The Clue of the Black Keys

It is time for a new Nancy Drew Challenge!  Today we're investigating #28, The Clue of the Black Keys, take a look:

Bill Gillies did the artwork for the OT on the left, and I think I heard in a podcast that he based his Nancy on his wife.  She seems to be wearing the same sweater she had on for The Secret of Red Gate Farm.  The scene is a bit crowded with the other three guys on the cover while they unearth literal buried treasure.

Rudy Nappi did the artwork for the RT on the right, it's the same scene but I like that this one only has Nancy and one other person in it so the focus is more on the treasure chest.  The silver is supposed to be tarnished so the black chest on the OT might be more accurate, but artistically, I like the brighter colors and focus of the RT art.  Plus you really get the jungley feeling with all the plants around Nancy.

Let's take a look at the mystery.

Case file:  Nancy is contacted by Terry Scott, a professor who was working on an archaeological dig in Mexico in search of treasure.  He and his partners found three black keys and a cipher stone, but now those items are missing and so is one of the professors working with Scott.  All Terry has is half of a black key.  Nancy's investigation leads her to Florida and then to Mexico and of course she finds the treasure and the missing professor.

Here's my card:

Of course I had to play with the idea of a black key for my card, and I remembered there was a key pattern in an old pack of DSP called Fan Fair, so that's where I started my card.  It was my great good luck that the colors match the colors Nancy and one of the men on the cover are wearing:

I used the map pattern for the background as well as the panel with the key and sentiment on it, I liked the map aspect because it makes me think of a treasure map, and Nancy travels in this one.  She's kinda Indiana Jones-ing it in this book.

Supplies, all SU!
Stamps:  Artifacts, You're a Gem
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Island Indigo
Paper:  Primrose Petals, Basic Black, Fan Fair DSP
Accessories:  Tasteful Labels Framelits, Rustic Metallic Dots, Dimensionals

On to the revised text:

The story plays out the same way as in the OT, just condensed to 20 chapters vs. 25.  Here's my card:

I really wanted to lean into the jungle theme on this card, so I chose the Tropical Oasis DSP.  The treasure in the book is inside of a silver frog and they call it "the frog treasure", so of course I had to use the little guy from Animal Outing, and that sentiment just makes me laugh.

I used two different extra-leafy tropical patterns to make it feel like the jungle is closing in on Mr. Frog there.  Shaded Spruce and Pretty Peacock aren't listed in the colors for the DSP, but they sure look like they're in it to me!  I popped up the Pool Party circle on Dimensionals, and then popped up the frog and his branch on another layer of Dimensionals.

Supplies, all SU!
Stamps:  Animal Outing & coordinating Paper Pumpkin stamp set that I don't know the name of
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Stampin' Blends in Shaded Spruce, Granny Apple Green, Soft Suede
Paper:  Shaded Spruce, Pretty Peacock, Thick Basic White, Tropical Oasis DSP
Accessories:  Animal Friends dies, Layering Circles Framelits, circle punch, Pretty Peacock metallic ribbon, Pretty Peacock Foiled Gems, Dimensionals

I enjoyed this installment, I give it four stars.  It's got some fun elements in it and who doesn't like looking for buried treasure?  If you are inspired by this book, leave me a comment as I would be delighted to see what you make too.  Stay tuned next Saturday when we unravel The Mystery at the Ski Jump.  Cheers!