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Tuesday, April 3, 2018

A Heartfelt Note

Hello,

Today's post is so bittersweet for me. It has been coming for a while now, but I didn't really want to face it.

You see, for very personal reasons, this site is so important to me.  I am visually impaired and this online community of creatives has filled a social void for me, and many others that have their own reasons to join this wonderful community. Some crafters have reported not having any “real life” friends that enjoy this particular hobby, others live too remotely to attend crops and some have issues similar to mine which means they too spend a lot of time at home alone. Of course, many just love the online aspect in addition to “in person” events.

That said, it is necessary that I close down Stuck?! Sketches, as I must switch gears and reduce my scrapbooking to only occasionally and halt the other duties that go along with running my site.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many people that have touched my heart and inspired me greatly over the years. Stuck?! Sketches has always had the most wonderful design teams and the current one is particularly lovely in their support of me and each other. They work hard to meet their deadlines, and comment on our many, many entries each month.  Some even create process videos, too!  Trust me I know how long all of these tasks take. And I truly appreciate each of our team members. Janice in particular, needs a special thank you for being a great help and friend to me, I couldn't have run Stuck?! Sketches without her help all these years!

I would like to thank each of you, our treasured followers, for playing along with us month after month, we wish we could give you all prizes! Thank you for sharing your creations and bits of your lives with us!

And speaking of prizes, the generous support of our sponsors has truly meant the world to me. It has allowed me to do what I love; sharing sketches and layouts with the scrapbooking community; amassing talented design teams to inspire and cheer on our followers; and give away more prizes than I can count! You can view our sponsor page, for a list of our most recent and super generous sponsors.

Finally, I would be remiss if I didn't thank my husband, Ian, for his help and support of this site and my passion for this hobby.

As a thank you to all of you, a sketchbook of all of my sketches for Stuck?! Sketches has been created, you can download a free pdf version here.

Please feel free to let me know if you have any questions. And again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support.

Laura
xo

74 comments:

  1. Thank you for running such a wonderful site for so many years!

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  2. Dear Laura, thank you so much for the pleasure of using your beautiful sketches these past years. You have such an awesome giving spirit. I am sad that the time has come to close it down. That being said, I understand that there is a season for everything. I hope that in some way we (the ones whose heart has been touched by you) can do something for you in return. Whether it is prayer, words of encouragement or just to remind you that we have come to love you. I hope to still "see" you on Instagram and Facebook ♥

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  3. I am so glad I got to know you thru the design team last year. I am so sorry you are going thru such a difficult journey. Thank you for the sketches.

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  4. Thankyou Laura for running the blog and all the work you and your teams have put into it,your blog will be sorely missed. All the best to you and yours

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  5. Dearest Laura! Thank-you so very much for the years of awesome inspiration and for sharing your lovely creations! I am sure this must have been a very difficult decisioin and am sending hugs along with my gratitude. I will continue using your awesome sketches xox

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  6. Dear Laura,
    Firstly, you WILL be missed! Secondly, you must do what is right for you and if this is the time, then so be it. You have given us mojo when we needed it and now it is time for us to give you Thanks! Be kind to yourself and best wishes.

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  7. While I never comment, I watch your videos where ever I can find them and LOVE these sketches ! I am sad to see you go :(

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  8. I'm sure I speak for many Laura...Thank you for taking your time to offer us so many sketches, for friendships, for memories. You and your blog will surely be missed! I am praying for you, for whatever you my need at this point in your life. Thank you!!!

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  9. Laura, Thank you so much. Finding this website really inspired me and helped me to find my style. I will definitely miss this site and wish you all the best. Hugs.

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  10. So sad ... but I understand so very well! Sifting gears is usually for the good! Hugs.

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  11. Laura, this site has been a blessing for so many for many years.. wishing you all the best in your new chapter.

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  12. So sad to hear this but totally understand, Laura. Thanks so much for all the wonderful sketches over the years and your work is always an inspiration! Many Hugs!!

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  13. This is a sad day for all of us, but you are needed elsewhere and we understand. I shall miss all the motivation and creativity you offered, but shall carry on using your sketches. Thank you so much for the PDF. I shall think of you every time I use one! Love always!!

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  14. Thanks for the years of great inspiration.

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  15. Thank you for hosting this site, with all its wonderful inspiration over the years. Best wishes in the future!

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  16. Dear Laura, thank you so very much for the many years of generous inspiration you've provided to the scrapbooking community! It's been a joy to work with your sketches, and it's such an amazing gift for you to give us your collection of sketches--what a treasure! Sending you much love.

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  17. Will surely miss this site and your wonderful videos. Your time and effort to this site have been greatly appreciated. Wishing you the best.

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  18. WOW such a sad day for me I love your sketches and this challenge, but totally understand what your saying :) Thank you for so much inspiration you provided to us here on blog land. I look forward to using your sketches and I wish you the best.

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  19. Thanks for all the inspirational layouts and sketches and all your hard work and time with the site over the years. Wishing you all the best! Hugs

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  20. So many tears!!!!
    Best wishes for this next phase of your life!

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  21. Dear Laura, Very best thoughts headed your way. Thank you for this site, for your videos, for all the work you have done, and for all the joy you have brought people. Thank you so much for the download, what a wonderful gift. Thank you for all the inspiration

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  22. Hi Laura. So sad to hear. I so loved your sketches and challenges. I too spend a lot of time home alone. The Scrapbook/Card Community is all I have including my nurses. May God continue blessing you.
    Huggies!
    Rachelle

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  23. I will dearly miss this blog! Thanks for all the fun memories and challenges Laura! IT's been a fun community to be a part of!

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  24. so sorry to see you go, it has been a pleasure seeing all the great sketches come to life in my work and that of the design team! it was a great run!

    Alicia

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  25. Laura I wish you well and thank you for your inspiring sketches. I have loved not only your sketches but also your design teams inspiration. Take care xo

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  26. So sorry to hear that, I always loved playing at Stuck?!
    Wishing all my best to you Laura!

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  27. Thank you for sharing your talent and inspiring us with your sketches for so many years.

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  28. Bless you Laura, and I pray things go well for you in the future.. I have loved being on the Stuck?! Sketches design Team if only for one term and your sketches will live on forever.. with lots of love.. lizzy..

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  29. p.s. thank you so very much for the file of your sketches, that is very kind and generous to freely give your sketches to others.. they are so inspirational and I will appreciate being able to use them when I need some fabulous inspiration to start a layout.. thank you....

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  30. I will truly miss your sketches and beautiful inspiration in your blog. Wishing you the best in all that is ahead of you.

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  31. Laura, completely understand, but I will miss all the inspiration you have given to me and numerous others I always looked forward to the sketches Donna

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  32. I'm sad! I'll miss all the inspiration on this site. THANK YOU for all the time and energy that you've devoted here. We appreciate you, and wish you all the best!

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  33. Dear friend, you know how I feel about you, your talent, your inspiration and your giving of your time. I will always have you in my prayers, and I pray this new path bring forth a new journey that surpasses anything you can imagine. Sending a million hugs, Janet

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  34. And THANK YOU for the AMAZING sketch gift. You will always ROCK in my
    scrappy book. Smiles and Hugs ~ Janet

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  35. Wishing you all the best, Laura! Thank you for sharing your talent and time with us for so long. (((Hugs)))

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  36. Love your sketches and inspiration. They will be missed. All the best.

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  37. Thank you so much for all that you have done through this site Laura. I've enjoyed playing along every month. I wish you all the best in your future endeavours! Take care!

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  38. Thank you for all the inspiration in the past, and now thanks to your generosity, still plenty of inspiration for the future.

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  39. Best Wishes Laura! Your inspiration will be missed!

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  40. Laura, I just had to tell you THANK YOU for inspiring so many people with your beautiful sketches, videos, and layouts. I enjoy seeing your creations and will definitely treasure having your sketches in my library of inspiration. Wishing you all the best! Scrappy hugs!!! xoxo

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  41. I love your sketches, Laura! Thanks for running such a fantastic site for so long, and I wish you all the best in the future!

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  42. Thank you so much for the many years and inspiration. I will miss you. I want to speak for the many you inspired who didn’t speak up or always share. There were probably too many of us to count. You are awesome.

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  43. Oh so sorry to hear this. This site will be so very missed by so very many. A great big thank you for all the wonderful scrapbooking that your fabulous sketches have inspired over the years. I hope you fill your free time with exciting new adventures. Consider yourself hugged!

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  44. Thank you Laura for all the wonderful inspiration you've shared with all of us. Your sketches will be greatly missed. Your generosity in sharing them all together is just another example of how awesome you are and why so many love you and your talent. Best wishes in your new adventures!!

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  45. Thank you for the monthly inspiration and for the sponsors who have joined along the way! Wishing you all the best in the future!

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  46. This site and your creativity will certainly be missed. I've enjoyed your YouTube process videos. I hope you find joy in every single day and live freely and with intent. Thanks for all you've contributed to this wonderful hobby. Including the awesome sketches. Off to download and print. I appreciate it.

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  47. Thank you Laura for sharing so much of yourself with us, you possess such talent and creativity. I adore your sketches, have watched your videos time and time again, and love seeing your work. What an incredible act of kindness and generosity to leave us with a book of your beautiful sketches, it comes just in time as I work on my wedding album (17 years later!!!). Thank you for all you have contributed to the scrapping community over the years, and know you have left a spot that will never be filled. I wish you all the best!

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  48. Congratulations for everything you have achieved with stucksketches, we will miss you and the team heaps! How hard this decision must have been. May you thoroughly enjoy your next direction in life! Big thank you!

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  49. Thank you so much for inspiring me to keep scrapbooking on a regular basis. I've won some great prizes and I've really enjoyed seeing the creativity of this community. You will be missed. :(

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  50. Thank you for sharing all the sketches in one place! I wish you and your family the best in this new stage of life! <3

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  51. Thank you Laura! I have followed you for a few years now and have loved your sketches. They have always been my favorite. I seems they always turn out beautiful and look great. Thank you and many wishes for much happiness in new endeavors in your life. Thanks again.

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  52. So sad to hear this. I have always turned to your sketches for inspiration. You have been a wonderful ambassador for our hobby. You will be missed but your sketches will live on forever. Good luck!

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  53. Oh wow, I'm so sorry that you are not able to scrap as much as you would like. This has been the only challenge site that I follow. I have loved your sketches and they have been a huge inspiration to me. All the best for your future. Cheers

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  54. Thank you for these wonderful challenges! I had fun. All the best for you and your family <3

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  55. I'm sad to see this site go away, it has been one that I like to participate in when I have the time. You have great sketches and I want to thank you for giving us them to download and keep! Blessings, Jamie

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  56. Dear Laura,
    I am so sad to read this. You will be missed.

    Thank you for your inspiration, I love your sketches and I loved playing with them.

    It was also a great pleasure to be part of your Design Team if only for one term.

    I wish you all the best my dearest Laura!

    Thank you for the pdf download.

    Cheers Nadia

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    1. I am not able to download the file. But thank you anyway.

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    2. Hi ladies, I have updated the post with a new link to the sketchbook you should be able to access it now.

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  57. Thank you so very much, Laura, for everything. I will miss your inspiration. I wish you all the best. Again, thank you, thank you, thank you.

    Karen

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  58. Thank you for the many years of inspiration. Best wishes to you.

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  59. Thank you, Laura, for all that you have given to the scrapbooking & crafting industry as a whole! Especially, thank you for the download file . . . VERY USEFUL!!!!!

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  60. Thank you for your generosity. You will be missed in the crafting video world.

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  61. Thank you, Laura, for your generous contribution to the scrapbooking community for so long. And thanks for gifting us with the PDF of your sketches.

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  62. I have only just learned of your story and this amazing gift of the Sketchbook via RTS Scrapbooking. Her obvious admiration is what caused me to pop over, the sketches you have created indicate you have some AMAZING scrapbooks at home! Way to go! Thank you for this gift, I have printed a copy for my personal use as I follow along with Janet now. I am praying for your journey to well being and wholeness, and that you find comfort and hope in love that never fails. Blessings.

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  63. CMLinda said it beautifully (I don't think I could say anything more appropriate and well said). Thank you! And thanks to Janet at RTS for sharing your work and story with us. God Bless you.

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  64. Have visited your site on and off over the years and have enjoyed it. Just one amazing blog. Thanks for sharing all of your sketches as a download , they will truly inspire me. Best wishes going forward!!

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  65. Just discovered you! How awesome to share your sketches, thank you so much.

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  66. I've visited here many times over the years, but mostly watched the process videos. Your site has helped me more than I can say.

    You will be missed.

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  67. I just discovered you. Thank you for the Sketchbook, but I also want to say I hope all is well with you with your health, especially during this crazy Covid-19 time. God bless you.

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  68. Thanks for this awesome sketch book. I have heard amazing things about you. Wish I had the chance to see you scrapbook in action. I am a little late to the party. Thanks again!

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