Think back about twenty years ago. If I asked you, if you would like the concept of ATMs and check cards, you would probably say, “No.” What about if you’d like to get on the computer all day, shop online, chat with friends, and even blog about your craft – would you have rejected that concept even 15 years ago? Probably so. Why? Well, because we get use to the way we operate and implementing change is hard, especially when it requires learning new things.

Here at Embellish, we like change and think it’s good! We are the only paper crafting challenge-based e-zine. Why? Well because we know that the Internet has changed the face of publishing industry and the paper crafting world truly embraces online access to ideas, so why not offer an online magazine that showcases just that?

We have redesigned our website to support our amazing subscribers! We are thrilled to know that Embellish fans loved the Premiere Issue – All About Twine, which was released in April 2010. So, before we release the next issue – All About Buttons, we wanted to make sure we had a proper website that not only looked good, but also handled subscription management well.

This year, we plan to release four Embellish issues! That’s right, four! Don’t forget, our next publication call is now open. So, we welcome you to go check out our new website. Everyone is encouraged to register for a new account because that’s FREE! We will implement a forum on our site soon and will announce when that is available. For our current subscribers, who subscribed to the issue within the past year either by paying for it or if you were a designer featured in the issue, you should have received an e-mail from us explaining how to gain access to the Premiere Issue. We even have video tutorials on how to register for a free account and subscribe to issues. Still having trouble? Just let us know and we’ll respond!

EDITED TO ADD: If you had an account using our older website, you will have to register for a new account on this new website. Feel free to use your same login information. However, you will not be able to login using the old login information without registering it first!

Thank you so much for your support and please check back soon. We are starting our blog challenges back. The “Color Trends” challenge will return next Friday, February 4th. I know you all will love the color combination and the challenge inspirational board we’ve created.

Embellish your talent, creativity, and passion…

Hey Embellish fans! We’re back from our break and ready to create. How about you? We have a new blog design and some upcoming challenges. We will resume our challenges on Friday, February 4 and we hope you can join us.

Today, we’re happy to reveal our third publication that is in the works. We have teamed up with Clear & Simple Stamps for this issue that is all about ribbon! You can find ribbon embellishments on just about all paper crafting projects and we want to see what you can do with ribbon. Take a look at our publication call page by clicking the image below.  All details are provided for you; however, if you have any questions, please contact us. We can’t wait to see what you all come up with!

Create: All types of paper craft projects, including scrapbook layouts, altered items (i.e., gift bags, tags, etc), and cards using the color combination and ribbon. We want to see innovative ribbon ideas and techniques as well as traditional styles. We encourage projects for any theme, such as: birthday, love, sympathy, wedding, thank you, graduation, Christmas, fall, Halloween, and Thanksgiving. We love to showcase projects that use patterned paper, stamps, and other embellishments, so create to your heart’s content!

Color Combination: There are three hues of orange represented in the color combination requirement. Please feel free to use all three shades of orange; however, they are all not required. You may use one or two of the orange hues. All other shades are required. The neutral tones of brown and cream are provided, but feel free to use white as well.

Angela

1. Agata
2. Clare
3. Emily L.
4. Irssy
5. Jinny
6. Yyam

I hope everyone had a great holiday! Before we finish our little break, we wanted to share the winners of the last challenge. Congratulations, Angela for creating such a fabulous page. It really was eye-catching! Please send your address in the contact form and we will get your Canvas Corp. box of goodies to you soon! We also loved the other hot designs featured. Thank you to everyone who participated. It looks like we have a lot of card designers, not scrapbookers who participate in the challenges, which is great! But, if you’re really into a true challenge, we welcome all types of paper crafting projects, including scrapbook layouts and altered items.

Rest assured, we are in full swing preparing challenges for this year! We will resume challenges on February 4 and will continue bi-weekly challenges thereafter! We have some fabulous sponsors lined up, some old and some new! If you are a paper crafting vendor (i.e., stamp company or general online retailer) and are interested in sponsoring a challenge, please submit an inquiry in the contact form and we will send you additional information. We have sponsorships available because they are filling so fast, but we do have some left!

We’re working on a few things over here behind the scenes, including a new blog design with updated graphics, a new site/subscription management system for the publication, the second Embellish magazine issue, and a new publication call will be revealed very soon! Big things are planned for Embellish this year and we hope you will join us for the ride!