My Top 13 of 2013

I made my choices based on both the process and the outcome.  Some of the ones included may not be the best outcome, but I learned a lot in the process!!

#13 - Tags
I learned SO much about embossing, die cutting, and weights of cardstock from making these.  And they got many compliments from the recipients!

#12 - This one was a real stretch for me.  I am not a pink girl, but was trying to work outside my comfort zone.  I was pleased with the result!

#11 - Not an OWH sketch, but am so grateful for Paula and her Bootcamp lessons.  I learned so much, and really liked the overall effect of the yellow, grey, and black. 

#10 - My all time favorite papers - Amy Butler Lotus.  I'm on my third pad, and am happily looking for another!!!

 

#9 - What's not to love about winning the OWH Blogger Candy?!?!?!

 

 #8 - I am starting to see a trend here.  My favorite cards are showing a lot of reflective papers.  I will have to use them more. 

  

#7 - Santa card front.  I CASE'ed this from a blog post from Sandy.  The fuzzy red paper was hanging out in my craft room just waiting to be made into this card!

  

 #6 - Silver and blue snowflakes.  Shiny metallic theme going on here....

#5 - ODBD Challenge - Dry embossing.  Love this turquoise pearl paper and darker, textured paper.  I didn't have any organza ribbon that matched, so I dyed it using an ink pad.  Perfect!  Have used that technique a lot since I made this card.  Thank you, ODBD, for supporting OWH!

#4 - Inchie Challenge.  I love how this botched card was saved by thinking a little outside the box. 

 

#3 - Twine and embossing.  One of my most complimented Christmas gifts - monogrammed and embossed note cards.  

 

#2 - Things with Wings.  Loving the embossed gold metallic paper with the intricate die cut butterfly. 

#1 - These are basically the same card with different color schemes.  The Christmas card used an SRM sticker, and the purple Smile card was in response to Paula's Let Me Repeat Bootcamp challenge. 

 

 

I am very grateful to all of my friends and family for helping me through this past year. OWH has been a constant source of learning and self expression for me - thank you.  I receive so much more than I can ever give to OWH.  It hasn't been easy, but I have learned how blessed I am.

As a way of starting fresh, my OWH friend Sybrina from Scrapping With Purpose (now There's Always the Other Side) and I have started a new monthly challenge blog.  Join us for Words 2 Scrap By!!! Our first challenge is based on the Sound of Music song My Favorite Things.  In honor of our inaugural challenge - I am offering a My Favorite Things (another great supporter of OWH!) stamp set as blog candy!  All you need to do is become a follower of our new blog (Words 2 Scrap By) to win!  Random.org will choose a winner on January 6, 2014.  You MUST be a follower of Words 2 Scrap By to win.  Thank you!!

OWH Design Bootcamp - Any Way You Slice It

Operation Write Home has a monthly Bootcamp teaching different cardmaking concepts.  This month, it is about the Rule of Thirds - Any Way You Slice It. 

Here is mine.  I am not sure if I followed the rules, but I do like the end result.  Constructive feedback is welcome!

The beads are left over from a different OWH project, scissor leashes for last year's CHA Make and Leave.  The hoop is a wine charm ring.  Sizzix embossing folder.  Offray organza ribbon. 

Get to the Point - Creating a Strong Focal Point

February Boot Camp over at Operation Write Home is Get to the Point - Creating a Strong Focal Point. 

I used a silk flower as my focal point:

Sizzix texture plate, Martha Stewart border punch, flower and jeweled brad from my stash.  Iridescent white paper from Coredinations, turquoise from Recollections.