2011 Favorite Projects- Happy New Years Eve

I love the idea of sharing your favorite projects from the year passing. There have been so many precious moments this year and I have been blessed with them. With precious moments comes a fair share of hardships as well and I'm looking forward to a new year, a fresh beginning and a road not traveled.

So here are my projects to share today, showcasing some of my favorite products as well.A new way for me to ring in the new year creatively. Thanks to all my friends that do this already. You have giving me a new tradition...

This was one of my first canvases of the year and now that I've tried it, I'm in love with canvas!!!
Using my Favorite Tattered Angels colors to date...

In February, I tried my hand at making a braided headband for our little monkey Morgan. I used some wonderful ribbons from Really Reasonable Ribbon. Just a little shout out to Bonnie for having me be a part of your design team for the time I was on. I so enjoyed being a part of RRR.

March was a tough month for me and I did what I could to keep afloat. So having to create a project about your favorite feature for TAAFOMFT challenge blog was a perfect little pick me up. (Thank you Julie for being a friend and for having me be a part of your baby)

April finally brought my husband to us. Being apart was really hard for so many reasons. I thank God every day for having my husband, even on those days that were so so difficult. April also was my husbands birthday month and I created a card for him using one of my favorite paper collections to date from Paper Trunk.

May...So nice to be close to my mom for Mothers Day. So to honor my Mommy, I created this layout using Bo Bunny papers. I think it is my favorite layout of the YEAR!!!

June is when I finally got diagnosed with depression and I'm so so grateful that I'm on medication and can now see the forest through the trees. What a difference a few changes can make in ones life.So for June I couldn't help but pick this card. The message is clear and Nikki Sivils always makes me smile with her collections, her smile and her kindness.

July brought a guest designer spot with Donna Salazar and talk about excited!!! I love Donnas Girlie Grunge collections and had a tonne of fun with this one. My favorite was this card with a butterfly. I love butterflies!!!

But wait!!!! I also got to be a guest designer with Darkroom Door and LLLLLLOOOOVVVVEEEEE their stamps so July is a two-fer. Ain't this one purdy!!!

August brought a little accident to the family. My wonderful Mom broke her hip and although that was horrible, something wonderful came out of it. I started spending more time with mom and our relationship changed. She is one of my best friends now and I Love her to pieces. This project was my favorite for August. A beautiful stamp from I Brake for Stamps. I paired it with some great papers from Lily Bee Designs.

September was back to school month and both our monkeys were excited about it. They are growing up a little more every day ~sigh~. I started to think about doing a Life List Journal thanks to a great friend Tracy. This is the front cover of the journal and my favorite project for September. All put together with my love an Helmar love too!

October brings Halloween hehehe. I love Halloween and created a neat little tag using some Glimmer Mist and some Fancy Pants. I think every time I say the word Fancy Pants, I grin ear to ear. Love this company.

November already??? Christmas is right around the corner but I'm still stuck on Halloween.I love autumn colors and decided to create a large canvas piece using some of my favorite pieces from Basically Bare. This piece is proudly displayed on the main level of our home for everyone to see.

The end of the year is here and with that brings December, snow and family. Christmas was simply perfect and I'm so blessed to have my health, my loving family, and a new appreciation for my husband.

December brings out the kid in me and I so enjoyed this 1st little piece using purdy glitter and Helmar. The second little ornament is made from those super sweet little Dew Drops from The Robins Nest. Man am I excited to be a part of this team now.

Well there ya have it, My ode to 2011. I truly am blessed to have each of you in my life and along for the journey. We have many things in common even though we may not think so. Thank you for being there, for giving me a reason to get up and go some mornings and for sharing your lives with me. Until next year...

Toodles

Donna Salazar Guest Designer

Hello Everyone and Happy Day to you all. Today I've got a really exciting post for you with my creations for my Guest Designer Spot for Donna Salazar. I've adored Donnas products for quite some time and when I was asked to be a Guest Designer, I am pretty sure I "Inked". These papers are truly a dream to work with and I hope that my creations inspire you.

I was originally going to create a few cards and an altered project, but after digging in, I just couldn't hold back. Those 3 projects turned into 9!!! Inspiration works like that though doesn't It?? And to say I was inspired by Donnas products would be an understatement.

So here we go. First off the cards I created using the beautiful Spring in Bloom, Antiquities and Artistic Paper lines. The first card uses a little burlap and I've cut out the roses from the Artistic Papers. They are colored with Distress Inks and then a little Fairy Dust Glitter was added for that extra "WOW" (with a name like Fairy Dust, How could a fairy lover resist???)

The second card used the Antiquities collection, that wonderful Artistic Papers and Fairy Dust Glitter again. I jazzed up the one butterfly with a bit of Stickles to make her a little more "unique".

Now onto what was originally, my last project. I used the Crafty Chronicle to create this bangle. Adding some distress ink and Helmar Crackle Medium to really distress it. So So purdy. I really like how this one turned out, however the photos don't do it justice.

Now I couldn't stop there. Next came a set of 5 tags. I used a bunch of tidbits from The Crafty Chronicle. Quotes, images, and goodness abound!!! This first tag is made from the flower images on the first page of Crafty Chronicle and  a good helping of Fairy Dust Glitter. I think it is my favorite...

Now onto the next four. All of these use Antiquities, Spring in Bloom and Crafty Chronicles goodness. Here they are...

Man I love this stuff. It just flows so easily and is truly top notch, when you look at quality. The colors are soft yet grungy, which I happen to LOVE LOVE LOVE, the images are perfect for the fussy cutter in me, and the Glitter is divine!!!

Last, but certainly not least, is my favorite project of all. A 6 x 6 canvas created using bits and pieces from Crafty Chronicle, Antiquities and Spring In Bloom. I also did some stamping with the Fairy Dust Glitter and LOVE the look.

So there you have it. Thank you so so so very much Donna for giving me the opportunity to work with you wonderful paper collections. They are truly stunning!!! If you haven't used Donna Salazar products before, take a leap and try. You will be moved with inspiration I'm  certain.

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you all have a very crafty day

Toodles