Crafty Elves' Countdown to Christmas / September 2024

Can you believe that Christmas is only 3 months away ?!?!?! Lisa and I have been posting holiday cards each month on the 25th to inspire you to get started on yours along with us. Take some of the stress out of the holidays by getting your holiday snail mail ready early.We hope you like our creations for September.

For my card this month, I used a sweet Penny Black stamp set - Balancing Act. I don't think it was meant as a holiday stamp but I immediately got the idea to use it with holiday colors . I also made some cards with Fall colors .

• For both cards, I stamped the Girl with Cat image on pieces of white cardstock with Memento Tuxedo Black ink.
• The stamped panels were die-cut with a Big and Little Chain Rectangle Die.
• I colored the images with my new OLO Markers .
• I matted each of the stamped panels with dark green cardstock.
• Scraps from my patterned paper drawer were adhered to A2 card bases - 1 Kraft and 1 white.
• The completed panels were adhered to the card bases with foam tabs for added dimension .
• Tim Holtz sticker sentiments were adhered to each card.

My new OLO markers were a birthday present to myself in August, Check out their website at the link to learn all about them. I love the way they color and the ability to have 2 brush colors in 1 marker. I never have used the chisel tip of my other alcohol markers so I was thrilled with this feature, I am not affiliated with OLO - I purchased all  my markers. I just love them already and wanted to share my honest opinion. Have you tried them ?? I'd love to know what you think of them if you have. 

You can see Lisa's September cards over at her blog -Life of a BZscrapper . Thank you for stopping by to see our holiday inspiration. We really do appreciate it. Are you getting a head start on your holiday cards ?? Enjoy the start of Fall and cooler weather and we will see you in October with more of our creations.

Until next time,

Stay Creative

Crafty Elves' Countdown to Christmas - June

Well, here we are at the halfway mark of our year long project to create a Christmas card each week throughout 2019.  Lisa Reynolds Bzibziak  - aka BZscrapper - and I are blogging each month on the 25th . This is the first month that I actually made all 4 cards on the same day - today !! I had 1 image already stamped and colored, but the rest were all completed in about 2 hours. Creative time has really gotten away from me lately but I am going to make it a point to make 1 card each week . Promise !!

For my cards this time, I went back to my love of wood-mounted stamps for 3 out of the 4 cards. But I had these Rubber Moon ornaments stamped and colored, so they became my first card . 

• On a piece of watercolor paper, I stamped the Shiny Brite ornaments in Versafine CLAIR Nocturne Ink and trimmed the paper to fit a bright blue card base.
• A piece of Signature Rubber Moon washi tape was placed at the top of the stamped image after I drew ornament hangers with a silver gel pen. 
• The ornaments were colored with my favorite collection of Faber-Castells, ZIG markers and Tombow Dual Brush Pens.
• The sentiment was stamped on the lower left with Staz On Emerald City ink .
• Several red sequins were scattered  around the stamped image. 

• I stamped the Stampendous Fireside Joy image on watercolor paper with Nocturne ink.
• The image was trimmed and fit perfectly on my bright red card base.
• I colored the image with my favorite markers and added some glittery highlights to the berries with a gel pen.

• This is one of my favorite wood-mounted stamps ! It is an older stamp by Inkadinkado. I stamped the image 3 times on watercolor paper with Staz-On inks - Spiced Chai, St. Valentine and Emerald City.
• I trimmed the image, leaving only a small unstamped margin.
• I cut the ornament and figgy pudding squares from the Spiced Chai image and mounted them on the Emerald City base on their matching images.
• The angel image was cut from the St. Valentine image and also mounted on the Emerald City base . I popped them up with foam squares. 
• A piece of Red/Green holiday twine  was wrapped around the upper area of the stamped image and tied in a knot on the front.
• The entire stamped image was adhered to a dark brown card base . 

• This Penny Black Sweet Thing stamp is just the cutest and this card was inspired by my friend Liz McGuire in Scotland. She makes the most beautiful cards with Penny Black stamps. 
• I stamped the image on watercolor paper with Clair Nocturne ink
• The image was colored with my favorite markers and glittery highlights  were added to the cupcake and hair bow.
• A piece of plaid washi was placed down the left side of a lime green card base .
•  Christmas Magic stickers from PaperHouse were placed at the top of the card. 

Don't forget to take a look at Lisa's cards over at Life of a BZ Scrapper . She and I have been having fun keeping each other in the holiday spirit, even though this month I was frantically starting all of my cards today !! Are you being inspired to start your holiday cards ?? Next month I'll be celebrating Christmas in July with a giveaway to help you get some cards ready for your holiday Happy Mail. 

Until next time, Stay Creative.

Debra Davison / Meticulosity

June Cookies - Take 1

For the June Challenge at If You Give a Crafter a Cookie , we have a beautiful  inspiration picture that is sweet, feminine and maybe even a little bridal. I love how each of our team members show us their take on the Challenge photo and this one is no exception !! I think this Inspiration photo is absolutely gorgeous ..

I have had this amazing Penny Black stamp for awhile and knew it was the one for this challenge. My friend Liz McGuire makes the most gorgeous cards with her Penny Black stamps and I am going to be sending this card to her for inspiring me !!

• Using Memories India Black Ink, I stamped the Melle Papillion stamp from Penny Black on   Strathmore watercolor paper. 
• I colored the image with a variety of my favorite Faber-Castell, Stampin' Up and Brea Reese markers . 
• On a turquoise cardstock card base, I adhered a piece of scrap pink-patterned paper down the left side.
• I placed the stamped image near the top of the card and adhered it, leaving space at the bottom to adhere a pink border, made with the Scallops On the Edge die by Tim Holtz.
• Tombow Adhesives were used on all elements, both MONO Aqua Liquid Glue and the MONO Adhesive + .
• The Happiness die cut is from A Cut Above Dies by Verve who unfortunately is closing down at the end of June. They are having a great sale and I wish them all the best . I am sure I will be posting many fun projects with my Verve stamps for a long time to come !! 
• I added some shimmery highlights with a Wink Of Stella Clear Glitter Brush Pen.

Please take a look at my fellow Design Team Member's projects. I hope you will be inspired to create something and link it to this challenge. Our sponsor is Fred She Said and they will be giving a prize to 1 lucky winner. The challenge lasts 2 weeks so put on your thinking caps and link up a card or tag or journal page, anything you'd like !!

Thank you for visiting Meticulosity !!

Debra Davison