A Look Back at 2021! A Year in Review

Happy New Years Eve ~ Welcome 2022!

As I have done the past few years, I am going to take a look back at my creations for 2021, this last day before the new year.   Here is my collection of my 12 favorite cards of the year--one for each month.  If you want to see the original post with the details on the card, please click on the month above the card and it will take you to the post.

January ~ Stamping Sisters Mini Winter Camp

February ~ Gel Press and Bleach

March ~ Thank You Friend!

April ~ Rainbow Bridge

May ~ Double Duty

June ~ Rainbow is my Favorite Color

July ~ Watercolor Hello

August ~ Ken Oliver Color Bursts

September ~ Mega Hello

October ~ Autumn

November ~ One Plus Twelve

December ~ Holiday Tapestry

I hope you too have enjoyed my look back on the cards of 2021.  I posted on 181 days this past year.  That is the lowest number of days since 2012.  I have posted over 200 every year for the past 8 years.  I am not sure why my numbers were so low as I was not traveling or having fun away from home!  But, I do know my numbers for 2022 will probably will be in the same range or even lower as I am cutting back on some of my groups.  There will not be a Ready, Set, Go or Stamp What or 24 Hour Blueprint challenge in 2022.  But, the 3 Musketeers, One Plus Twelve, Hot Mess and Double Duty will continue.  There are also three groups from SCS where I will participate in challenges.  I am cutting back a bit as I plan to start quilting more!  Not a New Year Resolution--just a plan!  

I am adding a couple of personal stamping challenges for 2022 and highlighting some companies that I own a boatload of stamps. Stampin' Up Sundays and Taylored Expressions Tuesdays will debut along with Floral Fridays.   These posts will happen at least once a month--hoping for two times every month!  I will continue with my gnome challenge as I have more to use--they are so dang cute!  

I hope you have a great start to 2022!  Make it better than 2020 and 2021-and that should not be hard!  But, that is what I said in my post last year and I sure was wrong about that!

Mission Possible Returns!

This is my card for a fun challenge that Jeanette came up with last year called Mission Possible!  Jeanette sent us a mystery item three times in 2020 and asked if we would accept the challenge to make a project with the items even before opening the package!  Of course, Kelly and I said yes, so the challenge is on.  We plan to do this quarterly and the item will change each round!  This Will be Mission Impossible Possible!

Earlier in 2021, Kelly and I also sent out items to use.  This time, Jeanette again  sent something for us to use along with the following info: Good Day, Ms. Card-Maker.  Your next mission, should you decide to accept it, involves the use of this starry stencil.  As in the past, you will be working alongside the same two team members. This message will not self-destruct in five seconds, since I have no ability to do that and besides, you might need to refer to it again at some point.  Good Day and Good Luck!

Jeanette sent us a sweet stencil by Spellbinders called Star Bright.  It is a large stencil, 6x6!  I love the starry pattern of this stencil and wanted to try it with different mediums on different colored cardstock.  I also knew I needed some more Thank You cards, so I used a fun die from Taylored Expressions called Thanks and Backer.  I cut the word three times from Metallic Mirricard from The Paper Cut and layered them together for additional dimension.  The backer is vellum from Stampin' Up, as I decided I did not want to cover up more of the fun starry background!

For the navy card,  I used Moonstone Nuvo Glimmer Paste.  I must really like this stuff as I have three jars of it!  The sentiment is die cut from Gold Mirricard and there is also a gold layer.  The card base is Blackberry Bliss.

For the white card,  I used Platinum Nuvo Mousse. This time, the sentiment is die cut from Silver Mirricard and there is also a silver layer.  The card base is Basic Black.

I think I met the challenge--mission accomplished!  And, I am excited that the three of us are going to do this again in 2022!  I have the item ready to send out that we will use in the early part of the new year, should Kelly and Jeanette agree to take the challenge!

Here is the inside of my cards, with a strip of the metallic cardstock:

Please be sure to check out the other Mission Possible projects with this fun stencil.  Here is a link to Jeanette's and Kelly's blog.  I am sure you will not be disappointed and will see a couple of great cards! I hope Kelly and Jeanette like my card. Be sure to check back to see what else create this year. As I mentioned before, I am up next, so the Mission Impossible Possible Continues!

Image/Sentiment:  Taylored Expressions Thanks and Backer Die 

Cardstock/Patterned Paper:  Stampin' Up Basic Black, Blackberry Bliss, Night of Navy, Vellum; The Paper Cut Cougar Opaque 110# White, Gold and Silver Mirricard

Ink: Nuvo Mousse-Platinum and Nuvo Glimmer Paste-Moonstone

Accessories:  Spellbinders Star Bright Stencil

Write a Friend

Today is the day I am posting my card for our Challenge Your Stash group on SCS.  This is our 60th month of de-stash, so we just finished our 5th year of challenges.  AND--we will be back in 2022 as I know I have many, many items in my stash that I can use and love the fun challenges!

The premise is to create a card or something else that uses only items that are in your own stamp room--nothing new is to be purchased.  The hostess each month posts their challenge to the group. Each person in the group creates their card with their own image, their own papers, their own embellishments with their own supplies--using up items from their own stash!  The card can be for any occasion and each person is encouraged to send the card on its way to someone so it can be admired.  It is a way for us to step out of the box a bit and create something that follows a challenge--isn't that what a challenge is supposed to be.  And--no money is spent as all items are to be already available in each of own stamping spaces.

Lisa posted our December challenge--I see it is National Write a Friend month. Create a card where you can easily write a note to a friend

I used another stamp set from Unity this month called Chapter One.  I colored the image with my Copic Sketch Markers. I layered the image on some panels from  Stampin' Up's 6x6 patterned paper pack called Have a Cuppa.  I think it is such a fun pack!  The sentiment is from the same stamp set.  I added some Stampin' Up Pool Party Shimer Ribbon along with some enamel dots for the final touch.

Here is the inside of my card:

If you check some of the blogs on my sidebar, you may find others who have posted their cards in the next few days. There may be more posted in the thread on SCS, so you might want to check out the link here.  We also have a keyword for the SCS Gallery--it is CYSDEC.  You might see many cards there if you do a search.  They probably will be posted today or in the next few days.

I hope you enjoyed my card and I know I am excited to check out what my other hoarders, I mean stash reducers have made!  Thanks for stopping by today!  For January, Lisa is up for our challenge.  Be sure to check back to see what we create then!

Image/Sentiment: Unity Chapter One Stamp Set

Cardstock:  The Paper Cut Cougar Opaque 100# White; Stampin' Up Pool Party, Bermuda Bay, Melon Mambo, Have a Cuppa 6x6 Paper Pack

Ink:  Hero Arts Intense Black

Accessories: Stampin' Up Pool Party Shimmer Ribbon; Copic Sketch Markers; Enamel Dots

Holiday Tapestry

I hope you all had a Very Merry Christmas!

Today I have three pretty Christmas cards--a start for my 2022 mailings!  I made with one of my newer Christmas stamp sets from Gina K Designs called Holiday Tapestry. I have seen many beautiful cards the last few months that have been embossed with the beautiful foliage, so I decided to try it too.  I stamped the image on three different colors-Black, White and Cherry Cobbler with my Versamark ink pad and heat embossed with Gold Powder. I die cut each of the panels with my Gina K Designs Master Layouts 2.   Both of the sentiments are from the same stamp set and I also embossed them with gold on black cardstock.

For the black card front, I layered the die cut panel over Gold Mirricard.  The card base is Cherry Cobbler.  I added some black enamel dots for the final touch, though they are very hard to see in the picture. 

For the Cherry Cobbler card front, I layered the die cut image over black.  The card base is also Cherry Cobbler.  This time I added some Taylored Expressions Gold Drip Drop for the bling--they too are a bit hard to see.

For the white card front, I again layered the die cut image over black.  The card base is black and I added an additional layer of  Cherry Cobbler.  Again, I added some Taylored Expressions Gold Drip Drop for the bling--and they do show up on the picture!

These were fun cards to make and I love all of the shine!

Here is the inside of my cards:

Image/Sentiment:  Gina K Designs Holiday Tapestry Stamp Set

Cardstock/Patterned Paper:  The Paper Cut Cougar Opaque 100# White, Gold Mirricard; Stampin' Up Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler; 

Ink:  Versamark and Gold Embossing Powder

Accessories:  Gina K Designs Master Layouts 2; Taylored Expressions Gold Drip Drops; Black Enamel Dots

Heavens Rejoice!

I am wishing you all a Very Merry Christmas!

Today I have a sweet card made with one of my most favorite Christmas stamps from Stampabilities called Heavens Rejoice. I stamped it with Cherry Cobbler ink and cut the sentiment and Cherry Cobbler layer with We R Memory Keepers Frame 2 Nesting Dies. I also added a strip of Cherry Cobbler Satin Ribbon behind the sentiment.  The starry background paper is from Studio Calico Magical Collection called Christmas Eve.  I added some rhinestones for the final touch and a bit of bling! 

Here is the inside of my card, with a strip of the pretty paper:

Image/Sentiment:  Stampabilities Heavens Rejoice

Cardstock/Patterned Paper:  The Paper Cut Cougar Opaque 100# White; Stampin' Up Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler; Studio Calico Magical-Christmas Eve Patterned Paper

Ink:  Stampin' Up Cherry Cobbler

Accessories:  Stampin' Up Cherry Cobbler Satin Ribbon, Rhinestones; We R Memory Keepers Frame 2 Nesting Dies

A Dozen Christmas Cards

Merry Christmas Eve!

Today I showing the 12 cards I made with one of my recent Taylored Expressions purchases, the Create-in-Quads Mistletoe Layering Stencils.  I bought these just before Stamp Joy in October and picked my order up while attending the fun, in-person event.  

This is a set of 4 stencils that make 4 card fronts at the same time--genius!  Taylored Expressions also made special cardstock in Sugar Cube and Toffee that is cut 1/2 smaller so that I only needed to do two cuts and the panels were ready to layer after they were stenciled--second genius!  I used 3 sheets of Sugar Cube along with three colors of ink cubes--Watermelon, Poblano Pepper and Cilantro.  With the 4th stencil, I used Happy Medium Red Glitter for the shimmer and shine on the berries.

I then used the coordinating stamp set that came with the kit--Modern Holiday Greetings--for the majority of the sentiment.  Taylor and Heather also had an online class that was included with the purchase of the kit during the the first week or so.  One of Taylor's ideas was to add the frames around some of the panels, so I used a variety of frames.

These cards were so fun to make and I now have a start on my 2022 cards!

Image/Sentiment: Taylored Expressions Modern Holiday Sentiments

Cardstock/Patterned Paper:  Taylored Expressions Sugar Cube Quads;  Stampin' Up Cherry Cobbler; The Paper Cut 100# Cougar Opaque

Ink:  Hero Arts Intense Black; Taylored Expressions Watermelon, Poblano Pepper, Cilantro 

Accessories:  Various Dies for Frames; Taylored Expressions Happy Medium Red Glitter

Snowman Joy

Happy Christmas Eve Eve!

Today I have a fun snowman card made with one of my most favorite stamps from Whipper Snapper Designs.  I really love this guy called Prescott!  I colored the image with my Copic Sketch Markers.  I added some Lawn Fawn Prisma Glitter under his butt!  The shiny background paper is from Kaisercraft's Let It Snow collection called Delightful.  I am not sure what company makes the Joy die that is cut from The Paper Cut's Silver Mirricard and that is also layered under the snowflake patterned paper.  I added some silver cording and silver sequins for the final touches! 

Here is the inside of my card, with a strip of the pretty paper:

Image/Sentiment:  Whipper Snapper Designs Prescott

Cardstock/Patterned Paper:  The Paper Cut Cougar Opaque 100# White, Silver Mirricard; Stampin' Up Pool Party; Kaisercraft Let It Snow-Delightful Patterned Paper

Ink:  Hero Arts Intense Black

Accessories:  Copic Sketch Markers; Silver Sequins; Lawn Fawn Prisma Glitter; Stampin' Up Silver Cording; Joy Die unknown company

Addison is Double Duty!

Here we are!  This is the 12th month of another challenge for our group of 4 stampers—Barb, Jeanette, Kelly, and Carol!  This was a thought that I had in the middle of the night, similar to what Kelly has had in the past.  Plus, it is a bit of offshoot of our Stamp What Challenge! This one is called Double Duty! 

Each month, we get to pick a stamp set from a predetermined company. Then, we will use that one stamp set and make two cards from the set.  Different images and sentiments from the same set can be used, or use the same image two different ways—Double Duty either way!  But, as an added challenge, one item must be used on both cards—same color cardstock, same ribbon, same stencil, same something.  Double Duty Again!  We will post both cards on our blog on the the 22nd of each month.  See-Double Duty again!  We will be sure to have fun getting doubly inky each month with a different stamp company.  Let’s have fun!

For December,  the company that I picked was Whipper Snapper Designs. They have many, many cute stamps, and I do have a few, especially snowmen.  For the challenge this month, we were to pick one WSD stamp and use it on two cards in two different ways.  I picked a cute snowman called Addison--I love him and have used him often in the past.  The two sentiments are also from Whipper Snapper Designs!  The images and sentiments were stamped with Hero Arts Intense Black Ink.

For my first card, I colored the sweet snowman image with my Copic Sketch Markers, in shades of Yellow and Green. Honoring my Wisconsin football team--the Green Bay Packers!  I die cut the image with Gina Marie Designs Stitched Rounded Squares.  The sentiment is called Free Snow and I used a Stampin' Up Oval Punch to cut it out.  I added some Lawn Fawn Chunky Glitter on his boots, shovel and on the snow under his feet.  The background is fun green snowflake patterned paper.  Some Taylored Expressions snowflakes are the final touch.  

For my second card, I colored the same image with my Copic Sketch Markers-this time in shades of red for a more traditional card.  Lawn Fawn Prisma Glitter was added to the shovel, boots, snowline along with his hat, scarf and mittens! The sentiment is called Someone Say Snow and was cut with an Elizabeth Craft Designs Dashing Circle die.  The background paper is from Pebbles Holly Jolly line called Mittens and was die cut with Gina K Designs Master Layouts 2.  This time a strip of white satin ribbon and silver stars finish the card.  

I had a number of Double Duty elements on these cards.  Lawn Fawn glitter was used on both cards along with added snowflakes.  I think each card has some fun colors!

Here is the inside of my cards:

I hope you enjoyed my card for our group.  Please be sure to check out the other Double Duty cards.  Here is a link to Jeanette's,  Kelly's  and Carol's blogs.    I am sure you will not be disappointed and will see a couple of sets of great cards! I hope Kelly, Jeanette and Carol like my card.

We will be back in 2022, but sadly Kelly is leaving the group.  But, our friend Darlene will be joining us, so we will return as a group of 4.  Stampin' Up is up for our first challenge in January, so be sure to check out our cards on the 22nd!

Image/Sentiment:  Whipper Snapper Designs Addison/Free Snow and Someone Say Snow Sentiments

Cardstock/Patterned Paper:  Stampin' Up Real Red, Basic Black, Granny Apple Green, Shaded Spruce; The Paper Cut Cougar Opaque 110# White; Pebbles Holly Jolly-Mittens Patterned Paper; Green Snowflake Patterned Paper-unknown company 

Ink:  Hero Arts Intense Black; 

Accessories:   Copic Sketch Markers; Lawn Fawn Prisma and Chunky Glitter; Silver Snowflakes; Taylored Expressions Snowflakes; Elizabeth Craft Designs Dashing Circle Die; Stampin' Up Oval Punch; Gina Marie Designs Stitched Rounded Square Die; White Satin Ribbon