Dream Big!

July 31st already...say it isn't so. Can't believe how fast the month flew by. I know that I didn't get to post all that much nor did I get to create all that much. Today was the first weekend we were home in almost 4 weeks. I started early unpacking bags, sorting through junk mail, putting clean clothes piles away and yup - spent some time organizing the craft room again. That meant time spent finishing some projects I had started as well.

First up is Dream Big!



Actually that's what I called it but it's really a Mo Manning design sold through Stampavie as a Photopolymer clear stamp. This is the August Mary Maxim card that we will be making with our Copic markers. I have to appologize to those copic fans that had their classes cancelled in July. It was unavoidable but I still hated to cancel. I'll try to reschedule a date in August so that we can still do the Flower Power Camper Van.

I love the detail in Mo's images. Accenting them with Copics was real fun with this one. I started with Neenah Classic Crest Solar White cardstock stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink. Then colored with Copics. I accented the star and wand with a glitter pen and the wings with the Quickie Glue pen and some Hero Arts glitter. All can be found in Mary Maxim's papercrafting department. I'm trying to broaden our scope so I used the prismacolor pencil PC1021Jade Green to add shading all around. It's hard to see but you'll get a better view if you click the photo.

The sentiment is computer generated using font LD Marooned from Scrapnfonts. I then made it into a banner and curled it a bit before affixing to the card. The flowers were colored with copics as well and the colorless blender. A Kaiser pearl was added to the center. The main panel was trimed with an EK Success border punch.

The design paper is from The Paper Company called Spring Pinwheel Stripe. I loved the frost shading and glittery accents. You don't get to see much of it but it pulled the soft and darker purples together along with the green.

If you are in the Port Huron, Mi area we'll be doing this card at Mary Maxim on Saturday, August 14th from 10:30am - 12:30pm or on Monday, August 9th from 5:45 - 8:00pm. Classes are free, but you'll need to bring your own copics and a general tool kit (glue dots, tape or adhesive, scissors, and glitter). Hope you can stop by to play with us.

Cathy

Copic colors:

Y13, E000, E00, E11, R20, E04, BV00, BV01, BV04, YG11, YG13, BG10 and 0 Colorless Blender

Christmas in July

I've finally made my first Christmas card of the season! This weeks Bella challenge is Chirstmas in July. In anticipation of this challenge, I bought Polly Packages in my last Bella order. I even got 20% off in celebration of Emily's birthday. It was more like happy birthday to me! HeHe.



I just got back into town tonight and quick whipped this lovely image into a card. I love Christmas cards and colors and I'm pretty pleased with the way this turned out. To start - I stamped Polly with Memento Tuxedo Black ink onto Neenah Classic Crest solar white cardstock. I then used my prismacolor pencils and gamsol to bring it to life. I've accented the package with some quickie glue and Bella glittah and used my black Glaze pen on the buttons. The main image panel was cut out with the Large Oval Nesties and Big Scallop Nesties.

I used a Bella sentiment but didn't want a long white panel - instead, I cut and backed the words like Paulabella and Lindabella have been doing. I love the way it looks. I also punched a hole in my main image panel for the bow so that it could go behind it but still be connected to it. Paulabella and Jeaniebella have been doing it and I like the way it looks.

I finished this off with some Tim Holtz distress ink and a big bow. It still needed something so I added a big button tied with some hemp cording. Tada - now it's done.

Hope you have a great weekend.

Cath

Bridalparty Bellas

This week's Bella challenge is a Bella or a Stella. I don't own a Stella yet so a Bella it will be. I've been trying to use some of my new Bella's and incorporate them into cards before the events have passed so...this week we have a Bridal Shower card.



A dear friend from Michigan has a daughter getting married this fall and I have a shower to go to at the end of this month. I fell in love with Bridalparty Bella after seeing a card from Paula Williamson. I decided to use prismacolor pencils blended with gamsol so I could have softer shading and that was the medium Paula used too. I pulled an "I can do that". Which means that I cased the card. No credit here for the layout or embellishments - I even found background paper so close to hers you probably wouldn't know the difference unless they were side by side. Things have been slightly crazy in my life right now so having the design done was most helpful. I was thrilled with my result and I hope the bride will be as well.

I actually didn't use Neenah solar white - but I did use their ivory paper as this matched my papers better. But I did stamp my image with Memento Tuxedo Black ink. After coloring and shading, I added some Bella glittah to the bride's dress and one of her bride's maids. I love the sparkle - it's so girly. The dp came as a single sheet from JoAnn's but all the colored cardstock is Bazzil. A simple double satin ribbon bow adorns the front. The layers of cardstock were cut using rectangle and scalloped rectangle Nesties. Love the way the color builds. The finishing touch was blending VersaMagic colored chalk ink in around the main image panel - again I love the way it softens the card.

I'm back in NY again and don't know how long I'll be here. You might not see much of me as I am trying to spend time with my siblings who have all arrived back home too. My Dad was released to home hospice last week and we are trying to make him comfortable and be available for my Mom. While I would love to make cards - since it relaxes me and makes me feel comfortable - it's hard to bring all my tools and then take up space with all the nieces and nephews running around.

Take care and thanks for stopping by.

Cath

Baby and Beast

I recently made a trip back home and was lucky enough to have all my siblings and most of their families there as well. I couldn't resist showing you this picture of my youngest nephew - John Patrick - just 10 months old, reaching out to our Rotti, Tank. John Patrick loved our big dogs. I would have thought that they would scare him since they stood taller than he did but nope, he was thrilled to finally meet a BIG dog. Too cute, you should have seen him climb on Tank and then stand on Tank and then sit down on him, pat him on the head and said - "Dog". We were loving the show and Tank was a great sport - he never budged the whole time John Patrick was on him. He even treaded very gently when he followed John Patrick - a speeding bullet, crawling on his knees.

I wasn't quick enough to click the picture of Bella licking John Patrick's face. It was funny because he made a face and quick wiped the kiss off. How quickly they learn!

Thanks for stopping by.

Cath

Meredith the Teacup Girl

Hello everyone! I'm here for a quick post to show you the Bellarific Friday sketch for this week. I actually turned the sketch 90 degrees so that my image went down the card and not across but the rest of the layout is as we were requested to do.

This is Meredith the Teacup Girl from Stamping Bella. I had so much fun with this image. I started with Copics on the face and Butterflies but then went to prismacolor pencils and gamsol for the cup and shading. The hair was great fun to do - I started with a black glaze pen and added ultra fine black glitter. The headband was colored with a white glaze pen. I loved how this came out. The design paper is from the Memory Box Jubilee 6x6 pack. My Sissy gave me my birthday present a little early and it was lots of wonderful designer paper I have had my eye on but couldn't get my hands on. She has access to a local scrapbooking store that carries tons of wonderful papers and supplies. Too bad it's all the way in Maryland or I'm sure I'd be doing some damage on a regular basis.

Anyhoo...I have to get to bed but I wanted to share with you this little cutie.

Have a great week.

Cath

Feel Better - Huggabugg!

This week's Bellarific Friday challenge is Huggabuggs. A Huggabugg is a line of stamps designed by Christi Croll for Stamping Bella. They're a little on the cute side so be prepared. Anyhoo, I choose little Fluey Huggabugg to adorn my card. It's a little simple this week. I worked with limited supply. We were called home to NY unexpectedly and I had little time to throw clothes together and some craft stuff to keep me tide over through the weekend. But craftin is what calms me and makes me feel better so what better way to start the day than to see what I could come up with?

For the background, I used my new Basic Grey Indian Summer 6x6 paper pack. I love fall! I love the rich colors, crisp air, and scents. Seeing this paper brings all those things to mind and makes me want to go Ahhhh. Especially after all the heat we have been having this week! The colored cardstock is Bazzil and you pretty much know that I stamped Fluey on Neenah Classic Crest solar white cardstock with Memento Tuxedo Black ink. A little twist this week - I used just prismacolor pencils and gamsol to color. I know, I try to work with the Copics but Paula showed us how to color this little cutie up and I had to give it a whirl again. I added some Bella Glittah to the antenae with a Quickie Glue pen - love it. No mess and glue right where you want it. A Martha Stewart border punch and a scrap piece of ribbon helped to finish this off.

I'm hoping to share this with my Dad today. Please keep him in your prayers.

Cath

Happy Birthday America!

Happy July 4th everyone! It is one glorious day here in Michigan. Hope you are able to share the day with family and friends to celebrate our independence! The DH and I have taken the dogs for our morning walk and I wanted some time in the craft room before I headed out to plant my tomatoes. To share in the birthday celebration, I have a creation to show you.



As you can tell, I LOVE Stamping Bella stamps. They are cute, quirky, funny and scream to be colored so I love them! I have lots that have not yet been colored so I am trying to pull these out so I can justify getting some of the newer ones being released.

This is Izzie has Balloons. I just got my supply of Basic Grey 6x6 pads so I dove into the Lemonade paper. Love it. My Sissy got me hooked on it when she was doing some wall art for the twins' rooms. I think it was a great backdrop for little Izzie and her colorful balloons don'tcha think? I colored her with copics and shaded with prismacolor pencils and gamsol to blend. The cardstock is Neenah Classic Crest while the colored paper is Bazzil.

I know you've seen me use this sentiment before - but it's from Stamping Bella as well. I added Tim Holtz Distress Inks to soften the edges as well as a corner punch. The card layout came from one I found on Kim Teasdale's blog. She uses dark colors to back her cardstock and I really liked the effect so I tried it here.

For those of you who have an extended weekend enjoy! I've got to work tomorrow so I want to head out and make the most of this glorious sunny day!

Cath

Martha Lulu flutters by

This week's Bellarific Friday challenge was quite easy...make a square card. I love square cards. I don't understand why they cost more to ship but I know that I often am willing to pay it because I like the way they look.



This is Martha Lulu from Stamping Bella. By now you know the details, I colored her with Copics on Neenah Classic Crest cardstock and stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I added shading with prismacolor pencils blended with gamsol as well as VersaMagic chalk ink along the outer edge.

After looking closely at Paulabella's cards, I found that she often used black glazed pens to brighten the hair on her Lulu creations. When I visited Scrappin and Stampin I found the pens and some black glitter that they said Paula often added as well. I had fun trying that technique out with this card. I also added some Bella glitter to the star and top of the dress. A new Martha border punch I found at TJ Maxx - yup how cool was that at $5.99 - helped me adorn this layout.

Last weekend in NY I visited Michael's and AC Moore where I found this yummy Me and My Big ideas DP. I bought both the Boy and Girl pack because the papers were so awesome! I couldn't wait to use this flocked polka dot paper. I have always loved the pink, white and black color combo... and had fun stitching straigt lines for a change!

Hope you have some wonderful plans to be with family and friends this holiday weekend. It should be warmer here for a change and we're finally staying in town. I'm hoping for some play time.

Cath