PAPERLICIOUS

Dear Paperlicious: Publish or Perish

Dear Paperlicious:

I've hear that if you don't get your cards published in magazines your blog will sink, your Design Team opportunities will vanish and even your Mother will disown you.  Any tips for getting published?

Signed,
WTBLY

Dear Want to Be Like You:

Yes, it is true. If you aren't published you are NOBODY in the stamping world that I like to refer to as HSFGUs  (high school for grown ups).  Luckily, out of the goodness of my heart, I am willing to share with you my super successful tips for getting published!!!  Those of you with actual talent get a pass on today's lesson, as this column is for those of you just like me -- the C students of HSFGUs.

Frankly, it really is ONE TIP, which is HOW TO FAKE BEING SUCCESSFUL.  Success begets success.  I could end the column here, but what's the point of being concise when you KNOW you love my tips?

The bottom line is that most folks are published because they are on Design Teams and most folks are on Design Teams because they are published. This vicious cycle is totally unfair as it favors the talented.  There is, however, a way to break it without actually having talent!! 

So, here are the THE TOP 5 WAYS TO BE PUBLISHED THAT "THEY" WON'T TELL YOU!!!!

5.  Talk about being published, even if you haven't been.  List all your publications on your blog.  When is the last time someone checked out the October 2004 issue of Rubber Stamp Madness to see if you are really in it??

4.  Start a second blog but don't tell anyone it is actually your blog.  Claim to want to be "just like [insert your real name] when you grow up," linking to your other blog. Now don't be obvious.  Compliment other folks first.  Wait a couple of weeks and then hold a contest and declare your other self the winner.   

3.  Claim to be on Design Teams for obscure or made up companies.  Especially "Guest Designer."  Since hardly anyone reads my your blog, the company won't know you are lying, and the rest is history....

2.   Use a product.  Write about it on your blog.  Rave about it.  Shortly thereafter, get your friends and relatives to buy tons of the stuff and write to the company about how they saw the product on your blog.  This will make the company think you are influential and put you on its Design Team.  DT=Publications!!!

And THE TOP WAY TO GUARANTEE GETTING PUBLISHED

#1:  Absolutely, positively, put the "Removed For Publication" thing on your work.  Think about this one.  How will anyone know since you can't reveal the info until after the publication!!  If I say so myself, this tip is absolutely the most brilliant of my career!!!

At the end of this column I've graciously included a sample of this "Removed For Publication" thing that you should feel free to cut and paste into your own blog or on line gallery. 

Good luck!!!  See you at the prom.

Sincerely,

Dear Paperlicious

Gratitude

I made this card for my Mom's doctor.  I figured that it was time to express some thanks for her care. 

Supplies:  Papertrey Ink:  Stampers Select White Cardstock and envelope; Beautiful Blooms stamp set; Stampin Up!:  Rose Red, Regal Rose; So Saffron, Lovely Lilac, and Almost Amethyst inks; So Saffron and Basic Black cardstock; Rose grosgrain ribbon, brads, and Crafter's Tool Kit; Clear Dollar Stamps:  A Stitch in Time; Palette Noir ink.

Teen Graduation: Male

My nephew's graduation invitation is in gray and cranberry, so I wanted a card that would coordinate with those colors. I've been looking around for a true Ocean Spray Cranberry cardstock and ink and think I've found it -- Blush Red Dark Prism paper and Adirondack Cranberry ink.  A perfect match! 

I decided to let the sentiment from Motivational Centers from Cornish Heritage Farms take center stage and make a straightforward design for a teenage boy.   You can't see it in the photo, but I stamped the background image on the white cardstock with Versamark before stamping the sentiment.

Other supplies:  Stampin Up! Baroque Background stamp; silver brads; Basic Gray cardstock; Basic Gray ink on the envelope liner; and ticket corner punch; Versamark ink; Papertrey Ink Stampers Select White cardstock.

I am supposed to be participating in the Cartelicious challenge that my stamping buddies are posting Monday.  I couldn't do it, but please be sure to check out Sue, Melissa and Rose Ann's blogs. 

If you'd like to read more about my life, continue. Otherwise, happy stamping!

The "N" Word

I got a few emails asking me where I've been.  That was sweet.  I've run off and joined the circus!  I'm its chief juggler!  Perhaps that sounds familiar to you?

My Mom got sick again.  A trip to the ER, diagnosis:  another urinary tract infection and pneumonia.

I am unable to continue to handle all of this so the first thing that went was any energy for stamping.  Luckily, however, during one sleepless night this week, I found a great deal of fun and friendship on the Stampin Up demo side of the Splitcoaststampers board.  Sometimes, in our moments of intense drama, a little levity keeps you breathing.  Thanks ladies!

The next thing that has gone is my ability to continue working and being a Mom and a wife and a caretaker.  I'm not a very good juggler after all!

There are simply too many emergencies. I fell last week and injured my knee and arm and I think that added to my sense that things are spinning out of control. I need to do something -- the killer is what is the "something" that I need to do?  It is easy to say, take care of yourself, but there are realities ($$$) that put a limit on the options.

So I discussed this with my Mom over the phone.  I have never been able to have a decent conversation with her in person, but the phone provides just enough distance and a curtain so that we can each speak our minds.  I shared with her my inability to handle this.    She brought up the "N" word - Nursing Home. 

It was amazingly helpful for me to have my Mom offer that option.  She, frankly, hasn't been the most generous of spirit at times.  The last few years have been all about her.  So, she showed me the greatest love she has ever shown me by making that offer.  I felt loved by her and that isn't a feeling that I've felt a great deal over the years. 

I turned it down. 

For now.  I'm not ready for the N word as I don't think it is Necessary.  I've decided that they are my new N words -- Nursing home and Necessary. 

I'm not sure what decisions I will make as the days wear on, but thanks for being part of the ride.

I hope I can squeeze some energy and time this weekend for a bit of stamping.  But if not, my
stuff will be waiting for me. 

Need a Mother's Day Gift? Try Global Giving

One of my friends is affiliated with this group called Global Giving.  An awesome idea for a gift for someone who really doesn't need a thing!  Or for someone who would appreciate this type of gift. 

Peace

Little by little, I'm adding to my Christmas 2008 card collection.  I probably should speed up the stamping, but I find it hard to get in the Christmas spirit when it is 75 degrees and a brilliant blue sky!

For this card, I decided to pull out one of my Thomas Kinkade Christmas stamps.  I haven't had a lot of luck coloring in these very detailed stamps, but I think using chalks may be the way to go for me. 

  Chalks seem to provide just enough color without having to master the skill needed to use colored pencils.  The image is a bit more colorful than this picture shows. 

Supplies:  Silent Night Vignette and Pretty Pattern Backgrounder stamps by Cornish Heritage Farms; Peace sentiment from Verve Visual Wonderful Wishes Remixed set; Stampin Up Real Red, White and Basic Black cardstocks, Versafine Onyx ink; Stampin Up Real Red ribbon and marker, white organdy ribbon; Barely Banana marker' Martha Stewart tag punch and Stampin Up chalks and circle punch.

Actually, I Don't

In my last post, I talked about how "doing" is more important that feeling -- at least some of the time.  This just about sums up my life's philosophy. However, after Sharon posted this comment

"I completely understand. One minute my 89 yr old dad is as sweet as can be and the next minute he is trying to bite me as I am making him get out of his wet diapers. I want to whisper "go towards the light", but he doesn't do what I tell him to do anyway. ;)

(I might as well keep my sense of humor since my sanity seems to be draining quickly.)"

I thought of how little I really do.

I don't deal at all with my Mom physically.  I go to the office to earn the money so someone else makes sure she is clean.

I don't take her to the doctor or to get blood.  I work and pay the person who does that.

I don't really touch my Mom at all. I could write a whole blog on just that topic and but not now...

Anyway, here's a virtual huge round of applause for the folks like Sharon, family and paid, who really take care of the ill and the elderly. The ones who bathe and change diapers, feed and comb hair.  They are the ones who are the real do-ers. 

The rest of us fake it, just a bit.

I Do

Mike:  "ooh, I like this."
Me:  "Really?"  [always a dumb question]
Mike:  "Well, I like the colors.  I like bright colors."
Me:  "What don't you like?"
Mike:  Gesturing towards the pinwheel -- "It's kind of empty up there."
Me:  "It's all going in the blog..."

So, I added an Amuse twinkle in the center of the pinwheel and cut the bottom of the card. 

Supplies:  Stampin Up Orchid Opulence (still using it up) and White cardstock; Stampendous image and sentiment; very old Close To My Heart Gingham background; my Mom's pinking sheers for sewing (don't tell her I'm cutting paper with them!); SU markers and a Copic marker to color the SU Old Olive eyelet so it would kinda match the pinwheeel.

Since I haven't had an original idea in years, I must give a shout out to Julie Ebersole for the idea of stamping the pinwheel a few times to show motion....

For more of my life, click.  Some of you may not like what's beyond the click, but that's ok....

15 Minute Mother

15 minutes is the approximate amount of time it takes to drive my son to school.  He's a captive audience and usually this it is during these 15 minutes that we attempt to bridge the sea between teenager and geezer Mom!  He's a cutie and I love him to pieces, but sharing feelings, information, etc. happens on a very selective basis!  Good thing I have honed my cross examination skills!

So, to highlight the nature of the 15 minute Mom, I made a Mother's Day card in 15 minutes!  I love the way this turned out, and the cool thing (yes cool is a word used by geezers...) is that the non papercrafter will think all that embossing is amazing, when we know it is a 2 minute Cuttlebug operation!  I'm loving it!
I am not loving my photos however.  I got a new camera and I just can't get the hang of it yet.  Maybe I "need" one of those photographs in a box kits?  Although I am also coveting the make your own stamp kit from Just Rite Stamps. 

Hmm, are there any holidays honoring Moms coming up?

Supplies:  from Stampin Up unless otherwise noted:   Soft Sky and Chocolate Chip cardstock; All Holidays stamp set; brown taffeta ribbon; white organdy ribbon; corner rounder punch; Cuttlebug Embossing Folder Stylized Flowers; and Palette Burnt Umber ink. 

Stampin Up Sales and Recruiting Specials for May

Hodgepodge Recruiting Promotion for USA

      May 1-31, 2008

Join Stampin' Up! as a demonstrator and get 20 percent off the Starter Kit, PLUS a free tin of Hodgepodge Hardware (a $27.95 value).

Hodgepodge Hardware assortment choices include:

 

Item	Description
105532	Aged Copper
105531	Antique Brass
105515	Pewter

 

If you have been thinking about joining Stampin Up, this would be a good time!  Contact a demo for details.  Note:  I am not accepting recruits.

Get On Board with Chipboard!  for USA

            

 May 1-31, 2008

Spend $35 on Stampin' Up! products and get 25 percent off any On Board items from the Spring-Summer Collection.

All On Board products (pages 178-179) qualify for this promotion.

 

Item Number	Description	25% off retail price
109181	On Board Blossoms & Basics	$11.21
109179	On Board Ginormous Pieces	$11.21
107925	On Board Bitty Book	$7.46
108495	On Board 5" x 5" Art Journal	$5.21
107065	On Board Art Journal (5-3/4" x 8-3/4")	$7.13
107307	On Board Accents	$9.71
109182	On Board Lots of Letters	$9.71
109180	On Board Simon Upper	$9.71
107306	On Board Simon Lower	$9.71
109192	On Board Clipboard (13" x 7-1/2")	$11.96
109190	On Board Clipboard (9" x 9")	$5.96
109191	On Board Clipboard (4-1/2" x 9")	$4.88
110713	On Board Book Basics Large	$5.96
110712	On Board Book Basics Small	$4.46

Cutting Combo Pack Special Offer  USA

During the month of May, buy a Cutting Mat and get a Hobby Blade for FREE!

Note:  I am not accepting any SU orders at this time.  Perhaps some day, but I cannot do it right now, so contact your local demo. If you need to locate a demo, email me for a reference or go to the demo locator at Stampin Up.

                                                    

Mod Elements

I love the idea of making background paper.  Since I knew I would be using this sentiment for Mike, I decided to make a brightish (new word) paper because that's what Mike likes. 

I used Impression Obsession's clear set, Mod Elements to make the background.  This is great set.  It is very easy to order directly from Impression Obsession and they have super fast shipping.  No affiliation, just a too happy customer! 

It was also time to use the "new" Stampin Up In Colors that have been gracing my craft room since January.  In this case, I used Soft Sky, Groovy Guava and Wild Wasabi (please, my non stamping readers, no more jokes on these names!). 

The sentiment is from Full of Life, from the Stampin Up Spring Occasions Mini (extended through June 2008).  I admit it, I love this sentiment enough to buy the whole set!  I think it is perfect for weddings, anniversaries, and even for a baby.  In this case, I'll give it to Mike just for being so darn cute!

I stamped the sentiment in a variety of colors, but in the end, black worked best, so I went back and added some black dots to the background paper (dots from Papertrey Ink's Beautiful Blooms.)  A little black really made the other colors pop. 

I also used these clear floral arrangement Decorative Accent "things" in place of the much more expensive Dew Drops.  The whole bag was in a clearance pile at Michaels and was $2.  Since they are clear, they pick up the color of the cardstock underneath.  A Best Buy! 

Other supplies:  Wild Wasabi cardstock and ribbon; Soft Sky, Basic Black and White cardstocks, ticket corner and round corner punches, all from Stampin Up!; Japanese screw punch (to make the little holes in the scallops -- and I didn't mess it up!!) and a black pigment fine marker to outline the holes.

Someone asked me when I get the time to stamp.  In this case, I made the card between 4 and 6 am today!

Yes, sometimes I'd rather stamp than sleep!  Wouldn't you?

Cool Stuff To Check Out...

Yikes, got up at 5:30 in the am....it is now 9:19 in the pm and it is the first time I've had a chance to STOP. 

So...a bit too tired for stamping, but squeezed in some blog gazing.  Here is a sample of some of my  favorite look-sees.... Enjoy

Look at these awesome earrings made by Lisa Silver! 

Share your stamping dreams (or other dreams) with Sherrie

Tons of cute Amuse creations at Create My Joy

Everything Jackie Pedro creates is luscious!

Review of Fiskars Threading Water Punch

A nonstamper might wonder -- does the stamping world need another way to make scallops?
I know that my blog readers don't need to answer that question....

So, Fiskars recently released a scalloped border punch called Threading Water Punch.  (Should be called Scallop With Holes Border Punch).  I used it to make this card and thought I'd share my thoughts on the punch.

It's a bit hard to find, but of course, that just makes us want it even more, doesn't it??  I managed to snag one at Craft Town Hobby USA.  It's $15.  Bottom line:  worth it.

I usually make a row of scallops like most folks do -- with an altered Stampin Up corner rounder punch or a slit punch.  The Fiskars punch is certainly faster and the size of the scallop is much smaller, which I like.  However, as you can see, the punch makes holes in each scallop.  I like that, because every time I've ever tried to do so, I've made uneven holes.  (How everyone else seems to get everything so perfect is beyond me!)

So, the punch is a nice shape and has the little holes.  Is it easy to use?  Sort of. I am tool impaired and it took me a bit of time to learn to line up the scallops as you move along the paper.  Maybe there is a good reason why they can't make a punch with a straight line of scallops that is 5 and 1/2 inches long for card makers, but if there is I'm not aware of it.  This is the punch's one draw back.  I like easy, and this definitely has room for error.  So practice on junk paper and you'll be good to go.

Keep in mind that Stampin Up is coming out in August with a scallop border punch that doesn't punch the holes.  So, if you are like most stampers, you will need BOTH punches, KWIM??

Now, on to my card.  Isn't it cute?? Here's another picture of the card, so you can see that part of the flower is popped up.

Card supplies:  Papertrey Ink Garden of Life and Polka Dot Basics stamp sets; Stampin Up Ruby Red and White Cardstocks; Stampin Up Cameo Coral, Ruby Red and Garden Green Classic Ink and dimensionals on the flower and corner rounder punch; Martha Stewart tag punch and ribbons by unknown.

Hope your weekend was a good one!

Life, Again

Here's another card I made with the Father Knows Best patterned paper download from Papertrey Ink.  This time I printed out the paper on Lemon Tart cardstock, also by PTI.  The base of the card is More Mustard from Stampin Up. 
If you'd like to know what's up with the title of this post, keep reading. Otherwise, I hope you are grabbing some stamping time!

Papertreyink Blog Hop Card Submission

Today is my lucky day.  Papertrey Ink randomly selected my blog to be one of 25 blogs to participate in the April 2008 Blog Hop.  If you go to Papertrey Ink's forum you can participate and vote for your favorite entry. 

My Mom is in the hospital again, so in all honesty, I've been out of the stamping loop this week and completely forgot that I had entered my blog to participate in this contest.  So, when very early this morning I saw the email notifying me that my blog was in and tonight was the deadline, I went into stamper overdrive as I couldn't resist the opportunity to give it a whirl.  It's Papertrey Ink!  It's Nichole!!!  It's you guys!   

Speaking of guys, I decided to use this contest to make a masculine card.  The only requirement was to use the Father Knows Best Patterned Paper (free download) which you can find here.   

This patterned paper is absolutely gorgeous printed on white paper, and is stunning printed on Papertrey Ink's Lemon Tart paper.  However, for a guy's card, I thought I would try printing it on Stampin Up's Kraft cardstock.  I liked the result and voila! -- here's the Father's Day card I made with it. 

Supplies:  Father Knows Best Patterned Paper free download; Father Knows Best and Shapes By Design stamp sets; Palette Burnt Umber Ink; SU Chocolate Chip and Kraft cardstock and copper brads.

I need to go pick up my Mom at the hospital and bring her home, so I may miss most of the actual blog hopping tonight, but I will try and get there later!