My 2011 Blog Year in Review

Karin over at With an "i" For Paper is hosting a Year in Review Blog Hop and offering a $25 gift certificate and another for $15 to randomly selected entries.  What a fun way to highlight some favorite projects or events from the past year.

Click Above Photo to enter

2011 has been an important growing year for me with my blog.  I began the year as a newbie blogger and in the past 12 months, I think I've progressed to at least a slightly-experienced blogger. I've been inspired and encouraged by so many amazingly talented artists.  As I look back through the year, I see how my blog posts show that my papercrafting interests have changed a bit as I'm more likely to skip scrapbooking layouts in favor of card making or other gift giving projects.  I've included some of my major blogging/crafting events below.  These are some things that changed the way I post blog entries or create my projects.

In January of 2011, I invested in a Sizzix Big Shot Pro die cutting machine and with just a few dies I developed an interest in enhancing die cut projects with embellishments.  Here's an example of one of my first Pillow Purses:

In February, I entered my first sketch challenge using Lady Tilda on a card.  I learned how following a good card sketch can help to unblock creativity and get the juices flowing again.

I was thrilled to accept an invitation to join the Copic Goddesses design team at the Copic Creations Challenge blog in March and held my first blog give away.  I was introduced to the fabulous fantasy images at Crafts and Me Stamps (Yay!!!). I also had a project published in Magnolia Ink's magazine!

April brought more experimenting with card shapes and styles.  I also posted a photo that was successfully taken under a black light, showing my Copic Fluorescent-filled image on a card:

In May, I had to find a way to add Copic clouds to my images and so began experimenting.  I've used this technique on many of my cards since.

In June I added my first real guy card and held my second blog give away . . .

I was overjoyed to accept an invitation to join the Dynamite Digi design team at Crafts and Me Stamps and began entering my projects into multiple challenges in July.  I also added my first 2011 Christmas card.

I spent quite a bit of time with Spellbinders Labels One dies and in August I posted ten examples.  I also gained my 100th follower!

I dabbled in the Steampunk trend in September . . .

In October, I found Elisabeth Bell's World Challenge blog (Yay!!!).  I also posted various ways to use Spellbinders Labels Two.

I was thrilled to accept my first guest design team assignment at Elisabeth Bell's World Challenge in November.

Adding multi-textures to this multi-layered Christmas card was a fun way to spend some time in December . . .

Oh, it's been a fabulous year in papercrafting, alright.  After looking through all the photos and my posts, I understand better why my dear non-blogging husband, when seeing me with my camera or at the laptop after 7pm, is compelled to ask, "Whaddaya have a blogger tonite?"

Thank you all for your kind words, encouragement, and inspiration.  I am ever grateful.

Here's wishing you a happy and healthy New Year that's overflowing with all good things!