BETWEEN THE LINES: PAPER SEEDLINGS

I am taking part in a really wonderful project. Katherine, from http://katherinescorner.com, has come up with a fascinating idea for a blog series.

She has gathered together a plethora of bloggers over the age of 50 who will share their feelings about blogging in the second half of life. Each Tuesday, starting on April 19, and running for ten weeks, Katherine will feature a group who will answer two questions pertaining to their blogging niches.

Following are the unabridged versions of my answers to the two questions I was asked by Katherine:

What were you most surprised to learn when you first began blogging?

While I was preparing to embark on my new career as a blogger, I was aware that I would need a certain amount of computer know-how. I was amazed to discover just how un-tech-savvy I actually was. Not being one of the young’uns  who grew up with computer technology, this proved to be a real eye opener for me.

I needed to defer to my graphic designer/illustrator daughter, Emily, on occasion to get my blog on the road. Setting up with Blogger was quite easy, but it was always good to know that Emily would be there to nudge me on. Being a part of Blogger herself, she felt she would be able to give me the most help if I chose that blogging platform for my own blog.

However, even with Emily’s help, I became stalled time after time after time in attempting to get things done. Not wanting to continue to bother her for help – after all, she is an illustrator who is greatly in demand and has a more than full schedule of her own – I have avidly <desperately> followed many Pinterest posts and any other resource I could unearth, as well as taking various blogging courses, to add to my blogging expertise. All pretty much to no avail.

Case in point: I have yet to be successful in making the right column of my blog the correct widths. I also want to update my blog header. But have no clue how to even begin.

My original intent for starting my blog, Paper Seedlings, was to inspire others in a love for papercrafting, more specifically cardmaking. I was hoping to instill a newfound interest in an activity that is not only  beneficial to the creator, but also to the recipient of the creations. If my reader was already an avid fan of papercrafting/cardmaking, I planned to be there for them in order to facilitate an ever-growing and enduring passion for the craft. Either way, I wanted to be there to share what I love with others.

I had been a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator since 2005, and held monthly workshops in my home. I felt that by starting Paper Seedlings, I would be able to extend my outreach to more than just my local vicinity. That said, my dream of extended outreach included the addition of new customers.

In the beginning of my answer to this question, I had referred to  Paper Seedlings as a “career as a blogger”.  After 3 ½ years of blogging, I have come to the realization that I definitely cannot consider it a career – as a career generally implies something that earns money.

This has not happened. I am disappointed in that because, being of retirement age, I was really hoping that the financial side of Paper Seedlings would take off and earn me a bit of income.

 I have finally come to accept Paper Seedlings more as a commitment – a personal commitment to simply share what I love with others and hopefully offer inspiration along the way. And to keep myself creative.

You make beautiful cards. Which occasion is your favorite to create?

Why, thank you so much!

It may sound somewhat odd that I am not able to choose a favorite occasion for which to create a greeting.

Take note that on many of the cards in my blog posts, there often is no occasion mentioned. In fact, I like to think that each of my cards is a little masterpiece in itself that could be used for virtually any occasion or no occasion at all. An appropriate sentiment can always be stamped inside the card. Or, the creator/sender of a card could write their feelings and greetings inside the card.

Being a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator, and holding my monthly Stamp-In Workshops, I need to keep in mind the desires of my customers who are re-creating my designs. If I do specify a card for a certain occasion, such as a birthday, I always have other sentiments available for the girls to choose from to make it suitable for their own needs.

My favorite cards are almost always those that have no sentiment on the front of the card.

In fact, one card that I keep sitting on my desk alongside my computer is a fall-flavored one that features a sponged DSP diecut maple leaf with a stamped border, baker’s twine and a button. No sentiment whatsoever. It would be appropriate  for absolutely any occasion. Or just to enjoy looking at and eliciting a smile. 

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\"BETWEEN THE LINES\" a blog series created by Katherine from KatherinesCorner.com

APRIL 19 FEATURED BLOGGERS AGE 50 PLUS

Please visit this weeks Featured Bloggers by clicking on each blog in the list ♥

1.	www.stylingrannymama.com
2.	momscouts.blogspot.com/
3.	www.crestingthehill.com.au
4.	www.paperseedlings.com
5.	backporchervations.blogspot.com
6.	www.turnips2tangerines.com
7.	www.interiorfrugalista.com
8.	marilynstreats.com
9.	nancyonthehomefront.com
10.	vanityandmeblog.blogspot.com

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