Card Sketch April #2

This weeks sketch is based on a card I had published in 2008. I love the card and wanted to see what the sketch girls would come up with! Oh and notice a theme this month, flowers! Seriously I don't plan these things... but last month was scallops and this month flowers. Purely subconscious thing, and I didn't even notice till a couple of the sketch girls mentioned it.

This is the card I had published last year. Love the bright colors and as I recall the 'theme' was to use quotes on a card. I really have to say I am loving pink again lately. So not a girly girl, and pink is my least favorite color clothing wise but for cards and scrapbooking I do love it :)

"Enjoy the little things" card by Di Hickman
Supplies: Papers, eyelets, buttons: Boxer Scrapbooks; Cardstock: WorldWin; Vellum Quote: Unknown; Flowers: Prima

---

"Happy Birthday" card by Louise Connell
Supplies: All Supplies ~ Doodlebug

---

"Make a Wish" card by Annette Taylor
Supplies: Cardstock – Papermill, Buttons – from stash, Trim – Prima, Die-cut – My Mind’s Eye, Stamps – Stamping Up & Inque Boutique

---

"Embrace Life" card by Jan Tatomir
Supplies: Paper: Tinkering Ink, MY Mind's Eye, Making Memories; Chipboard: My Mind's Eye; Crocheted Lace: handmade by Rachel Theall; Buttons: stash

---

"" card by Linda Flinders

---

"The A list" card by Pearl Liu
Supplies: CI's Marah Johnson's Heiress Line - A List pp , Christine Adolph Mon Ami stickers , Bazzill Swiss Dot cs , Ice Stickles

---

"Happy Spring" card by Lizzy Davidson
Supplies: Patterened paper from a dutch craft shop!!Blossoms from prima, Spring stamp from Stampendous, lace and hole paper from lakeland plastics, green chalk ink, stamped image painted with twinkling H2O's

---

"Happy Anniversary" card by Chrys Rose
Supplies: Cosmo Cricket paper; My Sentiments Exactly rub on; Boxer Scrapbook brads and buttons; Petaloo flower; Prima flowers; Bazzill cardstock

---

"Thinking of you" card by Raechelle Bellus
supplies: cs: Bazzill and Core'dinations; pp: Fancy Pants Designs and Lily bee; die cuts: K&Co. and Collage Press; stamp and ink: Inkadoo; cuttlebug embossing template.

---

As always hook me up in the comments if you make a card with the sketch, I love to come check them out!

Di

Read more...

Publishing 102

I covered the basics in publishing 101 but I wanted to go more indepth to cover a few topics. One of the things I notice when I announce that I got projects picked up for publication is that people comment "oh I didn't even know about that call". Well as the saying goes "you gotta be in it, to win it!", meaning if you don't submit then you can't get published!

So where do you find calls?

Well unfortunately there is no one place to find calls anymore, seems like they are dotted all over the web. Of course there is the pub calls blog, but honestly that seems to be DT calls and contests more than publishing lately, it's definitely not as good as it used to be.

For magazine calls I recommend going to the magazine websites and looking for the submission information. Most magazines accept email submissions but there are a few only accept mailed in submissions, it varies with each magazine. The stamping magazines especially only take mailed in submissions so be aware of this when looking for submissions. The mailed in items especially, sometimes if you want the item returned you will have to provide return postage!

For ezine calls, again go to the website and click on their submissions links. The great thing I like about ezines is no mailing in of layouts it's all done via email, so it costs me nothing, whereas the magazine calls cost postage.

I'm not going to list all the magazines and ezines, I'd be here all day! But definitely check out the website of the magazine/ezine you are interested in.

There have been hot debates on message boards as to whether ezines are considered "published" or not, I do consider them as published work. It's a totally misunderstood concept that ezines accept ALL projects that are submitted - No they don't! I cannot stress this enough! The ezines go through the same elimination process as regular magazines. It can be just as tough to get published in ezines as it is print magazines.

So now you know how to find calls for submissions, what next? Well that'll be in Publishing 103 - the submission email! What to include, what to write, what to attach etc

Remember if you have questions just post them in the comments or email me!

Di



Read publishing 101;

Read my Design Team articles: DT's 101, 202, 303, 404 and 505

--------------------------

If you are going to copy and paste this for other website remember to credit me, the original author Di Hickman! I have had numerous people copy and pasting my articles into various forums with no credit, and some blatantly claiming the work as their own. This is highly unprofessional. Give credit where it is due with my name and I would appreciate a link back to my blog, thank you. Di

--------------------------

Read more...

Manufacturer Challenge - Doodlebug

I've taken a couple of months off from the manufacturer challenge and boy did I miss it! No rhyme or reason for choosing the manufacturers each month usually just pot luck depending on how I feel. Right now I'm feeling bright and colorful so April is Doodlebug month.

Supplies: Papers: Doodlebug; Cardstock & Sticker: DCWV; Flower: Heidi Swapp; Button: American Crafts

Something about Doodlebug just screams FUN doesn't it? The bright colors, the fun designs, the coordinating papers. I love it! Gonna keep working with these pinks/reds then move onto some masculine papers I have of theirs. Should be interesting!

Di

Read more...

Digital team layouts

Sharing some digital team love today! Renee made this layout with my digital "Chick-a-dee" kit and wow it's awesome! I absolutely love it! Especially love how she turned the photo frame!

"My 3 little Chicks" layout by Renee Morris-Dezember

Remember the chickadee kit is available in all my digital stores at: Di Hickman Designs, Scrapwow or A Cherry On Top

Remember if you do a layout with any of my digital kits just email me, or link me up in the comments! I love to come check them out, or maybe even feature them on my blog!

Happy Spring!

Di

Read more...

In our thoughts

I like to have a variety of cards on hand and one such card is a 'thoughtful' card that could be used for various occasions. This could be use for just a simple "thinking of you" card or a "with sympathy" card. The monochromatic color schemes gives a very calming feel to the card :)

Boxer Products: Gray Dot paper; Remembrances stamps; Gray grosgrain; Gray buttons

This card was published in the February/March issue of Ready, Set Create Magazine.

Di

Read more...

Spring is here!

I am so feeling springy and bright lately! My favorite color seems to be yellow right now. Screams spring! I will also admit to liking PINK lately! Shocker for anyone that knows me, and knows I hate pink! Still hate to wear pink but for scrapping it's perfect! Busy in the garden and with scrapbooking projects, but wanted to share a spring card with you all!

Papers & Sticker: Pebbles Inc; Ribbon: one heart... one mind

Di

Read more...

Card Sketch April #1

Happy April! And welcome to the sketch preview redesign, hope you all like it :) The card packs in future will all be pink :) color coding the layout templates too, possibly blue! Lots to do! This weeks sketch is again a mixture of 2 or 3 sketches, all squished into one to create something new!

As I'm still organizing my scraproom I used what was closest at hand which is the new MAMBI papers! Beautiful papers, and I think these go well with the prima flowers! Not sure about the manly sentiment with flowers but I'm sticking with it!

"The greatest father" card by Di Hickman
Supplies: Papers + Die Cut sticker: MAMBI; Flowers: Prima; Cardstock: DCWV;

---

"Just Cuz" card by Jan Tatomir
Supplies: Paper; a2z; Cardstock: Bazzill; Flowers: JoAnns, Making Memories; Punch: Fiskars; Bling: MAMBI, Heidi Swapp; Letters: Heidi Swapp; Rubs: Doodlebug; Buttons: craft supply

---

"Thank You Chocolate Lime" card by Annette Taylor
Supplies: Patterned Paper: Bo Bunny, Cardstock – Bazzill Swiss Dot, Trim – Prima, Stamps – Papermania and Heidi Grace

---

"Happy Easter" card by Raechelle Bellus
Supplies: cs: Bazzill; pp and die cuts: Sasafrass Lass; letters: Heidi Swapp; ink

---

"New Baby Girl" card by Lizzy Davidson
Supplies: Offray ribbon, Patterned paper by Papermania, sweet nothings, gems by paper chase, Stamped greeting, studio G stamps, Pink chalk ink, Stamped image of baby grow from Craft Stamps.

---

"Hi" card by Jo Willis
Supplies: DCWV cardstock, KI Memories paper, Doodlebug alphabet stickers, Green Tara large blossom, Prima flowers, buttons, craft cord, pin, black gel pen.

---

"Best Wishes" card by Linda Flinders

---

"Get Well soon" card by Louise Connell
Supplies: Papers ~ Basic Grey Euphoria; Stamps ~ Autumn Leaves; Rub on sentiment ~ Karen Foster; Trim ~ from stash; Adhesive pearls ~ Papermania

---

"Friends" card by Pearl Liu
Supplies: Carolee's Creations Adornit What a Hoot pp & sticker ; Prima Cadoobles , Core'dinations Whitewashed cardstock

---

"Congrats" card by Celeste Brodnik
Supplies: Cardstock: Bazzill Basics; Pattern Paper: Webster's Pages; Flowers: Making Memories; Ink: Clearsnap; Die: Quickutz; Jewels: Craft Supply

---

As always hook me up in the comments if you make a card with the sketch, I love to come check them out!

Di

Read more...