I'm giving my website/blog a make over soon. It's exciting, but scary at the same time. There are a lot of things that I am planning to change up, but now I'm looking for input from you – my viewers. Please be specific. Think of how the page is set up when you first arrive…the menu bar…what you see along the side… And feel free to email me at stampyourartout@comcast.net if you don't want to leave a comment below.
- What made you visit my website in the first place?
- If you're not a subscriber, why not?
- If you are, why did you subscribe?
- What do you like? (Details help.)
- What do you NOT like?
- Are there things about other Stampin' Up! demonstrator blogs that you don't like that you hope I don't do?
- Are there things about other Stampin' Up! demonstrator blogs that you like and hope that I do?
- Are there things that are hard to find?
I really appreciate any feedback you can share with me. I love sharing my passion for paper crafting and want to continue for as long as possible. So if you like coming to my site for ideas, I hope that will continue.
Ahhhh…the days when I first starting blogging. I was learning so much so fast!
I thought I'd share with you one of my first posts when I realized I was watermarking my photos with the wrong website address. hahaha! Thankfully it was one of my first posts.
…I'm just gonna post this one with my updated bunnies photo. I'm new to this blog world, so please forgive me. It's stampyourartout.COM. 🙂 Stamp Your Art Out! ~Rachel
I shared these bunnies back on February 4, 2013 – more than 4-1/2 years ago! Wow!! Crazy that I've been blogging that long!
Photography was more of a struggle for me, too. (Although, I STILL think I could improve in this area.)
I relied on the sun for all my photos!
This cup was featured in my February 26, 2013 post.
I shared this strange "fish kisses" card on February 13, 2013. Gotta love all the shadows.
And I used to wait for a decent sunny day and photograph all my scrapbook pages at once out on my back deck. This was a layout I shared in my March 7, 2013 post.
My kiddos were much littler when I first starting blogging. If you've been with me that long you've seen them grow and get through all sorts of things – the challenges of friendship, their big owies, new experiences, moving from grade to grade, their sports, birthday parties, their trips and travel experiences, and more.
Luke loved finding this yellow caterpillar on August 20, 2013. Little did we know until later that it could have stung him and hurt him.
Here is Nick blowing out his birthday candle back in October 2013. (My other passion is decorating cakes for my kids' birthdays.)
And here was a scrapbook page I shared on February 21, 2013 of their fun in Disney World. That was a dream trip come true.
You've also seen me remodel my classroom and craft/office spaces.
Luke and Nick had a sleepover with some friends in early October 2013 when the new carpet was installed in my classroom area. (And to this day they still love to have sleepovers down there.)
And on March 3, 2016 I blogged about my fabulous new craftroom/office space.
Of course I could share so much more (my Stampin' Up! trips and celebrations, favorite projects that I've shared, exciting opportunities that I've been lucky to be a part of, etc.), but then I would need to go through all my past 4-1/2 years of blogging to recall everything.
Just know that I have LOVED the support, the comments, the encouragement, the private emails with "warm fuzzies" and the ideas you have shared with me throughout the years. Thank you so much for tuning in to what I blog about. I want to continue to share my tips, ideas, tricks, techniques, layouts, and just my overall passion of paper crafting with the you. And I hope that you will stay with me when my new website design is complete.
Thanks for visiting today.
I subscribe because I LOVE your designs… especially your alternative Paper Pumpkin ideas! One thing that I really do not like on other demonstrator’s blogs is POP UPS requiring your to sign up for this or that. I just log out as it is not worth the trouble and completely turns me off!
I’m not a fan of those either, but other demonstrators say they love them. I’ve seen some pop ups that happen only if you scroll down. I was thinking about that idea. But I appreciate you confirming my same initial thoughts. Pop ups (especially right before you can even see anything) are super annoying.
I followed your blog so long that I’ve forgotten how I found It! I especially like your cards and PP ideas and because you share sooo much, including things just to blog subscribers. I am not a fan of those pop ups either and leave the site. I do like large print, white spaces so it’s easy to read and I especially apprecaite card cuts so I don’t have to guess and use the trial and error method to figure out sizes! I like to see alternative designs for cards too–either stepped up versions, a different color combination, or different layout of same card–like you do with the PP kits. I like hearing your thought process as you plan cards, why you use that color or how you chose that sentiment, where you get your ideas, etc. I’m very left brained and can CASE well but am working on creating and appreciate hearing how you think since you’re so creative! Looking forward to your new design but am happy with what you have now!
I’ll echo everything Jeanie and Susan said…. The 2 things I appreciate most from SU bloggers are card dimensions and a search feature. By the time I see something on Pinterest it could be from a much older
post and I like when I can search instead of having to page through… I found your site from Paper Pumpkin and
it has led me to stay with PP due to your alternate ideas, Thanks for sharing!!
This helps very much! Thanks Susan. I had to laugh when you said “left brained,” because I never figured out what I am. I love math and puzzles and logic-type things. But I’m also into the visual arts, music and feel I’m pretty in tune with how others feel – empathetic. What does that make me? I think I take a very mathematical approach to what I design.
Thanks for your input Julie. It sounds like I don’t have to change much as far as what I share. And that makes me feel good. 🙂 I’ll be sure to keep the search feature. (I love that too.)
I am a fellow SU! demo, but just for hobby…I don’t hold classes or any gatherings. I enjoy your blog because you have great ideas for Paper Pumpkin! You are so very clever!! I like that you show pictures as well as an occasional video to complement your post. I like your blog set-up as it is currently. I have noticed that it seems other blogs are changing things which I find difficult to navigate. I don’t like being redirected through the blog and having to click on every post or page. When I visit a blog I like to click to “home” and continuously scroll down through each post…soooo easy! And I get to see the most of what blogger shares in that way. I do like a “gallery” button which pulls up projects and cards for a quick idea. That’s just my two cents! Thank you for sharing so much of what you make and do, and your travels too!! Good luck with the switch-over:)
Tracy B
One more thing…I don’t like a pop up inviting me to receive a newsletter that blocks my view…I’m sure it is THE best way to get attention, but it’s annoying. I don’t mind it as a pop up at the top of page as a “bar” and not a big box.
How nice you are asking for suggestions from your viewers. I’ve always liked your presentations and see where many of the demonstrators are changing their blogs so understand your thoughts for change.
I prefer a clean look and find France Martin, Dawn Griffith and Angie Pyjas’s new blog designs very easy on the eyes and easy to navigate. I like that they show the week’s posts along with the current post.
I find Tami White’s new blog overwhelming because everything is so small and cluttered.
I don’t care for the picture changing to another post feature that some use.
I love the demonstrators who list the measurements on the blog.
I hope this is helpful and wish you much success with your new design.
Thanks so much for your feedback, Tracy. I appreciate your specifics. (I agree on the pop ups!)
Thanks so much Heather! Yes everyone that is giving me feedback is helping me to narrow down things that I want to keep and things that I want to change. I appreciate your time. 🙂