Tips on Getting Your Layout Published- Part 2

Yesterday I posted part 1 of my tips for getting your scrapbook layouts published and today I'm sharing part 2.

1. Use new products and include a full supply list in your submission. A reader may see a product on your published layout that they want to purchase for themselves and it's much easier to do that if you used new products on your layouts instead of embellishments that are 5 years old. Magazines know this and are much more likely to choose your layout if it has the latest products.

2. Make multi-photo layouts. You will see a few layouts in magazines that are 1 pagers and have 1 photo on them but the layouts editors love best are 2 page layouts with 3+ photos.

3. Write neatly and spell check! Make sure there aren't a bunch of typos in your title or journaling, nothing is more embarrassing than realizing after the fact that you spelt something wrong. It also helps if you have nice neat journaling. This could mean printing it, or just making sure your handwriting is neat. Layouts get downsized when published so it's easier to read your journaling if it's nice and neat.


I've been published in multiple issues of Creating Keepsakes, Stitch Craft and Create and most recently I have a project in the Star Trek Crafts Book.

Click here to see part 1 of my tips.

Tips on Getting Your Layouts Published- Part 1

I've been lucky enough to have my work published in multiple issues of Creating Keepsakes, Stitch Craft and Create and most recently I have a project in the Star Trek Crafts Book.

I wanted to share a few of my tips on getting your scrapbook layouts published, although some of these tips would work on other type of art projects as well.

1. Take good clear photographs of your project. This is so extremely important. Most likely, the editors won't choose your project if your photograph is bad and they cannot easily see what that embellishment on your project is, or read your journaling. For more tips on photographing your projects, check out this post.

2. Stay updated on the Submission Calls. A lot of magazines have a page that they update with the latest submission calls that they're looking for. You're layout is more likely to get chosen if it fits within the current calls. Don't submit spring layouts when they're working on the Christmas issue. Magazines always work ahead so by keeping up to date with the calls you can see what they're looking for.

3. Try new techniques! Instead of just using washi tape the normal way, try using it to make fun 3d embellishments. Magazines like to feature new ideas and techniques so try something new or something you haven't seen in their magazines before.

You may submit layouts dozens of times before you get chosen! Don't give up, once the editors see your name showing up a lot you're more likely to be published. I'll be posting part 2 of this series soon.

4 Cards and 4 Layouts from 1 Kit

Each month at Paper Lovers Studio Emily and I create out own kits using supplies from our stash.

This was the kit I created- Lots of bright spring colors and embellishments which inspired me to make spring-y layouts and cards but somehow I also managed to create a Halloween layout.

and I made 4 cards and 4 layouts using my kit.

As you can see on the layout pictured above, I love my Amy Tangerine Roller Stamp. Love. :) Hop over to Paper Lovers Studio to see Emily's projects and to link up your kit.

The Star Trek Blog Hop- Star Trek Greeting Cards

I've been posting fun Star Trek inspired craft projects all week and now it's time for the Star Trek Blog Hop!

To see the rest of my star trek posts scroll down past this post or click here.

Today 7 crafty bloggers will be participating in a Star Trek themed craft blog hop,  Boldly Crafting Where No Crafts Have Gone Before. We will be posting paper crafts, sewing, recycled projects, and other fun crafty things! Be inspired and Make It So!

Bloggers Participating in the blog hop:
• Katie- Punk Projects
• Taylor- This Memorable Life
• Megan- The Nerd Nest
• Mandy- Chocolate and Cream Cake
• Kam- Campfire Chic
• Regena- The Distracted Domestic
• Melissa- Scrappy Jedi
• Emily- Oh! Emily Made That

My project for the blog hop are these awesome Star Trek Greeting Cards. 

I'm sure you've seen a bunch of the Ryan Gosling Hey Girl images floating around the web, right? Well one day I made my own Hey Girl images using pictures of Spock and Kirk. I just sent them to my sister for fun, but then thought "Why not make cards as well?"

So, Taylor and I made these fun Hey Girl cards using star trek colored papers.

 Download my Star Trek "Hey Girl" images here, here, here and here.

I also made a pop up card using a picture of Captain Kirk and a paper enterprise that I hand cut and of course a cheesy saying.

GIVEAWAY!! What's up for grabs:

• A copy of The Star Trek Crafts Book
• Starfleet Pin Cushion from The Distracted Domestic
• Plush from Chocolate and Creamcake
• TNG Felt iPhone Cozy by Punk Projects (Me!)
• Earl Grey Tea from Campfire Chic

How to enter? Leave a comment below with your name + email address telling me what your favorite Star Trek Movie or Series is!

Bonus entries: Tweet or post on facebook about the giveaway. Leave a seperate comment for each bonus entry, please.

(Giveaway winner will be chosen June 1st)

Star Trek Science Officer Laptop Sleeve DIY

My project for the day is a Star Trek Uniform Laptop Sleeve! I have a sturdy case that I use for my laptop if I'm going on a trip but if I'm just running up to the library with it or something I just use a sleeve. However I was getting tired of my last laptop sleeve so it was definitely time for a new one. and I love this one! :)

 Supplies: 1/2 yard of blue felt, 1/4 yard of black felt, 1 sheet of grey felt, Black thread, sewing machine

1. Measure your laptop, add about 2" to each measurement and cut 4 sheets of your blue felt to the new measurement. For example my laptop is 15"x11" so I cut my felt 17"x13".
Cut a black V shape from black felt the width of your blue felt and about 3" tall. Also cut out a 2" communicator from grey felt.
2. Stitch down your small pieces onto one of your blue felt rectangles.
3. Separate your 4 blue rectangles into pairs of 2, placing them right sides together. Stitch along on of the shorter sides and flip right side out so the one end has a finished edge.
4. Stitch along the finished edge. This is just stitching the two pieces together so that they stay flat and don't move around.
5. Place your 2 pieces right sides together and stitch down the sides and bottoms leaving the top open.
6. Flip right side out.

If you want it a bit thicker you could add a layer of batting in between the layers of felt but I think with 2 pieces of felt on each side it's enough padding for my old laptop. Unless it was a redshirt. then it would need all the extra padding available!

So, have you Star Trek Into Darkness yet? Taylor and I went to see it last night and it was AMAZING! I absolutely loved it, loved every second of it!

Now I want to do even more geeky things, and put Star Trek themes on all the crafts! haha.

Star Trek Photo Coasters DIY

I've made some photo coasters before but this time I wanted to use photos of Star Trek characters. and to make things fun and comic like, I also added speech bubbles with their favorite drinks.

I don't think Kirk really has a favorite drink (that I know of.) so I just chose to put Romulan Ale for his drink. Picard, Dax and Janeway were pretty easy though. Janeway loves her coffee. :)

 Supplies: Cardboard, Felt, Patterned Paper, Clear Contact Paper, Printer

1. Cut your cardboard into 4"x4" squares.

 2. Cover the top sides of you cardboard with patterned paper.
3. Print photos of your favorite Star Trek characters at 3.5"x3.5" and adhere to each coaster.

 4. Cut out small speech bubbles and write out your favorite characters favorite drinks. For example: Everyone knows Picard's favorite drink is earl grey tea. Hot.
5. Cut out 5"x5" squares of contact paper.

 6. Peel the backing off your your contact paper and stick to your coaster. Cut away the corners and fold the edges over to the backside.

 7. Cut out 4"x4" squares of felt and adhere to the back of your coasters.

What's your favorite drink? Mine would be Tea. Hot. But not necessarily earl grey. ;)