Some Extra Inspiration for our Mother's Day Challenge!

Hi there ladies!

How are all those challenges coming?!

Crazy times at the end of the month aren't they?!

I found this beautiful poem online yesterday and

thought it may inspire you with some wonderful

words to use for the journaling on your pages.

A Mother's Love

A Mother's love is something
that no on can explain,
It is made of deep devotion
and of sacrifice and pain,
It is endless and unselfish
and enduring come what may
For nothing can destroy it
or take that love away . . .

It is patient and forgiving
when all others are forsaking,
And it never fails or falters
even though the heart is breaking . . .
It believes beyond believing
when the world around condemns,
And it glows with all the beauty
of the rarest, brightest gems . . .

It is far beyond defining,
it defies all explanation,
And it still remains a secret
like the mysteries of creation . . .
A many splendored miracle
man cannot understand
And another wondrous evidence
of God's tender guiding hand.

Amazing!

That certainly sums up the way I feel about all 4

 of my children.  I hope it inspires you too!!

Our May Mother's Day Challenge Reminder and Inspiration from our Sponsors - Les Papier des Pandore

Hi there everyone!!

HELEN here.

How is May going for you?!

We are almost at the end of it now and as such you need to 

think about getting those entries in for our May Challenge!

We have 16 entries so far - woohoo!  Thank you to everyone

who has taken the time to participate - we really appreciate it!!

For those of you that haven't found the time to play along yet - 

here is a reminder of what May's Challenge is all about,

as well as our Challenge Rules, which are important to follow

if you would like to be considered in our judging/to stand a 

chance to win one of our prizes.

In honor of Mother’s Day I am centering the challenge around 

your favorite quote/poem/song about Mothers. 

Here are some examples, feel free to use them if you like!

 “All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel mother” ~ Abraham Lincoln

Mother, the ribbons of your love are woven around my heart.

“ A little girl, asked where her home was, replied, ‘where mother is’. “ ~ Keith Brooks

A mothers heart is a patch work of love.

 “ A mothers happiness is like a beacon, lighting up the future but reflected 

also on the past in the guise of fond memories.” ~ Honore de Balzac

 “ What are Raphael’s Madonna’s but the shadow of a mothers love, fixed in 

permanent outline forever?” ~ Thomas Wentworth Higginson

 Or if you prefer songs:-

 Coat of Many Colors – Dolly Parton

 Somebody’s Hero – Jamie O’Neal

 I Hope You Dance – Lee Ann Womack

 Dear Mama – 2Pac

 A song for Mama – Boyz II Men

------------------------------------------------

As always there are a few basic rules to follow:-

1. You are allowed to make a card, layout or altered/off the page project 

as long as you follow the theme or challenge of the month.

 2. This challenge is open to anyone anywhere in the world.

 3. Pls post your ACTUAL project post using the link tool 

on the sidebar and DO NOT link to your ENTIRE blog.

 4. Please SERIOUSLY CONSIDER turning off your word 

verification if comments are important to you:)

 5. You can submit as many projects as you would like

 and combine your entry with other challenges.

 6. Please mention in your blog post that you are playing along

 at Berry 71 Bleu TOGETHER with a link back to our blog. Thank you!

 7. All entries must be received by MIDNIGHT May 31st Central Standard Time. 

Winner of the challenge will receive a prize collection kit from our sponsor this month. 

One merit winner, as voted for by our Design Team, will win this awesome paper pack.

Les Papiers de Pandore. Scrapbooking papers from France 

has very kindly provided us beautiful prize from their new collection

"The scent of Camelias" 

Visit their website HERE.

Another winner will receive this prize pack from 

Zeus and Zoe and Berry71bleu Etsy Shops: 

This prize is for one RANDOM winner.

I am so fortunate to be on the Design Team at Les Papiers de Pandore

and would like to share some of my recent projects using the 

"Scent of Camelias" papers that one of you ladies is going to win!

This collection honestly takes my breath away!

Notice how different the colors are in each layout,

yet they are from the very same paper pack.  Amazing!

This last layout comes from the talented Marivic,

owner of Berry71Bleu Tags on Etsy and Zeus and Zoe Custom Kits.

Hopefully we've whet your appetite to play along for a chance

to win this beautiful collection!  I hope so!!

Do your best!  Entries close in 5 days time, on Thursday night

and winners will be announced soon after the weekend!!

Every day is Mother's day - Channa

Good morning all,

Mother's day has passed, but in my eye's it should always we mother's day.

At Berry71Blue we have a great mother's day challenge hosted by Amanda Aveiro.

" Definition of a mother is someone who loves unconditionally and places the needs of her children above her own, on a personal level, and not only with words, but also actions."

I decided to use this beautiful red colored tag made by Marivic Clifton and this beautiful picture of my mother.

As the main color of the tag was red i chose to go with a black background. 

As you can see i used a lot of flowers and bling bling.

The quote i used for this layout:

Mother's love is peace.

It need not be acquired, 

It need not be deserved.

Erich From

So if you have not added your craft project yet, make sure you do on Berry71Blue. 

You still have a few days left 

to win these beautiful prizes:

The winner of the challenge will receive a prize collection kit from our sponsor this month.

Les Papiers de Pandore. Scrapbooking papers from France has provided us beautiful prize from their new collection called "The scent of Camelias".   Visit their website HERE.

Another winner will receive this prize pack from Zeus and Zoe and Berry71bleu Etsy Shops.

Have a great day and thank you for stopping by!

Channa

"You made me a mother" by Vicky

Hello lovely Berry 71 Bleu followers!

Isn't it a magical feeling to be a mother??? I never thought I was able to love unconditionally another human being...When I had my 1st baby, I instantly new that I could give my life for her...my thinking and my view of the whole world changed! It is such a strong feeling...and when I was pregnant to my 2nd baby, I was wondering if I could feel SO much love again...I was worried...but when I hold her in my arms, my love just doubled! As simple as that...

You made me a mother...

Thank you!!!

Look at this amazing tag...thank you once again Marivic! It is just amazing!

 Hidden journaling (in Greek)

You still have plenty of time to play along with us! There are some really nice prizes waiting for you!!!
I can't wait to see your creations!
Have a nice day!

Mother's Day card by Cathy

This month's challenge at Berry71Bleu, and is bought to you by the lovely Amanda Aveiro.  Here are the details:

In honor of Mother’s Day I am centering the challenge around your favorite quote/poem/song about Mother’s. Here are some examples, feel free to use them if you like!

*  A mother's love is patient and forgiving when all others are forsaking, it never fails or falters, even though the heart is breaking ~ Helen Rice
*  There is no way to be a perfect mother, and a million ways to be a good one ~ Jill Churchill
*  A mother holds her children’s hands for a while, but their hearts forever
*  All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel mother ~ Abraham Lincoln
*  Mother, the ribbons of your love are woven around my heart.
*  A mothers heart is a patch work of love.


Mother's Day Card


Here is my take on Amanda's challenge.  I decided to make a Mother's Day card with a quote as my sentiment - "God could not be everywhere, so he created mothers".  Had a go at making an easel card for something different as I thought it would showcase Marivic's gorgeous vintage tag.

Here is a closeup of Marivic's stunning vintage tag... all handmade with so many beautiful elements.

List of Materials:  Berry71Bleu tag, Glitz Design, Prima, TPC pp's, Scrapmatts chipboard, Martha Stewart border punch, Spellbinder tag die, Prima flower, 7 Gypsies stamp, Craft Queen lace trim, mulberry leaves and roses, pearl brads, MME journal tag, antique ric rac, Tim Holtz distress ink - vintage photo

We already have some amazing entries.  You've got to be in it to win it... check out the fantastic prizes for this month.

The winner of the challenge will receive a prize collection kit from our sponsor this month.

Les Papiers de Pandore. Scrapbooking papers from France has provided us beautiful prize from their new collection called "The scent of Camelias".   Visit their website HERE.

Another winner will receive this prize pack from Zeus and Zoe and Berry71bleu Etsy Shops.

Thanks so much for stopping by... I can't wait to see how you are inspired by this month's challenge.
Hi Girls,  hope you all had a wonderful Mother's Day.

Cathy :))

Mother's Day Layout by Helen

Hi there everyone!

I hope you had a great Mother's Day over the weekend :)

I believe that all women are mothers even if they can not or

chose not to have children.  We are the nurturers, of the plants,

the pets, our co-workers, it's just in our nature!

I was sent a beautiful Mother's Day themed tag by Marivic to use

for this month's project and I love the vibrant blue/green tones of it!

I used all Prima Papers and accessories.  If you love pretty things

{like Marivic's tags} then Prima works really well together with them.

These tags are literally so stunning that you don't have to 

create fancy pages to go along with them - the tag is a

 ready-made embellishment in it's own right and will always 

add the WOW factor!

Because the tags are fairly big {approx 3 x 5inches} the way

I use them is to consider them as I would a photograph and

place them accordingly, to make them integral to the design.

Here is the star of the show! 

 The gorgeous tag shining out as the focal point of 

my scrapbook page. I cut up a Prima vine and used 

the rose, tendrils and leaves from half of it just below 

the tag,together with half a Prima swirl to blend the tag

 in seamlessly onto my page.

To achieve a really layered effect on my page I used a 

Crafter's Workshop 6inch Reverse Chicken Wire stencil

(the bright pink you see under the tag) and if you look 

carefully you'll see I also added some white mesh under

the tag that came from some vegetable packaging!

A close-up of the truly stunning Berry 71 Bleu tag!

              

Each one is a miniature masterpiece!

The delicious details of the tag blending with the Prima

Rose vine & "Say-it-in-Crystals" bling swirl.

I am blessed to be a mama of 4 babies 

so I have a lot to be thankful for :)

My other embellishment cluster diagonally opposite

the tag.  Unless your scrapping style is very clean &

simple, it's a good idea to balance out the tag on the

other side of your page with some similar embellishments.

It wasn't intentional but the chicken-wire stenciling up 

on the top right there kinda looks like a heart to me :) 

 I hope you  enjoyed having a look at my page!  If you 

visit my blog HERE I'll have this layout up there later today

 with more details about my techniques and supplies!  

May's Guest Designers

Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms out there!

Without further ado, I would like to introduce you to our Guest Designers this month...

Nadia

My name is Nadia Cannizzo, and I live in Sydney Australia, although I was born and spent my childhood in Greece.  I am proud to be, first and foremost , mum to two much loved and much wanted girls and I have been married to my husband for the last 12 years. In my professional life, I chose to work with children again and have been a Primary School teacher for the last 12 years.

 I have been scrapping/paper crafting officially for just under 3 years now and I have to say I am well and truly addicted and spend a small fortune on lots of supplies each and every month. Let's just say hubby has given up trying to fight my scrapping obsession. :)

I have maintained my creative blog HERE  since late 2010 and that is the place I share all my creations and quite often some aspects of my personal life. I can't help it..I have the best followers from all over the world who listen and reply to my ramblings :) They continue to help me through some tough times, and they now feel like part of my extended family!

In March of 2011 I  started by very own sketch challenge blog called Once Upon A ...Sketch.  My challenges are based on my  sketches that I create along with my journalling prompts. This was born out of my love and passion for journalling on my layouts. I believe that too few people are journalling on their pages these days, and through my challenge blog I am hoping to encourage people to do that more often. Journalling, and leaving a legacy behind is why I started scrapping in the first place and I never wish to lose this. Although I love to create pretty looking pages, I thrive on writing messages to my daughters on my layouts or more often these days, at the back of them. 

In the past 3 years, I have had the chance to work along side some very talented women through various spots on Design Teams, ranging from challenge blogs to kit clubs etc. I have learnt so much from so many people, and I never feel as though I have learnt it all! I love to be inspired by talented people. I get a kick out of learning something new and I often blog hop right into the wee hours of the morning. 

At present, I am designing for my challenge blog as well as Imaginarium Designs chipboard, C'est Magnifique kit club and Australian online store Handmade By Suzanne and love every minute of it. 

I am incredibly happy to have met Marivic through this craft and online community and feel blessed that she asked me to be her Guest here, and her sponsored designer after May! Thank you Marivic :)

Gerry

My name is Gerry van Gent - a 38 Bulgarian woman living in The Netherlands. I`m a mom of two adorable kids and a wife of a very supportive hubby. I`m lucky to be able to stay at home and have plenty of time to spend with my kids and of course I have plenty of time for my hobbies...scrapbooking and photography. I got involved in scrapbooking back in 2003 when my first child was born and I never stopped since then. I find inspiration in my kids, in everyday life and of course in the products I work with.

My work is always detailed and dimensional. I love misting, masking, stamping, making my own embellishments and I love hand-stitching on my layouts and cards.

Currently I design for {Webster`s Pages}, contributor for {Sizzix Europe}, {The Scrap Cake}, {Imaginarium Designs}, {STTG} and I`m teacher at {Miss Art`s}. 

My blog:  http://gerryscrafts.blogspot.com/

Thank you so much for inviting me as a guest-designer! 

Thank you to both Nadia and Gerry for your beautiful projects!