This weeks Outlawz Challenge

CURRENT CHALLENGES

Sunday - CAS: Music

Monday - Greeting: Use Pink

Tuesday - Color: 

Wednesday - Sketch: 

Twisted Thursday: All Dressed Up

Friday - Coloring Challenge: Hats

Saturday - Paper a la Mode: Anything Goes

Card or Project Planner A la Bon

So as promised here is my card planner. I use it for nearly every project and  I also have an Stampin Up! 6 x 8 Project life folder with blank sheet that goes just about every where with me to log inspiration.  In the image below you can see how I can utilize the sketch space for square as well as landscape or portrait cards. I like drawing a rough sketch of ideas I get from other blogs, Pinterest, magazines or even adverts or YouTube video's rather then having a picture of original to avoid just coping another crafter's work.  I try to record as much information about my idea before I start so I can go to my stash and pull everything out I need in one go.  This folder is really useful when the dreaded crafter's block strike.  Feel free to grap a copy for personal use by right clicking and saving the image file.  I will provide a PDF at a later stage.  

I like to write the measurements of completed cards on the back of these sheets that I leave blank specifically for this reason and if I am really happy with the end result I will also print out a small photo of the project to stick on the back next to the measurements.

Need some Card Sketches for Inspiration

Making a card and deciding where to put what  can be time-consuming so many card makers participate in sketch challenges each week.  These sketches alleviate hours of frustration and crafters block by showing us the best placement of card components and are great for inspiration.

A card sketch is made up of three very basic components: matting paper, designer paper, and embellishments. Matting paper is typically, but not always, cardstock, and is used to frame the designer paper to make it pop.  Matting paper is typically, but not always, cardstock, and is used to frame the designer paper to make it pop. Designer paper is available in many different brands, colors, and sizes and will be the most crucial part in the design of your card. The focal image, ribbons, buttons, brads, or "embellishments", you choose to use for your card are often based on the theme of your designer paper.

Below is a list of websites that offer free sketches and/or sketch challenges.

Splitcoast Stampers

• Splitcoast Stampers
  Splitcoast Stampers is one of the largest paper craft communities you will find on the web. Besides the endless resources they provide, Splitcoast offers a weekly card sketch challenge each Wednesday in which hundreds of card markers participate.

Taylored Expressions Blog

• Taylored Expressions
  At the Taylored Expressions blog, you will find dozens and dozens of paper craft creation ideas and card sketches. Taylored Expressions also hosts a card sketch challenge each Friday in which many card makers participate.

Mojo Monday Blog

• Mojo Monday - The Blog
  Mojo Monday is a blog completely dedicated to card sketches and sketch challenges. Each monday, a new challenge is given to those who wish to participate, and a winner is announced on the following Tuesday.

Card Patterns Weekly Sketch Blog

• CardPatterns
  Card Patterns Weekly Sketch blog offers many different free card sketches for any skill level. They also host a sketch challenge every Friday.

Inspirational Card Sketches Blog

• Inspirational Card Sketches
  Inspirational Card Sketches offers many different card sketches as well as a weekly sketch challenge every Tuesday.

Card Challenges & More Blog

• Card Challenges & More
  Another wonderful resource for card sketch templates. Card Challenges and More also hosts weekly sketch challenges.

Two Peas in a Bucket

• The Best Scrapbooking Supplies On The Web - Two Peas in a Bucket
  Two Peas in a Bucket offers many different card sketches. They also provide message boards for paper crafters, tutorials and resources for projects, weekly challenges, and more.

Oz-some Stamps Blog

• Oz-somestamps: Card Sketches
  Oz-some stamps: Card Sketches is a blog that offers many card sketches, as well as weekly challenges, project tutorials and more.

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2 Sketches 4 U

• 2 Sketches 4 You
  This blog has a lot of unique, card sketches and also features a weekly sketch challenge

 Sugar Pea Designs

• Sugar Pea Designs
  This blog has nice card sketches and also features a regular sketch challenge.

 Operation Write Home

• Operation Write Home
  Operation Write home has hundreds of sketches with measurements for US A2 cards (4.25" x 5.5").  They also have brilliant tutorials and a youtube channel.  The have a great link to a colour schemer to inspire you even more.

Verve Stamps

• Verve Stamps
  Verve stamps have great sketches with weekly challenges and a monthly sketch and color challenge.  This is one of the blogs I have followed for the longest due to the inspiration I get from their sketches and gallery.

Fusion

• Fusion
  This blog has nice card sketches and inspirational photo's and also features a regular challenges where you can use only the sketch or the photo of combine the two.

 Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge

• Operation Write Home
  Operation Write home has hundreds of sketches with measurements for US A2 cards (4.25" x 5.5").  They also have brilliant tutorials and a youtube channel.  The have a great link to a colour schemer to inspire you even more.

Getting ready for a Improved blogposts

So many people are blogging these days that it can be a real challenge finding things you identify with and getting the information readers as well as companies would like to see.  During my research on what Design Teams want to see I decided to change what I blog and how I blog a bit to making it more friendly for both parties and here is how I plan on doing it and what I plan to change.  So please let me know how this work for you.
 

Think ahead when you make your card and jot down all the information about the card so it is easy to blog about it.  I love making the cards and scrapbook layout but find the admin of blogging hard work so here is a sample of what I have next to me when I create a card:

I can honestly not remember where I got it from but I printed off about a hundred and made a notepad, if it was your handy work .  I fill it in as I make the card and then put it in a binder with a photo of the card so I can blog about it quickly and easily recreate something similar if need be.  If I have to send my card to the company I design for or a magazine I can simply include a copy of this and hey presto all the hard work is done. 

Hope this help you as much as it has helped me.  I have also created my own version for future ideas, this had space for a sketch as well as possible products and colours I would like to use.  So a copy of this with a quick write up tomorrow.

This weeks Outlawz Challenge

Sunday - CAS: Woman Power

Monday - Greeting: Burnishing

Tuesday - Color: 

Wednesday - Sketch: 

Twisted Thursday: Anything Goes

Friday - Coloring Challenge: Anything Goes/Optional Christmas Twist

Saturday - Paper a la Mode: Frame Your Image

Wear It Pink and Cancer Awareness 2015 project

I will take the cause further and make Pink Cards to sell and they will be or sale on EBay 50% of the final sale price will go to WearItPink.org. and the rest bearly cover cost of making these.

I have look for new goodies to use for these cards but it would appear everyone have stopped supporting the cause.  Do please let me know if you know of 2015 Cancer Awareness craft products

I will be using the retired Sizzix Scrap Pink Kit to create my cards.  Sizzix gave five percent of the purchase price of this Scrap Pink Kit to the Scrap Pink Foundation, which supported Susan G. Komen for the Cure.  The kit is packaged in a transparent gift bag and include:
• Sizzix Texturz Texture Plate - Encouraging Phrases/Ribbon
• Sizzix Sizzlits Die - Ribbon
• Sizzix Originals Die - Ribbon
• Sizzix Simple Impressions Embossing Folder - Ribbon

I will also use a discontinued stamp by There She Goes clear stamps called Winning the race.  Kristy K. contacted Jessie Knutsen back in April  2010 with an idea for a stamp set about a cause that was close to her heart- Cancer Society's Relay for Life. Jessie got caught up in her enthusiasm and knew that this was something that she wanted to pursue and Winning The Race mini set was born. Winning The Race is a 3x4 stamp set that includes a total of 10 stamps and sold for $7 (with $4 donated to the American Cancer Society).  It was a great little set then and is still a great set now.  Here is a quick preview of what her design team came up with.  I hope she does not mind that I grabbed these images from her blog but as the company closed in December 2013 I have not been able to get hold of her to ask permission.  You can find full size images of the cards on Pinterest.

  Let me know what you are doing for Wear it Pink this year and I will be more then happy to link to you blog.

More Magazine Challenges

Take It Make It August Challenge:Inspiration!

Craft Stamper Magazine has a Take It, Make It challenge is a 'Take A Technique' challenge, and this months theme is:

 August Challenge:
'Take A Technique' 
PENS AND PENCILS

 For the August Challenge, you need to use pens and pencils on your projects! You could draw or sketch a design, or use the pens and pencils for colouring. Copics, Distress Markers, Spectrum Noirs, watercolour pencils, paint pens and markers, whatever floats your boat! You could add detail with fine liner pens, gel pens or smudgy Stabilo pencil..... the only limit is your imagination!
 Remember though, there MUST be real stamping on your project. 
Digital images CAN be used, but must be used alongside rubber/acrylic stamping.  

There is two prizes on offer this month, the first is a sponsor prize. This winner will be chosen randomly from all of the entries in the challenge! The sponsor for August is

Chocolate Baroque

 The prize this month is this wonderful plate of Artistic Affirmations:

The second winner is a Design Winner. This winner is chosen by the DT, who all vote for their favourite design from all of the entries. This winner will have their winning project published in Craft Stamper Magazine, (with a 2 page spread of their very own!), they will have a GDT slot for an upcoming challenge, and will also feature in their very own Winners Profile blog post! 

You are next... Click here to enter

Submissions wanted for Craft Stamper's January and February issues!

Ready, Set, Stamp is feature on the following theme for our January or February  issues of Craft Stamper and if you've always wanted to see YOUR card in print, now is your chance!!  You may enter cards for both, or just one of the themes mentioned below!

How to Enter:

· Please email your submissions to cs@traplet.com

· Please put 'Ready Set Stamp' followed by the theme in the subject line

· Please note that due to the number of submissions it's not possible to contact every entrant individually - if you have not heard from us within one week, your submission has not been successful. Please try again with a different card!

Guidelines:

· Please make cards only for this gallery.
 . Please do not use stamps that are discontinued for this article. Also please only use stamps that are available to buy in the UK (the exception is stamps from advertisers e.g. Art Journey, De Stempelwinkel).
. They do not accept cards created with digital stamps ONLY for this feature. Digital stamps MUST be used in conjunction with real stamping to qualify.

· Cards which are selected need to be posted to the Craft Stamper offices in the UK.

· This call IS open internationally.

· Note that we do choose artwork as it arrives, so please don't wait until the last minute to submit if your cards are ready.

· Cards will be returned at our expense, along with a complimentary copy of the magazine in which your card features. Note this can take approx. three months.

· Please follow both the theme AND the colour scheme when creating your cards. You can add black, white and metallics to any of the schemes. The ideas given are simply that, ideas, and do not have to be followed to the letter!

· Text for this article is required (don't worry - it is short!) and should be entered into the document provided – this will be sent to you if you are selected.

Deadlines: 
 Last day to send cards for the JANUARY gallery is: 22nd September 2015
 Last day to send cards for the FEBRUARY gallery is: 20th October 2015
Entries received after these dates cannot be considered for publication.

Quick Cards Made Easy Magazine Fun Folds Challenge

In the current issue (issue 143), there is a selection Kitty Frampton's gorgeous summery kite fold cards that is fun fun, so easy to master and looks really impressive, too. So, for this month's challenge, they would like to see your fun folds. Use any card fold technique you like, but the more unique, the better! Post a photo of a card you've made on our website to be in with a chance of winning.

Competition closes 29 September 2015.

*Terms and conditions

Promoter: Immediate Media Co Bristol Ltd. Promotion excludes Immediate Media employees. Open to UK and Channel Islands entrants only. By entering, you agree to be bound by all the rules of the promotion. All entries must be your own work. Direct queries towritetous@cardmakingandpapercraft.com or call 0117 927 9009. Winning entries will be chosen from all eligible entries. Winners will be notified within 28 days of closing date. The draw is final and no correspondence will be entered into. For details of winners send an SAE within two months of the closing date. If any winner is unable to be contacted within one month of the closing date, the Promoter will offer the prize to a runner-up. Promoter reserves right to substitute the prize with one of same or greater value. There is no cash alternative.

You can submit your creation here.

Fine-Tip Glue Pen by Stampin Up! coming soon

As part of my favourite demonstrator benefit I have seen the new Stampin' Up! 2015-2016 Holiday Catalog and I am very excited about the new stamps with coordinating dies and punches, the  designer series paper, embellishments.  I just love the Halloween goodies and feel very inspired about Christmas.  Through out August I will  be sharing sneaky peeks and tell you about my favourites. You can start ordering from September 1!

No more sticky messes! The Fine-Tip Glue Pen (item 138309) is perfect when you need to secure intricate items. The precision tip lays down a fine line of glue which is great for adhering delicately detailed paper die cuts, small embellishments, and glitter. It also has a unique pin tip closure to help prevent the tip from cloggin

Watch the video and learn how to use the Stampin Up! Fine-Tip Glue Pen.

Outlawz Current Challenges

So as promised here is the current challenges:

Sunday - CAS: Friendship
Monday - Greeting: Make us smile/laugh
Tuesday - Color:

Wednesday - Sketch:

Twisted Thursday: Add Flowers
Friday - Coloring Challenge: At The Beach
Saturday - Paper a la Mode: Add Flowers

Remeber to read the rules and have fun.

Stampin Up! Demonstrator

I have joined Stampin Up! as an independant demonstrator this month and will be featuring their products on my blog and website.

Outlawz Challenges

Outlawz will be so happy if you decided to join in!  So what are you waiting for come join in at:  http://outlawzchallenges.ning.com.  They have some exciting challenges for you with montly prize draws!  So come by each week to check out the challenge as they change  weekly. The Outlawz team want everyone to have fun with the challenges, so if you have any questions, please ask :)  Here is a few guidelines though to help you if you do decide to come play....

Challenge Rules

1. Your projects must be new. No back linking (cannot be posted anywhere prior to the posting of this challenge)
   
2. You can enter the challenges as many times per week as you like...BUT...you can only link ONE entry per week into the monthly Inlinkz.
3.  Please post your own creations only to the challenges
4. In order to be eligible for the site's monthly prizes, you must link us up with the Inlinkz so...LINK US UP!! :)

Directions for entering a challenge:

1. Go to the box under "Reply to this":
2. At top of the box, you will see "link" with a light blue square next to it. The square is for entering your image. When you hover your cursor over the top of it, it will say "Image."
   
3. Click the light blue square and add your photo.
   
4. Set width to 400 pixels.
   
5. If you are using a link, enter it into the link box.
   
6. Click ADD REPLY.
7. After you place your card in the challenge, add it to the gallery and tag it with the appropriate code, given at the beginning o each challenge
   
8. Last, enter it into that months Inlinkz located in the menu bar, at the top of every page, right under The Outlawz header. Click on the Inlinkz tab, then click on the "Month Inlinkz" tab, then the "Add your link" blue bar now enter your link. 

 

Dialy Challenges:

I hope this will interest you.  I will be posting a little more on each challenge shortly.

 

Heartfelt Thanks

 As some of you might have heard I was recently diagnosed with Bipolar disorder and have been suffering from a really bad low. I lost asll interest in the things I enjoyed and just wanted to withdraw. But with support at home and work , medication and the will to get better I think I am on the road to recovery. 

I made this card on Tuesday and really took pleasure in making it and hope the recipient enjoyes looking at it as much as I enjoyed making it.  I used the Cascading Fuschia collection by Heartfelt Creations.

Misti Stamp Positioner

Some of you might have seen the Misti Stamp Positioner that is so expensive.


A quick video to show how Jodie from Hallmarkscrapbook made an inexpensive stamping tool using a DVD/Stamp Storage case.  This little tool is cheap in quality and in cost and is limited in some functionality, but might work for you until you can get the other one.

CREAlies Create-A-Card No5 an and Nina Crafts

I wanted to show that once you have a CREAlies create-a-card die you do not need too much else to create a great card, so I made these three cards.  It is amazing how many people think that you need to use a lot of dies to create a card I prefer a clean and simple style and hope you enjoy looking at these as much as I enjoyed making them.
 

For this card, I simply used some Nina Craft stamps, Memento’s black ink, and Alcohol markers. I had a small piece of holographic acetate in my stash and decided to stamp the glass with StazOn and glue this over the top of my glass for a bit of glam. (July 2012 project club stamp set 'Classy Cocktails' and a new and free to class members stamp 'Pineapple Cocktail'.)

For this card I used some free papers and a topper from a magazine with the Robin Wishes Stamp from Nina Crafts.  I stamped the Robin on white Shrink Plastic and coloured it with Distress Markers before shrinking it and attaching it with a Glue dot. I added a green bow just to finish of the card.

 

A very simple card again using the Crealies Create-a-card No 5 die and some paper and decoupage toppers from the Me To You range by Docrafts

French Couture

Mini French Couture

Die-namics Mini Hybrid Heirloom Rose

Die-namics Mini Royal Roses

Crealies

A "series " of guest designer posts will be posted on the CREAlies blog every Tuesday but this beautiful creation by Norma Lee was so good it got posted the Friday before so go have a look at the rest of her creations at From My Craft Room.

 

Anneke kicked of the first official post and you and see her creation here and remember to go look at her blog as well. 

You can also view the design gallery with products used to create each project here or go check out these blogs:
 

Designteam:
Blog Crealies Designteam
Blog Anja
Blog Hennie
Blog Marianne
Blog Miriam
Blog Lean
Blog Shirley
Blog Wilma
Facebook Crealies
Facebook group Crealies
Pinterest 

Webshop: 
www.crealies.nl

Keep checking back for updates on these lovely creations.
Here's my answers to the Crealies-guest designer questions:

• Name: Mariaan Lawson
• Blog: http://bonscraft.blogspot.co.uk/
• What or Who inspires you? I get my inspiration from everything around me and have to admit that I sometime steal ideas from my son (10) and daughters who are only 3 and 4 years old and love to craft with me.  They have not had anything influence their creativity yet so they are tend to be more original and "out of the box" then I am.
• What do you like best: I love creating nice things, sharing and teaching other to be able to be the best they can be or as creative as they can be.
• How would you describe your own style?  I love femine styles and was always a very girly girl but do not let this limit my creations
• Favourite colours: Purple and Apricot but not together
• Favourite technique: stamping and colouring
• Favourite way of colouring: I love pencils but do also play with alcohol markers and marker pens.
• Favourite Crealies Product:  I love the card templates and the clever way these where designed not to be to bulky to store so go watch the Youtube video showing you what they look like and how to use them.  I also love the doily elements and hope to get some CREAlies stamps soon I can  create my own backing papers and add focus to my cards and mini books.

Creating a Crafters Resume for Design Team applications

A lot of companies are currently advertising for Design Team members and I have applied for a few.  I have not been to successful so I did some home work to see what the people who get to be on design team do differently from me and in this post I would like to share my discoveries with you.  Consider blogging or even getting your work published with letters to magazine editors with a photo of yourself and your work as this can be the start of something bigger. Personalized cards count as well and if you got a note from the person that requested it praizing you, scan it and post a photo of it with the card.  All these things count when you apply to join a design team.

Companies receive hundreds of application from all over the world and it can be a very intense process to select only the best so make sure you stand out.  Most companies want you to send them photo's of two to three of your favourite/best creations with a description of yourself and your work.
  

Important questions to ask yourself first:

Think about what you specialize in and start a list.
How many years have you been a crafter?  
What is your experience?  
What have you created? 
Who or what have you designed for?

  

Here is a basic template of what is required:

Resume

About Me:  
I've been crafting (card making, scrapbooking, etc) for ...... years. I love a wide range of projects such as pages, altered items, articles, sketches, and challenge inspiration pages.I am currently looking for design opportunities.  Please feel free to contact me with any enquiries via e-mail!

Certificates or Qualifications:

Current Design Teams:

Past Design Teams:

Guest Designer:

Pending Publications:

Publications:

Contests or Challenges Won:

Featured Here: 
Forums you belong to and share your photo's and tutorials on.

Additional Information:   
Here I would include a list of link where photo's or samples of your work e.g Photobucket, Flickr, etc can be seen followed by my Social media buttons to Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn, etc

So now that you know what to put on your resume we can look into each section seperately.  Next week a little more on who post design team call or publication calls and why as well as what they are looking for.

I hope that you found this helpful, if you did please leave a comment and if you feel I left anytjing out please feel free to tell me all about it in the comments section.
 

Crealies Design Team

As you all know I have been going on about Crealies dies and how much I love them. I was invited to be a Guest designer, they have had many applicants so I am really happy that I am getting this chance.  I will post more info in August and let you know when my post goes live.

I am so excited and looking forward to working with the CREALIES DESIGNTEAM:

• Anja van Kempen
• Hennie Barendregt-van Zelst
• Marianne Jacobsen-Dokter
• Miriam van der Putten
• Wilma van Workum
• Annelies Karduks

Take a look at the Crealies products, cards and Facebook at the links are below:

http://www.crealies.nl/
http://www.pinterest.com/crealiesnl/

https://www.facebook.com/Crealies