Thank you, Paper Crafts & Scrapbooking Magazine! {Blog Hop}

 

The Introduction:

If you are hopping along with us today: You should have come here from Karen Baker's blog. If you did, you are in the right place! Welcome!

If you aren't already a follower, I'd love to have you follow my blog!

If you are on Facebook, please "like" Ink Blots by TRD.

If you are one of my regular readers: Thanks for coming back! I love having you! Please join along in the hop (it's a BIG one!) - you can start at Jennifer McGuire's blog.

The Card:

Today, many fans and designers are tasked with saying goodbye to a long-standing pillar in the crafting community: Paper Crafts & Scrapbooking magazine. 

Whether you have known it as Paper Crafts, Creating Keepsakes, or the combination Paper Crafts & Scrapbooking (PC&S), if you are a paper crafter it is likely that you have been inspired by PC&S in one form or another. 

For me, PC&S has truly been just that - an inspiration. When I was planning the card I would create for today's blog hop, I knew this stamp set would be perfect...it says it all:

Paper Crafts is the one magazine that I save and refer to again and again. Even if the papers/embellishments in the issue I am looking at are outdated, the projects still give me ideas: color combinations, design, and technique. I am thankful to have back issues on my bookshelf to refer to in the years to come. 

In addition to the inspiration from other designers, I feel so blessed to have had some of my work included in PC&S (and even one project on the cover). Although these experiences weren't necessary for me to appreciate PC&S, I am so thankful that they have been part of my crafty journey. From the shock and excitement of receiving the first acceptance e-mail, to being chosen as a World Card Making Day winner, to having a project chosen to be on a special issue cover, to being an Honorable Mention in the Stamping Royalty contest...seeing my work in print is something I will never forget. I am so thankful for the many experiences that I would not have had if it had not been for PC&S. 

Like so many others, I am also thankful for the people I have met (both virtually and in person) because of PC&S. And it was a pleasure to be able to meet some of the PC&S editors, Go-To Gals, and designers at a CHA event I was able to attend. 

To all of the current and past editors, Go-To Gals, behind the scenes workers, and designers - I wish you the best in whatever direction life takes you next. 

Thanks for the inspiration, 

Paper Crafts & Scrapbooking magazine.

You will be missed.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

The Next Stop:

Virginia Lu

Supplies:
Cardstock: Discount Cardstock (Brilliant White 130#);
Patterned Paper: Heidi Swapp (Hello Today - 12x12);
Stamps: Unity Stamp Company (You Do This);
Ink: Tsukineko (Night Sky);
Twine: The Twinery (Midnight Blue);
Tools: Fiskars (Trimmer, Scissors); Scor-Pal (Scoring Board);

Stamping Royalty : Honorable Mention

Well...it's that time of year again (the Stamping Royalty contest from Paper Crafts & Scrapbooking magazine). In 2012, I entered and made it to the table. Last year, I made it to the table again. 

Here are pictures the editors shared of the cards that made it to the table this year:

No, I can't spot any of the cards I entered...but there is this little bit of news on the Paper Crafts Connection blog today:

Yay! 

And a big congrats to the winners and each of the other honorable mentions!

I'm so happy, happy, happy for you!

My card (no, not the one pictured here) will be published in the July 2014 issue of Paper Crafts & Scrapbooking! (And I am extra excited about this publication because my card uses an image and sentiment that I designed for Unity Stamp Company!)

Thank you for stopping by today!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Papertrey Ink (Rustic White);
Patterned Paper: Heidi Swapp (Hello Today 12x12 - brown, Serendipity 6x6 - yellow);
Unity Stamp Company ({keeping up with the} Tribal Trend - sentiment, Authentic Man - lines)
Ink: Ranger (Archival - Jet Black); Tsukineko (VersaMark - Watermark);
Embossing Powder: American Crafts (Zing! - Chestnut);
Dimensional Adhesive: Helmar (ZapDots - ¼” Round);
Other: Tifany DeGough (Beard Template);
Tools: Fiskars (Scissors, Paper Trimmer); ScorPal (Scoring Board); Ranger (Heat It tool);

I'm a cover girl!

For me, this really is Christmas in July (okay...August)!
I am beyond thrilled to have one of my projects featured on the front cover of the newest special issue from Paper Crafts Magazine - Holiday Card & More: Volume 8.

It was very exciting for me to receive my JOY Tag back and get a little sneak peek at the issue a couple days ago.

This issue should be hitting the stores near you starting today...be sure to pick one up and get a jump on all those holiday projects!

Thanks for stopping by - have a great day!

WCMD Winner Blog Hop {& Giveaway!}

{Have you stopped by to check out my giveaway celebrating 500 followers? Click here.}



The Introduction:
If you are hopping along with us today: You should have come here from Terri Davenport's blog. If you did, you are in the right place! Welcome!
If you aren't already a follower, I'd love to have you follow my blog!

If you are one of my regular readers: Thanks for coming back! I love having you! Please join along in the hop - you can start at the Paper Crafts blog.

Here's the full blog line-up:
Paper Crafts
Alyssa Scritchfield
Amber Daigre
Becky Olsen
Carol Bloomberg
Julie Day
Kelley Eubanks
Kelly Rasmussen
Laurie Willison
Lisa Petrella
Patricia Folchert
Savannah O'Gwynn
Sharon Dunn
Stephanie Washburn
Terri Davenport
Tifany DeGough <-- That's me!
Trinh Arrieta
Vanessa Menhorn
Veronica Zalis
Wendy Frederick

I hope you're not just here for the giveaway (but I won't blame you if you are!)...


...we'll get to that in a second.
For now, let's take a peek at today's card.

The Project:
If you've looked at the March/April issue of Paper Crafts, you may have already seen my winning card on page 82.

For today's card I decided to take the basic idea from my winning card and create a new one with a few small changes. This one goes a bit more toward the trendy navy color, but still uses fabulous papers from Authentique Paper (these are from the Free Bird Series) and that wonderful Itty Bitty from Unity Stamp company.


I did one of my favorite inking techniques to get a fun gradient on the stamped image. I love this look! It is a fabulous way to give your stamped image a little bit of spunk!

I was having fun stamping while I created this card, so I decided to create a coordinating bookmark:


Bookmarks are a great way to use up those scraps you've trimmed from your papers to create your card. It makes for a quick coordinating gift set.

Okay...now here's what you probably came by for...

The Prizes:
I've decided to share a little bit of what came in my WCMD prize package with one lucky winner.
Here's what you can win:

Giveaway includes:
PSA Essentials: Stamper, Alignment Tool, Black Ink, Vintage Snowman Peel & Stick Stamps, and Haunted Shack Peel & Stick Stamps
Clear & Simple Stamps: Circus Fun Stamp Set
American Crafts: Party Animal Stamp Set

But that's not all!
Paper Crafts has offered to send a copy of the March/April 2012 issue to another lucky winner!


{You can see my winning card on page 82.}

The Details:

To enter:
Leave a comment (only one, please!) on this blog post. That's it!

One comment will enter you for both giveaways.

{I would love it if you became a follower of this blog, but it is not necessary to win.}

Blog comments close (for the giveaways) Monday, February 20th @ 11:59pm (Pacific) and the winners will be announced Wednesday, February 22nd here on my blog.
Please remember to check back to see if you've won.
{Each winner will have 48 hours to contact me with their information. If they have not contacted me by that time, a new winner will be chosen.}

{Due to shipping costs, giveaways are available to US mailing addresses only.}

Thanks for stopping by today...and while you are here...please take a little peek at some of my crafty items (stamps, punches, and even a KNK Zing) I have for sale.
Unfortunately I don't have enough space to keep it all...but my loss is your gain!

And please check out my current giveaway celebrating 500 followers. You could win even MORE crafty goodness!


Thanks for stopping by today!

The Next Stop:
Trinh Arrieta's blog


Supplies:
Cardstock: Bazzill (White);
Patterned Paper: Authentique Paper (Free Bird Series);
Stamps: Unity Stamp Company (Born An Original - Authentique Itty Bitty);
Ink: Tsukineko (Midnight Black, Night Sky, Ocean Depth, Aegean Blue, Oasis Green, Tea Leaves);
Ribbon: American Crafts (Ruffle Ribbon - Green);
Other: (Pearl);
Tools: Fiskars (Trimmer, Scissors); Scor-Pal (Scoring Board);

Hello There

My whole family has been sick and it has really hit us hard for a few days...but I still wanted to say:


Oh, and if you haven't seen this yet...I hope you'll check it out - something pretty exciting (if I do say so myself).



Thanks for visiting today!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Kraft Outlet (Ivory, Kraft); Bazzill (Cool Cantaloupe);
Chipboard: Kraft Outlet;
Stamps: Market Street Stamps (Vintage Wallpaper, Slow Movin'); Hero Arts (Frame);
Ink: Tsukineko (Night Sky);
Tape: Pink Paislee (Teal Grid);
Cord: Darice (Paper Jewelry Cord);
Flower: Maya Road (Cream Resin Flower);
Vintage: Etsy (Blue Flocked Ribbon);
Tools: Fiskars (Trimmer, Scissors); Martha Stewart/EK Success (Scoring Board);

Favorite Flashback & Exciting Announcement! {Market Street Stamps}

***Looking for The Twinery/DiscountCardstock.com blog hop? Look HERE***

I am SO excited to announce that I will be designing for Market Street Stamps for another term - as a member of the Senior Design Team!
{You can see the official announcement on the Market Street Stamps blog.}


Since Angelica posted some of her favorite past projects of mine on the Market Street Stamps blog, I thought I would take a little look back and see what some of my personal favorites were.
{Some of these may never have appeared on the Market Street Stamps blog - I use the stamps so often that they end up in many of my projects.}

You can also see one of my favorite cards {using what is probably my all time favorite Market Street Stamps background stamp} on page 92 in the Stamp It! Cards: Volume 8 {Special Issue} from Paper Crafts Magazine.

Here are some of my personal favorites:












Thanks for stopping by today and I hope you'll stick with me as I continue to design projects with Market Street Stamps!

How about that giveaway???

In celebration of hitting 200 followers, I thought I ought to have a little giveaway!


There are some 6x6 sheets of Pink Paislee paper, a fun little taste of some of The Twinery's twine, Prima flowers, Maya Road trinket pins, American Crafts ribbon, Autumn Leaves rubons, Magistical Memories chipboard, die cut doilies, felt embellishments, blue dew drop style stones, and seam binding.

In fact, I thought I ought to give away more than one prize...so I will be giving away *two* prize packs! {The second prize pack is not shown, but is almost identical to this one...just with different chipboard shapes.}


And while I am at it, I think I am going to give away a copy of the May/June 2011 issue of Paper Crafts magazine to a *third* winner...how does that sound?


{You can see my projects on pages 48, 51, and 76!}

To enter:
#1 - Make sure you are a follower. {If you aren't already showing as a follower, just click the "Follow" button in the sidebar.}
#2 - Leave a comment. {Be sure to leave a way for me to contact you!}

The details:
The giveaway will be closed at midnight PST on April 30, 2011 and the winners will be announced sometime the following week.
This giveaway is open to US addresses only.

Release Day!

***Don't forget to check my etsy shop for an AMAZING deal on Stickles {hint: $1.25 per bottle!} and a huge stash of ribbon!***
>>Click here to go to my etsy shop<<

Today is the official release date for the May/June 2011 issue of Paper Crafts magazine.


I've had it in my hands for about a week now and it is a FABULOUS issue!

{I do have to say that my favorite projects are on pages 48, 51, and 76!}

I thought about giving you a peek at one of my cards from the issue, but instead I am going to show you something MUCH cuter - my daughter's version of one of my cards!
{She's 7 and can draw better than this, but you have to see my original card on page 51 to see why she did this.}




She took it one step further than I did...how cute is this?


You can get a little peek at the card that inspired Lacie in this post on the Paper Crafts Connection blog. {It's the one right beneath the light switch in the group photo at the end of the post.}

You can find the pattern for my "Apron Gift Card Holder" {page 48} here.

Thanks for stopping by today...have a fabulous day!

***Edited to add: I just noticed the "followers" count is currently at 199! Will you be the one to put it in the 200's? Please do! I think I feel a giveaway comin' on!

Past, Present, and Future

Six months ago I had not been a full time Design Team Member for any company.
Today, I am currently designing projects for two fabulous manufacturers and one online store:
{The Twinery}
{Market Street Stamps}
{A Walk Down Memory Lane}

Six months ago I had never had anything accepted for publication in a print magazine.
But...six months ago I received my first ever acceptance e-mail from an editor at Paper Crafts Magazine requesting two of my projects for publication!

It seemed like forever waiting for the day when I would be able to see my work in print...TODAY is the day!

{You can pick up a copy here}

Beginning with this issue I am scheduled to have at least one project published in print each month for the next six months.
All together I am scheduled to have 12 projects printed in 9 publications from from 2 major publishing companies...it is truly a dream come true!

Here's a peek at one of my projects from the Paper Crafts Special Issue: 350 Cards and Gifts.


{You'll have to pick up a copy to see my other project and the rest of the awesome projects in the issue. My projects are on pages 52 & 91.}

I have always loved crafting and I thank God for blessing me with these fabulous opportunities.

I may never have anything published again...or maybe I will.
For now, I am just enjoying the blessings I have been given and looking forward to what else the future might bring!


Supplies:
Patterned paper: (Travel Skirt, On Holiday) The Girls’ Paperie by Margie;
Paint: (Cardinal Crimson) Apple Barrel Colors; (True Red) Americana;
Accent: (Silver/Wire) The Beadery; (Red/Felt) The Kunin Group;
Tool: (Round N Round Squeeze Punch – Medium) Fiskars; Round N Round Squeeze Punch – Large) Fiskars; Round N Round Squeeze Punch – Extra Large) Fiskars; Seal Of Approval Squeeze Punch – Medium) Fiskars; (Micro-Tip® Easy Action Scissors) Fiskars;
Other: (Wooden Bag) Michaels;

Pat On The Back

Good news today: I got an acceptance e-mail from Paper Crafts magazine!

One of my cards that I submitted was accepted for publication and you should be able to see it this August in the Go-to Sketches for Card Makers Special Issue. {It hits the shelves the day after my birthday!}

This card {one of my many "rejects"} was also created using the same sketch from my card that was accepted {sketch #33} - it looks very, VERY different from the card that was accepted. They are totally different styles but I love them both in their own little ways.
{You can see all the sketches for the call here.}


There is lots of goodness from For The Record {one of the new Echo Park Paper collections}.

Of course I've also added some twine from The Twinery - love that new charcoal color! {I inked it up with some Distress Ink to make it flow better with the colors of the card.}


I got some of my inspiration for this card from the recent Get Daring with Decorative Tape Challenge in the Moxie Fab World. I used the Tim Holtz tissue tape to add some ruffles behind the sentiment and beneath the twine.

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
Cardstock: (French Vanilla) Bazzill
Patterned paper: (Apron Strings, Noteworthy, Stamp of Approval, Vintage Linen, For the Record collection) Echo Park,
Ink…dye: (Antique Linen) Ranger
Color media…markers, pencils, pens: (Black/Pen. - Medium) Sharpie
Accent: (Nightfall/rhinestones) Queen & Co., (Nostalgic, tissue tape) Tim Holtz, (Artful Collage #523831, flowers) Prima, (Green/rose Leaves #170691) Prima,
Sticker: (Element Stickers, For the Record collection) Echo Park,
Fibers: (Charcoal, twine) The Twinery
Tool: (ruler) Tim Holtz, (scoring board) Martha Stewart, paper trimmer, (Upper Crest Border Punch) Fiskars,
Other: black tulle

Look what I found!!!

{Here's the link}

You Color My World

Happy Friday!

You may have noticed that I have a new look for my blog (thanks to Shabby Blogs) and that I have also updated the format of my blog by adding tabs. (You can click on "Blog", "Publications & Special Accomplishments", or "Designer Positions" to see it all.)
I hope you enjoy the new look!
(Be sure to check out the free blog backgrounds and headers and extras that Shabby Blogs has to offer.)

Today I have a very quick & easy card to share.
(And some more good news!)

I was trying to come up with some sketch ideas for different cards and was wanting to use Pink Paislee's fun Artisan Tape and came up with this quick design.


Sometimes it is fun to color (some might call it "scribble") like a kid again!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Bazzill {Lily White}; Kraft Outlet {Paper Bag Kraft}; Georgia Pacific {White};
Stamp {Rolling Rubber}: Provo Craft {12 pt. Circa, 18 pt. Circa};
Stamp {Rubber}: Odd Bird Planet {Earth};
Ink {Pigment}: Rubber Stampede {Black};
Tape: Pink Paislee {Artisan Tape - Orange};
Color Media {Crayons}: Crayola Twistables {orange, green, purple, blue};

And for the good news: I have had three cards accepted for publication in the May/June 2011 issue of Paper Crafts magazine! I am still very new to having anything published (so new that I haven't actually SEEN anything published yet since the magazines won't be printed until next year), and it is so exciting! I can't wait to see my work in print!

It doesn't get any better than this!

I've got great news. Lots of it!

Not only will I have two projects in a Paper Crafts magazine and a Creating Keepsakes magazine...I will also have a project in Simply Handmade magazine! I've decorated a birdhouse that will be in the April/May 2011 Issue: Bloom & Grow. These are my first ever print publications and I can't believe how the acceptances all came in so close together. I can't wait to see my creations in print!

And MORE good news:
I am on the new design team for The Twinery!

Twine is very popular in crafting right now and also gift wrapping and any other sort of thing a person might want to make pretty.
The Twinery has great twine that currently comes in 8 fabulous colors!
Keep checking back for some fun twine projects and also be sure to keep your eye out for a giveaway...I am sure I will have a little to spare. :o)

And the best news yet:
My brother-in-law and sister-in-law got the travel call to go to Korea and pick up their baby! Being an aunt is already fabulous and I haven't even been able to hug him yet. (Unless hugging a picture counts.)
For Thanksgiving they will be in Korea picking up their new little turkey!
I cannot wait to meet him!

Save the Date: May 2011

I HAVE GREAT NEWS:
I have a project - it is a shadowbox - that was just accepted to be published in the Creating Keepsakes Special Issue: Creative Spaces Bookazine!
{It is slated to come out in May 2011.} Keep an eye out for it!

I am SO excited I can hardly stand it!

Two Great Projects

I have two projects that I would like to share with you today.

Here is the first:


Oh!
What's that?

That is all I can show you because my project is going to be featured in Paper Crafts magazine!

But that was just mean...I should at least show you SOMETHING, right?

Okay...here you go:

What?
Again?

That's right! I have TWO projects that will be in Paper Crafts magazine! Guess you'll just have to see them in there. :o)

They are scheduled to be in the Special Issue: 225 Cards & Gifts (it goes on sale March 15, 2011)!

I am SO excited!!!