Friday, September 28, 2012

Giving Credit Where Credit is Due

Did you know that Holiday Cards and More, Vol. 7 went on sale last week? Have you seen it? It's so inspiring, loaded with the most beautiful holiday cards and projects! I'm so excited because my first publications for Paper Crafts is included!


The thing that I love the most about this issue is the variety of styles and levels from quick and easy to the more technical. There's something for everyone!


Here's one of my three projects that appears in this issue.


I used October Afternoon's Holiday Style. It's one of my all-time favorite Christmas lines.


I love the vintage vibe to this collection!


I also have an interesting story to tell you with regards to this card and who ultimately inspired its creation.

 This 'version' with the green buttons was created by Amy Heller and pinned by yours truly. I absolutely adore Amy's work and pin just about everything she makes!

Apparently, this design was memorable enough to influence the creation of my card and it wasn't until after I finished it, submitted it to Paper Crafts and got it picked up that I was perusing my pin boards and came across Amy's card for a second time. I nearly fell off my chair! I couldn't believe the similarity and was alarmed that Amy would see it in the magazine! What would she think?

I was in a panic. Not only does it look like I copied her card, but I submitted it for publishing! I didn't know what to do. I believe that we should always give credit to those artists that inspire our work or give us a great design to 'lift.'

I decided I'd send Amy an e-mail and tell her the whole story and include a photo of my card. I had no idea how she would respond. I wondered how I would if the tables were turned? Well, I can tell you this, not only is Amy Heller an amazing paper craft artist, but she's also a class act when it comes to handling situations like this! While she acknowledged that the cards were indeed similar, she said she thinks my work is good enough to be published on its own merits. How cool is that?

Anyway, I wanted to tell this story when the magazine came out because I want to give Amy some credit for this fabulous card. Thank you, Amy! And thank you for your grace in handling this situation! I also know that in this industry, we all experience times when a project or unique technique is borrowed by another crafter. Personally, if someone is inspired by a project of mine and lifts it, I don't mind so long is this is mentioned when their project is blogged. This often gets a little fuzzy because most ideas out there are not new, just reinvented and given a fresh new perspective. I suppose we must all be mindful of where our inspiration comes from and be willing to credit an artist in our posts as we do with our listing of supplies.

Do you have any thoughts on this topic that you would like to share? Please leave a comment, I'd love to hear what you think.

T.G.I.F! Hope it's a good one!

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Bella Blvd. Cards on Thursday

Hello!

It's Bella Blvd's Cards on Thursday today and I have three cards to share that I created for summer CHA, each highlighting one of Bella Blvd's embellishments.


This card uses my favorite Button Market styles!


Oh how I love pretty little buttons!


The patterned paper and sticker is from the new Birthday Boy collection.


Can you guess what embellishment this next card features? :)

B

That's right, lovely and colorful Crochet Flowers.


These are perfect for adding texture and dimension!


My third card shows off Bella Blvd's colorful Designer Tape.


Have I mentioned lately how much I love this tape? ;)


These colors and patterns look so pretty together, don't you think?


This card and the second use products from Bella Blvd's Birthday Girl line.

Would you like to see more? Head over to Bella Blvd. for more Cards on Thursday.

Thanks for visiting! Have a super day!

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Pumpkin Head

Hello there!

Would you believe I still have summer CHA projects I haven't shared yet?  Here's a page I created with Bella Blvd's new fall line called Thankful.


These colors are perfect for autumn and this blue background paper is a favorite of mine, called Turkey Tracks. Isn't that a cute name?!?! I used an older picture of Christopher that I cherish!


Kids, they grow up so fast, don't they?


Accents include Button Market styles, Ciao Chip, High Five Alphabets, Designer Tape and Flags. It's fun to mix and match all these Bella Blvd. embellishments!


'Tis the season for pumpkins! If you would like to see more Thankful projects, head over to the Bella Blvd. blog.

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed the page.

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Walnut Grove by Pebbles

Hi!

Thanks for stopping in! Today is another busy crafty day hosting Technique Week at write. click. scrapbook. Today's topic is about my favorite die cutting trends. I hope you can go take a peek.

Yesterday on the Pebbles blog a gorgeous new line called Walnut Grove was revealed and I had these two cards to share.







What do you think of Walnut Grove? I think it's the perfect mix of my two favorite seasons, spring and fall. It's a combination of warm hues and pretty flowers that I can't resist! Want to see a page my teammate Emily Spahn created with this new collection? Click here.

Have a wonderful day!

Monday, September 24, 2012

Eat Cake

Hi!

I'm glad you're here! I have a lot to share with you today! Over at Love My Tapes blog I have a Christmas card posted and at write. click. scrapbook. I'm hosting Technique Week for the next five days starting today with my secrets and tips for hand stitching. If you have ever wondered how I stitch my projects, or what I use, the answers are all there waiting for you! :)

Today on this blog I have a mini album to show you using the new Bella Blvd. Birthday Boy collection. This album was created for summer CHA. See the little curly ribbon? That's actually Designer Tape, folded in half lengthwise and wrapped around a pencil!


















I had the best time making this mini with all the brightly colored and fun Birthday Boy products! And what a stroll through memory lane pulling up all these birthday photos of Christopher! I love having all these pictures in one album!

To see more Birthday Boy projects, head on over to the Bella Blvd. blog.

Thanks so much for stopping by today! :)

Love My Tapes

Hi!

It's a brand new week! The first full week of fall. So why am I in the spring cleaning mood? And I feel like rearranging the house and doing a bit of decorating? Maybe I'll just roll with it and not question whether it's the right season. :)

Speaking of seasons. I have a wintertime Christmas card share for you at Love My Tapes.


There's so much to enjoy with every season, isn't there? I hope you can pop over and see my card. :)


Saturday, September 22, 2012

Feline Better

Happy fall ya'll!

Today marks the first day of autumn! When I was at Whole Foods yesterday there were beautiful pumpkins and mums at the entrance and I left with some pumpkin cream cheese cupcakes. One didn't make it home! Yuuummmm! :)

Today I have a get well card share for you.






The cats are Silhouette cuts. I used card stock from my scraps bin. There's a piece of washi and a vintage button tossed in as well. Pretty simple card. It should make some cat lover with a cold feel much better, don't you think?

Enjoy your first day of fall!