Catered Crop: Best of 2013

The Catered Crop challenge for the month of January is to come up with your Favorite Crafty Creations of 2013.  Even If you have already done your list - you can still link up.  It's open all month - what a great way to find everybody's "best of" in one place!

This is most definitely a challenge!!  Doing a "best of" post is very, very hard.  I must lack confidence because I can love a card when I first post it - but when I look back I can see the things that I would have done differently.  On the other hand, looking back reminded me of the amazing teams on which I served and the guest spots that I was honored to do.  It was truly an exciting year for me.

But a new year also requires that one think ahead and I have realized that I need to make some changes.  Most likely nothing that any of you will notice, but a big change for me.  I have decided to stick with a couple of my very favorite design teams - and not accept any new teams in 2014.  I do love the thrill and honor of being on a team or being a guest - and I enjoy sharing products and challenges that I love with each of you.  However, there are many reasons for my change.

• Showcasing products or challenges is stressful because I always want to show them at their very best.  I had so much going on the last three months of last year, every single card that I made had to be good and mojo levels just don't work that way!!
• I realized that many of my favorite stamps and products have been ignored because of design team requirements.   I miss using some of my older toys and stamps from other companies for which I didn't officially design.
• Most importantly, I'm in the last stretch of my second college degree.  Classes are getting tougher.  And I need to figure out how to do a resumé that glosses over the fact that I've been home for the last 15 years (or manages to show how hard it is to be home!)  And then, of course, a job search.   

I might be posting a little bit less - but probably not much.  Being surrounded my men and boys, and having a career based in numbers - making cards is a necessary outlet in my life!  I'm a much better person after some time at my craft desk.

Now on to the real point of the post...instead of looking month by month I decided to narrow it down by products and challenges that I like or that I was involved with during the year.  So without further ado...

Blog Post: Sparkle and Shine, Merry and Bright

Main Product: Neat and Tangled
The bokeh stamps on this one give it a glow that make this card my favorite of the year!

Blog Post: Winter Peace with the Lawnscaping Winter Blog Hop

Main Product: Lawn Fawn

I have a number of Lawn Fawn cards on my blog - their stamps are just plain FUN to work with!

Blog Post: Fresh Squeezed Stamps: #HOLIDAYFUN Main Product: Fresh Squeezed Stamps The colors on this card just make me happy. But I also think that I embraced about every current trend on this one card - woodgrain, word bubbles, an ampersand and sequins!

Blog Post: AEI{heart}U with Avery Elle: Oh Happy Day Main Product: Avery Elle I love the colors - I love the layout - and the little birdie and flowers make me oh-so-happy!!


Blog Post: Warm and Fuzzy Hugs Main Product: Paper Smooches It's hard to go wrong with Paper Smooches!


Blog Post: My Favorite Things Stamps Day 6: Text and To the Point Main Product: My Favorite Things I love these bold masculine stamps and this combination of colors!


Blog Post: CAS(E) this Sketch: Give Thanks Main Product: Reverse Confetti I've been part of the CAS(E) this Sketch challenge since October 2012.  Even if you don't play (but I hope you do), it's a great challenge to bookmark just for the incredible variety of CAS sketches.

Blog Post: Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge: Welcome Home Main Product: Papertrey Ink I've been part of the design team for the re-opening of the Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge and currently serve as the Stage Manager!  Be sure to check it out!


Blog Post: Catered Crop: Canning Jar Recipe Swap Main Product: Paper Smooches I have served on the Catered Crop design team since April. It's a very fun challenge with a wide variety of challenges.  This one was for the canning jar challenge - others on the design team actually decorated mason jars!


Blog Post: Newton's Nook Designs September Release: Boo Crew Main Product: Newton's Nook Designs I noticed Newton's Nook because of their charming cat designs (I am owned by two cats!) but this mummy bear had to be the cutest Halloween stamp of the year!


Blog Post: Less Is More: White Christmas Main Product: Clearly Besotted Stamps I love all white cards so I had to include one of them in this year-end review! Plus Clearly Besotted Stamps was a recent discovery for me and I LOVE them!


Blog Post: Fab Friday and Rockwell's Colors: Hang In There Main Product: Mama Elephant This card makes me smile every time that I see it - these stamps are SO darn cute!  PLUS - Mama Elephant just came out with coordinating dies which, of course, I purchased immediately, so I will be doing more with this stamp set soon!


Blog Post: Something Wonderful with Twine Main Product: The Alley Way Stamps This card was particularly notable to me because it was my first card with sequins.  I saw how beautifully they filled up spaces and now it's a rare card of mine that doesn't include a sequin!

Blog Post: Happy Birthday Main Product: Stampin' Up I had to include a Stampin' Up card on my list; after all, how many of us got our start after a Stampin' Up party!  Stampin' Up products continue to find their way into my stash and I particularly loved this flower that matched all of their scallop circle punches.


Blog Post: Thank You Secret Santa! Main Product: a fun stash of supplies from a Secret Santa exchange that we did as part of the Curtain Call design team This card made it on my list for two reason.  (1) the card that was furthest from my comfort zone that I actually really like! and (2) my last blog post in 2013!



If you have done your own "best of" list - be sure to head over to Catered Crop and link it up.  It really will be fun to see all of them in one place.
If you haven't done it - set some time aside and browse your own blog.  It's not an easy exercise but it is fun to remember everything your have created!!
Happy New Year to each of you!!