Matt Anderson
Hello paper crafters! Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Matt Anderson. I am a husband, father of three great kids (two boys, one baby girl) and the senior graphic designer for Paper Crafts magazine.
Working for a publication such as Paper Crafts is a lot of fun. I do the internal design of the magazine, create ads, design covers for some of our special issues and occasionally do photo shoots of our material. Oh, and I also design the monthly banner on Cath’s Moxie Fab World blog. May’s banner is pretty cool, “woodn’t” you agree?
Being the only guy on an all-female team is easier than you think. Yes, I’m your average, every day, run-of-the-mill kind of guy. I’m a huge football fan (usually watched in holey sweats), I love super cool action movies (with an overabundance of explosions and special effects), video games, playing in the dirt, bugs and comic books (yeah, my boys love me).
I now know what it feels like for some of you women working in all-male environments. It’s strange, alien and like a whole different world at times. Even though it’s a challenge, it’s also very entertaining. I think it’s one of the most entertaining jobs I’ve ever had. I’ve had to chuckle at some of the conversations that happen in my area of the office. Some of the topics have included:
- What shirt someone has bought on sale at the “Rack” (whatever that means) that matches the shoes they bought at Macy’s.
- Details on what Matthew McConaughey’s abs look like in his new movie.
- What kind of new moisture rich lotion works best with the transitioning conditions between winter and spring.
Seriously though, after the age of 10, I was pretty much raised by a single mom. And she’s one of the strongest women I have ever met. Happy Mother’s Day, Mom!
I guess you could say my life changed a lot in September of 2008. That’s when I started working with seven crazy and wonderful women. And to work with these talented ladies is a real pleasure.
In the words of Truman Burbank,
“Good morning, and in case I don’t see ya, good afternoon, good evening, and good night!”
P.S. Kelly’s always giving away free stuff, so now I want a turn! I’d love to hear your feedback on these six openers I designed for the magazine.
Here's the Fluttering Butterflies and Here Comes the Bride openers from our March/April 2009 issue.
Here's the Motherhood Through the Ages and Father Knows Best openers from our May/June 2009 issue.
And here's an exclusive sneak peek of The Value of Vintage and 5 Cards, 5 Occasions, 5 Dollars openers from our upcoming July/August 2009 issue!
Let me know which opener you like the best! One random winner will receive a collection of magazines that these openers appear in – March/April, May/June and our upcoming July/August. All comments must be received by midnight on Friday, May 8! The winner will be announced on Monday’s blog.
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Wow…I love them all but especially the butterfly one…love butterflies…can’t get enough of them! What a lucky duck you are to be surrounded by all those fun gals
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I like the bride opener, but I think those beautiful betterflies are my absolute favorite! Great job, lone man! =) And my dad feels your pain–he’s the only guy in our house. A wife, 5 daughters, and a female dog, bird and hamster! =D
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Oooo…Do I have to pick just one?! I love the graphic style in each of them–so retro, yet current. I love the colors in “Vintage”. But my favorite are the silhouettes in “Motherhood”–They just ’speak to me’. Thanks, Matt, for always doing a WONDERFUL job for our favorite magazine, and for the occasional guy’s point of view!
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Loved the article! Reminds me of my husband – who’s constantly dirty, works on engines for fun, rides his harley, plays tea with our daughter and surprises me with the latest Cricut cart or tool just because. OK, I’m going to go with the vintage. Love vintage!
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My favorite is the motherhood one. Nice to get your perspective!
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father knows best is totally my style. I keep trying to convince someone to make a line of SB stuff with a guy and smoking jackets and pipes and stuff. This opener is right up my alley!
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I love love love the butterflies opener. Got my magazine last night and may have to scrap lift some ideas from it.
Thanks
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I like the butterflies opener! It’s so pretty and fresh. Thanks for the chance to win!
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I have to pick Fluttering Butterflies because I {heart} butterflies. And I might add, I bought this mag because of the fluttering buttterflies!!!
Blessings,
Christine -
I am totally loving the vintage opener.
I used to work in women’s fashion design & we had 1 male in our office. He was always my breath of fresh air while working. He loved listening to our gab & we loved his point of view on our issues.
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I really like them all but I think I like the butterfly one the best – you do great work!
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At this size, the most eye-catching opener is the butterfly one. I also like the bride, clean and swirly at the same time. The father one looks good but not my style. I like the circles in the motherhood one. And I bet the vintage one would look great at a bigger size (now it’s kind of hard to make out).
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I always wondered where Cath got her uber cool MFW banners!
Your work is terrific Matt! My fav banner has to be the Father Knows Best one. It’s so retro kitchy cool!
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Great blog today! Love to get different perspectives! I like the vintage the best, although butterflies if the next best. By the way, what football team do you cheer for? I’v been a NE Patriots fan all my life!
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Well since you are “da man”..and I have 2 boys..I’m leaning towards the “Man of the house”…or the butterflies..lol…can we have both..ya know the man fluttering by? lol
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I really have to say that I love the VINTAGE because it captures our life right now. Memories Fading and new ones beginning. I love the colors and the mood it sets. Thank you so much for being such a real kind of guy with a great perspective on co workers and life.
Thank you and have a wonderful day!
Lisa
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Definitely like the motherhood one best. It is very eye catching!
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These are all fantastic! My favs are the Father Knows Best and the Butterflies!
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I so Love butterflies!
That would be my pick! -
Aw, you poor man
I love butterflies! but the bride one really stands out against all the others! -
my Fav. is the butterflies one it is just so pretty. i think the bride one is pretty cool too
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i love the butterflies i am all about butterflies they are so colorful and pretty.
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All five of the designs are eye catching! I like the motherhood the best. I like the circle designs and the modern background.
Hope to hear from you more on the blog….and do you have layouts you have created to share? -
i love the butterflies one…that was the first one to catch my eye.
I was just wondering the other day who designed Moxie Fab World’s headers…i ESPECIALLY love the one now. Very very cute. Good luck working with all those women!! -
They are all beautiful, but my favorite is the one with the butterflies.
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They all look great but the Bride cover caught my eye the most! The soft background colors and the pop of dark brown ornamental leaves looks fabulous!
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I think the Fluttering Butterflies opener is really nice. It is nice and bright and colourful and catches your attention. I also like how the Bride opener is so elegant looking. Great job!
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Vintage — always catches my eye, So love the colour and texture look of it.
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I loike the Father KNows Best one. Great colors, attention getting. Nice job!
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Wow, what a fun post! It’s so nice to meet you
. All the openers are great! I tried to decide which my favorite was. In the beginning I thought the Fluttering Butterflies was my favorite because his happiness and fun colors. Then I thought the Value of Vintage is so unique. Later I thought the Here Comes the Bride was so great too. BUT now my favorite is surely the 5 Cards 5 Occasions 5 Dollars! I love its style and colors! I would love to use it as inspiration for a scrapbook page – it really inspires me!
Thank you for this lovely post, thank you for the inspiration and thank you for the chance to win such a fabulous prize!
Efrat K. -
I love the fluttering butterflies. Butterflies are still so big right now and I love the happy colors. The whole page just draws me in and the position of the butterflies really moves the viewers eye around the page.
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My favorite is the butterflies, i love the happy smile of spring! my second is mother hood the colors are just fun!
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Nice to “meet” you, Matt. My fave is the butterflies – I just like the colors, and the rays of sunshine are so bright and cheery. My 2nd fave is the motherhood one – I can totally see using that design for a scrapook page!
Thanks for posting – love to see you work! -
lucky you to work with women! I think my fave is the butterflies.
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I’m so impressed with your work. I like the Father knows best one. I am always on the lookout for fresh masculine cards. This one is so vintage, it’s got moxie baby!
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They are all great but I have to say that I love the butterflies!
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Aaaha,… j ust wondered who makes this fantastic blog headers and there you are
Right now, I am in the mood for the fluttering butterflies opener. However, I like the one of the July/ August issue best! Those layouts kind of reflect what (I feel) is going on right now in the times of this financial crisis… like people turning towards the “good old times” on the one side and having a reduced, versatile style that could be changed easily with cheery accessoires on the other hand. Thanks for the sneak peek!
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My two favorite openers would have to be Fluttering Butterflies and 5 Cards, 5 Occasions, 5 Dollars. If I had to choose just one it would be 5 Cards, 5 Occasions, 5 Dollars. I love the simple design. Thanks for the chance to win.
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Love hearing about the One Guy to All Girl Team! I worked on one, too! Interesting. Love the butterflies the most out of all those eye-candy covers.
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I like the bridal layout – the colors are awesome & it’s so pretty with the bride’s white silhouette
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My favourite would have to be Here Comes the Bride, followed very closely by 5 Cards, 5 Occasions, 5 Dollars and Fluttering Butterflies! Your work is amazing!
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I love the first one with the butterflies and the bride. I am a girly girl and that one popped right out at me
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I love them all, but my favorite is the Fluttering Butterflies. I like the colors that you chose.
Thanks, Jenny -
I love the fluttering butterfly! It’s so beautiful.
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My favorite is the butterfly. I think it appeals to all people of all ages.
Robbie
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You lucky guy–what a fun job to have! I love your openers, my fav is the butterfly, love the colors, love the layout, makes me feel happy!
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They’re all great designs, but my favorite is ‘Father Knows Best’ I think you really captured the retro feel of the TV show but kept it hip and funky for today. Thanks for the chance to win. Ivanka
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It would be the Fluttering Butterflies but they are all good pages! Thanks for the insight you shared with us:)
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vintage!
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Ooh, my favourite is the one with the fluttering butterflies! Great work!
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