Belted Kingfisher

Belted Kingfisher

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Leap Day and a Wedding Cake

Hi - Happy Leap Day! Can you believe that it is the last day of February already?? The good thing about this is that we are that much closer to Spring! Not that we have had much of a winter - we have been pretty lucky with the winter weather this year - but March can bring us grief!

Okay enough about the weather, lets get on with my card.  Speaking of spring, I always get asked for Wedding cards, so I pulled out Lulu's Wedding Cake and did my magic on it.


As usual I stamped the cake on bella's bestest paper using black memento ink.  I then reached for my Copics and started to colour.  The only thing I used pencils for was the bit of shading around the cake. Cut out the cake using a rectangle s/binder die, left the die in place and then sponged some versamagic wheat ink around the edges.  Layered this onto a light brown bazzill cardstock. Next I  used my Fleur De Lis Recatangle s/binder die for the fancy layer behind the cake. The next layer is some fancy cream c/s I have been hoarding for that special card.  I love the texture of it.

Finished off the card with some pearls, glitter, cream viva pearl pen - for the pearl dots on the cake, and some beautiful cream silk ribbon. So what do you think?

Also, a reminder for our challenge this week.  Just need to use Polka Dots on your card and email it to Emily by thursday night, or you can upload it on SCS using the keyword BELLARIFFC0812. 

Thanks for stopping in, see you Friday.  Have a great day!

Monday, February 27, 2012

Sadie

Hi - hope everyone had a good weekend.  I had a very productive weekend as far as card making goes.
I have all my 3 cards done - woohoo!  I don't think I have ever been that far ahead!

I think what had me going gung-ho this weekend, was I had some new papers in the house.  Yes, some new 6x6 pads of MME- Paper Pickle had 5 of the 7 that were released  in the store, and guess what, yes I bought all 5 - see, I have a paper addiction.  I just couldn't make up my mind, and I knew if I just bought a couple I would regret it once I got home.

My image I'm using today is called Sadie by Mo Manning in rubber through Stamping Bella.
I thought she would fit the bill just right using one of the new MME papers called Dilly Dally - love the wood grain paper, plaids and polkadots.  Here she is, what do you think?


 I started by stamping her on bella's bestest paper using black memento ink.  I paper pieced her apron and kerchief, the rest was coloured with Copics.  I also did the shading around her with primsacolour pencils.
After triming the image, I sponged some baja breeze ink around her. Used an EK success scallop border punch for the plaid piece along side her and also used a MFT die for the strip across the middle.
Finished up with a red bow.

Thanks for stopping, see you on Wednesday. Till then....

Friday, February 24, 2012

Sketch #4

With having and short work week the days have just flown by.  I can't believe that it is Friday again already, and we are also heading into the last week of February!

For the local gals  who take my classes at Paper Pickle, Kim will be posting them on the 29th.  I finished them Tuesday night, and I think you will like them.

Okay, so now for the real reason you are really here, lets get on with today's card. For this weeks sketch I used Baby Buttercup.


I said a few weeks ago, you can never have too many baby cards, so this is another to add to my stash.
Image was stamped on bella's bestest paper and the coloured with Copics. I did the shading around the buttercup and some yellow highlights on the flower using pencils.  Cut out the image using the narrow oval die and then cut out the yellow layer using the oval scallop.  Sponged some versamagic sea breeze around the image while the die was in place.

DP is by Simple Stories - called Baby Steps. To follow the sketch, I used a photo corner die from Quickutz to make my corners. Finished off with some pearls in the corners and some silk ribbon.

I'm sure there is lots of inspiration to be seen over on Bloggabella, so please stop by and leave a comment for a chance to win some bella bucks.

Bring on the DOTS!!! Yep, that is next weeks challenge -POLKA DOTS - any size, any colour, just have polka dots on your card and you can enter our challenge (along with a stamping bella image of course).
You can email Emily your card by thursday night, or upload it on SCS and use the keyword
BELLARIFFIC0812.

Have a great weekend everyone.  Thanks for stopping by. Till next time......

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Maisy

It's been a long day - I was awake shortly after 5 this morning, and here I am just after midnight writing up this post.

Tonight I volunteered at our church for Shrove Tuesday, got home around 7:45 then worked on my class cards for Paper Pickle.  So those are done and Kim will post the classes next Tuesday. So it's  good thing I had tonight's card already done.

I'm using an older image from the Ketto line called Maisy Ketto.



When I decided on her to colour, I was rummaging through some of my 6x6 paper packs and came across the paper I used.  I thought it fit perfectly with Maisy.  The dots on the paper kind of match her flower- similar design, so that's what I went with.  The is from Cosmo Cricket called Clementine.
After stamping her on bella's bestest paper, I used my Copics to colour her, shading and grass done with pencils.  I sponged some aloe vera versamagic around Maisy after I cut her out and left the die in place.

Finishing touches - glitter, rhinestones (on her crown), and some seam binding ribbon.

Well, that's it for me --- I am whipped!  Catch you back here on Friday for our challenge.  If you would like to play along, our theme this week is a sketch (which you can see below). Just remember if you do play along to email your card to Emily by thursday night, or post it on SCS, using the keyword BELLARIFFIC0712.

Monday, February 20, 2012

A busy long weekend

I had good intentions of getting all my cards done for this weeks posts, since I had 3 days off, but the weather co-operated somewhat so Bill and I took advantage of it and went out and did some birding.
We headed to Pt. Pelee on Saturday, saw some Screech Owl's - omg so cute.  Today we headed out just around Chatham and saw a Horned Owl, along with a Red Tailed Hawk and many ducks out at Erieau (along Lake Erie).  Will post some pictures shortly.

So needless to say I only managed to get one card done so far.  I pulled out some neglected Green Bean Baby stamps.  The one I'm posting today is called Tabitha the Teacup Girl.


I started by stamping her on bella's bestest paper with black memento ink.  I then coloured her with Copics and did the shading with pencils.  DP is by Crate Paper - Restoration collection.  I've been using my copics a bit more lately and really enjoying them.  I always found it hard to make the blending have a smooth transition with copics but found if my base layer is with copics then I can add my shading with pencils and love the look I get.

Used an EK Success border punch for the lacey scallops, s/binder ovals and scallop oval, seam binding ribbon, Basic Grey brad and the little flower in her hair with a tiny pearl in the center of it.

Hope you get to play along in our challenge this week. It is a sketch challenge (see sketch on previous post).  Just email Emily your card by thursday night or post it on SCS using the keyword BELLARIFFIC0712, for a chance to win some Bella Bucks!!

Thanks for coming by, see you on Wednesday.

Friday, February 17, 2012

Baby Girl Maya

At last Friday is here, which means a long weekend for  us Canadians.   Monday is Family Day, so we have that day off work. Weekend forecast right through until Tuesday looks good, sunny skies and above freezing.

This weeks bellariffic challenge was "Anything goes".  For my card today, I decided to colour up another baby image to add to my stash.  Here we have Take a Stand Maya.  Is she not the cutest?

I stamped her on bella's bestest paper and coloured her using Copics, although I did use my pencils for shading around her and the ground.  Dies used were square and lacy square.   DP is by Cosmo Cricket - Little girls (I was hoarding this because it was so pretty I didn't' want to cut into it,  I know silly me!)
I also used this sentiment - baby girl.

Finished off with some stitching, pearls and a pink silk bow.

Be sure to check out all the other entries over on Bloggabella.http://stampingbella.com/blog  Leave a comment for a chance to win some bella bucks


Next week's challenge we are back to a sketch. (see below)  Remember if you would like a chance to win some bella bucks, all you have to do is submit your card to Emily via email by thursday night or upload your card on SCS using the keyword BELLARIFFIC0712.
Thanks for coming by today, and have a great weekend!

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Happy Valentine's Day

Hi All, hope all you ladies were treated with lots of Love today- dinner, flowers, chocolates, whatever makes you feel special!

I coloured up this image over at Paula's on Saturday with Valentines' day in mind.  So here you go:
Little Peep's Heart.


Well, not a whole lot of colouring on this one, felt lazy so I paper pieced the heart.  Image was stamped on bella's bestest paper. Little Peep and shading was done with prisma colour pencils.  After cutting her out I sponged some antique linen distress ink around the image while the die was in place.
DP is MME  - Love Me.  Scallop border was punched using the EK Success scallop border punch.  For the ruffle around the heart, I filled in each loop using Frosted Lace stickles. Double looped the pink satin ribbon and added a couple if pearls to the scallop border.

Just a quick reminder you still have time to submit a card for this weeks challenge.  Theme is
Anything Goes just as long as you use a Stamping Bella image. Email Emily your card by thursday night or you can post it on SCS using the keyword BELLARIFFIC0612. 

Okay, I'm off to work on my Friday's card.  See you then.

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Pretty li'l princess

As you know, if you have read Linda's or my blog this week, we took a road trip over to see Paula.
We had a great time, lots of laughs, lots to eat, met some old friends again - Mary & Dana, as well as we met this wonderful gal - Sandy who works at Archivers. When we left Chatham yesterday morning, driving conditions were probably at it's worst, snow covered roads with strong winds which meant blowing snow, some whiteouts -  but Linda got us there safely! Coming home roads we great! For eats Mary made perogies, Dana brought a hot chicken enchilada dip, Pizza and Paula made this delicious, to die for Peanut Butter Pie - oh my goodness.  It was so creamy and yummy.  So as you can see we were well fed, everything was so delicious and no I wasn't counting WW points yesterday! LOL.

I managed to get a couple of images coloured up,  so this morning I put this one together.  It was using one of the latest release stamps called Fairy Princesses by Mo Manning in rubber through Stamping Bella. This stamp set also comes with 2 images.






Well you know the routine, I started by stamping her on bella's bestest white and coloured her using prisma colour pencils and blended with gamsol, except for the skin tones, I used copics. Normally, I would not use deep pink/red with yellow, but the designer paper had those colours, so I thought I should just go for it.  The DP is from Basic Grey - Kissing Booth.  I used a circle and blossom s/binder die along with a Tim Holtz Bracket Die for the pink piece at the bottom.

Finishing touches - lace, ribbon, stitching and lots of glitter.

Best get back to working on some more cards.  My son was suppose to come home for the day (he lives in London) but they had white out conditions this morning, so that frees up my day to work on cards!

Till next time.......

Friday, February 10, 2012

Roses among us

Hi all!  Here we are again another weekend upon us.  So excited about tomorrow, Linda and I are on our way to visit Paula for a day of colouring (at least that is what I will be doing), maybe Linda and Paula will get 'artsy'  doing the mixed media thing, or if you have read Linda's blog, she did mention that she has a new set of watercolour pencils waiting for her at Paula's, but whatever we will be doing, it will be fun!!!

For this week's challenge we had a sketch to follow, and it was an easy one, so I hope you had a chance to play along this week.  I received this stamp in my last order, and I had a vision of what I wanted to do with it when I ordered it.  Then when I saw the sketch, I knew it would work perfectly.  Here we have Roses among us.


I started by stamping the image on watercolour paper using versamark, then embossed it with ultrafine white embossing powder. I used watercolour paper, one being it holds up to the embossing well (some papers will kind of warp when you use the heat gun) and secondly I like the texture it has, it's a bit more porous than regular white cardstock.  Next I sponged some distress inks - spun sugar, victorian rose, bundled sage, shabby shutters.  I then used the large skinny oval s/binder die and cut it out, and used the large scallop die and cut a white layer.  DP is from Basic Grey - Porcelain.  Although the sketch had a square in the middle I opt for the oval, it suited the image better.  Finished off with some pink silk ribbon.

If you want to be inspired hop over to bloggabella and check out this weeks entries.  Be sure to leave a comment for a chance to win some bella bucks.

Next week's challenge is one of my favourite - ANYTHING GOES! That's right, make a card, use anything and everything as long as your image is a Stamping Bella image.  Just remember to email Emily by thursday night - emily@stampingbella.com or post your card on SCS using the keyword BELLARIFFIC0612.

Have a great weekend, and thanks for stopping by.

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

All bummed out

I always say you can never have too many baby cards on hand.  So that is why I ordered a bunch of baby theme stamps from Stamping Bella on my last order.  Beware - you will see lots of baby cards in the near future.

Today's card I bring you All bummed out baby, a Christy Croll image released by Stamping Bella.


Now he is not the cutest?  I stamped him on bella's bestest paper using memento black ink, then coloured with prismacolour pencils.  DP is from Cosmo Cricket - Little boys (I've had this paper for at least 3 yrs!)
This stamp comes with 2 sentiments - all bummed out, and bottom's up.  I stamped 'all bummed out" on some white c/s using black versafine then cut out the words individually.  Layered them on some cream c/s and trimmed.  Sponged some antique linen distress ink around the image.

Just a reminder you still have time to submit your card for this weeks challenge.  It's a sketch, which you can see here. Email to Emily or upload to SCS and use the keyword BELLARIFFIC0512.

Hope you have a wonderful day. Thanks for stopping by.

Monday, February 6, 2012

Ramona and her wagon..

Good morning everyone.  I can't believe it's Monday, like where did the weekend go? We had some wonderful weather here this weekend, today felt like a spring day.  If only this weather would stick around till spring, but we know that won't happen.

So since it felt like a spring day, I pulled out another new image from Emily's last release called
Ramona and her wagon.  Look at her, she has her flowers potted and growing, a sure sign of spring!


I stamped her on bella's bestest white paper using black memento ink, then coloured the image using prismacolour pencils and blended with gamsol.  Papers are from Prima called Jack & Jill.  Finished if off with some glitter on the flowers and I used a clear glaze pen for the centers, silk ribbon, and some soft pink bella dots. called Strawberry Parfait - now doesn't that sound delicious!!

If you have time this week, why don't you play along in our challenge on friday.  All you have to do is make a card using Stamping Bella images, and follow the sketch below. It's that easy!  Then you can either email Emily by thursday night or upload your card on SCS using the keyword BELLARIFFIC0512. Which every way you decide, you will have a chance to win some bella bucks!

Thanks for coming by today, see you soon,

Friday, February 3, 2012

Valentine Challenge

Hello, and welcome back to another Bellariffic Friday challenge.  I hope you had a chance to play along with us.  Our theme this week was Valentine - or red, pink, and white card.  I  think I captured both options in my card.  I had a chance to colour up one of Stamping Bella's newest release from two weeks ago called Romona Fishing.


I am just 'smitten' with how my card turned out! Is she not adorable or what?

I pulled out my 6x6 paper pack from MME called Love Me - the perfect colour combo for this weeks theme.  Once I pulled my papers out that I wanted to use, I got busy colouring.  I first stamped Romona on bella's bestest white using black memento, and then used primsmacolour pencils and blended with gamsol.  I used a square s/binder die to cut her out, cutting off the heart.  I then coloured the heart using copic markers R37 & R56, then cut it out. The border  strip in soft pink was done using a Martha Stewart heart border punch.  I saved a couple of the punched hearts and glued them to the front of the card. The red heart was popped up and then I applied some glossy accents to it.  Finishing touches - stitching and glitter.  Card measures 5 1/2 square.

Need some more inspiration - well then hop over to Bloggabella and check out what the other babes and sistah's did for this week. Leave a comment and you will have a chance to win some bella bucks.

For all you sketch lovers - next week's challenge is another sketch.  Yep, we will be doing sketch challenges every other week!  So here is your sketch. Email your card by thursday night to Emily or you can upload it on SCS and use the keyword BELLARIFFIC0512


Enjoy your weekend!  I think we are in for a nice sunny one here in SW Ontario. Until next time...

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Meet the new Uptown girls

Hey, how is your week going?  Well I can say I am feeling much better today.  Still have a bit of sinus issues but the worst is over!

As promised I said I would post one of the new Uptown images.  So today I have to share with you
Uptown Girls Pattie & Dottie. I just love colouring up these gals.  Can't wait to colour the rest of them.

Here you have them, Pattie & Dottie, stamped on bella's bestest paper and coloured with prismacolour pencils. I based my colouring on the colours from papers by Basic Grey called Out of Print. Soft greens and soft pinks - so girly!  I also used an EK Success scallop border punch - I know it's hard to see where, but it's on the top piece of dp, on the bottom edge.  Finished off with some stitching and a soft pink satin ribbon/bow, and of course lots of glitter.

If you are able to participate in our challenge this week - which I hope you do- our theme is Valentines- love card or pink/red/ white card.  With Valentines fast approaching, I'm sure you need to make some cards to give out.  You can email your card to Emily by thursday night or post it on SCS and make sure you use the keyword BELLARIFFIC0412. Either way, you have a chance to win some bella bucks!

Enjoy your day, and thanks for coming by.  See you on Friday!