Bella Sistah Surprise!

WOO HOO! I received the most delightful surprise from my Bella Sistah, Jane Bracht! Some luscious ribbon, stamped images, sparkly flowers and hearts (purple of course!), two BEAUTIFUL cards, and a Starbucks gift card! How sweet and generous is she? Thank you, Janie! I am so delighted!

Hooray for Spring!

It has been gorgeous here in New England! The weather has been lovely, the flowers are starting to bloom, and our swing-set is finally snow free! Last year, we had to carry Emma into the clubhouse, slide down with her or hold her hand, and put her in the baby swing. This year, Little Miss Independent wasted no time in telling us "Emma do it!" Check out her face~she was so excited!

This one cracks me up~as if she is saying, "Giffy, don't even think about helping me!." LOL

Here she is, pleased as could be with herself!

And there she goes! Her favorite part is being launched off the end of the slide onto the grass. Don't worry, Mom~she only flies about four feet! (Just kidding~about 6 inches!)

Gliding with Mommy...

And no more baby swing! She kept telling saying, "Faster, Papa!"

You go, girl!

I Heart Mommy

This is a double-whammy card: for this weeks' Bellariffic Challenge (the sketch) on Stamping Bella and for BCC77 (use blue and a punch) on SCS. I kept it pretty simple. That seems to be by MO lately since it's more manageable with my limited crafting time. Or maybe I am just too busy!

The glitter looks funky in the picture. I think it was too wet when I photographed it. It is much calmer now! I actually made this for Emma to give to her mommy for Mother's Day (shh...don't tell!). Emma loves seeing her name on things, so that's why I stamped her name instead of "Happy Mother's Day." We'll write that on the inside. Emma loves this stamp because she and Brittany have a little gray cat named Bella. And this is Brittany's favorite paper pack~it's called Maine Blueberry.

Stamps: Cuddlycat by Stamping Bella

Paper: SU Maine Blueberry

Accessories: Copics, Copic Spicas, Stickles in Diamond, SU Scalloped Oval Punch, Nestabilities

Girl Just Wanna Give Hugs...

This is for BSC77 on SCS. This was Jamie's last challenge for us. Life is calling her in a different direction for now. Just want to say thank you, Jamie~you have definitely blessed my life, have made me a better card-maker, and have become a dear friend. I can't wait to see that lies ahead for you!  

Stamps: Huggybellas by Stamping Bella; sentiment by A Muse Artstamps

Paper: CTMH Unforgettable

Accessories: Copics, Copic Spicas, SU Oval Punch, SU Scallop Oval Punch, Bella's Tulle

La La La La Elmo's World

That's right~Elmo's World! The Burns girls took a stroll down to Sesame Street (aka Boston University) to see Sesame Street Live: Elmo Makes Music. It may not have been a Broadway show, but it sure was fun~especially for Miss Emma! Even though the show wasn't until 5:30, she repeatedly announced that "Emma's ready to go!" right after lunch. When it was time to go, she grabbed Abby Cadabby (Sesame Street's resident fairy) because, as Emma stated, "Emma needs Abby." 

Check out her little sandals! Aren't they the cutest? I love this photo of her touching the butterflies and saying "So, so pretty!"

Brittany, Emma, and Abby rocked along to the alphabet song!

And here is Emma enjoying her favorite moment of the show~the cotton candy! Her Uncle Keaton got her started on cotton candy last summer at the zoo. The minute we walked into the arena, she spotted it. She informed us, "Emma need that candy!" I can't really blame her, though. I remember my mom indulging in it every time we went to Disneyland when I was a little girl, and she got me hooked on the stuff. And I remember Brittany falling in love with it when we took her to the circus when she was two. Perhaps it's genetic. So maybe Emma really does "need" it! LOL

Mommy bought her an Elmo balloon. There were literally hundreds of these in the arena! What is it about Elmo that makes little kids go nuts? You should have heard them screaming Elmo's name when he appeared onstage! 

And that, my friends, was our visit to Elmo's World! And now I've got to run~Emma needs to watch Sesame Street, and Giffy needs her coffee!

Warm Hugs

This one's really bright and cheery! Wish I had those slippers...

Stamps: Alexis' Bad Hair Day by Tiddly Inks for Stamping Bella; sentiment by Stamping Bella

Paper: Divine Collection DP; SU Pink Passion and Kiwi Kiss

Accessories: Copics, Copic Spicas, Nestabilities, Bella's Dots in Glitter Pink Orchid, SU Ticket Corner Punch, Taylored Expressions Ribbon, Stickles in Frosted Lace, Blingz in Flashee Fuscia

Happy Monday!

Let's Do Lunch!

Way back in 1974, I met Mark Ranieri in the 7th grade. Two years later, Rick joined our school, and the three of us became good friends. A few months after our 1983 wedding, Mark and Cheri were married. Our daughters were born 8 months apart. Brittany and Audrey have literally been friends since they were born! Life moved us away from the Ranieri's, but we have remained close friends for all of these years. A few years ago, Audrey moved to Boston. Cheri is here visiting, so of course the girls had to do lunch! Here are Audrey, Emma (wearing the scarf Cheri made for her) and Brittany.

After lunch, we walked to the Boston  Public Garden. Did you know that it was the first public garden in the U.S.? Everything is just now starting to bloom. In a few weeks, the cherry blossom trees and tulips will be stunning! Here is Emma dancing her way through the garden.

Here, she is trying to catch the wind.

Here I am with Emma and Cheri.

Here are the Burns girls!

What a fun afternoon!

Build A Bear (or in this case, Build a Dog)

Yesterday was one of those days that, as Giffy (aka grandma), I adored! Some dear friends, the Dawson family, gave Emma a mall gift card for her birthday. Emma loves stuffed animals, so Brittany has been saving the gift card  to use for Emma's first trip to Build A Bear. Yesterday was the big day!

At first, she was a bit overwhelmed by how many different animals she could choose. Emma adores dogs, and it didn't take her long to zero in on the most adorable puppy! She immediately named her Haley. She chose a heart and a barking music box to go inside of Haley. 

Emma helped push the pedal on the stuffing machine and watched with big eyes as Haley came to life!

Then she kissed the heart she had chosen for Haley and tucked it inside of her.

She dressed Haley in a Princess T-shirt, a denim skirt, and sparkly pink shoes! What a girlie girl!

She was so pleased with Hayley's new outfit!

She also brought home a beach set (a bikini, beach towel, goggles, sunglasses, and beach ball) and a grooming set (a brush and blo-dryer like I use on Indy and Wylie). Of course, I had to get Haley a pink Red Sox T-shirt! LOL

Emma carried Haley around the mall for awhile. When we stopped for a rest, she admired Haley's sparkly shoes.

Here's a tired little girl totally in love with her stuffed puppy!

What a fun day! I had at least as much fun as Emma did. And to the Dawson family~Emma LOVED her gift, and you made this old grandma's heart smile. Thank you! Now I can't wait to scrapbook these photos!

Off I go to play with Emma and Haley!

Sittin' Pretty

Hmm...this photo is rather blurry, but it's too late to take another! She's must prettier in real life!

Stamps: Content-to-be-abella by Stamping Bella; sentiment by A Muse Artstamps

Paper: SU Candy Lane, Pirouette Pink, and Red Riding Hood Red
Accessories: Copics, Copic Spicas, SU Ticket Corner Punch, SU Fleurettes, Bella's Dots in Glitter Poppy, Nestabilities, misc. brad

A Simple Thank You Will Do

This is another quick and easy card! I love this Bella~you can put any sentiment on the tray, which makes her so versatile. And can you tell that I love this paper pack? I think I have used it on 5 or 6 cards already!

Stamps: I-deserve-a-tip-abella by Stamping Bella; SU sentiment

Paper: SU Candy Lane, Close to Cocoa, and Pirouette Pink

Accessories: Copics, Copic Spicas, SU Very Vanilla Taffeta Ribbon, Nestabilities

Flower Power

I love these colors~they make me yearn for summer! For now, I'll settle for spring. It was a harsh winter here in New England. Now the flowers are beginning to bloom, it's in the mid-60s today, and it might hit 80 on Saturday! Yay for the sunshine and flowers!

Stamp: Daisybella by Stamping Bella

Paper: CTMH Let's Get Together

Accessories: Copics, Copic Spicas, SU Bashful Blue Taffeta Ribbon, Bella's Baubles, Stickles

And They Call It Puppy Love...

For Emma's birthday, one of Brittany's friends gave a her a stuffed yellow lab puppy. Emma adores it! She named him "Little Jack." I'm not sure why, other than the fact that she loves the mice--Gus and Jack--in Cinderella. As you might recall, Gus is a rather stout mouse, and Jack is quite little in comparison. I think that's where she got the puppy's name. In any case, Little Jack accompanies Emma everywhere. This stamp definitely reminds me of Emma and Little Jack! 

Stamps: Tilda with Puppy by Magnolia; sentiment by A Muse Artstamps

Paper: SU Candy Lane, Pink Pirouette, and Close to Cocoa

Accessories: Copics, Copic Spicas, SU Chocolate Chip Taffeta Ribbon, Bella's Dots in Glitter Dark Cocoa, SU Dimensionals, SU Oval Punh, SU Scalloped Oval Punch

Kokeshi Kraze!

About a month ago, I posted a photo of the Kokeshi doll and keychain that my sweet friend, Christy, sent me from Okinawa. Well, I decided that my dolls needed a circle of friends. I cleaned out some of my stamping supplies (I'll give you a minute to recover from that! LOL!) and sold some stamps that I don't use. I then sent the proceeds of that sale to Christy as my "Kokeshi slush fund." Believe me, I didn't have to beg her to go shopping for me. It's always fun to go shopping with someone else's money, isn't it? Well, she bought four more for me. They just arrived. I am absolutely delighted with them!

This is the one that I saw on Christy's blog in January, the one that made me fall in love with kokeshi dolls. As you might expect, she is purple! I have no idea what the sign says, but I like it. Aren't the colors fabulous? Her hair is really pretty. It hangs all the way down her back.

Christy liked this doll so much that she splurged and got one for herself. The flowers are carved, not painted. So pretty!

Christy wanted to get this one, too~but they only had one of them. Bless her heart, she got it for ME. I told you that she is a sweetheart! LOVE the pigtails, the morning glories, and the bright turquoise!

Last, but not least, is this one with the beautiful flowers! 

To top it all off, Christy made this beautiful card for me~in purple, of course!

So here is my collection, displayed on a shelf in my office. I really like the fact that they are all different shapes and sizes~just like real women. 

When I told you in my first koksehi post that the dolls share an honored spot with my autographed Red Sox balls (David Ortiz and Luis Tiant) and a brick from Fenway Park (where the Green Monster now stands), I wasn't kidding!

THANK YOU, Christy! You are a fabulous personal shopper!

Have a nice weekend!

Bubbly Bliss

Although I enjoy spending time making creative cards, sometimes quick and simple is the order of the day! That's the case with this one. Still, I am pleased with the result. How fun would it be to play with all of those bubbles?!

Stamps: Bubblebella and sentiment by Stamping Bella

Paper: CTMH Let's Get Together

Accessories: SU So Saffron Ribbon; CTMH buttons; Bella's Baubles; Blingz in Under the Sea and Pixie Dust

A Flower for a Friend

I think this is one of my favorite stamps from the Ketto line. She goes so well with so many different papers! The flower looks a bit too bright in this photo~it actually looks much better than this.

Stamps: Suzette Ketto and sentiment by Stamping Bella

Paper: SU Haiku, Really Rust, and Apricot Appeal

Accessories: Copics, Copics Spicas, Taylored Expressions Ribbon, Prima flower, Bella's Dot in Glitter Sage, Nestabilities

Dance Like No One's Watching

There's something about this stamp that makes me smile. It reminds me of our wonderful vacations to Mexico. Ahh...Mexico. A warm, sandy beach beach sounds like the perfect way to end the long, harsh winter we had  here in New England! If only...

Stamps: Flamenca Ketto and sentiment by Stamping Bella

Paper: SU Groovy Guava and Soft Sky, Sweater Weather by October Afternoon

Accessories: Copics and Copic Spicas; Prima flowers; Bella's Solid Dots; SU Paper Shaper Punch; SU Scallop Edge Punch; SU Dimensionals;  misc. ribbon; Stickles in Gold, Aqua, and Diamond; Nestabilities

 TFL!

All Cracked Up

Awhile ago, I had given my son's girlfriend a box of cards that I had made. He just asked me if I have more that I can send her. I am all over that! So I looked through my stash, and I do have some on hand to send her. But if you are into making cards, you understand that it's more fun to make new ones! So I have been in a card-making frenzy since Saturday. After all, my son wants me to make them. He needs me to make them. He is my baby, and I'll do anything for him, no matter how big the sacrifice. LOL Since it was Easter weekend, I had to use this stamp.

Stamp: You Crack Me Up HuggABugg by Tiddly Inks for Stamping Bella

Paper: SU Paper Flowers and Pretty in Pink

Accessories: Copics; Copic Spicas; Nestabilities; SU ribbon; SU flower brad; Blingz in Pixie Dust, Flashee Fuscia, Poinsettia Pink, and Mello Yello

Flower Power

This week's  Bellariffic Friday challenge (Stamping Bella) was to use Em's "inspiration photo" (a vase full of brightly colored roses) to create a card using any combination of the colors and to add some flowers to your card. This card makes me anxious to see the flowers 

blooming here in the Northeast!

Stamps: Turtle Tots Picking Posies by Elena's Easel

for Stamping Bella

Paper: SU Paper Flowers, Lavender Lace, and Pretty in Pink

Accessories: Copics, Copic Spicas, Nestabilities, Prima Flowers, Bella's Dots in Crackle Green, SU Dimensionals, paper piercer

Happy Monday! 

My Cup of Tea

This could also be called "Pretty in Pink!" Hope's challenge this week (BCC75 on SCS) was two-fold: use pink as the focal color and to use circles. It was such a fun challenge! Thank you, Hope!

Stamp: Javabuggs by Tiddly Inks for Stamping Bella

Paper: CTMH Baby Pink and Buttercup; Sugared Luscious by Basic Grey

Accessories: Copics; Copic Spicas; Prima flowers; misc. ribbon; Bella's Dots in Glitter Light Cocoa; SU Dimensionals; Nestabilities; Blingz in Pixie Dust, Flashee Fuschia, Mello Yellow, and Poinsettia pink

TFL!

Add a Little Pixie Dust...

...for a fairy happy birthday! Yup, this is a birthday card for my SIL. I haven't used this stamp in quite awhile. I don't know why, since I really like her! This is for BSC75 on SCS. 

Stamps: Tinkerbella and sentiment by Stamping Bella

Paper: CTMH Floral Tapestry
Accessories: Copics, Copic Spicas, Blingz in Pixie Dust, Taylored Expresions ribbon, Prima flower, Bella's Dots in Glitter Sage

Hearts A' Bloomin'

Hope issued a great challenge this week (BCC74 on SCS): use black as the main color, with the twist of adding ribbon, and with a bonus twist of adding polka dotted ribbon. What fun!

Stamps: Phoebe by Ketto for Stamping Bella; sentiment by Stamping Bella

Paper: CTMH Daisy White and Black; Black Tie Optional by Imaginesce

Accessories: Copics, Copic Spicas, Bella's Ribbon, Iridescent Chalk, Blingz in Flashee Fuscia

Thanks for a fun challenge, Hope!

A Flower for You...

This is for BSC74 on SCS. I don't know how Jamie keeps coming up with such great sketches. My brain would have run out of ideas long ago, so I am very thankful for Jamie's creative efforts and her willingness to share them!

Stamps: Suzette by Ketto for Stamping Bella; sentiment by Elena's Easel for Stamping Bella

Paper: CTMH Boom Di Ada

Accessories: Copics, Copic Spicas, Greenhouse silk flower, SU Build A Brad, SU Circle Punch

TFL, and have a great weekend!

Dare to Be Different

This week's Bellariffic Friday challenge was to use a beautiful palette of bright colors: pink, yellow, green, and orange. I didn't have much time, so it had to be a quick card. And I just couldn't make the orange work with this. Still, she turned out kind of cute~not too bad for 15 minutes, huh?

I like this stamp~especially her mismatched tights and shoes. She reminds me of Emma playing dress-up!

Stamps: Missmatch by Ketto for Stamping Bella; sentiment by Stamping Bella

Paper: Misc. DP; CTMH Watermelon, Clover Meadow, and Sunny Yellow

Accessories: Copics, Copic Spicas, Nestabilities, SU Clip, SU Dimensionals, ric rac

Kokeshi Cards

A few posts ago, I told you about the beautiful kokeshi dolls and stamped images that Christy sent to me. I had so much fun with those images and am sooooo in love with my dolls, that I decided to buy the stamp set. Here are two cards I made yesterday. IRL, I love the shiny, lacquered hair on the kokeshi dolls. That's why I keep giving them such sparkly hair on my cards. For this one, I colored one of those clear, plastic flowers with a Copic marker to match the paper. Then I attached it with ribbon and a corduroy brad from SU.

I love the edge on this one! I trimmed the top (red) layer then used the SU Scallop Edge Punch so that you can see the flowers on the right edge. I really like it because when you open it, you can still see the pretty edge.

Stamps: Four Dolls by Hero Arts; sentiment by A Muse Artstamps

Paper: Cherry Blossoms by My Mind's Eye; misc. yellow

Accessories: Copics, Copic Spicas, plastic flower, SU Corduroy Button, SU Ribbon, SU Stampin' Dimensionals, SU Scallop Edge Punch, CTM Paper Piercer, Nestabilities

That's it. No funny stories because I didn't use glitter! LOL