Allison, the 16-year-old blogger and photographer at A Farm Girl’s Life, never runs out of ideas. Her blog is proof that life on her family’s farm in Virginia is full of inspiration: she publishes DIY tutorials, craft projects, word challenges, pet and photography posts, and more — and finds creative ways to engage with her readers.
You’re from a homeschooled family of seven and live on a 500-acre farm. How does blogging connect you to people around the world?
It’s amazing to me that people who live in the Philippines and India and Australia have visited my blog. Blogging makes it easy to meet people who share your interests, no matter where they live. I have made friends with so many wonderful girls, like Clara, K. A., and Hayley, to name just a few, whom I wouldn’t have met if I hadn’t started blogging.
You interact with your readers in fun, meaningful ways. What types of games and challenges do you host on your blog?
I love interacting with my readers through challenges like WordCrafters, Mystery Pictures, and Art Lab. WordCrafters is a writing challenge for young bloggers where each participant adds a chapter to the story. I created it because many of the bloggers in my circle, including me, enjoy writing.
Piece of chocolate…or a tire? Look closer in Allison’s Mystery Pictures #7.
In Mystery Pictures, I show my readers some super close-up photos I’ve taken, and they “solve the mysteries.”
Hayley, Anika, Clara, my sister Megan, and I write the Art Lab series, where we collect and show art inspiration and our own art projects.
Many bloggers focus on a particular passion, but your blog is a space for all of your interests, from DIY to photography. Where do you find your inspiration each day?
Since my site is a lifestyle blog, I usually find inspiration from, well, life! If there is a gorgeous sunset one evening, I’ll post pictures of that; if I’ve made a fun craft, I’ll post a tutorial so my readers can try it, too. Sometimes when I’m stuck I’ll continue a series I’ve started, or do a flashback post.
How do you decide what to post? Do you have an editorial calendar, or do you go with the flow?
I usually just go with the flow of the happenings in my life or the blogosphere. Often I browse through my recent pictures. That usually jogs my mind — “Oh yeah, I was going to post about my room makeover.” Sometimes when I’m overwhelmed with post ideas, I make drafts (sometimes just a title of a sentence) of each idea to help me remember them later.
What types of posts do your readers respond to the most?
My Tree Stump Fairy House post is by far the most popular since it was featured on Discover, but my other popular posts are pet posts (because how can you resist adorable animals?), and my challenges like Mystery Pictures and WordCrafters.
DIY fun from A Farm Girl’s Life
New to Allison’s blog? Here are five easy tutorials for you, your child, or whole family.
What are the top 5 tutorials on your blog? Tell us in a new post and share the link in the comments!
Make miniature clay doughnuts
Allison likes to make things out of polymer clay, which she sells on her Etsy shop, WeeLittleCrafts. This tutorial shows you how to make tiny glazed, sprinkled, and chocolate-covered doughnuts.
Build a zoo terranium
Making use of all the little plastic animals lying around, Allison and her sister Carmen show you how to create a zoo terranium in a glass aquarium using soil, wooden craft sticks, plastic eggs, cardboard, and other things.
Design a personalized name photo card
In this craft and photography project, Allison shows you how to make an accordion-style name card, using “Grandaddy” as an example.
Draw your own feathers
Got some cardstock and colored markers? This tutorial offers a few steps to make colorful, whimsical “feathers” that you can cut out and display however you’d like.
Create a cardboard roll organizer
Ever wondered what to do with all those cardboard rolls you’ve accumulated? In this project, you’ll transform a cardboard roll into a cute organizer for your knickknacks.
Great read!
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What a beautiful way to make the most out of your day-to-day life and connect with others and share your passions! I love seeing all these young people grabbing life by the horns, and inspiring others to do the same!
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Very cool! 🙂 Allison’s blog is AMAZING, and it is definitely one of my absolute favorites! 🙂
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Wow. Wow. Wow. You did a great job on this. 🙂 Allison has been excited about this.
♥ (Allison’s sister) Megan
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I like it when family supports one another! Thumbs up to you guys👍🏼
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Thanks. 🙂
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Interesting… !!
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So lovely to see a young beautiful lady who’s getting creative and sharing all the beauty around. Gorgeous!! 🙂
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Thanks so much for featuring me! This was a great post! YAY! ♥Allison
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Thanks for the inspiration!🙏🏽
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Excellent pictures and interesting reading. Thank you. I am new at blogging- do you have any suggestions for me- I am a physical therapist with information about injuries.
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We have a site called The Daily Post that has many resources on blogging and writing. The “beginner” category might have interesting reading for you:
https://wordpress.com/dailypost/category/beginner/
Bloggers can also get advice and ask questions in our weekly Community Pool, published every Monday:
https://wordpress.com/dailypost/category/community-pool/
Here’s the most recent one (published today):
https://wordpress.com/dailypost/2016/08/22/community-pool-180/
One tip on the Community Pool — it’s best to ask a specific question about your blog or a post, rather than being general (“do you have advice for me?”). You’ll get more helpful responses that way. Thanks for joining WordPress.com!
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Excellent advice- I will be sure to look at these sites!
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very Cool ! You did a great job Allison, these type of blogs are very useful specially for less advance areas. Thanks to you for sharing 🙂
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Congratulations, Allison! Her blog is one of my favorites and I greatly look up to her. 🙂 She is so sweet and I’m so happy for her. One day I hope to be a successful as her! 😀
Allison, your blog is amazing! Keep up the great work!
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You are doing a great job… Good ideas…
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Allison’s blog is one that i follow and read all the time… she’s a wonderful and great blogger 🙂
Thanks for sharing 🙂
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I truly loved it, it was awesome
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Thanks for sharing your life with us. Thank you!
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It was amazing,I got goose bumps while reading.Great job,really loved it 😍😍😍😍
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Allison has an amazing blog! She’s an excellent blogger as well as a sweet and wonderful person. That’s so neat to have a post featured in Discover. Congrats, Allison!!
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Congrats, Allison! Whenever you reply to my comments you are always really nice, your such a good blogger! I cant wait to read more of your posts!
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Keep it up
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I love your blog and will follow it immediately!
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This is quite inspiring!
I have always imagined how would life look like if lived in the suburbs..that looks so calming and relaxing!
Thanks for sharing!
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Great!!!
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Yay! Great job, Allison! Your blog is so amazing, and your posts are so interesting and engaging. Keep up the good work! ~Bella ❤
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I really enjoyed this!
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Wow, very impressed by this! You’re a great role model!
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Great post ….. good going.
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Very useful. Thank you for the good reading material.
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Allison what an awesome job u r doing. It is so nice to see young children like you doing amazing activities and your posts are so interesting and engaging. Keep up the good work! God Bless.
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very nice read!! 😆
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😊
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I love DIY posts !
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Fantastic.
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Effective and efficient!
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Pretty post…..
Nice and wonderful collection
Colorful world
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You are wow, you inspire me! Thumbs up!
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Amazing!! Can’t wait to see what’s next
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