Looking Back On a Creative Year

Can you believe 2021 is coming to an end? As we look forward to new and exciting things ahead, I just want to take a pause to appreciate some of the fun and creative projects our 2021 Inspiration Team accomplished this past year. These are some of our designer’s favorite projects and a short explanation of why. I want to thank all of the many creative designers from our Core Inspiration Team, our Brand Ambassadors Team as well as our Inspiration Box Team. 

And with that, here are some Inspiration Team favorites from 2021:

My favorite project was surprisingly one of the most simple to make. I think maybe that is one of the reasons I love it so much. I used Chroma Sprays and the Wooded Forest die to create three different cards. I love how simply changing up my paper and colors gave me three such different feels. -Shannon

It was such an honor to be part of the Simon Says Stamp/Brutus Monroe Stamptember reveal and created with the "Sweet Seasonal Apples" stamp.  There are so many things I love about this card starting with the layers and texture in the background using several BM mixed media products. The addition of vibrant color to the mummy apples allowed them to shine brightly on the card. -Marla

I absolutely loved working with this spiral stencil and adding different mediums with it - ink, glitter glaze, and chroma mists! It made the perfect galaxy background for the awesome rocketship die. -Jessica

This was my favorite because I just loved how pretty the flowers stamped together as a background. -Annette

I love this Butterfly Garden Stamp.  It's the biggest stamp I've ever used.  There is a considerable amount to color but I used it as an exercise to really get to know my Karin Markers.  This made such a stunning slimline card! -Betsy

I loved working with this big 6 x 6 pumpkin stamp.  It was so easily cut down and still looked awesome.  The ombre effect I was able to achieve with the Glitter Glaze and a stencil gave the background texture and glow. -Betsy

This is my favorite project from last year. I love the pops of color on the dark background and it’s using the Galaxy Glitter Glaze background technique I created. -Sandie

Halloween is my absolute favorite holiday because it's the one day of the year you can be anyone you want! On this project I used all different mediums to do anything I wanted. I had so much fun experimenting and making this. I used chroma mists, glitter glaze, foiling and tried some new techniques I hadn't done before. Foiling the shadow layer on a die cut is now one of my favorite techniques!  -Gina

This card is definitely one of my favorites because it’s a reflection of my style / personality. My favorite color combo is black and white with a splash of color. I love sketch work, abstract images, yet symmetrical lines and shapes. I also have always been multicultural, having friends from different ethnicities, which the different colors in the rainbow represent. The card is eclectic, incorporating just about a little bit of everything! -Kandice

This is my favorite project! I love to use stamps and dies in unexpected ways. This double pop up box was fun to make and fun for the recipient to open and display. -Jackie

The Stamptember projects are my favorites. They were so much fun to make.    -Kathy

I love this card so much. These cute characters' faces made it so special and left a smile on my face just like the recipient. The Candy Sack stamp set can definitely be used all year round and your loved ones will love it.  -Aya

I love to make “happy mail” cards.  You don’t need to worry about what the recipient likes, the occasion, nothing!  I can just pick the colors that make me happy and I know whoever receives it will be happy, too! -Kate

It was hard to choose my favorite but I think this card turned out so much better than I could hope for.  I put a rainbow order of aqua pigments on my glass mat and gently put down some watercolor paper and came away with this beautiful rainbow.  Add one of Christopher’s Sentiment dies and a sentiment from my stash to create a fun happy card to brighten someone’s day.  -Candi

This is my favorite because I love mermaids and glitter glaze!  -Michelle

This is my favorite! I loved coloring this and adding all the dimensions to make those birds really pop!  -Jenn

This is my favorite design team project because the Fall Changes stamp isn’t just for the fall season- it’s a mushroom stamp that was thoughtfully designed to be used for any occasion. I chose to use it as a magical focal point paired with aqua pigments and chroma mist sprays for this background paper I’ve been waiting to use for just the right project. -Renae

This is my favorite layout from 2021!  I love using any glaze. This case velveteen glass through a stencil to give a messy mixed media frame around the projects!  And when you mix colors it just adds something extra to the layout!      -Rebecca

This was my favorite project because I loved the glittery scales from the stencil. But this was also my favorite box because I love everything that has to do with the ocean/beach. -Kim

We hope you have been inspired to create favorites of your own this past year. Happy New Year!  -Shannon Smith