Today we’d like to introduce you to Whitney Bell.
Hi Whitney, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
Before starting the blog, my husband and I were young parents in a one-income household. I was a stay-at-home mom teaching myself how to do home improvement projects and landscaping on a small budget while being a military wife. My favorite show to look at was Martha Stewart Living and I would watch the reruns that came out in the 90s which inspired me to start completing projects myself.
Projects as time-consuming from pulling carpet and staining hardwood floors to simply learning the proper way to make a bed. Growing up both of my parents were very handy in doing their own home improvement projects such as laminated flooring and especially their own landscaping. Both of them spent a lot of time outdoors moving, adding flowers, and even installing the fence in the backyard.
From Martha to my inspiring parents, I was motivated and felt I had a calling to create and also share my endeavors and thoughts with others. This is when I decided to start blogging, but what to call it? Special thanks to my hubby for helping me come up with the name Crafty Alane. Crafty because… well… you get it by now and Alane being my middle name.
Six years ago, when I started blogging, I decided I wanted to do my part and help in the classroom of my son and daughter. Creating class bags for each special occasion, making decorations for Thanksgiving and Christmas, and even making a school bus stand as a fundraiser for the school where some of the projects. The blog was created to highlight the many projects that moms and dads have to endure year-round.
From planting spring flowers just in time for Easter family gatherings to back-to-school preparations and budget-saving home projects consisting of items that are already in the home. Over the years we have evolved our content creation on many topics relating to the home, garden, and family lifestyle.
My goal for this blog is to offer tips and show lessons learned while raising a family. I want Crafty Alane to show inspiration and my passion for what I love to do. I don’t look at this as a hobby or a job. It is purely, my calling.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Content creating has not been easy at all, especially while managing a family as well. When I first started, I just wanted to write and take pictures of products that I was already focused on creating content for. Due to Crafty Alane being my baby, I wanted to do everything from start to finish myself without hiring professional help. After all, I do create DIY content!
Unfortunately, I struggled initially with setting up my website and with learning how to use social media while making sure the content would get out in time for the season. Content creation is very much a business from website development, social media management, being a photographer, video editing and so much more. All of this while raising three kids and being married can cause unwanted pressure and test the skills of time management for anyone.
I was also reluctant to give advice since I was learning as I went. My goal was to share what I was learning and inspire others to believe the best way you can learn and achieve is to put your fears aside and just do it. Throughout the years and to this day, I have learned so much from other bloggers and influencers and want to be a beacon for those who have been searching for content like mine.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a content creator with a blog named Crafty Alane and we write about all things home.
We are known for our organizational ideas, outdoor/indoor decors tips, gardening and landscaping tips, and lessons learned from trialing the various ideas we create. Due to my kids always having projects turning up, crafts are persistently being created that highlight my passion for creating and blogging, all while incorporating various projects that include my family.
I am most proud of not giving up on creating content. There were so many times that I thought I was using too much of my time creating videos or writing articles that no one would be interested in and not be engaged with what I had to offer. Creating projects are a passion of mine and even if I did not get paid I would still do my projects. With my motivation, determination, and support from family, I am blessed to be where I am now.
What sets us apart is that all my advice is based on personable lessons learned. Experience is the best lesson learned and without experience, we cannot build on our improving passions. DIY is an area that many people are engaged in and I think it gives a sense of accomplishment when you can say that you completed a project yourself. When I initially started crafting I’d never done anything on my own and hired and found someone else to do the task.
I’d never painted, organized my home, planted… but I learned! Crafty Alane encourages our reader family to work on projects they may have put off or to try new home decor ideas and to learn to be proud of the result no matter how it may look because YOU did it! Once I started to do my own projects and had completed them, I learned to be proud of the result no matter if it was bad or good and that has taught me so much.
This platform allows me to showcase the many things that I do as a stay-at-home mom while managing the business of this lifestyle that I love so much.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
Being a native of Jacksonville, I love mostly everything about my city.
There is an overwhelming amount of things to do for everyone. Every year, I set up my calendar for as many events to attend with the goal of attending many of them. It is also convenient that we are located a good distance from other popular cities, such as Atlanta, Orlando, and Miami.
There are opportunities if one is looking and connecting with others. On the contrary, I think it would be beneficial for the city if we had larger amusement attractions like a theme park or bringing our waterpark back.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@craftyalane.com
- Website: www.craftyalane.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/craftyalane/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/craftyalane
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNk_XtnNncHgMkyf299IIVQ
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@craftyalane
