Bloggabella

and it was all about what was inspiring you this week….

So this week what inspired ME the most and continues to inspire me is CHEAP kraft paper… I just love the texture.. I love to stamp on it and I LOVE to colour with colored pencils on it.. they just POP.  If you follow me on instagram you may have seen this image of my “homely” girl… but it just shows what you can do on Kraft.  This paper I used was actually from a big “scratch pad” of paper I bought at the art supplies store.. 18*24 I believe and I cut it to the size i needed for my new “moley” (moleskine sketchbook). It was $3.10 LOL

In fact, I am SO inspired by this paper that I made my OWN journal with it… One night I was DETERMINED to make a journal with a long stitch (i was up until 2AM).  I have taken all of MARY ANN MOSS’S classes and just adore her.  The “recipe” for this book is from her FULL TILT BOOGIE class.  She is HILARIOUS and makes it so easy… she embraces imperfection.. that’s just my style.  Have I mentioned that I am obssessed with online classes?   I think I have taken every single one available to sistahkind….

here is the book I made using the long stitch.. my first attempt and I am happy with it .  the front and back covers are 8*10 canvas boards that I am gonna paint.. it’s chunky , it’s juicy.. it’s kinda like me..LOL

and here’s the inside with my new inspiring paper

hehehehe.. ok now for my entry this week.  My little homely girl who has no self confidence … she is giving herself up for FREE (see the bingo card collage piece)..

let’s see the other sistahood entries shall we?

here's Corey's page

here's Violet's

ok so for AJ WEDNESDAY next week, let’s think of a theme… hmmm… Ok how about COLLAGE?  I want you to cut and paste and cut and cut and paste and paste and feel the joy I feel everytime I make a collage

Mwah to da sistahs who will be dangerous with a pair of scissors.. LOL

Em

Hope you had a GREAT weekend

We had 2 hockey tournaments as well as an angry hockeymom who was “thrown out” of her son’s dressing room.. can you believe it? LOL.. I got myself into TRUBBLE…  but I was miffed.  hmph.  No one messes with a mama bear.. am I right sistahs???

Quick Bidniss update:  Elaineabella has been VERY busy chatting up a storm on FACEBOOK and on SPLITCOAST and has set up a challenge there… take a look!

Yesterday we had a bit of snow and of course my little Jayden was fully dressed and ready to play

the snow was shortlived but her smile lasted

So this week’s AJ TOOSDAY theme was ANYTHING GOES… so let’s see what everyone came up with

Here's Corey's page

here's Pinky's page

and I decided that I wanted to try a journal in a binder format.. never tried that before and I think I like it! LOL

I bought the Michael’s recollection version of SMASH.. I liked the binder size and the page design.  I decided I would keep some elements of each page that I liked.

Here’s the binder I chose

Here’s a sample spread in the binder.  How GORGE are those poppies?  and to stick and collage and paint in there?  keeping the poppies and the birdies?  Oh my imagination is running WILD sistahs!!!

And here is a page I altered using molding paste, acrylics, pastels, pen, gesso, stencils, collage  and of course some of our new  RUBBAH!  I used our WALL WITH WORDS stamp set and our HAPPY SILHOUETTES stamp set.  This was so much fun I tell ya.  I wish I could show you this in person.

Next week’s theme???  hmmmmm….. STENCILS.  Try to make your own out of cardboard, paper, acetate.. or use ready made ones.. but using your own will make you feel like an ARTISTE!    Use them ANY WAY YOU WANNA!

Don’t forget Bellarific Friday this week SKETCH! and comment on the BF post for a chance to win $10 in buckeroonis!

Mwah to da sistahs who LOVE to AJ.

Em

Hiya sistahs!  How was your weekend?  (lol as if you’re gonna answer.. WELL YOU CAN IN DA COMMENTS YA KNOW)…  Mine was pretty good and I was able to squish in some time for FINGERPAINTING… woohoo!  nothing better than getting dirty!

But first… So Jayden had this HUGE infection in her ear (a staph infection).. that she had to get major antibiotics for.  So we go to the pharmacy and this young pharmacist starts making gagging noises and mumbling loud enough for us to hear that this medication smells HORRIBLE and TASTES EVEN WORSE!  So I look at him and say, “you don’t have children do you?”.. and he rolls his eyes at me and says “No, how did you know?”.. so I sayS (lol) “because NO ONE WITH A CHILD IN THEIR RIGHT MIND WOULD do what you just did!!”.. I hope I taught him a lesson.  hmph.  Sometimes I hate stupid people. So of course, it has been a struggle giving the medicine ever since… until I had to involve ICE CREAM.  Do you have any STUPID PEOPLE stories? LOL.  This one just took the cake in my opinion.  I was SOOO angry.  Ok enough venting about this.

Now I am going to vent about Dance moms.. LOL.  does anyone watch that?  (YES YOU CAN ANSWER ME IN THE COMMENT SECTION..LOL).. well I just watched 4 episodes that I taped (yes I still say TAPED and my kids say TAPED even though they don’t know what a TAPE is..LOL)..  I watched all 4 last night and I swear that clique is just SO UNBEARABLE.  What is WRONG with those women?  Ok. I’m done now.  LOL.

Now onto our regularly scheduled program.. AJ MONDAY on TOOSDAY.  I think I scared all DA SISTAHS with this FINGERPAINTING business.  LOL.  I LOVVVVE using my fingers in the process.  Don’t be scared!

Well we have 1 new sistah who joined us this week!

Here is Marti's page and she used JAVABELLAS

and that’s it for da SISTAHOOD!

and now I will show you how I use my fingers (I can’t show you how I use my fingers while I DRIVE..LOL  you can just imagine).. hehehe

Here is a mixed media MAJORLY layered and textured piece using paints, and inks and pastels… Used my fingers for most of it

And here is another mixed media piece in progress …Major mixed media background which will of course be calmed down and then my little bunnies in pastel which were SMUDGED with my fingers… nomnomnom

and here is where I am at.. I think they will be backwards bunnies.. my friend told me so LOL.  They were ALL painted in with my fingers .  If I can do it.. so can you!!!

Ok.. next weeks theme…. ANYTHING GOES.  Just look around you and submit an INSPIRATION page.. what is inspiring you NOW? at this moment?

Mwah to da sistahs who feel INSPIRED!

Em

Hiya sistahs

So we are busy shipping the new mounted stampies and so excited to hear your reaction to them so if you have feedback, we would love to hear it!

Today is art journaling TOOSDAY and our theme was to use STICKERS on your page!

Let’s see what everyone came up with shall we?

Here's my page .. I decided to use my SKETCH AND WASH pencil to sketch and SHMEAR water on.. LOVED using that.. it's been a while. Then I used some water based INKTENSE pencils for her cheekies and her lips. I have a stash of Japanese stickers I have been collecting from Etsy... so the bow and the hearts and the strips on the right side are all from those collections . I had fun with this one!

Here is Jennifer's page using TILLY the TEACUP girl stamp

Here is Pinky's page

here is Violet's page

What ABSOLUTELY AMAZING entries sistahs!  LOVE them!!!

So for next week’s theme?  hmmmmm…  RUB ONS.  Do you have rubons?  I DO.. LOTS OF THEM.. so that’s what I am gonna use

If you don’t have any rubons, don’t let that stop you.. you can submit ANYTHING you want.. I just want you to play!

Mwah to da sistahs who LOVE/WANT/WILL TRY to art journal

P.S  I am in the midst of “DESTASHING” from my personal collection.  I will be posting very reasonable products in my specials section over the next few weeks.  Please keep in mind that these are 1 of’s  so if you WANT it.. or NEED it.. you bettah BUY it.. LOL

Em

And I hope you are keeping safe and warm   Tyler was in complete angst last night thinking that our house would be swept away a la wizard of oz… I really tried to rationalize at 2AM.. I really did.  LOL… He watched the news in the middle of the night and decided that I should get the play by play.. so here I am half asleep writing a post.. and the funny thing is.. this post may make more sense than all my others..LOL

So this week’s theme was to use TYPE font on your pages.  I made a couple of pages just to show you different ways to use your letter stamps/rubons/stickers

On this page, I used TYPE stamps as my message.. you know, when I talk to myself in my art journal?  LOL..  I used lots of scraps, washi tape.. and that little house in the middle was on my desk when i decorated some deli paper.. so on it went on the page.. the furry lady is from a 70′s fashion book (which I LOVE).. and of course the PUFFY sticker which I am quite enamored with again (35 years later..LOL)

Now for this page, I used some of my favorite Teresa Mcfayden art journaling stamps..  I used elements from YOU’RE ALWAYS A STARBURST TO ME.  I overstamped the circles and made a funky background.. I think I may use it on a card!.. I stamped random letters in the circles just to add a little interest.. I LOVE letters and numbers.. not just for words but for interest.   I could have colored them in but I didn’t think I needed it with the stickers I used also for interest.  I also love cutting out BIG and INTERESTING fonts out of magazines..they dont need to “say anything”.. they just also add an element of design…

Now for da SISTAHOOD

Here's Jennifer's page using Anabela LULU and simply playing!

Here's Violet's page using Type

A small sistahood today.. hoping there will be more for next week’s theme which is…

STICKERS.. LOL.. I want you to feel like a kid again.. use old stickers from your stash.. go to the dollar store and get some PUFFY STICKERS (have I mentioned I love puffy stickers?  Note the DOGGIES on my pages.. and the word LIFE  on the first page)… Use them.. stick them.. paint and stick.. stick and stick.. just stick.. LOL..  use letter stickers… whatever you wish.. just have fun with it.

Mwah to da sistahs who LOVE to STICK.

Em

Hope you had a great weekend.. we are knee deep in work and I didn’t have a second to really “play” this weekend.  Our hockey schedules are REALLY getting in the way too.  Let’s see what my sistahs think of this story.

So Ryan decided that BOTH of our children should be in hockey leagues and I WARNED him that I was not gonna be involved in the traipsing around etc.. (mmhmm.. cuz THAT worked out).. anyway  of course Tyler’s game and Jayden’s game were at the same time so I was sent with Jayden.. No problem.  for both PHOTOS and the game I should add.  So Ryan got Jayden dressed and showed me how to do it for future games and practices ( I guess I am magically involved) and off he sent the two of us at 11:30 on Saturday for a 12:30 game.  We get there at 12 and the convener says to me.. why so early? excited?  And I looked at her with daggers in my eyes and said “WHADDYA MEAN, EARLY”.. “MY HUSBAND SAID HER GAME WAS AT 12:30!”… she smiles and says, “NO HER GAME IS AT 1:30!”… At this point I am calculating what I can take from the house and what I will leave Ryan with in the settlement… LOL.. so in case THAT wasn’t enough.. she says to me.. “DID YOU GET YOUR PICTURES TAKEN YET?”… I said, No.. that’s why I  am HERE”… and she said “NO YOU HAVE TO GO TO THE ARC (WTF is an ARC) and go QUICKLY cuz you’re GONNA BE LATE”… I asked her kindly what an ARC was and she advised it was an arena about 10 minutes away.  AT THIS POINT, there is NO SPLITTING of household goods.  I get EVERYTHING.

So Off Jayden and I GO to the ARC (wtf) and Miraculously I find it and see NO ONE FROM HER TEAM THERE.  (Oh did I mention I left the hockey bag in the car which was 2 miles away from the arena?)..  So I say, it’s 12:15 I’m not late.. where are the other kids for the group picture.. apparently they were still there and they took one more shot because I was late.  Now did I mention that since Jayden’s gear was on, she couldn’t put on proper shoes?  she put on boots that were SQUISHED at the bottom of her ankles because of the outfit.. she was HOBBLING and couldn’t walk.  Then I hear “MOM, WHERE ARE MY SKATES?  I NEED THEM FOR THE SINGLE PHOTO”… I almost collapsed.  Off I went back to the 2 mile trek to the car to get her skates, sweating.  I was SO unattractive and miserable.  And WHILST this is going on, I am having a massive text fight with Ryan.  Then he says this.. you ready?

” I DON’T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU ARE SO UPSET.. MOST OTHER WIVES WOULDN’T BE”.  CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?   at this point, forget the contents of the house.  The house is MINE with ALL contents.  LOL… So of course at dinner with friends on the Saturday night we had a heated discussion about this.  And thank GOODNESS my friends all came to my rescue and advised Ryan that my behaviour was actually MILD compared to how theirs woulda been. lol

So there you have it.  Needless to say, I was toast for the rest of the weekend..LOL.

Can you beat that story?

Now for AJ toosday… the theme this week was CLOUDS… let’s see what da sistahood came up with

Jennifer B had a great time in her art journal just colouring and trying out cloud-making and stamping of course! This is a great way for card makers to explore.. LOVE IT! Here Jennifer used AVA LOVES TO CELEBRATE

Here is Pinky's page

Here is my page. I used our HANGING CLOUD BLOCK which I LOOOVE. You can journal in it you can paper piece it.. I just love how versatile it is!

Next week’s theme is TYPE.. I LOVE typewriters and type font.  I want you to either haul out your old typewriter and type something.. if you have stamps with a type font then use those, or use your printer with a typewriter font and incorporate it in your page somewhere.  Have fun!

Also, don’t forget to leave a comment on this post for a chance to win $10 in bella bucks!  And if you want to participate in Bellarific Friday, you have a chance to win $20 in bella bucks!

the theme for this week’s BELLARIFIC FRIDAY is to use 3 papers and 3 embellishments on your project PLUS a bella stamp.. great way to use your scraps!.  now you can be creative.. do an art journal page, a scrapbooking page, a 3d something.. anything as long as you use a bella stamp in this challenge

Mwah to da sistahs who understood my pain of the above story

***OH also putting lots of stamps on sale.. we have no room and have some stock so keep checking our SPECIALS section

Em

And yes you were right.. Our NEWEST RELEASE will all be CLING MOUNTED.  Yes we all love naked rubbah don’t we?  but I have been getting incessant emails about mounting.. and decided to go for it … This will be starting ONLY with our newest release and we will be working backwards (LOL) to try to get everything mounted but it involves A LOT of work.. so we shall call it a CONSTANT work in progress to ultimately achieve the goal of having everything mounted.  The BETTER goal is that we are hoping this won’t involve a price change either .. so best of both worlds right?  right!

Ok let’s discuss AJ TOOSDAY shall we?  The theme this week was ANYTHING GOES… sometimes it’s nice to have a ‘prompt’ and sometimes it’s nice to just let loose.. so please remember, even if I give a prompt,  EVERY WEEK is ESSENTIALLY a free week because you can submit anything you want and I will showcase it.  I believe so much in art journaling that I just want to share it with everyone.. that being said, let loose, have fun.. scribble, draw, drip, droop (LOL).. do what ever da HECK you want on a page and submit it.  come on.. I dare ya!

So let’s see what our little AJ sistahood came up with shall we?

Here's Leslie's page

Here's PINKY's page

Mary's page

and here's mary's second entry I love second entries

And here's 7 year old Christian's page .. he's working with his mama mary above. WAY TO GO CHRISTIAN!!

and here is Violet's page

I got a little carried away this last week with “arting”  that I made a couple of AJ pages and some canvases have been born .. if you follow me on IG, you will see a lot more samples but I will try my best to share with you here

I have been looking at this stamp for a long time… since it’s creation, I always loved it.  I can’t explain why.. She certainly is not our most popular stamp but I had to make her because she just made me happy.  She gave me such a good feeling so I had to clean her up and stamp her on BELLA’S BESTEST NEW VELLUM! (trying it out sistahs but so far looking amazing and will be for sale soon)…  Take a looky.  Her name is BUTTERFLY KISSES.  and because I love her so much, I wanted to share her so I put her on sale   you can find her in our “SPECIALS” tab. enjoy!

see her on the right? *sigh* she makes me happy

Here’s another one using our BE WHOO YOU ARE owl… He’s on the bottom right stamped on our vellum and colored in with prismacolor  pencils

Next week’s theme is to use CLOUDS somewhere on your page.. I love dreamy fluffy clouds .  Again, you don’t have to follow this….  submit anything you feel like playing with

Mwah to da sistahs who ARE SCARED to AJ but who will try

Mwah mwah

Em

Hiya sistahs!  Where have you been?  It’s been crazy around here with Thanksgiving and the long weekend.. don’t ask.  I decided to host it this year which means I had to COOK.  Tyler looked at me in horror saying “MOM.. but you DON’T cook”..LOL.. Little does he know that his MAMA does cook.. and I showed HIM..LOL

On Sunday we invited two other families and their kids and the preparations began at 7AM… my first turkey.. and I think it came out BEYOOTIFUL

Whaddya think?

Tyler helped me baste all morning

my weight watchers stuffing going into the oven

My weight watchers zuchhini casserole... I have NO IDEA who tasted that little piece missing

And much much more but that’s what was documented and instagrammed…

Hope my fellow Canadian sistahs had a great Thanksgiving too.  So much to be thankful for really

So today is AJ TOOSDAY on WEDNESDAY.. But I think I am missing a couple of entries.. so if I missed yours, please email me and I will put it up right away!

The theme this week was documenting your life with ephemera and stick it all down and make a page out of it

Here's Angelique's page

here's Pinky's page

and here’s my page which has NOTHING to do with this week’s theme but i went NOWHERE to collect stuff LOL

Next week’s theme is a FREE FOR ALL.. just do anything you feel like on a page and send it in to me!!

can’t wait to see

Now don’t forget to post a comment on our bellarific friday post from last week for a chance to win $10 in bella buckeroonis!

Mwah to my BEEYOOTIFUL sistahs

Em