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