Paper Crafts Swan Song Blog Hop

Today, a bunch of us crafty girls are getting together to say goodbye to Paper Crafts and Scrapbooking Magazine.  The blog hop starts on the amazing Jennifer McGuire's blog.  You should be arriving from Emily Liephart's blog.  If you just stumbled onto my blog today, make sure to go back to Jennifer's blog for all the inspiration and memories.

About 8 years ago, I fell in love with stamping.  (I was awful at it, by the way.)  Soon after buying my first handful of supplies, I had grand dreams of being on design teams and being published in magazines.  It took me a while but I finally got my first acceptance letter from Paper Crafts magazine and it felt like the heavens were singing!  My dream had come true and along the way I met so many people.  I've made friends who I hope to have in my life forever.

It breaks my heart to say goodbye.  It doesn't just feel like the end of a magazine but the end of an era.  Though I haven't been published in PC&S since June 2013, I always had it in my mind that one day I would go back but now I can't.  We are living in a new world of Pinterest, bloggers, ebooks, and apps and I'm not sure I'm quite ready for it.  I've never liked goodbyes but this one leaves so much sorrow in my heart.

How do you make a card to close a chapter of your life?  I struggled so much with this.  In the end, I needed to go with a forever friendship theme.  I fear that the progression of the craft, the decline of the economy, and technology will make my people obsolete.  But that's silly because as long as their is love and the desire to create, we'll always be here.  My dear PC family that includes all the sweet souls that have helped me on the journey to the crafter I am today.

Thank you Paper Crafts and Scrapbooking Magazine!  Thank you for the trends, the inspiration, the meet and greets, the Go-To Girls, the happy emails, the motivation to push myself further.  Thank you for being the center of the most loving and amazing industry in the world.  Thanks for the friendship, the belief in us, the love, and thanks for the memories.

Check out THIS VIDEO that Bethany Stellpflug made of the pictures we posted to the planning group.

Next up on the hop is Jennifer Rzasa.  (JRza if you're awesome.  ;) )

Paper Crafts Magazine May/June Published Card

Hi friends!  I hope you are all well.  We are doing ok around here.  Life with three kids is so much harder than I thought and it's just taking a lot of time to adjust.  I haven't had much time to craft.  I actually haven't had that much time to myself period.  But I'm trying to savor the moment since this baby phase goes by in the blink of an eye.

Today, I'm sharing a card I have published in the May/June 2013 issue of Paper Crafts Magazine.  Sadly, this was from the last month I submitted before I had Avery so I don't have much to share after this.  I really really love this card though.  It's inspired completely by Dustin and this is totally a card I would make and actually give to my husband.  While I usually love my published cards, I can't really say that they all have someone in my life that I actually had in mind when I made them.  For a supply list and instructions on how I made this card, please purchase the Paper Crafts May/June 2013 issue.  I've posted the cover here.  This issue is packed full of fabulous inspiration!

Have a great day, friends!

75 Creative Card Challenges Publication

Hi friends!  I hope that you're having a great day!  We are doing ok.  I am still VERY tired.  Avery is waking up about every 2 hours at night to eat which is kind of annoying because she wakes up every 3-4 hours during the day.  :(  I guess she has her days and nights confused?  She also wants to stay awake at night and just stare at me.  She doesn't cry and she's just so sweet so what can you do?  Hopefully, I can start sleeping soon.

Today, I'm sharing a card I had published in Paper Crafts Magazine's 75 Creative Card Challenges.  This issue is some major MOJO boosting goodness!  One of my very favorite things to do when I'm low on creative juices is to try some challenges to get things going.  This issue offers 75 of them right at the tip of your fingers.  Here's the cover:

And here's the card I have published in this issue.  If you'd like the details on this card, please check out the issue.

Have a great day, friends!  

Nov/Dec '12 Paper Crafts Publication

Hi friends!  I hope you're having a great day!  We are doing ok.  In a bit, I'm going to pick up Brady and his new friend from Kindergarten from school for a playdate and he's even staying for dinner.  I'm excited to have Brady off making friends on his own and this kid is SO sweet!  I hope they have a good time.

Have you guys seen this?  It's the Nov/Dec issue of Paper Crafts Magazine.  You can pick up your copy HERE.

Today, I wanted to share a card that I have published in the above magazine.  For a supply list and instructions, please check out the magazine!

Have a great day, friends!

Holiday Cards and More 7 Pub

Hi friends!  I can't believe it's been a week since I blogged!  I'm hoping to blog more soon.  I've started Project Life and I just need to get some of my layouts photographed then I'll share them on here.  Hopefully, you will like seeing some Project Life along with my cards.  :)

Today, I want to share a card that I have published in Holiday Cards and More Volume 7.  This issue is JAM PACKED with amazing projects!  It is SO thick!  It's really a must have even if you don't really make holiday cards.  My reasoning here is that there are so many fun ideas that will translate into your regular crafting.  Here's the card I have published in this magazine.  SUSAN OPEL said it was one of her favorites from this issue on Facebook.  I was floored!

If you'd like to learn the details of this card, please pick up Holiday Cards and More vol 7!  There's even free shipping of orders of $25 for more going on right now (only for one more day) using code FS25SCRAP.  Here's what the cover looks like:

Have a great day, friends!  

Paper Crafts Sept/Oct

Hi friends!  I hope you're having a wonderful day!  We are doing pretty good.  Counting down to the end of our summer.  I can't believe my babies are old enough to have a summer break!  

Today, I'm sharing a card that is published in the Sept/Oct Paper Crafts Magazine.  I'm really excited about this issue!  This is the first time I've ever had three cards in an issue of Paper Crafts.  In fact, I've only been in ONE regular issue of Paper Crafts before this.  Dreams come true, people!  For details on this card, to see my two other cards, and to experience the fabulousness of the issue you can buy it HERE.  

Here's the cover of the magazine.

Have a great day, friends!

My First "Real" Issue of Paper Crafts

Hi friends! I hope you are having a great week so far! We got to spend a fun day with one of our favorite families yesterday so it was VERY fun. The kids had a great time and we took some cute pictures. Too bad I only had my iPhone.

Ok, so I'm sure many of you have already seen this awesome magazine to the left. It's the Sept/Oct 2011 issue of Paper Crafts. It's an EXCITING one for me because this is the first "real" issue of Paper Crafts I've been published in. Until now, it was all special issues like Stamp It or Card Creations. It's kind of a big deal to me. I don't really know why.

Here's the card I have in this issue. For instructions and product list, please buy the magazine HERE.

Have a great day, everyone!

Card Creations 9

Hi friends! I hope you are having a great week! I went back to the doctor's office today to get my eyes checked out because all the blurred and double vision but there's nothing wrong with my eyes. So, I have no idea what's going on. I guess, we'll just wait for more tests.

Let's look towards some happy news, shall we? :) I've never done a post the week that a Paper Crafts Mag came out before. I'm not sure why, I just haven't but I decided it was time! Card Creations volume 9 came out this week and I LOVE this issue! It's just packed full of amazing inspiration! I've gotten so many ideas from it and I keep going back to see more!

Here's the card I have in this issue. Amazingly, there's no stamping on it. All the elements except the ribbon come from Echo Park's Little Boy 12x12 Collection Kit. I love this paper! You know, I have two little boys of my own and let me tell you, I'm going to need to order a second kit. That doesn't really happen around here. The ribbon is from Michael's and the bunch is EK Success.

Have a great day everyone!