Year in Review Blog Hop 2023

Year in Review Blog Hop 2023

It's been so long since I have participated in a blog hop, where did the years go?  I have posted my yearly favorites before, so this was a no brainer to participate with all these lovely bloggers in a review of 2023.

Here are a list of participants:

1. Alicia - Golden Goddess Designs

2. Debbie  - Secrets to Stamping

3.Diane - Nellie's Nest

4. Ellie - Ellibelle's Corner

5. Francesca - Percorsi di Fantasia

6. Helen - Made by Helen

7. Joanne - My Slices of Life

8. Kate - Cards a la Kate

9. Lillian - Lillian's Crafting Blog

10. Mynn - On a Stampage

11. Tee - The Paper Layer

After you have hopped along, you are welcome to share with us your favorite projects of 2023 

Here is the Link up

Now on to my review...I kind of mixed it up with a little of this and a little of that, beginning with my scrapbook layouts. My three favorite layouts of the year include one of my nephew, one niece only and one of the kids together.

Drew Turns 8!

Melinda turns 1!

Favorite Layout Together

My favorite card of the year, if I have to chose one is this  Tim Holtz Funky Foliage card.  I truly enjoy paper piecing of die cuts.  I find it so rewarding.

My favorite use of scraps in 2023 goes to this Card.  Nothing on this card was an entire piece but the base.  The alcohol ink panel was left over as where all the random strips I cut into banners.

Coloring is my latest technique foray, I know it takes a lot of practice, here are three of my 2023 alcohol coloring projects.

This Kindred Stamps Galactic Hunter card pairs my favorite techniques, paper piecing with my alcohol coloring, I also threw in embossing!

Kindred Stamps Galactic Desert Princess

Kindred Stamps Metal Friends

And finally favorite 3D project of 2023 goes to....

Tim Holtz LED Skulls light box

If you have stuck with me thus far, I'd like to offer a small reward.  Please be aware, I will only be able to ship to the US.  I have a Carta Bella clear stamps set I purchased at Tuesday Morning (RIP) and never used.  I'd like to pass it on to a blog hopper who comments on my post below prior to January 4. I will announce a winner soon after so sign up for notifications from my blog!  

I would like to thank Ellie for organizing this fun hop!  Thanks to you my readers as well, here's to 2024!  Next up is Debbie ! Don't forget to link up your own favorite projects HERE.

Alicia

Flanders Fish Market layout for Sketches in Thyme

Welcome to my blog today.  I am scrapping the latest sketch from Sketches in Thyme.  I am working with some photos from a trip in 2020, remember when travel was restricted? This was a trip to Connecticut, I have never spent much time there and we did take time to explore.  When we ran across an area called Flanders, we had to stop!  We are big Simpson's fans. Flanders Fish Market was divine especially when meals out were few and far between.

Here is the sketch from Sketches in Thyme Facebook group.

While this title looks like something I would have done ten years ago, if you look more closely you will see the embossed edges of the title squares.  Ten years ago, possibly even five years ago, I would have just punched these squares.  However, on this layout, I felt the food was so decadent that I should take the extras steps to die cut and emboss these squares.

Another view.

Ingredients:

Recollections Let's Get Lost paper pack

Creative Memories sticker letters

Spellbinders Square Nesting die

I would like to enter this in the following challenges:

https://www.simplyellibelle.com/2023/12/i-spy-with-my-little-eyesomething-old.html until 1.14x (new to me paper stack-I purchased it used and old=Creative Memories sticker letters)

Join along at Sketches in Thyme until the end of the month. There's four sketches, one each week, to play along with!

Thank you for reading today

Alicia

Echo Park and Stampin Up for Atlantic Hearts Sketch challenge

Welcome to another Atlantic Hearts challenge design team inspiration post. I love how neat this masculine card turned out using Echo Park Warm & Cozy 6x6 papers.

Here is this week's sketch.

Of all the foliage dies I own, I was hard pressed to find a pine need die but I found this one as part of the Karen Burniston Holiday Charms die set. I cut them from some Bazzill gemstone paper scraps in green.

Ingredients:

Echo Park Warm & Cozy 6x6 papers

Stampin Up Dashing Deer sentiment

Stampin Up Basic Gray ink

My Favorite Things Double Stitched Circle die

Karen Burniston Holiday Charms dies (foliage)

Basic Grey Candy Buttons

misc card stock in Bazzill

I would like to enter this in the following challenges:

https://sparklesforumchristmaschallenge.blogspot.com/2023/12/155-christmas-animals-or-birds.html until 12.29x

https://doubletroublechallenge.blogspot.com/2023/12/Challenge-155.html until 12.31x

https://dragonflydreamschallenges.blogspot.com/2023/12/december-challenge-christmas.html until 12.31x

https://shoppingourstash.blogspot.com/2023/12/sos512-winter-holidays.html until 1.1.24x

https://farmquestcountrychrismaschallenges.blogspot.com/2023/12/fq-country-christmas-3-agcc-theme.html until 1.5.24x

https://thehollyandivychristmaschallenge.blogspot.com/2023/11/challenge-153-anything-christmas-goes.html until 1.7.24x

https://creativecraftinguncles.blogspot.com/2023/12/48-christmas-and-or-happy-new-year.html until 1.14.24

You can play along until Sunday at Atlantic Hearts challenge.

Thank you for reading my blog today.

Alicia

Adventure Awaits! Stampin Up Beautiful World for Atlantic Hearts Sketch challenge

Hello and welcome to my blog today. I have a travel theme card using the latest Atlantic Hearts challenge sketch.  I created this card for my sister and her trip abroad to celebrate her 50th birthday.  She leaves for London in less than a week!

Here is this week's sketch.

Ingredients:

Recollections Let's Get Lost paper pack

Tutti Designs Slimline Stitched rectangles

Unkown Brand Crown die (it's gold so probably Spellbinders)

Stampin Up Beautiful World sentiment stamp

Momento Tuxedo Black ink

Colorbox Chalk ink Charcoal

DCWV Solid Rose Gold 6x6 paper 

Gary M Burlin glitter glue

The Paper Studio gemstones

I would like to enter this in the following challenges:

https://aperfecttimetocraft.blogspot.com/2023/12/a-perfect-time-to-craft-open-challenge.html until 12.26x

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2023/12/december-2023-anything-goes-woptional.html until 12.30x

https://cardsgalorechallenges.blogspot.com/2023/12/december-2023-crafts-galore-encore.html until 12.30x

https://doubletroublechallenge.blogspot.com/2023/12/Challenge-155.html until 12.30x

Don't forget to play along with Atlantic Hearts challenge until Sunday.

Thank you for reading my blog today.

Alicia

 

Echo Park Twas the Night Before Christmas for Sketches in Thyme

Welcome to my monthly inspiration for Sketches in Thyme. While I am as of today in bandages, I have been scrapping all month long pics of my neice and nephew.  I had this photo from last year's stack of prints.  It was so perfect I had to scrap it and since last year I have acquired some bits and pieces of this Echo Park Twas the Night Before Christmas scrapbook collection.

Here's the sketch from Sketches in Thyme Facebook page.

I purchased a few papers and several embellishment packs from Indigo Hippo, my favorite creative reuse store.  

Ingredients:

Echo Park Twas the Night Before Christmas collection

Colorbox Cat's Eye ink for edges

If you would like to play along there is a prize this month at Sketches in Thyme.  A $10 gift certificate to A Cherry on Top and a chance to be a guest designer for the month of January.

Play along with us using this sketch please make sure you upload it in the correct album to be counted. The deadline for uploading your layout is the last day of November.

Thank you so much for stopping by.

Alicia

Creative Memories Cheerful Birthday layout with Sketch N Scrap

If you are a regular reader, you know the drill, I am scrapping my niece and nephew.  These are the most recent photos. This was my nephew's birthday part last month.  The had a game truck. I had never heard of such a thing!  Looks like it was a fun time.

Here's sketch number two this month from Sketch n Scrap.  I thought it has a lot of different shaped elements with which to play.

It's so easy to put together a great layout with a great sketch and a great kit.

Here is a sentiment sticker from the Cheerful Birthday Addition, the round stickers are also from the addition.  The sparkle enamel dots are from the Cheerful Power Palette.  I am a little disappointed the adhesive had failed, they are old, but CM was such a reliable manufacturer and this was before all the upheaval.  Anyway, I added my own glue dots to the back.

Ingredients:

Creative Memories Cheerful Birthday addition plus Cheerful Power Palette collection

Creative Memories sticker number

Creative Memories enamel dots

 

I would like to enter this in the following challenges:

https://sketchnscrap.blogspot.com/2023/11/sketch-n-scrap-285.html until 11.30x

https://kcclayoutchallenges.blogspot.com/2023/11/lm-677-scrappy-gratitude-list-thankful.html until 11.30

https://www.facebook.com/groups/thescraproom until 11.30x

"FAMILY"

F-Five enamel dots

A-Adhesive

M-Multiple photos

I-Inked edges

L-Layers

Y-Youth

https://pinspirationalchallenges.blogspot.com/2023/11/pinspirational-challenge-307-november.html until 11.30x

Thank you so much for stopping by 

Alicia

Sparkle & Shine Pink Christmas Card for Atlantic Hearts Sketch challenge

I am not one for jumping on the holiday bandwagon too soon, but I could not resist using this pink Christmas paper set from Recollections for the latest Atlantic Hearts challenge sketch. I wanted to use all cool retro images.

Here is this week's sketch.

Ingredients:

Recollections Sparkle & Shine 6x6 paper pad

Stampin Up Antique Tags sentiment

Stampin Up Pixie Pink ink

Quick Quotes Powderpuff chalking ink

misc card stock

I would like to enter this in the following challenges:

https://trimmiescraftchallenge.blogspot.com/2023/11/challenge-698-christmas.html until 11.22x

https://justusgirlschallenge.blogspot.com/2023/11/just-us-girls-challenge-706-photomood.html until 11.23x

https://useyourstuff.blogspot.com/2023/11/479-winter-snow.html until 11.25

https://jinglebellesrock.blogspot.com/2023/11/banner-inspired-holiday.html until 11.28

shout out!

https://mostmagicaltimeoftheyear.blogspot.com/2023/11/challenge-14-most-magical-anything.html until 11.30x

https://paperdragonflycreativechallenges.blogspot.com/2023/11/challenge-23-anything-goes-flies-or.html until 11.30

https://creationsinpink.blogspot.com/2023/11/challenge-64-anything-goes-in-mainly.html until 12.13x

You can play along at Atlantic Hearts challenge until Sunday.

Thank you for reading my blog today.

Alicia

 

Creative Memories Delight Power Palette with Sketch N Scrap Sketch

Welcome to my blog today. I am continuing to scrap my niece. With this layout I am also continuting to use the Creative Memories Delight Power Palette.

This photo is just awesome!  I had so much to say but I don't really know the details. I left the journaling area blank for my Sister-in-law to complete.

Here is the sketch that I used from the Sketch N Scrap November Crop Challenge #1.

Ingredients:

Creative Memories Delight Power Palette paper, stickers and paper flowers

 I would like to enter this in the following challenge:

https://www.facebook.com/mIedia/set/?set=oa.298756133042869&type=3 until 11.30

Thank you for reading today

Alicia

Kindred Stamps Galactic Desert Sexy Goddess card

Happy Anniversary to my husband, it's been 10 years.  I paid homage to the traditional tenth anniversary gift, tin.  I used the Tim Holtz Foundry embossing folder on some metallic card stock. I think any man of a certain age finds this image of the galactic princess from the epic sci fi story to be a turn on, I paired it with a sentiment that reflected such.

Another view.  It was hard to not get a pink reflection from my phone on the metallic dry embossed piece.  I used embossing powder and heat embossing on the sentiment.

I layered all the pieces in a silver mat.  The printed paper is from the Kindred Stamps Galactic paper stack. I mounted my colored image on pop dots.

It's too late to play along, however, I want to give credit to the card sketch I used from Sketch N Scrap.

Ingredients:

Kindred Stamps Galactic Desert and Sexy Space stamps

Kindred Stamps Galactic 6x6 paper

We R Comstock collection paper: Ginger

Colorbox Cranberry pigment ink

Stampin Up Burgundy embossing powder

Kat Scrappiness Stitched Sentiment Strips die

Tim Holtz Sizzix 3D Foundry embossing folder

misc card stock including metallic

Alcohol markers for Sexy Goddess:

Prisma color Crimson

Quick Craft Bronze Green

Chameleon Carmel NU4

Spectrum Noir- Basic Earth Brown, Classique Portrait Pink and Sangria, Tri Blend Fair Skin and Metallic Antique Bronze

I would like to enter this in the following challenges:

https://shoppingourstash.blogspot.com/2023/11/sos509-emboss-like-boss.html until 11.20x

https://pinkgemchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2023/11/card-making-paper-craft-scrapbook.html until 11.23

Random Winner

https://craftingfromtheheartchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2023/10/challenge-7.html until 11.26x

https://thefairyandtheunicornchallenge.blogspot.com/2023/11/tfatu-november-2023-11-agf-theme-main.html until 11.30x

https://creativeknockouts.blogspot.com/2023/11/508-lots-of-layers-leanns-world-101.html until 11.30x

Thanks so much for stopping by today.

Alicia