Last year I totally ignored my blog’s birthday, so the more reason to celebrate the big blogoversary this year. And it’s today: I have been writing blog posts and sharing my creative life for eight years now. Are you impressed?
To help me celebrate the blogoversary we, me and my blog sponsor Cute Tape, are offering a 35 USD gift certificate to one lucky commenter below. Yippie!
To enter: Let me know one good thing and one bad thing about blogging (the highs and lows of blogging) in the comment and I will pick a winner next week. If you’re not a blogger yourself you are more than welcome to enter, just let me know good and/or bad that reading blogs bring.
Edit: The winner of the 35 usd in Glenda’s shop is picked. Congratulations to Ingrid of My Peacetree! Have fun with the tape!
Also, you can still enter giveaway 1 and giveaway 2 from my own birthday last week! Because it’s fun to celebrate!
Decorating with washi tape
Washi tape is fun and you can do all kinds of fun things with it! I will share two very cool ideas in a post tomorrow, but for not a few ideas I’ve seen on flickr. You can decorate almost anything with washi tape.
I have kind of sneaked in my first sponsor in the sidebar and I am hoping for more… The first one is an online shop that mostly sell decorative masking tape called washi tape. I am very grateful to Glenda of Cute Tape for this sponsorship, helping me to create awesome content for this blog. I would like to offer others sponsor spots here soon.
Thanks for celebrating my eight blogoversary with me!
Oh my, this is the giveaway I hope to win out of every giveaway I’ve ever entered before! I’ve always wanted to own some of this decorative tape, and this is my chance.
Pro of blogging: getting to ramble on about things I like to people who enjoy the same things. My most recent example of this is Pottermore and art journaling!
Con of blogging: Sometimes I fall out of the habit of blogging and I feel pressured to start writing regularly.
Love me some washi tape!
A pro of blogging for me is connecting with other art journalers and creatives, since I don’t have anyone in my day to day life who understands this obsession. A con is the time it takes… I’m a busy mama you know, so don’t get to write as much or as in depth as I’d like.
Well, the pros would absolutely have to be connecting to people all over the world in ways marvelous and unexpected. I recently read a blog and recognized a Maori ceremonial cloak. A woman’s little girl was just starting school and they put the cloak on her the first day of school. We spent a year in NZ when one of my girls started school. I also spent a year in Sweden (in Orebro) and now keep reading about how wonderful iHanna is in other people’s blogs. Lots and lots of connections. For me, the downside is actually spelling. I have a little dyslexia and my spell check won’t automatically read my mind and is clueless sometimes about what I want to say. Also those “tests” to make sure I’m not some spamming bot are actually tricky for me. I fail a lot. Apparently just the kind of thing to also pick out my weakness. But I persevere. I will not be mistaken for a bot. Congratulations on 8 years. That is quite an accomplishment. I’ve barely cracked a month (he he).
Ooh! I love tape! I would love a chance to win this giveaway.
Pros: It’s a visual diary of all you have done. It’s fun to connect with other people.
Cons: I fall into the comparison trap a lot and compare my artwork and life with everybody else’s.
What a great giveaway. I ordered from Cute Tape last week thanks to the mention in your blog (enabler!) and their offerings are WONDERFUL; super fast shipping, too. So I’d love to win, I’ll just get that out of the way, ok?
Blogging pro: sharing art, ideas, highs, lows…life. My blog is called Chaos and Art – enough said! And what a huge pro to see your followers growing!
Blogging con: time; it evaporates and then there’s the feeling that you NEED to post something, anything.
Pros: definitely the community. Cons: Addiction to page view data.
What a great giveaway; who wouldn’t love some fab tape??? I just celebrated my one-year (congrats on EIGHT!) and the pros are definitely the supportive and inclusive community as well as getting to know people from all over the world. I like having a place to share my art and ideas and online discoveries with others. The cons? Hmmmm – maybe how much time I spend following all my fave blogs and reading and commenting. But I enjoy it so much, is it really a con? I know, maybe a con is that I feel intimidated to share my efforts when it seems like everyone else is so much more talented and creative – so what’s that, blog talent envy? Luckily I’m usually able to channel it into learning or inspiration once I remind myself that I too have my creative moments!
Congratulations on your blogoversary!! Keep up the good work! :)
What I love about blogging is that you create an online journal of your life with photo’s and all.
However one of the downside of blogging is that some people sometime seem like they’re out to get you in the comment section (I mean, seriously, why would someone do that?!)
xx
Wow 8 years! Congrats! One good thing about blogging is the community & making good friends from it. The one bad is trying to write when you feel unmotivated, forced or have writers block. Thanks!
congrats on your blogoversary! i love your blog (follow in reader). i love this tape!
the lows are definitely not enough time to devote as i would like
the highs are when i post something that connects with someone and they like it enough to follow or leave a comment —
Eight years, wow, that is amazing. Hard to believe, that’s a very long time and your posts continue as always to inspire and are creative every time I see one. Congrats to you. xox
Congrats on your blogoversary! I’ve just recently found your blog and I love it, you truly inspire me! :)
The one good thing about blogging, well the best thing, for me is the people I’ve found, the friends I’ve made. Nothing better in the world than a good friend! :) The bad thing is feeling guilty about not having enough time to leave a comment on every blog I’d like to.
Of course I’m impressed with eight years (i’m soon to be 4 myself). Congratz :-) One good thing about beeing a blogger is that I always think, contemplate and reflect upon things. Things wich I write about, take photos of…. one bad thing is that I’m “tied” to the computer every day to make a blogpost. (I have to get better at pre-posting a blogpost or two once in a while, or even don’t post each day…)
Congratulations, Brilliant Blogger Girl ! 8 Years is an amzing amount of time and dedication. How wonderful !
Thank you for offering such a sweet treat for your celebration. I would say one down side of blogging is finding enough time to comment and visit other bloggers. And yet, it is the community and friendships that I have received through blogging that is my very favorite thing about it! For me, the good definitely outweighs the bad !
Here’s to IHanna blog – a wonderful, creative, inspiring place in Blogland !
Cheers !
Good thing: having a “soft spot” for all those beautiful thoughts and ideas to fly away and land, somewhere besides my head. It feels like such a relief sometimes to sit and write and know that someone, somewhere is receiving the words I send out there.
Bad thing: when I write something really deep and emotional and no one comments! Oh, well :)
Thank you for this opportunity! Have a perfect day :)
Congratulations on 8 years! Your blog and art have been a source of great pleasure to me.
I’d love to win the giveaway because I’ve just about mortgaged my life to cutetape.com for more washi tape.
Pro of blogging – writing again, and having someone read my words. Con of blogging – forgetting to blog, because I’m so busy reading other people’s blogs!
As my friend K says, “Can you ever have enough washi tape?” cutetape.com has some of the, well, cutest tape I’ve ever seen!
:)))
The pro of blogging is actually seeing my words go out there into the universe, and actually touch someone’s life–someone I have never met, perhaps, but someone who I reached and in whose day I’ve made a difference.
The con? I’d say it’s getting slightly depressed because no one left a comment. Then I start wondering if anyone is really reading!
The thing I like best about blogging is that it makes me think about and appreciate my art and craft more. It makes it mire special because I publically acknowledge it.
The worst thing for me is wondering what people think, if they even see it at all. Also, I got to a point where I was spending more time blogging than creating, and I didn’t feel like that was right.
What’s your high and low Hanna?
Happy Blogaversary! The thing I love most about having a blog is being able to connect to people with the same interest as me. I missed that when I closed my old blog and it led me to start another one. The worst thing about having a blog is the feelings of guilt when you don’t post anything for too long.
I’ve seen washi tape all over the internet but I’ve never had any. Looks like fun stuff!
The good thing about blogging is the inspiration I get from other blogs. The bad things are the time I spend looking at blogs rather than being creative and the money I spend because I see art things on blogs that I want!
Happy Blogaversary!
Good thing about blogging: It’s an opportunity to share your creative vision and energy with others
Bad thing about blogging: When you feel like no one is reading your blog and you feel all alone in cyberspace.
Hi! Love that photo of the washi tape re-done keyboard! So cute!! Ok so I love that with blogging I can learn from others and share my own knowledge letting others learn from me. The low for blogging is that I feel pressured to blog every day or pretty close to that – otherwise I feel like I’m neglecting the few viewers that I have! I hope other people don’t feel that same way! I would love love to win the tape!! Fingers are crossed!
Happy 8th blog birthday Hanna! Thank you for all that you do. I wish you more amazing years in blogland!!
And now for your question:
The good: A great outlet to express individuality and creativity and nurture a sense of community.
The bad: Lack of time to periodically churn out quality blog posts.
OMgoodness! I would love to win more washi tape. I am an obsessive collector of it and really have to force myself to use it! It’s so pretty blah, blah, blah! I don’t have a blog but the plus is getting to learn so much from everyone sharing tutorials/videos and info about how they made their projects. The bad is how much time you can drain away looking at all the blogs. But that is a choice. I sometimes turn away from the computer so I can get some of my art done!
Aloha, Kate
Ohhh I love the look of washi tape but haven’t been able to fit it in my budget! I’d love to win some!
Pros of reading blogs: I love to see what other artsy people have been doing, and other art journal blogs can help inspire my pages. I also love reading tutorials, life advice, and other random peeks into peoples’ lives.
Some of the cons are that sometimes I spend too much time looking for tutorials and browsing art journalists’ blogs that I neglect my own journaling, writing, and photography. It’s also too easy to start comparing what I produce with what others produce. I’m working on kicking those bad habits though! (:
Happy Blogaversary! eight years is amazing! i don’t have a blog myself. but i sure enjoy reading them.
pros of reading blogs for me. the inspiration that i get from them. the connection to other people with similar interests. the biggest con for me, is that they are very addicting. i could spend hours reading them.
thanks for the opportunity to win some great tape.
I love washi tape! Blogging not so much LOL It is hard to get into a routine so it is sporadic. And there are so many great blogs out there to read I don’t have much confidence in mine.
My favorite part of blogging is the inspiration it gives me to keep creating. That’s probably also the downside. I sometimes feel pressured to make something to put on my blog, but that has also inspired some of my coolest projects.
Happy Blog-birthday!
Hahaha here goes.
Pros of blogging: Its an awesome form of journal-ing thoughts that’s easy and I love to write and think of words to use so its a good practice for me. Also, at times I try to blog in 3 languages (English, Chinese, French), so that I can practice my Chinese and French haha! I think its also a good way to track my personal growth. I’ve looked at my earliest blog posts and I wonder that I can write something as immature as that! Its a reflection of my heart and the things I care about, and the things I want to share with the world.
Cons: Sometimes, knowing that people read my blog, the posts begin to get fake. Its a challenge to always be authentic – and sometimes you don’t really want to be too authentic cuz after all, anyone can read it!
:)
YJ
I just got my first order from Cute Tape and I am loving all the tapes. There are so many ways to use it. Congratulations on eight years! I always enjoy reading your posts and find out about so many cool things. Best thing for me about blogging is it’s been one of my motivators to make creative time a regular habit and priority for me as a stay-at-home mom. The worst is when I feel I should post something but it’s just not in me. I’m finding ways around that though.
I’m new to art journalling and don’t a have blog. I’m sothankful for the blogs. They are very helpful in getting me started with all their fun, creative ideas. The only problem is that I get so caught up reading them that I don’t have time to work on my projects.
the good about blogging is meeting new people, seeing amazing art, and learning, the bad about blogging is thinking about topics for the blog. I like to keep my blog upbeat and happy, with art, and sometimes tips, but somedays its hard to be upbeat.
i don’t do much blogging myself but I love to look at other people’s blogs! I really enjoy seeing all the talent and being inspired by all that I see. I am also appreciative of all the knowledge and support that is shared. On the other side sometimes when I read a blog or see photographs or art I start to compare myself and if I’m not careful I can get down on myself for not being more talented, or having it all together or having what sounds like a better life. I try to stop myself and remember what I like about the blogs I follow is that they are positive and that even though the writer may have issues they usually focus on the positive. Or when they do share some concern, it is done in such a way that I feel closer to them for sharing an experience I can relate to in some way. The one thing I find most sad are the posts where you can tell someone feels like they have to post (to reach some goal or build business or something I guess) but that they have lost the joy of blogging and it appears they feel trapped into needing to blog or feel guilty for not blogging. Thank you Hanna for your wonderful blog!
I blog because it keeps me connected with the very larger world much beyond my town, state, and country. I am an introvert and the internet, with its ability to communicate when you are feeling that you are in the right place, is so wonderful for me.
The down side of the internet: I am intermittent with my blog. It is hard enough to keep up with a life that has become increasingly global even if one is sedentary, much less the special connections that one makes through the internet.
Mail art helps me. I send people that strike a chord with me cards and they often send me cards back. It’s a way of communicating and letting people know that I appreciate them without having to always use words and email.
Congratulations on your 8th anniversary – what a milestone!
What I love about blogging is sharing my creative process with my readers and the dialogue that happens – it inspires me to keep going and creating even when my spark seems so dim.
What I dislike the most about blogging is feeling pressure to post regularly and come up with new ideas to post. Some months I just want to be quiet :)
I recently discoverd washi tape and now I’m hooked!
Pro of blogging: Getting to share my Peace Corps experience with friends and family as well as introducing them to a new culture.
Con of blogging: I get so busy during the week that I don’t feel like updating which means I don’t update for a couple of weeks. Therefore I have to summarize all of my activities which can lead to a long post.
A definite pro is, like many others have already mentioned, the connection between people who in real life would never meet. Blogging is sharing with certain randomness: you never know who might read your words and see your pictures. And the other way round, too: you never know where reading one blog may lead you, what treasures you might find (like the washi tape I found through your blog, or this blog. Blogging has made me feel even more that we live in and share one world.
And the cons? You take a change when you write about things important to you. What if no-one reads it? What if no-one sees what you see? Reading blogs is can be rather time consuming, but Russel Ray has come up with a solution, blog camping. Sometimes it also can be a little depressing reading about all the wonderful things other people are doing. You know, the I-wish-I-had-the-time/money/opportunity/luck/idea/whatever -kind of thinking. While reading blogs can be and is inspiring, it can also be not. But these are anxieties we all have in our real life too. There is never enough time to do it all. Just do what you can, now.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY HANNA! Blogging, hmmmmmmm. I love all the cool photos bloggers include with their posts. A downfall is I can spend sooooo much time blog
hopping that i don’t get anything else done!
Washi Tape! Yay!
Happy Blogoversary!
Pro blog reading: discovering so many tricks, DIY and ideas to try out in the future, keeping up with everything and having always so many posts to read, discovering how rich and large the blogging (art/craft/journaling) community is..
Con blog reading: sometimes feeling like I should create more, and wanting to write a blog too, but I tried it before and I just don’t keep the habit…
Thank you!
Congratulations on your blogoversary! (Would so love some washi tape :)
For me the best side of blogging is being connected to artists around the world. Not only because of the tricks and ideas, mostly because it’s comforting to see so many people thinking along the same lines.
The bad side is the ups and downs – sometime all you can think of is “Oh, need to blog this”, like 5 times a day and then 5 days go by without a single post because real life takes over …
Bye, Kitty
I am not a blogger, but I read them almost daily. All kinds of them. The cons I think are blogs that aren’t regularly updated and become outdated. It’s no fun reading the same articles over and over again because there aren’t any new ones added. The pros I think are reading the ones that are very well written and thought out with a lot of detail. It keeps me interested in the blog itself and makes me want to read more from that particular site.
Jösses amalia vilken kreativ och super duktig tjej du är, allt är så superläckert, gillar allt jag ser.
Glad att du tittade in på min blogg och lämnade en kommentar så jag hittade till din,
kram Lena
I am now blogging for about 3 and a half years. I started very slow, but now I do it at a regular basis. A pro is for me: I keep busy, because I can only blog when I have something to blog about, don’t I? And I love the contacts with other bloggers. A con is in my opinion that it gives a bit of pressure to publish a post, plus I tend to keep hanging on the internet too long and that’s contraproductive. But I love all the creative inspiration!
Happy blog anniversary.
I don’t blog but I love to read them. The great thing about blogs is hearing from people who enjoy the same things that I do. Seeing the way they do things, how they work art into their lives and looking at their pages provides tons of information. The only downside is that one blog leads to another and another until it takes all morning to read my blogs. This is usually a good thing, since I really enjoy it, unless the kids are needing me. Then it is difficult.
Amazing giveaway, thank you!!! :)
The thing I like best about blogging is that I can document my life together with knowing other people in the world. The thing I don’t like is that it needs a lot of time, if you want to write a good blog.
Congratulations!!
I don’t have a blog but I love reading a wide variety of blogs on a regular basis! the best are a mix of subjects with lots of pictures!!
Eight years of blogging !!! THAT in itself is an accomplishment, never mind all the “Hanna juice” it took to make all the wonderfully creative things you actually put in the blog. I am new to your blog, and I love it. Congratulations, hi five yourself, eight years is a huge accomplishment. I have been blogging for a couple of years and have given plenty of thought to the pros and cons of blogging. The pros are numerous, mainly that I get to share different parts of me and my creative life with people who actually spend some of their precious time to read about it. All the giddiness in me when I am doing a project gets shared -that is a big deal to me. The cons … well … There is only ONE real con. It is not the lack of time, or the computer and techi malfunctions that come with the territory. The ONLY real con to blogging is that not all of my readers blog, themselves, this leaves me with an emptiness that I find difficult to put into words. They, thru my blog, get to know me, and feel like, over time, they have become closer to me, but unfortunately I cannot reciprocate the closeness … blogging fills me with joy – or so I think until I see a comment from someone who doesn’t blog. They seem, unreachable, and that doesn’t even begin to talk about all the readers who don’t leave a comment, those, to me, seem to be floating out in cyberspace, hidden from my view. If only they all knew how much I long to know them, their interests, their weather, their creative endevours and thoughts, their little spot in life where they find refuge. Those are my pros and cons, how about you? Do you agree?
Carolina
Happy Blogaversary! What a great milestone. And what a great giveaway! I’m with everyone else…washi tape is SO-OOO-OO much fun, and can be used in so many ways. Thanks so much for the giveaway opportunity.
The best part of blogging has been making connections with people all over the country and the world who have interests similar to mine. It is so energizing to make those contacts and build those relationships.
The worst part of blogging is the pressure to be consistent about posting. I am seldom consistent about anything, so this has been a real exercise in discipline for me.
This is a great giveaway! I think pros of blogs are that you can connect with other like-minded people with similar interests and get inspired. Cons would be that it is very easy to get caught up and spend a lot of time reading and commenting on blogs.
Congrats on your 8th anniversary blogging, that’s something to be proud of! I don’t have a blog myself but I enjoy reading others’ blogs. I’ve learned so much about art journaling just from reading blogs. The negative would be that I spend too much time online and not enough time arting! Thanks for the chance to win!
The best thing about blogging is meeting other bloggers online and exchanging ideas! The thing I find most challenging about blogging is waiting… and waiting… to get a reader base built up. It seems like it takes forever!
P.S.- I <3 washi tape!!!! I've taken on a new obsession since I started doing mixed media collages. :)
Love your blog – congrats on your anniversary. I am coming up to 2 yrs blogging. Best thing — blogging makes me want to get things finished so I can share them, and I love reading people’s comments. The down side is spending too much time on the computer once I’m there. Thanks for the great giveaway opportunity.
I haven’t added any posts to my blog in quite some time, as I can only be obsessed with one thing at a time, and right now it’s art journaling’s time to be obsessed over! But the good thing about blogging — the immense amount of creative talent and ideas that are available!! The bad thing about blogging — I find myself losing myself in time (in a good way) because I still want to look at “just one more blog”. =)
I blog, but hardly. I guess I don’t like that I can’t seem to get the hang of it (well not yet at least). I follow quite a few blogs and am amazed at the work that gets put into it all the time. I love reading about all different things on this world wide web and seem to find more everyday! Thanks for the contest and thanks for keeping up the great blog!!
Congratulations on the blog anniversary! Best thing about reading blogs is finding so much inspiration to go make something. The down side is spending too much time on the computer instead of making something. Thanks for the give-away and have fun taking photos for Week in the Life.
I don’t blog, but I love reading them. I love to see the pictures that are posted (so inspiring!), but I also find that I get very distracted looking at other people’s work and forget to create my own.
Thank you for hosting the contest. I hope I win! :)
The best thing about blogging for me is meeting people with common interests. The bad thing is finding the time to do it all. I was able to type posts and comment on some blogs but never was able to respond to comments and connect like I wanted to so stopped all together. :( I hope to return one day though. Thanks for the chance to win. I haven’t tried washi tape before.:)
-Staci
Not a blogger but a HUGE follower on many blogs! I love to read and find inspiration! I can imagine it takes up quite a bit of time! Bit I would imagine it’s very rewarding!!! Congrats on 8 years!!!!
The best thing about blogging? No doubt about it, the amazing sharing that goes on with such generosity all over the craft blog scene. I have learned SSOOOOOooooo much since keeping my own blog and reading hundreds of others.
The down side is – quite honestly – this …… I sometimes feel there is an expectation to be upbeat and cheerful when I blog, for who wants to read the mundane or the sad, which we all have in our lives, and I struggle to post consistently cheerful posts. If I am absent then people are concerned, so what to do, be honest and lose readers? be absent and lose readers? be less than honest and lose your authentic voice?
Answers on a postcard please, preferably a handmade one!
I can always count on delightful color when I stop by your blog!
Highs of blogging: Getting feedback on my art work, feeling that I’ve created some beauty that others appreciate. Lows of blogging: Sometimes it is difficult to know what to do next, or finding the time to post! Having a consistent schedule & posting at least once a week. More often would be better…
Hmm… good thing is that you get to put your ideas and projects out there for people to see and to get their feedback and thoughts on what you’ve been doing. The bad thing is that sometimes it’s easy to let the blogging part take time away from the creating part! I tend to let my blogging slide in favor of creating these days, but I used to be the opposite. And washi tape? Love it! I made a tin inspired by Daisy Yellow, too!
thanks for celebrating with us. may this be a beautifully artist year for you.
I don’t blog myself but spend a lot of time enjoying artistic blogs. Best part – being inspired and enjoying the wealth of colors and happiness. Worst part, the more I enjoy looking the less time I have at my own art table.
Happy blogversary! Wow, 8 years.. yes, I’m impressed! I’ve blogged for a while than I stopped and now I’m back, with a new blog and a new purpose. I feel pretty much like you, blogging helps me paying attention to the details, the simple and beauty in daily life, and of course, sharing this is the biggest pleasure. It’s also a great exercise for expressing myself.
Washi tapes are just perfect, love them! Thanks for the worderful giveaway!
Good thing- the public sketchbook aspect of it all. Want to know why, where, how? Look at my blog. Want to see what I’m about. Look at my blog. And I feel that’s the same with other creatives. Their work is great in it’s own right but to explore their blog is far more intimate.
Bad thing- little brothers snooping, ditto creepy ex boyfriends, ex-friends. Part of the territory but still damn irritating, especially when you can see the search engine terms they’ve been using to find you. Cringy!
The best thing about blogging is the wonderful and encouraging comments that I receive from people all over the world – it really serves to remind me that there really are some kind, thoughtful people out there.
One bad thing about blogging is that it is hard to stick to a schedule and keep posting regularly, even on days and weeks when I don’t feel like it. Even this isn’t really that bad though; it is just that I am so bad with procrastination!
This is a great giveaway, so thanks very much for it! I haven’t used washi tapes before, but I would love the chance to try them out.
Happy Blogoversery to you!!
I have been drooling over Cute Tape for a while now, I keep changing my mind which ones I want to start with :)
For me, one of the best parts of blogging is the inspiration. I can sometimes get lazy if left to my own devices, but because I have committed to regularly scheduled posts on my blog, I get off my duff and find inspiration. The process keeps me active and arting, even when I think I’m having a day when I’d rather hide in bed all day!
Really, the “bad” part of blogging is the same answer…sometimes I’d rather hide in bed all day long, but no! The blog pulls me out cuz I’ve committed to being active!
Thanks for the great giveaway and opportunity, I LOVE the questions and all of the answers here…I really can feel the ethereal connection to everyone, cuz I feel the same :)
xoxo MotherDana
The best thing about blogging is being able to visit so many ‘friends’ in a day:)
the worst thing is when you go on a little ‘blog hop’ – and find a really great blog… get distracted and then can’t find it again :(
I love the inspiration that I have gotten from bloggers. I have tried new art projects, recipes, outfits, yoga poses, music, movies, books… that I never would have dreamed of if those in my blogging community had not shared with such passion and excitement!
Lately I have been struggling with having to decide if I want to blog and read blogs or spend the small amount of free time I have actually trying the things I like to read about. There has been a lot less blogging and more creating. Good and bad both I guess.
My creating has included lots of washi tape… that’s what led me here… a new inspiration. Thanks for the giveaway and congrats on 8 years!
oo, i would love to win this! i haven’t yet been able to find or play with washi tape, and i think it would be a lovely creative adventure.
creativity and inspiration definitely have their own ebb and flow, and it’s tough to keep writing when you are having a dry spell. however, the connections i make through the process of sharing are absolutely incredible. i have met so many wonderful friends through my site and am humbled that i can touch lives through my writing!
thanks, hanna! happy 8 years!
ingrid
The best thing about blogging is being able to share! I share my life with my colleagues and my family (mostly), through my blog, which is primarily an online journal. It’s also a good record for myself- where I’ve been, what I’ve done, how I’ve grown.
The worst thing? Feeling guilty when I haven’t updated in a while….
Washi tapes are really great! I have a couple, and always want more! They are so easy to get addicted to!
love love love tape, and YOU are the one who got me started on it! I would collect a million kinds! And I actually make my own sometimes when I don’t have the perfect pattern.
I’m so sorry I missed your birthday, my friend, and I am sending you heartfelt happy Blogversary regards! I would not be the crafter/artist I am without your site and encouragement!
Happy blog anniversary! Thanks for this great giveaway. I would love to win it. I’ve been looking for this tape everywhere locally. Really wanted to start using it. Keep up the wonderful blog and celebrating your life. I love it!
I’m a newbie in the blogging world–only a little more than 3 months. The sense of satisfaction I get when I put together a post is the pay off for me. Just as in creating art the joy is in the process. But then the downside since I’m new is the lack of comments and feedback. But I’m determined to carry on and I recently read about a site that will collect your years worth of posts into a book form. That’s appealing because I’m an art journaler so my blogging will be another journal on my shelf!
I’ve never even heard of washi tape until just recently but I love the way it looks.
but
i
LOVE your blog! Really enjoyed your washi tape ideas. Would LOVE to win some washi tape.
I am new to reading blogs..past month or two. A friend told me about Pinterest and Many of the great pins lead to amazing blogs like yours! I looked for washi tape and eventually you end up on a great site. The blogs are a great way to see what other like-minded folks are doing, and get some creative inspiration. I found you through a link, but then cruise your blog and find dozens more! I love it.
Only problem is…I find so many great ideas and I know I couldn’t possibly live long enough to do all of them. Not to worry though, I will give it my best effort!
Thanks for sharing so many great ideas, and being the inspiration that busy moms often need. Happy Anniversary!
The nicest thing of blogging is the possibility of sharing your art with likeminded people, especially if you haven’t that kind of people in your circle of friends. What I dread the most is feeling guilty for not posting regularly and that’s because it takes a lot of time. I always am amazed about the enormous amount of posts that other bloggers, including you, Hanna, come up with. So I’m more the blogreader type than the blogging type.
Congrats on eight years of blogging! May 20 will mark my 6th year of blogging but I haven’t done a tenth with my blog that you have done with yours! A lot of that has to do with the biggest “con” for me when it comes to blogging: time! When I have to choose my time & energy expenditures so carefully, blogging, sadly, often gets moved to the bottom of the to do list. On the positive side, I feel good when I blog because the self-expression in a public, supportive forum is so freeing. It is all about finding the balance.
Thank you Hanna for all the incredible inspiration!
Fina washiider! Jag har tv oppnade rullar, som vntar p vad de ska anvndas till. Vet inte om tid finns kvar att vara med i utlotningen, men jag svarar nd. Det bsta med bloggandet r att det gett mig en hel bunt nya vnner och kontakter. Flera som jag trffat i verkligheten ocks.
Det smsta mste vara att det tar tid. Tid som jag inte alltid fr in i mitt liv. Mvh Maria
Grattis till jubilet! :)
On the good side – my blog-writing has got me to know quite a few awesome other bloggers!
On the bad side – well, the only thing I can think about is that it takes some time?
Happy blog birthday! My birthday is Sunday and, um, I would love some washi tape lol.
oh washi tapes are so so lovely~ I have been blogging for a few years now, for me the most exciting thing about blogging is being able to put my work out there which would otherwise be impossible. The internet has become a main channel for people to share ideas, their works and for me, to learn from others. The downside is that I usually spend a lot of time coming up with ideas for blog post and actually writing them.
The best thing about reading blogs is getting to know others like me, and being inspired by their work. Though I value solitude, the community nature of blogging as opened up a world of art and creative minds and inspired and supported me, even when they don’t even know I am lurking on their site. The best thing about writing a blog is getting my thoughts and images down on “paper” and occasionally having someone write and say “hey, that’s cool”. I like the ability to reflect on where I have been and how far I have come.
The worst thing????
Worrying that what I have to say will not be interesting, and/or not writing down the things I think might be interesting and those thoughts get lost forever.
Happy Anniversary!
I love your blog!
Love your site, LOVE the examples given on washi tape uses. I am jonesin’ for the washi tape!!
For me…blogging has been fits and starts. I am so inspired by ihanna…it’s the blog I’ve followed the longest. My challenge has been actually blogging! LOL! I have two part-time jobs and two kids! What I love the most about blogging is sharing what I have to offer with so many who have shared what they have to offer. This exchange, across continents and oceans, is inspiring, energizing and just a lot of fun. Thank you, Hanna
Blogging is about connection. I’ve come to deeply value the people who leave comments because I can experience real connectedness, and it’s wonderful. And while others have said this, too, the time it takes me to think of, write, and edit a blog post is a big chunk of time out of my day. Blogging 6 days a week can be a lot of work. So far, not bad enough to make me quit.
Eight years–that is amazing and wonderful! I’m happy to have enjoyed much of your blog! Congratulations for sticking with it!
I hst r det tta r sen jag brjade blogga ocks, och din blogg var en av dom frsta jag brjade lsa, och den enda jag fortfarande lser. Tror att det betyder att du gr nnting rtt… :)
Jag har diskuterat bloggande med ett par killar p jobbet, dom tycker att det verkar vara det meningslsaste man kan gra, och att dom som bloggar inte kan ha nt liv. Mitt argument r att bloggare ofta har mycket mera liv n dom som inte bloggar – vi mste ju hitta p saker att fylla vra bloggar med, ist fr att sitta av vr tid framfr TVn! Dessutom – tack vare att jag brjade blogga har jag trffat p trevliga, inspirerande mnniskor, jag har blivit bra mycket bttre p att rita, jag har publicerats i bcker och en kalender… Och det r bara till att brja med!
Ngot dligt finns egentligen inte, om jag fr dligt samvete fr att jag inte har skrivit p ett tag, det har ju inget med bloggandet att gra, det r mera det kroniska dliga samvetet man har fr att inte rcka till – typiskt fr alla kvinnor tror jag.
S fr mig r bloggandet “the silver lining”, det som piffar upp vardagen och gr den till nnting speciellt.
One good thing about reading blogs is the inspiration! Decorating, photography, crafting, cooking…. The bad thing is that I don’t get anything done!
WOW! Thanks for celebrating your bloggy bday with such a great giveaway!!
What’s to Love: the inspiration, the connection to the art tribe community, the tutorials, and free downloads!
What’s not to love: the time that it takes to oogle and drool through blogs, taking away from CREATING TIME!
I read your blog for a few weeks now and its very inpiring.
I just started blogging and here are my two cents.
Good thing about blogging: It’s a great way to share my ideas, projects, photography.
Bad thing about blogging: Sometimes a lack of time oder ideas to post regularly.
Happy blog anniversary! :)
thanks for all you do Hanna!! I love reading your blog – and since I have you on my blog roll on my blog I get to see when you’ve posted a new entry!! congrats on your anniversary – that is quite an achievement!!
Hi Hanna,
Uhhh I love this idea with the tape, instant satisfaction for the impatient, time-restricted creative soul. So here we go-my entry to the competition. I would bring a new shine to some otherwise old, tired objects that my heart just doesn’t want to let go off yet:-)
Take care and keep going…I always enjoy visiting your side.
Kemp
The high for me in blogging is that it is a great way to express yourself and the low that it can be stressful sometimes to always have new stuff on your blog, which is why I am on blogpause for a long time now.
Oh, I love Cute Tape!! I would love to have more tape because it’s the most cheerful thing in the world! The down side of blogging is that I can’t seem to stick with it … lack of time and intimidation by the technoannoyance of the software. The good thing is that, when I do it, it pushes me to do things I might not otherwise do and be able to take an objective view of myself. I am going to push a bit and make a goal to do at least one post a month.
What fun, Hanna! I love blogging; I get to meet so many people and glean so many ideas. Bad? I never have the time, it seems, to do what I’d like. Far more posts get written in my head!
The best thing about blogging is that I document my life. I can go back and see what I have done. Especially good at days when I feel like I have done nothing at all.
The worst thing about blogging is that it is addictive… My family often think I should get away from the computer…
Happy Blogoversary! The best thing about blogging are all those new blog-friends I have got:-) The worst thing is feeling panicked about not having time to keep in touch with everyone:-(
Hello Hannah…
I am just a blog reader :) and I love to see nice and inspiring things from blogs. But, sometimes I’ m just reading craft blog without action in real life because I’m too lazy hehe… that’s bad thing about blogging (^_^).
I’ve been AWOL from online for a few crazy weeks, so I am late to say so, but Happy Blog Birthday anyway, Hanna. It is always so lovely and cheerful here. Thanks for all you do! :)
The best thing about blogging is getting to “meet” new people who share your interests. I have found several new blogs to follow simply by clicking on the names of people who leave comments on my blog. I get to see so many different worlds.
The worst thing about blogging is that it is so easy to let lapse. There is no alarm ringing “You forgot to post on your blog!” and you have to keep up with it on your own. I’m not good at that. I tend to not post unless I have something interesting to share. Sometimes that means going weeks without posting anything at all. But I’ve been getting better. :)
Happy Blog Birthday!