Snap Happy..

Hi everyone! It's Saturday and that means it's time for another sketch over on the Bella Blvd. blog. For July we were given this sketch to work with from Becky Fleck.

This is what I created using the sketch....
Snap Happy Layout

This was a fun sketch to work with, I stuck pretty close to the original which brought my layout together fast. I only made a few small alterations along the way. I really wanted to showcase this self portrait of my daughter but I only had 1 photo so I placed a polaroid die-cut where the second photo should be. I also changed the direction of the spray pattern and added some confetti for a fun look. I kept the strips of pattern papers in the center of the layout (just like the sketch), but added a hexagon to the background. I love that the Freestyle Sophisticates are so versatile, they are perfect for any occasion!

supplies:
Sand and Surf: Alpha + Bits, Miniatures
Engaged At Last: Bachelorette Party, Bachelor Extras, Alpha + Bits Bachelor/ette
All American: United We Stand
Freestyle Sophisticates: McIntosh, Banana, Gulf, Saltwater, Scallop, Pickle Juice
Designer Tape: Gray Chevron
Crochet Hearts: Gulf, Bell Pepper
Ciao Chip Versatile Elements: Stars and Hearts

Instagram photo challenge

Hi everyone!  Hope you are having a great Wednesday so far.  My youngest will have his last day of school tomorrow and then we are on our way to summer vacation.  Yeah!  Speaking of vacations - I have a fun summery layout to share with you today for Bella Blvd.  We were challenged to create a layout using Instagram photos. 


Summer Vacation Layout 

 When Laura challenged us to use Instagram photos on a layout I felt that it was the perfect opportunity to use some of the summer photos that I have been taking.  I printed my Instagram photos in a smaller format so that I could fit a total of 8 pictures on my layout.  The Sand and Surf collection paired with pieces from Engaged At Last and Love and Marriage brought a colorful backdrop that compliments my summer theme.

Supplies:
Sand and Surf: Beach Balls, Surf's Up, Alpha+Bits Stickers, Chipboard Icons;
Engaged at Last: Bachelorette Party;  Love and Marriage: Borders; Baby Boy: On the Go!;
Designer Tape: Chevron Combo; Ciao Chip Elements: Stars and Hearts; Button Market: Orange
Stars

So Many Of My Smiles Begin With You....

 Hi Everyone, 

Thanks for stopping by today.  I haven't been on top of blogging lately.  We have had lots going on.  We just got back from camping and my daughter graduates from junior high tomorrow.  Can't believe I am going to be the mother of a high schooler soon.  Ack!! Where does the time go?

 I have a new layout up on the Bella Blvd. Blog today, and I would love to share it with you.  So, here we go....


So Many Of My Smiles Begin With You 

This picture always make me smile.  My good friend always brings her daughter with her when she comes to visit.  Even though she is a few years younger than my daughter, they always enjoy each others' company.  I kept the embellishments simple on this layout so that the main focus could be on the photo.  To make the washi flower I pleated gray chevron washi tape around a die cut circle and topped it off with a wood button.  I love the look.

supplies:

Sand and Surf: Flying High
Engaged At Last: Bachelorette Extras

Cardstock stickers: Just Write Journaling stickers, Alpha + Bits

Feathers: Orange, Gulf

Designer Tape: Gray Chevron

Button: Button Market Feminine Mix

Thanks for stopping by!

You are my Sunshine

Hi everyone,

Good Morning.  I hope that you are enjoying your day so far.  I have a layout up on the Bella Blvd. blog today,


You Are My Sunshine layout

One of my favorite things about working with Bella Blvd. products is how beautifully the older Bella lines coordinate with the 
newer lines.  For this layout I used bit n pieces of Spring Things and Easter Things, & Lovey Dovey, mixed with Crochet Hearts
and Designer tape.  I always like to include lots of color on my layouts and these lines combined together make a very colorful
and playful palette for spring.

Supplies: 
Spring Flings and Easter Things: A Tisket A Tasket, Sunny Sunday, Borders, Cute Cuts
Cardstock Stickers: Just Write Journaling Stickers, Alpha + Bits, Miniatures, Piggy-Punch
High Five Alphas, Green High Five Alphas, Gulf High Five AlphasLovey Dovey: Bear Hugs
Designer Tape: Pickle Juice Chevron
Crochet Hearts: Pickle Juice 
Button Market: Aqua Flowers, Fruit Punch

I Love You 7 Days A Week...

Hi everyone!

You may have noticed that my blog has a new look. I have been wanting a fresh new look for awhile and I'm so excited, to finally see it completed. Thank you to the fabulous Kristen Tweedale for redesigning my blog for me. If you or someone you know is in the market for a new blog design, you should contact her. She is awesome!

....in other news, I'm up on the Bella Blvd. Blog today. A few of us Design team members were asked to create a layout based on this inspiration image..

March Inspiration image

This is what I came up with based on the sketch.


I Love You 7 Days A Week





This was such a fun inspiration image this month. I can honestly say that there were so many ideas that I took from this image.
The polka dot background inspired me to use Bella's Gray Dot Designer tape as a border. The numbers in the photo inspired
me to use Bella's fun number border from the Love and Marriage collection. The white frames in the photo also inspired me
to use this chipboard insert that I saved from the packaging of the Chipboard: Bachelor/ette Chipboard Icons. And the large
buttons in the photo inspired me to add a couple of blues buttons from Bella's Button Market. I love the finished look of it all
put together.


supplies:
Engaged At Last: Bachelor Party, Bachelorette party, He Proposed, Bachelorette Extras
Designer tape: Gray Dot
Love And Marriage Collection: Borders
Cardstock Stickers: Just Write Journaling Stickers, The Wedding Party Miniatures, High Five Alphabets: Gulf
Chipboard: Bachelor/ette Chipboard Icons, Sienna Alpha-Frosting
Feathers: Frosting, White
Button Market: Blues

Silhoutte Designer edition software tutorial and promotion

Hi everyone,
I hope that you are having a great day so far. I wanted to let you know about this fabulous promotion that is going on
currently on the Bella Blvd. blog.... and wait for it..... they are doing a giveaway too!

Silhouette March Promotion
From now until March 8th Silhouette will be offering a discounted price on the Silhouette Portrait when you use the above link to purchase and enter the code "Bella"


As part of this wonderful promotion, I was one of the design team members selected to try out the designer edition software and
create a project with it.

Fashionista layout:


I wanted to create a layout that was as fun and fresh as my daughter's fashion sense. I started my layout by creating a
triangular file in Silhouette and using the designer edition software to modify it. After I cut my Freestyle Sophisticates paper
(Peep) I placed alternating strips of designer tape under my paper and then stitched on top. I added in pieces from the Engaged
At Last collection and finished off my layout with some fabulous Bella feathers.



First I created a triangular shaped background using the polygon tool. I used the copy and paste feature to repeat the pattern.
After I was done creating my triangle background I used the group feature to group my background together.



Next, I selected the Shear tool that comes with the designer edition software. I then selected the
Horizontal shear 30 degree angle from the box on the right side. This gave my triangles an elongated
look.

After getting the desired angle that I wanted I sent cut my file and then used it as a background for my layout.

supplies:
Engaged At Last Collection: Bachelor Extras
Cardstock Stickers: Alpha + Bits Bachelore/Ette
Sand & Surf Collection: Borders
Sophisticates: Freestyle Peep, Freestyle Scallop
Feathers: Bell Pepper, Oreo - Black
Designer Tape: Gray Chevron, Ice Stripe, Gray Dot, Combo


Dream Big by Gina Lideros


I had this self portrait of my daughter that she took using her camera phone. I just loved the way the sun rays reflected
on her in the background. I used that as my inspiration to create my title. I used the designer edition software for Silhouette
to modify a title "dream big" that I had purchased in the Silhouette online store.



Bella Blvd's Sand & Surf collection was perfect for the theme of my layout. I kept the background of my layout simple so
that the focus could be on the title work and the photo. I finished off my layout by adding in a fun mix of Bella feathers,
buttons and designer tape.


To get started, I opened up a file that I had purchased in the Silhouette online store (Dream big by KI Memories). I sized
my title to the dimensions that I wanted and then selected the advanced knife tool that comes with the designer edition software.


When selected the knife tool will open up a window on the right side. The advanced knife tool comes with 11 different
blades. This is a great feature of the designer edition. I selected the straight edge knife and positioned my blade in
the bottom right hand corner of my title. I then sliced into my title in an upwards angle.



After I cut the first angle I continued making more cuts in an upward angle until it appeared to look like a sunburst.



After I achieved the desired sunburst effect, I cut out my title out of different pieces of pattern paper from Bella's Sand & Surf collection. And then pieced them together on my layout.

supplies:
Sand & Surf Collection: Flying High, Paradise, Surf's Up, Borders, Under The Coconuts, Cute Cuts
Cardstock Stickers: Miniatures
Flags: Sand & Surf
Sophisticates: Freestyle Pickle Juice
Feathers: Pickle Juice, Pony
Designer Tape: Yellow Chevron, Ice Stripe
Button Market: Checkers, Bursts

Awesome stuff right? Wanna win a Silhouette Portrait? Then head on over to the Bella Blvd. Blog and leave a comment to be entered to win.

Good Luck!

Posing Pretty

Hey everyone,

Happy Valentines day! Are you doing anything special with your sweetheart today? My husband and I went out to dinner the other night to celebrate, we always celebrate with the kids on Valentines day.
I have another Bella Blvd layout to share with you today. This one has lot of hearts on it :)

Posing Pretty layout

I recently created this heart cutting file on my Silhouette Cameo and I couldn't wait to use it with
some yummy Bella products. I cut my file out of kraft paper and then backed it with Bella papers and
designer tapes. The colors in these lines complimented each other and made this layout come to life.

supplies:
Kiss Me Collection: Borders
Flags: Girl
Winter Wonder Collection: Icy
Birthday Girl Collection:Borders
Baby Boy Collection: Momma's Boy
Cardstock Stickers: Card Sentiments
Crochet Flowers: Dahlia, Daisies
Designer Tape: Piggy Gulf Dot, Pony Dot
High Five Alpha Stickers: Black-White High Fives
Button Market: Neutrals Mix
Ciao Chip Versatile Elements:Stars & Hearts

Did you know that the February issue of the Bella Buzz is now available. Stop by the Bella Blvd blog to download your free copy today.

Friends bring color

Hey everyone,

I am sharing a very colorful layout that I made for Bella Blvd with you today.

I wanted to create a vibrant fun layout that was as youthful as the teens in my photos. Bella's High Five alpha's & Alpha + Bits cardstock stickers helped make my title come to life. To complete the look I created these fun whimsical circles paired with Bella's Flags and Crocheted hearts. Bella’s designer tapes are also a great way to make a statement. I paired them together to make a fun border for this layout.

Friends Bring Color to Our Lives layout

supplies:
Kiss Me Collection: Flutter, Alpha + Bits
Birthday Girl Collection: Miles of Smiles, Party Dress
Birthday Boy Collection: Eat Cake
Sunshine & Happiness Collection: Happy Clouds
Winter Wonder Collection: Ski Slopes
Sophisticates Collection: Short Stories
Flags: Girl
Cardstock Stickers: Card Sentiments
Crochet Flowers: Poppy
Designer Tape:Pickle Juice Chevron, Red Dot, Blue Gingham, Gulf Dot, Punch Chevron, Pony Dot
High Five Alpha Stickers: Green High Fives, Yellow High Fives, Pink-Red High Fives, Blue High Fives
Ciao Chip Versatile Elements:Stars & Hearts

It's an inspiration day!

Hi everyone,

I hope you are having a fabulous week so far. I have a fun layout to share with you today using the Kiss Me collection from
Bella Blvd. We were asked to create a layout based on this inspiration image:

Here is what I created based on this image:

Sweet Friends layout

I had so much fun playing with the inspiration image this month. I liked the idea of hanging a banner
and clipping on doily hearts, envelopes and little messages with clothespins. The wood floor and
white wall gave me the idea to make the base of my layout kraft/white and tie in some mustache love paper.
I love all the bright colors in the Kiss Me collection, they were perfect for this layout about friendship.
I also threw in some paper scraps that I had left over from the Lovey Dovey collection. I love that
all of Bella's collections coordinate so nicely together.

Bella Blvd supplies:
Kiss Me Collection: Mustache love, True Love, Flutter
Lovey Dovey Collection: Circle of Love, Borders N' Blocks
Cardstock Stickers: Just Write, Card Sentiments
Button Market: Neutrals Mix, Pink Flowers
Flags: Birthday Girl Flags 1, Floral
Crochet Flowers: Juniper
Designer Tape: Piggy Pink Stripe, Blue Gingham
High Five Alpha Stickers: Piggy-Punch
Chipboard Alpha's: Sienna Blueberry
Ciao Chip Versatile Elements: Borders

For more inspiration from the Design team using this same image visit the Bella Blvd blog