Thanks

Hello dear bloggers,

Here is a card I have put together for CAS(E) this Sketch very similar to the one I posted a few days ago. The squares were die cut in a lopsided manner to make them look unusual before the water colour paper was coloured with water colour pencils. I tried to obtain an effect similar to cling wrap but this is what I got. I did not want to throw anything away so every single square was used - positive and negative. The black sentiment was die cut from a fancy real estate brochure.

I will submit this card for the following challenges:

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

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

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

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

Monica 

10 years of blogging and a happy card to celebrate

Dear lovely bloggers,

Honestly, it is a long, long time since I have expressed gratitude to my blog and you lovely souls who come and visit me, leaving such beautiful words for me. Thank you for it means the world to me. It makes up for so much else, you know. 

I remember when I was just two-three-four years into blogging, I used to consistently express my gratitude but over the years it became a thing of the past. 

I have completed 10 years of blogging this year in May and it all started when my dad passed away in 2010 and a close friend suggested that I start something related to writing. Blogging about my cards is what I could think of. My cards were so, so, so simple in them days and I am still learning so much from all of you. Yet I feel I have come quite a long way. 

Thank you so much for all your help and support in every which way. I still have the supplies you sent me since some of you sent me a lifetime of them. Papers, stamps, embellies, paper cutter, your name it and I have it. Of course the hoarding continues...

Thank you from the bottom of my heart. 

Now to my card which has been made with washi tape and a stamp by seven gypises. Yes, I remembered the name of the stamp after making a conscious decision to do so. The washi tapes took a while to be aligned since they were eight of them. Apart from that, it was a joy to make this card. I have tried to match the challenge at Addicted to CAS which is "Rainbow".

I will enter this card in the following challenges:

https://www.thehousethatstampsbuilt.com/ - house that stamps built

http://lilredwagon.blogspot.com/ - line it up

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

http://cardz4guyz.blogspot.com/ - card for guys

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

https://incywincydesigns.blogspot.com/ - anything goes
http://cutitupchallenges.blogspot.com/ - boys
http://unikostudio.blogspot.com/ - anything goes

Until my next post,

Monica 

Water colour squares

Hello dear bloggers,

I hope you are staying healthy and happy where ever you are. Here is my card to show you today. The shades of green were achieved with cling wrap and water colour pencils on water colour paper.  This is a pretty self explanatory card as you can see. 

The smile is die cut with a rhinestone on the dot. 

The brain behind this whole design was Aleeza and I am glad that I remembered to own that up. Lol.

https://pinkgemchallengeblog.blogspot.com/  - anything goes
http://disdigidesignschallenge.blogspot.com/ - anything goes
https://colormyheartcolordare.blogspot.com - monochrome green
http://qkrstampede.blogspot.com/ - anything goes
http://cardsgalorechallenges.blogspot.com/ - anything goes
https://creativecraftcottage.blogspot.com/ - make it masculine
https://cccdigicreations.blogspot.com/ - for the men/boys


Monica

Thank You

Hello dear bloggers,

Here is my card to show you today which was made a few weeks ago. The big tag has been recycled and I have stuck a tiny store bought tag on it after colouring it with Staedler markers. At the bottom of the recycled tag, colourful washi tag was used to add intensity of colour. 

Matching embroidery yarn was used to bring in more colour. The background has been made from strips of paper - it is quite a thing to stick these slim strips of paper yet there is something very calming about it.

I will enter in the following challenges with this card:

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

http://addictedtocas.blogspot.com/ - rainbow

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

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

Monica 

My new horse die

Hello dear bloggers,

Here is a card made with the new horse die that has been lying with me since last November. I finally realized that the best way was to use black paper. Underneath is a little shadow of kraft which is what I used earlier to die cut the horse. It lay around for months and finally black it was.

Washi tape from my stock was used to match the kraft die cut and I think it somehow it manages to match with the black die cut.

I would be more than happy to receive tips on how to use this die which I picked up on ebay most excited.

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

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

http://throughthepurplehazechallenges.blogspot.com/ - black and white

Monica 

Masculine card

Hello peeps,

If you recall, a few weeks ago I made a card with a patisserie packaging for women. Here is the rest of the packaging and it is just right for a masculine card. I have done the red layer with my Prismas.

I am fairly pleased with it. I hope you like it, too.

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

https://creativecraftcottage.blogspot.com/ - make it masculine

http://challengeleannsworld101.blogspot.com/ - anything goes

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

Monica 

Another one for Less is More

Hello dear bloggers,

Thank you for your kind comments on my totally recycled card. Somehow to me my recycled cards are more precious than the ones I make with commercial material so I NEVER give them away. Well, that is me. Lol.

This card has been created for both Less is More and CAS(E) this Sketch. The pearlized paper was bought at Paddy's market in Sydney which we visited

 some 15 years ago for the first time. 

The butterflies have been die cut from a hammered paper that is used for making visiting cards. Obviously, when I put the paper in Cuttlebug, it got totally flattened out and the texture went out of the window.

Below is a closeup of the card...

I will take part in the following challenges:

Arty Divas: anything goes

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

https://shoppingourstash.blogspot.com/ - anything travel related

http://unicornchallenge.blogspot.com/ - must use dies

Monica 

100% recycled

 Hello sweet bloggers,

I have been thinking of how I can extend my love of making cards out of recycled materials for a couple of years now. This card is one hundred percent recycled. I found a brochure outside an art museum in Kyoto, Japan with details of an art exhibition. I know what happens to such brochures after the event is over. So I confidently picked up a few and carried back them more safely than I would a baby. Lol. 

 The kraft paper that I have here for the cardstock was a thick brown paper carrier bag from a store. This is the result. Simple yet quite pretty I thought. Coming back to the image, we visited Kyoto to see the cherry blossoms hence you see them here. 

I also have to give credit to a friend called Natalie who challenged me to make a card that was totally recycled.

 I will enter it in the following challenges:

https://doubletroublechallenge.blogspot.com/ - brown paper

https://incywincydesigns.blogspot.com/ - incy wincy designs

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

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

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

Monica 

Celebrate

Hello sweet peeps,

I had this image stamped with Stazon and coloured in with Prisma pencils from many years ago. Now,  I know you will be patient and bear with me as to the name of the rubber stamp. It is in my art room, somewhere in a drawer and I am just too comfortable right now in another room on a big chair to bother getting up to find out the details. You get the picture, don't you? I have done this in the past as well. Lol.

I have gone over the image with Sakura gel pens and the image looks really nice in real life.

I have made this card for the challenge over at CAS(E) this Sketch . I love CAS anyway so this was perfect for me.

 This is a close-up of the sparkle... much better in real life.

I will also participate in the following challenges with this card:

https://aaacards.blogspot.com/ - 1/3rd blank space w/option repeat image

http://thepaperplayers.blogspot.com/ - masculine

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

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

Monica 

For Less is More - white and cream

Hello bloggers,

Here is a card I actually made for Less is More which is about using white and cream. I have used a one piece die cut I bought many years ago in Jakarta, Indonesia while we lived there. It seems so long ago. It was 2014 when we left Jakarta for Singapore. 

I like the simple turn out of this card.

Besides Less is More, I will also participate in the following challenges:

https://52cct.blogspot.com/ - silhouette

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

http://cleanandsimpleonsunday.blogspot.com/ - use a die

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

Monica  

Recycled from a wedding card

Hello dear bloggers,

This card below was made from a wedding card. Yes, the wedding was in Portugal and indeed it was a treat to visit this beautiful country with a rich history and such loving people. The wedding card paper is pearlised and very beautiful. On the sides, I have used washi tape which I bought from Hokkaido in Japan last summer. Now the question is who could this card be sent out to?

I will enter this card in the following challenges:

http://southerngirlschallenge.blogspot.com/ - always anything goes

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

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

Monica 

Thanks

Hello sweet bloggers,

Here is another card to show you with strips of paper. The white strips are the leftover pieces of cardstock while the coloured strips are leftovers of watercolour paper that I had smooshed. I coloured the sentiment with Pentel watercolour tubes. 

I will participate in the following challenges with this card:

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

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

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

Monica 

Partly recycled - black and white with red

Hello dear bloggers,

Here is a card that was made with a cake box from Brunetti, which is a patisserie walking distance from our place. We bought my fave Tiramisu while the girls got their non-flour almond chocolate cake. The box had the image you can see below and it was too pretty to be binned so here is what I did. The red layer at the bottom was cardstock that I coloured in with a Prisma pencil. I only coloured the edges after estimating how much red needed to be seen. I have to say I find this an easy way of adding a layer or an edge. 

The crocodile textured background is a lovely paper that came from Skye in Australia, a year or two ago.  

I will enter this card in the following challenges:

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

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

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

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

Monica

Thank you

Hello lovely angels,

Here is a super CAS card I made yesterday and it was designed by older one. These oval nesties were just lying around on my table.  

We were talking of the time when she was all of four and how she would design the layout of my cards before she left for school and I would make them exactly the way she left them. The conversation landed in this sweet card. I added rhinestones which I am not sure about. The thank you was diecut from a scrap piece of paper which was part of a pamphlet.

I will participate in the following challenges with this card:

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

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

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

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

Monica

Have a great day!

Hello sweet peeps,

Here is my card to show you today. It has been made with fancy gift wrap that I bought in Sydney many, many years ago from a very unique store that sold home crafted art objects. Some ribbon and an oval nestie with a sentiment from Hero Arts and yes - my card was all dressed up. 

https://www.simplyellibelle.com/ - feminine

https://thepapershelter.blogspot.com/ - happy birthday

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

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

Monica

Fancy gift wrap plus embossed

 Hello dear bloggers,

Here is a card I have made out of fancy gift wrap which has been lying with me since Zeenya was three and now she is 20. I stuck it on thicker card stock and let an embossing folder go over it. It looks quite shiny and nice in real life. All these cards are being added to my collection of cards to sell for the shelter that houses abused women.

I will participate in the following challenges:

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

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

http://craftyhazelnutspatternedpaper.blogspot.com/ - anything goes with patterned paper

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

Monica

Wedding card

Hello dear bloggers,

Here is a card with almost no story to tell. I have used this stamp over and over again and seem to love it more and more with the passage of time. The flowers came as a long ribbon and I cut them carefully so that the joints were totally invisible. Embossing, stamping, flowers and a couple of pearls on the flower centres and my card was ready.

I will enter this card in the following challenges:

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

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

http://craftycalendarchallenge.blogspot.com/ - black and white

https://creativecraftcottage.blogspot.com/ - CAS or fully loaded

Monica 

Happy Birthday

Hello dear bloggers,

This card was made with a stamp I bought a very sweet little scrapbooking store in Shrewsbury in the UK many years ago. It can be quite challenging to stamp all of it in one go for some reason. The good side is that if it does do a good job, the entire card is ready in no time. 

I have used a Brilliance blue pearlised ink and have gone over the hibiscus flowers with glossy accents. 

A Sakura silver gel pens were used on a few 'happy birthdays' for added effect as was the blue ribbon. It looks far more sparkly in real life.

It is old fashioned but pleasing to the eyes with the monochromes.

I will participate in the following challenges:

https://craft-deebowz.blogspot.com/p/challenge.html - anything goes with a bow

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

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

https://creataliciouschallenges.blogspot.com/ - anything goes / optional - add sparkle

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

https://creativefingerschallengeblog.blogspot.com/ - always anything goes

Monica 

Happy Birthday tag on a card

 Hello lovely bloggers,

Here is my card which I finally managed to put together after much rumination. The tag is recycled and I actually took a picture to show you this time. So you know I am genuine. Lol.

Some of my fave washi tapes went around the back of the tag and a black ribbon on top. 

I embossed the card stock under the tag and stuck the tag with foam tape since I am a bit done with cutting cardboard and sticking it on either side. 

If I may say so, I quite like the way this card turned out. 

Down below is the tag with a faint shadow for which I apologise.

I will participate in the following challenges:

http://cardz4galz.blogspot.com/ - black and pink

https://cutecardthursday.blogspot.com/ - cute card Thursday

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

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

http://thesisterhoodofcrafters.blogspot.com/ - birthday or folded

Monica