Sunday 8 September 2013

Spot the difference...

Hello sweet bloggers,

Here is my card that I made in precisely 5 minutes. I had this lovely paper from an Indian wedding - pearly shade of blue green (it sparkles gently in real life) and all I did was stick these screen printed butterflies on it. I put glitter on the butterflies and popped up one of them. And I added two crystal gems on the popped up butterfly. After clicking the picture I realized, it may need a sentiment and I put on this sticker sentiment and that kind of put me in some doubt. 


 The same card below with a sentiment... which one do you prefer? I prefer the first one.
I will enter this card in the following:


Wish you a great Sunday.

Love,

Monica


Thursday 5 September 2013

Now & Always

Hello sweet bloggers,

Here is my card to show you for today made with my new stamp from G studio that I bought at Michael's over summer. I love it to bits and the sketch over at The House that Stamps Built was ideal for it. I have used Black Stazon ink to stamp it and have used my new nesties while the silver grey paper is fancy gift wrap. The bow has been created out of tissue paper and it was fun to make it. The little plastic hearts, I am not too sure about, well, this is the only way I could place them. Wish they were together though. Anyway, am pretty pleased with the way this card turned out.



The sketch over at The House that Stamps Built

20130903-220318.jpg
I will also enter this card in:

Phew, that was the maximum number of challenges I have ever entered.

Catch you later.

Love,

Monica 

Wednesday 4 September 2013

Kraft and Text at CAS(ual) Friday

Hello kind crafting buddies,

Here is my card to show you for today which I will enter in CAS-ual Fridays which is all about Kraft and text. Now this card has been made from a clothing tag and I actually clicked a picture to show you the proof, lol.  Those little wooden beads were introduced to me by Aleeza's ex teacher and I just love them. So off I went to the store and bought a few small packs. I added black photo corners to match with the black eyelet and the sentiment is from Wonder House which is also my new buy. I have sponged the punched paper from a scrap with Tim Holtz Antique Linen and the text has been given the same treatment.
I have to say that I had lots of fun creating this card :-) and hope you like it too.


Down below is the tag...

Here is a card that Aleeza's present teacher showed me to admire... sent to him by his mom who makes greeting cards in Canada. It is so beautiful and it looks brilliant in real life with the tiny diamonds on the flowers. I thought I must share it with you :-)

I will enter my card in the following challenges:

http://blog.oozak.com/ - anything goes, diecuts/punches

Have a pleasant day,

Monica 

Tuesday 3 September 2013

Thank you Sandra and Shirley-Anne

Hello sweet peeps,

Here is my card to show you for today... These cute chip board teddy was sent to me by Sandra and the brown scalloped die cut came from Shirley-Anne. Thank you soooo much. I wove the ribbon around the holes in the die cut and tied a bow at the bottom (which is a bit wonky I'm afraid). The sentiment is a ribbon and the buttons are from my stash. 

I will enter this card in the following challenges:

Catch you later,

Monica 

Sunday 1 September 2013

For Less is More - water colouring

Hello sweet bloggers,
Thank you for your comments on my last card and I will leave it as it is...
The card I have to show you today is for the challenge over at LIM which is water colouring. 
I had this stamped image (from Hero Arts clear stamps) which I had coloured with my water colour pencils. I fussy cut the image and popped it on foam tape to make it look more striking.  Much as I wanted to use a sentiment I refrained so that this card is saleable. I have used one of my fave border punches from Ek Success and the kraft that you see under the brown cardstock is packaging material.


I will also enter this card in:

See you later.

Love,
Monica 

Saturday 31 August 2013

Hold on to your peace...

Hello sweet bloggers,

Here is my card for CAS(ual) Friday this week where the theme is Kraft and Text.
The stamp an itty bitty one from Unity and I do like the words, I have to say.
I am slightly unsure whether it needed more embellies or not. 
Would love to hear what you think of it.



Wish you a pleasant weekend.

Love,
Monica 

Thursday 29 August 2013

Feathery indeed

Hello sweet bloggers,

Here is a quick card I made at Aleeza's request... No stamping here, just feathers and ribbons.
Life is a bit hectic - Aleeza is a bit poorly so is home instead of enjoying her new school and that means less crafting. Never mind, they grow up so fast so I should actually relish every moment of it. 


I will enter this card in:
365 days - day 235 - no stamping


Love,

Monica 

Tuesday 27 August 2013

Pretty floral arrangement from a friend

Hello lovely blog buddies,

Life has been rather busy of late... there is a lot happening, we have had to move Aleeza to another school for reasons that were causing us much stress. Anyway, she has taken the transition really well. It was her second day today and I feel proud of my little girl that she is handling the change so well. She was rather well settled in her old school and I have much gratitude for all the positives she gained there but change her school we had to.

Here is a picture of a floral arrangement that a dear friend got home to lunch. I LOVE flowers and I was delighted with it so I thought I must share it on my little blog. This lovely lady actually has a passion for flowers and does her own flower arranging. She has done a diploma in floral arrangement and is really talented as you can see.


Down below is a card similar to one I had made a few weeks ago. It is a Paper Mania stamp and I have used my Prisma pencils to colour the image. The three presents are stickers from my stash.



I wish you a pleasant Tuesday.

Love,

Monica 

Saturday 24 August 2013

For CAS(E) this sketch

Hello bloggers,

Here is my take on the sketch over at CAS(E) this Sketch this week. What is it with the white black and red combo that I just keep going back to? I just love it and no matter how many cards I make with it, there's no tiring me. I have used a cling stamp from Unity, an Ek Success border bunch and red sequins that I bought in India many, many years ago (nine). I do like how this card turned out even though there is a slight over dose of sequins.





I will also enter this card in:

Wish you a super weekend.

Love,

Monica 

Thursday 22 August 2013

With all my love

Hello lovely peeps,

This is a quick card I made today in the midst of my busy schedule today...
I have used my new MS border punch with Washi tape and a Spellbinder's label - my life is all about dies and punches still. The sentiment has beens stamped with a clear stamp sent by Sandra to me. I love it, Sandra. I have stuck the red gems to make it more glam.


I will also participate this card in:

Off to bed now...

Love,

Monica 


Wednesday 21 August 2013

Second entry for CAS(E) this Sketch

Hello sweet blog buddies,

Here is my second take on the sketch at CAS(E) this Sketch this week. The sentiment (from Wonder House) is my new buy - you should have seen me break into a happy dance when I spotted it at the craft store. I have used pearlised paper to die cut the sentiment and punch the hearts. The butterflies are plain confetti!!! My long love affair with die cuts and punches continues...



Down below is the photo inspiration at Just Inspirational


I will also enter this card in:

Wish you a pleasant Wednesday.

Love,

Monica

Monday 19 August 2013

Choose happy

Hello lovely peeps,

Here is my take on the sketch over at CAS(E) this Sketch... These wooden beads have a history to it. Aleeza made a necklace in her last year's art and craft class with them but decided to break it open to play with the beads and before she could even realize where they disappeared, I put them on this card. I wanted to string them through the yarn but they did not look elegant enough. So this is what I did manage after much thought. This sentiment from Hero Arts is my new buy and I love it.  



I will also enter this card in the following:
http://natalieandamy.blogspot.co.uk/ - celebrate
http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/ - anything goes
http://challenges4everybody.blogspot.co.uk/ - anything goes

Have a wonderful Monday,

Monica

Saturday 17 August 2013

Sweet baby card

Hello sweet blog buddies,

Here is a card that Aleeza asked me to make with the new embellies (the bib, the baby sentiment and the tiny yellow flower) I bought last week. She even guided me through with the design except that I placed the flower the way I wanted it. She seemed pleased with the result and so did I. The green scalloped nesties have been die cut out of paper that was spritzed with water and then crumpled before putting a layer of pearly acrylic paint on it. Zeenya and I did this many years ago (like seven to be precise) and we had lots of fun doing it. The lace is from my stash and the leaves have been punched from the same paper as the nesties.


I will enter this card in the following:

See you later as am off to catch a movie now which is a pure luxury here as we don't get good Hollywood cinema here.

Love,

Monica 

Friday 16 August 2013

For Sunday Stamps

Hello lovely peeps,

Here is my take on the sketch at Sunday Stamps - I have used my almost new and hardly used Ek Success border punch to make the orange border. This punch was bought with much delight and excitement but poor guy has not seen much light. The round nesties have been sponged with TH peeled paint (they have been stuck with foam dots) and the little gifts are my newest dies. The printed paper was sent to me by Merry - thanks so much. The sentiment is handwritten - I did have a stamp with the same sentiment but I found it easier and quicker to write it with my hands!





I will also enter this card in:
http://www.2creativechicks.com/ - anything goes for kids

Thank God it's Friday once again.

Love,

Monica 

Wednesday 14 August 2013

Recycled from a Wedding Favour

Hello sweet bloggers,

I had received this lovely wedding favour and did not have the heart to bin it so I took wall paper and covered up the text on the box. The ornate border was part of the design so it kind of matched quite nicely with the round nestie and the punched flower which were both made from wall paper. Then I made a quick card with more punched flowers out of the same paper to along with it. The card stock was sent to me by Shirley-Anne. I have stuck foam like clay in the centre of the big flowers. In real life this paper has a lovely texture with a pearly touch to it.


I hope you like my recycled project which was rather quick and enjoyable to make.

I will enter this in the following:
http://challenges4everybody.blogspot.co.uk/ - anything goes
http://dreamvalleychallenges.blogspot.com/ - monochrome
http://thatcraftplaceblog.blogspot.com/ - monochrome

Off to enter the challenges now.

Love,

Monica

Monday 12 August 2013

A really bright baby card

Hello lovely bloggers,

Here is my card for the challenge at CAS - Colours and Sketches. Only after making the card did I read the fine print which said you HAVE to use a stamp. Never mind, atleast I made a card in the bargain. I have used my latest die which is a Japanese make and it works like butter, so easy and smooth to die cut with. The blue scalloped nestie and round one are my new purchases as well. Thought I should inaugurate them instead of waiting for weeks, months and years, lol. I have painted the nesties with acrylic paint in a dab, dab fashion. The printed paper was sent by Terry and so were the gems. Now let me share a secret here - the gems were used to hide some flaws on the round nestie. And guess what I forgot to colour the eye of the bird.  


I will enter this in the following:

See you later.

Love,
Monica 

Sunday 11 August 2013

For CAS(e) this sketch this week

Hello lovely bloggers,

Here is my card for CAS(e) this sketch this week. It is rather similar to the card I made a few days ago but all the material was lying handy on the table so I went for it. The only difference is the border punch this time and yes, the sentiment which is my new acquisition from the art and craft store in town. I have stamped the sentiment with bark and I went over it with my Sakura brown metallic pen. 




I will also participate in:

Hope you are having a good weekend,

Monica 

Friday 9 August 2013

A thank you card

Hello lovely bloggers,

A very warm welcome to my newest followers - thank you for joining my little blog.
This is a thank you card I made for a newly made friend who called us home to a lovely meal...She has a seven month old son whom Aleeza (my five year old) adores. 
The printed paper for a change is not gift wrap, lol. It was sent all the way from Australia from Merry and so was the paper for the leaves. I ran the printed paper through my CB and the lace is from my stash. The punched flower with a tiny confetti flower for the centre was made with the extra bit of the yellow embossed paper.


I will enter this card in:

Wish you a happy Thursday,

Monica

Thursday 8 August 2013

Birthday card for a male

Hello sweet peeps,

Here is my masculine card for today made in a jiffy since time is at a premium with schools shut for the entire week. I have used my Prima clear stamps for the first time and the sentiment is from Hot of the Press (clear stamps too). Incidentally, these stamps have been gathering dust for over two years. The edges have been sponged with TH salty ocean and the crystals are from Kaiser Craft. The printed paper is gift wrap again and I am really resisting the urge to buy more. Also the realization is dawning on me, that I have been penny wise and pound foolish. And never mind the space it occupies in my craft room.


I will submit my card in the following:
http://oldiebutagoodiechallenge.blogspot.com/ - male card and atleast six months old

See you later then.

Love,

Monica 

Tuesday 6 August 2013

Queen of Recycling is here...

Hello lovely people,
Hope you are having a warm and sunny Tuesday... mine was rather busy with the kids being at home since everything is closed here for a week for the festival of Eid. Hubby went to golf so we went eating out and shopping. If he can play golf three days in a row, I can have a nice time too. Lol.

This card is for the challenge over at CAS on Sunday which is to tag it. This tag has been recycled and I thought it was just too pretty to be binned. I have covered up the text with the little thank you chip board sentiment that came from Sandra. The daisies have been punched and their centres have been made with a clay similar to Amos clay which belongs to Aleeza. I pinched some clay while playing with her to make the centres of these flowers. I do like my flower centres and the idea of recycling but am not too sure of the layout of this card. It looks a bit bland at the bottom, doesn't it? I have embossed straight lines on the card with my scorer and scoring board but it doesn't show in the picture. I think I may liven it up a bit more at the bottom - comments welcome :-)


I will also enter this card in:

Off to do some commenting now.

Love,

Monica 

Sunday 4 August 2013

Dried leaves...

Hello sweet blogging buddies,

Here is my card that I made last night... these leaves were picked up like three years ago when we visited France. And I forgot all about it since I did not dry them in my flower press. Zeenya (my older one) found them in her novel after all this time and handed them to me. I could not let my eyes off them until they were on a card.
The papers on this card were sent to me by Terry some three years ago and I have used this MS border punch since it was lying handy on my table. It just seems to match so nicely, don't you think? I was looking for twine but what I had was a wee bit too thick so I used this woolen yarn instead.


I will enter this card in the following challenges:

Wish you a happy Sunday.

Love,
Monica 

Friday 2 August 2013

Teddy bear, teddy bear, give those flowers...

Hello lovely peeps,

I made this very flat card this morning just before taking Aleeza to school. I am trying to make cards that can be sent in the mail.
 The teddy chipboard image has come all the way from the UK from my very dear blogging friend, Sandra and I love it. All the previous cards that were created with this image sold like hot cakes. The paper came free with a magazine and the die cut is from Spellbinders (wish it was easy to use this die) which I cut into two to fit the top and bottom. I have used an MS border punch on the printed paper and embossed the pink and black paper together. I seem to be getting comfortable at last with using black on my cards, ha ha. 


I will enter this card in:

Thank God it's Friday!

Love,
Monica 

Thursday 1 August 2013

Flowers...

Hello sweet bloggers,

Here is my card for today where I have used my new rubber stamp from Stampendous and have coloured the image with Prisma pencils. It looked rather pretty until I thought of being super creative by going ahead with embossing it. I wanted to emboss with my Swiss dots folder but used this one instead and the whole image actually got washed out. By the way it looks much nicer in real life and the black and white polka dotted ribbon does not stand out like a sore thumb!!!

I will enter this card in the following challenges:
http://www.inkspirationalchallenges.blogspot.com/ - anything goes
http://thepapershelter.blogspot.com/ - anything goes
http://www.ladyanneschallenges.com/ - anything goes

Wish you nice Thursday.

Love,
Monica 

Wednesday 31 July 2013

A card for an order

Hello sweet bloggers,
Well, the previous card I posted for a one year old was much liked. So thank you for all your lovely comments.
This card is made with a Hero Arts background stamp and I have used distressed ink for it. The sequins have been lying with me for over eight years but the lace is comparatively new - just a few months ago.
This was an order for Idul Fitri which is the Muslim New Year and is celebrated in a big way here and the country is closed for almost ten days. This card was also an order from a friend and she liked it.


I have some good news to share now - my card below was featured in my favourite challenge blog http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/ last week. It sure did make my day :-)


I will enter my first card in the following challenges:

Wish you a pleasant Wednesday,

Monica 

Tuesday 30 July 2013

For a one year old's birthday

Hello lovely blog buddies,

Here is my card for an order - for a little boy's first birthday. It had to be flat as it is going to be sent overseas. Frankly I am not so impressed with with what I have made - it seems a bit too busy to me. The stamp is a clear one from Paper Mania picked up from Hobby Craft in London this summer at a super price. I have coloured it in with my new Prisma pencils and the shiny paper came from Merry all the way from Australia - thank you so much, I love it. The printed paper is fancy gift wrap, the star and baby hippo are from my stash of 3D stickers. The candle which you see in place of the letter I is a sticker from EK Success.


I will enter this card in the following challenges:
http://artisticinspirationschallenges.blogspot.co.uk/ - celebrations
 http://craftybootschallenges.blogspot.com/ - animals
http://www.creativecreationschallenges.blogspot.co.uk/ - anything goes
http://getinkychallenge.blogspot.com/ - birthdays

Catch you later.

Love,

Monica

Monday 29 July 2013

Sold another seven cards!!!

Hello sweet peeps,
A lady who lives in our complex ordered two cards from me last week and actually bought seven - now how kind is that!!! I am thrilled to bits and she sure made my weekend.
Here is my card to show you for today. It was actually made a few days ago for the challenge at LIM last week which was to make handmade flowers. The embossed piece had to be placed in this fashion as it was too long for my card. I have had it in my embossing drawer for many months now. The flowers are handmade out of punches and the flourishes have been cut into two from a corner die while the pearls are from my stash.


I will enter this card in the following challenges:
http://disdigidesignschallenge.blogspot.com/ - wedding/anniversary/congratulations


Happy Monday,
Monica 

Saturday 27 July 2013

A card for a friend's farewell

Hello sweet blogging buddies,

I am a bit sentimental as one of my dear friends is leaving Jakarta for Vietnam since her husband is relocating. She was one of the first few ladies I met when we moved to Indonesia some six years ago and we hit it off instantly. Even though we would have liked to see each other more often than we did, it was always easy to feel comfortable in her company.

So here is a card I made for her in minutes this morning... the sentiment I thought was very apt. Sorry I cannot recall the name of the rubber stamp. The green flourishes are from a larger spellbinder die that I picked up at Hobby Craft in London. It took me forever to die cut it. I have randomly cut it into two and stuck it on the top and bottom of the card. The flowers have been cut from a lace and I have stuck matching confetti in the centres. 


I will enter this card in the following challenges:

Wish you a pleasant weekend.

Love,

Monica 

Friday 26 July 2013

More pink coming your way...


Hello sweet peeps,

Thanks for the kind words on my sales yesterday - you all have a big hand in this in every which way.
Here is a card I made yesterday with home made flowers and fancy gift wrap. The centre of the flowers have Kaiser gems and the ribbon is from my stash. No sentiment so as to make it versatile enough to sell easily.


I am entering this card in the following challenges:
http://www.charismacardz.blogspot.com/ - make your own embellies 
http://craftyribbonschallenge.blogspot.com/  - anything goes with ribbon

Happy to have Friday here again.

Love,
Monica 

Thursday 25 July 2013

Sold 16 cards yesterday to two kind friends

Hello sweet blogging friends,

I had a great day yesterday as two of my friends bought 16 cards at one go from me. Can you believe how happy that made me??? It did wonders to my mojo which has deserted me of late. I have noticed that if I don't sell my cards often enough, that is what happens to me. So this sale was a God send for me. I seem to have raised enough to support three of the five children from last year and hope that I sell enough to cater for all five of them for this year.

Now to my card - it is kind of recycled as the striped paper you see is from a mini cake carton from the bakery we have downstairs. It was just too pretty for me to trash even though I had to try rather hard to retrieve it as there were ample chocolate stains on the paper. The cow print is a ribbon (I love it) and the stamp is from Penny Black while the embroidery floss is from my stash.


I will enter this card in the following challenges:

Off to visit my fave blogs now.

Love,
Monica 

Sunday 21 July 2013

For Less Is More - handmade flowers

Hello sweet peeps,

I hope you are having a good weekend... out here it is already past 7 pm in the evening. Aleeza went back to school last week and Zeenya goes back in mid August. Aleeza was so happy to go back to her friends and normal routine and so was I.
Over at Less is More the challenge for this week is to make a card with handmade flowers. So here is mine made with my new Sizzix flower dies from Susan Tierney (bought with much excitement). It took me forever to place the flowers right and yet I was not too pleased with the result. Not sure whether I would be trying my hand at this again. The washi borders are from my stash and the sentiment is from Docrafts. By the way, the flower is a red poppy but for some reason my camera decided to give it a magenta-ish shade.


I will also enter this card in:

Off to visit and comment now.

Love,

Monica 

Saturday 20 July 2013

Clean and Simple

Hello blog buddies,

Here is my card to show you today made with a Kaiser Craft clear stamp and coloured in with Faber Castell water colour pencils. Rather simple card with not much ado but I do like it.


I will enter this card in the following challenges:

Wish you a pleasant and relaxing weekend.

Love,

Monica 

Wednesday 17 July 2013

I love this printed paper

Hello lovely peeps,

Here is my card to show you - it is for the challenge at http://www.comeandgetitchallenges.blogspot.com/ sketch
I loved this clean and simple sketch and here is my take on it. The papers came free with a magazine and the sentiment is from Hot Off The Press. The MS border punch fits in nicely, don't you think? The ribbon roses are from my stash.



I will also enter this card in the following challenges:


I hope you like my card... Would love to hear your comments.

Love,

Monica 

Monday 15 July 2013

I love this image

Hello dear blog buddies,

Here is my card to show you for today made with the clear stamp that Sandra sent me. I love it and I took it along on holiday and coloured it in. The corner die is one of my new buys from London. The image has been layered on white card stock and I have used double side foam tape under it. The yellow rose at the bottom has been lying with me for 12 years and has lost it's gluing capacity. I have layered it on a punched green flower to make it look bigger.


I will enter this card in the following challenges:

Wish you a pleasant week ahead.

Love,
Monica


Sunday 14 July 2013

Recycled from a wall paint brochure

Hello sweet peeps,

Thanks for the warm welcome back to blogland. I love the comraderie we share even though we have never met. Only a blogger would understand what I am saying. Sometimes it feels like a pen pal club except that we send do everything electronically.

Here is a card made with a Nippon paint brochure which my hubby had binned. Yes, I took it out of the dustbin and luckily it was in a plastic sleeve so was intact. It took for forever to place the feather and the leaf (my new buy from Michael's). The flowers have been punched and the paper for the leaf came from Merry from Australia. Thank you, Merry! The feather is from my stash - better use them up instead of stocking them.


I will enter this card in the following challenges:

Catch you later...

Love,

Monica 

Saturday 13 July 2013

Am back!!!

Hello sweet bloggers,

Ah my own pillow at last - East or West, Home is Best.
We are back from our trip over seven seas and back. We went to the US, yes all the way to the US from Indonesia, trust me it was not a small feat. We went to pretty San Francisco for a week and then to London where my inlaws are and do believe me when I say I survived it well.
San Francisco was lovely - the weather was good on most days. We walked a lot even though the city is small. And I thought walking would help my girth get smaller but obviously it did not as I ate too much there. Lol.
We visited two little towns by ferry called Sausalito and Tiburom (not sure whether I have the right spelling). We also walked to the crookedest street - Lombard Street which was lovely and hot, tiring and sweaty as well. The exploratarium was fun for all of us and so was the Golden Gate Park. The Alcatraz prison we saw from the bay as I had already done it the last time we were here. 
I managed to go to Michael's and have to say I expected much more. I do vaguely remember visiting Michael's with a dear friend many years ago. I bought my Prisma colour pencils from there and I was on cloud nine until I discovered that I had paid much more than what the price was at Blick. Never mind, done is done and I must start enjoying my new colours. In London, we did the Windsor Castle and saw a musical called Mama Mia. Good old ABBA music! And I managed to visit Hobby Craft and The Range - what a sweet way to round off my trip.
Down below are a few photos. I did not take too many pictures this time - just wanted to enjoy it all instead of being with my camera.

 Aleeza and her Dad at the bottom of the crookedest street

The butterflies above are so beautiful and they are blue inside when they open their wings - at the Rain Forest in the Golden Gate Park

Above is a hazy view of the skyline of San Francisco from Tiburom (spelling)


Above is a card I made with a butterfly die that my dear friend Sandra sent me. And the papers were sent by Merry of Unstampabelles. Thank you, dear kind ladies for all your generosity. The sentiment is my new buy... I love embossed sentiments.

I hope all of you have been well. I will come and do my visiting soon.

If you last through this text heavy post and manage to reach the bottom, I send you lots of love,

Monica