Mountain Plains Crafters Christmas in July Blog Hop

Welcome to our FIRST  ever Blog Hop sponsored by Mountain Plains Crafters !! The theme is Christmas in July.. How fun is that ?? To play along, you need to visit all of the blogs listed below and comment on each one. Once you do this, you will be entered in the drawing for a Clearsnap prize pack. Clearsnap makes wonderful products, including Colorbox Ink Pads, Smooch, Smooch Glitz and Smooch Spritz. Clearsnap products were used on all of the cards in each of our blogs that you will visit.  So grab a cup of tea or coffee, relax and visit each one. Get some early Christmas card ideas and leave a comment on each one for a chance to win some great products. The hop will last for 2 days - Friday the 25 and Saturday the 26. I will also be giving away a prize pack for those who follow and comment on my blog. The winner of my giveaway will be announced here and on my Facebook page on Sunday, July 27 so be sure to check back. I hope that my card gets you in the Holiday Spirit..... I used Smooch "Spruce" to color the holly leaves-it is so much fun to "paint" with and has a great brush for detailed work, The Smooch Spritz "Cashmere" is a fine spray that is shimmery and amazing !! And I'll admit I was a bit intimidated by the Colorbox Ink Pad in "Saddle". Wasn't quite sure I could do that gorgeous color justice on a Christmas card. But I used a favorite Inkadinkado stamp, popped up some of the collage elements with dimensionals and really love how it turned out.. A bit of  May Arts Twisted Burlap Ribbon was the perfect finishing touch !!

Supplies:Colorbox Ink Pad "Saddle", Smooch "Spruce" , Smooch Spritz "Cashmere" , 

Inkadinkado "Christmas Collage" , May Arts Twisted Burlap Ribbon

Next up in the Blog Hop is Jennifer Leamy Loftfield. She is an amazing crafter and one of my new "sisters" from another mother !! Check out  Caffeinated Papercuts - leave a comment about her Christmas in July project and she will then direct you to the next stop in the hop !! Clearsnap was so nice  to sponsor the prizes for this hop, so be sure to "like" them on Facebook. Also Hydrangea Hippo does publicity for Clearsnap and will be promoting our Blog Hop so be sure to go and "like" her Facebook page too.. Listed below are all of the blogs of  the Mountain Plains Crafters team... I hope you will follow each of them as we take this creative journey together, not only with our first ever Blog Hop but throughout the year.


Pam Stang- http://www.mustangcreations.blogspot.com

Terri Burson - http://wavingmywand.blogspot.com

Sheryl Dwyer Kemper- http://igottacraft.blogspot.com

MariLynn DeGroot- http://mississippi-mcgyver.blogspot.com
Debra Davison- http://meticulosity.blogspot.com   ( YOU ARE HERE )

Jennifer Leamy Loftfield-http://www.caffeinatedpapercuts.com

Christina Ramon- http://christinascreations1.blogspot.com

Paula McClane- http://scrapaddictsattic.blogspot.com

Mountain Plains Crafters Nautical / Beach Challenge

My friend, Kathy Dunn Donovan made these cards for the challenge but does not not have a blog or a photo hosting site , so ........... I am posting them for her and linking them to my blog !! Enjoy !! All supplies are by Stampin' Up....

Cards by Kathy Dunn Donovan

Be With Those Who Help Your Being...

I'll admit that I am a bit of a loner. I love to read, have always been a "bookworm". I used to cross-stitch and aside from meeting with some friends once a month many years ago, I mainly cross-stitched all by my lonesome or with my BFF Sue. I am now an obsessed card maker and although I do spend alot of time alone in my Craft Room, I feel like I have a community of creativity surrounding me. From groups on Facebook like Unity Show & Tell and Art Supply Junkies, I feel surrounded by like-minded creative souls. I have a favorite stamp that stays on a shelf right next to my desk; it speaks volumes about how I feel about all of my creative friends, both near and far, those I see in person and those I "see" online. 

The founders of  Mountain Plains Crafters - Pam Stang, Sheryl Kemper & Terri Burson - chose me to be a member of their Design Team along with Marilyn, Paula, Christina & Jennifer. All of these amazing women "help my being". It's as if we have known each other for years !!  I also meet with a group of local women here in Virginia Beach once a month to make cards. We are very different but our creative sides bring us together. In 2005, I began corresponding with Benedicte, a fellow card-maker from France, whose address I had seen in a letter of hers that was published in Rubber Stamper magazine. We have been in touch ever since and were even fortunate to meet in person when she visited Virginia in 2007. All of these women encourage me, challenge me, support me in my creative journey. Whenever I see that stamp in my Craft Room, I smile. All of my artsy-craftsy friends help my being. It's important to surround yourself with people who support you, who understand you, who will challenge you to become better. It doesn't have to be a creative journey that you are on ; whatever your circumstances, your life will be enriched by people who help your being.

Be With Those Who Help Your Being.. 

Mine is also enriched by this little princess, Andromeda Cassini - we call her Anna...

Creating with Tim...

When the Mountain Plains Crafters' Design Team members were each tasked with coming up with a card for July 4, of course, my first thought was Red, White and Blue.. And then because I try to think outside of the box more often these days, I wondered what I could come up with that was a bit different. I knew that I didn't have many - if any -  July 4 themed stamps, so I had to put my thinking cap on. Thought of using some sort of flower petal stamp for fireworks or a flag to be patriotic. Maybe something along a military line with a yellow ribbon. Then I had one of those Oprah "aha moments" .. I remembered all of those Tim Holtz Blueprint stamps that I had bought and were too inTIMidated to use yet. You see, Tim Holtz has always been a creative inspiration to me. From his videos to his blog; from his paper to his Distress ink pads and markers; from his tissue tape to his embossing folders and stencils... Until recently, I have been mostly an admirer of his, a collector of all things Tim. Having seen some of the amazingly creative cards etc. made with his products, I have been very hesitant to use all of my goodies.. Not quite sure I could do his supplies justice, make something worthy, I guess you could say.. I own a Sizzix Vagabond machine but have not even used it yet !! I do use his embossing folders and Distress markers alot but really need to branch out and use much more of what I have..  So, a July 4 card was the perfect opportunity to ink up my Blueprint stamps and create something. I also used Ideology ribbon and some of Tim's Seasonal paper as well as coloring with Distress markers.. I decided that anything I made would be uniquely ME and I finally felt that Tim  ( and I ) would be happy with that... I would like to push myself and branch out, maybe use some embossing paste with  Tim's line of stencils.. Get out my Gelatos and make a background to use with some of the other Ideology stamp sets I own.. You Tube has some amazing videos so stay tuned for some mixed media projects from me also.Hope you like my July 4th creation and also some other Tim-inspired cards.. Who gets you into the creative spirit ?? Let me know who inspires you..

July 4

Blueprint stamps, ribbon & paper ( all by Tim )

Embossing folder, tissue tape & Wish ticket ( all Tim )

Embossing folder (yep, Tim's )

Film strip by Tim

( one of my favorite supplies )

Thank you for sharing in my creative process.

Until next post ....   dEb