Looking Back: A Year in Review

It's become typical for stamping bloggers to post 10-12 of their favorite projects at the end of the year.  Since I only posted 37 times my first year, I didn't feel the need since it wouldn't take all that long for someone to look back through them.  This year, however, I've posted 87 times!!  (88 counting this post, of course)  Very cool!  That makes a grand total of 125 posts!  I'd say I achieved my 2012 goal of stamping more often.   :)

I'm simply going to show the pictures of my twelve favorite projects this year.  (in no particular order)  Click on them to go to the original post for more info about each one.

It was actually difficult to choose, because I'm pretty pleased with my output this year.  I managed to acquire lots of new goodies over the past few months, so expect plenty more next year!  Not only that, I have lots of old goodies that need using as well.   No dearth of stamping goodness here!  Thanks for stopping by my blog and thanks also for the lovely comments.  It's always fun to share!  Many wishes for a wonderful new year!!

White-on-white Snowflake

Time for the monthly Papertrey Ink blog hop!  This time the challenge is to create a white-on-white card.  Here's the description:

The color white evokes a feeling of clean crispness that can't be replicated with any other color.  With winter and snow upon us, there couldn't be a more perfect time to embrace this beautiful color and the blank canvas it creates.  With color taken out of the creative equation, there is no limit to what you can do.  Your challenge is to create a white-on-white card.  While you can add small pops of color or touches of neutrals, the main focus of your project should be the color white.  Layer die-cuts, mix textures created with impression plates, combine multiple ribbon styles, dazzle with rhinestones & pearls, think white heat-embossed patterns and so much more.  Let your creativity take the lead as you create your white masterpiece!

So soothing and pretty, isn't it?  Click on the inspiration picture to see the photo credits on Nichole Heady's blog.  I decided to pull out both Snowfall stamp sets for my card, since a white-on-white palette just screams snow to me.   Besides, I'm still on a snowman/snowflake kick.  :)  Check out my previous December blog posts to see more.

I punched four sizes of snowflakes and stamped them in Fresh Snow, sprinkling glitter on each while they were still wet.  (in hindsight, I should have used a glue pad since it isn't sticking too well)  Then I simply layered them together after slightly bending the edges for dimension.  In the center, I put a white button threaded with white embroidery floss and silver metallic floss.  I embossed the background with a snowflake folder for more texture, and then I embossed my sentiments in silver on some diecut banners.  It's quite pretty in person!

Stamps:  Snowfall, Snowfall Additions (Papertrey Ink)
Paper: White (Papertrey Ink)
Ink:  Fresh Snow (Papertrey Ink); VersaMark
Misc:  Snowflake punches (Marvy Uchida); Double-Ended Banners dies (Papertrey Ink); silver embossing powder, white button (Papertrey Ink); white embroidery floss (DMC); silver metallic fine braid (Kreinik); Carrara Marble glitter (Martha Stewart); Snowflakes embossing folder (Cuttlebug)

Frosty & Fabulous

Whew, I got my SFYTT card done in the nick of time.  It's been a crazy month!  My goal was to complete all twelve sketches this year, just like I did last year, and I wasn't about to give up despite all the last-minute Christmas preparations.  I'm glad I remembered that the sketch challenge ends early this month.  Sadly, it's the very last sketch too.  I'll miss doing these sketches, but it did accomplish what I originally hoped and that was to get myself stamping regularly again.   :)  So here is my last SFYTT card of the year!

I kept it super simple and I absolutely love the result!  I diecut several sizes of flag strips from some pretty Basic Grey paper and layered them on a kraft card base.  I stamped my Frosty & Fabulous snowman on a circle, colored it with Copic markers, and finished it off with lots of glitter.  Oh yes, glitter again!  I've been having fun with glitter all week.  Besides, glitter makes snowmen look positively frosty!   :)

In case you want to see the rest of my 2012 SFYTT cards, here are the links.

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
(and of course, December's card is in this post you're reading...lol)

Make sure you check out the other sketch challenge cards here.  Lots of great eye candy!

Stamps:  Frosty & Fabulous Snowman (My Favorite Things)
Paper:  Kraft, White (Papertrey Ink); Figgy 6x6 pad (Basic Grey)
Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Copic:  0, C1, T1, B41, B45, B37, YG93, YG95, YG97
Misc:  Standard Circles die (Spellbinders); Fishtail Flags STAX dies (My Favorite Things); pop-dots

Snow Time Tags

Here is my fourth set of tags for my kids' gifts this year.  I pulled out my 2011 Heirloom Ornament dies this time and paired it with my It's Snow Time stamp set.  I had to continue the snowman theme after all!

Isn't that sweet?  I used my Copic markers to add pops of color and shading on the snowmen.  I took my B41 marker and edged the ornament shape to give it a little framing, and then went over it with the colorless blender to soften it.  (note to self...I really need a lighter blue!)  I added glitter around the edge, naturally.  I'm having fun with glitter this year!

Stamps:  It's Snow Time (Stampin' Up)
Paper:  White (Papertrey Ink)
Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Copic:  0, T1, B41, B45, BV29, YR18, R24, R29, R59
Misc:  2011 Heirloom Ornaments die (Spellbinders); Crystal Fine glitter (Martha Stewart); glue pen  

Snowflake Tags

On to my third set of tags!  Since I'd already done two tag sets with snowmen, I decided to stick with that theme for the rest.  I pulled out my Damask Snowflake dies for these.

These were quick tags to make.  I stamped the snowman tag image in the center of a white snowflake, and then layered it on an Aqua Mist snowflake.  I added some aqua to the snowman for a touch of snowy color and shaded around the head with some light gray.  For the carrot nose, I stamped the image in Pumpkin Pie ink and cut it out.  I also glittered the entire snowman head.   :)

Stamps:  Deer Friends (Stampin' Up)
Paper:  White, Aqua Mist (Papertrey Ink)
Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento); Pumpkin Pie (Stampin' Up)
Copic:  0, C1, BG11, BG13
Misc:  Damask Snowflake dies (Papertrey Ink); Crystal Fine glitter (Martha Stewart); glue pen   

Snowman Meadow Tags

Here's my second set of gift tags.  I used a cute snowman image from The More the Merrier along with a sentiment from In the Meadow.

Obviously, I broke out the Copic markers again.  It's a very simple design compared to yesterday's tags.  The coloring took longer though!   :)  I added glitter along the line of snow.

Stamps:  The More the Merrier (Stampin' Up); In the Meadow (Papertrey Ink)
Paper:  White, Enchanted Evening (Papertrey Ink)
Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Copic:  0, C1, T1, R20, R22, R83, R85, R24, R29, YR18, YG13, YG17, Y11, Y13, Y15, Y21, B91, B95, BV29, BG11
Misc:  Labels Four die, Labels Four Small die (Spellbinders); Crystal Fine glitter (Martha Stewart); glue pen   

Snow Scene Tags

I've been working on some gift tags lately.  In our home, we have a fun tradition.  Instead of labeling the kids' gifts from us with their name, we assign each kid a gift tag and use it on each of their presents.  The catch is that no one knows which tag is theirs!  It makes for a fun guessing game up until Christmas day.   :)

I am thrilled with how these turned out!  It's one of those rare occasions when the vision in my head comes out perfectly in execution.  The only issue I encountered was the time I spent hunting in my studio for a certain stamp set only to discover later that I don't actually own it.  lol  Good thing I finally checked my inventory list!  Thankfully I found another small snowman image that would work in my Window Dressing set.

I cut my tag base from Spring Rain cardstock using the Tag Sale #4 die from Papertrey Ink.  I use that die a lot!  The snowy hills were cut using the In the Meadow dies.  I glued the two hill pieces together, glittered the edges, and then cut it again using the tag die.  Looks like all one piece, doesn't it?  I stamped my snowmen in place directly on the tag and then added another layer that had been colored with Copics and cut out.  It adds a pop of color and dimension.  On the background, I stamped some snowflakes using Fresh Snow ink and an image from In the Meadow.  Once that dried, I stamped the sentiment from Tag-Its #8.  Put it all together and it's one super cute gift tag!

Stamps:  Window Dressing (Stampin' Up); In the Meadow, Tag-Its #8 (Papertrey Ink)
Paper:  Spring Rain, White (Papertrey Ink)
Ink:  Fresh Snow (Papertrey Ink); Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Copic:  0, T1, R24, R29, YR18, B41, B45, B37, BV29
Misc:  Tag Sale #4 die, In the Meadow dies (Papertrey Ink); Crystal Fine glitter (Martha Stewart); glue pen  

Polka Dot Holly for the Holidays

I'm squeaking in at the last minute with my SFYTT sketch challenge card for November.  I went a little crazy with the polka dots, but it was worth it!

photo linked

Isn't that cute!  Serious polka dot overload.  I stamped and cut out the holly leaves from my Holiday Button Bits set, and then added stamped berries using a circle from Take a Bough.  (hand cut since I don't have the right size circle punch, naturally)  The sentiment is from Friendship Jar: Holiday Fillers.

Obviously, I used three different embossing folders, two of which just happen to be polka dots.  :)  I got the color combo from a previous Papertrey Ink blog hop challenge.  (October, I think)  It's a very modern take on the traditional red, white, and green.  I really like it!  This card was very fun to make.  :)

Stamps:  Holiday Button Bits, Take a Bough, Friendship Jar: Holiday Fillers (Papertrey Ink)
Paper:  Vintage Cream, Pure Poppy, Ocean Tides (Papertrey Ink)
Ink:  Pinefeather (Papertrey Ink); Real Red (Stampin' Up)
Misc:  Holly, Polka Dots, Swiss Dots (Cuttlebug embossing folders); Classic Inverted Scalloped Circle die, Standard Circle die (Spellbinders) 

Workshop Cards: Gingerbread Men

This card is adorable!  How can you not like these sweet little gingerbread men?  They even smell like sugar & spice!  This is the final card I made at my Stampin' Up demonstrator's house last week.

The back piece of Sahara Sand cardstock is embossed with the Petals-a-Plenty folder.  It's such a pretty pattern that I really need to get it next time I place an order.   lol  The three gingerbread men is embossed with a sugar & spice scented embossing powder.  Too fun!  The little red heart is punched from glitter paper, and the sentiment is stamped on a shape from the Decorative Label punch.  A bit of seam binding ribbon is the final touch!

Stamps:  Scentsational Season (Stampin' Up)
Paper:  Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, red Glimmer paper (Stampin' Up)
Ink:  Cherry Cobbler (Stampin' Up); VersaMark
Misc:  Holiday Collection framelit die, Petals-a-Plenty embossing folder, Cherry Cobbler seam binding ribbon, Decorative Label punch, Owl Builder punch, Sugar & Spice scented embossing powder (Stampin' Up); pop-dots  

Workshop Cards: Evergreen Tree

I love this card!  It uses the new Evergreen set from the holiday catalog.  This is the fourth card I made at my Stampin' Up demonstrator's house.

Isn't that pretty?  Wild Wasabi ink was sponged all over the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder before putting in the Wild Wasabi cardstock.  It gives a wonderful two-tone letterpress effect.  I absolutely love the look!

I stamped the tree on vanilla cardstock and then embossed the words in gold over top. Since I didn't use an embossing buddy on the paper first, there are lots of gold specks between the words and it makes the tree look like it was sprinkled in gold dust.  Very cool!  The star is punched from gold glitter paper.  Then I just added a bow and put it all together.   :)

Stamps:  Evergreen (Stampin' Up)
Paper:  Crumb Cake, Wild Wasabi, Very Vanilla, gold glitter paper (Stampin' Up)
Ink:  Wild Wasabi (Stampin' Up); VersaMark
Misc:  seam binding ribbon, gold embossing powder, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder (Stampin' Up), pop-dots  

Workshop Cards: Angel

This is the third card I made at my Stampin' Up demonstrator's house last week.  I used Rejoicing With You from the main catalog.

Isn't that pretty?  I love the blue and cream colors with the silver.  Both the angel and sentiment were embossed with silver powder.  Again, it's a simple card, but very striking.

Stamps:  Rejoicing With You (Stampin' Up)
Paper:  Very Vanilla, Not Quite Navy, Silver, unknown dp (Stampin' Up)
Ink:  VersaMark
Misc:  silver embossing powder, Top Note die (Stampin' Up) 

Workshop Cards: Holly Branch

This is the second card I made at my Stampin' Up demonstrator's house.  Very simple!  It uses the new Watercolor Winter set.

I embossed the red mat with the Northern Flurry folder and added three sparkly rhinestones to three of the flakes.  Simple matting and a bow, and there you have it!

Stamps:  Watercolor Winter (Stampin' Up)
Paper:  Whisper White, Real Red, Garden Green (Stampin' Up)
Ink:  Black (StazOn)
Misc:  Real Red marker, Garden Green marker; rhinestones, red taffeta ribbon, Northern Flurry embossing folder (Stampin' Up); pop-dots 

Workshop Cards: Ornaments

I made five cards at my Stampin' Up demonstrator's house a week ago.  It was good fun!  I love making cute cards when I don't have to think up the design.  I can just stamp and chat!  I got to play with several of the newer sets.  This card uses Ornament Keepsakes and some adorable baker's twine.

I only used the dies for the round ornament which is popped up.  The other two ornaments were stamped directly on the cardstock.  Baker's twine was added to "hang" the ornaments, along with some rhinestones for a little bling.   :)   Love it!

Stamps:  Ornament Keepsakes, sentiment unknown (Stampin' Up)
Paper:  Whisper White, Raspberry Ripple (Stampin' Up)
Ink:  Raspberry Ripple, Certainly Celery, Old Olive (Stampin' Up)
Misc: Holiday Ornaments die, Cherry Cobbler baker's twine, rhinestones (Stampin' Up), pop-dots  

Cover Art Trees

It's time for the monthly Papertrey Ink blog hop!  This time we were given the challenge to create a card based on book cover art with the following inspiration photo as a jumping point.

The Wizard of Oz cover immediately caught my eye with its colorful graphic characters and black background.  I experimented quite a bit before I came up with this card.  My first thought was to do the cool stacked words, but I don't have any large PTI sentiments or alphabet dies.  So I did the next best thing.  I used my Wonderful Words: Holiday die to cut the word "merry" from two different colors and glued them together to look shaded.  I embossed the word "christmas" on a narrow strip of green underneath.

 

Please excuse the picture.  I had to take it indoors since the sun went down before I finished, and I just couldn't get it to turn out right.  The card is much better-looking in person!!  I need to rig up a photo tent with lamps for future situations like this.  I'll take another picture in the morning.

Edited to add much better pictures.  :)

I diecut several trees using cardstock in the same colors as the characters on the Wizard of Oz book cover and then stamped a swirl pattern on each in their matching colors.  To mimic the blue outline, I drew a frame of glue on the black mat and sprinkled it with blue glitter.  I glittered a blue star to place over the center tree as well.

This certainly was an interesting experiment.  It's not quite what I originally pictured in my head, but I kept playing until I was happy with the result.  Definitely a non-traditional Christmas card!   :)

Stamps:  Merry & Bright, Merry & Bright Additions, Tree Trimming Trio (Papertrey Ink)

Paper:  Lemon Tart, True Black, Spring Rain, Summer Sunrise, New Leaf, Orange Zest (Papertrey Ink)

Ink:  New Leaf, Summer Sunrise, Lemon Tart, Spring Rain (Papertrey Ink); VersaMark

Misc:  Wonderful Words: Holiday die, Merry & Bright die (Papertrey Ink); white embossing powder; Blue Topaz glitter (Martha Stewart)  

Happy Halloween!

I've got one last Halloween card to share.  I had big intentions of making a lot more cards and projects with all my cute Halloween stamps, but somehow the month got away from me.  I'm cutting it close on my SFYTT card too!  Here it is using October's sketch:

sketch post here

It's a pretty straightforward card.  I stamped small webs on the white card base and then added orange panels that were embossed with polka dots.  On top of that, I added a brown mat that was embossed with pumpkin vines.  I cut vellum spiderwebs using a Papertrey Ink die for the angled side pieces in the sketch, along with two autumn leaves colored using Copic markers.  I colored my jack-o-lantern using the same colors and distressed the edges.  Then I just stamped "Happy Halloween" inside the card.  Quick and easy!

Stamps:  Autumn Harvest (Stampin' Up); Spooky Sweets II (Papertrey Ink)
Paper:  White, Orange Zest, Dark Chocolate (Papertrey Ink)
Ink:  Rich Cocoa (Memento)
Copic:  0, T1, E55, E57, E59, YR12, YR15, YR18
Misc:  Spiderweb die (Papertrey Ink); Pumpkin Harvest, Polka Dots embossing folders (Cuttlebug);distress tool

Holiday Wishes

Time for the monthly Papertrey Ink blog hop!  This month we were given six different non-traditional holiday color combos and asked to make a holiday card or tag.  I chose the second combination of Raspberry Fizz, Hibiscus Burst, Hawaiian Shores, and Aqua Mist.  The colors are so pretty!

photo credit

Of course, I struggled a bit once I tried to create the vision in my head.  lol   I started with a base of Aqua Mist and stamped snowflakes in Fresh Snow ink.  I die cut the snowy hills and edged them with some shimmery glitter to add a touch of sparkly snow.  I die cut the tree from Hawaiian Shores cardstock and stamped it in the matching ink.  Hopefully you can see the swirly tree image.  The light was a bit too bright outside when I took the picture!  Then I stamped the three pink ornaments using Raspberry Fizz ink on Hibiscus Burst cardstock.  Finally, the sentiment was stamped in black.  Simple, but effective.  (and flat for mailing too!)

Stamps:  Tree Trimming Trio, Rustic Snowflakes (Papertrey Ink)
Paper:  Aqua Mist, White, Hawaiian Shores, Hibiscus Burst (Papertrey Ink)
Ink:  Hawaiian Shores, Raspberry Fizz, Fresh Snow (Papertrey Ink); Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Misc:  Christmas Tree die, In the Meadow dies (Papertrey Ink); 1/2" circle punch (EK Success)  Crystal fine glitter (Martha Stewart); glue pen 

So Thankful For You

I made a card using the latest Sweet Sunday sketch.  (found here)  Window Dressing was the first set to catch my eye, so I decided to make a thank you card using autumn colors and the pumpkin/fruit image.  It could work for Thanksgiving also.

I stamped the window using Memento ink so I could color with Copic markers and did the same with the image inside the window.  It's a separate layer behind a piece of acetate.  I cut out the window panes on the top layer to add a little dimension to the scene.  I scribbled yellow Copic to add light behind the panes.  Because it's not solid, it kind of gives an effect of old window glass in combination with the acetate.

Stamps:  Window Dressing (Stampin' Up)
Paper:  White, Dark Chocolate (Papertrey Ink); Origins 6x6 pad (Basic Grey)
Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Copic:  0, C1, T4, Y11, Y21, Y26, Y32, Y35, G24, G28, E55, E57, E59, V95, V99, R24, R29, R59
Misc:  Standard Circles die (Spellbinders); Beautiful Blooms II #2 die (Papertrey Ink); Metallic Basics brad (Making Memories); ribbon; pop-dots; acetate  

Just Chicken In

*snicker*  That sentiment makes me grin every time.  I recently picked up a honeycomb embossing folder and just had to pair it with an older Stampin' Up set called Best of Cluck.  I love the silly chickens and punny sentiments.  The embossing looks like chicken wire so it's a match made in heaven! 

Isn't that fun!  I rubbed my Dark Chocolate inkpad all over the embossed paper to bring out the design and distress it up a bit.  The chicken is colored with Copic markers and I stamped some claw prints along the narrow Dark Chocolate strip.  Quick and easy!

Stamps:  Best of Cluck (Stampin' Up)
Paper:  White, Canyon Clay, Dark Chocolate (Papertrey Ink)
Ink:  Dark Chocolate (Papertrey Ink); Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Copic:  0, T1, YR18, YR23, YR24, E55, E57
Misc:  Honeycomb embossing folder (Tim Holtz Alterations by Sizzix) 

World Cardmaking Day 2012

Whew, I managed to get a card made for World Cardmaking Day today.  I was struggling a bit with inspiration, but I saw this card on another blog and just knew it would be a perfect design to use with my Botanical Silhouettes set.

It's so simple and so very elegant.  Perfect for a classy thank you card!  I love the look of textured Kraft on Kraft cardstock.  It was quick to make too.  I die cut the negative circle mat and then embossed it with a Cuttlebug folder.  I stamped my leaves in Simply Chartreuse on the white mat and added the flowers in Blueberry Sky with Harvest Gold centers.  I stamped my sentiment on a Harvest Gold banner.  Then, that whole panel was adhered to the card base with pop-dots. 

I wanted to add something to the inside, so I cut another white mat and stamped the same flowers partially off one side.  Just another simple elegant touch.

There is a blog tour for World Cardmaking Day here if you want to see lots of wonderful inspiration.  I'm off to check out all those blogs and also catch up on my Google Reader.  It's simply bursting with stamping goodness!   :)   Now go make yourself a card!

Stamps:  Botanical Silhouettes, Damask Designs (Papertrey Ink)
Paper:  Kraft, White, Harvest Gold (Papertrey Ink)
Ink:  Simply Chartreuse, Blueberry Sky, Harvest Gold (Papertrey Ink); Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Misc:  Kassie's Brocade embossing folder (Cuttlebug); Standard Circles die (Spellbinders); Double-Ended Banners die (Papertrey Ink); pop-dots