
Jessica Witty
Hey, there. Have we met? I’m Jessica. I’m kinda new here. I’m coming to you live (or, to be truthful, the night before) from Go-to-Land (also known as “my living room”). I make cards. Lots of them. Small ones. Tall ones. Pretty ones. Other ones that are not so pretty and end up visiting the circular file (also known as the “trash can”). But what happens to the ones that are lucky enough to survive inspection? They visit a little place where opportunity is always knocking…the land of submissions.
It’s a fun place, my friends. Super fun. And if you’ve never visited the land of submissions, have no fear. I’ve put all of my best submission tips together to help you out.
1. Make a Plan & Plan to Make
- Keep track of calls
You see that little word up there in blue that says “Submit?” The super fab editors at PC keep this section of the site updated with all the current magazine calls for submissions. Keep an eye on this page and you’ll always be on top of what to make.
- Use a planner for organization
This is a system that I’ve developed after many years, many trials, and many errors. I have one office planner dedicated solely to paper crafting. It is not huge. It is not fancy. It is simple and it simply works. I use the monthly calendar to track the due dates and the weekly/daily section to track the specifics about the calls.
- Sketch it out
My planner also serves as my creative assistant. It has plenty of extra space in the daily section to house all my inner brainstorming sessions. As I get a few moments here and there, I’ll get the ideas flowing and jot them down. I include sketches, materials, and any other flashes of brilliance (ha!). Again, nothing fancy. Just scribbles with a pencil.
2. Work Smarter, Not Harder!
- Keep track of materials as you go
As I’m sitting at my work table (also known as the “dining room table”) I keep my planner open beside me. I start a list for each card and as I finish one, I jot down all the materials I used on it. It’s so much easier to keep track of everything while it’s still out on the table.
- Compile everything in a Word document
After I snap a few pics of my hopefully-oh-so-lovely projects, it’s time to compile all of my submission info into a simple Word document. Again, nothing fancy. It’s easiest for me to just type out the materials, instructions, and size of each card and keep it all in one document.
- Use RoboForm
Next I head on over to the submission form (you’ll need to login first). I used to type in all my personal info every time I submitted a project, but now I just use RoboForm. Listen up, folks, because this is the single greatest invention since the paper cutter. RoboForm is a program that you can download that is essentially an automatic form filler. You give it the information once and it will provide you with a toolbar so that you simply click one button to fill out your name, address, phone number, email, etc. It is awesome. Such a time saver.
- Copy & paste & you’re done!
All that’s left to do is fill out all the details about the card. Just copy and paste it all from your Word document into the form. The best part about it is that if your project is picked for up publication, all the information you’ll need later is already completed. It’s also ready to go if you end up posting your cards to your blog or an online gallery (like the one right here… hint hint!).
I’ve been keeping my eye out for the next call for submissions… it will be sent out on Oct. 21 for the May/June 2010 issue. With that thought in mind, I went to my work table in search of some summer fun designs and came up with this…
Here’s to hoping that this little one gets lucky in the land of submissions!
Jessica Witty,
Paper Crafts Go-to-Gal
19 comments
Comments feed for this article
October 14, 2009 at 6:33 am
Erika M
Thanks for all the lovely tips! I’ve never submitted before but these tips are quite helpful!
October 14, 2009 at 6:41 am
Thespoena McLaughlin
I love the card and thanks for the great info!
October 14, 2009 at 6:45 am
Lisa Dorsey
Hey Jess!!!! Great post, my friend. So glad to see you here! 🙂
October 14, 2009 at 7:07 am
Ellie Augustin
WHOOP WHOOP I’m into the next Round like PB on Jelly! Ha… (yeah I am sooo corny) I am still on my high from getting my first card accepted 🙂 HOW could I not try again!! LOVE PC 🙂
October 14, 2009 at 7:31 am
Winter
Thanks for the tips, I use some of the same ones! I have a spiral that has all the card calls and even some sketches in there! It works for me! 🙂
October 14, 2009 at 8:08 am
Carol M.
You make it sound so easy! Thanks for the tips, Jess. Especially RoboForm…that cuts down on that part of the process. I love to visit your site btw.
October 14, 2009 at 9:27 am
Jarie
thanks for this information Jessica. Maybe this will give me the push to submit a card soon.
TFS.
Janet
October 14, 2009 at 9:55 am
scrapper al
Great tips! I never thought about having a dedicated planner for submissions. Thank you!
October 14, 2009 at 1:03 pm
Heidi Van Laar
Thanks Jesssica! Those were great tips…I am off to check out RoboForm!
October 14, 2009 at 2:51 pm
Debbie seyer
Great tips! Thanks for the RoboForm link! Love it!
October 14, 2009 at 4:22 pm
Karen S
Wow, it’s good to know all of what goes into submitting. Problem is, I don’t keep most of the packaging for my materials. So, I don’t know half of what is going on my card/page. Could be a problem if I ever wanted to submit!
October 14, 2009 at 5:42 pm
Lisa Petrella
Thank you so much for the GREAT tips, Jessica!!! I especially liked the idea of the separate planner!!
October 14, 2009 at 7:09 pm
Kathy F
Wow, thanks for the tips! 🙂 BTW, I think your card will get picked up! 🙂
October 15, 2009 at 6:58 am
Nicole
Thanks for the tips they are great.
October 15, 2009 at 8:38 am
Linda L
Thanks so much for the tips – great, practical information! Got any of the same for taking photos of the work to be submitted? It’s harder than creating the cards so I must be doing something wrong!
October 15, 2009 at 9:39 am
kimandkeithkesti
Great tips, Jessica! You rocked this post. I’m all over that Robo form – thanks!
October 16, 2009 at 10:01 am
Jessica Witty
Thanks for all the sweet comments!
Linda L – I do best with my pics when I place the card in a great spot of natural light. I tend to keep the background simple – most of my pics look similar because I keep the same chair and stack of books right by the door where I take my pics. I like to do them at a slight angle to show off any dimension. Also, if you happen to have any photo editing software, Lisa Spangler’s tutorials on editing project pics are the best thing that ever happened to my pics – I use the levels and white balance editing on nearly every pic. Her blog is: http://sideoatsandscribbles.wumple.com/. Just click on “Photo Tutorials” at the top.
October 16, 2009 at 4:47 pm
Kelly Marie
Thanks for the tips!!
February 19, 2010 at 3:15 pm
Gina K.
Great post Jessica!