Saturday, August 21, 2010

My First Blogaversary Has Arrived (and I almost missed it!!)


Boy, where did the year go??!!  I almost missed my own Blogaversary amidst the business of summer!!  I'm blaming it on my chlorintated brain LOL!

I remember when I decided to start a blog last summer and my daughter's teacher at the time graciously came over and helped me take my first baby steps into blog land (thanks, Rick!!).  I wanted a place where I could record my card making adventures and keep the old brain cells firing through learning something new.  This past year has more than exceeded any expectations I ever had.  Over the past year I have experienced the following:

1.  Meeting and getting to know wonderful card making bloggers.

2.  Stretching my creative skills through various challenges.

3.  Having the amazing honour and privilege of being part of the Curtain Call Design Team (thank you
     Stacey!!) and being one of the July Guest Designer for Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps (thank you Korin!).

4.  I have been known to put off house cleaning and other chores just so I can stamp or post.

5.  Being creatively stretched is a good thing even though the process can be painful at times LOL! 

6.  The inspiration in blog land is endless.

7.  Being on a stamping budget isn't much fun, but it sure makes you enjoy what you have and be very
     selective in what you buy :)

8.  Love sharing a little bit of me through my cards and ramblings on my posts.

9.  Having over one hundred followers - thank you followers!! 

10.Card makers have huge hearts (((hugs))).

11.I love having a blog :D
 
These are a few of the things that come to mind.  I know there are many others but you'll be reading till midnight if I get on a roll, so I will leave it at these for now.

As a way of saying thank you, here are the blog candy goodies:

  • Stamping Up's Whimsical Words stamp set
  • The Greeting Farm's Sweet Message stamp set
  • 2 packages of half pearls
  • An A Muse "Happy Birthday" stamp
  • Two spools of ribbon
  • Some mini flower brads
  • Whatever additional goodies cross my path before the closing date.

What do you have to do to win?

1.  Leave a comment on this post by Thursday, August 26th @ 11.59 pm (PST)
2.  Tell me what you've enjoyed about blogging and/or a good book you've read (I'm always looking for
     new books to read).
3.  Become a follower.

The winner will be randomly chosen and announced on Friday, August 27th.  The winner will have five days to contact me (just click on "view my complete profile" on the right sidebar and then "e-mail me") otherwise another name will be drawn.  This contest is open to anyone, though any overseas winner will have a long wait as the shipping mode will be on the slow boat :)

Thanks again to all of you who have made this such a wonderful year of blogging (((hugs))).  I'm  looking forward to another fun year of blogging :) 

Have a fabulous day and I'll be back tomorrow with my Curtain Call card.

19 comments:

Julie said...

I love having my blog as well Marisa! I love getting to know people all over the world!!! P.S......I'm already a follower! :)

Maureen said...

happy anniversary, happy anniversary, happy anniversary...HAAA-ppy anniversary!! Woot, woot...let me get the party started and be #1 commenter...because sometimes #1 does show up on the random number generator :) Hmm, a good book...well I'm reading Angela's Ashes right now, very dark and sad, but I really wanted to read it as I read Teacher Man last year by Frank McCourt. But the writing is fantastic and it's hard to put down....loved Eat, Pray, Love and read that last month because I want to see the movie, but HAVE to read the book first :) Congrats on a fabulous first year...here's to more {clink glass full of champagne!}

Wanda Cullen said...

Congrats, Marisa, on your 1st year of blogging! I treasure you as one of those special cyber friends who so faithfully visits and comments on my blog. Love your sense of humor and genuineness that radiates on your blog! I'm already a follower, so I've met that part of the requirements. Blogging is something I am fairly new at (it will be a year in January) and it's been a wonderful experience for me. As for a book I've read...I finished House Rules by Jodi Picoult while on vacation. It was a story of a family with a son who had Asperger's...he gets accused of murder and goes on trial...a good read to help you better understand the intense struggles of living with this handicap. I have to work with quite a few autistic and Asperger's clients and I could relate with so many of the behaviors. Thanks for the blog candy offer...look forward to many more visits to your blog!

Kristina said...

Happy Anniversary to you! Happy Anniversary to you! Happy Anniversary.... Dear Marisa! Happy Anniversary to you! Has it really been a whole year already? Where does time go? Well, I for one, am so glad that you had that friend help you get online and in touch with us all. I have so thoroughly enjoyed getting to know you and consider you a true friend. :) Someday we'll actually have to meet in person, lol. What a journey cardmaking has taken you on!! So fun! Hmm... As for a good book. How do I choose just one?! I am the bookaholic, fyi. Let's see, lately I've read The Hunger Games (ya novel, but sooooooo good!), Firefly Lane (I laughed. I cried. Just such a great story.), The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (don't judge the book by it's cover. LOVED this book!), The Help, and I just finished The Forgotten Garden (which I actually got the recommendation off of Nichole Heady's blog). I should just make you an honorary book club member and e-mail you our book title each month. :)

Congrats again, my friend!!!

Vicki Dutcher said...

OOO HAPPY BLOGAVERSRY!! Fast year? I am so glad I found your wonderful blog - your creations are simply wonderful and I love visiting! Getting an email sub would ROCK (just saying) - Have fun celebrating!! I haven't read a book to recommend - I am too busy stamping~~BWAAHAHAHA!!

liz at liz's paper loft said...

happy anniversary! I don't have any books to recommend, because I spend too much time blogging! Well, what do I like about your blog? Answer: everything! I love the clean lines that your cards have, with just the right amount of embellishments! They're just perfect!

Christina said...

A big Congratulations on your blogaversary! I'm already looking forward to another year of following your creations. I am so thankful that I started blogging for all of the new friends and inspiration I have found here. Isn't technology wonderful sometimes? Thanks for the chance to win!

Tanya said...

Happy anniversary Marisa! What I like most about blogging is meeting new people, everyone has been so sweet. Books? I don't know what kind you are into, recently I have read The Tale of Edgar Sawtelle, The Shack, Pillars of the Earth, they are all so very different, I don't have a favorite genre, I read everything. One of my all time faves is a classic, Pride and Prejudice. I already follow ya. :)

Pam Speidel said...

CONGRATS on your ONE YEAR Blogaversary Marisa!!! :) I'm so happy you decided to blog because you are such a faithful blog friend...your comments and encouragement make my day! ♥ This is what I've enjoyed most about blogging...the special friendships...not to mention the never-ending inspiration too!
As for a book recommendation...I use to read a lot, but not so much since I'm blogging all the time. What type of books do you like to read and I'll ask my sister who's the "librarian" for some recommendations. Happy stamping, blogging & reading, my friend! Hugs & Smiles, Pam :)

Melissa said...

Congrats on celebrating one year, Marisa! I love coming to see your creations and reading all about how they "came to be." I have to say the best thing about blogging is everything - getting to share the love of craft, meeting other {addicts} and seeing how much love and creativity is out there within the papercrafting community. As far as books go - I just finished the "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" trilogy by Stieg Larsson and loved it. I would also recommend the Pillars of the Earth and World Without End by Ken Follett, Firefly Lane was awesome (just remember your kleenex)...

I love to read and could go on and on but I'll stop there. I would also recommend the Twilight series and the House of Night series if you're OK with vampires and stuff like that... :)

Congrats again and here's to many many more!

Colleen Dietrich said...

Hey, congratulations, Marisa! Wow - one year already. I'm glad blogging has been so rewarding for you.

I have enjoyed getting to know you and you seem like a laid-back lady - something I wish I was!!

Cynthia said...

Happy Anniversary Marisa! I am fairly new to blog-surfing but have been checking yours out for months and months. Little did I know that yours was a "young blog" when I started reading you!

As far as books go....there are 2 called "Arms of Love" and "Surrender" by Carmen Marcoux that are fantastic! You'd love them.

Hope your next year is as creative and successful as the first! Congratulations again and God Bless,
Cynthia <><

Dawn B. said...

I love your blog too Marisa.. I cannot believe it has been a year. WOW time goes fast.. I am wishing the summer was not almost over..

I just read Firefly Lane but I cannot remember what the author's name was.. Darn. My daughter took it back to college with her.. It was written in my era so I had a good time reading it.. A bit of a tear jerker..

Your blog looks so pretty.. Love the butterflies..:)

Stacey Schafer said...

happy blogoversary, Marisa! you're one of the sweetest, most talented, blog friends that I've made! Cheers to a great 2nd year of blogging, too:)

BrossArtAddiction said...

Congrats on your 1 year anniversary! I too am coming up on my 1st year and thought I missed mine too after reading your post...lol! Anyways wonderful wonderful candy! Thanks for the chance to win! I'm posting this on my blog too! :D

Karen said...

Happy 1 year Blogaversary! Love your blog and your cards. Such gorgeous colors and clean lines.

I read "The Forgotten Garden" by Kate Morton while I was on vacation. It is a great book!

Keep up the great blog!

Kathy Jones said...

CONGRATS on your Blogaversary!!! What do I enjoy about blogging - 'meeting' people and making friends and being inspired by all the creative people out there!! :) As for books - if you love the Outlander series - you'll love the Into the Wilderness by Sara Donati!! :)

Evelyn Runge said...

Happy Anniversay! I love reading blogs and seeing everyones beautiful work - yours included. I feel I don't have a creative bone in me so getting ideas from blogs is how I get by :)

Heather said...

Marisa! Howdy! I've missed the deadline for your draw but that's OK 'cuz I really just want to say congrats on your blogaversary! It's been a year you say?!?!? WOW. Have a great weekend... Hugz. Izzy :)