WELCOME TO BLOGABELLA

cuz I am SISTAHS!!!   I have decided to start YET ANOTHER journal.  Now sistahs.. don’t think I am CUH-RAZY.  I have been thinking about this for SUCH a long time… and now it is finally coming to fruition!  and it is so simple to boot (why is that even a saying.. “to BOOT”… LOL.. what does that even mean??.. kinda like “I don’t give a rat’s a$$..”  now WHAT does THAT mean?? hmmmm??)

I digress…

Ok, so I collect a lot of things right?  OUI OUI!   I have a lot of images I download online.. from ETSY to PINTEREST, FLICKR and from random blogs… and I ALWAYS want a place to look at them.. to reference them.. and not just stare at them on a computer screen..  know what I mean, bean?  Sometimes you NEED a piece of paper…

So this is what you will need to do the same, if you so wish (see how polite I am?)

you will need a GLUE or a MEDIUM to stick down your images.  This is one that I use often.. it is “seamless”, NOT sticky at all or tacky to the touch once dried… just a really great all around sealant and collage glue.  It comes in both glossy and matte.

Some PAINTBRUSHES.  I love these!  They are the perfect assortment of sizes and shapes.. I use them ALL the time!

and you will need a journal… I bought this one… it’s nice and BIG!

what I am doing is printing out ALL of my inspiration (LOL- and there’s LOTS of it).. on my colour printer .. cutting it out and gluing into this sketchbook!  I am planning on assembling in LIKE colours so it looks nice and PRETTY… what I also will do is take my watercolors and my acrylics and make a swatch next to the pictures just to get some nice colour combos going… not quite at that point yet.. but will share when I do it :).. will also put fabrics.. paint chips.. OMG.. it’s ENDLESS SISTAHS!!! (SOMMMMEBODDDYYY STOPPP MEEEE.. wasn’t that from a Jim Carey movie??)

you can also use a TINY ATTACHER like the RANGER one to attach your photos, clips etc.. I LOVE that STAPLER!! OMG!

Now don’t forget , if you are using a wet glue like the PERFECT PAPER ADHESIVE mentioned above, make sure you apply the glue on the sketchbook page (enough of it to cover the whole area your image will take up), place your image and then seal it by covering the whole image with the glue as well (can I say the word IMAGE again? LOL)

Here’s a closeup of the first page (I actually used GOLDEN GEL MEDIUM here.. cuz I didn’t have my PPA at home!)

and page 2 and 3

the BEST part about this whole thing is how CRUNCHY (crunchy in journal terms means wrinkly pages and from the side, when filled looks very worn in and YUMMALISH)  the book will be at the end… I am so excited to work on this, you have NO idea!!

What inspires YOU sistahs?  Any specific websites I need to find?  If you decide to start this project, please please share your journals with me… you can post it in our FORUM.. on our WALL on FACEBOOK too!  would LOVE to see!!

but WAIT.. there’s MORE! (said in a very INFOMERCIALISH voice)

Our Julie Fei-Fan Balzer-ABELLA, art JOURNALISTA extraordinaire will be running 7 days of videos using her stamps !!!  Her first 2 videos are PHENOM and INSPIRATIONAL.. she really is inspiring.. you will wanna whip out your paints and go CRAZY!! that’s what I’m doing tonight!  If you want to learn more about journaling you should really read her posts.. she is really AMAZING.. TRUST me..  She is also running a contest.. you must enter every blog entry and write WHY it is you LOVE stamping.. that’s a pretty easy question, no?  You will have a chance to win all 7 of her stamps! Winners will be announced next week!

here is her video using JULIE’S JOURNALING LABELS

and HERE is her video using JULIE’S PERFECT CIRCLES.. BRILLIANT I say! BRILLIANT!

Don’t forget to check out her blog.. tell her I sent you when you place a comment!

can’t wait to see what she is up to tomorrow!  oh and I may be up to something toooooooo!!! hehehehe!

DON’T FORGET TO PLACE A COMMENT on the BELLARIFIC FRIDAY POST for a chance to win $10 in BELLARIFIC BUCKS!  our theme this week is FLOWERS!! don’t forget to enter a card for a chance to win $20 BELLARIFIC BUCKS!

Where the heck IS EVERYBODY? YOOOHOOO!! i know you’re there….

Mwah to da sistahs who are inspired and who KNOW the name of that JIM CAREY movie mentioned above because for the LIFE of me, I can’t remembah!!!

Em

So did everyone see me in the white dress next to Kate during the wedding? HMMMMMM? LOL.. cuz I was THEH waving to all my sistahs!!!! OMG dena is LOL’ing as I write this… I dunno why.. hmph.  This morning we were watching the wedding and I told my children that they were witnessing a moment in history and then promptly advised Jayden that she BETTAH find herself a prince.  What a fairytale it was… really.

Ok so let’s discuss some winnahs from last week’s Bellarific FRIDAY..

winnah for CONTRIBUTIN’ goes to…

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

2- ASHLEY DA MINIBELLA!! you win $20!  tell your mom to email me and I will send you a voucher! way to go!

Timestamp: 2011-04-29 16:36:42 UTC

Now for da winnah for COMMENTAYTIN’

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

27	- DIANA you win!!! please email me and I will send you your $10 GC

Timestamp: 2011-04-29 16:38:16 UTC

Ok now for this week’s theme it was a MOTHER’S DAY theme… let’s see what da BABEROONIS came up with!

Paulineabella used WILDFLOWER TRIO

Lindabella used FLUTTERBY

Jessabella used GRATTY ‘TUDE

Robinabella used DANDELION WISPS

Paulabella is *ahem* USED  BOSSY

Tammybella used PATSY PIXIE

Elaineabella used HERITAGE TREE

Ebrubella used SORRY SHANNA

Danabella used MOTHER definition block

Jeaniebella used SORRY SHANNA

Cathabella used PATSY PIXIE

Is that EYE CANDEEEEEE or what?!?!

Ok let’s move on with da SISTAHOOD!

Now is DAT bellarific or WHAT?

Ok so now I am off to the palace…TO SWEEP..LOL.

Don’t forget to friend us or Like us on FACEBOOK! ya HEAR?

NEXT WEEK’S THEME IS FLOWERS!!!

mwah to da sistahs who love DA QUEEN

Em

don’t you feel that way when it is POURING outside? hmph.  It’s humid and mucky and yucky and wucky… (can you tell I am a mother? LOL.

Well sistahs, it has been a very eventful week.  I have been EXPLORING acrylic painting and have been having an amazing time.. actually a BLAST… the only problem is, I have a VERY curious dog named Frankie who I should have named GESSO. LOL (you will see it on the right side)

see what I mean?  He acts as a SWIFFER in da basement and actually looks like a DUST BUNNY… omg lol’ing ovah here

if you only heard dena and I in our special frankie language belting out words here and there you would laFFF your head off..

Now if you havent yet “liked” our Stamping bella page on Facebook, you MUST like us and put a comment saying who sent you there… LOL.. Say ME!  I get commish 🙂 (commission)

Actually if you put in a comment saying who sent you, both YOU and WHOMEVER sent you have a chance to win $25 in Bella Buckeroonis!! WOOOOHOOOOO!!!

Mwah to da sistahs who “like’ me 🙂

Em

Do they give awards or the WORST Bloggista in the WORLD OF BLOGGISTAS?  OMG I am so sorry I have been MIA.. My family was away in Montreal for our holiday.. I had to stay back to work 🙁 and every day I would say aloud.. “omg I haven’t updated my blog.. and then I answer myself (THAT’S WHEN YOU KNOW YOU HAVE A PROBLEM..LOL) that I dont have much to day?!?!?  ME???? NOT HAVE MUCH TO SAY????? What’s wrong with me??? I have been museless.. and tired.. and busy… and cranky… LOL.. but the FAM is back and I am even crankier…LOL just kidding.  I am now REINSPIRED again and will promise to update you on my daily nonsense once again if you still wanna read about it!

It’s a long weekend and Ryan promised me to clean my corner of SUPPLIES (I call it a corner but it’s more like MY WHOLE HOUSE infested with ART).. I am so excited to finally PURGE some of my stuff and rediscover some old goodies.. I think Ryan is more excited to PURGE..LOL

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

Winnah for CONTRIBUTING ($20 in bella buckeroonis) goes to

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

6- KATIE P!! YOU WIN!! please email me and i will send you your vouchah!

Timestamp: 2011-04-22 12:18:47 UTC

Here is da winnah for COMMENTAYTIN’ ($10 in Bella Bucks)

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

5- STEPH!! you win!! please email me and I will send you a vouchah!

Timestamp: 2011-04-22 12:23:42 UTC

Now this week’s theme was ANYTHING GOES.. or FREESTYLE… you can’t get easier than DAT sistahs!

Let’s begin with our BABEROONIS… what did they come up with you ask??  well, I ‘says’.. let’s find out!  First I have to tell you that I have created some MIXED MEDIA MONSTERS within our team… can you guess who they are based on the projects???? LOL

Jeaniebella used FLOWAHBELLA

Elaineabella used ANNIE and our POLAROID FRAME

Lindabella used ECLECTIC BIRDIES, MAISY’S KETTO’S POLKADOT CIRCLES, and ECLECTIC MESH BACKGROUND STAMP

Danabella used one of JULIE’S SPRING BUTTERFLIES

Ebrubella used IZZIE WITH A CHERRY ON TOP

Tammybella used CATCH OF THE DAY

Cathabella used ECLECTIC BUTTERFLY ON PRINT

Robinabella used RAIN NEVER STOPPED ME A BELLA

Paulabella used PHOEBE KETTO, ANISE KETTO’S FLOWERS, ECLECTIC BACKGROUNDS FRENCH SCRIPT and MESH

Paulineabella used PAISLEY PIXIE

JESSABELLA used FLAMENCA KETTO

How’s DAT for da EYE candEE???

Now let’s discuss da SISTAHOOD!

Now how’s DAT for da EYE CANDEEEEEE?

Next week’s theme is MOTHER’s DAY or anything related to that!  make a card for someone who is important to you 🙂

Now don’t forget to join our forum!  Jessabella has LOTS of things going on in there!  You will find that it is a GREAT place to hang out, chat, talk about stampies, and products etc…  YOU WILL LOVE IT!!!

Also, feel free to “LIKE” our stamping bella page and see what’s going on in our world!  samples, tutorials,  post your cards.. it’s ANARCHY in there..LOL

Also, don’t forget to place a comment on this post for a chance to win $10 in bella buckeroonis!!

Mwah to da sistahs who still love DIS BLOGGISTA

Em

hiya sistahs!
hope you had a great week 🙂
we are still on a production line here.. but we are having a great time!

Let’s discuss some winnahs, shall we?

Winnah for CONTRIBUTING to last week’s bellarific friday ($20 in bella bucks) goes to
Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

14- VIOLET V you win! Please email me and I will send you a voucher!

Timestamp: 2011-04-15 16:08:37 UTC

Now for da WINNAH of COMMENTAYTIN’ ($10 in bella bucks)
Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

28-Carisa! you win! please email me and I will send you your vouchah!

Timestamp: 2011-04-15 16:10:56 UTC

Now we have ANOTHAH winnah this week from our challenge FACEBOOKIN’ into the forum!

Here are your random numbers:

7 JacilynDashwood– you win $25 for this contest! please email me and will send you your vouchah!
Timestamp: 2011-04-15 03:10:34 UTC

Jessabella is now in charge our our BELLATASTIC forum! It’s already starting to look like a PHENOM place to hang out! ask questions, chat, upload your cards… AMAZING! so if you have not become a member yet, please do so and we will have challenges, contests, prizes etc going on in there and I think it is gonna be so much fun!
Also, please “LIKE” stamping bella on facebook and you can even befriend ME (emily block) on Facebook if you wanna follow my idle thoughts and personal chit chat..LOL… I’m thinking you NO wanna do DAT..LOL

How about a GREAT announcement for all Bellaland STOODENTS!  Christine Dol-abella will now be teaching AMAZING classes here!  Her first class in may is to learn how to watercolor paint with Distress inks!!  A STUNNING technique.  iF you are curious to see her work.. take a looky at her blog and you will be blown away!

Ok now for Bellarific Friday!
the Theme for this week was a SKETCH by LINDABELLA

Let’s see what our BABEROONIS came up with!  I have to just mention one thing about our babes… they are so CURRENT.. and UP TO DATE with their style.. they change it as style changes.. they are SO AMAZING!!

Ebrubella used CUPPYCAKE with a HUGGABUGG on top

Lindabella used our ECLECTIC CRACKLE stamp for the base of the Mannequin Die and JULIES’ WORDS TO LIVE BY

Paulineabella used PERK ME UP PEEPS

JESSABELLA used CLEMENTINE the TEAPOT girl

Elaineabella used the SENTIMENT from CATCHING UP

Tammybella used MAVIS HAS A DAISY

JEANIEBELLA used BEST FRIENDS FOREVAH

DANABELLA used ALICE

Cathabella used FLORENCE the teapot girl

Robinabella used KING OF THE CANDY CANES

Paulabella used IZZIE IS A BUNNY

were those not AMAZING?!!?!

Now let’s see da SISTAHOOD!

ARE THOSE NOT AMAZINK??????

Next week’s theme is  FREE THEME!  Choose whatevah BELLA image you would like and WHATEVAH colour/layout etc!

Love to my sistahs

Em

Hiya Sistahs!  I’mmmm backkkkkk from Scrapfest and boy did we have a BLAST!!!  I always spend a little time every night on PINTEREST and last night I found THE PERFECT quote that just embodies the experience, exemplifies my employees/friends, and the craft in general.  It is a quote like this that keeps me going 🙂

Love this one.. I am actually gonna make a canvas for the store incorporating this quote!

So our booth was PACKED at all times.. I decided to do a quick make and take that ended up taking 45 minutes each..LOL.. only me.  I feel so bad that I couldnt get to everyone on the list :(.  Next year we will try something different!

But what our 6*6 canvas make and take DID teach me was that there is a desire, a WANT, to dabble in mixed media.. to get rid of the preconceived notions of perfection SOOOO I will be teaching this next month in Bellaland.

Isabelle-abella was AMAZING and worked her tush off demoing her new line of stamps… her creativity and talent is beyond words… and BOY did we have fun sharing a table..LOL

Helen was a trooper and also worked her tushy off whilst nibbling her Jenny Craig snacks..LOL.  Dena was holding down the fort in Bellaland and the BABEROONIS were swarming around the auditorium.. Carrol and Warren were helping (thank you Carrol and Warren!)… Linda actually had the opportunity to sit with me and make a make and take… she was DROOLING.. look at this masterpiece she made!!

Angie Blom waited SO patiently and look what she came up with

Are they not STUNNING?  well we had the BESTEST TIME EVAH

Here’s some more random pictures from Scrapfest! Don’t forget to read the captions…

now take a look at Ebrubella’s AMAZING video.. please don’t look at my SQUOOSHY body (that’s gonna change soon..LOL)

Mwah to da sistahs who lovey to SQUOOSH
EM