publication tips

One of the things that I hope I do on this blog, is encourage my readers. Encourage you to create and try something new. And now, I want to encourage you in your attempt to get published. If its not your goal, that is a-okay. But if its something that you are striving to achieve, maybe these tips can help you. Having some success in the publishing world, these are things that I personally keep in mind when creating for a call.

1. Do your bestest work. (word from the little man :)) Make sure your edges are even. Your score is even, clean, and the edges of your score are not torn or bumpy. Stamp evenly, if one of your letters or part of an image is lighter, or even darker, in places, re-stamp it. Don’t let your adhesive show through.

2. Submit. Submit. Submit.

3. Take clear photos. Make sure your image is in focus. The best lighting you can give yourself is in front of a window. Make sure your image is the correct size requested. Don’t clog up the editor’s email with your too-large photos.

4. Follow directions. Does your card really match the call? Does your project clearly illustrate the theme? Did you submit to the proper place? Did you submit on time?

5. Is your project hip? You don’t have to use the latest and greatest product to get published. But you do have to use product in a unique and inventive way.

6. Submit. Submit. Submit.

7. Don’t take rejection personally. Everyone gets rejected. It seems very often my favorite cards don’t get picked up. Its ok. Sometimes you didn’t use the colors the editors envisioned for the article, or even the whole issue. (I have SO had that happen.) Sometimes your card just doesn’t “fit in” with the others that will be on the page.

8. Refer to 2 and 6.

9. Find a publication that matches your style. Head over to your local bookseller and check out all the magazines where you can submit your work. Find a publication that speaks to you and would love to have your work grace their pages.

10. Be yourself. Find your own style and stick with it. Use what you love. Because if it doesn’t get picked up, you still have a project that makes you happy. And something to share on your blog. :)

When you do get picked up, after the happy dance, of course:

1. Be gracious and be on time! Send a quick thank you response to the editor who chose your project. And send the project in on time. Also, follow whatever directions are given to you, like labeling your projects and typing the correct information that the editors will need.

2. Do not share your project online, until you are given permission. (Each magazine has its own policy, which will be disclosed once your project is picked up.) But once you can, shout your excitement from the rooftops! Promote the issue and the magazine in general. Its appreciated!

If you want to get published, I hope you find these tips helpful. And I am encouraging you to give it a try! Once upon a time, I never, ever, ever, ever dreamed that my cards could be in a magazine. Yes, there have been rejections and bumps in the road, but for me, it was worth it!!

cheering you on!! thanks for stopping by!

felt bag and video tutorial

Here is a felt bag I created for one of the challenges presented to us during the go to gal auditions, including the video tutorial. I love the way this bag turned out. These are easy and lovely to create.
I started out by cutting a piece of felt. Then I die cut a window from what would be the front of the bag. (If you were to use this bag for treats or a gift, you would want to line the inside with a piece of acetate.) A felt frame was added. Thrilled with the fact that using Spellbinders die templates, makes all that line up perfectly! Rolled flowers and felt leaves were added to the corner. I also closed the bag with a strip of felt.

A close up look at the rolled felt flowers. And that is where the video tutorial comes in, simple, but I had my reasons. :)



For those that need the direct link: CREATING ROLLED FLOWERS

thanks for being so great, for all your emails that brighten my day, and for always stopping by!

Supplies: Spellbinders die templates (Standard Circles Large, Labels Eighteen, Foliage), Felt-Michael’s, Pearls-Hero Arts

and the peeks begin!

The sneak peeks have begun!! Pop on over to the Avocado Arts blog and check them out! There will be peeks until Saturday and you can order your first set starting May 1st! :)

pubs

The May/June issue of Paper Crafts Magazine is now available. Its a great issue, like always! What’s not to love? :) I am thrilled to see several projects using my Mint Motif stamps inside, and to have a couple projects of my own!! Wow, I am totally biased on this! :)

This card was made to be a music teacher thank you. Having amazing piano instructors throughout my life definitely inspired this project! All the details are available in the magazine. :)

thanks ever so much for stopping by!

rejoice!

Luke 24:6 “He is not here; He has risen!”

Happy Easter! Rejoice in the knowledge that Jesus died on the cross for each and every one of us! He loves us so much, He was willing to pay the price for our sins, because of that love. I hope you know His love, and can have joy and peace. And if you don’t, He is standing there, waiting for you to receive the greatest gift. All you have to do is ask.

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world (and YOU) that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him, shall not perish, but have eternal life.”

Praying for each of you today. And rejoicing in His love!

winners!

Congratulations to these two winners of the fantastic products from Faber Castell Design Memory Craft!!

Patti said...

I'm so glad you made this video! I've been thinking over whether I wanted another type of medium to add to my stash and wasn't sure I'd get this. Now I'm sure I will, thanks to how easy you made it!!
Patti,
fellow northland girl
April 21, 2011 12:31 PM


AJ said...

oooooh- add me to the list of being oh-so-curious about them!! I have been itching to try them as well!! love the colors on your card!!
April 21, 2011 12:15 PM

Ladies, please email me your mailing address by MONDAY, APRIL 25 at 12 noon. If I don't hear from you, unfortunately, I will have to draw another winner. So hurry! :)
Thank you to everyone who entered and for all youw sweet comments!

more fun with Faber Castell

Today I am going to share step-by-step instructions about how I made this card, using new the products from Faber Castell Design Memory Craft.

To make the flower:

    1.Color white cardstock using Color Gelatos Blue/Green set. (using only the blues)
    2. Mist the cardstock with water and spread the color around with a paper towel.
    3. Die cut 4 flower pieces from your cardstock.
    4. Because the paper is wet, you can shape it easily.
    5. Secure the layers together with a decorative brad.

For the sentiment:

1. Die cut a rectangle from white cardstock.
2. Color the stamp with a dark blue Color Gelato.
3. Spritz very lightly with water.
4. Stamp.
5. Keep in mind that this will not be crisp like ink, but its pretty impressive, as you can see below.

To Make the Leaves:

1. Color your cardstock with all four colors from the Color Gelatos Blue/Green collection.
2. Using a Stamper’s Big Brush Pen (from the Mixed Media Sampler), color the stamp from the Color Gelatos kit. The pens contain India ink,
3. Stamp onto the background.
4. Color the stamp and repeat until you have your background covered.
5. Die cut with leaves shape.
6. Rub the surface of the leaves with a Metallic Gelato (from the Mixed Media Sampler) Look at that beautiful shine!! I rubbed it on very gently, as to not change the color underneath.

Make sure that you leave a comment ON THIS BLOG POST for a chance to win one of two sets of product from Faber Castell Design Memory Craft, the products I have been using for the past two days. You have until 10 pm tonight CDT.

I hope that gives you some more ideas of how to use these great mediums! If this has you completely fascinated, I highly recommend visiting Jill Foster’s blog for amazing inspiration, she creates gorgeous projects and is on their design team.

thanks for stopping by!

Supplies: Faber Castell (Color Gelatos Blue/Green, Mixed Media Sampler Blue), Spellbinders (Rose Creations, Foliage, Rectangles Large), Stamps-Hero Arts (Made with Love), Patterned paper-Crate (Emma’s Shoppe)

fun new products

This contest is now closed. Thank you for visiting and for your interest! The winners will be announced sometime on

Saturday, April 23.

Today I am excited to show you some new product from Faber Castell!! And once you read all the way to the end, I have a fun giveaway too!!!

“Mix & Match from Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft makes designing with color simple. Choose a color set that inspires you. Choose a medium. Mix & Match as you create. Color coordinated palettes give you the freedom to design your project knowing the colors will work beautifully together. Perfect for all your design, memory and craft projects.”

Mixed Media Sampler in Blue

“Mixed Media Sampler Sets in Red, Yellow, Blue and Green encourage you to spread your creative wings and experiment with mixing mediums!  Each set includes a Stamper’s Big Brush, Gelato Metallic Stick, Pastel Pencil and Art GRIP Aquarelle Watercolor pencil.  Experiment with mixing colors and mediums or layer different mediums to create depth and details.  Or try using your rubber stamps with the different mediums to see which effects you like the most.”

Color Gelatos and Clear Stamp in Blue/Green

“Color Gelatos are creamy sticks infused with brilliant color.  The color slides easily onto papers and can then be dissolved with water to create watercolor effects, or left to dry for vibrant bursts of color.  Try stamping with the Color Gelatos, or apply a field of color and use a stamp to remove the color.  Color Gelatos work wonderfully on flocked papers and embellishments too!  Color Gelatos are acid-free and odorless.” 

Ok, now that the official stuff is out of the way :) , I cannot wait to show what I have done with these products. If you are a stamper, then these products are for you! The creative possibilities are endless. I have barely scratched the surface!!

This is the first card I made with the Color Gelatos. The blue/green pack is just stunning. The colors work perfectly together. This makes me want to escape to the ocean!

 

A close up look of the background. And to help the product come more to life I have a quick how-to video.



For those that need the direct link: COLOR GELATOS

I have another project to share with you tomorrow, using both the Color Gelatos and the Mixed Media kit. So much fun!! Be sure and stop back!

And now for the give away…Faber Castell is giving away TWO SETS of the products I used on my projects! All you need to do is leave a comment ON THIS POST by Friday, April 22 at 10 pm CDT. I will announce the winners sometime on Saturday, April 23.

thanks for stopping by!

Avocado Arts

I am so very proud to announce that I am a member of the Avocado Arts Pit Crew Team!! (pretty punny name, huh? makes you just kind of want to say, “holy guacamole!” I will stop, I promise. :))

Avocado Arts is a fabulous, new, clear photopolymer stamp company. Its a hassle-free kit club that will release a 4x6 inch stamp set every month. The best part about these stamps is that they all build upon each other. The sets work together brilliantly!! And having seen the artwork myself, let me tell you how perfectly they coordinate!! Its so good. SO good!

These stamps are made from very high quality materials, making them easy to stamp with. They will be perfect for cards, scrapbook pages, and whatever surface you can stamp upon!!

And I still cannot believe that I am going to be on a team with these women!!

Avocado Arts Pit Crew Team

• AJ Otto
• Latisha Yoast
• Julia Stainton
• Becky Oehlers
• Kimberly Crawford

To keep getting all the latest information from Avocado Arts, be sure to “Like” them on Facebook. AVOCADO ARTS FACEBOOK PAGE. Follow the blog: Avocado Arts Blog. Or Twitter, where they are @AvocadoArts.

What? You want a sneak peek of the first set? Well, its your lucky day!! :)

I look forward to sharing projects with you soon!! thanks for stopping by!

 

soccer star

Our little soccer star. Well, maybe not. :) But he is super happy running up and down the field.

Nothing fancy here, its all stickers and patterned paper. Quick and easy. And I am proud of myself for using supplies that I was hoarding. :)

Hope that you had a wonderful weekend! Happy Monday! thanks for stopping by!

Supplies: Pink Paislee-Starlight

making changes

Sometimes in life we need to take a step back and re-prioritize. And sometimes we need to admit that we are not superwoman. Not that we want to admit that. :) Because of this, I have made the tough decisions to leave a couple of design teams that I have been a part of for quite some time. I will be joining a new team shortly, but that team is fitting nicely into my new life plans. So this post is a thank you to the teams, from the bottom of my heart.

Stampendous!

A wonderful stamp company with wonderful employees. You will never meet such truly nice, generous, and lovely women!! I have been a fan of their stamps from the start of my addiction. :)

My favorite project created for them, using Poppy Scene. Thank you, Stampendous!!!

The Scrap Review

Writing review articles on paper crafting products was a tough job, but someone had to do it! :) It was a new perspective on products, how I use them, and how others might use them. It made me think about all my purchases and about the products I share on my blog.

My favorite layout. Created for a review of Pink Paislee’s Queen Bee. Thank you for everything, Ashley Harris! I love when you work with someone on a team and they become a real-life friend!

Hope you are having a fantastic day! thanks for stopping by!

at home with…

Today I am honored to be Cath Edvalson’s guest at Moxie Fab World. She asked me to take part in the “At Home With…” series. Pop on over to see what project I created from this piece of inspiration from our bedroom. And to read the story behind the chair.

thanks for stopping by!

each flower

A bit more photography today. Just playing around with Photoshop and textures. It makes me happy. :)

“Each flower is a soul blossoming out to nature.” -Gerard De Nerval

I hope that spring is arriving where you live! thanks for stopping by!

late blossoms

“When you take a flower in your hand and really look at it, it's your world for the moment. I want to give that world to someone else. Most people in the city rush around so, they have no time to look at a flower. I want them to see it whether they want to or not.” - Georgia O'Keeffe

More photography. Sometimes I get so busy that I forget to do the things that make me the happiest. So lately, I have been pulling up photos and editing. This is from our backyard. Thanks to the previous owners who planted these gorgeous hydrangeas! These blossoms were at the end of the season, probably past. I was stunned by their lasting beauty.

do something that fills your soul with happiness today! thanks for stopping by!

leaving on a jet plane

I am off to Phoenix for the Spellbinders design team retreat! We will have fun, but we will also be very busy working and getting ready for the upcoming year. I go with a bit more calm, being my third go round. ;) The little man and I are driving north, where he will be dropped off with my parents. (Who do you think is more excited, him or them? :)) Then we will hang out for a few more days. So, forgive the quiet blog. But I am really looking forward to escaping. And don’t worry about my hubby, he has a ton of college hockey with the Frozen Four, and The Master’s golf tournament to keep him busy. :)

thanks for stopping by!

And let me add--GO DOGS!!! The University of MN-Duluth Bulldogs men's hockey team is playing in the Frozen Four this weekend!!!!! As former season ticket holders, we are SO excited for the team and for the school!!!!!!! GO DOGS!!!!!!!!

acrylic block stamping video tutorial

Can you believe it, another post?!? :) AND another video! This card features stamping with your acrylic block (which I learned from Jennifer McGuire). Along with some great new Hero Arts stamps and My Mind’s Eye papers.

The direct link to the video, for those that need it: ACRYLIC BLOCK STAMPING

Feel free to giggle at the video a little bit. it gives you a real and honest look at the trial and error that can occur with this technique. :) I do these videos in one take, no editing, so it happens! :) thanks for stopping by!

Supplies: Stamps-Hero Arts (Joy Ride, Thank You For Being my Friend), Patterned paper-My Mind’s Eye (Stella and Rose-Hattie), Ink-Memento (Tuxedo Black), Ranger Distressing (Peeled Paint, Broken China), Twine-May Arts

it was an honor

Right before Christmas, this showed up in my mailbox. My shock and awe and excitement caused me to drop it right onto the snowy ground! Being asked to participate in the challenges that determine the next group of Go-To-Gals for Paper Crafts magazine was beyond a wildest dream come true!!! Its one of those, you never say out loud kind of dreams. My giddiness was hard to control and I looked forward to embarking on a 3 month journey.

The challenges were amazing to work on, and of course, each of the editors were amazing to work with! I made projects that pushed my creativity and increased my mojo exponentially. I am so proud of the work I created. So proud that I was asked to participate in this. So honored that I was even considered.

Then on that day in March, I didn’t get the email I was hoping for. I was not chosen. Yes, I was, and still am, heartbroken. How often do you get the chance to touch a dream? Its ok. I am ok. The team they have chosen is amazingly talented. In fact, amazing does not do them justice.

Its a big rejection. Huge. Well, I guess it can’t get any bigger in the paper crafting world. :) But I will pick myself up and continue on. I will continue to create. To submit. To teach. To find new and interesting everything and share it with you. I will take this and make myself better. And ask myself, how can I get better? How can I design better? And while it is about me, it really isn’t. They like me as a person. They like my work. Maybe I didn’t fit into what they needed at this time. And that’s really what I want to share with you. What I want you to take away from my story. No matter what you are doing or are passionate about in your life, be it paper crafting, or your job, take your rejections and use them. Don’t let them define you. Take the chance. Follow and pursue your dreams. Yep, turning into a fortune cookie here, but take this as encouragement. I want you to be encouraged.

“I have no regrets in my life. I think that everything happens to you for a reason. The hard times that you go through build character, making you a much stronger person.” –Rita Mero

May I make a request? Please don't leave any comments. I am not looking for sympathy, I really just needed to share what was going on with me. If you want to comment, pop on over to Paper Crafts Connection and welcome the new team and offer congrats, because they worked so hard, on top of being so talented!!Thanks for listening to me. and thanks for stopping by!