Mr. and Mrs.

It sure has been nice having a few days off work this week :) I've been getting a lot of scrapbooking done...gotta love that!

I finished this Custom Wedding Name Album and am super excited to show it to you :) I think the Mr. and Mrs. turned out really cute. I have added a few of these shots to my Etsy listing as well to offer this style to others!

I customized the first couple of pages to show the couples names and their wedding location and date :) I feel the more personalized an album is, the better gift it makes! I know they are going to love it :)

Next I'll be working on some Valentine's Word Albums...stay tuned for pics...

Whoooo Loves You

I actually got a layout done...for myself! It felt so good to just play and create and be selfish and do it all for ME :) I'm a little behind in getting this posted...as I actually did this page over Christmas break! But better late than never, right? And a special thanks to marymarsh for the deer and owl embellishments :) I entered Mary's blog contest...and won these cute little guys! I was really impressed with the way Mary had them all bundled up in this cute little bag. The embellishments are really magnets and large paper clips...but a scrapbooker sees embellishments in everything! The deer magnet gave me the idea to use teal in the page...inspiration comes from everywhere :) And don't forget about my two Blog Giveaways going on right now! Check my last two posts for details :)

Another Paper Crafting Month Giveaway!!!

WooHoo! I have another National Paper Crafting Month Giveaway to introduce you to. It seems I am not the only one excited by this celebration.

Michelle from DonkeySmiles is also having a Blog Giveaway!!!

You have a chance to win everything you see here!

• Three stamp from Alota Rubber Stamps!
• 4 mini rolls of Valentine Ribbons
• Lots of Red and Pink Bridal flowers
• Queen & Co. adheasive Flourish
• and a DCWV Sweets Stack

Wow...that's a lot to win! I'm really excited about this one...I already have the perfect layout idea to use these products on!

Visit her blog today for official entry rules :)

And see my previous post for My Blog Giveaway as well...going on until January 31st!

National Paper Crafting Month Giveaway!!!

Did you know that January is National Paper Crafting Month? What a great time to work on those paper projects! And to celebrate, I am having my first ever Blog Giveaway!!! To Enter to Win: Leave a comment with the link to your favorite item in my Etsy Shop. and for a Second Entry: Tell me what you think I should add to my shop. Pretty easy, right :) Here is what the lucky winner will receive:

This card is made of textured cardstock and is decorated with patterned papers, a printed Love Alphabet, a cute little felt heart and a cardstock heart :) It also comes with a white envelope that has been stamped with another cute little heart. You will receive it just in time for Valentine's Day...how great is that!

Winner will be chosen on January 31st by a random online selector.

Thanks for stopping by...and Good Luck :)

Wordless Wednesday-A slice of my home :)

First Sale of 2009!!!

I was thrilled to get my first sale of 2009 yesterday! I really thought January would be pretty slow. After the holiday rush and with our "wonderful" economy, I didn't quite know what to expect. This just made the sale even more special :) It looks as though my Custom Name and Word Albums are going to be popular again this year!!! Here is the album in process. It will say MR&MRSHARVEY (Mr. and Mrs. Harvey) when finished. The MR and MRS will be vertical on the page to make room for the last name. I know it's a little hard to see right now...don't worry, I will definitely be taking more pictures when it is finished :)

I plan on adding more Name and Word Albums to my shop in 2009. Many more premade options and more custom options as well. Keep watch for these new albums in my shop soon :)

A New Year-A Great Feature :)

Oh my...where do I start! It's been a little while since I've blogged and so much has happened over the past couple of weeks! My parents have been here from Michigan and I have been spending so much time with them that I had to give my blog a short rest.

I wanted my first blog post of 2009 to be spectacular :) That is why I am choosing to feature Brigitte Marie Fontaine of brigittemarie today :) Brigitte was so kind to make my dad's Christmas present this year and I absolutely fell in love with it...he almost didn't receive it :)

I want you to get to know this great artist, so I did an interview with Brigitte. Enjoy the read :)

How long have you been painting?

I've been drawing and painting since I was little but I really made it my focus in high school, taking 2 art classes almost every year! In college, I double majored in Education and Studio Art, painting and drawing. Fortunately I was able to find a place in Alexandria with enough space for a mini studio! And miraculously I still find time to paint after teaching K-6 art full time. Painting has always been my "me-time" you could say.

What got you started?

I have always done small paintings or drawings for people as gifts.As far as doing painting on commission, when my sister first moved out on her own, she wanted art for her apartment! She "hired" me and sent me photographs to work from. Now five, six years later she still has me doing paintings for her home! She has encouraged me to expand my network through Etsy, coworkers, friends, roommates, etc. I have been working steadily on custom painting after custom painting since!

What is your favorite item in your shop right now?

My favorite item in my shop right now is the print of "Three Satin Dresses." I had a selfish artist moment and just could not part with the original. The painting is from a photo I took while wedding dress shopping with my sister, recently married this fall. I just loved the light from the window shining on the satin, and how odd yet beautiful the three main wedding dresses looked as figures in the display window. There are also three of us sisters in my family so I felt the painting reflected that sisterly bond!!

What work are you most proud of?

My sister and brother-in-law gave me this photograph of his motorcycle on an overlook of the Blue Ridge Parkway down in Shenandoah. I had to make a motorcycle look as "beautiful" as the mountain view! My banner is actually a piece of the photograph of that painting... When the phrase "Motorcycle painting" pops into your head, it is normally not be something you would want to hang in your living room. It turned out to have a nice masculine-feminine balance and I was somehow able to make this quite a lovely painting for their home.

Where can people find you on/off the web? Etsy, Blog, Twitter, etc.

Actually this is my first online endeavor in marketing my skills and artwork so I am only on Etsy! I have not looked into Blog and Twitter. I do love how official, organized, and safe Etsy is to buy, sell, request, etc.

Do you do any other crafts?

I can crochet. I have made blankets for everyone in my family and some scarves! I also dabble in ceramics, which I find very therapeutic.

I hope you enjoyed the interview and will check out Brigitte's Etsy Store :)

Here's to a Successful New Year! And to more great blog posts :)