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!

I love this record, baby, but I can't see straight anymore....

Welcome to the first Ketto Blog Hop sponsored by Stamping Bella! If you've just happened upon my blog, you can CLICK HERE to start from the beginning at Bloggabella.

A QUICK NOTE: There's some fabulous eye candy out there for you today, but make sure you comment on each post, because there is a hidden prize!! 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, don't forget to leave comments on every post so you have a chance to win!! We will announce the winner on Monday.

As you're reading this, I am at the North Texas Splitcoast Shoebox Swap stamping my little heart out. Fun, huh? I hope you have a fabulous day ahead! Ok, enough blabbing, here's my card!

For my card today, I decided to use Amy R's Friday Sketch for this week. It's a great one! I stamped Missmatch Ketto in Memento Tuxedo Black on Simply Smooth Ivory paper from Prism and colored her with Copic Markers. The patterned paper is the Apron Strings pattern from the new Cosmo Cricket Early Bird Collection...OH MY GOODNESS!! This paper is my new favorite. Possibly my favorite of the year. Anywho, I added some black and Kraft accents, stamped the Dance like no one's watching sentiment on the bottom right corner panel, and added some Riding Hood Red Taffeta ribbon in the top left corner. Finished it off with some Prima Flowers and Stickles...YUM! I hope you like it.

Now, it's time to hop on over to my fellow sistah and friend Amber's blog: The Stamping Scrapbooker. Don't forget to leave her some love along the way!!

Who can take tomorrow...dip it in a dream...

Hey Sistahs!! It's time...for the Bella Blog Hop, Skip, and a Jump! What's that, you ask? Well, I have gathered a group of your favorite Bella Enablers...Whoops...I mean SISTAHS...and issued them a challenge. Since it's that time of the year when a woman's fancy turns to GIFTING, I asked the talented sistahs to create a holiday treat or gift using any winter or holiday stamps from Stamping Bella. We will all be posting our creations today for your inspiration!

When I saw this Minty Coffee stamp, I had a total light-bulb moment. The Martha in me came alive and I got busy! Here's what I made:

I'm really proud of myself! I created this little gift jar full of peppermint white chocolate dipped spoons, which will be a perfect gift for a coffee loving friend. These treats are awesome...just unwrap and stir your coffee with it to make a sweet and minty drink. They were also super easy to make. After a little bit of research, I used these instructions. It literally took me 15 minutes, and while the spoons were cooling, I decorated the jar.

I stamped the Minty Coffee image in Brilliance Graphite Black on Fabriano Hot Press watercolor paper. Then I watercolored it with my Peerless watercolors...I love them!! After I cut the image out with my Oval Nestabilities, I added a scalloped layer and finally some shimmer with the Pearlescent Watercolors. These are soooo yummalish! Here's a detail shot (click on the picture for a larger view).

To decorate the jar, I wrapped a scalloped piece of shimmery ice blue cardstock around and then tied my ribbon around it in a bow. Then I added some cardstock and a few layers of Primas on top. Super easy and super cute, if I do say so myself!!

Ok, so are you ready to HOP....SKIP....and maybe JUMP??????? Go for it!!! BUT FIRST........there's a prize up for grabs!! After you visit the Hop Skip and a Jump blogs, come back here and tell me 2 project ideas that they've inspired you with. Then on Monday I will choose a random winner for some YUMMALISH BELLA CANDY! Sound good? Are you ready now? Take a look at this lineup and go leave them some love!!

Amy Rysavy
Carole Burrage - ***Carole is traveling back from the Mayo Clinic with her son, but will post later today!***
Debbie Olson
Jen del Muro
Lauren Meader
Michele Boyer
Taylor Van Bruggen

The Bella Blog
Nicky Manel

I hope you enjoy all the Bella Eye Candy...Happy HOPPIN!

MWAH to da SISTAHS!!!