Paper Crafts & Scrapbooking Magazine Special Thanks Blog Hop

 

You should have arrived here from the blog of the talented Julia Stainton. If you got lost in the way, you can head to the beginning of the hop at Jennifer's blog.

Hello crafty friends! Oh, how I wish I weren't writing this post. This farewell post. I've gone through many different stages in my mourning: from disbelief, to denial, to a deep sadness, to rage, just to name a few. Paper Crafts Mag changed my life in many ways, and once their doors close for good, my life will change again, but most important, the lifes of an amazing group of women we all love and appreciate are taking a sharp turn too. And today we are here to let them know they're not alone in this new journey, to celebrate lots of wonderful memories and to thank them for everything.

I think we all agree that the best way to do that is using our common language: cards. So here's my Thank You card. It's a "free" rendition the first card I had published in Paper Crafts. Magazine.

 

 

Ah, the memories. I came in contact with PPC through the Moxie Fab World, at that time hosted by the wonderful Cath Edvaldson. I won a challenge, and my prize was a one year subscription to the mag. The first issue I received was September-October 2010. It blew my socks off. I studied, read, re-read and then read again all about the cards, the supplies, the techniques, the trends, and decided that I wanted to be a part of that. I wanted it so badly! Then the November-December issue came in the mail and at that moment I basically longed to live INSIDE of the mag in a life long Christmas crafting palooza.

So I started submitting. My first acceptance email, that of course I still keep, came from Susan Opel on February 11 2011. Three cards accepted for Stamp It! Cards Volume 8. I fainted. Laughed. Cried. Fainted again. Phoned my husband, my crafty friend Ana in Spain, my parents. Fainted. And fainted once more when my cards got lost in the mail and I had to replicate and Fedex them. Whoa. I was terrified and thought that I would be put on the unreliable list and never published again. But that didn't happen. Actually, I got two more cards picked for the next special issue. And my cards were lost in the mail. Again. So from then on and until this day I've always Fedex'ed them. But the important thing about this story is that this amazing people kept trusting me. Then came the private submission calls, only by invite. Come on!!! This was better than being invited to the Vanity fair Oscar after party!

 

 

Jennifer, Susan, Stacy, Kerri, Holly... you have a way to make people feel special. You've made SO many people happy and proud of themselves, and confident. You're (here it goes!) like the natural Prozac of the crafting world :) You've made an outstanding job that goes way beyond publishing a magazine. You've built a community.

And although Susan is the one I've had the most contact with, I am thankful for all of you, and hold each member of the team close to my heart. Meeting you last January was a dream come true. My legs were shaking! I cried infront of Stacy speaking about dogs. I got to hug Susan. And brought her wine because I adore her (and wine. Susan, you owe me a cocktail filled girl's night out). I giggled while speaking with Jennifer because I was SO nervous! I probably freaked out Kerri and Holly when I met them on the CHA floor and greeted them with the mandatory Spanish two kisses.

What a journey these last four years have been, ladies. Four years of excitement, of growing as a crafter, of learning both design and life lessons, of waiting for that happy emails with the same anxiety as the first time.

I already said this, and I'm repeating it now: know that you've made a difference. I won't say that you will be missed, because as friends, I hope we'll still be in contact!!! Please, please, don't be strangers! I wish you all the best, my friends, because you deserve none than that, and I can't wait to see you shine your light wherever life takes you next. I'll be cheering on you, as you cheered on me during all these years.

Your next stop is my dear friend Amy Tsuruta! See? Amy is one of the many friends I've made all around the globe thanks to this hobby. I hope that won't change and we'll all make an effort to keep this beautiful community alive. I'd also like to say a heartfelt thank you to my wonderful friend Taheerah, who has worked A LOT to put this hop together.

Thanks for hopping!

Comments

[Elena]

I loved reading your post - I already knew I would! I know how much PC&S meant to you! I'm so glad for all of the times I got to see your cards in those pages.

[Michelle W]

A beautiful tribute and a beautiful card!

[~amy~]

Love your post and your gorgeous card!
♡♡♡

[maria f.]

Hey "cheek dimple twin". Ditto what Michelle said - lovely card and post. Must have a looksee to see if I can find your first pub in the mag ;)

[Annette Witherspoon]

Love the bright colors! I especially like how you kept the inside of the letters in the sentiment white. It really makes it pop!

[KIM A]

I love your awesome tribute and beautiful card!!

[Jill Norwood]

A beautiful post and card!!! Blessings my dear!

[Shelly]

So love your post! And your card is amazing!

[Lea Lawson]

This is such a sweet post, Lorena! I remember meeting you a couple of summers ago!! Your card is so bright & cheery...I love it!

[Michele Gross]

Wonderful post Lorena :)

[michelegeorgern]

Such a sweet post. Love your card too!

[AprilAllen]

very nice!

[cairsa]

I love the bright colors and BOLD sentiment of your card!

[Miriam Prantner]

What a wonderful tribute and post! Loving your Thank You card too! So thankful for all the connections and friendships that PC&S has fostered!

[Virginia L.]

Love your sweet post, Lorena! I can totally identify what you wrote...accepting happy e-mails and worrying that my mails/quality of my submissions were not reliable (LOL)!! Your card is super sweet and colorful! Big big hugs to you, my friend!

[Mary Gray Whitcomb]

Wonderful card and tribute to Paper Crafts.

[Mendi Yoshikawa]

A Beautiful card and post. I think I have gone through those exact same steps of grieving. ;)

[Danielle P]

I love your card and the colors you used. Long Live PC&S!

[Nancy Ward]

Gorgeous card and lovely post!

[Susan]

Beautiful post Lorena. Paper Crafts really has played such a big role in bringing us all together.

[lydia]

Cute card.

[Keren]

Gorgeous card, gorgeous post. I can relate to so much of what you wrote. The excitement and worry and giddy feelings. I never have met any of them- it's always been a little too far. Maybe someday! x

[Jodie]

I love the clean and simple card. Love the pattern stamp. I also couldn't help scrolling down to your recent posts and I love them all. You are very creative thank you for sharing. I love new ideas.

[Kara]

love it! so much beautiful color!

[Isha]

Lovely post and a beautiful card Lorena:)