November Sneak Peek~

It is time again at Bella Creations for new monthly challenges. Stop by on the 5th when the Challenges go up! Here is a sneak peek of one of the projects I did. It's a quick item you can make & give as a hostess gift for the upcoming autumn festivities~

Like the ribbon flower? Below is the photo tutorial I followed to make the sneak peek. I used wire-edged ribbon which molded nicely around the foil so I did not need to stitch it. In the photos below, it looks like one long edge is machine stitched.

It is also time to announce the November Bella du Mois, which is Kay Wallace. She creates wonderful art and never fails to encourage others on their cards and projects.

Congratulations, Kay!

I've had this digi image of a tea fairy on my computer for a few months and decided to make a card with it. I used Stickles on her wings and a Martha Stewart corner punch.

Grab a cup of tea and I'll see you over at Bella Creations.

Enchanting Creations Magazine

The October issue of Enchanting Creations e-zine is ready to view! It is chock full of creative pieces and inspiration. This online magazine is part of the Flying Unicorn's website. My fellow Bella Creations' design team members, Starr and Helene, have pieces in this issue. Also, one of my 'Z' cards is shown this month. (page 52!)

I made a classic z style card from a blank greeting card by creasing the front section of the card and making three cuts to the right of the crease. All surfaces were covered in cardstock. I double matted a vintage image by Crafty Secrets and centered it in the crease.

When you open the card the image swings through the cut section. I used graphic 45 papers, a Little Yellow Bicycle button, Bazzill solid cardstock, and a Tim Holtz zigzag faux stitching stamp. 

Bella Creations Kits~

Each month Bella Creations' founder Lacee puts together a mini album kit with a different theme. Each theme ties into something one of the Design Team members has a passion for or connection to...and guess what? This months A Cup Of Tea Kit is based on my passion for teatime! This lovely collection would be perfect for your atc's, cards, altered projects or scrapbook pages~

There are Websters and My Minds Eye papers, pink buttons, gorgeous roses and more! Visit Bella Creations for details to purchase this pretty kit, or email Lacee at  bella_creations_08@yahoo.com~

The Bella Beach House Kit is also available starting August 4...it is chock full of ephemera and embellishments that invoke memories of the sea!

The Design Team worked with this fabulous embellishment kit and we have so many pretty creations to show you! Right off the bat I made a bookmark with it because my summer reading has taken a toll on the bookmark I was using. Here is the place-saver I made using an image, netting and straw matting from the Bella Beach House Kit ~ And look! A bathing beauty joined my photo shoot!

Here is a closer photo of my bookmark. It has a bead and fishnet attatched to the top.

In the Oh La La Group at Bella Creations, Helene has a bookmark challenge going for the month of August. The Group has an image for you to use provided by Gecko Galz, as well as an RAK for one winner.

The teacup image above is from the Graphics Fairy and you may use it to create a project.  I'm heading upstairs soon to make a mini album for my sister who just purchased a house...the teacup mini in the A Cup Of Tea kit would be perfect for her first 'Home sweet home' photos!

Stick Pins and Tee Pees!

One of the three monthly challenges at Bella Creations is a technique challenge. The Design Team and site members are asked to use a technique in their creations. For the month of July the Unique technique (say that three times fast!) is to make a stick pin. I used a bumpy little bead that reminded me of a blackberry for my stickpin and placed it on a fairy tee-pee card I made.

 See the blue and green beads above the white flower? That is the simple stick pin I created. I also used Fairyopolis rub-ons and die cuts on my tee pee card. I just love how charming and whimsical the Fairyopolis line is and how well it works on cards, scrapbook pages or altered items. Here is a YouTube tutorial showing how to make these simple but striking tee pee cards.

Fun birds-eye view of my Fairy card. I made this for a friend and she was delighted. She also scrapbooks, and like a true crafter immediately opened the card to see how it was constructed! It closes with velcro so you can flatten and mail it.

 The prize for this Challenge is from Flying Unicorn, one of Bella Creations wonderful sponsors.

Collect a few beads, pearls or gems and make a quick stick pin for your next project. And if you complete a tee pee card, be sure to come to my inking/stamping Group at Bella Creations called Voila, Ink! to enter your creation in my Tee Pee Card Challenge. I am giving away something 'Tim Holtz'! Now I have your attention, eh? lol :)

April and May Challenges at Voila, Ink!~

I host an inking and stamping group, and we have monthly challenges; we had a nice turnout for the April Showers Challenge at  Voila, Ink Group over at Bella Creations. Participants had to use an umbrella in their artwork. June at Dezinaworld sponsored the April RAK, which was a voucher for the winner's choice of clipart. The winner was Helen H., who is our newest member...way to go, Helen! Our Group is sure growing!  We now have 81 Inkers. Here is Helen's entry~

The theme for May's Challenge is the May Pole~ Participants are to use the following image from Graphics Fairy on a card, ATC, tag, LO or altered item. You have plenty of time to enter as the deadline is May 25.

The RAK for a lucky random recipient is a fun Studio K Tag book...come dance around the May Pole with us at Voila, Ink!

This Week~

This is my DT submission for the Bella Creations Tres Chic Challenge, which is a 'style' challenge. We were asked to use a ticket, metal, vintage theme and navy & khaki color scheme. I added sheer ribbon, cardboard and a heart stick pin, as well as a Graphic 45 teapot image. The Challenge runs to the end of March and has a wonderful RAK~ see post below!
I also played around with two punches and fabric this week. I decided to punch shapes in a tag, then cover the punched opening with fabric. Next, I backed the fabric with a larger second tag so the fabric was sandwhiched in the middle. On my first try, I used plain muslin behind the punched shape. I used pencil and chalk to color the leaf.

 My Distress Inks were calling my name...yooohoo! LOL~ So for the next tag I used my Mini Misters and ink.

I punched a teapot (what else?), inked the tag, then quick dried it with my Ranger Heat It Craft Tool. This time around I used a small floral fabric which reminded me of a chintz pot.

I completed the tag with bakery string, a Verve Stamps sentiment and red ribbon. What punch shapes do you have that this technique would work with? It only takes a small amount of fabric and it gives the tag a cool tactile effect.

Voila....viola!~

About this post's title...I could not resist the word play! My Group at Bella Creations is called Voila, Ink! We have over 60 members and share inking and stamping techniques, methods, and tips. I have the best time trying new things and sharing my results with the members, and it is so much fun to be cheerleaders, if not 'enablers', for each other! LOL~ The March Unique Challenge at Bella Creations is to use "spotlighting" or colorization of a black & white image. This is one I could sink my teeth into! haha. I gathered ink, punches, my Zig H2O pen and a stamp to try out this color technique.

I watched this Spotlighting with a punch tutorial before I started. (Bless our men & women in uniform!)
I stamped the viola on Krome Kote with waterproof Archival ink. Then I stamped the viola a second time on a smaller piece of paper. Next, I used a square punch to remove a portion of the second image. I used the Zig H2O pen and Distress Ink to color the punched portion, then matted it in black Bazzill. Then I attached the punched section to the bigger main image with foam dots. I embellished with ribbon, used a Martha Stewart punch on the corners, and stamped a sentiment on an oval punch. Voila!

This coloring method is striking! I think I am going to try it again soon. And something I will be using regularly while experimenting with ink will be the Distress Ink chart shared with me by Pcgirl over at Scrapbook.com. Laurie made a funny LO about her obsession, I mean appreciation of, T!m Holtz inks. I can relate. I already printed out a copy for myself and stamped it with the ink in my collection....and NO, I do not have every color...yet! 

Bella Creations March Challenges~

http://www.bellacreations.ning.com/~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bella Creations offers monthly Challenges and prizes. For the March Tres Chic Challenge (a project style challenge) the theme is 'Vintage' and the prize sponsor is Scraps Of Darkness. Look at this fabulous prize~

For the March Bella Muse Challenge go to the Forum to find the image you are to use on your entry. GeckoGalz is providing the fantastic prize for this challenge~

Wow! These wonderful RAK's will be given in a random drawing. There are fun Groups at Bella Creations also offering Challenges and prizes. I host a Group called 'Voila, Ink!' and the March Challenge is to use a claddagh symbol, and lots of green, on a project of your choice; you can enter a tag, mini album, LO, ATC, or altered item. The Claddagh symbolizes love, loyalty and friendship and is frequently seen on rings. I thought this iconic Irish symbol would be a perfect addition to a March project.