A conversation on the Color Hues DT Facebook page prompted me to look at the Stats page of my blog this morning. It turns out June 5th was the 16th anniversary of my blog, and as of this morning, I had written exactly 2400 posts. Quite a surprise, I have to admit! Starting a blog was not my idea. During his first visit, my future son-in-law talked me into setting up a blog. Actually, he set up the blog, and I’ve been going along merrily ever since. I’ve paid little attention to the technical aspects of the blog, and still fight with it every time I want to change some of the sidebar items. I think it may be time to be a bit more proactive about my technical skills.
Then out of curiosity, I started scrolling through the early archives of my blog. Although I started stamping and making cards about 25 years ago, the first papercrafting I shared on the blog were scrapbook pages.
In March 2007 I took my first online photography course through Big Picture Scrapbooking—Photography 101 with Barbara Carroll—without a doubt the best online course I ever took. Following that I started sharing more photography and entering a variety of photo and scrapbook challenges I found online.
Finally, in January of 2009, I actually posted a photo of cards I had made for a charity project, but it wasn’t until February of that year that I started sharing individual cards when I started purchasing stamps from Papertrey Ink online and following their blog. The first online card challenge I entered was in March of that year. My card style has definitely changed over the years—lots less patterned paper now, and much more CAS. But there are stamps I used that year, that I still own and use today. No wonder I have such a big collection!
It was quite a stroll down memory lane: lots of travel posts, posts about teaching (the joys and frustrations), and gratitude posts where I find the same things listed year after year—a testimony to my blessed life!
Interestingly enough, just yesterday I put together six cards after finding a series of already stamped and colored images in one of my reorganization projects (more to come on that.) One of those images was stamped with one of the wooden stamps that I purchased on my very first trip to a stamp store. The company has long gone out of business, although you can still find their stamps on Ebay and Amazon. I love this little girl with her hands full of flowers.
The stamp was made by the Delafield Stamp Company. There were no acrylic stamps when I started, and I must say stamping is much easier with clear stamps and a stamping platform like the MISTI.
The image was colored with colored pencils, and the sentiment is from a well-used and older Papertrey Ink set, “Wishes Come True.” I die cut it with the Hero Arts “Rounded Rectangles” and then cut a narrow frame from Blueberry Sky paper and added it all to a cardbase of Spring Rain. The Papertrey Ink cardstocks have been my favorite for many years.
Thanks for taking a little trip down memory lane with me. Enjoy your weekend!
What a lovely read! Congratulations on the two milestones. I’m glad you allowed yourself to be talked into blogging. It’s a pleasure to see the beautiful cards you make, and get a glimpse into life in your corner of the planet.
Congratulations on your blog anniversary & a big thank you to your now son in law for getting you started. I remember following along via Ali Edwards, your December Daily posts.
I have a sticker of this “flower girl” Your card is so perfect for a summer birthday.
I so enjoyed reading about your history with your blog, stamping, card-making … and sharing all of it here!
Wow, that is quite an achievement – 16 years of blogging! I’ve always loved your posts and photos and I’m glad we’re still getting to share more. Keep on blogging Karen!
What lovely memories of your blog evolution & another cute card!
This was such a wonderful post! Congrats on your blogaversary! A friend of mine started my(our)blog together and handed it over to me shortly after I got the hang of things. I cringe over all the changes and upgrades I have to adjust to, but somehow I’m still here too! LOL I love those older stamps you used, and wish time and time again that I’d held onto my older stamps that I thought I’d never want to use again! What an adorable bouquet of flowers!
Congratulations on 16!! That is a lot of writing and photos. You have a wonderful knack at inviting a reader into your process or event. Having fun with the old stuff is a favorite pastime of mine also. With too many products on my shelves I’ve mostly been adding geometric stamps and dies and nesting shape dies.
Love the card and impressed with your blogging run! I always enjoy your blog so much. I am curious why you have moved away from patterned paprer. I have a lot of wooden stamps too, and I have made a lot of messes over the years. The clear with the platform have helped immensely…now to get them organized!
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