WELCOME TO BLOGABELLA

morning sistahs!  Hope you had a wonderful week!  I have been verrry quiet as we have been sooo busy in Bellaland.. and also our move.  It is safe to say that we are in our new house and absolutely THRILLED with it.. it’s everything we hoped for and more.  How for the UNPACKING (harumph=quadruple hmph)

We have some FABO news today!  We have new BELLARIFIC BABES joining our team!  We have Carole Burrage and for a little bit of a REAL international twist, we have Meahni Pieterse all the way from South Africa!  I have known Carole for a very long time and she has been a true friend and Bella fan for years and years and it is with great excitement that we welcome her to our team!  Meahni I have recently “met” and she has been a faithful “cyber student” to Paulabella.

Here’s a little bit about CAROLE: (picture on her BLOG)

” I can remember the instant I saw my first Stamping Bella image- Julie Ebersole used Cosmobella in a card in the Dirty Dozen gallery of December 2006.  That was right about the time my flirtation with stamping turned into a full-blown obsession.  I don’t think that’s a coincidence– I feel Emily is largely responsible for my stamping addiction.  Because Cosmobella- c’est moi (it’s me).  Immediately after that sighting, I placed my first Stamping Bella order and joined in the first Bella Swap ever.  The rest, as they say, is history!  I’ve been fortunate enough to have had a few opportunities in ‘real life’ to hang out with Em, and I love her every bit as much as her stamps.  Thus, becoming a Bellarific Babe is a dream design gig for me, a perfect blend of fabulous images and friendship.  I am so excited to join this fun and talented team.  As Cosmobella would say, “CHEERS”!

And here is a little bit about our Meahni:

“I’m South African, and I live in Johannesburg.  I’ve been stamping (or card making) on and off for about 4 years now, but have really gotten into it the last year.  I also do beading, decoupage, and the odd occasion a little mosaic work.  I work full time, which means I get very little time for all these hobbies.  Card making is my favorite, so any spare time I have is dedicated to that.  I have 2 dogs and 2 parrots and I LOVE animals and would have lots more if I could.  My dream is to have a farm one day.. just me and all the animals, but no swinging from the trees– LOL!  I have to add, just so everyone is clear on this one.. I HATE WINTER!  While you guys in the northern hemisphere are enjoying your summer, I will be wishing it away, so my winter can end.  I will mention it on my blog once in a while just so no one forgets how much I dislike it..hehehehe..

It is also with great regret that we will be saying goodbye to JENABELLA as a bellarific babe.  She has been a PHENOM addition to the team but with a new baby coming and other commitments to fulfill, she will be leaving her post.  Thank you JEN for such WONDERFUL cards, inspiration and friendship! (not that the friendship will ever cease.. you will always be a babe!)

Ok, let’s take a looky at our sketch challenge for this week and see all of it’s interpretations!  Paulabella furnished the one for us this week.  GREAT WORK!

Ok NOW let’s take a looky at how our Babes interpreted this sketch 🙂

Carole-ABELLA made a beautiful card using GIDDYUPABELLA

Danabella made a BEYYOOOtiful card using ADDYTUDE LOVES TO SPARKLE

JENABELLA made a STUNNING card using CECILY CINNAMONSTICKS

Joannabella made a SCRUMMY card using LITTLE WITCHY

KARENABELLA made a YUMMY card using PIERRETTE POINTYTOES

LINDABELLA made a gorgeous card using FUNKY IRISES

Meahni-BELLA (lol I like how that sounds) made an AWESOME (running out of superlatives!!) card using Grillafella

PAULABELLA made a stunning card using LITTLE WITCHY

Sarahbella made a PHENOM layout using our FAT SCRIBBLE TREE as the “o” in GROW (she used the mini one in the set and OCtober afternoon apple paper.. (one of my faves!).. LOVE THIS LAYOUT!

Shannanabella made an ADORABLE card using ADDY ‘TUDE is a CUPCAKE DIVA

How’s DATTTT for da BABEROONI EYE CANDEE?

Now let’s take a lookie at what DA SISTAHOOD came up with!

PHEW! What a GREAT selection of cards and stamps used, no?  LOVE THEM!

just remember that all participants have a chance to win a $20 bella bucks voucher! and all PEANUTS that make comments in the gallery can win a $10 voucher just for placing a comment!

If I have missed anyone in this please forgive me.. it’s been a crazy week and email me your entry and I will try my bestest to add it!

Mwah to da sistahs who are celebrating BELLARIFIC FRIDAY!

Em

julyfss is the code for any orders over $50.. take advantage!

Mwah to da sistahs who likey da free shipping

Em

Sistahs,

I just have a mo’ (short for moment) to blog as I had a 13 hour move yesterday (don’t ask).. and am in DA BOOOTIQUE today.. but just had to let you know that I am thinking about you 🙂

here is the second voted winner of our $50 blog candy!

1. Jennifer R. Says:
   July 24th, 2009 at 11:22 pm Okay — this isn’t a nice secret like most of the others about TV shows and stuff. My husband drives me nuts because he wants to use a clean, fresh towel every day after his shower. I think he can reuse the towels for two or three days in row before I have to do more wash. I have a busy life with working and three kids and etc. So, I put his towel in the dryer and get it warm and fold it and then he thinks I wash his towels everyday. A little mean? I don’t think so. I will continue to do this until we win the lottery! $50.00 will help! LOL

So Jennifer R, please email me ASAP and I will send you $50 in bella bucks!

***EDITED TO ADD*** I believe that Jennifer CR has gotten the most votes but my head has been EVERYWHERE the last few days so I apologize for any confusion.  I have honored BOTH JENNIFERS for their comments**

Now for da winnahs of the BELLARIFFIC FRIDAY SUBMISSIONS:

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

28	

Timestamp: 2009-08-03 20:04:10 UTC

TANIS PALMER!  COME ON DOWN!  email me asap at emily@stampingbella.com so I can email you your $20 voucher!

And for DA WINNAH of DA PEANUT GALLERY

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

2	

Timestamp: 2009-08-03 20:06:12 UTC

JESSICA, the #2 POSTER, please email me ASAP for your $10 voucher!!

Ok, and now for this week’s BELLARIFIC FRIDAY SKETCH!  Please email me your interpretation as a JPEG to emily@stampingbella.com by Thursday Midnight 🙂 (I extended it for you) and I will post on Friday! This was given to us by our very own PAULABELLA!

ENJOY!

mwah to da sistah’s who DIDN”T MOVE NOR HAVE TO MOVE

Em

Hi Sistahs,

Hope you had a great time reviewing the new releases (you can see them on my previous post)… THIS MAY BE MY FAVORITEST EVAH.. but I think I say that every time! And with our new artists.. it just makes my job so wonderful dealing with such AMAZING sistahs!

So Let’s talk BELLARIFIC FRIDAY!

Here was Linda’s SKETCH

And let’s see how da BABE-ORAMAS interpreted it.. I JUST LOVE THIS PART.. especially when scrapbooking layouts are involved as well 🙂

DANABELLA made a FABBY DABBY card using TURTLE TOTS BATHTIME.. look at that shiny yummy baFFFFtub!

Jenabella made a GORJUS card using MONSTAH BASH

JOANNABELLA made an adorable card using TURTLE TOTS BATHTIME TOO!!

Karen MOTZABELLA (LOL) made a BEEYOOTIFUL card using MADELINE KETTO.. it’s so bright and lovely and happy! and of course, sealed with a MWAH!

LINDABELLA made a gorgeous card using retailfellabella.. they almost look ALIVE don’t they?

Paulabella made a gorgeous card that makes you HEAR the music! check out the MARCHINGBANDABELLAS!

SARAHBELLA made a gorgeous layout using the new COSMO CRICKET JOLLY BY GOLLY collection.. I JUST LOVE IT!!  She also used KENYA’S SPARKLE and MAISY KETTO’s POLKADOTS and she punched a circle out of my JOT IT DOWN stamp.. isn’t this GORGEOUS?  notice the little peekaboo rip at the top! YUM!

SHANNANABELLA made a gorgeous card using ADDY ‘TUDE is on TOP OF THE WORLD.. isn’t she SCRUMMY? She used our cotton CANDY bonbons

now how’s DAT for bellarific babe o rama cardoramas???

Now let’s move on and take a LOOKIE at what da SISTAHS came up with 🙂

How is DAT for DA EYE CANDEE??

Now as usual, we will be offering some prizes on Monday.. to a randomly picked CONTRIBUTAH and COMMENTAY-TAH.. so don’t forget to leave a comment on this bloggy poo and you can win $10 in bella bucks!  The submitter can earn $20 in bella bucks!

Don’t forget to shop til you drop! FREE SHIPPING TIL WEDNESDAY!!! YAHOOOOOO!!!!!

Have a great weekend sistahs

love you

smooch you

Em

SISTAHS!! WELCOME TO TODAY”S RELEASE AND FREE SHIPPING EXTRAVAGANZA!! LOL.. free shipping applies to anyone anywhere for orders over $50!  This EXTRAVAGANZA is valid thru to Aug 5th! So happy shopping!

Let me tell you a little bit about ONE of our new PHENOM artists named CHRYSTAL from LITTLE LULUS.  We LOVEY her and will be seeing A LOT of her 🙂 RIGHT CHRYSTAL?? LOL.  When I first laid my eyes on her images, I fell in love… I couldn’t resist and started to harass..LOL.  Well, she responded quickly and agreed to work with me.. WHAT?? IS SHE CRAZY??? (just kiddinK)  and the rest is HISTORY.  This is definitely a growing collection.  I am just IN LOVE with LULU’s sweet demeanor, her shyness, her innocence.

Please meet

HARRIET

HENRIETTA

EMMA

RUBY & ROSE

GERTIE

Here’s a little bit about Chrystal

“My name is CHrystal Phegley, I live in Portland Oregon with my very loving and supportive husband Jordan and our teeny Chihuahua, LITTLE LULU.  Little Lulu is the inspiration for all of my sweet and bashful characters and my husband (who is the bestest EVER!) is the one who encouraged me to share them with others.  I never imagined I would have the opportunity to design stamps for my fellow crafters and feel very excited and privileged to be a part of the Stamping Bella community.  Thank you Emily so so much for introducing me to the world of stamps.. I am loving it!!”

Is CHRYSTAL cute or what?

Let’s introduce JENNIFER from Studio Petite… Jennifer had a piece of art in her shop that struck me and I became OBSSESSED.  As you all know, I have this “thing” for the movie “UP”.. I just loved that movie.. she represented the movie so brilliantly that I had to harass HER as well!! LOL. Her style is folkarty with whimsy.. sooo DEEEVINE!

Here’s a really meaningful bio written by Jen

“I’m a commercial freelance artist living and working in NYC.

My mom, grandfather, great grandmother and great uncle.. .artists.  That’s just to name a few.  You could say it’s definitely in my blood.  I have yet to come across an artist who, like myself doesn’t claim they can’t remember a time they weren’t creating art.  I was the little elementary girl calling the classmates “cheaters” who traced their Santa Claus handout and I was drawing Garfield from scratch (a mimicked masterpiece I am sure 😉 )

My mom is a cross stitch designer for Leisure Arts.  My dad has his Master’s degree in English, minored in theatre, and plays a myriad of instruments.  Creativity and lyrics housed my upbringing.  I was lucky enough to have parents who full force understood and supported my less common and rational career path.  Most of us artists find someone filling our ears with “I totally wanted to be an artist, but my parents insisted I get a “real job”.  Well kids, this is mine.  So thanks to mom and dad 🙂  To quote Ricky Nelson, “you see, ya can’t please everyone, so ya got to please yourself.”

I grew up in Naples FL, the land of snow white beaches and winter sun.  I also lived in Cleveland Ohio for several years, the land of changing weather from minute to minute.  I now find myself living and working out of a studio apt.  In Manhattan.  That’s what inspired the name “Studio Petite”.

It’s through rich diversity and consistent creative vibe of NYC that I find myself stumbling upon and digesting a new inspiration daily.  Other various sources of inspiration: talking to a friend or loved one, an animal, a song, a movie, a book, a show (concerts, TV, broadway), a fabric, nature and even other artists.  I never know how a creation will end up.  However, that’s the beautiful surprise of it all.  Some of my favorite mediums include watercolor, acrylic, marker, pen and ink, pencil, and colored pencil.  I also adore pretty paper for collage purposes.

In the past I’ve designed cross-stitch books for Leisure Arts.  I’ve worked with both Porterfield’s Fine Art Licensing and Linda Mcdonald Inc.  I designed the cover for “The Army Ground Forces Band”.  I’ve also been published on various products in the giftware industry.

My goal and purpose for artistic breath is to pass the joy , inspiration, and positive thoughts I placed in to each unique piece on to someone else.  Am I complex? Yes.  Do I want to be the sullenly dark placed artist?  No thank you.  There’s enough of that to punt around.

Lastly, I’ll leave you with some things I’m made of; love, and that make my heart beat a happy little jingle:

Cats and Dogs- equally

Friends and Family- Wholeheartedly

Sleep- Inconsistently

Oversized Furniture- Largely

Walking- Simply

Talking- Complexly

Loving- Fully

Coffee- Strongly

Creating- All of me

Cheers and blessings

Jen”

How beautiful was that bio?

And just to show you how lighthearted Jen is.. here is a sample of a card I made using her UPHOUSE (me hopes that my new house does not float away on Sunday but that my spirit always soars like this house does)

Here are more of Jen’s images.. the beginning of a wonderful collection!

BEWARE HOUSE

CUPPA TEA (check out the sentiments!)

SENTIMENTS ALONE FOR CUPPA TEA

inside is VERY BLURRY but you get the picture.. CUTE NO?

ROW OF PUMPKINS

SNOWMAN WITH A BIRDIE ON TOP

And NOW for the KETTO CLOTHESLINE.. MMMMMM

Here’s the KETTO CLOTHES LINE in it’s glory!

Now the WONDERFUL thing about the SETS that go with the line, can also be used on INCHIES which are little 1″ pieces of museum quality artboard which accepts any coloring medium.

THEY ARE TO DIE FOR.. THE NEW ATC! They can be traded, mounted.. LOVE IT!  MANY SAMPLES TO FOLLOW SISTAHS!

Ketto’s BABY FOOD AND BABY JAR SET for the clothesline

Ketto’s BABY LINGERIE SET for the clothesline

Ketto’s DOLLY AND BIB set for the clothesline

Ketto’s FUNKY TIE set for the clothesline

Ketto’s WOMAN’S LINGERIE set for the clothesline

Ketto’s MANLY set for the clothesline

Ketto’s DOLLY in a large size

Ketto’s POT O’ FLOWERS with a mini size!

KRISTA our other MAGNIFICO artist made a BEEYOTIFUL CHRISTMAS COLLECTION and a springy flower!

BIRDS DECORATING TREES (WITH MINI)

CANDY JAR WITH HOLLY

HAT AND MITTS

JOYFUL VILLAGE (WITH MINI)

MERRY CHRISTMAS BRANCH WITH BIRDIES

ORNAMENT WITH HOLLY (INCLUDING MINI)

DAISY WITH A LADYBUG (with MINI)

Our wonderful and TALENTED CHRISTY CROLL from TIDDLY made some BEEYOOTIFUL images too! FEAST YOUR EYES ON THESE BABIES

BEWITCHED -ATUDE

QUEEN FOR A DAY– after MUCH ado, I had to make this into a stamp 🙂 with Paula’s sentiment! (more to come next release)

HERE is PAULA’s SENTIMENT on it’s own!

THE MUMMY THE WITCH AND THE PIRATE

OK we’re DONE!!!… LOL.. don’t forget to check our paper section and our sales section too!!

*** PLEASE NOTE THAT FREE SHIPPING APPLIES TO ALL ORDERS OVER $50 ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD! ALSO PLEASE NOTE THAT THE FREE SHIPPING CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH ANY OTHER OFFER IE. BEAD BONANZA**

and you didn’t even see our Christmas images yet ;).. They are PHENOM.  Sistahs, this is gonna be one of ‘dem releases.. I PLOMISE.  I am introducing 2 new artists who I am SOOO excited for.  You will “meet” them tomorrow!  Can’t wait to introduce them to you!!

Ok, well you remember KETTO? (lol) as if you can forget.  Well, we have been working on a concept for a couple of months now and finally we have perfected it.  We worked very closely together trying to get my VISION on paypah.. and they UNDERSTOOD IT!  It is so exciting.. it makes me so happy and it is SOOO versatile!  SO here goes.  Here is a sample of Ketto’s Clothesline with a part of the TIE collection… whatcha think?!  Well the surprise here is that we have about 5 collections to “hang” on this clothesline and I Promise you will love all of them!!

Here is a card I whipped up using lime rickey paper.. punched out some circles for some elements.  Very simple.. yet gets the point across.  I hope you likey it as much as I do!! I also used the nailheads to decorate the tie.. they are so flat but add that certain ‘pop’!  LOVE IT!!!

So the big release comes tomorrow (AND A WELL DESERVED SURPRISE AS WELL!)… It will probably be around afternoon as I have some “dealin’s” to close off my new house!! We are moving on sunday and get the keys on friday.. I would have to write a NOVELLA for you to understand what we went through to get this house.. so wish us luck but of course we will “speak” tomorrow!

Mwah to da sistahs who cannot wait to “hang their clothes to dry” on their new clothesline!

Em