Wednesday, December 26, 2012

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!



13 comments:

  1. wow, michelle! super awesome projects from this year. i really love them all....you are incredibly talented and totally inspirational.

    good luck with your 2013 goals. i'm still trying to work mine out.

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  2. You ROCKED this year out, mama!!! So excited to see what comes of your 2013! xx

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  3. I think you had a great year. Here's to another!

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  4. What a great post! I love each and every one of your projects! Can't wait to see what you do in 2013!

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  5. Michelle, you are an amazing talent and I definitely foresee many more successes for you in this coming year :)~ and I agree, the friendships made are what make the journey meaningful. Thanks for being a friend to me :)~

    xErin

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  6. Wow, what a scrappin' successful year it was for you! You are full of talent as a scrapper and a writer! Your blog has always been a pleasure to read and many time, thought provoking! Thanks for all the encouragement you've given me too...see you on the other side Michelle!!

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  7. Girl I love everything about this..esp the Neon page...so preety..and so colourful! You are awesome.. :)I believe this year was an awesome year for you... :)

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  8. Wow talk about inspiration central!!! These are all so eye-poppingly awesome!!!!!

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  9. This is an awesome post!! Your work is AMAZING!!! Those postcards are my favorite. Simply incredible. And I love how you share both your ups and your downs. Keep up the great work and I cannot wait to see all you have in store for 2013!

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  10. A great look back at 2012--all the best to you in 2013!

    Oh, and I've hopped onto the Project Life wagon, too, only I do mine digitally so they only thing I have to print are the finished pages (& I'll probably let shutterfly or blurb handle that!).

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  11. Looks like a good year! I love your work, too :)

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  12. Oh it's so fabulous seeing so much of your work together like this. And I'm so chuffed to now own a piece.

    I can see some similar goals between us for 2013. Let me tell you, no stash shopping really works. I did it in 2012. Really brutally pruned my stash down to what I would actually use, if it hand,t seen light of day in over 6 months then it was gone, no longer hoarded but into the communal craft pot for the girls (they made short work of it!!!) And I only bought essentials all year. You'd be amazed at how creative you get when you start running on empty suppliers :-) and even better news - I am going shopping in April for a restock - can't remember the last time I had a stash shop. It really concentrates the mind so you know what you use and what you NEED. :-)

    Happy 2013 Michelle x

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Ok peeps lets CHAT! You tell me what you REALLY think and I PROMISE to keep it open minded here.