Michelle's Crafty Year in Review post! 2012 Edition

Well it's almost the end of 2012.
For me this year was full of frustrations and growth.
I joined my first manufacturer design team with Scrap FX and got published in several publications I deeply admire.

I also had to leave a several beloved challenge design teams due to time constraints posed by a new job.

Where am I going for 2013?

• I aim to expand my published work.
• I would like to guest DT in more places.
• Developing friendships with other craft bloggers will be my number 1 priority. That is the most rewarding part of this blogging adventure and I feel I've ignored it too long this year.
• I will also try to write more "How To" posts and expand to video in some way.
• I will be severely cutting back on the craft shopping. Too much of a good thing- even paper- is awful- especially in a tiny apartment.

Here are my favorite projects from 2012:

2012 Brought on the insanity that is Project Life and my complete FAILURE to keep up.
I made it to week 7 but the need to constantly edit and print images was too much for me.
This is a project that requires a lot of planning and some major workflow streamlining.
I'll try it again in 2012 once I get that mini wireless printer I had my eye on.

I discovered postcard exchanges in 2012- I loved what I made (above) but what I got in return was disappointing.

I still can't believe I was asked to Guest DT for Cocoa Daisy in September 2012.
How in the WORLD? The kit was gorgeous and the opportunity a dream come true.

This page made in haste and almost trashed was published in Scrapbook Trends
(Whaaa?) and pinned more often than anything else I've made. Go figure!

I was thrilled to be accepted to the Scrap FX design team!
I used Twitter and Instagram to get technique ideas- using my scoring board to
make lines on this page came from Melissa Mann.

I joined Julie Balzer's 2nd floor challenge (now over) and loved what I made.

My pages got super clean and simple once I started to work full time.
Sometimes (like here) the design was really satisfying but most of the time I just felt my work was bland and uninspired. 

This page came out of nowhere- vellum and pop dots are favorite tools.
I was also asked to be part of the A Flair For Buttons DT and it's been an honor-
nothing but fantastic product and incredibly inspiring pages from fellow dt members.

I made this minimalist shadow box for Scrap FX in order to get rid of some buttons in colors
I don't use much- amazing how pretty they look when used together.

I made this Olympics inspired page for True Xoxo Girls
which is a great challenge site- swing by and join the fun!!!

I love this card using a kraft paper themed kit from a former kit club I resigned from due to
unnecessary drama.  Sometimes you have to say enough is enough.

I love this page- shopping your own stash is SO worth it! That Pink Paislee print is 4 years old.

A page for the  Die Scrapperin Magazine August 2012 Issue. The prompt was graffiti and
 the Scrap FX "awesome" wordlett and polaroid frame made things super easy.

I was honored to Guest Design for German art Scrap Magazine Die Scrapperin twice this year.
This was for their November 2012 issue and I had such a hard time with the prompt which was color my world.
I decided to just play with my neon ink pads and paints.

This page using a Scrap FX frame won honorable mention over at the Skissedilla challenge blog.
I've always wanted to join in but always forgot to turn my pages in on time.  

I  joined the mass Instagram freak-out in late December that got the company to roll back changes to it's Terms of Service agreement. Lots of people said "Meh! I don't care. My photos aren't good enough for sale."  I contend that a service can always decide it wants to turn a profit but not without my express permission and not without cutting me in on that action, it's my content after all. Hey Instagram- I love you but I don't NEED you. Check yourself before you wreck yourself.

Have a happy, healthy and wonderful 2013!!!

Chells out!