Jennifer Schaerer
It’s no secret that making handmade cards is a popular hobby for our growing community of paper crafters. And our 10th volume of Card Creations is a shining, creative example of not only the people who create such amazing cards, but also a celebration of ten years in the paper crafting industry for Paper Crafts magazine.
This is only the 4th issue of Card Creations for me since I joined the Paper Crafts team (my first was Volume 7 in 2009), so I can’t exactly go off on a stroll down memory lane and tell you stories about the good ol’ days when the first issue was published. But I can sure fill you in on some fun and interesting things I learned when I looked through all the previous issues and spoke to some fellow editors who worked on the earlier ones.
The first 9 covers of Card Creations
I was absolutely fascinated when I studied the cards in that first volume. Not much variety in the patterned paper, techniques were very limited, and fancy embellishments were non-existent. Lots of brads, eyelets, and torn paper edges though!
These cards were published in Card Creations Volume 1 in 2003
I also loved seeing so many names of creative people who are still very active in the paper crafting community ten years later. The cards above from Volume 1 were created by:
My, how things have changed, right? Not much that’s shabby chic about Margie’s card, Jennifer didn’t stamp A THING on her card, and Donna’s is completely free of mixed media and technique!
Some other interesting facts about each volume of Card Creations:
Volume 1 - Linda Beeson and Jennifer McGuire are the only two people to be published in both this one as well as Volume 10 (and Linda has been published in every single volume!)
Volume 2 – The first time Paper Crafts Go-to Gal Teri Anderson appeared in Card Creations!
Volume 3 – Linda Beeson and Nichole Heady were on the cover, and we got our first glimpse of Layle Koncar’s talent as a designer for Scenic Route (anyone remember that company? I miss them – one of my favorites!)
Volume 4 – Linda Beeson was on the cover again, and in good company with Wendy Anderson (who had the other TWO cards). It was also the first issue in which we saw Paper Crafts Go-to Gal Kim Kesti.
Volume 5 -We got our first peek at the shabby chic style via Melissa Phillips, Betsy Veldman, and Anabelle O’Malley. We also met Kim Hughes and Jessica Witty, who both eventually became Paper Crafts Go-to Gals.
Volume 6 – Becky Olsen, Carolyn King, Heidi Sonbul, and Julia Stainton were first published in Card Creations along with current Paper Crafts Go-to Gal Julie Campbell. We also saw an adorable card from Megan Hoeppner, who was the associate creative editor for Paper Crafts back then and is now creative editor for Creating Keepsakes.
Volume 7 – then newly-hired associate creative editor Susan Opel was published, along with editor P. Kelly Smith and managing editor Brandy Jesperson. We also saw Latisha Yoast, Kimberly Crawford, and Ashley Cannon Newell for the first time. And Kalyn Kepner, who was an editorial intern for Paper Crafts the year prior, had her first Card Creations project published.
Volume 8 – We were delighted to publish Maile Belles, Heidi Van Laar, Nina Brackett, Vanessa Menhorn, Kelly Marie Alvarez, and current Paper Crafts Go-to Gal Windy Robinson for the first time. Two other current Go-to Gals – Betsy Veldman and Julie Campbell – were on this cover.
Volume 9 – Windy Robinson was on this cover (along with Carolyn King and Kelley Eubanks), and we got a peek at the creativity of Chan Vuong, Lindsay Amrhein, Emily Branch, Cristina Kowalczyk, and Erin Lincoln for the first time in Card Creations.
And our tradition of publishing first-timers continued in Volume 10, as Susan Opel shared with you on Tuesday.
But not all the details can be found in the pages of our issues. I’m lucky enough to have the historical memory of a few people who have been here from “way back when,” so I just walk down the hall to visit them when I need to know more. First stop: Jennafer Martin, editor in chief of our sister publication Creating Keepsakes.
Jennafer Martin, now editor in chief of Creating Keepsakes, was the managing editor for Card Creations Volumes 1-5 when she was on the Paper Crafts team
Back when Card Creations Volume 1 was published, our magazine was not yet known as Paper Crafts (look at the cover in the above photo – little tiny Crafts logo in the upper right corner). Jennafer was part of our editorial team when we were still Crafts magazine (which was launched in 1978…yes, NINETEEN SEVENTY EIGHT!). Our publisher recognized the undeniable wave of interest in paper crafting and card making, so Crafts was retired after 26 years and our inaugural issue as Paper Crafts magazine was published in February 2004. And when Card Creations Volume 2 came out later that year, it proudly bore the brand new Paper Crafts logo – and has ever since.
Joannie McBride, an associate editor for Creating Keepsakes, has cards published not only in Volume 2, but also Volume 1, 3, 4 and 5!
After catching up with Jennafer and Joannie, I had to drop in on Stacy Croninger. She was editor in chief of Paper Crafts from late 2004 until the middle of 2008 when she hopped over to our events team and gave me the opportunity to land my dream job following in her footsteps. Her first Card Creations issue was Volume 3:
Stacy Croninger with Card Creations Volume 3
Stacy was invaluable when I first started, filling in the blanks on who did what to whom and when so I didn’t get myself into too much trouble. She’s become a great friend over the years as well, and it’s nice to have her as a marketing partner on the events side of our business.
It’s been a long and winding road to reach this 10 year milestone, and I hope you’ve enjoyed this long and winding blog post to share some of the journey with us. As I said in my editor’s note for Volume 10, this hobby just wouldn’t be the same without the support and engagement of the continuously growing and passionate group of paper crafters in our community. And Card Creations wouldn’t be here without you, so I’d like to say thanks by offering up some copies of Card Creations Volume 10. Let me know in the comments how long you’ve been creating cards with paper, and I’ll choose 10 random winners. Be sure to comment by 5pm MDT tomorrow, Friday May 11 for your chance to win.
Here’s to another 10 years –
P.S. Don’t forget to visit Cath over in the Moxie Fab World today – she’s showing off some trendy cards in Card Creations Volume 10 that feature doilies and lace!
I’ve been creating seriously since 2006 but really started in 1987 with Inkadinkado’s catalogue. I thought embossing powder was magic. It only came in silver and gold!
About 25 years! Started when my daughter was in preschool, and she is 29 now!
DeniseB
I still have some of those publications! I’ve been making cards for about 10 years now.
Created cards on the computer in the late 80s but actually stamping cards began for me about 7 years ago. My neighbor had a get-together with a CTMH rep, but I had just retired and had to really watch my expenditures. Didn’t get hooked until I met a SU demo who shared her products. Then, of course, I could hardly wait to find some spare change to order my own goodies. Instead I faithfully scoured Craigslist until I found a demo who was moving so was anxious to sell her stash at a steal. Then I found PTI, and it’s been a spending frenzy…when possible. Thanks for the chance to win as would LOVE a copy of Card Creations!
Wow I never realized how long this company had been around, or all of the changing and morphing that has gone on around it! I’m a fairly new cardmaker, I wanted to do some papercrafting where I could be a little freer with the materials that I use and not worry so much about what effect they would have on my precious photos. It’s been less than a year for me and it’s still a slow process to make a card, sometimes I will look at the clock and wonder where the day went! But I’m sure with organization and practice I will get much more efficient!
I have been making cards since 2000 and I have that original Card Creations magazine and lots more. would love this new one!
I started card making for family about 6 years ago, now i’m selling handmake cards and pre-made scrapbook pages at the Farmers & Craft Market.
I started making cards about 15 years ago. At first it was to send them to family and friends for special occasions, at some point it became a form of therapy and now I have so many cards I sell them or donate them to charities too.
I’ve been scrapbooking for 13 years but have been making cards for the last 5 years as well. Love my Card Creations but haven’t gotten the new one yet. This would be a fabulous win.
Having grown up in a small print shop that my parents owned, my love for paper started at a very young age. I made my own paper creations thoughout my childhood, but my card making became more sophisticated when I discovered rubber stamping, about 15 years ago.
I have been creating cards with paper for the better part of 7 years!
I’ve been crafting for about 8 years now- started scrapbooking and now am mainly into cards!
I love Card Creations and Papercrafts! My obsession started about 6 years ago. I don’t necessarily need it all, but WANT it all!
I’ve been making cards since 2002, not counting those I made as a child. I got so excited when I discovered the very first issue of Paper Crafts on the magazine rack at Michael’s!
I started creating cards in 2005 when my daughter invited me to a Stampin Up party. I only bought stamps and ink to support her. She no longer makes cards, but “shops” through mine and I am always trying new techniques.
I started dabbling in card making in 2001 but really too an interest in it around 2004. Looking at the card creations covers i own several of those.
I have been playing with paper for about six years. Have loved every moment of it.
I started making cards about 3 1/2 years ago….mostly because I went to a party where they were “stamping”. I wanted to get some “girl time”, and I ended up getting addicted REALLY fast! I always thought I was not creative at all!! But I loved the fact that with stamps, I didn’t have to be super creative (like drawing an image). I could just color and embellish and tap into my creativity like I never had before!! And I have been addicted ever since!! Over the past 2 years, I started getting into making ALL kinds of different paper crafts besides just cards…..I love it!!!
I started making cards in @ 1992 , but blogging just over a year ago.
I think I’ve been making cards for about ten years. I started out as a scrapbooker, but had lots of supplies that gave me a good start at making cards.
About 13 years ago. I buy all these magazine to get ideas but like last night I made a card for my daughters teacher and came up with an idea on my own, it was so pretty and femine, just loved it. I think I get ideas by osmosis!
I have been creating cards for about 6 years now!! When my daughter was in 4-H she used card making as one of her community and demonstration projects. We continue to be inspired each month by our friend and SU demonstrator and without a doubt by Paper Crafts magazine. You girls rock!!!
I’ve been making cards now for 6 years, since my sister asked me to make her wedding invites. Looking back, they were pretty rubbish, but we both loved them at the time!
I have created cards and other paper crafts since I can remember. It didn’t hurt Dad worked in a papermill and paper was a plenty. So probably 30+ years in some form or another
Wow! Many of you have been doing this a very long time. I wasn’t bitten by the bug until about a year ago…now I can’t get enough! So many techniques, tools and styles to learn; I’d be lost without you.
What a nice look back!
I’ve only been creating cards for about 6 months but boy am I hooked! And your magazines really help!
I started making cards in 1993 when I discovered stamping. Wow! almost 20 years. I feel really old now. I still have some of my first cards and a lot has changed!
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hmmm, i think i’ve been doing papercrafting for about 7 or 8 years now and love every minute of it.
I’ve been making cards pretty much my whole life! I started with construction paper and markers but have graduated to a bit more sophisticated materials.
Congrats on such a long running super-great magazine.
I have been creating cards for more than 15 years – the first years only with punches but THEN I discovered scrapbooking and never looked back. I have the first issue of your magazine in my stash – never part with a card magazine and especially the last two years where I started a Danish version of Operation Write Home (www.operationskrivhjem.dk) for the Danish deployed soldiers all these magazines come to good use. New issue looks lovely – fingers crossed and please keep up the good work for many more years. =0)
I’ve been making my own cards since about 1998. I started with just a few stamps and ink, and it all went downhill from there!