A few months ago, I decided that this year would be my last with the Papertrey Ink team. It was a hard decision and one that I didn't make lightly. I've been a fan and customer of Papertrey from its infancy and I've been fortunate enough to be a part of the company for more than seven years. In that time, the company has become a part of me. The ladies behind the scenes are not merely colleagues; they're good friends. They are funny, clever ladies that will have you in stitches for hours and their ingenuity and and imagination never cease to amaze me. If I had a nickel for every time I broke into an ear-to-ear grin or gasped at one of their gorgeous projects I would be a very wealthy woman. Working with these ladies has been a privilege and one of the greatest joys of my life. I have so much gratitude for the entire Papertrey Ink team, past and present.
And all of you are not just customers; you're warm and generous creators who lift me up and whose support allows me to do this work that I love so much. I truly look forward to seeing how you're going to use the stamps and dies we all pour our hearts into month after month. Facilitating your creativity is genuinely one of my favorite parts of this job (it may even take the top spot - though wearing leggings everyday might edge it out on occasion). Seeing you all gain confidence to try new things and push yourselves to creative heights is more rewarding than I could ever explain and I hope to have the opportunity to do this work again in the future.
In the immediate term, I'll have a couple of final posts to hopefully inspire all of you through the end of the month. Then, I have a home that needs to be dragged kicking and screaming into this century. With the help of a very skilled contractor, my husband and I will attempt to give it the update it deserves starting in just a few weeks. If you'd like to follow along, I've already started posting a bit on my Instagram Stories (I have some of those Stories saved as highlights). I'll try and make sure I do a better job documenting the progress over there.
After that...who knows? I'm a crafter at heart and I'll never give it up completely. It may simply take a backseat for the next few months. And, like I said, I hope to find an opportunity to do this work again in the future. I just need a little time to let things settle. But this isn't "goodbye," it's just "see you later." Sort of literally because I'll be back next week, but you get what I'm saying.
Thank you all for the wonderful memories and support over these past several years. Please don't be strangers.
With all my love,
L
Best of luck with the renovation. We are in the process of giving our new home a facelift, so the extra time will help you stay sane. Thank you for your inspiration, hard work, and live over the years. I hope to see you back in the community soon P.S i will continue to enjoy your tile and paint selection!!!
ReplyDeleteWow, just one "loss" after another at PTI. You will be sorely missed. I am happy that you have great plans for your home, and I look forward to following along on IG. I also look forward to seeing any craftiness that you get up to!!!
ReplyDeleteThe best of you and your renovation, Lizzie. Just fyi. . . your golf set is one of my most often "go to" sets. I always seem to need a golf birthday or retirement card.
ReplyDeleteAnd now the other shoe has dropped! With all of the recent PTI departures I was consoling myself by saying at least Lizzie is still there. I have been a fan ever since you won the PTI contest and designed your own set. It was a happy day when you became part of the PTI team and I've so enjoyed your product designs and newsletters. Thank you for the outpouring of inspiration and love that went into everything you did.
ReplyDeleteAll that being said, home and family do come first and sometimes that means throttling back on the career (no matter how much we love it) just to have the time to get things done - like home renovations.
Wishing you all the very best with your home project and I look forward to seeing you back in the papercrafting industry hopefully in the not too distant future. With deep appreciation!
All the best Lizzie! I love your designs and card crafting creativity. So fun to be working on a home renovation. Blessings to you!!
ReplyDelete~sigh... what can I say? except, all the best to you. You and the others have my muse for years. It leaves a hole I don't think can be filled. Thank you for all your design wisdom. I am looking forward to your renovation posts. On that note, if you need any help or advice, I'd love to help. We have remodeled our house from stem to stern 3 times (my husband is a builder), and if you find you need a third eye, just ask. Love you all for the joy you've brought over the past years. Blessings!
ReplyDeleteAs "see mary stamp" said, I had said to myself, at least Lizzie is still there! Good luck with your renovations. We recently did our kitchen/family room/laundry room, and so love the changes. Good luck with all of that, but I will miss your designs on PTI, if it's still going to exist!
ReplyDeleteWishing you all the best Lizzie. You are going to be missed. I am sorry you are leaving Papertrey Ink, but I am glad you will continue to card craft. I will look forward to all of your posts, including your house updates. Thank you so much.
ReplyDeleteWishing you the very best Lizzie! Can’t wait to see where your journey takes you! And I will definitely be following your remodel! We are in the planning stages ourselves! Hugs to you!!
ReplyDeleteOh no, Lizzie, not you also! I was just waiting for the other shoes to drop, and today’s the day for both you and Dawn. Hate to see things end this way but totally understand one needs to move on. Remodeling your home will be very time consuming and can’t wait to see what you and DH do. Best of luck, Lizzie, and I’ll see you here and on IG. Thanks for all your gorgeous projects and for inspiring all your followers! 😘
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear you're leaving PTI Lizzie - you will be missed!
ReplyDeleteIt is always so hard to make big change in life. It takes a huge personal commitment to courage and faith! You always know deep down when the timing is right and it sounds like you have crossed that threshold. I have always admired your precision and attention to detail whenever you create anything. To see the same strengths applied to your fixer upper will be a huge treat for all of us. Wishing you all the best as you step out onto this new path. You should be so proud of all you have accomplished! Big hugs.
ReplyDeleteI think I probably relate to you more than any other designer/stamper so I’m going to super miss you. I’m thinking this hobby of mine will never be the same again, not ever. Unless you design product for another company eventually. You are something else, Lizzie Jones! sniff sniff
ReplyDeleteOh Lizzie I will miss your products and your lovely designs . You have such attention to detail and make it seem so effortless. Your blog posts are always informative and fun. And although I don't know you personally it is clear you are such a kind, thoughtful person. I see maybe a stationery line in your future!
ReplyDeleteThanks for all your beautiful, classic (classy!) product designs ... all of them, starting with the musical instrument set! And so many creative projects that you've shared. I will miss your PTI posts very much. Wishing you all the best for your future journey!
ReplyDeleteOh my! So sorry to hear you no longer be with PTI any longer. With you and Betsy gone...PTI will not be the same. I will miss your designs and especially, the stitched dies/felt works. I was happy you took over Erin Lincoln’s felt stitch dies. Now there will be no one. But I do understand your reasons for moving on. And many thanks for all your wonderful product designs and inspirations over the years with PTI. As a long standing PTI customer, I don’t know what’s ahead for us. Change is scary! Hopefully I can continuing with my card creations/paper crafting passions with PTI. Best of luck with your much needed remodel! 😉
ReplyDeleteLizzie, as many others have said, I am shocked and saddened that so many favorites are leaving the PTI team. Your creativity has fueled us, your products a joy to use and bless those we love. Thank you for sharing your talents with us. Good luck to you and God bless!
ReplyDeleteI will miss you with PTI. Thank you for all the years of creativity and inspiration. I will be keeping an eye out to see where you land next. Good luck on the house!
ReplyDeleteLizzie, I just wanted to come over & tell you, you will be GREATLY MISSED, by me, myself & I!(And of course, everyone else who loves PTI) I hate to see the changes that have been happening & just KNOW the company will not be the same. BLESSINGS as you change directions & have FUN decorating your home! ;) You will be SO MISSED!
ReplyDeleteGee, the hard news keeps coming. I sure have enjoyed your work and creativity for a long time and wish you well in your new version. Your reno will certainly take up a great deal of time but should be so rewarding especially when you look back and say, 'I did this'. Beware of reno's reputation for causing divorces. If you get through it, your marriage will be so much stronger! LOL Good luck and keep using those creative talents that you were so well endowed with.
ReplyDeleteOh Lizzie! I will miss you so much on the forum! You are always so helpful, friendly, and funny. And I love your card designs so much--full of detail but not fussy. And I also appreciate how you write up how you make your cards. You are very specific but also quite concise, and that's not easy to accomplish, but you do. I wish you all the best! If you start designing for another company, please let us know on your IG. I follow you there. And congrats to Sean on opening a new restaurant today!
ReplyDeleteI’ve bought many of your designs over the years and I have tons of your cards in my photo gallery that I use as inspiration. I think home remodeling can be fun. I hope you will enjoy the process and the new look. If you decide to land somewhere else in the stampy world I’ll be paying attention.
ReplyDeleteI have admired your talent from the beginning. Your sets were amazing and your creativity genius. I wish you all the happiness in all your future endeavours. Best of luck with the renovations. PTI just keeps losing outstanding graphic artists. So sad!
ReplyDeleteThank you for all the inspiration. You are a wonderful cardmaker in a clean style that I love. I hope I continue to see you creating cards.
ReplyDeleteI can't even imagine PTI without you Lizzie. You've been such an inspiration and to me and a a key part of the company. There's so many changes going on right now but I trust that change can be good. I hope your big renovation project progresses along wonderfully and I'll be watching for more crafty posts from you in the future. You'll be sorely missed.
ReplyDeletewow I will miss your unique style and wonderful positive attitude. I retired recently so I know how exciting and scary a big change can be. You will love having the time and freedom to work on the home projects that will inspire you every day. Best of luck to you. You will be truly missed but I am excited for your future. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteMy heart is sad and happy at the same time...sad to see your amazing crafting skills leave PTI but happy to hear about your new home remodel adventures. Oh boy will you be missed! I wish you an amazing journey and can’t wait see it all on your blog post. Hugs, Deborah
ReplyDeleteThis is so difficult! I know change is supposed to be a 'good' thing, but these changes caught me totally off guard! Lizzie, you have been an inspiration with your beautiful creations and will be sorely missed.
ReplyDeleteBest Wishes to you in your home renovations and please come back to crafting in the near future.
Love those stitching dies Lizzie! Hopeful you will continue to share your creative designs on the next journey. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteNot to see your smiling face up among the other team members is going to be hard on all of us. I'll miss seeing your beautiful work and your personality on the forum and videos. I've bookmarked you, so it's not goodbye. Good luck on your future - I know it will be a good one, you deserve it!
ReplyDeleteYou are a gem who will be truly missed!
ReplyDeleteLisse, I'm been a huge fan of PTI since 2008 I don't often comment though, and hope you'll forgive me for that. I was drawn to PTI by Melissa Phillips. We were living in Phoenix at the time and I happened to walk into a paper crafting store. I'll never forget that moment. I was absolutely in awe of what I saw! I picked up a card magazine and found a project that Melissa had created - A Christmas house. It was love at first sight. I had never heard of blogging or card making. Long story short - I never looked back and PTI became my "Go To" company for stamping inspiration and supplies.
ReplyDeleteLizzie, it makes me sad to see you go, but, I completely understand. To grow we must move - and it sounds like you have a lot on your plate with the remodel and of course, a little one at your feet. I wish you well, and want you to know that although I'm not much of a commenter, I am a looker. Your designs, like those of your team mates inspire me each and every month. I will definitely check in now and then to see how the remodel is going - maybe I'll see a card or two (she smiles). God speed!
Sincerely,
Susie ~
Dearest Lizzie! Goodness, I started out strong today but after reading that you and Betsy, then maybe Dawn & Michelle are all leaving PTI, honestly, I’m in tears. All of you weren’t just designers I followed, but good friends I brought into my home month after month. Crafting is a personal part of me. When my hubby Jim and I bought our home 3 1/2 years ago, we gutted it and then renovated. That’s why I was gone from crafting for almost 2 years. ( maybe slightly longer). So I totally understand the break you’re taking. I guess the hard part for me is it feels like part of my family is leaving & so many at one time. I’ve followed your work, bought your designs and loved your blog. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart, for everything you have done. From your great instructions, answering my questions, inspiring me endlessly and your beautiful creations. I will miss you, everyday! I hope you have tons of fun with your home, it’s hard work but so rewarding. Btw, I’m still working on some interior design to this day. Having a home seems to always be a work in progress! Ha ha. Lots of luck, with hugs, Stephanie. P.S. I’ve bookmarked your blog, so I’ll be checking in.
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