What a crazy week or so...

Imagine how little ol' me (well not that old) felt when Em emailed me saying she & Nicky would like me to be a Bella Babe - I was floored, excited, then jumping up & down excited (hubby thought I was insane) THEN to receive an email from Taylor asking me to be her cupcake sampler yesterday CRAZY!!!

If you missed Bellariffic Fridays click here to see the amazing posts - Em posts the inspiration on Mondays and you just have to send her a picture of your card by 5pm EST Thurs and she will showcase your card PLUS you will be entered to win 10.00 bella bucks - what could be better?!?!

This is my card from yesterdays Bellariffic Fridays - I love these new little turtles that were part of the last release - he's just so darn cute!

Turtle Tots Picking Posies is stamped with mementos ink and coloured with copics; I added stickles to the flowers. The DS (including the yellow) is from Basic Greys Urban Prairie and the embellishments on the side are put on with the Kajinker & are the kajinker flowers which is a lot of fun

Thanks again Em & Nicky for picking me as a Babe; not only do I love both of you but if I am having a blue day I can remind myself (& hubby) that I am a Babe :)

Have a great Saturday & thanks for stopping by

Dana

I'm Flattered...

My BFF Karen (paper playhouse) received an award from Ruby of Ruby 2 shoes - don't you just love the name of her blog?! And her cards are lovely too! So in following their direction you pass this onto one persons whose blog inspires you; this is tough because there are sooooo many blogs that inspire me BUT the award goes to.........Paula of Paper Possibilities!! Her blog is fantastic & her colouring with pencils & mineral spirits blows me away!!! I am happy and humbled to be a bella babe with her :)

Thanks again my BFF -only 7 sleeps (6 for you 'cuz it's late out your way!!

I'm FEATURED!!

I can't believe Taylor Van Bruggen asked me to be her Featured Cupcake Sampler this week - I was so excited when I saw her email!!! Then once I accepted the panic set in; I would have to be on a schedule something I haven't had to do since I stopped working 6 years ago!!! I managed to calm myself down and actually focus, again something that I falter at now that I am at home; sure I can stamp for my blog but I don't HAVE to be done at a certain time, I have to say it was nice to know I can make myself focus when I have to (if only I could do that for the ironing that is piling up!)

It took a long time for me to decide on what image to use; and flutter by huggabugg from Stamping Bella was calling my name - she was perfect for the layout. She is stamped with Mementos ink and coloured with copics, I added some watercolour shimmer to her wings.

For her dots on the hat and outfit I used Taylor's Tiny Twinkles in both orange and light green. When I first looked the little twinkles I was worried about spilling them (I have been known to be a bit of a klutz) then how to work with them because I don't have a fancy tool. I looked around and found my good old quickstik from quickkutz and the gummy part worked perfectly!!

The card base is SU's soft sky layered with certainly celery and the DS paper is from My Minds Eye's "bloom & grow" line. I pierced the paper because I thought sewing would be too much of a distraction from the twinkles. For her antenna's and along the bottom I used Stamping Bella bonbons in the same colour of orange as the twinkles.

This was a lot of fun - thanks again Taylor and have a great weekend everyone!!

Dana

Sitting Pretty

Ah to be as content as Content-a-Bella wouldn't that be spectacular?!

I hate to admit it but this stamp has been in my bella binda for a very long time - finally she got inked! For this layout I used Mojo Mondays 75.

The image is stamped with mementos ink and coloured with copics, the flower is paper pieced (shocking I know!!) the paper arrived today; it has some shimmer to it but I couldn't get a good picture of it. The paper is by SEI Mimosa.
The DS paper is Basic Greys Urban Prairie and I layered it on SU's basic black for grounding. I added some Bella Bonbons in Charcoal

Remember you have until 6pm EST on Thursday to email your Bellariffic Friday's card to Emily

Thanks for stopping by & have a great day (I'm cheating & posting my Thursday post now before I go to be; really it is Thursday East of me...)

Dana

TOTE-ALLY....

Fantastic challenge on the SCS MFT forum - MFTWTG23!! I hadn't inked up this stamp yet & when I found the challenge I was really excited; an excuse to ink it up and use my scraps! The challenge is to use only scrap paper for the card; and I can honestly say that's all I did - the only time I opened a container was for my Bella bon- bons YEAH ME!!!

WTG Tote-ally Fantastic is stamped on Gina K's Pure luxury cs and I paper pieced her skirt & top, used copics to colour the purses, wall and sidewalk then I used lyra pencils and mineral spirits for the stand that the purses sit on and the lines on the wall and sidewalk. I did realize it has been awhile since I was back east; I had to really think about how the brick looks which is funny because our house in Toronto, that we lived in for over 5 years was brick - how quickly we forget!!!

The card base is SU's Rose red layered with Baja Breeze and the DS paper from WeR memory makers - I love the bright colours in this line called Whiteout. I decided to sew the ds onto the baja with orange (close to pumpkin) thread - I am still getting used to the new machine but I must admit I am having fun sewing again (on paper not my hubbys pants that are still waiting to be hemmed!) The image is layered on Baja Breeze and Pumpkin pie. I added some Bella orange bon bons but didn't want to put too much on the card front because I love the paper showing through.

I decorated the inside of the card just layered some Gina K pure luxury cs on Baja Breeze then added 2 strips of the ds paper.

I picked this paper partly because I wanted bright coloured purses; of the 4 I have 3 of the colours - I currently don't own the green coloured purse but I never say never!!


Thanks for stopping by & have a great day I think I will be shovelling again...


Dana

HALO...

aBella is so sweet & lucky for more I got to paper piece to my hearts content!!

I finally had a chance to play along with Amy R's Friday Sketch 50 - I honestly don't know where the weekends go! Yesterday I went to a movie (not an Oscar nominated one because that would be a logical choice, to see at least 1 of them) but really that's just a few hours out of the day!

Anyways...Haloabella is stamped with memento ink and the l little colouring I did is with copics, all the paper piecing is from Basic Grey's porcelain collection. I added some glitter to her wings and the clouds and her halo (we all have them right?!) is coloured with a gelly roll pen.

The sentiment is from stamping bella and I added some small cotton candy bon bons

Remember Bellariffic Fridays are back click here to see the wonderful inspiration Nickabella found for us! Everyone can play, just email your bella creation to Em before 5pm EST on Thurs.

Thanks for stopping by & have a great day we`re suppose to get more snow & it`s really cold again; I know it`s because my Hubby is in Florida working & golfing!!

Dana

JUST DRIVIN' BY

I realized I have neglectetd my little Elzybells from Amuse to I decided it was time to ink one up - thet problem is whenever I use a little Elyzbells I think how I need to order the originals!

I knew this image would be perfect for Jen's SFYTT from Saturday. Elzybell is stamped on Gina K's pure luxury cs and coloured with copics. I chose the colours based on the DS paper from WeR Memory Makers White Out collection and I love it because of the vibrant colours and of course it has orange :) The card base is su's chocolate chip, layered with rose red then the DS paper.

Thanks for stopping by - it's a late post because I was watching the Oscars- if you watched what did you think?

Dana

Just Hanging Around...

I love this image from Stamping Bella it was one of the first non "bellas" I bought - the first of many!!

For this card I played along with Taylor's Cupcake Challenge, which was fantastic as usual!!

The funky clothesline is stamped with memento black ink and coloured with copics. I added Niji Pearlescent watercolours to the bird and crystal effects on the polka dots to give them some shine. The image is cut with nesties oval and layered on Rose Red, pumpkin pie and chocolate chip cs.

The card base is SU chocolate chip and the DS paper is from WeR memory makers White out collection & is layered on rose red. I added some chocolate chip grosgrain ribbon. I decorated the inside of the card; which every time I do I think I should do it more often because I love how it looks! I layered pumpkin pie, rose red and white cs then layered to photo corners cut with su's punch. The sentiment is also from Stamping Bella - they have great sentiments in funky fonts.

Hope you all have a fantastic Saturday, and thanks for stopping by!

Dana

BELLARIFFIC FRIDAYS ARE BACK!!!

Can you tell I am a little excited about this?! Em and Nicky are doing the challenges and this colour inspiration challenge was defiantly a challenge for me - apparently I am not a purple fan because I don't have ribbon/bling in that colour; strange I guess I now know what I will be shopping for :)

S-T-E-L-L-A having her fix (I always say it that way makes me laugh just like in the movie that now escapes my memory - hmm if you know it can you tell me!) is inked with memento black and coloured with copics, for her crown and wand I added some Atyou Spica Glitter. I paper pieced her dress, shoes, coffee cup and the center of the back of the chair - the center of the chair is done with core'dinations paper while teh dress is ds paper from crate paper. She is cut out with nesties; I love that the Stamping Bella images work so easily with the nesties - they are definitely one of my favourites!

The background is a piece of core'dinations paper that I embossed with a sizzix plate then sanded to get the different shading, it sanded great on a flat surface but you want a piece of scrap paper underneath it because it is messy! The patterned paper is stitched on and because I didn't have any ribbon I used a cuttlebug border embossing folder with the core'dinations paper. I again sanded down the paper then I added some glitter in the center. To finish off the piece I added some prima flower and in the middle are daisy crystal flowers which I put onto the primas using the Kajinker and mounted with pop up glue dots.

This was a fun but very challenging Bella challenge for me - I am excited to see what Em & Nicky come up with next!! Click here to see all the other great cards!

Thanks for stopping by & have a Bellariffic day :)

Dana

finally inked...

On Monday Joanne announced the Gina K's challenge this week; ink up a stamp you haven't used and then confess how long it's been waiting to see ink - well this stamp was part of my birthday gift from my Hubby and was birthday was just before Christmas BUT I will use the disclaimer that it had a wee bit of a stay at Canadian customs (really not a very good excuse!!)

For this card I combined a total of 3 challenges on SCS - Gina K's Get Inky; SC216 and CC206. The colour challenge is More Mustard, Rose Red and Kiwi Kiss or Old Olive - I love this colour combo so I had to play along.

The stamp is from Gina K's A Year Of Flowers and it's inked (finally) with memento black and stamped on Gina K's 80lb Pure Luxury cs. I coloured the image with Lyras and Mineral spirits; which I still find really challenging to get the shading but one must practice!! I used lots layers on the card with the base being Gina K's Pure Luxury 120lb cs, layered with more mustard & more mustard DS paper, then the scallops are rose red layered with Kiwi Kiss ds, both cut with nesties. I then added a strip of kiwi kiss and rose red ds paper.

Thanks for all the great challenges & have a great day!

Dana

Life Imitating Art....

Yep this is basically how I have been feeling the past couple of days! My Stamping Bella order arrived today (thanks Ryan!!) so I knew immediately which stamp I was going to ink up!

I was finally able to get to Taylors Cupcake Challenge 55 for this card - it was a challenging layout for me; part of that could be the fluey feeling I have right now :(

Fluey Huggabug is stamped with mementos ink and coloured with copics, I cut out a second set of wings and popped them up with some glitter on them. I used Stamping Bella Bonbons for the antennas. The DS paper is Basic Greys new line marrakech which I love (maybe it's because there's orange?!) It's layered on SU's Pacific point and tangerine tango; two colours I really haven't used too much but they really worked with the DS paper. The card base is SU Baja Breeze.
I added some kajinker vinyl flowers in the top right corner - orange again :) they are put on with the Kajinker; a great tool that Em brought in before I moved from TO & of course as soon as she showed it to me it was in my basket!

I was waiting for this cute little huggabug to make a card for my brothers friend who was in a serious ski accident, he was hit by a snowboarder & had been in the hospital for a few weeks - he was like another brother to me so I wanted to let him know I was thinking about him.

Thanks for stopping by - hopefully I won't be feeling fluey much longer!!

Dana

Feeling like a Latte

I had planned to schedule this to post while I was snuggled in my bed BUT I spilt water on my desk yesterday; didn't get any important stuff BUT it did run over onto the floor & the power bar which meant I couldn't colour without my light!

I finally got a chance to do Jen's SFYTT - I look forward to her sketches every Saturday!

Latte a Bella is stamped with Mementos ink and coloured (where I didn't paper piece her; yes I am addicted to that!!) with copics. I paper pieced her top and the seat of the chair, the patterned paper is Basic Greys Porcelain - I love the soft colours and it's spring feel; especially since it is winter here again with a little snow & cold! I used cuttlebugs swiss dots on SU's pink pirouette and mounted the DS paper on So Saffron. Latte a Bella is mounted on both pink pirouette & so saffron. I added stickles to the flower in her hair; although you have to wait for them to dry I do like that they give dimension. Of course I needed bling and for this card I used large stamping bella bonbons in Cotton Candy

Thanks for stopping by; it's a holiday in Calgary (Family Day) which really means 3 days with my hubby home - which means not as much stamping time as I would like!!

Dana

A Rose Bouquet

On Friday when I stopped by Charmaine's (Charmworm) blog I was happy to see that Beate's Weekend sketch was back; it had been too long so I decided I wanted to do it (as soon as I finished my valentines!)

This sketch was fun because I don't normally make long cards; this one is 9x4 so it fits perfectly in a letter envelope.

I used Stamping Bella's Rose Bouquet and coloured it with Lyra's and mineral spirits; then I added some glitter to the flower. The image is cut with nesties and mounted on scalloped nesties in So Saffron. The card base is Pink Pirouette and the DS paper is from Basic Greys new line Porcelain line mounted on So Saffron.

The circles are cut with a Martha Stewart circle cutter I found at Walmart (so the price was right!) I have to say I found it easy to use & it goes in measurements on 1/16 up to 6"

I added some ribbon and in the top right corner 3 bella bonbons in cotton candy because you know I can't live without bling on my card!

BIG NEWS!!!! Bellariffic Fridays are back!! Please go to Em's blog Bloggabella to see the first inspriation challenge; all you have to do is send a picture of your card to Em by Thursday 5pm EST and they will be shown on her blog - HOW COOL IS THAT?!?! I am already working on my card I am SOOOO excited!!!!!!!!

Thanks for stopping by & welcome back Beate's weekend sketch challenge!!


Dana

Sending you some Valentine lovin'

Happy Valentines Day!!! Yep this is it my last Valentines card! This one is for my in-laws; whenever they actually get it :)

For this card I used Amy R's Friday Sketch58

Sending you love is stamped with Mementos ink & coloured with Copics; I tried to make his hair sandy blond because that's the colour hubby's hair was back in the day. I used Atyou spica pens on the roses and leaves to and used Niji Pearlescent on the mailbox to give it the look of metal. I paper pieced the part of the mailbox that shows if you have mail (sorry have no idea

what it's called since I have either had mail delivered directly to my house or now a super box) I also paper pieced the stamp on the heart.

The paper is all from SU - Not Quite Navy & Real Red in cs and DS paper. I added Stamping Bella Bon Bons in Ruby Red. because you always need bling on a card!

Hope you all have a fantastic Valentines Day - ours will be quiet with a dinner at home, a nice bottle of wine and maybe he will help cook ?! Then of course being us we will be watching Hockey Night in Canada's double header; who says romance is dead?!?!

Thanks for stopping by

Dana

Rub-a-dub-dub Stella in the Tub

Really how could you NOT love Stella & all her glory???? This is another Valentines Day card; I only have 1 left to show YEAH ME!! So I shall pop them in the mail then I can literally say the cards are in the mail!

For this card I use SC215 from Spiltcoast, loved all the layers! Stella doing a balancing Act is stamped on Gina K's pure luxury paper with Mementos ink and coloured with Copics. To add some shine to the image I washed the tub with Niji Pearlescent watercolor. I added Crystal effects to the heart so they would shine. Stella's crown is coloured with gold Atyou Spica.

The DS paper is Basic Grey "bittersweet" layered on SU Pink Pirouette and Basic Grey. The card base is embossed with Sizzix hearts embossing plate. I finished off the card with Bella dots in Pink Orchard.

Thanks for stopping by

Dana

Yum COOKIES!!

When I saw this image from Stamping Bella I knew I HAD to have it - I love to bake & all my friends in Toronto & their kids LOVED when I made cookies because I make them & give them away! I was even known as the "Cookie Lady" to one of my friends sons. I made this valentines day card for her & another girlfriend who will laugh at the cake holder they are on; every time we went shopping at Winners/Homesense I would put one in our cart THEN by the time we would leave the store I would talk myself out of buying it; now after making the cards I really want a cake tray - I might just have to wander over to Homesense; but will one actually make it to my house?!

I actually decided to try sewing on this card; we bought a new sewing machine so I could hem pants for my hubby; yep the only thing I have sewn is a card - best not let him find out I got it working otherwise he will be wondering when the pants will get done!

I even managed to find something to paper piece on this card; really it is becoming a bit of an obsession isn't it?! Cookie Love is stamped on Gina K pure luxury paper and coloured with copics, I used an Atyou Spica on the heart then added some Crystal effects to give it some dimension & shine. The DS paper is all from Basic Greys "Bittersweet" collection. All the other paper is from SU; Rose Red, Chocolate Chip & Kraft. The chocolate chip is embossed with Sizzix hearts and I added some lovely Stamping Bella dots for a little bling

Funny I haven't used any stamps from Stamping Bella & I was in total withdrawal; yep I am definitely an addict of all things Bella - can't wait for my latest order to arrive!!

Thanks for stopping by have a great Thursday - really I only have 2 more Valentines cards to make not bad Huh?!

Dana

Desparate...

for what is the big question!! I made this for my hubby's Valentine's day card BUT normally we don't celebrate - really in 19 yrs he's been home for maybe 4 Valentines!!

For this card I combined 2 challenges; Mojo Monday & MFT's WTG challenge; using 3 different pattered papers.

Maid for You from MFT is stamped on Gina K pure luxury paper with Mementos ink and coloured with Lyra's & mineral spirits; I am trying to get comfy with these and slowly it's coming! The couch is the 1st piece of ds paper from Little Yellow Bicycle's Love Letters. I tried to make her have fish net stockings - I figured if you were going to wear a maid's outfit you would wear fishnets RIGHT?! As you can tell these aren't in my house!! The rest of the DS paper is from Little Yellow Bicycles Love Letters. The Base is SU's Purely Pomegranate and the patterned paper is layered on SU Basic Black. I added Sizzix hearts to the pomegranate piece under the image. I stamped the apron & ruffle on her skirt (that's what my BFF said it was - or at least agreed it was) on SU's shimmering white CS and paper pieced it.

Ok if this doesn't make sense it's because I'm multi tasking because my BFF is on the phone with me bugging to post :)

Thanks for stopping by

Dana

Flopsey Love

Wow I am soooo behind on my Valetine's Day cards!! I went through and pulled out all the Valentine stamps I "had" to have and will get them inked this week - If the card is MADE before Valentines Day it's not late RIGHT, not when it gets in the mail & received?!

I made this card for my neice & nephew & I used Jen's SKFYTT; funny there isn't much bling on it - I kept staring at it last night wanting to add some bling, but decided to leave it alone - that can sometimes get me into trouble (aka the card hits the garbage) if it doesn't just come then it's not meant to bling....

Valentine Flopsey is stamped on Gina K's Pure Luxury paper, then coloured with Lyras & mineral spirits, I then added some shimmer to the fur on Flopsey; I chose grey for his colouring since all the bunnies here are a white/grey right now to try & blend into the snow (which is falling in HUGE flakes right now!!) I stamped the heart & words on SU's Purely Pomegranate, embossed them, then cut & paper pieced then but used dimensionals so it's away from his body. The image is cut with nesties, but I trimmed the embossed part off so I could have a small mounting piece. The image is mounted on SU's Basic Grey, the card base is SU's Purely Pomegranate and the DS paper is Little Yellow Bicycles Love Letters. I used Martha's heart punch and popped those up as well.

Have a great day; looks like I will be stamping & shovelling today!!!

Dana

Call Me...

Don't you just love that Blondie song (ohh Dating myself!!) I decided to make a project for MFT Guest Designer; and I dug into my cupboards to find something to work with & I found this little address Rolodex YEAH it sang to me for MFT's CALL ME - which is very popular because it appears to be sold out; I hunted the site and couldn't find a link for you!

For this project I stamped the image on Gina K's 120lb pure luxury paper. I then stamped the image again on the same paper so I could colour and piece "who's that girl" onto the chair. She is coloured with copics and I added a little glitter on her shirt; I tried to free hand 1/2 a heart - or it's just a wobbly circle!!! For the hot pink phone I used an atyou spica gel pen then on the rotary dial (remember those too?!) I added some crystal effects.

For the chair I coloured it with lyra pencils and mineral spirits so it would stay soft; and look a little worn. Don't you LOVE how the chair doesn't move when she sits on it - I like to image my chairs don't either!!

The wall is coloured with SU's pretty in Pink chalk very lightly daubed on then I erased it a little so it wasn't too bright. The floor is also SU's chalk; chocolate chip and black mixed together then I washed over the floor with Pearlescent watercolour in brown to try and give it the effect of hardwood flooring.

The image is mounted on SU's basic black then mounted on chatterbox black polka dot paper. This is mounted on SU's Pink Pirouette paper which I mounted on 2 coasters for stability on the roladex. On the back page I embossed Sizzix "friend" sponged the piece with Pink Pirouette ink. To finish off the image I added some Prima's with Stamping Bella Pearls.

For the front and back of the Rolodex I embossed Pink Pirouette cs with swiss dots, and then added the word with Basic Grey sticker letters in black.

This was a fun project to do; a departure from cards - Thanks for the great challenge Kim, I loved using only Brown, Pink, Black, Grey & White.

Thanks for stopping by,

Dana

Is that a Bugg on your Cupcake?!

A HUGGABUGG that is!!! Oh this image is soooo sweet & I realized that I haven't sent my Mom's birthday card yet (Feb 10th) YEP I am back to my old habits of being late, you would think just being on the other side of the Rockies instead of in Toronto would help but NO - ahhhh but I am her baby girl so she loves me :)

For this sweet image I used Taylor's Cupcake challenge 54 - I can't believe I managed to do her challenge so quickly!!

Cuppycake with a Huggabugg on Top is stamped on Gina K's pure luxury cs and coloured with copics, the I added some Atyou Red to the cherry's on her dress and stickles for the sparkle on the icing.

Her antenna's are outlined with a gelly roll pen and I used Bella light pink frosted flatback for the dots (are they receivers?!)

Cuppycake is cut with Nesties Label 2 and mounted on SU's Regal Rose also cut with a Nesties Label 2. The cardbase is SU's Regal rose with Apricot Appeal on top; this I embossed with Cuttlebugs D'Vine Swirls.

The Ribbon is SU's Rose, layered with SU's Apricot then I added some Bella cotton candy bon bons because you can never have too much bling!! The sentiment is embossed and layered on both apricot appeal and regal rose

Thanks for stopping by, have a great Saturday & if you didn't stop by Stamping Bella make sure you take a peek today - she has some FANTASTIC new stamps & stuff...

Thanks Taylor for another great sketch!!


Dana