Getting Started

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Hello Everyone!  Bet you thought I had forgotten about the "Comment Winner" but guess what I didn't forget.  

I've noticed a drop in my followers and that saddens me but for those of you that have stayed, I appreciate you. 

Okay so Valentine's Day will be here in a couple of weeks and Mother's Day isn't to far behind so I'm thinking we should be getting started on our cards.  Today I have a card to share and hope you like it.

 This is a simple multi-layered card made using an old Graphic 45 collection called "The Romantique" (I think).

The paper is gorgeous with greens, browns and a peach or salmon color.  I absolutely loved this collection.

The flowers are Wild Orchid (as usual) and the punches are Spellbinders and Martha Stewart.

I used the remainder of the paper on the inside to decorate and allow space for a personal message.

I didn't see a need to add any additional treatments or embellishments because I felt the beauty of the paper was enough.  This was a quick view of a quick and simple card that could be used for Mother's Day or any special event (hint: the greeting says it all).

Now before I call it a night I must say congratulations to the winning comment from my post titled "One Stamp - Multiple Card"  and the winner of a eCertificate for two digital images of their choice is:

Entry #3 who wrote the following:

Your cards are lovely. The cross is beautiful 

and your designs nicely highlight it.

Congratulations to Sheila of 

Lala Crafts!

Contact MemasCrafts2@gmail.com

to claim your certificate before

Sunday, February 7th.

Well my fellow crafters and friends...that's all I have until the next time we meet.

Take care and create beauty in all things.

Sending

Hugs and Kisses

From Texas

~Lesia~

Part Time Workforce

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Hello all and yep it's true...Mema has joined the workforce once again but with a few changes along the way.

I'm still retired but I just can't sit home when I feel that I can still contribute to society and perhaps influence our future generation.  After all they will be our leaders someday and if we survive to see that become a reality I am hoping that I NOT "live to regret it" (ha ha) sort of speak.

I've decided to work part-time and offer up my time to our Community Colleges in their effort to teach and educate our children.  Not as many hours and certainly not the same level of stress as found in corporate america.  This is purposeful work where I can add value and go home smiling and looking forward to the next day, not to mention I still have time to feed my paper passion.

Speaking of crafting, I do have a card to share with everyone.

This card was created using an air brushed image from Wee Stamps that I purchased a while back and added a bit of Frosted Lace Stickles to the wings and I darkened the hair just a little using my Pro Markers.

The designer paper is My Minds Eye and the card-stock is Recollections brand.  The image is layered on a Spellbinders die cut and cheese-cloth from JoAnne's.  

I finished the card by surrounding it with flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts, and some pearls from my stash.   

The inside uses the same designer paper and has a space for a personal message. The finished card size is approximately 5.5 x 5.5.

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Scrappers Delight - Anything Goes (1/30)

Kraftin Kimmie - Anything Goes (1/21)

Crafty Friends - #23 Anything Goes (1/29)

Sweet Stampin - Things with Wings (1/20)

AllSorts Challenge - Girly & Sparkly (1/20)
Gem of a Challenge - Female Birthday 

Thanks for stopping by. I'll be back real soon to announce the commenting winner from my previous post so if you haven't read the post and commented..do so for a chance to go shopping.

Until next time.....

Sending hugs from Texas

Lesia

One Stamp - Multiple Cards

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Well, we're almost half-way into the new year and I have so far kept my new resolutions to:

1. Incorporate a little exercise
 in my daily routine

2. Eat healthy; eat from all food 

groups in the right portions

3. Purge and donate items that I 

have not used or no longer 

need to others; to pay it forward

I'm quite pleased with myself for committing to the first two goals but the last goal is the one that seems to give me more joy. It feels good to give to others and to know that because of me someone will be a bit warmer this winter or someone will get that job because they had a suit to wear to the interview. 

Yep goal number 3 gives me that warm and fuzzy feeling. To give freely and from the heart is just so uplifting for me.

I have a set of cards I would like to share. I borrowed a stamp and die set from a friend and while I had the stamp and die I cut out several pieces and stamped a few extra so I could return her items in a timely manner.  I finally used up all the pieces and turned them into creations, of hope, sympathy and heartfelt thoughts.

Tell me what you think and tell me where you like to purchase your digital images (hint hint)

Colored with copics and used a Spellbinders die to create the background.

I cut the die twice; once by itself and then again to include the stamp. This allowed me to create a hint of a shadow.

Added a ribbon and decorated the inside to finish this card.  Just a "I thought of you" kind of card.

Again I used the same stamp and die cut twice. I wanted the flourishes to have a different color for focus and to add dimension to the cross itself.

The background was used using a Marianne Die that cut and embossed.  I added the greeting "I am blessed" because it was exactly how I was feeling during its creation.

To create this card I used a musical background stamp by Hero Arts and then stamped over it with the cross.  This is a Stampin Up cross set but it is retired and since it didn't belong to me I forgot to write down the names of these things (sorry).

I then embossed the stamped image. Using a second stamped image I cut around the flourishes leaving me with just the cross image which I popped on top of the stamped image.

The greeting "I Am Blessed" just seemed so appropriate at the time. The inside was designed to resemble the front of the card with a space for a personal message.

Does this look familiar? Yep I followed the same steps as I did in the card above and just made a few changes such as the color, and the piercing around the border.

On the mat I stamped and embossed a design for added texture.  A few pearls were added as well to add a softness to the card's purpose. This card was designed to be a sympathy card and the greeting reads "May God Comfort You".

The inside is a simple and clean design with a space for a personal message.

Okay my crafting family...this is what I have been up too.  Don't forget to leave me a comment with your thoughts and tell me where you shop for your digital images. 

(10+ comments and we have a winner)

Thanks for stopping by and next time bring a friend along.  I'd love to have them.

So until next time

Sending Hugs From Texas

~Lesia~

New Journey Begins

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Wow!  It's 2016 and that means its the start of a new journey

or the first day of the rest of your life so where will you go?

For me its truly a new journey as I adjust to a year without being fully employed and a year of adjusting to what will soon be my new norm.  Through it all though what will remain (at least I think so) is my love of paper and all the things you can do with it.  I hope this year introduces me to new crafting techniques and new crafting friends...never can have to many.

As always New Years is also a Birthday celebration for me.  As each new year arrives I always look up to the heavens and thank God for all the blessings I received the year before and I praise him for allowing me to defy the doctors and live to see another year.  Year 2016 will be a year of thankfulness and 

a year to enjoy the time awarded to me...

tomorrow may never come so enjoy the moment.

So let's move on to crafting.  I finished up the year with my blog candy giveaway and I am hoping to do something similar 

this year so stay tuned for updates. As you wait 

allow me to share with you more foiling creations

using a few of my Christmas and Birthday gifts.

 (my family knows exactly what to get me).

I created this card using the instructions found on 

Amazing Paper Grace.  I saw the card earlier and then realized

 I didn't have the main die nor the embossing folder, so of course I had to order it and then wait for it to arrive.

It finally arrived and I went to work constructing my layout.

The best part of this card was the embossing. And to think 

it was actually the Spellbinders Shady Allure die that 

was used to emboss the panel. 

Next I wrapped a ribbon around the embossed panel 

and on top of that I cut one die piece using the

Spellbinders Fleur de Elegance and on top of that I added the Spellbinders Majestic Oval. I used the classic oval

 for my greeting and then added a few pearls and a bow.

Of course once I finished the front of the card it was time to decorate the inside and try to follow the theme of the front 

by using left-over scraps on the inside.  On the inside

I used the embossing folder on each side where I could stamp

a sentiment and leave a nice space for a personal message.

The inside message was stamped with versamark and then gold embossed.  The embossed panels were adhered to gold cardstock

 (I messed up the foil so I used the next best thing) and then added to the inside of the card. That completed the inside of the card.

I'd like to enter this card in a few challenges for 2016.

• Blessings Ink - Amusing Challenges "New" (01/10)
• Come and Get It - Something New (01/08)
• Stamping Sensations - Anything Goes "w/Die/Stamp" (02/02)

That's all for tonight.  Thanks for stopping by and I hope to see you again real soon.  Remember we will offer prizes and blog candy randomly throughout the year.

Sending Hugs from Texas

~Lesia~

Final 2015 Winner Announced!

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HAPPY NEW YEAR!

WELCOME TO 2016!

What better way is there to start a new year than by

 announcing Mema's Crafts final winner of 2015.

So without a lot of typing and talking I'll get

right to the task at hand.

Selected by Random.Org in collaboration

with Mr Linkz I am proud to announce that

the lucky number is: #23

This number belongs to CASSIE of 

"Cassie's Craft Cafe

Congratulations you have won Group D

of Mema's Crafts Blog Candy

Spellbinders Classic Ovals, Lacy Ovals and Scalloped Ovals

Please email memascrafts2@gmail.com

to claim your prize before

Friday, January 8th 2016.

Thanks for stopping by and if you didn't win

this time, you will still get an opportunity

to win prizes in 2016.

Candy and prizes will be randomly offered 

throughout the year so visit often

and play with us.

Sending hugs and kisses from Texas in 2016

~Lesia~

New Year 2016 is Coming

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I hope everyone had a fabulous Christmas and that Santa brought you everything you asked for or at least most of it. 

As for me I got more than I expected and I am feeling very blessed. Perhaps I was a good girl, but its more likely that it was just my family showing me love, ... who cares I got lots of good stuff.

Everyone is aware that I got the Heidi Swapp Minc machine and a HP Laser printer as one of my gifts but even better is I got the Ninja Coffee Bar (as advertised on television with Sofia Vergara) and I am loving it! I have been on a caffeine high for the last 3 days! 

Additionally, getting the Ninja Blender and Nutrient Pro Duo as my surprise gift didn't help things.  I tried to switch and drink the juices and smoothies instead of all the coffee but the result is the same.  The only difference is instead of being high on caffeine I suffer from a natural sugar high which means I find myself fully awake at odd hours of the night.

Since I am not fond of waste, I thought I would put this extra energy to use.  I started by purging my spice shelves and my food pantry (should have done this months ago) and then finally when that was completed I decided to create a card in preparation for the arrival of 2016.  Just imagine, four (4) days and we enter a new year.  

I used my Minc along with cream, black and gold card-stock to create this New Year card.  The champagne bottle (a Cherry Lynn die) and the greeting were both ran through the Minc to achieve the foiled appearance.  The polka dot paper was created using toner ink and then put through the Minc as well (the dots are gold).  The 2016 flags were punched from gold card-stock and not foiled at all. 

On the inside I used Martha Stewart snowflake punches and Memory Box flag dies along with printed toner paper to highlight these cuts with foil.  I also embossed the cream card-stock to follow the theme on the front of the card.

Following is another card I made while flowing with excess energy. I received eight (8) new dies for Christmas and of course I wanted to use every single one of them so I started by creating a card using instructions from Becca Feeken (Amazing Paper Grace blog).

Of course I had to use the "L" monogram to represent my name or "Love" or anyone else with the initial L in their name (lol).  This was not an easy card to do and it is larger than my comfort zone. I prefer smaller size cards (not  A2) but sometimes to get the detail and 3-D effect you have to add more real-estate to your space.

My two new dies used to make this card were Spellbinders Floral Affair and Spellbinders Romantic Agenda.  

I'm working on using the rest of my goodies so I'll be sharing again real soon.  If you've never visited Becca's blog, I recommend you check it out.  I promise you that you will find something that appeals to you.  Her creations are absolutely stunning!

Thanks for stopping by and please know your comments are appreciated.

I'll check back in within a couple of days to announce the end of year blog candy winner who will win Group D (classic, scalloped and lacy ovals) of the candy:  Check out the prize by clicking here.

Sending Hugs from Texas

~ Lesia ~