My top 10 of 2012!

So a few of us at CropChocolate.com, who have blogs have decided it would be fun to post a top 10 list of our favorite projects from 2012. I think some of the ladies did this last year too! I decided it would be fun to join in this year. But it was hard to pick only 10! So I decided to do my top 12 of 2012! It has a nice ring to it, don't ya think?!

I had such an amazing crafty year, trying new things and really pushing myself! So here are my 12 favorites. I think....

(and in no particular order...)

I just love how these cards turned out! So simple and cute!

This was a super exciting project for me! I had been asked to be a guest designer for the Crop Chocolate design team (way back in February). It was my first time doing anything like that and really gave me the confidence to try out for the design team. And the telescoping Valentine card turned out pretty cute!

This card was a lot of fun. I inked the background and then cut it out and stamped on it. So pretty! And I was so happy to find a project to use that cute fairy stamp on.

Now this project isn't one of my favorites, but the process of making it sure is! Iain loved painting this and still wants to paint all the time!

I'm still in love with this LO I did, even though it has pictures of me all over it!

Love this LO! My girls and their cousin had gone to ride the Christmas train with their grandparents who snapped this super cute shot of the 3 of them. I think this LO really captures the very girliness of these girls and the fun they have together!

This card turned out so beautifully! I really should give that water stamping effect another go. So soft and pretty. I kinda wish I had kept this for myself....

This layout is so simple, yet I just love the feel of it. Maybe it's the repeating pictures or the pretty colours. I don't know, but top 10 for sure!

Love the colours of this layout! The black, red, gold and white really work well together!

I'm still really loving this layout from the other week! I didn't really love the sketch  but I sure love how it turned out!

Another special moment project. So many things about this are special. The clipboard base is one I have had from CTMH for a few years. I had been saving it for just the right project. That picture on it? That is super special. It could be a Norman Rockwell painting, everyone is posed just so perfectly yet it happened all on it's own. The screaming toddler reaching for big sis who is lovingly comforting him. Santa with his eyes closed and pained expression on his face. And the middle child, oblivious to it all and smiling pretty for the camera. Love it! The other reason this project is special is because I made it as a submission to try out for the Doodlebug Design team. Now clearly I did not make it, but it's all about the experience and pushing yourself! Right???

This canvas.... So soft and pretty! I really had a lot of fun and really worked outside my comfort zone with this one! The canvas, the paint, the spray, all the different textures from the flowers and wood pieces and brads and butterflies..... Love it!

Thanks for checking out my faves from 2012! I'd love to know what you think! Agree, disagree???

A few little things,

I hope everyone has had a wonderful holiday so far!

Just popping in to post a few things I have done over the past couple of weeks!

Just finished this layout of the kids from last winter. Love this MME line!

I scraplifted this LO from a fellow CropChocolate.com member. This is Crate Paper's Christmas line from last year. I still love it. I think it is called 'Peppermint'.

These are gift bags I made from brown paper lunch sacks for the girls' teachers.

And I made these cute melted snowman ornaments that we have all seen floating around on Pinterest. These were tucked in with the teacher gifts.

Happy New Year to everyone! I hope 2013 brings us all a happy, healthy and prosperous year!

Another for PageMaps

The PageMaps blog has another sketch contest running. This time a card sketch to win some super cute stamps (I must get that mistletoe set!!!).

Here is my entry!

And I also entered this in this weeks challenge at CropChocolate.com.We needed to use 3 hearts from 3 different patterned papers on a project. The sketch was perfect since it had 3 different hearts on it already!

Supplies Used:

My Mind's Eye - "Love Me" papers

Making Memories - Paper Reverie 'rouge' brad

Penny Black stamps - sentiment

May Arts - twine

Winter-ize It!

I had lots of fun making this layout today! I got to play with some cute new papers, fun new thickers and super cute photos of my little guy.

I used the sketch from a current PageMaps blog challenge (I'd love to win some My Little Shoebox goodies!) and the "Winter-ize It" theme from the current Scrapbookin' Adventures facebook challenge.

I flipped and moved things a bit from the original sketch, but kept a lot of the elements the same. I'm really happy with how it turned out!

Products:
Bella Blvd - 'Winter Wonder' papers and journal card
           - 'Winter' flags
Carta Bella - kraft cardstock
American Crafts - blue cardstock
                - DIY Thickers
Cosmo Cricket - tiny type alphas
Twine
Long glitter stuff  ;) ~I've been corrected, it's actually called Tinsel Glitter. Thanks Jasmine!

December Design Team Post

*Sniff-sniff*

My last post for this term with the Crop Chocolate Design Team goes up today. It has been so much fun and such a great learning experience!

Thank you to everyone who has shown their support!

And don't worry about me......I'm back again in January for another 6 months!!!!!

Now to see what I did to turn this pile of supplies into that gorgeous (if I do say so myself...) layout, go to the CropChoclate.com Blog, The Crop!

Yup, that's me. On a layout. With just me. Find out why at The Crop .......

I am also entering this layout in the Moxie Fab World Keen on Neon Challenge! Check it out and play along!

More Cards!

Ooooh, it's been quiet around here!

I've been busy getting my Christmas cards finished and ready to mail. Plus a few other cards here and there. And a project I had to get done!

What I've been doing:

Sympathy cards

Birthday cards

the inside. Don't you love it?! Found a super easy tutorial on Pinterest!

My last dozen Christmas cards.

I also made a dozen or so other Christmas cards. But I don't have pics and they are already sealed in the envelopes. I did a huge stack of simple stamped and embossed ones. Simple but pretty :)

I can't wait to share the project I just finished! But you can't see it until January!

Happy Holidays!

Fall Mini Album

I just finished a little mini album to use for the pictures I took of Iain playing in the leaves!

You can check it out over on Instructagram!

http://instructagram.com/igrams/554

Weekly Challenge

Time for another posting of my entry for CropChocolate.com's weekly challenge. This week were asked to either use an image of a home or the word home on our entry. I did both! And even more important, I made 3 more Christmas cards! I think I just may have them done and ready to send before Christmas!

I embossed the image of the houses first in brown. I also stamped and cut out an extra image so that I could cover it and stamp and emboss the snowflakes all the way around the image without overlapping. A very simple yet effective technique!


Supplies:
October Afternoon - 'Good Cheer' paper
Zing - white and brown embossing powders
Unity Stamp Co. - Kit of the Month 11/11
CTMH - red ribbon.
Carta Bella - kraft cardstock

November Design Team Post

It's November! A new month means a new post on the CropChocolate.com blog!

Check it out here: http://blog.cropchocolate.com/2012/11/toddler-painted-canvas-by-ninan.html and find out how I made this lovely canvas and who helped me paint it!

The full step by step instructions can be found on Instructagram here: http://instructagram.com/igrams/502

Thanks for checking it out!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!

I'm trying to get caught up in both the challenges/projects I need to get done and in the scrapbooking I need to get done, so hopefully you will be seeing a lot more layouts on here soon!

Here is one I did this morning for the CropChocolate.com weekly challenge (unusual texture) and the Scrapbookin' Adventures facebook challenge (a sketch).

Awww, my little baby. He's grown so much!

Products:
Fancy Pants- The Good Life collection pack
Carta Bella- kraft cardstock
Distress Ink - tumbled glass
Perfect Pearls Mist - turquoise
Hemptique - hemp cord
Thickers - Amy Tangerine 'muse'
burlap scraps
unfinished wood buttons

Christmas Cards!

I'm a little late starting this year, but I am finally getting some Christmas cards made!

Here a couple of quick ones I did the other day. I'm working on a whole stack of stamped and embossed ones right now. I can't wait to share them!

Simple and sweet! I think.....


Products:
Doodlebug Christmas stickers (from way back when...)
Michael's card bases
White gel pen

October DT Post....

My October post for the CropChocolate.com Design Team is up on their blog today!

Check it out at The Crop.

And check it out here, on Instructagram!

Halloween Wall Hanging

Thanks for looking!

A card and some news!

Let's start with the news, shall we?!

As you may or may not know, CropChocolate.com has recently had tryouts for the new upcoming design team term (the current one ends in December). And guess what???? That's right! I'm on it again! I'm so happy they let existing DT members back on again!

And now for the cards.

I made these for the CropChocolate.com Focus  Group's October challenge which is to make something from Pinterest. (If you don't know what Pinterest is, I suggest you Google it :).

The original card is one I just saw and pinned the other day. You can find it here: http://thebalddragonfly.blogspot.ca/2012/07/ellie.html

Isn't that simple and lovely?!

I couldn't choose just one stamp for this so I made two.

Love them! Although the girl is looking a wee bit ghostly, don't you think?





Supplies:
October Afternoon: 'Good Cheer' 8x8
Carta Bella: kraft cardstock
Cornish Heritage Farms: 'Christmas Critter' stamp set
Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps: 'Virginia' stamp set

A card with style...

I was gifted a super cute stamp from a super cute friend, and knew that it needed to be fussy cut and paper pieced. So I did!

I also made this card for the weekly challenge (#35) at CropChocolate.com. This week's challenge is to make a project that you would give as a gift and use your favorite colour of candy. I've always thought that Echo Park's For the Record reminded me of M&M's and peanut M&M's are my favorite scrapping snack!

I love how this turned out! Lots of little pieces that I cut out and stuck down.

Supplies:

Echo Park Paper's 'For the Record' 6x6 and 12x12 for base

Distress Ink: Barn Door

Sizzix Scalloped Pennant die

twine

Unity Stamp Co: 'doin' it with style' stamp

Webster's Pages: feather flower and pin

Maya Rd: grey pin

Winner winner!!!

Thank you to everyone who participated in not only my OWH blog hop challenge, but all of the different challenges! All of the work I have seen has been fantastic! We should all be very proud of ourselves!


I just used random.org to select a winner from the entries here on my blog. Random.org chose #11 and that is Scrapnsing!!!!

You can check out her beautiful cards using Echo Park's 'For the Record' here: https://s3.amazonaws.com/prod.cc_image_files/brags/15368/large/2012-10-05%2010.19.15.jpg?1349665345

Scrapnsing, send me your mailing info and I will get a little blog candy prize out to you asap. You can send me a PM on CropChocolate.com if that is easiest.

Thank you again, everyone! I loved seeing all of the cards made!

OWH Blog Hop Entries......

I finally sat down and made some cards today. Good timing since it IS World Card Making Day!!!

All of the cards, except for 2 are for Belle's sketch challenge. So that is 21 cards forBelle!!!

The other cards are sorted and marked on the picture as to who else's challenge it is in. The other challenges are: Kathy's first and second; Jenn's; and Brenna's.

You can also check out how I made them all today right here: http://instructagram.com/igrams?id=85#iGram.

Without further ado, may I present, my cards.....

So hopefully I labelled those right. Please forgive my tired brain if I did not :)



Products Used:

MME: Lost & Found
MM: Vintage Findings
MM: Je t'adore
Unity Stamps: Thankful for you; Blossom Soup; Loads of Love; Bold Insight;  Sending my Love and misc. from grab bags.

An update....

So, how is everyone coming along with the Operation Write Home challenges??? Hopefully you are all doing a lot better than me!

I am sad to say that all I have managed to accomplish is two half done cards. I'm just all carded out I guess. Plus I had the little one's birthday to get ready for. I'm hoping to give it another try and get some made this weekend! I.Will.Do.It!

I did make a layout today though :)

So let's all get some cards made this weekend.

And Happy Thanksgiving to all my Canadian friends!!!!! I can't wait to eat some turkey and pumpkin pie!

CropChocolate.com OWH Blog Hop!

***UPDATE ON CHALLENGE***

Fellow Hoppers! It has come to my attention that through an unfortunate misunderstanding, the challenge I have posted here is duplicated on the blog before mine. Please accept my apologies. It was my understanding that no other challenges would be so similar to the one I issued. So please feel free to submit the same cards for both of these challenges. And have FUN!

***************************

Hello! and Welcome! to the CropChocolate.com Design Team's Operation Write Home (OWH) Blog Hop!!!

If you haven't been following along and would like to, the hop starts at our team leader Amber's blog!

If you are following the blog hop, you should have arrived here from Brittany's blog.

Now OWH has some guidelines (like NO GLITTER!) that you should familiarize yourself with, if you have not yet. Please check out their website. It has tons of information for you!

Operation Write Home

Shipping addresses for OWH are here. Each of these ladies also has a 'wanted' list of what kind of cards they are in need of. That info is with their address.

Now for us Canadian (Yay!) participants, we do not have our own branch of OWH, but there is a lady who collects cards and sends them to a contact she has to distribute them. Follow the same OWH guidelines (just don't stamp or write OWH on the back of these cards!).

Her address is:

Corinne Braun

#6-300-108th St, 

Saskatoon, SK 

S7N 1P8

Now, on to the fun stuff!!!!

The Challenge:

I challenge YOU to grab one of those collection packs from your stash that has been used maybe just once, maybe a whole lot (depends on how challenged you want to be!) and use up the rest of the collection to make as many cards as you can! Please feel free to add any embellishment you want/need to. I used stamps, buttons and twine with mine. I also found a stack of leftover card bases I used when I made wedding invitations! That helped make things go faster. I'm pretty sure I still have some of the envelopes around too!

And don't forget, since this is a CropChocolate.com blog hop, you must use at least 50% Crop Chocolate product on your cards to be eligible!

Let me tell you, it feels real good to finish off one of those packs and make just a few millimeters more room in the old paper cupboard :)

I forgot to take a picture of what I started with, but it was a pretty full collection. I had used it once or twice, but their were still full sheets of 12x12 and large scrap pieces. Plus embellishments left on the included cardstock sheet. Lets see what I came up with!

This is the collection I worked with. Alphabet Soup 'Boy'

And here are my cards:

All THIRTY!!! of them!

Here are my favorites:

Pretty cute :)

And this is what was left when I was done (except for little bits and pieces that I tossed as I was working).

Now I probably could have squeezed out one more card, but I wouldn't have liked it. Plus, 30 is a nice even number!

Please feel free to combine my challenge with others from this blog hop. I know this is a more time consuming one!

Now get out there and make some cards!

If you have any questions, ask me here in the comments, over on CC or on Facebook if you know me there!

Link you cards up here with Mr Linky! I will do a random draw for a blog candy prize!

And now you are off to Miwa's blog! Have fun hopping!