The Ringmaster's Secret

Happy Saturday and that means it's time for a new Nancy Drew Challenge!  We are now at #31, The Ringmaster's Secret:

Both covers are by Rudy Nappi, and on the left we have a scene from the book.  That is NOT George in the tutu (George would never), it's Nancy's new friend Lolita who is an aerialist in the circus.  I think this cover is very busy, with so many different colors going on.

The revised text cover is simpler and actually reminds me of the revised cover for #8, Nancy's Mysterious Letter, with the main colors being dark reds and pinks.  This one is redder than the Mysterious Letter and for once Nancy is much smaller on the cover than the main antagonist, who is certainly creepy.

I think I have to give it to the revised text cover for this one.  Plus, since it has a lot to do with horses, this was one of my favorite Nancy Drews as a kiddo : )  Let's take a look:

Case file:  Nancy's Aunt Eloise gives her a golden bracelet with horse charms that has a mysterious past tied to a circus performer, so Nancy immediately joins the circus that just came to town as a trick rider (she has suddenly taken up trick riding and this is Never Mentioned Again).  She becomes friends with teenaged aerialist Lolita, who wants to elope with her clown boyfriend but her controlling foster father the mercurial ringmaster won't allow it.  Nancy discovers what really happened to Lolita's mother, gets the ringmaster and his accomplices arrested, and performs several times with the circus in between getting kidnapped with George, temporarily blinded by toxic fumes, and taking a quick trip to the UK.  She's very busy.

Here's my card:

I chose Boho Blue for my main color to match Nancy's dress, and I went with the lion image because a.) it's circusy and b.) there is a lion in the book--at the climax of the novel, the ringmaster opens the lion's cage and tries to push Nancy inside, but it's Ned who gets scratched saving Nancy.  Again, it is dangerous to be friends with Nancy.

I worked in the Pear Pizzazz and Real Red from the background on the book cover as colors for my balloons, but couldn't work in any pink for Lolita's outfit.  Still, I liked this plaid pattern I used because it felt kind of circusy to me?  Cannot explain that one, it just is.

Supplies, all SU!
Stamps:  Bonanza Buddies
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Darling Duckling, Cinnamon Cider, Calypso Coral, Pear Pizzazz, Real Red
Paper:  Boho Blue, Calypso Coral, Thick Basic White, Timeless Plaid DSP Stack
Accessories:  Bonanza dies, Stitched Rectangles dies, Stitched Shapes dies, Dimensionals, Fine Sparkle Gems

Next up is the revised text:

No major plot changes and let me just say that this book is ever so much better than the previous circus-themed Nancy Drew, the hot mess that is The Mystery of the Ivory Charm, which is still the low point of the series as far as I'm concerned.  Here's my card:

I wanted to do something with a horse image since that's what's on the cover of this book, and the golden horse bracelet is the catalyst for the mystery this time...though they never explain why a European queen would give a dainty horse bracelet to Lolita's mother, who was an aerialist and not a trick rider.

As I said before, this cover reminds me of the RT cover for Nancy's Mysterious Letter, and once again I did a monochromatic card in pinks and reds, this time with some gold for the gold bracelet in the book.  I did use Tip Top Taupe for the shading on the horse and this is the first card I've made with Let It Ride since I acquired it on eBay last year.  I also used the Fan Fair DSP pack that I used when I made my card for the OT Clue of the Black Keys.  I decided to tear the edge of the panel with the horse to mimic the edges of the painting on the book cover, and I chose a ticket shape for the greeting to go with the circus theme.  I think about these things, y'all.

Supplies, all SU!
Stamps:  Let It Ride
Ink:  Versamark, Merry Merlot, Primrose Petals
Paper:  Primrose Petals, Merry Merlot, Thick Basic White, Fan Fair DSP
Accessories:  Tags & Labels dies, Clear EP, Gold EP, Dimensionals, Gold Brushed Metallic Dots

I still love The Ringmaster's Secret, it's so much fun I give it five stars.  If you're inspired to make a card, please leave me a comment here with a link so I can see!  And don't forget to check back next Saturday, when Nancy will investigate The Scarlet Slipper Mystery.  Cheers!