Taking A Break

Hi Everyone, I know it seems like I've been gone forever but in reality I have been working on Christmas presents.  I decided to gift my boys with a mini album like the one I shared on a previous post.  Additionally, I couldn't leave out the other men of my life so they too are being gifted with a mini album.

The plan is to have the albums at least 30% complete with photos just to get them started.  Well that is taking a lot more time than I anticipated but I'm committed so that is why I have been missing in action.

I decided that I would take a break from mini albums and make a couple of cards to share with everyone.  It is fun to do different things but I always come back to my cards...go figure.  Oh, btw, my co-worker and her husband loved the framed wedding gift I gave them.

Okay now on to the cards I want to share:

This first card is the result of being asked if I could do a vintage card of the early African American woman.

It was very difficult to find photos of Black Women in the early 30's or the Victorian Days and even more difficult to find portraits of any Black Americans.  Fortunately, with continued searching I was able to find a few portraits.

The one I decided to use was a portrait of a female that represented pride, hardships, strength, style and beauty at the same time.

I decided to call this card "Proud Beauty" (forgot "strong"); the 3 levels of the female in this photo (1. Pride through the hardships; 2. Strength in faith; and 3. Beauty of being a woman).   Although you may not see what I see, I hope there is still some kind of inspiration in this creation.

My second card was created with the remains of a paper pack I used to created a paper bag mini album.

The front belly band holds two tags for any personal message and the leaves were cut using more leftover paper just because it was available.

I added a little stitching around the card because the colors and patterns of the paper started to overlap and I needed something to separate the layers (smiles).  I couldn't think of another reason.

I finished off the paper pack by decorating the inside with more strips and scraps and then added a space for a message.

I really like how this card turned out and now, I just need to figure out who I can give it to.  Guess I'll hold on to it for now.




Oh well my lovely crafting friends, this is all I have for today.  The weather is dreary, cold and the wind is singing the winter song.  My house is nice and warm and perfect time for PJ's and a hot cup of something (aha-gotcha, thought I was going to say chocolate didn't ya).

Five more days to enter this month's challenge so you still have time.

Until next time be safe where ever you are

Hugs

~Lesia

Weddings

I just love weddings...don't you?  Its a time when everyone is happy and the atmosphere is filled with love and joy for the bride and groom.  There is such hope and dreams on this day...memories that will linger in the years to come.

The decorations provide a sense of serenity and warmth and then the bride starts the walk and the music takes on a new beat as the vocalist sings the words from the heart of many.  Nothing is as gorgeous as the bride is at this moment, and for this moment she is the true and purest representation of beauty.  Oh I just love weddings.

A co-worker just got married and although I was invited I was not able to attend but I was blessed with photos that I could use to create a gift for the bride and groom.  That is what I have to share with you today.  The one thing I have decided to do is add a few butterflies to cover the ink spill that is actually part of the paper.  It has its purpose but for my purpose I want it to disappear so butterflies it will soon become.

 The paper is from Prima's "Lifetime Collection" and I picked the frame up at Michaels on sale of course.  The flowers are all Prima and Petaloo, and the lace I purchased from The Crafty Scrapper which is the best local crafting store in my neck of the woods.  The banner is a die from LaLa Land Crafts and Dies and the trinkets are all Prima embellishments.

Before I close allow me to remind you to take a peek at my winners channel to see if you're our first November Challenge winner.  If you are you are entitled to a $25 gift certificate from our sponsor.

If you weren't a winner, just remember there is still a chance you could win on the 30th so don't give up and there is still time to enter to win.

Until next time, be safe and find beauty in all things.

Hugs

~Lesia

French Country

Ecstatic joy is what I am feeling at the moment.  I finished my second Mini Album and boy am I glad.  The concept and design was inspired by Velocityvette, so thanks to Velocity for her design using paperbags.  My ScrappinBFF decided to create a modified version without the need for paper bags and let me tell you I love it (I was her Guinea pig).

She made it easy with her tutorial that had all the steps and measurements right up front where they should be and with I got started creating the structure for the base and the pages.  There are 6 pages and each page has a pocket on the front, and a pull-out that can be used for a photo or as a place to journal.  Additionally, each page has a tri-fold flip open page where you can add an additional 5 photos.  This mini is loaded and it is really isn't that hard to create once you get the measurements and I do prefer card-stock when creating mini albums (I've created a whole 2 he-he-heh).

I couldn't add all the photos but I did want to show a few of the ones I've pretty much finished but you know how we add embellishments as we go along.  It is my intent to create 4 of these to give as Christmas gifts to my boys...I want to add the photos and everything for them.  This is going to be a lot of work...but they're worth it.  Anyway check out what I've got so far.

This is the front cover and if you can see it has two spines because of the closure which is being held together with a magnet located just under the lions head.

I used Rub and Buff on the Lions Head to add a shine and I used Stickles on the flowers to add some shimmer which I'm not sure that you can see very well in the photo.

Most of my embellishments are chipboard and the album itself is constructed with chipboard and cardstock.  I love this paper collection and I think it is perfect for the Fall, and to top that off it is unisex...you give it to a girl or a guy (smiles).

Here you see the mini open although you can't see the whole thing.  It has 6 pages and a pocket on each end of the album along with a tag pocket on each end as well.  The tags are placeholders for now because I haven't cut out the smaller photos for this space.  I would have preferred to use the Stampin Up tab round as my pull tabs but since I didn't have the punch I had to go with Velocity's idea and punch out a scalloped circle and add a few crystals to provide something for folks to grab in order to pull out the mats.

This is one of the pages in the album.  At the top peeking out is the pull tab for the photo mat insert that is tucked aways behind the pocket.  This mat will hold two photos sized at 4.5 x 6.25.  I added a couple of tags and decorated with a key.  This page flips over and then opens to a three panel page where you can add photos on the front and back.

Just another page I thought I would share.  They are all pretty much the same with minor embellishments.

I want the focus to be on the photos I plan to add and not the embellishments so I am putting just enough to gain attention but not overkill (at least I hope not)

Here you see how I decorated one of the two spines.  Again I kept it real simple and clean.  I may add a few ribbons later but for now no ribbons or chains or charms.

Since the album is horizontal the spine doesn't have the length you may be accustomed too so to many embellishments would touch the floor.

Lastly just to give you an idea of how much room there is to add stuff here is a top side view.  The gussets are 1/2 inch so you can overload this little mini and it is built to hold the test of time.

My buddy Joyce Owens, of "My Enchanted Paper Creations" created the step-by-step tutorial with written measurements and all for me but she also created a video that is either on youtube or will be soon.  Additionally, if you want to create this little mini but don't want to create the structure, Joyce has blank books for sale at a really reasonable price.  All you need to do is purchase one, decorate it up and be ready in just a small amount of time.

Supplies:
DP: Graphic 45 French Country
CS:  Bazzill
Chipboard by Recollections
Graphic 45 Chipboard Embellishments and Recollections Embellishments
Ranger Walnut Stain Distress Ink and Stickles
Rub and Buff

Well that's all I have for tonight...whew I am seriously tired but very minute was worth it.  Let me know what you think about my little creation.  I had written down these three challenges I wanted to enter but now I can't find my paper, oh well, I'll look tomorrow when my eyes are open again.

Going to play with the following folks:
Crafts 4 Eternity - #149 Anything But A Card (11/14)
Drunken Stampers - #149 Chipboard (11/15)
All That Stickles - Use Stickles (11/21)
My Sheri Crafts - #123 Fall/Thanksgiving (11/15)

Until next time, I pray you will be blessed and stay safe where ever you are.

Find time to create the beauty nature gives to us freely.

Hugs~

Lesia

Time for Gift Cards

Hello Everyone! I have been a bit busy these last couple of weeks, but it was all necessary time I needed to donate to charity and support my community.  It also helped me clean out closets with clothes that shrunk (smiles) and shoes that seemed to grow the tallest heels (can't believe I actually walked in some of those shoes).  Afterwards I decided that for all the teenagers in my life I would give gift cards (not to mention that's all they had listed on their wish list) with the difference being the store.

What would be a good way to give a gift card...a handmade gift card holder! So that's what I have been up to...searching Youtube University for the perfect class and I found one that I decided would work for two of my girls and now I'd like to share those with you.  Please note that what I am sharing are my demos so they only have scraps as embellishments.  I'll fancy up the real ones and create a box to put the card in...with decorations and all.  I'm still in the Fall mood so I used colors that I can see on the trees outside my window.  You can't see it but the holder on the left is actually olive and the right is more like a honey brown.  I'd still like to enter these little holders in a challenge although they are demos.

Thanks to Dianna Gobert for her inspiration, tutorial and design.  Now that I have the measurements in inches I can get started on creating ones for giving.  I'll make a few girly ones and then a few rough and tough ones.  I have a few more designs I want to try out so I guess I need to start with cutting paper and creating my demos.

Before I end I'd like to remind you that if you would like a chance of winning both challenge prizes you need to enter your project before the 15th.  Just click the challenge tab above to go there right away.

Thanks to all of you for supporting my blog and participating in my challenges...it makes my heart smile.  And a Texas size Yahoo of Thanks go out to my sponsors for their generosity in donating to my challenges.

Just a couple of challenges:
4 Crafty Chicks - #167 Anything But A Card (11/12)
Charisma Cardz Challenge - #44 Anything Goes (11/12)
Your Next Stamp Challenge (YNS) - Fall Colors (11/30)
Crafting By Design - Anything Goes (11/12)

Okay that's it.

Be safe where ever you are and find beauty in all things.

Hugs~

Lesia

February 2015 Winners

CONGRATULATIONS!

Our first winner for February 2015 has been identified!

As always we use the True Random Number Generator 

to select our winner and this time the winner is entry......

#18

Congratulations to

Hazel of My Crafty Outlook

Please claim your prize 

before Sunday, February 22nd

email Mema at: memascrafts2@gmail.com

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A winner has been selected!
Entry #29

Congratulations to Sue
of Auntie Sue's Craft Cavern

Please claim your prize 

before Sunday, March 8th

email Mema at: memascrafts2@gmail.com

We at Mema's Crafts are always so pleased to have you stop by and play with us.  It is truly a blessing to see the talent and beauty we have to share. We are changing our challenges just a little but hope you will continue to play with us.

Until next month Stay healthy, Be Safe, and Create Beauty.

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November Challenge

November starts the holiday season and its also the time we start to prepare for the Winter months ahead.  I’m sure a lot of you have already begun your Christmas card making so to make this challenge one that doesn’t require lots of time I thought the theme would be “ANYTHING GOES”!

So having said that lets move on to 

our sponsors for this challenge.

First up returning to sponsor us again is 

“The Stamping Chef” 

offering one winner a choice of images.

Our second winner will receive 

a gift voucher to go shopping at 

 “The Rubber Buggy” 

Time to see what the M&M Girls have been up to with their images from The Stamping Chef:

DONNA
using "Lovely Mouse"

PRINCESS
using "Big Dripper"

PENNY RAE

using "Hush Little Bunny"

LISA
using "Angelic Angel Ann"

Joyce

using products that can be purchased from 

"The Rubber Buggy"

Thank you ladies for sharing your creations with us.

Enter your projects for this challenge and remember to enter early for a chance at winning both prizes.  You can enter up to three times.
Use Mr Linky below to share your project with us.  It does not have to be a card.  We love everything!

An InLinkz Link-up

SALE ALERT

To all my followers and friends, I have a sales alert!  Paper and Stones, one of my friends and sponsors is having a sale at 20% off all their products!

But wait there is more...if you go to the shop and identify what you want and then email your list to Lynne, letting her know that Mema's Crafts sent you, then you will get an additional 10% off.  That's a total of 30% off your entire purchase.

So head on over to Paper and Stones and once there look for the coupon code found at the very bottom of the page under the Big Black Cat.  Grab the code and then email Lynn at this email with your shopping list.

Lynne D Platt [ldprn@comcast.net]

Remember to tell her I sent you for an additional 10% off.

But hurry this opportunity won't last forever!

Hugs

~Lesia~

If you do visit Lynn and make a purchase leave a comment and tell me what you think about her products.  She has quite a selection but they're leaving the shelves rather quickly so don't delay.