Top 12 projects of 2012

As many other bloggers and scrapbookers, I decided to look back and choose my favorite projects for 2012. I skipped the last year but I picked favorites in 2010. This time I chose 12 because why not? Click on each one to get to the post with more details and pictures.
Few notes. This year I made a lot of cards and enjoyed making them. I made quite a few layouts about myself. I included one spread of Take 12 but I love the whole project. I didn't finish alll layouts yet but hope to do that in the next few weeks. My favorite projects from last months all have something cut with my new Silhouette Cameo. I really enjoyed using it and look forward to use it more in 2013.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for looking and Happy 2013!

P.S. Are you picking favorites? If yes, leave me a comment and I will be happy to check them out.

P.P.S. I am linking with December Layout Love linky over at Purple Mailbox. Ashli's blog is one of my favorite blogs that I discovered this year. If you never visited her, you just have to! You are up for a treat!

Project Life 2013 - plan of action

After giving it some thought and than some more I decided to jump on the Project Life wagon. The last thing I want or need is another unfinished project collecting dust so I tried to be very careful in how I approach it. That's what I decided to do.

Core kit

Seafoam. Since the kit is not available yet I decided to buy the digital version and print at home. I will probably buy the paper kit when it will be released and maybe replace the cards I printed at home but at least I will have everything where I want it. I don't want to fall behind before I start.

Binder

I decided not to go with the Seafoam binder but instead use the same type of album I am using for my Library of Memories  - WRMK. Maybe in leather instead of linen. For now I have a spare WRMK linen album that I will use.

Page protectors.

I changed my mind at least three times while writing this post. I considered using divided page protectors by WRMK or Echo Park but eventually ordered Project Life Design A, Design C and Small Variety Pack I

Add-ons

I don't plan to buy anything right now but rather use my stash. I also plan to use my Silhouette Cameo so I will probably buy some digital cut files.

Organization

I want to make a place for my album and a small box of supplies by our dining table. I know that the first few weeks will take more time because that's when I will be making design decisions that I plan to carry on through the whole album. Hopefully after that it will not take more than 2 hours a week.

Inspiration

Ali Edwards  

Elise Blaha 

BPC Project Life Community

Project Life Tuesday

I think that's it for now. I still need to decide how to take care of the weekly dates, if I am going to handwrite them or use a stamp or stickers. Since it will be my first year I really want to keep it simple.
I hope that Project Life 2013 will help me to capture and share little silly moments like this

Are you doing Project Life? This newbie would love to hear your input!

Layouts in divided page protectors

Supplies: patterned paper, stickers (Echo Park),  washi tape (Love My Tapes), twine (unknown), button (Close To My Heart), snowflake brad (unknown)

One of my recent scrapbooking purchases was a Happy Little Moments kit from Echo Park Photo Freedom collection. I pretty much like everything endorsed by Stacy Julian and this collection is not an exception. The kit comes with divided page protectors that I decided to use for this layout. It is not a winter themed kit but I loved how the colors looked with my snow pictures. I added pink and grey polka dot banners using the washi tape from Love My Tapes adhered to white cardstock. (I am linking this with the banners challenge on Love My Tapes blog)

The flags and the twine are glued to the outside of the page protector. (Sorry for a terrible picture!) I kept everything else very basic adding very little embellishments. 

I was left with the back side of the page protector that wasn't looking very pretty. After rummaging through my photos from the same month I found few pictures from Eli's playdate. The pictures look like from a completely different season but they are only 19 days apart. The bright colors in the pictures called for different papers and I chose Everyday Eclectic, again by Echo Park.

Supplies: patterned paper, stickers (Echo Park), letter stickers (Heidi Grace), decorative tape (Bella Blvd., October Afternoon)

The big letter stickers are from my old stash and they are by Heidi Grace. Again, I used some tape  - Bella Blvd. and October Afternoon.  I have two more pictures of Eli from the same playdate. I plan to make a regular 12x12 layout that will go into Eli's album. This one goes into our family chronological album.

Do you make layouts with divided page protectors? I found it a good exercise before I dive into Project Life in 2013. More on that later.

Eight white butterflies - just for you

Punched lace borders, linen ribbon, paper flowers with velvet leaves, jewel and pearl flourishes, one shipping tag, a tiny bit of paint and few touche of glitter, eight white butterflies - one fancy card just for you.

Supplies: patterned paper (Basic Grey), cardstock (American Crafts), flowers (Anna Griffin), flourishes (Recollections), pearls (Want 2 Scrap), shipping tag, acrylic paint, glitter (Silhouette America), letter stickers (Recollections), butterfly punch (Martha Stewart), border punch (Fiskars), ribbon (unknown) 

Linking up with "Yotzot me hakavim" challenge brought to you by number "eight"

Happy Birthday confetti card

Supplies: patterned paper, brads (Heidi Grace), cardstock (DCVW), vellum (Recollections), twine (unknown), butterly punch (Martha Stewart), sentiment stickers (Doodlebug), pinking shears, hole punch (Fiskars), Silhouette Cameo 

I had a sweet pile of tiny circle punchouts on my desk - leftovers from another project. "I am going to save them and use as confetti", I told to myself. Ella passed by my desk and noticed the pile of sparkling dots. "Oh, can I have it?", she asked. "No", I replied firmly, protecting the pile of sparkling garbage, "I need it!" "Fine!", said Ella and walked away. I knew I had to act immediately...

So here they are, tucked in a vellum envelope, dancing behind three sweet butterflies. I used Becky Fleck sketch from PageMaps blog and very old but very pretty Heidi Grace papers.

The confetti and the pink flag are from DCVW glitter cardstock. The vellum envelope is cut with Silhouette Cameo using one of the free downloads from last week.

Exciting news to share

Finally I can share the news - I made the Samantha Walker Creative Team!

Samantha Walker is a multi-talented designer that designs traditional scrapbooking products for Carta Bella, fabric, Spellbinder dies, stamps, digital kits and cut files. I am sure I missed something!

When I saw the names of other design team members today I had to pinch myself. It is a bunch of super talented ladies! I am so honored to be a part of this team.

Here it is:

2013 Traditional Creative Team:

(* returning members)

Aimee Maddern

Carolyn King

Daniela Dobson

Diana Fisher

*Guiseppa Gubler

*Jamie Cripps

Jennifer Priest

Linda Kaiser

Maya Oren-Dahan

2013 Digital Creative Team:

Meg Stocks

Claudia Harvey

Chrissy Guido

Susie Cannon Moore

2013 Guest Designers:

Arin Flynn

Cindy Coutts

Kerri Smith

Laura Drahozal

Monica Edwards

Raven Baca

Rochelle Washington

Take Twelve - December

I've been busy lately. Making layouts, playing with new beautiful products, making cards and than making more and more cards. I have a lot of scrappy things to share but didn't have an energy to do so. Friday shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School left me shaken, heartbroken and scared. If it is difficult for me to pick myself up I can not imagine what does it mean for the Newtown residents, teachers, friends and the families. I don't have anything smart to say, in fact I am writing this paragraph for more than an hour. There are many beautiful and thoughtful posts like this one and this and this and this. The last one also gives a link to the organizations that accept donations for the victims families. At least something that I can do. I will also hug my kids even more than I do now and I will tell them that they are loved. 

 December 12th was a regular Wednesday. School for the kids, errands for me. It was the fifth night of Hanukkah. We ate dinner together, lit the candles, ate sufganiyout. The kids of our friends came over for dinner. That's it. The last picture shows little drawings Ella made using burned matches and toothpicks. I bought her a charcoal pencils since then.

I still need few layouts to complete but now I already believe that I will have12 monthly layouts. I really enjoyed this project and I am thinking about 2013. Take 13? ;-) I don't know yet. I am thinking about Project Life but I am terrified of falling off the wagon after first few weeks. Are you planning to do a year long project in 2013?

Two cards for Tuesday

Supplies: patterned paper (Dear Lizzy for American Crafts), circle punch (Fiskars), butterfly punch (Martha Stewart), Silhouette Cameo, lace (unknown)

After playing with lace earlier this week I had some lace scraps laying around so I decided to make a quick card for the lace challenge. I punched two circles from patterned paper scraps and punched out a butterfly from one of them. I layered the circles one on top of another sandwiching a piece of lace in between. I carefully trimmed the lace around the edge. That's all. Three circles and a simple sentiment cut out with... yes, you guessed it ... Silhouette Cameo.

Most of the cards I make go in a basket that I keep inside the bookcase. I don't have a particular recipient in mind when I work on a card. When my girls need a card they go through the basket and pick what they like. Last week I had one of those rare occasions when I needed a card. Eli was invited to a birthday party and that's what I made for a little boy that turned 5.

Supplies: patterned paper (Basic Grey), stamp (My Favorite Stamps), markers (Faber-Castell), letter stickers (Simple Stories), brads (unknown), corner punch (Fiskars)

 

Do you realize that tomorrow is 12/12/12? Do you do anything special? I had big scrapbooking plans but I am not sure how it is going to happen. I am not ready! Oh well, I hope at least to take 12 pictures and finish my Take 12 project.

6:16am

Hi there, blog readers! I am popping in to share a layout I did for the lace challenge over at "Yotzot mehakavim" - an Israeli challenge site. I pulled out a picture of Lila looking in the mirror before leaving the hotel room for one of her synchronized ice skating competitions. The picture was taken at 6:16am and that is the title of the layout.

Supplies: patterned paper, butterflies (K&Company), chipboard (frames - Lil' Davis, flourishes - Maya Road), gold leafing pen (Krylon), flowers (Prima), glitter cardstock (Martha Stewart), jewels (Marcela), lace (wide - unknown, ribbon - Chatterbox), journaling cards (Jenni Bowlin), Silhouette Cameo

I found a package of small chipboard frames and painted them gold with Krylon gold leafing pen. I had it since I took a Year To Remember class with Heidi Swapp in 2007 and it still works. I arranged the frames on the page and backed them with pieces of patterned paper. They look a little like mirrors, don't you think? The papers and the butterflies are from an old kit by K & Company. I added two Prima flowers to the cluster on the left and handmade lace rosette. The lace is not the same as was used for the dress but the blue yo-yo flower and the red heart are made from the same fabric as the dress. I snatched some leftovers when I had a chance.

I journaled about Lila's long day at the competition and added another lace ribbon and a chipboard flourish. The 6:16am title is cut with Silhouette from Martha Stewart glittery cardstock.

I have hundreds of pictures from Lila's competitions but they are mainly staying on my hard drive. I wanted to make an album for each skating season but meanwhile it is good to get at least some pictures scrapbooked and some stories told.

Before I leave you I want to wish a happy Hanukkah to all my blog readers that celebrate this week. I hope your candles are bright, your dreidels are spinning fast and your sufganiyot are sweet!

In an blink of an eye - Scrap It Girl December challenge

New challenge at Scrap It Girl. The theme is "clocks" and I find it very appropriate as the last days of 2012 are rushing to make their appearance on the calendar. With early Hanukkah this year I feel even less prepared than usual. 

For my challenge layout I used my newest scrapbooking purchase - Everyday Eclectic collection by Echo Park (I took an advantage of some awesome Black Friday sales at My Scraps & More!). The  bright colors with vintage feel were perfect for this photo of Lila. She was dressed as Waldo for Halloween this year, like in "Where is Waldo?"  It was her own idea and she put this costume together by herself.

Supplies: cardstock (American Crafts), patterned paper (Echo Park, American Crafts), label sticker (Echo Park), clocks (Heidi Swapp), chipboard heart (Heidi Grace), film ribbon (Tim Holtz), washi tape (Love My Tapes), jewels (Marcela), corner punch (Fiskars), Silhouette Cameo
 

The big clocks are very old Heidi Swapp ghost shapes and the big chipboard heart is even older. It is from Heidi Grace for Fiskars valentine collection. 

The title is cut with Silhouette. I looked for a small embellishment to add to the clock and found an arrow in the box of leftover Silhouette cuts.

Stop by the Scrap It Girl website and check what other DT members made. And don't forget to link your own projects. The winner of the challenge will receive a terrific prize pack from Kimberly!

Camp Scrap day 1 - misted card

Supplies: cardstock (American Crafts), template (Crafter's Workshop), gelatos, marker and pencil (Faber-Castell), mist (Tattered Angels), letter stickers (Sassafras Lass)

Few days ago I stumbled upon May's Camp Scrap post. I even didn't know she was planning the holiday edition! I am May's loyal reader but I probably missed it during one of my "too busy to read blogs" periods. Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised and not surprisingly inspired by the post. I was particularly inspired by the Peace Joy Love card. I liked that she used a piece of paper as a mask and the hand drawn frame.

I started also by lightly adhering a piece of cardstock on the center of my card front. I used a template to draw feathers with Faber-Castell gelatos. I smudged them well with my fingers, lifted the template and misted everything with Meadow Green Glimmer Mist. After it dried I lifted the piece of cardstock and misted it all again with Silver Sugar Glimmer Mist. I added Sassafras Lass glittery letters and drew a frame with Faber-Castell marker.

I was very genreous with my misting. You can see the card front is wrapped. I consider it more an exercise in creativity than a card. I love the effect and I think it will be fun to try on a layout. 

I am looking forward to more Camp Scrap posts. Today's post is already up. I need to find something to wrap!

 

Glittery lights

Here is something quick for the coming Hanukkah holiday. "Yotzot mehakavim" (Israeli challenge blog) challenged it's readers to use adhesive tape and glitter. This is pretty much all I used to make this card. I used American Crafts 1/4" adhesive tape for the candles and 1/2" tape to cut out the flames. My Fiskars titanium non-stick scissors came very handy in cutting out those small and sticky pieces. 

That's how it looked in process. The white glitter was from one on the very old Jo-Ann kits and the gold glitter is by Martha Stewart. It is called Florentine Gold and is super sparkly. The black backgroud is a recycled catalog. The sentiment is cut with Silhouette. Hebrew letter are no good candidates for welding so I attached them to a thin bar. The sentiment says "Happy holiday of lights"

Supplies: cardstock (American Crafts), glitter (Jo-Ann, Marta Stewart). Silhouette Cameo

Diva at Bar Louie

The photo of my Diva martini was printed and was hanging on my bulletin board together with the small menu booklet I took from the restaurant. They both now live in my scrapbook, thanks to the sketch from Love My Tapes blog, lovely paper from Amy Tangerine  and my new favorite toy - Silhouette Cameo.

Supplies: cardstock (American Crafts), patterned paper, thickers, stickers (Amy Tangerine for American Crafts), chipboard letters (Basic Grey), fabric tab(K&Co), washi tape (Love My Tapes), jewel (Doodlebug), arrows (Silhouette Cameo)

The photo was taken with my phone so it is not the best but I still like it since it brings nice memories. I cut out a piece from the menu booklet and also the restaurant logo from the booklet cover. I love using washi tape as a base for embellishments cluster or the title. It ties everything together.

I was able to cut the arrows from the back side of the manufacturer strip and match the color of the arrows to the thickers! Fun! 

On the other note, I am happy for the long weekend to be over. This mama needs some quiet time....