Paper Piecing with Bella

I just love paper piecing. It makes it worth the time that it takes to cut out and do the extra stamping. When I do paper piecing with the Bellas, I feel like I'm playing with paper dolls like I did when I was a little girl. Elizabella was perfect for this today with her big poofy skirt. The new Basic Grey Two Scoops paper was perfect! I love how sweet it looks.

I promise the card is not crooked...just fault of the photographer...that's me :). It's what happens when I try to take pictures when I should be writing an abstract and studying for a midterm. Both things were done tonight and I feel relieved. I have another midterm next Wednesday then maybe I can breath for a while. 6 more full weeks of class!

Here's the card for today:

Supplies:
Bazzill cardstock
Basic Grey Two Scoops paper
PTI white cardstock
Elizabella stamp
Copic markers
"Hey Girlfriend" Hanna stamp
Heidi Swapp brads
Martha Stewart for fancy punch
I think the flower is Prima but not sure

Huggybellas

I love my Bellas...as if you haven't noticed by now! I do plan on doing my next set of cards with my new PTI stuff because I got a bunch of new Palette ink pads. I'm excited! However, tonight I have to study for my Spanish linguistics midterm...yikes!

I would just like to take a minute to thank everyone who comes to look at my stuff. I really love reading your comments...there aren't a ton but I still read them all. Someone had asked about the Cricut Design Studio and I must say that there are so many possibilities with it but I haven't had as much time to play with it as I would like. I'm trying to get my Master's done...my final presentation for the thesis is April 22nd so it's good enough for me to get cards done. Of course, this is my relaxing time and I couldn't make it without taking some time for myself.

Here's the card

Supplies:
Bazzill cardstock
PTI white cardstock
Amanda Blu patterned paper
Making Memories glittery letter stickers
Huggybella
Copic markers
Heidi Swapp little flower
ribbon from Michael's

Back to Bella

I can't resist my Bellas. I used Bella in the tub this time and I think it's just so cool with the MFT Twisted Sentiments. I used the saying "Slippery when wet" and put just "slippery" on the front in the metal frame and stamped "when wet" on the inside of the card. I love using Crystal Effects and like how they look on the bubbles. I'm not sure how well they showed up here.

Well, we are hoping to work a full week for once. We've missed more school in February than we've gone to school. There are 5 weeks to spring break and then probably 9 or so more afterward. I can't wait for the summer, even moreso, until my Master's is done. I know I keep saying this but I am so OVER being in college!


Supplies:
Bazzill cardstock
Sassafras Lass patterned paper
PTI cardstock
metal frame from Joann Fabrics
Me & My Big Ideas rhinestones
Copic markers
Crystal Effects
MFT Twisted Sentiments
Bubblebella
pink organza ribbon from Michael's

Paper Trey Ink Sets

Bunco is tonight at my house and it's always so much fun. It's a chance for a bunch of ladies to get together and have fun just hanging out. Since I am hosting it, I am responsible for the gifts. I decided that my new PTI stamps would be perfect. I just love how nice they make everything look. I am going to go ahead and post all of the cards I put in the set as well as the cover to the card sets. Because there are so many cards, I'm not going to put a supply list but rather will put which sets and stuff like that. For these sets I used: Green Thumb, Out on a Limb, Mixed Messages, Butterfly Kisses, and Piece of Cake. I used all PTI cards and envelopes as well as the acrylic boxes to put them into as gifts. I even stamped the bags with some acrylic paint and Making Memories foam stamps on some kraft bags.

The bags:

The box:

The cards:
Green Thumb

Butterfly Kisses

Out on a Limb

Piece of Cake

Mixed Messages

It's Thursday

Well, we had an early dismissal from work today. Everyone knew that there was going to be an ice storm but we still went to school like happy campers. Well, at 8:30 there was an annoucement to check our email. We knew what that meant. Yep, 15 minutes into my first class, we were getting ready to dismiss. Needless to say, it was a wasted morning. I'm glad we left when we did though because it's pretty icy outside. It's nice to be inside!

Here's another Bella card that I made with the Bookwormabella which I love! This is also the first card that I have made where I chose the patterned paper first and then colored Bella to match the paper. I really like how bright the card is.


Supplies:
Bazzill cardstock
PTI cardstock
My Mind's Eye patterned paper
Martha Stewart binding ribbon
orange grommet
MFT Essential Sayings "You Rock"
Bella "Bookwormabella"
Copic markers
Me & My Big Ideas rhinestones
Crystal Effects on books and eyeglasses
Colorbox orange chalk ink

Happy Tuesday

I am going with the theme of "happy" this week apparently. I am not working today because I had to go file a police report this morning. Between Friday night and Saturday at 10:30ish, someone stole my license plate from my car. I had to go do the police report this morning and get a new tag. I still have to go to class tonight but at least I don't have to work today.

I am going to go ahead and post my card early today. I was chosen as the challenge winner on SplitCoastStampers for a Crafty Secrets challenge. Basically, the previous winner chose my card and then people had to post a card that used the elements from my card. I chose a new winner for this week and made a card for the challenge as well. I chose: Cotton Scraps, lots of distressing, and button/s and/or ribbon.

Here's my card:

Supplies:
Bazzill cardstock
My Mind's Eye paper...love it!
Crafty Secrets cotton scrap
ric rac from stash
Button from Autumn Leaves (I think)
Sewing on my machine
I used my edge distresser a ton!

Funny thing...I put the paper on the card base upside down...silly me :).

Happy President's Day!

If you have today off from work today I hope you are enjoying it...I know I am! If you are working today, sorry.

I am really on a Bella kick. I think it's because I have my Copic markers and it's hard for me not to do some coloring on my cards. The card I made today using the Savvyshoppabella stamp. I love this image and how Bella has turned around. I used some beautiful Basic Grey Pheobe paper and a lot of other things from my stash that I had sort of forgotten about.

Here's the card:

Supplies:
Bazzill scallop card base
Basic Grey Pheobe patterned paper
Bella "Savvyshoppabella" stamp
Hanna "Charge" stamp
Maya Road opaque flower
Prima velvety flower
Making Memories pink brad
Me & My Big Ideas rhinestones
Velvet ribbon from Michael's
Rusty Pickle pink ribbon

More Bellas

It's a three day weekend and all is well. I found a new storage solution for my Cricut cartridges and got them all sorted out. It really takes up a lot less space so now I need to find something new for my shelf. I have more Bella cards today. I just can't resist them! This is with the Sweetybellas stamp. I seem to be stamping more than one image and then take a different spin on the cards...you get a completely different look. I have realized that I have not been trying to find a paper first but rather am coloring in the image. It has worked out great because I have enough patterned paper for a small scrapbook store. Anyway, I did just recently make a card where I chose the paper before I colored the Bella...that will come in a few days.

Here are the cards for today. In the first card, I haven't added a sentiment because I'm not sure which I want to use. I have a lot of choices but decided to wait until I find a use for it.

Here's a close up of the stamped and colored image:

Supplies:
Bazzill cardstock
PTI cardstock
American Crafts patterned paper
Sweetybellas stamp
Copic markers
Crystal Effects on the ice cream
Spica atYou on flower

Supplies:
Bazzill cardstock
PTI cardstock
American Crafts patterned paper
Random ribbon...I think from Michael's a long time ago
Rhonna Farrer buttons
Sweetybellas stamp
Hanna sayings stamp
Copic markers

Birthday Cards

I got the cutest new stamp by Penny Black and I had to ink it up immediately. The only thing was that the rubber was cut too close to parts of the stamp so I had to repair a few things with my Zig marker. I made two different versions of the card using a completely different color scheme and card sketch. I love the brightly colored card. I had so much fun coloring both of them with my Copic markers. I can't say enough about these. They go on so smoothly, cover the image completely, and are awesome for blending and shading (I'm still learning about this part).

Close up of coloring...it's so much fun to have so much to color:

Supplies:
Bazzill cardstock
PTI cardstock
American Crafts patterned paper
Penny Black stamp
Copic markers
Making Memories jumbo brad
Gingham ribbon from Michael's
"happy birthday" is from Stampendous set

Supplies:
PTI cardstock
My Mind's Eye patterned paper
Penny Black stamp
Hanna stamps "Happy Birthday"
Copic markers
Crystal Effects on cupcake (I put hearts on the cupcake too)
Me & My Big Ideas rhinestones

Happy Three Day Weekend!

Although we have missed quite a few days from school lately for snow and tornadoes, it is still a relief to have a three day weekend. I write a huge to do list while one of my classes was taking a test...guess where the to do list is? That's right, at school :) I'll still do the important things like stamp and make cards.

I've been hanging out at the Paper Trey Ink forum that has just been updated and so cool. I need to post my PTI cards but what I have so far is for a Bunco group coming next Friday so I will share them next weekend. In the meantime, I might have some time to make some with other stamp sets.

Today, I am using my Crafty Secrets bird stamps to share some vintage cards. They are both odd sizes but I don't really do much conventionally.

Here's a close up of the bird so you can see the sparkles that were made with the Spica marker.

Supplies:
Bazzill cardstock
PTI cardstock
Basic Grey Two Scoops patterned paper
Lace from Hancock Fabrics
Copic markers
Spica atYou markers
Crafty Secrets stamps

Supplies:
Bazzill cardstock
PTI cardstock
Copic markers
Crafty Secrets stamps
Distressing square--unknown brand
Buttons from stash
Prima ribbon
Melissa Frances glitter heart

Happy Valentine's Day!

My husband and I just got back from the Japanese steakhouse with full bellies. We decided to go there for Valentine's Day and we arrived about 20 minutes before the huge crowd did. It was nice but it's even nicer to be home with him.

For Valentine's Day, I made my husband an altered heart instead of a card. I had bought 10 of the $1 heart tins from Michael's in January and this is the first one that I did anything to. They are so cute and super easy to cover in paper. I wanted it to be bright and cute. I filled the heart with Sweet-Harts which is one of my husband's favorite candies. Crazy man doesn't really like chocolate! I put a layer of paper inside the tin as well and stamped "I love you" on the bottom with the same stamp set.

Here's the tin!

Here's a picture with the goodies inside.

Supplies:
Reminisce patterned paper
PTI cardstock
Copic markers
Spica markers
"Hugs and Kisses" Kim Hughes stamps
Heidi Swapp glossy heart
Me & My Big Ideas rhinestones
American Crafts ribbon
$1 section heart rhinestone

Have a Cupcake

Well, we have yet another snow day. Although I really like having the time at home crafting and sleeping in, we are going to be going to school into June at this rate. It is snowing right now (the weather people said that there may be a few flurries and a light dusting) and we have an additional 1/2 inch already. Oh well, I'm going to enjoy the rest of the day, maybe even make a snowman on the deck.

I have another Bella card today. My goal is to ink up and make a card with all of my new Bella stamps....I think I could have a Bella a day for the next month to show all of my new stamps. I love them! I used Cupcakeabella today and actually coordinated my coloring with some cupcake ribbon. It's almost an exact match although the ribbon is oh so slightly brighter. I still think it turned out. I will admit though I was having a problem with the layout of the card but I think it worked out okay.

I will have another card up tomorrow...I have some Bella cards ready but I may show a card with a new stamp. It's funky cool!


Supplies:
white cardstock base
S.E.I. patterned paper
Bella "Cupcakeabella"
Copic markers
Making Memories "Love" charm
Cupcake ribbon from Michael's
Pink Stickles on scallops
Scallops made by removing guard on corner punch
Buttons from stash
Heart rhinestones from $ section in Michael's from last year

Oh, Bella!

I just love my Bella stamps...I bought almost all that there were to choose from....okay, not all of them but a whole bunch! I have another Bella card for you today with the Partygirlabella stamp. My LSS is closing (sad) but they are having a great sale so most of the products here are from the sale. I used my lovely Copic markers again to color in the image. I feel like I'm getting the hang of it and just love coloring...not to mention that it is relaxing. My favorite part of this card is that I decorated the cupcake wrapper with little hearts. You probably have to click on the picture to see it but it's just so adorable!

We didn't have school today because it was snowing, sleeting, freezing rain, and then rain. It's finally warming up but it may refreeze tonight. We'll see what tomorrow brings!


Supplies:
Bazzill cardstock as card base
PTI cardstock
Creative Imaginations edged paper
American Crafts patterned paper
Hanna stamps for "Happy Birthday"
Bella "Partygirlabella" stamp
Copic markers
Me & My Big Ideas rhinestones
Christmas Red Stickles
Martha Stewart velvet ribbon that I got after Christmas
Sassy brad is by Creative Imaginations (I think)

Glitterfied!

Glitterfied is my new official favorite word...okay, I know I made it up but I still love it! I got all of the new Spica atYou Glitter markers and am just loving them. They work so well and really add a lot to a picture. I had colored in the Partygirlabella image the other night with my Copics but decided it needed spica-uped! I haven't used purple very much but I think that it turned out really well. It seems like the shades of purple mix better than with some colors but maybe that's just me. I wanted the scallop to stand out so I decided to use rhinestones all around it. I incorporated most of the colors in the patterned paper to tie it all together. I also got a wonderful RAK from my secret sister from 2007 that had the neatest brads and the purple polka dotted one was perfect.

We are getting more nasty weather this week but instead of tornadoes and thunderstorms it's snow and ice. At least it's January weather. It's so pretty and makes me miss the huge blizzards that I grew up with in Ohio. I really want a regular work week, as I work in a school, but I have a feeling that this isn't that week. We haven't gotten the call about tomorrow so we'll see.

Alright, after all of that jabbering...here's the card.

I also wanted to upload a closer up picture so you can see how the Spica pens glitter. It's really cool! I used the Spicas on the two red hearts, the icing on the cupcakes, and Bella's shoes. You can see it even better if you click the picture. It glitterfies!

Supplies:
American Crafts patterned paper
Copic markers
Spica atYou markers
Hanna sayings "Make a Wish.."
Bella Partygirlabella
Huge ric rac from Joann Fabrics
Making Memories brad
Me & My Big Ideas rhinestones (love these!)
Bazzill scallop paper

The End of Another Weekend

It seems that weekend days go by a lot faster than week days. Our school district hasn't been in session since this past Tuesday and I suppose I'll be ready to go back tomorrow. Hopefully all of the little ones won't still be sick.

I made an altered project for the My Favorite Things contest to be a guest designer for the following month. I didn't win but I am proud of my little tin. It started out as a hot chocolate tin that has been empty for months. I decided to put it to use! I used the "Be Mine" set from MFT. I modge podged the S.E.I. patterned paper to the tin...love this paper with the glitter on it. Then, I ran a strip of the hearts from this set around the bottom on a white sheet of paper that I also modge podged. I tied a bow with the pretty organza ribbon and added a small word frame on the front with some pink rhinestones put on top. I also decorated the lid that has to be pulled out (keeps me away from the yummy Dove hearts that are inside). I really like the chocolate box that's in the stamp set. I made all sorts of kinds of chocolates in my box. I'll include a close up too of that...if it weren't paper it would be in my belly :).


Close up of yummy chocolates (and my Copic coloring...yikes):

Supplies:
S.E.I. pattern paper
Paper Trey Ink white cardstock
Stampin' Up ink pad
My Favorite Things "Be Mine"
Copic markers
Crystal Effects
Cinnamon and Pink Stickles
Me & My Big Ideas rhinestones
word frame is from Joann Fabrics
organza ribbon from Michael's
Modge Podge
Wow...I think that's it!

Happy Saturday

It's so nice to be able to enjoy a Saturday although I have three stacks of books sitting next to me that are screaming "You know you have three huge papers to write in the next two months!". However, I am ignoring those for now. I know that I will have to tackle them soon; just not right now.

I am working on a project for the girls in my Bunco group because I am hosting this month. I don't want to share it until after then in case any of them check out my blog.

Today I will share another vintage card that I've made with my Crafty Secret stamps...which I love. I think I went a little overboard with the distressing ink. I used a tissue and dabbed it onto the paper. Maybe a bit over the top :).

Supplies:
Bazzill cardstock
Crafty Secrets patterned paper
Cinnamon Stickles
Tim Holtz distressing ink
Prima ribbon
Crafty Secrets stamps
Copic markers
Making Memories fuzzy brad

Hanna Bling

I had yet another day off from work today. We haven't been in school since Tuesday because of the tornadoes, storms, and power outages that happened Tuesday night. I have really been enjoying the days off but when we have to go to school the week of Memorial Day, it won't be so enjoyable. I guess I should be grateful for my schedule though. I am truly looking forward to this summer because I will be able to enjoy it without having to worry about starting classes at U of L in the fall. My master's degree will be done by the end of April!

Here's my card for today. It uses the sweet Hanna stamps again, which I love! I'm not sure about the layout of this card but I love the colors together.

Supplies:
Bazzill cardstock
Hanna stamps "Sweet Celebrations" and "Things Hanna Would Say"
Heidi Swapp glossy heart and rhinestone circle that I cut into two
Making Memories chipboard
Paint
Copic markers
Purple Stickles
Black and white gingham ribbon from Joann Fabrics
Rhonna Farrer button

Oh, happy day!

I am at home from work again today, not because of a snow day, but because there was a tornado and no electric in the county where I teach. Yesterday I spent the majority of the day making a new web page for my purse business and it's almost done! I had a chance to work on a few cards but not much because I wanted to get the web page done and published. It's not published yet but I have just a few things left to work on.

Here's the card for today. I had a scrap of pink so I made it into a card.

Supplies:
Bazzill cardstock
Love, Elsie patterned paper
Heidi Grace birds and "happy day!" stamps
Copic markers...rock my socks
Cotton Candy Stickles
Rhonna Farrer button
Imaginations glitter brad
Hiedi Swapp glossy heart
Tim Holtz distressing ink
Organza pink ribbon Sheer Creations

My First Try at Vintage

I am love with the vintage look...buttons, ribbons, lace, papers, all sorts of cool stuff. I recently placed an order with Crafty Secrets and got all of my goodies. I immediately jumped into it head first. I have never made anything that was "vintage" but I love the look when I see other people's projects. I really want to get into this and am so happy to have found a company like Crafty Secrets. I can't wait for their new stamps so I can get some more :).

On a personal note, I am in my last semester of my Master's degree in Spanish and am trying to get everything in order because my thesis is due on April 11th. I'm really excited but I also realize that it's just two months away. It just seems surreal because we are already into our fifth week of class and it is just flying by. I can't wait to have more time for other things...to expand my purse business and become even more devoted to card making and altering stuff. A part of me would really like to get back into scrapbooking but cards come to me so much easier.

Okay, here's the card!

Supplies:
Bazzill scallop cardstock
Crafty Secrets patterned paper...love, love, love
Crafty Secrets stamps
Vintage fabric and pin from stash
Copic markers...LOVE these!
Glitter Mist in Sugar Cookie on top of stamped image
Sewing done on my machine
Button is from Hancock Fabrics
Ribbon from stash

To Blogger or Not to Blogger

I have used about 99% of my space on blogger with all of the pictures and things that I have added. I want to be able to continue to blog and not really have to worry about the space. I have looked into Typepad and am trying to figure out the advantages/disadvantages of the two. I did read that even when you delete pictures from blogger that they are still available online...I don't think that this is good. I need some advice or suggestions as to whether to continue with Blogger or go to Typepad.

Vintage Hawaiian

I have a friend who I work with that loves anything related to Hawaii so when she asked me to make a Hawaiian Valentine's Day card for her husband, I thought it's be a fun challenge. The card ended up being somewhat vintage Hawaiian; I like how it turned out!


Supplies:
Bazzill cardstock
patterned paper...I think Daisy D's but I can't remember
Rusty Pickle pom-poms
Felt rick rack from Joann Fabric's
Stampin' Up hula girl
Copic markers
Tom Holtz distressing ink
aloha letters and heart are Heidi Swapp
Rhonna Farrer button
"sexy" is part of "Hey Sexy" by My Favorite Things

Hanna Rocks!

I just love my new Hanna stamps and can't wait to order the next set. They stamp so nicely and are so much fun to color.

Here's my latest Hanna card. I used the "Rain Day" set and my wonderful new Copics! If you don't know anything about Copic markers, run do not walk to the nearest art store or website. They are alcohol based so you don't see the runs like with water based markers. Also, the colors are so sharp and blend so nicely. I am slowly but surely learning how to use them. Now is when I wish I took art classes.


Here's a close-up of my coloring. It's not wonderful yet but I'm working on it!

Supplies:
Hanna stamps "Rain Day"
My Mind's Eye patterned paper
Bazzill cardstock
Offray ribbon
Me & My Big Ideas rhinestones