Happy New Year - Welcome 2013

This is going to be an exciting year!  I am thrilled to have been selected for the Crop Chocolate design team and have already gotten started on some fun projects for the team.  We're having our first Blog Hop from January 11 - 14.

In looking back on 2012, I can definitely say it was a year of change.  Tyler headed up to Humboldt for college and we were faced with an "empty nest".  I was a little apprehensive about what that would be like, but have been pleasantly surprised with the changes in our lives.  We have gotten out more and found time to have fun and reconnect as a couple.  We even tackled a home improvement project (removing wallpaper and repainting our kitchen) and were happy with the results.

On a sad note, we lost my Dad in October.  We'll miss him dearly but know he's in a better place and rejoice in the fact that we had him in our lives for such a long, happy time.

As I look back on my crafty adventures in 2012 I am really proud of how I've pushed myself to learn new techniques and venture out of my comfort zone.  Here are some of my favorite projects from the past year:

#1:  I made these cards to thank two of my Dad's special care givers: 

#2:  I just love this cute little journal project I submitted to Instructagram:

#3: A card I made for my God Daughter for her birthday:

#4:  A card I made for one of my Instructagram.com tutorials -- Fussy Cutting:

#5:  The card I made for my Mom for Mother's Day:

#6:  A happy little card I made using S.E.I. paper and embellishments:

#7:  A card I did for a Crop Chocolate challenge using houses I made from Fancy Pants, It's the Little Things paper:

#8:  My two favorite cards from the Operation Write Home drive this past summer:

#9:  A card I made for my Sister In Law's birthday:

#10:  My first Design Team project (it's only a sneak peek since it doesn't debut until later this month):

Join me back later this week for the blog hop!