2012 Resolutions

Happy New Year!

Each year I pick some scrappy resolutions for myself. It's interesting to look back on them and see how I did.  In 2011, I resolved to:

Complete at least 50 layouts
I completed 57 12x12s and 2 8x10's. (I didn't keep track of how many smaller layouts I made.) I'm happy with 59 completed layouts- just over 1 a week.

Hand make as many gifts and cards as possible 
Technically, this wasn't a good resolution as it isn't measurable. I did a great job of creating homemade cards- I don't think I bought a card all year, plus I made several dozen for my mom to use too. As for gifts, I've done more in other years, but am satisfied with how I did.

Apply for a Design Team
When I set this goal, I'd been doing some Guest Design Team spots, but it had been a year since I'd been a permanent member of a Design Team and I really missed it. Almost immediately, opportunities started falling into my lap... and I didn't actually apply for any of them! I started with the Scrapping Stamper in January 2011. I'd been a member of the Guest Design Team at Flamingo Scraps in the fall of 2010- they offered me a permanent DT spot in February 2011.  In August 2011, I was invited to be a Contributing Artist at Ideas for Scrapbookers. 

I did submit two applications during 2011- one for a Design Team (which I did not get) and one for a position writing articles for Scrapjazz.com. I was shocked (and overjoyed) when they sent me an offer letter! My first two articles will be published in March. 

Submit at least one project for publication each month
It's long been a desire of mine to be published, but I wasn't actually submitting my work. Which, obviously, makes it pretty much impossible to be published. I submitted two projects in 2008 and neither was accepted, then I didn't submit anything again until late 2010. I was published for the first time in November 2010 in Scrapbook News and Review. 

I wanted to set a goal of being published in 2011, but that wasn't something I could control. What I could control was whether I actually submitted my work or not. Here's how I did:

January- submitted to four calls, one layout published in Scrapbook News and Review
February- submitted to three calls, one card published in Scrapstreet
March- did not submit
April- submitted to one call
May- submitted to two calls, one layout published in Scrapbook News and Review
June- submitted to one call
July- submitted to five calls, three layouts published in Scrapbook News and Review
August- did not submit
September- submitted to two calls, one layout published in Enchanting Creations
October- submitted to two calls, one layout published in Scrapstreet
November- submitted to two calls, one layout published in Enchanting Creations
December- did not submit

So I submitted to a total of 22 calls over 9 months and was published 9 times. Not bad, though I'm annoyed at myself for skipping March, August and December. I should also mention that I submitted 11 of my blog tutorials to Fun Family Crafts (including two in December) and 10 of those have been published. I'm very happy with that. 

Of my 22 submissions, 6 were to print magazines and none were accepted. I would love to be published in a print magazine someday. As frustrating as it is to be rejected, I need to keep submitting.

I did accomplish quite a few things that weren't on my list of resolutions. Probably the most significant was starting this blog. In the 9 months I've been blogging, I've kept up a consistent Monday-Friday schedule. I've grown my readership every month and done my best to keep the quality of my blog posts high and my content interesting. (I hope you agree!) 

So... what are my resolutions for 2012?

       *Complete at least 50 layouts.
       *Handmake at least 95% of the cards our family sends. 
       *Submit at least one project a month for publication.  
       *Maintain a Monday-Friday blogging schedule with high-quality posts.
       *Seek teaching opportunities related to crafting/scrapbooking.
     
Did you make any scrappy or creative New Year's resolutions?