Saturday, March 2, 2013

Magazine Publications

Today I am celebrating my magazine publications.

It all started back in 2010 when I got the courage to submit my work.  It's not an easy thing to do, but I thought what the heck.  It's for fun and it was such a surprise when I got an email back in July 2010 from an online magazine saying they would like to publish this layout of my handsome hubby and his new car.

Superhero

Then it started a spark inside of me and I thought why not try again so I submitted to Scrapbooking.com Magazine and submitted a mini album which also got published

Winter Joy

The next year, my daughter got married and I wanted to alter a frame so I submitted another one to the "altered submission call" at Scrapbooking.com magazine and here it is:


Wedding Altered Frame

Then there were a few more layouts:

Baking With Love
Mom
Mom's Diner
Then I thought why not try submitting to other magazines so I tried Scrapbook News And Review Magazine, which I also subscribe to, and these were published:

Elly
Beautiful Bride
Good Friends
The Gown
Paradise Mini Album
Then last year,  I won an annual subscription to ScrapNArt Magazine and thought I would like to submit a layout for the "Fall Submission Call".  They published this layout in the November 2012 issue:

Thankful
Finally, my goal was to submit to some scrapbooking magazines that were printed magazines that were sold in grocery stores, book stores and department stores. I submitted to Canadian Scrapbooker magazine as I have every issue of this amazing magazine since it was founded in 2005.  Last November, I got an email from Jackie Ludlage from Canadian Scrapbooker Magazine that they wanted to publish these two layouts.  I was over the moon excited!

Butchart Gardens
Aglow
My youngest son was so giddy to see a full page of himself in the Spring 2013 issue of Canadian Scrapbooker Magazine in print.

Now, this week, I have been informed that another layout has been picked up in the Summer 2013 issue of Canadian Scrapbooker Magazine and I couldn't be more thrilled as I am Canadian and love my country.

So I am not here to brag, brag, brag but to share the fact that we all have goals and dreams and it doesn't matter what age you are, but that dreams and goals can be realized even at my age.  Creativity doesn't have an age attached to it.   My dream or niche didn't start to be realized until I was in my late forties.  Art was one of my worst classes in school as I don't like being rushed when I create and I didn't like being graded on something where there is no mistakes, in my opinion.  Art is supposed to be fun and for me it is therapeutic as well as a way of preserving memories of my family and friends and all the beautiful things around me.  It is a piece of me that I can share with others and it will be preserved for many years to come.  I can't say the same about cleaning my house.  I want to set an example for my children that hard work and persistence pays off no matter what the goal or dream is.

Everyone begins somewhere and 18 months ago, I mustered up the courage to apply for design teams and Anam Stubbington, who is an amazingly talented lady that founded the iphone app "Sketches To Scrapbook", asked if I would like to join her team.  I was so honoured and flattered that she liked my creations.  Anam moved from Canada back to the U.K. and then she asked me to join Twisted Sketches as a design team member for her fabulous sketches and the rest is history!  It really was nice that she believed in me as I was going through a very hard time personally and it really boosted my self esteem.  After that, I applied to Scrapbook Challenges, another international design team that has weekly sketches, a forum and challenges and was accepted.  I have been on Scrapbook Challenges for 3 terms now and have made such great scrappy friends.  I have also designed on Let's Capture These Sketches, Scrap It With A Song and Sketches In Thyme and now Practical Scrappers too!

The past two years have been such a creative journey for me and it has taught me that a person has to believe in themself and to work hard and never give up. It has also helped me to come out of my shell, so to speak, and put myself out there, which is never easy. I really couldn't have done it without my family and friends supporting me and it has been so great to make such awesome scrapbooking friends from all over the world that have the same passion. We are all different, but yet the same.

Lately, I have been having some personal issues so I am taking this month off from all my design teams to take care of my family and myself,  but want to refresh and carry on this journey in April.  I don't know where it will take me, but it definitely has been great ride.

Thanks to everyone that believes in me and thank you for stopping by my blog.  It means a lot to me that you come and visit.

Have a wonderful day!

16 comments:

  1. You are very talented and these publications are lucky to showcase your work. I have a publication goal for the year, as I have yet to be published, but I have only just begun building the courage to submit my work. I look forward to seeing what other creations you will share!!

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    1. Patty! Thanks so much for your kind words. I think you should submit, submit, submit. You will be surprised when you least expect it! Have a good day!

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  2. Thanks for this Lee-Anne. I have been blessed to be recognized for my talents (so called!) this past year too. My first time being accepted to a DT was with Practical Scrappers and it has led to 2 other DT's and a brand new staffer position with Scrapbook News and Review (maybe I'll get to see some of your submissions!!) I am overwhelmed by this validation is what I do "for fun" and when I read your post I found myself nodding along. Congrats on another Canadian Scrapbooker pub! I have that lofty goal too so will take your words of encouragement and run with them!! :)

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    1. Go for it Alison, you are very talented and I believe in you. Congrats on your new staffer position at SNR. That is awesome!

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  3. Awesome words, Lee-Anne. I am just starting the journey of stepping out and being confident so it is so fun to hear how this has worked for you. You are so talented. Hoping that things are ok for you and as you work through whatever things are going on I will pray for you. Glad to have "met" you through PS>

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    1. Thanks Lisa! I am so glad I have met you on PS too! Take that leap. I know you will do great! Sometimes we just need a little nudge.

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  4. Congrats on all the pubs!! They are all beautiful!!

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  5. Beautiful blog post Lee-Anne!!! I connect with many of the things you have said in so many ways. My life has been so stressful over the past 10 years I don't know where I would be without the outlet and stress relief of crafting and the friends it has brought into my life!!!! And you have inspired me to take the leap, and try and get my stuff published!!!!!

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    1. Thanks for your nice comment Cathryn. I think your work is amazing and I encourage you to submit your work because I think you will be pleasantly surprised and wonder why you didn't submit your work sooner.

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  6. I'm so glad you shared your accomplishments with us. It's so nice to see that you took the step and applied for design teams and sent in your work for publication.. just look where that first step took you. I know exactly what you mean when you say you don't want to "brag", but it's not bragging, it's celebrating your journey! I hope that your break leads to some peace in your life and I look forward to what your next step in your journey will be! Hugs!!!

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  7. Aww thanks Lynn. You are so sweet! Why is that first step so difficult? Thanks for the words of encouragement. xo

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  8. What a testimony and heartflet story. thanks for sharing!!

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  9. Hi Phillis, thanks for stopping by my blog. Thinking of you and giving my heartfelt sympathy to you and this time. Hugs! xo

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  10. Congrats on all your publications and accomplishments in the scrapbooking world. It's always nice to be recognized and appreciated especially when you have put in the hours to hone your skills. Have a good break!

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