holiday pictures recap

i can't believe we're already 1 week into January! i've been meaning to do a post with a recap of some of my favorite pictures from the holidays at our house. Of course i'm in none of them since i'm always behind the camera. Can you believe i didn't even think of using my tripod to get myself in the x-mas morning photo?! oh well... maybe next year. (was that a resolution?) speaking of which, i never make them since i can't keep them! but there are some projects i'd like to get done this year so maybe i'll make a list after all.

i have lots of cards made...too many in fact! i think i'll be setting up a shop, either Etsy or Shop Hand made.com, this year to get rid of a few. Anybody have any pros/cons regarding these two shops? Tomorrow i'll be showcasing another card from the PWCO jan papercard kit.

ps: my dad is still in the hospital, may be getting out soon. (Updated: i just got a call he is getting out today, so i'll be picking him up after supper)

i'm gonna leave you with the pics in question. just so you don't think i ever wash Charlie's face... the pics where he's got this great dirty mustache is because he just discovered hot chocolate and he loves it! these pics were taken right or while he was drinking it.

PWCO first papercard kit project

so here's my first card made with this month's papercard kit. I will posting one every Saturday of the month on the PWCO blog.

materials:
PWCO January papercard kit (cardstock, design paper, die-cuts, dew drops, ribbon)

cs: Bazzill

pp and die-cuts: My Mind's Eye
ink: Versamagic (brown chalk ink)
other: Heidi Swapp distresser tool, pop-dots, dew drops, tule ribbon

Thanks for stopping by,

Bella

PWCO stamp launch projects

I'm sorry i wasn't able to post these projects before today. Let's just say we had an eventful New Years Eve day. As some of you that have been following my blog for a while know my dad spent the better part of 2009 in the hospital, 8 1/2 months to be exact. He has been home with us since the end of august and his recovery is stable and was doing well, he is still on an undetermined sick leave from work but all was progressing nicely. Well... on december 31st, just before lunch, my dad decided to take our new puppy outside to pee. Since he's still a puppy we carry him in our arms to go up and down the stairs, well my dad slipped on a tiny patch of ice on one of the steps and fell about 3 or 4 steps. We called an ambulance because it was too painful to breath, i spent the rest of the day with him in the emergency. remarkably we didn't have to wait too much. by 7pm he was the ICU having had X-rays and a scan. The results: 3 broken ribs and a damaged spleen. his spleen bled but it seems contained. they are keeping him in the ICU for observation since if his spleen gets worst the outcome could mean emergency surgery (let's hope it doesn't get to that). He also got an epidural for the pain so that he can breath easier and not create respiratory problems in the long run. he should be in the hospital for a few days. I just hope this isn't a sign of things to come for 2010...


OK so on to the fun stuff!!! here are the two cards i created for the PWCO new stamp release. They are all so cute and i had so much fun coloring these! (yup, that's how i rate a stamp: how fun it is to color!)

Diner date with Jacob

material:

cs: Bazzill, Prism smooth

pp: Jillibean Soup

stamp: PWCO - Jacob's table for two

ink: memento, Copic

bling: Imaginisce

other: ribbon (unknown), Spellbinders nesties

and

Sweets from Charlotte

materials:

cs: bazzill, prism smooth

pp: Basic Grey

stamp: PWCO - sweets for Charlotte

ink: Memento, copic

other: Buttons (Imaginisce), MS border punch, pop-dots

Thanks for stopping by,

Bella

PWCO stamp launch tonight!

come by the site for a chat tonight at 8pm EST (6pm MST) all you'll need to do is click on the CHAT button on the blog to join in the fun! There will be some prizes to be won by leaving comments on the different blog post of the reveal so i hope you will join us! Tomorrow i'll be posting my cards from the reveal on my blog.

thanks for stopping by!
Bella

Merry Christmas Everybody!!!!

check back on Dec 30th for the release of the new PWCO stamps!!!!

day two of PWCO reveal

My boys went to see Santa this week! I altered Jacob from the Jacob and cookies for Santa stamp to fit him nicely in the airplane! Also I used a paint dabber with white paint to create a sort of snow from on my picture; I'm really happy with the way this turned out.

supplies used:

paper: Collage Press "Joyride collection"

stamps: Little Loud Stamps - Jacob and cookies for Santa

colors: Memento black, Copics, Versa Magic (Jumbo Java), Copic liner black, Zig writer brown/black

accessories: creative cafe rub-on, stickles (sequins, Gold), Ranger acrylic paint dabber (white), Fiskars corner rounder squeeze punch, AC thickers, HS distresser tool

I cannot wait to work with this great design team and to help showcase the awesome stamps that Peggy has in the store!

Thanks Peggy for inviting me to join your team!

thanks for stopping by,

big announcement finally revealed!

OK so I can finally announce that I made the Paperworks Co. design team. Today and tomorrow I am being introduced on the blog. You can see the posts here. They design their own stamps and are the sole distributor for the Little Loud Stamp stamps which are adorable. the two cards below are made with Little Loud Stamps from their holiday collection! Can i just say that the ones I'm working with for the reveal on December 30th are just as adorable!

I made this super cute card set, not sure if I'm gonna give them away or try to sell it on Etsy. I'm in the process of setting up a small shop, so we'll see.

here's a close-up of Jacob and the reindeer. I did some paper piecing for the hoofs, inside of ears, tail and antlers of the reindeer. They are colored with Copics (of course!) and i used some stickles on the tangled x-mas lights.

supplies:

papers: Bazzil kraft cardstock, Collage Press "Joyride collection" papers

stamps: Jacob and reindeer - Little Loud Stamps

colors: Memento black, Copics, versa color (lagoon blue), ColorBox fluid chalk (lime pastel)

Accessories: stickles (sequins), Crystal Stickers glitter dome (reindeer nose), Spellbinders Nestabilities labels two, zig writer (black), Fiskars border punch

here's a close-up of Jacob and cookies for Santa. I wanted to add some texture to this one so for on the stockings I used some kind of very coarse, flaky, white iridescent glitter that I found in my old tool caddie in the basement (hadn't touched it in years!) On the fire I used clear micro beads and on Jacob's santa hat I used white lace stickles.

supplies:

papers: Bazzil kraft cardstock, Collage Press "Joyride collection" papers

stamps: Jacob and cookies for Santa - Little Loud Stamps

colors: Memento black, Copics

Accessories: stickles (white lace), zig writer (black), micro beads, unknown flaky glitter, Offray blue ribbon

Come back tomorrow for another look at my PWCO introduction.

thanks for stopping by,

new member of our family

some of my friends and family already know this, but some of you might not. We are getting a puppy!!! yup, we are crazy! i know it's gonna be a lot of work, but in the long run so worth it (at least that's what i imagine in my head)

Hi name is gonna be Cosmo (unless i decide that it doesn't suit him when i finally see him)

He is a Bernedoodle, that's a Bernese Mountain dog and Poodle cross. We are getting him from Sherry at SwissRidge Kennels she breeds Goldendoodles and Bernedoodles and her mother breeds Bernese Mountain dogs (Cosmo's daddy is Daiko, one of her males, he's gorgeous!) hubby and I both love Bernese Mountain dogs, and want a big dog, but i was very interested in the low-shed factor of the poodle cross. Besides they are just too cute! I picking him up in Little Britain, ON on the 17th. We will have a new family member home for the holidays. it's kinda perfect since my mom nor my sister are coming down to visit. without further ado, here is Cosmo! (picture is from the SwissRidge kennel website)

Thanks for stopping by,

holiday card and snowman soup!

Snowman soup, i bet you are wondering what the heck i'm talking about, i know my hubby did when i told him that's what me and the kids had done that day!

Snowman soup is just a fun way to give away little packets of hot chocolate - even better if you have white hot chocolate! I made a few white ones for the girls back at my old job and i made some with a homemade hot chocolate mix (found a recipe online) for my hubby's employees.

the boys were excellent helpers. i would put the hot chocolate mix in the baggie then Brady would put in some mini chocolate chips and Charlie would finish it by adding some mini marshmallows. (of course they had fun eating the chips and marshmallows! ) don't worry people i made sure they washed their hands before. Then you finish it off by stapling a piece of colorful cardstock, punching two holes, passing a ribbon through and attaching a candy cane stick and the snowman soup poem (there are different variations you can find on the web) i used this one: When the weather outside is frightful,

Snowman Soup can be delightful.
May it warm your spirit and your soul.
Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

When you feel a chill or 'burrrrrr',
Use the peppermint stick to stir.
Add hot water and sip it slow.
Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow.

here's another card i made with the Collage Press papers!

don't forget to drop by on the 18th for my announcement!

Thanks for stopping by,

muffin tin mondays and holiday cards

Muffin Tin Mondays - anybody heard of these??? i think they are fantastic! i first heard that name on someone's blog (sorry i don't remember who) and then i googled it. You can read all about it on Michelle's blog : Her cup overfloweth. The kids just love when i do this for lunch and i don't do it only on mondays, for me it's when i feel like it and sometimes it's twice a week when the kids ask for it. like tomorrow that's what Brady wants for lunch, he calls them cold lunches in the muffins. In October i would use halloween paper cups and now i get to use my Santa paper cups (aren't they adorable!).
Usually i don't line all the muffin cups, just the ones with wet or sticky items. here's the lunch they got last week: -glass of milk (sometimes i stick a juice box in there)

-peanut butter blossom cookie

-dried fruit puree cubes (don't remember the name but it's like "fun bites"

-leftover spaghetti (ok, Brady had seconds of this one!)

-turkey slices

-mozzarella cheese that i cut with a snowflake cookie cutter (that was my favorite piece of their meal!)

Here are a couple of pictures i took of Charlie and my dad tonight, i think they look fabulous!

Ok Ok i said there'd be holiday cards.... here's one (i'll show another tomorrow + other holiday goodies!) i used the Collage Press holiday collection - i just love it! so far i've made 4 cards and 1 layout (they will be revealed soon...)

Oh yeah! remember a while back i said i had good news but couldn't share until december? well don't worry i didn't forget; come back on the 18th and all will be revealed!

thanks for stopping by,

funny things kids say

I always mean to write down the funny things Brady, who is now 5, says but i always forget exactly the way it came out when i go to write it down so this time my computer is nearby and i'm doing it right away.

so here is the context of this little conversation: the kids are extreamly rowdy today and cannot, i mean can NOT sit still or keep quiet for even 2 straight minutes; i think it has to do with the snowstorm they are announcing for tomorrow. Anyways, Brady asks if i can please put on the Frosty the Snowman DVD, i accept on one condition, they have to keep quiet and sit still ( i need a little break after today's raucus! )


Me: Ok fine, i'm putting on Frosty the Snowman but i am begging you...i'm begging you please ...(stay quiet)

Brady interupts: no! no! i don't want to be baked, i don't wanna be baked like a sweet potato!!!

Me: LOL!

Ok now that's funny~!!!!

bellarific 3rd birthday bash

Welcome to the Bella Birthday Bash Blop Hop sponsored by Stamping Bella! If you've just happened upon my blog, you can CLICK HERE to start from the beginning at Bloggabella.

Three gift certificates for $100 in Bella Bucks will be hidden along the hop, but we’re not telling you where so be sure to leave some love as you hop!!! Make sure you leave comments on every post so you have a chance to win!! The winners will be announced on Monday, December 7 at theStamping Bella Blog. MWAH!

Thanks so much for stopping by! Now it's time to hop on over to see Jeanie at The Spotted Chick.

pirate birthday cake

My friend Erin asked me to make a Pirate cake for Ethan's birthday this week-end. Well here it is; finished this morning! i used some gold dust powder on his beard and mustache and then diluted it and painted the earing a nice shimmery gold. The skull and scarf have been dusted with pearl dust powder. i'm someone who will fuss a lot and not be happy if it didn't quite come out with the way i had imagined it. well i can say that i am very happy with the way this one turned out!

On another note, Charlie started coughing yesterday and fever last night, this morning his fever went up to 104F! so needless to say we're taking it easy today.

upcoming plans.... stay tuned tomorrow for Stamping Bella's birthday blog hop!

next week: bake cookies, pies and tourtieres! start X-Mas shopping (yup haven't started yet!)

in two weeks: on the 17th; go pick up our new puppy (it's a 6.5 hrs drive from here! i know we're crazy!) finish up X-Mas shopping!

oh yeah, i really should mail out my X-Mas cards! and this week-end i really have to mail out my mom's present, i'm also supplying her with a dozen x-mas cards.

Don't forget to stop by tomorrow!

Bella

1st Pixie dust studio and practical scrapper challenge

here's my entry for the 1st Pixie Dust challenge as well as the Practical scrapper challenge. Kathy, at Pixie Dust, has donated a free digi stamp for this "texture" challenge. here's my take on it.

for a while now i've been wanting to use a Starbucks holiday disposable cup and sleeve on a card. I opened up the card and used it on the front and inside of the card. i used the sleeve on the inside of the card as a gift card holder

here's a close-up of the Santa from Pixie Dust Studio. the white parts of the jacket are colored with clear Atyou Spica pen, then i've added white doodlebug flock on some parts. For the beard i used white liquid pearls. I also used some gold liquid pearls on the bag and some red flock. Sorry for the yellow tint to the color, it's really white in real life.

Thanks for stopping by!

Bella

Copic Creations challenge - coloring snow people

Here's my entry for this week's challenge (#17) over at Copic Creations. the challenge: coloring snow/snowpeople.

Thanks for stopping by!

Bella