For about a year now I have been trying to get into freelance magazine work - Designing cards and gifts in a how to / step by step article for various craft magazines in the uk.
It’s a hard niche to get into, the magazines normally say they have enough designers at the moment and put you on the waiting list or they tell you to send in some samples and then tell you they are not accepting any more work at the moment and to try later in the year!!
I have had some work published in the readers gallery of a craft magazine before and also came in the top 100 runners up of a Christmas card competition (Where i won some fab goodies!!) so on the chance of sounding stuck up lol, I do know my work is good enough….. Well obviously otherwise I wouldnt be selling online would I?!!!
So anyway, recently I spent hours contacting I think every craft magazine in the U.K requesting the designer info, and submission guidelines. A lot are still to get back to me but one mag emailed me with the submission deadlines and what each issue is focusing on which is really good and a step in the right direction 
So now I just have to make up some new cards, NOT fall in love with them and make them into “Emele Cards” for the website and to actually send them off crossing my fingers I get published.
I figured I can do it as a sideline to Emelegifts, in the slow periods such as July, August and September when there are no card giving days except for birthdays and weddings etc.
Of course, I can still be designing new cards and items for Emele during those times but it’s nice to keep the cash coming in! It also enables me to try out new products coming onto the market and trying out new methods and new design ideas and of course my love of making one of a kind cards.
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Thanks for visiting and don't be shy, leave me a comment or two any time! -- Emily
