Back to School Blues

Happy Bellariffic Friday Folks! This week we're preparing for the return of all the kidlets to school. I know that some have already gone back and some are still sleeping in until after the Labor Day holiday. I have been saving this image for just this occasion! She joins the rest of her Uptown Girl sistahs...meet Tessie the Teacher one of the newest images from Stamping Bella.

I loved Katarina's release card so much and had nothing but black board images in my head but thought you might like to see another way to use this stamp. My first instinct was to pull red and black papers but as I searched my stash, I decided to go Fall burnt reds instead. I was inspired by the My Mind's Eye Union Square design paper. I stamped the image onto Bella's Bestest paper using Memento Tuxedo black ink and colored with copics. Prismacolor pencils blended with gamsol were used for the ground shading.

Extra's are machine stitching, EK Success border punch, dimensionals, upholstry pins with the stems cut off and applied with Helmar Scrap dots. The sentiment comes with the image and was made into a banner (my favorite thing to do).

Good luck to all parents and kids experiencing back to school for the first time! If you're home alone and need something to do, check out the Bella blog for some more inspiration. Maybe you'll find some spare time to participate in next week's challenge which is a sketch. Don't forget to send Em a picture of your card to Emily@stampingbella.com by Thursday night to be included in the Friday lineup and for a chance to win some Bella bucks!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Cath

Bellariffic Friday and a Valentine to share..

Another week has gone by and that means it's Bellarific Friday at Stamping Bella. I've always loved Fridays but now I love 'em even more 'cause I love seeing all the creations on the Bella Blog. Unbelievably, I used an oval this week - possibly because we didn't have to. While last week's sketch called for one, it didn't fit the image I had in mind, so I went with rectangles. Perhaps I'm just a rebel. In any event, I used my Nestibilites Petite Ovals Large. Don't let the name fool ya, there is nothing petite about these. This oval is big! And don't look too closely either because I matted it with a salmon colored duplicate that I cut free hand.


Topiary Bella comes bearing gifts every girl loves, a heart filled with chocolates and a lovely flowering heart topiary tree. Love her full skirt and hair piled high. She reminds me of a prima ballerina. I'll bet you guessed that I started with Bella's Bestest paper, Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and copics. Then I adding shading with Prismacolor pencils blended with gamsol.

The design paper is Basic Grey 6x6 Green at Heart. The cardstock is Neenah Classic Crest Solar white and AC Cardstock. A decorative Martha Stewart heart border punch along with some ivory trim finish this off. Since Bella looked all decked out for a special evening, I had to add some Bella glitter with a Quickie Glue pen to her dress. The finished size of this card is 5x7. I told you that oval was big!

Now let's take a look at the what the minibellas have to share. They had a snowday this week so I know they found some time to create. First up is Madison with Jammybella. Guess she enjoyed staying in her jammies all day on her snow day!


And McKenzie shares with you a very Daintybella. Notice how crafty she got with her ribbon poking up through her image panel - just like a real Babe. I know Paulabella does that alot. Guess you've been checking out the Babe's blogs!



Don't know if you noticed last week but we had 5 minibella's participate. I already had my post up when my cousin shared with me her girl's creations. I wanted them to have a special spotlight here too. It's kind of a promise I make to any mini. So please enjoy the work of 6 year old Lauren with Daydreamabella and McKenna (10) with Daisybella.


Great job ladies! Hope you can play along with us some more!

Next week Emily will be at CHA so there won't be a Bellariffic Friday challenge but visit all the Bella Babe's blogs to see what they've done with the new releases. We've all been busy making cards and sending them to Emily so she can display them at CHA. Not everyone can attend we know, so we'll be showcasing our creations on our blogs.

Have a great week and thanks for stopping by.

Cath

Gratty'tude Bellariffic Friday

Happy First Bellariffic Friday of 2011! We've been on break for the holidays but we're back and ready to take on the new year. I've been rummaging through my images looking for one for Valentine's Day. I pulled Gratty'tude, a Christy Croll image for Stamping Bella as one of them. It comes with a sentiment so it's already an added Bonus! Kim Teasdale made this week easy for us by giving us a sketch. I chose to add some artistic freedom and switched up the oval for a matted square inserted in a Label 17 Nestie die.

You have probably guessed that I started with Bella's Bestest paper, Memento Tuxedo Black ink and copics. I did use prismacolor pencils blended with gamsol to shade the grass and sky though. I also added crystal effects to the hearts in the flower bouquet. The sentiment was shortened to fit into a Cuttlebug die and the same set also gave me the hearts adorning the ribbon.

The cardstock is Neenah Classic Crest Solar White and Papertrey Ink as well as some scraps. The design paper is by Echo Park - also from my November road trip to Bellaland.

The Mini-Bella's have gotten back into the game this week as well..

Madison inked up Turtle Tots Baker


McKenzie shares Baykahbella


Next week's Bella challenge is a free for all. Create using whatever Bella stamp appeals to you, but please join us. Take a picture of your creation and send a copy to Emily@stampingbella.com before Thursday night. You'll be entered into the $20 BellaBuck's giveaway. You can double your chances by leaving a comment on the Bella Blog to be entered into the $10 comment giveaway.

Enjoy your weekend!
Cath

First Bella Challenge of the New Year!

If you follow the Bella's, then you know we've had a few weeks off from the Bellarific Friday challenges. We're coming back on Friday January 14th. This should give you ample time to get your new supplies out and give them a test drive. I know you all received lots of new things or gift cards for your favorite shops.

We've made our first challenge of the new year easy for you too...it's is a sketch designed by Kim Teasdale. You have free realm to dig out your favorite image and pair it with any color or embellishments you'd like. Just go into your stash and dig one out and color. Then relax because we've got your sketch all ready to go.



Isn't it puuurty? To play along with us send a photo of your creation to Emily@stampingbella.com by 5pm on Thursday the 13th. One lucky participant will receive $20 in Bellabucks. If you're too shy to send us your creation then at least head over to the Bella blog and see everyone's creations. Then leave us a comment. Who knows you might be the lucky one to win $10 in Bellabucks.

Thanks for stopping by.

Cath

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