Crafty Elves' Countdown to Christmas / August 2024

It's hard to believe that September is almost here and hopefully some Autumn weather with it !! I promise not to complain about cold weather after the extremely hot summer we've had. Last year right after Christmas, our HVAC system decided that 20 years of work was enough and broke down. It was time for a new one and as hard as it was to spend so much money on it, the house hasn't felt so comfortable in years. The kitchen hadn't cooled down or warmed up in a long time but new duct work took care of that also .. Sooooo, I am looking forward to cooler temps, sweater weather, falling leaves and a nice,cozy house !! Remind me of that when we have our first snowfall. 

Lisa and I are back this month with our Crafty Elf creations to inspire you and help you get ready to send your holiday cards !! I used a retired stamp from Penny Black Inc.  - Paris Packages. I also colored the stamped image with my new OLO markers .

• I stamped the Eiffel Tower image on white cardstock with Tuxedo Black Memento ink .
• The stamped image was die cut with a Big and Little Chain Rectangle die from Gina Marie Designs .
• The stamped image waa colored with my new OLO markers. I was so excited to use them that I forgot to write down which colors I used.But I will next time.
• I adhered a piece of Paris Junk Journal digital paper  - from Trendy Travel Digital on Etsy - to a Sky Blue 5x7 card base.
• The stamped panel was matted on a piece of teal cardstock and adhered to the card base with foam tabs.
• A Merry Christmas wood-mounted stamp from My Sentiments Exactly was used  for the sentiment. I stamped it with Rose IO ink on white cardstock, then trimmed it.
• I adhered the sentiment to the left of the Eiffel Tower with foam tabs.

I also colored it in a more traditional color scheme.for another card.

Please take a look at Lisa's August inspiration over at her blog - Life of a BZscrapper . She continuously creates fabulous cards each and every month .. I appreciate you stopping by to visit the Crafty Elves. We will be back  in September with more holiday creations!!

Debra Davison / Meticulosity

It's Okay Not To Be Okay

I've learned over the years that it's okay not to be okay. When something tragic happens, we need to acknowledge it and understand that we are allowed to be sad .. Grief is not a problem to be solved - we learn to navigate through it. I certainly learned that when my son was killed in a car accident in 2023 by an impaired driver. We had a close but complicated relationship and all of a sudden he was gone. No more time to wonder what the future would bring . I had guilt over the should haves and could haves. And I definitely wasn't okay. But with the help of an amazing grief counselor, a support group, family and friends, I am learning that when I'm not okay, I have people to turn to .. This card is for a dear friend who is going through her own grief . I can't fix it for her but I can be there for her when she needs a friend. We've spent an afternoon playing with paper and many times just meeting up for a quick coffee . It's okay to not be okay but you don't have to do it alone . 

• I stamped the sentiment from Technique Junkies with Nautical Blue Memento ink on a piece of nautical patterned paper .
• The stamped panel was adhered to a Kraft card base.

Thank you for stopping by to see my card using the It's Okay stamp from the latest Technique Junkies release. Reach out to someone you know who is having a hard time. You don't have to fix it for them - you just need to be there.

Debra Davison / Meticulosity

Coffee & Cards with Deb & Celeste / August 2024

It's time for my August collaboration with Celeste .. Each month we choose a theme and make a card .. We also talk about our latest coffee favorite - and often share a new cup !!  This time our theme is TWINE.  I have several rolls of Baker's Twine that I've been using for years . All I had to do was come up with a card idea !!

I am not a big Taylor Swift fan but do love one of her songs and especially 1 line in that song . I saw it in a stamp set by Erin Lee Creative - Me and Karma - and just had to have it !! Then I just had to find the perfect image for it . I think that I hit the jackpot with a set of stamps by Technique Junkie - Vamps and Vixens . This set is retired but there are many fun images that could be used with this sentiment.

• I stamped the Woman image on white cardstock with Tuxedo Black Memento ink .
• Below the woman I stamped the sentiment with Cranberry Fizz ink from Catherine Pooler .
• I wrapped a piece of Pink Lemonade twine around the stamped panel .
• The stamped panel was trimmed and mounted on a piece of turquoise cardstock.
• I adhered the completed panel to a multi-color plaid card base .

I'm looking forward to seeing what Celeste comes up with for this twine theme. Check out her blog - Crafting Junky  - for her card .  I was lucky enough to get a new coffee cup for my birthday from a dear friend . And I absolutely love it - my friend Donna knows me well !! I am drinking IHOP Buttery Syrup coffee as I write this post and admire my new cup . We are finally cooling down here a bit and by that I mean we are only in the high 80's, instead of the high 90's . I am very much looking forward to Fall weather - sweaters, pumpkin spice lattes and autumn colors .. 

Thank you for visiting Meticulosity again !! Celeste and I will be back to help you with some Autumn inspiration next month. Until then, Stay Creative !!

Debra Davison / Meticulosity