Susan R. Opel

One year ago today, I began working as associate creative editor for Paper Crafts magazine!

It’s amazing to think about what all has happened in those 365 days including two title changes from associate creative editor to associate editor to editor.

Take a look back at my first year in pictures!

In the top left picture you can see me on June 9, 2008, eager to get started. One change is that I’ve lost over 40 lbs. since my first day. You can also see me at work filming a crafting video in my home and showing my Paper Crafts colors.

I work with some pretty cool people, and there’ve been changes there, too. Since I arrived we lost Stacy, Kimberly, and Neko, but our team is whole again with the addition of Jennifer and Matt (and boy, do they ROCK!). Jennifer, Brandy, Kelly, Cath, and I bonded in Anaheim at CHA in January, and in September, I got to meet the Pros and the Editorial Board for the first time.

I’ve become an expert air traveler with trips to Chicago and Anaheim for CHA trade shows, Louisville, KY, and Manchester, NH, for CKCs, and Salem, OR, for World Card Making Day 2008. I’ll be off to two more CKCs before the year is out in Valley Forge, PA, and Nashville, TN.

Since starting at Paper Crafts, I’ve started making cards, and being in a creative environment for work is pretty darn cool! And the creativity doesn’t stop there… My sister and I masterminded a makeover of the lobby of our building (top left of collage), I got to see my name in print in the Nov/Dec 2008 issue, my sister and I arranged our scrapbook room in glorious color, I decorated my very first cubicle tree, and I created a ton of cards to share with my students in the CKC card swap.

And as you well know, we know how to have fun. My parents came to visit in October (aren’t they cute?), and they kept remarking how it seemed like all we do around here is have fun! Like that’s a BAD thing. I guess I am OK with going to a Celine Dion concert with my colleagues and dressing up like crazy hippies for Halloween. Fun is GOOD!

Ah, the memories… I’m sure to have many more good times in the year to come, but this was my first one! And I LOVED it!

Tell me how your life has changed in the last 365 days, and I’ll give one lucky winner a copy of the fantastic July/August 2009 Eco Issue. I’ll also include four cards that appear in the issue courtesy of Kim Hughes (2 from her!), Brigid Gonzalez, and Danielle Calhoun. Get those responses in by midnight MDT on Friday, June 12, and Kelly will announce the winner on Monday!

Here’s to many more years at Paper Crafts magazine!
Susan