World Card Making Day - Big Announcement!!!

Good morning!!! I am SOOO excited to share my big news with you today! It has been one of the hardest secrets EVER to keep!!! For only the second time, I was brave enough to send in some cards to one of Paper Crafts Magazine's card contests...and this time I was stunned speechless to get an email saying one of my cards in the Christmas/Holiday card category WON!!!!! I couldn't believe it!!! Anyway...I had to keep a secret until it was announced today on the Paper Crafts blog - and make sure and head over to see the rest of the winners!

I can't share my winning card, since it will appear in the March/April 2013 issue of Paper Crafts, but I though I would make another card to share today in celebration! Since my winning card was in the Christmas category, it seemed only fitting to make another Christmas card! Here it is:

I cut a nativity silhouette on my Silhouette Cameo, using a file from the silhouette store (hmmm...that's a lot of "silhouettes" in one sentence, don't you think?)

My sentiment is from a brand new set from My Craft Spot that actually hasn't released yet! Sneak peaks start officially next week...but I got permission to use one a bit early! You are going to LOVE them!!! This gives you just one taste of how beautiful they are!!!

I added some jute twine in olive - I just can't seem to get enough jute twine!

My pattern paper is a mix from My Mind's Eye, Studio Calico, and October Afternoon. I inked my paper with Tim Holtz distress ink in Antique Linen, and the outer layer with Vintage Photo.

Thanks so much for stopping by to see me today!!! And if you have been submitting to magazines or contests - take my advice and don't get discouraged!!! I submitted for almost a year before I ever had a card picked up for publication, and I almost didn't enter this contest! The funny thing is, this card, as well as my other published ones, were all cards that I had pop into my head just as I was falling asleep at night - not like a little bit of the idea, but the entire thing! And as quickly as I sat down to make it, it came together exactly as I pictured in my head. So...at the risk of sounding like I'm just saying it - I truly give God the glory for every bit of it! My mental process doesn't usually work that way - I am much more of a tweaker than that! So I know it was all HIM!!! 

And...if you're curious about me, why my blog is named what it is, and what makes me tick creatively, you can click HERE to read my very first blog post (WAY back when I first started blogging!) or HERE to read my one year blogiversary post that tells even a little more about what I do.

Again - thanks so much for stopping by! May God move in your life in wonderful ways today!!!