Paper Crafts & Scrapbooking Magazine Special Thanks Blog Hop!

By Taheerah | 3rd December 2014 | 109 Comments

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.

109 thoughts on “Paper Crafts & Scrapbooking Magazine Special Thanks Blog Hop!”

  2. You made me cry! Such a lovely tribute. And what an amazing collection of hoppers who want to share the love! I can only imagine how the folks at PC&S must feel seeing that. Truly special!

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  10. Thank you for doing this! Congrats on your successes, my "sorries" for those you can no longer achieve. I was so crushed when I read that they were closing up shop- I'm so sorry to see such a talented crew go their separate ways.

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  12. Awesome post, Taheerah, and you know I would expect no less from you! You always put 110% of your heart into everything you do, and this hop, your sentiments and your card are prime examples of that. Thanks for all of your efforts!!

    Hugs, Kelly

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  14. Teheerah, you totally pour your heart out in this hop and post…love what you wrote, love what you made (card is so sweet)! The blog land is a better place thanks to people like you! I am joining you on this journey and from now on, we'll have to cope..without PC &S. HUGS!

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  18. Everything you have written resonates with me. I agree with it all. I wish I had known about this hop as I would have loved to join in and show my appreciation, but wow, what an amazing achievement to gather together so many people in this way. You are awesome. I am sure the lovely folk at PC&S will really appreciate all your hard work and your beautifully written words. Hugs. x

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  29. Thank you for putting this hop on Taheerah! I hope our hobby isn't coming to and end with all these companies in the industry closing their doors. I hope we can stay a strong online group of crafters to keep the hobby alive. I am glad to be apart of it!

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  30. Such a heartfelt tribute, Taheerah! Thanks for organizing this hop. I, too, cried when I read your story and tribute. I owned a rubber stamp store for thirteen years before finally closing my doors six years ago. It was people sharing their stories and heartfelt feelings that got me through that very difficult time. I still read their cards and notes, and find them uplifting. And one more thing…don't sell yourself short…your work is amazing! Never say never..,shoot for the moon. God gave you this gift, and he didn't put limits on it, so neither should you. Thank you for sharing your talent with us!

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  33. WOW, Taheerah! Such a touching post…you have brought tears to my eyes. You are simply, amazing! Thank you again for putting everything together! And your card is gorgeous!
    Hugs!

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  38. This is such a moving tribute!!! I so appreciate you sharing your personal story. thank you for taking the time to organize this blog for those of us to show our appreciation!! Your card is beautiful!!

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  40. Oh well, I just don't know where to start! You expressed beautifully the feeling of this whole community, and I can't thank you enough for all your hard work to put this blog hop together. You're the best T. Love you, and love the beautiful card you created. It's perfect 🙂

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  45. Very beautifull, Taheera. You've come a long way since 2011 and I'm sure you'll go even further. Your work, including today's card, is incredible. Thank you for organizing this amazing hop. I think it will be cathartic for all of us. You're amazing.

    Reply

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