Although I aboslutely love creating digital artwork and selling it here at Bits of Ivory - I still like to get my hands (and table) dirty every now and again. I’m thrilled to be offering a few of my handcrafted items for sale now, but wanted to be sure to keep things uncomplicated for customers of Bits of Ivory who buy digital artwork in downloads. To avoid any confusion on whether an item is a digital image or kit, or a real-life, shipped-to-your-home item, I’m selling my handcrafted items at Etsy under the name of Bramble & Vine (BrambleAndVine.etsy.com)

The children are headed back to school this week and I’m hoping to get a few more sets off of my drawing board and into the store here! I’ve also got a few fun little project ideas to post here on the blog so be sure to watch for them.

At long last we have an addition to our “Around the World” collection.  FRANCE includes a flag, an image of France, the Eiffel Tower, borders, fleur de lis, and a tag.  The sentiments on the borders are “bon voyage,” “bon appetit,” and “amities.”   These images are ideal for family histories, travel journals or scrapbooks, missionary books or projects, French class, or cards and paper crafts.  The three 8×8″ fleur de lis backgrounds are beautiful for any project that needs a touch of elegance.  All images are either .jpg or .png and are 300 dpi for print quality.  Click HERE to learn more or purchase this set.

Artwork ©2008 by Barbara Anne Williams

It’s Spring!  The lilacs in our neighborhood are in full bloom and the heady scent that’s filling the air has inspired me to create a set dedicated to one of my very favorite flowers.

Mayflowers is a collection of lilacs in purple, pink and white. Each color is an individual image, and then the blossoms are also arranged together in a rustic pitcher. Coordinating buttons, banner, photo corner and borders along with 8×8″ striped and harlequin background “papers” complete the set. The 300 dpi .png and .jpg images give you high print quality for your scrapbooking, crafting and card-making projects.  Click HERE to learn more or purchase this set.

Artwork ©2008 by Barbara Anne Williams

Welcome to the Scrapbook Dimensions Blog Party!  These cards were made with vintage family photos, digitally enhanced and printed on a color printer.

     (Click for larger view)  

Click below to download the sketches from our gallery, or HERE for the PSD templates.

Blog Press Release from SDM: 
The Scrapbook Dimensions Magazine NSD Blog Party
Scrapbookdimensions.ning.com is a site hosted by Scrapbook Dimensions Magazine. We are the first and only magazine dedicated 100% to hybrid which is Scrapbooking with a Techno Twist (the best of digital and traditional methods combined). This is your destination for meeting like-minded scrappers for daily fellowship and inspiration. Join our community of over 800 scrappers.

Visit these blogs to get your free card sketch/template
List of {Inter}National Blog Party Peeps:
http://jshahin.blogspot.com/
http://everydaydigitalscrapbooking.blogspot.com/
http://mphoinix.blogspot.com/
http://sarahpspdevotee.blogspot.com/
http://angeltown.typepad.com/
http://www.bitsofivory.com/wordpress
http://www.scrapevangel.blogspot.com/
http://karensdreamingbig.blogspot.com/
http://www.michellesink.com
http://www.digiscrapchat.com
http://angiehinksman.typepad.com/time_on_my_hands/
http://myfrogprince-and-i.blogspot.com/
http://cactusmango.blogspot.com/
http://www.thejulianablog.com/
http://www.elementalscraps.com/blog/
http://theshakerkitclub.blogspot.com/
Sandy’s blog
http://www.flutterinbygirl.blogspot.com/
http://www.just-jana.blogspot.com/
http://www.scrapbook-trends.com/
http://countrylivs.blogspot.com/
http://bunnykissd.blogspot.com

Visit Scrapbooking Blogs at:
http://scrapbookdimensions.ning.com/groups/group/show?id=2015716%3AGroup%3A17961

Tomorrow is National Scrapbook Day and Scrapbook Dimensions Magazine is celebrating with a Blog Party you don’t want to miss.  Check here tomorrow for a list of participating blogs, each offering a free card idea - including the template pattern to make it yourself!

Hook & Needle

This set has fuzzy yarn along with crochet hooks and knitting needles. Great for gift tags on your handcrafted projects, or paper crafts and cards with knitting and crochet themes. Two colorful backgrounds and two borders complete this versatile set. Images are in 300 dpi .png or .jpg format for high print quality.

Click image for larger view, or HERE for purchasing information.

The first in our new DOODLES collection, LOVE BLOSSOMS includes whimsical daisies, roses, black-eyed susans and butterflies. As digital rubber stamps, these drawings have a transparent background making them ideal for many scrapbooking and paper crafting projects as well as newsletters and announcements.  To learn more or to purchase this set, click HERE.

Thanks to all who took the time to participate in our little Christmas in July Challenge.  We’ve drawn two names from the participants for a first and second prize shown here.  Each participant in the challenge will recieve a $5.00 coupon for the Bits of Ivory Shop.

And the winners of the drawing are. . . Bethany Schultz and Gabby Veith!  You can see their fantastic tags to the right.  (Click Images to Enlarge!)

*A special thanks to Scrapbook Dimensions Magazine for contributing their newest issue for both of our winners!

It’s so hot here this year that I’m having no trouble at all daydreaming and wishing for the first snow flurries of winter (though by January I’m sure to be wishing for warmer weather).  To kick off our Christmas in July celebration this week we’re having a keepsake tag challenge.  Make a little keepsake gift tag or dinner place tag for a winter holiday and send me a photo or link so that I can take a peek (customerservice at bitsofivory.com).  The tags don’t have to be fancy or expensive, just something a little special that they might want to hang onto (whether it includes a photo, beautiful lettering, it’s a clever shape, etc.). 

I’ll post some of the entries here next week so be sure to check back for some fantastic ideas!  I’ll also draw a winner from the entries and mail them a special surprise gift package worth over $20.00 (including a handmade book). 

The deadline for this challenge extends beyond the sale date to give you a bit more time to get the project done and a photo taken!  Entries are due by August 7th! 

(Project shown is a tag made with a 3.5″ square glassine envelope - it makes a perfect little pocket to tuck a candybar or gift card!)

Artwork and projects at Bits of Ivory are on sale 25% off!  I hope it’ll help everyone who is getting ready for Christmas presents or Fall Craft Fairs.

Scrapbook Dimensions Magazine has announced that they are taking pre-orders for their new 18 month calendar.  It’s full of hybrid scrapbooking inspiration by some amazing scrapbook artists.  You can find more information or place your order at the Scrapbook Dimensions website.

Sometimes it’s the little things in life that make all of the difference.  Some of my favorite memories are of simple little things that have brought me joy, from kind words to beautiful moments that took my breath away.  I still treasure lilacs not only for their beauty but for the beautiful childhood memories that their scent evokes.  The lilacs are blooming now and I’ve been a bit nostalgic lately as a result.

I love the private joy of thinking back on these small yet powerful life-changing things.  They’ve always been a happy secret I tell to myself every now and again when I need to remember what makes me who I am.  Little glimpses and flashes of that beauty escape into my artwork now and again, but mostly I keep them hidden away.

Perhaps it’s the lilacs, or the rain, but today I feel inspired to find ways to share these little treasures with my children.  I hope that it will inspire them to treasure up their own precious moments.  I hope too that it will give them a chance to know me better and learn about the lovely things that I value in this life. 

I’m starting my book of favorite things today and hope to share little bits of it with all of you as I progress.  If you feel the same way I hope you’ll find a place to write, draw, photograph, scrap or otherwise share the things that fill you with joy too!