I have decided that this week I am going to share what I love about certain magazines. These are publications that I highly recommend and not just because they show me pub love, but because they inspire me to be a better designer every month. I feel that I was able to develop my style by working hard for these magazines and I thought I'd share some insight as to what I have learned about each of them. I don't consider any of these publications to be "easy" to get into, therefore, it reminds me that competition is high and that makes for a great challenge.
I am going to start with the latest issue of Scrapbook & Cards Today.
I wanted to wait until I had my paper issues in hand to really take this issue in and let me tell you...it's fabulous (in every way). I love the cleanness of the cover (so fresh and inviting) Something else that I completely LOVE is the brilliant colors that just make me smile (I am a sucker for amazing color). Every season has a color palette that makes each page just flow so beautifully. Tutorials are clean and concise and they cover so many different paper crafting projects. Projects are the main focus on the page (I just LOVE the eye candy).
(yup, that's my boy) I also love the textures and props that they choose to photograph some projects on...it's just yummy!!
And the reader gallery is always oh' so inspiring. So, when submitting to this magazine, try to scrap unique topics and use colors that scream that season (they are published 4 times per year...March, June, Sept and Dec) Their spring call ends today and they have an amazing blog candy give away going on right now as well. All of this information is found within the link that I provided above.
Tomorrow, I will chat about Paper Crafts.
now, onto today's challenge, using a Mini Mister which is on sale for just $1.39. I bought this cute little thing a while ago (mainly because it's just cute), but never played with it until this challenge came along. Let me start by saying "do not try this at home" Apparently, I did it wrong...who knew?...with me always experimenting...well, yeah, I make a ton of mistakes and oopses, but I do learn during the process. So, I added some alcohol ink to my mister and added some water and sprayed it over a stamped image that I heat embossed onto glossy card stock. My first mistake was using UTEE with a Versamark pad, when I heat set it, some of the crystals were flicking at me...and freaking me out as they slightly burned me...it would have been better to heat underneath, but I suffered through it and made it work...then it was time for misting. So, I sprayed it, and wiped the paper (the second mistake was using glossy paper because it absorbs the ink in a different way) but I just kept adding ink and sprayed to my little hearts content. So, I LOVED the result and had no idea that what I had created broke so many rules...whupz. It wasn't until I was talking to my inky friend that I did it all wrong...turns out that you aren't supposed to put alcohol ink into those spritzers cuz the pressure could make it a bad thing....if that sucker blew up on me, I am pretty sure it would have been shocking (I am sure that I would have laughed, but still)! She said I had to throw my mister away...awww, mannn. I did it, but I will buy another one to play with...well, maybe I should buy more than one, because I will no doubt pour something into it that I shouldn't. So, it's up to you, feel free to try what I did, but be warned. Someday I will make a point to figure out the tried and true way to use my inks, ntil then, maybe I should invest in a Kim proof suit.
(yup, that's my girl) (click on the image for a larger view) Large Polka Dot and Pine Needles and Cones backgrounder, Heart Warmers sentiment and Ranger alcohol ink. Creative Impressions ribbon and brads. Creative Imaginations chipboard ornament.
AND, is you are still here, and I haven't lost you will my excessive talking, Cornish Heritage Farms is having a rockin' sale through Thursday.
*FF Napoleon constructed his battle plans in a sandbox* (what, when he was 5?)
gonna say it again, happy Monday friends :)