Crafty Elves' Countdown to Christmas / May 2025

Where does the time go ?!?!?! 2025 is almost halfway over and it's time for the May Crafty Elf cards !! I  shopped a fabulous sale over at Deep Red Rubber and got the cutest holiday stamp that combines my love of Christmas AND coffee . In fact, I bought several for friends and will also be sending one to someone who comments on this post . I will choose someone at random in the evening on Tuesday, June 27 . Are you feeling lucky ??

I chose the Noel Elf  image for my card this month.  That elf is just the sweetest and I envisioned him taking a nap in one of my many holiday coffee cups after helping Santa deliver presents ALL night long ..

 

• The Noel Elf  image was stamped twice - once on white cardstock and once on cream. I used Memento Tuxedo Black ink .
• I fussy-cut the cup from the white cardstock.
• The stamped images were colored with my OLO markers.
• The elf on cream cardstock was die-cut with a 
• I adhered a piece of Stampin' Up "Sleigh Bells Ribbon" to a piece of DCWV  Joyeux Noel paper .
• The ribboned panel was adhered to a green card base.
• I placed small light and dark green pearls across the top of the fussy-cut cup.
• That cup was then adhered on top of the same image on the cream panel with foam tabs.
• The completed stamped panel was then placed on the card base with foam tabs.

I hope you like my latest card . Please take a look at what Michael and Lisa have created to inspire you to get started on your holiday cards also . You can find them at these links -

Michael - World of Michael Trent

Lisa - Life of a BZscrapper

Thank you for stopping by . Remember if you comment here or on my Facebook post, you just might get a Noel Elf  stamp of your very own to play with . Until next month, enjoy some beautiful Spring weather and Stay Creative.

Debra Davison / Meticulosity

Coffee & Cards with Deb & Celeste & a Crafty Elf / February 2024

Today is the day that Lisa and I post our holiday cards each month .  And since I had some new supplies that tied in with the theme that Celeste and I are using for our February Blog collaboration, I decided to combine my ideas. Celeste and I chose Mail Art / Snail Mail as our theme for February - one of my favorite themes ever !!

 Coffee & Cards with Deb & Celeste - Mail Art / Snail Mail

Crafty Elves' Countdown to Christmas

I used some absolutely gorgeous paper and ephemera for my cards   today. They are from the Echo Park Paper Company Letters To Santa  collection. The colors in this collection are so vibrant and each paper design is more beautiful than the next !!  I couldn't decide which paper to use for my card so I created 2 cards !!

 

• I stamped the letterbox from the Stamped With Love set by Stampin' Up. I used Tuxedo Black Memento ink on red cardstock and white cardstock.
• I fussy-cut the letterboxes from the red cardstock and then cut the envelopes from the white .
• The envelopes were adhered onto the red letterboxes and then a red sparkly heart was placed on each envelope.
• I used a Pierced Chain Rectangle Die to cut some mats for the letterboxes.
• I cut the patterned papers to fit my 5x7 Kraft card bases and adhered them to each card.
• The die cut rectangles were adhered towards the top of each card .
• I placed the letterboxes on each die cut rectangle with foam tabs.
• Ephemera sentiments from the Letters To Santa collection were placed at the bottom of each card.

I'm excited to see what Celeste and Lisa have created. You can see Lisa's projects  here at Life of a BZscrapper and Celeste's over at her blog - Crafting Junky .It was nice to combine my post with Lisa and Celeste this month. It's been a hectic month here and I'm relaxing and enjoying a cup of Vanilla Macadamia Nut Coffee in a fun new cup I found on clearance at Joann's. I could almost resist it until I saw the pretty green gingham pattern inside the cup !! AND the mushroom and frog are raised off the mug - so cute ..

Thank you for stopping by to  see my latest holiday creation . Have you started on yours ?? Make a nice cup of coffee or tea and create some for your stash .

Until next time, Stay Creative

Debra Davison / Meticulosity

Crafty Elves' Countdown to Christmas / March 2022

After a bit of a break last month, all of the Crafty Elves are back. Thank you to Lisa for posting one card in February .. As always, it was adorable and her coloring was out of this world !!  This month, I got a bit behind and only made 3 cards but I do have 9 months to catch up with myself !!

For my first card, I used the Simple Stories - Winter Cottage collection . I rarely make cards without any stamping on them, but for a quick card, you can't go wrong with the amazing supplies from Simple Stories.

At one of the latest Unity Stamp Company sales, I picked up some great Christmas stamps.  This next card was created with the Heart Be Light stamp . 

• I stamped the image with Gina K Jet Black Amalgam Ink.
• I die cut the image with a die that also cuts a small edge around the outside . I diecut the stamped image and also one from olive green cardstock. The green outer edge was then placed around the diecut .
• The image was colored with my COPICS .
• Stampin' Up Silver Glass Glitter was  adhered at the bottom of the lamppost .
• I adhered the completed stamped panel onto a piece of My Mind's Eye  "Oh What Fun" holiday paper.
• The sentiment from the stamp set was stamped with Ladybug Memento Dew Drop ink, then paper-punched.
• I popped up the sentiment next to the lamppost with foam tabs. 
• A rhinestone was placed on each side of the sentiment.

Another favorite stamp of mine from Unity Stamp Company is All That Sparkle . It is such an easy image to color . I didn't even feel like it needed a sentiment. It seemed perfect without one.

I can't wait to see what my fellow Crafty Elves have made for March .  Are you making your holiday cards along with us  ??  It's so nice to have a stash of cards to use when the holidays roll around. I have even started addressing envelopes and even stashing some stamps away for Christmas 2022 !!

Lisa Reynolds Bzibziak - Life of a BZ Scrapper

Michael Trent - World of Michael Trent

I hope that Spring is bringing you some warmer weather wherever you are .  Although I think that Michael is heading into Fall in Brazil !!  Until next time, stay creative and we look forward to seeing you back here in April .

Debra Davison / Meticulosity

Crafty Elves' Countdown to Christmas / January 2021

Lisa Reynolds- Bzibziak, Michael Trent and I are back again  - it is the 3rd year for the Crafty Elves' Countdown to Christmas !! We are each making 1 card ( or more ) each week and then blogging about it on the 25th of each month. Our goal is to decrease our stress when the holidays roll around by having a stash of holiday cards. We also hope to inspire you to do the same. I had also wanted to address my cards throughout the year but that did not actually get done. So I will try my best to do that this year .. Who would have ever thought that we would still be in the middle of this COVID-19 pandemic at the start of 2021 ?!?! It really is hard to believe... So each month, I hope that you will join us to see what we have created.. 

For 3 of my cards, I used an older set from Stampin' Up - Christmas in the Making . The images have a fun vintage look and were so much fun to color.  Plus the cat on the gift-wrapping stamp reminded me of Pixie, so how could I resist using this set ?!?!?!

• I used Gina K Jet Black Amalgam ink to stamp all of the images onto Strathmore Watercolor paper.  Sentiments were stamped with Memento Ladybug ink .
• I colored all of the images with my COPIC markers. 
• For the ornament card, I stamped the sentiment on a separate piece of watercolor paper.and adhered it to a piece of floral Christmas paper. The retro image was adhered above the sentiment and then the entire panel to a green card base . 
• The other 2 stamped images were adhered to red and blue card bases.

Santa gave me these merry bells

While Christmas bells are ringing

• The Christmas bells were stamped on a cream-colored designer paper and fussy-cut. They are from the Unity Stamp Company stamp set - Happiest Season of All .
• I mounted the bells onto pieces of black patterned paper ( printed with the word "merry" ) .
• The stamped panels were adhered towards the top of white and blue card bases  .
• Tim Holtz sentiments were adhered underneath the stamped panels.

I cannot wait to see what Michael and Lisa have created for our first post of 2021. You can see their projects at their blog posts listed below. We hope that you will sign up to follow us all as we get ready for Christmas 2021 !! It seems so far away now but I know that soon we will be rushing around because it is right around the corner . 

Michael Trent - World of Michael Trent

Lisa Reynolds-Bzibziak - Life of a BZScrapper

I was so excited to get started that I made 5 cards for my first Crafty Elf post !! Are you inspired to begin your cards now or will you wait until later this year ??  Leave a comment here and I will choose 1 commenter at random to receive a few holiday goodies to get you started.. Thanks so much for stopping by to see January's  projects .. Until next time, stay creative !! 

Debra Davison / Meticulosity

Coffee & Cards with Deb and Celeste 10/9

Welcome to Week 2 of my crafty collaboration with my friend, Celeste !! I'm sure you all know that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. My card today is made with that in mind as our theme for this week is THINK PINK..I guess I still must be on a high from the Fall Coffee ( and Tea and Cocoa )  Lovers Blog Hop because the card also has a tea theme. I wanted to use a stamped image that didn't require lots of coloring but that I could use a variety of pink shades on. This one seemed perfect and I love it !

• On a piece of white cardstock, I stamped a Tea Love image from Unity Stamp Company with Memories Black India Ink. I colored the image using my favorite pinks from Stabilo, Stampin' Up and Distress Markers .And those  2 little prints near the word "tea" were colored with my fingerprint after pressing it onto a pink ink pad.. Below the image I placed a piece of Pastel Welcome Words Washi from Recollections. 
• The Awareness Ribbon stamp ( and die ) are by Amuse Studio. I stamped the ribbon once then die-cut the image and also die-cut a piece of DCWV Watercolor Stack cardstock. That stack is gorgeous with many sheets having a touch of gold foil.They were both placed above the stamped image.
• Pink sequins were scattered throughout the stamped image. A hint of green was used on a tea cup to signify growth because having been through a cancer diagnosis ( mine is Thyroid ), I can tell you that the process includes growth as a person, as a patient, as a survivor.. 
• A piece of contrasting pink paper with sweet little hearts from the Hello Love collection by Crate Paper was placed on the pink card base at an angle. The completed stamped  image was then popped up  ( using Dimensionals ) on top of that paper, also at an angle. I am very OCD about getting images, cardstock etc. straight on a project so I place many images, cardstock etc.  at an angle to allow me to create with just a bit less stress !!

Today's card is brought to you by a wonderful cup of Starbucks Caramel coffee in my fabulous new mug from my friend, Rae. Are we starting to see a theme here with these mugs ?? 

Thank you  for visiting Meticulosity again. Now head on over to see Celeste at her fabulous blog Crafting Junky. Leave her a comment and/or sign up to follow her blog. We hope you are being inspired by our posts. We will see you back here next Sunday !! Make yourself a nice cup of coffee -- or tea -- and create something today !!

Vive la France

I wanted to do something to show my support for Paris, France and the French people as well as all of the victims of the 11/13/15 terrorist attacks.  This Hero Arts International Skyline stamp was the perfect one to use. I used Riding Hood Red ink by Stampin' Up, my Salty Ocean Distress marker and my favorite Neenah Stardust White paper. A hint of a gold mat completes the image. I have seen several other cards made in support of France.... The colors of France are showing up on many landmarks, buildings and bridges..

Vive la France...

Enjoy !!

I am having fun lately with Journaling cards. I make alot of quick cards when an occasion comes up and there isn't always time for stamping,coloring etc... But you can still come up with a quick card that doesn't look quick at all. This time I used a 4x6 journal card from the Inked Rose collection by We R Memory Keepers and mounted it on a gold glitter card base. I stenciled the tea cup in Summer Sun ink and then outlined it with Taken With Teal ink -- both by Stampin' Up. The stencil is the Mini Cafe Latte by The Crafters Workshop. I punched out the teacup, placed a few sequins around the cup and offset mounted it on the Right side of the card. It is an oversized card but I will use my We R Memory Keepers Envelope Punch Board to create the perfect one !!

As usual, I am having a blast with this Fall Coffee Lovers Blog Hop... Check out all of the linked projects HERE. Thank you again for visiting Meticulosity. The Hop runs through Friday, October 2. I will choose a winner from those commenting on my blogs related to the Fall Hop. The prize will be a package of coffee goodies..

GIU Day 4 - Things Work Out

Cannot believe it is Day 4 for me as the GIU gal. Today's card was made with a stamp designed by Stephanie Ackerman. She has the greatest sayings paired with fabulous designs that are a dream to color. Today's project uses the stamped image Ultimately ...Things Work Out. Sounds like something my mom would have said... Attitude can make or break you.. I wanted this to be a bright, cheery card so my amazing washi from Artsyville was the perfect way to border the entire design. And who could resist those fun ribbons at the top of the card. I took the picture of this card with the supplies surrounding it on my desk to depict "messy".. Because life IS messy. And all we can do to get through it sometimes - in order to keep our sanity - is to make the best of the messy parts. This card will hang in my Creative Space to help me deal with some recent issues.. It will also remind me to reach out to friends to help them make the best of theirs...

Supplies that I used for this card are :

1. Artsyville washi tape ( currently not available but she'll be back !! )

2. Stabilo pens ( regular & neon )

3. Tim Holtz Distress markers ( can you tell these are one of my favorite supplies?? )

4. Faber Castell Neon Brush pens
5. Stampin' Up Flirty ribbon
6. American Crafts Dear Lizzy "Lively" ribbon

Remember to comment on my blog post each day during this week for a chance to win a Grab Bag of 25 Unity stamps. I am thrilled at all of the comments you all are making on my blog and on Facebook. I love being creative and showing my projects, and all of you inspire me to be better !!

Thank you so much for visiting Meticulosity.

A better view of my beautiful mess...

You Had Me At the First Sip

If I could, I would wear flip-flops all year long.... So when I saw this die of a pair of flip flops, I knew it had been made just for ME !! Simply paired with a bit of ribbon, a  coffee cup and a cute sentiment... Not much time at all to finish this card... Linking this one to the Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop too !! Check out all of the wonderful projects at the Hop. You will want to run right out for a cup of deliciousness !!  http://coffeelovingcardmakers.com/

Supplies: Die-Versions " Flower Flip Flops" die, DCWV Summer ribbon,  Stampin' Up Freshly Brewed coffee cup, Vera Lane Coffee sentiment Digi-stamp


What an amazing number of sponsors we have for this Hop..  I know it will be as successful as the Spring version.. Link up a project or comment for a chance to win some fabulous prizes !!

Coffee Will Fix Everything

It's that time again for another Blog Hop -- this time it is the Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop. A big shout-out to Amy Tsuruta and Chaitali Narla for hosting this and doing such a great job. There are awesome sponsors and chances at great prizes for linking up a project. The blog post is at this link -- Have fun either linking up or checking out those who do --- http://coffeelovingcardmakers.com/2015/05/get-ready-for-the-summer-coffee-lovers-blog-hop/

My first card epitomizes SUMMER to me. A big beach bag ( preferably filled with summer books ) and a coffee from the Starbucks right near the Boardwalk here in Virginia Beach .. I hope you like the card !! These Die-Versions dies are amazing .. And when you place a piece of wax paper between the die and your cardstock, all those little pieces are SO much easier to get out !!

Supplies : Die-Versions 'Beach Bag" Whispers die , DCWV Summer Adhesive ribbon, Stampin' Up "Freshly Brewed" coffee cup, Vera Lane Studio Coffee sentiment Digi-stamp, Map magnet embellishment, glitter heart on coffee stirrer

Are You a Procaffinator ??

I consider myself a fairly organized person. And I am definitely NOT a procrastinator when it comes to paying my bills and deadlines at work or for the Design Team I am on. But I must admit that I have spent hours in my Craft Room drinking coffee and thinking more about projects than actually making them !! So right here and now, let me say  " My name is dEb and I am a big time Procaffinator !! " Lately it has been Caramel Custard Lattes.. And Cinnabon Lattes.. Caramel Coconut creamers and raw brown sugar .. I am dreaminess about Maple Sleigh Lattes and as soon as some of this snow melts, I am heading to Harris Teeter to score some of the amazing cups for my Keurig coffee maker..

So, if you are a procaffnator in your Crafty space or in your everyday life at home or work, THIS card is for you .. This Riley & Company stamp goes great with some of my favorite washi by Stampin' Up and Recollections. The cute coffee cup is from the  Taylored Expression's "Joe-to-Go" set which includes 7 coordinating dies. So, get your favorite cup pf coffee ready, sit down, relax and look at the projects in the Spring Coffee Lovers Blog Hop. Comment on my posts for a chance at some Springy craft supplies..

Procaffination

Please visit the  Spring Coffee Lovers Blog Hop page to see the over 300 creations by those as obsessed with coffee and cards as I am !!

You Belong in a Zoo !!

"Let's all make an animal card", she said ..... "Just for fun"..... And that's how it started.. One of my fellow Design Team members at Mountain Plains Crafters threw it out there and we ran with it... We got a squirrel, a wolf, some kitties, an owl and some hedgehogs. The MPC blog now has its own zoo of cuddly critters -  plus one wolf, thanks to DT member MariLynn !! I always love seeing the variety of cards we come up with. I feel blessed everyday to have met such an amazing group of women.. Check out all of our critters here.

I got out a new stamp, my colored pencils, some blender pens, ribbon and twine and my Critter creation was born.. You gotta love this stamp-- I had fun doing some paper-piecing and then even added some rhinestones to the polka-dots on the card as a finishing touch. What are some of your favorite critters to stamp ?? I hope this inspires you to pull those stamps out and get creative.. 

Supplies : Stampin' Up " A Little Smile" stamp , 2Berry Creative Baker's twine,

rhinestones, My Mind's Eye card base, Derwent Inktense watercolor  & Metallic colored pencils, Stampin' Up Blender pen, Offray Hedgehog ribbon