A Lulu release is here...

Happy Tuesday everyone! Just wanted to share some exciting news with you. Emily (THE Stamping Bella) dropped a surprise release on us. I came home from my Mary Maxim class last night to a trail of email from the Babes talking about the most adorable new Lulu's. I had to head right to Emily's blog to see what all the chatter was about.

First there is Lulu's snowman


Then there is Lulu's ornaments


and Mommy and Mimi Lulu in the snow


AAAAND it gets better, she is offering a sale - 20% off your entire internet order. Just use the code christmas20 and poof (her words) 20% just disappears from your order. That's no big deal you say, then leave a comment on her blog post and you could win the whole darn set!

Me, I just couldn't wait so I put my order in last night. I wanted to make sure that the new pink rubber was headed my way!

Come back tomorrow and I'll have another Lulu to share with you.

Enjoy your Tuesday folks!

Cath

Jinglebella..

I have another Holiday card to share with you today. I've been on a roll trying to build my stash and have some sample cards for Mary Maxim. I made this once twice since I had all the supplies out...one is on display at Mary Maxim and one is heading to one of my girls.


I started with Bella's Bestest paper and Memento Tuxedo black ink 'cause I wanted to use my copics and other than the small section of ground under her feet and around the star, I didn't add shading with prismapencils - only copics. The Christmas tree does have a little hint of yellow Spica glitter pen on the star and the garland swirls. But I did adhere lots of glitter over liquid pearls so that the fur would sparkle and shine. Jinglebella girls just love to have purty shinny fur!

Here's a closeup...

The satin ribbon comes from my Grandma Soporito stash...that was my very creative Grandma that hoarded every ribbon, twine, button or possible embellishment around. When she passed away her treasures were distibuted to the children and grandchildren that wanted such trinkets. I have a huge supply and treasure the opportunity I get to share a piece of Grandma once again with someone in the family. Just keeps sharing all her love all over again! Ok - sorry - I digressed. I also added a Martha Stewart snowflake punched from Stamping Up! Ruby Red cardstock. The sentiment is a Bella and I punched it out with the Stampin Up! Window word punch. Red rhinestones were added to the upper right corner. The plaid design paper was a scrap from last years hoard...so I have no idea where it came from.

That's it! Quick and easy. And see Jessica, it's another blonde bella just like you.

Hope you can play with my sketch challenge for this week's Bellariffic Friday challenge. I've taken away the stress of thinking of the layout so give it a try.

Have a great week!

Cath

Bellariffic Friday a day late...

Sorry folks...I haven't had internet service so I couldn't post my Friday Bella challenge. This week we had Christmas or the holidays and I decided to work on my Christmas cards. I choose Merry Christmas branch with birdies.

I loved the simplicity of this stamp and had fun coloring with my copics. I started with Bella's Bestest paper and Memento black ink. I did add some shading with prismacolor pencils blended with gamsol. Then I added Liquid pearls and glitter to add the appearance of snow drapping on the branches and sentiment. The background snow was applied with drops of Quickie glue and more glitter. Love the soft effect this gives. Head on over to Paulabella's blog to see a picture tuitorial on how to apply this effect. She posted great detail shots of this earlier this week.

The design paper is from the Tinsel and Twig Collection - Deck the Halls. This came home with me on my visit to Bellaland last week. I have lots more too but I fell in love with the colors. I also added a few drops of Red Stickles on the berries and they really helped these pop. A big satin bow really helps draw the green design paper in.

Next week's challenge is a sketch form Moi! I'm a newbie to this so I hope you like it and can participate with us. Just send your card to Emily@stampingbella.com by Thursday night. This doesn't look that hard does it?


Have a great weekend and thank you for your patience as I struggle with my internet!

Cath

I love a vintage crock

I have another sample card to share with you. While looking through the stamp catalogs this fall with Brenda at Mary Maxim, I fell in love with quite a few of the Impression Obsession Christmas stamps. They are now in stock and I have been asked to play and give you some ideas. This card actually follows one previewed in the catalog but we loved it.

The image comes in a clear stamp set and includes the sentiment as well as another tree I'll attempt later. Can't tell you how many crocks I've picked up through the years...looks like the obsession hasn't stopped.

I've stamped on Neenah Classic Crest cardstock with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored with copics. Shading was added with prismapencils blended with gamsol. Design papers are Graphic 45 while the colored cardstock is prism. A simple satin ribbon bow and Martha Stewart Deco fan border punch are the only adornments. The sentiment panel was punched with Spellbinders Label 1 dies. Now you might be thinking that there is no way that the red frame was punched with the die - you're right. I had to hand trim the next larger die down.

Stop on in to Mary Maxim Port Huron to see this on display or to pick up a set to give it a try yourself.

Have a great week and thanks for stopping by.

Cath

A visit to Bellaland

Hello everyone. Whew...I've been busy trying to play catchup after heading to Toronto yesterday to visit with Emily and a few of the Bella Babes. What's the occasion you ask? Well Danabella was planning a trip to visit from Calgary and we decided that it would be a great opportunity to meet her. So Pauline and Linda drove up from Chatham, Paula and I drove in from Michigan, and Ebru drove across town so we could hang for the day. What a great day!

What do the babes do when they are all together? We laugh, ohh and ahhh over each others art work, laugh some more, shop and grab pen and paper to take notes on the tips Paula with her pencils and Linda with her Copics were willing to share. Here's some pictures..

Dana looking on intently while Linda shares shading tips as well as Pauline...(no she isn't bored! I think she's in shock over how many colors Linda uses.)


Here's Linda demonstrating her technique...(you get a view of Ebru catching this on video too!)


Our fearless leader Emily also intent on coloring with Paula's new pencils...


Paula hates to have her photo taken - just like me but Ebru did get a video tuitorial on her grass technique so stay tuned for that one. Me, I decided to snag a picture of her handing me her keys to go get her Ginger snaps. That was her way of saying that she felt it was time to grab a bite to eat. And we did too at Nino's Italian Bakery ...it was fabulous.


And then we have a shot of Ebru while she was videoing Linda.


I did get some time in to color Ilovetoshopabella and Prince Edward Island so I could put them on display at Mary Maxim. I'll try to drop them off early this week.


I started with Neenah Classic Crest Ivory cardstock, Memento Tuxedo black ink and my copics. Shading was added with prismacolor pencils blended with gamsol. The border around the image was the reject of the Martha Stewart snowflake punch as well as the scattered snowflakes. Punches aren't just for borders you know - just sayin!

Inspiration for this card came from this Lindabella card. Colors, image and layout are different but it does have a similar feel with the snowflakes. And speaking of snowflakes, the centers on mine were accented with a new toy to me - Viva Decor Paper Pen in cream. Emily demonstrated it for us newbies and I had to have it. It takes a little time to let it set but it's easy to work with and I loved the effect.

The sentiment was computer generated because my Bella stamp wouldn't fit inside my Spellbinders oval nestie. UGH! Shading was added with Tim Holtz distress ink in Vintage photo and a sponge dauber. The scalloped oval nestie adds the perfect mat. Design paper is by Graphic 45 and the striped tan paper is actually Core Amour Sable Collection: Rendezvous. Cardstock is prism.



Here I again used the Ivory Neenah - see you can color with your copics on this paper and it looks fabbulous with neutral colors. Cardstock is again prism and the tan embossed paper is again Core Amour Sable Collection: Flirt. Design paper is from the 'Tis the Season Collection by Kaiser Craft. A simple satin ribbon accented with lace edging (also available at Mary Maxim by the yard) are my only adornments. Shading around my image was done while I kept this in my Nestie Rectangle die and applied VersaMagic Chalk ink in Muted Mauve with a sponge dauber. Love the soft shading this gives.

Not bad for a day's work huh? I've got tons of new paper (lots of the new Echo Park and Jillibean Christmas collection) and stamps to dig into. Speaking of which - hope you can play along with us this week for the CHRISTMAS or HOLIDAY Bellarific Friday challenge. Send your cards to Emily by Thursday.

Thanks for stopping by.

Cath

PS We had our first snowfall yesterday. Paula and I ventured out very early and had some awesome views of the sun coming up and casting rays of light through the snow draped branches. I took pictures on her camera so head on over to her blog and let's hope she posts it.

A Very Giving Penguin

Happy Friday folks! It's time to see what everyone did for this week's Bellarific Friday. Kimabella gave us a 1,2,3 challenge. Now if we hadn't told you that's what you needed, I bet you would have gravitated to that anyway....right? I mean one image - easy, 2 design papers - easy and 3 embellishments - that's is so easy to do. I know that most of my cards follow that formula anyway but I will say that knowing there was a limit did make it somewhat more challenging. I actually did two cards for this challenge...one I'll save for next week because my new Bella's arrived on my doorstep Monday and I couldn't wait to ink up Penguin with gift designed by Mo Manning and released in rubbah through Stamping Bella.


Isn't he just darling? Of course it's a "he", and he's bringing me a prezzie. He he. Have you got the drill down yet - what'd I start with? Yup, Copics so I needed Bella's bestest paper, memento tuxedo black ink and some shading with prismacolor pencils blended with gamsol. My two design papers are Frost Blvd by Heidi Grace designs and Snowy Serenade Crystals by Bo Bunny. I know that you don't get a full view of the snowflakes on the Bo Bunny paper but I must tell you - they're fabulous. Tons of shimmery detail and lots of glitter.

My embellishments are the ribbon, the Hero Arts felt snowflake and a pearl button. I also dipped the edges of the circle into glue and ran it through glitter so it too would sparkle like the paper. Now I didn't count that as an embellishment 'cause the paper was glittery too. You're not telling me I cheated are you?

Here's a closeup...


Finishing touches were a scallop border from MFT and a scallop circle large die from Nestibilities to mat the classic circle large image panel. I did add some machine stitching to give this a more finished look. The scene reminded me of a storefront window. This is my favorite time of year to see the window dressings. OOOOhh I can't wait for Black Friday.

The Mini-Bella's joined us again this week too. McKenzie has Swinging Mavis.


Madison - our little baker shares Cakeabella...


Great job ladies!

Next week's challenge is CHRISTMAS or the HOLIDAYS. Dust off your Christmas Bellas or open up those new releases and get busy making some Holiday cards. Then send a picture to Emily by Thursday night so she can post it on the Bella Blog. Only one more sleep and then I'll be heading to Bellaland to spend the day with the Babes and hopefully lots of the sistahs too. Stop on in and say hi if you are in the Toronto neighborhood!

Enjoy your weekend and thanks for stopping by.

Cath

I even Love the box!

I promised a peek at the December Mary Maxim Copic class card and if you hadn't guessed it's another Mo Manning image released in rubber through Stamping Bella titled "I even love the box". And OMG I think he's just adorable. I actually put this image up for vote with a few of my regulars and it was a hands down winner.



Since this is for our Copic class you've probably guessed that I colored him with Copic markers but I also added lots of prismacolor pencils blended with gamsol to really make the shaded areas pop. And because this is for the Mary Maxim class, I stamped him with Memento Tuxedo black ink on Neenah Classic Crest cardstock. But I'm going to start off by saying that I cased a card by Linda Heavens to give me direction with the colors. Sorry, I was a little short on time this weekend and I had to get this done in a day to bring to my Monday class. My layout and paper are different though. I used Graphic 45 Christmas design paper with prism cardstock.

A simple fluffy bow helps to give the impression of a package along with a small tag accented with holly and berries just like the tag on the stamp. The holly was punched with a small EK Success punch and the sentiment tag was computer generated and then punched with the Stampin' Up Word punch.

Here's a closeup shot...


I used the Quickie Glue pen to apply the glitter on the Santa hat and pencils to shade around the image and as the ground.

Don't forget that this week's Bellarific Friday challenge is 1,2,3. That's 1 image, 2 design papers and 3 embellishments. Send a copy of your creation to Emily by Thursday evening for a chance to win some Bella bucks! And, if you will be in the Toronto area on Saturday - stop in to the Stamping Bella store to say hi and play with Lindabella, Danabella, Paulinabella, Paulabella, Ebrubella and myself! Yeah - it's my first trip to Bellaland and I am super psyched.

Thanks for stopping by and see ya back here later this week.

Cathy


Mary Maxim Copic Classes are scheduled for Monday November 29th and Monday December 6th from 5:45 pm - 8:00 pm. Please give the store a call to reserve your spot (810) 987-2000.

Color list is as follows: E000, E00, E11, R20, R22, R27, E09, C00, C1, E42, E44, YG91, YG95, YG97, E31, E35, E37, G20, G40, G82 and 0 colorless blender. Primsacolor pencil colors are: PC1072 French Grey 50%, PC1076 French Grey 90%, PC1091 Green Ochre, PC1090 Kelp Green, PC948 Burnt Ochre, PC1088 Muted Turquoise

Phew - now there are only a few new colors...I tried to keep the bulk of the colors from our previous classes. Can't wait to see you.