OH DEAR OH DEAR OH DEAR Winnie the Pooh!

 OH DEAR OH DEAR OH DEAR!!!!!

Craft Roulette, Episode #248, my 63rd entry.... and my first and second idea(s) just weren't working for me...  I usually work around my initial idea(s) until they make sense and work... but this time, seems like I threw a few things in the garbage, and saved a colored image for a later project.  Not sure I will use it, you never know.  I knew, however, I wanted to use Pooh...and I knew, once I found it in my stash that is stored on our pool table, that I needed/wanted to use my honeycomb paper...  

Let me first start by saying...  I LOVE playing with my Winnie the Pooh stamps.  So much, that even though I have several in my stamps stash... I'm kind of thinking I may want to add a few more.

I don't have my rejects to show you, but basically, I was trying to create this card by having the honeypot on the front (after my first fail)....  HUGE visual difference there.  Not even sure what I was thinking there...  I knew I needed a bigger image ... so, this is a multi-stamp set card.

  My original art included an adorable lil Pooh climbing a tree, (that set includes the special bumble bees and the honey hive/branch)...  I colored and cut it up way too impulsively, and it just wasn't fitting the color images that were strongly going around in my head... so I thought...the POT and HIVE will do instead, I hadn't planned to use those in the beginning...but after nixing Pooh in tree...I still needed a branch for parameter #4, so I colored up the hive and pot....

  I did have the pot in the spot of where current Pooh is after I decided not to use the tree Pooh....  It then looked naked and empty and tiny.  SO...I slept on it... and my next stab at it...was to first safely put my previously colored Pooh in Tree in a place for future use (I put it with the actual cleaned up set)...(It's such a cute image, I know I'll use it one day)... then gently remove the pot that I impulsively adhered to the card....and in that spot...put a big Pooh in it's place.  That's where stamp set #2 was used.

Then there were my leaves... I dug through so many dies I possess, to find something that might look like tree leaves...  What color green cardstock will work?  geesh...none, after multiple tries.   BUT...  Something I have never done, but saw one night from a guest on Craft Roulette, was to die cut in white, and color with alcohol markers...  ahhhh...the creative wheels started turning, and the rest is shown here on this post!!!  lol  IF, and probably when, I recreate this card...it is so dang simple, once I figured it out!

It's like sewing...some times, you simply need to sleep on it...

Parameters:

1.  Project:  Tag (my Pooh is on a tag)

2.  Colors:  Disney (Pooh is Disney! So Pooh colors = Disney colors)

3.  Element:  January (January 18th is National Winnie the Pooh Day)

4.  Random:  Branch (Honey hive is on a branch)

Supplies:  One of my favorite and "go to" stamp companies, Unity Stamp Company  and shout out to Cardstock Warehouse where I am loving the good deals Almost Perfect Cardstock Paper and what I used for my base (Stardream Bronze)

Stamps:

Winnie the Pooh: Oh, Dear

Winnie the Pooh: Honey Pooh

Card Stock:  

Stardream Pearlescent Metallic

So, busy is starting again for me, but I hope to sneak in a craft roulette tonight...I never know what company / stamp set I will choose from...it's all up to Mr. Wheel, and which parameter will be spun!

Let the Good Times Roll!

Monday starts the Carnival Season for Mardi Gras 2025.  I don't want to write like I'm an expert, because I certainly am not...just a gal from the Pacific NW, who, she and her husband, a few years ago, went to visit her Brother In Law in Mississippi.  We decided to head to Gulfport during Mardi Gras week...but quickly found out... (after attending an authentic Mardi Gras party at the home of a former "King and Queen") that this isn't limited to a week...  The Carnival Season starts on the Twelfth Night, (January 5th or the 6th, depending on which day you start counting from Christmas)... and will go on all the way up to Fat Tuesday.  Forgive me if I am not correct on my facts or editing my knowledge...I have so much to learn about this celebration that has been going on in the US since the first in Mobile, AL, 1703.  (Care to share facts or memories, I encourage you to post in the comments!!!)  My memory includes parades (one a little on the wild side, Biloxi, MS, the other very family friendly in Gulfport)  (One of us even got  hit in the forehead with some heavy beads at the first, not me)

Now... on to my card(s) ...  There is no secret how much I enjoy crafting with a handful of companies... You have seen many designs using the stamps from:  

Kindred Stamps / Scrappy Boy Stamps / Unity Stamp Company

All three of those companies are my "go to" favorites, although I have started to quickly add a few more to the mix ... you will most likely see designs from those newly found favorites in the future!

I was thrilled to use a set from Scrappy Boy Stamps:  Cute Girls Mardi Gras

I have quite the collection of the Cute Girls, they are easy to fussy cut to the line, and of all the images I've ever colored skin on, for some reason, I find these the easiest.  I'm still working on hair, not sure I'll ever find my groove with hair...although, I'm getting better.  Hair isn't easy for me, especially black, so I avoid.

This weeks Craft Roulette episode #247 parameters were:  

1. Card for a Craft Friend:  I have been corresponding with another Craft Roulette participant, every Friday night, we compare notes, and messenger each other.  I made this for her, as I have learned she is very familiar with Mardi Gras, as it's her heritage and she lives in the South!  
2. Pretty Paper Colors:   If you are familiar, you will 100% understand:  Graphic 45 ...  When I think of pretty paper, there is no company that I look first to other than Graphic 45.  That doesn't mean I don't have stacks and stacks of very pretty paper from other companies, but...my #1 is  Graphic 45 . I was disappointed when the value pack (I think it was 24ish, papers only) pads of 12x12 were discontinued, or at least I haven't found them anymore.  I still can buy the "kits", but, I loved having those extra sheets for dimension fussy cutting...so beautiful.
3. Bell(s) of Belle Element:  Look close....there are bells on the Jester/Joker Hat!
4. Something Gold Random:  I'm still on that sparkly paper kick...I have been buying it up as I go...  You can stamp on it easily, my feathers are stamped on, and I used as a border too...  Gold enamel dots reminded me of Mardi Gras beads...

2022 Mardi Gras Parades ... Night pictures, Biloxi, MS ...  Day pictures, Gulfport, MS

The night parade started out fairly tame, but ended up a little wild and crazy, as it was quite clear, the participants on the floats, many were having a very good time!

 

 

 

 

Mardi Gras Day

 

Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler!

 

Smitten by Cute Friends

I'm totally smitten by this kitten set of stamps from Kindred Stamps!  Cute Friends is one of the new releases from Kindred Stamps launching this Friday, December 20th, 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time.  I felt sparkly sparkly and more sparkly when designing with this fun set, that I decided to include sparkle paper and that fun sticker holograph paper for my ink blended backgrounds on all of my projects.  (The sky really is the limit with that holographic paper...so fun to play with!!!)  

I decided I wanted to get an early start on Valentines, and what a great set this is for that!!!  Hearts and sparkly purrrrrfect!!!   I promised myself to do something QUICK ...  and EASY ... as I plan to do a whole bunch of these cute lil friends cards made for 2025 Valentines Day.  I can't emphasize enough how versatile I'm finding the Stitched Alpha Die Set to be when designing quick cards and scrapbook pages!  

 

An easy way to make a rainbow is to use a nesting set of circle dies, you can "nest them" together, and when you cut them out, you will get a set of "rays" ... simply cut them in half  and  there you go, perfectly lined up rays!  You will end up with lots for future use... this is where I "save for a rainy day" in my stash.

 

My next project reminded me of a set of fraternal twins...we have a girl/boy set of twins in our family, and these precious star babes reminded me of them when they were littles.   My "littles" were very close in age too, so they may as well have been twins, the boy girl combo siblings are so so sweet!  This would make a perfect baby shower card for a new mom who is having boy/girl twins, or how sweet would it be for your littles to give a card like this to a grandparent or special person!  I didn't hold back on the sparkly here!  I used a circle die here to make my moon.  I first cut a big circle out, then took that circle die again, and positioned it in my Big Shot to cut a chunk out of it!  Very easy way to get a moon, just like the rainbow! 

Last but certainly not least... my personal favorite of them all!  This was my Smitten Kitten card!  Once again, I found the Stitched Alpha Die Set to come in very handy!  

So there you have it...  one of the fabulous sets included in the last 2024 new release for Kindred Stamps  

I for one, am glad this holiday season is winding down.  After 38 years of "holidays" in our chocolate facility, I feel beaten up, physically and emotionally.  Putting an hour in here and there, during this very HARD holiday season, stamping with my Cute Friends set really gave me the happy vibe...  I KNOW you will want to pounce on!!!  :)

And a final note...I do use affiliate links here on my blog.  If you do choose to use them, it is of no extra costs to you, but it gives me a little extra incentives, which I turn around and use to keep on plugging away at my crazy paper crafting fun!

 

Cute Girls Bake for the Holidays! :)

 Tis the time of the year, where you see cookies cookies and more cookies on counter tops of kitchens everywhere!  I'm not much of a cookie baker, my sister is...she actually does those fancy sugar cookies, decorated for small and large events, her talent is off the charts!

I was drawn to the Cute Girls Stamps line by Scrappy Boy Stamps quite some time ago, I even took advantage of the ridiculously HUGE savings/sale this last week for "Better Than Black Friday", which is now the  "Black Friday" sale...both HUGE savings on such a fun stamp line from a company that is above and beyond for customer service and the "fun factor".  I'm sure if you peruse this blog of mine, you will see MANY examples of Scrappy Boy stamps ...  fun fun fun.

A couple of weeks ago, Craft Roulette parameters just fell into place using one of the Cute Girls...the timing of the holidays, the sale, and my mood... all the stars aligned to give this result!

This card was the result of the following parameters for episode #241 of Craft Roulette:

1. Z-fold card:  (This may be my very first ever z-fold...after 25ish years of card making.  So easy and so fun...there may be one or two in there from the past...may be my Hansel and Gretel card could qualify...I will make more.  The key to it:  USE DOUBLE SIDED DESIGNER PAPER!!!  I did and am now on a trend with it, based on my #242 episode Craft Roulette entry... (previous blog post)
2. Scarecrow Colors:  My inspiration for these colors was found from the Scarecrow of the Wizard of Oz.  Brownish/kraft/hunter greenish/burgundy vibe here...  Once thinking about the Wiz, I started thinking of yellow brick roads and such...out comes the glittery gold paper and glitter red embossing powder...  see how one inspiration can lead to the next?!
3. Baking Element:  Cute Girls Cute Girls Cute Girls!  I have the cooking set, and love love love it!!!  Cute Girls Cooking from Scrappy Boy...  Most of the cute girls have 5 different girl images per set...  (I say 1 for myself and each of my 4 sisters!)  Although I'm not a cookie baker...this is me.  I'm pretending the dough on the front is actually cinnamon rolls.  lol  (to know me is to know me)
4. Crinkle Inkle Random:  This technique, I have hoped wouldn't pop up.  Why oh why did I think that!?  It was fun!  You crinkle a piece of paper (or crinkle anything actually)...ink it up...and texture your paper up!  If you look close...you will see it all over my kraft paper.  fun fun fun!!!  I even Crinkle Inkled my Creative Companion page!  Creative Companion, where I journal every Craft Roulette entry!

 I added a little extras from a retired Stamping Up! (ornaments)  stamp (never inked up!!!) and I used a couple of the fun little stamps found in a previous Stamp Advent Calendar from Unity Stamps .  I didn't get one this year, I wish I had, it was fun the year that I did...with 25 cute stamps, that I have found I've used quite a bit over the years.  Very versatile and handy!  

 So, tonight is Craft Roulette night!  I'm not sure I'll participate this week or not, I have a lot on my plate for the next few weeks, and sleep might win over extra creative time.  We are in for the home stretch in my chocolate business, and I have several hundred gift baskets shipping over the course of a couple of weeks...  We will see how smooth that goes!

Hope you all had a GREAT Thanksgiving!!!!

 

Fun Farm Day

 This week's Craft Roulette took me to the 100 Acre Woods where sis and I spent an Autumn Day on the farm creating memories...  We pretended like we were running not running, like we were going to fall off a haystack (we were safe), made a zucchini scarecrow, and posed on the tractor, taking pictures all the way.  (I actually have scrapbook this memory).  I almost forgot I was working on Craft Roulette with this one, it was so fun recollecting the precious moments we spent exploring on the farm.  I knew I wanted to use this stamp when the parameter "fence" popped up!

If I think it through, I may have been able to get exactly 2 cards per piece of 12x12 double sided designer paper including enough for the 1-1/4" belly band.  I'm spent awhile doing math, and decided enough of that...so, although each 12x12 piece of paper will make 2 cards, there may only be enough "trim" for 1 belly band.  The kraft version was my original choice, but if it were my preference, I'd go with the matching citrus greenish one.  I'm overthinking this!  lol!

I used for supplies:  

• 1.  Ancient double sided designer paper from my stash of hundreds and hundreds if not thousands of pieces of precious paper.  I say USE THEM UP... there is ALWAYS more to be found around craftland if you run out....
• Ribbon:  Pretty sure I bought this from one of my ribbon suppliers I use in our chocolate biz...I've had it too, forever....it kind of looked like you'd see this on a farm
• Stamps:  Making Memories With Pooh Bear  from Unity Stamps .  Unity has to be one of my top favorite companies out there.  The quality of their stamps are above and beyond, and the artists / images are very cool.  I found them a few years ago, and find they are a "go to" for me for Craft Roulette!  I have a couple "go to's" if I had to pick 1 "go to", I'd probably pick Unity, as I have a very versatile collection of their stamps, they are easy to color and fussy cut too.  If I need something quick with a very cool image and sentiment, Unity definitely has all that!

 Craft Roulette Parameters:

• 1.  Gate fold Card
• Product Aisle Colors
• Fence Element
• Crumpled Paper Random

 I'm pretty sure I missed a Craft Roulette Entry a week or so ago, I'll add that in a day or 2...  

Trudi

Family Choir

 Today I'm sharing a fun new stamp set from Kindred Stamps named  Family Choir .  I created 3 different projects, great to send to music enthusiasts, or a friend or family member who is starting a new venture! 

 

My first project using the Kindred Stamps Card Box Die Set took me to the mountain tops, where fresh air, wildflowers and blue skies can bring on the whimsical feeling of twirling and singing and enjoying life!  This card folds flat and fits in an A2 envelope, although I will most likely mail it in a small padded bubblelope.  This bright, cheery card is being sent to a friend who is going through some tough life stuff,  I hope it brings a smile to her face, as it did mine while I created it.  These are remarkably quick and easy to put together, I'm sure I'll be using this card box die many times in the future.

 

For this collection I used the Tree Scene Craft Die , one I have used MANY MANY MANY times over the last few years.  In a later post on a later day, I'll share some of the projects I've created using this die.  It is at my fingertips at all times, especially this time of year for winter and holiday scenes, so many reasons to  have this die! 

 

 

 

 

For my second project, I decided to ink blend and stencil, both of which is a fairly new skill I'm working on.  I used the Kindred Stamps  Forest Stencil  and 2 different green shades of Distress Oxides ink to give the trees a bit of visual interest and depth.  I'm finding stenciling a bit addicting, and it's an easy quick way to get a scene background for card projects.  Distress Oxides are fun, although I didn't do it on this project, you can gently sprinkle water on the inked pages and achieve a splatters look, like snow or rain.  

My last project, was actually inspired by my first...  I have been hesitant to do any kind of pop up card, but after doing my card box card, and seeing they really aren't difficult, but actually pretty easy to do....I thought I'd give it a bold try for a bigger card.  I've always thought they looked complicated.   My Mom has purchased fancy pop up cards online for friends and aunts over the years, and I KNOW they love them....so, after 25ish years of serious paper crafting ... I designed my first "pop up" card.  Yep, I will be doing more.... I can think of many people who I'd love to send some happy mail to this holiday, so be on the lookout for more "pop ups".  And ... I will say it now...  NEVER SAY NEVER ... 

Along with the new Family Choir set I used the Stitched Alpha Die Set .  It's nice to have an alphabet die set close by for quick and efficient use when creating cards!  I cut and scored the "steps" in 1" increments, fiddling around with the folds to get the "steps"  I did watch a YouTube tutorial, it's pretty easy to understand.  I will say, I used a very thick card stock, it stands up nice and tall, the folds might have been a bit easier with a thinner grain, but, I anchored this shut with a bow, so it's a fun surprise to open!  I left the front fairly simple, with the patterned paper used on the paper pieced clothes!  

You can find this stamp set and other new releases available on Friday, November 22, just in time to have for the holidays!  The release goes live 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time.  There are other new fun sets to be on the lookout for too, be sure to follow the Kindred Stamps November 2024 Release Event  this week, you won't want to miss out~!

Lastly, if you do choose to purchase this set, Family Choir, or any of the supplies I used, or even other new releases, you can find easy access:  Kindred Stamps through my affiliate link.  It is of no extra costs to you, but sends a little my way, and I thank those who have helped support my paper passion, past, present and future!!!

As I close this post for the day ...  Remember ... SING!  

You ALWAYS have SOMETHING to SING about!!!!!!!!!

Blast From the Past Thursday?

 Sounds good to me!  So many projects have never made it to the big screen here on my blog...and as I'm trying to put life into this blog, I thought I'd pop a former creation on here every now and then.  Maybe on Thursdays?  I have and still continue to learn.  I'm not from the generation of technology, so this is all self taught .. I remember the days in our chocolate biz when our brochures were without pictures, just very good descriptions... we must be good writers, because we managed to ship nationwide back then, and still do.  Enter the 21st century, we don't even mail a brochure through the pony express system, just a click of a button, and wowla!!!  brochure done.  We write  it ourselves, I suspect if we invested in a professional photographer, we would benefit...but hey, we made it this far ...  starting our 39th year!  So....  Here you go...  a creation from the past, and a little bit of chocolate too!  

Scrapbooking....it's what started this crazy obsession of mine....  

I made this, around 2008ish / 2009 part of a gift for a sister of mine.

And as promised...some Christmas chocolate!  A chocolate lump of coal!!!!  This is and remains to be one of our best selling holiday items!  It's kind of a tradition now for many of our chocolate customers to pop one of these in their kiddo's stockings.  Many a corporate client has given these out during the holidays, we even have sold in very high quantities to a coal company!  

 

Chocolate Lump of Coal  (don't worry, we don't require those minimums...this is for our distributors)

Adams Place Country Gourmet, Inc.   (one of 2 Facebook pages, long story)

Adams Place Country Gourmet, Inc.  (first Facebook page, not sure how the 2nd one happened, lol)

It truly is a long story how we ended up with 2 different Facebook pages.  I can't figure out how to merge, so we attempt to maintain them both.  We are working on a new website, another work in progress thing.  (The first is through our association we belong to...it's informational...we do respond to e-mails:  adamspl@aol.com  Adams Place Country Gourmet, Inc e-mail   Plans were for 2024....looks like 2025 it is!  When it happens, we will be singing from the rooftops about it!  Life does happen to get in the way!  Right now, priority #1 is to get those chocolate orders out asap, lots of company parties, client gifts, and some many customers depend on things getting to them in time!  

Be on the lookout for some VERY! VERY! fun projects for the upcoming  Kindred Stamps release!!!  Event starts next week, release day is:  November 22!  Til then!  :)