2016 Year in Review

As another year rolls to a close, I wanted to do a craft project year in review for you. I love looking back on my friends' work, but I also like to look back on my own. It helps me see where I have been, what I learned, and how I can improve. I hope you will grab a drink and a snack, and join me for the Scraps of Life Year in Review - 2016!

January

My favorite project from January is this perpetual calendar I made for Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts, using Graphic 45 Children's Hour papers. I will get at least a second year's use out of it before it gets too tired looking! To see the tutorial for this project, click HERE.

February

This project may be my favorite for the entire year! I created this for Graphic 45 to use in their booth display last year. I used the Communique Deluxe Collector's Edition paper to make this over-sized card. You can see the details and get a peek at the inside by clicking HERE. 

I also love these tiny tags that I created using GSL chipboard elements and scraps of Graphic 45 spring-themed papers. To see the tutorial and the matching card, click HERE.

March

I actually have two favorite projects for March, using the same paper collection! (Well, it is really THREE projects, once you get down to it!

The first project is this "from scratch" mini album that I made with Graphic 45 Enchanted Forest papers and GSL chippies. I love the colors and all the details I added. I enjoy making mini albums above all other crafting projects! To see the inside of the album and a tutorial for making this beauty, click HERE. 

To see the tutorial for the matching castle box, click HERE.

I actually created this project first, at the end of February, but it's my post, I can cheat if I want to! I loved this G45 Enchanted Forest collection so much, and I knew I'd not have a lot of time to use it during the year, so I tried to use it as much as possible as soon as I got my hands on it! This is another over-sized folio card. To see all the photos, click HERE. 

April

My favorite project for April is hands down, this set of 6 cards I made! They are fairly clean and simple (CAS), but are visually just striking!  

This card project was something that was on my "to make" bucket list for AGES! I finally got around to stamping and water coloring all this fruit! To see more of the project, click HERE

Another of my favorite projects of the year is this mini album I made from scratch using Canvas Corp canvas and papers. I recently gave this to a friend, and she almost had to pry it out of my hands! I really LOVED how this project turned out. To see the full project, click HERE.

This project is part of a larger project, which I hope to finish in 2017! I am creating a FANTASTIC (if I do say so myself) Disney album, and have completed just a few parts of it so far. Visit HERE to see this section.  

May

This project was another of those bucket list projects. I had this tiny photo album in my stash for YEARS, and never got around to using it. I love this tiny patriotic project! To see details, click HERE. 

It is no secret that I make a lot of cards! This was one of my favorites of the year. It came together like lightening in a bottle! I love everything about it. It is so elegant and pretty. Just the right amount of embellishments! To see more photos, click HERE.

From the other end of the crafty spectrum is this mixed media altered notebook I made for GSL. I don't do mixed media all that often, because it takes a long time to create each layer, plus it is MESSY! But, this was such a fun project, that turned out so much better than I thought it would! Click HERE for the full tutorial. 

June

My favorite 3-D project from 2016 was this phone and tablet charging station I made using GSL chipboard and G45 papers. It is one of those projects that almost killed me getting it made, but it was so worth it in the end! For the tutorial, click HERE.

This is another look at the Disney album I am working on. Click HERE for a tutorial on making the album base, and for more inserts.

July 

Every now and then, I make a card that is so fun and colorful I have to check and make sure it is really my work! That is how I feel about this fun fish card I made for Really Reasonable Ribbon, using Heartfelt Creations paper and dies! Click HERE for full details.

August

If one mini album is good, then four mini albums with a matching storage box must be SUPER good! I love this box and four small minis that I created using GSL chippies and G45 Safari Adventure papers! Each little mini has only a few pages, but they are filled with fun! Click HERE for the tutorials!

Occasionally, I receive products like these dies from Cheery Lynn and paper from Graphic 45 (Cafe Parisian) that just go together like bacon and eggs!I love this project so much, that sometimes I just sit and gaze at it! 

When you open it up to its full glory, you can see why I love it! I have created shutter cards before, but I got the wild idea to make a double-shutter...and ta da! For details, click HERE.

September

Another of my favorite 3-D projects this year is this Mad Hatter Tea Chest. I love when GSL makes chippies to match G45 papers! This Alice in Wonderland set was perfect for the G45 Hallowe'en in Wonderland Collection! See the tutorial HERE.

Sometimes, I get to toot my own horn more loudly than usual! Hampton Art Stamps released this phrase stamp that I designed (just the words shown here, not the images)! I love how it combined with the Power Poppy images for this CAS card! See details HERE.

October

I love to make flowers, and this Christmas beauty for Heartfelt Creations is one of my favorite flower makes of the year. I combined the new rose stamps and dies with the older poinsettias, and magic happened! Click HERE for details.

Each year, I try to make one new Christmas decor item. This year, I made this advent box using the GSL boxes and G45 Christmas papers. This project took FOREVER to make, but it is so pretty! I am happy I stuck with it (as there were moments when it was headed for the trash)! Click HERE for the tutorial. 

While I have been working on some CAS designs this year, I still love vintage and layered designs the most! For details on this Christmas card, click HERE.

My favorite "easy to make" project for the year is this cute treat bag with a shaker "ornament" decoration! Totally adorable! Click HERE for the tutorial.

November

I have been working hard on my CAS designs, and this one is hands down my favorite of the year! I love coloring, and pairing colored images with a more simple design, just works! Click HERE to see more photos.

However, sometimes, colored images look great will all sorts of other junk, too! For details on this home decor piece, click HERE.

I think November was Copic month! I love how this pink and green card turned out. For details, click HERE.

December

This is another favorite Copic coloring project. I love the blue and silver, and that Copic background turned out so fantastic! For details, click HERE.

And that's a wrap! Thanks for joining me in a look back at 2016. I love creating, and my greatest joy is that I get to make so many things, in so many styles! I get to feed every aspect of my creative soul. Thank you for reading, for commenting, and for supporting me. I also thank all the companies who give me product to play with, and help me to learn new things and continue to grow in my craft. 

Come back on January 5th for the next Hoarders Hop, as there will be prizes! Plus, I am launching a monthly tutorial series in January! You will sure want to come back for that! 

I wish each of you a Happy New Year. May we all make amazing makes in 2017!!!