Izzie is back with Balloons

Happy Halloween everyone! I hope you get treats instead of tricks this evening. All my kidlets are on their own now so I'll be staying in. And we don't get any kids in our neighborhood so I'll be hanging in my craft room making cards. Couldn't be happier.

I told you that I've been known for getting cards out late. It's not that I forget or don't have the right intentions. Things just get in the way. Even with the best plans I get thrown curve balls. Often times I have the card in question on my desk in various forms of completion. But I get stuck and can't find the right thing to finish it off. Has this ever happened to you? Well, it's exactly what happened to this card. Izzie has balloons is intended for my niece.


This might look familiar as I've colored her before. This time though, I cut her out. In all fairness, I had to cut her out. It wasn't planned. My darn reds bled outside the boundaries of her dress. UGHHH! I hate when that happens. I had spent so much time on the rest of her that I wasn't going to let her go to waste. So, I cut her out and glued her to my design paper. Then I shaded the ground so she didn't look like she was floating away. Because this wasn't my intended layout, I didn't know what to do with all the empty space on the left. I finally decided to add my sentiment there in a small panel. I used a computer generated sentiment that I cut with a Nestie Label 1 die. Then I backed it with a Nestie Label 16 die. I didn't like the huge difference between the smallest and next sized label 1 but I loved the way it fit perfectly into the smallest 16. Amy Sheffer has been showing this die and I've had my eye on it for awhile now. I made a trip over to Canada yesterday and found a small LSS that had it in stock. Yes, I was psyched! I also scored the Seeing Spots Cuttlebug embossing folder Amy uses quite frequently too - it was a very worthwhile trip.

Here's a closeup so you can see the detail a little better...



Enjoy your evening folks and see you back here tomorrow for a sneak peak at the December Mary Maxim card. It's a Christas Mo released through Stamping Bella. Can you guess which one it is?

Thanks for stopping by!
Cath

Card deets: Bella's Bestest paper, Memento Tuxedo black ink, copics, prismacolor pencils, gamsol, wheat Versamagic Chalk ink, Tim Holtz distress ink - Vintage Photo, Black Glaze pen, Basic Grey Figgy Pudding design paper- Nestled and Trinket, Nestie Label 1 and 16 die, machine stitching.

Twinkle Toes Bellarific Friday

Yup, it's Friday again! Woo Hoo. And today I share with you Twinkle Toes Huggabugg from Stamping Bella. Since we are replaying last week's Bella challenge, I decided to share a new take on the sketch from Elainabella. I found it so very versitile - I can definately see me using this time and time again.



I must sound like a broken record but when you find a formula that works you have to stick with it. So, I've started with Bella's bestest paper, Memento Tuxedo black ink, copics and prismacolor pencils. But I did try something new. It's a technique where you apply lots of dots in various shades of the same color family to fill in color. I applied it here on the wings. I loved the soft coloring it added. Then I applied lots of Quickie glue and glitter - a fairy has to have lots of glittah!

Next, I applied shading with Tim Holtz ink while my image was still in the Circle Nestie. I layered this with the Inverted Scallop circle and toped it off with the Classic Circle Scallop - love how this looks like a ring of pearls. I chose the Basic Grey Cappella 6x6 design papers and added some machine stitching. I found the perfect copper baubles to put in the corners and a glittery shimmery ribbon to add a bow. I added a little extra shading on all the layers with the Tim Holtz distress ink as well.

Here's a closeup of the image for you.



Next week's challenge is a 1,2,3 card. It's easy, just use 1 Stamping Bella image, 2 design papers, and 3 embellishments. Then send a photo of your card to Emily@stampingbella.com. Don't forget to put "BF November 5" in the title so it doesn't get overlooked. Bow head on over to the Bella blog to see what the rest of the sistah's have made. A comment just might give you some Bella bucks just in time for the Holidays. Woot woot.

Have a great weekend and thanks for stopping by!

Cath

Tis the Season

Today I have my weekly holiday card to share with you. This card reminds me of my daughter and she will most likely be getting it in the mail soon to get her ready for our annual day after Thanksgiving Black Friday shopping excursion. And she told me that I needed to start coloring hair blond so that it would look more like her. I obliged that request...

Here is Stamping Bella's Tis the season to be Jolly Bella.



And yes, this season makes my daughter very Jolly. She loves all the traditions the holidays bring. I started with Bella's Bestest paper, Memento Tuxedo Black ink and Copics. I accented the packages, the tree and bags with prismacolor pencils blended with gamsol. They add the best shading. I went a little further and added accents with various Gelly Roll pens. Then I added glitter - the holidays scream glitter. And it has the added benefit of looking like snow. Ok - I am crazy and somewhat like a glisteny snowy scene.

Here's a closeup...



My colors were chosen with the design paper in mind. I used Basic Grey's Figgy Pudding Forest design paper. I thought it fit the tree in the cart wonderfully. One of my favorite Holiday memories was hunting for the Christmas tree with my daughter. My husband now likes to buy a cut tree so the whole over the river and through the woods thing is just a memory.

Cardstock is Stampin' Up Ridding Hood Red and Bazzil. A perky satin bow is the only adornment.

We're halfway through the week so keep your chin up. I'll be back on Friday with a new take on the sketch challenge from Elaineabella. Hope you were able to send a card off to Emily. You still have time so get going.

For my local friends, please note that Mary Maxim has a copy of this card on display. Stop by to check it out.

Bellarific Friday Update

How many times have you checked in on the Bella Blog over the weekend to see last Friday's creations? We all knew that Emily was going to be at Creativ Fest in Toronto but we were just hoping that she would find time to post all the gorgeous creations from everyone weren't we? I know I was. I was also hoping for some peek into what the Festival was all about. Well, time got away from Emily so she is going to give all you another chance to submit a card using Elaineabella's sketch. Here it is again.



If you have already made your 1,2,3 card, hang on to it. You can send it in for the November 4th challenge. We just moved it back a week. So now you're ahead! And Emily has posted a little peek at one of her creations so check out the Bella blog.

Hope to see your creations on Friday!

Cath

Izzie says Thank you!

Happy Sunday everyone! Hope you found time to get lots done this weekend. Or maybe you just relaxed, read a book or went for a walk. I was able to do all of those things and even spent lots of time in my craft room. For all my local folks - I have some great news to share. Mary Maxim has finally received Stamping Bella images. Woo Hoo. I stopped in on Thursday and was so excited to see all the pink rubbah in the trademark packages and actually caught myself going aaahhhh. Too funny, but I love my Bella images and seeing them all lined up and ready to be hung was such a wonderful feeling. I promised Brenda that I would make some cards to give you ideas on how to color these precious characters up. Sooo, I spent lots of time preparing cards to be displayed. I'll try to get them to her early this week but you can stay tuned and I'll be sharing them here as well.

Danabella motivated me to dust off Izzie has a daisy.



Love this Cristy Croll character. She just oozes cuteness. In keeping with our fall weather I started with Ivory cardstock from Neenah to color on, a first for me. Then I grabbed October Afternoon design papers that I have been hoarding. I did a combination of coloring with Copics and prismacolor pencils blended with gamsol so I used Memento Tuxedo black ink. The hair, face and flowers were colored with copics but the sweater, shirt and skirt were colored with pencils. And, of course, I added lots of shading with the pencils as well. A black Glaze pen helped add some pop to the buttons, belt, head band and shoes. It might be hard to see but if you click the picture you can zoom in a little better. I have a closeup shot too...



Kaiser pearls helped dress this up a bit and my Nesties were a key component. I used classic Circles large, Blossom, and Fancy tags for the sentiment panel. From MFT I used the Ric Rac die-namic for the brown paper border. Love this die - so easy to use. Just one swipe through your Cuttlebug and you're good to go. The sentiment was computer generated. Machine stitching in brown and ivory finish this off.

Voila! Isn't this darling?

Hope you enjoy your week and thanks for stopping by.

Cath

Reindeer Circle Bellarific Friday

Woo Hoo - another week has flown by and we find ourselves back to Bellarific Friday again! This weeks Stamping Bella challenge was a sketch from Elainabella and I must say - I loved it! First it was a square card. Love them! Then, having the layout chosen all I needed to do was pick the image, paper and colors. The hard part was done for me. Fun, fun, fun! Hope you were able to play along too.

I chose Reindeer circle .


I colored him with copics so I stamped him with Memento Tuxedo Black ink on Bella's Bestest paper. I framed the image panel with a scalloped circle nestie and then again with a classic circle. I alternated machine stitching between white and brown thread to match the papers. Love the Basic Grey Wassail 6x6 paper pack - I chose the ivory snowflake paper and brown swirl to accent the colors of the reindeer.

Here's a closeup so you can see all the yummy glitter I added with Quickie Glue to create a little winter scene.

And I have a few Cath tips to share - ever wonder which colors you should use or how to shade an image? Well I do a google search for "images" and then get an idea of how to shade them. A real life reindeer gave me a road map for the shading of this little guy and I must say that I think he looks pretty realistic! Second, Copic markers are great for coloring embellishments to match. Here I colored the once silver Dew Drops a deep red to match the bow and scalloped circle. And that saves having to buy them in a ton of shades!

Now let's look at what Mini-Bella McKenzie has to share with us...I think that her take on the sketch is so creative! McKenz has colored up Patience by Mo Manning. Is this a cutie or what?


Next week we have a totally new challenge for you. It's a 1,2,3 challenge. Wondering what that is? Well, it's one image, two design papers, and three embellishments. Join us and send a copy of your card to Emily@stampingbella.com by Thursday night. Now head on over to the Bella blog to see what the rest of the sistahs have done this week. A quick comment might win you some Bella Bucks - Woo Hoo.

Have a great weekend and thanks for stopping by.

Cath

Tolerance...

Have you missed me? I have! My daughter came into town for a visit this past weekend and I'm exhausted. We ran everyday and were up early enough to see the cows come home! We also headed up to Central Michigan University with husband, son, and cousins in tow to spend Homecoming weekend with child #3. She's a senior this year and this was our first visit as a family since the older two are scattered North and South. A wonderful time was had by all but my internal clock is still asking for more sleep.

I've had this card done in advance but unfortunately, I didn't get the post ready. Please forgive me... Today I share with you Tolerance designed by Mo Manning and released through Stamping Bella.



I was still in a fall mood so it influenced my choice of Copic colors and paper. The design paper came from the Basic Grey Pyrus 6x6 pack. Cardstock is Bazzil. I pulled out my new favorite paper - Bella's Bestest to color on and stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I did add some shading once I was done with my Copics with my prismacolor pencils blended with gamsol. I loved how it toned down the blue in this little guy's shirt so it looked like he had it on all day!

Trying to keep this boyish, I simply added an EK Success border punch along the design paper, some silver star brads to tie in the star on his pants and a little stitching on my sewing machine.

Hope you are working on your card to participate in this week's Bellarific Friday challenge.

Elainabella's helped by designing the layout but you have creative freedom to pick the image and colors! Don't forget to send a photo of your creation to Emily by Thursday night and she'll share it with all the sistahs AND you might win some Bella bucks! Ebru made a surprise visit to Scrapfest this past weekend and has a wonderful video to share with you on the Bella blog. If you're in the Toronto area, you'll want to visit Emily and Paula at CrativFest this weekend. Emily has free tickets she's giving away - information can be found on her blog. Enjoy!

Thanks for stopping by.
Cath