Card Creations Week: Everyone Can Play

I've said it before and I'll say it again: This is one moxie fab issue, my friends. Chock full of light-bulb inspiration, this is a must-not-miss. And while it is full of cards from your favorite tried-and-true inspiring designers, it's also full of knock-your-socks off cards from some amazing brand newbies.

I call your attention to this because we here at Paper Crafts are always looking for new talent--and we found 16 never-before-published-with-us in this particular mix. Here are a few for your enjoyment:

Peace Out Card by Natalie Dever, p. 9

Moxie Fab Alert: A trendy color scheme, well-executed stamping, and good design all spell a-c-c-e-p-t-a-n-c-e for this fun card!

Wish You Were Here Card by Noel Culbertson, p. 85

Moxie Fab Alert: How do I trend thee? Let me count the ways. First, a plum color scheme; second, chairs; third, polka dots; fourth, a punny sentiment. In a blockbuster issue like Card Creations, trendy is always the name of the game!

Home for Chirstmas Card by Charlene Cundy, p. 96

Moxie Fab Alert: This card sings "home" to me. The sheet music background paper, the Christmas houses, the scroll title, the candy cane twine, even the punched scallops all take me to that warm place in my heart. When we saw this for the first time, it evoked a strong emotional reaction in all of us--which is always a good thing at a submissions judging.

A Beautiful Life Card by Cindy Major, p. 14

Moxie Fab Alert: The pairing of the chandelier with the damask is divine in this card. The French sentiment is a perfect complement, and the simple color scheme allows all the aforementioned elements to shine, shine, shine!

Missing You Trees Card by Renee Morris-Dezember, p. 87

Moxie Fab Alert: This card is wow-ful on so many levels. Trendwise it's got a text background on kraft with paper pieced stamped trees. Designwise it's got a central focal point with a simple sentiment. Moxiefabwise it's a total hit!

What does it take to be a first-timer? What has to happen to actually get a card picked up by Paper Crafts magazine? Well, I've got a few "insider" tips for you my friends, so gather 'round and listen closely, for I'm about to give you the best advice you could ever get on how to get that project acceptance notification in your in-box:

• Submit as many cards as you can to each of our calls. You can find what calls we have out by clicking on the "Submit" button on our website. We don't have any calls for submission out currently, but as soon as we do we will post them here.

• Study the styles of projects that we publish. We pay close attention to the kinds of styles that our readers are interested in seeing in our magazine. It's important that you are aware of them, too. That is not to say that we're not open to seeing something truly original, because we are, but we won't be publishing styles that the majority of our readers is not interested in seeing. (Psst...here are the styles our readers want to see most: fun and cute, clean and graphic, shabby chic, vintage, and classy and elegant.)
  

• Take a good photograph of your submission. Besides the design of your card, this is the most important aspect of your submissions. Take the photo straight on--no weird angles--we need to be able to see everything on your card in one image. Make sure your project is well-lit to ensure that we are seeing the true colors of the product you are using. Photograph your projects on a neutral background with no props so that we are not distracted from the card itself. Do not include a watermark.
  

• Make sure that your project is well-executed. No splooches or blops. No inconsistent stamping. If you've got any of that going on, clean it up before sending your submission in.

• Submit, submit, submit! I can't emphasize this enough. We get hundreds and hundreds of submissions--sometimes thousands--for every call that goes out for only a relatively few spots. If we don't pick your card, it's never personal, it's just that your project didn't happen to meet our needs at that particular time.

The beauty of Paper Crafts magazine is that everyone can play. Because our submissions judging is blind--meaning we don't know who the designers of the projects are when we look at them--everyone gets a fair shot. Even our Go-to Gals go through the blind submissions process. So, you don't have to be a paper crafting rock star and you don't have to have "connections." You just have to roll up your sleeves, muster up some courage, call on your own mad skills, take a good photo, and hit "submit." You never know, maybe you'll be receiving an email with "Project Acceptance Notification from Paper Crafts Magazine" in the subject line sometime soon! Hysterics to follow, I'm sure. :)

Now seriously, friends, what would an online promotional week be without another chance at a moxie fab prize? Leave me a comment by midnight MDT on Sunday, May 30 that talks about anything related to this post and I'll draw three random winners to receive a copy of Card Creations, Volume 8!

Calling all first-timers!

~Cath

PS Be sure and stop by tomorrow for a most-inspiring Top 10 Blog Hop with a prize so moxie fab, you'll be happy dancing 'til next Tuesday!