Mischief of the Mistletoe, The Glitter Tart's take

Yep, I know not a very good picture.  I am learning the latest Power Point, was using 7, so there is a BIG difference.  I'll get it but for now please bear with me.  

Anyways...

I am a member of an ATC group, Stamp Out Crime.  We read a mystery, create an ATC and share it.  This is my submission this time.  It is based off of Lauren Willig's book The Mischief of the Mistletoe. I am working my way through this series, so far I have read six and created ATC's to go along with them.  You can view the others under the label Stamp Out Crime.

These are fun little Romance mysteries, I have to have me some romance.   

 Alas there is nothing too special about these.  I had to make 8 so I didn't want to go crazy, I've done that in the past.  The snowflake is Masonite that I painted gold.  I roughed up the edges of the paper a bit and rubbed them with gold ink.  

This was the tricky part.  Mistletoe is not out in stores yet and all the how to's online created pieces way too big for what I needed.  Yes, yes, I know what your thinking, just shrink it.  But then these poor little eyes of mine would have hated me!  And I do try to make them happy most of the time.  So I used fabric leaves, yup, and strung seed beads onto fishing line to mimic the white berries.  

Overall I am pleased.  I found it a lot harder to go back to card/ATC making than I thought.  I have to say I do prefer the 3D and altered art a bit more, but it is nice to know that I can still knock out something presentable.

Thanks for visiting!

Dead Until Dark by: Charlaine Harris

Sookie Stackhouse is just a small-time cocktail waitress in small-town Louisiana. Until the vampire of her dreams walks into her life-and one of her coworkers checks out.... Maybe having a vampire for a boyfriend isn't such a bright idea.

It has been years since I read Dead Until Dark.  I read it long before the tv show and way before she was even halfway through writing the series. 

So why did I choose it for this weeks review?  Well, I've been a bit MIA and I wanted to share not only a review but a bit of art also.

I am a member of a fabulous group that creates ATC's based on Mystery's.  One of our lovely members hosted a read along (like a book club online) and this was the book she selected.  I took part as best as I could without a copy of the book (mine was long ago sold away) or really a great memory for what happened.   

What I do remember is that I didn't like the book and that is why I never read further into the series. 

Why didn't I like it?  Well quite simply I couldn't stand a character who constantly thought about sex.  Given some of the situations Sookie was put in for her mind to drift towards sex was just unbelievable and aggravating.

I did love Charlaine's addition of Elvis.  I was sorry to see that they left him out of the tv show, but I do understand why. 

And I do have to admit that Charlaine did form a wonderful mystery that wasn't predictable as to who-done-it like so many books these days are.

I was sorry to hear that when she published her final book in the series that she received death threats from the fans because they didn't like the way she ended it.  Series, I imagine, are hard to end and please everyone.  Charlaine provided years of entertainment for many.  Most people in my group (the original group that read it) liked the story. 

 

If you haven't read it and like vampires/werewolves/etc and mystery's you should try it, you never know.

 

I'm linking up with

 

Sprinkled with Murder by Jenn McKinlay

 

Melanie Cooper and Angie DeLaura are finally living out their dream as the proud owners of the Fairy Tale Cupcakes bakery. But their first big client is a nightmare. She's a bridezilla who wants 500 custom cupcakes for her wedding.

When Mel stumbles upon the bride-to-be dead-by-cupcake, she becomes the prime suspect. To save themselves and their business, the ladies need to find the real murderer, before the cupcake killer ices someone else.

Movietime with mel, tate and angie by Andrea

I read Sprinkled with Murder as a part of Stamp Out Crime Art Groups activities.  We all read the same book, answered questions for prizes, chatted and created art.  It was a blast! 

Sprinkled with Murder by Elisabeth

 Sprinkled with Murder is the first book in a series by Jenn McKinlay, you can read the first chapter HERE

Blonde Bombshell by Monica

 This was a perfect cozy for me because it is all about Cupcakes, and y'all know how much I love cupcakes.  The main characters own a Bakery and Jenn shares the cupcake recipes that are discussed in the book.  I made one, the Tinkerbell cupcakes, you can see the recipe HERE

Murder by Pat

 On top of the fabulous cupcake story line the main characters also have an affinity for movie quotes and are constantly challenging each other to identify the quotes.  What was really fun about this is that the quotes added to the plot in a fun way.

Sprinkled with Murder by Sarette

A light cozy and a chat with friends is always called for and this was the perfect book for that. 

 

Peach Cobbler by Pat

 On top of the ATC exchange that we did with this book we all also shared recipes, after all the book includes them so why shouldn't we. 

Wyonegonic Special by Andrea

 I am currently reading the second in this series, Buttercream Bump Off, and I will share a review in a few weeks. 

Downeast Maine Pumpkin Bread by Elisabeth

 If you are in the mood for a light mystery with fun food and movie quotes then this is a delightful fast read that you should pick up.

Peanut Butter Pie by Sarette

 And of course you should make some of the cupcakes, and eat them while you read the book, it makes it a real treat.

Dilled Strawberries by Monica

I am looking forward to trying out all the recipes that we exchanged.  And I hope you pick up the book and try some for yourself. 

 

You can see my ATC and Recipe HERE

I'm linking up to Ricki Jill's Literary Friday, make sure to hop over and check out all the fabulous reviews. 

Deception of the Emerald Ring

 I love to read, as many of you know, and I love to be inspired by what I read.  Stamp Out Crime's 3rd Swap of the year has just taken place and I continued my set of The Secret History of the Pink Carnation Books with the 3rd instalment, The Deception of the Emerald Ring. 

 This is the first ATC for The Secret History of the Pink Carnation

 And the Second, for The Masque of the Black Tulip.  If you look carefully you will see that my current ATC and this one share a similar element.  I must say I am getting tired of making those mini tulips, sure do hope that The Black Tulip is captured soon.

The back of my ATC has a short synopses of the book.

These are fun to make and I can't wait to see what books the other members have been inspired by.

Stamp Out Crime ~ Sprinkled With Murder ATC

 

A few months ago the group Stamp Out Crime, a reading and art group, did a read along of the book Sprinkled with Murder by Jenn McKinlay.  It was a lot of fun with prizes and chats and now this ATC and recipe exchange. 

 

 

I decided to depict the character that is murdered with a splash of the heroin.  I like what I came up with, not my normal style but I am very pleased. 

 

 

I reworked one of the recipes in the novel and was going to share that with the group.  But they requested a totally original recipe.  So since fall is right around the corner I shared my Pumpkin Cupcakes with Bourbon Butter cream Frosting.

 

 

I will share my review of this book in the next couple of week.  Meanwhile make sure to check out everything going on, this is going to be an exciting month. 

 

Thanks for looking.

Art Share ~ Stamp Out Crime

Do you know the story of Lizzie Borden?  Well one of the members of Stamp Out Crime featured the story on her ATC.  The above creation is by Aja M. 

I kind of know the story but looked it up just to make sure. 

Meet Lizzie

Information from Wikipedia

Lizzie Andrew Borden^[2] (July 19, 1860 – June 1, 1927) was a woman in New England who was tried for killing her father and stepmother with an axe on August 4, 1892, in Fall River, Massachusetts. The murders, subsequent trial, and ensuing trial by media became a cause célèbre. Although Lizzie Borden was acquitted, no one else was ever arrested or tried and she has remained a notorious figure in American folklore. Dispute over the identity of the killer or killers continues to this day.

Art Share ~ Stamp Out Crime

It's Monday (yuck!) but at the same time yea! because I get to share another Stamp Out Crime ATC.

This one is by Jacki G. aka Rubbercat.  She selected the 6th book in Shirley Rousseau Murphy's cat series, Cat Spitting Mad.

Winner of the Cat Writers' Association's
2001 Muse Medallion Award!

"I am a cat, Dulcie. A free spirit. A four-legged unencumbered citizen. I don't need to answer to any human."  Joe Grey is mad enough to spit! No matter what Clyde, his irritating human "owner," says, he's not keeping his paws off this case, not when Max Harper's life and the future of law enforcement in the town of Molena Point are at stake. While Joe has certainly delighted in playing countless smug tricks on Max Harper, Molena Point's head lawman, he's never had anything but respect for the dedicated cop. Now Harper is in trouble. Big trouble. Two of his horseback riding companions have been viciously murdered on the trail, and Dillon, the spunky young girl who accompanied them, is missing. All the evidence points to Harper, and he doesn't have a single witness--at least not a human one!--to vouch for his alibi. Joe knows Harper is innocent and is hissing to prove it--and to rescue his young friend Dillon before it is too late. He and Dulcie must keep their night-eyes sharp and their soft paws moving to avoid both a vicious killer and a hungry cougar prowling around the town's hills.

 

Masque of the Black Tulip, done up ATC Style

Hey Gang, this is my second creation for the new group I joined, Stamp Out Crime.  I selected the book The Masque of the Black Tulip by Lauren Willig (A Pink Carnation Novel).  It is the second in the series. 

In my mind this one looked a lot different than how it turned out, and yes, I am disappointed with the outcome.  I thought the masque would take up more room and be more decorative (I could have added more but I just ran out of time).  I do like all my Tulips, the open ones in the back (which look more like poppies to me but the stamp clearly said Tulips) and the 3D paperclay Tulip I sculpted, molded and mass produced. 

I should be getting returns for this swap any day now and I can't wait to see them.  This new group is great and we are even doing a Murder Mystery Read Along! 

I will be sharing more pieces by this group every Monday.



Art Share ~ Stamp Out Crime

Who doesn't know Janet Evanovich???  Well, me for one, I've never read a single one of her books.  Ruth D. of Stamp Out Crime decided to focus on the first of the Stephanie Plum Novels by Janet

I just love how Ruth made her ATC into a folder so she could include all the murderous details of this series.  18 Books! 

The first book is One for the Money

Watch out, world. Here comes Stephanie Plum, a bounty hunter with attitude. In Stephanie's opinion, toxic waste, rabid drivers, armed schizophrenics, and August heat, humidity, and hydrocarbons are all part of the great adventure of living in Jersey. — She's a product of the "burg," a blue-collar pocket of Trenton where houses are attached and na... more »rrow, cars are American, window are clean, and (God forbid you should be late) dinner is served at six.

Now Stephanie's all grown up and out on her own, living five miles from Mom and Dad's, doing her best to sever the world's longest umbilical cord. Her mother is a meddler, and her grandmother is a few cans short of a case.

Out of work and out of money, with her Miata repossessed and her refrigerator empty, Stephanie blackmails her bail bondsman cousin, Vinnie, into giving her a try as an apprehension agent. Stephanie knows zilch about the job requirements, but she figures her new pal, fearless bounty hunter Ranger, can teach her what it takes to catch a crook.

Her first assignment: nail Joe Morelli, a former vice cop on the run from a charge of murder one. Morelli is also the irresistible macho pig who took Stephanie's virginity at age sixteen and then wrote the details on the bathroom wall of Mario's Sub Shop. There's still powerful chemistry between these two, so the chase should be interesting.

It could also be extremely dangerous, especially when Stephanie encounters a heavyweight title contender who likes to play rough. Benito Ramirez is known for his brutality to women. At the very least, his obsession with Stephanie complicates her manhunt and brings terror and uncertainty into her life. At the worst, it could lead to murder. 

You Can read the first chapter of One For the Money HERE which I will be doing the next time I can't get my e-mail or blogger to work for me.

Art Share ~ Stamp Out Crime

It's that time again, time for another Stamp Out Crime ATC.  This one is by Mark H. and it represents a series of books by John J. Lamb

Mark's summary of the series is

"San Francisco detective Brad Lyon and his wife Ashleigh retire to Remmelkemp Mill, VA in the Shenandoah Valley, where they make artisan teddy bears and solve murders."

This series reminds me of my little sister who had the best teddy bears ever, she collected them from all over the world.  However, she hates mysteries so the connection is kind of ironic. 

This is book 1, The Mournful Teddy

When San Francisco PD Homicide Inspector Bradley Lyon was wounded in a gun battle and forced to retire, he and his wife, Ashleigh moved to her childhood home in a tiny rural community in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Now the couple works together making artisan teddy bears and adding to their enormous collection of stuffed animals. Their lives are peaceful and happy until Brad finds a murdered man floating in the river. When the sheriff refuses to investigate the killing, Brad and Ash begin their own inquiry and learn the dead man is connected to the theft of a rare and extremely valuable teddy bear produced to commemorate the sinking of the Titanic. The Mournful Teddy is the first in a series featuring Brad and Ash Lyon.

The above is book 5, the most recently published

While Brad pieces together his latest “Claw and Order” bear for a local teddy bear show, Ash—who’s now an auxiliary deputy sheriff—finds a local farmer done in by an arrow through his heart. The Lyon’s investigative skills may be razor-sharp, but this case has stumped them. Was it a hunting accident—or was the farmer being hunted? Now Brad and Ash must decipher the elusive clues of the murder while organizing their first teddy bear jubilee in town. And with the suspect list growing, they’ll have to work fast to root out a killer before more innocents become endangered…

At this time I have completed my second set of ATC's for the group Stamp Out Crime (so be looking for those soon) and I can't wait to see what everyone else has created and share them with all of you.

Art Share ~ Stamp Out Crime

What little girl didn't love the Nancy Drew Mysteries?  For Andrea L's contribution to the Stamp Out Crime ATC swap she selected one of my all time Favorite Nancy Drew Novels.  Andrea did a fantastic job incorporating all the major themes of this book, the lake house, the locket and even one of Niko Van Dyke's records! 

Nancy Drew and her friends are plunged into a network of strange events when they visit Misty Lake. The very night they arrive, they meet pretty, red-haired Cecily Curtis, who seeks Nancy's help in solving two mysteries: one concerning Cecily's fiance, Niko Van Dyke, a popular singer who believes that his record company is cheating him of royalt... more »y payments; the other, involving a family treasure hidden before the start of the Civil War--Cecily's only clue being half of a gold locket.

To view other Stamp Out Crime contributions please select the label stamp out crime from my blogs left hand sidebar. 

Art Share ~ Stamp Out Crime

It's anohter ATC by the Stamp Out Crime group.  This simple, sunny, bright piece was cretaed by our fearless leader Sarette.  She was inspired by the book bellow, Unraveled Sleeve by Monica Ferris.  It is the 4th in a series called the Needlecraft Mysteries.

The art of needlecraft requires patience, discipline, and creativity. So, too, does the art of detection. Just ask Betsy Devonshire—who’s learning that life in a small-town needlecraft shop can reveal an unexpected knack for knitting…and a hidden talent for unraveling crime.

Unraveled Sleeve

Betsy Devonshire has settled into her new home in Excelsior, Minnesota, as owner of the town’s needlecraft shop. So why is she suffering from terrifying nightmares? She hasn’t a clue—but she thinks maybe it would help to get away for a while. With her friend Jill in tow, she heads north for a “stitch-in” at a remote, rustic lodge. But her nightmares only get worse—especially after she finds a dead woman no one else had seen. Then the body disappears—and she knows she won’t get any rest until she untangles the mysterious threads of the crime….

Sarette really likes the Needlecraft Mystery's because she did a 2nd ATC inspired by it.  This ATC was created after she read Thai Die (Needlecraft Mystery, Bk 12) by Monica Ferris.  I need to ask Sarette if these books need to be read in order. 

Just back from a trip to Thailand, Doris Valentine is eager to show Betsy and her other stitching friends her souvenirs. She also has a small stone Buddha that she agreed to deliver to a local antiques store. When Doris meets the dealer, he's surprised she threw out the dirty rag it was wrapped in, though relieved the statue's delicate h... more »ands aren't damaged.

That night, Doris's apartment is broken into, and some of her souvenirs are stolen. Than the antiques shop owner is found murdered - and the Buddha is missing. Betsy starts to wonder about the dingy wrapper she retrieved from the trash - made of silk and stitched with rare, exotic embroidery. Is the statue dangerous, or did its silk cocoon conceal more than carved stone?

To view other Stamp Out Crime ATC's select the Label Stamp Out Crime from the left hand toolbar on this blog.  Enjoy!