Spooky Cuties

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Hello everyone.  October is almost over and the weather is finally cooling down to tolerable temperatures which is fabulous. Soon it will be time for the little goblins, princesses, fairies and super-heroes to make their rounds gathering treats here and there. I personally enjoy hearing the words "trick or treat" coming from the smallest of the little creatures at my door. They barely know the words but there they stand ready to get whatever treat they can.  It only last a few hours where I live and that works for me, but until then let me continue forward.

I have a few Halloween cards from years past to share with you. I pulled them out and thought I would add them to my store just in case someone was looking to purchase one and to share just in case you never got to see them or perhaps they can give a bit of inspiration.  At any rate, here they are for your viewing pleasure.

Okay, I think the image is from Bugaboo and is called "Happy Hween Cat" silouette.

The fence and the lamp post were created using dies and the paper is from MME.

As always I followed through to the inside.

  

This way I don't waste anything. Even the scraps were used to create a light on the lamp post and I used the extra from the fence die as well. 

This little cutie is from Tiddlyinks and she was colored with copics of course. 

I think the hair was supposed to be a not-to-orange color. A cutie but witchy style. 

You may need to look closely to see that the paper comes from the same collection as the front. 

Here you see more of it unlike the front that is covered with embellishments and of course the image.

I hope sharing a bit of my past has inspired you or maybe made you smile.

Thanks for stopping by and remember to come back next week to see if you're the winner of my "Comments" giveaway.

Since our first winner did not claim their prize I am going to select an alternate winner for that group of dies as well, so we still have Spellbinder Dies from Group A and Group D left to giveaway so make sure your name is on the giveaway list.

As always thanks for stopping by.

Hugs from Texas

Lesia

Back to Copics

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Beware! this post is long!

Before I share my newest creations I have to let you guys know that I was a WINNER at Cheery Lynn designs!  Yahooooo! and I will get to go shopping for a couple of new dies which I have already picked out.  I just had to share that bit of news because I don't win very often and when I do I get totally excited.

Secondly, I've noticed that there are those out there that will join your blog if you're giving away something and then leave if they don't win. Personally, I find this to be very rude and don't appreciate that behavior. It is so unfair to those that do follow and visit from time to time...not every week or day but from time to time. So to those that are only looking to win a prize please go elsewhere and don't stop here!

I would hope that you join not only for the prizes although I know they are important but because you like my work and find inspiration or can get ideas from my blog. I follow over 200 blogs and I definitely can't visit them all on a regular basis but I do stop by from time to time for inspiration or to just read the post.

I'm sorry if my saying this offends anyone but it is how I feel and if this does not apply to you then please ignore and know that I appreciate your time and thank you for your support however small it is.

Now to share two very different cards with you.  Both cards consist of images that I have had for some time but for some reason never got around to coloring. However, now that my tub of boxes aren't grabbing my attention I have wandered over to my bin where I keep printed digital images ready to be colored. I think there were 18 images in this bin needing some color to bring them to life.  Whew!! I do truly believe I am a mini hoarder or perhaps I just want to do more in my craft-room but time just isn't on my side. 

I need to use some of these paper pads I have all nicely stacked up before I run out of space for new stuff (haha).  Having said all that I'll get started with what I have to share with everyone.

For my first card I used paper from Authentique called "Blissful" and standard Hobby Lobby card-stock.

The image is from Mo Manning called "Gimme B".  I used a glitter gel pen to color her pom poms but didn't do very good since the pens were almost dried out.  Phooey! The greeting is a clear Fiskar stamp and the dies are from Spellbinders.

 I kept the inside clean and simple but used papers from the same collection.

Did I mention that I have a son that is a Cheerleader and Gymnastics Coach and that is why I found this image to be such a cutie. 
Copics I used to color this image:
Skin: E13, 11, 01,00 
Clothes/Poms: Y21, 19, 17, W8, Black
Hair: E59, 53, 49, 25

I'd like to enter this card in the following:

Lacy Sunshine Color Your World - Anything Goes (10/15)
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Challenge #19 Anything Goes (10/15)

Yep I have another card to share with you.

I realize we haven't gotten past Halloween or Thanksgiving but this image just needed my attention and it makes for a great Winter or Christmas card.


It's another Mo Manning image but for the life of me I can't remember her name. I think it is "Urchin With Bird" but not sure.

I used Graphic45 Christmas paper collection from last year for this little cutie. I added some snowflakes that were punched and embossed using Tim Holtz's embossing glitter. Behind is tucked a bit of cheesecloth and a corner die from Marianne Designs and a paper doily cut with a Cherry Lynn die.

A few Recollection flowers, pearl stick pins and ribbon from Bo Bunny helped me complete this card.

On the inside I used a journaling tag and cut out a few border strips from the paper for the left side of the card and added space for a personal note on the right side.

The image was colored using copics:
Skin: E15, 13, 11, 00
Clothes (reds) R89, 39, 37, 35 and (browns) E99, 97, 55, 53

I'd like to enter this card in the following:

Glitter and Sparkle - Challenge #157 Anything Goes (10/09)
Crafty Hazel - Challenge #249 All Wrapped Up (10/08)
Crafting With Dragonflies - Challenge #44 Anything Goes (10/09)
Fab N Funky - #275 Anything Christmas
Crafty Hazelnut's - Christmas Challenge October (10/30)

I know this was a really long post and I thank you for hanging out until the end...so much so that I am going to select a winner from the comments on this post to receive a gift certificate from Mo Manning Digital Pencil.

Hugs from Texas

Thanks for stopping by

Lesia

Using Promarkers

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Okay first things first and that is to catch everyone up on the blog giveaway.  First of all I noticed issues with the way I had scheduled Mr. Linky, so please if you entered earlier please check to ensure your name is still there.  I will give you a link below or just click on the blog candy image on my blog. 

Additionally, once you add your name to the link you will not need to do it again...the only requirement after that is that you leave a comment on any one of my monthly post each month for the next 3 months. I may post 3 times in one month but you only have to comment on one of them or all 3 if you'd like as long as you comment at least once a month.  Hope I've cleared up some things.

Here are the groups again and the winners of each group so far.

Group A: (winner did not claim)

Beaded Circles; Romantic Rectangles; Decorative Labels One

Group B: (Marjetta claimed and received)

Classic Scalloped Circles; Standard Circles (LG); Lacy Circles
Group C: (Debra Laine claimed not yet received)
(contact memascrafts2@gmail.com before Wednesday, Oct 7th to claim your prize)

Fancy Tags; Fancy Tags Two; Floral Ovals

Group D:

Classic Scalloped Ovals (LG); Lacy Ovals; Classic Ovals (LG)

If you need to add your name to the list leave a comment first and then go add your name to the list using Mr Linky by clicking HERE.

So what have I created for you today?  Well I finally got away from the boxes for a minute and thought I would create a card and maybe even enter a few challenges.  So without further ado.

This was a fun 5.5 square card to make as I followed a YouTube video on how to color using Promarkers. Lucky me had the exact same image so I could follow along (not as good) but I gave it my best shot.  I need to get a few of those ultra fine tip nibs.

The markers used to color the floral arrangement were: Pine, Bright Green, Forest Green, Mulberry, Plum, Fuchsia Pink, Yellow and the Blending Pen.

Thanks Kimberly for a fabulous and easy to follow tutorial on using Promarkers.  I am a Copic girl but I've been known to bounce from one media to the next.

I added a few Prima flowers splashed with gesso, a few pearls and created a border using Cheery Lynn's "Border Carnivate" which I have had for more than a year.

I continued on the inside with paper from the same Bo Bunny "Smoochable" collection that I know is more than a year old.  
I made two pockets to hold one tag with a pre-stamped message and another one for a personal message.

On the flip side of one of the tags is another pocket large enough to hold a small token or a gift card.

I used a Stampin' Up punch to make the little tabs at the top of the tags and the stamped images are all clear stamps from Fiskar.

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Cheery Lynn Design - #204 Anything Goes (10/02)
Come and Get It - Clear it Out Use A Stash Item (10/03)
Eclectic Ellapu - Anything Goes (Pink) Use Your Stash (Purple)
OSAAT - #246 Anything Goes w/leaves (10/03)
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - #18 Anything Goes (10/02)
Robyn's Fetish - #283 Rectangle or Square (10/02)

That's all for tonight. I look forward to any comments you decide to share.

Thanks for stopping by

Hugs from Texas

Lesia

Unloved Box

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For your entertainment!  Click Here

Hope you enjoyed that video.  It was filled with memories of days gone by for me.  I can remember how we used to all go to the roller rink and disco boogey.  I even taught my boys how to do the limbo on roller skates.  Ahh the days of youth and flexibility.

And now back to the art of crafting and altering boxes.  This one started out as an old dusty cigar box that I thought would be great to hold small items such as a watch or IPhone or IPod and I was right.

The paper is from my stash and so are all the embellishments. My goal is to use what I have and try not to find myself in a checkout line with a buggy full of stuff I really don't need, but the paper is a new collection and the colors just jump out at me.  How do I accomplish this...carry minimum cash...no credit card...no debit card...and the greatest deterrent my grand-daughter.  Nothing gets past her.  Okay here we go.

First up is a poor discarded unloved cigar box that needed a little TLC. No fear, help is on the way.

Does anyone remember this brand of cigars.  I remember my father and a few of his buddies used to be big fans of this particular brand.

The paper is Bo Bunny but please don't ask which collection because that would most likely give me one heck of a headache.
The flowers are all recollection and the little wooden gears are Prima (I think they were).  I forgot to write down the items I used and it was trash pickup day so out all the little things went.

This is the inside of the box.  I tried to give it an old worn distressed look by using my sanding block to scrape off some of the acrylic paint I used to paint it.

The cool thing is all I had was two 12x12 sheets of coordinating paper and I was able to cut it so that it covered the entire box...well all but the bottom which I covered with plain black card-stock.

Here you can see how I added a small wooden divider which made it possible to hold a watch and an IPod.  I also added some small wooden balls on the bottom to act as feet so the box would have just a bit of height and not sit flat. 

Yeah, now this is the perfect gift for a young teen.  Not sure if a boy teen would like it because it has the flowers but it does have masculine colors and the wooden gears are masculine so maybe I could get by with giving it to a young teen boy.  I'm not sure..I'll just see how it goes.

Well there you have my little creation for today.  I hope you liked it.

Thanks for stopping by 

Sending hugs and kisses from Texas

Lesia 

Wooden Boxes

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Whew, I'm still at this box thing and to some degree it is so worth it to use all this paper I've been hoarding.

Its amazing how many different paper packs I have in this one room...I wonder if I have crossed over from being a pack-rat to a mini hoarder. I tell my friends that if they see me becoming a hoarder to please get me help but I'm not sure they're listening to me since they too seem to be hoarders themselves.

This little box I found at Hobby Lobby in the clearance section, why it was there I'm not sure because it looked just fine to me so of course I purchased it and added it to my other boxes...until now.

I'll start by showing you the top of the box. The paper is the Bo Bunny "Country Garden" collection.

I did a little fussy cutting to give dimension to the butterflies and added a metal clock as well as a couple of metal corners. The chipboard "Believe" was painted using acrylic paint and then dabbed with a bit of distress ink.  I outlined the edge with a bit of trim to enhance the print on the paper.

The second photo gives you a clear view of the front of the box. 

The little label holder says "Country Garden" and works great as a drawer pull.

Having the drawer pull makes it easier to open the 4x6 drawer.  It will hold your standard photos perfectly.

The inside was painted white and then lined with more of the Country Garden collection. I tried to use just the paper designs with blue hues. 

 And one of my new found habits is to include a matching card with any altered art that I do. 

Doing this ensures that a card will be available regardless to whether I give it as a gift myself or sell it to someone.

I've also gotten into the habit of making an envelope every time I make a card.  It does save time in the long run although in some cases a handmade envelope just doesn't happen (smiles).

And now a peek at the inside of the card. The left side has a bit of print but I can't make out the words.

The right side has a pre-printed space for a personal note which I think is great.

So that it is all for now.  If you haven't added your name for this month's giveaway click here to do so now. 

Remember each month I will be giving away Spellbinders dies (3 each month) until I run out.

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs from Texas

Lesia

Boxes Galore

Mema's Online Store - Click Here

Hello Everyone! I'm back with a bit of altered art. I recently found myself focused on boxes.  I have altered shoe boxes, phone boxes and paper mache boxes. All sizes and shapes and I have about 6 more to go and I hope this mojo I've got going on will continue through the rest of them. 

Anyway I am going to share a round one that I altered with you. I am really pleased at how it turned out and how quickly it came together.

Oh and did I mention that for each box I altered I decided to make a matching card with any leftover paper so that if given as a gift there will be a card to go with it. Pretty darn cool...don't you think?

So sit back with a bit of tea or coffee and check out my photos. I took about five pictures from various angles to give you an idea of the overall look.

This first photo has the box tilted forward so you can see the complete top.

The word "Lasting" is in chipboard that I left raw but splashed a little gesso here and there to make it pop. 

I thought this was appropriate to imply that the contents or the memories inspired from the contents are long lasting and worth keeping.

Here the lid is off to the side and the card is shown to the left of the lid.

No worries I have the card from another angle as well.

I wanted to show off the bottom of the box as well as the lace around the rim, so here you can see just that.

At the bottom of the box I added what I called elastic lace just because of the way it looks and feels.

The flowers are a mixture of Prima, Recollections and Wild Orchids. I also tucked in a chipboard piece that I inked with Walnut Stain.

Again here is a full view of the box with the flowers lace and trim.

I not only used a very intricate lace around the rim, I also added a trim piece from Offray that had dangling pearls which I thought was perfect and elegant enough for this particular paper collection from Heartfelt Creations.

Lastly is another view where you can see the card and it's greeting more easily.



Other items used were distress inks, gesso, acrylic paint and a hot glue gun. The greeting on the card was a stamp I picked up at Michael's from the dollar bin.

This alteration was so much fun and I'm ready to start anew. 

I couldn't share all my alterations so to make sure I didn't bore you to much I thought I would share just the one this time...but beware I might just return with more. 

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to enter your name below along with your comment for a chance to win "Group C" of my blog candy. 

Have you forgotten about the giveaway?
Click Here for a reminder of what is up for grabs and of course the rules.

So there you have it.  Add your name and leave a comment.  Easy Peasy!