Keeping Calm & Carrying On

So Many Projects

I've been working on so many projects at once lately that it's been quite hard to keep up. I haven't shared too many scrapbooking pages, but trust me I've been whipping them up like crazy! I'm working on two gift albums both that need to be finished come spring time that I can't wait to reveal and show you. But for now they need to stay top secret.

At home we have projects going on too. Steven and I finally tackled our bedroom "Christmas gift" project. We spent the entire weekend painting, fixing & assembling furniture, rearranging and more. It's looking great...I'll be sure to share photos once my pieces are all hung up on the wall...I'm just waiting for one more.And, because I hate blogging without a photo, here's a look at the brand new Bella Blvd collections displayed quite beautifully at the local Grand Re-Opening of The Scrapbook Store & More. Doesn't it look great! All the CHA orders will begin shipping next week. I'm so excited to get it out into the world...another four babies are ready to fly!

Hope you're having a great week.

13: A Bella Blvd Molly Layout

 

 

A new day means a new layout! There's some great inspiration this week over at the Bella Blvd Studio blog with my newest collections that will begin shipping later next month. 

The subject of this page is my niece, Anabelle, documenting her 13^th birthday. Full of flair and sas and she's alla bout middle-school, texting and friends (including boys :) One could say the Molly collection was a bit inspired by her attitude towards life these days.

Today this layout featuring the new Molly collection is up on the blog. Stop by Bella's blog for more detail shots, layout description and a tip too!

Sneak Peek: Monday Nights Layout

 

I'm sharing a layout today over at the Bella Blvd Studio Blog that I made for the CHA Trade Show display earlier this month. 

The Max collection was inspired by this little man, my nephew Carson, and so I could hardly wait to dive into the new products when the samples came. I love the new sticker alphabet, don't you?

Visit the Bella Blog for the full page reveal and additional details. Here's a close-up of my journaling documenting Carson's rise to little league baseball. He was great!

Warrior 5k: Mixing and Matching w/Bella Blvd

Gosh this layout is really dating how far behind I am in my scrapbooking, but it's okay for me...I love looking back and seeing how far I've come. This Warrior 5k was one of the very first ones I ran. My little sister was training for a half marathon and I thought she was nuts! Now look at the two of us :) The layout combines patterns from different collections including Finally Fall, Engaged at Last and Sophisticates. I had quite a few photos I wanted to use so I printed them wallet-size to get them all unto this layout.

 

The then-boyfriend, took some pretty good photographs with my camera. I was a proud lady :)   Glad I've been able to document my running story as it's truly become a way of life and part of my weekly routine now. Have you documented your weight-loss progress through scrapbooking? a journal or a voice diary?

I think my CHA "hangover" has just about subsided. It was another successful CHA release and show in Anaheim, California last week.

 

It's hard to explain but the trip always seems really quick, yet really long all at the same time. I love seeing all the customers, enjoying conversations about the industry, how business is and new ideas, and also making new contacts and business. The days fly by because we are busy and there is so much to do, however all in all we are gone for about a week and the days are long too.Today over at Bella Blvd's Studio Blog, I'm sharing additional photos and a recap of CHA. Stop by for more information and inspiration. 

I designed four new collections for CHA Winter that will begin shipping the week of February 17th to customers all around the world. So be sure to as for Family Forever (above), Max, Molly and Lucky Starz (below).

 

 

Check out these cute frames with the Paper Pieces (die-cut shapes) mixed and matched, displayed in front of some of Bella Blvd's fabric prints. Cute, huh?!

 

 

 

While I have met Design Team member Nicole Nowosad before, I never really had the opportunity to chat and really get to know her. She came to dinner with us one night....we had a great time!

 

And one of my customers, Scrapbook Gallery, has recently been purchased by a new owner (on the right) and is currently remodeling the store and will be re-opening soon as the Scrapbook Gallery and More PR. So proud of Anette and her new adventure. We need more new stores and excitement like this in the industry!

Thank you for following me on Facebook throughout the show and for all the wonderful comments over at Bella Blvd about my newest collections. I can't wait to begin designing some new workshops with these products! 

 

Are you Inspired?

These Design Team girls never cease to amaze me. Don't forget, all week long the Bella Blvd Studio Blog is full of brand new collection ideas just for you! Don't miss out!

Let Inspiration Week Begin

Today is our Inspiration Week kick-off over at the Bella Blvd Studio Blog.  I'm very blessed to have such a talented Design Team that loves all things Bella Blvd. A few designers have had the opportunity to play with my brand new collections, to create layouts and projects for the CHA Winter Megashow booth display. 

Starting today, and all week long, the Bella Blvd Studio Blog will be full of brand new collections, brand new inspiration, color and excitement featuring Max, Molly, Family Forever, and Lucky Starz.

These new collections will all begin shipping the first week of February!

ULTiMATE GiVEAWAY, First Day of CHA & Candid Cards

Good morning :) How are you?! My team and I have safely arrived in Anaheim and have been hard at work getting the booth display ready for all it's customers. It's definitely been nice to see bits and pieces of sunshine these past couple of days. I'm definitely not missing the deep freeze back at home. 

Today I'd like to introduce you to a new product from Bella Blvd at CHA Winter, Candid Cards.

The DT is real excited about these die-cut cards, in a variety of shapes that are perfect companions for Project Life, pocket pages and for your day-to-day scrapbooking layouts and cards. Each Candid Cards package includes more than 20 pieces and all of them are double-sided with pretty patterns on the backs! Here's a peek at the contents of the Lucky Starz collection Candid Cards.

Visit the Studio Blog today for more details on these Candid Cards, and for a chance to win our ULTIMATE GIVEAWAY!!!

Have you been following me on facebook for CHA updates? I have four new collections! Bella Blvd will begin shipping these newest products to your favorite online and local scrapbooking stores in just a couple of weeks, beginning Feb. 3rd.

Happy First day of CHA!

Lucky Starz: Don't Miss the Backsides!

If you're a Bella Blvd fan, then I'm confident that you're familiar with my Sophisticates series of products. Sophisticates started as a basics collection, perfect for everyday use, that includes monochromatic patterns in a variety of colors. The c has evolved over the years from polkadots, lace patterns and more recently giant chevrons. I'm so excited to show you collection Lucky Starz, my brand new basics collection for CHA Winter 2014.

The best part of Lucky Starz you ask, THE BACKSIDES of the PAPERS! Check 'em  out:

The backsides include all the most commonly used colors in Bella Blvd's designs. You can mix and match them together or across my entire product catalog collection.

 

(Love this one especially, it's gray script full of commonly used hashtags!)

These are just a few of my favorites from Lucky Starz. The bright colors make me so happy, it screams Bella Blvd doesn't it? The collection includes cardstock stickers and die cuts too! Visit Bella Blvd's Blog today for the full reveal, and a chance to win-it-before-you-can-buy-it too!

 

 

Everyone belongs to a family, big or small, furry or not, we all have family. And if your anything like me, your family is the star of your scrapbooking projects and pages, right?!

 

Family Forever is a new collection inspired by my very own home decor, love for family and everyday rules to live by. The colors in this collection are versatile for family photos and everyday snapshots...I can't wait to play with it a bit more!

 

Take a look at this print. Again, it's one of my hand doodled ones. I love this one so much that I took the original and framed it for my house. It hangs just above the laundry shoot, so that everyone can see it, right at eye level, as we do daily chores like laundry and clean up.

 

And I just love how navy blue and gray look together in this pattern, Mom & Dad. (naming papers is one of my favorite things too!)

This go-around I've designed a brand new 12x12" sticker die including this charming uppercase alphabet. The new sticker name is Treasures & Text. They make me happy and have a little bit of everything from borders, office tabs, photo corners, word bits, arrows and more!

 

Today I'm giving away the complete Family Forever collection to a lucky Bella Blvd fan. For your chance to win stop by the Bella Blvd Studio Blog and leave a comment. It's that easy!

 

And stay tuned for the fourth and final collection reveal tomorrow! You're going to love it's colorful theme, I promise.

Molly Reveal: Bella Blvd

My second new collection, Molly, is fully revealed today! Have you seen it all-be sure to visit Bella's studio blog for the details! The collection is perfect for tween girls trying to discover themselves, constantly taking selfies and flirting with the boys! Molly is all about friendship, drama and style: Begins shipping Feb. 3rd around the world!

Here's a couple of my favorite patterns:

 

So, what do you think?!

Max from Bella Blvd

 

 

 

 

Today at the Bella Blvd studio blog we've revealed my newest collection,

Here's just a quick look, but I'm so excited about this one. Boy lines are much more challenging for me to design that girly/pink collections...but I found a boat load of inspiration right under my nose; My nephew Carson is quickly growing up. He and his friends are into all these "cool" things including music, what he wears to school each day and camo too. My favorite print in the collection, actually in every collection, are these hand-drawn patterns I did:

These patterns are most definitely a labor of love as they take me quite some time to doodle.

For a chance to win the entire new Max Collection, visit the studio blog today. All week long we're featuring new products that will debut this weekend at the CHA Mega Show in California.

Max will begin shipping worldwide the first week of February, just around the corner!

Free Project Sheet: Elf Adventures!

 

 

 

How adorable is this Christmas Countdown layout designed by Bella's Special Projects and Design Team Coordinator, Laura Vegas?  Do you have an elf causing mischief in your house? Get a jump start on documenting the fun with this month's Project Sheet released today for you!

 

Bella Blvd's monthly project sheets include a complete supply list, and step-by-step directions on how to create this adorable layout. All you have to do is pull out your Bella Blvd Christmas Countdown collection, along with some basic scrapbooking supplies and you'll be finished in no time!

 

Visit the Bella Blvd Studio Blog today for the link to download December's Elf themed project sheet!

For all the past and previous step-by-step Project Sheets visit the gallery by clicking here.

Sign-up for a free copy to your in-box each month by entering your email address on the homepage widget. Happy Tuesday!

Featured in Newsletter & A Giveaway

I'm excited to be featured inside Riley Blake's December newsletter (Click here to download and view the entire newsletter). I've been working with Riley Blake for a few years now, turning my designs into beautiful fabrics for quilters and crafters alike :) The quality is outstanding and the colors are spot on. Here's a preview of the newsletter cover for Dec. 2013.

 

And a quick glimpse of the feature, including a little bit more about me, and previewing the brand new Summer Breeze fabric collection, inspired by my recent paper collection Sand & Surf.

 

 

Visit the Riley Blake Designs website here. Browse my fabric collecitons here.

Download the December newsletter including my feature here.

The team at Riley Blake has been generous enough to offer a giveaway of my newest Summer Breeze fabrics. One lucky winner will receive this beautiful Fat Quarter Bundle!

Just leave a comment below for your chance to win. Winner will be announced this Friday, Dec. 13. Good luck!

 

A Little Bit of This & That

 

Sometimes I take a break from only using Bella and enjoy some mixing and matching of other products with my designs too. For this layout I wanted to create my own color combination, seeing that the photograph is mostly neutral with lots of black and gray. I used the pop of purple in Madelyn's winter hat to inspire my starting point.

 

The layout has a lot of random different embellishments and sticker letters too, including Doodlebug, Bella Blvd and Crochet Hearts, die-cuts, washi tapes, stickers & a Teresa Collins stick pin too :)

 

I just loved this Christmas Card photo of my nieces and nephew back in 2011 that I had to make a page for my albums.

 

Has is snowed where you live yet? We haven't had any decent snowfall, but I'm sure it will come anyday now. December is notorious around here for old man winter blowing in with a few storms and the frigid cold.