More Drama...

Okay if you don't hear from me for a while...well I might be dead. This past weekend, the sprained foot gave way and I fell down a flight of stairs so now I have a bruised tail bone...which of course I can't do anything about! So now sitting IS hard...but I have managed to get a few things done!

Here is a little teaser...

Thanks for looking and hoping this is the end of my mishaps!

Baby Girl Scrapbook in a Tin

Here is another of those Scrapbook in a Tin...this one for a Baby Girl! I recently got into these and am now addicted! I plan to make one for every occasion. I'm so excited! I enjoy finding the right papers and matte colors. This scrapbook uses a great DCWV paper that has Pink Baby Blocks all over it with big letters. The matte is from my trusy collection of Bazzil...I love the texture...it add such a touch of elegance and looks rich. Sometimes Textured Cardstock can be a challenge to stamp on but I like to use Pallette Noir (well inked) and just press firmly long enough for the ink to soak in...works like a charm!

Finally I used two little flowers, layered and secured with a silver brad. I really like how the two tone flower complements the colors in the background paper!

Kiss Me I Am Irish Scrapbook In a Tin

This is my latest scrapbook in a tin for St. Patrick's Day. I guess I am finally done with Valentines...at least for a little while! There is no stamping on this item....I almost feel guilty! Well not too guilty.

I used the DCWV Spring Stack...which has this fun green Celtic patter interspersed with little shamrocks. I actually didn't have a stamp that was working, so I cut out one of them for the front. I really like how the square accents the circle.

For the mats I used DCWV textured cardstock...it was a little difficult to match at first but I finally decided on using both colors, dark and light green. All that this little scrapbook need is pictures!!!

I'm Off!!!

I am participating in an OverNight Scrapbooking party!!! I am so excited. I got invited by a friend...best part...it is FREE!!

I feel very honored because I have to be about the WORST scrapbooker. I did one scrapbook of my daughter (digitally), my poor son the first child...too much ground to cover never got started. I did a really nice one for a friend that got married...if they aren't my pictures...simple to do! And I am pretty good at making blank mini-scrapbooks (wedding one & two I did . See mini-scrapbooks are totally my speed! And well that about sums up my scrapbooking experience.

So I am taking along a ton of projects and I'm hoping no one noticed that I'm not exactly 'scrapbooking'.

I'm bringing a ton of homemade bread...so that should put me in good standing...hee, hee.

Mini-Scrapbook in a Tin - Valentine Style

This is a Valentines Day version of the mini-Scrapbook in a Tin. There is very little stamping on this set...I used the "I just love you" from the TAC Squiggle Hearts set with Palette Noir. The hearts paper is DCWV and the mats are made from Bazzil. The hardest thing to do was match up the Bazzil cardstock...cuz white didn't work...so this is actually the palest pink from the Pink Hues set of Bazzil. The little paper flowers and brad were received in a 'grab' bag so I have no idea what they are, but they worked perfectly and I think added alot (they are also covering up a 'less than perfect' punch job!

Here is the little scrapbook opened up. The mats are 1.25" perfect for a 1" punch or a square...really anything would work. This type of scrapbook is perfect to keep in your purse...and use up those index prints you get!! Cute AND practical!

Wedding Scrapbook - Part 2

Okay here is the second part of the wedding scrapbook...and this page is my favorite! The left is that shiny silver paper, tied with a shiny silver ribbon. The wedding cake is from the TAC set Wedding Wishes and is embossed in silver. The corners were punched using the Fiskars Hearts corner punch. The right side uses that gorgeous handmade paper again with silver embossed dots. I tore the edge for something a bit different and matched the embossed look by embossing the script "love" from the TAC set Be Authentic in silver. I am really proud of how this page came out!

These next two pages are a simpler design in black and white. I wanted to have a more masculine looking page to put a picture of the groomsmen. The sadly retired TAC Harlequin stamps always screams masculine to me. I used Brilliance Moonlight White stamped on black cardstock. The punched flower, doubled up reminds me of a corsage and has a silver brad securing it to the page. On the left hand side I balanced out the top with some punched flowers in black and white with silver brads as the center. The white flower is mounted on a small black cardstock circle.

Finally this last page I HAD to use my cuttlebug folder again....so I used the Cuttle bug hearts then highlighted them with Brilliance Starlight Silver to make the embossed hearts pop! I used the Super Jumbo (blue) Heart punch and gray paper for the center. A nice heartfelt ending...to a GREAT project. I think making something with a particular person in mind always brings out the best ideas for me.

Now I know I promised to get you a picture of the whole thing assembled...and I do promise to post it tomorrow. I took a picture but didn't have a chance to get it off of my camera! So until them...it will really be worth the wait!

Wedding Scrapbook

I know it has been a long time since I have posted. But I have the most amazing mini scrapbook to share. I was over my friend Gwen's House for her Open House...and was rummaging through all the items she brought back from the TAC Conference. And I found the cutest little star scrapbook. She was kind enough to let me borrow it for inspiration and I needed a thoughtful gift for a cousin that is getting married in Italy. Initially I thought to send a pack of Thank You Cards...but everyone said not to (I like thank you cards)...but then again I don't have a "Grazie" stamp...not that she doesn't read English...like every other Italian I know (hee, hee). But when I saw this mini-scrapbook I knew this would be the perfect gift...it isn't very hard to make but has a grand visual impact!

Anyway, I hate to say my photography doesn't do justice to this little book, it just so much better IRL. I finally pulled out the stops and used my handmade paper, several cuttlebug folders and even a couple Sizzix die cuts! So strap yourself in and prepared to be amazed. Okay maybe not amazed...but if you knew me, and knew how rare it is for me to scrapbook...you should be BLOWN away!

Here is the cover of the square book...I used the swirls cuttlebug and shiny grey paper to create the background (see I told you my pictures stink!!). I corrugated a white piece of cardstock and put the die cut bookplate at the bottom. I'm hoping it will hold a great picture of the couple and the date of the wedding.

The second and third pages are simple...but the paper is just gorgeous...this is handmade paper almost translucent (and no I didn't make it) with a gorgeous metallic silver thread running all through it!

The fourth and fifth pages are also grey monochromatic. I have no idea what the actual wedding colors are going to be so I'm sort of copying the wedding invite style. I cuttlebugged this piece with the Textile folder and tore a little more handmade paper (this one has little embossed silver dots covering it). In the corner is another die cut bookplate with a very shimmery silver ribbon threaded through and knotted on each end. I adhered the bookplate with pop dots because of the bulk of the ribbon behind it.

The fifth and sixth pages, I complete changed color scheme...just to give the book some pop. And well Bella Rose is my signature...so I had to include some roses somewhere. I really like this red roses paper from DCWV Stack 3. I stamped a zig zag stitch around the paper in Palette Noir...IRL it looks quite good. First time trying the faux stitching so I was pleased. the three flowers were punched with the CM Friendship punch...and attached with silver brads (I got these at the Target $ Spot for $0.25 for 25...and they are heavy and much nicer than the MM ones...I bought up every pack they had!). The photo mount was made by Offray Ribbon Factory...local here. I've had it for forever and it worked perfectly.

Tomorrow I will share the rest of the pages and a picture of the completed book...the display is what makes this book so great! It is coffee book material.

Thanks Dani! - aka cutest little baby book

If you haven't checked out Stamping Dani you do not know what you are missing!!! She has the best ideas and incredible tutorials to go with them. Well this is another CASE...although not as good as hers.

This is an imitation Bazzil MonoMini Album...if you are curious she has templates and everything! I just thought this would make the cutest...and I mean cute, little baby book for a new mother to record her thoughts on the baby.

So this is a long strip of paper 2.75" X 11" folded in half then folded inside itself...leaving a half inch channel. This does not make an exact square but it is close enough. I cuttlebugged the outside with Divine Swirls (sigh...don't make my mistake, cuttle after you fold not before or else the panels don't lie flat!). Punch holes on each side to thread the ribbon through. I stamped the main image in Palette Noir...that adorable little bundle is from TAC Special Delivery...and mounted it on a pale yellow scalloped square (mega size).

The inside is 3 sheets white cardstock 2.5" X" 5", use a really good punch (like you use to set eyelets) and punch through all the layers (including the green). I stamped the outside edge of each page with a stamp from TAC Paisley Rocks. I used Palette Viridian Leaf, but stamped off a few times to make it really faint.

That's about it! But seriously check out Dani's instructions they are fabulous.

Also I just hit a milestone...I'm 225th on the top 50 list...so coming up is Blog Candy to celebrate! Any ideas what I should do? This is my first one!! Chime in everyone.

Tickled Pink Micro-Mini Scrapbook

I was trying to come up with a cheap fun, inclusion I could do for customers. A fellow Etysian (BeadShopGirl) sent me this adorable Matchbook notebook. I liked it but didn't want to flat out copy it...sigh. So I set is aside and started making some accordion albums...to send out. And BAM!!!


Would you believe that the little leftover you get when you cut two accordion folders is the exact size of that matchbook!! I couldn't believe it. A micro-mini accordion Scrapbook. I was just tickled pink...which is that name of this particular item!! So here it is...

Matchbook Cover (heavier cardstock works best).


2"X5.5"

Score it at 0.5" on the short side

Matchbook Insert

1 3/4"X 11"
Score it every 2 1/8"
You'll have a little bit at the end
Stick into the folded over matchbook end and staple (although I suggest decorating it first!)

This is my first tutorial. So if my directions make no sense...feel free to email me if you have any questions.

Here is some information on the specific Matchbook I made:

Stamps: TAC GWP You make me Smile; TAC SOTM Girlfriend; TAC Circle Tags; TAC Dance yourself silly
Paper: DCWV Stack 3; TAC White Cardstock; PC Pink Pastel; Michaels Designer Collection 2;
Ink: Palette Noir; Palette Pink Toille
Accessories: CM Micro Friendship; Super Jumbo Clever Lever Heart; red staples