Top 10 Posts of 2012

As we get ready to head into a New Year, it's a time for new beginnings.  Goals, resolutions, and fresh starts can be a really good thing in all areas of our lives.  But before we move on to 2013, I wanted to take just a moment to revisit 10 of the most well-loved posts and projects here at One Artsy Mama in 2012.  To see the original post, click on the title of each project.  Come along, take a walk down memory lane with me...

Cutest Clothespins on the Block

I made these fun clothespins back in February and use them constantly, either as magnets to hold LC's artwork, or as chip clips.  I thought they were such a simple project that no one would be interested, but they actually got featured on Tatertots and Jello and were repinned like crazy on Pinterest.  I love how cheerful they are and how quick and easy it is to make as many as you like!

Easy Character Magnets

LC and I made these magnets on the spur of the moment back in October keep us both from going crazy when we were stuck in the house all day.  I grabbed a magazine and some things from our crafting stash and came up with these.  I took the pics with my little point and shoot camera since the DSLR had been sent away for repairs, and lo and behold, this simple photo made it onto craftgawker and went viral. 

 

Shabby Chic Jewelry Organizer

This project was particularly special to me because the wooden organizer itself was made by my grandfather, who passed away more than 10 years ago.  I love the idea that somehow we worked on the project together, just years apart.

 

Grow Your Blog Series

Early in the year, I was brainstorming what kind of new things I wanted to do on the blog, and I just kept thinking of tips and advice I'd learned during my first year of blogging that I wanted to share with others who were just starting out.  The ideas just kept coming, and as a result, the Grow Your Blog series was born.  Initially, it was a week-long series with a new tip each day, but since then, I continue to add new installments periodically.  You can find all of the posts listed with links on the sidebar.  I may or may not actually be in the process of writing an e-book including some of this information as well as other info that hasn't been posted about yet.  I continue to get a great response to this series, which is a real joy to me because my goal was to be a help to other bloggers and fill them in on what I wish I'd known when I was starting out!

 

 

Monster Jeans Patch

I saw an idea similar to this one linked up at Shine on Fridays one week {by Watch out for the Woestmans}, and couldn't resist trying it out myself.  LC's jeans had a teeny tiny almost invisible hole in them, so I ripped that sucker apart and made these.  To this day, they're his favorite pair of jeans and he wears them every time they're clean {and sometimes when they're not}.  They were a huge hit on Craftgawker and Pinterest, and the best part is how many people have emailed me links and photos of the monster patches they made that were inspired by this tutorial!  I just love that!

 

Stenciled Vanity

I still get ridiculously excited about this project because it was the first time I ever tackled furniture.  I had just received a stencil to try out from Cutting Edge Stencils and I wanted to use it on everything in the whole house.  This vanity used to be old and ugly, but I knew it could be something much more chic.  I'm so stinkin' proud that I actually did it!  Yay!

 

 

One Crafty Contest

In the early spring, I decided I wanted to try something new and exciting by running a craft contest.  It took SO much work, like organizing sponsors, coming up with official rules, choosing judges, selecting contestants, figuring out how the contest would run, and successfully moderating it, but oh, what fun it all was!  If you missed it, check out the aMAzing entries we got in each of the 5 rounds.  Be ready to have your socks knocked off!  And yes, the contest will be back in April by popular demand, so start getting your entries ready!

 

Fall Leaf Coasters

LC and I saw some tissue paper leaf coasters on Inner Child Fun and immediately knew we needed to make some of our own to help decorate for fall.  We bought a few cheap tiles at Home Depot, added some tissue paper and Mod Podge, and ended up with these!  We used them until the Christmas decorations came out and they held up wonderfully.  They were featured on Fun Family Crafts and Craftgawker, and I really hope it inspired other people to make some because they're so easy, inexpensive, kid-friendly, and fun!

 

 

Peanut Butter Balls

You all know I'm not typically a recipe-poster, but these Peanut Butter Balls from Taste of Home are simply a-MA-zing.  I made five batches between the time of the original post in November and Christmas Day.  They were a HUGE hit at church, in our family, and even with the plumber.  Everyone seriously loves them...and they got me my first and only feature on Foodgawker!  Really, if you haven't tried the recipe yet, you're missing something deLICious!

 

 

Bottlecap Snowmen

My friend Kelly and I got together back in November for a crafting date and made these cute little guys based on a picture we saw on Pinterest.  They went absolutely viral on Craftgawker and Pinterest, were featured on Fun Family Crafts, and featured on a number of independent sites in ornament roundups.  I was shocked by how much attention they got, but I do think they're awfully cute!


What about you?  What were your favorite posts and projects from 2012?
I'm looking forward to another fun year, filled with more Blogging Tips {hopefully an e-book}, a new round of One Crafty Contest, and lots more tutorials for all kinds of artsy things.  I promise they won't all involve Cammie the Silhouette Cameo...lol.
Will you join me?

Hugs & Glitter,