A Creative Bibliophile - May 2021

I've started a few books lately that I just couldn't finish - I give myself at least a few chapters before putting it down for good.  I also just put the nook app on my iPhone so I now have over 1200 books/samples with me wherever I go .  I hate being somewhere with time on my hands, but no book to read ! What are your latest favorite reads ?? Do you have any recommendations for my To-Read list ?? 

This month I have a "domestic thriller" to review. I guess that is the latest genre of books to capture our attention . Gone Girl, The Woman on the Train, The Wife Between Us, The Silent Patient . Well you get the picture. The cover of this one caught my eye and I got the sample on my nook .. It drew me in and the price was fabulous so - the rest is history !!

I had already finished this book when I read that it was a contemporary retelling of the classic Jane Eyre . I will confess that I have never read that book - or many other classic novels. But I can tell you that this book kept me interested and had many great twists and turns that I did not figure out . The book centers around Jane & Eddie . Jane is a dog-walker in a gated community, who has many secrets in her past ( and present ) . Eddie lives in the gated community . He is handsome, wealthy and recently widowed, after his wife and her best friend drown in a tragic accident.  When Jane and Eddie meet, their stories become intertwined and a twisted tale begins.

This book has many great plot twists and gives you a glimpse into both Jane and Eddie's backgrounds. As you read this book, you find yourself asking just what is the truth ?? And is anyone being honest about their lives ?? The story is told from a few perspectives - beginning with Jane. I liked this aspect of the book because we find out much more of the character's stories . In the past, this manner of writing has confused me and made the story harder to follow. But in The Wife Upstairs, it enhances the book.

You can probably tell that I highly recommend this book.  The author Rachel Hawkins has written many Young Adult books,  including several series . This is her first adult novel . I hope that you will pick up this book and enjoy it as much as I did .

My bookmark for this post was made with the Start Something New stamp set from Unity Stamp Company . There's nothing I love more than a big stack of books !!

Start Something New

• I stamped the images onto a piece of Mixed- Media paper  (the girl ) and a piece of ledger paper ( the sentiment ) .
• I colored the girl image with my COPICS.
• Recollections washi tape was applied to the top and bottom of the book stack panel .
• That panel was then adhered to a piece of Strathmore Toned Blue Mixed Media Paper .
• The sentiment was adhered to a piece of ledger paper. I made it as large as the completed book stack panel so there would be room to write.
• On the back of the bookmark, I adhered the sentiment panel. 

Well, it's a gloomy and rainy day here at the beach .. A wash-out for the Memorial Day weekend so far, but perfect reading weather.. I have a few domestic thriller samples to try out - I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh and What You Don't Know by Joann Chaney . Have you read either of those ?? I'll keep you posted !! 

Until next time, stay safe and read a good book !!

Debra Davison / Meticulosity

Crafty Elves' Countdown to Christmas / May 2021

May is finally here and in Virginia we are seeing some relief from COVID-19.  Brian and I just went to a restaurant to actually sit down and eat lunch for the first time in over a year. I was a bit nervous at first but we had a great time !! I hope that you have all been staying healthy and can start to get back to a bit of normality soon wherever you live. Michael, Lisa and I are excited to show you our cards and we have a guest again this month to show you some more holiday inspiration !!

My first 2 cards are again made with Close To My Heart stamps. I am still working my way through all of the great sets I bought during a recent fabulous sale !! You can always find great supplies here at my friend, Chris Franco's site - https://chrisfranco.closetomyheart.com/default.aspx ..

• I adhered a piece of  Tim Holtz Idea-ology Christmas Worn Wallpaper onto a cream card base. I love this vintage ornament design ..
• A piece of plaid washi was  placed down the left side of the card.
• The Merry & Bright image was stamped on a piece of patterned ledger paper with Gina K Jet Black Amalgam ink . This specific stamp is no longer available but this Merry Christmas stamp would work just as well.
• I trimmed the stamped image, matted it with red cardstock and then applied it to the wallpaper .
• I used a metallic green pen to highlight some of the leaves on the stamped image .
• Red, blue and green rhinestones were then placed for added shimmer .

• I stamped several of the images from the Jolly Characters stamp set by Close To My Heart onto a bookmark-sized piece of Mixed Media paper with Gina K Jet Black Amalgam Ink.
• Holiday washi was placed between the jolly characters and also at the top and bottom .
• I colored the images with my COPICS.
• The completed stamped panel was adhered to a piece of green-dotted designer paper. My idea was to adhere that bookmark to the card base with removable tape but I got carried away and used my Scotch ATG so it is now permanent !! 
• I used a fun glittery candy-cane paper from Recollections for my card base  .

Santa Baby from Unity Stamp Company is the image on this next card. I have had it for years and never used it until this month. I was so careful stamping it and then realized that I used my Grape Jelly Memento Dew Drop instead of Jet Black .I almost stamped over it ( because I was using my MISTI, of course ) but then just decided to throw it away. So I stamped it again in Jet Black, finished the card and then saw the other image still on the desk. I really hate wasting paper so I decided to try and make a card with that image too . I was pleasantly surprised how it turned out. I do love non-traditional holiday colors but purple was never even on my list ... LOL

December Twinkle Merry / Festive Wish Merriment

• I stamped the 2 images and colored them with my COPICS.
• Tim Holtz Small Talk stickers were adhered on the bottom right of the completed stamped images. Kraft on the red image and white on the pink/purple. 
• I matted the purple panel with a piece of dark pink cardstock and then adhered that to a pink candy cane card base.
• The red image was adhered to a red-dotted card base and rhinestones were placed at the upper left and bottom right corners. 
• These 2 cards are mini-slimlines . I cut the paper 6x6 and folded it in half to create my card bases.

My last card was made with ephemera from the Simple Stories "Simple Vintage Christmas" collection ..  It is an older collection that I have been hoarding .. I placed a piece of the patterned paper on a black card base then layered multiple ephemera pieces onto the paper. I completed the card with a few large holiday-colored sequins. I adhered several images with foam tabs or tiny staples. These cards without any stamping are fun to make when you want to sit down and create a quick project. Do you make many cards without any stamping on them ??

Please check out the other Crafty Elves' projects as well as our very special guest elf , Crystal O. Minkler .

Michael Trent - World of Michael Trent

Lisa Reynolds-Bzibziak -  Life of a BZScrapper

Crystal O. Minkler - Tawny Owl Paperie

Thanks so much for joining us again as we create our holiday cards each month to beat the December rush !! Have you been inspired to start your holiday cards along with us ?? We'd love to hear from you if you have !! Please take care, stay safe and we will see you back here in June ..

Debra Davison / Meticulosity

Coffee & Cards with Deb & Celeste / May 2021

Celeste & I have been a great team for the past almost 5 years !! We have been doing this collaboration since October 2016 .. We choose a theme, color combination, sketch or technique every month and then each make a project .. This month I asked Celeste to choose both our collaboration and which Sunday to post . When she told me we would be using stencils, I immediately regretted that decision - LOL ... I own some pretty cool stencils but rarely use them. So I was heading straight out of my comfort zone . BUT it turned out to be a good thing and I am grateful to Celeste for encouraging me to try something different .  I actually love how my card turned out .. It is a representation of my perfect day !!! A book in my hand and a cup of coffee..

What a Perfect Day

• I stamped Ellie Girl by Angie Blom  for Unity Stamp Company with Gina K Jet Black Amalgam Ink  on Mixed Media paper . 
• I also stamped her on a piece of pale green patterned paper .
• The girl was fussy-cut, then colored with my COPICS. 
• I also fussy-cut her shirt from the green paper and adhered it to the other stamped image.
• I cut a piece of the Mixed Media paper to fit the front of my cream A2 card base.
• Pixie Spray was used on a mandala stencil from TCWstencils.com .I don't think that exact stencil is still available but they have a variety of other designs.
  
• I positioned the stencil on the edge of the Mixed Media paper, using only half of the mandala. The Pixie Spray adheres the stencil to your paper and is repositionable. It also won't tear your paper or leave a sticky residue..
• Distress Ink Pads were used to create the mandala - Tumbled Glass, Wild Honey and Abandoned Coral. 
  
• I also placed a few gems and rhinestones near the center area of the mandala.
• The stenciled design was adhered to my card base with the center area of the mandala towards the right side of the base.
• The girl was adhered to the left side of the stenciled area. 
• The sentiment was adhered to the upper right side of the card .

I'm excited to see Celeste's stenciled project . You can see what she has created over at her blog - Crafting Junky . A big thank-you to her for challenging me - it paid off .. I'M wondering what kind of coffee she will be drinking for this month's post .. I am having some  delicious Honey Blueberry coffee in a new cup that I got myself for Mother's Day .. I love tattoo designs and this cup was perfect .. 

Thank you for stopping by to see what Celeste and I are up to this month. We look forward to seeing you in June. Take care, stay safe and until then, Stay Creative !!

Debra Davison / Meticulosity