If this is a tradition, I love it. I remember doing a similar post at the end of 2011, and there’s something to be said for reviewing all your crafty work over the last year and choosing your favorites - it can be tough, but it’s also super fun. I have lots of great memories to share about each one of these cards, so I will try to be brief.

I chose the cross-stitched card above because I remember the Saturday that I spent stitching that piece of cloth - I had not a care in the world and was happy as a clam to be curled up under the covers working on that chevron pattern. The idea popped into my head and I just had to make this card.

I had the amazing luck of being asked to be a guest designer for Clear and Simple Stamps‘ July and August release-I am still pinching myself! The Happy Hour card was another one of those cards hat just popped into my head when I saw those adorable drink umbrellas in the dollar store, and I was surprised by the positive feedback I received on this. I really felt like I made Nicki and the CSS DT proud with this one - I so badly did not want to embarrass them and felt a lot of pressure to make sure everything was as perfect as I knew how, mostly because this was my first time participating in anything of this crafty magnitude. Designing for them was an amazing experience - it was a lot of work and it really challenged me to think outside the box with my crafting and taught me so much about myself and my own style.

Adventures in spritzing! For the longest time, Renee kept telling me how beautifully the Waltzingmouse Stamps stamped, and when Compact Family was released along with all its matching sentiment sets, I was hooked. And she was SO right. The funny part about this Father’s Day card is that I was not able to give it to my dad or my father-in-law because neither of them is a grandfather and I didn’t want them to get any ideas.

I love this card, which was made using Unity Stamps, mostly because of the raspberry color, my favorite for cardmaking, and the layout.

Here’s another card using Waltzingmouse, this time with paper piecing. Because I still don’t color much, and I don’t plan on starting in 2013 either!

It’s no secret that I have a serious obsession with Christmas crafting, and the above card is one that I made using Neat and Tangled, whose design team I had the delight of joining this year. Danielle is one of the sweetest and most supportive people out there, and I am so honored that she has asked me to join her in her adventure. I wish her all the best in the New Year!

And how fun was this card that I made as part of my October spot with Retro Sketches?!?! Arielle, you are the BEST and I just love everything you make. This challenge blog is superb (because I LOVE sketch challenges) and one of my goals for 2013 is to play along MUCH more with this one.

And how about CAS-ual Fridays? I still can’t believe that the ever-awesome Michele picked me for her team and I was so sorry to have to step down at the end of this year because work is just…well, a handful for me right now (more on that later). Here’s a card that I made for her very first stamp release, and that raspberry pink just gets me every. time. I’m thinking that this sentiment will make for some fun New Year’s cards! I miss you and all of the fun and super talented Girls Friday!

Oh the magic of taking a Hero Arts class with Shari Carroll. I loved it so much that I signed up for a second class after the first one had ended, making for almost a whole day with this most magnificent crafty genius! I chose this card as one of my favorites because it reminds me of that awesome day, when I bought this stamp and die set, and which helped me to get back to thinking about all the reasons why I love this hobby so very much.

Yes, another Christmas card! This one was made using Wplus9, my favorite stamp company, for the Cloud9 Challenge in November. That Simple Snowflake die is so perfect to me, and I just love that sentiment set. I am hoping to be able to display many more cards using my Wplus9 stash in the New Year. I can’t thank Dawn enough for letting us run monthly blog hops and for sharing her amazing talent with us. I also want to thank Anya, Christina and Gayatri for joining me in this blog hopping adventure. Hugs to all of you!!!

This was my final card as part of the CAS-ual Fridays team, and I chose this because it’s a reminder to me to use more blue in my cards. I also love all the texture in the buttons and bling!

Last, but not least, I chose this card, which I gave to my parents for Christmas this year, because I love the colors, the stitched mat from Lil’ Inker Designs, and the glittered candy cane! It made me so happy to use my beloved Papertrey Ink holiday stamps. Last year I didn’t have much of a chance to use these because I had to help out with my grandmother, but I will still be sad to put these away at the end of the week for inking up next season.

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If you’re still with me, thank you! I am not sure what 2013 will bring for me in blogland, only because I have some new responsibilities at work that I need to focus my attention on, at least for the next few months while I get used to the new schedule. I want you all to know how much I truly appreciate all of your kind words and support each and every time I share something here. Your comments brighten my day more than you can imagine, and I am forever grateful for you. I know that I am not always the best about returning the favor, but I want you all to know that I do visit and admire all of your creations in return. Thank you for all the inspiration!

I wish you and your loved ones all of the best in 2013!

Hugs,
Suzanne

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!

While I was baking cookies the other night, I tried to think of ideas for a card for today’s blog hop at Papertrey Ink…here’s my take on this month’s white-on-white challenge. I was also inspired by the glittered diecuts challenge in this week’s a la carte Make It Monday. That’s a two-fer!

I used the By the Numbers die collection and I glittered them using a Xyron. Then I glittered a scalloped border and layered some silver washi tape over that strip before tying some white crochet thread over it to finish the card off. All of the cardstock here is Select White.

Nichole said we could add touches of neutrals - is silver neutral? I think so?! Thanks so much stopping by!

Hugs,
Suzanne

Happy New Year everyone! Tonight I went out to dinner in honor of the holiday, but I have also completed a card for my first-ever blog sketch challenge-does this make me hard core? I am not sure. This challenge comes from the Mish Mash blog by Michelle Wooderson, who called tonight’s event Hip to be Square for those of us not going out and partying down into the middle of the morning.

Here is my entry for tonight’s challenge. The photos were taken with my new OTT light, which was purchased at Tuesday Morning for just $24.99. I think that’s a deal based on comments I have read about these lights. It helped immensely! I have never been able to take pics at night before!