Crafty Elves' Countdown to Christmas - February 2020

February has basically kicked my butt !! Despite getting a flu shot, I came down with a whopping case of Influenza A AND a nasty bronchitis. Right before Valentines Day, I thought I was getting over a bit of a cold. Couldn't have been more wrong !! But I think the worst is behind me and I'm excited to be here to show you my cards for February. Remember that Michael and Jessica are joining along with me and Lisa as we create a Christmas card each week all throughout 2020. 

For my first card, I chose the Forest Friends Snow Globe stamp from Impression Obsession., designed by  Alesa Baker.

• I started by stamping the image twice - once on a blue background and again on a light brown paper, making sure I captured the complete base of the globe. Versafine Clair Nocturne ink was used. 
• I fussy-cut the globe and base and adhered them onto a metallic border card.
• The image was colored with a variety of my favorite markers - Tombows and Faber-Castells.
• I added glitter to the pink tree.
• A sentiment from Crate Paper was adhered to the top of the card.   

The next stamp I chose to use is Nordic Town, designed by my talented friend Lindsay Ostrom, also   for Impression Obsession .

• I stamped the image on watercolor paper with Versafine Clair Nocturne ink and cut the panel to fit on the front of a dark brown card base.
• The image was colored with my favorite markers.
• A strip of red glitter washi was placed along the bottom of the row of houses.
• Two strips of narrow gold-marbled washi were placed across the top of the panel, leaving a small space between the 2.
• A My Mind's Eye ephemera sentiment was popped up with foam tabs below the gold strips of washi.

This next stamp is going to be used every holiday from here forward !! From Fun Stampers Journey - Sparkly Christmas - is just too much fun and oh so true ..  Just a simple image but after adding a few sequins, I was sure I had a new Christmas classic !!

• The image was stamped on a scrap piece of pale blue paper with  Memento Dew Drops - Cottage Ivy and cut to fit my card base.
• I cut 2 coordinating scrap pieces of Christmas-patterned paper to mat the stamped image. The red dotted paper is glittered.
• I adhered the papers at an angle. The red to the green, then the stamped base to the red. I am OCD about straight lines and often mount images at an angle to give myself a break !!
• The completed matted image was adhered to a white card base.
• Numerous sequins in a variety of holiday colors and sizes were attached to the sentiment.

For my last project, I pulled out a stamped base that I made several years ago when I was stamping with a group of friends. I remember liking the background so much that I made several to use at a later date. And when I was destashing a few weeks ago, I found them again !!

• I stamped the paint stroke in 3 colors on a peachy-pink card base in 3 colors. It looks like I used 2 coordinating greens and a reddish ink . This is from an older Stampin' Up set - Work of Art .
• At the bottom right, I stamped the sentiment - from a Crate Paper stamp set I found at Tuesday Morning -  with a Memento Dew Drops - Cottage Ivy ink. 
• In the center of the paint strokes, I mounted a Crate Paper snow-globe shaker sticker. It is filled with snow and has to be one of the the prettiest stickers EVER made !!!

I'm thrilled that Michael has joined me on my crazy journey as I make a Christmas card each week throughout 2020. Head over to his blog at World of Michael Trent for some more inspiration  I'm also sure that Lisa at Life of a BZscrapper and her crafty partner, Jessica from Polka Dot Orchard were just full of great ideas for our second Crafty Elves post of the year !!

Have you started your holiday cards yet ?? Do you plan to stay ahead of the holiday rush and get your cards,  envelope-addressing and inside the card stamping done throughout the year along with us ?? We would love to hear your ideas for staying organized this holiday season. 

Thank you for visiting Meticulosity.

Until next time, Stay Creative.

Debra Davison / Meticulosity

Coffee & Cards with Deb & Celeste / February 2020

February is here and so are Celeste and I with another collaboration  !! It's been a bit cooler here in Virginia Beach  ( along with some 70 degree days  ), so what better time to start thinking about pretty Flowers that hopefully soon will be blooming .. Our theme is Floral !!

My wonderfully talented friend, Lindsay Ostrom creates stamps for Impression Obsession and I was lucky enough to get this one at her latest recent "unboxing" on Facebook. Coffee Blooms seemed to be the perfect stamp for this post and actually inspired it !! I hope that you will check out all of her stamps from Impression Obsession  here at their website.

• I stamped the Coffee Blooms image in the bottom right corner of a piece of watercolor paper with Versafine Clair Nocturne ink.
• The images were colored with a variety of my favorite markers and watercolors. 
• I had bought a clearance tube of washi tape at Michaels recently with a coffee/floral theme. How perfect !! I added several strips of the coordinating washi at a diagonal across the watercolor paper base, above the stamped image. 
• The card fronts were adhered to several different card bases . 

Thank you for visiting my creative corner of the world for out latest collab !! Take a peek at Celeste's project over at her blog -  Crafting Junky. . Please leave us a comment and let us know what you think  of our February cards. We also would love it if you would follow our blogs ..

In spite of having gotten a flu shot, I still got a nasty case of Influenza A along with bronchitis. Because of that, I have been drinking lots of hot tea lately . But for my post today, I made a cup of Vanilla Biscotti coffee in a favorite bright RED Starbucks cup !!

SO glad that you have visited Meticulosity  again.

Until next time, Stay Creative !!

Debra Davison 

February Cookies / 2020 - 2

Another challenge is here over at the If You Give a Crafter a Cookie Challenge Blog and this one  - # 136 - is all about Celebrations !! Get inspired by our cookie photo this time and link up a project of your own before March 5. I am currently at home with the flu and a nasty bronchitis so this post will be short and sweet.. 

For my card I used stamps from Anthony's Paper Craft. I am a member of their Design Team also and these are 2 of my favorite stamp sets. Village Set 3 was used for the diner image and Sentiments by DeZinesbyEM  provided the sentiment and cake slice.

• I had a fabulous Retro paper pad by American Crafts - Sparkle City Project Pad  - that included papers and stickers. The diner was stamped with Versafine Clair Nocturne Ink on a piece of cloud-patterned paper, leaving the cool dotted border at the top.
• The sentiment was stamped above the diner with a Bahama Blue Memento Dew Drop ink .
• I placed a fun retro arrow sign at the top of the dotted border, pointing down to the diner. 
• The cake slice was an afterthought when the card was completed but I think it was the perfect touch !!
• Images were colored with my favorite markers - a variety of Tombows, Faber-Castells & Staedtlers. 
• I mounted the completed stamped image onto a multi-colored blue card base.

Thank you for stopping by to see my latest post !! Please take a look at all of the other team member's projects over at the main BLOG. We would love for you to link up something of your own too !! The Challenges run for 2 weeks.

This diner stamp reminded me of the Beacon Diner in Hometown, PA. I spent many hours here with my family as a child !! This post brings back some wonderful memories..

Until next time - Stay Creative !!

Debra Davison / Meticulosity

February Cookies / 2020 - 1

I wasn't sure what I wanted to make when I saw the latest batch of cookies in the inspiration photo for  challenge #135 at If You Give a Crafter a Cookie !! A baby card, a Valentine ?? Something red, something with hearts or animals ?? I hope that you will get inspired yourself and link a project up of your own before February 20. 

I found this embossing folder/stamp set at Michaels last year on clearance for $1.00 !! It was the perfect time to use it for this card ..

• I embossed a piece of black cardstock with  a red inner core, using the pawprint embossing folder. 
• Using my sanding square, I sanded off the top layer of black to show some of the red color underneath .
• The embossed panel was adhered to a Kraft card base.
• The cat was stamped on a piece of watercolor paper with Versafine Clair Nocturne ink and then fussy-cut.
• I adhered a Starbucks giftcard in the lower right corner.
• The cat's Valentine was colored with a red Sharpie marker and then the cat was popped up next to the giftcard with foam tabs.  

This card includes 3 of my favorite things - the color RED, coffee and cats !! I know I will be making many more of these in the future !!  I hope that you love it as much as I do ..  Take a look at the other Design Team member's creations over at the main BLOG page. And link up a project of your own !!

Until next time, Stay Creative.

And thank-you for visiting Meticulosity .

 Debra Davison

Turner Syndrome Awareness Blog Hop

It's a Girl Thing - Turner Syndrome Awareness Blog Hop

I am so thrilled to be included in this Blog Hop to raise Awareness for Turner Syndrome.  This is a chromosomal disorder affecting only females and is due to a complete or partial absence of the 2nd sex chromosome. It only occurs in 1/2000 live female births. Short stature, social & learning difficulties and heart defects are some of the  symptoms of Turner Syndrome. You can learn more at the Turner Syndrome Society website.  I will admit that I had never even heard of Turner Syndrome until my friend Lori Kobular - who has a daughter with it - mentioned it on her Facebook page.  She is determined to increase awareness about Turner Syndrome and also the need for more research on the lifelong medical issues that impact those with this Syndrome and their families. 

This is the 2nd "It's a Girl Thing" Blog Hop  and this year, we have 57 blogs linked up !! 36 sponsors and 9 Design Team members ( including me ) are offering prizes to commenters . For details on how you might win one of these amazing prizes, please go to Lori's Home Page . Prize winners will be announced on Feb. 15, 2020. This Blog Hop will take place from Feb. 1 through Feb. 7, 2020. Thank you so much for stopping by to learn about Turner Syndrome. 

Turner Syndrome Awareness Official Color Board

For my card, I chose to use the colors of Turner Syndrome Awareness along with the word HOPE. The definition of HOPE is : to desire with expectation of obtainment or fulfilment . We all hope that with this Blog Hop  we will bring awareness about Turner Syndrome to the public and also emphasize the need for further research . 

• I embossed a piece of pale pink cardstock with the Darice Support Ribbon embossing folder and cut it to fit on a white A2 card base.
• I die-cut  HOPE in dark pink cardstock and the word shadow in green to highlight HOPE, using the Tonic Studios Hope metal craft dies .
• I die-cut Ellie Loves Lattes from Your Next Stamp and colored her with my favorite markers  ( Faber-Castells, Tombows & Akashiya ) in the Turner Syndrome colors.
• I adhered the pink HOPE on top of the green shadow with Art Glitter Glue .
• The completed HOPE was adhered slightly above the center of the embossed ribbon.
• I popped up  Ellie in the lower right corner with foam tabs. I think she looks so cute in her plaid skirt.

I am honored to be a part of this Blog Hop with so many wonderful sponsors and designers ! We have all joined together with Lori to shine a spotlight on Turner Syndrome. And I thank you for visiting Meticulosity  to increase your awareness . Please leave a comment here and tell me something that you learned about Turner Syndrome. And stop by " It's a Girl Thing " Turner Syndrome Awareness Blog Hop 2020 to find out more and also to become eligible for prizes !! You will also find links there to all of the other blog posts.

Until next time, Stay Creative !!

Debra Davison / Meticulosity