Announcements

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I don't have a lot to share with you today but I did want to announce a personal accomplishment of mine as well as announce our winner of Group A Spellbinders Blog Candy Giveaway.

First of all it has taken me longer to get back with you all because I have been adjusting to a life-changing event.  For the first time in almost 50 years I do not have a job! This is all so foreign to me and I am at a loss of what to do next.

Its bittersweet, and yet I feel like I've lost a loved one or a family or something...who would grieve not having to get up at o'dark thirty to drive 30 minutes to a job to stress over for 9 hours and then drive another 30 minutes to get home to plan to repeat the same stressful day all over again.  Just silly ole me I guess.

So it is my intent after this initial shock, to embrace this new found freedom and opportunities with a grateful attitude.  And to start this off I am going to share a card of "Thankfulness" with everyone that was inspired by Lexi Cards. Thanks Lexi.

Introducing "Lomasi" an adorable little image by Sylvia Zet for Wee Stamps.

I colored her up with copics and stuck with different shades of my two favorite color combinations, aqua and chocolate.

I do like browns because they blend so well with so many colors just like whites and blacks.  At first I thought I would use lavendar but then decided to stick with Aqua.  I used four different patterned papers from MME collection, the flowers are WOC, and the leaves and flourish come from Marianne Designs.

The inside like the front is layered with browns and aqua just to maintain continuity.






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

DRS Challenge Thursday - #199 Pile it High (11/11)
Digital Delights - Monthly Challenge#4 (11/11)
Crafty Girls - Creations Challenge #8 (11/16)
Aud Sentiments - Challenge #144 Bingo + a Sentiment (pattern paper, digi stamp, favorite color) (11/16)

Now for my last announcement and that is the winner of Group A Blog Candy Giveaway.  The first winner never claimed their prize so I added it back into the pot and our winner selected by Random Generator is:

Entry #7

Congratulations Maxine D.!

Thanks for your comment:

Gorgeous Christmas cards Lesia, 

love the way you have made the most 

of the paper in the second card.

Blessings

Maxine

Claim your prize via email to 

memasCrafts2@gmail.com 

before Thursday, November 12th.

Thanks to everyone for stopping by

Come again real soon

Hugs From Texas

Lesia

Christmas Goal Met

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Well I'm back and am proud to say that I've met my goal of creating 10 Christmas cards this year, in fact I passed my goal with a whopping 15 cards...Yeah!!!

I have two cards to share with you today and I hope you like them, but before we go any further please make sure you have your name on my blog candy giveaway.  Just click here to jump over there to add your name and then come back to see what I've created to share with you.

Here we have Marci with Hot Coco from La-La Crafts and she is really adorable. Actually I like all the images in the Marci and Luke series.

She was colored with copics (my first coloring choice) as usual. The paper collection I used is MME Christmas Noel.

I used paper from the same collection and added remnants from the front to embellish the inside which is a great way to waste nothing.

Entering the following:
Simply Papercraft - Anything Goes (11/04)
Crafting With Friends - Anything Goes (11/04)

My second card I think falls in the category of being a clean and simple (CAS) card.

It didn't take long to make at all...very easy and quick. 

I embossed the first layer to add a bit of texture and then I used one of the journal tags from the paper collection as my focal point.

I adhered it to a mat and that completed the front of this Clean and Simple card.

On the inside I tried to keep it as simple as I possibly could.

I embossed and border punched a few scraps from the front and that created the inside for my card.  

Entering the Following:
Winter Wonderland - Anything Goes Christmas (11/05)
Crazy For Challenges - Anything Goes Christmas (11/25)
Allsorts Challenges - Christmas (11/05)

Well, that's all I have for you for now.

When we set our clocks back tonight I am going to use Random Generator to select a winner for Group A of the Blog Candy Giveaway (since the winner never claimed it) so make sure your name is on the list.

Click on the link I gave above or simply click the image in my sidebar to go and add your name. Don't forget to tell me what you think about my creations...I love reading your comments and yep I appreciate tips and suggestions as well.

Thanks for Stopping By

Sending Hugs From Texas

Lesia

Flip Mini Album

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I decided to pull out an old tutorial I had stashed away so I could make a quick Christmas Mini Album. I thought this was an easy and fun one when I first tried and I still think it is, therefore I am going to share the tutorials with you just in case you'd like to give it a go.

There's lots of space in this mini so I've taken a few photos just to give you an idea (if you haven't seen it) because it has been out for a while. 

Although it only measures 6 x 6 it has lots of space for pockets and photos. You can also easily adjust the spine if you'd want a thicker mini.

I created mine with a half inch spine because I didn't plan on having a lot of embellishments inside and I have about 15-20 photos I want to add to it.



It is perfect for holding those special event photos such as a baby shower or birthday or road trip.





The items I used were the Tim Holtz lamp post die, a memory box doily die, chipboard from the paper collection, WOC flowers, stickles, gesso, a few pearls of course Graphic 45 12 Days of Christmas paper collection.

There are lots of flips and folds so I want to share just a few with you.



When you first open the mini you have your first 3-way layout. I added a pocket for photos and on the side flaps I am showing how you could use them for journaling or another pocket.

Next I skip to the third layout (just to save time and photos).



On this page or layout I added a pocket once again for photos (and yes I do plan to add a mat the black pocket) On the double flaps I decided to keep them together with eyelet closures.

This is the last photo I have of my mini but there are two more layouts in this mini.



Here you can see how it looks with the flaps open and the two center flaps closed down. There is room on each side for more photos and journaling.

So there you have my first Christmas Mini Album this year.  I have seen it created by several different crafters with variations but the two individuals whom I have followed are Gloria and Zina.

Leave your comments below and let me know what you think.

Thanks for stopping By

Hugs and Kisses from Texas

Lesia

***************************************************************

Although they are very similar there are some differences. I've made them both and was pleased with the results of each. 

Below are links directly to the tutorials as well as a link to Gloria's video. There are printable instructions on Gloria's blog and the photo will take you there.



Link to Zina's Blog:
My Scrap and I




Link to Gloria's Blog: 
Scraps of Life:
(look for the printable instructions link)



Link to Gloria's YouTube Video tutorial:
Mini Flip Book By Gloria:

Christmas Cards

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I don't really have a lot to say today so this post will be short especially for me.  First of all the weekend has been surprisingly pleasant with cooler temperatures and gentle breezes throughout the day.  Absolutely perfect for sitting outside and drinking tea or watching my Yorkie-Poo run around chasing birds.  I really do love this time of year, although its not always the best for my allergies...but today all is well and I sit here with my ice tea and my laptop enjoying the beauty God has granted us.

So now to move quickly to the card I have to share with you.  Every year I vouch to make 10-15 cards to either give to others, share at the nursing homes or to sale and this is my latest one.  

I still have more to make but this particular one is ready to be shared because it was quick and easy to make. I found my inspiration on pinterest and I think the lady's name was Cathy, a Stampin Up demonstrator.

I created this card using mostly card-stock in white, green, red and green.  I added some a bit of designer paper from an old Graphic 45 collection called "Christmas Emporium" 

I matted and layered my card-stock and added embossing to the second mat and layer set. The embossing folder was "dots" from Spellbinders (I think that was the name). 

On the next matted layer, I stamped one of the trees that is part of the "Lovely as a Tree" stamp collection from Stampin Up. I'm not sure that you can find this collection because I think it is about 4 or 5 years old.

I've had it for a very long time but I love it and every year I pull it out to make my Christmas cards. There are tons of ideas for this collection on pinterest and Youtube.

I couldn't figure out what to do on the inside so I carried over the Graphic 45 paper with all its hollies. 




Because of all the hollies on the paper I thought it needed something plain but interesting so I added a second iteration of the stamp and layered a mat as a space for a personal message to complete my card. 

I'd like to enter the following challenges:
Sweet Stampin Challenge - Antique Roadshow -use oldest stamp (10/22)
Crazy 4 Challenges - Sketch #308 (10/31)
Catch the Bug - October Bingo Challenge (ribbon, 3 layers, Pearls) (10/24)
52 Christmas Card Throwdown - Wild Woods (10/23)

Okay that's all I had to share for today, except I do need to identify my comment winner so let me do that now.

I do enjoy reading your comments and I know it takes time to read and even more time to comment so occasionly I like to say thank you.  Although I appreciate all of you, I can only give away one gift certificate.  

Selected from the comments 

on my post "Back to Copics" 

the winner of a 

Mo Manning gift voucher is: 

Dawn Lancaster!

Contact me before Sunday, October 25th at MemasCrafts2@gmail.com

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