My top 12 makes of 2012

I've seen quite a few blogs having a retrospective post to see out 2012 sharing their favourite makes of 2012. And it has been fun to see the varied projects and read why they made it into their creator's top 12.

I thought it'd be rather interesting to look back at what I made in 2012 and pick out my 12 favourites.

So on with the trip down memory lane.

Back in January I made this thank you card for a rather splendid dinner party we went to, I rather like the elegant look as I don't usually make such elegant cards. And it was just creative fate that that circle journaling sticker from Crate could double up as a "plate":

I was really chuffed when I got an e-mail through asking whether a magazine could print this little fellow in their blog spotlight feature, I have to say simple as it was to make it's still a stand-out make, as it was nice to use up bits and pieces to create something really fresh and fun:

Then I rather fell in love with using apertures on cards - I mean I really went with that technique...

This was a really fun one to do, and it meant I finally put my sewing machine to good use trying out a technique I'd seen on Pinterest, I even found a new love for vellum (which I never thought would happen):

This card is really simple, but I just loved how the colours worked, the fact I used up some old papers and stickers and how just using two different decorative edges made it look fresh and clean some how:

Now we move onto something more colourful - I really do love using the colours of the rainbow together, it's just a bonus when they create a rainbow too:

OK, this one is one of my very favourites! It was very apt for the recipient - my brother, who like me, is a huge Big Bang Theory fan. It was only a matter of time before I made a card that paid homage... and of course it had to include Soft Kitty... and at least one Bazinga:

2012 was a big year for the Great British public - we had the Jubilympics and it was impossible to not include a bit of patriotic flair on a card - this is my favourite of the bunch:

Moving back to the clean and simple look - there are two joint favourites from 2012. What? Is that vellum...:

And an aperture....?

2012 was obviously the year to discover that vellum + an aperture = a rather nice look, especially if you throw in a rolled felt flower:

So project number 11... it has to be the baby card I made for my friends Kelly and Andreas to welcome the much anticipated and much loved little baby Anja. It has to be one of my proudest makes of 2012 as this card has been custom-framed and will be hanging in baby Anja's bedroom - and by some happy coincidence the colours I used totally match the colour scheme they'd picked out:

Actually, it was a rather good year for babies and there was a special baby boy that arrived too...  so in the interests of equality the number 11 spot should be shared and also feature the card I made for baby Toby:

And project number 12... well I think it has to be my one and only scrapping project of 2012 - the Lwow heritage hodge podge book:

So there we have it, I hope 2013 brings at least 13 projects that I can look back on with satisfaction. I was surprised just how hard it was to pick 12... ok...and a few joint favourites - I even missed out a couple of Christmas cards using that Memory Box die! But I am sure it'll make an appearance in the 2013 Christmas card production series!

Comments

[Leigh Penner]

Lovely cards!

[Ruth S]

Love your choices Nat - it's fun to revisit some of your faves and remember to be inspired all over again ;)
Thanks for sharing! Rx

[Terri Moore]

They are all great! I especially like the one with the airplane tag and the little house with the heart. Happy New Year!

[Handmade by Natty]

Thanks for the lovely comments girls - I'm hoping 2013 will definitely be a productive one! :D