Archive for November, 2011

it’s ART JOURNALING MONDAY!

Monday, November 28th, 2011

Hiya sistahs!

hope you had a great weekend.. I was “tending” to very sick kidlets all weekend.. it was no fun :( .. one is back in school and the other is pretending to sleep at home whilst playing his new ipod :)

Let’s discuss AJ MONDAY shall we?

This week’s theme was HEARTS.. per my little Jayden.. that was her request!

here we go!!!

now I am having issues with my blog.. not sure what is going on.. but bear with me k?

Christy’s page.. WELCOME CHRISTY!

Corey’s page

Deanna’s page

Jennifer’s page

Laura’s first entry to AJ monday! WOOHOO!!!

Leslie W’s PAGE.. 1st entry WOOHOO!

Lindabella’s page

Sheryl’s page

Violet’s page

and my page

used our new stampies :)   the GRUNGY KIT #1.. LOOOOOVE it! LOVE CROWNS and BARCODES :)

love the texture that the blotchy numbers give below!

LOOOVE AJ monday!  And I SOOOO love new sistahs gettin’ in on it..! Whoever is scared to try it, please please please give it a try! I promise you will love every minute you “mess around” (ohhh that don’t sound so good ;) ).. in your journal!  I PROMISE YOU!

Next week’s theme……. WORDS.  When you sit down to work in your journal, document what words are coming to you at that moment.. what you are feeling.. and write them out.. decorate the letters.. stamp the words.. PLAY PLAY PLAY!

Mwah to da Artsy Fartsy sistahs!

Em

P.S.  Please don’t be scared that bella is changing styles :) … We embrace new styles of stampies but will NEVAH stop with da WHIMSY… I promise.. I love to colour too much and I LOOOOVE cute images… You just wait for what is in store for you!

 

 

 

 

 

 

it’s BELLARIFIC FRIDAY! Again! LOL

Friday, November 25th, 2011

how quickly does the week go? hmmmm? 

We just got in the new PRISMACOLOR 18 COLOURS which we are Bundling in a set!  They are GORGEOUS !

We also have very few of the 150 set.. ALL the colors!  OMG it is YUMALLISH

Let’s get down to bidniss so all my American sistahs can eat some leftovers, shall we?

Winnahs from last week

Winnah for COMMENTAYTIN’ on da BELLARIFIC FRIDAY post ($10 in Bella bucks)  goes to

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

2-Jen Shears! you WIN!! please email me and I will send you your MOOLAH!

Timestamp: 2011-11-25 16:11:39 UTC

Now for da WINNAH for CONTRIBUTIN’ ($20 in bella bucks) goes to…

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

9-Tanya! you win! please email me and I will send you your moolah!

Timestamp: 2011-11-25 17:49:59 UTC

 This week was a “FREE FOR ALL”.. whatevah your little heart desired using a bella stamp.. so here goesssss.. ready????

Cathabella used UPTOWN GIRL EVE UNDER THE MISTLETOE

 

Paulabella used HIPPIE CHICK ABELLA

Robinabella used UPTOWN GIRL EVE under the MISTLETOE

Paulineabella used HOCKEYMOMABELLA

Reganabella used CARNATION flower HEAD and UNIQUE DEFINITION BLOCK

Ebrubella used FLORENCE THE FLOWER POT GIRL

Danabella used HOUSEWORK FAIRY

Shannanabella used LOVE YA

Lindabella used REINDEER CIRCLE

*sigh*  have I mentioned how much I love my DT of late? (lol on the OF late)

OK now for our amazing SISTAHOOD

Halle used WRAPPED IN LOVE

Jenn used a PIXIE from PIXIES SET A

 

Leslie used IZZIE has A DAISY

Lynn used SNOWY HOUSE
Margo used POLAR BEAR CIRCLE

 

Violet used PENGUIN with a gift

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Tanya used I WISH I LOOKED SO GOOD ON A BIKE A BELLA

Violet used PENGUIN WITH A GIFT

So how’s DAT for da EYE CANDEEE???

Now don’t forget to leave a comment for a chance to win $10 in BELLA BUCKEROONIS… Art journaling theme for monday is HEARTS and next week’s theme for BELLARIFIC FRIDAY is HOLIDAYS!!!

PS.. have I mentioned I am now working with 2 NEW artists!!!  You will all FUH-REAK when you see the new designs!! OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG.. Trust me sistahs.. stay TOONED for some more announcements!

Mwah to da sistahs who LOVEY da SURPRISES

Em

 

 

 

 

 

 

is it a moon? is it a SUN? are those flowers?

Thursday, November 24th, 2011

who cares..LOL.. it’s what I INSTINCTIVELY drew or felt like putting on the canvas :)   We had an AMAZING canvas class today , and this was the sample that I worked on .. everyone’s results were PHENOMALICIOUS!

I had no plans at all when I started this piece.. first thing I did?  I took a pencil and transposed everything going on in this NOGGIN (love the word NOGGIN.. nogginnogginnoggin) and wrote it on the canvas… it was LIBERATING!  I knew it would be covered up with all the layers so I really wrote what was going on in my life. 

Then I gesso’d

Then I TUMBLE DYE INK’D (have I mentioned HOW MUCH I LOOOOVE those inks??? Thank you so much ROBEN MARIE for introducing me to them :) .  If you haven’t read her blog or taken her classes, I recommend them highly.. she is PHENOM!  These inks are waterbased but when they are heat set, they don’t move! so you can see hints of stencil through all the layers.  I especially love the neon colors (SISTAHS, mark my words, NEON will be back shortly.  I KNOW IT)…  all the colors in the tumble dyes are amazing

then I PAINTED

then I STAMPED.. bubble wrap.. my favorite I AM SCRIPT and music background and the ECLECTIC #8 BACKGROUND stamp and the ECLECTIC ELEMENTS GRID that I cut apart :) ..  cuz I am smart in da NOGGIN’ (LOL)

I used MOLDING PASTE

I used RUBONS

I used FABER CASTELL big fat juicy PITT PENS for the shading

and voila.

happiness.

see you tomorrow for BELLARIFIC FRIDAY!

mwah to da sistahs who will scribble on a canvas

Em

 

It’s MINI RELEASE DAY!

Monday, November 21st, 2011

And I am SO very EXCITED!

I have decided to start my own line of journaling stamps.. I am so very passionate about Art Journaling.. I am so very passionate about adding texture and “touchability” and interest to my pages and canvases  that I felt the need to create my own line of stamps.  The images are quite simple but everything I have chosen means something to me.. and I hope it stirs something in you as well.. So without further ADOOOOO… Let’s introduce our BRAND NEW… FRESH… EXCITING… (we will be introducing LOTS of new sets…in the near future)

JOURNAL YOUR ART OUT STAMPS

our first set  is for those days where you just DON’T feel like writing much.. you want to write a little bit but just evoke the mood you are in…Simple.  To the POINT (pardon the pun.. Oh I KILL me… LOL)

Introducing: MOODY FINGERS (5 stamps in this set)

Our next image is kind of SOLEMN but HOPEFUL.. if that makes sense.. can fill a void on your pages.. and also can be great on a card.  I LOVE the texture of these birds! There are TWO stamps in this set

Introducing  THINKING BIRDS

And our LAST set for this release is our JOURNAL YOUR ART OUT GRUNGE set #1. ( I know.. EXCITING name)…  I love EVERY SINGLE element in this set.. you can journal in the film square… omg.. possibilities are ENDLESS.. you will see some samples soon.  The problem with stamp sets usually is that you like a couple in one whole set.. and you may just like  a couple in this set but i really don’t think so.. cuz they are ALLLLL awesome..if I do say so myself.  LOL

Here is our GRUNGY SET #1 (look how cute the bar code and the crown is..LOL)

Hope you love these as much as I do!

Now for some Mo’s… when she posted these, I just COULDN’T RESIST!! I immediately thought of the sentiments to go with them.. DEELISH!

Here’s BIG CHAIR-BOY by Mo Manning

and here’s BIG CHAIR- GIRL by MO MANNING

 

And finally.. Friends UNITED was SUCH a popular stamp, we decided to release SHOPPERS UNITED!  Love the sizes and WIDTHS of the leggies..

Enjoy!

Mwah mwah mwah

Em

 

Here’s BIG CHAIR-GIRL by Mo Manning

 

 

It’s AJ MONDAY and release is following next!

Monday, November 21st, 2011

Hiya sistahs..

Hope you had a great weekend :) .  I was  a frantic Bella on Saturday night refreshing my computer every 3 seconds in order to reserve my IPHONE 4S at a local store.. and it worked!! I got my phone and I am OHHHH SOOO VERYYY HAPPY…  SOOO HAPPY.  Other than that hung out at home.. had sushi twice.. watched my butt grow… watched a marathon of BIG BANG THEORY (don’t get me started.. I HOWL at that show.. literally).. all in all a GREAT weekend.  What did you do?  (LOL as if you are sitting right in front of moi.

Ok the theme for AJ monday this week was drawing a face.  I KNOW that I scared people off.. LOL  but I think it’s fun to see different perspectives and to really start practicing.. I know I need it.

So without further aDO.. and so I can start working on the RELEASE…. let’s BOOGIE!

Here is my face. I am SO happy with her. I am IRRITATED with the bubbles in the paper.. and I know why they are there. The gell medium I used was too heavy :( . She is now covering a new journal I "built".. and am thrilled with.Here is the journal.. and the PERFECT magazine collage piece to describe what will live in that journal. Still have a "chatroom" about the wrinkles.. LOL but trying to Embrace them...

 Sigh… da EYE CANDEE…..

Here’s Ebrubella’s page

Here’s Jennifer’s page

here’s Lindabella’s page

here is Lorie’s page

and Violet’s page

 

 

 
Jayden told me that next week’s theme should be HEARTS… anything you would like to use .. punches, templates..stamps.. free hand.. stitches..  but it has to contain a heart :)
Mwah to da sistahs who are looking forward to da RELEASE!
Em

it’s BELLARIFIC FRIDAY and a little tease?

Friday, November 18th, 2011
Hiya sistahs!

Hope you had a great week!  I just woke up with a bit of a migraine.. so shhh… please don’t raise your voices in excitement n’k? LOL

Does anyone watch X factor?  I have to tell you how DISAPPOINTED and REVOLTED I was with Stacey Francis.  I was IN LOVE with her and her story when she started the X Factor “journey” but then I saw what a diva, poor sport, spoiled brat she acted like in the last 2 shows and I was immediately turned off.  I understand how badly one wants to win a show like this, but put a fake smile on at least! LOL… Little Astro also acted as a poor sport and it irritated me but then I reminded myself that he was 14.. and this is part of the learning process.  I used this show as a GREAT learning tool for my kids… Exactly as Paula Abdul said it (finally she made sense!).. you should act GRATEFUL for the opportunity.  And I told my children and SHOWED them actually how they acted on stage to show them how NOT to act..  I always teach me kids to LEARN from criticism.. embrace it from professionals (or people who know better ;) and challenge yourselves to do better).  Honestly, I don’t know why I am so upset by Stacy’s reaction .. I guess I was just disappointed.  Why do I get so riled up and personally involved in these shows?? LOL

Ok let’s discuss some winnahs from last week shall we? 

Winnah for COMMENTAYTIN’ ($10 in bella bucks) goes to

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

20-KAREN G you win! please email me and I will send your moolah!

Timestamp: 2011-11-18 14:09:48 UTC

Now for da winnah for CONTRIBUTIN’ ($20 in Bella Buckeroonis) goes to

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

2-Denise G you win!! please email me and I will send you your moolah!

Timestamp: 2011-11-18 14:11:56 UTC

Ok now down to BIDNISS…

the theme this week was a sketch by EBRUBELLA!

Let’s see what da BABEROONIS came up with.. shall we? 

Paulabella used UPTOWN GIRL POSH has a PRESENT (sorry not quite sure why so big)

 

Lindabella used Pia PUDDINTOP

  

Paulineabella used JAMIE

Danabella used CHRISTMATINI

EBRUBELLA used ALICE

Robinabella used UPTOWN GIRLS VICTORIA AND JULIETTE

Cathabella used BIG GIRL PANTS

Reganabella used CUPCAKE WITH HOLLY

Is that not BABERIFIC DELICIOUSNESS?

Ok now to da DELICIOUS sistahood

Minibella Gaby used LITTLE PEEP’S CHRISTMAS TREE

 

Halley used JINGLEBELLA

Karenmotzabella used UPTOWN GIRL EVE UNDER THE MISTLETOE

Leslie used SAVVYSHOPPABELLA

Lynn used FIXAFELLA

Margo used WINOBELLA

Maria used UPTOWN GIRL CLAUDIA has a CANDY

Olga used MAISY KETTO

Tanya used KING OF THE CANDYCANES

Violet used TANGLED STELLA

   is that not sistahoodaliciousness????

LOL k now for the SURPRISE.. even my DT doesn’t know..LOL.. I am having a little release that I just happened to decide on.. should be some time this weekend or monday.. so stay tuned.. you won’t be sorrrrryyyyyyyyyy !

Next week’s theme FREE FORM!! Do what you want.. how you want to.. no rules.. let your creativity go crazy!  Can’t wait to see your creations! 

Don’t forget to leave a comment here for a chance to win $10 in bella bucks!Don’t forget to draw a face for AJ monday

Mwah to da sistahs who participate :)

Em

ohh lala… la la la la la la…

Tuesday, November 15th, 2011

Hiya tootsie rolls!

Well I am in a better mood today :) .  I have been working on a contract for a long time and it has FINALLY come to fruition!  Guess where Bella is gonna be?  Well, if you are in the U.S., I don’t think it will affect you :( but here in Canada, there is a NATIONAL chain of 27 stores called DESERRES that have given me the privilege of selling to them :) .  I am on CLOUD NINE!  They are beautiful stores.. just where we deserve to be.. oui oui?  .. I am so excited BUT my hands aren’t… do you have ANY IDEA-R how much cutting and packaging we have to do???  And the other distributors we sell to?  and did I mention I may be *insert shriek here* Allergic-T (i dunno why Tyler always added a T to allergic..LOL.. I also don’t know why I felt I had to share that nugget..) to RUBBAH!!! My hands have been in SUCH poor shape for the past 2 years and I am starting to think it may be the rubbah.  How Ironic is that?  Have you ever heard of a cobbler being allergic to SHOESIES???? hmmmmmm???

Hmph.

Ok so enough feeling sorry for myself.  I am in a good place.  I am happy.  I am also SO proud of our stamping teacher.. Christineabella… how many times I have BEGGED her to be a baberooni but she doesn’t wanna.. so maybe if you go to her blog and ask, she may say yes?  I have never experienced such BEDLAM in BELLALAND (lol.. bedlam in bellaland) as when Christine has a class going on.  They are JAM packed.. full of techniques and Fun.. and she is just such a doll to take a class from.  She honestly goes above and beyond.. the first few classes she even FED her students with sweets!  Ok.. enough gushing.  Here are some samples of her classes.  YOU TELL ME what you think.  And if you are local.. or if you are close enough to come.. I ENCOURAGE you to come and experience a Christine class for yourself!  She is current in her techniques, her coloring will WOW you.. and we are so lucky she gets bored easily because the cards and projects she comes up with monthly are INSANELY brilliant!

How STUNNING is this? It is the cover of a TAG HOLDER she constructed herself! using our BEEYOOTIFUL uptown girl QUINN and her boots

here is the inside with the little section that holds the tags... *DROOL*

And here are the actual Kraft Tags using UPTOWN GIRL EVE under the mistletoe and QUINN! YUMMALISH. I would NEVAH give those away :)

Would ya like MORE EYE CANDEE??? HMMMMMM???? Ok !

Here's her Krafty Card collection.. embossed.. colored with prismas which make the whole thing pop.. *sigh*

We also got a big shipment of goodies in bellaland today including the Tim Holtz tool box and Trinket case.. YUM.. and some new papers by My Mind’s Eye LOVE ME collection  and KRAFT FUN DAY PAPERS and HEARTY BARLEY collection..Some cuttlebug folders and some nestibilities.. WOOOOOOWWWEEEEEEEEEE

Mwah to da sistahs who love da GOODIES

don’t forget Bellarific friday this week.. and to comment on THIS POST for a chance to win some BUCKEROONIS!

 

Em

It’s AJ monday!

Monday, November 14th, 2011

Hiya sistahs..

I hope you had a great weekend and enjoyed every minute of it!  I had Paulabella and Jimafella here visiting and boy did we have a blast.  We celebrated BOTH of their birthdays .. mix media’d.. got a FRESH batch of cards.. laughed.. shopped.. ATE (hmph)… did EVERYTHING but PACK… (double hmph).

I have been reading over the internet about a very special woman who lost her battle with Cancer.. she was a fellow crafter, card maker, scrapbooker… Although I did not know her personally (she was a customer of ours), I was so terribly affected by her story, her suffering, her illness.  She was 40.. a wife, a mom.. I am so devastated over this.  If you would like to read more about her..  Cath Edvalson from Moxie Fab World wrote a beautiful ode to Katie.. Sistahs.. I am so touched by this. And so sad.  I just felt I had to share.

Hmph.

Ok.. trying to get more uplifted.. so let’s talk about AJ Monday.. Maybe I should AJ about her tonight.. I think I will.

This week’s theme was SQUARES.. Let’s see what da sistahs came up with!

Corey’s BEEYOOTIFUL page
Jenn B’s page
Lindabella’s page
Violet’s page
here’s my page with my square being the bottom of the house :)
I actually wanted to show you my new favorite technique :) .. Do you see the “murky” script in the background? OMG I love that look.. I stamped our I AM SCRIPT .. one of my FAVORITEST most VERSATILEST (lol) stamps and stamped it with BLACK SOOT DISTRESS INK.. I randomly stamped it all over the page. I wet a waterbrush and just gently “murkified” (omg I love that word) the edges and middle of the stamp.. just to show a haze and build texture.. I then used our BUBBLE WRAP mini background and stamped it in DRIED MARIGOLD DISTRESS INK.. and used the same technique by watering down the image but still trying to maintain some of it’s integrity. I need to make a MURKY video, don’t I?

Feeling a bit better, now that I had a chance to “talk” to you :)

 
Next week’s theme.. DRAW A FACE.. (and neck if you want).. don’t be scared.  Just draw.  In any medium.. Remember Picasso?  his faces really didn’t look like faces now did they?  Can’t wait to see your entries! 
 
Mwah to da sistahs who ALWAYS make me feel BETTAH
Em

 

 

 

It’s Bellarific Friday… and a little story

Friday, November 11th, 2011

Happy Friday sistahs! 

I hope you have had a great week :) .  I had da PLEASURE of seeing Reganabella today.. we had LOTS to catch up on didn’t we Regs?  And I have the pleasure of having Paulabella and Jim come to my house this weekend to celebrate their birthdays!!  Shhh.. I didn’t tell her that she would be packing my house with me.. Oh did I mention I was moving?   So this weekend should be VEHERRRY busy.. relaxing.. girly… and fun.  I need it.

So here’s my little story.. LOL.. I just giggle thinking about it and it was the first little story I told Denabella this morning in Bellaland and she gave a good CHUCKLE too.  I wake up this morning at about 6:30  and I usually nudge Ryan to wake up because that is usually when he starts to get ready for work..  So what do I do?  I ROLL (literally) across the bed and start to nuzzle “him”… I cuddle.. and rub his head.. and I say to myself.. his head seems REALLY FUZZY this morning (still lol’ing in my office right now)… and then I grab “his” hand and say to myself .. why does his hand seem so small.. (lol).. and then I hear…

“UM… Mummy.. I’m trying to sleep!”.. OMG.. I almost had a HEART ATTACK when I realized it was TYLER!!!!! LOLOLOL.. I was so embarassed but I think little Ty appreciated the cuddles..  Ryan was already getting ready for work!

Ok so that’s how I started my day… now down to BIDNISS.

WHO WON BELLARIFIC FRIDAY LAST WEEK YOU ASK?

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

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

9- PINKY DINKY LORI you win!  please email me and I will send you your MOOLAH
Now for a COMMENTAYTIN' winnah ($10 in Bella Buckeroonis) goes to

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

1- Karen you win!! please email me and I will send you your mooolah!

Timestamp: 2011-11-11 21:01:05 UTC

Timestamp: 2011-11-11 20:59:12 UTC

Ok so this week’s theme was CHRISTMAS! 

Let’s take a looky and see what da BABEROONIS came up with shall we?

Cathabella used Uptown Girl’s CHRISTMAS TREE

Shannanabella used UPTOWN GIRL POSH with a present

Ebrubella used A SNOWMAN AND A CARDINAL (image by Mo)

Robinabella used Uptown Girl’s CHRISTMAS TREE

Paulineabella used JINGLEBELLA

Reganbella used  our I AM SCRIPT to decorate her letters

Paulabella used LULU’S HANGING ORNAMENTS

Lindabella used our ECLECTIC MUSIC BACKGROUND and FRENCH SCRIPT

Danabella used IZZIE HAS A PREZZIE

How’s DAT for our BABEROONIS?? OMG!

Now for our amazing SISTAHOOD

Ashley (minibella) used CURLY SURPRISABELLA
Denise G used UPTOWN GIRLS CLARISSA AND CAMILLE have a CAFE
Halley used POLAR BEAR CIRCLE
Jeanette used MINTY COFFEE
Joann H used CONFUSED CHRISTMAS CAT and CONFUSED CHRISTMAS DOG
Leslie G used SNOWFIGHT
Lynn M used UPTOWN GIRL QUINN and her BOOTS
Margo used EUNICE and IRVING
Maria H used GROUP HUG
Violet used ELIZABELLA

How’s THAT for an AMAZING BELLARIFIC FRIDAY? hmmm???

Next week’s theme is a SKETCH!
Happy weekend sistahs!!
Don’t forget AJ MONDAY—> squares!
 
Mwah to da sistahs who LOVEY da BELLARIFIC FRIDAY
oh and fuzzy heads :)
Em
 
 

 

 

 

what I’ve been up to :)

Tuesday, November 8th, 2011

so sistahs.. we need to catch up don’t we?  I feel like I have been SO disconnected.. hmph.  So what can we talk about… hmm??

Books?  I finished an AMAZING book.. I just found it such an easy read… a great story line.. I LOVED IT and would recommend it wholeheartedly!  It’s called YOU AGAINST ME by  JENNY DOWNHAM.. Really enjoyed it.  I discovered a new website that I am totally going to from now on for recommendations of my future books.. its called GOODREADS.. I absolutely think it is an invaluable resource if you are an avid reader.. you get recommendations, book club suggestions, and synopses of each book.  LOVE IT.  I have now started another book called “GOODNIGHT BEAUTIFUL”.. plot looks juicy.. so excited to spend MORE quality time with da IPAD..LOL

Have you read anything great you can recommend?

I also have to HIGHLY recommend an online class I have been taking  (Actually I have taken MANY recently..I am SO overeducated already..LOL).    This one is called “SUPPLIES” me by JANE DAVENPORT.  I am in LOVE with this adorable Ozzie… This class teaches you how to use your art supplies, drawing fundamentals, and it’s just PURE juiciness.. her class is SO current, Jane is SO adorable.. and this class is worth EVERY PENNY.  And there may be a little “SUPPLIES” (lol.. surprise) coming soon to a BELLALAND near you… you will just have to wait.. but trust me.. you will be VERYYYY HAPPY.  So get acquainted with Jane.. you will not be sorry.  I have also signed up for her next class called I HEART DRAWING.. I CANNOT WAIT!!!  If/WHEN you sign up, mention to her that emabella sent you :) … SO…. do you think you can guess where this is going?  Let me know what your guess is!

I am also very quiet because I am working on a new stamp line for art journalers.. the first set will be out VERY soon… I smell a release coming.. do you?  *sniff********

Also, if you ever need inspiration.. go to our CARD GALLERY here.. we have almost 800 projects in there for you to drool over!  And I keep adding more!

I am also trying to keep our home page up to date with new goodies that come to bellaland.. you should check out the new s.e.i. TUMBLE DYE inks.. (may do a video on these…SHHHH).. and also the new Simple Stories YEAROGRAPHY collection.. OMG in love.  Am going to be starting PROJECT LIFE in January..  and this paper is PERFECT for it…

Ok.. i think I am done.  *sigh*… I miss you

Mwah to da sistahs who LOVE to catch up

Em