Final Bella challenge card...

German Phrase of the Day: Immer mit der Ruhe. = Calm Down. Or literally, Always with the calm. I like the literal translation...it works! This is a good phrase for this time of year. Everyone is hustling about, trying to be sure to get the present they think will make that person on their list happy. I actually have almost all of my shopping done already, but I have to say I was really impressed when I read this post of Erika's about her family traditions for Christmas. I have such admiration for that - and only wish I had thought if it myself! I think next year when we're back in the states we'll try to do something like that with Julia - at least the providing Christmas presents for another child/family part. I think she's too attached to getting presents herself at this point to stop.

This is the last card I completed for the Bella challenges last weekend. This was a sketch challenge provided by Jamie, and she also required us to use our first Bella. I suppose this technically isn't my first bella, but it is the first Bella I purchased! I just love cosmobella and want to be her. She is so perky and cute...it's almost disgusting! ;-)

She is stamped with Palette Noir ink on watercolor paper, and colored in with aquapainter and Watercolor Crayons. After coloring her, I added some Crystal Effects to her glass, and some sparkle to her flipflops. I distressed the edges, then layered her on some Certainly Celery with distressed edges.

The card base is Chocolate Chip, and I used some more of my old spring mini paper that I still have stashed away. I love the colors of this paper, and thought the stripes would go well with this layout. I used some wide celery grosgrain, and stamped the Cheers sentiment onto some scrap paper and then punched it out with my word window punch.

When I first saw the sketch I was really ensure of it, but after getting this together, I've decided it works! Definitely different for me to put the image flush to a corner like this...but I like it! That's one of the things I love about doing these challenges, it forces me out of my own box and expands my thinking.

Thanks for visiting today!

Supplies: (all supplies are SU! unless otherwise noted)
Stamps: Cosmobella StampingBella,
CS: Watercolor paper, Chocolate Chip, Blush Blossom, Certainly Celery, retired SU! DSP
Ink: Palette Noir, chocolate chip
Acc: sponge, aquapainter, Rhinestone stickers, word window punch, spica glitter pen, WWC, wide celery grosgrain, paper distresser

TFL!
-Jana