YNS August New Release Blog Hop!

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Hi and welcome to Your Next Stamp‘s August New Release Blog Hop!!!  Because August marks YNS’s 4th birthday, we’re celebrating all month long with store specials and a second release!
 
If you’d like to hop along with us, you can start on Maureen’s blog.  If you’ve been hopping along, then you should have arrived from Kerry’s blog. (You can find the entire list of hop participants at the bottom of my post.)

I have three projects to share with you today! My first project is a card featuring “Birthday Princess.” The sentiment is from the “Magical Birthday” set, and I’ll have a card to show you with that set during our After Party posts on Saturday!

 
My second card features “Cleo,” one of three new Macy Wong animal stamps being released this month! 
(The sentiment is from my collection; it doesn’t come with the stamp.)

 
My third project is a gift card holder that I made with the new “Pocket Die.” I created the sentiments with the Skinny Font Alpha set.

 

 
Make sure you comment on ALL of the blogs in today’s hop (including this one), because FOUR random winners will receive a $10 YNS gift certificate! (You must leave a comment on each blog in the hop to qualify for the prize.)

Of course, Karen is also offering some fabulous Hop Specials at the YNS Store!  All orders over $25.00 will receive a FREE YNS Birthday Stamp set!

 

Now it’s time to hop on over to Laura’s amazing blog, but don’t forget to leave a comment here before you go! 
 
Our hop ends on August 24th at midnight Eastern time, so make sure you leave your comments before the hop ends! Karen will post the prize winners on the YNS blog on August 25th!
 
Thanks so much for stopping by today! Happy hopping (and shopping)!
 
Hugs,
 

Whimsy and Stars Studio – DT Post

Hi, everybody! It’s my turn to post on the Whimsy and Stars Studio blog!
 
Here’s a sneak peek of my card….hope you’ll stop by to see my card and say hello!
 
 
I’ll be back tomorrow for Your Next Stamp’s new release blog hop!
 
See you then!
 
Hugs,
 
 

A tasty color combination for TGF Garden Variety Tuesday!

Happy Tuesday, everybody! It’s time for a new Garden Variety Tuesday challenge at The Greeting Farm! We love seeing your creations with TGF stamps, and I hope you’ll play along with us!
 
I made this small thank you note and treat bag with the Layer Cake clear stamp set and the Mini Cupcakes w/die set:
 

Here’s our color palette for this challenge:

 
For all the details on this challenge, and to link up your entry, visit The Greeting Farm’s blog!
 
Thanks so much for stopping by today!
 
Hugs,

Whimsy and Stars Studio Digi Release and DT Showcase!

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Hi, everybody! I hope you had a wonderful weekend! It’s time for a new release at Whimsy and Stars Studio, and today our super-talented DT is showcasing their creations with “Ribbon Boy” and “Ribbon Girl“, the two new digi releases in the Whimsy and Stars Studio Store!
 
I chose “Ribbon Boy” for today’s card, and colored his ribbon yellow in support of our troops. It’s a cause that is dear to my heart because my husband retired from the military at the beginning of 2013.
 
 
 
Here’s a peek at both of the new release digis, which are available via instant download in the Whimsy and Stars Studio store!
 
 
Make sure to leave a comment for each blog on today’s DT showcase, because Mabelle is giving away a digi stamp of the winner’s choice to one lucky commenter! The winner will be announced on the Whimsy and Stars Studio blog on Wednesday, August 22nd.
 
Thanks so much for stopping by today! I hope you have a fantastic week!
 
Hugs,

TGF Farm Fresh Friday: Anything Goes!

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Happy Friday, everybody! There’s a new Farm Fresh Friday challenge at The Greeting Farm today, and it’s an all-time favorite: Anything Goes!
 
I’m sharing a different type of project today: I made a pendant with the new Frou Frou Birthday stamp and some shrink plastic. The original image measures about 3.5″ wide x 4″ high. After heating the plastic to shrink the image, it’s about 1.5″ wide x 1.75″ high. 
 
 
 
I colored the underside of the pendant with Copics. Since alcohol-based markers don’t work well with Staz-On ink, coloring the underside is your best bet. The colors also intensify when you shrink the image down, so don’t worry if the colors don’t come out as dark as you like when you’re coloring.
 
Would this be something that you’d like to see as a photo tutorial? I have some DT post days coming up soon and I’ll put one together if you’re interested!
 
For all of the details on this challenge, and to link up your entry, visit The Greeting Farm blog!
 
Hugs,

It’s Fun Friday at Your Next Stamp!

Happy Friday everybody! It’s my turn to share a card for our month-long Fun Friday challenge at Your Next Stamp!
 
I’m featuring “Aubrey“, one of the new Darling Divas released in July! I also made with an epoxy accent  to use as the sentiment with the “Skinny Font Alpha” stamp set!
 
 
Did you know that you have all month to join in our Fun Friday challenge, and you can play along as many times as you like! We’ll provide an inspiration photo and a sketch. You can use one or the other for your entry, or both!
I used the sketch for today’s card and was inspired by the gumballs from the inspiration photo. Here’s the inspiration photo and the sketch for your creative reference!

 
For all of the details on this challenge, including how YOU could be our next guest designer at YNS, stop by the YNS Challenge Blog!
 
Thanks so much for stopping by today! I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
 
Hugs,
 

Moxie Fab World Tuesday Trigger: I’m Craving Navy!

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Hi, everybody! Today, I’m sharing a card that’s inspired by Moxie Fab World’s current Tuesday Trigger! Here’s what I came up with:
 
 
 
I drew from the metallic and warm grey elements in the picture and combined them with the navy for my card. It’s more of a clean and simple design than what I normally do, but I’m happy with how it came out!
 
 Here’s the inspiration photo:
 
 
For all the details on this challenge, and to link up your entry, check out the Moxie Fab World blog!
 
This challenge runs until Sunday, August 18th at midnight EDT.
 
Thanks so much for stopping by!
 
Hugs,
 

Publication news times 2!

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Hi, everybody! I’m sharing some fantastic and happy news today!
 
Two of my cards have been published in current editions of CARDS and Paper Crafts magazine! It’s been very hard not to share peeks of the cards until now, but now that the magazines are released, I can share the news with you! It’s my first time having cards picked up in either magazine!
 
I’m showcasing the first card on The Greeting Farm blog today, since I used TGF stamps and dies to make the card. Stop by the TGF blog to get more details on the card and to say hello! You can find this card in the August 2013 issue of CARDS magazine on pages 17-18.
 
 
I also had a card published in the September/October edition of Paper Crafts magazine (mine is the one on the right…page 52)! It’s my first time being published in Paper Crafts, and I still can’t believe it’s real!

 
And before I finish this post, if you’ve ever thought about submitting cards for publication, do it!
 
The best advice I can give any crafter who wants to get published is, don’t give up! We (that includes me, too!) often take it personally when someone doesn’t like what we’ve done.  I’ve submitted many times to various magazines before anything got picked up.
 
Here are some more tips that I hope will help anyone who has been thinking about submitting projects for publication:
  • Do some research. If your goal is to get published in a particular magazine, look at the types of projects they publish, and the overall “feel” of the magazine. Ask yourself, “does my project fit in well with the types of projects being published in the magazine?” Is the magazine focused on more elaborate projects, or does it focus on clean and simple design?
  • Read the requirements for the call. One magazine may prefer newer products, while others are OK with older papers or embellishments. You also may not be able to submit projects that have been previously posted on your blog, Facebook page, or published in another form.
  • Keep up with industry trends. Look at what is popular in fashion, home décor, or on blogs, web sites, in magazines or general things that inspire you.
  • Keep trying. If your submissions don’t get picked up for one magazine, maybe they are perfect for another!
And a few words about rejection: It’s hard to take rejection of any kind, because as crafters, we put so much of ourselves in each project we make. We are told to always say something positive about others’ projects, and honestly, we don’t receive true constructive criticism most of the time. We’re so used to others praising our work, and when they don’t, it hurts…and we take it personally. The hardest part is trying again…and I hope you will!
Thanks so much for stopping by today!
 
Hugs,

TGF Retro-Fresh: Birthday Party!

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Hi, everybody! Are you ready for a new Retro-Fresh challenge at The Greeting Farm?
 
To keep TGF’s 5th birthday party going this month, our theme for today’s Retro-Fresh challenge is:
 
BIRTHDAYS
 
For my card, I chose “Birthday Anya 2” and “Birthday Ian“:
 
 
If you’re ready to go retro with us, here’s what you need to know: 
  • Use any TGF image (6 months or older)
  • Any crafting project is welcome: card, 3-D project, scrapbook page, etc.
  • Upload your entry to your blog or an online gallery and link it to the challenge using the link tool at the bottom of this challenge’s post on the TGF blog.
  • You have until Tuesday, September 10th at noon CST to join in the fun!
 
One lucky random winner will receive a 4×6 set AND a single in stock stamp!
 
Thanks so much for stopping by today!
 
Hugs,
 

Sparkle Creations Challenge #111

Hey everybody! We’re getting sketchy over at Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps! For the next two weeks, our challenge is based on a sketch that I’m sure you’ll love!
 
Here’s my card, featuring “Nurse Lucy“!
 
And here’s the sketch for challenge #111:
 
 
For all the details on this challenge, and to link up your entry, visit the Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps blog! Our challenges run for two weeks, but don’t wait too long to join in the fun! You have until Sunday, August 25th at 9PM Pacific Time to link your entry at the SCRS blog!
 
Thanks so much for stopping by today! Hope you’re having a great week!
 
Hugs,