Paper Crafts & Scrapbooking

Change is hard.

Sometimes the change is good and the resulting outcome is even better than the way things were. Other times change seems like the worst possible outcome and you wish things could go back to the way it always had been.

The craft world reeled at the news last week that Paper Crafts & Scrapbooking Magazine would be ceasing publication after the February 2015 issue. While I had taken a crafty backseat in submitting the last few months, I like many others had come to find friendships through PCS and was always inspired by blog posts, Go-to-Gals and the monthly magazine and special issues. Now, all of that is going away. My heart aches for the talented editorial team as they search for new jobs and finish out the next couple weeks wrapping up and saying good-bye to the crafting community that lovingly embraced them.

Rather than dwelling on the sadness, I wanted to spend some time remembering the magazine that pushed me to become a better card maker and challenged me to try new and different things with each publication call. I was always impressed with the content of each magazine and felt incredibly fortunate to have my cards grace those glossy pages (and one COVER!), and sit alongside some of the best crafters in the industry.

I hadn’t shared the recent projects and cards I’d had published as I took a blog hiatus during the busy fall months, but thought I’d share those today. Previously shared published cards here.

The Holiday Cards & More, Vol. 9 came out in August (I saw it in Michael’s recently!) and I had 5 projects in this issue.

You can also view my cupcake wrapper on this post at the Paper Crafts Connection Blog.

I loved this pillow box made with my Silhouette Cameo! Stamp, ink and cardstock from Stampin’ Up!

This goes a little out of order ;) but I had four projects in the October 2014 issue with one of those being featured on the cover!

The cute “treats” container is my little project! I used my Cameo for every card in this issue! I LOVE crafting with it and it’s been by far my favorite Christmas present EVER! Thanks mom and dad! ;)

Here’s one other card I had in the issue, a tombstone card! I sponged the cardstock with ink to give it a weathered look. Literally took all of 5 minutes to create with cutting, sponging and adhering together. I love fast and cute cards!

Here’s to PCS! I wish the team the best of luck in their future endeavors and may they find the winds of change to be in their favor.

Conversation Starters Card Set

I always have the best intentions to post and share more projects, yet life always has a way of catching up with me and foiling those intentions.

I have quite a few projects to share, it’s just finding the time to photograph and then blog…anyone with me? Crafting is the easy, and fun part. :) Regardless of those time variables I can’t wait to share some of the recent projects I’ve been working on! Gwynie is off with a friend and the boys are at football practice so while I’ve got a few extra minutes I’ll devote them to catching up! :)

This card set was published in the August Paper Crafts & Scrapbooking Magazine. I had another card in this issue that was also super fun to create, but I really loved this card set and and wanted to share it with you! You can still purchase this digital issue and see all the other great cards and projects featured in the magazine.

Do you text? There is a whole section about word bubbles in this issue  and I instantly thought of making a card set that features the word bubble like your iPhone sends in a text message, and the messages that you might send on your iPhone! My favorite is probably the #awesome! card. Because hashtags are taking over the world. #truestory

Here’s how the card set looks in the magazine, it’s always so fun to see everything together!

I used my Silhouette Cameo to cut the letters and word bubbles. It was then just a matter of piecing them all together! These would make fun cards to give to friends or a quick note to kids. Or someone who is totally awesome. :)

June CARDS Magazine Pubs

Hard to believe it’s already July! June was filled with lots of fun, and I’m expecting July to be just as memorable!

You may have seen this earlier this week, I scheduled the wrong post/date and had to quickly fix.. ;)

Today I thought I would share a few cards that were published in the June CARDS magazine. Several of the sets used are now retired, but I still love looking back at these cards!

These two cards were for the Washi Tape section.

Cardstock: Basic Gray, Whisper White, Pool Party - Stampin' Up!
Decorative tape: Epic Day Washi Tape – Stampin’ Up!
Stamps: (sentiment) Delightful Dozen - Stampin' Up!
Markers: Tangerine Tango, Real Red, Pool Party, Daffodil Delight, Basic Black markers – Stampin’ Up!

This card previously appeared on my blog, reposting since it was removed for publication.

Cardstock: Whisper White – Stampin’ Up!
Decorative tape: Gingham Garden Washi Tape – Stampin’ Up!
Stamps: Secret Garden, Really Good Greetings – Stampin’ Up!
Ink: Basic Black, Elegant Eggplant, Melon Mambo, Island Indigo – Stampin’ Up!
Spray mist: Stampin’ Mister with Elegant Eggplant reinker– Stampin’ Up!

 

This card was for the Happy Birthday section! I loved it so much I recreated it for my friend Mel for her birthday last year. :)

Cardstock: Strawberry Slush, Melon Mambo, Night of Navy, Whisper White, Smoky Slate – Stampin’ Up!
Patterned paper: Silver Glimmer Paper – Stampin’ Up!
Vellum: Vellum – Stampin’ Up!
Stamps: Remembering Your Birthday (sentiment), Oh, Hello (chevron pattern) - Stampin' Up!
Ink: Strawberry Slush, Smoky Slate - Stampin' Up!; Stazon
Misc: Antique brad, Rhinestones, White Tea Lace Doilies – Stampin’ Up!
Punches: Itty Bitty Butterfly Punch – Stampin’ Up!
Die cut machine: Big Shot
Dies: Delicate Doilies Sizzlit

Next week I’ll share some cards made with all new stamps! I did a small thank you card class and was so excited to use some new goodies for our projects!

May Stamping Publications

Today I thought I’d share a few cards that were published in the Create:Stamping issue in May. Everything from cards to layouts all feature stamping with various techniques.

 

On this card I embossed the butterflies in white and then watercolored over the butterflies.

For this little trio I masked the label and stamped the woodgrain background, then went back and added the sentiment frame.

These two cards have appeared on my blog before, but I thought I’d post them here since I had to take them down once they were accepted.

April Publications

I was so excited to have two cards in the April CARDS issue, but also exciting was to have a project in the Create: All About Baby issue that also came out in April!

This baby banner and matching frame are part of a set for the Nursery Decor section. I have a sweet friend that I can’t wait to give this to when I receive it back from the publisher! Hopefully she likes it. :) (Brittany – I am talking about you and Miss Kennedy here!)

Next, these two cards were previously on my blog so are kind of repeats, but wanted to reshare since I had taken them down upon notice of acceptance.

 

Although Easter and Spring have passed, still good to have some ideas for next year!

CARDS March 2014 Pubs

It had been awhile (like 2+ years) that I had submitted projects for publication but began submitting again last year. It’s always a long but fun wait to submit and then see your projects in print months later. These cards below were accepted in October of 2013 and were published in the March 2014 issue of CARDS!

Using the spotlight technique, I stamped the elephant on scrap cardstock, colored and punched it out with a circle punch. Stamped the elephant on the main card and then placed the colored image over to “spotlight” a piece of the stamp.

Experimenting with spray mists and the new clay and flower molds on this card!

Recent Publications

I have been so busy lately! Since I don’t have much new to post I thought I’d pop in and share some cards that were recently published by Paper Crafts & Scrapbooking magazine.

The first one was one of two projects I had in the Stamp It Techniques Vol. 2 issue.

I loved this one because it’s a super simple card but with a unique watercoloring technique. I did this similar technique on this card. It’s also so bright and cheery as I’m so eager to head into spring!

This next card appeared in the March 2014 issue. It was a last minute idea the day submissions closed and I was so excited that it came out as quickly as it did when I sat down to do it!

I keep thinking life will settle down and I’ll have time to play again like I did a few weeks ago. ;) Maybe one day soon, ha!

Practical Solutions for Paper Crafters, Vol. 2 Pubs

Since I shared some January pubs yesterday, I thought it made sense to share another card that was in the Practical Solutions for Paper Crafters, Vol. 2 that hit newsstands on 12/31! :)

This submission call actually came before the January call and was my first experience in having multiple cards in an issue. Talk about a cool thrill – I had three cards in all! We were in Florida visiting my family over the summer when the call came out and although I’d packed some crafty supplies so my mom, sisters and I could have some craft days, I had to be resourceful. That’s essentially the concept of the issue so it helped me get some ideas going and find a way to stretch my supplies!

My favorite card has to be this Cherry Blossom Kindness card that appears in the DIY Embellishments section. I also had another card in the embellishments section and one in the scraps section  (but you’ll have to check out the issue!). So fun to stretch and challenge your self with your supplies!

The reason I love this card is because I used a branch from my Mom’s yard and seashells from her collection that she’d gathered on the sunny beaches of Florida! She is a sea shell jewelry expert so I definitely felt out of my depth when trying to glue these shells together, but as soon as I saw them I knew they’d make perfect cherry blossoms! My Mom was there to watch and encourage me the whole way as I was putting them together – whew! Fun (or not so fun) fact: Bringing this home the branch broke right in the center so I had to replace it when I got home (after I’d found out it had been accepted). Luckily my Mom saved my behind and mailed me extra shells and branches to fix it! :)

So, if you’ve ever thought about submitting, or wanted to see your cards in print I’m here to tell you to GO FOR IT!

Supplies: (All supplies Stampin’ Up!)

CS: Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla

Ink: Pear Pizzaz

Stamps: Heartfelt Thoughts

Misc: tree branch, seashells; Quick Dry glue; half back pearls (SU)

Paper Crafts & Scrapbooking January Pubs

Hi everyone happy Monday! I took a little (more like long!) blog hiatus during the month of December, but it’s time to get back into the swing of things!

To get back into it I thought I would share a card that was published in the January 2014 issue of Paper Crafts & Scrapbooking magazine. This was the first month PC went all digital for the monthly issues (and you could see it as early as December 1st!), but the nice thing is if you missed the issue you could still get a subscription today and purchase any past issues!

This was in the vellum section. The butterflies were stamped and embossed in black powder, water colored with an aqua painter and then punched out. TIP: By only securing the middle of the butterfly to the cardstock the wings can naturally lift and give some movement! I topped off the middle butterfly with a clear vintage faceted button and a simple sentiment.

I had two cards in this issue, you can see the other one posted on the PC blog here and here!

I am so fortunate to have such amazing people in my life cheering me on and encouraging me in my crafty endeavors! I had not submitted cards for publication in a LONG time and didn’t really have intentions to start again. However, the amazing Susan Open (yes that one, the Creative Editor at PC) surprised me at my house for a crafty workshop one day and gave me that encouragement to start submitting again! I’m so thankful for that day and for our newfound real life friendship (vs. our ongoing online FB friendship)! :) Submitting can be a fun process and although I’ve been super busy the past few months, I’m hoping to make some more time to submit again!

Supplies: (All supplies Stampin’ Up!)

CS: Smoky Slate, Vellum

Ink: Basic Black, Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, VersaMark

Stamps: Lacy and Lovely (sentiment), Papillon Potpourri (butterfly)

Misc: Aqua painter, black embossing powder, vintage faceted button, Elegant Butterfly punch