HEART TO HEART

created in MDS

I need to "talk" to you from the bottom of my heart. 

When I began my blog, Paper Seedlings, in September of 2012, I had such lofty, grandiose hopes and expectations. It took me several months to do what I thought I needed to "do it right" and finally write my first post.

As a Stampin' Up! demonstrator in demonstrator-saturated Central Wisconsin, I had thought that by sharing what I love through a blog would give me a much longer reach, virtually an unlimited reach, to instill creative ideas in others of a like mind. And hopefully gain new customers and paper crafting friends through my efforts.

Because I have bad arthritis in my hands and a terrible case of nervousness/klutziness, I decided immediately that I would not be able to touch my audience in a desirable fashion by offering videos as so many demonstrators do on their blogs. I had thought instead that by offering very concise tutorials a few times each month would appeal to my readers. I have had a few appreciative comments about my tutorials -- thank you! I had also several times asked that if you are ever inspired by anything I offered on Paper Seedlings and want to purchase items to maybe do a project that I presented, to please denote me as your Stampin' Up! Demonstrator when placing your order. It has never happened.

On a few occasions, I've attempted to offer contests and challenges with only very limited success. Most of the participants are wonderful people I already know.

My little quote ideas that I included from the start have garnered no interest whatsoever. I had thought there were lots of people like me who love and collect quotes, and that this would maybe be appealing. Nope.

You seem to love my little granddaughter, Stella, almost as much as I do by the comments I receive when I post scrapbook layouts of her I created in MDS. But, obviously I've never inspired anyone enough to want to jump on the MDS bandwagon.

THEN, a few posts ago, I thought maybe I'd hit upon a potential winner! When I presented my sanded embossed tissue box in a card, you seemed delighted. Yayyy! So, I decided I would move into projects that use nontraditional/unconventional materials in conjunction with my beloved Stampin' Up! products. You know, kind of "green" crafting? Recycle. Reuse.

So, along those lines, I created my mystery backgrounds, inviting readers to guess the technique and materials used in the eight backgrounds. I received a few responses. And people, in the comments I received, seemed interested and excited.

I could hardly wait to create a card from one of the backgrounds and present it, along with details on how they were made. Even though the post was published early Sunday morning, so far I have received merely one comment. And that is from a dear dear friend who lives about 40 miles from me and comes to my Stamp-In workshops.

I had promised myself that I would not whine, so I am going to pull on my big girl pants, and get on with it.

I have been feeling very, very discouraged at the lack of success I've experienced in attempting to plant little creative paper seedlings in my blog readers' minds. The other day I made a decision. If I still feel the same at the end of this month, I will discontinue my blog.

Which brings me to the big favor I'd like to ask of you. If you've been touched or inspired in some positive way by what I've been offering in Paper Seedlings over the past almost year and a half, please let me know. If you have any suggestions for ways that I could improve what I offer or any other ideas for me, please share them also.

In other words, make me want to keep on keeping on. I really do want to continue planting Paper Seedlings.

Paper
Smiles.