WELCOME TO BLOGABELLA

> Card Samples
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my week at a GLANCE

*warning sistahs*.. if you are my Instagram Friends, you have seen these photos.. but  if you aren’t, first, shame on you.. LOL.. second, I decided to share a little bit MORE of da bella on my blog.. little snippets of my life.. photos I took etc.. May be BORING.. but I found it fun at the time.. these shots may include food, stamps, work, family.. pets.. who knows what happens in a week.. ya nevah know..

and if you would like to share some of your shots with US.. go ahead and post them in the comments.. let’s learn a little more about eachothah.. that’s what our SISTAHOOD is all about, no?  I have made SO many important, valuable, amazing friends through my business and I hope I can connect many more people to each other.. a network so to speak..   so if this bores you, I’m sorry :(.. if you think it’s entertaining? WOOHOO! that’s the point..LOL.. I may do this on Thursdays from now on.. we shall see..

Ok here we go ready?

as I mentioned, the most MONUMENTAL decision and commitment I made this week was to join Weight Watchers. I am so grateful for the feedback, links to websites, recipes, snack ideas I have received.. keep em coming!  take pictures and put in the comments.. refer us to websites.. let’s GOOO

I think we should make this BELIEVE quote into a stamp no?

So Part of starting a diet or anything new are the "tools".. I just HAD to get this salad bowl from Weight Watchers.. who could resist? (keep in mind I GO NOWHERE where I have to pack a lunch..LOL) but ya nevaH know...

Dinner Monday night

My Latte.. takes me 65 hours to make but SOO worth it

my MESS. Yes this is where I create... i have a huge room.. a big table and i end up working on a 3*3 workspace..LOL

If you saw on Instagram I made reference to this bar being SQUIRREL size on Tuesday.

This bar today was a little bigger.. "chipmunk" size.. but I'm still looking for the elephant size LOL

ordered and received some graffiti stuff for my art journaling and painting..the big tubes in the front are STINKY!!!

Everywhere I go.. I have a little follower.. and I mean EVERYWHERE.. and when I am sitting down working.. this is the face I see staring at me all the time..LOL.. isn't he such a POOKSHIMOOKSHIKOOKOOLOOLOOLOOCUTIEPATOOTIE?

 

I weighed this bean thread vermicelli.. there are still 4 bundles under this.. ALL FOR 6 POINTS? I almost had a heart attack with happiness..LOL.. it's the little things..

a bathtub full of popcorn..LOL.. "meh", doesn't do it for me.

worked on a BIG archivers shipping Monday.. stay tooned !

Ruby made me Rice Wrappers tonight with veggies and shrimps.. 1 point each if that.. YUM!!

and SSUPPPERRR HELEN has reorganized the new digs and populated our racking!! LOOKS PHENOM!! getting there sistahs.. getting there

So that’s basically it.. I’m BORING ay?

Let’s see a little bit about you!

Mwah to da sistahs who HUMOR me by being interested in my life..LOL

Em

 

 

 

> chit chat
23 Comments

you’re my inspiration….. OMG.

My Design Team has done it again.. A few sneaky peekies here.. a few sneaky peekies there,,, here a peeky there a peeky.. everywhere a peeky peeky.. LOL (I bet you’re singing old mcdonald…)

Let’s take a glimpse around our DT’s blogs and see what they have come up with to inspire you… This is one of my best releases coming up (ya ya I say that every time).. but this time I have a SHMORGASBORD (oh how I love that word)  of different TYPES of stamps.. We will satisfy every need.. ok well maybe NOT the need for french fries..HMPH.

Cathabella used our NEW stamp UPTOWN GIRL CAITLIN’s having a CUPCAKE party.  How many points do you think the one on the right is?  that’s the one I WANT.  hmph squared.

Danabella used our new “PENGUIDEER” stamp.. LOL.. I love him.

Regabella used RAMONA SKATING.. is she not DEELISH?

and here’s a FUN FUN stamp called HOW TO MAKE A SNOWMAN.. card by Regabella.. great for the kids to play with and send their own cards 🙂  or to send a card to kidlets no?

Paulineabella used a couple of new ones too!

Here’s MR PENGUIN helps Ramona (Mr. Penguin is Ramona’s winter BFF)

Here’s THE REINDEER and the BIRDIE art by Krista Schneider

Just elegant and GORGE no?

There is a MAJORLY NEW and GORGEOUS art journaling concept I have come up with that is coming out too.. YOU ARE GUARANTEED to LOVEY it.. pLomise.

and there are STILL some other images that I haven’t spotlighted yet…    I need to leave room for surprise, no?

Mwah to da sistahs who look forward to MONDAY.. da RELEASE day!

Em

> ART JOURNALING TOOSDAY
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it’s ART JOURNALING TOOSDAY!

And the theme this week was black and white.. hmph.  It wasn’t easy.. especially back to back with the pencil challenge from last week!

So here goes 🙂

Here is Angelique's beautfiful page! She is a newbie and we met on instagram :).. see? I told you that Instagram was a great place!

here's my page

here's mary's page

Here is Pinky's GORGEOUS page

 

Love these pages 🙂

Next week’s theme? hmmmmm

COLOUR.  LOL.. LOTS OF COLOUR.. make backgrounds.. collage.. you name it.. but I WANNA SEE COLOUR!!!

mwah

p.s. survived my first day of WW!

Em

> chit chat
8 Comments

Da WEEKEND!

hiya sistahs!  Hope you had a great weekend 🙂

I had a PHENOM weekend i must say.  Had THE BESTEST class with DINA WAKLEY at BIZZY B’s over the weekend.  We had such a great time.. got to hang with friends and just let loose and create…  I was SOOOO dirty.. and messy and inky.. and loved every minute of it.

Here are some pics I instagrammed this weekend and if you don’t follow me on Instagram, then here you have it 🙂

Dina all the way at the right.. then me then Laura and Sheryl.. it was before the class started.. can you say HAPPY AND EXCITED? Dina was exactly as I had expected.. funny and down to earth.. LOVE YOU DINA... I say whilst ducking cuz she is gonna think I am a STALKER.

And here's DINA'S FINGER teaching us what to do 🙂

Dena telling us what to do.. she is SQUOOSHY delish

Here's our table.. HI EVERYONE.. MISSSS YOUUUUU... LOL.. notice the big HONKIN' starbucks.. that's MINNNNNE

my first page.. LOVE IT

love this picture. was playing with colour.. felt free and alive

Cut out hearts from a sprayed page.. YUM

and morrrrre hearts 🙂

my hand at the end of the day

I was SOOO Inspired when I got home that I started to paint.. and came up with her 🙂

Then I took my GIANT vintage ledger and started to spray and collage 🙂

An amazing weekend was had 🙂

the most important decision I made this weekend?

WEIGHT WATCHERS.

Joined this morning and committed this time.  I will be instagramming my journey :).. I am TOTALLY doing this.  Yup.. mhmmm.. yes siree…

Mwah to da sistahs who read this blog 🙂

Em

 

> bellarific friday
34 Comments

it’s BELLARIFIC FRIDAY and some SNEAKY PEEKIES!! you READY sistahs????

Hi ho… Stamping Bella Here..LOL (said in Kermit D. Frog’s voice.. I bet you are all doing it now..bWaHahahaha)

So I shared a picture yesterday of what I am going through.. All for the sake of da children.. LOL.. and you think they appreciate having there MAMA close to them?  Hand toting their HOT lunches to school, picking them up etc…????  Yup.. they sure do.  And I finally feel at “peace”.. with where I am.  Where I am in terms of being a mama.. in terms of being an entrepreneur.. in terms of being a wife, a friend and an artist.  FINALLY.  I swear, this 40 thing is turning out to be a GOOD thing. Now the only bases I need to cover is exercise and weight loss… and yess I will get there at some point.   So there you have it.. a candid shot of da BELLA.  I do want to share more here.. and I will.  Cuz I am FORTY.. and I CAN..LOL

Another point to mention is that we are TRYING our BESTEST to process your orders as quickly as possible.. but the rubbah is now in 14 rooms and we are trying to arrange and organize as quickly as possible… so please bear with us .. things should be smooooth sailing after next week!

Oh and anothAH thing..LOL..  Instagram.  What can I say.  I am in LOVE with this website/application.. dunno what you call it.  It is such a warm, amazing community.  Unlike Facebook which to me is a bit sterile.  Unlike Twitter where you know people are SHOVING as many words as they can in a little text box.  Instagram represents who you are.. what you do during the day.. your art.. your habits..your home.. etc.. it makes you get to know the people you are following.  I have met MANY wonderful people there, and we all support each other.. it’s amazing.  I urge you to join.. and follow the people you are interested in following.. just to get a little snapshot of their lives.. it makes them human to you.  REALLY.  GO DO IT. NOW.  k?

Oh and speaking of next week.. In the midst of this chaos, I decided to release some MAJORLY gorgeous images… (probably by next friday)… Until then, we will be doing some sneaky peeky’s showing you the goodness.. so keep coming back ya hear?  and maybe say hi.. I like when da sistahs say hi.  hmph.

OK so now let’s discuss some winnah’s from last week’s bellarific friday challenge shall we?

 

Winnah for CONTRIBUTING (hehe I so fancy with pink) last week ($20 in bella bucks) goes to….

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

1- CHRISTINE! you win!  please email me and I will send your VOUCHAH!

Timestamp: 2012-09-21 13:36:57 UTC

Now da winnah for COMMENTAYTIN’ on last week’s post goes to….

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

16-Michelle G.. you win! please email me and I will send your MOOLAH sistah!

Timestamp: 2012-09-21 13:39:04 UTC

Ok now let’s get down to BIDNISS shall we?  BID-NISS.

This week’s theme was a SKETCH…  A BEEYOOTIFUL sketch

Let’s take a looky at what da BABEROONIS came up with… SHHH.. there may be new images…

Carlabella used a NEW UPTOWNIE!!! Yep.. her name is Uptown Girl BUBBLES LOVES her BUBBLY  I know .. I am SO original)

and here is the inside

Cathabella used LULU’s SNOWMAN

Elaineabella also coloured up a NEW UPTOWNIE NAMED…UPTOWN GIRL BEVERLY and her BIG CAKE

So I really screwed up ROYALLY LOL.. I was so excited with Elaines card for the release that I posted it and it was the wrong one! LOL

Here’s BUSKETTIE by Elaineabella.. the REAL card for today..

Paulineabella used “FROSTIER”.. a new image from KRISTA!

Regabella used JANE GIRL in hersAnd now for the PHENOM SISTAHOOD!Here is Jessica's BEWARE HOUSE card

 

Leslie used ADDYTUDE LOVES TO SPARKLE

Margo used UPTOWN GIRL VIENNA and her VESPA

Mary used UPTOWN GIRL VIENNA on her VESPA

Peggy used BILLBOARDABELLA

and here's a closeup!

BEEYOOOTIFUL cards no?

Next week’s theme is :   BLING IT UP!  so a stamp that shows bling.. actual bling.. bling kabobs.. puffed bling (that’s from Forrest Gump)… so you get the bling idea.  This should be PRETTY EASSSSY for a sistah to do.. so I expect some entries.. ya hear?

I’m really bossy today aren’t i?

Mwah to da sistahs who lovey what they see-y today!

Don’t forget to leave a comment for a chance to win $10 in bucks!  and submit for next week’s bling theme for a chance to win $20 in bella bucks!

Em!

OHHH and in case you will be following me on Instagram.. you should be in for a treat tomorrow and Sunday… hehehe.. I am taking a class with one of my art journaling heros DINA WAKLEY at Bizzy B!.. so that’s where I will be hibernating all weekend.. no kids…. no husband… no work…. just friends and MESSY FUN!  I will be sure to post pics there of what we are doing….

Mwah (squared)

Em

 

 

> ART JOURNALING TOOSDAY
4 Comments

it’s ART JOURNALING TOOOOOOOOSDAY sistahs!

and da THEME this week was to use GRAPHITE on your page.. in other words.. a pencil.

So I kinda chose this theme selfishly because I had a product I was DYING to try.. hehe.. something I bought a while ago and didn’t have an excuse to use…  it’s called ARTGRAF water soluble graphite.  When I saw this set with the pot of graphite, the brush and the stick.. I melted.  literally.. uch actually i WISH i could melt..LOL  but Seriously.. anything that says it comes in a little “pot”.. has to be MINE…  and it was a small fortune too.

In any event, I had a blast playing with this… the shading, the meltability, and just the whole drawing experience kinda changed for me using this!  So it’s definitely a keeper

So here is mine.. now that this challenge is over.. I'm gonna use some colour! LOL

Here's mary's page... UMMM Mary, it was supposedtabePENCIL.. not coloured pencil.. but I love you anyway

Here is Pinky's page

here is Violet's page

I really liked this challenge!!

Now for NEXT WEEK’S THEME??? BLACK AND WHITE.. paper, paint, pastel, marker.. but it must be BLACK AND WHITE!  YA HEAR THAT MARY?  LOL

Mwah to da sistahs who lovey to art journal
Em

 

 

 

> bellarific friday
20 Comments

where the HECK is everyone on BELLARIFIC FRIDAY?! (on Saturday) LOL

Hiya sistahs..sorry about not posting yesterday but I am still feeling a bit offffff.. blech

so let’s get down to bidniss.. I should be back to my usual self in a couple of days..

So some winnahs for last week’s bellarific friday!

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

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

1- Heidi you win!  please email me and I will send your moolah!

Timestamp: 2012-09-15 21:44:05 UTC

Now for da COMMENTAYTIN winnah ($10 in bella bucks) goes to…  BONGO ROLL PLEASE.. (I kill me)

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

1- Carol you win!  please email me and I will send your VOUCHAH!

Timestamp: 2012-09-15 21:45:40 UTC

Now for this week’s theme…

USING BUTTONS OR BOWS on your card.. YUMMALISH!

Let’s see what our baberoonis came up with shall we?

Carlabella used UPTOWN GIRL BRIGITTE THE BRIDE

Cathabella used EVERYDAY PRINCESS

Elaineabella used UPTOWN GIRLS VICTORIA and JULIETTE

Paulineabella used EM'S LANTERN FLOWERS

Regabella used CUPCAKE WITH HOLLY

gorge no??????

And now for da SISTAHOOD

Christine L used UPTOWN GIRL CATHERINE NIBBLING CHOCOLATE

Leslie used ANASTASIA

Here's the inside of Leslie's card

Lynn used UPTOWN GIRL MADISON has a MARGARITA

Margo used PHOEBE KETTO

Violet used TIED THE KNOT A BELLA

are these gorgeous or what?  I love buttons and BOWSIES.

Ok next week’s theme is a SKETCHYPOOPOO!

Have fun sistahs!

don’t forget to post a comment for a chance to win $10 in bella bucks ORRRR Submit a card for a chance to win $20 in bella bucks

mwah to da sistahs who forgive me for being LATE and BLAH.

Hmph

Em

 

> chit chat
10 Comments

ever have one of those DAYS?

hmph.  So I have been so out of it lately.. not feeling well.. totally “off”.. so listen to what happened.. k?  you listening?

So I had to run some errands.. go to the bank, get some food etc.. you still with me?  I get to my destination, ready to put my bank card in the machine and guess what?  NO WALLET. no wallet!  NOOOOOO WALLLET.  I looked everywhere!!!  NO WALLET.

So I get myself back into the car, try to take a shortcut home and this is what I end up in

so of course I post my ANGER on facebook and whilst cursing to myself I am belting out TUNES.  THANK GOODNESS one of my favorite songs came on..

So FINALLY I get through this MUCKNESS.. I get home basically HYSTERICAL.. Search the house like a maniac lunatic.. NO WALLET.

So knowing me, I go back to the car and guess what was next to me the WHOLE TIME.  my wallet.  Need I say more?  I almost cried.

Ever have one of DOZE-DAYZ?  Hmph.

Ok I feel bettah now.

So I did some crafting .. and I thought it would be fun to show you the evolution of a collage/painting! I was posting on instagram but IF YOU AREN’T FOLLOWING ME… nudge nudge poke poke…..  hehehe

Ok so here is a random collage where I used vintage pieces, cards, ephemera and some newer scraps..  I don’t really think of where I place the papers.. I just have sooo much fun tearing, cutting and GLOO-ing.

Another thing I just learned from a class I am taking is to scan the collage and reuse it in future projects!  BRILLIANT!  So If I use originals in my work, I will always have copies to rip, tear and use again!  And even if you scan your progress.. there will be even MORE elements to include in future work.. brilliant… no?

In the next photo, I used Martha Stewart paints (ON SALE THIS WEEK AT Michaels for 40% off- thank me later..LOL).. I used PUTTY, SUMMER LINEN, and ARTICHOKE.  I LOVVVE these paints.. Of course I own all the expensive ones too but the nice quality of cheapy paints is that they have a low pigment load which makes them SHEER.. which is what you want when you layer colour… CAPICHE? LOL (my mother used to always say that to me).. meaning you understand?

Here I stamped and doodled a little and outlined my “chicklet”…

And here she is.. with her crooked mouth and her sad eyes… LOL.. but I love her.  I stamped a message.. it’s kinda like I am talking to myself.. trying to remind me of certain things.. so when you see me stamp “messages” on my canvases.. I’m usually talking to myself 🙂  LOL

I hope you enjoyed this little tutorial.. Im DYING to make another video..LOL..and I will soon!

Bellaland is actually moving this week so we are in a bit of chaos!! IF you are waiting on an order, please email me as we cannot work on it until Monday as we are trying to get this arranged as quickly as we can and as smoothly as we can.. Will keep you posted on the progress!

Oh and did I mention a release?  A wintery one?  A JOOCY one?  OMG.. TDF.

Mwah to da sistahs who “listen” to me vent

Em

Oh and if you haven’t heard THIS song yet, I suggest you blare it.  It’s so inspiring… I LOVE “FUN”