the end, or is it?

Hi friends,

I invite you to sing along with me to the classic R.E.M. song:

"It's the end of this blog as we know it. (it's the...)
It's the end of this blog as we know it, and I feel fine."

Is that an insensitive way to announce the news? I didn't want to just blurt it out. Oh, and it's also the end of my job as we know it, and I feel surprisingly fine about that too. More on that in a couple of paragraphs.

Here's the story. Simple Scrapbooks magazine will be no more after the next two issues go off sale, and it won't be continuing as a separate brand. So there's really no point having a "behind the scenes" blog, you know? There are no scenes for anything to happen behind. We sent the May/June issue to press last week, just Cathy Z., Jennafer, and me. There will be no more Simple antics to report on anymore. And frankly, Simple was paying for this blog url. :-)

But wait, there's more. A while back, Cathy Z. told me a sweet story about how her husband Dan said, "Cathy, I only want to outlive you by one hour." Awwwwwwww, right? And so, last Friday, I said on the phone to Cathy, "I only want to outwork you by one hour." And I did. Minnesota is one hour ahead of Utah. Cathy's last day with CKMedia was also my last day with CKMedia. I worked 60 more minutes before closing up my office and driving home from the office by the prison one last time.

Here's my office, devoid of all my mess.

Note: In the grand cubicle reshuffling of last week, Jennafer Martin inherited my office. I asked her via iChat if there was still a wrinkly old pea sitting on the floor next to the computer tower. It was. I apologized...I'd been meaning to pick it up for weeks but never quite got around to it. It was like an old, gross friend. And the funny thing is...I don't ever remember eating peas in my office.

Why I'm leaving. When the Simple closing was announced, I was given the choice whether to stay or to go. There was a position available to me at CK...basically the same level of work I performed 7 years ago. I felt incredibly grateful to have options, to have a choice. I was treated very kindly and fairly by everyone at CK. As such, it took me a while to reach a decision, but I realized that the right choice for me would be to move on, to spread my wings, to try out new opportunities within the industry. I love scrapbooking. I love writing and editing. I love the talented editors over at CK (special shout out to Jennafer, Megan and Beth!). And I'm forever grateful for all the opportunities CKMedia has afforded me over the years. Nevertheless, it feels good and right for me to move on.

So what's next? 

1. I'm launching a new blog. Find me at angielucas.com. It's a scrapbooking-, journaling-, and writing-focused blog ("Yeah, Write"), and it's going to be FUN! I promise to post some behind-the-scenes looks at the Scrapbook Play with Photos special issue (on sale soon) and the May/June issue, on sale in April. I'll also post some pics from the (former) Simple editors' new Wednesday afternoon scrapbooking get-togethers. And I plan to carry on the Simple approach and philosophy the best way I know how.

2. Jennafer Martin, the best boss I've ever had (hands down!) and an extremely talented individual, will be at CK, helping to make sure bits and pieces of the Simple approach and philosophy carry on. Megan Hoeppner, who was our beloved senior editor for 9 whole months, is also over there doing her part. So please continue to support Creating Keepsakes magazine. They'll keep you apprised of their plans over at the CK blog.

3. Former Simple editors and contributors will be hosting a BLOG PARTY April 27 through May 1, two weeks after the final issue goes on sale. There will be really cool prizes, including an Epson Artisan 700 printer (possibly even TWO printers) and a few Making Memories desktop carousels. Why wait so long to throw the party? A huge percentage of Simple Scrapbooks readers will be hearing the news of the closing for the very first time when they receive their May/June issue. We want to celebrate what's great about Simple by posting layouts, sharing favorite memories and stories, and giving all our readers the opportunity to share their thoughts. So please, mark your calendars, and join us!

In closing. It's been a great ride. Please visit all your favorite Simple friends at the blog links on the left. They love you. They want to hear from you. Thanks for everything.

Long live Simple!

Lucas out.

p.s. I can't resist sharing a very applicable quote from The Simpsons, said in a voice-over just before a commercial break, when the Simpson family appeared to be in great peril. Feel free to substitute "Simple" for "Simpsons":

"Was this the end of the Simpsons?

 Yes it was.

Or was it?

No, it wasn't."

Comments

[Holly A. Moss]

My heart is breaking all over again *sniff, sniff*! I am going to miss this last thread of Simple . . . but my heart is a bit lighter knowing that you aren't disappearing for good!

I'll be following you over to your new blog, for sure! You can't get rid of me that easy (LOL!)! :)

And good for you for doing what you felt was right for you. I wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors, whatever direction & wherever they take you.

HollyM

[Katy]

We'll miss this blog, the mag, everything... glad we'll still have a way to keep in touch.

[Judy in huntsville [al]]

so sad - so sad - so SAD! But I am SO GLAD that you're going to continue on the web so I can stay in touch with you! Change is hard [even good change] but I'm sure you're on your way to making a success out of it!

[Tamara Morrison]

I *heart* you, Angie! :)

~T.

[Nicky H]

I'm sad. Again. But I wish you the best of luck with your new blog. I promise to check it out. Thanks again for all of the behind the scenes stuff. I love that part. :) Take care of yourself. Tell all the others that we'll miss them, too.

[Jennifer Larson]

OK, this post almost made me cry. Simple did more for helping me become more "me" as a scrapper than anything else out there--and this blog did in particular. I still remember one of the first LOs I made from a challenge by you. Thank you again, thank you so much. I will be at your new space as soon as it's up!

Sorry if I sound like a lurker.

[Christina]

I've never read this blog before, and even I'M about to cry.
Good luck to you.

P.S. Anyone who can quote the Simpsons off the top of their head is a friend of mine. (:

[AmyInKy]

Simple will be missed. Best of luck to you!

[katie scott]

Oh Angie - I have so enjoyed your Simple blog for so long & I know I will love your new blog. I'm finding your attitude very inspiring. And, though I don't use this phrase very often, I feel the need to say "You go girl!"

[ScrappyMommy]

I feel so sad because I only recently discovered the Simple blog and now it's over. But I'm adding you to my list of bloggers to follow Angie. And that list is getting quite long!

[Dalon]

thank you for passing out such great info on the up and coming with "Simple" - everyone and everything you did will surely be missed by MANY!!! I'm looking forward to your new venture, but also keeping up with the Simple philosophy that I hope to see CK maintain :-)

[Julie]

So, I was innocently searching for an online version of the "Coach Stacy" 40 photo album project and I came upon this-- SS discontinued? I am crushed! Crushed. My favorite magazine in the scrapbooking world. Gone. So many good ideas- gone! Poof!

[Lisa]

I love your magazine and I'm really sad to see it go. what is happening to all the Home decor and crafts magazines? "Home" "House and Garden" and I can't find many of the BH&G specialty pubs that I used to. Sad.

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[オテモヤン]

http://oppao.net/n-ona/
http://oppao.net/navi/
http://oppao.net/new-d2/
http://oppao.net/fd3/
http://oppao.net/soap2/
http://oppao.net/bg2/
http://oppao.net/host2/
http://oppao.net/lesson2/
http://oppao.net/op2/
http://oppao.net/fl3/
http://oppao.net/bb2/
http://oppao.net/s-este/
http://oppao.net/rd2/
http://oppao.net/kawa/
http://oppao.net/n-club2/
http://s-auc.net/

[Olivia]

Thank you for fantastic blog post. Where else could I get this kind of information written in such an incite full way. I have a project that I am just now working on, and i am sure this will help me a lot. and I have been looking for such information since from few days….Thanks!!!!!

[Lain]

I so miss Simple. Just thinking about that today.
:(

I wrote this post in homage to Simple:
http://www.layoutaday.com/simple-scrapbooking-layouts-three-no-fail-designs/

Three simple scrapbooking designs in case anyone's looking for new inspiration!