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


Thursday 2 February 2012

Featured blogger

Hello lovely bloggers,



It is time for my regular monthly feature and this time the beautiful blogger is Beadee of  http://beadeesblog.blogspot.com

She makes great cards - clean, simple, uncluttered and elegant. Her posts often have  a dose of humour in them and that makes them all the more interesting to read.

And she always leaves me such lovely comments. 

So happy to have you as a blog buddie! Keep making those wonderful nestie cards while I rest my hands... 

Hugs,

Monica

Wednesday 1 February 2012

Going to be out of action temporarily...

Hello lovely bloggers,

Just a short post to tell you that I have a ganglion (a swelling which comes about after the fluid oozes out of  a joint) on my left wrist.
 This is the hand I use a great deal to punch (me being ambidextrous) so it seems that it is under great stress.

The doctor has asked me not to use pressure with my left hand... how can he say that when crafting is my first love... He meant I should not use my beloved punches. If only he knew how much I am in love with my craft punches. I have been using them for well over 11 years and it is just natural wear and tear. Maybe I should try and make cards which do not make me exert any kind of pressure. 


On second  thoughts however, I will try and rest my left hand so that it improves... It is not an uncommon occurence though and often times there is no pain. Sadly in my case there is a fair amount of pain. So rest I must, I guess.

I will try and visit you all however after the pain subsides.
Until then I am this wounded soldier trying to be brave about not being able to make my beloved cards!!! 

Only you crafters would empathise with me... never mind.

Ciao and hugs,

Monica

PS: Not a nice way to start the beginning of the month, right?

Monday 30 January 2012

A simple birthday card...

 Hello lovely bloggers,

Can you believe that January is at it's end... my God, isn't it amazing how these years are passing by. Really, it is the age of digital technology in no unsurest form.

Now to my card... Very simple and childish as my mojo is not very active these days.


The papers are from the book store close by. The gift and cake border punch is from Ek Success and so is the bubble border punch. The butterflies are what were left behind from a MS border punch - waste really but they looked so dainty that I thought I must recycle them. The ribbon is from my stash.

Will come and visit you all now...

Hugs,

Monica



Friday 27 January 2012

Pictures of Bali


Hello lovely people,

I thought I must share some pictures of our short and sweet trip to Bali...

Paddy fields below - that was the view from our room. I felt I could watch it forever - coming from busy, busy Jakarta it felt like paradise!


Flora and Fauna in the hotel 
Aren't the flowers below unusual? See how the red flowers come out of white ones. Interesting, isn't that? On the left, one can spot two buds (waiting to blossom) still inside the bigger white flowers.


More flora in the hotel garden...


The day bed in our room ...


Close up of the wood carving above... all carved by hand. Balinese people are amazingly talented!


 Check out the carving on the study table - so intricate, isn't it? Model insisted on being photographed and I did not have the heart to ask her to stay out of the picture.

This is the foyer of a room close to ours... I get fascinated by Buddha images - they kind of relax me!


Aleeza outside one of the smaller side gates of the Bali palace. They still have a king and queen living there!

 This is a butterfly that fluttered into our room... dear hubby tried to help it to find it's freedom from the bondage of our room but sadly he damaged it's wings as you can see on the top left.
This butterfly stayed in the room all those two days that we were there and passed away minutes before we left...  I kind of felt I had to give it an honourable tribute hence the picture. We don't get to see many butterflies in Jakarta so it was very special for me...
Wish I had a better zoom lens to make my tribute more worthy.

Hope you enjoyed viewing Bali through my phone camera...

TGIF again!

Hugs,

Monica

Mizuhuki from a Japanese friend

Hello there,

Just a quick post to share what a dear Japanese friend brought for me from Japan... it is a paper crane, yes, it is made of paper!!!  The craft is called MIZUHUKI which is the tradition of making handicrafts out of paper.

The picture does not do enough justice to it  - it is just so delicate and pretty. This friend knows that I make cards so she thought this would be an ideal thing to give me and sure it is. I am fascinated! Japanese art and crafts have held great interest for me ever since I was a little girl and my dad brought home a traditional Japanese doll dressed in a pretty silk kimono. We had it for many, many years and now I wonder where it is. Funny how some childhood memories get sharper with time...

The sad part is that my dear friend is relocating back to Japan! That is the flip side of these expat assignments - you make friends and then when you get close, it is time to say good-bye! The good part is that there is always somebody nice waiting out there. So I am always on the look out. Lol.



Below is the middle of the crane - sorry that the bird is pointing in a different direction. I have rested it on the beautiful box that it was packed in. By the time I loaded the picture on to the blog, the bird mysteriously changed direction. Trust me, it did! Lol.


Thanks for visiting and I would love to hear what you think of this amazing paper craft called Mizuhuki.

Hugs,

Monica

Wednesday 25 January 2012

A quick card for my next charity batch...

Hello lovely bloggers,

Here is a quick card I made last night - just stuck some printed paper and ribbon, crystal and three butterflies which were punched out of crumpled and distressed paper. I was quite happy with the way it turned out.



Am going to enter this card in MIM - anything goes.

Will come and do my rounds tonight...
See you soon,

Monica

Tuesday 24 January 2012

We were away to blissful Bali!

Hello lovely bloggers,

We just got back from Bali yesterday... it is just an hour's flight from Jakarta so I decided that we needed this short break (less than 48 hours). And was it wonderful... we stayed amongst paddy fields and it just felt so good to look at those green fields! And we stayed in the Art district which is my favourite. Got to see some real creative little boutiques as well. What else could a little crafter hope for?

 I kind of needed this change because life was been a bit bumpy but am all rejuvenated now. Ate yummy, freshly prepared food as well (with no canned additions). 

Sorry that I could not comment but soon I will! Still gotta do the laundry - but blogging is far more attractive!!! 
It is 10.22 pm and past my bed time, however some commenting must be done before I can retire to a good night's sleep. Lol.

Hugs,

Monica

Friday 20 January 2012

Half way post for UnstampaBelles DT

Hello lovely bloggers,

Hope you have had a good week...

This is a card I churned out this morning for UnstampaBelles DT.
The challenge involves no stamps or digis and the theme this month is anything goes.

The inspiration of this card came from my special blog buddy Sandra who sent me a card similar to this one a while ago. Thank you, Sandra!



 I wove a mauve silk cord through a Spell binder  nestie and attached my home-made flower on to it. 

The "create a border punch" is from MS (not very clear in the picture but quite pretty in real life). The DP is unknown and the feathers and ribbon are from my stash. The crystal is from Prima.

I seem to be getting deprived of my mojo of late... hopefully it will come back soon.

Thank God it is Friday!

For those of you celebrating Chinese New Year, here is wishing you a wonderful year. May the dragon shine in on you...

Hugs,

Monica


Tuesday 17 January 2012

Aleeza's Mickey Mouse and my card

Hello lovely bloggers,

Hope all is well in your neck of the woods... It is rainy season here so it can get quite icky and sticky when it rains...

A friend of mine gave Aleeza this doodle board and here is the Mickey Mouse she drew... She seemed quite happy with her effort and I managed to capture her expressions on camera!



Now to my card - 
I have used a Penny Black stamp called Up and About and coloured it with my water colour pencils. I do think that my colouring is getting better... I really want to learn how to do shading though.



The edges of the images have been sponged with milled lavender.
I have added a bit of glitter to the bouquet that the girl is carrying and also to my handmade flowers. The paper lace has been punched out of an MS border punch. 
I have used this stamp earlier but just seem to never tire of it. And every card that I make with it just sells so quickly. 

Am entering this card in

MIM - Anything goes
and
Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Anything goes

Will try and do my rounds soon - gotta read to Aleeza now since it is close to her bed time.

See you soon.

Hugs, 

Monica

Friday 13 January 2012

My first card with a digital image!

Hello bloggers,

Hope you are all well and healthy... 

Thank God it's Friday!


 Here is a card I made from the digi-images I won in May, 2011 from  http://deliciousdoodlesblog.blogspot.com/ 
 when my card was featured
 in MIM.
And am using the image after so many months - better late than never. They are such neat images - all four of them that I have been saving them.

This image was such a saviour for me because a close friend asked me to make a card for her Godson with a cricket theme and for the life of me, I would not have known what to do if it wasn't for this image.

Rather simple card but I hope my friend likes it.





Thanks for all the lovely comments on my previous post.

Have a good weekend and I will come and visit you all soon.

Hugs,

Monica

Tuesday 10 January 2012

Featured Blogger

Hello bloggers,

I hope you have had a good start to your week. We have settled back in pretty well though I have not started crafting yet... My craft room still needs a bit of cleaning up before I can put up pictures of the new set up.

I am a bit behind with my monthly post on Featured Blogger - travelling and all that excitement of the holiday season to say the least kept me nicely occupied.

Rae of http://aoneofakinddesignbyrachel.blogspot.com/ is my pick of the month.

 I love her beautiful creations with clean and simple designs and all those lovely quotes she lovingly shares on her blog.

My spirits feel so much richer after visiting her space. And you will feel the same if not more...

Thanks, Rae, and may your love for craft and blogging continue! I love your style and am happy to be your follower.


Hugs,

Monica

Each New Day is a Blessing and so is BLOGGING!

Hello lovely bloggers,

Thanks so much for all the sweet comments on my last posts. Feels good to be back even though I am missing all that good food and love of friends and family.

This is a card I made to sell - however I gave it away to one of my mum's friends and she loved it.


Supplies:

Base card stock - metallic silver grey 
Stamp - Spellbinders
Woven ribbon - from the ribbon store close by to where we live
Organza ribbon - from stash
Crystals - Prima

Am going to enter this card into MIM (Make It Monday) - Anything Goes which is one of my fave challenge blogs. It was one of the first challenge blogs I discovered and the lady who runs it (Michelle) is one of the sweetest people in blogland. She helped me so much when I was a newbie... with how to link up a card to a challenge. Thank you, Michelle!


Have a great week ahead.

Hugs,

Monica

Friday 6 January 2012

DT post for UnstampaBelles

Hello bloggers,

Here is my second post for the day and I am posting my first card as a DT member for UnstampaBelles, the theme of which is Anything Goes.

I just realized that I had to post my creation by January 2nd, but for some reason I had Janaury 7th in my head - not a very nice thing to happen when it is your first time as a DT! 
I have to say I am a bit embarrassed with myself - to say the least. Merry and the rest, do forgive me!

Anyway on to the details of the challenge:
.
NO STAMPS at all! No rubber, digis, sentiments, etc.!

You have until February 3rd to get your entries in and the new challenge will start on February 6th.

Our sponsor for this month is The MerryMade Store!


The picture below shows the prize on offer for this month!


Here is my DT card - better late than never!!!

Supplies:

Base card stock - black
Embossing - Cuttle bug
Flower - hand made
Ribbon - American Craft
Crystal - Prima

Catch you later...

Lots of love,

Monica


I am back!

Hello lovely bloggers,

Let me start by wishing you all a very happy and healthy 2012! May it bring all that you wish for...

We got back this afternoon after a hectic holiday in New Delhi where we spent Christmas and New Year's. We ate lots of good food, met up with family and friends and of course shopped till we dropped!

Sorry, could not take any pictures as I forgot to carry my camera and I had some issues with my phone so it's camera did not function either.

I have to say that I missed all my blog buddies terribly and am happy to be back.

Will come and visit you all soon.

Lots of love,

Monica

Friday 16 December 2011

For Unstampabelles

 Hello bloggers,

I seem to have some free time at my hands so am blogging away.

I made this card a while ago while I was at Langkawi (Malaysia) as a tribute to the superb eco-friendly resort we stayed in...

I gathered most of the material from twigs and barks lying around the beach. 

Do not have the heart to sell it or give it away until I make some more of the same kind. 

I am going to enter this in Unstampabelles monthly challenge - Christmas



Close-up of the embellishments




Supplies:

Base card stock - handmade paper from India
Corrugated paper - from toothpaste packaging in the resort
Twigs - lying around near the beach
Bark at the bottom - same as above
Jute  string - from my stash
Bells -made with Carla craft punch using an old Indian wedding card
Crystal - from Prima
Leaves - made with Carla craft punch on construction paper

Do tell me what you think of my creation... I have to say I was pleased with it.


Hugs,

Monica

Am travelling...

Hello lovely people,


Just to let you know that I am travelling for the Christmas holidays and will be back in January... so I may not be able to visit your blogs. 


I will try and catch up when I get back...


Meanwhile here is wishing you all a very happy and healthy Christmas and New Year.

Catch you soon.

Hugs,

Monica

Aleeza's Christmas crafts in school

 Hello lovely crafters,

Before Christmas is over, let me show you what Aleeza made in school.
 I am sure the teachers helped a a great deal. 
But as you can see below, Santa has a kind of squint - so it must be her handiwork. She would not allow me to hang it on the Christmas tree so I thought I would just take pictures and show them to you. 
For the life of me, I could not understand why she would not allow me to hang it on the tree!!!




 Below is a wreath - most of the berries (red crepe paper) and gold fell off ... and it is the same story here about Aleeza not allowing me to hang it on the tree!


 Hope all your Christmas cards and gifts are done with...

I would have loved to send out Christmas cards but it would take well over a month from here and I am kind of saturated with card making for the time being...

Hugs,

Monica

Thursday 15 December 2011

Dream...





Hello lovely bloggers,

Here is a card I made to sell and it did...
The floral sticker is from K and Company while the leaf punch is a MS punch. The ribbon has been coloured with Crushed Olive.
Used CB to emboss and glittered it up.
The paper is from Terry's blog candy.

Will come and visit your blogs soon.

Hugs,

Monica

Wednesday 14 December 2011

I made this a while ago...

Hello bloggers,

First of all a very warm welcome to Cathy for becoming my latest follower - thank you so much for following my little blog.

Can't believe that Christmas is just round the corner...  there is an air of joy and it feels so good. And soon we will be welcoming 2012!!! This year just went at top speed, cyber speed, internet speed, virtual speed what ever one might want to call it.
Now to my card -  I made this with the paper I won at Terry's blog candy. Isn't the paper lovely with such meaningful text on it ? I thought it needed little embellishment since the words said it all.
The flowers have been recycled from an old Indian wedding card. 
I have used my Sizzix mini and Carla craft punches for the flowers. Ran them through my darling CB.
The leaves have been made using my leaf punch.
The blue ribbon is a RAK from Lynn - thanks so much.
This was the first card that sold in my last batch .


I am so chuffed to be on the Design Team of Unstampabelles - my very first time as a DT member.
I will certainly have to get more creative from now on... lol.

Hugs and thanks for your kind visits,

Monica

Monday 12 December 2011

This one sold at the first bazaar!

Hello bloggers,

Hope all is well with you and yours...
I had like my fourth or fifth physio-therapy session for my fingers and fingers crossed, there is some improvement. It just feels so nice to keep my fingers under heat and then have them massaged.

Here is a card that I was not very pleased with but it sold off at the first bazaar and the lady who bought it seemed quite happy with it. I wanted to stick a bow on it but Zeenya said no. So I let it be the way it is.


On Wednesday is Aleeza's class Christmas party and I have to take a snack, knowing me I would rather take some paper and ribbon!!! Wish paper and ribbon could be eaten instead of food... lol.

My craft room is almost done but not quite - wish I had more time to post pictures.


Hugs and have a pleasant week,

Monica

Sunday 11 December 2011

Snowflakes...

Hello lovely bloggers,

Hope you are having a nice and relaxed weekend... I did some craft retail therapy and bought myself some stamps. Hopefully, I will not store them until next year or later!!! Lol.

Here is another card that I made  for the bazaars but it sold much later... The total count is 167 cards so far and I am rather chuffed.
I was quite happy with the way it turned out - CAS!


Supplies:

Card stock - white with slight texture
Aperture - Ek Success square punch
Red square - Another Ek Success punch
Big snowflake - metallic white paper MS layered two snowflakes with foam dots
Crystal - Prima
Small snowflakes - white punched with the same metallic white paper as the big snowflake
Silver dots in the centre of each snowflake - pop up fabric silver glitter glue


Am going to enter this card in Less is More - snowflakes.

Off to put Aleeza to bed, she napped in the afternoon so she seems all bright eyed and fresh now.

Hugs,

Monica


Thursday 8 December 2011

This one sold as well


Hello lovely bloggers,
My craft space is looking better and better. All I need to do is to clear out the little bits and pieces scattered around. I feel like just putting them in a box for the time being.

Here is a quick card I made for sale which sold quite quickly...


Supplies:
Base card stock -  metallic white
Printed paper - paper napkin (from Zeenya's friend's birthday party)
Embossing - CB
Sentiment - handwritten

Will come and visit soon.

Lots of warm, sunny wishes for those who live in cold climes,

Monica

Wednesday 7 December 2011

The count is 161 cards!


Hello lovely people out there,

Thanks for the kind comments on my previous post... here is a card that sold for USD 4 which is a rather big achievement. One of my Japanese friends bought it quite happily. She loved the black and white faux Wedgewood oval embellishment. Thanks, dear Leigh for the same.
As you can see the sentiment is handwritten.


Have sold a total of 161 cards to date and it amounts to an approximate of  USD 500/- So I think it is time to send the money off to Japan Red cross.


Have a nice Wednesday!

Hugs,

Monica

Tuesday 6 December 2011

Cute kitty!

 Hello bloggers,

Hope winter is not coming on too strong in some parts... wish you lots of sunshine.

Here is a card I made for the sale... the lovable kitty is from dear Sandra. The ribbons are from my stash. I stamped the flowers on baby blue paper with pearly Brilliant inks in pink, blue and beige. I cannot remember the name of the stamps. 
The mauve felt heart next to the kitty is kind courtesy Lynn and I stuck a Paper Mania heart on it along with some more around the page.
The ribbon says Happy Birthday but it could not be captured in the photo even though the picture was taken in broad sunlight.



Sunny wishes,

Monica

Saturday 3 December 2011

Featured blogger of the month

Hello lovely bloggers,

Hope you are having a nice and relaxed weekend... 

I am still trying to organize my craft space - it is 80 percent done. Thank God for that.

Here is the featured blogger of the month - Lovely Sasha at 

I fell in love with Sasha's cards at the very first visit and she has been a great source of inspiration for me.
I love the way she uses soft colours to make her stunning cards.

When you visit her blog, you may have to scroll down to find her cards as her latest post dated November 29th talks about a nasty fall she had recently.

 I hope Sasha gets better soon so that she can create those beauties.

Happy weekend and thanks for all the love,

Monica

Thursday 1 December 2011

Commissioned card

Hello lovely people out there,

When I don't blog I feel strange as though something is missing from my life. Wonder if  you feel that way as well.

Here is a card I made for someone... I don't remember the stamp but I bought these clear stamps with lots of cars on them.
The twine, wool and mosaic are from my stash. I have sponged the embossed paper with fired brick.  The little 3D dots are pop up fabric paint in brown.                                                                                                                                                                       


I collected another chest of drawers this afternoon and hopefully I will be able to stock the rest of my supplies in there.

I am sorry that I have not been regular with my visits, but will certainly drop by soon.

Hugs until then,

Monica