I can’t believe we are in the last days of December, of 2021. Today I wanted to share with you some of my favorite projects and moments from 2021. Even with another year, not being exactly how we wish it could be, one thing I continued to enjoy is more creative time with all of you. I was able to contribute to my YouTube channel, offer online classes, and play with products that have been sitting in my studio for a long time. We were able to share some time with family and chosen family and those are moments I cherish much more now. I will link to the post for each card/project if you would like to read more about it or see the specific supplies I used for that card or project.
Favorite Tutorials from 2021
I taught a TON of online classes this year and will chat more about that later, but I also offered a lot of free learning videos and tutorials. Below I am linking to the blog post and if there was a video, I have embedded that video within the post. I would love it if you would click on that video and subscribe to my channel, and be sure to leave comments and let me know what you think of my videos. I am still learning! I am working really hard to get to a certain amount of watch time hours, to get to the next level on YouTube, so I appreciate any help you can give. Want to go directly to my YouTube channel, here you go: https://shurk.us/subscribe-youtube
Build a Snowman: I shared a stack of snowman cards, and even have a YouTube video where I share with you an easy way to use layering stamps if you want to create multiples of a card. I had some much fun building these snowmen from Wplus9 and switching up the color combos.
True Blue: Creating this project was a ton of fun, and I share a photo tutorial with you going over each step! This was the first time I got to play with the new Prize Ribbon Distress Ink.
Meowy Christmas: The reason why I added this to the favorite tutorial section, is because I was proud of myself for featuring different kitties than my boys, and I shared how to color these calico and orange tabby cats in the video!
Don’t Just Fly- SOAR: Being a Tim Holtz maker this year definitely stretched my creative brain, and I LOVED it. I shared this photo tutorial of how this project came together, and I love it so much!
Cheery & Bright, Rainbow Snowflakes: The excitement and love I got from all of you for this card, encouraged me to do a LIVE and share how it came together. I made several more, even switching up the sentiments, showing how versatile this card can be!
Watercolored Winter Greetings: I kicked off 2021 with this stack of cards and how-to video. I still love their shimmer and color combo and how easy they came together!
Favorite Classes & Events from 2021
I taught 14 online classes and hosted 4 virtual events in 2021. I also participated in 5 other virtual events hosted by Scrapbook & Cards Today and Firefly Farm. I also taught several other Lawn Fawn classes behind the scenes for virtual tradeshows throughout the year. A VERY busy teaching year for sure! Although all classes and events were held virtually, we still had a TON of fun! With each class and event, little communities were built with people from all over the world. Class attendees are learning a ton and are part of a supportive space not to mention the friendships that are being made. Most of these classes are still available to take, and now is a perfect time to sign up as all my previously released classes are $5 off until January 2, 2022!! See all online classes here.
Firefly Farm Creative Crate: I usually visit Firefly Farm in MN twice a year to teach, and I miss it SO much! I love that Trisha, has been hosting virtual Creative Crate events, and it’s an honor to have been part of each one. I always teach an exclusive Lawn Fawn class, where kits are included, and Trisha plans a weekend of FUN with other guest teachers, gifts, games, challenges, and prizes! She has another one coming up in February, be sure to visit her site, and subscribe to her email newsletter so you don’t miss out on any of the details!
Holiday Advent Calendar: This event was one I have wanted to host for a while now. I had taught unique Advent Calendar classes at the papercrafting store I managed, and they were always so fun! This project is one of my most fave of the year, and it is just SO CUTE! I am so excited that I will be able to display this for years to come. If you missed out on this, don’t fret as I do still have some kits available, and all project kits are 50% off until January 2, 2022!! See all project kits available here. (Limited quantities available)
Tropical Vibes: There is something about these cards that I just LOVE! It might be that we had some inky fun with Distress Inks, or the different color palette we used for coloring the images- either way, they are some of my favorite.
Mermazing: It should be no surprise that this class made the list 😉 Not only were the theme mermaids, but we also created reveal wheel cards- sharing fun and unique ways to use one of my favorite Lawn Fawn interactive dies.
Distress Ink Techniques: It is no secret that I LOVE Distress Inks, so this class was a natural for me- to share some fun background techniques that any papercrafter can use all while learning the differences between regular Distress and Distress Oxide inks. This was my MOST popular class of 2021. If you haven’t taken it yet, I would encourage you to sign up NOW! Part 2 will be coming in 2022!!
Penguin Party: I love the color palette of these cards, and that they will work for both holiday or winter greetings! We did some really creative things with snowflakes and Chunky glitter!
Create with Us: Purrfectly Wicked: The Create with Us classes, are free mini Lawn Fawn classes that I design and host with Kelly Marie. They have been a ton of fun! I loved this one for many reasons. The first is that we got to play with the new cat sets from Lawn Fawn, I also love that there is a “wicked” sentiment that I can use all year long. But the other reason why this class is a fave is we used the same stamps to create a Halloween card AND a birthday card! Oh yea, and I was able to make Kelly Marie have inky fingers.
East Coast Fawnies Present- Happy Harvest: I convinced my friend Chari to teach a class with me, and we featured our most favorite Happy Harvest stamp set, the cutest scarecrow ever- need I say more?
Crop & Create Delivered Cardmaking: It has been an honor to teach at some in-person Crop & Create events organized by Scrapbook & Cards Today, and I am so excited to have been part of the two virtual events this year. There is another one in March and I can’t wait to share the cards I will be teaching! Be sure to sign up for email notices as these events sell out VERY quickly, and are incredible!
Create with Us: Bubbles of Joy: The Create with Us classes, are free mini Lawn Fawn classes that I design and host with Kelly Marie. This was the first one we offered, and it coincided with Lawn Fawn’s Birthday. Kelly Marie and I usually see each other several times throughout the year at the industry trade shows, but because those haven’t been happening this is a fun way to “get together” and hang out with all of you! The next LIVE Create with Us is January 15th, hope you will join us!
Favorite Lawn Fawn Cards from 2021
It’s no surprise, that I shared A LOT of Lawn Fawn cards this year. I just had to share with you some of my faves!
Do You Want To Build A Snowman: I’m a sucker for snowman and snowflakes, even though I hate winter. I just adore how this slimline card came out.
Love Elves: I love to use Lawn Fawn stamps in more ways than they are intended- so how cute are these little love elves?!
Blow Bubbles: I made A LOT of cards this year with the Bubbles of Joy stamp set, so I was happy when I came up with another fun use for the set- they totally look like they are blowing bubbles with bubblegum right?
Gleeful Spring: I LOVE typography, and letter dies, and I adore how the card came out, with the clean kraft background and the colorful images with the crisp white letters.
Life Is Good: Scene building with Lawn Fawn stamps is so fun! This is very “Cape Cod” and I love how it turned out!
Mermazing Reveal Wheel: I was on a mermaid kick after my Mermazing online class and I couldn’t stop creating mermaid reveal wheel cards, this was the result.
Don’t Whirry Be Happy: Again, playing with ABC dies, and doing something I call “cluster stamping” where there is a lot on the card, but by clustering it together, so it all touches, it doesn’t look as cluttered. Also LOVING how the inky background turned out.
Birthday S’Mores: I used the Smiley S’More die in the class I taught for FireFly Farms Creative Crate, and I had so much fun playing with it, I was inspired to create this fun birthday card!
You Color My World: This is the card I created for Chris, for our anniversary. I love how the Chameleons and letters turned out, and I shared how I made the Copic blend in the post.
Favorite Get Cracking on Christmas Cards from 2021
Get Cracking on Christmas is a series I have been sharing all year long for a few years now. On the third Thursday of every month, I posted a holiday card, and some of my crafty friends posted as well. Something new I offered this year is a LIVE each month sharing how I made my card. You could join me, learn, and start to Get Cracking on your own holiday cards. This is a fun way to create holiday cards all year long so that you won’t be as stressed come November. I will be continuing this series in 2022 and have some fun things planned around it, so stay tuned.
Each of these posts had LIVEs where I shared how I made them, so you can watch the replays.
Shake Your Merry Maker: How freaking fun is this Santa?! I want to shake my merry maker with him!! I love the disco ball, and the holographic cardstock was perfect for this card!
Nautical Joy: This card was so fun to create using Distress Inks to watercolor, and the no-line color was a really pretty look for this.
Cool Cat: What is cuter than a snowman? A snowcat!! I love this image from Newton’s Nook, and the fact that all three of my boys are helping build it, even cuter!!
Build a Snowman: I know, I know, another snowman… but look how cute!?! I shared some fun masking and fussy cutting tips in the LIVE.
You can see all of my Get Cracking on Christmas posts for some holiday card inspiration here.
I also put together a YouTube Playlist of all my Get Cracking on Christmas videos and you can watch that here.
Other favorite projects from 2021
Love You Beary Much: I love Simon Says Stamp card kits because they inspire me to try different supplies. The hot pink texture paste against the kraft, and I used Copic markers AND colored pencils, and I love how it turned out!
Peaceful Thoughts: Playing with this Hero Arts Card kit was so fun, and had me dreaming of a tropical getaway.
Notorious RBG: This card set is one I am most proud of from the year, I love how they turned out and had fun with the die set from Hero Arts.
Underwater Wonder: I had so much fun putting these fishes and underwater critters together, an inky fun time!
Woot! You Totally Got This!: A wicked fun encouragement card, in rainbow colors with a gold accent, what more could we ask for?
Ghost Town: I LOVE creating Halloween cards & projects. This is only one of the many I shared this year, but I just love how the inky layers came out, and the scene created on this slimline card.
Here Comes Santa Claus: Ohmygosh you guys!?! The sweet little scene on this card make me smile AND I used traditional Christmas colors, which is RARE!
Creativity Takes Courage: This was so fun to create, and I love the rainbow colors against the gray colors, plus the textured butterfly is so pretty!
You’re Fintastic: Hero Arts came out with some fabulous underwater stamps and dies, and I had a lot of fun creating this mermaid card!
Kitty cards from 2021
Most of you know my boys; Mister Harley, Gus, and Jac, often make it onto cards I create. The lower right photo was our Christmas photo, you can see it better here.
Hooray: Mister Harley is part of a party on this card! Super fun image from Colorado Craft Company!
The Brady Bunch: Each year Lawn Fawnatics hosts a challenge to create a card inspired by a movie, song, book or TV and I came up with this Brady Bunch card- can you spy Mister Harley?
Mister Harley Merbunny: MaryAnn is one of the owners of The Rabbit Hole Designs, and she is a huge fan of my kitties (her most fave is Jac and she is his #1 fan) – she approached me about doing a special stamp for Mister Harley, and she knows I love mermaids- so long story short this image was designed, SO FUN!
Merry Kitties: I adore how this card turned out, all three boys playing around the letters. It is hard to tell the difference between Gus and Jac because they are both black cats. Gus has some white hairs in his ears and a few white hairs on this chest. I also often have Jac being more playful because that is true in life.
Wicked, no tricks just treats: The boys are having a ton of fun, trick or treating on this Halloween card!
You can follow my kitties on Instagram here
Happy moments from 2021
In a year where there was still a whole lot of crud and not-so-happy times, I wanted to end this post with some happy moments from 2021.
Top left: When you miss your friends, it’s a pandemic, and the sun is shining and the temps are “mild” in January, you bundle up, and get together outside.
Top center: With all of the virtual events this year, I have packed and shipped over 1,000 boxes all over the world. Couldn’t have done it without this crew right here!! Also not pictured is my crew that helps me kit for these events. Becky, Dawn, Heidi, Julie, Lisa, Marilee all really rocked it this year and I appreciate them SO much!!
Top right: This pic was taken while I was hosting the virtual Crop on the Cape, and an event that has been in-person for 20 years, was virtual this year. It was a TON of fun, but I am also excited to be hosting it in-person again in 2022, registration is open NOW!
Middle left: Thankful to get vaccinated. Such a simple statement, but SO important.
Middle center: This year has been SO fun in the world of Distress with all the new colors coming out. No surprise, my favorite is Salvaged Patina. So much so I did a little photoshoot and had to write a love letter to Peacock Feathers to explain. I have done a swatch comparison post for each new Distress color that has come out, and you can see them all here.
Middle right: My birthday weekend. I had plans to see my Dad, and some of my besties/chosen family girls. The first we had seen each other in over a year because of the pandemic, and outdoor demolition derby. Unfortunately, I was only able to see them for a short time because we had to turn around and rush back from NH to the Cape to get Gus and deliver him to the emergency vet (more on that in the next pic)
Bottom left: oh, Gus Gus, the poor guy had a tough month and was super sick resulting in 2 surgeries in less than a week, vet stays, emergency vet stays, and expensive bills- but it’s all worth it because he is SO healthy now. Honestly, you would never know all that he went through, and I think he was probably sick for a while- because he is now a much happier, more outgoing cat.
Bottom center: When you have a HUGE tractor-trailer show up, and deliver 2 BIG palettes of product, it’s pretty exciting! This year I launched some really fun products for my shop, including my class resource binders!
Bottom right: After our visit being cut short on my birthday weekend, it was so nice to spend Father’s Day weekend with my dad. Although no car show that we usually attend, after not seeing each other for holidays etc, I was just thankful to SEE him
Top left: Jenn and Lindsay have had to change plans, and be flexible planning their wedding and pre-wedding celebration party- so I was happy they were able to have it this summer, also SO nice to have some quality time with my bestie Josie.
Top center: SO many hours spent in my studio, it’s not a big space, but I am so thankful to have it. It has been amazing to me to host all these classes and events – and I have loved sharing them all with you!
Top right: With everyone vaccinated, and the summer months here we were able to host people at our house again to enjoy some Cape Cod summer days- here we are at Four Seas (the best ice cream on Cape Cod) with the Marlands.
Middle left: Maybe it is all the together time we have had lately, or maybe Mister Harley is getting soft in his older age, but I have been enjoying all the snuggles he has given me this year. He normally is not a snuggly kitty, although always has been a mama’s boy.
Middle center: Back to summer guests, we always love hosting Chris’s sister and her family. This year we visited Nantucket with them (my favorite island)
Middle right: A newish tradition for us is to spend a week in Provincetown, sort of a stay-cation since we don’t really travel off cape. Provincetown is a magical place, and it feels like a true getaway. We stay there during Carnival week, and although there is still no parade, we made the best of it and still had a wicked fun time!
Bottom left: a highlight always in my world, is a simple beach day with Chris. They help me decompress, recharge, and inspire me. I love them, and only wish our summers were longer.
Bottom center: Thankful to have been able to travel and spend a weekend away to celebrate my good friend Stacy’s birthday. She’s the baby of the group and hit a BIG birthday, didn’t want to miss it!
Bottom right: After a lot of hard work, I am happy and proud to have finally paid off all my school loans and was able to do a BIG upgrade in the car department. I have had a VW Jetta for a long time, and now I have a VW Tiguan, my first SUV and I am in LOVE!
With all of this said, I want to mention I am aware of how hard this year has still been, and I am not trying to downplay the loss people have experienced. There are some not-so-great things that I have had to deal with this year, but for this post I wanted to focus on the happy, I hope you understand where I am coming from and know that I am thinking of everyone going through hard times right now.
Thank you! Thank you for visiting my site, for leaving comments here and on social media, thank you for all of your support. It means so very much to me. “See you” in 2022!
50% off all project kits and $5 off all previously released online classes!! *
* project kit sales are while supplies last and online class sale is for all previously released classes
Your virtual events helped many of us get through these difficult times and I’m so grateful to have been able to participate in them. I admire your work ethic, your artistic flair, and your kind heart. Anyone who loves her cats as you do is tops in my book. Thank you for helping me to have actually-finished special cards to share with my family and friends this Christmas. I look forward to new adventures in 2022!
Wishing you and Chris a very happy healthy New Year! Looking forward to crop on the Cape and future online classes. Thank you for all you do.
Happy New Year, Jenn and family. Thanks for all you do for us. Hoping I can take some of your classes in 2022.