Crafty Elves' Countdown to Christmas - January 2024

Lisa and I are back to provide you with holiday inspiration all year long as we bring you our cards each month on the 25th .. We will make at least 1, sometimes more. We also will have Guest Elves throughout the year !! Michael Trent won't be back this year on a regular basis but I'm sure he will be popping in from time to time with some holiday cards of his own !! 

For my card, I used Holiday Post from Newton's Nook Designs. I was lucky enough to get the stamp set and matching dies on sale.  They have the most amazing stamps and the cat in this set remind me of our Pixie !!

• The mailbox and snowflake images were stamped on White Mixed Media paper with Tuxedo Black Memento ink .
• The matching dies were used to cut out the stamped images.
• I stamped the sentiment on White Mixed Media paper with Catherine Pooler Skylight ink .
• A paper punch was used to cut out the sentiment. 
• A piece of  Craft Smart "Classic Vintage" Postal Card paper was adhered to a white card base. 
• I colored the Mailbox image with my Copics. 
• I adhered the Mailbox and snowflakes to the Postal card with  foam tabs.
• The sentiment was popped up next to the mailbox with foam tabs .
• Red and green rhinestones were adhered to each side of the sentiment square. 

This card was so much fun to make !! I stamped several sets so I could make a few more . I'm excited to be starting on my holiday cards early again this year .  You can find Lisa's card over at her blog - Life of a BZscrapper .

Do you start your holiday cards early ?? Is January too early ?? I know it's definitely a  good feeling when December rolls around and I have a nice stash of cards to send out.  Lisa and I hope you will join us each month as we add to our holiday collection .. Thank you for stopping by . We will see you next month as the Crafty Elves Countdown to Christmas !!

Debra Davison / Meticulosity

Coffee & Cards with Deb & Celeste / January 2024

Celeste and I are starting off 2024 with a guest for our January post. Maria Batan loves to play with paper as much as we do and we are so happy to have her join us this month !! We have a sketch for our inspiration . I am not the biggest fan of sketch challenges so a great BIG thank you to Celeste for getting me out of my comfort zone !!!

I was lucky enough to find a sheet of clearance patterned paper that was perfect for this challenge . It's by Bo Bunny - Willow & Sage Stripe. The paper is double-sided which definitely came in handy for this card !!

• I cut the Bo Bunny paper to create a panel for a 5x7 white card base and adhered it -  striped side up - to the front.
• The tan floral, blue dotted and ledger paper were all scraps in my stash. I made strips from the tan and dotted papers and placed them side by side on top of the striped base .
• The back of the striped paper was the pink branch design. I cut a piece and adhered it over the 2 long strips.
• The ledger scrap was trimmed into a banner and adhered on top of the pink branch paper .
• The My Sentiments Exactly - Dragonfly was stamped with Nautical Blue Memento ink on Tan Mixed Media paper .
• I used a Pierced Chain Circle die to cut the dragonfly.
• The dragonfly was popped up on the pink branch paper with foam tabs.
• A Tim Holtz Heirloom Floral blue flower was placed at the bottom right side of the circle diecut .

Celeste is a pro at sketches and I can't wait to see what she has in store for us this month You can see her card over at Crafting Junky . Maria Batan's project can be seen over at Maria Giselle's Creative Cuts . You can also find her on  IG @ mariagiselleb . 

For my coffee this month I am drinking an Iced Maple Donut coffee from a clearance Starbucks cup .. This is a $30 cup that I found at a local grocery store Starbucks for $3  !!! The Maple Donut coffee is from Dollar Tree and is low in carbs and calories . It's a nice pick-me-up at work in the afternoon. I bought 15 the last time I was there - Maple Donut, Vanilla and Mocha. And yes, it's about 30 degrees here and I'm drinking ice coffee !! But luckily we didn't get hit with any of that terrible snow that others are dealing with - just the bitter cold. 

Thanks so much for joining us as we kick off 2024 with Coffee & Cards !! We hope you are inspired to make some cards of your own and also to take the time to enjoy a fabulous cup of coffee ( or tea or cocoa ) !! We enjoyed having Maria as our guest and hope to invite other crafty friends throughout the year ..

Until next time.... stay warm and creative !!

 

Debra Davison / Meticulosity

Technique Junkies Stamp Release / January 2024

It's fun to be ringing in the New Year with some fabulous Technique Junkies stamps !! This January 2024 release has a little bit of everything - bold backgrounds, babies, animals , a sweet girl, wine  and some fun sentiments .. Something for everyone .. 

As 2024 begins, I tell myself I am going to stay organized ALL year long !! I still love using a paper planner as well as my digital calendar and do pretty well keeping deadlines, appointments etc. straight . However, my passwords are another story. I start out fairly well organized, but by the end of the year, I have updated passwords written on scraps of paper, my desk calendar etc.. So this stamp I used for today's card - All My Passwords  - spoke to me !! I think that probably some of you just might feel the same way !!

• The sentiment was stamped on white cardstock with Nautical Blue Memento ink .
• I was given that fun paper that I used by Michael Trent, a fellow Technique Junkies Design Team member .It came all the way from Brazil . The paper is double sided . The heart background is one side and the pink border, phone and computer were all on the other side.
• The phone, computer and pink border were all fussy-cut and adhered to the heart background paper.
• I also fussy-cut an extra heart and adhered it to the phone. 
• The sentiment was adhered below the computer and phone.
• I adhered the completed panel to a Kraft card base.

When I saw this stamp for the first time, I actually laughed out loud !! To remedy my "amnesia", I started a password notebook to try to keep myself from changing passwords so often when I forget them. My plan sounds good in theory so I will see how it works when I put it into action !!

As always, new release stamps are 15% off through the 8th of the month, no code required. But you can use my code for an extra 10% discount - TJ10Deb . The new releases are also available as a bundle if you've just gotta have them all !! I hope you'll take some time to look at the other Design Team member's projects .. They have all created some fabulous cards with the new releases . Just follow the links below for some inspiration !!

TJ Blog

Jeanette

Shalana

Deb - You are here

Michael

Pam

AJ

Christine

Darlene

Pat

Thanks so much for stopping by . I hope you like my latest creation and it inspired you to make something of your own.  I'll be sharing more from the January release throughout the month here, on the Technique Junkies blog and also on my  social media . What are your creative plans for 2024 ??  I'd love to hear your ideas !! 

Debra Davison / Meticulosity

Wreath Wishes

It's so hard to believe this is my last blog post for 2023 !! Where has the time gone ?!?! I'm ready for new beginnings in 2024 and will definitely keep creating - it is my sanity,my bliss !! I've created a quick card to share with the Wreath Wishes stamp set from Technique Junkies .

• I stamped the Wreath and sentiment on a piece of Kraft cardstock .
• The square was cut with a Double Stitched Square Die . 
• I colored the wreath with my COPIC markers.
• The completed panel was adhered to a pink card base.

I love the look of coloring on Kraft cardstock. It gives designs a vintage feel that I really like . Do you stamp on Kraft ?? I thought it was perfect for this design. 

I'm looking forward to the January 2024 Stamp Release from Technique Junkies tomorrow.  I hope you will return to see what I created and also to see the other projects from my teammates. 

Thank you so much for following me on my creative journey. I'm excited to see the creativity that a new year has to offer.. I hope you have a safe and warm New Year's Eve with your family and/or friends. Let's make 2024 a healthy, happy and kind year !!

Debra Davison / Meticulosity

Crafty Elves' Countdown to Christmas / December 2023

It's time for the Crafty Elves to share their last cards of 2023 .. I'll admit that I'm running a little late this year  - I had to work Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, which seriously put me behind on a bit of holiday spirit !! But now I'm thrilled to have 3 days off , I'm drinking an uninterrupted cup of coffee and can finally finish this post !! Michael isn't joining us this month and also has decided to take a break for 2024, but he definitely has an open invitation as a Guest Elf whenever he'd like to join us..

I made 2 cards this month with some of my favorite new stamp sets ..  The first was made with the Pooh''s List stamp set from Unity Stamp Company. This set is so sweet and I loved making this card and coloring the images .

My next card was created with the latest Stamp of the Month from Close To My Heart -Christmas Snow Globes .These are fabulous images to fussy-cut but you can also buy a stamp/die set .  There are 4 snow globes, 2 sentiments and a border included in this set . 

Since I'm running late, I won't bore you with instructions !! Grab some pretty paper, ink , your stamp , some markers and adhesive and VOILA !!! Oh - and a bit of Stickles for the headlights ..

Take a look at Lisa's December creation over at her blog - Life of a BZscrapper . Her cards are always masterpieces !! It's hard to believe that 2024 will be our 6th year posting as the Crafty Elves !! It's always nice to have that stash of cards to use when the holidays roll around.. If you'd like to be a Guest Elf with us one month, please get in touch with me or Lisa and let us know .. We'd love to have you join in !!

We will see you again on January 25 as we begin another year.

Until then, Stay Creative !!

Debra Davison / Meticulosity

Coffee & Cards with Deb & Celeste / December 2023

Celeste and I are here with our last Coffee & Cards collaboration of 2023 .. We will be back next year for more creativity and if you would like to join us one month, please let us know. This month Celeste chose our inspiration photo. I did not know what she was going to choose for us, but I was pleasantly surprised when I saw it ..We hope that you like it and how we both were inspired by it .

I had picked out the Brutus Monroe "Tis the Season" stamp set for my card a few weeks ago .This is just the cutest stamp and so easy to color !! Imagine my surprise when I saw Celeste's inspiration photo !!! How perfect is this ?!?!?!

• I stamped the Tis the Season image on white cardstock with Memento Tuxedo Black ink .
• I die cut the image with an etched square die .
• The stamped panel was colored with my COPICS and metallic Sharpie markers.
• I adhered a piece of burgundy ribbon across the center of a piece of pine branch paper.
• The stamped panel was adhered to the pine branch paper on top of the ribbon .
• The pine branch panel was adhered to a green card base.

Can you believe that I actually chose a design that almost perfectly matched our photo ?? It was a great stamp to work with .. Take some time to check out what Celeste created over at her blog - Crafting Junky . For my coffee this month, I'm using a new coffee cup that I found online on clearance at Kohls . And i'm drinking Crazy Cups "White Christmas" coffee .This coffee has flavors of caramel, macadamia, nut coconut, vanilla and bourbon. It is absolutely delicious !! I bought it on Amazon in a variety pack with several other amazing holiday flavors ..

Thank you for visiting Meticulosity .. I hope that you are having a wonderful December and staying warm. Please enjoy whatever holiday you celebrate this month - Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or Christmas . Spend time with friends and family . Take time for yourself - get creative or read a book, listen to music or take a walk outside. Celeste and I will see you again as we continue our collaboration in 2024 !!

Debra Davison / Meticulosity

A FANTASTIC Sale at Technique Junkies

There isn't a December Release at Technique Junkies this month but there is something very exciting happening !! A huge inventory reduction sale .. ALL stamps in the December Inventory Reduction Category! are 40% off - no code needed. And you can also use my code - TJ10Deb - for another 10% off . So while you're finishing up your holiday shopping for everyone else, take some time to pamper yourself with  a few new stamps !!

I am using the Under the Mistletoe stamp for my cards today . I've been trying to use up scrap paper from my stash . And the 2 patterns I chose for these cards made a nice pair.

• I stamped the Under the Mistletoe image twice on white Mixed Media paper.
• The leaves were colored in with my COPICS .
• I die cut the images and also pieces of dark red and turquoise cardstock with a Scalloped Oval die.
• The Scalloped Oval die allows you to remove the outer frame area . I then paired the 2 white stamped panels with a red and a turquoise frame for completely different looks .
• I adhered the patterned papers to card bases - a green and a blue.
• The completed framed panels were then adhered to the patterned paper.
• Turquoise rhinestones were placed on the blue card and red rhinestones on the other 

There is a wide variety of staamp designs in this sale. You can see many of them in the creations by the Technique Junkies Design Team. Here are their links . I hope that you will take the time to look at them and be inspired to create some of your own.

Technique Junkies Blog

Christine

Darlene

Michael

Shalana

Debra - YOU ARE HERE

Jeanette

Pam

Judy

Pat

Patti

Make yourself a cup of coffee or tea and take a look at all of the fabulous sale images . Don't you think an early Christmas present to yourself  is a fabulous idea ?? Remember that there is no code necessary to get the 40% off . And if you use my code - TJ10Deb - you can save another 10% .

It's hard to believe 2023 is coming to a close soon. I appreciate all of your support as I play with pretty paper and make cards .. I look forward to more creativity in 2024 and hope you will continue to join me. 

Debra Davison / Meticulosity