My favorite projects of 2012

I didn't realize it until I looked back at all my old entries, but I started this blog almost a year ago.  This year, I have been able to try a lot of new things, creative-wise. Some were successful and others weren't as much, but I definitely learned a lot! Here's a look at my favorite projects:

 

Oh, and make sure to check out my year-end wrap-up layout at The Paper Haus blog!
Here is a peek:

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I can't wait to create some more in 2013! I have big plans.  Actually, I am going to list them here and hopefully come back and cross them off as I complete them...maybe even add some more as I go along!

My One Little Word for 2013 will be SUCCEED. I want to make sure I now only have good intentions to start things, but also to complete and finish them.  So, here are the creative accomplishments I will succeed at in 2013 (I would say "try" but you know what Yoda says...)

1. Finish my December Daily.
2. Get published.
3. Learn to take better photos of my projects (perhaps make a lightbox?).
4. Create at least 1 project a month just for me/or for a non-required challenge.
5. Make at least one Project: Life style spread (digital or traditional).
6. Join a product design team.
7. Organize my craft room.
8. Try a new technique from by Pinterest techniques board (or elsewhere) at least once a month.

My other goals are a bit more personal but I will list them (in vague form) here anyways...
1. Fitness
2. Career
3. Organization
4. Spiritual

I hope everyone has a happy and safe New Year's Eve and New Year's Day! See you in 2013 :)

A few shares...

Here are a couple projects I haven't gotten around to sharing yet. The very talented Ashli of purplemailbox has a great Layout Linky going on, and she inspired me to share a few things!

First, I have a layout I just completed for CSI: Color, stories, and investigation #51.  I have been meaning to complete one of their fun challenges for awhile now, so I'm glad I finally got around to it!

Next, here is a digi art journal page using lots of kits from Captivated Visions (full credits here). I used this pin for inspiration.

Finally, here is a steampunk-ish/Victorian/whatever She Art girl! I like how her outfit turned out, but she ended up a bit too tiny for the canvas, I think. Also the background looks a bit vomit-y! Oh well!

Thanks for taking a look! I have everyone has a wonderful and safe New Year's Eve and Day!

Sibling Hugs

I have been struggling lately to do any scrapping, and I'm not sure why. I decided to use a challenge to give me some inspiration and motivation. ColourQ has great color challenges, and they are digi-friendly, so I decided to try challenge #168:

Here's my layout:

(Click on it for full credits)

My niece and nephew are adorable, aren't they?? With only being a year apart, they are definitely best friends :)

Play Date Cafe Challenge 162

This week, we have some heavenly colors for you!

And, we have an amazing sponsor, Jenni Bowlin Studios!

Here is a look at my art journal page this week:

Jenni Bowlin sent me that fun grid stamp to use, and I really loved it. I decided do a page with a lot of white space, so that was the result! It is hard for me, as I wanted to keep adding stuff, but I think it turned out pretty well at the end.



I hope to see you play along in The Play Date Cafe Challenge---it's a two week challenge due to Christmas, so you have plenty of time!

Play Date Cafe Challenge #161

Well, the Christmas season is in full swing, and the color story this week is perfect to get you in the mood, if you aren't already!

Click here or on the image to get all the information about this week's challenge!!

This week, I was inspired by this pin:

                                                                                           Source: mayflaum.com via Lynn on Pinterest

Here's my take:

I used a lot of odds and ends this week...the only supplies by specific known manufacturers are a Crafter's Workshop Harlequin Stencil, Green striped washi tape by Freckled Fawn, stickers by SRM, and a tiny harlequin stamp by Tim Holtz.

This week's sponsor is Simon Says Stamp!

Make sure to go to The Play Date Cafe Challenge Blog for more information on how you could win a gift card to Simon Says Stamp!

Paper Haus and Winter Whimsy

Have you seen this completely free magazine---it has 100+ pages of gorgeous images, ideas, and inspiration! 

Open publication - Free publishing - More cards

While you're at it, check out the final days of The Paper Haus 12 Days of Christmas giveaways!

And, here's a look at some more Winter Whimsy canvases I've made:

 

 

Hope you like them!

Playdate Cafe Challenge #160

And the colors this week are Mountain Top, Icy Blue, and Snowflake. Very appropriate for winter, I'd say!

This week has been a bit rough--both Jay and I have been sick. This happens very rarely, thank goodness (us both being sick at the same time), but it is not a pretty sight! We have been miserable and not wanting to do a whole lot but sit around and watch tv.

So when I went to make a creation for the challenge, all I could think of was that I wasn't feeling well!  I actually made a tag first:

I don't hate it, but the image didn't stamp quite right and I tried to fix it and it made it worse. Then the angle of the photograph makes it look funny, too. After messing around with it for awhile, I gave up and decided to make a journal page with my current feelings on it:

I actually really like how this turned out, even if I was "feeling blue" when I made it :)

Supplies of note: typewriter roller wheel stamp from Stampin' Up, washi by Queen and Co, flower by Making Memories, number stencil by Dylusions.

I hope you all are having a better week than me!

So, if you want to join the challenge, check out The Play Date Cafe! All you need to do is make a new project of any type, using the color story above, then link us up! You could win a gift certificate from Scrapbookpal.com!

Paper Haus Blog Hop

 Hello! Are you here for the Paper Haus blog hop? If you came from Marilyn's blog, then you are at the right place!

If you don't know what I'm talking about, then go to The Paper Haus Blog for all the details! Also make sure you are a fan of Paper Haus on facebook so you won't miss anything.

Paper Haus actually has 12 giveaways going on in the next 12 days! And they are all amazing, I wish I could win myself! :D

 Want to see a little creation I made to help get everyone in the Christmas/winter spirit?

I drew these little guys by hand and used a bunch of paint, sprays, stamps, stencils etc. I used a few rub-ons from Stampin' Up.

I was definitely inspired by Christy Tomlinson's Winter Whimsy Workshop, and this image I found on pinterest. They are made by Country Kitty.

And, I made this digital version of a snowman like Christy's:

I drew him myself and added products from Captivated Visions, (click on it for full credits) and I used digital brushes etc, to get him looking just right :) I use GIMP.

(Just a note: I get a lot of comments asking how I make digital collages like this. It's not an easy question to answer, honestly....but if you do have specific questions I'd be happy to answer, if I can!)


Now, make sure to follow the blog hop and go to the next in line, to Linda's blog, Favorit Spot on Earth!

Play Date Cafe Challenge #159

Hello everyone! I hope you all had a fantastic Thanksgiving! I know I did.

This week, we have a wonderful challenge, it's a color splash!

After my non-painty card last challenge, I knew I wanted to do something kinda messy this time. But the problem with red is that you can't really add red splats, especially with no other colors....because it looks like blood drops!

So, I found this pin on pinterest and thought it would be fun to create a red birdie. That way, I can play with my paints but it wouldn't look like a crime scene :)

Here's what I came up with:

And yup, it is another tag. I really like making them! This one would actually work really well on a package, I think.

I drew the bird by hand on some book paper, painted it red, and added some gesso and glitter. The background of the tag is stamped.


If you want to participate in The Play Date Cafe Challenge, it's easy! All you have to do is make a crafty project of any type using the above color story, then link it up at the PDCC blog. This week, you can win a fabulous prize from the Play Date Cafe vault.  I can't wait to see your creations!

Christmas Tag Tutorial at Paper Haus

Here's a sneak peek of what you will find over at the Paper Haus blog today:

I had lots of fun making these tags, and you can see the step-by-step of the red one :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope everyone in the US has a Happy Thanksgiving today, and even if you aren't in the US, I hope you have a great day also :)

The Play Date Cafe doesn't have a new challenge this week, due to the holiday, so that means you still have another week (until Tuesday night) to play along with Challenge #158!

Check out The Play Date Cafe blog for complete challenge information!

December Daily Base - Days 5-12

Sharing some more of my December Daily pages...still not getting the color in the photos quite right, though.

Here's Days 1-4 and other information about my album.

 Here's the cover in case you missed it before: