Susan R. Opel

Every time a new issue of Paper Crafts magazine hits the newsstands and our subscribers’ mailboxes, there’s a surge of excitement. We KNOW all of the inspiration that’s inside each issue, but we’re also curious where the creative train will stop next. We’re eager to see what our readers do with all of the ideas they glean from every glossy page. 

Enter the Inspired By Challenge! This challenge was issued for you to create a card inspired by one that you’d seen in the pages of any Paper Crafts publication, and I truly enjoyed checking out the fruits of your labors! What fun to see your interpretations and hear your stories. 

Now without further ado, I introduce the winners of the Inspired By challenge! 

Winner #1 – Lynn Miller 

Lynn went for a pretty direct interpretation of Stephanie Muzzulin’s Thank You Tree Card. Though she used the same stamp to achieve the look, her addition of buttons for fall foliage and a decidedly autumnal color scheme are just the perfect twist to the original. 

You can find Stephanie’s card in the November/December 2009 issue.

Winner #2 – Jennifer Hansen 

Jennifer’s Many Thanks Card was inspired by Kim Moreno’s Birdie Anniversary Card. Jennifer kept some of the same design elements – the triple matting, the scallop at the top and the bird motif. She used pearls as a substitution for the rhinestones that appear on Kim’s card. By using a different color palette, less whimsical patterned paper and a more sophisticated font, Jennifer’s card takes on a totally different and equally attractive look!  

You can find Kim’s card in A Card a Day.

Winner #3 – Dee Woodland 

Even though it isn’t a thank you or birthday card, we were so delighted by Dee’s Happily Ever After Card inspired by Danni Reid’s Thanks A Bunch Card that we had to share it with you. Dee was inspired by Danni’s pretty white on white on white card and added just the right amount of color with her pink flowers. Thanks for sharing, Dee! 

You can find Danni’s card in Card Creations, Volume 7.

Congrats, ladies! You’ve each won a free 1-year subscription to Paper Crafts or special issue of your choice. I’ll be contacting you shortly to discuss your prizes and get you mailing addresses. Thanks to all who played along! 

Wanna join in on the fun? Thumb through the pages of a Paper Crafts publication (magazine or special issue) and create a project inspired by one that you see. Submit an image of your Inspired By project here, tell us where we can find the original in our magazine and you just might have your card featured in the Paper Crafts Connection section of one of our issues. Why not give it a shot? 

Show us how YOU get inspired by Paper Crafts magazine!
Susan 

P.S. It’s time to announce the winner of Brandy’s Are You Feeling Festive Yet? post! 

Debbie Fisher (Dec. 8, 3:19 p.m.) 

Congrats, Debbie! You’ve won a fun assortment of paper crafting supplies! Kelly will be contacting you shortly to get your mailing address. Thanks to all who left comments!

Brandy Jesperson

In the words of Zanne, one of our Paper Crafts Facebook followers, “Real women read Paper Crafts.” The geniuses behind Dove’s Real Beauty campaign recently invited Paper Crafts to participate in their Fall 2009 newsletter. So you can only image how thrilled we were when the newsletter was sent out! On their list of “5 Beautiful Things” was Getting Creative, followed by a card created by the talented Roree Rumph.

Please join us is supporting the wonderful Dove products and their equally wonderful campaign by checking out their Fall newsletter HERE. We’d also like to encourage all of you to celebrate your creativity by making beautiful cards. Make a thank you card for someone you love or create a card of encouragement for a friend in need. If you’re looking for a little inspiration, you can also turn to this beautiful card created by Stephanie Muzzulin. 

Stephanie Muzzulin's Many Thanks Card is an online bonus project in our November/December issue.

Since this real woman loves to giveaway prizes, I will randomly select two lucky winners to receive an assortment of fabulous paper crafting product. In order to win, you must send a card to someone. I don’t care who. Just send a little note to brighten someone’s day, and then leave a comment telling me who you gave your card to. All comments must be received by midnight (MDT) on Sunday, Oct. 18. I promise I’ll do the same. My family recently lost a dear loved one and I have loads of thank you notes to send to friends and family alike. 

Celebrating creativity and sharing beauty,
Brandy