Friday, November 30, 2012

Bellarific Friday-It's Sketchy!





I am LOVING the Bellarific Sketch this week!!! I made my card a little larger this week (5"x7") to accomodate this larger Frosty Image. I coloured my card with a Combination of Touch and Copic Markers and glitzed it up with some fun glitter and Flower Soft.

The Designer Paper is from last years Bo Bunny Winter Collection, but I thought it was perfect for this card. I added an additional kraft layer and embossed it with my cuttlebug stars embossing folder.

Fun!

If you want to see all the fun creations by the Bellarific Babes and "Da Sistahhood" Hop on over to Blogabella


Next weeks Challenge is a Tag! If you'd like to participate, make sure you send your creation to Em before next Friday. You can get all the deets on Da Blog!

xxxMWAHxxx

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Bellatastic Tuesday on Splitcoaststampsers!

Today marks the start of our first SCS challenge, and for this opening challenge you could win a fantastic $25 gift voucher to spend at Stamping Bella. Perfect!

The theme is ANYTHING GOES! Just create something using Stamping Bella stamps, and upload to the SCS gallery using the keyword BELLANOV2012

The challenge will run from today until midnight EST on Monday 10th December 2012. During this time, participants cards will also be posted in a special blog post over on Bloggabella! You may very well also see your cards on our Pinterest board!

The winner of the $25 prize will be chosen at random from the entries, and will be announced here and over on Bloggabella on Tuesday 11th December.

You can find the Challenge HERE


Monday, November 26, 2012

Happy TImes




Yesterday I came across this fabulous Sketch Challenge Blog Called

I found my way there via my Cyber Pal Tracey's Blog. I am always inspired by her lovely Scrapbook Pages and was really excited when I happened upon the sketch site because it is a wonderful inspiration to have a sketch to start with.



I'm also blessed to be on the Paper Loft Design Team, because it has inspired me to get back to the original motivation that fostered my love for paper crafting-Scrapbooking

This is a picture of my sweet Jonathon at age 3. I love his dimply chin and squeezable cheeks

For my layout, I used The Funky Saurus Line. The colours and patterns are fun and coordinate so well together. I also used Dino Track Accessories Sheet, Happy Times

I created the little number on a base of one of the patterned papers in the Hooked on Fishing Line;
The circular sentiment and number is available Here at IO Stamps

Edges are inked with Tim Holtz Vintage Photo Ink

Hope you enjoyed my page, I sure had fun creating it!


Sweets for my Sweet!



I wanted to make a masculine tag to go on a little package of cookies for my sweetheart.
He has done some very sweet things for me lately and wanted to add a special touch to the sweet treats.



He probably would NEVER admit it in person, but he has saved each and every card and tag that I have made him and is quite sentimental 


I love this Artsy House stamp with the sentiment and have used it several times over.
Given all the stamps I have to work with, it is a rare occasion when I use an image over and over, but this is one that will remain with me for a long long time!

I used Huckleberry Pond Distressed Cardstock available in a 6x6 Pad

I sponged Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Vintage Photo and used these Fun Marianne Heart Dies to further embellish the card. I used this fun stencil from Balzar Designs.

I know that he's going to love the Peanut Butter Cookies, hope he likes the tag too!

Happy Stamping!

Saturday, November 24, 2012

JOY





Wanted to share a quick and easy gift set that I made with this adorable Paper Smooches Warm Hearts Stamp Set. I simply stamped and coloured the snowman image with my Touch Markers onto the white cardstock

I added some Polar White Flowersoft underneath to add dimension. I filled the Hearts in the sentiment with Christmas Red Stickles





Here's my colour map.....not much to it!




I finished off my creation with some Bakers Twine and a Button

Quick and Easy Peasy!!!!






Friday, November 23, 2012

Bellariic Friday-Wintery Holidays!



Happy Friday! Are you all ready for the weekend? I am! I have a lot of projects to complete, in addition to studying for my final exams!!! I will be TOTALLY happy when I am done for the month!!!!

Today's Challenge is to created a Holiday and/or Winter Themed Card!

If you know me, you KNOW I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE Snow! Hate driving in it, but love playing in it, looking at it and adding it to my winter cards!!!

Winona LOVES winter as much as I do! Doesn't she look grand whizzing down the hill on her vintage sleigh?

I coloured here with my Touch Markers...keeping them in soft hues to create a muted effect.




I teamed her up with these Delicious Designer Papers from the Scattered Pine Mountain Collection that can be found over at the Paper Loft! And the Pine Bough Die Hails from IO Stamps

Make sure that you head on over to Blogabella to check out the Beautiful Creations!

Thursday, November 22, 2012

IO Stamps Designer Thursday



This week I'm the Featured Designer over on the Impression Obsession Blog

I wanted to show you the versatility of the Stamps and Dies for Scrapbooking. We see so many gorgeous card creations with the stamps, that I wanted to change it up a bit for you.

For my page, I used this Beautiful Fancy Ornament Die Set along with The Pine Branch Die

The Papers I used in the Layout are from The Paper Loft Gentler Times and Scattered Pine Mountain

I used the sentiment from the Miracle of Christmas and the Numbers from....well The Numbers  set

I added a touch of glitter to the ornament tops, some Prima Flowers and some Hemp Twine to suspend my ornaments

I remember this Christmas Picture Distinctly. Jonathon was about 16 months old at the time. I was so excited to take him to see Santa, as he was not old enough to remember the year before. He really wasn't all that fussy to wait in line. In fact the Mall was crowded and the line was long. Generally he was an easy baby, but not that evening. He managed to squirm and squirm and finally whacked me upside the head with the toy he was holding, slamming my glasses into my face. Needless to say, he was happier once he got to sit on Santa's knee and I was sporting a black eye for the next week or so.

Funny, it was our last visit with Santa. The following year I refrained from the Mall trip as he had a visit with Santa at a work party that his Father had taken him to. The following year, I mustered up the courage to take him again. Being almost four years of age and extremely articulate, he indicated that certainly was NOT going to sit on "that guy's" knee. When I asked him what he meant he stated {and I QUOTE} "Mommy, that is NOT the REAL SANTA. The REAL Santa is far too busy at the North Pole making toys for Christmas and doesn't have time to be hanging around the Mall. LOL.....what a logical child he was and still remains to be. I did manage to convince him that the Spirit of Santa Claus never dies ! To that he will agree.

Happy Stamping!

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Sweet Pea!



Ohhhh this cute little image just warms my heart!!!!

Baby Bella Pea! How cute is SHE?????

I layered her on a background of papers from the Glitz Cashmere Dame Collection

She comes with her own "Sweet Pea" sentiment, however this sentiment is from The Stamps of Life as I sadly misplaced my sentiment stamp. The Bella Sentiment is similar in font and style!




I coloured her with my Touch Markers as indicated above!



Added some Stitching, Dotty Ribbon and Some Smooch Glitz to the Pea Pod to glitz it up a bit.

Now I hope that one of my expecting friends will have a little girl so I can embellish a pretty package with her!

Have a great day!

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

LIfe is what you make it



Isn't that the truth? Life isn't always easy. We can be faced with challenges of various magnitudes on a monthly, weekly or daily basis. Sometimes Life can get overwhelming to the point that we want to jump under the covers and hope that all our troubles disappear, but at least there is some solace in knowing that although we can't always control the situations, challenges and people that can add to our stress, we can control our perception of these external cues.

Looking for a cloud in a silver lining, believing that the cup is half full rather than half empty,perceiving that a closed door means that there is another one open for us somewhere can allow us to more effectively manage stressful situations and cope with the cards that we are dealt.

Find strength in knowing that you own the way you feel, that you are in charge of you! Just taking that small step will allow you to face life's challenges in a more objective manner. Focusing on a solution, rather than how horrible things are can shift your perception just enough that you may be more readily able to generate alternatives that you hadn't thought of before. I know that there are things that are way beyond our personal control, injustices in the world that would make anyone feel defeated; however maintaining the belief that although you may not always have control of the outcome, you will manage as best as you can with what you have, can make all the difference. Optimism brings hope. Hope is that glimmer of light that shines at the end of the tunnel and determination is the vessel that can guide us to that brighter place. I think Martin Kornfeld has the right idea:





LIFE
Brads-Close to My Heart

Love & Hugs,

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Be Mine!



I'm still in Valentines Mode, although I should get my act in gear to get some more Christmas Cards done. I could NOT resist colouring up this super sweet Olivia from Stamping Bella. I am really kind of grooving on this colour combo...beige and lavendar.....that's pretty new for me! The Designer Paper is from The Dear Lizzy Neopolitan Collection The image is coloured with Touch Markers !

Hope your week is Fabby!

Happy Stamping!

Friday, November 16, 2012

Getting Sketchy on Bellarific Friday




This week's challenge for Bellarific Friday was a Sketch Challenge! I posted the sketch Last Friday and to see all the cool creations that the Bella Babes and Da Sisterhood, be sure to head on over to Blogabella! For my Card, I used this sweet image from Mo Manning called  Fixer Boy. Love this fun paper from the Paper Loft Hooked on Fishing 6x6 pad....How fun is that! and of course my image is coloured with Touch Markers from Shinhan Arts

BIG NEWS~~~~ We have a new Babe in da House!!!
Please shout out a warm Welcome To Kim! You're going to enjoy feasting your eyes on her Bellarific Creations! Hop on over to her blog......she's got some Candy for you!

Hope you have a great weekend! I got some fabulous new rubber from Stamping Bella and am hoping to fit in some serious stamping time this weekend!

MORE BIG NEWS

THE PAPER LOFT IS HAVING A SALE
A HUGE SALE!!! You can take 25% off your order right now through to November 18th~
Be sure to hop on over and check it out!!!!

Happy Stamping!

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Happy Fall Y'all


Happy Fall Y'all!

This weeks challenge is to create an autumn themed card. Whether its fall leaves, autumn colours, create to your hearts desire. I used this FABULOUS Leaves Die  set as the focal point on my card. To give the leaves more dimension and that "fallen from the tree" look, I sprayed them with Dylusions Sprays in Brown, Orange and Green. I set the scene for the leaves by using the Gingham Cover a Card Stamp and this fabulous Bird Silhouette Flourish. I finished it up with this lovely sentiment You are never too old. I really love how this card turned out. So did my Mom, I hadn't even photographed it yet before she snapped it up for her card stash!

Please head on over to the IOStamps Blog to submit your entries for the Challenge and to find out who's playing this week!

Happy Stamping!

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Cute as a Bug {not in a rug!}



With Christmas coming soon, there is a great influx of Christmas Cards on blogs.....I LOVE LOVE LOVE Christmas and Christmas cards, but I also wanted to move a little forward to Valentines Day....I LOVE Chocolate Valentines Day to change things up a bit!!!! I absolutely ADORE this Love Bug Image from Stamping Bella. I coupled it with this sweet Heart Stamp~~~ How cute is this combo!

Designer Paper is from Prima and Markers from Shinhan Arts Touch Markers

I used the following markers for colouring

Greys_ CG 0.5, 3 and %
Red: R10 and R1
Skin: YR132, R139, R7

Hope you have a great week!

MWAH!!!!

Friday, November 9, 2012

Bellarific Friday-Did someone say SNOW???



Brrrrrrr!! Have you felt the chill in the air this week? I did! In fact, I believe that I saw a sparse smattering of tiny snowflakes falling from the sky on monday. Ugh, winter is coming WAY too soon for my liking! I do love the pretty scenes created by the fluffy white stuff, but I absolutely ABHOR winter driving. YEP, it's definitely not my thing! I try to stay off the road as much as possible and prefer to cozy up in front of the fire to keep warm. This sweet little bunny doesn't seem to mind the snow, in fact with his furry coat, he probably relishes the crisp snow....not sure how carrots taste when they're frozen though! This weeks challenge was to use a little snow on your project. I added snow with my gel pen and some Polar White Flower Soft. For the fur on his cap, I used Sparkly Fluff, which you can find at Our Craft Lounge. The Bunny image is one of Mo Mannings Creations, available in Rubbah at the Bella Store. Make sure you hop on over to Blogabella to see the Fabulous creations!

We're getting Sketchy next week! Here's the sketch so you can get a head start!



Happy Stamping!

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Bee is for Baby!




I wanted to share a little gift set that I made for Jonathon's sweet niece. I new that these newly released Bee sets: Bee4me, Hive4bees and Background4bees would be perfect for this baby project!








I coupled the stamps sets with this gorgeous paper from the Easy Breezy Line over at the Paper Loft
This line is so soft and pretty!




Here is the inside of the card. The sentiment is from Onesie4baby




Lastly, I jazzed up this bank from the $$$$ Store!

Sweet and easy Project and I LOVE LOVE LOVE those bees! I see a SB page coming soon!

Happy Stamping!

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Special Delivery!



Just love this sweet little Prega Peep image.....funny, I never craved anything funky when I was expecting Jonathon, well nothing funky in combinations. I was a total Carnivore and couldn't get enough red meat. Other than that, it was Radishes....YES RADISHES. The bigger, the better. Fortunately I enjoyed an August Delivery, which meant I had access to the freshest of radishes. 

It was totally exciting to head to the market each tuesday and saturday to buy radishes the size of tennis balls. YEP! THAT big.....sweet and juicy! I'd take a little baggie with wet paper towel inside so I could munch on a few on the way home. I'd buy about 4 bunches each time and snack away. It's a wonder I wasn't in a perpetual state of indigestion. Anyway, it's funny what memories an image will evoke eh?

I used this pretty Neapolitan Paper from American Crafts, available at Scrappin' Great Deals

The little sentiment stamp is from The Stamps of Life

Happy Stamping!

Monday, November 5, 2012

Cute Froggie Dies!




I wanted to share a couple of cards with you that showcase the newly released Frog and Lily Pad dies release from The {Stamps} of Life. They coordinate with the frogs in the Froggy2love  stamp set. In the above card, I simply stamped the frog in Artichoke Ink (colorbox  by Stephanie Barnard)
The DP is from the Hooked on Fishing line-Paperloft


With this card, I coloured in the Frog with my Touch Markers. The Sweet card background and plaid border is from the Hooked on Fishing Line at Paper Loft. The Pine treed background is Huckleberry Pond. The dies make stamping so easy and fun!

Have a great day!

Friday, November 2, 2012

Bellarific Friday



Sorry I've been so scarce lately. Between prepping for and enjoying my parents 50th Wedding Anniversary AND studying for exams, I haven't had a spare moment to stamp.....Have my last exam tomorrow, so I'm going to be very quick in composing this post. 

I flipped the sketch


and used this Pretty Image from Mo Manning called Bye Bye Girl. 

I coloured her with Prism Pencils, with exception of her hair, which was coloured with Touch Markers

Next weeks challenge:

LET IT SNOW!!!

add some snowy goodness to your project

Head on over to Blogabella for how to submit your entries and win a Fabby Prize

Happy Stamping