P. Kelly Smith
Welcome to day two of our online promotion of 75 Creative Card Challenges! You’ve probably followed us long enough to know that we concept our issues six to seven months before the on-sale date. Before I threw away my 2012 desktop calendar, I happened to notice that our concepting meeting was in fact on June 12, 2012. Like I said, six or seven months…. It’s a good thing we’re all good at keeping secrets!
Click on the cover image to order your copy today!
But something you’re probably not aware of is this special issue was the brainchild of our Paper Crafts Go-to Gals, both past and present. That’s right; the concept actually began over two years ago with a written proposal containing lots of ideas from the Go-to Gals. Over the last two years, we’ve added and subtracted from the original proposal, but the meat of the issue is still there: 75 creative challenges to spark your creativity and take your paper crafting to the next level.
Since this issue first began in the creative minds of our Go-to Gals, I asked them to tell me (and you!) what they loved most about the concept, the projects, and the chance to work together on an issue.
Windy Robinson: “I loved working on a call that was birthed by a few of my fellow and former Go-to Gal friends. How exciting to have something like this come to the newsstands! The challenges give you creative ideas for using your supplies, and my favorite challenge to work on was Challenge #30: Use 10 Different Patterned Papers. Do you think you could put 10 different patterns on one small card? It honestly never crossed my mind until I saw this challenge. And this one was right up my alley because at any given time you can find at least 10 scraps of patterned paper lying around my crafty space. It felt good to put these scraps to good use instead of just tossing them away! You’ll have to check out the issue to see how three other designers also made some stunning cards with patterned paper.”
Windy Robinson’s So Sorry Card, p. 65
Kim Kesti: “I remember discussing all the challenge blogs that are so popular online, and the Go-to Gals agreed that it would make an awesome issue if we could gather a bunch of card challenges together under one cover. How fun to pick up an issue like this at a crop, or a friendly get together and challenge yourselves to create something new. We all threw out ideas and easily came up with 50 challenges on the spot. Teri organized, embellished and wrote up the concept—you go, girl! I thought the challenges that made the cut were interesting without being totally farfetched; one of my favorites? Challenge #34: Use an Entire Package of Embellishments—I mean, who has the nerve to do that? Fantastic.”
Teri Anderson: “Picking a favorite challenge from the issue is impossible. It’s like trying to pick a favorite child. Really?! I am particularly fond of Challenge #1: Use a Page from the Phone Book. That was inspired by this fun post and 2010 Gallery Challenge from Jessica Witty. The phone book is something everyone has in their house, and it is so cool to see the pages used for paper crafting. I love the card Laura Bassen made for the issue that was based on the challenge.”
Laura Bassen’s Call Me Card, p. 8
Jennifer McGuire: “I have always found challenges to be the best way to kick-start my creativity. And the best kind of challenges? The challenges that push you to use supplies you have in new ways. I love it!”
Julie Campbell: “This was one of my favorite calls to work on! I love a challenge and this issue is packed with some of the most creative challenges I’ve seen. One of my favorite challenges was Challenge #36: Finish the Sentiment, ‘I Love You More Than…’ When my brother and I were tiny, he was obsessed with bacon. (I think he could eat a full package at once despite his 40 lb. frame.) He actually went as far as demanding that we call him ‘Bacon’ for a few weeks instead of his given name. So, as soon as I read this challenge, I knew exactly how to finish that sentence to create a one-of-a-kind card that my now-grown brother is sure to love.”
Julie Campbell’s More Than Bacon Card, p. 77
Betsy Veldman: “It was so fun to see the list of challenges when this call went out. Going through the list, I knew exactly where some of the challenges originated…like Challenge #36: Finish the Sentiment, ‘I Love You More Than’… totally originated with Teri’s Bacon Card . And Challenge #34: Use an Entire Package of Embellishments was definitely inspired by Jess’s Butterfly Card. So, for me, the best part about working on this issue was reading through that list and thinking about some of my best crafting buddies as I took on their challenges!”
Thanks for all the behind-the-scenes insight, Gals! If you’ve been inspired by the challenges mentioned and l would like to see the 71 remaining challenges up close and personal, leave a comment by Thursday, January 10th at 5 pm MST. I’ll pick three lucky winners to take home a copy of 75 Creative Card Challenges!
Here’s to being inspired in the New Year!
Chuckled at the card, “I love you more than bacon”. I would love to win a copy of this issue, big time!
Using scraps is the bane of my existence! I can’t bear to throw away the bits of paper I trim off of projects (within reason, of course, I don’t save the slivers!) but every attempt I have ever made to do cards or other projects with them ends up looking like, well, a collection of scraps! I’d like to see ideas of things that I can actually do that look like a planned project rather than leftovers.
It’s always fun to know how those issue come about! Thanks for sharing!
I love the card with the punched paper!
Great ideas and inspiration! Thanks for sharing so much talent!
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Such great ideas–I love challenges and would love to use this issue as a resource!
What a wonderful issue – I’d love to have a copy!
Wendy’s card is just lovely, how come I never think of something like that on my own? Maybe I need this!
Thanks for the little glimpse into the inner workings of the creative minds of your staff and go to gals.
Just love Windy’s card. You ladies are all so inspiring! Keep ‘em coming.
I would LOVE to win this issue! It sounds amazing!
I’ve never participated in a challenge ~ sounds fun and a way to get ideas flowing.
These challenges sound so exciting!
This looks fantastic- I love the whole idea of mags like this… not to mention the bacon card. Thanks for the chance!
I love a good challenge!!! I hardly ever create a card without some kind of challenge (usually a sketch).
I’d be thrilled to win a copy of this issue. The challenges look like fun!
Oh, how fun! I like the page from the phone book or finish the phrase challenges. I really enjoy challenges because they help jump start my mojo for card making.
i could use a jump start to my crafting!
You right about challenges to push you. I almost always go to challenges when I need to make a card. Challenges always seem to take you some place you just don’t think of on your own.
I love challenges & these cards are just so much fun!
I love the telephone page challenge, I might even challenge myself with that one! Would love to win a copy
I love Terr’s challenge of creating a card from a phone book page. I love the look!!
These challenges are so inspiring! What a great way to push yourself into a creative mode.
love the cards and the challenge are cool too
This is right up my alley. I need some new challenges to jump start the New Year. Winning a copy of 75 Creative Card Challenges would be the best to get me out of my comfort zone!
SOUNDS LIKE A SUPER FUN ISSUE!!!!!!! WOULD LOOOOOOOOOOOVE TO WIN IT!!!!!!!!!!!
Loving the different challenges. Time to get out of my box!
This is JUST what I need. I get so stumped sometimes.
Ooh! I have so many ideas now! I really want to create one with the 10 different pattern papers!!
I love all of these cards. Can’t wait to see the rest of them. Will be fun inspiration.
This sounds like such an awesome issue!!! I need to be challenged to use 10 pattern papers on a card – I have more than enough I’ve been hoarding!!!
love Challenge #30: Use 10 Different Patterned Papers could easy do that with all my scraps would love to see all 75 challenges
Great ideas for a great issue! I can’t wait to try these ideas!
I’m always amazed by the creativity – great job!
I used to make cards all the time and I miss it!! This is just the ticket to get me going again! Thanks for the chance to win such an AWESOME prize!
I would love to see this magazine to get inspired by all the challenges. TFS
These challenges get my creative juices flowing-Thanks-I needed that!
Oh my is this just the best magazine for me to kick start myself in 2013!! TY for the chance to win it.
Anything that originates with the Go-to Gals has got to be amazing. I’d love to win a copy to challenge and inspire me. Thanks for the chance.
Can’t wait to get my hands on this issue! Would love to win a copy!