You Can DO it!!! Get Yourself Published!

Many of you may remember me talking some while ago, about submitting some work to a trade magazine. I was VERY nervous, I would go so far as to say I was scared! I purchase a lot of card magazines, and I always am awed by the work that I see in there, but I never had the guts to submit my own. I page through them and think to myself "Oh how cool it would be to see my name in print!" One day, while I was flipping through one of the new mags I had just purchased, I saw the Rock and Roll Challenge, which you know is right up my alley! So I bit the bullet, filled out the submission form and mailed my creation into the world. And instantly forgot about it.

About a week ago, my son came running in the house with the mail, saying "Mom, what's in this big envelope?" I hadn't bought anything that week, so I really didn't know. How delighted was I, to open the envelope and see my card, accepted to the Rock and Roll Challenge? Yes, that's right, I was PUBLISHED! And let me tell you all, if I can do it, YOU CAN TOO! Come on fellow artists and crafters! Submit your work to your favorite magazine of your trade. For a few cents postage, I got to see my name in print. Let me tell you, it was quite the ego boost!

So if you want to check out my work, it's published in the April 2010 edition of Scrap and Stamp Arts. It's on news stands now! :)

I Love Cupcakes

Ok, I have to admit, the cupcake craze is right up my alley. I LOVE CUPCAKES. I love eating them, making them, all things cupcake! There, I said it, and now I feel better! I found an adorable set of stamps from Hero Arts the other day that's all cupcakes and sweets, which I ran, not walked, to the cash register to purchase! So far I've made a few things with them, but by far, this is my favorite.

I used a cream Bazzill bling textured cardstock for the base, cut and folded into an A2 size card, which I then edged in purple ink. I used Rose Red cardstock from Stampin' Up as the mat and some striped paper from My Mind's Eye. I hand stamped the cupcakes on ivory cardstock, and also matted that on Rose Red cardstock. I hand colored each cupcake a different "flavor" to match the striped paper, and put a big heart rhinestone cherry on top of the pink frosted cupcake. I attached the cupcakes to the card using pop dots for some depth. I punched a scalloped circle out of textured AC cardstock in a light green and attached it behind the cupcakes. I stamped "Happy Birthday" (also from the same Hero Arts set) in brown and affixed three clear rhinestones.

This would be a great card for that sassy little (or big) someone's birthday!

Rubber Stamps Anyone????

So I've finally taken the plunge, and realized my addiction fully. I am now the newest demonstrator for The Angel Company. I can now feed my rubber stamp addiction fully! Above you can see the greeting card I created using the "Ice Cream" stamp set. Adorable!

So if you're in the mood for some rubber stampin', I'm your girl! Feel free to contact me at auntiedisdelites@gmail.com, and I'd be glad to place an order for you! :)

Moving

I'm sorry I've been so bad at blogging lately. We're in the process of moving. Moving itself is a pain in the hiney, but when you have to move with the Army, there are even more hoops to jump through. So needless to say, my top notch blogging (*snort*) is falling by the wayside. However, I did manage to scour Etsy this mornining for some cool "Moving" themed items!! Enjoy!

We've Moved Labels by amyzo $8.00


Moving Downstream Digital Art Photo by dahliahousestudios $49.00


We've Moved Cards by NeatThings $24.00


Moving Away Print by danitashop $15.00

A New Product - Earring Cards

I tried a little something new today.....earring cards! This is the first batch I made, silver skull and crossbones on black, textured card stock. They measure 3.5" x 2" and fit wonderfully into my mini pocket envelopes (providing the earrings on the card aren't huge). You get a set of 35 with each purchase. I've got a few other designs up my sleeve too, hopefully I'll be able to get them listed tomorrow!

Inspiration...or Lack Thereof.......

I did manage to create one new type of thing today....I made this set of mini cards. they measure 3x5" and they rock, and would make great thank you cards for packages.

Anyway, what I really wanted to write about was my lack of creative juice. No inspiration. I am absolutely driven to complete this packaging redesign. I am stuck right now, waiting for new things to come in the mail so I can do it, and it's making me insane. I'm not doing anything but waiting, but for some reason, that's all I want to be doing. I don't want to do anything else. So I force myself to make some mini envelopes and call it a day. I know that's got to be boring to my buyers.

So from now on, I've promised myself that when I sit down and make the same ol' boring stuff, I'm going to force myself to make new stuff too. Something different..whether it be a full size card, a set of mini cards, whatever...just something that isn't just an "I made this for the sake of saying I made something on this day. Today it was these cards. I think I'm going to also do a version on black cardstock with a silver design on the front..meant to be written on in gel pens. Now THAT would rock! :)

P.S. I added the black cards I created later in the afternoon to show you that I actually DID make them! :)

Angel Thank Yous

It's cloudy here again :( So my pictures came out like dookie, but I love the way these little mini note cards came out. Angel wings on the front accented with glitter glue, and inside the word "Thanks". Simple, easy, yet fun!

I was up really late last night trying to get the rest of my Auntie Di's shop sorted out so that I can roll out this new packaging. I'm sick of printing my labels myself, I'm considering having them professionally printed....BUT...it's so expensive. Although if I chalk up what I spend on printer ink and labels every year, it just may be worth it. Hard tellin'. It sure would save me a lot of frustration! :) Anyway, I have the new banner up in my shop, and a new avatar, and several items are coming for packaging purposes. I'm almost there. I should be able to roll it out next week and start taking pictures. I sure hope so! :) I'm excited about it, and I haven't been this excited in a LONG time!

Naughtiness

I've seen a lot of hate mail type cards on Etsy, and it's made me want to create my own version of them. I did my first today.....and now, of course, I'm having a brain block. *Sigh* that's always the way. Anyway, I'm always open to suggestions if anyone has any....

It's cold here. About 45 degrees. Of course, it wouldn't seem so cold if it hadn't been almost 80 last week....Oh well.

Tomorrow it's supposed to be 39. I'm going to get the kids off to school, the hubby off to work, and get my butt back in the bed under the covers and sleep in. :)

See ya! :)

Holidays and Commercialism

So I really hate to go to a store any more at Christmas and see Valentine's Day stuff out, or at Valentine's Day and see Easter stuff. It seems like they just get it out earlier and earlier every single year. It drives me bonkers. I try really hard not to do this in my own shops, but lately, I find I can not help myself! The paper selection is great when you shop early! And then I can't wait to get things listed, so it's like a vicious cycle. I finally believe I am done with Valentine's Day, not that I don't like the holiday, I mean, why wouldn't a girl love a holiday that means chocolate and flowers? Sheesh! BUT....I've moved on ......to Saint Patrick's Day! :) Above you'll see some pictures of new designs for the Luck o' the Irish! I could not resist the paper!

Hubby had a great breakthrough in his screen printing journey last night, so we may see screen printed goodies coming sooner to his shop than I originally thought. AND...more importantly, frustrated as he is, he hasn't given up yet! YAY!

Today, I sit here and revel in the quietness of my house, it's just me and the dog! After a month, my husband has gone back to work! And, with the kids at school, this means (hopefully) more creativity time for me! :) So it's almost 2 PM, I'm about to put the coffee pot on for the afternoon and the dog and I are about to get to work!

Ciao!