Christmas Time is Here!

MERRY CHRISTMAS! It's only three days away...I can't believe it. This is our Doucette Christmas card! Four little lights to bring you Christmas cheer. Usually, I tend to gravitate to a plainer font but here I went for an art-deco-y type. Gives it some spunk, ya?

Have a great Christmas with friends, family or both! I can't wait to spend time with my fam, watching A Charlie Brown Christmas and Home Alone! Many blessings!!

Love, B.

Good Book - Blue Like Jazz

I've never really done a book review before, but I thought this deserved some merit. First of all, it really challenged my thinking and the way I interact with people in general. The book Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller, are his thoughts on Christianity through 'non religious' eyes.

To be honest with you, I often find it difficult to read non-fiction literature. I love stories. I love character development, a plot, a conflict, a climax, a resolution. I love to feel attached to a person's story and find a way I can relate to it through my own life experience. The reason why I like this book is because Donald Miller is so honest in his life's journey and relationship with God and others. He tells the ups and downs, the doubts and revelations. While the book doesn't read like a novel, I felt like I could relate to him and certain experiences through stories from his own life.

The part that spoke to me most of all was the chapter called Love - How to Really Love People. Donald Miller talks about this guy that went to his church that annoyed him to the point that he just didn't like him. He didn't mean to not like him, he just did little things and chewed with his mouth open and was lazy and said 'dude' at the end of every sentence. It just drove him nuts and he wanted this guy to change things about his attitude. He didn't tell him outright but he would wear it on his face with rolling his eyes, shooting dirty looks, and mouthing 'loser' behind his back that he was not liked. Soon after Miller realized that he was withholding love and this is wrong. If we recognize something in somebody that needs change (an attitude, heart) we can't do it by withdrawing and hope they will notice your disapproval. He says If a person senses that you do not like them, that you do not approve of their existence, then your religion and your political ideas will seem wrong to them. If they sense that you like them, then they are open to what you have to say. I'm not even talking about religion, but in general relationships. Sisters, brothers, moms, dads, friends. Strangers. Show love.

There were many other things about this book that were great. The only crappy part was this copy isn't mine so I couldn't mark up the margins or underline anything. I would definitely read it again...and I would recommend it to two kinds of people: 1. Those that grew up in church and are used to the safe church cocoon. It will challenge you. 2. Those that are unfamiliar with Christianity or want to know what it's really all about. There's no fluff, no guilt, and no formulas. Just insightful, intellectual thoughts, and you can take them or leave them.

www.donaldmillerwords.com

The Best Gingersnaps...Seriously.

One of these days I will actually blog about design stuff I have been doing, but I've been having so much fun baking. It's holiday season and I felt like making something gingery and snappy...what better thing than gingersnaps? I found this seriously good recipe on allrecipes.com (I'm there almost every day!) This photo is from the website I found it on, but mine really did look exactly like them. They were soft and chewy, SO YUMMY and very easy to make! They say to bake for 8-10 minutes, but I did mine for about 7-8 minutes and they were nice n' chewy. You should make them. Right now.

Get the recipe here!

Good Frustration!

Do you have goals you have wanted to accomplish but they seem to always slip behind in priority because life gets so busy with other things that vie for priority? I have a number of different things I have always wanted to learn and have always said, 'later'. The truth is work, friends, church, Facebook and everything that could possibly take any time in my life will always and forever be there, so I have come to the realization that I just need to hunker down and choose to do some of these things. Here's the list so far:

- bake bread done! > I always thought it would be so hard - but it really wasn't.
- make a pie > After an unsuccessful pie making experience in Foods class in grade 12, I vowed to never make another pie for as long as I lived, but I have since changed my mind!
- learn to sew
- learn to embroider
- journal daily

This list seems tiny, but to me small things seem more accessible and tangible. Once these are done and done, I can maybe work toward some of the bigger dreams I have. Hmm...

Totally Famous.

Check this OUT! My name is in a magazine. Well not my name, exactly, but the 'little sparrow' name is. Last year I did my friends wedding invitations and her wedding just happened to get in as a the featured wedding for 'Real Weddings' magazine (could I say 'wedding' any more in one sentence?) There I am, third from the the bottom! It's online and in stores.

Check out the article here, and the invitation here.

Free Packaging Patterns!

Check this out! It's a website that has free downloads for making all sorts of special packages, boxes, displays. They also tell you the recommended materials and what that box would be suitable for. I look forward to making many a box from this website...

New Somethin' Somethin'

Here's a couple of new things that I've been working on...simple and modern with a punch of colour! Check them out on the Etsy shop.

A New Milestone

I made it...I now have 100 people that mark me as a Favourite on Etsy AND I passed the 20 sales mark. All on the same day, no less. How exciting! Just wanted to share this piece of totally sweet news. Yay!

MSN Lingo, Circa 1955

It's the new lingo we all hate or love: OMG, LOL, LMAO, ROFL, BRB...the list goes on. And on. We may think this is a fairly new concept in our society, however I have stumbled upon this little gem on Etsy. It's a photo album or one of those 'Grandma's brag book' type of things from the 50's. On the cover it says "T.A.P at M.A.G", which apparently stands for 'Take A Peak at My Adorable Grandchildren'. It made me chuckle (or LOL, but not quite LMAO.)

Check out the listing here.

Bubble Tree?

Here is something new I'm working on - and I'm not sure what to call it. (This is ALWAYS a challenge for me...naming things!) Any suggestions? Anyway, it's simple, it's funky. I'm thinking you could go mod by getting a fuchsia envelope, or if classy is what you're after, go for black. Of course, you can get any colour you want. I'm not the boss of you...

A Lesson Learned

I have a love/hate relationship with what is comonly known as the 'sparkler'. This past weekend was my husband's 27th birthday, and at some point I was in WalMart with the intent to purchase birthday candles. Of course, after finding out where the 'birthday section' was in this two-level madhouse filled with screaming babies I saw they were sold out, and I was forced to purchase said sparklers as well as the '2' and '7' number candles.

The time finally came for us to present my made-from-scratch chocolate cake. I envisioned these amazing miniture fireworks for all to behold as I entered and all to join in a joyful chorus of Happy Birthday. However, my friend and I made the mistake of lighting the sparklers one by one (a friend later gave the tip of bunching them together and lighting them all at once...genius), and one by one they burnt out. We panicked and rushed the cake over to him, hurrying everyone to sing before the last one faded in to an ash stick like the rest. (Please see photo of my husband blowing out the '2' and '7' surrounded by crispy, charred sparklers and one left untouched in the rush.)

Punchout Scarf of Awesomeness

Scarves are cool, and I think this is the coolest scarf I have ever seen from fashionablygeek.com. I remember going to my cousin's place for sleepovers when I was a little kid. We played Mike Tyson's Punchout on her Nintendo, thumbs aching after a few rounds of pressing the A and B buttons at unthinkable speeds. Now, you can relive the memories of the incredible game graphics around your neck. I'm personally not Mike Tyson's hugest fan, but I do love that other guy that always had the one swollen eye, and yet managed to be smiling all the time. Punchout!

Little Lion's Treasury Debut

In the Etsy world, it's a great honour to be in one's Treasury...my Little Lion card made it in SoothingRitual's! Woot woot! Check it out...http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=5679h It expires on September 6 so look while you can...

Earthy Invite

Fall is here! Fall is secretly my favourite of all the seasons...the colours of the leaves, the crisp coolness, scarves and boots...I could go on. Anyway, here's a little something I'm working on in my spare time. It's a simple and earthy wedding invitation. Love the leaves in the background and the brown/blue colours...a sage green would also look super sweet! I also have the same design with big petaled flowers in place of the butterflies which kind of gives it a more 'beach-y' feel.

No cheese on my Tee's, please. Thanks.

I've seen a lot of 'religious' themed t-shirts in my day, both good and bad/cheesy/I wouldn't dress my worst enemy in it. I stumbled upon this good (in my humble opinion) website that featured fresh tee's that get my stamp of approval, however important that may be. I love how they're less 'in-yo-face' and more 'what does that mean?'

My personal fave is the one above. And this one.

No Frills. No Flowers.

These invites were for a couple of great and absolutely wonderful friends. Simple, modern, and clean designs ruled their wedding. This was pretty fun to design because usually there are some flowers or frills involved...black and white were main with some spring green accents. I also did programs, a wedding/reception map, and stickers that went on their wedding favours (which were Chinese take out boxes we all filled with candy!) I am currently working on their thank you cards that will of course run in the same vein...to be posted when finished! I will soon be posting this design on Etsy too...stay tuned!

Partridge Pack

Since being on Etsy and selling some of my things, this Partridge Save the Date design has been the most popular. A few have asked if it comes in a wedding invitation design, and I took it a step further and made a whole package complete with the Save the Date email, invitation, RSVP card, thank you card, and all the envelopes you'll need. It's not listed yet and I have to iron out some of the design, but I couldn't wait to show it! Stay tuned on Etsy for the real deal.

So, So Very Happy

I love being 'challenged' with different projects! Julia ordered the 'Partridge Save the Date Email' from me on Etsy, and she liked it so much she wanted to use the design for her favours she'll give away at their engagement party. So, she got me to make water bottle labels! What a great idea. She sent me some pictures of the finished product, and said she was "so, so very happy with the finished product." That makes me so, so very happy.

Bodie's Birthday

I really really enjoyed working with this invitation. It is for a boy's first birthday (seems to be my forte as of late!) so obviously we didn't want to make it too girly. I find it easier to do 'baby graphics' that look a little more girly than boy stuff, so this was more of a challenge. Which I like!

Future Cake Designer?

I really think I could have a future in cake design...

Yeah, right! This past Friday our youth group had a Cake Walk...ever heard of that? All of us leaders made cakes and some of the youth won them. This was my cake (and my husbands, but guess who did all of the work?). What do you think? It's a positive message, right...?

Grad Time!

Grad time is here and with that comes parties, celebrating, and painfully embarassing stories of how he or she at one time soiled their pants in the shopping mall at the age of two. Not that little Melissa here did that, but I'm sure her ma and pa have a few tales up their sleeves.

A Life in Polaroids

Who doesn't love Polaroids? There's just something about them that evokes a certain nostaligic feeling that no other photo-taking way does. Maybe because you only have one shot to capture a moment. A friend passed this website on to me and I was amazed. Jamie Livingston took one Polaroid every day from March 1979 to October 1997 when he passed away. It was kind of interesting to see what he was doing the day I was born (December 9 1982 - see photo below)

http://photooftheday.hughcrawford.com/

In Bloom

Spring is here, and I love it. I love the blossoms, the fresh green on the trees and the sun of course... I love how all these things bring such inspiration, and I love being inspired. Here's something I made for fun! Get it here.

Birthday Madness

Again, I was at a birthday party a couple weeks ago for an adorable little lady called Ruby. She is the daughter of two of our bestest friends (in the whole wide world, of course). Looking in the card stores (we shall call them "Farlton Cards" and "Gallmark") the birthday cards for one year olds were these really cheesy things that I as a graphic designer would be embarassed to even hold, let alone give to someone so special to me. So, I made it myself. I think she cared more about all the fun toys she got, but everyone else seemed to like it...

I have a store!

Cool news...I have opened up a store on Etsy.  There are a few things on there, some you see here, some not.  Keep checking back for updates to the store!

www.littlesparrowstuff.etsy.com

Go there!

Little Lion

Last winter I was inspired to make this little lion image after seeing a funky retro Christmas wreath. Since then it has been sitting on my computer, because I didn't have much of a use for it...till now. All my friends that had babies a year ago are now holding 1st birthday parties, so I used it for a kids' birthday card! I left the inside blank so it can be used for other kid-related things. The lion has served me well. Rawr.

Cards Rule.

One of my favourite things is making greeting cards - thank you's, birthday, kids...you name it.  My lastest and greatest are these babies made for one of my pastors and greatest cheerleaders.  Recognize the pattern on the red one??  

Becky and Derek Wedding Invitations!

Becky is my cousin and she's getting married to an awesome dude named Derek this August in the beautiful Sunshine Coast. It's going to be a gorgeous BC wedding! They enclosed a custom map (with an accomodations sheet on reverse) and a menu card, all packed in to a cool 'paper bag' envelope...that is literally made from a paper bag.

Sidenote, I love paper bags. I think they should make a comeback, except with handles.

Monica the Realtor

I have a great friend that is a fabulous realtor and needed some new business cards.  Basic, clear, concise and modern, and something that set them apart from all the other white cards.  Woo hoo!

Baby Piper Shower Invitation

This baby shower invitation was made for a chick that has a gorgeous baby girl, but hates pink (or "Pepto Bismol Pink" as she calls it) Who ever decided pink was the girl's colour, anyway? This is someting that is cute and fun, and could also be designed for a birth announcement for a girl OR boy.

Everyone loves giraffes - how could you not? And I'm sure baby giraffes snuggle their mommies too.

Just Like Mum - Business Cards

Just Like Mum is a new cleaning and home organization business owned and ran by Liz and Rhonda Powers, a friendly and fun mother-in-law/daughter team based in Chilliwack, BC.  For their business cards and logo they were wanting the look to be fresh, yet at the same time retro and fun.  

Emily and Jason

This March, a couple of great friends of mine got MARRIED and are loving every second of newlywed-dom (new word, I swear). The rich brown and deep red they chose for their colours totally matched their classy personalities! They chose a three-fold invitation that fits in an invitation sized (A5) envelope. Also enclosed was a reservation card telling the guest how many spots were reserved for them at the reception.