BBA May Challenge - Inspiration

 This month's Blogging Business Artisans Challenge is brought to us by Sharla of Beaded Tail. Sharla says: Your challenge is to incorporate your favorite inspiration into a project of your choice.

I would have to say that one of my biggest inspirations are my customers! If you've read much of my blog at all, you know that a lot of my custom orders get put in my shop as new listings. I love custom work because it opens up so many windows and gives me so many new ideas! And one custom order may lead to two or three new ideas for my shop!

My Wood Wedding Invitations are no exception! As of right now, I only have two designs listed in my shop (with many more ideas still to come!) But each order I've received for the invitations has been for a different and unique design.

 

My very first order was of this tree design. The couple sent me the design they'd used for other items for their wedding and I incorporated it into their invitations. I love how it turned out.

 

The second set was of my Carved Tree Design. This design has done really well and I love it on the invitations. Only a few minor adjustments were made to this original design.

  

 This third set is very similar to the original tree design, but the couple emailed their own drawing of the tree with a few adjustments. I think the little leaves finish it off...so cute :)

 

 For this next set, the couple described their ideal invitation and I emailed a few digital samples and we came up with this heart bunting design. This one will definitely be making an appearance in my shop! I added their names to the bunting to make them even more personal!

My most current set is for a couple getting married on a mountain top in Colorado! They loved the wood invitations for the rustic feel and wanted a design that would match their wedding theme. This mountain graphic was just perfect!

I love how each of these invitations is so unique and personal to the bride and groom! My customers are so inspiring and their ideas spark even more ideas in me :) I can't wait to create more designs for these invitations!

Stand up for What is Right

I have always been one of those people who stood up for what is right. I've always been the spokesperson for my class, my team, my dept. at work...basically any group I've ever been a part of. I'm not afraid to speak my mind and I don't like to see people being treated unfairly. I can't sit by and watch injustice.

Last week I received a call from my mortgage company that my payment had not been received. It has apparently gotten lost in the mail because I had mailed it on June 6th (and I double checked to make sure). During the call, they informed me that I would need to pay a late fee of $24.75 and that I could make the payment over the phone for a fee of $20.00. I don't think so! I repeatedly told them that I would happily pay my bill, but I would by no means be paying any fees. I mailed this bill over 10 days in advance of when it was due. Had I forgotten to make the payment, I would gladly pay their fees. I realize this wasn't their fault, but it wasn't mine either and I wasn't going to pay for a mistake that was not mine. After about 30 min. on the phone, I was finally making my payment without any other fees. I got all the fees waived :) Being persistent and standing up for what is right paid off! I refuse to be taken advantage of!

My point of this post...Stand Up For Yourself, Stand Up For What Is Right! Do not let others walk all over you! So many times I see people too scared to stand up for themselves. Remember...You Are Worth It! And you deserve what is right :)

Just Go For It

What a great weekend this is turning out to be! Not only have I gotten a ton of work done, but I spoke to two local wineries about adding my items to their gift shops!!!

The one winery I already have my scrapbooks in, but I wanted to talk to them about my new lasered items. They are very excited about my coasters and want some special picture frames made for a WineStock event they have going on next weekend! What a great opportunity for my items to be seen!

And the second winery I've wanted to talk to for quite some time, but never got up the nerve to just go in. I hated to just show up and solicit my items! But I finally got over it and Just Went For It! It went wonderfully!!! They are also excited about my coasters and would like their logo lasered on some items as well. I might even make a custom scrapbook with their name on it!

My challenge to you...Just Go For It!

What have you been putting off lately? Trying a new technique, using new materials, talking to a gift shop? What ever it is...Just Go For It :)

Just Not Feeling It

Hello? Ambition, are you out there? I haven't seen you in a few days...and I miss you!!!

Do you ever have these days? My poor blog has been neglected all weekend and here it is Monday and I still have nothing put together! I've taken a few photos that I need to edit and share, but haven't gotten that done either!

It seems like some weeks I have more things to share than there are days of the week. And other weeks...nothing!

How do you get out of a slump? Do you blog through it or just take a break?

I hope to be back tomorrow or Wednesday with a more inspiring post :) The sun is shining today, so that's a great start right there!

I ♥ This Album

Customer inspiration has struck again! The last Wedding Date Album I made, I used backslashes in between the dates. But this time I was asked to use hearts.

How seriously awesome did this album turn out!

I love it when the customer and I work together to make the perfect album...and this one was a great success :) Thanks Sharla!

P.S. - Stop by on Thursday for a necklace GIVEAWAY!!!

Thanks for the Inspiration!!!

I have to thank Bri at TheCraftBegins for the inspiration behind this new layout :) I entered one of her blog contests and unfortunately did not win. You want to know the cool part though...she sent me a consolation prize just for entering!!! How thoughtful was that!

She actually sent me a felted pin...but you know me...I made it into a scrapbook embellishment :) The colors of the flower were the inspiration for the color combo on this layout. I hardly ever use these colors, but they were so great for a page about our spring walk that it was just too perfect!

I used scalloped cardstock for the base of the page to add a little fun detail. The next layer is patterned paper and then another layer of cardstock. I traced a punched circle and cut it out by hand to make the orange scallop borders on the top and bottom of the green cardstock. I used lots of cute buttons and flowers to go along with the flower that Bri sent and made sure to put everything in visual triangles. The felted flower, the flower at the top right corner, and the flowers at the bottom left corner all create a visual triangle. Also, the buttons do the same thing. The buttons at the top right, bottom left, and then the one in the middle of my O for the title. This is something I always try and do on my pages to draw the viewers eye into the page :)

I was so glad I created this page :) I may have photos from 5 years ago that need scrapbooked still, but these more recent photos were more inspiring and I wanted to get them put together. Did you know that's okay? To scrapbook out of order? Of course it is! There are no rules to scrapbooking remember...just have fun :)

Where I Find Inspiration

Today I thought I would share will all of you one of the places I find a lot of my inspiration. It is a website called TwoPeasInABucket. It is filled with so many great resources! I love to browse the Member Gallery and see new creations by other "Peas." There is a digital section, photography section, stamping section, and of course...Shopping :) There is something for everyone! My username on twopeas is partyscrapper. I chose this name because it represents a lot of what I scrapbook in my own life. There are so many scrappers with kids, grand kids, husbands, etc. I, on the other hand, have none of these. I scrapbook about my boyfriend, my friends, my dog, etc. I wanted something that set me apart and showed my fun personality :) Check it out for yourself: http://twopeasinabucket.kaboose.com/ and let me know what you think!