Crafty Elves' Countdown to Christmas / April 2025

We are 4 months into 2025 and it's time for the Crafty Elves to show off their holiday cards once again . Michael, Lisa and I post our cards each month on the 25th to inspire you to start on your holiday cards too and beat the rush .  I also start to address my envelopes , which puts me even that much more ahead of the game !!

For my card this month, I used a fantastic stamp set with matching dies from Picket Fence Studios - A Cup of Christmas Cheer . They were having a great sale that I couldn't resist . 

• I stamped the coffee cup gingerbread man and holly leaf on white cardstock with Memento Tuxedo Black ink .
• The images were cut out with the matching dies.
• I colored the images with my OLO markers .
• I used a "vintage" piece of double-sided scrap paper from Stampin' Up on my Kraft card base and also to mat the Christmas Cheer image. I love the 2 patterns on this piece of paper !!
• I adhered the Cup image to the green snowflake panel with Stampin' Up foam dimensionals .
• The snowman and holly images were also adhered with foam dimensionals.
• I placed some clear glitter on the windowsill and at the end of the pathway.

I'm excited to see what Michael and Lisa made for April . Here are links to their blog posts.

Michael Trent - World of Michael Trent

Lisa Reynolds-Bzibziak - Life of a BZscrapper

Thanks again for stopping by as we share our holiday inspiration . Have you started on your holiday cards yet ?? I'm always so glad that the three of us have continued to do this. It's so nice to have a stash of cards ready to send, most of them already addressed . Take some time to be creative and pull out some of your holiday stamp sets . You'll be happy you did !!

Debra Davison / Meticulosity

Coffee & Cards with Deb & Celeste / April 2025

Spring is in the air as we are nearly at the end of April . We've had some crazy weather  - a freeze one morning last week and 85 degrees today !! The pollen is crazy and I'm looking forward to that going away .. For our theme this month, we chose embossing folders. If you're like me, you have a stash of embossing folders that you have never used !! So we decided to create a card with one.

My card took a completely different turn than the one I was planning to make .  I was going to use a coffee cup folder but decided at the last minute to switch to tea !! I have had this Darice Tea Pot folder for many years - it was still in the package. I also used a Hero Arts Tea Kettle Die that I recently got on clearance.  

• I used a 12x12 Pastel Cardstock Recollections paper pad  for this card.
• The embossing folder design was made with pastel blue cardstock.
• The tea kettle, lid and cup were die cut with yellow and pink cardstock.
• I used a scrap of gray cardstock for the handle .
• I adhered the teapot panel to a green card base .
• The teapot pieces were adhered to the embossed panel .
• I popped up the cup with a foam tab.
• Stickers by  Paige Evans - applied to kettle, cup and also banners .
• I stapled a Tim Holtz Ticket on the upper right side of the embossed panel. 

This card was so much fun to work on . And since I loved the finished product so much, I made another one. They will be sent to people in my Coffee Card Swap group.Have I inspired you to get out an embossing folder and create a card ?? I sure hope so ..

Say Hello To a New Day 

Take a look at Celeste's card over at her blog - Crafting Junky .I'm excited to see what she makes ! While I was making my cards, I was drinking a nice cup of Kona Coffee with some Sweet Cream creamer. My cup is one I've had for many years and it reminds me of all the beautiful flowers that are coming up in Brian's garden ..

Thanks so much for hanging out with me and Celeste for another month of Coffee & Cards.  We look forward to seeing you again next month. Until the, Stay Creative !!

Debra Davison 

Meticulosity

 

Crafty Elves' Countdown to Christmas / March 2025

Once again the Crafty Elves are here with some holiday inspiration !! Each month on the 25th, Michael,Lisa and I post holiday cards to get you in the mood for some card-making of your own.  You can get ahead of the holiday rush by having a stash of cards all ready to mail .

I have been doing a whole lot of cleaning, destashing and donating lately and came across many amazing Tim Holtz goodies that I even forgot I had !!  This card is an expression of my love for all things Christmas and especially my love for all things created by Tim Holtz.

 

• On a white card base, I adhered a piece of red/white checkered paper.
• I used Tim Holtz idea-ology supplies on the card front -  a Christmas Noel Paper Doll was popped up on a Pocket Card, using foam tabs.  
• The Pocket Card was adhered to the card front.
• Sizzix Tim Holtz Thinlit dies - Christmas Cookies were used to make the heart, star and candy cane. They were adhered to the upper right corner of the pocket card .
• I placed a red candy heart on the die-cut heart.
• A Tim Holtz Label sticker was adhered in the bottom corner of the card.

Going through my craft supplies to destash and donate is like going shopping . I find so many great things I can't even remember buying !! I even got my desk cleaned off enough to be able to create there. I still have much more to do but it's a start .. There are links below for you to check out what Michael and Lisa have made. I hope you will take a look .

Michael - World of Michael Trent

Lisa - Life of a BZscrapper

Thanks so much for stopping by . I hope the weather is starting to warm up where you are . Brian has been busy with the garden and there are flowers blooming already .. Take some time for yourself and enjoy a beautiful Spring day

Until next time -

Stay Creative

Debra Davison / Meticulosity

Coffee & Cards with Deb & Celeste / March 2025

Celeste and I are here with our Coffee & Cards post for March .. We decided on a Kid's card and I'll admit that I was originally at a loss for ideas. I looked through my many stamp sets but nothing inspired me or came to me.. Then I saw The Gang Christmas from Ink Road and a card idea was born !!! 

When I was a child, my favorite holiday movie was "A Charlie Brown Christmas" . I can still remember how excited I was to watch it . It came out in 1965 - I was 7 years old .. It seemed like the perfect idea for my card !!  

• I stamped the image on white cardstock with Memento Tuxedo Black ink . 
• It was die cut with a Sizzix "Tim Holtz Stitched Square" die.
• The stamped image was colored with my OLO markers  .
• A piece of Catherine Pooler "Cookies for Santa" patterned paper was adhered to a 5x7 red card base. I chose this pattern because it reminded me of the shirts that Charlie Brown wore.
• The completed stamped image was adhered to the card base with foam tabs.
• A Tim Holtz Idea-ology Christmas sticker was adhered below the stamped image.
• I stamped several of these images and will make a few holiday cards . They are easy to color and remind me so much of my childhood !! 

To see what Celeste has made for her Kid's card, check out her blog - Crafting Junky . My drink of choice today is King Cake coffee by Community Coffee . It is flavored with cinnamon and vanilla and is delicious . I'm drinking it from a holiday cup found online at Macy's at an after Christmas sale .. Reminds me of the cross-stitch I used to do regularly before card-making took over!! I also have to say that I actually made today's card at the desk in my craft room . It has been covered with craft supplies and I have begun to destash . I started with my desk so I could get in my room - my sanctuary - again .. I will now tackle the kitchen table so we can once again sit there to eat . It had become my crafty spot while my desk was inundated with supplies !! A bit of progress at a time feels good. Let's hope the momentum continues ..

Thank you for stopping by . We will be back next month with more Coffee & Cards .. Until then, Stay Creative !!

Debra Davison / Meticulosity

Crafty Elves' Countdown to Christmas / February 2025

It seems like I blinked and it's already the end of February !!! I've been doing some destashing/donating and have come across some fabulous stamps I haven't seen in awhile . Some I don't even remember buying ! Lisa, Michael and I are bringing you holiday inspiration every month on the 25th to inspire you . Get those cards started early and you will have 1 less thing to stress about when the holidays roll around !!

I used a fun Wendy Vecchi stamp set - Doodle Christmas - for my card today . I love all of the stamps in this set . There are so many cute ways to create holiday cards with all the images ..

• I stamped the wreath from Doodle Christmas with Memento Olive Green ink on white cardstock and then die cut it with a Big and Little Pierced Chain round die .
•  The ornaments were stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink inside the wreath.
• The bow was stamped on white cardstock with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and then fussy-cut . 
• I adhered a piece of holiday plaid paper from my scrap drawer to a green card base .
• The ornaments and bow were colored with my OLO Markers.
• I placed red candy dots around the wreath.
• The red bow was adhered at the bottom of the wreath with foam tabs.
• I adhered the completed stamped panel to the holiday plaid paper.
• Stickers from the Simple Stories "Dear Santa" collection were placed at the bottom right .

You can get more ideas for your holiday cards by following the links to Lisa's and Michaels's blogs.

Lisa Reynolds Bzibziak - Life of a BZscrapper

Michael; Trent  - World of Michael Trent

Thank you for stopping by to see our latest cards. We look forward to seeing you next month with more Crafty Elf inspiration . 

Debra Davison / Meticulosity

Coffee & Cards with Deb & Celeste / February 2025

Today Celeste and I are giving a big shout-out to one of our favorite stamp companies - we each love their stamps and it was hard for me to choose which one to use. Unity Stamp Company has a wide variety of rubber stamps,paper, dies etc.. I have been a fan of theirs since way back when they had wood mounts that their stamps slid into !! I even still have a few of them stashed away somewhere .. 

I don't think anyone will be surprised that I chose a coffee image !! I am in love with the Coffee is Not Enough stamp set . It includes the main image and 4 sentiments . 

• I stamped the main image on white cardstock with Memento Tuxedo Black ink.
• The sentiment was stamped with Memento Teal Zeal ink.
• I colored the image with my OLO markers.
• Glitter was added to her slippers because everything needs a touch of sparkle !!
• I die cut the stamped panel with a Big and Little Chain Rectangle Die.
• A piece of Echo Park's Coffee Collection designer paper was cut and adhered to a 5x7 red card base.
• The stamped panel was popped up on the card base with foam tabs.
• A puffy heart sticker was applied to the stamped coffee cup.

Coffee is Not Enough

I can't wait to see what Celeste has made . We have similar taste in stamps so we shall see. I'm sure her card will be amazing . Check out her blog - Crafting Junky - to see her February creation . For my coffee today, I am drinking a  Starbucks Frappuccino with Oat Milk / Caramel Waffle Cookie Iced Coffee Drink . It comes in bottles and I drink it chilled , sometimes with ice.  I'm drinking it out of a fun LOVE coffee cup I got on clearance online at Macys many years ago .  The cup is clear and the opening is heart shaped - it's the cutest !!

I hope you've been inspired to get out a favorite Unity  stamp and be creative. Celeste and I will be back next month with more Coffee & Cards. Until then, stay warm AND creative !!

Debra Davison / Meticulosity

Crafty Elves' Countdown to Christmas / January 2025

The Crafty Elves are back to bring you another year of inspiration. We will work our way through 2025, posting each month on the 25th to help you get ready for the holiday snail mail rush !! AND I'm thrilled to let you know that Michael Trent  will be joining us again !! He took some time off but of course, he couldn't stay away from us .. Show him some love and comment on his post.

For my first card, I used an old snowglobe Starbucks gift card and a gingerbread chipboard sticker from my Spellbinders Holiday Advent Calendar. A Tim Holtz sentiment was perfect to  complete my card !! This card came together in about 5 minutes  - now I have something to do with all those Starbucks cards !!

May Your Days Be Merry & Bright

My next 4 cards were also so quick and easy !! I stamped the Christmas Snow Globe images from Close To My Heart , colored them with my OLO Markers and fussy-cut them. I adhered each snow globe to a bright red card base, popping them up with foam tabs. I added some glitter to each snowglobe also. A Tim Holtz Label Sticker was adhered at the bottom right of each card . 

Thank you for stopping by to begin a new year with us !! Check out the links to Lisa and Michael's cards for January .. I hope you find lots of inspiration and start your holiday cards with us .. It's so nice to have a stash to use when you're getting ready to send your holiday mail .

 Michael - World of Michael Trent

Lisa - Life of a BZscrapper

Until next month, Stay Creative

Debra Davison / Meticulosity

Coffee & Cards with Deb & Celeste / January 2025

It's time to start off a new year of Coffee & Cards with Deb & Celeste.  Each month we choose a theme, layout or inspiration photo and create a card that we post to our blogs . We also include a link to each other's cards  . In addition , we talk about the latest coffee we are drinking and sometimes we even have a fun cup to show off.  To start off 2025, we chose a WINTER theme. 

We had to say goodbye to the amazing company Impression Obsession last year . I have so many of their wonderful stamp sets. Coffee & Books was one of the last sets I bought from them and it's definitely a favorite of mine. 

Hot Coffee, Warm Blankets & Large Books 

• I stamped the main image on white cardstock with Memento Tuxedo Black ink .
• The sentiment was stamped with IO Aqua ink cube.
• The image was colored with my OLO Markers.
• I adhered a piece of navy snowflake patterned paper to a Kraft card base. The paper was from the Simple Stories "Simple Vintage Fresh Snow" paper pad.
• I matted the stamped panel with a piece of maroon cardstock .
• The matted panel was adhered with foam tabs to the card base.
• I placed some crystal rhinestones on the snowflake centers at the bottom of the card .

We actually had a bit of snow last night in Virginia Beach. Luckly, I didn't have to drive to work in it so I'm actually sitting home with my hot coffee, warm blanket and large book !! I'm currently reading The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon . My coffee today is Gingerbread ( finishing up the last of my holiday season favorite ) .. I shopped the Anthropologie after-Christmas sale and got the best deals on some coffee cups. Today's has my initial on it and the cutest holiday treats - some designs are raised . It is so cute I just have to show you the front and the back !!

 

You can see Celeste's card over at her blog - Crafting Junky . I'm always excited to see what Celeste has come up with . Her cards are amazing  - can't wait to see what a new year of posts brings us .. Thank you for stopping by . We look forward to seeing you next month. Until then, be kind, stay creative and always drink good coffee !!

Debra Davison / Meticulosity