Friday, December 29, 2023

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.







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!






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


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

Monday, December 25, 2023

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




Tuesday, December 19, 2023

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:








You can play along until Sunday at Atlantic Hearts challenge.


Thank you for reading my blog today.

Alicia

Tuesday, December 5, 2023

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:





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

Thank you for reading my blog today.

Alicia