thankful - a gratitude journal

I'm sharing details on the inside pages of the journal that I put together using the November project kit from JBS Mercantile on my bluebirdchic.com blog today!

us - and a thankful journal

{photo by megan klauer photography}

Sharing a peek at what I put together using the November JBS Mercantile kits today! I'm still in love with feathers - and I love the colors in these kits! ^_^

I've also put together the November project kit! It features more custom made flair and and two pages of handdrawn, watercolored printable journaling cards. Can't wait to share more of this!

Also note: I will slowly be moving my posting of all papercrafting projects over to my bluebirdchic.com blog. It has been a tough decision to let this little blog go, but I've decided that I've outgrown it. And to better be able to share who I am and all of the things I'm involved in, I felt that I should move it all to one place. I'm doing a lot less scrapbooking, so it won't take over the other blog to post 5-6 projects there per month. This blog will stay up, I just won't be posting to it as actively. Eventually, I'll sign off with a post directing traffic to my other blog. I share lots of other fun creative things that I do there - recipes, craft projects, what I'm reading, and thoughts on life - like the cultivate gratitude series for November. I'd love it if you decided to join me there!

november kit peek & a journey of gratitude

I can not. Wait. I helped put together this November project kit for JBS Mercantile - and when it all arrived on my doorstep, it made me so happy. Just looking at it all come together is a beautiful thing when you've trawled sites looking for the best products to pull together to make something that you love! the kit will also include custom chalkboard style flairs that I designed, and not one, but TWO printable sheets of 3x4 cards to help journal your gratitude for the month of November! Eee!! the cards include hand drawn illustrations/graphics that I put together, and I so love them. Can't wait to dig into this kit!

I'll also be putting together a few prompts for ideas on journaling the things that you're thankful for, and cultivating a spirit of gratitude for yourself and your family. It's something I've been working on in my heart and life daily, and it can help you get through even the toughest times to remember the things that you're blessed with! I'll be putting together a series of blog posts in the month of November highlighting those prompts, and they'll be posted on my blog at bluebirdchic.com if you'd like to join in. I want it to be a time of lifting up, sharing thoughts and love with others. One of the biggest things that I've learned through this discipline is that gratitude for the things that we're blessed with builds into so many other positive things in life, and I so want to share that with you!

mixed media - Maya Road clipboard

One of our assignments for the Summer CHA show for Maya Road was to create a clipboard that was "all about me". At first I had reservations, but once I got into it, I really had a great time creating.

It's messy. And includes one of my favorite current color palettes. Overall, it stretched me a bit, but I'm glad that I did it!

JBS Mercantile September kit awesomeness

This month's kits are, as always, really fun to work with! The bold, bright colors were a nice switch from so much of the soft pastels that are in right now. And I'm always such a sucker for a great circle stamp!!

And I can't forget to add that I so loved putting this album kit together. Be sure to grab one before they're gone! There are some great detail photos of the supplies that you get in the kit here. 

It includes this exclusive flair set that I designed just to go along with the kit! And the fun printable block alpha comes as a downloadable file that you can use in either pink of green. 

Hope you're having an amazing week!

JBS September project kit - full reveal

I have mentioned previously that I'm super excited about this month's project kit - and now I have a chance to share the complete album! I used this album to document a few "currents" on our boys, but you could easily use it as an "all about me" for yourself, or an album to record a bit about the school year. The kit also includes pink ribbons and alphabet printable (I've used the green), so that you can make this album suitable for girls.

Scattered throughout the album, you'll see bits of a fun set of flair that I designed exclusives for this kit. They're definitely a new favorite of mine.

The album kit comes with complete, detailed instructions so that you can assemble the album.

Stop by the website to grab one if you're interested!

sneak peek - jbs september project kit

Offering up a peek at a project that has kept me busy the last couple of days! I had the privilege and fun of pulling together the September project kit for JBS Mercantile, and I can't wait to share the full reveal!

If you follow my business blog, you remember that I've started the process of offering wholesale flair - and this was a part of that process. I custom designed this very fun, exclusive set just for the project kit, and it has to be one of my favorites so far. It also includes two different sets of the alpha tabs in both green and pink.

Full reveal coming soon! Kits go on sale at midnight on September 1st! ^_^

pretty party decor

I thought this was a fun twist on a sweet banner for a birthday party if you're looking for something a bit new!

The bows were cut on my silhouette cameo, and the tassels were just made using ribbons...

And a fun little favor box to stash goodies in - which is actually two pyramids glued bottoms together. The sides open for filling. :)

To see more info and a complete supply list, stop by the American Crafts blog!

Happy Friday! WooHoo!

nautical party placesetting

I shared a fun, whimsical, nautical themed party place setting on the American Crafts blog last week or so, and wanted to take a minute to post it here! The post there includes a little step by step to create the burlap napkin rings, too!

rise and shine hip tote

For winter CHA 2013, Caroline challenged the Maya Road team to alter a canvas hip tote. It was really fun to see how different {and awesome} they all came out!

For a few tips on how I created the tote, stop by the Maya Road blog post today!

Happy Friday!

anchors away!

Pop in to the Maya Road blog today to see the fun wreath that I put together for their recent HSN spot. Lots of fun. You can see a complete supply list there, as well!

Happy May Day!

wreath inspiration - make your own sunshine

I have a post up on the Maya Road blog today! You can see a few tips on how I made this wreath in the post!

Happy Monday!

new jbs March kits are live!

I had so much fun designing the March project kit! It features this great clipboard album from the Maggie Holmes line by Crate Paper. Yay! I chose to document all of the fun cakes that I love to make from scratch - it's a big part of birthdays around here to choose the cake that you want. I make everything from cheesecake, to Guinness chocolate cake, to stacked shortcakes, and yummy plain vanilla.

I chose to document that aspect of our birthday celebrations, but it's an awesome way to document any part of your birthdays! Here's a link to the March JBS Mercantile project kit if you're interesting in grabbing one.

I also loved playing with the main JBS kit + the Artisan add on this month!

I journaled a bit on the card that's tucked behind the photos - about what I love about scrapbooking. It helps me see the beauty in life - even when things aren't perfect, or they're a bit chaotic. And that's a good thing.

You can find this month's March JBS Mercantile kits here.

Happy Friday!

vintage feather wreath

Sharing a wreath today that I put together  using all of those great vintagey neutrals that Jenni Bowlin always includes with each line that she has! The feather shape was one of the exclusive kit cuts from last month, and was perfect with a little bit of stitching, a splash of white out Maya Mist {from Maya Road}, and a simple burlap bow.

Feel free to stop in at the JBS Inspiration blog for a bit more detail on making this paper feather wreath!

trendy for christmas

As much as I love a traditional look, I also adore being able to be just a bit trendy for the holidays. It was super fun to use the 5th & Frolic line to make these ornaments for this year!

Pop in to the American Crafts blog to see more!

it's a jbs christmas

Over on the inspiration blog this month, the design team has been sharing ideas for holiday decor, gift tags, wrapping, and cards - love all of the tags, advent calendars, packaging... I really adore this time of year! 

I put together these sweet little trees for our shelf:

You can check out the post here for a supply list and a few tips on making them!

And Jenni is celebrating the holidays with an open house! 

You can check out details here - she has special vintage items, and a December Daily kit as well!

Such a fun little collection of goods!

I've been hopping with holiday orders in my shops - and am hoping to send out a little update in the next week of goods, etc in the newsletter. I've got more holiday flair buttons ordered, and a few more new styles of camera strap cover to list before the holidays. I've given up on getting my new item up before the holidays. lol I just can't squeeze one more thing in at the moment!

Happy Friday!

prepping for the holidays - thanksgiving placecards

I love the holiday season... and this project that I put together for American Crafts was jut the right thing to start getting me into the holiday spirit!

I'm really loving the cameo, eh?

If you're interested in the supply list, pop in on the blog post to check it out. :)

Happy Hump Day!

halloween tags

Sharing a few tags that I made for Halloween featuring the Pumpkin Patch line form American Crafts. I love Halloween and all of the fun that goes along with it!

I'm still playing with a lot of watercolors in most stuff that I'm doing - love the look and feel of my projects when I use them!

fallin' for flair

I've had a long time love affair with the stuff {shh. don't tell hubby. Well, I'm sure he actually already knows. LOL}Flair was always one of the very first things that I grabbed from The American Crafts collections WAY back when! I love that so many companies make their own fun and unique flair now. I say, the more the merrier! I used the fun tin pins from October Afternoon's Witch Hazel line. Cassie has the whole line in the Paper Issues shop!

Over on the Paper Issues blog, the current theme up is Fallin' for Flair! Feel like winning some awesome goodies from A Flair for Buttons? Stop by the Paper Issues post for details on winning and link up your flair button project! It doesn't even have to be new - it can be something you've already made!

dream

I sometimes dream of winter. It was always my favorite season...

And I think I need to stock up on a little stash of tags... they're a great exercise in creativity that get you creating without pressure...