What's new? What's news?

and the winner is...

Thank you Amy and Bri at The Savvy Mom's Guide for hosting the duo sister's giveaway!  It was so wonderful connecting with all you savvy moms out there!  I am happy to announce that the winner of The Savvy Mom's Guide: {Giveaway} SewTamz Designs & ArtsyCanvasGirl Designs is Amber from Life Love Photography.  Oh how I love the name of your business!!!  I am so looking forward to working on this project with you!


Spoonflower

Are you familiar with this really cool sight called Spoonflower?  I've known about it for a while but just recently started exploring the site.  It's a place that you can have custom fabric designs printed on to fabric.  I was absolutely amazed and humbled by all the talented designers found on this site.  So, if you are like my sister Tammy from SewTamz Designs, who just loves, loves, loves fabrics.  This is a really great place to find that very specific fabric you are looking for. One of Tammy's very favorite fabric designer house -- Michael Miller -- is having a contest to find their next fabric designer: Project Selvage.  I could not resist the challenge...what a dream job that would be!  Take a peek at my design.  If I am chosen as a finalist, I will need your vote. :)  Good luck to all who entered!

ArtsyCanvasGirl Designs on Etsy

Have you noticed?  I introduced a lower-price point at my Etsy store.  Although there is really no way to describe how incredibly beautiful a canvas enhances the beauty of a portrait -- the texture of the canvas in combination with the deep colors truly make it very special.  But I have found that in today's economy, many of us are living a budget-conscious life-style.  Now I am offering portraits professionally printed on your choice of lustre or glossy finish mounted on matboard ready to frame at a cost of $49.95 (standard sizes are 12x12 or 11x14).  All photo editing, enhancing and typography/design work is included in this price. I do still offer canvas prints and photo prints in a variety of sizes.  I am starting a new design series using words...like FAMILY.  Stay posted for new words!

First in my new series called WORDS: family

MommyB Knows Best

Honestly, there are so many amazing ways to express your creativity and I've got to say the internet really allows us to find the most interesting information to do it and share it! Currently, I am feeling scattered with all the great possibilities.

Inspiration photo

Recently, I befriended Jennifer at MommyB Knows Best via twitter -- a really fun and great way to meet the most interesting people.  Jennifer is doing a birthday party for her youngest daughter who is turning one and asked if I could help with a photo banner.  What a darling idea!  Her inspiration came from this photo...
Jennifer had decided on a party theme -- a cute little owl theme done in chocolate brown, hot pink and polka dots!  Kudos to Rachel at HET Designs.

Design by Rachel at HET Designs

Next, Jennifer sent me a dozen or more photos of her darling daughter (photos taken through the first year -- all so very sweet).  I went to work creating some frame designs that would compliment her party theme.  Then I began editing her photos to make them look festive and nostalgic.  Here are a few of my favorites!  We completed 12 in all.  I had these printed as 5x5 photo cards that can be whole-punched and linked together with ribbon.  Today is the party!  I hope it's a wonderful event!!!  Maybe Jennifer will take a few snapshots so we can see the end results!

5x5 photo cards used for birthday party photo banner.

MommyB Knows Best is a family friendly website that features fun tips and tricks for parents, fresh segments you won't see on other websites, honest in-depth product reviews, and great giveaways.   

Jennifer, I really enjoyed working with you on this project.  Hope the birthday bash was a blast! xoxo

Creative Corner Spotlight: Amy Kuhl Cox

Photo-printed earrings on
shrinky-dink type paper
Blog: Magdalene

I've been fascinated by the recent shrinky dink phenomenon (yes, I was obsessed by shrinky dinks as a child! I remember how neat it was to shrink something to such a tiny scale so perfectly!).  My sister called me one day telling me all the neat stuff she has seen recently on etsy and the internet.  Then I came across Amy Kuhl Cox's blog Magdalene.  She has definitely done some homework on this topic.  Amy is multi-talented artist focusing on jewelry-making, knitting, felting, photography, painting, collaging batik fabrics, sewing and designing aesthetically interesting educational materials for primary-aged children.  I absolutely love her fabric designs on Spoonflower.