2014 Wrap Up- My Top 5 Favorites

Today is the last day of 2014.  Television stations, radio stations, newspapers and magazines are sharing their year-end wrap-ups with countdowns and “best of” lists.  Best of Albums, Best of Television, Best of Electronics.  At the end of the year, it’s fun to guess which celebrity is most fascinating or which artist sold the most singles.  The lists are also a nice walk down memory lane, a refresher of the year.  Why shouldn’t I join in the fun?

To celebrate this year, I’ve selected my five favorite cards of 2014.  Some were selected because I’m simply proud of the end-product.  Some were selected because they were big on Pinterest.  Others just have a story that keeps the cards dear to my heart.  You can click on each card to see the original post:

#5  Sweet Baby.  With the release of the Holiday Catalog, I was instantly in love with the combination of Lost Lagoon and Pear Pizzazz.  Add a little Smoky Slate, and you’ve got the makings for a perfect card for a baby boy.  This card was inspired by the All is Calm Specialty Designer Series Paper, a sketch from the Friday Mashup and the Baby We’ve Grown stamp set.  This card was originally #6 on my list and ready for a cut.  When I told Judy I was creating this list, her response was, “You HAVE to put the bunny rabbit baby card on the list.”  Since I make the rules, I moved it up to #5.

Baby We've Grown, Stampin' Up!, Brian King, FM176

#4 Shake, Shake, Shake.  Like card #5, this card was created for the Friday Mashup.  What do I like most about this card?  It was the first time I dug into my Kraft Cardstock – and I am proud of myself for using the lid from the Decorative Window Gift Box to create a shaker frame.  I also love that this shaker is a peek-a-boo effect – the sequins are only visible around the edges of the sentiment circle.  More than anything, though, I love this color combination of kraft, Calypso Coral and Crisp Cantaloupe.  I’ve used this “hello” from #Hello several times this year – I just love the font, and it’s such a friendly image.

#Hello, Stampin' Up!, Brian King, FM166

#3 ROYGBIV in Flowers.  I had a lot of fun playing around with the shapes from the Petite Petals and Itty Bitty Shapes punch pack in this clean and fun card.  When I couldn’t figure out how to line up the flowers in a perfectly straight line, I decided to add a little whimsy.  This card was ALSO created for a Friday Mashup challenge and Paper Players challenge.  This card says so much without saying a lot.

Fabulous Florets, Stampin' Up!, Brian King, PP187, FM151

#2  Sympathy and Prayers.  I created this card for my Great Aunt early this year after my Great Uncle Ellis passed away.  I loved playing around with the Core’dinations cardstock and was happy with the simplicity of this layered card.  I found the combination of Sahara Sand and Whisper White beautiful, and loved the layering of these Deco Label Framelits.  Karen Burniston, the designer of this framelit, also liked this card and posted it on her Facebook page when I shared it.  How cool is that?!

You're Lovely, Petite Pairs, Stampin' Up!, Brian King,TCC2

#1  Christmas Wishes.  This is one of the hardest cards I’ve ever made.  The Merry Monday Christmas Card Challenge called for pinecones and greens with plaid ribbon.  I was stuck on the plaid ribbon until I thought to use a printed paper behind a see-through ribbon.  Yippee!  I was super-happy with the pinecones (heat embossed in Early Espresso on Sahara Sand paper) because it was the perfect balance of color and texture.  This card earned me a “win” at Merry Monday (where I was a Guest Designer and then Design Team Member for several months).  This card was also featured on Stampin’ Up!’s blog for a while – huge honor..  More than that, though, I was happy I could make a beautiful card with criteria I originally thought impossible.

Ornamental Pine, Stampin' Up!, Brian King, MM121

I hope you agree with my choices.  If you want to see all of my cards in one place, please join me on Pinterest (you can see all my cards here).

Thank you so much for helping to make 2014 such a special year for me – it flew by, but I’ve loved every minute of it.  I’ve enjoyed sharing with you and have loved when you share with me.  I reached some great milestones this year – it’s your feedback and support that inspires me to continue inspiring you to inspire me for more inspirational inspiring.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Brian

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37 Comments

  1. Congratulations on an amazing year Brian. You inspire and make me chuckle every morning. Wishing you continued success in 2015!

  2. Nice collection, thanks for sharing.

  3. Beautiful cards Brian but I’m now wondering what #6 is?!! Thank you for inspiring me and making me laugh every day. Here’s wishing you a happy, healthy and even more successful new year x

  4. Thanks for sharing Brian. May 2015 be a great year for you!!
    H A P P Y N E W Y E A R

  5. Fabulous and “fabulouser!” Thanks for sharing all of your wonderful work. Happy new year!

  6. Beautiful collection, I would have added more of your cards Brian, they are all truly awesome.
    Thank you for the inspiration, the laughs, the fun, the card swaps, the love and the sharing through out 2014. May 2015 bring even more success in your life, you so totally deserve it. I look forward to seeing and enjoying another fabulous year of your fabulous creations.
    Many hugs, my dear.
    Maria.

  7. These cards are all wonderful. Thanks for getting me to waste an hour today by including the link to your Pinterest board.

  8. Happy New Year Brian. Thank you for your ideas, tips, and daily inspiration.

  9. You picked all of my favorites Brian. I’ve recreated and pinned several of these over 2014. Thanks for reminding us of the great year and here’s hoping 2015 is just as good.

    Lynn

  10. Thanks for a great year, Brian!! Looking forward to another wonderful year of your blog in 2015. Happy New Year and hugs from Goose Creek!

  11. What an awesome year you have had Brian! Thank you for sharing yourself with us each day. It is an amazing task to post every day and create original designs that run from sophisticated to hilarious. We appreciate who you are and what you do. Happy New Year and we look forward to more exciting things for you and from you!

  12. I love your cards, Brian! I have learned much from your cards and your videos. Thanks for sharing so much ! I wish you a Happy, Healthy New Year!!

  13. Yours is the best year-end wrap-up, Brian! We are surrounded daily by not-so-pleasant news and events, but we can count on you for inspiration, beauty, and a good laugh every day. I add my thanks for the link to all your cards, but I can justify the time because I am retired. It would be well worth it anyway, as we all need a lift now and then. Thanks for sharing your talent and creativity with those of us who need a boost in those directions.

  14. I love your top 5 cards, as well as all of your other cards. Thanks so much for sharing it with us. You blog is inspiring and uplifting and I love reading it every day. So, here’s to you Brian. Congratulations on a successful 2014 and may 2015 be filled with health, happiness, and much success.

  15. I loved your top 5, you could have done a top 25 and that would have been decidedly more fun for us!
    Have a happy, healthy and paperly prolific New Year, Brian!

  16. Brian, each and every card is beautiful. Thank you for your inspiration, motivation, etc in 2014. All my good wishes to you for a healthy, happy and successful 2015.

  17. I don’t think I could narrow your beautiful cards to a favorite five. I’ve really enjoyed your blog this year and look forward to 2015. Happy New Year, Brian!

  18. It’s great to see many of your wonderful cards again, Brian! Each one is perfect in design and color! You are truly one of the best in all that you do! I thank you for your inspiration, dedication, and fabulation(is that a word?) Well, probably not, but it describes you!:-) Take care and Happy New Year!

  19. Just stopping in to say beautiful cards and Happy New Year to you and your family. 🙂

  20. Brian, it’s been a fantastic year for US. Watching you create such beauty, and always giving us tips, while having an astounding sense of humor, has helped me stay positive all year long. Your top 5 picks are fabulous, as are all your cards. There has never been ONE card I didn’t just love, and we have you to thank for that. You are an amazing person and I’ve said this before. I wish I could have signed up on YOUR team 🙂
    Happy New Year….may 2015 bring you love, happiness and health. You deserved every single promotion, trip and recognition. Way to go! 🙂 🙂 🙂

  21. Pingback: 2014 - A Retrospective - My Elegant Cards

  22. Brian – thanks so much for the inspiration; I read your blog daily. I can’t choose between the awesome baby card and the rainbow of flowers, but they are all great.
    Thanks for inspiring me to look at my own cards to see how I’ve progressed this year.
    I wish you a happy and healthy 2015 and continued Stampin’ success.

  23. Wishing you a Happy New Year that is filled with good friends, good health, laughter, many inspiring creations (that would be the norm for you) and most of all God’s richest blessings Thank you for sharing your amazing talent with us and for inspiring us.

  24. Love your style, Brian. Enjoy your blog with its humor and creativity.
    Keep smiling and creating in the new year!

  25. Brian, I think your selections are spot on, because they demonstrate both your creativity and your versatility. Wishing you a Happy and Prosperous 2015.

  26. Happy New Year, Brian!
    AS we say in French : Bonne Année !

  27. Hi B, You just WOW!! me with your cards and your writings, your colors are wonderful. Keep up the great work and HAPPY NEW YEAR AND GOD BLESS!!

  28. These truly are some beauties! I would have picked some of the same as well!

  29. What an amazing collection! My absolute favorite is number 3. Just the shape and the flowers are a divine DIVA! Love them all! Happy New Year!

  30. These are all true treasures. Although in my eyes all of your cards are timeless treasures. So looking forward to what you have in store for 2015. More videos would be a bonus also. Happy New Year Brian and to your loved ones also.

  31. Love them all! Happy New Year!

  32. You know ROYGBIV! That made me smile…I am a biology teacher and I teach ROYGBIV during photosynthesis. Do you have a science background? Thanks for the inspiration.

  33. These are some beauties! You do good work. TFS

  34. Happy New Year, Brian. And thanks for the link to view ALL your cards. What a treat and inspiration to just scroll thru and admire your work.

  35. Thank you for a wonderful year of inspiration! Looking forward to more wonderfulness from you in 2015!

  36. I don’t know how you were able to pick only five from all of your beautiful creations! You truly are an inspiration…love looking at all of your cards! Thank you for sharing! Happy New Year!

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