Submission Rejects

I'm sure we all have them...you know, those layouts we send in for Submission Calls and wait...and wait...and wait and finally realize that the "congratulations" email isn't coming!!  :)  But after several years of submitting and having some picked up and some not picked up, my philosophy is, "hey, well at least it's another layout finished that I can put in the album" (and that is my main goal above all other things in the scrappy world).  When I first started submitting, I'll admit it was a little hard to never hear back on a layout that I thought was really awesome, but I realize there is a small window of spaces to fill for the calls and probably thousands of talented Ladies submit.  But I have been lucky enough to have some published layouts in Creating Keepsakes magazine, which was one of my scrapbooking goals, back when I first started subscribing to them about 6 years ago.  Never thought it would actually come true though and was blown away when it did.  So you never know...it doesn't hurt to keep trying.

A few months back, I decided I would branch out and submit to a couple of the calls at Scrapbook Trends magazine.  I have never sent anything in for their calls before.  Well, of course, no email showed up in my inbox, so I think it's safe to say that these two weren't picked up!!  But I still think they are both pretty darn cute and I haven't shared them on my Blog yet (or at least I don't think I have!!), so I decided today would be the day!!

Here's the first...a single-pager:

  
I used some cute Jillibean goodies on this one and I had a lot of fun making some of the embellishments for my page.  I just free-hand cut several circles for each flower and then distressed the edges, layered them together and added buttons for the centers.  I die cut the umbrella and then cut out the pieces to trace out the different pieces and then placed them to fit back together over the die cut.  I added some stitching and the pom pom trim to dress it up and add some texture.  And even though this one didn't get picked up for publication, it was still featured on the Jillibean Soup Blog for one of their recent Soup Spotting posts, which is pretty stinkin' cool!!  :)

Products Used:

 

Patterend Paper:  Jillibean Soup & Bella Blvd.

Pom Pom Trim:  October Afternoon

Embroidery Floss:  Janlynn

Brads:  Bazzill & The Paper Studio

Acrylic Paint:  Apple Barrel

Thickers:  American Crafts

Baker's Twine:  The Twinery

Buttons:  Michael's

Tools: WRMK, Provo Craft, Sizzix

Pen:  Zig Memory System

Font:  Coaster

The second is a double-pager...I know, it surprises me too!!  :)

I used a mix of Simple Stories and Crate Paper on this layout and I distressed, rolled, and punched the paper to create the beach/sand and waves look.  I don't know about you, but I am loving the cute little banner flags that are so popular right now!!  I just created these, by using some toothpicks and scrap pieces of my papers, that I folded in half and cut to the shapes that I wanted.  I also used my Expression to cut the bucket shape and a few sand dollars and star fish to embellish the page.

So, these are two layouts that I am definitely happy with and they turned out exactly how I had in mind.  And just because they weren't picked up, it won't stop me from submitting to those calls, because who knows when it might just be the right one at the right time??!!  :)

Products Used:

Cardstock:  Die Cuts with a View

Patterned Paper:  Simple Stories & Crate Paper

Thickers:  American Crafts

Stickers:  Simple Stories

Brads: The Paper Stuio

Punch:  Marvy & EK Success

Embossing:  Sizzix & Provo Craft

Baker's Twine:  The Twinery

Other:  Toothpicks