Bella Blvd Studio Blog

Squeeze the Day Mini by Kim Watson

I am happy to close off 'cut file week' with this cool idea. Do you know that the the Bella Blvd's Silhouette store is bursting with the coolest cut files? I grabbed a few that coordinate with Bella's latest collection, 'Squeeze the Day', and created this mini book.

Squeeze the Day by Kim Watson

The idea was to take some of the fruit shapes and create shaped pages, filled with sweet goodness :) Here are some details from my creative process. 

 

Using the 6x6 paper pads, I cut a variety of pages. I created white offset outlines with patterned fills. 

 

2" and 2.5" photos, mounted onto patterned paper and decorated with die cuts, enamel stickers, word stickers & washi tape, make each page a riot of color. 

The NEW matte finish enamel dots, glossy enamel hearts and washi tape make building these pages so much fun. The cool thing is, by using washi tape to attach the photos, means you can lift them like little flaps, making room for more photos underneath.

This little mini book has place for x16 photos! 

 

Punched through the top leaf on each page & attached to a jump ring, the mini book looks fabulous assembled. A DIY, colored, twine tassel slipped onto the ring, finishes it off perfectly. 

 

....and here is the completed album! A bright, fun, riot of pattern & color! I hope you have enjoyed my process & are inspired to grab some new cut files & try this for yourself? If you'd like to buy some of this NEW, just released, by Bella, 'Squeeze the Day' collection, be sure to stop by their online store, the links are below.

If you'd like to see a flip through of the entire album & details, be sure to stop by my Instagram account.

You can also view my YouTube video flip-thru of this album! I am so glad you stopped by! Have an awesome weekend!

Hugs Kim XXXX

Squeeze the Day Embellishment Bundle, Florence Alphabet Bundle, Bella Washi Tapes, Squeeze The Day Collection kit

Shine Bright with Wendy

Hello and Goodbye Bella Blvd family! Wendy here for the last time as I'm headed back to school as a teacher! I've been homeschooling my kids for 17 years so this is quite an adjustment that will take some time. Before I go, I thought I would share my first pages in my Back to School Traveler's Notebook!

I am returning as a middle school teacher and unlike the high school world, rooms actually get decorated. After pursuing Pinterest, this is the classroom I created with the help of my Silhouette. I am quite proud of my accomplishment and hope my students enjoy their time here.

I began my page with the light bulb cut file from Bella Blvd as my theme is Shine Bright, I added in some silver Stickles for a sparkly touch.

I love Bella's acrylic words, so I was so pleased to find the Shine piece in my stash making my title Shine Bright.

To anchor my pictures I added in the borders from the Pop Quiz! collection, perfect for my math room.

Homework, a necessity in math and I used the Come to Class paper again from the Pop Quiz! collection as the math was scribbled about just like homework would be.

Thanks so much for stopping by and thank you Bella Blvd for many happy years working with your products!  

Oh My Stars:  Bell Pepper Stars

Pop Quiz:  Borders, Daily Details, Get to Class, Ciao Chip, Cardstock Stickers

Florence Alphabet Stickers:  Black

Acrylic Shapes:  Stars

Acrylic Word:  Shine

 

Transform 6x6 papers into a cute Mini Book by Kim Watson

Mini books are fabulous right?

Well, I decided to challenge myself using this week's theme by taking some 6x6 paper pieces & transforming them into a cute mini book. 

'Wanna' see the result?

Sunny Days Mini Book by Kim Watson

Using 'Splash Zone' collection means this little book is perfect to capture our fave summer photos. The colors, icons & hot summery vibe makes this mini book a winner.

Below I will explain how simple it is to make one for yourself.

 

Step #01

• Cut four 6"x6" OR two 12"x6" pieces of white card stock & score them at 3" intervals, then fold into a concertina.

 

Step #02

• Join the pieces into one long 24x6" strip using washi tape. 
• Cut a variety of 6x6" patterned paper to make 'pockets.
• Cut out some 3x4" journal cards from the Daily Details Sheet, trim them to 2.75"x4", to enable them to fit on the pages better.
• Cut some 2.75x5" tags from card stock or patterned paper to slip into your pockets.

Step #03

• Fold the patterned paper pocket pieces in half & stitch them closed, then adhere them to the mini book pages.

 

 

Step #04

• Work on your cover. I stitched a piece of white chevron acetate to white card stock, creating a great base for the other elements.
• Layer chipboard icons, ephemera & ephemera words together to create a fun cover.

 

Step #05

• Now for the inside pages. Add little flaps, attaching them with washi tape.
• Make space for photos & journaling.
• Use word stickers & ephemera to decorate.

 

Step #06

• Little details & sentiment stickers will prompt the photos you need to print out for each page.

 

Are you as excited about the final book as I am? I mean seriously, who would have guessed that a few 6x6" pieces of paper & embellishments could have ended up so cute! I really, really hope you are inspired to try & make one for yourself. There will be a video walk through of the book on my instagram account soon, so check it out. 

If you'd like to buy some of the 'Splash Zone' products for yourself, follow the links below to the Bella online store. 

Love ya all <3 <3 

 

 

Splash Zone (all products), Splash Zone Collection kit 

 

 

Turning Scraps into Something Fab!

Hi Bella friends, it's Tegan and I am excited to share my Scrap Bust Challenge project with you! I figured a mini album would be perfect for documenting our strawberry picking pictures and allow me to use up my bigger paper scraps. I had so much fun finding creative ways to work with the leftover stickers and tiny paper scraps too! On the cover, I used the small scraps and a border punch to create little scalloped pieces that I adhered and then stitched with embroidery floss.

I first collected paper and embellishment scraps from the Mom Life, Island Escape, Wish Big Girl, and Bug Adventure collections. My goal was to use up the Island Escape Sticker and Chipboard Sticker sheets as well as the orange Puffy Heart stickers. Mixing and matching these collections was so easy because all of the Bella Blvd collections blend so well!

I started by using the scalloped circle shape from the Bella Blvd Birthday Sayings cutfile to cut out my pages from all of my bigger scrap pieces. I then adhered them together to form the album pages. I then cut out circle shapes from more patterned paper scraps and adhered those to the middle of my scalloped circle pages. On my first page, since the square woodgrain sticker had a beach phrase on it, I layered it underneath the chipboard flowers. I then adhered my typed journaling onto some smaller scraps of patterned paper. I love the color the paper adds to the journaling!

Don't be like me at first and be afraid to cut up your extra stickers! Originally, the sticker here said There's Nothing Like a Sunset. I simply cut off the a Sunset part and created my own phrase using McIntosh color Bella Blvd Florence stickers! 

Left on the Chipboard sheet was the word SEA. Obviously, I wasn't documenting water pictures so I used the S, E, A and Bella Blvd Wonky Alpha Puffy alphabet stickers to create a fun and AWESOME (wink, wink!) word design on one of my pages! 

I loved this challenge because it made me step back and think about what fun techniques I could do with my little paper scraps. Here I fussy cut hearts out of the Mom Life Daily Details patterned paper and then hand stitched on them after adhering them to my page. I love this hand made design and the texture! 

Thanks for joining me on my scrapbusting journey today! I challenge you to dig out some of your Bella Blvd scraps and create your own fun project. I am sure you will have as much fun as I did! 

Island Escape Collection: Chipboard Icons, Sticky Mix, Borders Patterned Paper, Good Vibes Patterned Paper, Moonlit Kisses Patterned Paper, Peace and Quiet Patterned Paper, Daily Details Patterned Paper, Tropical Bliss Patterned Paper

Mom Life Collection: Houseplants Patterned Paper, Jammies All Day Patterned Paper, My Tribe Patterned Paper

Wish Big Girl Collection: Borders Patterned Paper, Daily Details Patterned Paper, Let's Celebrate Patterned Paper

Bug Explorer Collection: Nature Study Patterned Paper, Daily Details Patterned Paper

Florence Alphabet Sticker - McIntosh

Wonky Alphabet Puffy Sticker - McIntosh

Puffy Hearts - Orange Mix

Bella Blvd Birthday Sayings cut file

 

 

Birthday Calendar Rolodex Cards by Tessa Buys

Hello, Bella Blvd. friends! Tessa Buys here with a fun and functional project for celebrating birthdays featuring the darling Wish Big collection.

Keeping track of birthdays for all your friends and family can be daunting, but this method will allow you to stay organized and include some memory keeping as well. I made a Rolodex-style card for each month of the year using patterned papers, Florence alphas, acrylic words, die-cuts, and cardstock stickers from the Wish Big collection.

As a fun addition to some of the cards, I added my favorite party decor staple—crepe paper streamers!

Here are some ideas for recording all of your important dates:

1. Make a blank card for each month on which you can list the birthdays for that month.

2. Trim a photo of the birthday boy or girl into a card and write or use stickers to add their birthday to the photo. You can update as the years go by if you’d like.

3. Save tags or memorabilia from birthday parties and add them to the tray.

I love when something can be decorative and functional, so this fun tray is a welcome addition to my desk that’s going to keep me on my toes for all the birthdays coming up. Be sure to pick up the Wish Big collection to make one of your own. Happy creating!

 

Mini Album Pages with Splash Zone

I've finally gotten around to filling up the rest of my Summer 2018 Mini Album. This little 4x4 album has been one of my best tools for scrapping easy memories.

I chose this great photo of my kiddo at the fountains, before he got all kinds of wet on this hot summer day. I loved those perfect little red overalls, and I loved how the Splash Zone collection, includes subtle hints of red too, that I could draw out.

On the left side of the 4x4 spread, I chose to back my photo with this great teal paper in the collection, to bring out the teal in the background of the photo. I layered on a cloud and these amazing sunglasses from the chipboard sheet. I chose to attach this page with tabs.

For my journaling I wanted to add in a pocket and tag page. I really love these inside 4x4 albums. I chose a teal pocket and punched my two holes. I then trimmed down a tag and slid it inside, to include my journaling. I couldn't help but use the amazing "Splish Splash" acrylic word layered on top, because it was just oh so perfect!

I think I'll be using up the Splash Zone collection before I know it, because the illustrations are just so cute!  

Splash Zone Collection, 4x4 Mini Album, & Tags

 

 

Fireworks & Freedom Mini Album

Hey Bella Friends! It's Leanne here and this week the designers get to play with their collection of choice! I'm so excited about this as I've wanted to use the new Fireworks & Freedom collection with a specific project in mind. Today I am sharing a 4"x4" mini album I created for my daughter's amazing holiday to the USA last year.

As this project will be gifted to my daughter so she can record her memories, I haven't added any photos. Instead I have left designated spaces for her to place her favourite snapshots. By creating the mini in this manner, it is also the ideal "blank" canvas if you wanted to recreate something similar for yourself.

Start by gathering your supplies: the Fireworks & Freedom collection, ribbons, string and lace in coordinating colours and some jump rings to keep the album safely together.

By using the Daily Details patterned paper as a starting point I've already got the base pages for my mini album prepared. Simply trim the paper into the pre-printed segments and keeping in mind the bulk of the mini album is sized to 4"x4".

The Front Cover

Once I established my base page order, the front cover was layered with a slightly smaller square of Land That I Love . Using a circle shaped metal die, create a window where Ephemera Icons can be layered on top with foam tape.

Inside the album the pages are pretty much self explanatory. Here's a look through at some of the layouts.

Some of the pages have been separated with Clear Cuts acetate sheets for interest and aesthetic design.

Most pages have white space included, which will provide ample room for journaling or notes. 

Other pages have interactive elements where a tab has been provided to help explore hidden paper features.

While other pages have layers of embellishments because.. why not?! *grin*

No mini album devoted to a USA trip could be complete without a small tribute to a certain Mouse. Punch out three circles from black cardstock to create this iconic image.

Finally, the 3"x4" flag card from the Daily Details paper is placed at the back of the album. Tie the ribbon, string, lace and other bits and pieces to one of the jump rings and enjoy filling your new album with memories.

 

Fireworks & Freedom: Boom Boom, Daily Details, Juicy Fruits, Land That I Love, Love the USA, Truck Parade; Doohickey 12x12 stickers; Ephemera Icons; Ephemera Words; Clear Cuts: Blueberry Chevies, McIntosh Stars; Heart Hugs: Rainy Day, Wild Berry.

 

 

Acrylic Words: A Mini Album's Best Friend

  This week on the Bella feed, it's been all about the Acrylic Words! I've been having an absolute blast working through this 4x4 mini album, using my collection of acrylic words.  They of course belong on layouts and on my Bible pages, but I've found a new love of putting them everywhere on my mini album.

I started out my 4x4 album with a little title using the Illustrated Faith Homespun Alphas, and I represented my color palette for my album using some vintage buttons.  I love to start mini albums this way, so that I keep a cohesive color palette for the entire project.

I let this photo from a local wetlands trip be the centerpiece of the beginning of the album, because I loved this summery, yellow flower!

In mini albums I love to include little pockets for journaling.  For this particular page, I sewed the edges of the photo, so that I could slide in a tag.

For this acrylic word, I simply stitched the ends onto my plastic sheet protector.  This way I could still customize the back of the page any way I liked.




I thought I would include a little tutorial for how I created the decorative tabs for non-sheet protected items.  I simply punched my Bella papers as shown below, and then I stitched them directly onto my tags and photos!

For this acrylic word, I simply adhered it to the edge of my photo!  I love the way it makes the photo pop!


This rainbow divider was made out of a trimmed down clear-cuts!  They are amazing for mini albums because the Illustrated Faith clear-cuts are thick and sturdy!


I'm still working in this little mini album, so it's not quite finished, but I wanted to share what an asset your Bella Acrylic Words can be to any mini album.  I finished this section with a selfie, and this perfect "Smile" acrylic!

 

Thank you so much for stopping by to check out my mini album today! I really hope you got some inspiration for your next mini album, and I hope it includes some acrylic words! xo Lydia

 

Acrylic Words, IF Homespun Alphas, IF Clear Cuts, Plaids & Dotty, Bug Explorer, Mom Life, Pop Quiz, & Island Escape Papers, Bug Explorer Sticky Mix, Chipboard & Ephemera,  Cute Clips, IF Mini Hexies, Wish Big Boy Words Ephemera, IF Pen, Puffy Stars

Island Escape Mini Album

 

The Island Escape collection has become one of my absolute favorite Bella Blvd collections ever!  It is so vivid and beautiful, and I'm so excited to use it for every summer project I have.  I wanted to create a unique mini album to document our 2016 California vacation, and this collection was the perfect companion.  I hope you guys enjoy!

 
  


  

 

 

I'm so glad you stopped by today to see some of my family's vacation memories! I can't wait to see what all of you create with the Island Escape collection! xo Lydia

Island Escape Collection, Wonky Puffy Alphas, Illustrated Faith Enamel Hearts, Illustrated Faith Homespun Alpha Stickers, Illustrated Faith Precision Pen, Illustrated Faith Acrylic Paint, Bella Blvd Enamel Dots, Seeds of Faith 12x12 Fundamental Sheet, Illustrated Faith Tiny Alpha Sticker Booklet

December Documenting with Sarah

Good morning everyone!! Sarah here this morning with my first post for the Bella team and I am so excited!! I pulled out my Santa Stops here free standing album kit and decided to turn it into my December Documented album for this year. Every year when I make one of these, I go through and do my prep work and add more in as I go. I always like to keep it simple at first and add more embellishments on top of my pictures. Be warned, there will be a major picture over load in this post! lol

I go through and add my photos along with embellishments and I have to say for me, I love doing the whole album but the embellishing is my all time favorite. I add layers behind some of my photos before putting them down, then add my stickers and other pretties.I think my main problem is I always want to add to much and my album is heavier on one side. 

As Im going through and making my album I include all of our yearly traditions and then our day to day as well. Like on this page, I had my first Peppermint mocha from Starbucks, my mom and we went for one while we were out doing a little shopping, she is also the one who caught the picture of me, so I got it from here and added it in and kept the little cozy from around my cup, punched a few holes and added it in to the album.

And when I get to pages where I can add some more journaling in where I already know we have things planned I get a little of that done and in my album until I can print my pictures.

Going through my prep pages you'll see where I dont have some of my daily numbers stuck down. I do this so that If I need to move it because I have more that I want to add to a day then I can do that and not worry about having to pull anything up and mess something up, even though I always know theres cute thins I can cover a boo boo with.

I do plan on sharing my finished album during the first week of January on my Instagram with all the beautiful Bella Blvd products!!

 

Bella Blvd/Santa Stops here: Santa Stops here free standing album kit, Ciao Chips, Fundamentals, Ephemera, Pennants, Acrylic word, Illustrated Faith: Homespun Apple of my eye, Hey Sugar Sugar, Holly Jolly Christmas: Gift Tags, Festive Mini bows, Make your mark 6x8 clear cuts pad