Boxer Projects

I recently got a HUGE box of supplies from Boxer Scrapbooking, and in it were a couple of their Calendars. Love the Boxer Calendars, perfect for crafting with kids, and the dates/months etc are all stickers. The calendars come in lots of sizes too, I had the 8x8 for 2008 and for 2009 I am using the 1/2 page calendar and the 6x6. I love the different sizes! This is my page for January's calendar, me snowboarding =) January & February are prime snow times here in California so hopefully I'll get chance to get out on the slopes some more during the snow season!

Supplies: Calendar, Stickers, papers, ric rac, brads & Transparency: Boxer Scrapbooks; Chipboard: Heidi Swapp;

Nice and simple layout that took just minutes to do, but would be ideal for working with kids or those on a time constraints. Plus with the smaller sizes less is more!

Back soon!

Di

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Scrapbooking behind the scenes

Ok firstly a disclaimer: I've been published sure and I've been on various design teams, but there are other scrappers who are published more than me, been on more design teams than me, and are more well known than me. I don't claim to know it all, but I've learned a lot during the last 3 1/2 years and I thought I'd share that with you. All I can share is what I've learned and my personal experiences.

My History
Back in 2003 I started scrapbooking after saying defiantly in 2001 that "I could never get into all that". I played around for a year or so trying different styles, techniques and then I discovered internet message boards for scrapbooking, and "the pub". It was early 2005 and I found that regular people could get their projects featured in magazines. I decided to make it my goal for 2005 to get something published in a magazine. I'd been submitting a few months when I got my first call back, a card request for CorrespondenceART magazine. After the initial jumping for joy on the request, there was more jumping for joy upon receiving the magazine and seeing my card published, I was hooked. Submitting became a regular thing.

During 2005 I also discovered a thing called Design Teams. Create things for a store/kit and they send you stuff for free? Sure sounds great! I applied to TONS of teams and didn't get anywhere. The old adage of "if at first you don't suceed, try and try again" was proving incorrect but I kept at it. Throughout this time I was still submitting and getting nowhere since my first publication, the lack of DT was also getting to me, maybe I was a one hit wonder? So I took some time off, re-evaluated what I was doing and approached things differently. Mid-December I began submitting to magazines again, and got a call back! I wasn't a one hit wonder! In 2006 I saw a post on 2peas asking for DT members for an online store, I applied and got a position. That same month I received a call back from Simple Scrapbooks asking for a layout, and I was asked to be a guest designer for another online store/kit club. I found that this is a common theme for me in the publishing industry: Long dry spells followed by a series of hits.

Since then I've switched teams, learned a LOT and gained so much personal experience through Design Teams, publications and writing. Over the next few weeks I plan to share that experience on my blog. I plan on discussing things like being published (submitting, where to find calls, what happens, and what to expect), design teams (the different teams, how to get on a team, what to expect and the pro's cons of each), the highs and lows of the industry, and basically giving you all an insiders perspective of the industry.

So check back in January when I will be discussing Design Teams 101. If you have questions just ask (email or in the comments), I always say there is no such thing as a stupid question

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Happy Holidays - bumper celebration post!

I mentioned before that my favorite greeting for this time of year is Happy Holidays or Seasons Greetings. Honestly we don't celebrate Christmas in the religious sense, just a secular celebration for us full of food and festivities. Just the two of us this year, but no doubt we'll have friends round celebrating at some point over the holidays. We've already had a few little get-togethers to celebrate various holidays during the season.

Anyway I just wanted to share some seasonal creations with you all today as it is still Theme Thursday! These were published in the July issue of Cardmaker Magazine. First is a CD holder, this was a recovered CD holder, originally it was a Purina Puppy DVD case.

All suppplies by one heart... one mind

When I submitted the CD case, the editors requested a matching card, and gift tag. Anyone knows I am ALL about the cards. Hard to tell on the pic but this card has lots of dimension, the circles on the green cardstock are epoxy stickers. I was in the beginning of my 'stash busting' phase so I added these to the card for a fun background design.

All suppplies by one heart... one mind

The gift tag was quick and simple, just folded over cardstock, pre-printed elements layered and a little ribbon. Simplicity itself!

All suppplies by one heart... one mind

Speaking of one heart... one mind I thought I'd also share this table scape I did for them. Originally it was an assignment for a magazine, which promptly closed the month after I finished it. Then it was supposed to be published this month in another magazine but unfortunately magazines want items that are readily available and one heart one mind closed early in 2008 so my projects got bumped. I think I'm giving them up as a jinxed project and just posting them on my blog! Ignore the crappy pics, I only had 48 hours to get the project done, and photographed, with instructions etc.


Tree center piece, pops on top of a wine glass! Quite labor intensive!


Tray, repainted and lined with seasonal papers, makes a great addition to a table setting.


Little gift box in a dish could be a place setting or an addition. Beware of glitter falling into dishes however! Lol! It seemed like a good idea at the time!


My first altered coaster. Simply patterned paper and a sentiment panel from the ohom sheets. Definitely a project I'd do again. Also wine glass charms. The "Merry" panel is under and acrylic charm piece. I LOVE making these! Such a great addition to ANY party!


Simple place setting using ohom papers and rub-ons.


Again with the acrylic pieces from ohom. Love that they fit the papers, plus yummy ribbon! Simply wrap around napkins. This again could be used as a placesetting if you used the persons name instead of greeting.


Just a simple addition of a candle to round out the table setting.




Wishing you all a happy holidays!

Di

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Card Sketch December #4

Happy Holidays! Last minute preparations for the Christmas day celebrations!!! Lately the cards have been a little fussy and layered, so this week I thought we'd get back to simple, easy and quick card designs. Everyone knows I'm all about the simplicity!!!

It's nice to do fancy cards, with layers, and lots of embellishments but my passion will always be for simple and classic designs. This card came together so easily and took just 15 minutes from start to finish (including the envelope!). Such a simple design, yet one that I'll probably use over and over again!

"Happy Holidays" card by Di Hickman
Supplies: Cardstock & Paper: DCWV; Ribbon: Offray; Rub-ons: JoAnns; Pen: Sakura; Stitching Ruler: Boxer Scrapbooks; Charm: Unknown;

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"Snow" card by Kristin Schulz
Supplies: Bazzill cardstock, DCWV stickers and patterned paper, unknow fibers and metal snowflake.

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"Tickled Pink" card by Liz Davidson
Supplies: Pearl card from crafter companion, patterned paper papermania, offray ribbon, dangly handmade with odds and ends of beads.

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"Deck the Halls" card by Chrys Rose
Supplies: Bazzill cardstock; Fancy Pants paper; K & Co. chipboard; Heidi Swapp tulle; W R Memory Keepers rub on

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"Merry Christmas" card by Louise Bridgen
Supplies: Basic K&Company Peppermint Twist mat pad, glossy accents.

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"Happy Holidays" card by Kelli Seeman Smith
Supplies: bazzill cardstock, Basic Grey Wassail (tree lot), flower prima, stamp swirl Technique tuesday, funky fibers (christmas), Kaiser craft bling gem

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"I Believe" card by Jan Tatomir
Supplies: Paper: Making Memories; Santa Suit: Jolee's; Clothes Pins: See Spot Run; Rub: Scenic Route; Lace: Carolace; Ribbon: Strano; Other: string

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"Merry & Bright" card by Celeste Brodnik
Supplies: Pattern Paper, Die Cut: Cosmo Cricket; Button: Bazzill Basics; Jute: Craft Supply

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"Merry Everything" card by Pearl Liu
Supplies: Bo Bunny pp , CI epoxy stickers , Autumn Leaves brad

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"Good Luck" card by Louise Connell
Supplies: Papers & alpha rub ons – Doodlebug; Ribbon & charm from stash

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"Happy Anniversary" card by Linda Flinders

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"Deck the Halls" Card by Annette Taylor
Supplies List: Stamp and ribbon – Angel Crafts, Velvet from stash, Cardstock – PaperMill, Rub-on – Basic Grey

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Happy Holidays!

Di

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Scrapbooking.com December

If you're still scrambling making holiday projects or looking for crafting inspiration I thought I'd remind everyone that the December issue of Scrapbooking.com is up and available online. This month I decided to tackle a beginners guide to stamping. My projects from the article are below. If you'd like step by step instructions please follow the link to the article and click on the projects

This layout is created with Top Line Creations page kits. It was the first time I'd used their products and I really loved their products. Great coordinating papers with chipboard stickers.

Supplies: Art Pen: Sakura; Acrylic Stamps: Classmate Alpha (Close to my heart); Adhesive: E-Z Runner (Scrapbook Adhesives 3L); Buttons: Crème/white self adhesive (EK Success); Cardstock: Red, Green, (DCWV); Font: Dream Orphans (Larabie Fonts); Ink: Hollyhock (Close to my heart); Scrapbook Kit: Christmas (Top Line Creations); Tab: plastic tabs (Heidi Swapp); Tearing ruler: Deckle Edge (Karen Foster)

I've been using a lot of CTMH products too lately, especially the stamps and inks, and recently got hold of some of their papers. All I can say is WOW! I am LOVING this "reflections' line. Totally just calls to me, with it's awesome color palette and beautiful patterns.

Supplies: Acrylic Stamps: Sentiments (Close to my heart); Adhesive: E-Z Runner, Foam Squares (Scrapbook Adhesives 3L); Ink: Indian Corn Blue, Hollyhock (Close to my heart), Black (Versamark); Paper: My Reflections Paper Pack (Close to my heart); Tools: Scor-it board (Hammonds)

I was also recently featured as "blog of the week" at Scrapbooking.com, which I was over the moon about! I get to sport this little beauty (even if I am late putting it up!). Jami over at Scrapbooking.com is looking for more blogs to feature. To nominate yourself or your favorite blog for the Blog of the Week award, simply drop Jami an email giving herthe blog address. You can reach Jami at jpetersen@a-z.com.

So stop by Scrapbooking.com check out the articles and see what you get inspired to create!

Happy Crafting!

Di

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Back Soon...

All posting plans this week are put on hold as we're busy continuing our purge & declutter of the house. If you've been following my other blog you'll know we already got rid of a lot of stuff, well I just listed more items on freecycle! Bob is busy sorting through his office, and I'm in the process of going through my office. I just boxed up a 3" pile of papers. If it didn't cost so much to send through the mail due to the weight I'd give it away on my blog, but it's freaking heavy! So onto freecycle it goes.

So yeah, just taking a little blog break this weekend while we purge and organize...

If you don't hear from me in a couple of days, send chocolate & beer...


Di

*currently taking a break, having a cup of tea, and listing MORE things on Freecycle!**

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35% off Sale!

Letting everyone know that it's the last few days for 35% off my digital stores at Di Hickman Designs and A Cherry On Top! The discount is already taken off so no coupons required! Just pop by the stores and grab anything on sale! Includes layout templates, cards, kits, template bundles and more!

Happy Shopping!!!

Di

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