Crafty Elves' Countdown to Christmas / October 2026

It seems like we were just in the middle of a heat wave here in Virginia and now it's Autumn, with beautiful cooler days. In no time at all, it will be Christmas - so Lisa, Mchael and I are back to show you our holiday cards for October. Have you started yours yet or are you one of those last minute crafters?

For my card today, I used the Simon Says Stamp Limited Edition Kit - Cozy and Bright. It was the final release for Stamptember, which is a month of fabulous releases each day during the month of September . Many great stamp companies come out with limited edition sets and a different company is announced each day . I was a very good girl and did not even look until the last day !! But I couldn't resist the Cozy and Bright kit - it had papers, cardstock, ephemera, an embossing folder, rhinestones, adhesive, inks and a fabulous stamp set. I also ordered the matching dies. The kit is absolutely beautiful !!

• I stamped the Window image with my go-to Memento Tuxedo Black ink  ( from my own stash ) on white cardstock .
• The image was die cut with the matching die .
• I colored the image with my Ohuhu markers.
• I used the embossing folder and red cardstock from the kit and embossed a front panel for my card.
• The sentiment was stamped with an Apple mini ink cube on white cardstock and die cut .
• I adhered the embossed panel to a white card base.
• I did use an Impression Obsession Scalloped Rectangle die for the frame and a piece of seafoam cardstock.
• The stamped Window was adhered to the embossed panel inside the scalloped frame.
• I popped up the sentiment with foam tabs below the frame.
• I used some rhinestones from my stash on the Christmas tree.

Stamptember Cozy and Bright Kit

Simon Says Stamp

To see what Michael and Lisa have made, you can check out their blog posts at these links -

Michael - World of Michael Trent

Lisa - Life of a BZscrapper

As the countdown to Christmas continues, we will keep making cards and be back November 25 .. Until then, stay creative and enjoy some beautiful Autumn weather wherever you are !!  

Debra Davison / Meticulosity

Crafty Elves' Countdown to Christmas / September 2026

Fall is finally here and with it comes cooler weather.  Hard to believe that the holidays will be here soon. It's time to start on your holiday cards, if you haven't already.

I've been destashing and found some great older wood mounted stamps. Today I'm using Tinsel Tree from Stampendous.

• I stamped the Tinsel Tree on white cardstock with Memento Tuxedo Black ink .
• The tree was colored with my Ohuhu markers.
• I used a stitched edge rectangle die to cut out my image .
• A piece of scrap patterned paper was trimmed and adhered to a 5x7 white card base.
• The stamped panel was adhered to the patterned paper with foam tabs.
• I placed some yellow rhinestones on the stars and some light blue and turquoise rhinestones on the snowflake.
• A Tim Holtz sentiment was placed in the lower right corner of the card .

Michael and Lisa are also adding to their holiday stash and you can check out their cards over at their blogs - 

Michael Trent - World of Michael Trent

Lisa Reynolds Bzibziak - Life of a BZscrapper

Thank you for stopping by to see our holiday inspiration . I hoe you are having some cool Autumn weather where you are . It's been pretty rainy and windy here but at least the temps are cooler. We will see you next month for our October cards .

Debra Davison / Meticulosity

Crafty Elves' Countdown to Christmas / May 2026

The Crafty Elves are back with their May holiday inspiration for you !! Michael, Lisa and I post each month on the 25th to get you in the mood to start on your holiday card-making along with us.

I got out an embossing folder I have been wanting to try, along with a favorite Impression Obsession stamp designed by my friend Nola. The image was colored with my new sets of  Ohuhu markers .I got a 48 count Honolulu B bright set and a pastel set .These have a brush and a fine tip and I am really enjoying them already !!

• I stamped the IO image on a piece of white cardstock .
• The image was colored with my Ohuhu markers.
• I die-cut the stamped image with a stitched border die.
• I used the Sizzix "Texture Fades" Holiday Knit embossing folder by Tim Holtz  on a piece of red cardstock .
• The embossed panel was adhered to a white card base,
• The stamped panel was popped up on the embossed panel with foam tabs.
• A Tim Holtz sentiment strip was adhered at the bottom of the card .

This was a fairly simple card to make and I love it .. I even stamped out a few more images to color . You can see what Michael and Lisa made over at their blogs -

Michael - World of Michael Trent

Lisa - Life of a BZscrapper

We are having some cooler weather here thankfully. But with it came rain !! We did need it but maybe not on a long holiday weekend.  Thank you for stopping by . We will see you next month, when we will be at the halfway mark to Christmas 2026 .

Debra Davison / Meticulosity

Crafty Elves' Countdown to Christmas / April 2026

Lisa and I are here with our April holiday inspiration . I have been destashing and going through my supplies and found a cool stamp designed by my friend Lindsay Ostrom for Impression Obsession . Although they are now closed, I am lucky enough to have a great collection of their images !!

The stamp I chose for today is a fabulous background image - Holiday Patterns . I used it as the "patterned paper" for my card base . It was stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored in a few placed with my COPICS .  I trimmed the stamped image to fit on a Kraft  A2 card base . Then I adhered a piece of Holiday Chipboard to the center to finish my card . I found the chipboard in my scrap drawer. 

  

Take a look at Lisa's card for April over at her blog - Life of a BZscrapper . We will be back next month on the 25th with more inspiration for your holiday cards . 

Debra Davison / Meticulosity

Crafty Elves' Countdown to Christmas / June 2025

We are halfway through the year - can you believe that already ?!?! Christmas is only 6 months away . Lisa, Michael and I post our holiday cards every month on the 25th to inspire you to make some of your own. You will be ahead of the game when it comes time to put your holiday cards in the mail !! 

And now it's confession time !! I totally forgot to make a card for today. I picked up an extra shift at the hospital and worked Sunday, Monday and Tuesday . Oops - completely slipped my mind. So today's card was quickly made this morning . I hope you like it !!

• I stamped the "Winter Cuppa" image from Little Darlings Rubber Stamps on white cardstock with Memento Tuxedo Black ink .
• The image was colored with my COPICS.
• I used a corner punch on the stamped panel.
• Candy Dots in various colors were placed on each corner .
• A red heart was adhered to the teapot.
• Several white glittery gems were placed on the stamped image .
• The completed stamped panel was placed on a striped card base by American Crafts with foam tabs.
• To finish my card, I placed a heart in the enter of the teapot.
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I'm very pleased with my quick card. I got the Winter Cuppa stamp on sale a few years ago. I think the company has closed or either rebranded itself.  Please take a look at Michael's and Lisa's creations at these links :

World of Michael Trent

Life of a BZscrapper

Thank you for stopping by to check out our cards for June. I am going to make my July card this weekend so I don't forget again !! Until then, Stay Creative !!

 

Debra Davison / Meticulosity

Crafty Elves' Countdown to Christmas / January 2025

The Crafty Elves are back to bring you another year of inspiration. We will work our way through 2025, posting each month on the 25th to help you get ready for the holiday snail mail rush !! AND I'm thrilled to let you know that Michael Trent  will be joining us again !! He took some time off but of course, he couldn't stay away from us .. Show him some love and comment on his post.

For my first card, I used an old snowglobe Starbucks gift card and a gingerbread chipboard sticker from my Spellbinders Holiday Advent Calendar. A Tim Holtz sentiment was perfect to  complete my card !! This card came together in about 5 minutes  - now I have something to do with all those Starbucks cards !!

May Your Days Be Merry & Bright

My next 4 cards were also so quick and easy !! I stamped the Christmas Snow Globe images from Close To My Heart , colored them with my OLO Markers and fussy-cut them. I adhered each snow globe to a bright red card base, popping them up with foam tabs. I added some glitter to each snowglobe also. A Tim Holtz Label Sticker was adhered at the bottom right of each card . 

Thank you for stopping by to begin a new year with us !! Check out the links to Lisa and Michael's cards for January .. I hope you find lots of inspiration and start your holiday cards with us .. It's so nice to have a stash to use when you're getting ready to send your holiday mail .

 Michael - World of Michael Trent

Lisa - Life of a BZscrapper

Until next month, Stay Creative

Debra Davison / Meticulosity

Crafty Elves' Countdown to Christmas / August 2024

It's hard to believe that September is almost here and hopefully some Autumn weather with it !! I promise not to complain about cold weather after the extremely hot summer we've had. Last year right after Christmas, our HVAC system decided that 20 years of work was enough and broke down. It was time for a new one and as hard as it was to spend so much money on it, the house hasn't felt so comfortable in years. The kitchen hadn't cooled down or warmed up in a long time but new duct work took care of that also .. Sooooo, I am looking forward to cooler temps, sweater weather, falling leaves and a nice,cozy house !! Remind me of that when we have our first snowfall. 

Lisa and I are back this month with our Crafty Elf creations to inspire you and help you get ready to send your holiday cards !! I used a retired stamp from Penny Black Inc.  - Paris Packages. I also colored the stamped image with my new OLO markers .

• I stamped the Eiffel Tower image on white cardstock with Tuxedo Black Memento ink .
• The stamped image was die cut with a Big and Little Chain Rectangle die from Gina Marie Designs .
• The stamped image waa colored with my new OLO markers. I was so excited to use them that I forgot to write down which colors I used.But I will next time.
• I adhered a piece of Paris Junk Journal digital paper  - from Trendy Travel Digital on Etsy - to a Sky Blue 5x7 card base.
• The stamped panel was matted on a piece of teal cardstock and adhered to the card base with foam tabs.
• A Merry Christmas wood-mounted stamp from My Sentiments Exactly was used  for the sentiment. I stamped it with Rose IO ink on white cardstock, then trimmed it.
• I adhered the sentiment to the left of the Eiffel Tower with foam tabs.

I also colored it in a more traditional color scheme.for another card.

Please take a look at Lisa's August inspiration over at her blog - Life of a BZscrapper . She continuously creates fabulous cards each and every month .. I appreciate you stopping by to visit the Crafty Elves. We will be back  in September with more holiday creations!!

Debra Davison / Meticulosity

Crafty Elves' Countdown to Christmas / April 2024

Lisa and I are bringing you our holiday cards for April so we can stay ahead of the Christmas rush this year .. Each month on the 25th, we have new inspiration for everyone. I also try to start addressing my envelopes, placing address labels etc .. Have you started on your holiday cards yet ???

My card  was made with the DEC 25 Bird by Stampendous . I bought this stamp with a few other Stampendous holiday images last year and forgot I had them .. Sound familiar ?!?!

• I stamped most of the Dec 25 Bird image on white cardstock with Tuxedo Black Memento ink . The sentiment was stamped with Catherine Pooler Skylight ink .
• The image was colored with my COPICS.
• I used a Clear Wink of Stella marker to highlight the 25, hat and red breast.
• The completed stamped image was trimmed with the Tim Holtz Tonic Deckle Torn Edge Trimmer.
• Rhinestones were placed on the hat pom-pom and the bird's eye.
• I adhered the panel to a black card base.

You can see what Lisa made over at her blog - 

Life of a BZscrapper 

Thank you for stopping by to see our latest holiday creations . 

We will see you next month .

Debra Davison / Meticulosity