I've Won Royalty!

I can finally share my exciting news  

(and if you know me, secret keeping is not my strong suit!)

I'm Royalty!!!

I CAN'T EVEN BELIEVE IT!!!!

Now, if you've followed my blog for any amount of time, you know my penchant for telling long, rambling stories - with a hefty side of sarcasm.

So today, I will take this opportunity to do what I do best - tell a long, rambling story - with a hefty side of sarcasm

This one-time-only column is entitled:

Anatomy of a Royalty Win: 

The Story of a Stamping Contest Entry:

My Lesson on Why It's Important to Read the Directions

by: Amber D.

February 2011

At some point in February, I discovered the Paper Crafts Magazine Stamping Royalty Contest during my daily internetting. I briefly considered entering, but after seeing last year's winners (**cough* Maile Belles *cough*) - I figured there was no chance. 

March 1, 2011

With some encouragement from Andrew, I decided that I would enter. Nothing ventured, nothing gained right? 

March 1 - March 21, 2011

I toted my trusty sketchbook with me everywhere.. and I mean EVERYWHERE!. I sketched and jotted down ideas. I found inspiration around every corner. I knew I was obsessed when I decided to design a card based on Twitter...yes Twitter. In retrospect, a Twitter card may not have been the best idea...jury's still out on that.

(the following two days are critical to entering the Royalty Contest -  sleep is not an option) 

Tuesday, March 22, 2011 at 5:00pm

I returned home from work to begin my Royalty creations (a little last minute? um..yes!) My good friend Myra was in town, so she hung out with me while I created - and offered helpful feedback when needed!

I crafted well into the night. Making two or even three itterations of the same card - just to be sure things looked good.

I went to sleep at about 3am that night.  My stamping hand is useless after that and my judgement for design is pitiful - everything looks good at 3am (e.g. Twitter card). 

Wednesday, March 23, 2011 at 5:00pm

Back from work and back at it. If last night was an All-Nighter, I'm not sure what you'd call this - A "Hello Sunriser" perhaps?

I worked on more cards...I was slowly tackling my list of card ideas (P.S. I am the slowest crafter ever!)

Around 2:00am, I was done with my cards - all 10 of them. Done.

I WISH!

Still had to type out instructions/materials, print them out, adhere them to the cards, package the cards and address the box for shipping. This took about 2 hours (typing instructions is time consuming!). By this time Myra had was well on her way to Sleepytown, USA so I tried to keep my noise to a minimum. 

Thursday, March 24, 2011 at 9:00am: 

After way too little sleep, I walked across the street to the post office to send off my package to Paper Crafts Magazine. I paid a little extra for delivery confirmation - and I NEVER pay for delivery confirmation. You'd think I was mailing diamonds or something! 

Friday, March 25, 2011

It occurred to me - "I wonder if the entries into the Stamping Royalty Contest have to be STAMPED?" 

(considering my package was half way to Utah, this was a pretty in opportune time to have this epiphany)

Well, turned out that YES, they do need to be stamped - hence the whole STAMPING Royalty title!

Reading Directions is another one of those things I'm not so good at (right up there with efficiency and secret-keeping).

This sobering piece of news meant that about 7 of my 10 cards were ineligible to win. All hopes of winning were out the window. *FROWNY FACE*

Good thing they'd be donated to a great organization: Operation Write Home *SMILEY FACE*

Wednesday, April 6, 2011 at 6:20pm
On the phone with Andrew...

Me: Emails for Royalty are going out today. (This poor man knows waaaay more about crafting than he'd like so he knew exactly what I was talking about)
Andrew: So, you should be getting one soon!
Me: Nope. Don't think so. Most of mine were ineligible.


6 minutes later!!

Received the MOST EXCITING EMAIL from P. Kelly Smith at Paper Crafts Magazine. 

Screamed.

Screamed some more.

Stopped screaming because the neighbors might think I'm being murdered. 

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Read email again.

Friday, April 8, 2011

Read email again. 

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Read email again.

You get the idea.

So that bring us to today when I get to share this exciting news - and believe me - 

I AM SOOOO EXCITED!

Thanks for reading through all of my ramblings...my next post will be shorter...I promise;-)

Congratulations to all the Royalty winners who've been announced as well as those winners who will be announced in the coming days!

Come back on Friday for the Stamping Royalty Reject Blog Hop!!!
(hopefully there are a few peeps who took photos of their entries before sending them off!)