Monthly Archives:: January 2011

today is DA DAY! CHA release is out in the open! oh and FREE SHIPPPING

In order to celebrate our FIRST CHA event, we will have some show specials in California and of course we have to have a CYBER special, no?  So it will be FREE SHIPPING for all orders over $55.  your online code is : chafreeshipping (I know I am SOOOO original).  This even will run the duration of me being away (sorry Denabella..LOL) so you have until next Wednesday Feb 2nd to take advantage of the fun.  Now don’t get used to this specials bidniss cuz in 2011 it’s not going to happen so often… so when it does… I suggest you take advantage!

k so you ready?  you ready?  you SUREEEE you are ready?  OK

here we goooooooo!!!

First I would like to introduce you to a new artist.  And how I found her was in the most INCREDIBLE way.   I truly believe when things are meant to be.  I once ordered a collage ephemera pack from this lady on etsy.. first of all I LOVED her company name, PYGLET WHISPERS (is that so ME or what?).. and second, once I received this package all the way from AUSTRALIA, I realized I was in love.. the collage pack was packaged BEEYOOTIFULLY with so many yummy goodies inside, I didn’t know which way to look! Well that was the beginning of the end for me..LOL.. I ordered a couple of times more from Dani…and then one fateful day.. I decided to open up this package and sort through the yumminess.  at the bottom of this package 3 little tiny pieces of paper fell out.  I thought they were just scraps until I turned them around.  And on these little teeny pieces of paper were these little girls with BIG lips that looked like Japanese girls mixed with a little BABOOSHKA.. with funky hairdos and outfits.. I stared at them for a while.  They were honestly SO teeny tiny and cute but very random in this package of goodies.  I immediately stuck them in my filofax because I needed to stare at them every day.  They talked to me.  I NEEDED to have them in RUBBAH.  Since this collage pack was full of vintage items, I assumed that these girls were random copyright free images that Dani found somewhere and include in my eclectic pack.  I decided, nevertheless to scan the page I stuck them on in my filofax and email to Dani to see if she knew who the artist was.. which mag it was from.. if she knew if it was copyright free etc… well was I surprised when I received the email response back.  “THEY’RE MINE!  I DREW THEM!  I have a page full of them!”.. OMG.. I panicked.  I freaked.  I was excited.  And then the “ATTACK”. “DANI, YOU MUST ALLOW ME TO MAKE RUBBAH”.. and Dani “OK”…LOL.  And from that was borne the KESHI GIRLS.

Here’s a cute little bio from Dani

” I am a stay at home mum with three little piglets (7,4, and 6 months-ALL GIRLS).  I did study design a long time ago and begana small handmade greeting card business (pyglet whispers) but that all ended when I went backpacking at the age of 22.  The name stuck though!

Now, my much neglected blog states a byline of “kids, craft and the usual chaos”.  That’s about right!  I try to fit in all kinds of creative things in between everything else i kind of ‘have’ to do.  I paint, draw and print.  I am currently selling my own line of fabric (in a small way) on etsy.  I am addicted to collecting vintage bits and pieces and am definitely a thriftaholic!  Most of my time, other than with my family, is spent maintaining both my etsy shops HERE and HERE.  I NEVER stop trying to conjure up snippets of time out of thin air to be able to get creative every once in a while.  It’s about the only thing that keeps me sane!

Sorry Dani, I couldn’t change a thing.. it was written perfectly!

Ok so now finally meet the Keshi Girls

Here are Umeki Katume and Ayami KESHI (sold in a set of 3) and  TOMIKO, MIYUKI and KAEDE.. I just see them on a simple white card.. in the corner of an envelope.. simple.. clean… OMG I AM IN LOVE WITH THEM.. and those LIPS?  that’s what sold me..LOL

You can meet them HERE

OK.. you want more?? LOL.. Here’s SOME MO.. that you haven’t seen yet 🙂

BBBFF card that Elaineabella whipped up… you know me with SENTIMENTS.. I JUST love matching up sentiments to images 🙂  hope you likey

Now here’s ANNA and her TIMEOUT chair..LOL.. check out the sentiment and ELAINEABELLA’S CARD

Last is KISSES for my sweet which has one of THE most amazing quotes with it.  from my favorite.. Winnie the POOH.

Ok now you ready for more? ok here we go!

Meet the PIXIES in their full BEAUTY by the wonderful, and talented and amazing CHRISTY CROLL! Meet PARKER, PERSEPHONE, PORTIA and  the magical PRISCILLA.  They are sold in a set of 4 and have more friends coming.. aren’t they PHENOM?  Aren’t LINDABELLA’s CLEAN white cards PHENOM?  OMG. in. love. with. pixies

Now meet PEACHY pixie.. isn’t she cute?

and POSIE PIXIE

.. the card was made by Paulabella

and PETUNIA PIXIE.. who I NEED to take home with me… LOL.. oh YA.. she is home with me 🙂

Christy also came up with ARTHUR and ANNIE.. sold as a “couple”.. but not sure if they are siblings..LOL.. in any event, they can be BOTH (not at the same time of course..LOL).. in my humble opinion, they are OUTSTANDING.. of course!

Here are PAULABELLA’s cards

Now let’s talk PEEPS.. LOL.  I just love those little characters.  The concept behind the peeps is that the character is not in the forefront but the OCCASION rather is the focus.. ENJOY! That ELLIA hit the nail on the head once again! LOVE that girl!

Knitting PEEPS The ball of wool is AMAZING to paper piece!

for all da STARBUCKS, JAVA LOVIN sistahs out there.. meet PERK ME UP peeps!

now for all da TEA LOVAHS out there… meet EARL GREY PEEPS

and here’s DANABELLA’S gorgeous card!

Now you met BEER PEEP yesterday.. is he not the STRONGEST man you evah met? LOL
card by Cathabella

Now meet FLORENCE the FLOWER POT girl

card made by PAULINEABELLA

And now for some FLALAS (flowers said by Jayden when she was young.. I love FLALAS).. this collection is PHENOM IMHO.. I always wanted some springy stuff like this and KRISTA nailed it!  LOOOVE these.. let me know what you think!

Paulabella made a gorgeous card using free motion stitching on the petals.. GORGE (again.. short for gorgeous.. not eating yourself to oblivion..LOL).. this is FLOWER GARDEN.. so much fun to colour.. so generic.. so beeyOOtiful!

Here is SCRIBBLE GARDEN.. one of my FAVORITE stamps..  you can watercolour these and shpritz with water, you can glitter,  you can just colour in little elements.. it’s large and just so gorgeous!

I love this one too.. OMG I am so annoying.. I LOVE THEM ALL!  meet FLUTTERBY

and FINALLY the FUNKY RECIPE CARD and FUNKY RECIPE ICONS set!

So my sistahs.. that’s it 🙁  I hate when things end!

I hope you LOVE the release as much as I clearly do..LOL.  And if you are NOT my facebook friend yet, you should really BE my facebook friend.. I will try to update the blog whilst (love that word) in L.A. but not sure if I will be able to.. but I WILL really try to update FACEBOOK.

Mwah to da sistahs who will take advantage of free shipping and who lovey da release!

Em

it’s BELLATASTICRIFFICPHENOM FRIDAY! (oh and anothah sneaky peeky)

Hiya sistahs!  Long time no ‘speak’..LOL.  Today is Bellarific Friday and I thought I would start it off with another PIXIELICIOUS release.  This card was made by PAULABELLA and I LOVE IT.  I think the trend this year will be sketchiness and flowers.. wait til you see my other releases!  WOOHOOOO!

So please meet POSIE PIXIE…. she is always surrounded by Flowers (in between the rainbows and trees 😉 ) Isn’t she GORGE? (again, not eating oneself to oblivion.. but means GORGEOUS)

Stunn-ING or what?  OMG Christy is GOOOOOOD. no?

Ok now let’s discuss WINNAHS

Winnah for CONTRIBUTIN’ last week’s BellSHMiffic friday ($20 in bella buckeroonis) is

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

2- AMY RYSAVY.. you win!  Please email me and I will send you your BUCKEROONIS!

Timestamp: 2011-01-21 14:15:17 UTC

Now for da COMMENTAYTIN’ WINNAH

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

22- DEBBIE B you win! Please email me your info and I will send a VOUCHAH!

Timestamp: 2011-01-21 14:18:00 UTC

Ok.. now that BIDNISS is outta da way.. let’s talk CARDS.  LET’S TALK OUTSTANDING cards… LET’S TALK the SISTAHOOD is gettin it ON.. Let’s TALK about how HAPPY I am.

I’m Happy.

Very Happy.

When da BELLA is HAPPY.. EVERYONE is HAPPY.. just ask Ryan..LOL

Ok so the theme this wee was ANYTHING GOES.. which means… slap a Bella on a card NICELY and you’re in.  Colour it up, get GORGE paper (there’s that word again.. I think I am hungry) and submit. K? k.

Let’s go…

Da PHENOMALICIOUS, OUTSTANDING, TALENTED BABEROONIS:

Jeaniebella used TURTLE TOTS BIRTHDAY WISHES

Danabella used HYDRANGEA BITTYBLOOM

ElaineABELLA used BYE BYE BOY

Paulineabella used VIOLET BITTYBLOOM

Kimabella used MONSTAH BASH

Lindabella used LITTLE PEEP’S BIRTHDAY CAKE

Paulabella used YOKO AND ONO ketto

Cathabella used TOPIARYBELLA

Ebrubella used WASABI KETTO AND A NOTE TO YOU JOURNALING BLOCK

And here is Ebru’s amazing video 🙂

Now was that A ROUNDUP or WHA?  I am too IN AWE to include the “T” in WHAT.

Ok to continue my ADMIRATION and DROOL, let’s continue on with da SISTAHOOD n’k? n’k.  HERE WE GOOOOO

Amanda R used CHARLIE

Ashley (MINIBELLA) used AVERY LOLLIPOP

Beth RT used GOSSMERE by CHRISTY CROLL

Caroline T. used LUCY KETTO

Corey G used TAKE A STAND KIRBY

Cynthia V used CUPPACAKEABELLA

Debbie B used ROSE BOUQUET

Emily N used BALLOONABELLA

Erica JW used CATCH OF THE DAY

 used PENELOPE and her PREZZIES

Jenn B used LUNA HUGGABUGG

Jen S used ALICE by CHRISTY CROLL

Julie F used SHOWER BUGG

Kerri B used BETTY THE BOOKWORM

Lauren (MINIBELLA) used DOGWALKABELLA

Leslie G and her new PROFESSIONAL WATERMARK used LILLY BITTYBLOOM 🙂

Lori H used AMIMALS-TURTLE

Lynn M. used TURTLE TOTS-CHEERLEADER

Madison M (minibella) used JAMMYBELLA

Margo S. used CANADIAN G.I. JOE

Maria used PALM TREE and MOON

Maria H used IZZIE HAS A LETTAH

Mckenna (minibella) used DOGWALKABELLA

Mckenzie M (minibella) used DAINTYBELLA

Michele G used ARIVEDERCIBELLA

Olga used WALLSTREETAFELLA

Petra used VEGGIEBELLA

Regan used ARTSY HOUSE

Robin used UP HOUSE

Shannon G used SNOWBUNNYBELLA

Sheila V used EXECUBELLA

Tammie used BUDS BOY

Tammy H used SWINGIN mavis

Tiffaney E used HOCKEYMOMABELLA

Violet V used CRAFTYBELLA

PHEW! whaddya think of those? HMMMM?  Sistahs.. if you EVAH doubt my LOVEYNESS for you, please think of these posts..LOL… They are posted with lots of TIME and lots of love.. 🙂

Next week is a week off due to CHA.. ( I will try to update from there).. but the week after is VALENTINES!!!  (my FAVE)

Stay toooooned for more sneaky peekies

Mwah to da sistahs who contributed and who will start to contribute to BELLARIFIC FRIDAYS!

MWAH!

em

Another SNEAKY PEEEEEEEKY

hehehehe.. I love these…

I have been hibernating at home for the last few days trying to get stuff done and have a sick son :(..Getting  a LITTLE nervous that I will forget something for our little humble cute BOOF (booth) at CHA.. like stamps or something..LOL.. knowing me, I will forget the whole BOOF.. (not gonna happen.. it shipped last toosday :))

So now for a little sneaky peeky from PAULINEABELLA

meet FLORENCE the FLOWER POT girl by ELLIA HILL.. I just love her :).  IS she not GORGE? (short for gorgeous.. not for eating yourself to oblivion 🙂 )

All the new releases will be up LIVE on TUESDAY JAN 25th.. the day before we leave..WOOHOO.. so you will have first crack at da GOODIES.

Don’t forget BELLARIFIC friday tomorrow…ANYTHING GOES.. send any card with a BELLARIFIC image!

Mwah to da sistahs who WISH they could FIT in a FLOWERPOT.

hmph

Em

Ok, who’s coming to visit me at CHA?

HMMMMM?  BOOF numbah 4317.  If you can’t make it, why not tell your local shop to come and visit me… we will take care of them.. PLOMISE! So  Be THEH or be SQUEH ( as my BFF would say in her South African accent)..  We are going to be doing some simple little colouring make and takes.. shading.. blending… oh my!  You can meet my Ryan too.. is that not reason enough? LOL

ok ok ok ok ok .. I need to show you anothah sneaky peeky… but shhhh don’t tell..LOL.. just kiddinK.. tell everyone!

When Christy C. Croll (I don’t think that is her middle initial.. I just made it up but it looks good and has a ring to it no?) and I thought up these characters together, they were supposed to be teeny weeny which I love.. then I got all these complaints from Lindabella that she doesn’t like to colour teeny weeny so we decided to make these biggah.. but the teeny weenies will be coming too LINDA!! LOL.  Paulabella coloured these up so BEEYOOTIFULLY and you just wanna squeeze these characters.

Meet ARTHUR and ANNIE… they will be sold togethah because they just canNOT live apart.. lol.  I think you will eat them up.. I already started to nibble..LOL

Paulabella’s ANNIE card

Meet ARTHUR by PAULABELLA

Whaddya thinky?  you lovey?  I DO-ey!

Don’t forget Bellarific Friday this week.. ANYTHING GOES.. send me a card with any of our images on it and you’re IN!

leave a comment on THIS post, and you have a chance to win $10 in Bella Bucks!

Mwah to da sistahs who love da SNEAKIES and da PEEKIES..

Em

somewhere far far away

nestled in between rainbows and palm trees is a little kingdom where only PIXIES live.  These pixies are such a wonderful bunch.  They are adorable, very friendly and affectionate and they grant wishes with their proprietary pixie dust.  They are magical.  They live in Pixie Palaces, drive Pixie cars and always help their neighbors whenever a fellow Pixie may be in need.  they have squeaky little voices and teeny tiny bodies that are almost edible they are so cute.  Each Pixie has her own personality.. no 2 pixies are alike.

So without further ado, please meet 2 of the new pixies drawn by Christy Croll for da BELLA.. there are several coming but this is the first sneaky peeky of the collection.

Here’s LINDABELLA’s sneak peek of PORTIA and PERSEPHONE pixie

Let me know what you think but in TRUE pixie FASHION, it has to be nice 🙂

mwah to da PIXIE sistahs

haven’t said THIS in a while…. IT’S BELLARIFIC FRIDAY SISTAHS!

AND oh, what a week this is!  Wait til you see the PHENOM entries!  OMG.. I am so proud.  It really makes me sooo verry happy when we have lots of entries from da SISTAHS and MINIBELLA’s alike!!  Please please please, if you can, please enter as I just LOVE to look at the entries.. and so does everyone else!

So without further ADOOOOO let’s talk winners from our last Bellarific friday

Winnah for CONTRIBUTING ($20 in bella bucks) goes to…

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

1- AMANDA R. you win! please email me and I will send you your voucher!

Timestamp: 2011-01-14 18:56:48 UTC

Now for the $10 COMMENTAYTAH winnah! ($10 in Bella Bucks)

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

19-Jen Shears! you win! please email me your info and I will send you a vouchah!

Timestamp: 2011-01-14 19:02:36 UTC

Ok.. now to BIDNISS.. lots of cards to cover!  So excited!

Here’s the sketch that we had to work with by Kimabella!

Now let’s see DA CREATIONS!

Paulabella used HEARTY PLANT for LULU

Lindabella used EUNICE

Kimabella used SOLLYTUDE

Danabella used SNOWBUNNYBELLA

Jeaniebella used LITTLE PEEP’S HEART

Paulineabella used IZZIE HAS A LETTAH

CATHABELLA used GRATTYTUDE

Elaineabella used ALICE by Christy Croll

Ebrubella used BRONTE and LOUIS

and to see her Video on making the card, you can tune into our YOUTUBE channel!

How’s DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT for EYE CANDEEEE? HMMMMM?

Now let’s take a looky at what da SISTAHOOD came up with!

Amanda R used OLIVIA

Amy R. used SHOPPABELLAS

Ashley the minibella used WILBUR with the HEARTY BALLOON

Corey used ALICE by Christy Croll

Dawn B. used MOM OF THE YEAR

Erica JW used ROCKABELLA

Jenn B used MAVIS HAS A DAISY

Jessica W used CHARLIE

Julie F used ELOISE has a HEARTBASKET

Kerri B used EVERYDAY PRINCESS

Lauren (minibella) used DAYDREAMABELLA

Leslie G used POLLY PACKAGES

Linda C used HEAD OVER HEELS HUGGABUGG

Lynn M used GIFTABELLA WITH HAT

madison used TURTLE TOTS BAKER (minibella!)

Margo S used EUNICE AND IRVING

Maria used BESSIE LULU

Maria H. used APPLEY BOWL huggabugg

Mary C used TATIANA KETTO

Mckenna (minibella) used DAISYBELLA

mckenzie (minibella) used BAYKAHBELLA

Michele B used WRAPPED IN LOVE

Michele G used LULU'S WEDDING CAKE

Michele M used IZZIE HAS BALLOONS

Petra used PEACE HIGHTOPS

Rachel G used PRESLEY LOLLIPOP

Regan used HEARTY CUPPYCAKE

Shannon G used TURTLE TOTS BAKER

Sheila V used FRANCINE FLAPPER

Tammy H used ELLA LOLLIPOP

Violet V used GARDENBELLA

I had AMAZING INTENTIONS to finish this post earlier 🙁  but it got a little bizzy.. so I am sitting in my office at home WHILST my little Jayden is reciting the past 2 weeks of events to me (oy I have a BIT of a headache..LOL)..

I am in AWE of the posts this week… so PROUD.. so for that, I thank you sistahs!!

next week’s theme is… ANYTHING GOES!  Sooooo.. any beeyootiful Bella card is eligible!  Doesn’t have to be a Bella specifically.. just any of our stamps!

Have a GREAT weekend sistahs!  I am going to listen to the end of this 2 week adventure 🙂

Don’t forget to post a comment n’k?

Mwah to da sistahs who contribute (and who don’t of course)

Em

I can’t help it.. I just can’t!

Hiya sistahs!  the “OUTBREAK” has now subsided.. everyone is treated, nice and clean 🙂

I thank all of you for your funny stories and advice.. I love reading all the comments.. makes me HaPpY.

So CHA is around the corner and we are all running around with our heads cut off… I am participating in a sold out event before the show and have prepared such a cute little project of which I have to cut 75 kajillion pieces of paper but it is SO worth it.. I am NOT gonna show you the finished tin cuz it is under WRAPS but what I CAN show you is a sneaky peeky at some new stamps being launched at the end of the month.. and they are StUnNing if I do say so myTHELF (as my Tyler would say).. so without further ADO, here are some of my  coloured up RECIPE ICONS (sold as a set of 4) and the RECIPE CARD stamp – both done by Jessica Rose.. I love them.

Don’t look at the colouring job on the one right above.. didn’t have time..LOL

SOOOOO whaddya think of the sneaky peeky?  Should we do more of them?? hmmmm

lemme know

mwah to da sistahs who love sneaky peekies

Em

MY CHILDREN HAVE WHAT?????

Hiya sistahs…

How has your weekend been?  Well let me tell you what mine was all about.  And this aint no “AFTER RELAXING SHOWAH PICTURE” (taken by my Iphone)

So this is what happened.. in the midst of CHA preparations ,cutting, stressing, regurgitating (LOL) etc..

I decided to take my darling children to the hairdresser..  they were SO excited to get their cuts and Tyler decided to mention at that moment that kids were sent home from school for LICE.  And then I get some FLASHBACKS whilst (love WHILST) sitting at the hairdressers waiting for their turn.. I decide to inspect their heads there and was unsure what I was looking for.  Now here’s something I should not admit but Tyler has been scratching for a while and he told me that it was because he was RUNNING (LOL at the association of the two).. and LOL even MORE at the MAMA who was too busy to even realize what was going on… So then I see he has white stuff in his hair and DEMAND that he CONDITION his thick locks and he did…    Ok so now back to the hairdresser.. one of them inspects and says it is nothing so Jayden proceeds to get her hair cut.. Tyler is in his chair with his hairdresser and I ask that they check him.  So then the BIG KAHUNA OWNER comes over, parts his hair and immediately finds the MAMA wandering around my sons head.  I almost FAINTED.   The BK (BIG KAHUNA) decides to amble over to my daughter’s head and proceeds to PART IT and sure enough  he found the MAMA wandering around there.. I literally almost needed an ambulance to come scrape me off the floor.  Ryan was working.. I was on my own.  Then the 2 hairdressers proceed to look helplessly at BK and ask if they should FINISH the haircuts!! Tyler was being BUZZED so UM… AHEM.. they saw the look of horror on my face and they finished the job.  KINDA.  There ARE a few crooked sections .. LOL.We had a group of people staring at my poor kidlets and I proceeded to pay  VERY quickly and tip VERY MUCHLY.  Then my darling son decided that he should STICK HIS hand in a chocolate box for a snack.. I almost DIED of embarassment.  Thank goodness there was a pharmacy next door where we bought a $36 OIL shampoo and SNACKS of course and made it an afternoon’s event.

Both children were stripped at the door (shivering), beds were stripped in about 6 seconds and then they were hosed off..LOL.

Then Denabella came to the Rescue, with lice comb in hand and showed me how to do my job properly.

That night we mushed OLIVE OIL and GEL on their heads and covered them in showercaps for them to MARINATE…LOL.

Sunday was a day of combing and nothing more was found.  The scary part was thinking that my head of hair had it but THANK GOODNESS it doesnt..

That was my weekend.

HMPHH.

Mwah to da sistahs who feel so sorry for me and da kidlets

Em

p.s. Don’t forget this week’s BELLARIFIC sketch! due thursday night!

ONE WORD. ONE LITTLE TEENY TINY WEENY WINY word.

How can someone expect someone like me to think of one word when I can verbalize about 6500 words per minute?  How can someone expect someone like me to think of ONE tiny word when I have my own LANGUAGE?  hmph.  Well, I tell ya, Ali Edwards has gotten me thinking.

Ali is running a class called ONE LITTLE WORD on her website and boy does she have a following.  Many of my customers are doing it and Denabella is doing it as well.  Every year since 2006, Ali has run this class and the premise is that you must journal/scrapbook  for the year based on that little word.  This keeps you focused (ME??? FOCUSED???), goal oriented (well, I am that, kinda).. and makes you keep to this word throughout the year.  Yes, I have had a KAJILLION words, goals, breakthroughs, ideas, resolutions but when I read about this ONE LITTLE WORD concept, it made me really THINK.

So I started spewing out 50 kazillion words to my family and dena and they just laughed it off until at last.. I found my word.  Yup.  I did.  It’s a word I use all the time.  A word I TRULY believe in.. a word that I may not follow through with all the time but NOW it’s gonna be different.

My one little word is

commitment.

Yup..this commitment does go hand in hand with my resolutions and it is a REHEALLY powerful word.  I, STAMPING BELLA, EMILY BLOCK, MOTHER, WIFE, DAUGHTER, GRANDAUGHTER, NIECE, COUSIN, FRIEND etc. am going to focus on my COMMITMENTS this year.  There are many.  And boy am I DETERMINED. (OOOHH another good word!)

So sistahs, since I am lacking some creativity due to the preparations for CHA,  I guess we will just “chat”.

Do you have a word?  one little word that means so much to you?

Would love to hear from you.

Mwah to da sistahs who are COMMITTED

and WORDY 🙂

Em