Welcome, 2010!
Before we get started on the new year, I think it respectful to look back on 2009 and acknowledge its victories. I don't like talking about failures. They happen, even to a really good year, but we don't need to dwell on them, now, do we?
1. As Ali Edwards recommended (not to me personally, mind you, but to the world on her blog), I chose a word for 2009 as my theme. It was FEARLESS. Be very, very careful what word you choose for your year. You just never know what might happen!
2. A few weeks later, I started a thread on SCS that celebrated Clean and Simple by putting all my neuroses and insecurities about my stamping out there for everyone to see. Clicking the post button for that thread was SCARY, but I did it anyway. So glad I did.
3. After that, several people asked me to start a weekly CAS Favorites thread. So glad I did it.
4. A few weeks after that, Miss Boo at SCS, who is very active in the challenges there, sent me a PM saying she wanted to try a weekly CAS challenge. Would I be on the design team? Me? On a design team? AAAACCCKKKK! But I said yes anyway. So glad I did.
5. A few people at SCS asked me to start a stamping blog. Easily influenced by even the slightest peer pressure, I took the plunge in March. I'd already started two other blogs, but this one terrified me. What if people realized I was just a poseur, a no-talent imitator, an AR/OCD freak?
6. After the initial shock of cold water from that plunge, I got used to the idea and realized, as I had with the thread in January, that I DID have something to share that was useful to other people. And if I poked fun at my mild AR/OCD tendencies, well, all the better.
7. I fearlessly climbed on the neologism bandwagon by coining the term CASification, or the verb form, to CASify. Taking highly embellished cards and converting them to CAS shows just how connected all card art is: CAS and highly embellished styles are just different sides of the same good design coin. No posing needed.
8. Stamping goddess Jennifer McGuire tweeted about Simplicity. Twice. The Queen of CAS herself, Julie Ebersole, occasionally comments on Simplicity. I'm a celebrity, once removed! *snort*
9. Blog it, and they will come. My subscriber count and Google followers keep growing. I don't feel at all responsible for this. It's the message, not me. ANYONE could do what I do, if they obsessed about it like I do. I'm no crafting genius. (Sorry, Marty! You're so sweet to say so, though!) I'm just a hard worker who is fearless enough to blog about it.
10. It's all your fault. When I first started, I posted sporadically. Now I post almost every day because of you. You embrace the message that Simplicity is the Ultimate Sophistication. You read my blatherings and view my cards, and you take precious time out of your lives to comment, to link to Simplicity from your blogs or various forums, to share it with friends. That spreads the message and widens the circle of CAS appreciation.
I'm not sure what 2010's word will be yet, but THANKFUL is a top contender. Thank you for encouraging me to be fearless. I'm so glad I was.
I so love your blog and am delighted that you started it. You've taught me a good deal about CAS but also about many things in life in general. So, I say thank you to you and New Year Blessings as well. I finally decided on my "word" for 2010 after reading a devotion by Joni Eareckson Tada this morning. Committed. I know - dangerous.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you chose to be fearless. I love your blog. For those of us who never excelled at finger painting or drawing in school, I appreciate the art lessons you subtly teach while showing us your beautiful cards. Telling us why you chose to make your card the way you did makes your blog stand above the rest. Happy New Year.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love your blog. I rarely ever comment though because I'm kind of shy. But I'm tired of it so this year I'm trying to overcome that and a few other things. And funny enough, my blog post yesterday was titled Fear So if you wouldn't mind, I think I'm going to take your 2009 word and use it for myself this year. If I have one tenth of the success that you did, I'd be a happy woman!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year! :)
Happy New Year, Susan -- I'm thankful for your blog and excellent/genius design skills! Keep up the excellent work. Oh, and I can't look at pears now without giggling -- just thought you'd like to know. :)
ReplyDeletehappy new year, susan.
ReplyDeletethank you for your kind words. i still beg to differ, however.
there is simple genius....that is you. and there is simple plain.... that is most of the rest of us. in my years of making cards and crafting, i have never seen such exquisite talent as you have.
from the bottom of my heart, thanks to sharing so generously with those of us whom you have never met. your prose is a joy to read, your teaching and tips are priceless. you have inspired me to stop just looking and admiring and planning (that's what i tend to do) and start getting in there and doing more.
my word for 2010 is JUMP. as in jump in and start, jump in and change when needed, jump in and do!!
thank you. thank you. thank you.
marty ferraro
Congrats with all your accomplishments, it sounds like you did have a Fearless 2009! So glad I came across your blog and look forward to your inspirations. I hope 2010 is another great year for you!
ReplyDeleteI'm so grateful you chose to be fearless! :) I enjoy your blog, and I love that you created the CAS thread/challenge etc...It's been fun to play when I can, and feel so honored to have been mentioned here & there on the faves threads! WOW!
ReplyDeleteYou are truly inspiring a whole lot of people...keep up the great work, and Happy New Year! :)
We are all so happy you picked the word 'fearless'!! Can't wait to find out what word you pick this year!! LOL!! So glad you've had such an exciting 2009 and I just know 2010 is going to be chalk full of goodness!!
ReplyDeleteSusan, I remember your CAS thread at SCS, and I've always loved your cards, but I just found your blog, and I'm so glad I did - it's an inspiration! I make all different kinds of cards, but my CAS ones are always my favorites. It must be because I'm an English major too (working on my PhD right now)! I'm looking forward to keeping up with your blog in the new year.
ReplyDeleteI love the spirit of this post Susan. Your journey last year has been incredible and is a real inspiration to us all. I can't wait to see which word you pick for 2010 and what comes of it!! As for myself, I will have to have a long, hard think before I pick a word, but I really like the idea of 'JUMP' from a previous commenter!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
I am always inspired by your blog, and it has made me be brave enough to embrace the CAS style I love, without being embarrased at not wanting to add layer upon layer, color upon color. Thank you so very much for all the time you put into making it my first choice every day. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteLisa.
Happy New Year to you and your family, Susan. Thank you for sharing your enormous talent with us. Thanks, too, for making me smile each time I open your blog. I'm toasting you with a big spoonful of black eyed peas for luck in the coming year. May it be plentiful.
ReplyDeleteThank goodness your word was fearless! Thank goodness for you, your creativity and your awesome ability to display your creativity in both an art form as well as with words!!
ReplyDeleteHugs to you!
Oh so true and I am so thankful you did venture out of your comfort zone.....what would do without your blog everyday??
ReplyDeletehugs,
Karen D.
I'm so very glad you did take the leap to start your blog as it's my daily dose of CASness!
ReplyDeleteHave a very Happy New Year and I'm looking forward to what you do in 2010.
I think my word will be Comment (and not lurk!) for this year!
I, for one, am among the hordes of people who are grateful you chose "fearless" for your theme word for 2009 - Can't wait to see what you/Simplicity have in store for 2010!!
ReplyDeleteI haven't commented before but tend to look at your blog daily for inspiration and enjoyment. Thanks for being fearless in 20009. Can't wait to see what 2010 brings.
ReplyDeleteYour blog has had a real influence on my stamping, for the better! Thanks for taking the time to blog and lift our spirits with your CAS style. This year I'd like to concentrate on making fuller use of all my supplies before adding more. Maybe my word for 2010, and maybe the whole decade, should be SATISFIED.
ReplyDeleteSusan, it's always wonderful to see your posts, but I also love to read them! You are a hoot! Thanks for sharing with us, and may this year be another fun year - THANKFUL for you! I really like what Doris has to say above. I like her word suggestion. Yes, I imagine we all have much more than we use. I like that I could be more SATISFIED with what I have and with the product. An English professor once said that a writing assignment is never finished, just abandoned at some point. He was right. At some point, a card is finished and we are satisfied. Well, too long, Susan, but thanks again for all your inspiration and humor! Hugs, Cheryl
ReplyDeleteThank you for validating my belief that clean and simple is beautiful, and that the peace and calm I feel at a beautiful CAS design is shared by others.
ReplyDeleteMy comment is CASified. Sincere THANKS for all that you share. You do make a difference!
ReplyDeleteSusan - Your blog is a source of joy and inspiration to me. You have become my morning coffee time pal and it doesn't feel right to start out my day without giggling or pondering over your words. Thanks for being such a dedicated blogger and for sharing your fearless simplicity with all of us!
ReplyDeleteTammy
Wonderful post Susan! Congrats on all you accomplished in 2009. I too remember that post embracing CAS on SCS. I have, and after attempting other styles and realizing they don't fit so well, always will be a CAS girl at heart. All that fearlessness had an effect on me too as I thoroughly enjoyed the CAS design team I shared with you that first go around.
ReplyDeleteAll the best in 2010! Can't wait to see what you bring to it :)
I feel like I made a new friend in March 2009. My first comment in April was that you were my INSPIRATION blog. I appreciate the details so we can make cards and the links to help us understand your life experience. I enjoyed commentary on husband's triathalon and your QuestioningMyIntelligence blog.
ReplyDeleteHappy new year my dear Suzan !Thanks for your good wishes.
ReplyDeleteSusan, you ROCK my world! And I hate to tell you, but YOU, my friend, are famous now! Your blog is hot, hot, hot! Happy 2010! May you find much happiness, good health, and creative inspiration!
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you chosse the word FEARLESS or you would never had started this blog that I check each day to see what card you have done and the tip bits of info about your life or views. So I wish you the best for this year and I hope it is as great as last years.
ReplyDeleteI picked a word for 2010. I don't know that my word will take me the places your word has taken you, but I think I will end up a better person for it.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you chose FEARLESS and that you followed through.
Just thought I'd check back Susan and let you know my word for 2010 is probably going to be *ADVENTUROUS*. I felt it encompassed a lot of different points and covers being fearless, trying new things, having fun, learning more and so on. I hope I can do as much with it as you did with FEARLESS last year, and I can't wait to see which word you pick for this year!!
ReplyDeleteSometimes reading your blog is the best fresh air I could ask for! Wonderful post.
ReplyDeleteJust catching up with your blog since the hols and just have to leave a comment here even if late .....
ReplyDeleteFirstly congrats on all you achieved in 2009 ... fearless you certainly were. I never knew that the style of card I love best had a name till I found you on SCS. Being a Brit I can be a bit reserved so actually putting a card out there on SCS was a big deal for me and then you started your blog and now I leave comments all over the place!!!!! I've even made it onto your favs list a few times and what a boost to the ego that was!!
Thank you so much for being fearless and such a great enabler ... I look forward to another year of following your informative and often very funny blog.
Hugs to you and all the very best for 2010 :-)
I really do enjoy reading your blog. I am thankful to you for sharing all your ideas. Happy New Year (a bit late) but still wishing it to you.
ReplyDelete