PWCO SS#62

I totally forgot to post this week's sketch challenge from Paperworks Co.
you still have until 11h59 tonight to post your link on our blog post, you can find it here

Check back on sunday for the next sketch challenge! it'll be posted on time...

Don't forget that by participating you could be picked as guest sketch designer for an upcoming sketch, but please don't let that stop you from participating you can always decline if you don't want to do it.  ALSO, don't forget that you could win a free stamp BUT you need to participate every week in order to qualify for the draw.

.

latest photo shoot

click here to see my latest photo shoot.  My good friend Michelle just had her third child (and first boy) and asked me take pictures of this little cutie, he was so good, let us play around for almost an hour before letting us know that that was it!  hihihi!

new position at PWCO and sad news

it's with great pleasure that i am happy to announce that i will be staying on the Paperworks Co design team but my position has changed a bit; i am now the sketch designer and will participate in a stamp release once in a while.  Today, my first sketch is up.  Please come join in the fun and don't forget to post a link to your card, you could become a guest sketch designer or get a chance to win a free stamp.

It is on a sad note that i have to tell you that my father passed away thursday morning after a long battle with cancer.  He will be missed.

when it rains it pours i guess...

so i guess most of you have read my last post about our house fire, as promised here are some pictures.  no news on the insurance yet, no work has begun and it's been almost a month and a half... hopefully it will all get done before the lease on the house we rented is up.  

there was a lot of smoke damage through out the whole house, here is an air exchange vent in the kids' room

my papers! my poor papers!  i wonder if the cleaners will be able to salvage some of the papers...

it doesn't look THAT dirty, until you move the piggy.  YIKES! 

now for the not so fun pictures.  these are all from the basement where the fire actually occurred. 

this is the ceiling.

 

my whole stash of Partylite candles! i used to sell them so i had quite a bit of them! 

look on the bright side, i'm gonna get a "new" clean house when all this is done!

i do have a few good news to announce so i'll do that in another post since it's almost 2am and my laptop battery is about to die. !

good night!

Bella

Still alive ....

I'm still here... Unfortunately i didn't have Time to come update my blog before now. Last wednesday something very unfortunately happened to us. I came Home with the kids to find our House filled with smoke. We had a fire in the basement, so lots of fire and Water damage and smoke damage through out the whole house. Good thing was that we weren't Home, however our dog, Cosmo, was in his cage at the time and died from the smoke. I didn't post this before cause you never know who reads these things, i don't want anyone breaking in to take stuff, although i don't know why anyone would, everything Stinks of smoke. But now that everything gas bene taken out of the house i wanted to share. So as you CAN imagine i won't be able to post any crafty/scrapbooking/stamping projects anytime Soon since i don't havé any materials to working with AND my priorities are taking care of my Family. I hope that you, my followers, will stick with me until i get back on my feet.

When i get m'y laptop back (i'm using hubby's iPad)I'll download the pics i took with m'y iPhone and share them with you.

Keep crafting!
Bella

New Paperworks Co stamps!

i'm so thrilled, this month we have more Rachelle Anne Miller goodies.  these winter/holiday images are SO cute, it really is hard to pick a favorite!  here are some projects i made with three of the six stamps.

materials: 

cs: prism

pp: Basic Grey 

ink: memento, copic(E0000-E000-E00-E21-E25-E29-BG10-Y21-Y26-Y28-YG91-B0000-B00-B02)

other: nestabilities, snowflake punch, fiskars border punch

i decided to make a 2011 calendar, here are the 2 first months, i'm planning to use only RAM stamps for this calendar.  

 materials: 

cs: prism

pp: Basic Grey 

ink: memento, copic(E000-E00-E13-E15-E18-E25-E29-E43-E47-R02-BG11-BG72-BG75-G85-G94-G99)

materials: 

cs: prism

pp: Basic Grey 

ink: memento, copic(G85-G94-G99-BG0000-BG11-BG72-BG75- BG93-R29-R59-W1-W5-W7-C00-C1-C3-RV0000-RV11-Y17-Y38)

October PWCO release sneak peek!

it seems like we just had a stamp release at PWCO, but i guess it's been a month already.  Don't miss it!  all new RAM stamps are being released on friday October 15th during a chat that will be starting at 7MST (i think) check here for more details

this is all you'll get to see for now....

now head on over to Danielle's blog for another sneak peek!

Ciao! 

Bella 

October PWCO papercard kit

This month i get to play with the card kit over at Paperworks Co. it's all new yummy Basic Grey!

what's in it?

cs: Prism

pp: Basic Grey

stamp: PWCO/RAM - pumpkin patch

ink: memento, copic (E000-E00-E13-E15-E21-E31-YR65-YR68-R02-Y17-Y38-YG11-YG23-YG95-W1-W3-W5-BG0000-BG10-BG93)

other: Bazzill borders, scallop scissors, nestabilities, bakers twine

fridge magnets

this is a cute little project i like to make, they're great to give as gifts too.

i stamped and colored my image on paper as usual but then i backed with with a piece of magnet.  i usually stamp (with Staz-On) or print on my magnet sheet but these stamps are so detailed that my copics were making the ink bleed so i went the paper route.
I hope you try this project, they would be great for teachers gift too.
what's in it?
cs: prism
stamp: PWCO/RAM - Autumn leaves and Side by Side
ink: memento, copics (sorry i was in such a rush that i forgot to write down my colors)
other: magnet sheet, fiskars circle punch, EK success scallop circle punch

birthday invite

for this week's free for all over at paperworks co. i made a quick and simple birthday party invitation.


what's in it:
cs: bazzill, prism
pp: doodlebug
stamp: PWCO/RAM - birthday parade
ink: memento, colorbox fluid chalk, copic (BG01-BG15-R20-R27-R29-R39-RV91-RV95-RV99-Y17-YR04)
other: nestabilities, Carolee's creations letter stickers

thanks for dropping by,
Bella

new PWCO RAM release!

When i saw this new stamps from Rachelle Anne Miller, available now at PWCO

it made me think of my mom's apple pie, so i decided to create a little booklet with her apple pie recipe, the pie dough recipe and my favorite; her raisin pie recipe (i'm the only one who eats this in my house so i only make it at Christmas time)

correction: third instruction: Put in pie shell, toP with another crust and make vents

if anybody is interested let me know and i'll translate the dough and raisin pie recipes. 

what's in it?

cs: Bazzill, prism

pp: Echo Park

stamp: PWCO/RAM - Sugar and Spice

ink: Memento, Copics (R00-R02-R17-R22-R29RBG10-BG72-BG75-YG03-YR31-C1-C3-W1-W3-W5-W7-E13-E33-E43-E47-E49-E50-E51), Spica glitter pen

other: nestabilities, fiskars border punch and corner rounder squeeze punch, ribbon (offray), crop-o-dile, distress ink

this card is using the Pumpkin Patch stamp (PWCO/RAM)

cs: Bazzill, prism

pp: Graphic 45 - halloween collection

stamp: PWCO/RAM - The perfect pumpkin

ink: memento, distress (walnut stain)

i tried my hand at Prismacolor and blending liquid for this card.  i think i'm gonna stick with my copics for coloring and prismacolors for shading and backrounds. 

other: glimmer mist (irridescent gold), nestabilities

and an extra project: I had time to throw in another project.  I took the tutorial from the 3D tuesday group on PCP; project 3d79

this project is quite simple, my 3yr old made one right along with me

what's in it?

cs: Core'dinations, bazzill, prism, Craft n' Craftin glitter cs

stamp: PWCO/RAM - Happy Owl-O-Ween

ink: memento, copic (0-E31-E35-E37-E47-C3-C7-YR20-YR65-YR68-RV91-RV93-RV95-RV99)

also used: Prismacolor (#301, #322), cuttlebug embossing folder, brown paper lunch bag

thanks for stopping by, 

Bella

PWCO Sneak peek goodness

Oh man are you guys gonna be happy with this new PWCO release.  I'm not gonna say much because i want you guys to enjoy the release on friday. After having done a couple of blog hop releases Peggy decided to go back to our old format for this one.  It will be a Chat release on the Paperworks Co blog this friday at 7 MST, you won't want to miss it~ trust me!  This will be so much fun!  i like the blog hop for all the lovely visits i got on my blog, but i also miss the chat part of the release - that's how i got to know my co-DT members and our regulars on the PWCO blog.

So to give you a little taste of what's coming here's a little sneak peek at one of my projects.

25th anniversary cake

this, i could say was the cake from HELL!
i was asked to make this cake for a 25th anniversary and i had originaly turned it down, but then they came back (3 weeks before they needed it) and said they simplified the cake they wanted, i knew they hadn't found anyone else to make it so i said i would.

everything went wrong.  i was on schedule, cake was baked and iced 2 days before but i made a mistake and forgot it in the freezer overnight.  so the next morning i took it out and smoothed the icing (weird enough the icing wasn't completely frozen, this was icing i bought already made from the cake shop)

my mistake was i wanted to get the *&#$ cake done and i didn't let it thaw out completely before putting on the fondant.  about 2 hrs after having covered the cake in fondant a clear syrup started leaking out from the side (under the fondant)  i put a fan on it to dry it out, left it uncovered overnight like the cake shop told me to do.  the next morning it was still leaking so i removed the fondant, re-iced it ( i still had some store icing left) and put NEW fondant on.  Not 1 hour later it had started leaking again.  this was the same day they were supposed to pick it up (after work).  i ended up having to run to the grocery store, bought ingredients to make MY buttercream icing and 3 boxes of Betty Crocker (hey gotta love Betty!)  I had to make the cake from scratch, i asked them if they could pick it up the next morning before the party and they were ok with that, thank goodness 'cause if not well they wouldn't have had a cake.  So to make sure there would be no problems i put the fondant on the next morning and finished up the decorations.

It's pretty simple and i'm happy with the way it turned out, especially with all the trouble i had with it.

i hope they had enough cake (i checked the size with the cake shop) and that Mike and Julie liked it, but i wouldn't know because i haven't gotten any feedback (the girl that ordered it is the wife of a guy that works for my husband) i'm just saying it would've been nice to know if they liked it and if they didn't then i guess i don't really want to know. 

i think that's enough bitchin' for today.  thanks for reading my rants! 

Claudia & Co. guest designer

the time is finally here!  My spot as guest designer for the monthly challenge over at Claudia & Co.  you can see the challenge here.

Here's the card i created with the color red.  I gave it to my son who started kindergarten this year, he really liked it.  He just finished his first week and i am glad to say it went well and that he listened (although that could change in time, but i'm crossing my fingers) 

cs: Bobunny

pp: Jillibean Soup

stamp: Claudia & co (Ethan lollipop)

ink: copics (oops, i lost my list of colors used...sorry), signo white pen, copic multiliner

other: cork, brad (doodlebug)

thanks for stopping by!

Bella

My Review of Little Kid Juju Backpack Set

this is the review i submitted on the CSN website for the backpack that i won on Rachelle Anne Miller's blog . 

Originally submitted at CSN Stores

Features:

• Set includes little kid Juju backpack and optional matching lunch box
• Constructed of nylon, laminated canvas, metal hardware
• Easy to clean
• Large interior space contains smaller zipped pocket
• Padded back panel
• Padded should...
  

Little Kid Juju Backpack Set

excellent backpack!

By Bella{blue} from Montreal, Qc Canada on 9/9/2010

5out of 5

Pros: High Quality, Good Capacity, Easy To Access Items, Easy To Carry, Easy To Identify, Perfect size 4 sm child
Best Uses: Family Trips, Day outings, Weekend Trips, Daycare, Long Vacations
Describe Yourself: Practical, Comfort-Oriented
Travel Frequency: 0-5 Annual Trips
Primary use: Personal

I won this backpack in a blog giveaway and was very impressed with the service from CSN. When we received the item my 3 yr old, who had picked the design for his backpack, was thrilled. he proceeded to put it on and i barely had to help him. he love bringing his backpack along with him where ever we go and it's the perfect size for him to wear. the quality is excellent, the zipper and seams are sturdy and i love the coated canvas on the front, very easy to wipe clean.
I would definitely recommend this item.

And here's a picture of Charlie, he just loves his backpack and wants to bring it with him everywhere, especially when we bring Brady to school, so they both have backpacks.  

PWCO free for all project

My friend Michelle is giving birth on September 9th with her first boy after having 2 gorgeous girls.  I'm lending her some of my stuff that i had kept and her sister in law gave her some hand-me downs too but sometimes it's nice to have something new.  I decided to make her a few onesies, they will all be decorated with material but i made one with this, totally perfect, stamp from the RAM collections.

i stamped the image directly on the onesie using Staz-On ink, it didn't go on as dark as i was hoping but i worked with it.  Now obviously copics and Staz-On are not a good mix so you have to be super careful, the copics will make your Staz-On ink bleed so you have to be careful.  i found the best way to color and not drag black from the outline was to tap with my copic, just as if i was trying to color in dots.  because it's on material, the colors bleed a little so you don't need to go all the way to the edge.

To make the clouds i used a post it that i cut in the shape of a cloud and i just used one of my copics and feathered around the edge.

BTW, blender doesn't really work that well on material.... 

what's in it? 

onesie from JOE bought at Loblaws (i love JOE, the quality is excellent!)

stamp: PWCO/RAM Puddles of fun

ink: Staz-On, copics (0-Y02-YG06-YR65-BG10-BG15-BG45-R02-R17-R20-RV13-E33)

other: Post-it

hope you give it a try, it's a super quick and easy gift to make for the arrival of a new baby

Bella

Mo's digital pencil challenge - halloween

here's my participation for Mo's challenge over at the challenge blog
this week we have to make a Halloween inspired card.  I had this freebie from Mo from quite some time ago and hadn't gotten a chance to use it yet so this challenge was perfect!

pp: Rose Moka, Pebbles inc, doodlebug, prism smooth

stamp: Mo's digital pencil

ink: copic (R20-R22-RV91-RV93-RV95-RV99-Y17-YR04-YR07-YR23-E000-E00-E08-E31-E33-E35-E37-W00-W1-W3-W5-C1-C3-C5-C7-0-100), Distress inks (dried marigold, victorian velvet, aged mahogany)

other: nestabilities

last sketch of the month

today is the last PWCO sketch of August that was designed by me.  I had a lot of fun doing it and who knows maybe i'll get to do it again sometime. 

i must admit that when i drew up this sketch i had gone cropping with my friends the night before and Claude did something with 4 or 5 stripes of paper on her layout, this sketch was totally inspired by her layout! 

here's my creation: 

I love Cosmo Cricket, i buy almost every collection along with their chipboard shapes, the problem is i hardly use them.  Since i couldn't decide which stamp i wanted to use i went with NO stamp on this one and just used the chipboard shapes.  

what's in it?

cs: DWCV, Bazzill

pp: Cosmo Cricket (Delovely)

letters: Carolee's Creations

chipboard: Cosmo Cricket (Delovely)

ink: AC pen (charcoal), Signo white gel pen

thanks for stopping by, 

Bella

Bellarific friday - anything goes

so this is it, the last Bellarific Friday of the month - the last chance to impress the DT members to pick me as a new Bella.  keeping my fingers crossed.  this is a team i've always wanted to make, but there are some really good card makers and colorers (is that a word?) that participated this month.  Anyways, i gave it my all and that's all i can do!  well there's only my first card (X-mas in July) that i'm not too happy with, it could have been a lot better.

enough chit chat!  i'm super happy with this week's card.  the challenge was "anything goes" so i decided to use a stamp that had never seen ink before, i also used papers from cosmo cricket's Nutmeg collection that i bought at Stamping Bella's when i was there in June.  I love CC's woodgrain papers and wish there was more of them;  for me they're like the BoBunny double dots - gotta have ALL of them!
it doesn't really show on the picture but i sprayed irridescent gold glimmer mist on the brown woodgrain backround.  it looks great IRL!

what's in it?

pp: cosmo Cricket (Nutmeg)

stamp: Stamping Bella - Uphouse

ink: memento, copic (0-E08-E13-E51-R17-R22-BG0000-BG10-BG72-BG75-G20-G21-YR20-YR23), Windsor & Newton white ink

other: nestabilities, dew drops, pop dots, bazzill ribbon, EK success border punch, glimmer mist 

thanks for stopping by,

Bella

oh my!

i am totally freaking out!  i'm up to 54 followers!  ok i never thought i'd get past 20!
when i hit 60 i'll be having a giveaway.  check back soon to see what i'll be giving away!

tea party anyone?

this week's challenge at Mo's digital pencil is all about little girls and let's just say that Mo has great little girls images.  I also used the sketch #125 at Taylored Expressions.

cs: bazzill, bella's bestest paper

pp: doodlebug

stamp: Mo Manning

ink: copics (W1-W3-C1-C3-E13-E15-E18-E43-E47-E49-

E51-G20-G21-R00-R20-BV00-BV02-BV08-BG0000-BG10-BG93) multiliner

other: button ($store), ribbon, Martha Stewart border punch, foam tape, nestabilities, viva decor paint pen

Thanks for stopping by,
Bella

did ya know?

By Lori Designs has a facebook group.

you can join here.

embracing your birthday - PWCO/SS#47

 I saw this really great tutorial on SCS this week on how to make a window card and thought "WOW! that would be perfect for this week's sketch!" you can find the tutorial here.  

here's the card i made for this week's sketch (designed by me) at Paperworks Co. 

I used some of the new Echo Park papers that are also the kit this month, absolute fantastic collection.  If you didn't get this papercard kit yet....what are you waiting for!  i'm telling you; you NEED it!  I used two sizes of Nesties to create a window frame and pop doted my image on the inside of the card for a bit more dimension. 

I love the way it turned out and will probably make more of these! 

what's in it?

cs: Bazzill

pp: Echo Park

stamp: PWCO/RAM - a surprise cheer

ink: memento, copic (E50-E51-BG45-BG49-R17-R20-R22-Y02-T08-C1-C3-C5)

other: pop dots, nestabilities, stickles, yellow pen from staples

thanks for stopping by and i love reading your comments, so don't be shy and leave me one 

Bella

huge Copic sale!

A Crafty Little Place is having a huge Copic pre-order sale, i mean the prices are crazy! starting at 2.99$ totally ridiculous!  

don't miss it! 

i know i won't!

Bellarific friday

Hi everyone!

the month is coming soon to a close and with that comes start of the school year and the end of the search of the new Stamping Bella gal!  I am really crossing my fingers that it'll be me!!!

this week's challenge was a sketch

here's my take on it.

what's in it: 

cs: Bella's bestest paper

pp: Basic Grey (Oliver collection)

stamp: Toby is two by Mo Manning (in rubbah at Stamping Bella's)

ink: memento,versacolor, copic

other: pop dots, nestabilities, sentiment by TLC creations

here's a close up of the sentiment.  I didn't use the one that comes with the stamp, not that it's not cute, but i downloaded this freebie from TLC creations a while ago and think it's absolutely adorable.

thanks for stopping by, 

Bella

veggies!

i had taken pictures at the beginning of the summer of the veggie garden we made this year but of course i procrastinated so much that i don't think i posted them...  

the kids love it though and go check the veggies, well more the carrots and strawberries, every day.  I love that they love the carrots fresh out of the ground, it's so yummy! 

Today we picked the last of our carrots, a couple green peppers, an italian tomato and a handful of strawberries (this is the most i've picked all summer, it's usually one or two at a time) 

this picture is actually at the beginning of July, you can see a red pepper and lots of green.  Here's what we planted: english cucumbers, carrots, italian tomatoes, peas, green peppers, red peppers, orange peppers and strawberries.  oh and a few herbs in the front.  ok i was very ambitious and not very smart for the first time around, too much big stuff is too little space.  

this was the first time i did cukes...never again!  love them, but they just invaded everything else.  Not very smart that i put them next to the tomatoes!!! who are now so big and they are on top of everything and into the cedars.    Next year i'm gonna stick to carrots (more carrots), peas (cause Charlie loves to eat them raw like me!), tomatoes, green peppers and strawberries (who, if i cover them properly for winter should still be there next year)

today's pickings: 

and the boys

have a great day!

Bella