it sold...


Will come and visit now...

Hugs,

Monica

Tuesday 24 April 2012

Half way DT post for Unstampabelles

Hello bloggers,

I know I have doctor's orders to keep away from typing but this is a  midway DT card for Unstampabelles. Am a bit late - better late than never as they say.

The theme is colours of your country and since I live in Indonesia here is my red and white card.
Any form of paper creation will be acceptable as far as there are no stamps (rubber or digital). Black and white are allowed as well beside colours of your country of course.
Bonus entry - shaped card (not a square or rectangle).

Prizes - stickers from The Sticker Store worth 50 dollars!

Suggestions: Quilling, parchment, stickers, boxes, books, scrap pages etc.

It is a monthly challenge so you still have a few days to participate in case you wish...





Supplies:

Card stock - textured white
Printed paper - unknown
Round and scalloped punches - EK Sucess and mounted on foam dots
Border punch - MS
Hearts - kind courtesy Lynn
Ribbon and lace - from stash
Tiny pearls on the top - Prima


Please bear with me - as I am not able to visit you all. Missing that so.

Hugs,

Monica

Sunday 22 April 2012

Some good news!

Hello lovely bloggers,

First of all thank you all for your kind words... I miss blogging so very much and also miss your creations but obey doctor's instructions I must...


Now for some good news - I have managed to sell about 30 cards this year and have raised enough 
(USD 100) to educate two financially challenged kids for six months. 

You all have a hand in this - your love and inspiration has inspired me no end. Thank you so very much!!!

I am getting Physiotherapy done and should be on the mend in say, two- three weeks.

Missing coming to your blogs but soon I will.

Hugs,

Monica

Monday 16 April 2012

Am just taking a break

Hello sweet bloggers,

Just to let you know that I am taking a short break from blogging and card making as my fingers and neck still need more rest.
I will come and visit you all nonetheless, fingers and neck permitting...

With lots of crafty hugs,

Monica

Thursday 12 April 2012

A commissioned card

Hello lovely bloggers,

I know I have been missing for a while - just got so busy that there was not enough time to blog...And I was trying to rest my hands and neck.

Here is a card I made for someone who wanted it for a new baby girl... It is not an uncommon layout but these classic cards seem to sell quite easily for me.


Just to give an update - I have sold 19 cards so far. 
I am not pushing it too much in order to heal my tired hands and neck.

Will come and visit you all some time later this evening.
Hugs,

Monica 

Thursday 5 April 2012

Featured blogger of the month - Mihaela

Hello sweet bloggers,

How nice to have a long weekend to relax...

Here is my monthly post for the featured blogger - 


If you do visit her blog, her quilling will delight you no end... she makes such lovely stuff.

I am happy to be your follower, dear Mihaela!

Happy Easter to all those who celebrate it.

Hugs,

Monica

Tuesday 3 April 2012

For less is more - colour inspiration

Hello sweet bloggers,

Many thanks for the lovely comments on my last card...

Here is a card I made in minutes for Less is More - the theme being colour inspiration for this week.
The card you see below is my second attempt as the first one has plenty of black as you can see further down. So I redid the card and here it is... 
I have used clear stamps from Kaiser and stamped the image with my clear stamping pad. Coloured them with chalks and the embossing at the bottom was done to bring some more interest. I have used an MS border punch on the pink layer but it got covered by the top layer - still looks nice, don't you think?





Below is my first attempt - I do like it and so does Aleeza. She said that she clearly preferred this to the card above. And ssshhh... I went over the image with some glitter glue later. Mandy and Chrissie, hope you are not listening... However it is the card above that I am entering for Less is More.



Would love to know what you think...

Lots of hugs,

Monica

Sunday 1 April 2012

My DT card for Unstampabelles for April


Hello sweet bloggers,

Here is my DT card for Unstampabelles for the monthly challenge in April.

Theme: Colours of your country -  anything but square or rectangle.

Do remember - no stamps (digis or rubber) but stickers, decoupage, punches welcome.


I tried to get out of my comfort zone once again and created this Flower Pot card with colours of Indonesian flag....
 Details on how to make this card can be found here.
Flowers - made with Sizzix dies and Carla craft punches. 
Pot embossed with CB.
Ribbon punch - Fiskars
White pearly crystals from Prima.
Ribbon - from stash

Hope you like it - I do think I could have done better on the rim of the pot, it is a wee bit too broad.

We were away to Singapore as the kids had some days off school. Did lots of craft shopping!!!


Catch you later.

Hugs,

Monica

Monday 26 March 2012

For Casual Friday - pastel and black

Hello lovely bloggers,

Aleeza is much better - many thanks for all your kind wishes.

Here is a card I made for Casual Friday - pastel and black. Yes, I stamped directly on to paper - I have come a long way!!!

I am also going to submit this for Make it Monday - anything goes (always)


The stamp is from Penny Black and the I have embossed the black strip of paper -  not really visible in the picture. 
The cow print  is actually a fancy ribbon from my stash - I loved it the minute I saw it. 
I punched the flourishes with my Ek Success border punch and the two waste bits was stuck on the top. 
The pink ribbon is also from my stash and the crystal is from Prima.

I quite liked this cute card...

Would love to know what you think?

Hugs,

Monica 

Blog award from Sandra


Hello lovely bloggers,

My dear friend, Sandra has passed on another award to me... 

Thank you, Sandra for always being so inspirational and caring towards me.




*  This is for any co-blogging friend who has helped you develop your blog in any and all ways.

*  It is for any blogging friend who has cheered you along in your blog building, craft advancing career.
*  For any blogging friend who always stops by and is kind to you. You can count on them to always be one of  the great commenter's at the end of your post.
*  Give to 3-5 Blogs who you feel meet these requirements.
*  Create a post with the terms of use and publish.

I am going to pass this on to the following people:
 



Wishing you happy arty - crafty times.

Hugs,

Monica






Saturday 24 March 2012

For Less is More - Take Three Challenges

Hello sweet bloggers,

Here is a card I made a few days ago and am going to enter this into Less is More -
 their theme being 
Take Three Challenges and combine them.

The three challenges that I have combined are:

Week 9 Colour - A touch of red (you can see a lot of red!!!)
Week 33 - Anything goes
Week 55 - Punches or diecuts (all the flowers, the two hearts and the MS border punch)

May be a bit too busy for Less is More though...

I am sorry that I have not visited for a couple of days - Aleeza was down with a nasty viral but now she is thankfully on the mend.

Have a pleasant weekend.

Hugs,

Monica

Wednesday 21 March 2012

Happy Birthday Merry and a blog hop

Hello lovely bloggers,

Today is Merry's birthday - so here is a card wishing her a happy birthday
 with lots of love and blessings.
 Thanks, Stacie for the great idea of doing a blog hop and teaching me what a blog hop is...

We at Unstampabelles are doing a fun birthday blog hop for her...


Wish you a lovely year ahead, Merry.

Hugs,

Monica

Sunday 18 March 2012

For Less is More and Casual Fridays

Hello sweet bloggers,

Here is my first attempt at 
masking 
for Less is More this week - not sure whether I did a good job but at least I tried...
I think this card is rather stark and sombre... and the sentiment right in the centre makes it more so.
On the brighter side, I have come a long way as I am able to stamp directly on to the card now - that is no small feat for me. Lol.

Am also entering this card for Casual Fridays - one pattern, one stamp, one sentiment. I hope the ribbon does not come in the way.

Supplies:

Base card stock - white
Stripey stamp - Hero Arts
Rectangular stamp - cling from Prima 
Sentiment - clear stamp from Off the Press 
(went over the stamp with a black marker - could not resist the temptation)
Ribbon - American crafts
Stamp pad - Staz on black and black pigment dye
Flowers - Carla craft punch
Crystal - Prima


Have a nice weekend.

Hugs,

Monica

Saturday 17 March 2012

My first Easel card for midway DT post for Unstampabelles


Hello lovely bloggers,

Here is my my very first Easel card all thanks to Sandra 
(who sent me special instructions how to make it).
I have made this for the midway DT post for 
Unstampabelles monthly challenge 
the theme this month being Easter... bonus entry for extra folds.
Remember no rubber stamps or digital images but quilling, decoupage, stickers can be used.

Fabulous prizes to be won... check it out!


Supplies:

Base card stock - vanilla
Mulberry paper - kind courtesy Leigh
Designer paper - from Terry's blog candy
Bunnies - kind courtesy Sandra
Daisies - from stash
Sentiment - hand written

Hope you like my first Easel card! I was pretty happy with it. Thank you so much, Sandra.

Hugs,

Monica

Thursday 15 March 2012

For Casual Fridays


Hello sweet bloggers,

Here is a card I made last night - turned out quite pretty in real life.
The printed paper is a tissue napkin from a Chinese restaurant we went to in Rome three years ago!!!
I have used matt gold paper for the nesties (Spell binder) and flowers. They have been embossed and sponged with tea dye distressed ink. The flowers have been punched using dies and punches. Some of the flowers have been sponged as well. 
The sentiment is a Just Rite cling stamp from Spell binders - I just used the inner part of the stamp.



I am going to submit this for http://cas-ualfridays.blogspot.com/ - the theme being sentiment as the focal point.

Rather late for the challenge and not sure whether the card is CAS enough!!!

Hope you like my creation... would love to hear what you think.

Lots of love,

Monica

Saturday 10 March 2012

Second entry for LIM


Hello my sweet bloggers,

I am back in minutes with my second entry for Less is More this week - the theme being one layer script.

I have used white card stock and stamped a Hero Arts image in Staz On black. 
I have sponged the paper with two distressed inks - tattered rose and old paper in some parts of  the image.
This has been stamped using my foot as I tried stamping three times with my hands and it did not work as all parts of the image did not show properly.



Not sure whether these one layered cards will sell but I do love this simple challenge...

Hugs,

Monica

For Less is More - one layer script


Hello lovely bloggers,

Here is a card I have made for Less is More this week, the theme being
one layer - script.


I have used a wine coloured card stock and have stamped a Kaiser craft clear stamp image using 
my Archival Brilliance in pearlescent beige.
 Scored a couple of lines on the top of the card to add some more life to it. 

Made another card earlier and stuck some ribbon and pearls on it only to realize later that it was a one layer challenge!!!  Almost posted it... however on reading the challenge rules again deleted it.




Trust me, it looks better in real life... : (

Anyway catch you later... 

Have a nice, relaxed and crafty weekend.

Hugs,

Monica

Wednesday 7 March 2012

Featured blogger - Vee Ramsden

Hello lovely bloggers,

I am a bit late in publishing my monthly post on the featured blogger...

This time it is a new fellow blogger called Vee Ramsden at http://bodhicea.blogspot.com/

Vee left a comment on my blog so I paid her a visit and discovered how lovely her blog is...

She makes the most beautiful hand made flowers and her cards are very elegant and pretty.

Her handmade flowers stole my heart!!!

Wish you lots of crafty fun,

Monica


Tuesday 6 March 2012

My second entry for Less is More

Hello lovely bloggers,

Here is my second which card I made this evening for Less is More - neutrals. 

I have stamped a Kaiser Craft image with my Archival Brilliance - pearlescent beige. Pity, that the pearly effect of the ink pad does not show - a night time shot again! Could not wait till the morning as it would mean a further delay in posting...
The tiny flowers have been punched, dabbed with the same ink pad and then shaped with my embossing tool. Stuck pearls to make it look more dressy...
Quite happy with how it turned out in real life - much better than the picture.

I have left it blank as cards with sentiments don't sell quickly for me.



So grateful for blogging and all the encouragement one receives from sister crafters and brother crafters (to sound politically correct - lol).

Catch you later...

Hugs,

Monica

Monday 5 March 2012

First time for CAS_ual Fridays!


Hello sweet bloggers,

I am back with another clean and simple card - this time it is for CAS-ual Fridays and their theme is to create a baby related card.

I have used pearly baby blue card stock but it looks nothing like pearly in the picture...and I have scored the left side of the card which doesn't show either.  I guess I should have waited till the morning to take a day time shot but then that would have meant more delay in posting the card for the challenge.

The stamp is from Kate and Co and the so is the sentiment. I have used my CB stamp die cut and Ek Success square punch for the nesties.
The border punch is from Ek Success as well and the label is from Mc Gill. The grey paper that you see is actually silver matt textured paper.
The crystal is from Prima and I went over the stamp with glitter.



Hope you like my clean and simple creation!

Thanks for all your love and encouragement...

Hugs,

Monica


For Less is More - neutrals


Hello sweet bloggers,

I hope you had a relaxed and happy weekend...

I am kind of taking a break from intensive card making to give my hands that much needed rest... so my mojo has ditched me!

Anyway, here are two variations I made for Less is More, this week, the theme being neutrals.





Supplies:

Base card stock - white
Stamps - Unity (Itty Bitty) stamped with Stazon black
Sentiment - part of stamp
Sponging - black soot

The first picture was taken at night time and the second one is a day time shot - some difference there.


I will also submit this card for Make it Monday - anything goes

Will come and visit you soon.

Monica

Thursday 1 March 2012

My third entry for LIM this week

Hello dear bloggers,

Here is a card I have made for Less is More using scrap pieces lying around on my table... 
The squares have been punched out of a Starbucks take away cup!!!
I just stuck some roses on them which were lying on my table since a while ago as could not come up with a design!

 Less is More opened up mind and this is what I came up with...
I think Less is More is good for my mind and body!!! Lol.

The sentiment is hand written and the label  (which was also lying around) has been distressed with wild honey to match with the card.




Below is a picture of the scraps lying around on my table... 


Catch you later.


Hugs,

Monica

DT card for Unstampabelles


Hello sweet bloggers,

Here is a DT card I made for the

Unstampabelles March challenge
the theme of which is 
Easter  - bonus technique - extra folds.

The bunny has been made with my CB circle nesties, Mc Gill and Carla craft punches - the details on how to make it are here... 
I just added some googly eyes and a ribbon to dress up the bunny. 
I coloured in her paws with my colour pencils as I did not have a smaller sized oval nestie label. 
For the inners of the ears, I just cut the oval label into two and shaped it a bit with my scissors. I have used pop up foam dots to mount the bunny. The bunny has been sponged with TH distressed ink -  spun sugar.
The little pink flowers are from a lace - I cut out each flower individually and stuck it on the border. 
The border punches are from Martha Stewart. 

The Easter eggs are from my dear friend, Sandra. Thank you!!!



Have a nice Thursday!

Hugs,

Monica

Monday 27 February 2012

Second entry for Less is More


Hello lovely bloggers,

Here is another card I made with left overs of a previous creation... the leaves were just gathering dust on my table so I decided to use them.

I have used pearlised baby pink card stock which looks pretty different in the picture...


Rather simple card which does not need much explanation... 

I am going to submit this for Less is More - use your scraps

Am a big fan of Less is More - just after my heart and hands!!! Lol.

Hugs,

Monica

Award from dear Sandra

            



Hello sweet bloggers,

I am a bit late in posting this award from my dear friend, Sandra.
I am more than honoured to receive it and
thank you, Sandra! 

The LIEBSTER BLOG AWARD is used to show appreciation of smaller blogs (under 200 followers) and to help spread readership and joy.

As part of the tradition the award is to be passed along to five other blogs that have motivated and inspired me.

It comes from the German meaning Dearest or Beloved, but can also mean Favourite.



To accept the Award you must: 


1.  Link back to the persons blog who gave it to you, and thank them.
2.  Post it on your blog.
3.  Give to five other Bloggers who you appreciate and value.
4.  Leave a comment on the five blogs you choose and let them know.





I would like to nominate the following blogs for this award:







Have a nice Monday.

Hugs,

Monica

Sunday 26 February 2012

CAS card with scraps lying around


Hello my sweet bloggers,


I made this super simple and quick card last night using scraps lying around on my table...



Supplies:

Base card stock - textured white
Bird border punch - MS
Red border punch - EK Success
Check ribbon - Amercan craft


I quite liked it - simple and sweet and not much stress on my hands or neck...

I am going to submit this card for Less is More - use up your scraps!




Thanks to a suggestion given by one of you kind souls out there I am trying to punch and stamp with my feet and it seems to be working out fairly well. Thanks so much... You opened my mind. And lifted my spirits!!! Lol.


Have a good weekend.

Hugs,

Monica

Friday 24 February 2012

Commissioned card



Hello lovely bloggers,

Hope you all are well and happy...

Here is a card I have made for someone's mum...

This picture was taken on my phone and for some reason it has a mind of it's own and I could not rotate it horizontally much as I tried. In the end I gave up - so you have to imagine the card is horizontal and not vertical.



Supplies:

Base card stock - pale metallic pink
Border punch - MS sponged with distressed ink
Flower - hand made including the crocheted one
Leaves - leaf punch
Sentiment - hand written
Ribbon and crystal - from stash

I am entering this into the following challenge:

http://audsentimentschallengeblog.blogspot.com/ - use happy
http://paperplaychallenges.blogspot.com/ - for a mother
http://www.sarahhurleychallenges.blogspot.com/ - die cuts
http://paperprettiesblog.blogspot.com/ - punches and die cuts


Thanks for all your kind and healing words. Will visit shortly...

Hugs,

Monica

Monday 20 February 2012

A card with a friend...


Hello sweet bloggers,

I had a friend over for some crafting fun... and this is what we made. 

We used wall paper on a metallic cream card stock and the butterflies were punched out of the same wall paper. The sentiment is hand written - you did not need to guess that. Lol.

I am trying to keep my cards very basic in order to rest my hands.





Below is my friend with the card... wonder what is sweeter? Her smile or the card???



I am going to enter this card in
Make it Monday - anything goes.



Thanks for visiting and I will come by soon.

Hugs,

Monica

Wednesday 15 February 2012

Half way DT card for Unstampabelles

Hello lovely people,

Hope you are well and happily crafting away...

This is a half way DT card for Unstampabelles 
the theme of which is 
RECYCLE.


I have made this card using bits of an old birthday invitation card... 
Thomas and the two borders have been cut out of the invite.


Supplies:
Base card - white
Image - cut out from the invitation
Borders - also cut out from the invitation
Clouds - stickers (kind courtesy - dear Terry)
Balloons - stash
Thomas and the balloons have been popped up using foam dots. I have to take Aleeza to a birthday party and may give this to the birthday boy. Thomas and boys - can't go wrong there!

I am also going to enter this card in Make it Monday - anything goes.

Catch you later.

Hugs,

Monica

Sunday 12 February 2012

Wedding card


Hello lovely bloggers,

Hope you all are doing well...

I made this card last night for a wedding reception that we are going to attend tonight... The groom is Dutch while the bride is Indonesian...




Supplies:

Base card stock - pearly pink
Cake stamp - Docrafts
Heat embossing  - with white embossing powder
Dry embossing - CB on pearly silver grey paper
Flowers - Carla craft punch (used pop up white glitter glue for centres which does not show in picture)
Butterfly - Carla craft punch
Hearts - Carla craft punch (According to Zeenya there should have been more hearts...)
Lace - from stash

Got to take Zeenya out shopping now... she is 12 and I must learn to treat her like a teenager!!! These kids are so different from what we were as twelve-year-olds.

Will catch up with my visits later.

Hugs,

Monica


Wednesday 8 February 2012

My spirits are bright and soon I will be in sight...



Hello you lovely, thoughtful people out there,



I thought I must do a special post to thank you for all those healing and loving comments you have been leaving me. It means so much to me... specially because my spirits seemed to take a beating for the last week or so.

The first doctor I saw kind of made me feel like a crumpled tissue paper because he did not comfort me in any way, rather, he just plainly said that I should not use my heavy punches and that I should delegate it to someone... (Zeenya is more than unwilling to do any craft work and she has enough homework to do, so I cannot pressurise her into  child labour - Lol!)

I took a second opinion from another doctor who said that it was not a ganglion but a small bone that was jutting out... he even tried to push it in but that did not work. 

 After doing some research on the Internet, I learned that a Chiropractic may be of help to me so off I marched to one and lo and behold! He has asked me to rest my hands for a week and keep away from heavy usage. The Chiro also felt that it was a ganglion but I am not really bothered now because my hands are in the right hands now.. (Pun not intended!)

To cut a long story short, I had my first ultrasound treatment today... and hopefully I will be on the mend soon. But my spirits are already mended and that is what matters most, right?

Sorry for that long medical bulletin but I was so touched with all the tender, loving care (TLC) you good hearted souls have given me that I thought I must do a post to thank you all. And the waffling happened along with it. Lol.


Thanks again for putting up with this long story.


Hugs and I will soon be visiting you all as well,

Monica

Monday 6 February 2012

DT card for Unstampabelles

Hello dear bloggers,

Thank you very, very much for all those kind and loving wishes... 
Soon I should be on the mend.

Here is my DT card for the 
February challenge of UnstampaBelles 

 Theme - 

Recycle, Eco Craft, Frugal bonus technique Paper Bead.




Any form of paper creation will be accepted as long as NO STAMPS (Digital or Rubber) have been used (this includes sentiments).

IDEAS: quilling, parchment, stickers, boxes, books, cards, scrap pages, etc.
You can find our rules here for further information.

Our sponsor this month is the lovely Anne from 




For the DP, I have recycled a newspaper print of a special kind of Batik (which is a type of hand printing on fabric with wax and natural colours.) This Batik was on display at the Jakarta Textile Museum last year and I have been saving the newspaper cutting for over six months... not too long considering I can hoard for as long as 10 years if not more!!! Lol.
The edges of the paper have been hand torn and the round nesties have been punched out of scraps of paper lying around on my table. The smaller nestie was the same size as the bigger one but I have used my deckle edged scissors to trimit to it's new size. 


The flowers are handmade as you can well guess and the leaves have been cut manually from scrap crepe paper. The ribbon is from my stash while the crystals are from Prima.


Incidentally this card was made before I developed problems with my hand - just to confirm that I am obeying the doctor's orders. Lol.

Will come and visit you soon - am trying to get some physio-therapy appointments so that my hands can be sorted. Am getting serious withdrawal symptoms without being able to blog.

Thanks for bearing with me...

Hugs,

Monica