Thou art my help, God my deliverer, in the time of trouble, He shall hide me...

Hey y'all, it's me again! We made it through the first night with the new pup fairly well...a little bit of barking from Bailey, but I expected that. He seems to be a little more at home, so hopefully he'll get adjusted quickly.

I have another card to share with you that I made yesterday. I played along with Amber's Viva la Verve challenge from last week, which was a sketch with a twist of Distressing. Hmmm...right up my alley! I used the colors from this week's color challenge as well, and here's what I came up with. Ok, so after checking this week's color challenge, I was apparently supposed to use Night of Navy instead of Not Quite Navy. Sigh. Oh well, it wouldn't be a true challenge without me cheating. *snicker*

Isn't that an awesome sketch? Wowee! I love it when cards just come together like this one did. I started off with a base layer of Kraft cardstock, which I sponged with Close to Cocoa and Chocolate Chip ink before matting it with Chocolate Chip. Then I cut 2 rectangles - one from So Saffron and one from Not Quite Navy (which is not quite the right color - LOL). I stamped the largest Fleur de Lis image from Kindred Spirits in Saffron ink to create a background on the Saffron panel, and then sponged it with Saffron, Cocoa, & Chocolate Chip ink, working my way out with each color. The Navy panel was sponged with Cocoa and Chocolate Chip also. I distressed both panels with my scissors (too lazy to dig for my distressor tool), and stitched them to the Kraft base.

For my main image panel, I thought white was a little too stark, so I chose some watercolor paper (love using it for the texture), and stamped the Psalm 121:1-2 Plain Jane in Brilliance Graphite Black. Then I cut and embossed the image using my Deckled Rectangle Nestabilities and then sponged around the edges with Close to Cocoa and Chocolate Chip ink. I matted the main image on Chocolate Chip cardstock, distressed the edges and popped it up on dimensionals over the satin May Arts ribbon.

Well, y'all, I better sign off for now. Don't forget to check out the latest Viva la Verve challenge...it looks like a fun one! I hope you have a wonderful Friday!

Everybody thinks my head's full of nothin, wants to put their special stuff in...

Good morning, y'all! Happy Friday! I have some more Bella Goodness to share with you, cause today's Bellariffic Friday! This week we had a sketch from Lindabella, which (thankfully) was much easier and required much less brain power. Thanks, sistah!

Hmmm...I kinda went overboard on the patterned paper, but I think I like it. Does it make your eyes hurt? I promise I pulled the colors on Cuppycake with a Huggabug on Top from the papers, but apparently I've covered most of them up. *grin* This super cute image was stamped in Memento Black on Neenah Cream cardstock and colored with Copic markers. I used the Monday and Saturday patterns from Cosmo Cricket's Girl Friday collection...one of my faves! I matted all my layers with Chocolate Chip cardstock, and added some 5/8" ivory grosgrain ribbon for a little somethin' extra. It's a little hard to see, but I stamped the It's a Cupcake Thing sentiment in the bottom left corner. To finish off my 5 1/4" square card, I added some Light Cocoa glitter dots and Diamond Stickles...can't have a card with no bling! *wink*

So, while I had my mojo going, I pulled up Jamie's Bella Sketch Challenge for this month and went to work.

Isn't that a fun sketch? I stamped Lottie and Gussie Gabalot in Memento Black and colored them with Copics. I tried something new..."coloring" white areas by adding gray shadows. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out, so you'll probably be seeing more of that. Anywho, I added a red circle cut with my Circle Nestabilities and did a little faux stitching on the edges. I thought the Purse Thing sentiment was perfect for this image. And to finish it off, I added some custom colored Glitter Donuts (a la brown copic marker!) with adorable little crystal daisies in the centers. This cute little combo embellishment was inspired by my fellow Bella Babe Sarah. Love it, sistah!

Ok, so I'm almost done with this mondo post...if you want more crafty goodness, check out Emily's blog for inspiration from the Babes and the Sistahood using this week's sketch. If you wanna know about the newest addition to the Teubner family, read on!

As some of you may know, we have 3 dogs...2 English Mastiffs (Phoebe & Lucy) and a Beagle mix (Bailey). Well, we've added a 3rd Mastiff...cause we need another dog like a hole in the head...but we just couldn't resist. Say hello to Felony (yes Felony) our newest family member.

Felony is four years old, and we adopted him from a happy, yet sad, home. He lost his best friend/ brother a few weeks ago, and he has been very depressed. Mastiffs are a very codependent breed and have been known to die from depression. His mom & dad weren't looking for a new pup, and he really needed a friend, so we decided to give him a place in our home. He's sooooo sweet, well trained, very gentle, and Phoebe is totally in love with him. She lets him eat first, go through the door first, and even gave him her bone to chew on. We already love him, and the boys are crazy for him. Here's a picture of the whole herd meeting for the first time.

Yes, I know...we need our heads examined. But at this point, we thought, "What's one more?" *shrug* That may change when the dog food starts to disappear...wish me luck!

Anywho, I'm headed off to play with the 450 lbs of dog we now have. I hope you all have a fabulous Friday!

For the brave are free and the lovers soar...come ride with me to the distant shore...

Hey, y'all! Happy Tuesday! Well, ok, now I think it's Wednesday...I need to get to bed! I have a couple of cards to share today, and not much chatting. Hope that's ok!

The first card I made using Amy's Friday Sketch...love her sketches!

I stamped Bikababeabella in Memento Tuxedo Black and colored her with Copics. She was a blast to color! On my Kraft card base, I added some Basic Grey Urban Prairie paper and a strip of Pink Pirouette cardstock punched with a Martha Stewart border punch. Added some ribbon, small Olive bon-bons, and Diamond Stickles to finish it off...yum!

And here's a card with the Mojo Monday sketch for this week.

For this one, I used Daisy with a Stella on Top, stamped in Black Stazon and watercolored with reinkers and a waterbrush. The Apricot square panel was embossed with the D'Vine Swirls embossing folder, then sponged with Tangerine Tango ink. Love those colors together! Then I added some black ribbon and the Fantabulous Day sentiment, and mounted it all on a base layer of Bo Bunny Ocean Double Dot paper. And of course, my card wouldn't be complete without bling...some large Crystal bon-bons, Diamond Stickles, and some Diamond Glaze on Stella's lips. Looks complicated, but it came together pretty quickly. Love the sketch!

Well, I better head to bed...it's late and I have to be up early. Have a wonderful day!

'Cause I'm dreaming of you tonight...'till tomorrow, I'll be holding you tight...

Happy Monday, peeps! How was your weekend? Ours was fun, but busy, as always! I realized today that I hadn't shown you my Bellariffic Friday sketch card from last week, so here she is!

I used Daydreamabella for Nicky's sketch, stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black and colored with Copic Markers. The image was cut and embossed with my Rectangle Nestabilities, and I added a scalloped mat of Prism Suede Brown Dark cardstock. The Happy Thoughts sentiment is from Billboardabella's Words, but I cut it apart to stamp it in one line instead of two.

I mounted the Prism Suede Brown card base layer to the kraft card base, then added a strip of Bo Bunny Coral Double Dot paper and a strip of Soft Sky cardstock. I stitched around all the edges to add a little "something" and of course had to add some Diamond Stickles as well. *grin* I hope you likey!

Good news...Emily has already posted next week's sketch, so you can check it out HERE. We'd love to have you play along.

Ok, I gotta run...my stamp room is a WRECK, and I need to clean before I can do anything else. Have a fabulous afternoon!

I don't know if I'm being wise, but it's something that I must believe in...and it's there when I look in your eyes...

Happy Sunday, everyone! I had a moment of quiet while doing laundry, and the boys are at a friend's house playing, so I thought I'd pop in and post a quick card.

I made this one a while back, but had hoped for it to get picked up for publication. I haven't heard back, so you guys win! *wink*

I fell madly in love with the Love in the Air set from Unity the second I saw it. I actually made this the day I got the set in the mail. There's nothing better than getting new stamps in the mail, and going straight in to ink them up!

This is a clean and simple card...super easy. I stamped the balloon in Memento Black ink and colored it with Copic markers. I then cropped the image, but cut around the balloon so it sticks up over the edge. Then I added the sentiment and a thicker black mat. For the background, I stamped the sentiment repeatedly on an angle in Versamark ink on Kraft cardstock. I love how this looks! A little red ribbon and Diamond Stickles finish it off.

Well, the dryer just buzzed, so I have to run...thanks for checking in on me today! Have a fabulous Sunday!

Then every head turned with eyes that dreamed of being the one...who will dance on the floor in the round...

Happy Friday, y'all! I don't know about you, but this has been a busy week. Whew! Today is the day of the newest release from Verve Stamps, and you won't want to miss this!

This is the card I posted on the Verve Blog for a Sneak Preview of a new set called Forever in Our Hearts. Check out the posts over there for chances to win the new sets as well!


Isn't that a gorgeous image? I wanted to try a different approach than normal, so I misted my watercolor paper with water first, then colored my image with Chocolate Chip, Always Artichoke, and Real Red markers and stamped it on the wet paper. Once the paper was dry, I colored the image again and re-stamped a clearer image over the top of the softened one. This technique is an old favorite, and it worked perfectly for the look I was going for. I finished the card off with the large branch image and a sentiment from this set. I think this would be a great encouragement card in addition to a sympathy card...the beauty of Julee's wonderfully thoughtful stamps.

We'd love you to join us tonight in the Verve Forum for the Release Party. We'll start hanging out at 8 PM Central, and I'm sure there will be some prizes too! I'd love to see you there!

Have a wonderful day!

A......happy, happy birthday, and we are here to say...HEY!

Happy Thursday, everybody!! It's a special day, because it's Stamping Bella release day, and it's also Emily's Birthday! We're all celebrating by doing a little Birthday Blog Skip, Hop & Dance...and you're invited! If you've just happened upon my blog, you can CLICK HERE to start from the beginning at Bloggabella.

This is the birthday card I created in honor of Em. It's not her actual birthday card...that one is in the mail on its way to Canada! I used Cakeabella, Magical Day sentiment, and some aqua ribbon that looks like it's out of stock at the moment. Keep your eye out for it...it's my favorite!

So....what a birthday would be complete without presents? To spice things up a little, we have decided to hide a prize somewhere along the hop! One pre-selected blogger will draw a random winner from the comments on her post, and the winner will receive a $40 Gift Voucher to Stamping Bella!!! The fun part is...we're not telling you who it is! So as you hop, make sure you leave comments on every post so you have a chance to win!! We will announce the winner on Monday in the Splitcoast forum. MWAH!

 Thanks so much for stopping by! Now it's time to hop on over to Amybella at Prairie Paper & Ink. Have a great day!