I’ve been wanting to give vlogging a try for a while – so here we go, my very first vlog! WooT! It starts with a stop motion intro, and then the rest of the video is a couple announcements I’m very excited to share with you! (If you’re seeing this in a reader/email and the video isn’t showing up, just click here.)
(Music: Kevin MacLeod, licenced under Creative Commons)
So, thinking of ideas yet? Make sure you leave them in the comments below– as many as you want! In the spirit of fun and thinking of ideas, I’ve made a free illustrated brainstorming printable, included at the end of the post. I hope you’ll enjoy it, for anytime you need a place to jot down a brainstorm! But for this particular time of coming up with ideas for a challenge, feel free to do your brainstorming right in the comments here on my blog! :)
And if you’re curious what you could win, click here to see all of my new line of art prints – including what you saw in the background of the video. Any one of them you choose could be yours, so be sure to leave your ideas below! :)
The giveaway begins today, 4/9/12 and you need to leave your ideas by midnight Sunday (4/15/12); the poll begins next Monday (4/16/12), and will run through the following Sunday (4/22/12). You must be 18 years or older to win and a US resident. Anyone is encouraged to leave their ideas, but due to legal reasons, these are the rules for the actual giveaway. If the top pick of the poll was submitted by someone under 18 or not a US resident, that will be the next blog post topic, but the giveaway winner will be the highest voted entry from a US resident over 18.
Here is the free brainstorming printable – just click the picture to get to the PDF file. Enjoy!
Leave your comments and ideas below! I can’t wait to see what you come up with! :)
You are so darling. Beautiful vlog, great ideas. Love you.
Aw, thanks! :) Love for you and yours as well. :)
Loved your first video! Great job with the stop motion! I was going to say something food related so I’m going to have to think some more and come back.
Awesome! I think a food related theme could be a ton of fun. Can’t wait to hear! Thanks Angela! :)
Wow! I think you should create little stop motion videos like you did with your intro for your challenge! That was really awesome!
Ooh, a stop motion challenge? That would seriously be fun!! Thanks Alessandra! :)
Yeah, I like the stop motion challenge! You could also do a weekly mini-tutorial, something that costs less than a certain amount to make, or takes under X minutes to finish. That could be a ton of fun.
Fun, fun, fun! :D And neat ideas for “limiters” to the project, too. Thanks Paige!
I loved your first vlog! The stop motion was amazing and you are such a natural in front of the camera! As far as challenges go…you should do some type of “hack challenge.” It would be fun if you found old furniture or home decor and made it into something “new.” I know, for me, it would be a challenge because I don’t normally do those things myself. There’s a lot that goes into DIY projects (tips, brands, advice, technique) that could be helpful for others to think outside the box!
Oh, wow, I love it! I was actually thinking of one such “hack” project like this just the other day – it would be soooo much fun to come up with a new one every week! Thanks Allie! :D
And thanks for your kind words about my vlog, too!! I’ll ‘fess up … before I put it on my blog, I let my husband watch it, and I was SO nervous I literally hid under a blanket and covered my ears while he watched it, hahahahahaha! He was super encouraging though, and you all have been too — I really appreciate it! :D
Hi
First Vlog of April happened in April cool … Really nice work mmm u want some ideas ok
How about 1.Interior decoration using Printables [ mutually beneficial lol ] 2. Cooking videos with themes like ‘ Spicy Monday’ , ‘ Desert Tuesday ‘,’ Crunchy Sunday ‘ … My hearty wishes Cheers :)
Ha, you know, I didn’t even think about that, but I guess it is pretty fitting that I started vlogging in April, eh? Thanks so much for the ideas, I love it! Ooh, cooking videos … I’d feel like I had my own little Food Network show here on my blog, haha! :D
I agree with all my fellow fans! you are darling and sweet and full of the Love of Jesus! : ).
All these ideas sound so amazing that my suggestion is a compilation of all the incoming ideas! Something Martha Stewart would do – each challenge is different. For example one week could be the “Food Related” and next week could be a tutorial of how to make a “Stop Motion Video” : ) another week could be the “hack challenge”… you get the idea. You could call it something catchy like Martha Martha only not the Martha Martha in Luke 10:41 : )heehee
You are a treasure April. Have a blessed week!
Patti
Something new every week. Fun! :) The nice thing is … even if it won’t be different every *week*, I’ll do this next challenge for a set time (probably 8 weeks again), and then I can move onto another challenge! :) But it could be fun to do a challenge that teaches something new each week. Kinda like my learn about something new each week – but reversed!
Gotta admit, though, I’m no Martha Stewart! Everything is picture-perfect in her stuff … my world is much more messy! :D
Thanks for the idea Patti!
I’m a huge fan of stop motion and you did such a great job with this April! Agree with the comments above that you’re a natural in front of the camera – go you!!
My husband & I made a list of foods we had never cooked before and each week, worked through the list to make that food or something that represented a certain cuisine (e.g., whole fish baked in salt, lobster, authentic German food, rack of lamb). It was so much fun to plan, cook, and of course eat! Also love your idea of tackling a new kind of craft each week and that could lead to some great collaborations. Looking forward to seeing what you pick!
Oooh, foods you’ve never cooked before — what an awesome idea!! Did you blog it? Seems like I remember seeing the whole fish in one of your posts. I love it! There are definitely a lot of things I never have cooked that would be fun to tackle .. and quite possibly hilarious if I botch it up, haha
Thanks Katrina!! I appreciate it! :D
I blogged it for a little bit before the blog went kaput :) We had some catastrophes (I think I’ll leave oyster shucking to the experts from now on), but even those were great learning experiences & helped us add a few new recipes to our favorites.
Re: your Twitter question, I think your full intro would be great to use on future vlogs – any longer and I might say to shorten it so you keep viewers’ attention, but 25s went by fast as I was watching!
Oh, yeah, oyster shucking scares me!! I’ve seen too many people cut themselves trying it on the FoodNetwork!
And thanks for the feedback on the intro, that’s really helpful to know … I’ll probably keep using it like it is for now, and if it seems to be growing wearisome after a while, I’ll use a trimmed version. Thanks! :)
aw, so exciting to hear your voice! (now i will read your blog in another way, i don’t know if you understand what i mean… )
and what about the stop-motion? so lovely! but… what about the type “1” on your typewriter?
and the music? you create it too?
about challenge… well, i’m thinking about and answer later, can i?
ps. i read your rules, and i know that i can’t win (i’m not living in live in the United States.), but i want to play too, because i like your blog very much and because this seems a very amazing idea! ;)
YES, please do play and leave your ideas!!! I’d love to hear what you think! It’s sad that there are all these legal rules … but you can certainly still be involved even if you can’t “win” officially as far as the giveaway, your idea could still happen on the blog, you never know! :) Feel free to leave your ideas anytime as long as its by *before* next Monday. I’m going to adjust the description in my post to explain anyone can leave ideas and how that will all work. :)
Oh, I’m so glad you mentioned the music! I credited him when I put the video on YouTube and it’s included at the very end of the video itself down in the bottom right hand corner, but I meant to also put it here on my blog – thank you SO much for reminding me!! It’s by Kevin MacLeod – he has a really neat website (http://incompetech.com/) where he makes music you can use however you want as long as you credit him. I just updated the post so it credits him, as well as where it was in the video.
And yes, I know exactly what you mean about reading things differently when you know the person’s voice – it’s so true!
Oh, and the 1 typewriter key? I have no idea. I just got this typewriter fairly recently – I didn’t even notice the 1 was missing until I was making this video, haha. I got it more for the nostalgia than for function – it was made in Czechoslovakia, where I used to live, and I just love typewriters. :)
Anyway, thanks Fede, I’ll look forward to your ideas! :)
I loved the intro!!!!
Thanks, Jacqueline! :D
You are just so cute on video! I love it! My favorite part of the intro was when “The Flourishing Abode” came through the typewriter… that part was amazing!
What about each week showing something different you can do with a common household object… say a penny (or pennies) – something practical, something crafty, something artsy, something science-y… Just a thought. And it could be any object, really, I just thought it would be a fun way to think outside the box.
Thanks! I knew I wanted it to end with “The Flourishing Abode” being in the typewriter, but it was Tim’s idea to actually feed it through. I’m so glad he thought of it, because I love it! :)
I really like taking something everyday and having something special with it! At first I thought you meant upcycling, which I like, but then I saw you mentioned it could be something practical , something crafty, something science-y .. and I think this is such a neat idea!! To not actually have to change what the item is, just find something neat or unusual to do with it. Very fun! Thanks so much for the idea!
Hi April,
Everyone loves the vlog including me!! I think you always do such a nice job with surrounding your art with the perfect elements (Complimenting coffee mugs, typewriters, pens, tape, brick walls, etc) to bring out all of the beauty that can be highlighted with accent pieces. You could do tutorials on accents for your next photo shoot, accents for your living room, accents for child’s bed room, accents in a design, accents for the holidays.
Aw, thanks Rob!!! Yeah, I definitely think accent pieces can really set the tone, whether in photography, products, branding, etc. – this could definitely be a fun one! In fact, that’s kind of what my stop motion video was – it was taking that final photograph layout with all the various elements that tie together into what my blog is about, and focusing on each one individually to lead up to where they are all together. So very cool idea, I think this one would be very fun! :)
cute vlog
I’m pretty sure that’s the first time I ever said “cute vlog”
especially since I’ve never said “vlog” at all before today
HA! Valid point. :)
I kept thinking while I was watching it – wow, I have so many mannerisms that look just like Brianne!
1) Choosing an ingredient of the week (avocado, onion, sage, etc.) and incorporating in every meal you make (even breakfast!) for that week.
2) An unusal cookie every week (like bacon or something).
I hope living on post in Germany counts as the U.S. – sending to an APO is the same cost as shipping within the U.S.!
Oh wow! Both of those are really awesome cooking challenge ideas … love it! My mind is already whirring on the idea of a bacon cookie, haha! Baking is not my strongest suit in cooking, so tackling that as a challenge, would be great! Thanks Amanda!
Update on the rules … I’m really sorry, but I’m going to have to keep it limited to being actually within the US for legal reasons. I’m so sorry! I wish there weren’t so many laws and regulations about giveaways, but it’s unfortunately the case. :(
Still, I really appreciate your input, and may end up doing your idea! :)
april! I love this! You are such a natural Vlogger. I think you should do these more often, also, the stop motion was FANTASTIC. I loved the whole thing
Aw, thanks Danielle!! Yeah, I’ve been terrified of vlogging for forever – I think mostly because I knew I would have to listen to myself speak and I hate that, haha! But now that I’ve done it, I really had a ton of fun, and I’m definitely thinking I’ll vlog more often. :D
Good job with the vlog! The intro was fantastic!
Around thanksgiving some friends of mine did a challenge they called “30 Days of Pumpkins.” They had to come up with one recipe that included pumpkins each day in the month of November. They had desserts pretty well covered, but really felt the stretch when they tried to work it into lunch and dinner! You could adapt that into a new challenge and try a different seasonal ingredient once or twice a week. Maybe “12 Weeks of Berries”? Or “16 Weeks of Mushrooms”?
Looking forward to seeing what you do!
Fun idea! Similar to what Amanda also suggested – having to use the same ingredient during the meals of the week. I like the idea, thanks so much Laura!
Just wanted to say I enjoyed this :)! I have always wanted to try both vlogging and stop motion – so I’m impressed ;). If I think of a unique idea not already mentioned, I’ll come back and share it :)!
Aw, thanks Jess, I really appreciate it! It’s pretty fun – the biggest hurdle for me was just to jump in and do it! :)
Anyway, I’ll look forward to hearing your ideas if you come up with something! :D
Super cute video! I love love love stop motion! You’re adorable! ^_^
Aw, thanks so much Kat!! :D
Hi April, i’m here again!
i love the idea of a DIY contest, maybe using thing that we often throw away…
or what about a natural contest?
i mean something link with nature: a journey at the sea, or an experience in mountain or just walking in your garden and share with us your feelings and maybe some information that we probably don’t know (like what type of plant are in your garden :D)
it would be also interesting report some little thing that people can do for good for community, but that always overshadowing, like collect litter on the beach or mountains, or separate collection of waste (i see that in thailand teach children in school to separate collection of waste, just using colorful garbage bins with simple graphic suitable for all children… very fun to see children reproach their parents when they use the wrong one!)…
or i would also like to read in your blog about cook challenge, as others says: but really i’m more interested on tea and chocolate and smoothies recipes! ;)
another thing that can be interesting will interview different family and ask them how they live the religion in their family… oh, well, this can be only my curiosity, but i think that can give a lot of good cues for our private life and our faith too…
well, this is really a brainstorm! just write what pass on my mind :)
Oh, wow, Fede, thanks for all the ideas!! Love to have your brainstorm here. Thank you! (Oh, and I agree on the cooking … tea, chocolate, smoothies! :D Hm, maybe a cooking challenge all related to drinks?)
I know I’m past your deadline, but I had an idea that I wanted to toss your way anyway. Since summer is coming up and a lot of people will be travelling, I thought it would be neat to have road trip activities to do that are inexpensive and don’t take a whole lot of prep time. You can ask Tim about the activity shirts mom sewed for us one summer. I can’t count on having time to sew things with 3 small ones, but I thought you probably have some good ideas up your sleeve for things to occupy young children on long road trips!
You’re not past the deadline – and that’s a great idea! Yeah, Tim has told me about your mom’s activity shirts – sooo neat! That could definitely be a neat challenge!
Love the blog — very well done, especially the scrolling page in the typewriter!
Ideas? I think you should do an eight-week tutorial where you take a techno-idiot like me and teach her to set up a wordpress blog and how to use the cool functions she knows exist but can’t figure out. I volunteer to be the idiot. :)
Hahaha! Seriously, though, that would be *awesome*. Even if it doesn’t get picked, I think I’ll want to do a series on this sometime. Took me forever to learn and do all of the moving/designing/coding/etc. my blog … I might all well put all that to good use to try to make it go more smoothly for someone else! :)
Oh Lori, I could DEFINATELY! used this kind of help myself!! I hate to think of us as idiots but maybe we were separated at birth : )
Patti
Oh how embarrassing maybe I am an idiot! LOL make that “definitely” please. (blush)
Patti
*Giggle* No worries! I didn’t even catch it when I read your comment through the first time! Well, if this is something that would be helpful for you – be sure to vote for it in the poll next week! :D I think it would be really fun!
oh, i like the idea of the “eight-week tutorial to set up a wordpress blog” suggested by Lori!!
but i also like to read tips for make better photos! (i really like those that you post in your blog, but when it comes to me… well, better not talk!)
Awesome! Yeah, I could work some photography tips into it, since it’s related to design. If that is something that would be helpful, you can vote for it in the poll next week! :D
I said I had and idea in mind and that I would stop by later to share it with you so here I am. What about choosing a different print from your shop every week in order to re-create it with real objects and then posting the pics on your blog? I think that would be fun! :-)
Fun idea!! Thanks so much for stopping back by and sharing, Diana! :)
Hey Beauty! Great first video! Love the stop motion in the beginning. I wish I could create something like that for myself, but have no idea how to do that. Would you teach us how? Not sure if its that simple. Hmm…
Okay so to your question. Since you have recipes on your site…what came to mind was doing a cooking challenge and each week can be a new theme or using a new spice or something :)
If I think of anything else I’ll pop back in. Keep rocking it and doing videos.
xoxo
Alara
Thanks, Alara!! :D Yeah, I can teach about how to do stop motion … that’s actually one of the challenge ideas people have posted about! :)
Ooh, I like the idea of using a new spice each week … I absolutely loooove spices! Thanks for the ideas!
Apriiiilll!!! I loved your blog! and really liked the creativity printables stuff, but here’s the thing: I can’t open it… :(( help mee! I really want to get these but it is not opening. could you send to my email or something? :)) thanks and congrats for you blog!
Hi Natalia! Thanks you! And, hm, you’re having trouble opening the printables? Here is the url for the printable: https://www.theflourishingabode.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Brainstorm-Printable-from-TheFlourishingAbode.pdf
You should be able to just copy and paste that into your address bar. But I’d like try to figure out the problem for why it is not opening. I assume you clicked the picture of the printable, right? A new tab or window should have opened up, of the PDF document. What browser are you using? Do you have new tabs/pop-ups blocked or anything like that? Do you have the same trouble with all the printables, or just this one?
I’m actually using google chrome. But I have opened other pdf documents but I couldn’t open yours… it says “loading” it never ends loading :Ss and I tried the “city” one and it’s just the same thing. I guess I don’t have any blocked pop-ups, I don’t share the computer so I don’t really touch on these settings. but, thanks for the attention anyway :))
ohh, April, it worked! I opened! :DD thank you for the little help ;))
Oh, good I’m so glad it worked! :D
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