Hi there my crafty and creative friends! How are you? How is your new year going so far? It's been a minute since I checked in and said hello and wrote a post that wasn't for a team. I really want to touch base today and catch up. I hope that 2018 is treating you well so far! I think overall it's been good to me. I am excited about new opportunities to come and the forward progress I've made in the last year working on myself and my goals. It's been a pretty creative year so far too! And it's only two weeks in! LOL. I cannot wait for the rest of this year. I know God has been preparing me for something wonderful!
First of all I have some big news… I made the decision a few months ago to go into 2018 without being under contract by any stamping/paper design teams. For eight years I have been on a design team (usually more than one at a time!) and it just felt like my inner voice was telling me it is time for a break. Time to regroup and re-energize my creativity. Time to relax about it all for a minute and let some things naturally flow. I have so many ideas to share with you and there is never enough time! I have been incredibly blessed by people in this industry and I'm so grateful for all the wonderful opportunities I have had. It makes me want to cry (happy tears).
Papertrey Ink was the last team I was on and I have not renewed my contract for this coming year. My post on Sunday was my last official PTI blog post. It was a SUPER hard decision to make, because I absolutely adore the ladies on that team. Like REALLY adore them. The kindest, sweetest, most talented bunch. Just as amazing as you all think they would be (and more). I was sooooo honored to stamp with them for a year. One of the highlights of my stamping career! I have been a PTI customer since the very beginning and a fan girl from the beginning too. So, a HUGE shout out and THANK YOU to everyone at PTI for letting me be a part of the legacy of your awesome company. From the bottom of my heart – thank you! Thank you.
In addition to saying thank you to Papertrey Ink and the amazing design team, I want to say thank you to all of you who have followed along with me on this awesome journey the past year. I met lots of new friends and got to know a lot of new followers because of my work with PTI. Thanks for your uplifting, kind, sweet, and funny comments all along the way. You brought me a lot of joy and smiles. It's a great community for sure. CLICK HERE to see all my PTI cards from 2017!
It feels right to me to share a few of my favorite PTI cards from the past year here….GOOD memories!
This coming weekend (starting tomorrow) is the giant Creativation Trade Show in Phoenix! (Formerly called CHA) I will be flying to Phoenix on Friday morning and staying until Tuesday and I cannot wait! OMG I look forward to this so much every year! This is my seventh year attending the show! WOOOOOT! I am excited to see the new products, and network professionally, and see (and hug) all my friends. It is always one of the highlights of my year every year. For the first time, this year, I will not be working at the show. I will not have a set schedule or any deadlines. So this year I can take my time and walk the show, stop and chat with EVERYONE and be a bit more chill about it all! (If you've ever seen me at CHA this last part will make sense! Ha) I won't be staying up until 2am writing blog posts and editing photos! Should be great.
I will be posting on my social media throughout the Creativation show – sharing what I see and what I'm excited about. I will try to post often but I'm not going to stress about it. I think the easiest way to connect and follow along with me from the show is on Instagram Stories. My Instagram account is @stampcatwg. You can also follow along on my Facebook page for A Blog Called Wanda. I will do my best to bring you with me! I really enjoy that part of things. CLICK HERE to see my wrap up post from last year!
I have some fun blog hops and guest designer gigs lined up for February which will all be fun. Other than that, I'm going to see where creativity takes me in 2018. Thank you for following along with me on this journey. Have a wonderful day! XOXO
Comments
18 responses to “Some announcements and News!”
Have always enjoyed all of your beautiful posts – including the PTI projects, Wanda. Sorry to hear you won’t be on the PTI DT going forward. However, I’m sure we’ll see PLENTY of gorgeous posts, where you inspire our creativity, in the future.
Enjoy the Creativation Show (I’m green with envy!).
Wanda, My best wishes to you on your new 2018 journey. I’ve often wondered how stressful it must be “having” to muster up mojo to meet a deadline design team post or show the world you think creativity every minute of the day. I imagine it would take some of the fun out of it. People have often told me I should sell or go into business with what I craft whether it be cards, scrapbooking, sewing etc. My response has always been then it wouldn’t be fun anymore. I know you have felt honored and grateful that you were recognized for your talent over the years. Your talent has been obvious. You will find the peace within yourself to make your next move and decision. Having more time to relax and enjoy many things in life is the greatest gift of all. So dear friend, sit back and enjoy . God Bless and I look forward to continue following you. You are a gift to all of us. Be a gift to yourself as well. Your Cape Cod Friend, Mandy
Congratulations Wanda for stepping back and reviewing what is best for YOU! We all need to do this. Sometimes we stretch ourselves too thin only to find ourselves not happy in the process. I was just talking to someone yesterday about this very subject, we both agreed that we (as women, especially) always put ourselves at the bottom of the list. We need to prioritize. I am glad you did. Enjoy Creativation and 2018 Wanda, you deserve it!
I am so glad and excited! I am looking forward to seeing what your amazing crafty brain will make! Your work is inspiring to many and will even be better as it will be truly a Wanda creation. You are an artist, take this opportunity to shine and know I will always support you! I love you!
Wanda, change is hard so I admire your plans! God Bless you as you pursue other creative avenues this year! How exciting!!
I know PTI wil miss you!
Have fun at the show- so nice you can just be an attendee! Good for you! You deserve a break! Julie L
Sometimes being on too many design teams and “having” to create can be stifling to your creativity so I get what you’re saying. On the other hand, I will miss you being on the Papertrey Ink design team and seeing all of your beautiful cards in their line up when they post. You’re super talented and whatever you do you’ll succeed. Closing the door on one thing opens up another for something new. I’m looking forward to seeing your post while you’re at CHA/Creativation this year. I’m super jealous, I would love to go especially since so many people like yourself are going to be there. Enjoy!
Love reading your posts, good for you for listening to your inner voice…love your fav PTI projects, they’re all gorgeous.
Looking forward to seeing you this weekend!
Oh, I’m going to miss your PTI posts, they were my highlight of my day. Best of luck!!
Loved your work for PTI. I’m sure the team feels the same, you will be missed. I am so jealous. I wish I could go to Phoenix. My hubs and I are going on our 1st cruise. I am so very excited… Love you and your work. Wish you tons of happiness in 2018.
So sorry to see you leave. I LOVE all your gorgeous creations and you will sorely missed. I know that it is hard because sometimes designing for teams can be hard, if you aren’t feeling it. Thank you for all your inspiration!!
As you know, I first started following your blog years ago because I loved your unique style. It will be great to see you creating again for YOU and all of us who are inspired by your creations. Safe travels, my friend. Hope to see you soon!
I will miss you being a part of the PTI DT since they are my favorite stamps and I love seeing what you create with them. I cannot wait to see where your journey takes you. I know it will be fabulous!
Oh, Wanda, I’m so sad but thrilled for you. What a tough decision it must’ve been! Even though I didn’t always comment, I enjoyed your SSS Weekends with Wanda and of course, your fabulous PTI creations. I often wondered how so many of you not only create everyday, take photos, edit, write blogs, etc. just to keep your followers happy. When someone suggested I should sell my cards, my immediate response was, “I’m retired and don’t want the pressure. It will take the fun out of it.” Enjoy Creativation and relax! I’ll be keeping an eye on your blog for future posts. Hugs! ❤️
ahhh, I would love to go to that show someday. Enjoy your trip, it should be wonderful without deadlines and working. Love that black card with the pink flowers – stunning.
I’ll really miss your PTI posts, Wanda, but I won’t miss you because I’m not going anywhere! Love your style, love your heartfelt posts, love that you share. Big hugs to you and have fun at the show.
Oh Wanda, you are such an amazing person! Not only are you extremely talented, but you are so kind! Joy just bubbles out from you and spills over in to everything you do! I will absolutely miss you being on the PTI team but understand and respect you so much for living out your convictions! I’m so glad we were able to get to know each other more over this past year! HUGE hugs to you friend! I cannot wait to see what 2018 brings for you!
I’m excited for you, Wanda! with all the possibilities ahead and no deadlines. I’ll continue to follow your blog and instagram feed enjoying your great sense of humor and talent! As we drove down I-5 this week to So Cal you came to mind in Sac town. Tomorrow my hubby and I will drive over to Phoenix to visit old friends and celebrate her 70th! I wish they shared paper crafting as a love so we could attend Creativation. Maybe another time
See you later and thanks for blessing the PTI team
I’ve loved watching you create on the PTI team – thanks for the inspiration you gave me! I love your new attitude – we can’t have all your mojo wearing out! I look forward to seeing what amazing projects you will create this year! Have fun at Creativation – I am stalking all social media so I can get my fix for all those new products I’ll have to have!