Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Delonda Ford. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Delonda, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you share an important lesson you learned in a prior job that’s helped you in your career afterwards?
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned as a teacher is to keep the main thing, the main thing.
I worked in public education for 20 years—first as a classroom teacher and later as an assistant principal—and one truth has always stood out: people learn best when they can focus on one thing at a time. That “main thing” approach became a guiding principle for me.
Now that I teach on YouTube, I carry that same mindset into every live broadcast. Before I go live, I ask myself: What is the one thing I want people to learn today, and how can I help them get there? I rarely set too many goals for one session because my ultimate goal is confidence—helping viewers feel like they can truly do the thing they just watched me do.
Delonda, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
In November of 2020, I purchased a Cricut Explore Air 2 for my daughters for Christmas, and to my surprise, they didn’t want it. Since it was too late to return, I decided that I would learn how to use it myself. It wasn’t easy at first, but I kept experimenting, and whenever I learned something new, I shared it on Facebook.
One of my former colleagues, who didn’t even own a Cricut, suggested that I start a YouTube channel. I laughed and said, “Girl, please! I’ll only have two subscribers, me and you.” Eventually, I decided to take her advice. I recorded my first video on my cell phone and continued to share each new thing I learned. Slowly but surely, my channel began to grow.
It has been an incredible journey, and I am truly grateful for the opportunity to do what I do. In the fall of 2023, after much prayer and thoughtful conversations with my husband, I felt led to resign from my position as an Assistant Principal and pursue content creation full time. It has been a leap of faith filled with purpose, creativity, and connection.
I am most proud of the fact that I have maintained my integrity throughout this journey. I only work with companies that I can trust and that value the fact that I cannot be bought. I have also built a positive and supportive crafting community on Facebook that is unlike any other group I have seen on social media. It is more than just a group; it is a reflection of kindness, creativity, and shared passion.
How did you build your audience on social media?
I can honestly say that I have built my audience on social media by being myself and not trying to be like anyone else. I have often said that perfection is overrated, and I still believe that. My videos are not perfect, but they are relatable. I think that is what gives others confidence, knowing that mistakes can happen and it is perfectly fine.
It also helps to have an established way to connect with your community that feels natural and comfortable for you. I am very active in my Facebook group and have a set time to connect with them weekly or biweekly. They have embraced my boundaries of not handling communication through email or messenger. They know that all of our interactions take place out in the open, where everyone can learn together.
My best piece of advice is to be yourself. Do not try to copy anyone or follow someone else’s formula. You will only hurt yourself in the long run, and it is nearly impossible to maintain a facade.
I have also grown by learning from others who teach the things I want to do. I pay attention to what they do that I admire and make note of what I would choose not to do.
Finally, when building your audience, it is important to think about how you want to be viewed and remembered. When I am on camera, I am not just representing myself. I am representing my family, and I never want to do anything that would embarrass them or make them feel uncomfortable.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
When I first started my channel, my goal was to teach and inspire, and that has not changed. Whenever I start to drift off course, my husband will simply remind me to stay focused on why I started.
I don’t chase trends because I know they come and go. Whether I am recording a video, planning my content calendar, or going live, my goal remains the same: to teach and inspire. Even when I am challenging the members of my Facebook group, that purpose stays at the center.
I want people to remember me as someone who used her platform to teach, inspire others, and help them believe they could do it too.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://craftingwithdelonda.com/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/craftingwithdelonda?utm_source=qr&igshid=NGExMmI2YTkyZg%3D%3D
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/272801197679910/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@CraftingwithDelonda
- Other: Etsy: https://craftingwithdelonda.etsy.com
