P. Kelly Smith
Hello, friends! I can’t believe this is the last time I get to write those two words on this blog. After seven years at Paper Crafts, today is my last day. Sigh. I’m moving onto another opportunity that has challenged me to shake up my life a bit. Or maybe a lot.
If I thought this post was hard to write, this one is even more so. I’m not a fan of change, but whether we like it or not, change always finds us and dares us to step out of our comfort zone. It makes us try something new. Something bold. Something unexpected. And it never waits. It simply says “now” and you obey. And then you wake up the next day and move forward not knowing the path, but trusting you’ll figure things out along the way. And you usually do. And it surprises you. And life moves on.
How do I even begin to sum up the last seven years? There are so many experiences and so many people who have touched my life and enriched it for the better. I’ve been so fortunate to work with a fantastic group of ladies (and The Lone Design Man) who have made my time here an absolute pleasure. To the Go-to Gals (past and present) and all the lovely designers out there, you inspire me each and every day. Keep pushing those boundaries, be true to yourself, and good things will come your way.
To borrow a phrase from Susan R. Opel, I puffy heart this team picture from 2011!
Since I tend to be a bit of a pack rat, how about I take you down memory lane and share seven of my favorite pieces of memorabilia? Luckily, most of them are attached to a cork board that hangs on a wall in my cubicle. It’s a great visual reminder of all the good times I’ve had over the last seven years.
An overall view of my happy little board.
When I first started at Paper Crafts, I was given this name tag to place in my cube. I complained to fellow editor Megan Hoeppner that I didn’t like the word “new”, so she took a Sharpie, blackened it out, and added the word “it”, so I instantly became The “It” Girl. I think she might have added the “P.” in front of my name too!
During one of my first meetings here, the team began talking in a strange language. I must have looked really confused because our former managing editor Jennafer Martin quickly wrote out this translation guide. Who knew “moxie fab” would go on to be such an important word?!
Jennafer was also very intuitive (and still is!), so after she quickly realized my procrastinator tendencies, she left this little quote on my desk. “Just wait” has become my mantra!
Can you guess who this moxie fab invitation was for? Cath, of course! Her daughter Becca dreamed this one up and sent it out to the team. This was right around the time we did a Moxie Fabs column on the Anne Taintor style, so it was right on trend, as Cath usually is!
By now everyone knows I had a massive crush on Matthew McConaughey. One year for my birthday, our former art director Stace Hasegawa had some fun with Photoshop! Needless to say, it was a big hit!
One of the best perks of this job is meeting lifelong friends. Megan, who I’ve affectionately dubbed “My Pisces Sister”, has been with me since the very beginning. From our love of snow cones, Team Edward, and all things bitty (refer to the translation guide!), she gets me and I get her. Enough said.
This is one of my all-time favorite pictures of the PC gang (well, most of them). Taken at CHA in 2009, we were celebrating the 5th anniversary of Paper Crafts magazine. And what’s even crazier, our January/February 2014 issue (which we’re working on now) will mark our 10th anniversary!
Since I created this blog in early 2009, it will always hold a special place in my heart. Just like all of my co-workers and all of you, dear readers. And even though I’m no longer a Paper Crafts editor, I’m happy to rejoin the ranks as a paper-crafting “civilian”. Like you, I hope to be inspired by something I see on this blog or in the pages of Paper Crafts magazine. And like you, I can’t wait to rush home and create something just because I can or just because I feel the urge.
Until then, thank you for supporting this hobby, this magazine, and my little contribution to it. I will miss it greatly, but a dear friend told me, “You will never ever ever lose me. Like ever!” With a proclamation like that, how can I be sad? She also sent me this card, and because I love the sentiment so much, it now has a permanent spot on my board:
Here’s to taking chances!
P.S. Feel free to visit me at PK’s Parlor, where I hope to post more of my late night creations and musings. (I’m taking home my seven-year archive of Paper Crafts magazines, so I’ll have plenty of inspiration!)
P.P.S. Holly wants to make sure you know that the announcement of the August Gallery Challenge winners has been moved to Monday, so check back with us then to see who the three winners are!
