Back to School

I do love seeing kids on their first day back... a bundle of nerves and all dressed in their new clothes (or in my case it was a uniform... a kilt).  The kids get photographed on front porches with brand new lunch bags and pencil cases.  And then another year begins.

No kids for me... but I do have 2 incredible nieces that I will watch go off to school on Tuesday and I'm off work that day, so I'm excited about their big day. 

For Stamping Bella's the 'Back to School' theme today I chose to use Bye Bye Girl by Mo Manning.  I love her little ladybug backpack.

I coloured her up with Copics and used some of the Cosmo Cricket "measuring up" to add some numbers as well as MME "dilly dally".  This was an odd choice for me actually - numbers were never my choice in school.  Still aren't... unless it's patterned paper of course... lol.

I curled & distressed the edges of the diagonal piece for a little worn out scribbler look.  Anyone still call them scribblers?!!  LOL!  For me they'd start out so neat & tidy on the first page and then barely legible towards the end (and full of doodles & Holly Hobbies). 

And as always my Glossy Accents had to sneak in there somewhere.  I thought she deserved a shiny new backpack... and of course glittler on the furry collar.  8)

Finished the inside with more of the numbered papers and again kept this without sentiment in case I use it for other purposes. 

So!  On that note, I wish you all a happy first-day-back as parents and for those of you who are able to wave the school bus off... are you running back home to make cards with your free time?!!  lol

Check out the other Back to School cards at Bloggabella to see what the rest of the team has come up with.  Be sure to leave a comment for your chance to win Bella bucks!!

SUPPLIES USED:


Stamps:
Stamping Bella: Bye Bye Girl by Mo Manning (comes with sentiment)

Paper:
Bella's Bestest paper, Whisper White, Cosmo Cricket "measuring up", Basic Grey "curio", MME "dilly dally"

Dies:
MFT... double dot border (used half)
SB... beaded ovals

Copics:
Y23, 26, 28
BG0000, 000, 10, 11
R20, 21, 22, 24, 27
W1, 3, 5

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Extras:
sewing machine, glossy accents, linen thread (cream & beige), glitter, brads

Have a great Friday everyone and enjoy your weekend (for us here in Canada it's a loooong weekend!!)

Toodles!
Carla.

Welcome

Hi again!  I'm back with a new Stamping Bella card... this time it's one that I think is really cool... well, cold.  I love (!!) this image "Door Wreath" by Mo Manning.

Haven't done the inside yet.  Going to wait and see if I want to make this a Christmas card or just a winter card. 

Added LOTS of glitter and restamped the image to colour & cut out the wreath to re-add with foam tape. 

Okay... now see that rhinestone flourish?  I'm HORRIBLE at applying those.  For me they usually come with zero patience, 10 thumbs and one hissy-fit.  Yes I've seen the tutorials and no I still can't manage it calmly.  This one actually ended up in a ball.  (Actually I was quite surprised how resilient it was.)  And the design I ended up with is nothing like what was intended.... but I did a happy dance just knowing I got it on there without it looking like it was something I stepped on.  8)  Yeah me!!

SUPPLIES USED:


Stamps:
Stamping Bella: door with wreath by Mo Manning

Paper:
Bella's Bestest paper, Whisper White, Early Espresso, MME Miss Caroline & Destinations Travelogue

Dies:
SB... classic rectangle

Copics:
E40, 41, 42, 43, 44
YG11, 13, 25, 63
W1, C1, 2
E11, 15, 17

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Extras:
sewing machine, stitched sheer ribbon, adhesive pearls, glitter, rhinestone flourish

Well that's it from me tonight!  Hope you're enjoying your week and really hope you join us on Friday when the theme is BACK TO SCHOOL.  See you then!

Carla.

Jack & Ginger

Hello bloggettes!!  I'm back with a little Bella card using Jack & Ginger by Mo Manning.  It comes with it`s own sentiment ("love begins in a moment, grows over time and lasts for eternity") but I decided to go with this sentiment... "beauty is not extravagance..."... just because I love it.  :)

I don`t know where the colours came from... the hot pink isn`t really my thang... but hey, maybe way deep down I`m just a hot pink kinda gal!  (nah...lol)

 
I just love these 2 retro square dies from MFT.  I cut them out a second time with the MME wood grain paper and inserted the squares to match the background paper.  Lots of possibilities with these two... they will definitely suffer from overuse.  lol.

I did a simple inside and just before taking the photo stuck my little paper flower in the picture.  Made this goofing around one day.  It`s too big to pop on a card but I can`t throw it out - LOL.

Well back to the weekly grind... and with it being Monday... still much to do before I my head hits the pillow. 

Have a great week everyone and hope to see you on Friday for the theme challenge of Back to School.

Stamps:

Stamping Bella: (1) Jack & Ginger by Mom Manning &

                (2) beauty is not extravagance

Paper:

Bella's Bestest paper, Whisper White, Cosmo Cricket (Girl Friday) and MME (On the bright side), Basic Grey

Dies:

SB... classic square

MFT... retro squares

Copics:

E00, 01, 02

E51, 53, 55, 57

E71, 74, 77

RV52, 34, R85

G21, 43, 82, 94

W1, 3

BG000, 0000

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black

Extras:

sewing machine, sheer ribbon, glitter flower

Thanks for stopping by - and as always thanks for your comments - means a lot. 

`Till next time,
Carla.

Bellariffic Friday: Sketch Challenge!

Yeah it's Friday --- and better still --- it's Stamping Bella's Bellariffic Friday!  This weeks challenge is based on this sketch:

And here's my take on the sketch using sweet little Matilda on her Swing.  With my card I decided to put the sentiment on the inside as it might have otherwise covered up some of that lush rose ribbon.

Little Matilda is coloured with Copics and I've added Glossy Accents to her little coat & hat.

The clouds were done with BG0000 and then the edge of the Spellbinder Oval die was very lightly sponged with SU's Cool Carribean (I find those 2 are a great match).

I added the rose ribbon at the last minute and then realized I really couldn't put the sentiment as per the sketch - so inside it went.  I also used the bottom half of the Matilda stamp, which is the grass and flowers (stamped in SU Mellow Moss):

The sentiment "thinking of you" comes with little Matilda.
 

SUPPLIES USED:


Stamps:
Stamping Bella: Matilda on her Swing (includes sentiment)

Paper:
Bella's Bestest paper, Barely Banana, Whisper White, K&Company designer paper "Small Wonders"

Dies:
PTI... octagon
SB... oval
MFT... scallop ribbon

Copics:
YG11, 63, 67
Y0000, 23, 26, 28
R20, 81, 83, 85
E0000, 000, 00, 01

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Mellow Moss & Cool Carribean

Extras:
sewing machine, satin ribbon, rose ribbon, metal coloured clips, glittered dot, adhesive pearls, glossy accents

Really hope you got a chance to enter for your chance at $20 in Bella Bucks... but if you didn't, be sure to leave a comment on the Bloggabella for a chance to win $10 Bella Bucks.  Hope you join us for next Friday when the challenge is Back to School.
'Till next time,
Carla.

Rustic Window Box

Hey crafty peeps!  Back again with another Stamping Bella card.  I have used  Rustic Window Box by Mo Manning.  It comes with a sentiment "the earth laughs in flowers" ... but I used the sentiment "thinking of you" from Matilda on her Swing. 

I lightly used my BG0000 around the window panes and added Glossy Accents.  It looks & feels really cool! 

I added a bit of zigzag sewing, liquid pearls to the flower centers & propped up the different layers.  Other then that, no bells or whistles... just wanted to keep it simple.

Left the inside blank to use as a note card:

Stamps:
Stamping Bella: Rustic Window Box by Mo Manning & sentiment from Matilda on her Swing "thinking of you".

Paper:
Bella's Bestest paper, Early Espresso, MME "Miss Caroline" & "On the Bright Side"

Copics:
E50, 51, 53, 55, 57
E11, 13, 17
YG11, 25, 67
YR20, 21, 23, 24

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Extras:
sewing machine, white opal liquid pearls, glossy accents, dew drops

Oh!  And before I forget, here is the Sketch Challenge for this coming Friday's Bellariffic Challenge!!!

If you get a chance, you should enter for a chance to win $20 in Bella Bucks!  Just e-mail Emily (emily@stampingbella.com) your card by Thursday night.  See you there!!

'Till next time,
Carla.

A Non-Bridal... Pretty Post

Hello All!  Just popping in with another Stamping Bella card.  Felt like "making pretty" today but not a wedding or bridal shower card.  I was going for a BFF-Classy-Lady-U-R-Fabulous look - lol.  So, I choose to use Wedding Gown Circle ... in a non-wedding-gown card.

I love the soft colours of green & blue together even though I remember from my childhood days, "blue and green should never been seen"... ring a bell for anyone else - lol? 

Glitter is a MUST for anything under a heading of Pretty... but I'm not sure it has to be plastered on like I did here - haha!  I kind of went to town, but ended up liking the result.  Also added glitter to my MFT royal rose flowers as well. 

To convey the exact message I wanted for my card I used sentiments from 3 different companies and crossed my fingers in the hopes it all came together okay. 

Here's the inside:  

CARD RECEIPE:

Stamps:
Stamping Bella: Wedding Gown Circle
"Classy Lady"... Waltzingmouse Stamps
"Friend"... Hero Arts
"UR Fabulous"... TLC Creations

Paper:
Bella's Bestest paper, Basic Grey

Dies:
SB... Fleur de lis square & labels 5
MFT... royal rose flowers

Copics:
E0000, 000, 00, 01
YG0000, 03, 11

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Mellow Moss

Extras:
sewing machine, pearls, glitter, ribbon double tied using Bow Easy, mini brads, printer

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday and thanks for taking the time to stop by!!

'Till next time,
Carla.

Bellariffic Friday... HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Hi again!  Welcome back for Bellariffic Friday... this week with a Birthday Theme....

I knew right away I was going to use Amariah Rauscher's Ramona Loves Cake.  Birthdays just don't get any cuter!!  And it also comes with the "Happy Birthday" sentiment.  I told you... I'm slowly working my way into owning all of these little cuties.

I paper-pieced the cake and added a little shading with my Copics.  The icing has been "decorated" with glitter and liquid pearls... and since my latest thing seems to be adding Glossy Accents to everything... I put a little on the strawberries.  Nothing you'd find on the Food Network... but I'm happy with the outcome none the less.  lol

I stamped the image again on the inside lightly with SU More Mustard & used the MFT squiggle die on the inside again because it reminds me of yummy icing:

Here's what I used:

Stamps:

Stamping Bella: Ramona Loves Cake (comes with sentiment)

Paper:
Bella's Bestest paper, Early Espresso, So Saffron, MME "So Sofie" & "Miss Caroline"

Dies:
MFT... ribbon & squiggle dies
SB... circle
& SU punch (for sentiment)

Copics:
YR20, 21, 23, 24
R20, 21, 22, 24
YG11, 25, 63

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, shading at edge done with Ranger Distress Ink (antique linen)

Extras:
sewing machine, swiss dot embossing folder, glossy accents, red velvet ribbon, sheer ribbon, glitter

Enjoy your Friday everyone!  Hopefully see you over at Stamping Bella to check out all the other Birthday Cards.  Don't forget to leave a comment while you're there for a chance at $10 in Bella Bucks!!   'Till next time, Carla.

Keep Moving

Have you seen the stamps by Rheea at Stamping Bella?!!  OMG I freakin love them!!  (aka... I will eventually buy them all).    Here's Climb On by Rheea...

This great quote by Martin Luther King Jr. comes with as well.  I coloured the viola with copics and covered with Glossy Accents to make it really shiny (but wasn't able to capture that in the picture).

I wanted to rough up the image a bit to match the style of drawing so I used my edge distresser and went to town.  Also rolled back several of the layers.

The inside is quite simple and so I stamped the viola again and cut it out to bring the theme inside as well.  This was easy-peasy for cutting out (because if it's difficult... aka "no fun" I just won't do it....lol).  So that's means I must try paper piecing with this stamp set next - oh yeah!

SUPPLIES USED:


Stamps:
Stamping Bella: Climb On By Rheea

Paper:
Bella's Bestest paper, Basic Grey Indian Summer & Picadilly, Luxe, Whisper White

Dies:
MFT... notebook edge & mini ticket strip
SB... scallop border

Copics:
R20, 21, 22, 24, 27, 29
BG0000
W1

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Extras:
sewing machine, glossy accents, brads, SU double stitched ribbon (river rock), edge distresser

Oh!  Before I forget, a note about "comment moderation".  I know, I don't like it either, but lately I've been getting spammed for some reason and keep having to go in and delete comments that are pushing unrelated products of one kind or another.  So I've had to enable Comment Moderation which means when you leave a comment (and I love it when you do!!) that it won't appear right away, but I do receive them all and publish them as soon as I sit at my computer.  So mwah!! to you for your encouragement... I really appreciate it.

Well I'm off to work on Bellariffic Friday's Birthday Theme challenge card.  Don't forget to e-mail your card to Emily by Thursday night if you want to play along.  Hope to see you there!!

'Till next time,
Carla.

Lolly & her Brolly

Well here's Lolly waiting for the storm to pass... and I'm still waiting for it to get here.  We keep hearing of this impending storm but after a few dark clouds and a couple of drops all we end up with is another bad weather report.  We desperately need a good downpour... the poor grass is yellow & crunchy.  So with any luck, maybe Lolly here will bring us some.  Here's Stamping Bella's  Uptown Girl LOLLY and her BROLLY. 

Isn't she cute?  I added some sparkle to her dress (under the coat) and to her brolly, although it's difficult to see in the photo.  I also got carried away and thought I'd add some Glossy Accent drops to the roses as though they were rained on... but they turned into rather large drops so I'm going with the theory that a large truck drove by........

I finished the inside with the rest of the sentiment that comes with this Uptown Girl.  This gorgeous paper is from the dark ages - it was at the bottom of my scrap drawer and I love it!  It's called Vintage Blossoms by Daisydspaper.  Wish I had more, but Lolly used it up.  8)

Well, enjoy your Monday everyone.  Friday will be here soon enough... and don't forget to enter a card by e-mailing it to Emily (emily@stampingbella.com) by Thursday evening to be included in Bellariffic Friday... the theme is BIRTHDAY.  Also, while at Bloggabella you might be interested to read up on some new changes Emily will be making to the Stamping Bella website and how you could earn yourself $50 in Bellabucks.  If you're clever with words and good at tag lines... then this should be easy peasy. 

SUPPLIES USED:


Stamps:
Stamping Bella Uptown Girl LOLLY and her BROLLY

Paper:
Bella's Bestest paper, Daisydspaper "Vintage Blossoms", Ruby Red

Dies:
Memory Box... meridan border
MFT... royal rose & royal leaves
SB... scallop border

Copics:
E50, 51, 53, 55, 57
R20 21, 22, 24
YR20, 21, 23, 24
G21, 43, 82 & YG63
BG11, 72
E000, 00, 01, 02, 11
W1

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Extras:
sewing machine, glossy accents, mini brads, glitter

WMSC110 -- Irish Blessings

Okay - I participated once before in the Waltzingmouse Stamps Sketch Challenge:  here.  At the time I didn't own any of their stamps and used a freebie they offered on their website... well... since then I've corrected that problem!!  LOL

Here's a card I created with one of my new stamp sets I bought with WMSC110 in mind:

Picture of the sketch & details here:  WMSC110 
As much as I love adding ribbon to a card, I opted to leave it off on this one.  After trying different textures and bows... it just didn't seem to go in the direction I was heading, you know?

Image is coloured with Copics & the little MFT shamrock die was coated in Glossy Accents after sponging the edges a little with SU Always Artichoke. 

Love this beautiful Irish Country scene and the tons great sentiments that come with this Waltzing Mouse Irish Blessings set.  I left the inside blank, but repeated the little shamrocks to make a border at the bottom.

SUPPLIES USED:


Stamps:
WMS Irish Blessings

Paper:
Bella's Bestest paper, MME, Whisper White

Dies:
Spellbinders... rectangle
MFT... doily border & jumbo squiggle

Copics:
Y23, 26, 28
G24, 43
YG11, 63, 93
BG000, 0000
W00, W1

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Mellow Moss & Always Artichoke

Extras:
sewing machine, SU buttons, linen thread, glossy accents

Well that's it from me today.  Back tomorrow with a new Stamping Bella card!!

'Till next time,
Carla.

Bellariffic Friday!!

Happy Friday everyone!  It's time once again for Bellariffic Friday and here is the sketch for today:

Had fun with this one - although got stumped with the horizontal strip and decided to just leave it off.  Loved the sketch though - it encouraged lots of layers, which I love to do.  So here's my card:

I used one of the new Amariah Rauscher stamps from Stamping Bella:  Ramona & Teddy in their balloon.  OMG - I luvvvvs these sweet sweet Rauscher stamps and am slowly collecting every single one!  

I've propped up the center image as well as the clouds... and I've also added the first line of the Dr. Suess sentiment on the front of the card to follow along with the sketch.  Cool paper, eh?!!  It's from Destinations "Travelogue".  I was hoarding it for just this occasion.  8)

And here on the inside I've stamped the sentiment completely and also lightly stamped the image again with SU Mellow Moss ink.  Couldn't resist also adding a bit more of the Destinations paper as well.  Isn't she a cutie??   Hope you were able to particpate in today's challenge, but if not, don't forget to place a comment here on Bloggabella today while you're checking out all of today's challenge cards... for a chance to win $10 in Bella Bucks!!

SUPPLIES USED:

Stamps:
Stamping Bella "Ramona & Teddy in their ballon" by Amariah Rauscher (includes sentiment)

Paper:
Bella's Bestest paper, Destinations "Travelogue" & Carta Bella "Happy Thoughts", MME "So Sophie", Basic Grey "Picadilly", Whisper White, Early Espresso, Ruby Red

Dies:
Spellbinders... classic edges one (scallop)
MFT... doily border
Memory Box... puffy clouds

Copics:
R20, 21, 22, 24
BG000, 0000 & B0000
E50, 51, 53, 55
E71, 74, 77
YR20, 21, 23, 24
E01, 02

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Mellow Moss

Extras:
sewing machine

As always, would love to know what you think! 
Till next time,
Carla.

This one is close to my heart...

Yep - that's me... on the scale every morning.  I wouldn't dare have the weight of that big 'ol heavy towel on there though - LOL!  Even my hair elastic comes out... and jewelry... and I'm even iffy on the nailpolish!  Up one, down one... drink more water... walk a little more... don't eat after 7... geez, it doesn't feel natural this whole deprivation thing.  I've always been more "Club Chocolate" if you know what I mean.  

So this little Stamping Bella stamp called "Hoping" by Mo Manning won my heart right away. Sentiment reads, "not today... maybe tomorrow". 

I've propped up the layers and did a lot of sewing to add some texture.  Flowers were an afterthought because I love the creamy colour and embossing (but mainly because I can't leave well enough alone).

I finished inside and added a little portion of the stamp again lightly inked in SU Mellow Moss:

SUPPLIES USED:


Stamps:
Stamping Bella "Hoping" by Mo Manning (includes sentiment)

Paper:
Bella's Bestest paper, MME "Rough & Tough" & "When I Grow Up", Carta Bella "Happy Thoughts", Whisper White, Early Espresso

Dies:
Spellbinders... oval
MFT... notebook edge & file tab

Copics:
Y23, 26, 28
E000, 00, 01, 02
YG11, 25, 63
W1, 3, 5
E30, 31, 33, 35, 37, 57

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Mellow Moss & Distress Ink Antique Linen

Extras:
Hero Arts flowers, brads, edge distresser, flower patterned twill, sewing machine

Actually it's not quite 6:30pm yet... and I think I'm looking at a small snack window before the 7pm cutoff.  The good news is that since April, I'm down 33 lbs... but still have a "weighs" to go.  

Happy Stamping everyone!
'Till next time,
Carla.

Shoot for the Moon!

Hello Monday!  That's a very chipper hello too!  In Canada it's a Statutory Holiday and I get another whole day of card making and getting inky. 

Mabel is reaching for the stars on todays Stamping Bella card.  I'm still amazed that I was able to do a card without a pile of ribbon, bows, brads & bling... but I just wanted to keep it simple.  Simple & Sweet.

Here's the inside with the sentiment that comes with Mabel:

I've added glitter to the stars by colouring in with the glue pen and then dotted around the stars with the pen to add a little scattered glitter.  If you like the look of the sky & moon around Mabel, it was very easy and was done using my circle Spellbinders as stencils and 2 big daubers.

SUPPLIES USED:


Stamps:
Stamping Bella "Mabel is reaching for the stars" (sentiment included)

Paper:
Bella's Bestest paper, MME So Sophie, Whisper White, Early Espresso

Dies:
Spellbinders... circles
MFT... stars (on inside)

Copics:
Skin: E000, 00, 01
Hair: E50, 51, 53, 55, 57
Top: YG11, 23, 25 63
Swing: E84, 87,89
Pants/Bow: BG000, 10, 11, 72, 75


Ink - SU Cool Caribbeau, Barely Banana & Memento Tuxedo Black


Extras:
glitter, sewing, sponge daubers


Oh!  And if you'd like to participate in this Friday's Bellariffic Sketch Challenge - this is what you're looking for:

Don’t forget to place a comment here on Friday at for a chance to win $10 in bella bucks!  Or submit a card based on the above sketch for a chance to win $20 in bella bucks!

Have a great week everyone!  I'll be back on Wednesday. 

Till next time,
Carla.

SUMM SUMM SUMMERTIME!!

Oh yeah, it's here.  Summertime.... and.... Bellarific Friday!  The theme for today is Summertime and this Mo Manning image from Stamping Bella is perfect!

When I coloured Little Umbrella by Mo Manning... I was going for a healthy tanned glow, but by the looks of it, she's on the verge of getting the burn of her life.  But check out those shades... I gave her a dab of Glossy Accents on each lense just to help with the strong effects of the sun.  Safety first.  8)

Now head on over to Bloggabella and check out the amazing talent of the rest of the Bella Babes all decked out in their best Summ Summ Summertime Bella-ness. 

SUPPLIES USED:


Stamps:
Stamping Bella "Little Umbrella" by Mo Manning


Paper:
Bella's Bestest paper, Provo Craft Bitty Scrap Pad, Whisper White, Always Artichoke

Dies:
Spellbinders... classic edges one (scallop)
MFT... doily border
Memory Box... tilth floral

Copics:
G43, YG11, YG63, YG67
E000, E00, E01, E02
E50, E51, E53, E55, E57
BG000, BG11, BG72
R85

Extras:
Linen thread, adhesive pearls, sewing machine



Well it's time to put my shades on and check out this amazing day. Look out weekend!!

'Till next time,
Carla.