Happy NSD and Happy Birthday ScrapArtist!
Three years ago, on Mother's Day, I gave myself a gift. I pushed myself to do something that I'd, up until that point, only dreamt about. I opened ScrapArtist.com.
I had been playing around in Photoshop creating my own "backgrounds" (papers) when I began to spot other woman selling their creations on the net. Woman like Shabby P, Gina Cabrera, Katie P and Hollie McCaig. I go so excited looking at their stores. Something connected me to them and I decided to take the leap. My husband thought I was nuts. My friends just nodded their heads when I told them my plan. My 92 year old dad thought I was doing something illegal! LOL! The point is that these important people in my life had seen me talk a good game before. They've seen me come up with great ideas only to never try them. But I did try this one.
What made the difference for me? Why did I try this idea when I'd let so many others go? I could tell you I tried this on a hunch, a gut instinct. Or I could tell you that there was some magic force behind it that I couldn't stop. But, I now know this for sure... I could not NOT try this. I had to take that leap of faith. And look what happened! LOL!
I never thought SA would be much more than a hobby for me... but thanks to some incredible people, it became much more. I would be remiss if I didn't thank Michelle Coleman, my former business partner of two years and an incredible artist who helped grow SA with me. I want to also thank my first CT girls and the ones who stuck with me through some good time and bad times and are still my good friends— Lisa C., Jenn O., Isabelle and Lisa H.
I currently have some incredible woman working with me now who I would like to thank personally for their energy, enthusiasm and talent. First I'd want to thank Jen Lemar, who kept the SA spirit alive and whom I can't imagine running SA without. Next is Sweet Gabi, our fearless leader who keeps this place humming along. Amber, Linda, Robyn, Christine & Lisa W, our original fab five apprentices have been with us for the past two years and are now among some fabulous new talent in the shoppe—Aja, Angie, Anna, Amanda, Martina & Veronika, Cori, Eva, Jodie, Laurie Ann & Hope. And, finally, thank you to our current CT Goddesses. They are smart, they are funny, they are creative and they keep this place hoppin' (see more about them below) Thank you girls! It's this collective of incredible and generous souls that make ScrapArtist so very special to me.
I would be totally missing out if I did not thank the most important people of all who keep ScrapArtist alive. Without them, SA would just be a URL and that is YOU, our loyal customers and friends, thank you for making this special month more special. Keep your eyes peeled because we have some exciting new changes coming to the site. It's going to be a great year.
For NSD and to celebrate our anniversary, we are having a series of great challenges all week and a killer sale May 7,8, & 9... 33.3% off the entire shoppe.
Please join us in celebration of our craft and our digital home.
Meet the ScrapArtist Team...
Thank YOU Nancie, for your hard work, determination and vision in bringing this site, and so much joy to the digi-world. This place is my home, and I am honoured and priviledged to be a small part of this awe-inspiring team. From the people behind the scenes, to the designers and my CT mates, I have made lifetime friends here and I am truly blessed. You've done a great thing, lady. Thankyou.
Kim Fuerth, CT goddess
Posted by: Kim | May 03, 2008 at 01:03 PM
I'm not good in English as Kim is ;) but I would say the same thing as Kim said.
Nancie,
you are the most amazing, kind, friendly woman I've ever met online and I'm really happy to be a part of this fantastic group of unique people. It is a real honor to work with all of those ladies. Thank you so much for everything you are doing for our digihome and keep it doing as good as you do so far. :)
Happy Birthday, ScrapArtist!!!!
Gabi Rytirova, CT Captain
Posted by: Garynka | May 03, 2008 at 01:51 PM
Nancie, i couldn´t be happier to take part on this team, you know?! SA is my home in digiland, the place i meet my friends and share your dream with you!
Congrats!
Mic
Posted by: Mic | May 03, 2008 at 02:05 PM
Nancie,
Your words are honest, beautiful and so kind. I am so happy to be a part of the wonderful Scrap Artist team. I feel like many of the girls do - SA is my digi-home and thank you so much for making this such a warm and welcoming place for us to freely express our creativity.
Congrats on three great years!
Erika
Posted by: Erika | May 03, 2008 at 02:12 PM
Nancie,
You are such an incredibly strong, kind-hearted human being that I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to get to know these past few years. I am so honored to be a part of a team that works together, and supports one another through good times and bad. It seems when some of us are having hard struggles, the others are there to pick up the slack, and vice versa. I love that we are a bunch of woman who shy away from gossip and controversy, but instead love and support one another whole-heartedly. There is no other place in digi-land I would rather call home. Thank you for having the drive and passion that you do, and for sharing your amazing talent with all of us. We are all blessed beyond belief to be a part of such a wonderful site. Hugs, Nan!
Kathy
Posted by: Kathy Wagner | May 03, 2008 at 03:12 PM
Nancie,I´d like to congrat you for the last three years, your words are touching my heart. I´m so proud to be a part of the wonderful and incredible team of the amazing designers and goddesses!!Here is my wonderful digi Home, where my creativity grow. Thank you so much Nancie!!!!!!
Happy Birthday Scrapartist!!!!
Posted by: Kirsten | May 03, 2008 at 03:13 PM
Nancie, thanks so much for your kind words!! WOW! Registering at ScrapArtist was definitely the best idea I had when I started digital scrapbooking! This was my favorite site at the very beginning and this is now my digi-home. I'm so proud and glad to be part of the SA family and I can tell that I've met the smartest, sweetest and adorable persons there. I'm so thankful for that! So, thanks for permitting us to live our dreams of creativity, Nancie! You are such a wonderful person with a huge heart. Thank YOU!
Love,
Emilie Gerard
Proud ScrapArtist Goddess
Posted by: Emilie | May 03, 2008 at 04:14 PM
Happy Birthday Scrapartist! And, congratulations and thanks to you Nancie for making this a wonderful home for all of us! I am thrilled and proud to be a part of this wonderful place and I know the coming years are just going to be better and better!
Posted by: Lisa Howell (aka Vania16) | May 03, 2008 at 04:38 PM
Dear Nancie,
You are truly an inspiration for all of us. It was because of your courage and enthusiasm, ScrapArtist became the home of Digi scrapping for most of us. Thank you for sharing your creativity and being a role model in the world of digital scrapbooking.
I am so proud to be a part of this wonderful team and same as others I too feel blessed. Wish you all the best for all your creative ventures in the future. Thanks again and happy birthday ScrapArtist :)
Cheers,
Buddhini
Posted by: Buddhini Ekanayake | May 03, 2008 at 05:33 PM
Nancie, congratulations on making your dream a reality. You have created not only a wonderful site but a fun place to hang out. I appreciate your openness and friendliness. And I take my hat off to you for achieving the success you have. (btw - gotta say that I love paper scrapping with your stuff as well). :)
Posted by: Sue Jones | May 03, 2008 at 07:57 PM
Nancie, Congratulations three years! Scrapartist has become my digi home and I couldn't imagine being anywhere else.I am so happy to be a part of this team - everyone here is kind, caring, understanding, and talented. I wish you nothing but the best Nancie; your words touched my heart. I am glad you followed your dreams. You are an inspiration to us all!!
Posted by: Jennifer M | May 03, 2008 at 08:10 PM
I don't want to sound reduntant but there is no way... the girls before me said most of what I wanted... :)
I'm new here, but this IS my home... I have made so many good friends and met amazing girls from all over the globe. This is a place to get to know yourself a bit better, exchange informations and all sort of daily girly things... we support each other, we hear each other and we laught with and at each other... this is THE PLACE to be!!! Thanks Nan for making your dream part of my life!
Gabi Butcher
one of the gals!
Posted by: Gabi Butcher | May 03, 2008 at 10:25 PM
Ditto what everyone has said!!!
Thank you Nan for taking that leap and opening up ScrapArtist. You've steered SA into this awesome place and I look forward to seeing what the future holds. Thank you too for allowing me to be a part of your awesome team. It truly is an honor to be associated with ScrapArtist! I consider SA to be my digi-home!!
Posted by: Joy | May 03, 2008 at 11:24 PM
what a lovely post! Here is to many more wonderful years at everyone's favorite digi scrapping on-line home!!
Posted by: Christine | May 03, 2008 at 11:49 PM
Happy Birthday Nancie (since you are what ScrapArtist is, essentially :D) This is the very first time I'm de-lurking and coming out to greet you, but I just wanted to say that I really am grateful that you took that leap of faith... because that gives all of us just one more GREAT shoppe to delight in (and you're is among the top shoppes in digiland!) Congratulations & many hugs! :)
Posted by: LivE | May 04, 2008 at 09:55 AM
oops! i meant to say "yours is among the top shoppes in digiland"... blame it on the birthday cake sugar high. hahaha! congratulations again! :D
Posted by: LivE | May 04, 2008 at 09:57 AM
Nancie, it has been an absolute joy to work with you this past year. Ditto on all the kind words the girls have said to you, plus I can't help but tell the world that you are a total HOOT to boot! :) I'm sooooooooooo glad you leapt AND that you keep on keepin' on. Peace out, homie! :)
(And 3 years in digi is like 21 in paper...)
Posted by: Jen L | May 05, 2008 at 12:32 AM