Friday, September 6, 2013

Sad Days (And More Catch Up)

Wow.  The scrapbooking world has sure changed a lot in the past few years.  I've seen many manufacturers quit, many stores close and many magazines cease to print...but somehow I thought Creating Keepsakes would somehow make it through this.  But alas...I was wrong.

In case you missed it, you can find the announcement here.  Paper Crafts too is ceasing to print publications.  But there is slightly good news if you like digital magazines, because the two (Creating Keepsakes and Paper Crafts) will combine into a smaller monthly DIGITAL ONLY magazine.  I'm not into digital magazines and I am very sadden by this news.  Creating Keepsakes has always had a special place in my heart.  It was the first magazine I was published in.  And I will miss it.  But this industry has just changed so much.  As a designer too...it just seems impossible to make money in this industry anymore.  Oh well.

I'm in this weird place where I seem to be moving backwards while the rest of the world moves forward.  I long for simpler times (less time in front of a screen and more time outdoors).  I honestly could just throw out my computer, get rid of my phone, and cancel the cable.  I haven't...mostly for my family, but man...I am starting to just hate technology.  And the rest of the world continues on in a more and more technical savvy way.  And the scrapbooking and paper crafting world is moving on as the world is.  And I just may stay behind.  :)  I'm not really part of the online communities anymore anyways.  All I have is my blog and a couple galleries (which I am even worse at updating then my blog!)  So I am disappointed with the direction this industry is taking...I guess is my point.  I've kind of rambled.  :)

What do you guys think?  Better for the environment = better for the industry?  Or are you saddened by this kind of stuff as I am?

Anyways....

I do have a few more things to catch the blog up with.

First up, in case you missed it, I had a layout and card on the Fancy Pants Designs blog...here are some sneaks:



You can find the post and the projects here.

And then I also posted the second chapter to Worshipping With All Your He{art} here.  I do hope you check it out and let me know what you think.  :)

Here are some projects I did and featured in this post...


To read more about the canvases above go to the article here.  

Ok...well I will be back soon.

Have a fabulous day!!!


17 comments:

Connie Mercer said...

Theses are all so creative!! Beautiful work as always!! Would love for you to link up some junkin or re-purposing pics. Love eye candy!!!

kellystar said...

I feel your mixed emotions too. I too would love to unplug more. I often feel like I am not sure what I want for myself in this industry--- after all, aren't I doing this just for me and my family/friends. I will miss the feel of a magazine in my hands. We sound like a bunch of old fuddy-duddies, don't we?

Scrapthat said...

Very nice work Pamela.
I don't know one scrapper (okay I might have heard one single scrapper) who liked the idea of the digital format. If you are a Paper scrapper or PAPER (Crafts) crafter you are a tactile we like to see the actual colors feel the slick pages even the smell of the paper in a new Magazine. Why is someone going to pay for a digi mag when the internet holds an insurmountable wealth of digital scrapbooking information, tutorials, projects, Galleries etc. etc. for FREE?
It is a sad day that we have to say farewell to an institution in scrapbooking and paper crafting.

Cindy deRosier said...

I'm sad too. I use technology for plenty of things, but reading (other than blogs) isn't one of them. I like real books, real magazines, and looking at things that aren't screens. I'm not tethered to a phone or tablet or anything else once I walk away from the computer. A very sad day.

Cathy said...

Super sad, seems everything is changing! Who is going to pay for these magazines when you get it for free with Pinterest and galleries..bummer! Love your projects though...gorgeous work!

Mary Jo said...

I have to agree with you to an extent.
Technology has brought some super cool things. Like I love that my kids can talk face to face with their dad on the computer when he is out of town (which is a lot!)
And I love that I have met some really cool people thru the internet that I never would have known.

But at the same time, I think there is a serious disconnect between people who are too involved with screens. I get tired of seeing people walking around with their noses in their phones. Or constantly checking in when they are with real life people.

I am moving towards screen free weekends here at the house!

Leslie Hanna said...

I'm with you on the need to unplug. I understand companies wanting to go digital, but they will lose the people who take magazines to bed, or out back to read in the morning with a cuppa. I'm not going digital, I just won't read that magazine any more.

I also don't have an i-anything or an e-reader. I know lots of people who do, and they are welcome to the digital versions of things.

I wish all these magazines good luck. I'm just sad I won't be part of the fun any more.

Debbie P said...

I know exactly what you are feeling. I knew with the magazine shrinking that this was going to be the inevitable future. I want to feel the paper in my hands, not on my screen. Things are a changin', that's for sure. It's a little depressing. Now I'm off to check out your links!

Lisa's Creative Niche said...

This sums up exactly how I feel. I don't like digital mags and this was such a blow even if I thought it was coming I hoped it wouldn't! Beautiful work!

Sandra said...

I must admit I like print publications, I love to hold them in my hands and read and re-read them, I hardly ever look more than a glance at e-magazines and books. Although having said that I have found two e-mags that are fabulous and I would really love them in hard copy.

Linda Beeson said...

I am with you on the "sad day"! I do not care one little bit for digital magazines, I want to hold it, look closely at details and take it with me to absorb during extra minutes. I don't understand these decisions that might only satisfy a few. LOVING your cute projects.

Indy's Designs said...

I am seriously disappointed in the way the world is moving towards all technology. I will seriously miss the hard copy of Paper Crafts. I, too, am tired of being tied to a computer or other device needing electricity to function. My husband lost his career in the printing industry, so I am super sensitive to this drive to make all materials digital. There are serious environmental issues with our society's increasing need for electricity. When black outs become more frequent, and all my devices' batteries are dead, I guess I can console myself with past issues of Paper Craft. So glad I saved them!

Paula said...

Yes, I've seen it, too... the scrapbooking world is changing, along with everything else....

As far as in scrapbooking, I think it's partly because of all the different "effects" you can create digitally that one can not duplicate the "old-fashioned" way!

I also think the economy's downward spiral had a large hand in it... people just had to make budget cuts in their individual households. Magazines and 'hands-on' scrapbooking supplies became a luxury that the masses could no longer afford.

But even some online digital scrapbook stores have gone out of business. With so much "FREE" digital stuff online... it was just the opportunity people needed in order to keep scrapbooking.... and for most, I guess that because they use digital cameras their photos end up in their computers anyway, so easier for them to evolve into that digital world. Not even actually making real-life albums anymore, when they can share digital layouts online, or load them on to flash drives to hand down to their children!

It's truly a shame :(

Anyway.... I also want to tell you before I finish this long-winded novel, lol, that I have loved your sketches... all of them! I love the way you designed the single pages and turned them into double pages and cards! You have not done any of them in awhile now, and I do miss them! I hope you start doing those again :)

Ruth G said...

I am so glad to hear that you feel the same way about a physical magazine as I do. There are huge negatives for me with an all-digital publication, the first and foremost is that I just can't see the details on a screen like I can in print so really there's no argument beyond that to even discuss. But, hey, while we're at it, I will point out that I can read a print magazine at the beach or the pool without worrying, if there's a thunderstorm that knocks out the power, I can still read my print publications or if the internet decides to be glitchy or I don't have a connection because of where I am, I can still read my print publication. I will not lie. I spend a ton of time on blogs and manufacturer websites, but holding a magazine in my hands is a different experience and one I treasure. It's more personal, but also easy to share with others...
I'm disappointed, especially since I've been a subscriber for YEARS and my opinion and needs don't seem to matter. I will be asking for a refund. I just am not interested in working so hard to do something I don't enjoy.

Ruth G said...

(I got a little carried away on my rant.) Your projects are really wonderful! I love all the great details you add. You have a fabulous design sense! Thanks so much for all you share and I agree with Paula that your sketches were awesome and a great lesson in how to adapt a design for different formats! I had also pinned your post about journaling and have had a number of people re-pin, so you know that people are appreciating what you're putting out there in the digital world! Thanks so much for all you do and share! You are a blessing!

Beatrice Lawson said...

I am totally with you. Very very sad about CK! Love a paper magazine and I have enough digital pages to read by keeping up with the blogs I love and follow. I do love technology - cannot imagine doing research without, or communication.... But the whole reason I got into scrapping was to do something creative with my hands!

Anonymous said...

I am not surprised about CK. I let my subscription go because I didn't feel like it was worth the money. With the wealth of information on the internet for free, I think people are being more frugal with their money. Pamela......this hobby is for YOUR enjoyment. Don't worry what direction it is taking. You keep scrapping your memories and don't get caught up all the hoopla!