Paper Crafts Connection

These Are The Days of Our Lives

November 10, 2009 in Uncategorized | Tags: Brandy Jesperson, Christmas decorations, Festival of the Trees, IKEA, K&Company, Kalyn Kepner, Paper Crafts magazine | 98 comments

Brandy Jesperson

All of us at Paper Crafts eat lunch together every day. When I first started working here I thought this was a bit odd. Okay, maybe odd isn’t the right word. Let’s just say I found this practice to be unexpected.

Prior to working at Paper Crafts, I’d worked for a TV station so lunch time was when everyone would close their office doors and watch the news or the latest episode of Days of Our Lives. I’ll admit to being somewhat sucked into the plot of this cheesy soap opera, but as an excuse I was working for an NBC affiliate and couldn’t very well change the channel! However, now I can’t imagine lunch any other way than with my co-workers and friends.

Today was an extra special lunch because we were able to visit with our cute summer 2008 intern, Ms. Kalyn Kepner. Kalyn is visiting from Pennsylvania and met us for lunch. We all had lots of fun catching up with Kalyn and exchanging our usual team banter.

One particular topic of conversation: Christmas decorations. I typically put up my Christmas decorations days after Halloween. I’m a little crazy like that. In fact, my neighbors’ and friends’ gifts are already purchased and wrapped in their cute kraft and orange packaging. Like I said, I’m Christmas crazy! Jennifer begins setting things out on Nov. 1, but everything isn’t completely Christmas-fied until later in the month. (As a side note, I can hear Christmas music drifting from Jennifer’s office as we speak!) Cath however has strict guidelines and will not put out her holiday decorations until the Thanksgiving feast has been enjoyed by all.

The Paper Crafts offices aren’t decorated yet, but Santa’s elves have been busy snatching up hot pink, lime green and red ornaments. As a team we’re decorating a tree for a fundraiser called the Festival of Trees. We donate a decorated tree that is later auctioned off. All the money earned goes to the patients at a local children’s hospital and the person who purchases the tree gets a one-of-a-kind creation to decorate their home. Here’s a little sneak peek of some of the ornaments we’ve purchased. Stay tuned for a pic of the final product in a few weeks!

I {heart} Christmas…and IKEA!

It seems most people have pretty strong opinions about the whole when-to-decorate topic. So, I’d like to make you all honorary Paper Crafts lunch ladies. If you were eating lunch with us today (which is WAY COOLER than watching Days of Our Lives, by the way), when would you say you begin decorating your abode for the holidays? Leave me a comment and I’ll randomly select one winner to receive this assortment of product generously donated by K&Company. All comments must be received by midnight (MDT) on Wednesday, Nov. 11.

One lucky winner will take home K&Company's Evergreen collection!

Yours in holiday gladness,
Brandy

Magazine Monday – Meet Our New Intern!

November 9, 2009 in Uncategorized | Tags: Magazine Monday, Paper Crafts intern, Paper Crafts magazine, Sarie Smith | 6 comments

Sarie Smith

Welcome to Magazine Monday! I’m Sarie Smith, Paper Crafts’ newest editorial intern. (If you’re all wondering how to pronounce my name, it rhymes with “Carrie”. Does that help?)

For introduction’s sake, here’s a few facts about me:

I laugh a lot, mostly at myself.
I have the cutest puppy in the world who just happens to be turning four in a week.
When all is said and done my one true love is soccer.
I’m so excited to be working in this office! I love magazine writing and editing.
This is my temporary headshot. I’m really not a Bridezilla. Promise.

My first day at Paper Crafts I learned three important things about my next three months as an intern. The first was that this is not an observe-and-then-you-work internship. Nope, this is a learn-as-you-go internship. Only 15 minutes after arriving, I spent the rest of the day in meetings coming up with workshop ideas, judging cards and tweaking cover call-outs for our January/February issue. I was thrilled to be part of the all the action!

The second thing was that EVERYONE on the Paper Crafts team has their own distinct style and preferences. Me included. I’m glad I will be able to express my own ideas here. I’ve decided that’s one of the reasons Paper Crafts has so many fun interesting projects – there’s a wide range of styles! It’s great to have a so many creative geniuses working together.

The third thing I realized was this: I’m going to have to dust off my card making skills to remember what all the hype is about. The awesome people in this office get so excited about all the projects they receive. Submission judging meetings are more like parties here. Readers, you are full of ideas that inspire us, and that in turn helps us fashion each and every magazine. Please keep your amazing cards rolling across our desks!

I’m also glad that one of the perks as an intern is that I get to write blogs every now and then. So make sure to check back for some office secrets only the office intern can reveal.

Your Paper Crafts Intern,
Sarie Smith

P.S. It’s time to announce the three winners from Jennifer’s 365 Days of Card Making Inspiration post and the three winners from Kelly’s Make a Card a Day post!

Jennifer’s winners:

1. Kaye (Nov. 6, 9:18 a.m.)
2. Peggy W. (Nov. 5, 6:24 p.m.)
3. Sherry D. (Nov. 5, 10:42 a.m.)

Kelly’s winners:

1. Shelly Kettel (Nov. 6, 3:12 p.m.)
2. Diana N. (Nov. 6, 1:57 p.m.)
3. Carla G. (Nov. 6, 7:45 a.m.)

Congrats, winners! You’ve each won a copy of our brand new book A Card a Day! Kelly will be e-mailing you shortly to get your mailing addresses. Thanks to all who left comments!

P.P.S. If you didn’t win a free copy of A Card a Day, there’s still time to receive free shipping on your order! Hurry because this special offer is only good through 5:00 p.m. (EST) today. Click HERE to reserve your copy!

Freebie Friday – Make a Card a Day!

November 6, 2009 in Uncategorized | Tags: A Card a Day, Courtney Kelley, Dawn McVey, Freebie Friday, P. Kelly Smith, Paper Crafts magazine, Sherry Wright, Wendy Sue Anderson | 248 comments

P. Kelly Smith

Welcome to Freebie Friday! Hopefully you’ve enjoyed the promotion of A Card a Day thus far. Like Jennifer mentioned yesterday, you have until 5:00 p.m. (EST) today to order this fabulous new book and receive free shipping! Why not get a head start on your Christmas shopping!

Speaking of Christmas, it will be here before you know it. I’ve already spotted twinkle lights hanging from several houses in my neighborhood. My philosophy is if you can’t beat them, why not join them? Why not get your holiday cards made and out of the way?

If you need some inspiration for all those cards you intend to send out, A Card a Day has plenty of designs to get you in the ho-ho-ho spirit. The best part of this book…when it’s January and you’re stuck in your house waiting for Valentine’s Day to roll around, this book will keep you company and remind you that every day is the perfect day to create a handmade card.

Click on the image to buy your copy of A Card a Day!

If you’re one of those people who loves to make “Just Because” cards, A Card a Day is laid out just like a calendar – all the major holidays are covered, but there’s also plenty of designs for those days in between when you just want to say “hi” or “thinking of you”. In fact, Wendy Sue Anderson, the mastermind behind this book, designed the lead project for each of the 12 months. What do you think of her Fall Blessings Card? This is the lead card for November.

Fall Blessings Card by Wendy Sue Anderson

Have two birthdays and a thank you card you need to send out in November? These are the card designs for Nov. 1, 2 and 3.

Birthday Wish Ticket by Sherry Wright; Offbeat Birthday by Courtney Kelley; and Newsprint Thank You by Dawn McVey

Are you liking what you see? If so, take advantage of our limited time offer of free shipping when you purchase A Card a Day. Hurry because this special offer is only good through 5:00 p.m. (EST) today. Click HERE to reserve your copy!

Wanna try your luck at winning a free copy of A Card a Day? Leave a comment telling me what time of the day you feel the most creative. Morning? Mid-Afternoon? Night? Very Late Night/Early Morning? I’ll pick three random winners to receive a copy of Paper Crafts latest and greatest book. All comments must be received by midnight (MDT) on Sunday, Nov. 8.

Happy Friday!
Kelly

P.S. It’s time to announce the winners of Maren Benedict’s Photo Cards post! Here they are in no particular order:

1. cjs (Nov. 4, 1:36 p.m.)
2. Shawna (Nov. 4, 2:31 p.m.)
3. Bernice (Nov. 4, 8:23 a.m.)

Congrats, winners! You’ve each won a copy of Paper Crafting with Photos! I’ll be contacting you shortly to get your mailing addresses. Thanks to all who left comments!

P.P.S. For those of you who went to our online store and purchased A Card a Day, you might have noticed that shipping charges were added to your order. Even though it’s showing up on the bill, the backend system recognizes the “free shipping” code that’s been put in place. Rest assured that you won’t be charged for shipping. If any of you have avoided buying A Card a Day because of this issue, I’m happy to report we have extended the free shipping offer through 5:00 p.m. (EST) on Monday, Nov. 9!

365 Days of Card Making Inspiration!

November 5, 2009 in Uncategorized | Tags: A Card a Day, Creating Keepsakes 2010 Dream Team, Creating Keepsakes magazine, Jennifer Schaerer, Leisure Arts, Paper Crafts magazine, Wendy Sue Anderson | 244 comments

Jennifer Schaerer

I think I had been on the job for about a month when someone started asking about editorial outlines for the books we were planning for the upcoming year.

Books. Seriously? I was still trying to figure out how a magazine works!

Luckily for me, the team raised their collective hand and suggested an inspiring idea by Wendy Sue Anderson…our friend, regular contributor, and – as of yesterday! – brand new member of the Creating Keepsakes 2010 Dream Team.

Here's CK and PC team members having some fun with Wendy Sue.

She had noted that, while cleaning up her scrapbook room and organizing stacks of idea books, she was struck with the thought of how many of them were so similar – in concept and content. She had then started thinking about what she’d like to see in an idea book – something new and different. That’s when the concept of “a card a day” popped into her head.

The rest is history, and with the expertise of our business partners at Leisure Arts, we’ve published A Card a Day: Your Ultimate Resource for Inspiration, Design, Tips & Techniques. And it seemed only natural to ask Wendy to create the cards that would open each month of the book. By now you’ve probably already seen the sneak peek, but if you haven’t then hop to it!

Speaking of sneak peeks, Wendy and I had a hoot of a time getting our official shot for the editor’s note in the book. Switching shirts, getting close, and completely trusting the experts on the shutter-clicking side of the camera to capture the excitement we had for this fun project!

Here our photographer Symoni gets a close-up of Wendy Sue.

Then it's my turn to join Wendy Sue under the spotlight.

Here Symoni looks at the computer to see if she got a good shot.

Then Symoni joins fellow photographer Brian at the computer. Notice all the cool colored drapes and boards in the background. There's every color under the rainbow!

And here Brian picks the best picture out of the bunch. Isn't Wendy Sue photogenic?

Just because we don’t want the fun and excitement to end, we’re making a special offer for the next 36 hours — order your copy now (guess what? It’s even in stock…so hurry!) and get free shipping! Make sure you place your order by 5:00 p.m. (EST) tomorrow (Nov. 6) to take advantage.

Better yet? I’ve got THREE copies sitting right here, ready to ship out to three lucky (and random!) winners. Let me know by Saturday, Nov. 7 at midnight (MST) what your favorite card making occasion is and I’ll select three of you to receive your very own copy.

Who knows, maybe your new favorite occasion will be National Chocolate Cupcake Day, or even Talk Like a Pirate Day!

Hoping you find ANY excuse to make and send a handmade card,
Jennifer

P.S. Can you guess what the giveaway will be for tomorrow’s Freebie Friday post?

Groovin’ with the Go-to Gals – Photo Cards

November 4, 2009 in Uncategorized | Tags: A Card a Day, Groovin with the Go-to Gals, Maren Benedict, Moxie Fab World, Paper Crafting with Photos, Paper Crafts Go-to Gal, Paper Crafts magazine, photo cards, Wendy Sue Anderson | 83 comments

Maren Benedict

One of my favorite things about the holidays is sending and receiving holiday photos. It’s amazing how much people, especially children, change throughout the year.

This last year I decided to send photo cards year-round because great pictures can be enjoyed all year long! I take photos of the kids with their gifts for Thank You cards, and also have begun sending them off periodically to distant family and friends.

Photo cards are quick and easy to make, too. All you need is a good photo…let it do all the work for you!

Photo cards are the perfect way to say "hi".

Let someone know you are thinking of/missing them.

Or that you are thankful for them.

Photo cards are always well received and cherished! What are ways that you share photos throughout the year? I would love to hear other ideas for using photos on cards! Leave me a comment and I’ll randomly select three people to win a copy of Paper Crafting with Photos! All comments must be received by midnight (MDT) on Thursday, Nov. 5.

Have a marvelous Wednesday!

Maren Benedict,
Paper Crafts Go-to Gal

P.S. Hop on over to Moxie Fab World today! Cath is spotlighting the oh-so-talented Wendy Sue Anderson, the creative inspiration behind our new book A Card a Day. Make sure you check back here tomorrow when we start our two-day promotion of this fabulous book! (And yes, we’re giving away free copies!)

Self-Confessed Paper Crafting Ignoramus

November 3, 2009 in Uncategorized | Tags: Cricut, Holly Mills, Paper Crafts magazine | 9 comments

Holly Mills

Hello paper crafters! It’s me: Holly. I’m Paper Crafts’ new graphic designer. Cath already introduced me in this previous post, so I won’t say much more, except this: I am a self-confessed paper crafting ignoramus. There. I said it. It’s finally out there.

My nearest experience with paper crafting was an amateur run at bookmaking. But I love art. And I am continually amazed with the creativity and design skills I see in the cards we receive here.

For years my mom had a poster hanging in the hall titled, “All I really need to know I learned in kindergarten.” I feel like that’s where my paper crafting schooling is right now. I’m returning to the basics. If only naps and recess were included with my new education!

Shortly after starting with Paper Crafts, I realized I needed a tutor (or dictionary) to help me learn the crafting jargon that’s thrown around the office like a hot potato. I figured I didn’t have time to read-up on the vernacular, so I called my sister, who is a card maker.

Me: Do you own a machine named after a bug?

Heidi: What? (pause pause pause) My Cricut?

Me: Yeah. It makes stuff for your cards, right? So tell me what is the difference between DIY and a die cut?

Heidi: Serious?

Me: Yeah. And what’s that cardboard stuff with decorated paper on the other side?

Heidi: You mean chipboard?

Me: Yeah. What do you use that for? Is it like a layering piece or an ornament or something?

Me: And how hard is it to emboss?

Heidi: What type of embossing?

Me: There are different types?

Heidi: (I can hear here blinking in disbelief) Yes, there’s dry, as well as heat embossing. They are different techniques.

Me: Huh?

Heidi: (stifling a mocking tone) Why don’t you come over and we’ll make some cards together?

Lets all keep our fingers crossed that I don’t break her Cricut machine, and maybe one day I’ll have a collection of my very own DIY cards.

Keep smiling,
Holly

Magazine Monday – October Gallery Challenge Winners!

November 2, 2009 in Uncategorized | Tags: Aga, Halloween cards, Heidi Van Laar, Magazine Monday, November Gallery Challenge, November/December 2009 issue, October Gallery Challenge, P. Kelly Smith, Paper Crafts Facebook fan pages, Paper Crafts magazine, Stephanie Jake | 9 comments

P. Kelly Smith

Welcome to Magazine Monday! I hope everyone had a spooktacular Halloween! Here at the office, we had so much fun channeling our inner bride of Frankenstein. If you missed the pictures we posted on our Facebook fan page, we also shared them on the blog HERE. (By the way, if you’re not a member of the Paper Crafts and Moxie Fab World fan pages, what are you waiting for? Click on the links to join today!)

Like I mentioned on Saturday, we were blown away by all the projects submitted to our Halloween-themed October Gallery Challenge! Narrowing the field to three winners was almost impossible, but in the spirit of Halloween, these three designs put us under their magical spell!

Winner #1 – Stephanie Jake:

We loved Stephanie Jake's clean and graphic Happy Fright Night Card!

Winner #2 – Aga:

And Aga's gorgeous Quilled Spider Card was just too pretty to pass up!

Winner #3 – Heidi Van Laar:

And Heidi Van Laar's Yikes Card was just the right amount of spooky!

Congratulations, ladies! Each of you has won either a one-year subscription or the special issue of your choice. I’ll be contacting you shortly to discuss your prizes. If you’re interested in seeing all 469 projects from the October challenge, please visit our gallery HERE.

Wanna join the fun and participate in our next challenge? We just launched our November Gallery Challenge! Since the holidays are rapidly approaching, we want to see your most festive treat containers – gift bags, canisters, food wraps, etc. For inspiration, please turn to The Heart of Christmas feature in our November/December 2009 issue. This three-week challenge will run through midnight (MDT) on Monday, Nov. 23. Click HERE for all the details!

Happy Monday!
Kelly

It’s time to announce the three winners from Friday’s Mischief Night post. Here they are in no particular order:

1. Yvonne C. (Oct. 30, 9:08 a.m.)
2. Rachel B. (Oct. 30, 7:41 a.m.)
3. Karen S. (Oct. 30, 2:53 p.m.)

Congrats, winners! Each of you will receive Cosmo Cricket’s Haunted collection. I’ll be e-mailing you shortly for your mailing addresses. Thanks to all who left comments!

Happy Halloween from the Brides of Frankenstein!

October 31, 2009 in Uncategorized | Tags: Brandy Jesperson, Brenda Peterson, Cath Edvalson, Halloween, Holly Mills, Jennifer Schaerer, Matt Anderson, Melinda Dann, October Gallery Challenge, P. Kelly Smith, Paper Crafts magazine, Sarie Smith, Susan R. Opel | 21 comments

P. Kelly Smith

Happy Halloween! Yesterday I revealed the theme of our highly anticipated team costume: The Seven Brides of Frankenstein. (Well, technically it was nine brides since our two interns agreed to join in on the fun! The more the merrier, right?)

Jennifer was kind enough to make all the brides these amazing black and white tulle veils. Add a wardrobe of black fish net stockings, a little black dress and some ghoulish make-up and hair, and we’re ready to meet our handsome Frankie at the Paper Crafts alter.

Here comes the brides! What do you think of our official wedding portrait?

Frankenstein a.k.a. Matt Anderson

Black Widow Bride a.k.a. Jennifer Schaerer

Somber-But-Not-Sober Bride a.k.a. Cath Edvalson

Bun-In-The-Oven Bride a.k.a. Brandy Jesperson

Diamond Ice Bride a.k.a. P. Kelly Smith

Fiery Vixen Bride a.k.a. Susan R. Opel

Don't-Mess-With-Me Bride a.k.a. Brenda Peterson

Happy-Go-Lucky Bride a.k.a. Holly Mills

Mysterious Vamp Bride a.k.a. Melinda Dann

Not-So-Sure Bride a.k.a. Sarie Smith

As you can see, we had a very good time at the wedding! A special thanks goes out to “Frankie” for putting up with nine crazy, hormonal bridezillas!

Here’s hoping your Halloween is a memorable one!
Kelly

P.S. Make sure you check back with us on Monday when we spotlight the three winners from our October Gallery Challenge! With 469 submissions, there was a lot of spooktacular projects to choose from!

Freebie Friday – Mischief Night

October 30, 2009 in Uncategorized | Tags: Card Creations: Volume 7, Cosmo Cricket, Ellie Augustin, Freebie Friday, Halloween cards, Maren Benedict, Matt Anderson, Mischief Night, P. Kelly Smith, Paper Crafts magazine | 74 comments

P. Kelly Smith

Welcome to Freebie Friday! Did you know that October 30, the day before Halloween, is known as Mischief Night? According to tradition, preteens and teenagers are known to play pranks on their neighbors as a way to kick off the Halloween festivities. Common pranks include soaping car windows, egging houses, adorning trees with toilet paper and running away after ringing doorbells.

While it always stinks to be on the receiving end of a prank, it sure is fun to pull a harmless prank every now and then – especially around the spookiest time of the year. {Disclaimer: If you are a teenager reading this right now, please don’t tell your mother that I said it was okay to egg your next door neighbor’s house. If you choose to be mischievous, be prepared to accept the consequences for getting caught!}

In the mood for some mischievous cards? I recently came across these two Halloween cards from Paper Crafts Go-to Gal Maren Benedict. Featured in Card Creations, Volume 7, they both scream mischief and fun. Leave a comment telling me a mischievous prank you’ve pulled in your life. I’ll randomly select three winners to take home Cosmo Cricket’s Haunted collection – the same collection Maren used on these fun cards. All comments must be received by midnight (MDT) on Sunday, Nov. 1.

Maren Benedict's Spooky and Goofy Pumpkins Card from Card Creations, Vol. 7.

Speaking of mischief…our art director Matt has definitely been up to no good. Apparently all the long hours in his dark laboratory (office) have finally taken its toll. He now grunts when asked a question and lately there seems to be a lot of steam coming out of his head. To make matters even worse, he’s now taken up with seven crazy women! (well, nine if you count our impressionable interns!) Yes, Matt has become the misunderstood Frankenstein and we are his seven brides. How’s that for a team costume?!

Look for a special blog post tomorrow, where I’ll reveal pictures from our day at the office as Mrs. Matt Anderson. (Hopefully the real Mrs. Anderson is a good sport!) Congrats go out to Ellie Augustin (Sept. 22, 6:14 a.m.)! Even though we didn’t exactly go with her “Count Dracula/Vixen” idea (from Jennifer’s Merry Hallowistmas! post), she definitely inspired us to go down to the monster path. Ellie, I’ll be contacting you shortly to discuss your fun prize!

Here’s to having fun (and being safe!) on Mischief Night!
Kelly

Something’s in the Air

October 29, 2009 in Uncategorized | Tags: Becky Olsen, Brady Lovell, Brandy Jesperson, Halloween cards, Inside a Black Apple, P. Kelly Smith, Paper Crafts magazine, Roxanne B., Sarah Selin | 6 comments

Brandy Jesperson

The kiddos are counting down the hours until they can wear their costumes, the grocery stores are brimming with yummy candy and bright orange pumpkins across the country are being carved into silly faces. Yes, Halloween is in the air. Luckily, it isn’t too late to make a few spooky cards to slip into your neighbors’ mailboxes or ship off to your loved ones.

I met last week with my fabulous card group and we swapped some ghoulishly fun Halloween cards. Perhaps these little morsels just might spook you into making your own creations for All Hallow’s Eve.

Spooky Bat Card by Roxanne B.

Boo Crew Card by Sarah Selin

Boo Circles Card by P. Kelly Smith

Black Cat Card by Brady Lovell

Spooky Stitched Card by Becky Olsen

Happy Halloween Card by Brandy Jesperson

I was a bit pressed for time when it came to making my swap cards so I downloaded this card from Inside a Black Apple. I added a glittery brad to the bottom flourish and embellished the kids with glitter glue. The cards were super easy to mass produce and pretty dang cute (but I might be bias).

Trick or treat…smell my feet,
Brandy

P.S. Make sure you check back to see the big Paper Crafts team costume reveal. It’s guaranteed to be frightfully fabulous if “I do” say myself…how’s that for being cryptic?

P.P.S. It’s time to announce the winner of Susan’s Inspired By post!

Congrats to Jackie! (Oct. 28, 3:05 p.m.)

You’ve won some spooktacular Halloween projects that were featured in our September/October issue! Susan will be in touch shortly to get your mailing address. Thanks to all who left comments!