Each year I like to go back and revisit all the art I made and choose my ten favorites from the group (You can see my Five Favorite Holiday Cards of 2021 here) ... here are my favorites in no particular order.
1. This year I started Art Journaling with year-long classes at Wanderlust 2020. It was a totally new experience for me and I learned to use lots of new products ... and think about how to use things like this wonderful vintage photo of my Great Aunt Mary. Even thought I sort of petered out on fitting it into my creative schedule, I truly enjoyed enhancing my artistic arsenal and creating new pieces like this two-page spread focused on happiness.
2. I enjoyed more virtual classes in 2021 including a Virtual Gel Press Retreat with Lydia Fiedler. This card was made using a bleach technique we learned in the class, and I loved the effect.
3. These blackout poetry pieces were made during a class with the Damsel of Distressed who played heavily into my positive artsy experiences of 2021. It was so fun creating together both virtually and in person this year.
4. Another first-time virtual event for me was Crop & Create. One of the sessions was a virtual class with Lea Lawson on using the Layering Stencils from PinkFresh Studio. I loved how seamlessly these floral cards came together and how fun it was the switch-up the color palette for a completely different look. This one had a wonderful tropical feel with Concord & 9th Inks.
5. One of the highlights of the year for sure was a vacation to Madison, Wisconsin and other cities, which included staying with my artsy friend MyCraftyDreams and her family. We had so much fun revisiting a vintage technique - paper marbling with shaving cream. It was so much fun creating in person with a crafty friend again.
And here is a fun friend card I made with one of the pieces ... how do you not smile when you see a Sarcasti-Chick.
6. I loved being able to use my Hero Arts Lifestyle Dies to make a card to honor the amazing Ruth Bader Ginsberg. I even used bling to create her classic green earrings.
I also added some amazing Ruth art to my studio from my talented friend Natalie. Doesn't she look fabulous with my vintage ash trays and art from Kal Barteski & my dear friend Lauren.
7. Another highlight of the year was getting to design projects for The Ink Pad Blog. Anna and her wonderful store are always a must-visit when Lauren and I go to New York City. For the past two years we've had to settle for supporting her virtually, and I couldn't be more honored. This was an amazing mixed media collage I made with gorgeous marbled papers and stamps from The Ink Pad (remember, shopping small is so very important).
8. Another Virtual Class I took this year was called Crushing on Cardstock ... and this card channeled my inner Debby Hughes. I absolutely loved the effect of using Gesso with a Stencil as well as the wonderful artsy fun of designing a paper die cut bouquet.
9. One of the biggest papercrafting honors of my year was the privilege of designing and making the wedding invitations for my sister's wedding. I found the background paper on our vacation in Kansas City (another marvelous 2020 experience) and built the simple mailable designing around her favorite color - purple. It took a little hunting but I finally found the perfect Happily Ever After Stamp at my local Stamping store Scrapmania.
I was so honored to be her Matron of Honor for the wonderful event.
10. And I'm not sure it gets much cooler than creating a piece of art that I love so much I hung it up in my studio. When Becca aka the Damsel of Distressed told me she was going to teach me how to make a Mixed Media piece as cool as one of hers, I had my doubts (and only one creative meltdown in the process), but in the end I absolutely loved it and was so proud I was able to make it.
It still makes me smile every day when I see it hanging among other pieces of beloved art including pieces by my friends SkyPaperScissors, Michele DeSutter, Dori Patrick and another Lauren Bergold original. There are even several little Hardanger Embroidered Ornaments by my dear departed mother-in-law Adeline.
The printer reminds me that this is also the background wall for the hours and hours and hours of video calls that have become my work life. I love being able to merge my career and my artsy hobby together.
I always start down memory lane wondering if I will find 10 pieces I love enough to feature ... and then as usual, have to work hard to narrow the post down to 10 things. I love that this year's post has lots of art mingled with the usual cardmaking. I think that reflects more time trying to find ways to connect with my artsy friends during the lock-down experience of limited travel the last two years. I love that I've been able to explore and embrace new ways of creative exploration. I am so grateful for my art community.
Here's to another year of wonderful artsy exploration.
