Why I Blog

 

Someone asked me a while back why I have a blog for cardmaking. The person was curious because I do not sell anything on my site, and my site is not monetized. Yet, I post all the cards I make and try to write up a summary of the items I used in the process. I thought I would take a moment to answer that question in case anyone else was curious as well. 

The answer is quite simple, I enjoy it. I like sharing ideas and card inspiration with others. I enjoy reading other cardmakers' blogs. It also helps me to catalog my cards and progress. The details also provide me answers if I ever want to re-create a card in the future. In essence, it is an online cardmaking diary. 

I will be the first to admit my skills are rusty. I took a long hiatus because I didn't have a place to craft due to some construction projects in our home. When our daughter insisted I turn her old bedroom into a craft room, I reluctantly agreed at first. I soon got over that as I saw my room come together. I know that sounds a bit selfish--even to me--and I worried about it. However, anyone that knows me knows I would box it all in a heartbeat if my daughter ever needed her room again. 

To give you a bit of history, I bought our home from my parents when I was in my early 20s. My craft room is my own little sanctuary. I get immense pleasure in crafting in the place where I grew up, and later, my daughter grew up. It was my bedroom, long before it was hers, so the room is peaceful and holds a lot of generational memories. 

Most importantly, my craft room came at a time when I needed it most. I cannot thank my husband enough for all the time, energy, and money spent helping me pull it together. 

My dad had been sick with cancer. We were first given a timeline of 5 years. Sadly, we didn't quite make it to two, despite his valiant attempt and two rounds of chemo. I felt cheated. I wanted more time with my dad. It was challenging for me to watch my dad, such a  proud cowboy, suffering. When I was hurting most, I would go into my craft room and lose myself. I could never "escape" the reality of the situation, but it did help me with the grieving process. One of my first projects was creating a memorial box for my dad. I cried my way all the way through it, but it was such a labor of love. 

The cutter is from an actual photo of my dad that I converted into a cut file. When I look at the picture, I see my dad's effortless grace as he becomes one with his horse and the many hours I spent watching him at competitions. It brings back both tears and smiles. 

So yes, my craft room has been my inner sanctuary, a place to think upon unforgettable memories, to grieve, to find happiness. It has also been a place to occupy my time as COVID-19 keeps me indoors. It is a place to laugh as my husband sits in the chair and keeps me company. 

My blog is merely an extension of all those things. It is a place for this introvert to share with others a love of cardmaking and ideas. It is a virtual invitation to sip on a cup of coffee--or Dr. Pepper--while we exchange designs and a fondness for papercraft, vent our frustrations over imperfect cuts, and offer one another advice. This is why I blog. This is who I am. 

God bless everyone.

Wishing you a beautiful day. Stay well, and be happy.