My Three-In-One

I just got my copy of the October/November 2008 issue of Paper Trends magazine. And what to my wondering eyes should appear -- but my three Halloween Treat Boxes, plus four Sgro Holiday cards filled with good cheer!

That's right! This is the very first publication in which I have more than one project -- and I have THREE in this one! My loyal readers will recognize two of the projects. The first is my trio of Halloween Treat Boxes. They made their original debut on my blog last Halloween.



The second is my trio of Paint Chip Tree Cards. I was surprised by how popular these simple cards turned out to be when they first appeared on my blog last November. Hmmm... I believe that was about the same time that I started lurking in the paint aisle of my local home improvement stores. Coincidence? I think not!



My final project is new to my blog. The editors of Paper Trends contacted me back in June and asked me if I would like to be a part of their "1 Sketch, 4 Styles" feature. (Would I!!!) I call the resulting design my "Holly and Snowflakes" card. This is a very easy card to recreate, as I used a premade card base and just added some embellishments. (Full details in the Oct/Nov 08 issue of Paper Trends.)


Happy (Early) Holidays, Everyone!

So Honored...

I was oh-so-pleasantly surprised to receive an email from Tammy Morrill last month. Tammy is the editor of Paper Trends, one of my favorite magazines. Anyway, Tammy wrote me asking if I would like to be a part of their "1 Sketch, 4 Styles" feature for their October/November issue. I was (and still am!) sooo honored! This is the first time that a publisher has specifically approached me to be in their magazine -- as opposed to my flooding them with my submissions!

As the issue is coming out at the end of the year, I chose to create a card with a Christmas theme based on their sketch. I titled it "Holly and Snowflakes." I hope all of you Paper Trends readers enjoy my design! (My blog readers will be able to see the card posted here in December.)

With their acceptance of this card, I will have not one, not two, but THREE of my creations in one magazine! WOO HOO!!! A new record for me!

More Happy Holidays!

And a Happy Halloween, too!

I just found out that my Halloween Treat Boxes and my (in)famous Paint Chip Tree Cards are both going to be featured in the October/November 2008 issue of Paper Trends magazine! Woo hoo! That's TWO in one publication! A first for me...

I'll give you a heads up when the magazine hits the newsstands. In the meantime, I do have to remove both projects from my blog. So sorry! But I promise to re-post them in December!

Works Like a CHARM!

I'd like to share with you my "Charmed Birthday" set, which appeared in the December/January 2008 issue of Paper Trends magazine. I designed this "charming" card to be an invitation to a young girl's birthday party. The invite includes an attached bracelet with one charm. Guests are instructed to bring their new bracelet with them to the party, where additional charms will be given away as prizes. I also designed simple charm holders to showcase the prizes.

Materials:
Bracelet:

• Accents: chain from Metal Madness, assorted charms by Fancy Finery, 12mm lobster clasps by Jewelry & Craft Essentials
• Tools: needle-nosed pliers

Card:

• Cardstock: Assorted Box of Cards & solids from DCWV, white from Hammerhill
• Adhesive: 3M's ATG gun & tape, Pop Dots from All Night Media
• Fonts: Fontdinerdotcom Luvable & Rickles from fontdiner.com, Round No. 1
• Tools: Crop-A-Dile by We R Memory Keepers, computer
• Other: charm bracelet, see above

Charm Holder:

• Cardstock: Assorted Box of Cards from DCWV, white from Hammerhill
• Accents: assorted charms by Fancy Finery
• Adhesive: 3M's ATG gun & tape
• Fonts: Fontdinerdotcom Luvable from fontdiner.com
• Tools: Crop-A-Dile by We R Memory Keepers, computer
• Other: wire

Complete instructions in the Dec/Jan 2008 issue of Paper Trends magazine.
Card Size 4" x 4.25"; Charm Holder Size 4.25" x 1.5"
Additional photos in my online portfolio.

Baby Shower Bib Favor/Prize

This was a special request that I received from Joanne, asking for ideas to wrap up baby shower prizes. She had purchased six 1½-inch boxes of Hershey's Kisses to give away and wanted something "cute and memorable that everyone will ewww and ahhh over." The inspiration for my idea came from a card by Meera D'Souza which appeared in the Dec/Jan 2008 issue of Paper Trends magazine. I didn't have any 1½-inch boxes handy, so I attached my finished embellishment to a Martha Stewart gift box. Joanne, I hope this helps!

Materials:

• Cardstock: colored, textured Mat Stack by DCWV, white by DMD
• Digital: flowers from Rhonna Farrer's April 2006 Kit from Two Peas in a Bucket
• Fibers: pink narrow ribbon from Michaels stores
• Adhesive: mini adhesive dots by Glue Dots and Tape Runner XL by Therm O Web
  
• Fonts: Lauren Script
• Tools: Mega Scalloped Circle & Super 2" Circle punches from Marvy Uchida; 1" circle punch from EK Success
  
• Other: Photoshop

Step 1:

Print or stamp your design on your white cardstock.

I used the flowers from Rhonna Farrer's April 2006 Kit and the font Lauren Script for my text. To make this into a prize instead of a favor, change the text to "Winner!" or "Congrats!"





Step 2:

Turn your 2" circle punch upside down so that you can see and center your design. Punch your circle.










Step 3:

Trim approximately 1/4" from the top.













Step 4:

Attach 2 lengths of narrow ribbon to your white cardstock using mini glue dots.

Note: stay close to the edge of the circle, as you will be trimming out the center.








Step 5:

Adhere your white cardstock circle to your pink cardstock. Line up the straight edges, and be sure to leave at least a 1/2" of pink around the curve of the circle.








Step 6:

Turn your Mega Scalloped Circle punch over. Insert your layered cardstock and center the white circle. Be sure your ribbon is clear before you punch your scallop.









Step 7:

Turn your 1" circle punch over and partially insert and center your layered cardstock. Again, be sure to keep your ribbon clear of the punch.

Note: If you have trouble punching through the double thickness of the cardstock, you may have to trace a 1" circle on your cardstock and cut it out with scissors or a craft knife.



Step 8:

Tie your ribbon into a bow and trim the ends.

Attach to your box with glue dots.







Final Step:

Be prepared for all those "oooo's and ahhhh's" ...

Short, Dark, Handsome... and Online!

I've got great news for all of you who requested a copy of the template to my Tuxedo Card. You will still be able to find it in the Step-by-Step section of the February/March 2008 issue of Paper Trends magazine. But now the editors have also included the template and complete instructions in their online Idea Gallery. So feel free to head on over there and download your own copy! Happy Crafting!

Edited to Add: Although the template and instructions to my Tuxedo Card are available through Paper Trends magazine and their website, please note that they are for personal use only. According to my contract with Northridge Media, I still retain the sole rights to use this template for commercial purposes. Thank you for understanding!

"CHARMED, I'm sure..."

Speaking of News and Newsstands...
I just got my copy of the Dec/Jan 2008 issue of Paper Trends magazine. And guess what I found on pages 94-95??? My "Charmed Birthday" creations! Woo Hoo! It's the very first project in their section on charms. I'm not permitted to post pics of my project until after the magazine leaves the newsstands, but I did manage to sneak in a tiny peak... (see inset at right)

I hope this project inspires you for your next birthday party! Or perhaps for a bridal or baby shower?

My Tuxedo Card Makes It BIG!!!

...or All dressed up with somewhere to go!

Woo Hoo! I just found out that my Tuxedo Card is going to be published in the February/March 2008 issue of Paper Trends magazine! Yay! I'm so excited! I'm very proud of this card -- it's one of my more complicated creations. It's gratifying to know that editors of a craft magazine also found it publish-worthy.

Those of you who have expressed an interest in creating your own Tuxedo Card are in luck! My template and instructions will be included in this issue in their Step-by-Step feature. You just have to wait a little bit longer...

Once again, I had to temporarily remove all images of the card from this blog and my online portfolio until May 2008. But don't worry... I'm sure my faithful blog readers will find some mention of its arrival on newsstands in February...

I'M GOING TO BE PUBLISHED!!!

I just found out that my "Charmed Birthday" cards and favors are going to be published in Paper Trends' Dec/Jan 2008 issue! Woo Hoo!!! I'm soooo excited!!! My first publication!

I have to remove the project from my online portfolio gallery until March 1st, 2008. So sorry, I can't post a photo. But look for it on newsstands in December. I can't believe that I get to say that!