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Wow! I was completely blown away by this show. It was a lot of work but even more fun! I’m so grateful for Simply Bungalow letting me tag along and be a part of their booth.Setting the stage for the booth took time. Heidi is a master at it.It was a mini version of the shop.Seeing people laugh over the cards and magnets made my day, time and again.I met so many wonderful vendors and customers.But my friends on this journey were the best by far! Stay tuned and I’ll share LOTS more photos.

I had my little assistant help me draw the winner for the give awayand I promise, promise, promise that it wasn’t a rigged deal!I realize the photo is a little blurry but it says the winner is APRIL DUDNEY.

I realize many of you won’t know this, but that is actually my little helper’s mommy or also known as my daughter. AGAIN.  I promise it wasn’t rigged!  She of course said to pick another name, but since I’d never put a rule in place that said no family was allowed to enter, she won fair and square! So, congratulations April and thanks to all who entered!

2011 was an amazing year in many ways! I consider it my first year in business and what a year it was. Never could I have imagined the fun and joy of seeing others want to actually purchased my creations! I think I am really on a journey that is ever changing. New ideas and direction have led me along the path this last year. I started out thinking I’d make card kits and never sold any. Instead I’ve made cards, and magnets, and wreaths, and paper flowers, and well. . . just a little of this, that, and everything. Here are a few favorites from this last year.I love using vintage photos in my work. I plan to do a lot more of this is 2012!Pinterest is an amazing source of creativity! This card has been my most popular repin by far!While I usually use paper for creating, sometimes I step outside that box.I’ve learned a lot of new techniques this year from water color to shrink art!It has been fun to figure new ways to photograph products.Collecting quotes has become a new hobby!Each season has brought new opportunities to create.

I of course hope the new year brings even more opportunity! I have resolutions, plans, goals, whatever you want to call them.I hope to do a lot more tutorials.I want to repurpose more junk into art.I want to create more varieties of flowers.I want to collect more vintage photos and great quotes.I want to learn new techniques.I want to be a better blogger!I want to better my craft and bless others.That is my wish for 2012!

He was born of a woman, so we could be born of God; He humbled himself, so we could be lifted up; He became a servant, so we could be made heirs; He suffered rejection, so we could become His friends; He denied Himself, so we could receive.

From my home to yours Merry Christmas!These were cookie cutters from my childhood!I took 5 years to make this quilt!This is my favorite decoration. It was a ceramic Santa mug my grandmother made me when I was 5 months old!The stockings were hung.I do love snowmen!A favorite is this smoking snowman.There needs to be snow outside this window

While I officially began Thoughtful Images Ink in June of 2010, it really wasn’t until October that I began to sell my craft. My very first sale was to one of my very best friends and then my mom, so I’m not sure those really count. However, next week will be the anniversary of when I sold my first cards to a shop!!! I was sooo excited to have Hallow Candle be my first “real” customer. Here’s the photo of my display I took to show my stuff.

I was so nervous making that first call and so excited when I got a positive response!! It wasn’t long after that I made another cold call on Simply Bungalow. Then on Circle Me, and then on Ombee Soap Parlour. Now, all four of these shops carry my products and I couldn’t be happier!

I’ve gone through several revisions of my trademark in the last year. My first style was a simple one. Here’s a look at it.

This was what the blog looked like as well. Then I discovered this wasn’t the look I wanted. So, I changed the blog to what you see today and came up with this as my logo.This is a photo of my paper roses on my front porch.

What a ride it’s been this last year! I have had so much fun. My products extend far beyond just cards now, I’ve meet some wonderful people, been a part of some shows, and begun to teach classes. My son always asks me if I’ve made a profit yet. Well, the answer to that is yes and no. I’m afraid any money I make I just reinvest into more supplies and tools, so no real monetary gain there. However, I have profited from the joy of seeing a dream become a reality, I have profited from the satisfaction that something I’ve created others like, but most importantly, I’ve profited from the new relationships this avenue has opened up for me! I can’t wait to see what the next year holds!