January 24, 2015

My 4th Blogaverary, RetroSketches #150 and Winnie & Walter Birthday Bash

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Four years ago today I made my first, very awkward post, here at In My Creative Opinion.
I started in on this adventure as a place to chronicle my life and a place to put a card for a challenge.  It didn't take long to find out there was a world of wonderful crafters our there, whom I now call my friends.  There have been a few more cards, many times that I shared my life with you and I imagine there will be many more.  My blog and this community have become so very important in my life. I am much more confident than I was in the beginning and I have you to thank for that.  I appreciation of you who follow me and comment on my posts I have some blog candy to share with one  lucky commenter on today's post.  Tell me why and when you started your blog and if blogging has changed you as a crafter.

Today we have another new sketch at RetroSketches.  My card uses lots of embossing and some Winnie & Walter stamps.


tracey_RS150




I am submitting this card to both Winnie & Walter's Birthday Bash Collage with Laura and Winnie & Walter's Color Combo Challenge with Heather. I used clear and silver embossing, Copic colouring, vellum and layers to build my card which uses the colours silver/aqua and blue.





I have a couple new followers joining me this weekend...

Shannon, who is a new blogger and makes the sweetest cards pop over to visit her you won't be disappointed.

Esther, also another new blogger you will want to visit!

Don't forget my blogaversary contest and enjoy the rest of your weekend.

42 comments :

Darnell said...

Congratulations, Tracey! You have given us your best card yet in celebration of your anniversary! Unbelievably gorgeous!

I started blogging to share my cards and in a few months I "got" the deal with challenges and, um, yes, it's safe to say that blogging has changed my crafting and my life! But please leave me off your candy draw as I have plenty! I just wanted to tell you that you have been a huge help to me, both in terms of our bloggie friendship and your completely impeccable CAS style of card artistry. Thank YOU!! Cheers to many, many more!! Hugs, Darnell

diana said...

No blog yet, but I love the ideas and inspiration I find on your blog and the others I follow. ;-)

ionabunny said...

Hi, congratulations on your blogaversary. Like you I started blogging to join in competitions and found a whole exciting world of fun, inspiration and love. That was just over two years ago. I used to craft alone. Now I get to share with other crafters all over the world. I have learnt so much and think my crafting has improved beyond recognition, I have more generous and less alone. Hugz to you all. You make my days sunny. Hugz

Alma Dirpaul said...

I am not a blogger yet. I am deciding whether or not to start. I love your card. My favorite colors and I love embossing. Thanks for sharing.

Mandy LaCroix said...

This is beautiful!!! Congrats on 4 yrs! Awesome blogging and creations!

Sheri Gilson said...

Beautiful! Love the embossing and soft Copic coloring!

Megan said...

I love how you did the flowers on vellum! Such a pretty look!

LeAnne said...

COngrats on your blogaversary! I am one of your most AVID fans, in case you didn't know! I believe you are the queen of CAS and your style and eye for color are unmatched!!! I started my blog in January of 2008, and it has changed greatly! I started it just to see if anyone would read it, LOL! And now I have lots of bloggy friends too! I love the stamping' blog world! I wish you many more years of blogging and stamping happiness!

Marisa said...

Happy Blogaversary!!! I remember those first tentative steps into blogging back in 2009 myself and fully agree about the wonderful people one can now call friends.

This card is gorgeous!! LOVE the embossed and coloured flowers on the vellum and background stamp in the top corner. Cheers to another fabulous year of blogging ((hugs))!

carol (krillsister) said...

Congratulations. Love the sot colors of your card. The vellum is stunning. I started my blog about 3 yrs ago. I just post my cards and do some challenges. There are times it is neglected.

Julie Tucker-Wolek said...

Congrats on your blogiversary!! I love love love this! LOVING the colors and the flowers!!

Karen Day said...

Happy Blogaversary, Tracey! I started my blog in June of 2010... so coming up on 5yrs - my how time flies. Like you, I wanted a place to put cards for challenges and to be able to comment on other's cards. Blogging has made me a more regular crafter - it has me going into my craft room almost daily, which is a good thing. I've also found so much inspiration through this whole blogging world, which I love :o)

Jacquie Southas said...

Congrats on your blogiversary, Tracey! This card is stunning - the embossed & colored flowers have a soft, stained glass look that is just so lovely :)

I signed up with Blogger in Oct/08 to comment on friends' blogs and just realized my first post was 3 years ago yesterday and had nothing to do with papercrafting. Blogging has been a great way to find inspiration, new techniques, great designs and new friends.

cm said...

Happy Blogaversary, Tracey...and wishes for many more Blogaversaries to come! Your card: stunning! You're working magic with W&W (actually, you work magic with everything you touch, my friend!). I'm enamoured with this beauty! My blogging journey began 2 years ago, initially as a place to 'house' my cards (so many 'what was I thinking' ones I actually allowed people to see..gahhhh!) and chit chat about life...an online 'journal' of sorts. And then, I received a comment, and more comments, and over time, bunches of comments! To say this community is warm, welcoming and inviting is an understatement; everyone I've "met" (ever so many!) has been a treasure! I didn't realize exactly how blessed I am, until I received the outpouring of compassion, sympathy and love that came with my dad's recent passing! To answer the question 'has blogging changed my life': YES, YES, YES! I hope that my blog is as welcoming as yours is, and in some way, my cards a wee bit inspiring. Only by blogging would I have discovered you: a friend, an inspiration, a gem!
Hugs~c

Aileen said...

Tracey, such a pretty card. I love the blue and blue/ green together. Congrats on your anniversary, 4 years wow. I have followed you for only a little of that but have looked back to the beginning. Not through the follower group but thru Feedly. I dont have a blog as I have a business one and am admin to a number of special needs groups so I dont think I could ever do it justice. BUT I have started a Flickr page and entered my very first Challange with Darnelles NBUS. I love the inspiration I get from you and others. Thank you

I Card Everyone said...

I couldn't begin to tell you how blogging has changed my life, Tracey. I owe you, and many others, for so much happiness in my life. Your card today could not be more stunning. Wow. I'm just in awe.... congratulations, my friend!
=] Michele

Lisa Elton said...

OH MY STARS what a BEAUTIFUL card!!! Happy Blogaversary Tracey! No need to add me to the draw. I just had to leave you my best wishes, we've been together in this blog journey for so long! Like you I wanted a place to share my cards and try my hand at the challenges. This is such a wonderful community of crafters and a great learning tool. But the friendships are the best reward :)

Tenia Nelson said...

YAY!! Congrats, Miss Lady!! Love your card too!! :)

Joni Andaya said...

So Awesome Tracey :)

Anita in France said...

Stunning card, Tracey ... such soft and delicate colours ... perfect with the silver embossing and vellum! Many congratulations on your fourth blogaversary ... I so appreciate all the inspiration! My blog came to life just over two years ago ... it was to link a card to a class. It grew from there and I never imagined how many wonderful and talented people I would meet or the card making journey I would take ... it's been a joy ... as has being one of your followers! Anita :)

Kara said...

so pretty! congrats on 4 years...i'm going to check out that first post!!

Joyce said...

Happy Blogaversary. This card is so stunning. Is that embossing on vellum? Amazing looking. I started blogging 3 1/2 years ago, in August 2011. Had to check because I can't remember back to before I was blogging. I started my blog to have a place to post cards for the 4 of a Kind group that Kim, Cathy, Renee and I had just started. And, YES blogging has changed my life--I don't know what I'd do all day without my bloggy friends and my blog.

Ardyth said...

Congratulations on 4 awesome years - so glad we met eachother this way!

Jinny Newlin said...

Congratulations on four years, Tracey! Your card today simply oozes elegance! Love the vellum, embossed overlay! Simply gorgeous!

Sharron said...

Awesome card--love the flowers! Happy, happy blogaversary! I started my blog the fall of 2009, just so I could enter challenges and have a place to post cards. I never imagined all the friendships that would grow from that simple act! I feel I have learned so much and grown in my stamping skills from all the inspiration I am just a click away from every day! It's so amazing to know people from all parts of the world who I never get a chance to meet IRL but consider some of my best friends!!

Sarah G said...

Congrats on your blogaversary, Tracey - and I hope you have many more! Your beautiful CAS designs are a regular source of inspiration and I always learn something from how you put your cards together. Today's card is beautiful - love the vellum banners and soft colours. I will have been blogging for a year in March and have felt really welcomed by lots of lovely comments. Crafters are so generous with their time and encouragement :)

Charity Morris-Chamberlain said...

So pretty! That was so nice of you to showcase your new followers too!

TracyM #6773 said...

HAPPY Blogaversary Tracey!!!
LOVE your card, the colours, design, the embossed vellum, LOVE IT ALL!!! I look forward to trying my hand at heat embossing vellum this week :)
I don't have a blog yet, searching through the options and planning to get started soon. I think it will be nice to have a place of my own, instead of just using Flickr.

Susie W. said...

Stunning card Tracey. Love the soft colors with that silver embossing!

I started my blog so that I could participate in card challenges. But...blogging opened up a whole world of crafters for me. I learned SO much (and continue to) from other bloggers and I've me so many wonderful people! Serving on design teams, having a couple of cards published...well, the opportunities go on and on. Who knew that blogging would lead to all of these things?

Neets B said...

Many congrats, Tracey! What a fabulous achievement and you've certainly made yourself known in blogland with your gorgeous style and appearances on lots of Design Teams. And this card is just yummy, I adore the colours you've used, it's really feminine.

I started my blog and shared my first cards in January 2013. I saw some blog ads in a craft magazine and began following a few...and I was hooked. I never knew how big the crafting community was but I'm so glad I'm now part of it and have 'met' so many lovely friends xx

Janet's Joy said...

Happy Blogaversary Tracey!!!
I started my blog in Jan. 2009. I had to look that up...lol! I started it so I could post my cards and layouts and to be able to participate in challenges and to be able to apply for design teams.

~amy~ said...

wahooooo!
Happy Blogaversary Tracey!!!!!!!

I'm so glad that you started your wonderful blog, I'm always so inspired by you!

Today's card is absolutely beautiful!

P.S. seriously though, could you imagine what life would be like without crafting/blogging?♡

Nancy in Iowa said...

Happy blogaversary! I know what you mean - about changes and blog friends. Just popped over from RetroSketches. Your card is stunning! I love a good reminder to pull out the vellum!

Hazel said...

Congratulations on your anniversary. I began blogging a few years ago and blogged very regularly and I loved it. I left it when I quit my dt work due to health issues and family situation. I want to get back into blogging and am finding the time to sit, write and enter challenges very hard. Hopefully one day soon I'll get my act together.
Hugs
Hazel xxx

Unknown said...

Happy Blogaversary Tracey!!!! I just recently came across your blog and you have provided me with so much inspiration already!! This card is Fabulous!! I love the soft blue colors you uses and love the coloring of the flowers. What a fun sketch!!
I originally started blogging in 2013 (maybe a post or 2) and stopped for a verrry long time, mainly because I was planning my wedding but also because I didnt knwo what I was doing. I recently got back into as of this year and am just loving coming across new people to inspire my creativity and playing along with challenges.
Lastly I cant thank you enough for mentioning me and my blog in your post!! That is just soo sweet of you and made my weekend!!!
Thank you:)!!

Barb Ghig said...

Happy Blogaversary, Tracey...and Congrats to you on four very successful years of blogging! I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the amazing inspiration you have provided to me on your blog, and for all the sweet comments you have left for me on my blog!

Your card is absolutely GORGEOUS! I love the softness of the vellum with the striking silver border on these flowers...so, very beautiful!

I wish you many more years of success and fun! Hugs to you!!!

Monika/Buzsy said...

Happy blog anniversary Tarcey! What a fantastic 4 years it's been... wishing you many more to come. Love the vellum tags with the heat embossed image. Great take on the sketch.

Chark said...

Love these flowers--gorgeous! I started blogging to enter contests :) and to submit to mags. I enjoy it a lot and enjoy reading blogs almost too much!

Deepti said...

Congratulations on ur 4th Blog anniversary, you have truly been an inspiration to me :) I am big fan of urs, will look forward to more of ur awesomeness :)

Miriam Prantner said...

Hooray for blog milestones! Congratulations on four years. I chuckled at your awkward comment, because I think we were all in that same boat. I started my blog in June of 2011 after I started selling CTMH, I thought it would help with that, it really didn't, but it launched me into a whole new world. I started entering challenges, learning and trying new things, making lots of friends. It's definitely changed me and has made me stretch myself creatively.

Kelly Griglione said...

I'm just at three years ... any coincidence that so many blogaversaries are in January?! New Year's resolutions, anyone?! That was my nudge to start on. My intention was to post on home decor and general craft projects ... hence the "notable nest" title : ) I'm actually not sure how I got thrown into the card-making community, but I'm so thankful I did. What an amazing group of friends, right?

Love the silver embossing on your vellum, especially with those cool colors ... gorgeous card!

maria f. said...

Happy Blogaversary, Tracey! I'm younger than you.... as far as blogs go ;) You've definitely got the blogging thing down pat now. Here's to many more years of In My Creative Opinion!