Hi everyone! Happy Wednesday!
I’m here today for a *very* special event. You should have made your way over here from the one and only Jennifer McGuire’s blog.
A few weeks ago, our crafting world was devastated at the breaking news that Paper Crafts & Scrapbooking would be closing its doors. The event I’d dreaded for quite some time was finally coming to pass, and I felt so empty and broken.
I couldn’t let that feeling overwhelm and consume me though. I knew I had a mission to carry out.
Last year I was involved in organising a massive Blog Hop for Cath Edvalson (who you’ll be seeing more of later!) when she stepped down from the Moxie Fab World blog and Paper Crafts Magazine life. As soon as the news broke that the magazine itself would now be ceasing, I knew that I wanted to do the same again, but for Paper Crafts & Scrapbooking Magazine.
I started a group and very quickly found that I was not alone in wanting to express my love and gratitude to this magazine and all who were behind it. Our group swelled with participants, flocking from all corners of our community, coming together for this one purpose. I spent time contacting friends, friends of friends, people and companies throughout our crafting world, and was overwhelmed with the response. The fact that many more wanted to participate but couldn’t, is testament itself when you see how many people have managed to come together today.
So, before I go on, some words, a story, from me, and some words to those wonderful friends of mine at this most beloved of magazines.
I started out in papercrafting as a hobby, several years ago. I quickly grew tired of all the ‘kits’ and Victorian-era style cards in the UK, and looked overseas to America for inspiration. I found a few companies I liked, and purchased supplies. More and more through my investigation I came across fantastic designers, talented individuals and countless sources of inspiration. The one vein running through it all was Paper Crafts Magazine.
I learned that this magazine, was not like the others. For a start, unlike its UK counterparts, it featured real cards from *real* designers in our industry. True talent and amazing inspiration. I decided to set myself the goal of one day being published in the magazine.
I was a nobody in the papercrafting world. Until Paper Crafts Magazine.
I strived and I strived to get published. My work wasn’t good enough, and I was frequently disappointed. I doubled my efforts but was still left wanting, still lacking. My work was getting better, because the magazine challenged me to be better.
I was despondent, but in the midst of my disappointment, a message. From one Susan Opel. She told me I was getting closer, and that my work was good, and not to give up. I listened. Summer came, and I visited CHA in Chicago. I met Susan and we embraced and she reiterated to me not to give up. She introduced me to Cath, saying ‘This is Taheerah. She is very talented and she will be in the magazine soon.
Not too much after that, the first Happy Mail came. Susan kept me waiting until the party was nearly over, before sending it. The tease. I can still remember how my heart almost leapt out of my chest, and how I screamed the house down and scared my cats.
This was my first card published in Paper Crafts Magazine, in 2011:
I experienced that feeling several times after. I’m incredibly lucky to have. I can’t believe I’ll never experience that feeling again.
Anyway. 2012 came, and, thanks to Paper Crafts Magazine this happened:
And then my life really did change.
Not only did Gallery Idol give me an amazing ride that I’ll never forget, and some awesome prizes to boot, but also a kickstart into seriously starting to get my career going somewhere in this industry. It helped push my creativity to the max, an ethos I’ve carried with me to this day.
It also gave me something else that is truly priceless: 19 truly wonderful friends, whom I still speak with daily and have become close to and would not be without. And over the years that followed, hundreds more friends, all becoming known to me through this hobby, from connecting through my blog, from Googling names I’d seen published in the magazine with me. Design Teams, competition wins, any and all of it – none of it would have happened had it not been for this magazine.
I even managed to secure the hallowed invitation to a private call, a publishing call where only certain designers are invited to submit. It happened twice, and both times I was published; the first instance I had 5 cards picked up (the second time I’d managed it):
Fast forwarding to now. I’m still a (relative) nobody in this business. But I am also a (relative) somebody. There are far bigger fish than me. But, I’ve come a long, long way. There are still ambitions I want to achieve, some of which were to do with the magazine. None of which will become a reality now. I’ll never be a cover girl. I’ll never be crowned Stamping Royalty. I’ll never write for the magazine (Susan, I never told you, but several times I nearly wrote to you asking if I could, someday).
When I heard that PC&S would be no more, I felt like my gut was being ripped out. Along with my heart. I cried. I felt empty. I felt sick to my stomach. I felt lost. But that wonderful community that I am part of, that the magazine helped build, were all there for me.
And now here we are, all of us, here for YOU, Paper Crafts and Scrapbooking Magazine team.
We’re all here today to honour you, to thank you, to see you out with a bang. To tell you that you will always be loved and appreciated and that you will never be forgotten. That we know just how much we owe to you, and that we will never forget all you did for us.
Here’s a card I put together, just for you:
Gold, watercolour, thanks. Hopefully trendy enough!
I hope you all like it. I tried to put to use everything you’ve taught me, and everything that will stay with me. You are all my friends, and I love you so, so much. I owe you everything.
We also put together this little video, featuring lots of your extended family!
I hope you’ve got some time to set aside, because a LOT of friends are here and waiting to share what you mean to us:
Your next stop is Veronica Zalis.
But before you go, I just want to pass on my thanks to everyone who has participated in this Hop, to those who helped me with graphics and video and inviting others to join. To those of you and more, I owe my thanks, and give you my love.
Beautiful card and tribute made with lots of love!
Thanks for sharing your story. Beautiful card that expresses your feelings. I think it's trendy.
A beautiful post right from the heart.
Beautiful post and card, T.! Thanks again for organizing the hop! Your hard work is truly appreciated!
What a beautiful post! You definitely have a way with words! I loved reading of your journey with PaperCrafts.
Happy for your success and sad to say good-bye to the magazine.
What a wonderful story! Thanks for being a great organizer for this much-deserved event. I'm blessed to have taken part in both of these oh-so-special blog hops. I'd love to believe that one day we will be celebrating a re-opening, although that is likely a simple fantasy. Now enjoy the coming "calm" as your volunteered task for this sweet effort begins to settle away. High Fives!
A beautiful post Taheerah! You put into words, so many of my feelings. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of this very, very special blog hop to pay tribute to these amazing ladies AND thank you for all of your hard work to put this together!!! Hugs!
Wonderful post and card Taheerah. Thanks a ton for putting this all together. <3 U!!
Thank you for putting this hop together so we can all say thank you and goodbye. When I heard the news I had many of the same thoughts and emotions you did. I'm a few years behind you in my card making journey and just now feel confident enough to submit my cards. Now I'll never be able to. I'm grateful for all the inspiration & opportunities the magazine has given me and the paper crafting community.
Great job, Taheerah, and gorgeous cards, as always 😉
What an amazing tribute to a fabulous magazine and the people behind it! I'm going to try to visit everyone's blog listed.
Thank you!
You did a great job! And I've quietly watched your style evolve over the past couple of years, and I'm sure you'll continue to achieve many of your goals!
Beautiful post and gorgeous card. Thank you for all of your effort and love in putting the hop together, you are so appreciated!
<3
B-
Wonder ful post, wonderful story. I love how it shows that we are all different, yet we are all the same. Thanks for sharing and caring.
Lovely cards.
Your card is lovely, and your post truly heartfelt. I never knew all those things about you, although I've been a 'casual and occasional stalker' of yours for years. Thank you so much for everything you did to organize this hop. I feel truly blessed and honored to be able to participate. Take care.
Wow…amazing post…wonderful project!!
My sweet sweet friend, your post is divine! Worded so beautifully and I felt your struggles and joys. Look forward to the future because there is one for you. Thank you so much for organizing he hop. xoxo
You are so passionate! Thank you for organizing the hop:)
Big hugs.
Aww Taheerah, love your heartfelt post and lovely cards, awesome job! TFS
Thank you for your thoughtfulness and sharing your creativity! I definitely feel loved today 🙂
StacyC
What a beautiful post and a gorgeous watercolored card to match!
Beautiful post, beautiful card!
Taheerah! Your card is truly amazing as you are!!
Lovely post Taheera,your card is just so pretty! Thank you for all the inspiration 🙂
Fantastic post and blog hop! I'm sorry I couldn't join it due to shoulder problem, but my heart is with you all!
What a lovely post and story! You are truly an inspiration for so many that give up. Not just for paper crafting- this can be applied to ANYTHING! I would also like to thank you so much for all of your hard work for this hop. Your time and effort are greatly appreciated. GREAT JOB 🙂 I am honored to be participating in this hop with you 🙂 I am also a new follower. I would be honored if you would check out my blog and do the same at www dot ACreativeJourneywithMelissa dot com/blog/.
It's so wonderful to read this touching words about this publication. Thanks to the "hop" I've learned about your blog and designs. I look forward to following your work.
What a nice post for Paper Crafts and Scrapbooking. I have subscribed to the magazine until they switched to the digital format. I'm old fashioned, I still like to hold things in my hand. I will miss them. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us.
such a touching entry!!! thank you for sharing and for gathering so many together. I plan on checking out everyone's page…and this is truly inspiring for me as well considering I'm a very new nobody to this beautiful, supportive industry. <3
What a beautiful and heartfelt post. You are a star Taheerah for managing to organise this huge blog hop – well done and thank you!
Thank you again for organizing! Sweet words from a sweet gal.
What a heartfelt and sweet post, Taheerah! Thanks so much for making this amazing blog hop happen and sharing your story. Reading all the posts from the hop makes me cry and feel blessed to be in this awesome community at the same time. Your card is gorgeous as always!!! May
Loved hearing your story! It is amazing how this magazine has touched us all. Thank you for organizing this!
Bravo! Great job setting all of this up and pulling it off! A wonderful unforgettable blog hop! I'm so honored and blessed to be a participant. You have said everything we've all felt and wanted to say. I always looked forward to going to Barnes & Noble and getting the newest issue and the special issues too. So sad. THank you for doing this!
So sweet… 🙂
Such a great story told so well…sniffles. Geez. It's just sad now isn't it? Ack. I enjoyed this post and am so glad you shared from the heart. I'm right there with you. HUGE thank you for organizing this hop. I keep saying it, but my head spins to think of it all! 🙂 Best to you and forge ahead, with paper and glue in hand!! 🙂
Wow, what a fabulous tribute, this is so awesome you set up this blog hop. Love your cute card.
Wonderful Post Taheerah!!! Thank you sooooo much for all your hard work!
I really hate this. So sad. So empty. This post of yours says it all. I'm truly going to miss this publication & the folks involved in it.
Thank you so much for organizing this blog hop as a tribute to a great magazine.
What a moving tribute. I've got tears in my eyes too reading your post. Isn't it sad when good things come to an end. Your memories, friendships and experiences will last.
Thanks so much for setting this all up! So much work! Your cards are beautiful…past and present!
I'm in shock. I didn't know this was happening. Your card is beautiful. Thanks for organizing the blog hop.
Lovely card and what a sweet post. Thank you.
Taheerah, thank you for putting this all together. You are amazing. Your card is fabulous! #gi2012forever 🙂
What a beautiful story, thank you for sharing with us. Just the amount of people participating in this blog hop speaks for itself of how wonderful this team is and is sad to see them go. But I am glad that they brought people like yourself and so many others into this industry and helped shape and mold the creators you are today.
Thank you for sharing your story and setting this all up. Huge hugs 🙂
thanks for the blog hop and your post
What a wonderful tribute to a wonderful magazine and group of amazing people. We will all miss Paper Crafts and the other specialty magazines. Thank goodness for blogs by truly talented ladies like you. Thank you for organizing such a splendid blog tribute.