Happy New Year 2021

It's strange to be saying Happy New Year when we are all still dealing with COVID..  I guess it's our way of hoping for a happier, healthier, safer 2021 .. I think we will be off to a rocky start but I know that I am ready for things to start getting better. On December 29, I was able to get the first dose of the Pfizer COVID vaccine and for that I am grateful. My cards to start off the New Year are a bit edgy but my feelings are mixed and they convey a New Year's message to all - COVID is still with us and we need to take control of it.. Do your part to keep yourself and others safe ..

 

• I used the Banksy Gas Mask Flower Girl  on both cards and stamped them on Strathmore Marker Paper with Close To My Heart Intense Black ink .
• The sentiment  from  Close To My Heart "Quarantine Christmas" was stamped next to the girl with Memento Dew Drop Ladybug ink .
• The stamped panels were adhered to the card fronts - 1 white and 1 dark gray.
• A strip of COVID virus paper was placed vertically down the left side of each card base . 
• On one card I placed several red rhinestones on the virus images and on the other, I used red candy dots.
• I created the dates with my Pink DYMO Label Maker. 

If you aren't familiar with Banksy, you can learn about him at this link . Last year, he paid tribute to healthcare workers with a  painting that was gifted to a hospital in England. He is a favorite artist of mine. 

I'm looking forward to sharing my creativity with you all again this year. In addition to my regular blog posts with Celeste & the Crafty Elves, I have also joined the Paper House Productions  Creative Team. I am also going to start posting about books I am reading and hope to make some bookmarks / cards to go along with them.  Thank you for stopping by and also for leaving comments. You are all very much appreciated!! Please take care and stay safe. Let's all have a healthy and safe 2021 !

Until next time ...

Stay Creative

Debra Davison / Meticulosity

Crafty Elves' Countdown to Christmas / December 2020

It is so hard to believe that Christmas is here !! This is our last post of 2020 And then it is on to 2021. I don't think anyone will be sorry to see this year in our rear-view mirror . On to bigger and better AND happier and healthier !! Michael and Lisa and I will all be back for another year of Crafty Elves . But for this month, we are each posting 1 card and then choosing our favorites from each other.  And believe me, that was a hard task because all of their cards were amazing !!

If you know me at all, you know that I love to read.. I have been a bookworm my entire life !! I am in several book groups on Facebook and love keeping up with everyone's latest reading list.. I actually met several like-minded readers in one group and we actually created our own group - Novel Characters . Last year we started a Christmas Book Exchange and my card today is the one I sent with my book to my fellow reader this year ..

• I stamped the READ Bookshelf onto watercolor paper with  Gina K Amalgam Jet Black ink  and trimmed it, leaving room on the right side and the bottom.
• The image was colored with my COPICs  and Faber-Castell Pitt Artist pens.
• A thin strip of gold washi was placed at the bottom of the watercolor panel and then a strip of book washi above that, ending near the bottom of the book shelf.
• I used planner stickers to add the 2020 to the panel.
• A piece of pale green patterned paper was adhered to a light green card base.
• The completed panel was adhered near the top of the card and a Tim Holtz sentiment sticker finished the card perfectly.

I also made a bookmark to send with the card - using a great stamp set by A Jillian Vance Design - Coffee and Books . The bookmark is backed with thick cardstock and then a piece of lined ledger paper  so the reader can take notes or keep a book list. I love this card and bookmark and can't wait to see what the recipient thinks !! Hopefully  the USPS won't let me down and the card will delivered safely ..

What can I say about Michael's cards ?? They are always colorful - they are beautiful - they are always amazing !! I actually chose one of his more "subdued" cards as my favorite . It is absolutely beautiful and you can read all about it here in his July 2020 post . When I look at this card, the word I think of is "SERENE" - something that this year was sorely lacking.. This card is perfect !!

Lisa has a knack for creating the most intricate scenes in many of her cards !! I am envious of her talents .. But for my favorite, I chose a slimline card that she created that just explodes with Christmas Spirit !! The colors POP and the glitter washi along the bottom adds just the right touch of shimmer. You can read all about her card in her October 2020 post .

I have a few more to send but otherwise, I am done with my Holiday cards.. I am working a 12 hour shift at the hospital this year so we will be celebrating  Christmas on the 26 with  a spiral ham and all the fixins !!! And sometime during the first week of 2021, I will be starting on my Christmas cards oncc again !! I hope that you will join us throughout the New Year, But for the last posts of 2020, please take a look at what Lisa and Michael have created for December and also their favorites of their fellow Crafty Elves..

Michael Trent - World of Michael Trent

Lisa Reynolds Bzibziak - Life of a BZ Scrapper

Until next time ( in 2021 ), Stay Creative !!

Debra Davison / Meticulosity

Coffee & Cards With Deb & Celeste / December 2020

Another year is coming to a close and Celeste and I are having our coffee once again !! To ring out the old year, we are getting Snowy .. Luckily we don't get much snow here in Virginia Beach, but that doesn't stop me from loving snowy cards !! Celeste chose this fun mood board as our inspiration ..

I decided to use the Snowy theme and also the colors blue and green for my card today ..  I had so many stamps to choose from but decided on Scarf Kitty from Stampendous . The sweet kitty reminded me of our Pixie .. 

• I cut a piece of glittery snowflake paper from a Classic Vintage paper pad  by Craftsmart and adhered it to a white card base.
• The Scarf Kitty was stamped on watercolor paper with Gina K Amalgam Jet Black Ink . 
• I used my Copics to color the image, using mainly shades of blue and green.
• The stamped image was trimmed and adhered near the top of the card.
• A Paper House Productions sticker was placed below the stamped image.

I really love the sticker on the card paired with the stamped image.. I have enjoyed stickers since childhood and love that I can continue using them in my card-making.. I am also a member of the  2021 Paper House Productions Creative Team so I will be playing with their stickers in my card-making and planner layouts throughout the year..

For my coffee today, I am having a Creme Brulee' Latte in Starbuck's Candy Cane Color-Changing cup.  When hot liquid is placed in the cup, it changes colors. I'm using an online picture to show the cool color changes !!

I can't wait to see what Celeste has come up with for this month's card .. Take a look over at her blog - Crafting Junky . Thanks so much for stopping by again to see our cards and also what we are drinking this month. I hope that you are all staying safe -- what a strange year it has been !! Who would have thought that we would still be worried about COVID 8 months later ..  I'm looking forward to a happier and healthier 2021 and hope that you will continue to stop by to see what Celeste and I are up to in the New Year.

 

Debra Davison / Meticulosity

Crafty Elves' Countdown to Christmas / November 2020

I think that every year we ask ourselves where the time has gone. In the blink of an eye, it's November and holiday season is here. We are down to the wire with holiday cards. I just received my first Christmas card from England yesterday !! Plus we are all still living with COVID-19 and that has changed how our holidays are looking this year. I know that I am so ready for 2020 to be over and hope that 2021 is a better  - and healthier - year for everyone !!

I used a variety of stamps this month - both old and new favorites !! My first card uses a fun new stamp from Anthony's Paper Craft -  Snowball Stand - and also a new sentiment set  - Christmas Greetings 3 . This stamp will be sent to you for free if you spend  $30 or more from Black Friday through Cyber Monday at. Anthony's Paper Craft.  All stamps will be 25% off and US customers will get free shipping if you spend $50 or more. 

• I stamped the  Snowball Stand on a piece of Strathmore Marker paper and also on a piece of wood-grain paper.
• The stand was cut out of the wood-grain paper  and adhered on top of the marker paper image. 
• The snowman and snow outlines were colored with my COPIC markers. 
• I stamped the sentiment in ColorBox Scuba Distress ink  onto a piece of pale wood-grain paper and adhered it to the top of the stamped panel .
• I had also stamped an extra sign on marker paper and popped that up on top of the snowball stand.
• I placed some glitter highlights on the snow and on several snowballs.
• The completed panel was adhered to a blue card base. 

• The Christmas Clothesline  and sentiment were stamped on a piece of Strathmore Marker paper and then  colored with my COPICS.
• I cut the paper to fit on the front of a pale green card base .
• A piece of thin silver metallic washi was placed between the clothesline and sentiment.
• I love the simplicity of this card.

• I stamped the Xmas Mitten onto a piece of Marker paper and also on a piece of watercolor paper.
• I cut the mitten out of the watercolor paper and colored it with my COPICS.
• The contents of the stocking on the Marker paper were colored with my COPICS .
• The sentiment was stamped on watercolor paper and then trimmed .
• I adhered the sentiment next to the Mitten and the watercolor Mitten over the matching stamped image. They were popped up with foam tabs.
• The stamped panel was adhered to a pale green card base.
• Sequins were adhered around the Xmas Mitten.

• I stamped the Koko Girl and sentiment from the Erin Lee Creative Koko Girl Cocoa Stamp & Die Set on watercolor paper.
• The girl was cut out with the matching die .
• I colored the girl with my COPICS .
• I cut the sentiment to fit at the top left of the card.
• The sentiment was matted with a piece of dark green scrap paper.
• A piece of glittery snow scene paper was adhered to a pink card base.
• The girl was popped up with foam tabs towards the lower right side of the card.
• The sentiment was popped up with foam tabs at the top left.

I'm sure that the other Crafty Elves  - Michael and Lisa -  have created some fabulous cards for November !! You can check out their blogs here  -

Michael Trent - World of Michael Trent

Lisa Reynolds Bzibziak - Life of a BZScrapper

Have you started your holiday cards yet ? Are you even sending cards this year ?? What a crazy year it has been !! I will be happy to put this year behind me and get on with 2021. It just has to be a better year .. Thank you for visiting Meticulosity once again .. We will be back on Christmas Day for our 2020 wrap-up  and hope that you will join us.  Until then, stay safe and creative !!

Debra Davison / Meticulosity

Coffee & Cards with Deb & Celeste / November 2020

November is here and with it there will be another Thanksgiving  .. Different than in the past with COVID still around -- but there is still much to be thankful for. AND that is the theme this month - Thanksgiving !! Celeste and I have been collaborating on these blog posts since October 2016 and I am forever grateful for our continued friendship .. I'm also thankful for everyone who has been following us as we get creative each month. 

For my card this month, I paired stamps from 2 of my favorite companies -  Gather Together  from Fun Stampers Journey and Love To Go from Unity Stamp Company . I think that they go together perfectly !!

• I stamped the sentiment and the coffee cup image with Espresso Ink from Close To My Heart on a piece of Kraft cardstock. I used my MISTI  to get the images lined up for my card panel . 
• I also stamped the coffee cup on a variety of Autumn patterned papers and then cut out the coffee lid, sleeve and heart images and paper-pieced them on the cup . 
• The stamped panel was adhered to an orange patterned card base with my Pink Scotch ATG gun. 
• A piece of fun Autumn  red truck washi tape was placed at the bottom of the card. 

This was such a fun and easy card to make . And I love that  at the bottom of the sentiment is the instruction to "eat pie"  ..  Because what is Thanksgiving without at least a small piece of pie.. This year I think that mine just might be some Chocolate Pecan Pie from Cracker Barrel !!

Celeste has created her own Thanksgiving card and you can see it over at her blog -  Crafting Junky . Have you been making any Thanksgiving cards ?? Have your plans changed at all  this year ?? I'm so glad that you took some time to visit Meticulosity again to see our latest collaboration..

I cannot quite believe it is so close to Christmas . Time to get out a holiday cup for my coffee this month !! I bought this last year long after the holiday for only 90 cents !! And it is from a a favorite movie of mine  - ELF - so I really could not resist !! There is some Maple Pecan coffee in my cup with Sweet Cream creamer.  What are you drinking this time of year ??

Thanks again for visiting Meticulosity to see what Celeste and I are up to this month .. 

Until next time, stay happy, healthy and creative !!

Debra Davison / Meticulosity

 

 

Fall/Winter Coffee Lovers Hop - Take 2

Finally posting my second ( and probably last ) card for the Fall/Winter Coffee Lovers Blog Hop ..  The last time to link a project is 11:55 pm Pacific Time tonight . All of the info re the Hop can be found HERE . There are almost 1000 link-ups already !!  

For today's card, I pulled out an older stamp set from the Prima Marketing Inc. Coffee Break collection. It is from 2014 but some of the pieces can still be found online. You can see a fun post about it here .

• I began with a black chalkboard card base.. These bases have designs on the front that I sometimes cover up with patterned paper.  
• I cut a piece of Coffee Cups paper from the Echo Park Paper Co. Coffee Collection Kit  and adhered it to the front of the csrd base.,
• I stamped all of the images in this set on watercolor paper with Gina K Amalgam Ink - Jet Black .I used my MISTI to line up all of the stamps so I could stamp them all together quickly !!
• The image was colored with my COPIC markers. 
• Clear Wink of Stella was used on the tea cup and muffin paper  ( see picture below ).
• I cut a piece of scrap dark pink patterned paper to mat the stamped image and adhered that panel to the front of the card at an angle .

Thanks for stopping by again to see my second card ( might be a third later today if I get a move on ). I'm drinking a wonderful cup of Blueberry Cobbler coffee as I write this post . Leave a comment for a chance to get a coffee care package from me with some delicious samples of my latest favorite coffee ( these samples are single K-cups ). 

Until next time, stay safe & creative !!

Debra Davison / Meticulosity

Fall / Winter Coffee Lovers Hop - Take 1

 

It's one of my favorite times of the year !! The Coffee Lovers Blog Hop .. There are fantastic sponsors and hundreds of amazing projects AND a chance to win some fabulous prizes just for linking up a project of your own !! You can find all of the information HERE .

I haven't been getting too creative lately .. Lots going on between home and work, BUT I could never miss a chance to make a coffee card .. They are some of my favorite images to use when stamping .. And this stamp I used today from Viva Las VegaStamps  is no exception - Ladies Drinking Tea/Coffee .

• On a black chalkboard card base, I adhered a piece of yellow-patterned paper that I have been hoarding .. It looks like it is sewn on and has a lovely scalloped pattern.
• I stamped the Ladies Drinking Tea/Coffee on a piece of Strathmore Toned Tan Mixed Media Paper and trimmed it close to the image.
• The stamped image was adhered to the bottom right of the patterned paper.
• I placed a Tim Holtz Snarky Small Talk sticker in the upper left corner of the patterned paper.

The coffee shown in my picture is my latest favorite from Bones Coffee Company - From Dusk to Donuts .  This is their description -- "Take a trip to The Donut Hole and grab a cup of hot, delicious Jelly Donut coffee that tastes just like sinking your fangs into a sweet, jelly filled piece of pastry goodness." It really is delicious !!

I hope that you like tha card I have created  I'd love to hear what your favorite coffee is -- leave a comment and you just might get a care package from me with a sample of this From Dusk to Donuts coffee !! Thank you for visiting Meticulosity !! Until next time, stay creative ...

Debra Davison / Meticulosity