Lucky Card Creations 7!

Susan R. Opel

I’ll never forget the day that I first talked to Brandy Jesperson on the phone before I moved from Indiana to Utah to start my job at Paper Crafts magazine. I accepted the position on April 1^st but had to finish out the school year and fulfill my duties at my teaching job before I headed west; however, Brandy wanted me to get my feet wet by writing a couple of sections of Card Creations 6.

One day a box arrived on my doorstep with a VERY large binder inside. Tucked in ten protective sleeves I found cards from Jennifer Hansen, Ashley Harris, Kandis Smith, Tracey Odachowski, Stefanie Hamilton, Davinie Fiero, Becky Olsen, Danielle Flanders, Michele Boyer, and Debbie Olson – the entire Congratulations and Easter sections of Card Creations 6. It was pretty amazing to be able to touch these beautiful creations that would be going into this special issue.

Before I could get to work writing, I had a garage sale to conduct, a house to pack up, and finals to give, but when my good friend Tina Albertson (a talented scrapbooker and card maker whose card was on the cover of Card Creations 5, BTW) came to my garage sale in Fort Wayne, IN, I pulled out that big binder, and we looked at everything with awe.

I slaved over writing the instructions and supply lists for my two sections giving each card a snazzy and befitting name and trying to very carefully follow all of the directions. Brandy would probably agree that it wasn’t stellar, but it was such a whole new ballgame to me! And I was trying to write it all while administering final exams. Shh – don’t tell my former principal.

Fast forward to early June of 2009… and it’s time to introduce Card Creations 7 to the world, and now I am a full-fledged part of the Paper Crafts team. It’s been so fun seeing this issue through from the concept meeting to the call for submissions to the submissions judging to the projects rolling in to the writing (which I am MUCH better at now – I did more than 20 cards this time!) to the hand off to the proofs to the copy of the issue on my desk. And what makes it SUPER cool is that this time I have 12 of my very own creations in this issue. I thought I’d share three of my favorites!

Susan R. Opel's Fabulous Card from CC7

I’m pretty darn dramatic (if you hadn’t already noticed!), so this Heidi Swapp damask sticker really spoke to me. I decided to pair it with some lustrous damask paper from Hambly, black satin ribbon, and some sassy red alligator paper from Fibermark. Pop on some contrasting and cute American Crafts letter stickers and you have a great card to send to your long distance BFF!

Susan R. Opel's Good Luck Card from CC7

This card was totally inspired by the cherries (also from Heidi Swapp). I tried to think out of the box on this one and steered clear of “Life is a Bowl of Cherries” or “Happy Birthday with a Cherry on Top.” Instead, I channeled my inner Vegas girl (I lived there for three years) and went with a casino theme. The inside of this card reads: “Hope you hit the jackpot!” I sent this to a friend who recently started a new job.

Susan R. Opel's Life is Good Card from CC7

Pair this amazing graphic paper from GCD Studios with some bling and a fun phrase from Scrap In Style TV (one of my favorite spots on the web), and you’ve got yourself a quick and funky card for many occasions. Hmmm, looks like I was on a little bit of a red, white and black kick, huh?

From the three cards I shared, you can probably tell that I like dramatic and graphic cards best. But you’ll find a multitude of styles in Card Creations 7 – that’s what is so AWESOME about this definitive card idea book. From shabby to girly to fun and cute to classic to pretty to simple, we’ve got what you’re looking for!

Leave me a comment and tell me what YOUR favorite style is. I’ll choose three lucky winners who will win a copy of Card Creations 7, as well as the Label Love, Morning Milk, and Window Shopping paper collections (all used in CC7!) and the Rainbow Sushi Phrase Stickers used in my Life is Good card from Scrap In Style TV and the delicious Chianti paper collection (used in my Life is Good card) and epoxy stickers in Ravishing Reds and Shades of Black from GCD Studios. Get those responses in by midnight MDT on Sunday, June 28, and Kelly will announce the winner on Monday!

Three lucky winners will take home this prize package from SIStv and GCD Studios!

Bravo for Lucky Card Creations 7!
Susan

P.S. It’s time to announce the three winners from Brandy’s Tickled Pink post! Here they are in no particular order:

1. Laurel (June 23, 7:20 a.m.)
2. SMK (June 24, 2:58 p.m.)
3. Amber R (June 23, 2:58 p.m.)

Congrats, winners! Each of you will receive a copy of Card Creations 7 and Making Memories’ Rouge Paperie collection. Kelly will be contacting you shortly for your mailing addresses. Thanks to all who left so many pink comments!