Resolved

Happy New Year! Inspired by Shanna Noel's Crafty Resolutions thread on our message board, we asked our Creative Team to share their craft resolutions for the coming year. I thought it was interesting that there were several common ones - it looks like a lot of us plan to improve our photography, journal more, tackle unfinished projects and spend a little time cleaning our workspaces! What are your creative resolutions for 2014? We'd love to hear!

Melanie Louette : My biggest scrap need/want for 2014 is to get organized and to pare down my supplies very drastically. I need to do this for my sanity, and because I just do not have ANY MORE ROOM! I've enlisted the help of a good friend ( a total organizing guru) during a weekend at the end of the month. She promises me that she'll be ruthless, and that I will have at least 50-70% less stuff when all is said & done, which is really what I want most of all- a fresh scrap slate!

Natalie Elphinstone : My scrappy resolution for 2014 is to include more "Real Life Journaling" on my pages. I've always been big on making sure I document the story, but like most people I will focus on the fun happy stories (human nature I guess)! But if my scrapbooking is to become a true legacy to my children about what our lives are like at this point in time then I need to include ALL facets of it. This layout for example (created with the Roller Rink scrapbook kit and Toe Stop add on) documents the time my children were plagued by headlice. Not a nice story to tell, but one that became part of our "Real Life" for a while. You're going to see many more brutally honest layouts coming from me this year... but they'll still be dressed up in pretty paper and embellishments ;-)

Chari Moss : My scrappy resolution is to branch out from cards a bit and try my hand at Project Life. In general scrapbooking intimidates me but I think I might could handle the project life format. I purchased a handbook and page protectors in a variety of arrangements and I have signed up for the Day by Day class to get myself motivated.

Amy Tan : I resolve to put my Thickers back into their packaging each time after use.

Tina Aszmus : My creative goals are to start doing more of what I love instead of trying to stick to any rules. I always hated doing dimensional embellishments in my PL. I stopped painting on layouts and stuck with an 8 1/2 x 11 format not wanting to mix in any 12x12 layouts. Well, that's all going to change for me this year and I've already started with my PL 2014 and my layouts for the most recent Copper Mountain reveal. I want to go back to my scrapping roots when I just had fun with paper and photography. Let's do this.

Kim Stewart : I have a few scrappy resolutions, but I think the most important is to do more journaling. I'm so bad at it that I usually add a little something to the back of my layouts but I want to be a little more fearless and include a more of the story in my pages!

Ali Edwards : 2014: The Year Of Unfinished Projects. My focus is going to be going back and finishing them up (mainly travel albums).

Barbara Picinich : I have two for the new year, learn Illustrator and take a more advanced photography class.

Paige Evans : Stay true to my style and do what makes me happy with paper, scissors, and glue!

Maggie Massey : I resolve to actually finish the projects I start in 2014...including Project Life, One Little Word & my 1001 gifts journal...

Lexi Bridges : I really want to simply my scrap space in 2014. I want the space to be inspiring, as well as less cluttered, and have at least a little room on the desk to scrap, so I don't end up on the floor.

Kelly Noel : I have a few scrappy resolutions for the new year, but the one I really want to focus on is doing something creative EVERYDAY. Too many times I go through spurts and I find it really hard to get back into the creative mode if I take too long of a break.

Catherine Davis : 1) No rules when it comes to Project Life 2) Get my sewing machine working 3) Take more photos with my SLR versus my iPhone

Allison Waken : My scrappy new years resolution is to pick up my DSLR - A LOT more. I absolutely love my iPhone and would never give it up, but a photo with my DSLR - settings thought out and picture envisioned in my mind is just something entirely different.

Celine Navarro : As a full time scrapbook artist, my most important resolution for 2014 is to FOCUS on what I really like to do in this industry, i.e. scrapbook more, teach internationally more, share more on my blog. That's all that makes me happy :)

Lisa Truesdell : My biggest craft resolution in 2014 is to make my workspace a more inviting place. I want to pare down, rearrange, and make sure it works well both for creative play and office work. I'd love for it to be a room that inspires me to linger and experiment, rather than a place where I try not to knock over piles. ;)

Celeste Vermeend : I am planning on doing PL in 2014! Getting it finished is my resolution!

Deb Duty : 1. Use my dslr more often, and take more photos overall. 2. Send out some of the cards I make. 3. Stay caught up with printing photos every week. 4. Get organized with my supplies and give some things away. 5. Use my time more wisely while scrapping (spend less time thinking and more time doing)!

Leena Loh : 1. Continue my 2013 goal which is journal more. 2. Focus & include more on the little details of my life, the good and bad. 3. Dust of my DSLR & use it more often!

Stephanie Baxter : My resolution is to get into photos on a regular basis, particularly with other people so that I am present in my Project Life album. This might be a case of using the self-timer or overcoming embarrassment and asking others to take the photo for me but, either way, I will be a lot more visible in my album.

Stephanie Washburn : 1. Stay up to date with Project Life- avoid the gaps! 2. Keep it simple! Keeping it simple (and true to my style) will help me enjoy the process and stay up to date with my Project Life this year! 3. Take more photos with my DSLR- I don't play with it as much as I used to! 4. Share supplies I don't have time to use with my friends rather than hoarding them in drawers. :) 5. Blog more consistently!

Becky Novacek : I want to document more of my everyday life. Boring, I know…but true :)

Loredana Bucaria : 1. Go ahead with my PL 2013 and cover it even if I'll finish it next year! LOL 2. Stay caught up with my PL 2014, I already have a mint album 12x12 that I love so much! 3. Try new and different things and don't be nervous to do this 4. Simplify - no stress - don’t try to find perfection just scrap it! 5. Do more of what makes me happy and so scrap scrap and still scrap! 6. Making cards!!! 7. Improve digital 8. Making videos that I really love so much!

Elise Blaha Cripe : In 2014, I would love to PLAY more and have fun with Project Life. :)

Julie Campbell : - Begin PL in 2014 & stick with it throughout the entire year. - Organize my craft room, keeping only what really inspires me. - Improve my photography skills.

Nicole Reaves : My scrappy resolution is to organize and plan to complete the unfinished projects I started in 2013.

Suzy Plantamura : For 2013, I want to be my best self in all areas of life. To incorporate this into a craft goal, I want to do my very best work. Because of many deadlines, I’m often rushed when creating which doesn’t allow me to improve as an artist. I want to make the time to study, explore, practice, and challenge myself to be better in all artistic areas (photography, scrapbooking, mixed media, etc…).

Shanna Noel : I am looking forward to sending more HAPPY mail in 2014!! Actually sending the cards I make is something I struggle to do, but it is such an easy fix, and who doesn't like getting a little happy mail these days?!