A Creative Bibliophile - March 2021

I read the most interesting book this month for my post . I actually read it on my phone using the Libby app which makes it so easy for me to have something to read at all times, wherever I have my phone .. It allows you to check books out of your library directly to your phone which is so convenient for bookworms like me !!

For my bookmark this month, I used the cutest digital stamp set from The Cat's Pajamas PaperArts - Bliss . I printed the image and sentiment on Neenah cardstock, fussy-cut the rabbit design and trimmed around the sentiment.  The sentiment was matted on a pale pink paper and adhered to a piece of floral designer paper above the fussy cut rabbit image.  I adhered that panel to a piece of Toned Grey Mixed Media paper. On the back of the bookmark is a piece of dotted green paper  where you can write a book list or book review etc. I also added some Glossy Accents to the eyeglass lenses.

Bliss : a good book, good coffee, great company

I'm actually only reviewing one book this month - Twenty-One Truths About Love by Matthew Dicks. I've started several but this is the only one I've completely finished .It's hard when I find so many that I like at one time, but that beats the alternative, which is not liking many that I have been excited to read !! And once I saw the cover, I was really drawn to this book ..

I also was intrigued even before I opened it because I had read that it was entirely written in lists. I am a bit of an OCD person and love lists. But I wasn't sure how much I would enjoy a whole book of lists - sounded rather boring to me but I was very wrong .. And pleasantly surprised !!

In this book, Daniel Mayrock owns a struggling bookstore, worries that his wife might still love her dead first husband and has issues with his father. It drew me in from the first page and I even laughed out loud many times. I really liked the character of Daniel and felt bad that he was struggling with so  much. He even makes some pretty stupid decisions and I still liked him !! The lists are written chronologically, telling a story over time. 

 

Some of his lists are -

• Proof that I am stupid
• Dan's Laws of the Universe
• Facts about my marriage
• 5 Problems with Lying
• Days Without  ( Gum, Crying, Flossing ,  Little Debbie Snack Cakes etc.. )

For a novel written entirely in lists, I think the author really did a great job developing the characters. I felt like I knew them. I wanted things to work out for them. They got to me. It was an easy read and I'm interested to read his other books . I highly recommend this book . I hope that you will let me know if you have read this one and if so, what you thought about it. Do you think that a book of lists would be interesting to read ??

Leave me a comment on this post and I will choose 1 person randomly and send them the bookmark that I made this month. Are there any books that you would like to recommend to me to read and review ?? I'm always excited to add more books to my TBR list..

Until next time, Read a Book & Stay Creative !!

Debra Davison / Meticulosity

 

Crafty Elves' Countdown to Christmas / March 2021

March is here and it's feeling like Spring but that doesn't mean you can't be getting ready for the holidays !! Michael, Lisa and I are back with our cards as the Crafty Elves Countdown to Christmas As always, I'm excited to see what they make because it always inspires me. I hope that we all inspire you too !!

I've been working full-time during this past year of COVID and creativity is my bliss.. I enjoy looking through all of my holiday stamps and choosing  what I'll be using for my cards. This is the first month that I wasn't sure if I've used a stamp before or not.. I guess I should have kept a list !! Maybe that will be a project for the coming week..

 

This Paula Best "Cat Christmas Tree" stamp is a favorite. I'm not sure if I've used it before  in these posts!! Her stamps are no longer available except on Etsy or eBay etc.. I feel lucky that I have quite a few of them.

It was stamped on Strathmore Watercolor paper with Gina K Jet Black Amalgam Ink and colored with my COPICS. 

 

• I made a mini-slimline card with a piece of fun tree paper. I took a 6x6 piece and folded it in half. I am challenged filling all the space of a traditional slimline card so this mini size is perfect !!
• I used a hexagon paper punch and punched out 7, using coordinating Christmas design paper. I adhered them to the left side of the mini-slimline  in a wreath pattern - using the landscape positioning. 
• The snowman is from the Snowman Trio 2 set from Anthony's Paper Craft . It was stamped with Gina K Jet Black Amalgam Ink next to the hexagon. 
• I cut apart a Tim Holtz Idea-ology sentiment and adhered it next to the snowman on the right side of the card. 
• Red and green rhinestones were placed above and below the sentiment. 

• This stamp was designed by mu friend, Lindsay Ostrom ! She is a Hallmark movie lover and I absolutely love this stamp - Hallmark Season from Impression Obsession.
• It was also stamped with Gina K ink on watercolor paper and colored with my COPICS.
• I used some strips of washi above and below the stamped image. 
• A Tim Holtz Idea-ology sticker sentiment was placed beneath the stamped image. 
• Th cute border - stamped and die cut - at the top of the card is from Close To My Heart.

• This Starry Forest Die Cut Set caught my eye as soon as I saw it !! I was lucky that it was during a Spellbinders sale . I never pay more than $10 for an item during these sales and sometimes find very detailed die sets for $5 or less. 
  
• I cut the images out of different colored cardstock and also from a gold metallic paper. 
• I used several scrap papers to create a background scene and adhered them to a Kraft card base.
• The images from cardstock were adhered to the  metallic images, leaving a small golden edge showing .
• The images were adhered to the card base. I used the example on the Spellbinders packaging .. 
• A Paper House Productions Merry and Bright 3D sticker was placed on the upper left of the finished panel. 

These were fun cards to make and are a nice addition to my holiday stash !!  Take a look over at Michael's and Lisa's blogs to see what they have created for March. In the upcoming months we will have some Guest Elves joining us and are so excited to see what they create !!

Michael - World of Michael Trent

Lisa - Life of a BZ Scrapper

Comment on this post and I will choose someone at random and send them some fun holiday supplies to make a few holiday cards of their own !! Until next time, stay creative and above all,  STAY SAFE !!

Debra Davison / Meticulosity

Spring/Summer Coffee Lover Blog Hop

It's time once again for the Spring/Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop !! I couldn't miss the chance to link up one of my favorite types of cards - Coffee themed !! You can find all the details HERE at their website . There are many amazing sponsors who donate fabulous prizes . All you need to do is link up a card during the Hop for a chance to win.. Next month is National Letter-Writing Month and I am in a group that assigns pen-pals for the month . So I spend lots of time writing letters to mine ( and a few others ) .. These digi stamps from Twistoon were  perfect for creating my card .. Me with my address book, coffee and letters to write !!

• I first printed the digi stamps on Strathmore Marker Paper  - both by Twistoon - Window Letter and Home School Teacher Books .
• The book/coffee cup was fussy-cut and colored. The Window image was trimmed, then colored. Both were colored with my COPICS. 
• I also printed the Window image on a piece of floral paper, fussy-cut the curtains and adhered them to the Window image.
• The book and coffee cup were popped up on the windowsill with foam tabs.
• I adhered the entire completed digi to a piece of green polka-dotted paper.
• A Tim Holtz Idea-ology sticker sentiment was placed at the lower right of the digi image.
• The completed panel was adhered to a Kraft card base.
• Pralines & Cream glitter was added to the coffee steam.

This card has to be one of my favorites !! You know how sometimes it all seems to come together when you are making a card and you are pleased with the finished product ?? That is how this one made me feel. No second-guessing or agonizing over what to add next .. Everything in the universe aligned and I was totally happy !! You will have to head over to Twistoon - they have some great Coffee stamps ( check out that link ) .. And even a few Tea stamps. Thanks so much for visiting Meticulosity - I always look forward to these Coffee Lovers Blog Hops and have to give a shout out to Amy Tsuruta and her team for all of their hard work during these Hops.

Debra Davison/ Meticulosity

Coffee & Cards with Deb & Celeste / March 2021

I know that I'm not the only one who is ready for cold weather to be over and a new season to begin !! Celeste and I are so thrilled for Spring to get here  and that is our theme for our blog posts this month. My guy is anxious to get outside and work in the raised beds that he built last year. And I look forward to spending time on the deck with my planner or a good book !

I had this stamp in mind from Rubber Moon as soon as I found out the March theme. Designed by Dave Brethauer, Whistle While You Work is a whimsical take on Spring. 

A New Beginning

• On a white card base, I layered a thin strip of pink gingham paper over a floral-patterned piece, creating a border at the top ..
• I stamped the Whistle While You Work image on a lined journal card with Gina K Jet Black Amalgam Ink .
• The stamped image was colored with my COPIC markers.
• I stapled a thin strip of pale blue paper to the upper left side of the journal card, using 2 staples.
• The journal card was popped up at an angle on the floral paper with foam tabs.
• Fine glitter was placed on the water sprinkles coming from the watering can.
• A Tim Holtz Idea-ology sticker sentiment was placed at the lower right corner of the journal card. 
• Rhinestones were placed along the gingham strip at the top of the card .

Thank you for visiting Meticulosity and checking out my March card .. Now head on over to Celeste's blog - Crafting Junky - for a look at her take on our Spring theme !! Has Spring arrived where you live ?? We have a few daffodils blooming near our mailbox and they are an absolutely beautiful sight !! I'm looking forward to our COVID lockdown lessening and maybe having coffee with  a friend soon .. For my coffee with this post, I am using a colorful cup from the Philippines that a friend brought me back from her visit with her family . I'm drinking Blueberry Coffee-cake coffee and it is delicious !!

Until next time, Stay Creative

and Stay safe !!!

Debra Davison / Meticulosity