Happy News! Joining the Paper House Productions Design Team!

I am ecstatic to announce that I'm joining the Paper House Productions Design Team in July!  You won't believe this, but it was literally a goal of mine to join a scrapbook paper design team this year.  Paper is my first love.  That's where it all started for me, all those years ago when my friend Nancy Hilton took me to my first crop (look Nancy, you got a shout out!).  Ah, the joys of taking scissors to paper.  Before I knew it, I fell in love with cardmaking and paper continued to reign in my life.   I became an avid stamper and joined several stamp design teams, however, paper was always there; a staple in almost every project. 

Paper House Productions stood out in my mind for another reason.  I'm pretty sure I met them back in 2014 when I was the guest blogger for the CHA/AFCI Paper Arts Trade show in Atlanta.  I did a little digging and yes.... I did meet them!  In fact, I wrote a segment all about the lovely folks at PHP on the Craft and Hobby Association blog.  Take a look!  

https://blogafci.wordpress.com/2014/07/31/last-nights-open-market-at-cha-paper-arts-2014/

I have a love affair with paper and am so happy that Paper House Productions chose me to represent their wonderful array of products.  They have selected a stellar team and I'm even more excited that I already know several of the ladies, having worked with them on other design teams.  It already feels like a family atmosphere which is like the icing on the cake!

I thought I would share a couple projects that I made not too long ago, using Paper House Productions papers.  Here's my milk carton treat box, filled with k-cups for a project I did last year for Coffee Loving Cardmakers.

https://wavingmywand.blogspot.com/2017/09/day-5-coffee-loving-cardmakers-fall.html

And this one below, more recently, was for a joint blog hop with Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L.

https://wavingmywand.blogspot.com/2018/05/blog-hop-with-scrapbook-adhesives-by-3l.html

Their product line is EXTENSIVE!  They have license to the Wizard of Oz line.  Um, my baby shower was Wizard of Oz themed.  My little niece dressed up like Dorothy and my nephews dressed like the Lollipop Guild.  My sister gave me a huge piece of Wall Art that was Wizard of Oz and drove 2 hours to Atlanta to meet one of the original munchkins who was on tour and doing a book signing.  I believe he was the Mayor of Munchkin Land.  He autographed the art and my sister had it framed.  It is one of my most prized possessions.  I'm a huge Wizard of Oz fan!  It feels a little bit like destiny to have the joy of creating with their products on a regular basis.  

Hop on over to their website and check out their products, here.  Then visit their blog and get ready for the internet to blow up with more design team inspiration!  Woo-hoo!  See you soon with my first official project!

Terri

#paperhouseproductions #designteam #wizardofoz #CHA #AFCI #wavingmywand #scrapbookpaper #scrapbook #stickers #planners #plannerlovers #cardmaking #cards #DIY #papercrafts #journals #travelersnotebooks

Coffee Buzz With Terri and Coffee Loving Cardmakers

I'm so excited to be sharing my first design team post today over at Coffee Loving Cardmakers.  I've been a fan, follower and participant since it's inception and couldn't be happier to spend more quality time with my "people";  coffee loving crafters!  

Head on over to my blog post at CLC to get all the details on this card that features Verve Stamps, my Misti and lots of coloring, here.

My new feature at Coffee Loving Cardmakers will showcase every other Monday.  

I hope you'll stop by!

#coffeelovingcardmakers #designteam #wavingmywand #vervestamps #thanks #thankyou #latte #coffee #cup #teacup #coloring #tombow #tombowusa #zigcleancolor

Happy News To Share For 2017! (Make that double happy news!)

Hello lovelies!  I'm just popping in to share the news that has been announced today by So Suzy Stamps.  I'm joining the design team for 2017!  

Early this year, I served a term on the Stamp of the Month Club Design Team and when Suzy recently asked me to join her main team in 2017, I was thrilled.  Currently, she's having a web re-design so her store is down for maintenance until January 1 (although it may be ready sooner!) but you can stop by the blog, look around and get a little crafty inspiration in the meantime.

Suzy has assembled quite the international team and I am in some fabulous company.  These are some uber talented ladies!  Click the name to visit their blogs:

Terri Burson (USA)

Henriëtte van Mierlo (The Netherlands)

Giada Rigamonti (Italy)

Cornelia Wenokor (USA)

Nupur Priya  (India)

Olesya Kharkova (Russia)

Martha Lucia Gomez Hernandez (USA)

Josefine Fouarge (USA)

Suzy is known for her snarky stamps worldwide, her gorgeous flourish stamps and everything in between.  Let's not forget Phineas, her world famous peacock stamp!  He's made appearances all over the Northeast in the pottery section of Whole Foods stores.  Read about him, here.

Lastly, I'm so very excited to have some stamps that I've designed, come to market in 2017, with So Suzy Stamps!  I'm so thankful to Suzy for offering me this amazing opportunity and you can look for those to be available later next year.

Check back on Suzy's blog January 1, 2017, where the entire design team will be ringing in the new year and kicking off a new theme/technique challenge for the month of January.  Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing in my happy news today!  

Have a most wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year!

Terri

#sosuzystamps #designteam #wavingmywand #terriburson #craft #cardmaking #stamping #announcement

Reminder - Don't miss the Doubleclick Skittles Challenge!

If you missed the big announcement on June 24th, here it is again:

Welcome to Challenge # 25 here at DoubleClick Skittles!  

I'm so happy to have been selected for the Doubleclick Connection Design Team!  Everyone has been so welcoming and I know I'm going to love it here.  A quick little something about me:  I'm married with a 13 year old son and between the 3 of us, we play guitar, piano, saxophone, a little mandolin, bass violin and drums.  We all sing as well.  In my downtime, I love to whip up a gourmet meal with help from my son who also loves to cook.  I'm a freelance craft blogger, writing the occasional craft article, Guest Design occasionally and last summer, was the Guest Blogger and Show Photographer for the Craft and Hobby Association's Paper Arts trade show in 2014.  To "pay the bills", I work for an agency that serves children with disabilities.  And, that's enough about me!

Now, if you arrived from Carri's page, you are in the right place. 

The Challenge?  Show us your Craft Space!

Here's the line up in case you get lost along the way:

Carri from DoubleClick

Terri from Waving my Wand

Kim From Cupcakes, Cards and Kim

Georgiana from Carson's Creations

Taunya from Daisies Girl

Payel from BeauMonde Designs

Challenge Date: June 24 - July 7

This is our former guest bedroom and now, craft/nostalgia room.  It doubles as my hubby's nostalgia and record collection.  He has the closet and some shelf space, I have the rest of the room, which explains massive stuff everywhere! 

The ugly wallpaper?  Yeah, just ignore that....another project for another day, haha. 

Here's my little crafty corner of the room.  My refurbished student desk and some fun storage panels that I recently made to have better access to the products I use the most.

This is the bookcase where I store my ribbons, stamps, punches and collection of paper.  Lots of embellishments and inks, as well.

This little nook sits right next to my desk and is where I keep my favorite stacks of paper and adhesives, close at hand.  That's one of my hubby's hand-me-down pieces of antique furniture. 

This is another little spot where my husband and I duke it out.  Crafting versus nostalgia.....

I think crafting is going to win!  That decorative Kaisercraft house?  I made that last year and it houses a lot of my little embellishments, such as sequins, buttons, etc.

And, finally, here's the view from the doorway.

Now, head on over to visit Kim......



I'm giving away a little blog candy as well today.   A brand new package of Spellbinders Golden Glow ink from the Celebra'tions collection, 5 Adornit Art Play Paintable coloring images from the Hello Collection and a 12" piece of "handmade with love" May Arts Ribbon from my personal stash.

To qualify: 

• You must be a follower of all blogs in the hop  (there are 6)
• Leave a comment on all design team members posts showing their craft space
• Comment here letting me know you followed all the requirements.
• US residents only (sorry due to high shipping fees)

Go SHOPPING HERE!  Doubleclick Skittles Store  (paypal accepted)

Want to join the challenge?  Link up and show us your craft space.  Here's the rules......


Rules for the challenge:
Skittles are not required to enter this challenge
One entry per person
No back linking
Must follow theme
When linking up use your project link not your blog link
Must Link back to this challenge and reference DoubleClick Skittles
Be A follower of DoubleClick and leave a comment after linking up 
Visit and Comment on the Guest Designer post
Prize is open to US residents only but anyone can enter


#doubleclick #skittles #cre8time #craft #challenge #blogcandy #summer #craftroom

Doubleclick Skittles Challenge, Design Team Blog Hop + Blog Candy!

Welcome to Challenge # 25 here at DoubleClick Skittles!  

I'm so happy to have been selected for the Doubleclick Connection Design Team!  Everyone has been so welcoming and I know I'm going to love it here.  A quick little something about me:  I'm married with a 13 year old son and between the 3 of us, we play guitar, piano, saxophone, a little mandolin, bass violin and drums.  We all sing as well.  In my downtime, I love to whip up a gourmet meal with help from my son who also loves to cook.  I'm a freelance craft blogger, writing the occasional craft article, Guest Design occasionally and last summer, was the Guest Blogger and Show Photographer for the Craft and Hobby Association's Paper Arts trade show in 2014.  To "pay the bills", I work for an agency that serves children with disabilities.  And, that's enough about me!

Now, if you arrived from Carri's page, you are in the right place. 

The Challenge?  Show us your Craft Space!

Here's the line up in case you get lost along the way:

Carri from DoubleClick

Terri from Waving my Wand

Kim From Cupcakes, Cards and Kim

Georgiana from Carson's Creations

Taunya from Daisies Girl

Payel from BeauMonde Designs

Challenge Date: June 24 - July 7

This is our former guest bedroom and now, craft/nostalgia room.  It doubles as my hubby's nostalgia and record collection.  He has the closet and some shelf space, I have the rest of the room, which explains massive stuff everywhere! 

The ugly wallpaper?  Yeah, just ignore that....another project for another day, haha. 

Here's my little crafty corner of the room.  My refurbished student desk and some fun storage panels that I recently made to have better access to the products I use the most.

This is the bookcase where I store my ribbons, stamps, punches and collection of paper.  Lots of embellishments and inks, as well.

This little nook sits right next to my desk and is where I keep my favorite stacks of paper and adhesives, close at hand.  That's one of my hubby's hand-me-down pieces of antique furniture. 

This is another little spot where my husband and I duke it out.  Crafting versus nostalgia.....

I think crafting is going to win!  That decorative Kaisercraft house?  I made that last year and it houses a lot of my little embellishments, such as sequins, buttons, etc.

And, finally, here's the view from the doorway.

Now, head on over to visit Kim......



I'm giving away a little blog candy as well today.   A brand new package of Spellbinders Golden Glow ink from the Celebra'tions collection, 5 Adornit Art Play Paintable coloring images from the Hello Collection and a 12" piece of "handmade with love" May Arts Ribbon from my personal stash.

To qualify: 

• You must be a follower of all blogs in the hop  (there are 6)
• Leave a comment on all design team members posts showing their craft space
• Comment here letting me know you followed all the requirements.
• US residents only (sorry due to high shipping fees)

Go SHOPPING HERE!  Doubleclick Skittles Store  (paypal accepted)

Want to join the challenge?  Link up and show us your craft space.  Here's the rules......


Rules for the challenge:
Skittles are not required to enter this challenge
One entry per person
No back linking
Must follow theme
When linking up use your project link not your blog link
Must Link back to this challenge and reference DoubleClick Skittles
Be A follower of DoubleClick and leave a comment after linking up 
Visit and Comment on the Guest Designer post
Prize is open to US residents only but anyone can enter


#doubleclick #skittles #cre8time #craft #challenge #blogcandy #summer #craftroom





Applying For A Craft Design Team? Top 5 things you need to know!

As a freelance craft blogger, I have crafty friends who've applied to be on design teams; small companies, large companies, independant franchises.......
design teams come in many shapes and forms.   

What exactly does it take to get on a design team?

In my own endeavors, I've contemplated this issue and decided to do a little research.  The best people to answer these questions would be those at the top, so, I did just that and went straight to the source.  In this case, I've polled several companies with a checklist of questions, hoping to get the answers that can help you reach your goal.

The companies who responded are all well known in the craft industry and range from small but well established businesses, to large companies with a worldwide business reach.  Yes, I've been talking with some big, big businesses.  You use their products every single day.  

So, let's get to it. I posed 5 questions to the representatives of several companies, two of which, were the business owners themselves who offered up the responses.  Let me mention that one particular company responded with no set requirements, but rather has an eye for what the company is looking for and goes with a gut feeling.




Sizzix Big Shot Starter Kit
from: Sizzix

1.   Is experience a requirement?  Or does someone new to the scene, with a fresh approach, stand a chance?

• Experience is preferred.  A company will look at your blog to see what kind of content you're posting and what your blog looks like.   Go look at the blogs of the current design team.  It will tell you a lot about a company.  So, how does one gain experience?  Apply everywhere, all the time.  You will get a lot of rejections.  Don't give up!

2.   Does it help to have connections?  Other company contacts who know you and can vouch for your work ethic?  

• It doesn't hurt to have connections, however, it's not a requirement.  So, if you know someone in the company or have a friend somehow connected, reach out and make contact.   Word of mouth is a powerful thing.  Let your crafty friends know you're looking .  Sometimes it does help to know people!

3.  What do you look for in researching your applicants?  Use of your product in their social media and blog posts?  Other?

• Companies are looking for specific content.  Follow the trends and know what's hot.  As of this writing, these project types were mentioned by the companies I polled:   home décor, food, crafts made with an electronic die-cutter, jewelry making, fashion, quilting, sewing, paper crafts, party planning, teen & kids crafts, scrapbooking, card making
  

• Being active in social media is a must.   Your profiles will need to be public.  For example, if you're listing your Facebook page on your DT application, but it's not a public page, you need to consider setting up a separate page from your personal page.  Give it a name that companies can identify with you.  For example, I have my own personal Facebook page, but for crafting purposes, you can find me at Waving My Wand.  Keep the same name for all your social media.  It's a good marketing tool and a good way of branding yourself.
  

• Can I share my own observation here?  Based on conversations I've had with other craft bloggers, and as evidenced by following applicants who've been picked for design teams,  many companies go with applicants who are current users of their products.   

4.  Is there something to be said for enthusiasm?  Can it hurt or help for an applicant to follow up their application with an enthusiastic  endorsement?  Or is it best to remain silent and let your work speak  for itself?

• Either of those reactions is perfectly acceptable.   

5.   Is there anything that can hurt an applicant?

• An application that is not complete.  Make sure you follow the guidelines of the application.  If they're asking for your 3 favorite card making projects, show them just that.  The last 3 favorite DIY projects?  Give them what they're asking for.   Don't veer off topic and show them something else that you think is fabulous but doesn't meet the criteria of what they're asking for.

Is this helpful information?  I hope so.  Let me know what you think. 

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links so, if you purchase a product using the link I may receive a commission. I only participate in the affiliate programs linked above because they are products that I use and love. Your purchase price is not affected in any way, by using my links.  Thank you for your support and helping me keep my content free!