Goodbye to Design Team Work

I don't quite know how to start this post so maybe I should just say it...I'm hanging up my design team cap to go to work exclusively for Fun Stampers Journey. Whew! This is a big deal for me! I've been paper crafting since my son was born in 2001 and what started out as a hobby grew into so much more. What started out as a project to create my son's birth announcement and scrapbooks turned into a greeting card business that unfortunately wasn't successful but I kept doing what I love, paper crafting. Then I started submitting my work to industry magazines and began working on design teams. 

I've been part of a lot of great teams from my first two at Bella Blvd. and Doodlebug Designs to my most recent with Reverse Confetti, We R Memory Keepers and Anna Griffin. There have been many others in between, and all of them helped me to grow into the creative person I am today. 

I've been feeling a roller coaster of emotions these past few weeks making the transition from freelance designer to employee. On one hand I'm so excited to join Fun Stampers Journey and their amazing crew and take part in this fast growing young company. And I'll still get work at home with my kitty cats! I will however miss working with all the companies I've grown to love. Luckily, we're all in the same industry and I will be able to keep in touch with my favorite manufacturers and designers. 

I officially begin my Fun Stampers Journey (FSJ) on September 1st and will continue to share lots of crafty projects with you on this blog. There are so many fabulous products and lines that were released during June's convention, like the new mixed media line called Journey Media. Stay tuned...

I will also have to opportunity to travel to Arizona where FSJ is located and to take part in various events such as their annual convention and CHA. It'll be a great chance to meet more of the talented people in this business.

So...these are some exciting times!

A little about this card too...it's made with Reverse Confetti goodies. And that leaf patterned paper...one from Bella Blvd. that came out years ago, even before I joined the design team! Oldie, but goody for sure! 

Technique Tuesday and CardMaker Blog Hop

Welcome to the Technique Tuesday and CardMaker blog hop! If you are arriving here from Laura O'Donnell's blog you are right on track. For a full list of participants and hop details please start at CardMaker. 

Summertime is almost here and with it are lots of birthday celebrations so I used Technique Tuesday's Say It - Happy stamp set to create this fun and colorful birthday card. 

(Buy Now - $4.99)

Whimsical stamped birthday icons, colorful patterned paper and buttons make this a celebratory card, don't you think?

Often, during summertime, my husband like to escape North Carolina's heat and humidity by visiting our local art museum. This Wildflowers stamp from Technique Tuesday reminds me of the gorgeous field of wheat and iron tree in front of the museum which inspired my card. 

(Buy Now - $4.99)

I stamped this card twice, first with white ink, then a second time with black to give it a dimensional effect. 

Next up on the hop is Daniela Dobson.

Card Creations, SEI and Jillibean Soup

I have so much to share with you today! Are you ready for a crafty show and tell? First up, this Thanks card I created with Pebbles' beautiful Front Porch collection was published in Paper Crafts; Card Creations, Volume 12. 

It's funny how I drop everything to peruse this magazine from cover-to-cover when it arrives! It's full of amazing card designs and I'm always left with lots of ideas! 

Second, the SEI March Cardmaking Kit is now available and I have a couple card creations to share with you here. And here's a little peek...

As I mentioned yesterday, I'm guest designing this week at Jillibean's Card Kitchen blog and have these cards to share. Following is a peek at one of those. 

Whew! I've been busy!

Thanks

Tis the week before Christmas and all through the house there's a flurry of wrapping, baking and crafting...it's not quiet as a mouse! 

In between the hustle and bustle of holiday hoopla, I'm making time to craft thank yous and Valentine's too.This card went out in the mail yesterday, created with my favorite Pebbles' Front Porch collection.

So what's happening around your home this week? I'm eating entirely too many sweets and enjoying every morsel! ;)

Sunnyside

How was your Fourth of July? Ours was lovely! I didn't think I'd miss posting from my blog the entire weekend, but we were having so much fun that I never stepped foot in my office. It's important to do that from time-to-time, don't you think? 

As the 2012-2013 Pebbles design team term comes to a close, I'm reminded of the first projects I created with the beautiful Sunnyside collection and I enjoyed bringing it out again to create a couple more cards for  you. 

What do you think? Do you like Sunnyside as much as I do? And Polaroid frames? I recently got this Polaroid thin metal die from My Favorite Things...it is quickly becoming a go-to die!

Well, it's going to be a bit tough today to ease back into the weekday routine. Christopher just headed off to school...his first day of 7th grade. He was quite nervous because he's been told that in 7th grade he'll be working even harder. Maybe that will mean homework on weekends? He's an honor roll student so I have faith that he'll do wonderfully! 

Hope you all have a good Monday. Thanks for stopping by!

Thanks

One of my favorite things about spring is being able to leave the bedroom window open all night, listening to crickets while drifting off to sleep and waking to the birds singing. That's what this little bird reminds me of. :)

I thought I'd revisit the Family Ties collection by Pebbles and created this 'tweet' card with it.

Hope you have a lovely spring day! :)

Giveaway

Yipee! It's Friday! :)

I received a happy mail package from Northridge Publishing the other day! It contained two magazines that I have cards published in. Almost as soon as they hit the doorstep, I have to flip through them from cover-to-cover! Each issue is packed full of inspiring projects! And I always enjoy looking for the work of other designers I know. :)

In this issue of Create: Christmas Cards, my 'Joyeux Noel' card, created with October Afternoon's Holiday Style line, was published.

This 'Thanks' card using Bella Blvd's Thankful collection was published in the November 2012 issue of CARDS.

As many of you know, Northridge Publishing gives me two issues of each magazine I have something published in and I like to pass them on to my readers. Would you like to win these? Just leave a comment and I'll pick and announce a winner on tomorrow's post.

Good luck and thanks for visiting! :)

Thanks

Hello!

I have another stitchy Pebble's Happy Go Lucky project for you today!

Using my Spellbinders circle Nestabilities set, I created these die cuts for the sentiment and I also used some to trace for stitching.

These pretty brads are from Doodlebug, more little circles.

I had to throw in a butterfly. Some projects aren't complete without a bird or butterfly, are they?

So what do you think?

Have a super duper weekend! Thanks so much for popping in!