A Creative Bibliophile - June 2021

This month I have a book review, a bookmark, a new Book Club to tell you about AND a bit of Happy Mail to show you !! I hope that you have been reading some good books lately .. I chose a random commenter to send a bookmark to from previous posts, so Julie Blackburn will be getting something in the mail soon.. 

I recently purchased some digi stamps  from Angie Blom Digital Designs with a gift card that I had won in a Blog Hop . One of the stamp sets was just what I needed for this post - A Warm Hug . I can't think of anything more perfect than being snuggled up in a blanket with a cup of coffee and a good book .. The DCWV Humble Abode paper pad was used to paper-piece the blanket, to mat the stamped image and also on the back of the bookmark .

My book this month is another "domestic thriller" and also a newly published quick read .     The Serial Killer's Wife by Alice Hunter . I really couldn't put this one down and it surprised me until the very end. Beth and Tom Hardcstle are the perfect couple - or are they ??  Tom is wanted for questioning about a former girlfriend's disappearance and this sets into motion a twisted story about how well we really know those we love and what we would do to protect them and ourselves . The characters drew me in and I stayed interested in the developing storylines, which included nosy neighbors, a widower and involved police officers. I'm hesitant to say more so I don't give things away - I hope you will pick this one up and try it. 

Last week I went to a meet-up of the Silent Book Club, sponsored by a local bookstore Read Books .This independent bookstore is located at our local Museum of Contemporary Art . Everyone brings their own books that they are reading,  we introduce ourselves and tell about our books . Then we find a cozy spot, read for an hour and head home. Of course, we had to look around the wonderful Read Books before we left . Its owner, Kristin couldn't have been  more friendly and welcoming. When COVID first hit our area, I had ordered a book from Read Books and things were starting to close down along with a crazy hospital schedule for me. They actually drove to my house and delivered the book to me, which I thought was so nice and I will never forget their kindness !! The Silent Book Club will meet om Tuesday mornings through the summer . It is "the book club for introverts" and I am their newest fan !!

The Atrium at MOCA

Read Books

You can also read in the Chihuly room

Last but not least, I have to show you a card sent to me by my friend, Crystal O, Minkler.. It's no secret that I love books and she was sweet enough to send me this card that she made recently !!  I love it .. 

I'm reading a few more books now so will have fun picking one to review next month . I'm already thinking of bookmark designs too .. It's good to plan ahead. I hope you liked hearing about my new book club that I attended. Do you meet up with any groups ?? I'd love to hear about them if you do .. 

Until next time, stay safe and read a good book !!

Coffee & Cards with Deb & Celeste / June 2021

Since June is the month of Father's Day, we decided to do a card with a masculine theme .Usually when I think of masculine cards, I envision either nautical or cars !! So I really wanted something different than those 2 ideas. I remembered that I had bought a Tim Holtz Light Bulb stamp on clearance and decided to use that for a card . I also got out my long-hoarded Graphic 45 Typography paper pad. This 12x12 pad is amazing and I had never even used 1 sheet, even though I've had it for years !! I hope you like the card as much as I do ..

 

• I stamped the Hampton Art Inc. Dirt background onto a piece of Mixed Media paper with Ranger Wendy Vecchi Sunflower Archival Ink .
• The lightbulb was stamped over the Dirt background with Gina K Jet Black Amalgam ink.
• On a piece of the Typography text paper, I adhered a piece of numbers paper on the left side .
• I then adhered the lightbulb panel over the numbers paper, towards the right side of the text panel.
• Using my Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher , I attached several Tim Holtz Idea-ology Snippets  - using 2 staples in an  X pattern for each.
• The completed panel was adhered to a card base made from Strathmore Toned Tan Mixed Media paper .

I was pretty pleased with this card - project time from idea to the card being finished was about 30 minutes !! Don't you just love it when a project comes together like that ?!?!?! I'm looking forward to seeing what Celeste came up with - you can see her card here at her blog - Crafting Junky . For my coffee today, I am drinking Starbucks Blonde Coffee with Oatmeal Creme Pie Creamer .It really is delicious. And I'm drinking it from an insulated travel cup that I won during Nurses' Week at my hospital !! It's made by S'ip By S'well , it's Rose Gold and I absolutely love it !!

I'm glad you stopped by to see our June creations. Do you like creating cards with a masculine theme ?? I hope we have inspired you !! 

Take care and until next time, Stay Creative ..

 Debra Davison 

Meticulosity

 

Crafty Elves' Countdown to Christmas / June 2021

Can you believe that it is June already ?!?! We are halfway through the year  - and what a year it's been  I hope that all of you have been safe and healthy . As Michael, Lisa and I show you our holiday cards for June, we also have a guest again to show you hers !! Have you been working on your cards along with us ?? I know I'll be so happy when December rolls around and my cards are ready to be signed and sent.  I have been addressing envelopes each month too, which is also a big help when the season rolls around ..

My first card is made with a Lil' inker Designs stamp set. This company is no longer in business, but I just had to ink this stamp set up for this  post !!  I know I have had it for a few years so it was about time to get creative with it ...

• I stamped the image with Gina K Jet Black Amalgam ink on Mixed Media paper and also on a piece of pastel shaded paper .
• I fussy-cut the bird and the banner from the shaded paper.
• The Mixed Media stamped image was colored with my COPIC markers. 
• The shaded bird's body and banner were adhered on top of the stamped panel image.
• The panel was trimmed and then adhered to a piece of red glitter cardstock.
• The red glitter panel was then adhered to a piece of red/black plaid patterned paper.
• The completed panel was adhered to a cream card base.

This next card uses one of my favorite Angie girl images by Unity Stamp Company - Pure and Simple . It was inspired by the latest sketch challenge over at the Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers Group on Facebook . My friend, Crystal Minkler is an Admin of that group and she is also our special guest this month . Her group has a new Sketch Challenge each month and encourages us to get an early start on our holiday cards .

• The Pure and Simple image was stamped on watercolor paper, punched out with a 2.5 inch circle punch and then colored with my  COPICS.
• I placed a strip of my favorite Tim Holtz Noel washi tape  across a piece of plaid patterned paper - just a bit above the center of the paper. This paper already had that splatter pattern that is so cool !!!
• On a black card base, I adhered the plaid paper..
• I adhered the stamped image to the right side over the washi tape.
• A sentiment cut from a paper pad was popped up to the left of the stamped circle.

I absolutely love this Santa's List stamp set from Essentials by Ellen . I purchased it at a recent sale that they had and was excited to use it for one of my cards !The finished product was nothing like what I had imagined creating, but I'm overall happy with the card ..

• I stamped the Santa, tree, and sled with bag on Mixed Media paper with Gina K Jet Black Amalgam Ink . I cut the paper to fit an A2 card and created a scene with the stamped elements .
• The tree was also stamped on a piece of green patterned paper and fussy-cut .
• The bag was also stamped on Kraft and fussy-cut .
• The list was stamped on a scrap of Mixed Media paper and fussy-cut.
• Tim Holtz Christmas/Noel washi was placed at the bottom of the stamped panel and also under the tree and Santa. 
• The stars were stamped with Memento Dew Drop Dandelion and the sentiment with Memento Dew Drop LadyBug.
• I fussy-cut the list and popped it up with foam tabs near Santa's hand.
• The glittery red border at the top was creates with a Martha Stewart punch.
• I placed a strip of Tim Holtz washi across the top of the border .
• The completed stamped panel was adhered to  a piece of the same paper that I had used to fussy-cut the tree.
• A cream card base was used for this card.

My final card was made with an older stamp/die set from Erin Lee Creative . It is.  n longer available but they have many more fabulous products to choose from .

• The Vintage Postcard panel was cut from a piece of 12x12 paper in a CraftSmith Classic Vintage Paper Pad. 
• I adhered the postcard panel to a tan card base.
• The girl and snowman were stamped in Gina K Amalgam Jet Black ink  on Mixed Media paper and then die-cut.
• I colored the images with my COPICS.
• The images were adhered to the postcard panel - the girl was popped up with foam tabs.
• A Tim Holtz sentiment completed the card .

We are lucky to have the very talented Crystal Minkler joining us this month. Her cards are always fabulous and I have no doubt that this one will be just as amazing. You can check out her card and also Michael and Lisa's at their links below :

Crystal Minkler - Tawny Owl Paperie

Michael Trent - World of Michael Trent

Lisa Bzibziak Reynolds - Life of a BZScrapper

As always , we hope that we have inspired you to begin your holiday cards and decrease some of the stress that the season can hold. There are 5 months left so you still have time to join in on the fun and get yours started !! We will be back next month for our Christmas in July posts and we just might have an extra special guest elf . Until then, please take care, stay happy and healthy and also stay creative !!

Debra Davison 

Meticulosity.blogspot