Mema's Crafts: 03/2012

Busy March

Hi Everyone
March has been a real busy month for me so finding time to post just seemed absolutely impossible, so now while I have a few minutes let me blog a bit. First of all I have been invited to be a "Guest Designer" for the month of April over at The Outlawz. I am so excited and nervous at the same time...wish me luck...and please know that I plan to have fun with it.

That's not all going on in March. I've been invited to support the launch of a brand new blog as a "Consultant" and "Design Team Member" for Jackson's Digital Expressions and there has been a whirlwind of planning. The launch will include a blog hop where prizes are up for grab and then weekly challenges beginning April 9th. I am going to be a very busy person come April because I still have to prepare for my monthly challenge as well....whew what fun.

For today I have a card I want to share with you, so keep reading. At the last minute I decided to create this card for an older lady who is getting married at age 70 instead of buying her a card. Then I realized that with a few changes with my paper I could enter this card in one of the challenges where the colors were perfect....well almost perfect if you don't include the white. The color challenge you can find at The Outlawz and here is my creation using Rose Pink, Pastel Pink and Pearl Grey with a touch of lace.

The DP is Paper Studio and the CS is Co'oredinations. I embossed one of the mats, added lace and pearls to soften the look. The flowers are Recollections and the sentiment is from K & Company.

Using the same paper I decorated the inside and added a few embellishments to give it a fun festive feel to celebrate the occasion. I am entering this card in:

The Outlawz Color Challenge CC032012

Another Challenge

Well it's time for me to post another challenge entry. Since it is kinda late in my neck of the woods I won't waste time. Here's this week's card.

I thought this little image was just plain adorable. I had planned to use her in a valentine card but couldn't find her and then all of a sudden there she was so I had to use her. The image is from Bugaboo Stamps and the paper is DCWV. I colored her with copics R39, 37, 35, 25, 27, 29 and RV17.

I used paper from the same paper pack to finish the inside. I added a doily to follow the layout of the front of the card and then added the border. I am entering this card in the Wednesday Sketch Challenge SC031412 hosted by The Outlawz.

Well that's all folks.....see ya next time.

"find beauty in all things and then go and create your own beauty"

There is so much excitement going on and things seem to be really moving at a fast pace. As I mentioned in an earlier post, Robert Jackson, an artist with lots of hidden talent is finally launching a blog and introducing his line of digi stamps and art. I am serving as a consultant and guest designer for that team and it is indeed an exciting time for me.

Other things include my involvement with my challenge and previewing all the beautiful creations that have been posted for the challenge. Its amazing how much talent is out there to be shared.

And last but not least is my desire to compete in challenges. My newest card I want to share is in response to a color challenge. The colors were, blue, black and white and the addition was to add a furry friend. With this lovely combination and twist I thought of Tilda and Edwin and their pet dog Wilma and came up with this card.

I used Kaisercraft Designer Paper and Stampin Up cardstock. The sentiment is from Stampin Up as well. I created the ovals using Spellbinders scalloped oval and large classic oval. As an eye catcher I use the Stampin Up pennant punch to create the corner pennant.

Here is a close-up of Wilma. I think this stamp is so cute. I colored her with copics using (I think this is right) E50, 53,55,57,59, B91, 93, 95 and 97.

The flower combination was created using EK Success 5 petal punch and remnants of some felt materials. I used left-over wire stems from other flowers (glad I didn't throw them away). Then I added a little bling because the paper is so dark. I do however like the way the card turned out.

The inside of the card is layered with the same paper, and using the Spellbinders oval I created a space for a personal message.

I am entering this card in the Tuesday Color Challenge hosted over on The Outlawz.

March's Challenge "Just The Two of Us"

This month the theme is "Color Duet" and if you missed out on Michael's fantastic sale of the "Making Memory Slice Machine" you don't want to pass up this challenge. That's right the fab prize that is up for grabs this month is a "Slice Machine."

This Slice Machine comes complete with a carrying case, a case to hold your cartridges and we'll give you 3 to start you off. It also includes a cutting mat, glass plates, manual and accessory kit. You get it all and it is here for the taking!

1. Be a follower of this blog

2. Create a new project of your choice using only two major colors (example: blue&white; red&black; brown&creme etc.)

3. Enter up to 3 projects if you wish

4. Use Mr Linky to post a direct link to your entry (link to your post and not your blog)
5. Remember to link back to this blog in your post

6. Standard rules apply (see left sidebar for more info)

So pick your two favorite colors and enter for a chance to win!! Here are a few examples to get you started:

Duo Colors "Red and White"

Duo Colors "Black and Grey"

I can't wait to see your creations!

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to "find beauty in all things and then go and create your own".

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Calling All Designers

A Design Team Call has been issued for crafters of any experience and style. The purpose is to introduce a new artist that has been hidden for too long. It's time to reveal his talent and showcase his art that ranges from graphite drawings to paintings with digital sketches inbetween. Click on this link Jackson's Digital Expressions to learn more about becoming a designer for Jackson's Digital Expressions.

If you are a designer, experienced or not and would like to showcase your talent why not do it as part of a design team? As a designer you already have a lot to offer to any team and as a crafter you are needed. I recommend that you give being a part of a team a try especially if you have not participated on a team before.

You can also visit his website Fine Arts By Robert Jackson, but here is a sneak peek at a couple of cards I've created using digital images created by Robert.

I found this stylish shoe and thought it was perfect for creating a birthday card for one of my dearest friends whom is quite stylish herself. Her favorite color is purple so with that in mind I proceeded to add a few flowers, bling, ribbon and of course colored the shoe with my copics. This image is from Robert Jackson's "Just Shoes" category.

This next card is for that special lady that is full of ambition. This card could fit almost any occassion and the sentiment says it all. Another image "She's Fierce" is from the Female category. Again I've used copics to color her.

DP: Kaisercraft Chateau Collection
Image: She's Fierce
Flowers: Wild Orchid
CS: Bazzil
Sentiments: Stampin Up
Flourish: Cherry Lynn Designs
Colored with Copics

The inside is simple with the leftover paper from the front and has a sentiment that follows the theme of the card.

Well that's my post for today. Don't forget to leave a comment....I really do like your comments and I hope you will join our Design Team. Its gonna be fun!

Its a beautiful day outside and perfect for crafting, once the housework is done of course. Did we all remember to spring forward the time. I hate losing an hour to play in my craftroom, but I'll just have to start a little earlier.

The Supplies used for this card is as follows:

CS: Paper Studio
DP: MME Ms Caroline "Howdy Doody"
Rossette: Tim Holtz Die

I am entering this card in:
Outlawz Tuesday Color Challenge CC030612

My second card I also created for one of the challenges being hosted by The Outlawz.

I found it strange that in this photo my image appears to have something growing on her chin but when you enlarge the photo you can see that it is a high neck ruffled collar which is creating that look. For a second I thought I had truly forgotten how to use my Copics, whew what a relief to find it was just an illusion of the camera.

I used the following to create this card.
CS: Stampin Up Black
DP: Graphic 45 A Proper Gentleman
Image: Saturated Canary
Sentiment: Inkadinkado
Spellbinders: Scalloped Circle Small

Copics Used:

C7, C5, C3, C1, C0, E43, E41, E40, E13, E11, E00

I am entering this card in:

The Outlawz Wednesday Sketch Challenge SC030712

Thanks for stopping by. Remember to find beauty in all things and then go and create your own!

Amazing Places

Hey Out There! I am back with a card for you. Actually I have a couple of cards to share with you. So not to waste any time let me go ahead and get started.

Card Recipe:
CS and DP: Recollection Paper Pack
EK Success Border Punch
Sentiment and Image was printed on Kraft Paper using my computer. I inked the paper edges with Walnut Stain and added a few brads to finish the card. The inside was decorated using the same color scheme. Below is a sneak peek at the inside.

I am entering this card in the Digital Tuesday Sketch Challenge #150.

Don't Text and Drive!

Wow! I have been one busy person with lots of drama. First of all I get rear-ended while waiting for traffic to slow down so I can turn left onto the street where I live. That close to home when BAM! I feel this impact and my car moves ever so slightly but I held onto the steering wheel not realizing that I was actually kissing it because of the force of the impact. As if in slow motion I see my purse leave the seat beside me as if it had wings and disspell its belongings onto the floor below, while items in my car cubby holes were thrown to the rear of the car. As I watched this unfold I could hear the breaking of glass, and the sound of metal being crushed...I could only imagine what my car looked like and I prayed the car I saw in my rearview mirror would not end up in my backseat.

After what seemed like an eternity, the noise stopped and it was quite again except for the clicking of my left turn signal. I was a wee bit disoriented but as far as I could tell I was fine with the exception of being a bit peeved. There was a tap on my window..."ma'am, are you okay? Can you move your car out of the road? I am so sorry, I didn't notice you, when I looked up..." Turns out this person was texting when they struck me...but the kicker was no insurance, no driving license, and was texting. Of course I called the police and prayed, prayed and prayed because it took praying to keep from totally going nuts and ending up being taken away to jail for assault or worse. I got to go home and start the process to get my car repaired, which by the way wasn't going to be a lot while the other car was totalled and impounded. Whatever you do please don't TEXT AND DRIVE!

All this on top of my four-legged friend needing to go to the vet to see about a growth they can't seem to destroy. It leaves and then returns and just yesterday I noticed it had returned bigger and looking even worse than before the treatments. The stress of the possibility that my best friend may have a cancerous growth is taking its tow on me. She's only 8 years old and I got her when she was 2 months. This is my company we are talking about...my best friend...always there waiting for me after work and ready to protect me regardless to the danger. What will I do without her...I can't think about that...it would prove to be just to much for me.

Okay I'm spilling my guts and thats a downer....sorry...well I have more but I won't talk about my professional life....that would take three more pages at least. This is enough about my personal drama...maybe next post will just be a normal card.

Squirrels Outside My Window

Today was absolutely gorgeous, a bit windy but gorgeous none-the-less and I really wanted so bad to be sitting out in a cabana somewhere but instead I was in an office looking out a window watching squirrels run around. Now I tell you the squirrels outside my office window are very bold. They will come right up to the window pane and press their face against the window to look at you and on occassion they turn their rears your way and raise their tail way up in the air. Makes me wonder if squirrels actually pass gas..lol. Glad there is a window pane between me and them, just in case...cause you never know about Mother Nature. Anyway after getting home, and doing the normal routine of preparing for work tomorrow I decided to sit down and take a break just to breathe and then share with you my latest card.

I'm not sure why this card looks so faded. I tried to get it in the proper light but each shot turned out looking faded. And the inside didn't fair any better and after 6 tries I gave up and decided that "it is what it is" and when ahead with my post.

To create this card I used the normal supplies:
DP: Graphic 45 newest paper pack "Little Darlings"
CS: Recollections
Prima Flowers and Recollection Pearls
Martha Stewart "Flower Box" Punch Set
Sizzix die for the sentiment and a bit of ribbon from the dollar bin at Michael's

I am going to enter this card in:

The Outlawz Wednesday Sketch Challenge 0229

Liebster Blog Award

Many many thanks to Sandi Huggett for selecting me to receive the Liebster Award. Although I had no clue what it was I was still honored to be selected.

So Thank You Sandi!

What follows I took directly from Sandi's blog because I couldn't have said it any better especially since I wasn't even sure what it was...so for an explanation continue to read.

"The origins of the Liebster Blog award are somewhat unclear but the general consensus is that it originated in Germany, Liebster meaning favorite or dearest, to showcase bloggers with fewer than 200 followers. Upon accepting the award the recipient must then pass it on to five more blogs of note."

Now that you've been selected to receive this award here's what you have to do as a recipient and presenter of this award!

1. Thank your Liebster Blog Award presenter on your blog

2. Link back to the blog of the person that presented the award to you

3. Copy and paste the blog award on your blog

4. Pass the Liebster Blog Award to 5 other bloggers that have 200 or less followers

5. Let them know they have been selected by leaving a comment on their blog

So, now it's my turn to pass this award to my fellow bloggers with less than 200 followers, and they are as follows:

Joyce: www.scrapbookstampinista.blogspot.com

Bernadine: http://berni46.blogspot.com/

Chana: http://redoralee.blogspot.com/

Alice: www.alicebrowncreations.blogspot.com/

Treva: www.scrappint.blogspot.com/

After receiving this award I decided to continue with my card for today. Let me go ahead and give you a peak. The theme is to follow Black, White and one other color. I chose Black, White and Red of course. It was going to red or aqua and red won because I didn't have any aqua paper that had designs that I liked at the moment. I hope this one will do.

DP: Bo Bunny Crush Collection

CS: Bazzill

Stamps: Hero Arts

Heart Buttons, Zig Zag seam binding

Sizzix Embossing Folder

As you can see I have gotten in the habit of using leftover paper to decorate the inside of my cards which is a good thing when the base is not white.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenge:

Outlawz Color Challenge CC022812

Thanks for stopping by..."find beauty in all things and then go create your own!"

March 2014 Challenge

Yep, it's another challenge and since there are 5 Saturdays and the 15th actually falls on a Saturday, we decided to announce a winner every Saturday and call it the month where "Every Saturday is A Winner!"

Lots of prizes and excitement! So get your entries in early to have 4 chances to win and you have choices. Just follow one of the sketches below and join in the fun because this challenge theme is...

SKETCH YOUR WAY

(you choose either sketch)

Additionally we are pleased to announce three sponsors this month.

Stitchy Bear Digital Outlet (SBDO)

I'm proud to welcome a new sponsor (drum roll) yeah and a great big thank you to Stitchy Bear Digital Outlet who is offering one winner their choice of 3 digital images from their store. Stitchy Bear has been in business since 2010, providing a wealth of images created by a group of very talented creators. If you have visited lately, please do so and see what they have to offer.

Rick St Dennis (RSD)

We're pleased to welcome back Rick St Dennis as a sponsor. Rick is offering one winner 4 digital images from his array of intricate and detailed images. Rick currently boast of over 600 images that come in a variety of styles to meet your crafting needs. Be sure and check out his new Zibbet store for more choices.

7Kids College Fund

Join me in welcoming a new sponsor to our family. 7Kids College Fund is an arts and crafts store that can supply you with all crafting needs. The owner, Tabitha is offering one lucky winner a $25 gift certificate toward any purchase in her store.

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To get this party started Mema's Crafts has the privilege of introducing two of Rick's own Elite Designers. Help me welcome our March Guest Designers, Julia and KristyLee, who are graciously sharing their talent with us.

RSD GDT - Julia Vasquez

(sketch 2)

Rick St Dennis - The Original Morning Goddess.

RSD GDT - KristyLee

(sketch1)

Before I continue I would like everyone to say a prayer of recovery for Joyce (BFF), who was recently hospitalized. We all hope she will recover quickly because we love and miss her. Leave a comment on her blog "My Enchanted Paper Creations".

Ari

(sketch1-design by Ari;
colored by Mema using Copics & Spectrum Noir)