Ok, I have received MANY requests for a golfing bella.  I kinda wanted to name her GOLFABELLA.. clever isn’t it?  Well, I decided against it.  So her name is TEEOFFABELLA.  she is right on the homepage!

I hope you *LOVE* her.. cuz I do.. makes ya wanna golf!  Oh, have I told you my golfing story?  NO, YOU SAY?  Well, ok, if you insist, I will give you an abridged version.  SO I go into this store with Ryan.. he used to enjoy golf before kids (hee hee.. I NEVER stopped him from playing, I swear!).. and I spot this FUN-KY golf bag.. black and white and red checks.. SO CUTE.. and these cute clubs that were ‘special for ladies’.. well that’s all I had to hear before I bought them *LOTSA GIGGLES*– you guys probably think I am really nuts!-  they were a fortune and Ryan said they would be for my birthday.. SO.. I get the gear and the coloured pink golf balls to go with it (LOLOL) and off I went to a class.  Well, let me tell you.. I was so BAD at this sport (not that I am good at any sports–is stamping considered a sport? ).. I basically dug a hole in front of me with the club.. NEVER hit the ball.. the instructor had to explain to me that this was NOT bowling..LOL.. So that was the end of it.. but I still have the bag.. and the clubs.. and the pink balls in the pocket (they never went very far) and husband who shakes his head EVERY SINGLE TIME he sees that bag wondering what is next! 

Hope you enjoyed my little story and that you LOVE teeoffabella!  let me know!

 addictabella extraordinaire

[photopress image=”fiskars_caddy.jpg”] 

I am in love.  Remember a coupla posts back I wrote about the whole remorse, should-coulda-woulda-don’t-need-it fiasco???  Well, I forgot to mention.. “i shoulda gotten two of them”… “should I get another”?  Usually, when I find something I ADORE, I need to have multiples.. YES I KNOW I AM NUTS but that’s how I feel?  If I can’t tell you, who can I tell?? LOL.  So this is it… Nicky and I grabbed 2 at Joann’s and now of course, guess what?  I SHOULD BOUGHT ANOTHER ONE!!!!!!! WAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH.  As I mentioned in my last post, I LOVE prismacolors.. I have never bought a set of them.. actually, I have never bought a set of anything in my life!  I pick and choose how I like it and I usually tend to build my own collection… My philosophy on sets is that you absolutely KNOW that there will be something in the ‘set’, whatever the set may be, that you don’t like.. so what’s the point.. be free ….CHOOSE!  That’s what I tell all my clients… it’s better to build your own even if it has to be little at first.. at least you know that it is handpicked by you..

 So this is it.. the fiskars Caddy (cannot find it on their site.. otherwise I would totally link it on here).. I love the color (my lime green) and I put most of my prismas in there.. actually I have more to go in there but you get the picture..

 So I shoulda bought 2 huh?

hmph

emma-doubtful-bella

 [photopress image=”nickybabycard1.jpg”]

I certainly am NOT the next American idol but I am having THE BEST time watching it!  I feel like it has become a little more heartless per se, and I really don’t know what is UP with Paula, but I blame all mothers out there who disillusion their children (* BIG FAT JUICY GIGGLES*).. “oh honey you have the voice of an angel… honey you are THE BEST SINGER.. I mean, we are all meant to build up our children but what if they are really not good at a certain something?”.  These participants come there FULL of confidence and then they open their mouths.. OMG.. I am actually cringing and muting at times… YIKES.. ok enough about American Idol.. although I can go ON and ON and ON .

I actually entitled this post “baby love” thinking of the baby theme of the card above and then I get into this whole tangent about American Idol.. only me, I tell ya (as I was singing the song out loud writing this.. hmph)

Ok, the card above.  There are many things to do with my 3 line borders.. I just LOVE THEM and I have created them in several themes… this one happens to be baby.. oh and I just love baby noises so of course I had to include “goo goo and ga ga” in the baby 3 liner… YA, I AM SOO WEIRD but you love me anyway, no?

Ok again, the card… Nicky designed this card using my 3 line baby border and my baby booties.  I love booties because they are not gender specific and very versatile.  So started with a square white card (5*5) and stamp the baby 3 line across the card in lilac ink.  Then take square of lilac and black and glue to middle of card.  Stamp booties in black and color in with Bella spirits (how cool am I?!)– bella spirits are odorless artist quality mineral spirits and that combo’d with prismacolor pencils?  MWAH! (Em kisses her fingers and raises hands in the air–do you get the image?  Like an Italian person saying MAMMA MIA, clenching his/her fingers together, kissing the tips and raising their hand in the air).. oh I do hope you get this picture! (BIG FAT LOL right  about now).. at least I entertain myself.. this technique (not the kissing the fingers but the mineral spirit technique) is absolutely wonderful.. I would say about 90% of my coloring work is done with prismacolors and the bella mineral spirits… I ABSOLUTELY LLLOOOOVEE IT.  I cannot watercolor although I have every watercolor imaginable (you can just imagine) and the first time I did this technique, I fell in love! it was like immediate watercoloring with no effort!!  A lot of people call this the Gamsol technique.. Gamsol is the actual brand name of the mineral spirits.

Once you color the booties in, you , of course MUST sparkle the top and laces… Beautiful (mwah thing again)!  Almost finish off the card with “congratulations”, which is part of a plate called ‘mini words’–LOVE that plate.. you can see it here.  Final step is silver edging all around the card.. you need a silver marker with a flat tip (broad).. by rubbing it against the paper, you develop a notch in the middle of the feltish tip  (NO NOT FETISH, n’k?).  Once you get that ‘notch’, it is easy to just edge your whole card!  Slip the notch of the marker on the card edge and Go for it!

Most other people’s blogs have their cards showing with TEENY TEENY TINY words describing materials used etc.. Mine, happen to take up the whole blog…LOL

That’s it for 5 minutes, I am gonna post a pic of what i bought in Buffalo

love to DA SISTAHS

Em

Hiya sistahs

just to let you know, I will be trying to post more images over the next coupla days.. I know I have said that for a while but I PROMISE this time!! So please check back!!  I just posted “MAMABELLA” on my homepage.. I hope you love her as much as I do!

love, hugs and kisses

emmabella

after MUCH deliberation with my lovely and talented mother in law (she’s reading-*wink*), we came up with the winners.. first I am COMPLETELY surprised but someone did get the answer..LOL

grammastamper:  I AM the chief Cook and Bottlewasher! LOL

Alli – I AM a completely crazy bella– so you definitely win too

Everyone’s answers were superfantastic.. really I was laughing my A** off!  so congrats to all and I thank you for participating!  Please continue reading my blog as I will have lots more contests.. I like them!

So Alli and Gramma, please email me @ emily@stampingbella.com directly and we will discuss your choice of prizes!  (oh ya and they are DELISH)

Emmabella

chief cook and bottlewasher AKA. completely crazy bella

and BOY did we have fun.  Even if you DON”T feel like reading about our capers, I will definitely still share.. (*giggles*).  It all started at 8:30 where I was waiting impatiently at the door for Nicky to arrive.. when she finally did, I took my pully (rolling bag–that’s what we call it), threw it in the car, stopped  for our coffees and off we went! 

We get to the border and I decide to declare my sale to the store to the US customs authorities.. they pull me over and advise that I must go to the warehouse and declare my entry.. they point to this warehouse about 1 mile away and I could not just park there, I had to walk there.. so it’s -789 degrees, I have no jacket, lots of makeup and cleave (short for cleavage) showing…   How the *()*% was I supposed to get to the other side (where the warehouse was) by foot with literally 18 lanes of traffic between me and the warehouse?  I TOOK A RUN FOR IT, dodging traffic, jiggling everywhere (LOLOL), holding my hand out motioning for people to stop.. you get the pic. I get there, have all the wrong paperwork (please don’t forget I am a customs broker by profession–apparently not a good one–LOL).. actually just played DUMBABELLA to get my stuff through and it worked!  1/2 hour later after dodging those same darned 18 lanes back to the car, we were finally free to go!!  (YIPPEEE)

 Off we went to our first craft store (joann’s).  I was still in the car and told Nicky to go in without me.. that I would meet her there…ya know, there are some times when people need constant surveillance as you never know what they will be up to… This is what I am getting at.  I walk in to Joann’s and see nicky holding this green thing.. she is bopping up and down and the tears are streaming down her face from laughter.. I am like, WHAT is WRONG with this PICTURE???? I go towards her.. and this is what I see her holding

[photopress image=”froggy_002.jpg”]

is this the tackiest thing you ever saw?  This FROG jumps up and down to the tune “jump for my love” by the pointer sisters.. SHE WAS HYSTERICALLY laughing (not that funny-a little scarier than it is funny–LOL) and proceeded to throw it in her cart for her little granddaughter Maya.  Of course I shoulda bought this tacky thing for Jayden too but there were crafts to buy! (I am meeeeeaaaaaannnnnn.. but if I have one more creepy jumping character that sings songs in my house I will explode!).  So this was the beginning of our journey!

We bought a few goodies I will try to post later on but really nothing much… We then went to ANOTHER craft store (AC moore) and guess what Nicky found?? A NEW PULLY!!! that makes it pully # 4356 that is “JUST PERFECT FOR MY CLASS EMILY, I THINK I SHOULD BUY 2 MORE!”.. I , on the other hand, only have 3254 pullys but LOVE the one I am in right now.. I have to post a pic of that.. most of you who know me by now will see how PERF it is for me!  Ok, so we always go for the same things.. we then look at each other and say “DO WE REALLY NEED THIS”? and we both chime in “NO”.. and then the next sentence is “WE ARE GOING TO REALLY REGRET NOT BUYING THIS” and we put it back in our carts.. by the time we are back at the cash, the questioned items are out of our carts again.. we then check out, get in the car and say “WE SHOULDA BOUGHT IT”.. LOLOL.. and the whole ride home, we don’t talk about what we BOUGHT.. we talk about WHAT WE DIDN”T BUY and are miserable.. is this not SICK???? SICK I TELL YOU!!

Ok, we get to Sharon’s place and we ended up having a FULL HOUSE!  I was the usual goofball and Nicky was the composed teacher who really led a wonderful class and taught BEAUUUU-TIIIFUL cards which you would think would be posted already but are not… After all, I am a gossip site, not a cardmaking site (*wink*).. A good time was had by all.. surrounded by beautiful stamps (not mine but still beautiful–LOL), lotsa paper, accessories, you name it, Sharon has it!  We shmoozed, we colored (with mineral spirits that I happened to cross the border with too… SHHHHHH).  I think it was a successful day.

Ok, business was taken care of.. what was the next step you ask?  TARGET.. went and did a little walk through and started all over with the “do we need this” thing.. and left with nothing and went to the car complaining that we shoulda….. (LOL’ing as I write this)

 We then go for supper. Easy no?  Well, we must SCHLEP (means to ‘drag’) all of our stuff in the restaurant (new red pully included) and remove labels and tell eachother why we think this stuff is not recently purchased (for border purposes), remove labels and proceed to stuff red pully with new purchases that are now “old” and have been used for eons.. LOL

Next step, driving home…. We get in the car and start blabbing about what we bought (buyer’s remorse) and what we shoulda bought (refer back to the whole shopping cart fiasco), talked about the class and how great it was.. talked about food (of course).. and just what a great time was had

Don’t cha just *LOVE* days like that?  I do!

your chief shoppabella

Em

it’s off to buffalo stamps I go.  The most wonderful and talented Sharon Klima (owner of buffalo stamps) has offered to feature me on her make and take/demo day tomorrow (Sunday)!!  Nicky and I are all packed an ready to go.  We have the most luscious cards to make with the fine ladies that have signed up!  We are psyched!  Now, the class starts at 1:30 PM.. it takes approximately 1.5 hours to get there so you would assume we would be leaving at 11’ish right?  NOPE! We are leaving at 8:00AM.. YUP 8:00.. you know why?  come on.. ask me.. ASK ME ASK ME!!! We are going SHOPPING.. going to all the craft stores to get some goodies before we go to Sharon’s.. ask me if there is something I am missing.. COME ON… ASK ME.  the answer is absopositively NOT.. but you know that if there is something that is in a container and has lots of color.. I am in!! oh, and if it is a die of any sort.. I am IN or if it is a BOX of any sort.. I AM IN.. or if it is something sparkly.. I’m in.. shall I go on?  Needless to say, I will HAVE to come home with SOMETHING and I will be sure to share with all of you.. I promise.  Oh and I am also sure there will be some sort of story to go with this whole adventure.. IE.. car seizure at the border… NOT. or tripping and falling or glitter all over my body OR OR OR.. you get the pic.

SOOOO.. will write more tomorrow.. PROMISE (maybe)

 emma-so-excited-to-get-goodies-a-bella

 hope you are all well and can’t wait to announce the winners on Tuesday..

OH.. and HAVE YOU BOUGHT THE DVD YET?  What the (*%(*($% are you waiting for? 

[photopress image=”daintybellawithwatermark.jpg”] 

Well meet daintybella!  Is she just the cutest?  she can be a bridesmaid or a bat mitzvah girl (I think.. what do you think?), she can be a casual bride.. I just think she is SOO pretty.. (when I say ‘pretty’ to my dear 19 month old daughter, Jayden,  she proceeds to twirl incessantly, showing her stuff and immediately passes out from dizzyness–MEAN MOMMY)–but she is so cute doing it that I can’t stop her?!?!?!?!?

P.S regarding the post below INKITUP.. please write a comment to nicky that you saw it here so you can get your well deserved prezzy… (sp?)  you guys must think I am OBSSESSED with spelling..

P.S. I am

MWAH! (LOVE LOVE LOVE this term).. my friend Shmiz (AKA LIZ- donthcha remember? you met her a few posts ago!) signs off this way.. if you say it, it sounds like a kiss! may just have to make a stamp like this (all other rubber stamp companies reading this may steal this idea–LOL)-.. thoughts?  I THINK IT IS PHENOM so it really doesn’t matter.. na na na na na na na na  (said in a nasal teasing voice).

love ya all

mwah!

Em

[photopress image=”inkitup_web_picture.jpg”]

 this is an announcement to all my fellabellas… now that I have digested my meal and am packing orders busily.. I must tell you a little bit about my favorite techniques video.  As you have seen in my blog, I have my fave website which is www.inkitupvideo.com.  This is Nicky and Dianne’s amazzzinnnnnnggggggggg DVD.  Let me tell you a little bit about this ‘bible’ of mine…

As you all know, Nicky is a huge part of Stamping Bella’s existence.. and if you love the BELLA, you will love THE NICKY.  So here goes.. I won’t give it all up to you.. you will have to take the BELLA word for it! 

INKITUP is a PHENOM dvd with cardmaking, scrapbooking, and stampandscrap techniques ( you thought I didn’t have any techniques on my blog.. well, it’s because I was saving this hidden treasure for you!).  Every project that is done in the scrap portion is also done in the stamping portion.. OMG.. where do I begin?  Here is a little recap of what you will learn.. vellum techniques (Nicky is VELLUM QUEEN- and it is really hard to find any info on vellum), random stamping, stippling, masking, acetate.. you name it, THEY GOT IT.  This DVD caters  to all levels of stamping.. it adds dimension and inspiration to the ‘professional’ stamper, and gets the beginner stamper all excited and inspired.. it truly is amazing.

Here’s the clincher.. the BLOOPERS.. who in their right mind would shoot a DVD with 104 degree fever, a nose like rudolph, unfocused pneumonia-infested eyes… only my NICKABELLA would!!  So, while dianne and nicky were talking about something, the videographer was busy shooting.. so the last portion of this DVD (which is worth it’s money in gold), is the bloopers.. OMG OMG OMG.. they are SO hilarious.. you will laugh your heads off and you can sneak a peek on their website (there is a little 2 minute clip).  Trust me.. you will love it.

for the first 20  people to order, you will get a little gifty from the NICKMEISTER.

toodles

emma-love-to-ink-it-up-abella

HOW much can I bet you that you are thinking I am posting a new bella with a full tummy and you are all SOOOO excited.  Sorry to let you down.. this bella typing like crazy at MIDNIGHT is the one with the full tummy.. I will tell you why a little further down. 

So I see that my audience has grown?  is it because of my beautiful card gallery, or is it because of the techniques I am sharing with all of you OR… (drum roll please)  is it because I am the biggest bella goofball on this planet and you can’t wait to hear what I am up to next?  Me thinks it is the option C. 

I am having SOOOO much fun with this competition, you have no idea…and I am absolutely DYING to tell you your progress but I will not. My lips are sealed. *NANANANANANANANAN* (fingers in ears a-la -4.5 -year- old -son -sleeping -like a- little -angel- in- the- other- room -does).. did you say something? LOL

Please keep em coming cuz there will be 2 winners now.. COUNT’em 2!

So I have a full tummy cuz my ex boss.. steve.. whom I ADORE and LOVE and CHERISH and LOVE and ADORE took my hub and I out for supper. OMG.. Steve and I LOVE our food so we know, when we get together on a business dinner it’s” no holds barred “(OMG I SAY THIS ALL THE TIME AND WHEN I WRITE IT I THINK I AM A LUNATIC-THIS SO DOES NOT MAKE SENSE).  I may as well call my HUB by name.. you all probably know him by now-RYAN-.. n’k? I hate people who always say “my husband my husband my husband”..he has a name YA KNOW.  So Ryan and Steve had 3.5 pound lobsters.. can you believe?  I would like to tell you that they were bigger than my ‘b-hind’  that’s how big they were.. but they really weren’t (note to self-diet starts tomorrow AGAIN). They were ENORMOUS.. and salad and steak and shrimp cocktail.. I am such a stuffed-a-bella but tres happy.

wise words of the evening.. they can be grout sticks in a pretty case, they can be tools of any shape or form, ‘bellies’, or FOOD..these things make me so happy so I thought I would share my menu with all of you tonight..

love to all

fella- sista -chief -fatta -addictabella- going- on- a- dieta- tomorra—‘NOT-TA’