Saturday, February 14, 2015

Grow Your Blog (Scroll Down for Newer Posts)


I decided to participate in the Grow Your Blog party sponsored by Vicki from 2 Bags Full and this post will (hopefully) remain at the top for the next two weeks to give visitors a chance to drop in.

2 Bags Full
Click HERE to check out the Party

It sounded like it would be fun to learn about how other bloggers got their start and to find some new internet friends and maybe followers.  So let me start by telling a little of my story and how I started blogging............

Funny how our lives can parallel the changing of the seasons. 

SPRING signifies birth.  Our formative years.  This is where I found my love of making things.  Put a crayon or paintbrush in my hand and I was happy.  As I grew, so did my interest in creating things. I learned things like crocheting, needlework, and sewing from my mother and grandmother.  I doodled in notebooks and branched out into macrame and jewelry making.  Woman's magazines were a source of great crafting ideas back then and if we had the supplies for something, or they were easily and cheaply obtainable, I was game to try.  


SUMMER - roots are firmly put down and opportunities arise.  This is when I learned that you can use your creative talents to make some money.  I took classes in calligraphy and stained glass and began to sell some of my designs to friends and family.  I also joined with some other crafty friends to expand our market.  We started doing "craft shows" and flea markets selling our handcrafts and crocheted items and managed to make a bit of a profit. I wish I had had a blog back then to document the crafts of the time.  Funny how I see some of these things becoming popular again on Pinterest boards and in blogs.  


FALL - Middle-age.  Still expanding my love of learning new crafts, I tried basketweaving, took decorative painting classes, and started dabbling in papercrafts.  I found another friend to partner up with and we sold our handcrafted and handpainted Christmas and decorative items at craft shows and consignment sales.  But as the family grew up, crafting slowed down, yet I never stopped.  The kids grew up and I found a new love - rubber stamping and whatever papercraft I could get my hands on. I was lucky enough to be able to create my son and daughter-in-law's wedding invitations and all my cards (Christmas, birthday, thank you, sympathy, shower, baby, etc.) are handmade.  I started carrying my camera with me wherever we went and about 6 years ago decided to start blogging and sharing my crafts and photos.  Blogging also helps me document what I'm doing or what I've done. And what a resource the internet has become.   Not only can you get ideas for new and exciting projects, you can also take courses and participate in swaps and exchanges with friends from all over the world.


WINTER - This is the stage I'm entering now (and I hope it turns out to be a long winter), but I'm not slowing down creatively.  I'm still learning new things.  A couple of years ago I took a class in Zentangles and have been greatly enjoying the relaxing and meditative state that it puts me in.  I've recently tried a few art challenges getting back to my "roots" in drawing and painting, collaging and experimenting with all kinds of art supplies.  This is in addition to my addiction to rubber stamps and pretty paper and the things that I can do with all that.  My goal is to do something creative each day, no matter how small to keep my creative juices flowing and as a therapy of sorts, to keep me centered and counteract the craziness and hectic pace of my workday in the school office.  


I like to post several times a week and one of those posts is usually a Christmas card for the Jingle Belle challenges because I've found that by doing a card a week for 11 months greatly cuts down on the holiday crunch.  

The cards that went along with my "story" were created with a new Stampin Up stamp set called Sheltering Tree.


I will be giving away this set of cards on February 15 and all you have to do is leave a comment with a way for me to contact you to be eligible.  I'll print out the comments and have HWNSNBP (He Whose Name Shall Not Be Published aka my husband) cut them up and randomly pick a winner.


So I hope you enjoyed my little story and that maybe you'll come back now and then to see what I'm up to or check out some of my older posts and see what I've done!  

Thanks Vicki, for hostessing this blogging get together! 

30 comments:

  1. Hello Lorraine! I love your creative blog post and your beautiful cards! Kind of makes me want to take up rubber stamping again!! They are lovely. I'm Amanda from cookingwithamanda.com -- and found you via the GYB Party. Thanks for joining and sharing your creative cards!

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  2. Hi Lorraine! I'm visiting from GYB and really enjoyed how you designed this blog post! Your cards are beautiful!

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  3. Hi Lorraine,
    So nice to meet you via the GYB party. Your cards are beautiful. I look forward to following your blog.

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  4. Congrats on joining the GYB party!!! Enjoy the wonderful experience!!!

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  5. Hi Lorraine! My name is Kelly and it's so nice to meet you! Love your cards and that beautiful snow owl on your banner! They've been seen on Lake Michigan in near Indiana Dunes.

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  6. What beautiful cards! It's so nice to meet you. I love blog hops and the chance to meet new friends! :)

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  7. Hello Lorraine!

    I found you through Grow Your Blog event. I enjoyed reading about you and your blog :). It's great to meet a fellow cardmaker, I love your take on the Four Seasons theme! :). I would like to wish you every success in your blogging adventure. You have a new follower now, too! :)

    Have a happy GYB! Hugs, Asia

    If you'd like to visit me back and find out more about my blog Under a Creative Spell, that would be fab!

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  8. I enjoyed your story and the lovely cards that you've made. I am now a follower and look forward to visiting your blog often.
    Cathy
    CraftyCat

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  9. You throw a great party. Thank you for inviting me!

    So that you know, I've become a Follower and when time permits, I'll be back to see what other beautiful things were made by your hands.

    What this party is all about is to GROW your blog and I'm hoping to do the same. When you get to Section One, please check out A Country Chic Retreat and SuZeQ Creations, my personal blog, in Section Fifteen. I'd love for you to become a Follower. Also, please subscribed so that you don't miss a single post - they'll automatically appear in your Inbox.

    Happy Blogging!
    SuZeQ

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  10. I enjoyed reading about you and learning how you came to do all the crafts you have learned. Thank you for visiting my blog yesterday!

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  11. visiting from GYB...wow...your season cards are beautiful... I can see them framed as a set!
    Cheri, the quilting nanny
    quiltingnanny(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  12. Even though I haven't made any cards in quite a while, I'm sure your blog will inspire me! Your season cards are fantastic.

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  13. Just stopped by through Grow Your Blog. I am now a follower. I have bought all my supplies and want to learn Zentangle in 2015. If you would like to visit my blog at www.ColourfulCrossStitches.blogspot.ca

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  14. Lovely work and thank you for visiting my blog and for your kind words too. So nice to meet you.

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  15. Hi Lorraine I have been looking through your blog. Your card making is truly beautiful. I love your post using the seasons and it seems so fitting. I am excited to follow you and look forward to all the new cards you will be making and sharing.

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  16. Hi Lorraine,
    Lovely to meet you! And thank you for visiting my blog.
    Your cards are so nice.
    I'll definitely be back to look around.

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  17. Love your story of life with trees!

    t_ktl at yahoo.com

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  18. Such a creative way to tell you blogging story. Thank you for the share :) I'd cherish these cards!

    Muffinteablog@gmail.com

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  19. Also, CONGRATS on reaching 100 followers!!!

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  20. First of all I have to say how delighted I was to see that snowy owl in your header - so beautiful!! I enjoyed your blog post and how you set out your life into seasons and so much agree with you that blogging does wonders to document the things you create. So nice to meet you!!

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  21. Great to meet you Lorraine!
    I'm visiting from the UK!
    Your cards are fabulous.

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  22. I love your seasonal progression in your cards here! I'm visiting from GYB, and I will be back. Following to keep up with all your adventures, Lorraine.

    Julie @ Pink Doxies

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  23. The card set is so beautiful! They should be framed. I like the stamp so much I went online to order it! Thank you for creating such a wonderful give away. Enjoyed my visit from GTB Party.

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  24. Visiting form Grow YOur Blog! Your cards are fantastic but your Zentangles blow me away.. They are and addiction that I get caught up in often.

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  25. Hello dear Lorraine! I am visiting from the GYB party and am so happy to have come across your pretty blog :) Your creations are simply lovely!

    I am a happy new follower of your and I look forward to visiting again. Hugs! Stephanie - The Enchanting Rose

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  26. Visiting from GYB, what a lovely post!! Your cards are wonderful!

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  27. Greetings from the Pacific Northwest! Your cards are awesome!

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  28. Hello from NYC! Your cards are great! I am impressed by your dedication. I need to take a lesson from you on that. :)
    - afistfuloflemons @ gmail.

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  29. What a wonderful post! I enjoyed reading about your seasons and the cards are beautiful too. We would love to see some of your zentangle work on the current challenge at Alphabet Challenges Blog. Thanks for stopping by my blog.

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It's always so nice to hear from visitors. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment.