Christmas Pocket Letter Swap

I met a wonderful person through my involvement in the Coffee Lover Blog Hops. Lori Kobular and I would comment on each others' cards and then we started chatting.. Eventually a friendship was born. One day, I was telling her about Pocket Letters and we decided to swap them -- with a Christmas theme. I had done my first one through a great papercrafting company, Red Lead with a beachy theme.

If you don't know much ( or anything ) about Pocket Letters, you can check out this link to learn the basics. I am also in a group on Facebook - Pocket Letter Pals. Like Lori, I also had many ideas for my Pocket Letter but in the end, I just created 9 little pictures using an eclectic array of supplies.

Front of Pocket Letter

Multiple designer papers and rubber stamps

Tim Holtz Scallop edge dies

Vintage postcards by Cavallini

My Paper Studio stickers

Back of Pocket Letter

The back of the PL contains a letter to the recipient as well as goodies to create with.

I included rhinestones, Post-its, doilies, washi, die-cuts and twine..

I wrapped the washi around a piece of undeveloped x-ray film from my ICU days !!

Stamp by Graphic 45 for Hampton Arts

We R Memory Keepers Cork Stickers

Reindeer die-cut from Spellbinders

Deer from Unity Stamp Company

Snowman  from Unity Stamp Company

Folded and ready for the envelope

Wrapped with a doily & Baker's twine

I apologize for the glare on the pictures. In 2016, I hope to get better at photographing my projects. If you see a supply that is not linked, please ask and I will tell you where I obtained it if I can.. Pocket Letters are meant to be folded and mailed in a #10 envelope. I mailed mine in a larger Priority envelope because it was thicker and I wanted tracking.. 

To read about the Pocket Letter made for me by Lori ( and the long, strange trip it took to get to me ), check out her blog post HERE. Leave us both comments to tell us what you think. I will even pick someone to get a few goodies in the mail to make your own PL !! Here is a sneak peek of the one I received from Lori....

Thanks for visiting Meticulosity for my last 2015 post and for all of your support throughout this year. . I look forward to many more in 

2016..

.

G45 + MPC Challenge

We have another great challenge with the fabulous Graphic 45. What amazing products they have and the papers I used with my projects have to be some of my all-time favorites !! We were challenged to make projects using a die and a metal embellishment. I'll have to admit that I had a hard time choosing what supplies to use. So I chose the papers first and worked my way from there.

My card was made for my best friend, Sue. It uses G45 Christmas Rose paper which I think is one of the most beautiful designer papers that I have ever seen..The metal embellishment I used is actually from a box of Chesapeake Bay Frosted Vanilla Tealights. It was attached to the cord wrapped around the box !! This card is a combination Christmas/Friendship. I attached the snowflake with some fun scrapper's floss and added a red rhinestone.

Supplies : Graphic 45 "Christmas Rose" paper, 

Karen Foster Scrapper's Floss, 

Sentiment by Authentique stamp set by Hampton Art, 

background stamp by Uptown Design, 

Glitter paper by American Crafts

My second project is a Christmas wall plaque. I have had these Christmas tags by G45 for quite awhile and when this challenge came up, I knew I wanted to do something with them.. I combined them with some stamped images, a glittery flower and some Robin's Nest pebbles. The metal plaque  is from Hobby Lobby and I got it for 50% off -- a great score for only $2.00 !! I used a great die cut from Spellbinders that was the perfect size for the Christmas sentiment. I hope you like this project as much as I do. It will hang in my front hall with my other holiday goodies..

Supplies :  Spellbinders Lacy Sqares Die

G45 Christmas Past tags

G45 stamp set by Hampton Art

Prima 'Holiday Lights" flower

The Robin's Nest pebbles

I hope you like my projects and have also looked at the other blog posts of the Mountain Plains Crafters Design Team.. Comment on the MPC  blog HERE for a chance to win some crafty goodies... Also if you comment on my blog, I will choose 1 lucky winner to get some samples of my favorite G45 paper..

MPC Prize

 Thank you so much for visiting Meticulosity ... It is greatly appreciated !!
Happy Holidays to everyone !!

Vive la France

I wanted to do something to show my support for Paris, France and the French people as well as all of the victims of the 11/13/15 terrorist attacks.  This Hero Arts International Skyline stamp was the perfect one to use. I used Riding Hood Red ink by Stampin' Up, my Salty Ocean Distress marker and my favorite Neenah Stardust White paper. A hint of a gold mat completes the image. I have seen several other cards made in support of France.... The colors of France are showing up on many landmarks, buildings and bridges..

Vive la France...

Coloring Books are Good for Your Soul

The gals at Mountain Plains Crafters had a great time last week hopping along showcasing  Adornt's Art Play Paintables. This week we are highlighting their new line of coloring books.. With designs by Lindsay Ostrom, Carolee McMullin, Stephanie Ackerman, and She She Designs,  these are printed on heavy watercolor cardstock and have both large page-sized designs as well as some smaller Art Play sized options. There are 8 coloring books with a variety of themes- Christmas, Halloween, Live Simply and Critter Friends to name a few..

I decided to use my coloring book -- Live Simply by She She Designs -- to make some cards representing support for Cancer Awareness. I used 2 of the larger designs and cut them apart to make cards out of them. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and it always gets the most publicity. But I wanted to spotlight a few others that have touched my life. And show my support for all those whose lives have been impacted by cancer -- patients, family members, friends, supporters, caregivers.. I used  Tim Holtz Distress Markers and Stampin' Up Markers to color the designs. I colored directly onto the paper and also used the acrylic block technique & my water brush. I used my Wink of Stella Clear Glitter Brush for highlights. The sentiments are from the Unity Stamp Company kit "All Things Are Possible".

Endometrial Cancer Awareness Card using Peach

Yellow is on each card as the Cancer Survivor color
For Darlene

Thyroid Cancer Awareness Card using Pinks, Teals & Purples
For all those fighting the fight with me
We've Got This !!

Breast Cancer Awareness Card using Pinks
For Denise

All Cancers Awareness Card using Lavenders
For all those touched by cancer

I hope you enjoyed seeing what you can do with the coloring book pages. Please visit each blog to find the word clue then follow the directions on the Adornit blog for your chance to win one of their coloring books ... I've had such fun with these products and hope you have been inspired by all of us at Mountain Plains Crafters. Thanks for visiting Meticulosity. Head on over to my craftily fantastic friend Sheryl's blog for more inspiration from these amazing coloring books..

This post has been brought to you by the word :

"ARE"

Thanks so much to Adornit  for enabling our Coloring Book obsession !!

My Favorite Unity Kit Hop & Giveaway

I was thrilled beyond measure to be one of the Growing in Unity gals in August. Today some of the GIU gals from the past few months are having a Blog Hop using their Favorite Unity kit. Well, if you are a Unity Stamp Company addict like me, you will know that the hardest part about this Hop was choosing my FAVORITE kit... Two people who comment on our blogs have a chance at winning a Grab Bag of 25 Unity stamps. Please join us in highlighting our favorite Unity kits.

HOP LIST

1. Amber Sheaves
2. Debra Davison  you are here
3. Rachel Bogner
4. Berina Febin
5. Beth Fiscus
6. Lisa
7. Rebecca Wong
8. Laura Beth Buchi

I finally chose the kit from June 2014 -- In Love With Love..  I saw a card made with the 3 small jars and knew that I had to purchase that kit. The woman's silhouette on the other card is such a great image for any time of year. Choose a paper to reflect the seasons and paper-piece her dress.I hope you enjoy these cards from my favorite kit !!

Image from KOM June 2014

Watercolored with  Tim Holtz Distress Markers & Stampin' Up markers
Washi tape by My Mind's Eye



Image and Sentiment from KOM June 2014

Patterned paper from Jillibean Soup "Apple Cheddar Soup"
Echo Park Paper "Acorns & Leaves' washi

Thank you for visiting Meticulosity. I hope you were as inspired by this Kit of the Month as I was.. Please comment for your chance to win a Grab Bag of 25 Unity stamps.. I will also be having my own giveaway of an Itty Bitty for 1 lucky commenter ...

Art Playing with Adornit and MPC

Thank you so much for joining us for the Adornit & Mountain Plains Crafters Blog Hop !! It's amazing to be involved in another Blog Hop with such a fabulous company and have the opportunity to use their fantastic Art Play Paintables again.There are new designs that just beg to be colored, paper-pieced and used in your next project.

First, I made a card using some fabulous Recollections "Steampunk Botanica" background paper  on a kraft card base. From top to bottom, I sponged Wild Honey and Forest Moss Distress inks, then Stampin' Up Peachy Parfait ink onto an Art Play Paintable. I colored the images with Distress and Neon markers and paper-pieced the mountain and house onto the background. After matting it with both  black and bronze glitter papers, I finished it off with a bit of Stampin' Up lace ribbon. 

"If the Shoe Fits" Art Play Paintable by Michele Hamilton

The second project is an altered cookie/candy dish. Found at Michaels after Halloween last year for $1, I knew it would be fun to decorate it for this year's Trick-or-Treaters !! Using Distress markers, some blingy rhinestones and a few black pearls, I got it all ready for Halloween. A bit of Scotch brand Day of the Dead tape around the top of the dish was the perfect finishing touch. 

"Wicked" Art Play Paintable by Lindsay Waltman-Ostrom

"Wicked" Art Play Paintable by Lindsay Waltman-Ostrom

Alternate sides of candy/cookie dish

My last project is a Pocket Letter for my best friend in the whole wide world who is going through a health crisis with her 25 year old son. She lives in Maine and I am in Virginia. We met about 27 years ago working in the ICU and used to get together all the time to be crafty. I have been addicted to coloring lately and love how it reduces my stress levels,,, So this Pocket Letter is for her.. Some are colored, others are not. I left blank spaces for her and it will be sent to her with an array of markers, colored pencils and crayons !! The tag is an Art Play Paintable  from "Take Flight" by Carolee McMullin and the actual PL uses designs from  "Pray" , Creative Life" and "Create" by Stephanie Ackerman. I hope it relaxes her and allows her to de-stress a bit and think of me coloring  here as she is doing the same there..

Art Play Paintables by Stephanie Ackerman

 Art Play Paintable "Take Flight" by Carolee McMullin

This post has been brought to you by the word .

Collect all of the clues and follow the instructions on Adornit's post for a chance to win a great prize from Adornit. Comment on my blog post here for a chance to win some Art Play goodies from me! Your next stop on this blog hop is the fabulously artistic Paula. She is a creative genius and I cannot wait to see her coloring on this hop's projects. Head over to see her creations and get another word clue. Follow the links on Adornit's post ..

And thank you so much to Adornit for their amazing Art Play Paintables. It was so much fun making all of my projects and I cannot wait to send  the Pocket Letter to Sue... Now I think it's time to start on some Christmas designs !!

#fallclh Winner

What an amazing 2015 Fall Coffee Lovers Blog Hop !! Thank you to everyone who visited Meticulosity and commented on my 5 cards.. It is always so much fun for me to join in on this Hop and I was so happy to be able to help Amy Tsuruta ( our Coffee Queen )  when she needed an extra pair of hands.. Congrats to all of the Flash and Super Sponsor winners and also to all of the Superstar Commenters !! Here is a link to all of them.. I also offered some coffee goodies as Blog candy and out of my 178 comments, the winner chosen randomly was  #96, commenting on my Top 5 card ---

Hetty October 3, 2015 at 6:11 PM

Haha,love your top 5!! And that signature stamp is the greatest (have it too).

Of course, I couldn't just post the winner without making another card.... How simple is this one ?!?! A Starbucks coffee info card, the free Verve digis and a bit of background paper from a very old GCD Studios paper pad is all it took..  Plus a bit of a Clear Glitter Wink of Stella brush. And of course, a kraft card base... Don't you just love Kraft, especially this time of year ???

Again, congrats to Hetty !!!

Contact me with your snail mail info please...

Autumn Blessings

One last card for the Fall Coffee Lovers Blog Hop. 

You can download them for free for a limited time HERE from Verve Stamps. I absolutely LOVE these stamps and couldn't wait to make a card with them immediately after I got them today !! I didn't even take a "professional"picture of my finished project-- just grabbed the phone and snapped as soon as it was finished.

Supplies:

Latte Love Digital Freebie from Verve

Maya Road Bakers Twine

Inked Rose journaling card / We R Memory Keepers

Simple Storie "Good Day Sunshine" background paper

Ranger Tim Holtz Distress markers

Download the free images today. They really are the cutest. And please comment on my blog post for a chance to win some Coffee goodies from me... I've had such fun again with this Hop and already can't wait until the next one...

Thanks again to Amy Tsuruta for another fabulous Hop. There are 540 links already ... I think that's a record !!  And thank you again for visiting Meticulosity ..

Enjoy !!

I am having fun lately with Journaling cards. I make alot of quick cards when an occasion comes up and there isn't always time for stamping,coloring etc... But you can still come up with a quick card that doesn't look quick at all. This time I used a 4x6 journal card from the Inked Rose collection by We R Memory Keepers and mounted it on a gold glitter card base. I stenciled the tea cup in Summer Sun ink and then outlined it with Taken With Teal ink -- both by Stampin' Up. The stencil is the Mini Cafe Latte by The Crafters Workshop. I punched out the teacup, placed a few sequins around the cup and offset mounted it on the Right side of the card. It is an oversized card but I will use my We R Memory Keepers Envelope Punch Board to create the perfect one !!

As usual, I am having a blast with this Fall Coffee Lovers Blog Hop... Check out all of the linked projects HERE. Thank you again for visiting Meticulosity. The Hop runs through Friday, October 2. I will choose a winner from those commenting on my blogs related to the Fall Hop. The prize will be a package of coffee goodies..

I'm Falling for Cocoa

Can't forget about all of the cocoa lovers out there.. As soon as I saw this stamp, I envisioned coloring it with the oranges of Fall.. It is from Unity Stamp Company and is included in the September Kit of the Month.. The sentiment is also a Unity Stamp --from  Delight in the Little Things. Of course, the cup was colored with my Distress Markers. I used my glitter stash to make the whipped cream sparkle.. The background paper is by DCWV and is an older Fall & Halloween Combo Matstack.

There are already over 425 projects linked up to the Fall Coffee Lovers Blog Hop. Be sure to comment on my blog posts for a chance to in some coffee goodies from me. You also have a chance to win prizes by linking up your Fall themed project by the deadline.. All rules are on the Blog Hop page.

 Thank you again for visiting Meticulosity !!

Top 5 List

Have you ever sat down to make a card and what you end up with is not anything like your original thought ?? Well, that is this card !! I had die cuts in mind and an image I had already colored but instead, I pulled out some journaling cards bought at Tuesday Morning yesterday for $1.99.. I don't presently journal or do Project Life but still seem to have an addiction to journal cards.. They are perfect for quick cards and also for making sets of cards with a particular theme. When I saw the Top 5 List card, I immediately began thinking of  MY Top 5 coffee list. Then I  pulled out a small alphabet set and the rest is history !! I had such fun stamping all of those words and was pretty darn proud of myself at how they turned out !!

Supplies :   Card base is one of 100's that I have but can't remember which company -- I chose one with pretty Fall-like flowers on it; letters for Coffee words are from a Mini wooden stamp set by Hampton Art; Wooden coffee cup is by Prima Marketing Inc.; Top 5 List & Heart journal cards are from the Indian Summer line by We R Memory Keepers .

The stamp for the back of this card is one of my new favorites !! 

Also by I Brake For Stamps.

I hope that you like my second card entry for the Fall Coffee Lovers Blog Hop. Thank you for visiting Meticulosity. Please leave a comment for a chance to win some coffee goodies from me. And remember that to be eligible for any of the Flash Prizes from the Blog Hop sponsors, you have to link a Fall-themed project by the deadline of 5 pm Pacific Time on Tuesday, Sept. 29-- which is National Coffee Day !! Be sure to check out all the the amazing linked projects ( now numbering 273 ) HERE. You can also be eligible for a prize if you are one of the Superstars who comment on each and every entry. I have never been one of them but I do read each and every blog post. 

Fall ( ing ) into Coffee

Well, it's finally that time of year ..The weather gets cooler, we get out our sweaters, leaves begin to fall .... But wait, NO, not that !! I mean it's time for the Fall Coffee Lovers Blog Hop !! I had so much fun last year and then again this year starting with the Spring Hop. So now along with the anticipation of the first Pumpkin Spice Lattes of the season, we also are thrilled it is Blog Hop time again !! I've been a bit preoccupied with some health issues but was glad to take my mind off of that with some fun cards.. Not sure how many I will post this time--probably not one a day, like I have in the past. But I will again offer some coffee goodies to someone who comments on my blog posts relating to this hop, so please comment away !!

I chose the Julia stamp as my main image because it shows both my love of coffee AND books. It was so much fun to color using my Distress markers. I also wanted to use some of my new Autumn washi ( I have a slight addiction to washi, if you didn't already know that ).. I chose autumn colored markers for the image after stamping it with Tsukineko Rich Cocoa ink. The card base has golden highlights which remind me of fall, especially the golden leaves at this time of year. I have been in love with the Santoro Gorguss girl stamps and was thrilled to find that cute little leaf in the "Little Red" stamp set..It was perfect for this card.

Supplies : Julia by I Brake For Stamps; Leaves from the Santoro "Little Red" stamp set;

Ranger Distress Markers; Sequin Stickers by We R Memory Keepers; Acorns & Leaves washi by Echo Park Paper Co.;  card base is from Golden boxed cards by American Crafts and the stamped image was matted on an Inked Rose journaling card by We R Memory Keepers

A big shout out again to Amy Tsuruta and Chaitali Narla and Kimberly Wiener for all of their hard work on this Blog Hop. There are over 1000 members on the Coffee Loving Papercrafters Facebook page .I cannot wait to see how many cards are entered this time around. The Summer Hop had over 500 projects entered !! There will be many fabulous sponsors -- 42 to be exact --  and the chance to win prizes.. I hope you like my first card . Please leave a comment here for a chance to win some coffee goodies from me. Tell me your favorite coffee or beverage to have on hand when getting creative. I like to have a yummy flavored coffee while creating -- Caramel or Vanilla Cream Puff are my latest faves !!

Thank you for visiting Meticulosity.. Enjoy these amazing fall days and view them as inspirations to be creative !!