Bella Blvd Studio Blog

Santa Squad Layout | Stephanie Buice

Hi everyone! Stephanie here today, sharing my very first layout using the new Santa Squad collection with you. I love Christmas, so it was no surprise to me that I was immediately drawn to all the Santa goodness that this one has to offer. 

My son's elf Zip is such a big part of our holiday traditions, he really is part of Santa's squad in our family, Santa's biggest helper in fact! So my layout title is 100% inspired by the collection name -Santa Squad. 

I chose two of my favorite photos of Zip from over the years and showcased them on this layout, I added in some of the Ephemera Words and Icons, a mix of patterned papers, and Designer Washi tapes as my main embellishments. I grouped a few of the Icons together to make up Santa's cute little squad, and some Florence Alphabet Stickers to finish off my title.

I wanted my journaling to also be a very important part of this layout, telling some of the adventures the Elf has done to date, of my Son's love for the Elf and how much happiness he brings to our Christmas Season. I also wanted to be sure to include some of my feelings about Brady getting older and being faced with the fact that one day soon Santa and his Squad will be only memories of his Childhood. (Insert a giant sigh here, I am so not ready for that yet.)

Have you picked up the Santa Squad collection yet? If not, I think you should!

I hope you've enjoyed my layout and thanks for stopping by!

-xoxo Steph

Supplies Used: Florence Alphabet Stickers: Oreo Black; Enamels: Guacamole; Plaids and Dotty: Oreo Black; All others from Santa Squad Collection.

Santa Squad Advent Calendar

Hi there Bella Blvd Fans! While we aren't quite into the actual Christmas season yet, us crafters are in prep mode! I'm always doing lots of little crafty projects in November to get ready to use in December! Christine joining you today with an Advent Calendar that showcases the Santa Squad collection!

I've always wanted to have an Advent Calendar that we could use from year to year and this year, I decided it was time to make one! I used a variety of products from the Santa Squad collection including the 6 X 6 paper pad, lots of ephemera, Stickers, and epoxy pieces. I also used a pre-made base from a big box store to make the whole process go a little more quickly!

As I debated what papers to use for each box, I settled on going with a monochromatic look. By doing that I was able to go a little crazier with my embellishing because my backgrounds weren't quite as busy!  

The black Florence Alphabet provided the perfect amount of contrast with the rest of the decorations. I love how adorably the pieces all work together, could that reindeer be any cuter?  

I decided that our family will use this as an Advent Activity Calendar. So each day the kids will open up the drawer to a new activity that we will do that day. Here's the list of what I am going to include:

1. Try Fruitcake
2. Buy a gift for a sibling
3. Make and mail 3 Christmas Cards
4. Bake Christmas Cookies
5. Find an ornament to make and do the craft
6. Go shopping for a family at the local domestic violence center
7. Learn the history behind your favorite Christmas Carol
8. Checkout Christmas Books at the library and read them
9. Make hot cocoa 
10. Visit an elderly friend
11. Learn the story of the candy cane
12. Make a tray of Christmas treats to take to neighbors
13. Read the Christmas Story in the Bible
14. Watch Elf
15. Try Eggnog
16. Go look at Christmas Lights
17. Make Gingerbread men
18. Write Letters to Santa
19. Decorate your bedroom door for Christmas
20. Make Paper Snowflakes
21. Watch Charlie Brown Christmas
22. Go on a Christmas Scavenger Hunt
23. String Popcorn Garland
24. Taste Test Peppermint Ice Creams
25. Listen to Christmas Music all day long

While I am not necessarily going to do them in that order, I wanted to compile a list so I could just print them off and be ready!  

My process videos usually talk you through how I made the project but today's is a longer video. I didn't want to ramble while I make each drawer - but I did want you to see how it came together - so there's some talking and some music also!

 

Thanks so much for joining me today!

Santa Squad 6 X 6 Paper Pad, Epoxy Stickers, Cardstock Stickers, Ephemera, Florence Alphabet

Journaling on Your Pictures

Hi there Bella Blvd Fans! We've been exploring creative journaling techniques all week and today I am here to share an idea with you! When there's white space in your picture, why not add your journaling there? This works especially great with a layout with a big picture on it! Let's take a look!

I printed my picture in a big size for this layout. That left room in that upper corner for me to add journaling. I opted to have my journaling be an appropriate quote. When my pictures don't have a major story to go along with them, I like to just use a quote to tell the story!

I've said it a number of times and I will say it again: the Florence Alphabets are simply marvelous!  They are great for journaling and titles and card sentiments and, well, pretty much everything!

Knowing that I wasn't going to have a lot of room for embellishing, I decided to focus on hearts for my embellishments! In this section alone you can see nearly all the different types of hearts that Bella Blvd makes: Heart Hugs, stickers, ephemera, Acrylic Hearts, and Puffy Hearts. I love the selection and the ability to be able to add so much texture to my projects!

Want a close-up look at how I created this layout? Here's a process video that will walk you thru!

 

Thanks so much for visiting today!

Acrylic Shapes, Heart Hugs, Let's Go On An Adventure, Bella Besties Freehand Graph & Dot, Ciao Chip, Home Sweet Home, Squeeze the Day

Fuzzy Bunny layout

Good morning everyone!

Sarah here this morning to share a new layout with you for Bella Blvd. This week we were to find different ways to journal on our layouts. For me this was a bit hard because I don't usually journal on the front of my layouts. I usually write on the back of my layout or on a piece of paper and stick it to the back of my layout. I'm not big on my hand writing.

So, when I decided to do this layout, I thought that I would journal on the leaves. But I decided against that when I started folding them and adding the gold around the edges. It got to messing. But looking back on it now, I think that would have really worked,lol. Maybe next time, huh?

Well I started this layout with a white background and started playing with some gold spray, while I let the background dry, I decided to add some more gold to all the leaves I had already cut out. I chose leaves because they felt like fall, but the colors were still fantastically bright, so I went with it.

I didn't add any layering behind my photo when I put it on my background. I wanted the leaves to be the embellishments on the layout. Once I had my photo down, I started to layer sliding the leaves under the sides of the photo. Once I had the first layer where I wanted them, I stuck them down and started on the next layer. Placing them here and there, till I was happy with how they looked and stuck them down and moved to the next layer, until I had them all down.

I liked the look of the gold spray on the background showing threw, so I played along those lines to do my journaling. Like I said, this isn't something I normally do, so I thought keeping it small and not clustered together might make it easier on me.

When I had my journaling done, I added my title with two different colors of Florence alphas. Just a simple title, Fuzzy Bunny. The I remembers some of the extra pretties that go along with the Squeeze the day collection and I pulled them out too! I love the epoxy hearts and matte enamel dots, I don't think I could ever have enough of them. If I didn't watch myself I would have already used them all! Like I said, I pulled those out and started placing some of them in the centers of some of my leaves and tucking some here and there under other leaves.

I decided at this point that I wanted there to be something other than just a while background, so I decided to do a bit of ripping and cutting of the sides of the white cardstock, ruffle it up some and add a piece of Bella Besties behind it. I went with the gulf color, I mean blue is one of my favorite colors! And then I was done. I hope you enjoyed this layout!

Squeeze the day collection: 6x6  paper pad, Doohickey sticker sheet, Epoxy hearts, Matte enamels-Fruity mix

Bella Besties freehand:

 6x6 paper pad, 12x12 Graph and dots-Gulf

Florence Alpha Stickers: Punch, Black

Create journal prompts to tell your story by Kim Watson

Hello Bella fans, Kim here, with a new page focusing on journaling.

Having so much amazing product at my disposal, I knew I wanted to create a rainbow, so married the two ideas together:

Rainbow + Journaling

The striped paper from the Splash Zone collection, was my starting point. Using the colored stripes as my color guide, I began to build a dimensional mat. Patterned papers, punches & embellishments, layered beneath each other, each color holding a journal prompt. 

Using a combination of Word Salad & Florence Alphabet stickers, I added a word prompt, describing one of my son's strengths, to each paper strip. Matching puffy stars, chipboard & die cuts add interest & a little fun to the rainbow colors. 

White gesso, & tissue paper with splatter matching the rainbow shades, was the perfect treatment to add interest to the background paper. The subtle mixed media contributing to the dimension & fabulous visual interest. 

 

Starting at the blue stripes, I began to write my story, a letter to my son, prompted by the sticker words, each word influencing what I wrote. The result is a heartfelt story encased in a rainbow :) 

So if I may encourage you to try this idea. Use word prompts, get your story on paper, tell your family how you feel, one day they might need a boost & they will be able to read all about it on your page.

For all the collections I used to create this page, use the links below to navigate over to the Bella Blvd online store.

Florence Alphabet Stickers, Squeeze The Day, Splash Zone, Home Sweet Home, Puffy Stickers, Word Salad, Bella Besties

World Cardmaking Day - Dimensional Flowers Card

Happy World Cardmaking Day Bella Blvd Fans! If there's one thing I love to add to my projects it's dimension. And when I can create dimension in a unique way, well, it just gets me so excited!  Christine joining you with what just may be one of my favorite cards that I have ever made! Check out all the details but also make sure to catch the quick process video at the end of the post for a close-up look! 

Dimensional Flowers Card

When I looked at the Bella Blvd Blue Flower Cut File, it occurred to me that it could beyond initial appearances. I thought with the right layers, I could give it the look of a fall mum. Here's what I came up with!

For my patterned paper I opted to use the 6 X 6 Freehand Graph and Dot pad. This gave me lots of color choices and would allow me to choose more fall-like colors.  

I cut the flower base in three different colors and then I cut the tendril-like petals in three different sizes. By varying the size and adding 3D Foam Adhesive in between I was able to create a fuller dimensional flower! I used a metal die to cut out some leaves and attached those in just a few spots so they would have the same delicate look of the flowers.

Of course, I can barely make a card these days without using my Florence Alphabets. They are simply the perfect size and you can always coordinate with the right color!

Let's take a close-up look at how I created this card and these dimensional flowers in my quick process video!

 

Do you ever think outside the box with your cutfiles? We'd love to see what you are creating with Bella Blvd files on this World Cardmaking Day! Thanks for stopping by!

Bella Besties Freehand Graph & Dot 6 X 6 Paper Pad, Heart Hugs, Florence Alphabet

 

World Cardmaking Day - Fall Cut File Card

Happy World Cardmaking Day Bella Blvd Fans! While some cut files can make creating a card really easy, others are a little more complicated and time-consuming but still totally worth the effort.  Christine joining you with a Fall Cut File Card that I created using the Bella Besties Freehand Graph & Dot 6 X 6 Paper Pad. Be sure to scroll all the way down to check out the quick Process Video to go with this card!

Fall Cut File Card

This specific owl cut file does not come from a fall collection BUT because I used the Freehand Graph & Dot 6 X 6 Paper Pad, I was able to choose my colors and give it a fall feel.

This was one of those fun, lighthearted cards that sometimes you just want to make. As soon as I saw the owl, I knew it would make for a fun and punny card!

This owl is made up of lots of small detailed parts. A sharp blade and a slow speed on your machine will prevent tearing.

My kids are all into puns these days so one of them will definitely love this card. Florence Alphabets made it easy to add my own cheesy pun!

Let's take a look at the Process Video for how this Fall Cut File Card came together:

Whooooo else is creating lighthearted cards today? How about cards with puns? Thanks for stopping by to check out mine!

World Cardmaking Day - Clean and Simple Card

Happy World Cardmaking Day Bella Blvd Fans! Sometimes you just need a card to come together quickly without too many tricky techniques. Christine joining you today with a Clean & Simple Card combining layers of Patterned Papers, Heart Hugs, and a Bella Blvd Cut File.

Clean & Simple Card

Cut files are a great way to make a really simple card but still have it look fabulous! This tree card using the Bella Blvd Tree Cut File is the perfect example

I cut out the tree with the cut file but then I actually just did the circles using a circle punch.  Assembling the layers was quick and easy to do!

Bella's products all coordinate beautifully making the Heart Hugs a perfect embellishment for the Squeeze the Day 6 X 6 Paper Pad and the Bella Besties 6 X 6 Paper Pad.

Florence Alphabets are the perfect size for creating one of a kind sentiments as well as sentiments that coordinate perfectly without having to search through every product you own!  

Thanks for stopping by - hope you are creating some fun cards of your own today!

Squeeze the Day 6 X 6 Paper Pad, Heart Hugs, Bella Besties Freehand Graph & Dot 6 X 6 Paper Pad, Florence Alphabet

 

 

 

Squeeze the Day Cards | Erica Thompson

I love making cards just as much as I love creating layouts! When creating cards I love to keep it simple and just like my layouts I love a crisp white base! 

I pulled out the Squeeze the Day 6x6 paper pad and embellishments to get started. I also pulled out some of my punches and dies! Using tools like this helps to create quick and easy cards! 

Another thing that helps make these cards quick and easy is no stamping! I use die cuts, alphas and stickers to create my sentiments! 

All 3 of my cards are A2 sized cards and the panels are cut down to 4 x 5.25. For my first card I cut a punch of 1 inch circles with my circle punch and arranged them on the bottom of my card panel. I added a strip of black pattern paper from the 6x6 paper pad at the top of the punched circles and pulled out the super cute Bella Pop. I used the black Florence alpha stickers to add my simple sentiment! I love all the color and texture this card has!

My next card I used the Bella Bestie 6x6 paper pad and pulled out a rainbow of colors. I cut them down into strips and ran them through my scallop border punch. I adhered them to the left side of my card panel and then rounded the corners of the panel. I popped it up on my white card base and added a black heart with the sentiment Bananas For You! I love that pop of black on all that color! 

My last card I pulled out my circle punches and circle dies to create 4 different sized circles. I arranged them on my white panel popping the biggest one up on foam adhesive. I pulled out the Squeeze the Day Ephemera Words pack and found the perfect arrow with the words You Did It to use as my sentiment! I added a chipboard heart and one of the new colorful epoxy hearts as well. I popped this panel up as well on some foam adhesive! 

I hope you get some time to create some quick and easy cards! It is nice to create a bunch of these cards to have on hand. 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Squeeze the Day 6x6 Paper Pad | Bella Besties 6x6 Paper Pad | Bella Pop Pearfect | Epoxy Stickers Heart Icons | Squeeze the Day Chipboard Icons | Squeeze the Day Ephemera Words | 

Fall Inspired Layout

Hello Bella Blvd Friends! It's Leanne here today sharing a Fall inspired layout using a combination of Squeeze The Day and Bella Besties!

Colors and the iconic gathering of leaves was my starting point for creating today's layout. Fall or Autumn in Queensland, Australia isn't the dramatic seasonal change people think of, when entering the cooler months of the year. However, I wanted to use colors that offer a fresh palette but is also grounded with a touch of traditional flourish.

I also wanted to challenge myself with using patterned papers for the majority of the layout. The grey, pink, black and gulf colors are offset with the small punches of orange.

The title is a combination of three Bella Blvd alphabet stickers. Not only is this a great way to dip into your stash, but the mix of both large and small fonts draw the eye towards this focal point. Having the alphabet stickers overlap each other is a play on the words used. The word "lost" almost needs to be found before the title makes sense.

The Autumn leaves on this page are a mix of Bella Blvd Silhouette Design Store cut files. I have used Oregano (ID#293596), Lemon (ID#298763) and Pink Flower (ID#288531). The Squeeze The Day and Bella Besties mini paper pads are ideal for using with the cut files. The smaller patterns on the paper don't overwhelm the delicate silhouette shapes.

Finally, I added a paper bow for girly elegance and a few Oh My Stars gift tags to represent luggage tags. Keeping it simple with the tags, allows the leaf cluster to become the hero piece of the layout.

Thanks for visiting the blog today! I hope I have shared with you a slightly different colour palette for Fall.

Squeeze The Day: 6x6 mini paper pad, Epoxy Icons, Heart Epoxy, Ephemera Words; Bella Besties: Gulf Graph & Dot, Cotton Candy Graph & Dot, Oyster Graph & Dot, 6x6 mini paper pad; Oh My Stars: gift tags; Florence Alphabet Stickers: Oyster Florence; Tiny Text Alphabet Stickers: Pumpkin Spice; Sweet Baby Girl Treasures & Text stickers; Silhouette Design Store: Bella Blvd cut files.