Pocket Full

To Enter March's Challenge Click Here

Wow! Last month's challenge was a blast! It was so exciting to see the many ways a doily could be used to create a card.  Thanks to everyone that took the time to participate.  So many wonderful creations that selecting just one would be impossible for me!  No way would I be able to choose and my girls...well lets just say they know how to disappear when the real work begans.  Anyway we use the "Random Generator" and "Mr. Linky" to select for us.  So for February's "Hello Doily" challenge we say..........

!!!CONGRATULATIONS!!!

to Karen G.

for entry #20

(Please contact Mema at lesia.cook@gmail.com to claim your prize before 3/4)

Next month our challenge is a pocket full of winnings.  Simply put there are several ways to win so make sure you check it out by clicking on the March Challenge Tab above.

My Scrapping BFF and I went to the Expo and saw all the new dies being released by Spellbinders.  Some of them were just to gorgeous to pass by, not to mention that we were able to buy them without pre-ordering and way before they hit the stores. 

Both Cherry Lynn and Marianne has a few new dies as well and there are a couple of new machines coming out as well (one is from Spellbinders).  I must remember to budget my money...after all the mortgage must be paid and the electricity is a necessity. I could give up food for a month.....Ummm...well maybe not.  

Anyway I have a card to share with you and I hope you enjoy it.

I created this card from a DCW Tattered Time mat stack and then created the little tags from leftover scraps.  This tri-fold card is 4x4 when folded and although it is small it has a little bit weight to it.  Honestly, it was totally fun to make and when completed it is just plain cute.

Tons of pockets to tuck tags, gift cards, tea bags, words of wisdom and any other small token.

That's all for this post but don't forget to join us next month for our "Anything Goes" challenge with an optional twist and several ways to win or increase your chances of winning.  Its going to be fun, so stop on by....Mema will be waiting for ya.

Hugz

Lesia

Back to Cards

Well I finally found my way back to creating cards.  Creating page layouts are fun and you can practice doing all sorts of things but sometimes you just want that instant gratification with a CAS (clean and simple) card and that is what I have to share with you today.

Before I share my cards, I must tell you that I am excited about tomorrow. The Scrapbook Expo is here and my Scrapbook BFF and I are planning to go check out the happenings and see if there is anything to be bought.... I say that as if there isn't always something we think we need.....not want, but need.

I tell myself to be practical and only buy something if I truly need it but when you're an addict self-talk just doesn't seem to work.  Shopaholic, Scrapaholic, Cardaholic, Paperholic and all those other holics (I just keep making up words) seem to be with me everywhere I go.  I get tired of fighting the urge, so I tell myself that it would be more fun to simply give in to the urge, have fun and suffer buyers remorse later (smiles).

That type of self-talk always works.  Okay lets get on with it.  Here are my two cards using paper from Graphic 45.

My first card uses paper from the Birdsong Collection.  This collection is absolutely gorgeous.

The first card I created using this paper pad was the tri-shutter fold card (think that is what it is called).  If you recall I used Selma's tutorial and then I shared it with everyone.  Thanks again Selma!

When "Birdsong" was first released I purchased the 6 x 6 paper pad and just a few singles of the 12 x 12 sheets.

That was a mistake! I went through that paper pack so quickly and I couldn't bear to throw away even the smallest pieces that were left.  So what do you think I did?  Of course the only thing I could do, and that was figure out how to create a CAS card with what I had on hand.

I still have a couple of small pieces left but I'm thinking that there is a bookmark or charm or something waiting to be made from that paper.  Wonder how a flower would look with all these beautiful colors and patterns.  I'll try it out later and let you know the results (only if they're good of course).

I want to enter this card in the following challenges:

Through the Craft Door - Anything Goes (25 Feb)
Challenges 4 Everybody - Challenge #14 Anything Goes (28 Feb)
Make It Monday - Challenge #128 (23 Feb)

Ladies Anne's Challenges - #6 Challenge Anything Goes (3 Apr)

Here is another card using Graphic 45 paper and this time the collection was A Ladies Diary.

I've created several tags and cards using this paper pack and I finally broke down and got myself a full 12 x 12 paper stack.  The intent for this paper stack is to use it on a mini album I'm considering.

Unfortunately, I do believe that by the time I get to the mini album I will need another paper stack because I keep finding a reason to use a few sheets here and there.

I did finish the inside of both cards following the layout of the fronts.  I hope you enjoyed these cards.  My inspiration came from the Graphic 45 blog and gallery.

I want to enter this card in the following challenges:

Ladies Anne's Challenges - #6 Challenge Anything Goes (3 Apr)
Stamp N Doodle - Anything Goes (25 Feb)
Crafting By Designs - Anything Goes (26 Feb)

SNEAK HINT:  Next month Mema's challenge is "Anything Goes" with pockets.  So if you can tuck it, then its a pocket.  Hope you can join in the fun and maybe win a few prizes.

Thanks for stopping by....come back soon.

Hugz
~Lesia~

Scrapping Projects

Click the February Challenge tab above for our current challenge

Hi All! I hope you all were surrounded with loved ones on Valentine's Day, and that lots of smiles and hugs were shared.  There was lots of red being worn and most of the restaurants were booked (good for them bad for procrastinators), but some of us are easy to please.  I received flowers, ice cream, money and a card.  Who could ask for more. The rest of the day I spent preparing for a lazy night.

Today I was well rested and ready to get back on a couple of projects I had going.  I managed to get two page layouts completed and I am going to enter them in the following challenges:

The Crafting Cafe - Anything Goes
The Crafty Bloggers Network - Challenge #8 Anything Goes

Here are the layouts:

My first layout uses Websters paper and Bazzil card-stock. I added a few flowers and used my Marianne dies to cut out a few leaves.

I matted my photo on a piece of punched card-stock.  I also use some lace that I picked up at "Crafty Scrapper" my favorite crafting store.

The corners were adorned with peel and stick stencils that are just fabulous and lastly I added a bit of journaling and a charm to finish this page.

This layout was created by request.  I used plain card-stock and DP from one of my DCWV paper stacks to create this design.  After punching around the Silver card-stock I measured the center and cut Black card-stock to fit in the center.

Then I used Martha Stewart's circle cutter to cut a 5" circle in the black CS and positioned the photo behind the circle.  One piece of gray ribbon marked the area for my title and provided alignment of my title.  I used a mix of Prima and Recollections Flowers along with a Prima Pearl Flourish embellishment.  Since I didn't have any turquoise or teal pearls I used white ones and then colored them with my copic markers.

I added a few embellishments in the lower corners and then I framed this layout in a 3D Black frame (not shown) and packaged it for shipping.  I think my friend will like it when she gets it and I hope her son will as well.

The last thing I would like to share is the Valentine's Day card I created and sent to my bestest male friend (okay bestest is not a word, but I like it)..... Anyway he doesn't care for red that much so to be different I thought I would use a hot green...sounds strange, right?, well take look-see;

My friend didn't get it on Valentine's Day but he liked it anyway...in fact he said it was "hot to death" so that made me feel like I had did well.

The image is Kenny K and the paper is all CS. I used a Martha Stewart to punch the edges of the card base and the mat edge.

Lastly I added a little bling and a sentiment, and dropped it in the mail at my local post office.

This is it for tonight...I hope you enjoyed your visit and I truly do appreciate you stopping by and hope to see you again real soon.

There's still 12 days left to enter my challenge, and take a chance on winning a gift card to Oozak where you go for your copic and crafting needs.

Hugz

Lesia ~Mema~

Page Layouts

Today was a great day.  Not only was the sun shinning but the air was fresh and I could barely smell the dreaded pollution of life in a Metropolitan.  Additionally, I met a new scrapper (Kelly) at Michael's and we chatted for at least 45 minutes.  I enjoy meeting scrappers and finding out that we are all a great bunch of folks coming from different parts of the world or city, with a friendly, caring and easy to talk to style or attitude.

Anyway we exchanged tips and phone numbers for future meetings or chats even if they are online.  So what do I have to share today?  I think I'm stuck on page layouts so here is what I have to share.

This layout was done using DP by Paper Reverie and Recollections cardstock.  I punched out a few butterflies and a couple of border strips.

Once I added a few swirls, flowers, journal tag and a title I was done with it.

I am entering this layout at:
Challenges 4 Everybody Challenge #13 - Anything Goes (Feb 14th)

I used my youngest son as my model for this layout and I do think he's a handsome one, but then again so is his older brother.  Talk about a proud momma...that's me (smiles)

The entire layout uses Graphic 45 and Tim Holtz dies.  For some reason I just think these two brands meld together like ham and cheese.

I thought I would enter this layout in the challenge over at:
One Stitch At A Time Challenge #150 - Anything Goes (Feb 15th)

If you've ever been to a Hot Air Balloon show, you know it is a spectacular sight to see when hundreds of balloons fill the sky. Then after the show comes the shopping and then the journey home.

I used Webster's Pages to create this soft, girly layout. The flowers are a mix of Recollections and Prima.  I also added a few K&Company 3D stickers because I ran out of flowers and didn't want to go out again (lazy me).

 I want to enter this layout in the following challenges:
Hotshot Craft Challenge #15 - Anything But A Card
Eclectic Ellapu - Anything Girly (Feb 15th)

I hope you enjoyed these layouts and maybe even got inspired.

Thanks for stopping by and remember all comments are welcomed!

Hugz From Texas
Lesia

Bingo Challenge

Hello and happy weekend! I have a couple of scrapbook layouts to share with you this weekend.  My mojo just couldn't be found when I tried to design a card and I could find no inspiration anywhere so I decided to enter a couple of layout challenges just to see if my mojo was hiding somewhere behind those pages and I found it.

Let me start with the fact that SOC is celebrating Black History month with a Bingo challenge.  There are 13 ways to bingo and if you did them all you win the grand prize! There is also Level 1 which is 1 -6 bingo's and Level 2 which is 7 - 12 bingo's.  Well of course I went for the grand prize, so let me show you what I did.

This is the bingo card.  As you can see there are several ways to bingo or for a bigger challenge you could shoot for the grand prize and fill the card.

Of course that is what I did.  I decided to tell the story of how a soldier that gives his life to save another is honored.  His funeral services is a "Call to Home".

This event is very special to me because I know many fallen soldiers and while they did not die as a hero they did give their life so that we might enjoy ours.

So think about it.....would you not consider them to be your unsung hero.  You may know of these heroes....I know I do.

 When you add it up there are 24 requirements for the grand prize. Lets see if I made the grade. You cross them out as I identify them.

 I used Tim Holtz's hanging sign and gears die cut for a masculine feel and to achieve the circle requirement. (smiles) On the hanging part I added a Bob Dylan quote and used twine to hang the sign to the post. I used no more than two photos by deciding to use one photo and double-mat it for interest.

I also added a border/edge punch to the bottom of my photo; Just below the border punch I used a Spellbinders banner to add a sub-title and then to emphasize the title I added a piece of chipboard that simply said This is Love.

In one of the gears I used a button as its center and although its hard to see the other gear has a black flower as its center. There is just enough bling in the lower right corner to capture your eye and then my journal box where I capture how I play a role in Black History is midway above that and then we have a bit of negative space.   My ATC card is embellished with a 3D cross and a charm piece in the form of a crown.

For this layout I inked and distressed the edges using Walnut Stain. On the ATC card I hand wrote the date of this event and on the photo I simply spelled out the event "the funeral".  Throughout the layout my dominant colors were black, burgundy and tan. I accented these colors with white.

This was indeed a challenge but I had fun with it.  If you'd like to challenge yourself...feel free and if you do please share with us.

Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment.  BTW there is still time to enter my February "Hello Doily" challenge if you haven't already.  Just click the tab at the top to join in the fun.

Hugs
Lesia

Baltimore Champs

Howdy My Lovelies!
Congratulations to the fans and players of the Baltimore Ravens.  I'm not a fan but I must say a job well done. The game got interesting with a 110 yard touchdown, and then the lights went out. Wonder if there will be a song titled "The night the lights went out in Louisiana  (lol). But the 49er's got a dose of energy or something during the darkness because when the lights fired back on so did the 49er's.  For a fleeting moment I was very excited...the comeback was awesome but it just didn't come fast enough for a 49er win (dangit).  It was an exciting comeback though, making a memorable game and the commercials...well some I thought were pretty special.

This will be a quick post because I have a scrapbook page to finish for a challenge and then its off to bed. I also wanted to let you know that there is a new challenge going on at 613 Avenue Create and the theme is Anything Goes with a twist theme of "Love".  It can be any person, place, or thing you love and any color. I opted to stick with the traditional color of red with a touch of black and white. 

Card Recipe:

DP: Authentique

CS: Bazzill

Image: My Heart Pieces

Sentiment: Computer Generated

Ink Media: Copics

Lace, brads, prima flowers

I hope you enjoy the card, thank you for stopping by and don't forget to stop over at 613 Avenue Create to join in on the fun! You've still got time! Good luck!!

Entering Challenges:
Allways Something Creative - Challenge #47 Love
Digi Galore - 3 Colors Only
Digi Haven - Love Valentine Challenge (family friendly)
LadyBug Crafts - Valentine and/or Love