by Erika Taylor
We all dream of finding that 15 minutes of fame. You know what I mean ….People recognize you without being prompted, you’re on the red carpet with lights and cameras …. Uh!! Earth to Erika!
Alright, so I’m not going to wear a designer original & win an Oscar alongside Ryan Gosling, but a girl can dream right? So I started thinking:
How could I achieve my own version of fame? Where could I find my 15 minutes (without investing in acting classes and a tummy tuck 
Maybe hand modeling? nah…Sports? Not unless blogging is the new Olympic sport -ha!…Crafting? Why yes, thank you! I love crafting and I’m pretty good at it!
So I went for it! I submitted for DT calls galore and I expanded my horizons via paper crafting challenges. Try out after try out, cattle call after cattle call. And finally, lots of rejections later ….. I found my own little piece of FAME!
Okay, so I’m not going to be recognized at Wal-mart or have my photo show-up in Star Magazine. But, I did find my own little corner of the world in which to shine ….. AND I have the opportunity to inspire others. I call that RED CARPET HUGE!
Is it all about the fame though?
NOT EVEN CLOSE!!! Something else that is pretty amazing about being on a design team, is the family you inherit. For instance, I’m a member of the new design team for WOW embossing powders and already in such a short time frame, these girls have seen me without makeup or my hair done. Only family would get that nightmare luxury. When you are on a great team, you build great friendships. Who doesn’t need great friends?
And of course, you must consider ….. the …. GREAT PRODUCTS!!! Being on a design team allows me the opportunity to work with some of the most amazing products out there. Things that make my mojo fly. And all I’ve gotta do to get these wonderful products is create with them? Heck I was gonna do that anyways. So yes, although I have to invest a little time into creating for these amazing companies, challenge sites or online stores, I get discounted or free product. In a way, I guess I do get the designer gown or similar. HA!!!
So lets review in order of importance shall we?
Why does Erika Taylor love being a Design Team Member?
- For the friendships and family I make. Without this, this journey would be very lonely.
- For the opportunity to work with some of the most amazing products on the market.
- For the sheer inflation of my own little ego
- …And the bigger impact I can possibly have on other artists.
Why do you love being on a design team? Or why would you love to? Leave your comments and I’ll send someone a little “Thanks for inflating my ego for reading this” gift.
Until Next Time
Toodles
Erika currently designs for Helmar, Basically Bare, The Robin’s Nest, Creative Charms and WOW embossing powders. She recently completed a service with the Tattered Angels design team as well.
Now, I would recognize Erika at a Wal-Mart with or without makeup!
Such a wonderful article and I agree, the friendships we make through design teams is something I will carry with me for a very, very, long time!
Great post!!!! We love ya!!!
Awww thank you SOOOOOO much Suzy
The friendship are precious aren’t they Jamie. Thank you so much for leaving a comment today
I love it for the pure validation. Like a lot of crafters I know, I’m a stay-at-home mum, and while it’s wonderful, you quickly lose your sense of identity. But with this… pure validation!
Great article!
Being validated for a part of “who” and “what” we are is huge indeed. Thanks for the comment Danielle
Because I met you….I agree…you develop an art tribe that exists after the DT is over!
Silver tongue Martha hehe. It is a tribe that doesn’t vote ya off the island for sure!!!
Whether it was as a child when I was selling tickets to our church’s Strawberry Festival, or going door to door selling Girl Scout cookies, my dad made sure I was a real salesman. Going to a door and saying “wanna buy some” was never an option. Couple that with years of teaching at church and majoring in Art Ed, or the 20+ years I’ve home educating my kids, I love to teach.
I have just begun a one year term as a Design Team Member with Mosaic Moments. This is a product I have used for years and love. That makes me want to get others to share that love, and by showing them how to do something, or to try something different than they are used to doing, I think as a Design Team Member I can do that.
I believe every company with a Design Team hopes that the creativity that will come from it’s team will increase sales. When a product is good that shouldn’t be hard, but sometimes inspiration is what is needed to get people out to buy and then to actually use the product.
I have followed Tami Potter, creator of Mosaic Moments at Scrapbooking Shows, in her newsletter, her blog and on Facebook and have appreciated her approach to planning a page, and executing these beautiful Mosaic pages. So the opportunity to work with her and attempt her assignments is something that is bringing challenge, satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment.
You can check out what’s happening with the Mosaic Moments Design Team at http://www.journella.com/storyboard/index
I completely agree that one of the biggest parts of being a design team member is marketing. Love that you can share your knowledge, mistakes and all, with others. Thank you so much for sharing your story Andrea
Definitely the friendships. I have my own little cheering section! I love the bond, and I love getting new releases in the mail and being the first to play with them.
Isn’t it great Tiffany!!! When you post something, are a guest designer or you have entered a contest, your crafty friends will always applaud your efforts. Thanks for stopping by today
Great article Erika! very entertaining and so wonderfully shared.
I find that being on a design team motivates and inspires me to want to create and learn and sharpen my skills.
Thanks sweetie
Heck de doodle Dawn, Ain’t that the truth about motivation and inspiration. You always want to do better and better. Thanks for the comments. So So True!!!
amazingly put Erika!
Thank you Brianna *blushing*
I’m so glad that Jamie brought this to our attention. It’s a great little article, Erika, and so well put. I agree whole-heartedly with your list and I will add one more. Aside from working with some of the most awesome products on the market, I also get to design with some of the most incredible paper artists on the planet! I feel fortunate to count you among them.
Talk about being inspiring Anne. Working with amazing artists is one of the amazing experiences of design team work for sure.
Erika…your “story” gives me a little ray of hope! I am on 2 design teams, but it seems getting your “foot in the door” of the manufacturers is TOUGH!! I’ve had several “no’s” this past year, and keep seeing the same names over and over….I was getting pretty down. But like you said….lots of no’s before the yes came….so I’m gonna keep on keepin’ on!! Thanks again for the inspiration!
Laura, getting “rejected” is all a part of the game. I recently had a couple of them that “stung” a little too, but it makes me want to work harder. Always remember that everyone starts somewhere.
Well spoken Erika… Totally agree with you.. all the new friends becoming a part of the extended family.. sometimes these ladies knows more about what you go through than your own family bec these ladies all know what hard work is behind that sweet success of making a team or getting top ranks in a contest,,,
So true Katarina. There are so9me Design Team friends that know more about my personal life than those friends I see regularly. Comfort grows with similar interest I think.
So well said, Erika
I’ve met some amazing friends through designing and blogging. The no’s to a call can be disappointing but so many manufacturer’s have hundreds of people apply and only so many spots to fill. When I first became serious about designing, I tried out for so many calls..some of them I tried out for really didn’t match my taste or style..so now I ONLY apply to teams I would really like to design for…then the designing is fun and not work 
Isn’t it funny how when you start out Jan, you try out for everything? I’ve done that too and still try out for things that may be out of my comfort zone. The difference is now I do it to GROW, not to get in the door.
Smiling because I *always* go into Michael’s wondering if anyone will recognize me… LOL!! I agree that designing is a great source of validation, from readers’ comments, and from a manufacturers’ confidence in our work with their product. I’d love to see a follow-up post on the behind-the-scenes side of designing – the work and time involved, goals and principles, times of creative genius and times of total creative block, occasional drama…!
Dina, you’ve just given me my next article idea. Thank you SOOOOOOO much.
I would LOVE to be on a DT for the perks of working with new products and to help boost my presence in the crafting blog world! Love it!
Keep sending in those resumes and applications Cheryl. Put goals forth and achieve them.
Erika is so right on all counts, but it is the wonderful people you meet and new friends you make on design teams that makes it all worth while! When I started our new challenge blog (friendshipsgardenchallenge.blogspot.com) and chose our design team, I put a huge focus on us interacting and getting to know one another and it has worked so well! Thank you so much for such a cool post!
That is the thing about the design team family, you build, grow and experience things together. It always will be successful if you can work as a team right???
Thanks for the comment
Love it Erika, too funny!!
I’m pretty cheeky aren’t I Ilene hehe
I think the validation is important to me and then being on a team
means lots of motivation for me….Love the inspiration I find in your posts.
Thank you so much Karen. We all like to have that validation don’t we. Knowing that what we love is loved by others builds our self esteem. Gotta love that!!!!
You summed it up very well Erika. Love what you wrote here. I am sooo thankful for the friendships that I’ve formed by being on a design team. The experience has allowed me to “meet” some fabulous crafters all over the world.
sometimes these design teams are a saving grace for the sheer value of friendship aren’t they Angi. Thanks for the comment
I think just about everyone who wants to be or is in a design team can relate to your wonderfully put words.
Toodles,
Jolanda (eeeehh… that’s how I always sign off too)
It sure is a catchy sign off isn’t it Jolanda. heeehe
Thanks for the words and for stopping by
I like beeing motivated to create very nice pages.
I like to stay in touch with other girls.
I like to inspire and be inspired.
I like to work with beautiful products.
I like to think I`m part of the team even I never “saw” any of my nice DT members.
It`s FUN!
Bellaidea, So many great reasons to be a part of the crazy Design Team world. Thanks for stopping by
I love being on a design team because NOW I have defensible reason for staying “stuck-up” in my studio “All the TIME!” Quotes are courtesy of DH,who realized he couldn’t BEAT TIM HOLTZ, so he decided to JOIN my madness and does all my photography. He also realized that he could not donate paper to our grandkid’s schools at at faster rate than I could (A) shop online at Joann’s (B) Spend my lunch hour everyday in Michaels and (C) commission all my enablers to shop for me. I am on 3 teams and would be on 3 more, if somebody would have me. It is simply Fun and I have grown in my crafting. Loved your article. Funny as all get up!
Hahaaa Love the Husband quote. Similar to what mine would say I think. Growing is so important isn’t it. Thanks for the comment “Card D Ologist”
Toodles
Erika
I appreciate your articles, Erika (this and the other one I read here at DTCalls). I’m not on any big time DTs yet, but keep submitting. Meantime, I can say that because of the little bit of DT work I do, I stay motivated to keep scrapping, trying new things, sharing/teaching on my blog and submitting. The friendships I’ve made are an encouragement too. But I’d like to stop living vicariously through my friends’ achievements and start achieving some of my own goals!
Ann, thank you so much for your compliments about the articles. I’m so glad you like them. Isn’t it true that being on design teams keeps you motivated. The industry is constantly changing and working with people helps you grow and change too. I can’t wait till I get to see “your” name in lights.
Have a fantastic day
Toodles
Erika
I love being on teams for several reasons: It keeps my creativity flowing and my art progressing, I love the products I get to work with (and in fact I don’t accept any team that I can’t honestly LOVE.)When I love the companies I am representing I can give them a sincere, enthusiastic shout out and that’s good for both of us.
Like the other ladies mentioned I also appreciate the support and validation. Without it I don’t know if any of us would stick with it, especially if we live with non crafters.
DTs fund my craft habit. As economic times get tighter there is no way I could craft as I do (to the extent I do) if it wasn’t for sponsor products. At the moment all I have to purchase myself are my own pencils, adhesives and cardstock for card backs. Thats about it. I’m one happy camper!!
Loved reading this Erika, since we are ‘family’ in Helmar ….
I adore being on a design team for the wealth of information which is shared through the other DT members. I have walked a path of continual learning, and that will always remain. I enjoy the free product of course, but I’d have used it anyway as the teams I apply for are all products I just love, love, love. However, having said that – there are products I have been introduced too, that perhaps I would not have ‘tried’ if not for a DT term and now I couldn’t possibly do without…
It is also a blessing, working for companies/businesses that really appreciate what the design team individuals do – that praise is enough to keep a smile on my dial. I enjoy the praise of others too, as making people smile is so important…
thanks for sharing Erika!
huggles
Sandie