Crafty Elves' Countdown to Christmas / November 2022

I really do not know where this year went !! The thought of Christmas being only 1 month away is hard to believe. My 46 year old son Carter died in a car accident on 12/23/21and this past year has been hard to navigate.. Being creative has literally been a lifesaver to me, along with family and friends who have stood by my side. I haven't blogged as much as I usually do but looked forward to our Crafty Elf post each month. This month's cards of mine are a tongue-in-cheek guide to surviving the holidays..

For my 2 cards I used stamp sets from Jaded Blossom Stamps . I have to thank my creative, coffee loving friend Vanessa Buzard for the inspiration for my cards . She used one of the stamps sets recently and I loved it so much that I bought it  !! Plus another one that  I also used for a card today. 

• I stamped the image from Santa Latte on a piece of cream cardstock with Jet Black Archival Ink .
• The image was colored with my COPICS .
• I matted the stamped image with a piece of red cardstock .
• A piece of scrap glittered holly paper was adhered to a green card base .
• The stamped panel was popped up on the bottom left corner of the card with foam tabs  .

• The Surviving Christmas image was stamped on cream cardstock. The bottle was stamped in Jet Black Archival Ink and the sentiment with a Bamboo Leaves Memento Dew Drop ink .
• I colored the image with my COPICS.
• The stamped panel was adhered to a turquoise mat .
• A piece of scrap color-block paper was adhered to a Kraft card base .
• The stamped panel was popped up in the center of the card with foam tabs.
• Rhinestones in coordinating color were adhered randomly around the stamped panel.

So, that is my guide to surviving the holidays. Coffee to get the day started and help keep me awake to finish all those projects I have started !! And maybe just one drink or two when things get a bit stressful - like maybe when I'm addressing my last minute holiday cards !!!

For more holiday inspiration, please check out what Michael, Lisa and Misty have made .. Their links are below  :

Michael Trent - World of Michael Trent

Lisa Reynolds Bzibziak - Life of a BZ Scrapper

Misty Lavigne - Jolly Fat Elf

I hope that you and your family had much to be thankful for on Thanksgiving Day . I look forward to seeing you back here in December. Until then, stay safe and always be creative .

Debra Davison / Meticulosity

Crafty Elves' Countdown to Christmas / October 2022

I'm back with my Crafty Elf friends to show you our cards for October .. And we have a new addition to our family - Misty Lavigne.  Also known as the Jolly Fat Elf , she has been our guest in the past but now will be joining us each month with her fabulous creations. Please welcome her by going to her blog post and commenting on her cards .. We are so happy to have you with us, Misty !!

I have created 1 card for October. We have each decided to create at least 1 card every month going forward, but there may be times when we make more. Somehow the month got away from me and  I feel lucky to have created this 1. I hope that you like it as much as I do ..

• I used paper and die cut shapes from the Spellbinders Joyful Christmas collection. 
• On a piece of pastel plaid paper with gold highlights, I adhered several die cut shapes - a Nutcracker, gifts, a tree, a star, an ornament, a mouse, a branch and a poinsettia .
• The 3 gifts die cut was popped up in front of the other images with foam tabs.
• I used a sentiment from the Winter Mega Paper Pad from Echo Park Paper and adhered it at the top Right next to the Ornament and branch die cut .

Sometimes a card comes together without the need for any stamping and this was 1 of those !! The collection had everything I needed. And I can always count on Echo Park for the perfect sentiment.  I'm sure that my fellow elves have come up with some amazing creations as always,  so please take a look at their blogs/videos also .

Michael Trent  /  World of Michael Trent

Lisa Reynolds - Bzibziak  /  Life of a BZ Scrapper 

Misty Lavigne / Jolly Fat Elf

Thank you for visiting Meticulosity !! Please leave a comment and let me know if you have been working on your holiday cards .. I'll choose 1 commenter to receive some holiday card-making goodies !! Until next time, Stay Creative ....

Debra Davison / Meticulosity

Coffee & Cards with Deb & Celeste - October 2022

I couldn't be any happier that Fall weather is finally here … I actually wore long sleeves today and it felt fantastic .. And an image that is essential Fall for me is our theme for this post  - Pumpkins !! Celeste and I will each create a card and also fill you in on what wonderful coffee we are drinking ..

I was lucky enough to get many red rubber cling stamps from Impression Obsession before they stopped selling them individually .. They are still releasing a limited edition red rubber stamp set each month in addition to their collection of clear stamps, dies etc... I used one of my new stamps for my  October's card ..

• On a piece of white cardstock, I stamped the Pumpkin from Impression Obsession with Gina K Jet Black Amalgam Ink .
• The sentiment  - from Perk Up by Close To My Heart - was stamped in Potting Soil Memento Dew Drop ink .
• I placed a piece of grass washi along the bottom of the stamped panel.
• The stamped panel was adhered at an angle to a piece of plaid paper.
• I tied a piece of twine around the stamped panel, above the sentiment.
• The completed panel was adhered to a dark green card base with foam tabs for added dimension.
• Brown and gold candy dots were placed around the pumpkin. 

To see what Celeste has created for this Pumpkins theme, take a look at her blog post  over at Crafting Junky . For my coffee this month, I'm drinking Sea Salt Caramel in a new reusable cup from Starbucks that changes color when you put in the hot coffee .. I didn't realize that when I bought it - it was an extra added bonus !!

I hope you are enjoying some sweater weather where you are and also some fun coffee . There are some delicious Autumn flavors at our local coffeeshops these days and I want to try them all !!! Take care,  Happy Fall  and we will see you next month !!

Debra Davison / Meticulosity

Coffee & Cards with Deb & Celeste / September 2022

As September begins, I am very much looking forward to cooler temperatures, pumpkin spice, colorful leaves and especially, Sweater Weather !! I'm so excited that we even made that our theme for this month !! Are you ready for Autumn weather to make its appearance ?? Celeste and I will help you get into the Autumn spirit with our creations..

I went in a slightly different direction with " Sweater Weather " ,,  I'm a big fan of the show "Schitt's Creek" and especially all of David's cool sweaters !! The 2 stamp sets I used are from Ink Road Stamps -Ew David & David's Sweaters .

• I used my MISTI  to stamp the 4 sweaters on a piece of Mixed-Media paper with Gina K Jet Black Amalgam Ink .
• 2 pieces of thin green-patterned washi from Paper House Productions was placed to make squares.
• The sweaters were colored with my COPICS..
• I adhered the finished panel to a burnt orange card base.
• The sentiment was stamped on a piece of ledger paper with a Paris Dusk Memento  Dew Drop.
• I adhered the sentiment to the card base with foam tabs.

Celeste will have her card over at her blog - Crafting Junky . I know she will do a fabulous job with this theme and can't wait to see it . I'm continuing with the Schitt's Creek theme and using a Rose Apothecary coffee cup . That was the name of the shop that was opened by David & Patrick on the show. Can you tell that I'm a fan ?!?!?!? And for my coffee I am drinking Cranberry Creme Brulee from the fabulous Bones Coffee . They have a new Nightmare Before Christmas collection that has some very unique flavors !!

Thanks for stopping by to see what Celeste and I are making AND drinking this month .. Maybe if we channel Sweater Weather, it will happen !! I really really want to have to wear a sweater ... Fingers crossed for cooler temps ...

Until next moth, Stay Creative 

Debra Davison 

Meticulosity.blogspot.com

Coffee & cards with Deb & Celeste / August 2022

As summer is coming to an end, Celeste and I are back with some new cards to inspire you !! And I have a new  ( to me ) coffee shop to tell you about !! For our theme this month, we went back to an old favorite ..  And the reason that Celeste and I started these blog posts - our love of COFFEE !! 

This month, I used a fabulous stamp  set from Unity Stamp Company - Take a Break . It's been a rough year for me and the sentiment I used reflects how I feel most days . Creating cards has been almost like therapy for me and my crafty friends are a Godsend. 

 

• I stamped the sentiment and coffee girl on white cardstock with Ranger Jet Black Archival Ink .
• The heart was stamped with a Lady Bug Memento Dew Drop ink pad .
• I colored the image with my COPICS .
• The completed panel was adhered to a turquoise card base.
• Icicle Stickles Glitter Glue was used on some of the coffee steam.
  

I'm sure that Celeste has created an amazing coffee-themed card . You can take a look over at her blog - Crafting Junky .  Are you a coffee drinker ?? Do you create coffee - or tea - cards ?? Leave a comment here on my blog telling me your drink of choice and I will choose someone to get a bit of coffee blog candy. 

For my drink this month, I tried a new-to-me local coffee shop - 17 Hands Coffee . They have a wide variety of flavors, but this time I chose a Toasted Marshmallow Latte. It was really delicious .. I paired it with a piece of Sausage / Potato quiche.  I will definitely be returning to this new favorite .. 

Thank you for visiting Meticulosity . Celeste and I appreciate your support !! 

Until next time -- September and hopefully Fall temperatures !!

Stay Creative !!

Debra Davison / Meticulosity

Crafty Elves' Countdown to Christmas / August 2022

Here we are - 1 month closer to the holidays !! And the Crafty Elves are back with their holiday inspiration for August .. Michael, Lisa and I are creating holiday cards each month and posting them on the 25th ..  We will all have a nice little stash to help with the holiday rush !!

My first card was made with a really beautiful collection from Pink Fresh Studios - Oh What Fun . And there was no stamping involved !! Sometimes a collection has all the right elements and a beautiful card can be created in no time at all !!

• I placed a piece of word background paper on a Kraft card base .
• A journal card from the collection was matted with plain red paper .
• I popped up the matted image with foam tabs onto the word background.

My next 4 cards ( yes, I even have an extra one this month )  are all from the same stamp set .. I got it on clearance several years ago and have never even inked it up until now ..  It is from  Stampers Anonymous - The Tim Holtz Collection - Doodle Greetings #1 . I used a variety of Echo Park Christmas paper for my backgrounds . And added some bling to each card - rhinestones or candy dots or glitter pens.

Confession about the last blue card ..  I colored the images then added the bling to each panel. Then I decided I wanted to die-cut a few of them. I thought it would probably crush the bling but tried anyway . And it did, but I think it created some cool crystals for the snowflakes !!  And for the Merry & Bright card, I just traced around the outer edge of the die, then cut it out with scissors to create the shape !! 

Please take a look at what Michael and Lisa have created, over at their blogs .

Lisa Reynolds Bzibziak- Life of a BZscrapper

Michael Trent - World of Michael Trent

Thank you for visiting Meticulosity once again.. Please leave a comment here on this post and I will choose someone to receive some blog candy..  We hope we are inspiring you to start on your holiday cards . I've even started addressing mine to stay even more ahead of the holiday stress !!

Until next time - Stay Creative ..

Debra Davison / Meticulosity

Crafty Elves' Countdown to Christmas / July 2022

There are 154 days until Christmas !! Can you believe we are over halfway there ?? It's been fun sharing our holiday cards with you all year . This month, Michael is taking a break so Lisa and I  are holding down the fort and posting our cards for your crafty inspiration !! He will be back with us next month .. 

First order of business is to announce the winner of some holiday blog candy for commenting on June's post .. Karen Ladd left a sweet comment and especially loved the kitty cards !! I will be contacting her .. Thank you to all who commented - I appreciate each and every one !!!

Our weather is brutal here in Virginia Beach , with temps close to 100 many days and my crafty energy seems to dwindle as the month comes to a close. So for my cards this month, I will only list the stamp /stamps that I use . If you have any other questions about supplies,  please feel free to ask .

Enerson Girl by Angie Blom from Unity Stamp Company

Cozy Wishes from Fun Stampers Journey

Fall Gal by Jeanie Hays from Unity Stamp Company

 Stamp from 2010 - Cuddle Season by Stampendous  

I'm actually happy with my cards this time -- I think that sometimes we can be very self-critical but this time, I am satisfied with the outcome .. I hope that you are inspired to create some holiday cards ahead of the rush too . Please take a look at Lisa's cards .. They are always masterpieces !!!

Lisa Reynolds Bzibziak - Life of a BZscrapper

There is a Christmas in July Linky Party sponsored by Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers . They have fabulous sponsors, amazing prizes and tons of holiday inspiration. I will be linking these cards up to join in on the fun !!  I hope that you will visit them and maybe even consider linking up a card of your own !!  #christmasinjuly2022byshclp

Thank you again for visiting Meticulosity and watching as we get ahead of the holiday happy mail rush each month.. I'm looking forward to having Michael back in August .. Until next time., stay creative !!

Debra Davison / Meticulosity