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

Phoebe Ketto Bella Challenge

Happy Bellarific Friday!! Today I share with you Phoebe Ketto. It's my favorite Stamping Bella Ketto. So versitile - Valentine's Day, Birthday, Sweetest Day, Anniversary...see lots of occasions. But this card is making it's way to a niece for her Birthday!



I started with Bella's bestest paper, Memento Tuxedo Black ink, and Copics. Do you notice the grass at her feet and the faint blue shadow? I needed my prismacolor pencils blended with gamsol to do that. It's so easy with the right blending stub. A Genius Coloring Diva - AKA Paulabella taught me that. You must find the beige stumps made in Taiwan. I didn't believe her at first but once she let me try hers - I realized it was like spreading soft butter instead of rock solid hard butter. Can you visualize that?

Here's a close up. Notice that I used a Black Sakura Glaze pen to add texture to her hair. I also sprinkled black glitter while it was still wet. Don't you just love the dimension it adds?



Cardstock is by Stampin Up. Design paper is by My Minds Eye titled Confetti. The Lacey Square and Classic Square Nesties were used to frame the image panel. Bella glitter applied with Quickie glue on the wings, machine stitching and a bright red ribbon bow finish this off.

And now take a look at Mini-Bella McKenzie's card. Missmatch Ketto is her passion this week.



Love the colors chica. You totally rocked the hair coloring and I also love your choice of paper, layout and sentiment too! Fabulous!

Next weeks challenge is a sketch from Elaineabella.

So grab your favorite Bella and play along. Simply send your card to Emily by 5pm Thursday evening. But head over to the Bella blog first to see what the rest of the sistahs have to contribute. And why not leave a comment for a chance to win some Bella bucks?

Have a great weekend!

Cath

Who Me?

Hello folks! Today I have another Holiday Card to share with you. This is likely to make it's way into one of my children's mailboxes since it reminds me of them. A look of "I wasn't gonna it do it Mom" plastered on their faces. You're probably wondering what the heck I'm talking about so take a looksey.

This is Who Me? designed by Mo Manning but released in rubber through Stamping Bella. I just loved the detail in this image. That sure is one thing you can count on with a Mo Manning character.



I stamped him up on Bella's Bestest paper with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored him with Copics. I also broke the mold and did not add any prismacolor pencils. I didn't need to add ground since there were some lovely footprints and I liked the simple contrast of the stark white against the bright coloring. I didn't even want to clutter it up with stitching. I couldn't however, resist some glitter to help make the snow glisten. I also thought it would accent the background paper beautifully. Don't you just love it? I found it at Scrappy Chic with Paula about a month ago and had to have it. Paid an arm and a leg for one sheet but it was just too yummy to pass up. It's called Lost and Found by My Mind's Eye in case you feel the need to hunt it down.

Here's a closer look.



My finishing touch was two felt snowflakes from Stampin Up (I love snowflakes so I just bought 2 more packages from the clearance rack - never know when the three packs I have will be gone. He He.), a big red Swarkovski crystal and a scrap piece of red sheer ribbon.

You'll want to make your way to the Bella Blog today, Emily has a BIGGGGG release for us! I've seen a few sneak peaks on my fellow Babe's blogs so even I can't wait to check it out. You still have time to ink a Ketto up and get a card to Emily for this week's Bellariffic Friday challenge. Your deadline is Thursday.

Enjoy the rest of your week and thanks for stopping by.

Cath

A Not-so-scarry Stella

Happy Monday folks. Hope you had as great a weekend as I did. We had a blast touring the wineries along Seneca Lake NY. Best time ever at Three Brothers winery. Could have stayed there all day - three wineries, a micro-brewery, live entertainment and glorious sunshine to sit in and enjoy it all. I was in heaven.

Since fall is still on my mind, I thought I would share another Halloween card. Spooky Stella by Stamping Bella was just too cute to pass up on my last order.



I started with Bella's Bestest paper, Memento Tuxedo Black ink and Copics. Then I added grass with my prismacolor pencils. Shading for the night sky was made by lightly sponging Memento London Fog grey ink with my Nestie still in place.

I've been in love with banners for the longest time and was happy to put my new MFT die to use to display my sentiment - BOO. The letters were cut using the Slice and the Halloween cartridge. I've had this in mind since I bought the cartridge last year but I didn't have the banner die. I know, I could have cut them on my own but I've been wishing for the die.

A little machine stitching, glitter and layering with various circle Nesties and we're good to go. Cardstock is Bazzil. The white/black design paper is from Martha Stewart's Halloween pack last year. The background is a scrap from The Spider Web by My Mind's Eye.

This week's Bellariffic Friday challenge is to dust off your Ketto's. You can send your cards to emily@stampingbella.com by Thursday night. Hope you'll have time to play along.

Cath

A Fall Bellarific Friday Challenge

Ok folks, Fall is my favorite season. Love the colors, smells, sounds (leaves crunching under foot). So I loved this challenge. I didn't want to do a typical scene though, I wanted to go a little non-traditional and repurpose an image if you will. I had I love to shop a bella in mind. Paula colored this in a beautiful winter scene. But the plaid hat and doggie wear and nice cowl coat had me thinking I could do this for fall.



For my colors, I turned to the Making Memories Autumn Splendor design paper - browns, greens, yellows and golds and a splash of teal. I wanted out of the box so I reached for my Oval Nesties. I knew the image wouldn't fit completely inside, so I stamped part of it again and cut them out to attach when I was done. Elainabella posted one of her tips - coloring the edges of cutouts with a black marker and for my cute little black dog that was excellant advice. No white edges showing here.

I stamped this on Neenah Classic Crest Solar white paper with Memento Tuxedo Black ink. Then I colored her with Copics. I had great fun choosing colors to blend in with the design paper. But for that extra depth, I did add some prismacolor pencils blended with gamsol. And since I wanted this to look like a fall day, I had to punch a few leaves out as well. Husband thought I should have drawn in some wind - but what the heck does he know?

I think this would be perfect shopping for Chirstmas gifts weather. Unfortunately - I think we'll have snow on the ground for that. It's been so cold out already. UGH!

Now for the Mini-Bellas. First up is Madison with Beatrice Bellbottoms...




McKenzie shares Daisy Hightops with us...



Didn't they do a fabulous job once again? Look at them sporting the Basic Grey paper. Love these cards girls.


Now head on over to see what the other Bella's and sistah's have contributed at the Bella Blog. I know that there is also a wonderful tuitorial from our new Videobabe - Ebru. You have to see this. And get your Ketto's out because that's next week's challenge. Won't you join us?

Have a great weekend. I'm heading home to NY to tour the Fingerlakes region's Seneca Lake Wine Trail. So looking forward to viewing the NY countryside in all its fall splendor!

MWAH - thanks for stopping by!
Cath

Don't ask me how I know tips...I've decided I should start to share some of my misfortunes in the hopes that you might learn something. Don't laugh here - before you glue pieces on like the box at the top, make sure that you don't need to stitch around it. Otherwise you have to pull it off and hope it doesn't rip before you glue it back on.

Cutesy Ornaments

Do you have season favorites? I do. I love snowflakes because you can use them all winter long. It's also why I love snowmen. They aren't just for one holiday - they can decorate my home and cards for months! He he. But I also have a soft spot for ornaments. So as I went shopping for some new Bella's - I just had to have Cutesy Ornaments.



I know that I will be coloring these in varying color schemes. But first up I couldn't resist the Graphic 45 Christmas 8x8 paper pack which included the red gold design paper here. I also had some gold shimmer paper I picked up at Target at the end of the Christmas season for 75% off so a pack of 25 was $0.75 - sweet - I knew it would go perfectly. You'll be seeing this in silver next because that was on clearance too.

Bella's bestest paper was my starting point though and Memento Tuxedo black ink. Copics were my main coloring tool. I used tans, pinks and yellows to go with the rich deep reds. Love them! Shading was also done with prisma pencils blended with gamsol. Love how it deepened the dark areas and added ground shading around the ornaments. The sentiment is also from Stamping Bella. I simply backed it with the gold shimmer paper and cut it into a banner.

A little machine stitching dressed up my image panel along with a sheer burgady ribbon.

Hope you can find time to check out this week's Tantalizing Toosday specials. And remember, a comment on the blog post could get you $20 in Bella Bucks. Easy peasy to play and verrry fun to spend. I know, I've had the pleasure of winning and it was awesome.

And while you're at it - why not get your brown, yellow, and red supplies out and join us for this week's Bellariffic Friday Challenge - Fall colors. Just send your cards to Emily@stampingbella.com by Thursday night.

Thanks for stopping by.

Cath