Susan R. Opel
Card Creations, Volume 8 is chock-full of inspiration. But the cool thing is that you don’t even have to OPEN the issue to be inspired. There are three great projects right on the cover to get you started!
Today, we’re going to get a little behind-the-scenes look at the cards on the cover from the designers themselves!
Cover Girls Julie Campbell, Alicia Thelin and Betsy Veldman will reveal their reactions to making the cover, the inspiration for their amazing cards, as well as a few paper crafting tips and tricks!
Take it away, ladies!
- Julie Campbell
Julie says, “One of the themes for Card Creations 8 was friendship. My best friend and I are country girls through and through, and I tried capturing that personality in my design. I wanted this card to feel as comfy as a pair of worn-in jeans or cowboy boots but still very feminine. I love creating homemade embellishments, and I made the flower on my card out of a strip of denim fabric. Here’s a video tutorial in case you would like to make one of your own flower embellishments!
Julie's Hey Girl Friend Card can be found on p. 63.
If you would have told me a few years ago that I would be published, I probably would have laughed in your face! I just want to encourage anyone out there who has ever had the desire to submit their work to go for it! It’s like any other goal that you might set for yourself. You’ve just got to give it your best, dust yourself off and if you don’t succeed at first, then try it again. I love the fact that Paper Crafts only accepts blind submissions. Everyone has an equal opportunity to be published, and that someone just might be you!”
What was your reaction when you found out your card would be on the cover?
Oh wow! I was so ecstatic! One of my goals for this year was to be on the cover of a magazine, and I’m not sure I actually believed it could happen. Just knowing that I can share my art with so many people is completely exciting, yet humbling at the same time.
Alicia Thelin
Alicia says, “As I was creating my card, the image of the stylized girl holding the gift in such a teasing manner made me feel like a kid waiting for a birthday present. Knowing that this image is part of a ‘holiday’ collection didn’t deter me in the least. I’m all about finding the untapped potential in all paper crafting product. Want to know something funny? This card was a last minute creation. I’d been working on submissions for the entire day, and this was an afterthought. Literally. It just goes to show you that you NEVER know what the editors will want. This card took me minutes to make, and ta-da…COVER!”
Alicia's For You Stripes Card can be found on p. 15.
What was your reaction when you found out your card would be on the cover?
Shall I quote my e-conversation with Susan? Here it is in a nutshell:
Susan: “Alicia, congratulations! Your card has been chosen to be on the cover of Card Creations, Volume 8!”
Alicia: “Shut the front door!!! Seriously?!”
Susan: “Is this your first cover?”
Alicia: “No, I just get so excited each time!”
Followed by: A perma-grin and a call to my sister. Best kind of day e-vah.
Betsy Veldman
Betsy says, “I love vintage paper goods…old magazines, books, sheet music and of course, postcards. The patterned paper I used on this card reminded me of the writing on the back of an old postcard. So, I pulled out a stamp that resembled a postage cancellation stamp, a postage stamp die and a fun (and fitting!) sentiment stamp.”
Betsy's It's Been Too Long Card can be found on p. 84.
What was your reaction when you found out your card would be on the cover?
Wooohoooo! My usual card making style is kind of shabby, layered and detailed…a style that doesn’t typically fit in with the clean and graphic types of projects that are chosen for the cover, so I was pretty excited.
Betsy continues, “Card Creations is my absolute very favorite issue to work on! I love the freedom of just creating all sorts of cards for whatever occasions my heart desires, and this one is a goodie! I’ve been pouring over it since I got my copy, and I’m so inspired by all of the projects!”
Since Card Creations, Volume 8 is so inspiring, we thought we’d get three of you on the road to creativity. Three winners will each win – Jillibean Soup’s Lentil Soup collection (used on Julie’s card) Cosmo Cricket’s Jolly by Golly collection(used on Alicia’s card) and Papertrey Ink’s Big & Bold Wishes stamp set (used on Betsy’s card) and a copy of Card Creations, Volume 8!
Tell us which types of cards you struggle the most to make. Once you get your hands on this issue, we’re pretty sure you’ll be able to overcome that card making challenge of yours! Leave your comment by midnight (MDT) on Wednesday, May 26, and you might just win!
Three lucky winners will take home this cover girl prize package!
Susan
P.S. Paper Crafts Go-to Gal Kim Hughes was so inspired by the CC8 cover, she created three new cards! Click HERE to see her interpretation of Julie, Alicia and Betsy’s designs!
Cards for men are always hard! I love butterflies and pink and all girly things so they just don’t mix.
Sympathy cards are hard because I like bright and fun papers, so finding something subdued in my stash can be hard.
Vintage. I love the soft vintage style, Betsy Veldman is one of favorites, I follow her on IGoogle because I don’t want to miss a single card or project of hers.
I can never seen to layer enough, something always stops me from those additional pieces. Just have to let go of the urge to edit!
Sympathy cards are the hardest since I am always worried about saying the wrong thing. For me sympathy cards should be subdued and have a “gentle” appearance which I don’t do well.
Sympathy cards are the ones I find are the hardest to make. I always want to make sure the sentiment is just right.
I have difficulty with Anniversary cards. I never know how romantic I should make them, so most are generic and a bit boring.
Hi!
I have to agree with many others. Sympathy cards are definitely the hardest.
Thanks for all your inspiration!
-Kristin B.
Congratulations, Ladies!
My cards are usually super simple – a square of patterened paper with a stamped sentiment and either some stitching or ribbon. It’s hard for me to break out of that rut, mostly due to time constraints.
I totally struggle with “guy” cards. I’ve no clue what to include, not include, and I can’t do a card without bright colors, ribbon, and buttons. It’s just not in me. LOL! Thanks for the chance to win a great prize!
I have 2 big struggles- masculine cards and cards for kids because while I want them to look nice/cute/kidsy, I don’t want to spend a huge amount of time on them, knowing they’re likely to be quickly destroyed.
Masculine cards are the big struggle! When I make one (once in a while) I usually go to CAS, not embellishments and pretty basic colors.
Thanks for the chance to win.
God bless.
Giovana
Sympathy is the worst for me. They can’t be cutesy or too pretty and they can ‘t be upbeat, but they can’t be a huge downer either. I usually end up going to the store and buying one.
I would have tosay masculine cards are hard for me. I always want to add all kinds of color and pretty things! LOL!
i struggle to make multi-layered cards and masculine cards.
Okay, I’m right along with so many others here. . . I just cannot seem to do great masculine cards! I mean, take away the ribbons, buttons and pretties and what is the point?!?!?
I struggle to make cards that aren’t so orderly and clean-lined. I always love when I see a beautiful card that someone made that has the sentiment angled or things off-center. I tend to center things and line them up neatly rather than being so free-spirited.
Masculine cards and sympathy cards are what is hardest for me.
I struggle most with Sympathy, but PTI sets really helped me with those. I actually kind of like doing guy cards, unlike most crafters! Would LOVE to win your fabulous prize!!!
You’ve heard this one before – I struggle with masculine cards. I also get stuck on a particular sketch and would love to move on to something different.
I totally agree with many of the comments here: sympathy cards are by far the most difficult. I have an entire file of ideas for sympathy cards, yet when it’s actually time to make one, I find it so hard to make one that I feel is appropriate. It’s hard to find those “perfect” words to say.
Guy cards are the hardest for me to make. I don’t make many but when I need too it is a challenge.
Just like a lot of other crafters, masculine & sympathy cards are usually the hardest for me. But, then again, sometimes a simple birthday card can get me “stumped”!
I’m really lovin’ my issue of CC8!
I have the hardest time making sympathy cards. I want to make them pretty but have a hard time choosing appropiate colors that won’t offend the reciever and what sentiment to put inside.
I struggle with cards that need to be especially elegant — this is entirely due to the fact that I’m not especially elegant. HA!
The cards I struggle with the very most are cards for my own husband!
~Shari R.
It is always so exciting to see what every new issue is going to look like, but to see what is on the cover is the BEST and these choices are so neat. I always think I struggle most with masculine cards for some reason.
Baby cards…I rarely have any to submit.
I too struggle some with sympathy cards. It is hard to create the right “feeling” you are after sometimes and writing the right words. Thank you for all the amazing inspiration.
Probably the hardest card to make would be a “guy” card, followed by cards for kids. I love your other special issues! Can’t wait to go get my copy!
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My cards are pretty simple (“less is more” style), but I love all the pretty embellishments and every now and then I try to make cards with more of everything. But I struggle with it. And guy cards are often a little more difficult to make.