Cutting Corners

Tips on how to approach people in the papercraft media/industry offering your samples

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 21:19:00 +0000

Hi everyone, a lovely lady called Caryolynne asked Leonie how to go about approaching either companies or craft magazine to publish. Since Leonie is a very busy lass: presenting, crafting and jumping off airplanes (wink) so she gave me her blessing to post on her behalf and reply to this query. Thanks Leonie, I hope I won't make a fool of myself.

To be honest I've only had one feature about me on a magazine about Men crafters and one card being published in a forthcoming book, my main experience was having my samples used by various companies on Ideal World/Create & Craft. But since I believe that craft magazine editors must have the same requirements as craft companies I thought I would write about what I know as the same skills are transferrable to any exercise of being published.

Now the way you can approach an editor is by letter or email, but I asked one lady I'm acquainted with who is already published : Paula Pascual.

And here what the lovely Paula had to say about her own experience.

Hi Fabrizio
Well, the way I got into Crafts Beautiful was because my friends suggested I send stuff. I prepared a selection of 6-8 cards in sets of 3/4 that coordinated together by technique or colour theme. They were some of my best to that date and really showcased what I liked to do to the best of my abilities. Ie, my unique point of view. I would recommend to label them all with full name and address on the back and write up something about the person who has made them.
I only did that once, the rest came knocking at my door. Lucky me, I suppose.

Take care, Paula

Please, rest assured I had Paula's permission to publish her tip on this blog !
It also helps to have a blog of your own as I know for certain that Editors 'blog hop' to get new ideas and feel about new trends and usually will approach you if they want some of your cards on their mags. I received such invitation out of the blue from Let's make cards as they were doing a men crafter feature last year.

I would personally contact by email each editor from each magazine (remember some publishers have several craft mags) and ask them if they're looking for new submissions and what kind of work they're looking for. If you have blog going showing your cards it will work for you as you can put it under your signature. Make sure you take good pictures of your cards and that they are clearly lit.

I've shown on one of my blogs how to take pictures of cards

Also I have it on good standing that Editors like when people create cards with the current supplies (stamps, new markers etc....) as like fashion they like not to be left behind with the current popular trends.

My last tip is don't get disheartened if you get refusals, they're not saying NO, they're actually saying 'not right now' ! :)

Resource:
Well I did some research and found for you lot the main publishers in the UK and their websites:

http://www.originpublishing.co.uk/contact.asp

http://www.crafts-beautiful.com/index.php/contact/

http://www.practicalpublishing.co.uk/

http://www.makingcardsmagazine.com/contact/

http://www.craftstamper.com/

Tip from Joanne

noreply@blogger.com (Leonie pujol) — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 18:23:00 +0000

Hi there Leonie,
This tip is a bit silly but is designed to end a decade and start another one with a positive crafty attitude.
Most of us crafters simply love gorgeous printed papers whether 6x6, 8x8, 12x12, A4 or whatever size is in their craft box or cupboard. However, what we don't like is using them.
Well crafters, follow this simple space-saving tip:

USE THEM!!

Happy New Year everyone.
Luv Joanne xx

Tip from Gina

noreply@blogger.com (Leonie pujol) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 22:05:00 +0000

Hi Leonie, I just found your site by accident..........and have been here for the past couple of hours!!! I have a couple of tips for you that i came across by accident.

Tip 1 :; When you've removed all your peel-offs from the backing sheet, you have the bits that divide the strips left. These can sometimes be used as peel-offs in their own right, as long as they are not too big or wide.

Tip 2 ::, I know it's probably a little late for this one now, but then again maybe not. Next time you go to your local supermarket, ( usually one of the bigger type stores)have a look around in the clothing section. At this time of year especially lots of them have loads of sparkly jewellery at very very low prices, ( I paid £2 for one of the necklaces!), which are just perfect for pulling to bits to get at the " jewels" in them. They give you lots of different sizes of the bigger gems/jewels that we find hard to get hold of, and are in lovely colours. That way you have lots of them, for little money, - and come "sale" time, they may be even cheaper! I Hope these help.

From Gini, aka molliesmum.

Hilary's ribbons

noreply@blogger.com (Leonie pujol) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:35:00 +0000

This One's For Shopaholics!

Lots of clothes labels are attached by pretty ultra thin ribbons now, not the nasty kimball tags. I can't bear to bin these, and save them for card making.

Can you remember the days of going out in something new.......and having the prickly end of the kimball digging into you! Okay...I know I could have used scissors and removed it properly...but that's too grown up!

Love to you Crafters out there

Hilary aka Crafty Hils

Cigarette Filters

noreply@blogger.com (Leonie pujol) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:02:00 +0000

Okay, this was a weird one to use - but I was cleaning out the kitchen and found them from when Nicky used to smoke. Popped them in the bin, then fished a few back out again when I realised how useful they would be! Of course. And I haven't even used them for all the things I think they would be great for.

You can cut them into a point, brilliant for applying glue where you need a tiny or delicate amount.

They also pick up ink from your inkpad so you can draw and colour tint fantastically. They soak up water, so you can use them with mica powders to paint with! And there's loads in one box. Pop them on the end of a pricking tool or a tool with a crocodile clip to help hold them.

I used one cut length ways to create a Christmas Tree, by just sweeping ink picked up from the inkpad across my card. I then cut another one to a point, dipped it into water and picked up powders directly to paint with.

I then picked up glue with another one cut into a fine point, which I then popped my micro beads on.

These are great - I haven't even tried them with alcohol inks yet, but bet they are fab - and they are cheap!

Go forth and play........

Staz on tip for Acrylic stamps

noreply@blogger.com (Leonie pujol) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:20:00 +0000

I learnt this tip quite some years ago. It works and saves pounds. Acrylic stamps don't really like being cleaned with StazOn cleaner. The ingredients in the cleaner eventually attack the acrylic. So, as a general rule, you are advised not to use Stazon ink pads with them. However, if you use a clear ordinary ink pad on the stamp first, then ink it up with your Stazon ink, you will be stamping your image with the Stazon ink but can clean your stamp with a baby wipe because the clear ink pad is the one in contact with the stamp. Easy peesy - if you can follow my rambling!!

Hope this is a neat enough tip for the blog.

Luv Joanne xx

Tip from Dee

noreply@blogger.com (Leonie pujol) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 11:36:00 +0000

...just a little idea I tried recently...I used the advertising packaging as in the attached pic to make an atc... the little pictures, corners and text were just the right size for an atc! I really enjoyed making it especially as it was a spot of recycling! Daisy D are some of my favourites....so nostalgic.

Dee

EMBOSSING

noreply@blogger.com (Leonie pujol) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:17:00 +0000

Some time ago I collected the fancy fronts to air fresheners and used them to dry emboss through. They work with chalks too but are a bit more difficult as they do not lie flat, but it works if you take care.

luv Joanne
http://mytobyjug.blogspot.com
xx

Grasses and spritzing

noreply@blogger.com (Leonie pujol) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:30:00 +0000

I saw an article recently in the Craft Stamper which I really liked, and meant to try but never got round to it - so nows the perfect excuse.

Easy to do, but messy and fun. Pick some lovely dried grasses, seed heads, interesting branches etc. You want something that looks interesting, but your collecting freebies - so this is the perfect time to really experiment and play.

Hold you seed head to your card, try to get it as flat as possible to your card, and spritz. I used a couple of colours - try lots of different spritzers, from shimmery ones to the plain dyes.

Allow them to dry naturally, then you have a lovely image to make into your card. I made it very plain and simple as I didn't want to take the emphasis from my image.

Spritz away.

Sorry, my photo wasn't very clear - the shimmer was very shimmery and my light to bright.

xxxx

Coffee

noreply@blogger.com (Leonie pujol) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:09:00 +0000

Someone mentioned coffee? Mmmmm, smells great, and I had some already brewing.

Coffee is great for colour tinting your card, either poor your brewed coffee onto your card and leave it to dry, or wet your card and sprinkle on your coffee grains - which melt into beautiful smelling wonder tint with varying tones. Lovely.

Perfume Packaging

noreply@blogger.com (Leonie pujol) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:18:00 +0000

Hi Leonie..
its great that you have started the blog for cost cutting and time saving ideas etc.
One idea I have which I have used quite a lot is to use the packaging off perfume for both atcs and cards..both the outside packaging which is often lovely satin card and the corrugated inside which is good layered up as it matches. I have used them like this with wire creations such as a dragonfly with tiny beads on.
It might even still retain the perfume!
bye for now,Dee x..

Time for Tea

noreply@blogger.com (Leonie pujol) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 19:00:00 +0000

My first post is probably something all of us have thought about, or had a go at, and it's something that I was inspired to do again as we are using tea leaves at the moment, and I hate just throwing them away. Tea of course has it's distinctive colouring - which is great for dying your papers and cardstock.

Take wet tea leaves and leave them on your card to dry. The longer left, or the wetter the leaves, then the darker the shade you can obtain. Alternatively you can pop your left over tea (without the milk), into a spritzer bottle. Mix with some pearlescent powder if you want a shimmer, and spritz. The more layers of tea you spritz, the darker tone can be achieved.

If you want an even finish, allow the spritzed tea to dry natural, if you want something more startling try drying with a heat tool:

Step one, spritz the tea so you have puddles on your card:

Using your heat gun, force the puddles into the card, and hold that position so the drip doesn't fly off around the cardstock:

The place the tea is forced to dry in will result in a darker result - keep spritzing and drying until you are happy with the result. You can of course "chase the drip", all over your card and you will get veins of colour - looks ace.

The samples below show the various depths of colour that can be achieved - just with a good ole cuppa!

The resulting card can then be used for the perfect backing material for all your cardmaking and stamping projects - just the job for that distressed look (on the cheap!)

Welcome........

noreply@blogger.com (Leonie pujol) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 18:31:00 +0000

Just a little note to outline our aim for this blog. Obviously to have fun - goes without saying, but we thought it would be good to have somewhere to share idea's on how we are/what we are doing to save time and money when crafting and creating. I always say I'm abit of a "tight" crafter, and someone asked me to pop my tips on a blog - so viola, here it is.

Of course I know everyone has tips, idea's and suggestions - so make this the place to share them with everyone else. "The critical collective cutting corner crib"

So, what do we want? Things you do to save a penny or two. Tips on saving time. Recycling "stuff". You suggestions which you know other folk would just consider "tight".

Share, learn and have fun.
xxxx