Let the feasts begin!

Happy Bellariffic Friday!  In light of the US Thanksgiving holiday and the start of the festive season, I decided to color up Christine Grove's Senior-ita Gloria released through Stamping Bella.  Her expression of do I want to eat that or will it tip the scales is the struggle I have during this season. 

I also decided to use a color that I don't pull very often, violets.  I stamped Gloria onto Bella's Bestest paper and colored her with a combination of copic markers and prismacolor pencils blended with gamsol.  I layered her onto Graphic 45 Christmas Past 8x8 dp and Cosmo Cricket 6x6 Mitten Weather.  Both were supposed to get me in a festive mood.

I had to work today believe it or not so no Black Friday shopping for me - at least in a store.  But I see that Stamping Bella is having an online sale for - Black Friday and Cyber Monday.  Just apply code "blackfriday2013" at checkout for 30% of the whole store!!!

For next week's challenge our theme is Walking in a Winter Wonderland!

Have a super weekend!
Cath

Time to hang the Wreath

Happy Bellariffic Friday everyone!  I felt inspired to make a holiday card with the wonderful photo we had to work with this week.  Here it is..

What I took from this is the splash of Kraft, brilliant colors - using the DP from Crate Paper, and the holiday wreath using Mo Manning's image Hannah with Wreath released in rubber through Stamping Bella.  I also started my Christmas shopping last night and I felt inspired to get in the Holiday Spirit!

Here's my take: 

 

 

I stamped Hannah onto Bella's Bestest white and colored her with copics.  I added glitter with a Quickie Glue pen for the appearance of snow lightly falling.  I used a corner punch to soften the edges and to match the Spellbinder Lattice Rectangle I had chosen to matt with.  The paper bow accent is an MFT die.  The whole thing sits on Bella's Bestest Kraft paper.

 

Next week we have another sketch to work with.  Hope you can find the time to join us!

 

 

 

 

Have a great weekend and thanks for stopping by.

Cath

Know Joy!

I'm a little late for the Bellariffic Friday sketch challenge from last week...last week was one heck of a week for me.  Work kept me so busy that all I did was eat, work and sleep...repeat.  I needed the weekend to recharge a little.  Ever have one of those...I mean I didn't want to do a thing!  Anyway, I finished the day today with more done than not done so I decided to come home from work and give the craft room a try as well.

Using last week's sketch, I colored up Uptown Girls The Three Amigas.  I stamped them onto Bella's Bestest paper and colored with copics.  I then added surround shading with prismacolor pencils blended with gamsol.  Glitter was added too for some holiday sparkle.  I had to flip the sketch...the twine bow atop the button kept bending to the right so it kept covering the face of Amiga number 1 the other way.  I've learned to not fret so much and just go with the flow so I decided it would work just as well on the other side.  The sentiment is a portion of the sentiment that comes with the stamp.

Design paper is My Mind's Eye 12x12 Holly Jolly.  It's a few years old but I love the bold patterns.  The cardstock is Bazzil and the ribbon is Stampin' Up!  I can't believe the holiday season is upon us but these gals get me in the spirit to live it up!

Next week our challenge is a photo inspiration...lots to get you in the mood with this one.  Hope we get to see your creation in the Friday lineup. 

Don't forget to send a photo of your creation to Emily@stmapingbella.com by Thursday evening.  The stop on by the Blog to see what everyone else has done.  There's always Bella Bucks up for grabs and we'll be hunting for the January Guest designer from the challenge participants.

Have a great week!

Cath

Brynn has a Baby Shower!

Happy Bellariffic Friday folks!  Today we had a theme for our challenge - Mix and Match.  I decided that it would be easy to add the sentiment from one stamp with the image of another.  So I colored up Stamping Bella's Uptown Girl Brynn and her Baby Shower.  But I added the sentiment from Uptown Couple Emily and Ryan.

 

 

I stamped Brynn onto Bella's Bestest paper, colored her with copics then cut her out. I used the Spellbinder Lotus Pendant die for her back ground and placed a banner behind her stamped with a portion of the sentiment.  The original sentiment says for your Bridal Shower.  I just covered the word Bridal when I stamped it .  The design paper is K&Company Itsy Bitsy Baby Boy.  Cardstock is Stampin' Up!

 

Next week we go back to a sketch.  Hope you can find time to play along with us!  And don't forget that we will be looking for Guest Babes from participants in our challenges.  Can't wait for January, maybe you'll be the next Guest Babe!

 

 

 

Enjoy your weekend and thanks for stopping by.

 

Cath

Parker The Super Piggy again...

Hello Folks!  Thought I would share another card I made using Stamping Bella's Parker the Super Piggy stamp designed by Christine Grove.  He's heading to Hubby's friend that was finally released from the hospital.  He's got a long road of recovery and learning to cope without being able to walk.  I thought Parker's sentiment could bring him some hope and determination.

I started by stamping Parker onto Bella's Bestest paper and colored him with copics. Then I cut him out because I didn't want a lot of white space.  I've placed him on top of a star cut using Nestie star dies.  The inset was used for the sentiment panel.  It comes as a long sentiment and I just used the stamp-a-ma-jig to get the placement right.  The row of stars cut from gold cardstock were cut using MFT die-namics Star Border die.  The design paper is from scraps left on my desk and I can't recall where they came from.   Machine stitching finishes this off.  Parker makes me smile and I hope he delivers some cheer to John.

I'll be back on Friday with our Mix and Match challenge...use two different Bella stamps.

Ciao!
Cath

Wishes!

It's Friday and that means I've got a Bellariffic card to share.  Our challenge this week was a sketch and I loved it!  I've inked up Stamping Bella's Uptown Girl Faith the Fairy.  Check her out!

Coloring was done with copics and prismacolor pencils blended with gamsol.  I then cut her out and placed her onto the image panel.  Nesties were used for the oval and scalloped background panel.  Design paper is October Afternoon Farmhouse.  Bazzil black cardstock backs it all.  The bottom scallop was cut using an MFT die-namic.  MFT dynamic Howdy frames was used for the sentiment which is actually a portion of the sentiment that comes with Faith.  MFT felt and Flower Trio dynamic add embellishment.  A splash of glitter helps her dress shine.

I have a bit of exciting news to share too....Do you want to be a guest Stamping Bella Babe?  Starting in January we are going to have a "guest babe" each month.  To have your chance to be a Guest Babe you just have to play along with Bellariffic Fridays AND identify your blog on your card (so we can tell everyone about your blog).  By being the BABE for the month you will receive a Stamping Bella Gift certificate and all the challenges early.  Plus, you never know when we're looking for a new full time babe....

Now with that said, why don't you join us next week for our MIX and MATCH challenge - use more than one Bella stamp on your creation.  Photos can be sent to Emily@stampingbella.com by Thursday night to be included in the Friday lineup.

AND - Em is having a sale on the whole shop through Monday - use the code novembersale upon checkout.

Thanks for stopping by - Enjoy your weekend!

Cath

You bring color to my life!!!

I'm playing catch up folks.  I know I've been a little quiet on the blog.  I've taken up some wool applique quilting.  I love the texture of that medium and as you know I love color so it's another great outlet for me.  I took a break from my Santa table runner to bring another colorful card to you.  It's somewhat motivated by my new quilting friends.  I chose to use a quilters square pattern for the background.  This cutie is a Mo Manning image released in rubber through Stamping Bella called Painter Meg.  She's heading to my young neighbor who is celebrating her birthday.  She's a regular in my craft room - she loves my markers and papers...a girl after my heart.

I colored Meg onto Bella's Bestest paper with a combination of copics and prismacolor pencils blended with gamsol.  Cardstock is Bazzil and yes, there is Bella's Kraft in there too!  Design paper is Happy Day by My Mind's Eye - I thought the bright colors would suit this image and Riley's love of orange and color beautifully.  Clouds were cut using a Memory Box die.  The sentiment comes with the image and I just framed it with cardstock.

Drats - I still had this in the original packaging before I colored her and now she's not in the shop!  There are plenty other Mo images that would fit this sketch easily.

Phew - hope you have a Happy Halloween.  And I'll be back tomorrow for our Bellariffic Sketch challenge.  Thanks for stopping by.

Cath

Oh to be a Bride!

Hello Folks!  I have a card to share with you today using Stamping Bella's Uptown Girl Brigitte the Bride.  I love this stamp.  I love the beauty and elegance of it.  We're in major wedding mode in our household, our son got engaged on the Fourth of July.  Since then we've been busy with plans.  The venue is Lake Placid next fall and we've visited the site and made arrangements to cater the rehearsal dinner and now I am on to preparations for the shower.  All that planning had me in the mood to color this Uptown Girl up.

I started by coloring her with copics onto Bella's Bestest paper.  Then I cut her out and applied lots of glitter.  Girls love sparkle right?  I placed her onto Graphic 45 Once Upon a Springtime paper.  The edging was cut with an EX Success border punch.  Kaiser pearls finish off the bouquet.  The sentiment is from the Uptown Couple Brett and Brenda Get Married stamp.  I hand cut it into a flag.  Everything then got placed onto Bella's Kraft paper.

Pretty easy!  Now I'm off to color this week's sketch challenge.

See ya back here later in the week.

Thanks for stopping by,
Cath

Trick or Treat

Another week has flown by which means it's Bellariffic Friday!  Our challenge this week was to use fall colors.  Well one of my favorite parts of fall is Halloween.  So I decided to color up one of the newest images in the Bella family from artist Christine Grove's Senior-itas line - this is one half of Trick-or-treat aritas.  Technically Halloween does bring to mind fall colors - right?

So I stamped this image onto regular paper first.  Then I cut away the side I really wanted to ink onto my card.  I inked the image up again using the thing-a-ma-jig for placement and stamped over the masked paper onto Bella's Bestest paper - thus leaving an impression of the character I wanted.  I colored the witchy with copics and shaded with prismacolor pencil blended with gamsol.  The sentiments was in my stash - sorry it doesn't come with the image.  I matted with Bazzil cardstock and placed it over Martha Stewart design paper from last year's collection.  Card is 5x7.  I added machine stitching along with festive holiday colored ribbon I found on my trip to Salt Lake City - I topped that with  a black button.  I love how this turned out!!!

Next week we are back to a sketch.  Hope you can find some time to play along with us.  There's Bella bucks up for grabs to one commentor and one contributor.  So stop on by the Bella Blog.

Hope you have some great plans for the weekend.  It's finally get so cold here that snow is not far off.  Ack, I'm not ready yet!  hehe.

Thanks for stopping by,
Cath

Time Flies

It's Friday again and that makes me happy.  Two days off to look forward to and it's Bellariffic Friday.  This week we had a fun sketch.  I decided to ink up one of Christine Grove's newest Senior-ita's Dolores.  She makes me giggle as she scoots on by.

I stamped her onto Bella's Bestest paper and colored her with copics then added shading with prismacolor pencils blended with gamsol.  I then cut her out and placed her on layered circles cut from Spellbinder dies.  The design paper is from the My Mind's Eye Miss Caroline Fiddlesticks 6x6 paper pad.  MFT Fishtail flags helped cut the banners.  I inked up the first part of the sentiment for the front of the card and framed it with the reverse of the flag.  The rest of the sentiment was stamped inside.  Upholstery tacks and machine stitching finish this.

Next week we are asking you to color up for Fall-tastic Friday!  Use fall colors for your creation.  Don't think you have to have a fall image - just use fall colors.  Can't wait to see what you come up with.  We've still got great color in our neck of the woods.  I can't wait to play outside tomorrow.

Happy weekend!

Cath

Life is Good...Still!

Hello Folks!  Hope you had as great a weekend as I did!  Mother Nature cooperated and Hubby and I played around in the High Peaks of the Adirondacks.  The sun was shining and while the leaves were past peak it was still a gorgeous few days.

I even found some time to hit the craft room.  In my happiness I decided to color up Diane Duda's Life is Good. 

The smile on this chicklet just makes my day!  I colored her with copics after stamping her onto Bella's Bestest paper.  Shading was added with prismacolor pencils blended with gamsol.  I then cut her out using a Marvelous Square Nestabilities die.  A little doodling with a black marker along the edges adds a little fun flair.  I backed it with black bazzil cardstock and placed it on top of Confetti design paper.

That's it.  This was nice and easy.

Hope you have a great week!

Cath

I'm in the mood to bake

The cooler weather has me searching Pinterest for new pumpkin and apple recipes .  I'm more of a cook than a baker but every now and then I get the urge to bake.  I think it has to do with the fact that we always have to eat but baking means sweets and the more I have in the house - the more I want.  It kind of defeats the purpose of going to the gym and watching what I eat all the time.  But I have a niece that loves to bake and this little number is heading her way.

Meet one of the newest Uptown Girls - Chanel the Chef. 

 

I was inspired by Julia Child's sentiment (which comes with Chanel) to decorate in Mackenzie- Child's style.  If you're not familiar with her ceramic pieces they are very colorful and have lots of shapes worked in.  So I pulled some paper with polka dots, bold teal and a two toned red square.  It's a mish mash of papers in my stash from Graphic 45 and My Mind's Eye.

 

Our challenge was to add stitching so I used black thread so it would stand out a little more.  Now that it's done I think I could have used a zig zag stitch and it would have stood out more.  Next time.

 

Next week we have another sketch to play with.  Hope you can join us!

 

Have a great weekend!

Cath

Reindeers are on their way...

As much as I had to admit it, fall is about to fade away and bring with it the next Holiday Season.  And that means snow and Christmas aren't that far behind.  I might not be ready for the white stuff yet, but I'm trying to get a start on my holiday stash of cards.  Again, I tend to color up some favorites every year.  This is one of those...  And you're in luck, Reindeer Circle is on sale in Bella land. 

 

 

I stamped this onto Bella's Bestest paper and colored with copics, added shading with prismacolor pencils blended with gamsol and sparkle with glitter.  Spellbinder circle dies were used to cut this out and layer up.  A Tim Holtz die was used to back it.  I stamped the sentiment from Uptown Girl Christmas Tree (which seems to be out of stock) and cut using the MFT Flag stax die-namic.  Dew Drops colored with copics to match and machine stitching finish this off.

 

Design paper is a combination of My Mind's Eye 12x12 and SEI.  Card is 5 1/2 x 5 1/2.

Thanks for stopping by - I'll be back on Friday for our "stitch it up" challenge.

Cath

Baby Bella Halloween

Happy Sunday folks!  It's been a rainy fall day here so I was able to get some crafting time in!  I've had this image on my desk for a few weeks now - I gravitate to some favorites every holiday season and this little cutie is sent to all my new young kidlets (nieces, nephews and friends).  But I have to say, as I searched Stamping Bella's shop to link it, it's now gone.  It was in the sale rack when I took it out to color but apparently you all decided to grab him up!  Drats!

Well here's the dets anyway:  I stamped him onto Bella's Bestest paper and colored with copics.  I then cut him out to place him on dimensionals.  The design paper is a combination of Authentique Enchanted and My Mind's Eye Mischievous.  Both are 6x6 pads.  Dies were used to cut the circles (Spellbinders) and pennants (MFT Flag stax).  A Sizzix embossing folder was used on the panel behind the Baby Bella Pumpkin image.  A Martha Stewart punch was used for the cobweb border. 

Pumpkin paper twine from Scrappe'rs Spools was used to make the bow and topped with a button.  The sentiment was computer generated.  Machine stitching finishes this off.  Card is 6 1/2 x 5.

I must say that the crisp fall air and leaves changing color has put me into the mood for fall!  I'm not looking forward to what comes next but it sure is pretty for the time being!

Have a great week and don't forget our challenge this Friday is to "Stitch it Up!"

Thanks for stopping by,
Cath

Senior-itas Mildred and Maude stick together!

Happy Bellariffic Friday folks.  This week we were given a sketch for our challenge.  And oooh I liked it.  I colored up Christine Grove's newest addition to the Bella sistahood...the Senior-itas Mildred and Maude.  What a hoot these two are!

I stamped the pair onto Bella's Bestest paper, colored them with copics and pencils and then cut them out with a Nestie circle die.  I backed that with Bazzil cardstock cut from a Nestie scallop circle die.  The papers are from My Mind's Eye Stella & Rose Hazel 6x6 pad.  The banner was cut using the Little Miss Muffet Stamps Party Banner.  The sentiment comes with the set.  I stamped the first part onto the front and the second in the inside.

 

Next week we are challenged to "Stitch it up".  And I've saved up for that challenge - no stitching on this card.  Hehe.  We also have some great news to share in Bella Land, we have a new Babe in the house.  Help me in welcoming Sandie Dunne.  You can view her blog and her creations here.  Now head on over to the Bella Blog and catch what the rest of the Babes have colored up!

 

Have a great weekend!!

Cath

Boo to you...

Happy Bellariffic Friday!  Today's challenge was monochromatic and I have to tell you this was so very difficult for me.  I love color - lots of colors so the idea of one color for the whole card was hard to do.  My first thought was to go white and pick a Christmas holiday card.  Instead I went with shades of gray and black and colored up Stamping Bella's Battiful Darling.  And if you don't have this stamp yet, you're in luck as it's on clearance!

 
I stamped this charming bat onto Bella's Bestest paper, colored it with copics and pencils and then cut it out and backed it with Bazzil cardstock.  I cut the letters with Sizzix Sizlets and placed them on the die-namic Textile Rectangle frame which I used to cut design paper from Echo Park's Chillingsworth Manor. 

Next week our challenge is another sketch.  Check it out and hopefully we'll see you in blogland.

I've got my Mom and Aunt in town so I'll be playing this weekend!  Hope you have some fun plans too!

See ya later and thanks for stopping by!

Cath

You bring me sunshine...

Hello Everyone, I have another thank you card to share with you today.  I've colored up Stamping Bella's Uptown Girl Lolly and her Brolly.  I have a very dear niece that sent me the most gorgeous mixed media drawing for my birthday.  And golly, I can't let that go by without sending some love right back.  I thought Lolly would bring awesome sentiments for me.  I know she's not the typical thank you image but I figured I could add how the gift brought a little bit of sunshine to my world!

 

I have to share that I cased one of my own cards for this one.  I've always loved the layout so I gave it a quick whirl.  Lolly was stamped onto Bella's Bestest paper and colored with copics.  I added surround shading with prismacolor pencils blended with gamsol.  Then I cut her out with Spellbinder classic circle dies.  The border punch is from EK Success, design paper is My Mind's Eye.  They were actually from 12 x 12 pieces that I had in my scrap pile - love when I get to use that up.  Machine stitching and a brown seam binding bow finish this off. 

 

 

Don't forget that this week's challenge is Monotone.  Create using one of your favorite colors (or one you have paper for) using a Stamping Bella stamp.  And don't forget to send a copy of your creation to Emily@stampingbella.com by Thursday night. 

 

Keep smiling - we're almost halfway through the week!

 

Cath

50 was fun!!!

Hello all, I have some catching up to do.  Now that my vacation and survivor tour are done, fall has come upon us and the calendar is racing towards the holiday season!  I've fallen behind in my Bella posts too.  So today I am sharing a card I made to send as a thank you for one of my Birthday gifts.  I've colored up Stamping Bella's Uptown girl Reilly loves to Relax. 

 

 

I used this past week's challenge sketch and inserted my own sentiment.  I wanted to add the numbers but couldn't find any stickers in my stash big enough.  Then I remembered that I bought some Sissix Sizzlits alphabets on super reduced clearance eons ago which also included numbers.  These came from the Endless Love set.  Yeah for being a pack rat!  I also couldn't resist coloring onto Bella's Bestest Kraft cardstock.  I used copics for the chair and prismacolor pencils for the ground.  Design paper is from My Mind's Eye Lost & Found 3 collection called Oliver.

 

I'm also sharing some of the pictures from our Salt Lake City/Moab, Utah adventure,  The views were so majestic - I can't wait to go back!



These are from Arches National Park in Moab, Utah

 

Can you see why they called this Arches National Park?

 

We hiked 3 miles to see Delicate Arch - the most famous of the Arches - and we had to

head up the "slick rock" (in the middle of the picture and it winds to the horizon along the left) to get there.  Hubby and son are looking at our path and hoping

that I don't notice how far it is!  We made this trek at dusk and I'll tell you it was beautiful

to see about 100 people work their way back down in the dark with various lights to guide

them.  I felt like we were on a pilgrimage - it was very moving!!!

 

Now we're on to dusk at Dead Horse Pointe State Park.  It borders Canyonlands

National Park. I love this because you get a great view of the red rock,

desert floor with the deep crevices and in the background you see the tall

majestic mountains.  Two very different climates and yet

both so full of beauty!

 

And just to show you the varying geography - this is in the back hills near Park City, Utah. 

The view was filled with Aspens that were just starting to turn colors.

The temperature was about 15 degrees cooler too.  Moab got up to 105!

This is Hubby and I.  I hate to have my picture taken - especially since my

hair is still coming in (about 1/2 inch a month - it's going to take me a year at this

rate to get it back to my shoulder length).

 

 

 

If you've made it this far...hope you have a fantastic fall day!

 

Thanks for stopping by,

Cath

 

 

 

 

 

 

I Love Fall...

So for today's Bellariffic Friday sketch challenge I pulled out Halloween design paper!!  This is from Echo Park called Chillingsworth Manor.  It's last years but I didn't even touch it.   Know how many times I do that!!!

I colored up Stamping Bella's Uptown Girl Madison has a Margarita.  LOOOOOVE this stamp.  Stamped her onto Bella's Bestest paper and colored her with copics.  Then I cut her out so I could have more paper to be seen.  The sentiment also comes with the image and I stamped that onto Bella's Bestest as well.  I then topped it with a brown button topped with Black twine I found in my Salt Lake City travels.  Only other addition is Charcoal glitter applied with Quickie Glue Pen along the hem.

Cardstock is Bazzil and Neenah Classic Crest Solar White.  Finished card is 6 3/8 x 5.

Next week our challenge is Monochromatic Friday.  Pick your favorite Bella and choose one color to bring it to life including your papers.  Now this is going to be a hard one.  I love color.  Hmmm what shall we do?  If you find time to participate, send a copy of your creation to Emily@stampingbella.com by Thursday night.  She'll include it in the Friday blog lineup and you might win $25 in Bella Bucks.  If you can't create - stop by and catch the inspiration.  You can leave a message for a chance to win $10 in Bella Bucks.  Not that hard right?

Have a great weekend.  I've begun to bring the fall decorations out, bought the mums for my porch and I'm on the hunt for good apple cider donuts.  Yup, I love Fall!

Enjoy,
Cath

Circles are it!

This week's Bellariffic Friday challenge was circles!  I must say that I had an idea and the finished product is completely not what I had envisioned.  Have you ever done that?  Actually the one I started ended up in the trash.  So I cruised Pinterest for ideas.  I came up with this lovely layout from Inge Groot.  I loved how she colored onto the kraft and incorporated circles into the layout.

Here's my take...

 

 

I stamped Mo Manning's Jill is Two released in rubber through Stamping Bella onto Bella's Bestest Kraft cardstock.  I then colored her with copics and shaded with prismacolor pencils blended with gamsol.  The circles were cut with Spellbinders circle dies from Stella and Rose Hazel 6x6 paper.  I added butterflies cut from Martha Stewart punches and roses rolled from MFT mini-rose die-namics.  Ta da - that's it.  I know I will color on Kraft again - I actually loved it!

 

Next week we have another sketch for you to try.

 

 

 

Now head on over to the Bella Blog as Emily is releasing 10 new stamps today!  Yay!!!!! So much fun as she has a new line of stamps from designer Christine Grove called the Senior-itas. 

 

And I have a winner from my Birthday post - the random number was #2 and that's Leslie!  I'll be in touch!  Thank you to those of you that participated and left me comments!



Have a great weekend!

Cath