Happy Friday! Kristen here today with you. I have a real treat here for you today...a layout I scrapped for our Birthday Blog Hop. I'm sad to say I don't scrap but Heather asked me to create a layout for the hop and guess what I did it! And it felt so good to have that creative outlet besides designing. I even pulled out the sewing machine while my baby (yes he is 18 mos. but still) was climbing all over me the entire time. I LOVED using all our new papers, stickers and chipboard on this layout. You might just be seeing some more projects from me here on the blog. I hope you enjoy it.
I want to share with you the story of Lily Bee so here goes...
I had a long time dream of launching my own paper company. Way back in 1995 I was introduced to scrapbooking and soon after began working at Memories by Design my LSS. I loved scrapbooking and at the time was in high school. I documented everything and couldn't get enough.
Over the next ten years I was heavily involved in the
industry as a teacher, LSS Manager, and sales associate for a major
scrapbook company. I also owned and ran a scrapbook kit club-Mosh Posh for 4 1/2 years.
Finally in 2009 my dream came true when I launched Lily Bee Design. Many people ask who "Lily" is. I knew I wanted the name of my company to be special and have a significant meaning to me. Lily Bee is named after my great-grandma Lily who was an artist/painter and her last name was Berrett-thus Lily Bee.
The first releases- "French Couture" and "Three Little Birds" were designed by other artists. That wasn't enough for me
and I decided to learn all I could about graphic design. That summer I created my own artwork and designed "Audrey" and "Vintage Poppy"
that debuted at the CHA Summer show in Orlando. Since that time I have designed over 20 collections. A few of my personal favorites are Hello Sunshine, Persnickety and Sweet Shoppe.
I feel very blessed
to be doing something that I love-all the while I can be home with the
loves of my life-my three little boys Noah, Madden and Beckham who range
from ages 7-18 mos. It is crazy yes but I wouldn't know what to do with myself. I have an incredibly supportive husband Carson,
whom many of you see with me at CHA. We can't thank you enough for the
support you've given to us. We wouldn't be here without YOU!
So there it is. That's the story about our little company. I want to know what is your all-time favorite Lily Bee Collection? Tell us here and I will randomly choose one person to win a box of our Newest Lily Bee Paper! Thanks so much for celebrating our 4th birthday with us! Hope you were inspired by our designers lovely layouts this week as well. Have a great weekend!
Thanks for sharing a gorgeous page & how Lily Bee came to be! My favorite is Autumn Spice, but I have a feeling the new collections may win over my heart, they're AMAZING!!!!
Posted by: Shay | 03/01/2013 at 01:00 AM
Oh! I envy you Kirsten. You get to do what you love. You know I read somewhere that 90% of people are not satisfied with their jobs.( and I am one of them :)So you are amongst a very fortunate few. All your hard work and creativity shows through the designs. I really loved the DT pieces with Persnickety, Pinwheel and Sweet Shoppe lines. Hope they are available in UK soon.
Posted by: sheetal | 03/01/2013 at 03:25 AM
Thank you for the interesting history of Lily Bee. I think my favourite was the Catching Fall Collection from a few years ago. That was the first whole collection I bought, but certainly not the last...
Posted by: Sissel | 03/01/2013 at 03:28 AM
Love love love your lo! LOVING all the circles!! I loved reading the background of Lily Bee!! And my fave collection was "Catching Fall" -- loved the colors in that one!!
Posted by: Julie Tucker-Wolek | 03/01/2013 at 04:28 AM
I think Persnickity is my fave so far....LOVE this LO..great color and mix of embellies!
Posted by: Kathy Skou | 03/01/2013 at 05:41 AM
Hi Kristen!! I really enjoyed Christmas Cheer and used it for my December Daily this past Christmas. I also absolutely love the graph & dotted pages in the Lily Bee collections as well as the sticker letters - their size is perfect for this 8.5x11 scrapper!! THANKS!!! Keep up the great work!!!
Posted by: Krystyn | 03/01/2013 at 05:56 AM
Wow, what a stunning layout-you would never know you're not a scrapper! Great use of pattern! My favorite Lily Bee of all time has to be the new Sweet Shoppe collection-so pretty and I love the names!!
Posted by: Margie Visnick | 03/01/2013 at 06:45 AM
What a great layout design! I love all the little circles!
I really enjoyed learning more about how Lilly Bee came to bee!!!
I would have to say Harvest Market! I am still hoarding it!!!
Posted by: Juliana | 03/01/2013 at 06:47 AM
This is such a great layout (and gorgeous family), Kristen! Congrats on 4 years and here's to many more!
Posted by: Heather Leopard | 03/01/2013 at 07:21 AM
Love hearing the story behind Lily Bee! I don't know that I could possibly choose one favorite collection... I love Double Dutch (for the ginghams), Handmade (it reminds me of my Mom), Buttercup (for the colors that draw me in), and Persnickety (just because).
Posted by: Cyndee K. | 03/01/2013 at 07:36 AM
Love hearing the background story of the company! I love how you came up with the name! Great layout, especially with a little one bugging you, I know what that is like!
Posted by: KellyG | 03/01/2013 at 07:41 AM
Thank you for sharing your story with us! I really enjoyed reading it. Lily Bee is one of absolut favorite manufacturers and I can't imagine my scrappy life without you :) It's hard choosing a favorite, but if I have to I'd say Hello Sunshine. It puts a big smile on my face! Sweet Shoppe definitely looks like a candidate and I can't wait to play with it! <3
Posted by: Alex | 03/01/2013 at 07:56 AM
Love your company Kristen! And your layout it adorable! My favorite LB line is Persnickety! Loving all of the new lines as well!!
Posted by: Jennifer | 03/01/2013 at 07:58 AM
Happy birthday/anniversary! My favorite is Buttercup... it's just so darned scrappable. I love the colors - I raised 4 sons and it is perfect for their photos. Everything is such good quality and I have hoarded a few pieces of paper... ssh! BTW - your layout is super cute.
Posted by: Sandy L CT | 03/01/2013 at 08:05 AM
Congrats Kristen! You have a beautiful family and a fabulous company! I hoard Hello Sunshine and Buttercup, and I actually recently found a bunch more Buttercup papers online which I quickly snapped up. The best colors ever, they make me happy.
Posted by: Beatrice Lawson | 03/01/2013 at 08:07 AM
by far, my favorite is Double Dutch!!
Posted by: Janna Landis | 03/01/2013 at 08:11 AM
I think my favorite is Hello Sunshine. I am looking forward to Destination and possibly making that my next favorite.
Posted by: Celeste B. | 03/01/2013 at 08:53 AM
So hard to choose! It's either Handmade or Autumn Spice. PLEASE don't make me choose between the two!
Posted by: Miriam Prantner | 03/01/2013 at 08:58 AM
I loved reading your Lily Bee story! Being a mom who does freelance work so I can be at home for my family, it always warms my heart to read about women who can pursue their business dreams from home. Wishing you continued success!
I was first introduced to Lily Bee with the Picket Fence collection. I must say that it remains my favorite collection, but how can you not fall in love with all the rest?
Posted by: Emily Keaton | 03/01/2013 at 08:58 AM
Wow! What a fantastic layout. It looks like you are definitely a scrapper to me. I love Lily Bee and reading the story of how it came to be. If I had to choose a favorite collection, it would have to be Happily Lost. I just love looking at the papers and layouts. My second favorite would have to be Memorandum because it is so versatile it can be used for anything :)
Posted by: Amanda Hillard | 03/01/2013 at 09:01 AM
I love Head Over Heels. The patterns and color combinations are to die for.
Posted by: Lindsey M D | 03/01/2013 at 09:05 AM
TFS! My two favorites are This & That and Picket Fence. PF has an edge because I loved using purple without getting sick of it, because it was so perfectly mixed with other colours :)
Posted by: Claude Campeau | 03/01/2013 at 09:12 AM
Double Dutch...hands down my favorite!
Posted by: Mel H | 03/01/2013 at 09:26 AM
I think Persnickity would be my fave but I did love the colors of Buttercup too. So many good ones to choose from. Autumn Spice is up there too.
Posted by: Lisa P | 03/01/2013 at 09:33 AM
Kristen, you are such an inspiration! My first love was Audrey!!! That is the line that made me fall madly in love with Lily Bee :)
Posted by: Kristin | 03/01/2013 at 09:39 AM