I have been blogging since 2005. It mainly started because all the cool kids were doing it. No, seriously. I had just moved to the Cape, was working at Colorful Creations. Cardmaking had been a part of my world for a few years but scrapbooking was all new. So I was nicely stalking people on 2 peas and following their every move 🙂 I wanted to see the latest trends, see what people were creating, and buying etc. This was all research for my job.. yea, that’s it… research 🙂 Anyways there I found the garden girls like Ali Edwards. I loved her style. She started a blog on typepad- so I needed to as well right?
While I was managing the store my first priority was always our customers. I was working at the store, designing classes for the store, hosting events for the store. I was there 5-6 days a week. I didn’t really see the need to be posting on my blog regularly because 1. I was pretty busy and 2. I was seeing all my creative peeps at the store. I was sharing with them whatever I was creating, and probably teaching it.
When the store closed 8.5 years later I had strong relationships with a lot of the customers. They had followed me in most of my creative adventures with my classes or samples I created. I knew I would still be creating things and I knew I had peeps that were going to still want to see and be inspired by that. Over the past three years I have really stepped it up when it comes to blogging. Blogging more regularly, photo tutorials, video tutorials etc.
2014 was by far my busiest blog year. I posted over 140 blog posts. I had the most traffic and most blog comments ever (yahooo people are reading my posts 😉 )
I thought it would be fun before launching into 2015 and sharing with you all the my plans for the new year, to look back and share with you my favorites of 2014. I am really proud of this past year and what I created and shared. I hope you will enjoy looking back with me 🙂
Favorite Lawn Fawn Creations of 2014
There is no surprise here, that I LOVE Lawn Fawn. I love their fun, whimsical designs. Each release gets better and better, how that is possible- who knows!? 🙂 I find their stamps super easy to create with and be inspired by. This was hard to narrow it down to a few favorites but here you go:
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Creative use of those adorable paper straws
3 background uses using gelatos
A super cute mini book with an even cuter subject
Pretty sure they created the “Life is Good” set just for me
A simple card that had very special meaning
Shaker cards made a come back in 2014 and I tried my hand at it
Texture? ok… I’ll give you texture!
One Layer cards are a challenge for me but I loved this fun technique I came up with
White on white was another big challenge for me- but happy with this creation!
Favorite Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenges
I was SO surprised and WICKED excited to be chosen as a design team member for the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog. Not only is Heidi and Steph and Lol’s and everyone else at Simon super awesome to “work” for- I love that each challenge is so different and with all the different companies and products we get to showcase it totally gets me out of my comfort zone and truly challenges me- I LOVE this It was tough to choose my favorites but here they are:
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Spectrum Noir was super generous to send us colored pencil sets and I was excited to play with a limited edition Stamptember Lawn Fawn set
Playing with Gelatos is a lot of fun and this is a great photo tutorial about how to use them with your stencils!
I just love the bold background, clean crisp sentiment and orange/gray combo of this card
This “hello” card is one of those that you wish you could show everyone in person- it is just SO pretty! I really should make a stack of them and send them to friends!
Another Lawn Fawn creation, but it was the freeing theme of “Anything Goes” that inspired me to create this fall leaves creation.
The theme for this Prima Marketing Challenge wasn’t what inspired me, so I stretched the boundaries a bit and let the mermaid stamp and all the artsy fartsy times at the November Loft Art Retreat inspire this mixed media piece.
I LOVE Tim Holtz products. Everything. All of it. But I was the happiest girl ever when he started to come out with nautical items. Inspired by Cape Cod of course, I created this tag.
This inky, watercolor, rainbow inspired Hero Arts Background makes me happy!
And, lastly this card with kraft and Studio Calico goodies is SO different then my usual “style” but I truly love it, and love that it broke me out of my comfort zone!
Other Creative & Artsy Favorites
Sometimes I create other fun things that aren’t design team or challenge driven 😉 These are my faves from the year!
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You Keep Me Anchored: I adore this card. I love how the tutorial video came out even if it did take me 4 takes to complete it ha! (those times where you think it’s recording, but it’s not and you have to start all over again….)
Hello Beautiful: I shared this on World Carmaking Day. Nothing super special or unique about it, just one of those cards when I see it I’m like ” Oh yea, I REALLY like how that came out”.
Decorative Love Frame: I went out with a bang with the 14th project in my Valentine Day Blog Hop Series– LOVE how these frames came out and the technique can be used for so many other things!
I was so flattered that Laura Sterckx of makingcardsisfun.com invited me to be part of her video hop. It also forced me to do another tutorial video 😉 Loved playing with all my nautical Fred Mullett stamps!
The last two I wanted to share I had on the same blog post. Unfortunately I had to create a lot of f*ck cancer canvases this year. I do however love this set from Stamptember by Mama Elephant- perfect to tell a friend that they kick a$$! 🙂
(not pictured) The Valentine Blog Hop Series was a lot of fun! A lot of work, but a TON of fun and I’m grateful for all the people who participated with me. Looking for Valentine Inspiration for this coming year? Follow the series here
Favorite Shares
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The very first Loft Art Retreat
May is always a busy month, but a happy month
Farewell to my home away from home
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Another fabulous day of creating with Dina Wakley
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October Loft Art Retreat time lapse
November Loft Art Retreat was also fabulous and you can see some pictures here on facebook
Guest Designing in 2014
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Chris’s Daughter Cate guest designed for Simon Says Stamp Summer Vacation Kids Challenge you can see her creation and her entries here
You are my favorite… just sayin’
I loved this post – congrats on so many achievements! Hoping to attend one of your loft retreats this year 🙂
thank you so much rubeena! I would love to have you come to a loft art retreat 🙂 I will be posting save the dates soon!!
“Meeting” you has been one of the highlights of 2014 for me. Your cards are so inspiring and eclectic and I adore your whimsy and humor. Thanks for being such an awesome person. Your spirit really shines!
that is the sweetest thing ever- thank you so much Becca 🙂 i look forward to your nice blog comments! thank you!!