What a year that was ...... my crafty review of 2016 (Part 1)

Happy Thursday ........

It is Thursday isn't it ...... I'm not really sure!

Well the festivities are nearly over ..... Christmas has been and gone for another year (sigh!)
I hope you had a good one .... we certainly did! The good old Walmsley family Christmas ....... precious time spent with family and friends. Too much food as usual, far too much to drink, but the company was amazing.
Dare I say it though ..... I'm fed up with mince pies and stollen.  I've eaten my body weight in delicious Christmas cake ........ and will someone please hide the chocolates and nuts!!

The New Year celebrations are going to be a little less lively I think, as we're all suffering with colds and flu at the moment.  But ..... we're not going to let that get in the way of saying goodbye to 2016 .... and Hello 2017!!

What a year it's been.  Full of highs ..... and a few lows, but as always lots of great memories.
Here's a quick look back at some of my favourite makes from the last 12 months.  Grab a cuppa and let's go all the way back to ......

 JANUARY

(If you missed the original posts, or would like to take a closer look at any of the projects then just click on the links) 

The start of the year is always a busy time ...... what with loads of birthdays to think about, Design Team work to get done and all the regular Blog Challenges to launch.

It was Take a Stamp for the Craft Stamper challenge and I still love how this frame turned out

I was still part of the Clarity DT so it was back to work there too ...... love these little houses

And January saw my 700th Blog post ..... that's a lot of blogging!  More Clarity favourites too

Onto ....... FEBRUARY

Valentine's Day ..... my workshops are back in full swing ....... and a new Design Team position.

One of my favourite Christmas designs .......

Time to play along with one of my favourite Blog Challenges ..... Less is More

And beautiful new Clarity stamps

Onto MARCH ......... my birthday month.

Fabulous workshops with my group of ladies ....... using old book pages

And having fun with Alcohol inks ...... loved creating this grid card

My first lot of samples for Sweet Poppy Stencils (my new DT position) .....

Oooh .... and the launch of a brand new Blog Challenge ..... right up my street!  CAS Mix Up .... perfect!

Into APRIL ...... another busy month for birthdays and challenges, a fun blog hop, a new car and the first trip of the year across to the UK.

A little bit of Mixed Media for the Happy Little Stamper challenge .......

Beautiful stencils for the ARTplorations Blog Hop

More Sweet Poppy samples ........ a little fun with Brushos too

And another fab workshop with the ladies ...... all about masking.
This is my favourite from the day ....... so pretty.

Next up ...... MAY
A week with my crafty buddy in the UK ..... always fun!  A visit to my favourite craft show .... Port Sunlight and a workshop with the lovely Maria Simms
Not forgetting that the end of the month sees the start of the Isle of Man TT!

The old craft room is as busy as ever, with the regular Blog challenges.  It's Take a Stamp for Craft Stamper ..... love these new stamp sets by Kim Dellow for PaperArtsy

My finished canvas, made using the project from the workshop with Maria

And this was my favourite sample done for another fun class with the ladies ....... mixed media

Well .... we're half way through the year ..... JUNE already
TT comes to a close, it's time for the family trip to Bourton along with all the regular crafty commitments

Getting inky for the Craft Stamper Challenge ......

CAS ..... for my favourite Blog challenge

And having fun with Maggie and the crew, at a monthly craft group on the island ...... with Bleeding Art Tissue (love this technique!)

Well ..... I think we'll leave it there don't you.
If you've stuck with me so far ..... well done and thank you!
If you fancy seeing the second half of my favourite makes, join me again tomorrow for July through to December ..... don't forget the cuppa!

Thanks for popping by ....... enjoy the rest of your day.
I'm off to put the kettle on ..... I need a refill after that lot.

Cheerio until next time