Farewell to Becky

September 17, 2009 on 5:31 am | In Uncategorized | No Comments | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Once in a millennium, a person comes along who possesses everything that you’re looking for in a role model. She inspires those around her to become better people, better artists aBecky_Headshotnd better scrapbookers. She lights up a room with her smile, and she is one of the best people around. For many of us, for the last 12 years, that person has been Becky Higgins.

The name Becky Higgins is synonymous with scrapbooking. You can’t think of one without the other. After all, Becky’s first  Creating Keepsakes article was in our fourth issue, and she has regularly contributed to the magazine ever since. Now after 12 years, 9 books and numerous articles, each of us has fallen in love with Becky, her sketches, her family and her ability to inspire. 

Becky_Titles_sm

Becky has decided that the time has come for her to leave Creating Keepsakes and set sail on a new course. We are sad to lose such a wonderful member of our team, but we are excited to see what the future will bring for her. As she stated on her blog, “I’m not going anywhere. I’m not dying. I’m not quitting this hobby. I’m not running away. I’m totally here. (And so is CK. I wish them all the best!)”

Don’t worry, Becky will continue to inspire scrapbookers all over the world, and Creating Keepsakes will continue to bring you awesome sketches and inspiring ideas. Each issue will continue to have a sketch insert (and we’ll still offer online downloadable sketches, too), because everyone loves sketches!

As a fun send-off, some of the CK staff members have written farewell notes for Becky. Please leave a note of your own to Becky in the comments section and let her know how much you’ve appreciated her and her contributions to CK.

***

I started with CK in 2001 and by then, Becky was well on her way to being the great inspiration and talent she is today. I can remember early on how impressed I was with how genuine and humble she was and how very kind she was to me. I am so blessed for having known her and for having been able to work with someone so amazingly creative! Thanks for everything, Becky. You totally rock!

Joannie McBride, Assistant Editor

***

I remember first meeting THE Becky Higgins just a few weeks after starting with CK. (Was I the luckiest person in the world or what?) She was as nice and kind as I had pictured her to be. Since then, she has continued to impress me with her kindness, her passion for scrapbooking, her love of the CK readers (and everyone), and her example of womanhood. Becky is an all-around class act. I have loved working with her on the CK team! I know she will continue to inspire us in everything she does.

Brittany Beattie, Managing Editor

 ***

It has been such a pleasure working with Becky over the years. Becky is such a wonderful person, and she is an example to me in so many ways. I’ve always been impressed with how much she has been able to accomplish, her impressive organization skills and her love for her family and the gospel. She helped CK become an amazing magazine. Our readers have loved and been inspired by Becky for so long, and now, as she pursues other ventures, I’m sure she will continue to touch lives the way she has with Creating Keepsakes. Becky, I wish you the very best. Thanks for being you.
 
Erin Bayless, Creative Director

***

As the creative editor for CK, I really admire what Becky has done for this position. As the original C.E., she’s set the bar amazingly high with her inspiring ideas and welcoming personality. On a more personal note, working with Becky has been a pure pleasure. It’s obvious that she loves what she does by the way in which she does it. As much as I’m going to miss her as a regular fixture in our magazine, I’m comforted by the fact that she is following her bliss and will remain a very close friend of the Creating Keepsakes family. I wish you all the best, sweet Becky. May this next step in your journey be everything that you hope it will be and so much more!

Megan Hoeppner, Creative Editor

***

As a budding scrapbooker, I was so inspired by Becky’s talent and accessibility. Like many others, I always felt I knew her, as I watched her family grow and thrive. Over the years, Becky’s Sketches books became seriously dog-eared in my library, and they remained a go-to resource for me when helping entry-level hobbyists understand basic page design. As I’ve come to know Becky better through trade shows and our interactions as colleagues, my respect for her has grown exponentially. Becky is a lovely, talented, generous, genuine soul.

Becky, both professionally and personally I thank you for sharing yourself through this hobby for 12 wonderful years. I’m confident that you’ll continue to inspire others and remain an ambassador for memory keeping, and I can’t wait to see the new magic that you’ll undoubtedly create!

Beth Opel , Senior Online Editor

 ***

Unlike most scrapbookers, my first experience with Becky Higgins wasn’t really about scrapbooking. Within a few months of starting work here, I had the opportunity to work with her on her Creative Cards special issue. She was incredibly gracious and easy to work with, and it was so much fun to see her talented card designs for every occasion take shape into an inspiring issue that set the bar high for all of the card-making magazines that followed it. 

That’s how Becky is: talented, kind, creative and fun. For 12 of Creating Keepsakes’ 13 years in print, her fabulous pages, sketches, fonts and more have been an integral part of what has made CK inspiring, fresh and appealing. We’ve been so lucky to have her on board. And while we’ll miss having her and her designs be a part of each and every issue, we’ll look forward to her contributing in future issues. And we love her and wish her all the best.

Jennafer Martin, Editor-in-Chief

***

I’m so impressed by Becky’s creativity, sharp eye for design and kindness. Becky has brought so much to the scrapbooking community and industry these past 12 years and has inspired thousands of women all over the world to celebrate their lives through this wonderful hobby of ours. Becky, you’ve made a difference to so many people. It’s been an honor to work with you.

Lori Fairbanks, Product Editor

 ***

I remember reading some of the very first Becky Higgins’ articles in Creating Keepsakes when I first began scrapbooking in 1997. Her letter styles were so cool and inspiring and she made me feel as though I could create beautiful pages just as she did. Over the years I’ve enjoyed seeing her family and career grow through her articles and pages. Becky, you are an inspiration and a mentor to so many, and I want to thank you for putting your passion and hobby to work to inspire all of us. You are wonderful.

Lori Anderson, Online Managing Editor

Thanks for sharing your comments. If you haven’t downloaded the CK Becky font for your library, grab your free download here. The cute font looks like this:

WeLoveBecky

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  1. There are a lot of pages in my scrapbooks that were inspired by you…some of them are over 10 years old. You’ve been inspiring me from the first CK I picked up to the most recent issue. I’m going to miss seeing your work in CK every month. Wishing you all the best!

    Comment by cindy tobey — 09/17/2009 #

  2. There are a lot of pages in my scrapbooks that were inspired by you…some of them are over 10 years old. You’ve been inspiring me from the first CK I picked up to the most recent issue. I’m going to miss seeing your work in CK every month. Wishing you all the best!

    Comment by cindy tobey — 09/17/2009 #

  3. I cannot get my CK each month without sitting down to read it cover to cover immediately! Your layouts and sketches are always among my marked pages I intend to “scraplift” later! I will miss seeing you in CK, but I’m sure I’ll see you around the scrapbooking community somwhere! Lots of luck to you, Becky!!

    Comment by Carolyn Howarth — 09/17/2009 #

  4. I cannot get my CK each month without sitting down to read it cover to cover immediately! Your layouts and sketches are always among my marked pages I intend to “scraplift” later! I will miss seeing you in CK, but I’m sure I’ll see you around the scrapbooking community somwhere! Lots of luck to you, Becky!!

    Comment by Carolyn Howarth — 09/17/2009 #

  5. Becky’s sketches and pages are the first thinng I look for when I get my CK magazine each month. She has always been my favorite and will always be my favorite. She has always inspired me and this is definately a loss. Good luck Becky!

    Comment by Julie Ball — 09/17/2009 #

  6. Becky’s sketches and pages are the first thinng I look for when I get my CK magazine each month. She has always been my favorite and will always be my favorite. She has always inspired me and this is definately a loss. Good luck Becky!

    Comment by Julie Ball — 09/17/2009 #

  7. Becky’s sketches changed the way I scrapbooked! Seven years ago I was just starting to scrapbook, and was intimidated by all the wonderful pages I found in the magazines. As a result, I would spend literally days doing and re-doing a layout, never satisfied with the results. Then I found Becky’s sketches and life got a whole lot easier. Instead of trying to duplicate magazine layouts, I used her sketches to create my own layouts. Thanks to Becky, I have come to love my own style, and enjoy this wonderful hobby to its full extent.
    So thank you Becky! May your journey bring you all the happiness and success that you deserve.
    Kerrin

    Comment by Kerrin — 09/17/2009 #

  8. Becky’s sketches changed the way I scrapbooked! Seven years ago I was just starting to scrapbook, and was intimidated by all the wonderful pages I found in the magazines. As a result, I would spend literally days doing and re-doing a layout, never satisfied with the results. Then I found Becky’s sketches and life got a whole lot easier. Instead of trying to duplicate magazine layouts, I used her sketches to create my own layouts. Thanks to Becky, I have come to love my own style, and enjoy this wonderful hobby to its full extent.
    So thank you Becky! May your journey bring you all the happiness and success that you deserve.
    Kerrin

    Comment by Kerrin — 09/17/2009 #

  9. You will be missed!
    Good luck on your new adventure!

    Comment by {vicki} — 09/17/2009 #

  10. You will be missed!
    Good luck on your new adventure!

    Comment by {vicki} — 09/17/2009 #

  11. WOW! I started scrapbooking in 2002 and MOST of my inspiration came from you, Becky! Most of the fonts I used were yours. Your sketches made my life SO much easier and I was always impressed by your dedication to your family and your “hobby”.
    Best of luck to you and your new ventures! I know whatever you will do will be successful. Take care of yourself and that beautiful family of yours!

    Comment by Nicole — 09/17/2009 #

  12. WOW! I started scrapbooking in 2002 and MOST of my inspiration came from you, Becky! Most of the fonts I used were yours. Your sketches made my life SO much easier and I was always impressed by your dedication to your family and your “hobby”.
    Best of luck to you and your new ventures! I know whatever you will do will be successful. Take care of yourself and that beautiful family of yours!

    Comment by Nicole — 09/17/2009 #

  13. I am so sorry to see you leave Becky. I would be lost without your creative sketches. They make me seem better than I would be without them. Much happiness and any future success you desire.

    Comment by Jo Gamma — 09/17/2009 #

  14. Becky, you have been such an inspiration to me. Your layouts have given me much inspiration when I had “scrappers block”, and I loved that you came up with so many sketches that I could pic one and get the creative juices flowing.
    I am sad to see you go, I loved all your articles in CK, and looked forward to them every month.
    I wish you all the very best for you and your family and may your future hold many wonderful surprises!!

    Comment by Deanna — 09/17/2009 #

  15. Picturing Creating Keepsakes without Becky is hard to do…she is synonymous with CK. Thank you Becky for all your inspiration and dedication over the years! Your legacy will live on in many scrapbook pages throughout the world!!! We are watching to see what your next venture is…

    Comment by Janet — 09/17/2009 #

  16. You will be missed. and I am definitely going to keep my eyes to see what you’ll be up too. I could always count on you helping me out when I fell into a rut with your fantastic sketches. they were easy to do and always looked fantastic.

    Comment by Pamk — 09/17/2009 #

  17. Becky and all at CK,

    I am reasonably new to scrapbooking, and only recently got hooked on CK and Becky’s work. Thankyou for sharing your life and style through scrapbooking with all of us. I love your look, and think it is a big thing to be comfortable enough to share such personal thoughts and moments with the world in your pages. Thankyou for your inspiration, and best of luck for everything ahead.

    Take care,

    Pedita Hall – Australia

    Comment by Pedita Hall - Australia — 09/17/2009 #

  18. Well Becky, I really don’t know how to put into words, the amazing inspiration you have been in my scrap booking and in my life in general. You carry yourself with such integrity and have such an amazing way about you that just draws people in. I have used your sketches for years and will continue to do so. I want to thank you for allowing me ( and everyone else) to become a part of your life, I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know you immediate and extended families through your pages, I will miss you all. May the Lord bless you and your family and keep you all safe and healthy…..

    Comment by Angie Ames (Australia) — 09/17/2009 #

  19. Thank you Becky for being such an inspiration to all of the scrapping world for the past 12 years. I remember buying your first book and using it all the time – it is completely worn out and now my sister uses it. Your style and sketches never grow old. I wish you the best in your future endeavors! Suzy Plantamura

    Comment by Suzy Plantamura — 09/17/2009 #

  20. you will be missed greatly Becky!!!

    Comment by Dalon — 09/17/2009 #

  21. thank you becky for all the great articles and sketches you have blessed us with. i always turn to the sketches first when i pick up my new ck magazine of the month! good luck with your future adventures, your sketches will continue to bring lots of inspiration and great pages in this household! god bless you and your family and once again, thank you and good luck!

    Comment by annie soliongco — 09/17/2009 #

  22. I just can’t imagine CK without Becky ;-( This last year has finally seen me becoming a blogger & spending lots of time on line so thank goodness I can still follow your blog Becky ;-D I know that change is good & the way forward but can’t help but feel sad…

    Comment by Helen Tilbury — 09/17/2009 #

  23. Becky, I’ll never forget SOY banquet 2006. You walked up to my table and asked if it was okay for you to join me. I don’t remember what I said… if I managed to say anything at all!!! I was starstruck. That welcoming vibe is something I have cherished ever since. Thanks for your kindness to a totally clueless new scrapper like me that evening, your inspiration in CK pages every month, and the honor of knowing you. I wish you all the best in your new ventures. Definitely going to miss you!
    (((HUGS)))

    Comment by Mou — 09/17/2009 #

  24. I will never forget that my take on one of Becky’s sketches was my first published page in Creating Keepsakes! She is amazing, and inspiring, and I can’t wait to see what she does next… :)

    Comment by Susan Weinroth — 09/17/2009 #

  25. The first scrapbooking book/mag I ever purchased was Becky’s Scrapbooking Secrets. It got me hooked like nothing else. I love her style, her thought methods and her simplicity. She will always be a favorite of mine.

    Thank you Becky, for sharing your time, your talents, your faith and your family with us all. I believe we are all a little better (in many ways) because of you.

    Comment by Kelsey P — 09/17/2009 #

  26. Becky your sketches & fabulous pages have always been an inspiration to me. They have, over the years, challenged me to get out of my comfortable scrapping niche to try something different (like a double every now & then :o ). I wish you success & happiness where ever you find yourself.

    You will be missed by CK fans from around the world.
    XX

    Comment by Kim Watson — 09/17/2009 #

  27. best of luck in the future and thanks for being such a big part of the ck family!

    Comment by readmorebooks — 09/17/2009 #

  28. CK without BH–say it ain’t so! This is just so hard to imagine. At least we’ll have our back issues and our books to fall back on. Wishing you every happiness in your new life, as we struggle along without you in ours. It’s been great!

    Comment by Judy Weller — 09/17/2009 #

  29. I will miss her sketches! I met her last year at CHA and she is a class act! Good luck in the future.

    Comment by Julie K — 09/17/2009 #

  30. Becky, I’ll never forget having breakfast with you in Las Vegas during the 2006 SOY week when my sister was a finalist. I have to admit that I was as starstruck as Mou was, but then I found out that you were totally real and genuine and so NICE, I felt comfortable right away. Your first sketch book certainly inspired me to create many many layouts – I’m sure that I used almost every single one! God bless you as you continue to inspire and to enjoy this beautiful life!

    Comment by susan opel — 09/17/2009 #

  31. Beacky changed the way I scrapbooked. I remember getting my first sketches book and pouring over it. I now own all of them, I use them regularly. Each time I do a page, I have to find the best sketch for the pictures and then I scrapbook it. Thank you for all that you have done to inspire me and the scrapbooking world. You are awesome! I wish you the best on your new pursuits. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

    Comment by Tami Lopez — 09/17/2009 #

  32. Thank you for all the creative inspiration over the years! Your sketches and your ideas in the Creative Companion book are well-represented in my albums. Best wishes in your future endeavors – I know you’ll do great and whatever you choose to do!

    Comment by Cynthia B. — 09/17/2009 #

  33. You have been such a great inspiration to me over the years. Your column is always the first one I go to whenever I get my subscription in the mail. You will be missed. I look forward to seeing what happens next for you! Best of luck in all you do. Thank you!!!

    Comment by Theresa Kettner — 09/17/2009 #

  34. Becky,
    We will miss you very much and good luck in your new endeavors–your sketches and articles have helped me immensely! Can’t wait to see what you come up with next and let us know what you’re doing!

    Comment by Sheri K — 09/17/2009 #

  35. Do I love Becky? As I read this story and browsed through her books/magazines, I said, “Got it, got it, got it” 9 times. Yep, I love Becky. I hope to be able to find her again sometime.

    Comment by Shereen — 09/17/2009 #

  36. Nearly always use a sketch before I scrap, and mostly it’s a Becky Higgiins sketch. Thanks so much for sharing so much of your expertise and life with CK readers over the years, and I wish you well for the future. I hope CK keeps on with the monthly page maps from all the LOs featured though (a lasting legacy of your influence!).

    Comment by Margot/NZ — 09/17/2009 #

  37. My husband knows 2 names in the scrapbooking industry–Lisa Bearnson and Becky Higgins. I am very sorry to see you leaving ck. Thanks for all your ideas. Best of luck. Let everyone know what you do next.
    Ramona

    Comment by Ramona P — 09/17/2009 #

  38. Becky you have been an inspiration to me as I have scrapbooked over the past 9 years. During that time I have experimented with many styles and techniques and seen several scrapbooking trends come and go but I’ve always been able to rely on your strong, clean designs and timeless pages for inspiration and a realistic approach to scrapbooking. Thank you so much and best of luck in whatever you chose to do.
    Katrina

    Comment by Katrina C. — 09/17/2009 #

  39. I love your articles and books and will miss your contributions to Creating Keepsakes!

    Comment by Dawn Meyer — 09/17/2009 #

  40. I love the articles and use your sketches book constantly. Thank you so much for all your help, inspiration and creativity.

    Comment by abbey — 09/17/2009 #

  41. i’ve been a huge fan of creating keepsakes from the very first issue. and to me, “CK” and “becky” just go together. you have provided us with such amazing inspiration over the years, and i have loved seeing what new ideas you would bring us each month. wishing you the best of luck with whatever you have planned next. i know this won’t be the last we see of you :)

    Comment by laura vegas — 09/17/2009 #

  42. Becky, its clear that you have done so much for CK. Your a wonderful crafty lady. Wish you the best of luck with everything Becky.

    Comment by Nicole — 09/18/2009 #

  43. WHAT! I love the way this girl scrapbooks, she’s a master!
    But God calls us on sometimes, so blessings my scap-sis!
    God bless you as you walk through life…. Thanks for all your help over the years with my books.

    Comment by Lauren — 09/22/2009 #

  44. It’s a sad day for me! I have enjoyed everything about Becky’s style for years on end. Thanks for all of the wonderful ideas and scrapbooking inspiration, Becky. Best of luck in all of life’s adventures. You are sure to be brilliant at everything you do.

    Comment by Tiffany — 09/23/2009 #

  45. I have enjoyed your sketches for many years and will miss the inspiration. Good Luck.

    Comment by Teriann — 09/28/2009 #

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