King of the Beach!

 My Craft Roulette for the week...

 

I played around on my desktop yesterday, and it created a little video for me, lol....like I know what I'm doing...that being said, taking a picture of a Z fold card...is HARD...so, video it is...now I'm intrigued to take a stab at a REAL video someday....  I guess in my free time!

It's only 4-5 seconds...lol...I definitely would need a different setup for a real one.

So, craft roulette this week:

A Z Fold Card is a z-shaped card.  There are TONS of ideas if you google, a good description of one is:

"First, fold it in half, then fold the "top half" back on itself to create that "z" shape."

Often, you will see a little panel adhered to the first (2-1/8" folded piece) folded part...That would be where "Chester" is on my card....I didn't want to do this, because I have a volleyball net there, although I was envisioning adhering my volleyball half on the fold, so when you opened the card, it would "move"...if that makes sense.  It still gave the illusion of moving where I placed it.  #1 parameter easy peasy to make...a little hard to photo...and a challenge to one handed do a video.

Summer Vacation:  Many a summer we have spent at the Seaside Amateur Beach Volleyball Tournament where my daughter has played.  Her "team" even won their division once, it was a BUNCH of fun prizes per player...like several hundred dollars worth, including an official "Kind of the Beach" volleyball.  HUGE tournament, I hear the largest amateur beach volleyball tournament in North America, if not the WORLD...yep...the WORLD...it's huge and you cannot see the end of beach nets all the way along the beach...that huge.  (Plus there are professional well known players there, playing for $....it's such a fun time...)  Seaside, Oregon colors for my summer vacation, #2 parameter.

Volleyball...of course....what other summer game would come to mind?  I suppose baseball could have, but...but...but... I wanted the BEACH!!!  #3 parameter...took me to the ocean....

Add a Cat, #4 parameter.  So, my FIRST idea, was to do a sport, with a Lions or Tigers jersey.  We.Are.Lions...  The MIGHTY MIGHTY Lions, so, I could have easily done that.  (Colors of jersey, orange and black...)...  I could have done other sports...but...vacation?  hmmmm...  That would be too broad of an explanation I feel...I really like to take these colors literally.  So, orange and black on my mind, the first CAT I thought of was Chester. .  I could not get that idea out of my head...the more I thought about it, how silly to be playing beach ball with Chester the Cheetah, the more I was having fun with it.  I've had a LOT of tears lately, too many... I needed a little silly this weekend.  I see several things I could have done better to perfect this card, (and my video, lol)...but... I truly don't want to overthink, overstress, over analyze a card, of all things, which is supposed to be FUNn....  After all, that's what all of this is supposed to be about, right?  FUN.

Thanks for stopping by, my days have become much more free, now that the PUSH is behind me.  I still have ick on my plate, but, it's manageable.  It was a little too much, those paperwork months, oh the joys of being self-employed.  Now, I can kick back and relax a little, and make my cards.  I need to kick around some ideas a bit, I might be adding some fun to The Trudio Studio, just giving it some thought!

I Hope Our Paths Cross Again!

 Today I'm sharing the set:  Night and Day, available in the Kindred Stamps May New Release.  Perfect for a soulmate couple, I can see this set used for anniversary cards, and even for times when you have to spend time apart for a spell.  In my family I've witnessed several who have had to live long distance for a bit, whether it be job, medical or college related, or even long travel, etc.  I know it's not fun, but it's not permanent either, and sending a special card of affirmation, sure can make things a little easier!

 

 

My first card, I've used a couple of Kindred die sets:  Card Basics and Bare Trees.  I used the smaller circle in the Cards Basics die collection to mask a daybreak sun on a colored blended background.  I used Distress Oxides to color blend my sky,  then did a repeat stamping of one of the two sentiments included in the Night and Day set.  I finished the card by adding a couple of die cut trees, and a landscape as well.  Lastly, my characters, colored up with Ohuhu Alcohol Markers,  and fussy cut by me, were added, the narrating character popped up with dimension dots.  

 

My second card, I used the same circle to mask a sunset dusk sun.  I felt I needed to "ground" my characters, as my landscape was a little deeper than I intended, and the blank space was telling my eyes to add something.  Originally, I included the second sentiment, but, after it was adhered, I had a change of plans. I decided to add a little border instead, using the same die, which then popped the strip up a bit for dimension as well.  When I don't want/need lots of dimension, I will often cut card stock to adhere to the back of my image and adhere a thicker fussy cut image that way.  I did this with the heads only, of the 2 characters, as the body was one card stock thickness, applied on the landscape, making 2 thickness applied to the colored blended background.  The heads then, needed the same 2 thickness, so I evened it out, by cutting a circle /  head shaped piece to the backs of the heads of my people.  By doing this, the image will apply all the same level and not glue down curvy.

 

 

 

  I did have a blooper on this card.  I wanted to print the sentiment directly on the background.  It did NOT stamp clear, the stamp didn't apply all the ink, so, I added the banner sentiment strip over my bloop.  It's the risk you take after applying all the elements, after carefully ink blending a background....I tend to get impatient and skip the stamp platform part.  Instead, I usually grab my clear blocks, stamp a practice one or 2 until I'm satisfied...then hold my breath and stamp my card.  Well $#*t! (bad word here) ... who says that mistakes can't be fixed.  After dedicating precious time, you bet they can be.

  

Fun New Product for Me..... 

I have been playing with some new alcohol markers, and am really liking these Ohuhu Alcohol Markers.   I have other sets of Ohuhu markers and LOVE them, but these are different than my others.  They have a brush tip and it looks like they are refillable.  I have never refilled a marker (even my Copics), I won't lie, I'm intimidated to...so, I keep buying inexpensive alcohol markers sets, lol.  I MIGHT take the plunge and try to refill one or two of these, as needed.  I LOVE the price as compared to other popular brands...I truly think they color just as nice, and I'm not too emotional if I run out of ink, or need to toss a pen or 2.  I will say, though, the colors may not be as spot on (matching the caps), but, truly, I don't care.  I'm not that precise with what color I use, I just play along and if I think it looks nice, I'm good with it.  I have marker sets everywhere, and I will say, I would gladly recommend these.

So, finishing up this post, I do have an announcement to make.  These cards, unfortunately, are my last cards representing Kindred Stamps on the design team.  My time has come to an end.  I've contributed for almost 2 years, and really have enjoyed my time contributing with this very talented team of designers.  I want to take this time to thank those of you who stopped by my blog to visit, and truly thank Audra for giving me the opportunity to represent her company and showcase my work with her wildly fun stamps.  It certainly isn't the end of me in the craft world.  I'll still be posting here, I try to weekly, with my Craft Roulette entries, plus I'll get back to the labor intense cookbook I'm making.  (It may be 5 years from now, when that puppy is finished, lol.)  Of course, I hope to pop in on the Kindred Fan Facebook page too, with new creations, I adore my Kindred stamps, and find them perfect for many of my paper projects.  I'll too, be on the lookout to perhaps dabble in design again, if a good fit with another company were to cross my path, I'm open to suggestions, referrals too, and pretty loyal to the end!  I truly enjoyed my time on the team, oh how it helped me get through some very hard life, I had card design on my mind through some pretty sad times, I was able to stay busy.  So, once again, thank you Audra, and thanks to all who liked and commented on the Kindred fan page,  or stopped by here to see my designs.  I hope you all still pop by every now and then, I will be sharing some fun ideas and such in the future!  :)

In the meantime, the new release becomes available this Friday:  Kindred Stamps 

 

 

Cawffee Tawk

 Somehow, I'm picturing this with an East Coast accent, thus the "cawffee tawk" vibe here.  I actually JUST got off the phone with a customer with this accent, so, it's kind of in my brain.  Well...here you go...a blog post about my thought process with this card.  First of all, I REALLY love doing simple.  

If you have known my style over the course of almost 30 years for card making, you will know that I am not really a CLEAN AND SIMPLE card maker...I've gone from "everything but the kitchen sink" style to "many many many dimensions" style to ink blending (trying on that) to flat cards for mailing purposes, and dabbled so very slightly in SIMPLE!  I have to admit, I have no clear favorite, I truly let my instincts lead me.

So...I'll start out with the parameters for Craft Roulette this week...it is kind of what lead me to my very simple card.....

I decided to work with the wedding colors first.  When it comes to the color parameter...I truly do take it literally.  All too often, a color parameter will pop up that really can be EVERY COLOR (justified) under the sun.  That's not as challenging for me, it makes me have to think too, so if I were to recreate this card with a different color palette...I'd probably add more soft pink/blush and maybe a vintage sage green or light blue?  I see this card so very different, now that it's finished...but, I first, didn't have very much time this week, and I am trying to NOT OVERTHINK anymore.  I'm having way more fun not agonizing over creative decisions.  So...back to color:

This weekend, I was lucky enough to spend time with my grown up daughter and a couple of her volleyball college teammates at their yearly alumni match.  We all became practically family those 4 years of her time at EOU, it was through the Covid days, the bonding is like nothing I can describe.  I am glad to still be in touch, and happy that my daughter is too, as these young women have all started navigating their lives beyond college... (Plus a big bonus to watch them play together again).  One of her teammates, shared her plans of her upcoming wedding this fall...and fully knowing that wedding colors was the color parameter...I started quizzing!  I decided whatever her colors were...was what my card would be.  :)  I LOVE her palette... Neutrals:

My choice of stamp set...  My selection process starts out by choosing 2-4 options...  I was looking for chocolate molds/patterned paper, cakes/cupcakes/sugary foods?  Nothing was screaming my name to coordinate with my neutral colors.  Nothing.  Then I ran across a blast from the past.  We are talking back in the early 2000s.  I absolutely FELL.IN.LOVE with a retired company called "Crafty Secrets".  My only regret, is that I didn't load up with MORE of their sets before they officially stopped making their fun vintage style sets.  I know I can find them on Etsy, but, way too much out there in craft land, for me to go that direction...I'm good with my supply.  That being said, I am smitten by their line...and IF they were still releasing new stamp sets, it's possible my craft style and vendor list, may be very different today, because this company was probably my favorite at the time and maybe of all time.  Anyhow, once I saw the word "Sweetie"...I knew this was the set for me.

Now to address parameters 1 & 4 ...  I never knew or even heard of a 4 Bar Card.  I was originally thinking of not going this route, but making a card with 4 actual bars on it.  I have a set with a pub, I have a slot machine, I think, bar bells, etc.  Once I learned that a 4 Bar card is an actual card size...I didn't think twice about making this cute fun size:  3-1/2" x 4-7/8", also known as an A1.  I adored making this size...  It looks like it is the smallest size accepted by USPS, with standard mail rates, I learned something new...I sure enjoy making these unique sized cards...  Thanks Craft Roulette!  :)

Last parameter:  A Touch of Gray.   It's more "charcoal gray", but...if you look close,  the watch face is gray, the starbursts are stenciled gray, and the "houndstooth" pattern includes amongst the neutrals, a charcoal dark gray...  (so much more evident in real life....)

So there you have it.  This is a super simple card...but, any time I tried to bling bling it up, as in coloring up my character on the front...I just wasn't feeling it.  I could have picked other wedding colors, but, after my "research" and start of this card...I wasn't about to change.  I got a late start with the card as it was, and it was either not participate this week at all...or move along with what I had started.  That being said... IF I were to redo...I do see maybe a splash of blush (similar to the soft blush I did put on her cheek)...and possibly a soft sage / turquoise type green.  I didn't want to lose the vintage vibe...  I am satisfied, and I guess that's the most important thing!  It's so fun to use some sets from the past, and it doesn't surprise me one bit...that I have the perfect patterned paper easily available in my insanely large stash of supplies!  So, on to next week CR.

I will be posting next week too, the latest, Kindred Stamps May Release.  I'll have a little announcement with it as well, so stay tuned early next week for all of that!  :)

Bye for now!

Trudi

Paper Dolls for Grown Ups

 I want to be sure my description sounds right.  Adult paper dolls doesn't sound right, it sounds not PG actually, so, I hope "Grown Ups" sounds like I really mean it.  I'm a grown up that likes to play with stamps/inks and paper...and I am very smitten by one of the very fun suppliers I buy from.  First of all, let me start out by saying...I am not an affiliate here, just a very adoring customer of Riley and Company  A few years ago, I discovered that Riley and Company owns the line of stamps, Mushroom Lane.  I thought these were discontinued years and years ago, when Cornish Heritage Farms left the industry.  I honestly didn't know the business deals/arrangements or proper terminology to speak on any of it, I just knew I LOVED Mushroom Lane, and was disappointed to see them end (or so I thought so).... Little did I know, Riley and Company carried on with the line, it may have been their line in the first place, like I said, I don't know the backstory, just happy to see they still exist, so fun!   (I highly encourage anyone to go take a peek...such creativity)

Back.To.Paper Dolls....

Riley and Company, has not only Mushrooms, Riley the Moose, and Funny Bone Sentiments, but an incredibly fun line called:   Dress Up Riley  With 12 character options (really 13, because Dress Up Raccoon/Fox can be made with a mask or without, so much fun and empowering to stamp that little mask on the fox face!  I know this, because I've done it!  lol  In addition to these really fun characters, (accompanying dies are available), so many options of "dress up" sets.  The clothing on each set is designed to perfectly fit ANY AND ALL of the fun characters.  I used the Dress Up Crocodile for my  character, I think the little crocs that come with it, sort of tied in with one of the parameters for this week's Craft Roulette.  

A little explanation here to my choices to fit the 4 parameters.  First of all, by having parameters, the design process actually is quite easy, compared to starting out with no limits.  I have been designing now for close to 30 years, and starting with a blank canvas, just a "I want to use this stamp set"... or "I want to scrapbook this picture"... I have found myself literally taking weeks to come up with the "perfect" result.  Since Craft Roulette, I've found that making decisions are much easier, which is exactly what I need in my fun life.  My professional life gets tired of making the decisions all the time, and it's nice to have someone helping out with that ... afterall, crafting is supposed to be fun.

Sooooooooooooooo.  My process..... With Craft Roulette, I will narrow options down considerably by typically taking whatever parameter jumps out at me and picking my choices from that.  If it's something easily adaptable, like making a square card, or A2, or even last week's A9...it really doesn't matter what stamp set I choose...back to making too many decisions, and it will deter me from even trying if I have to think too much.  So....taking the parameters that are a little more tricky, I'll try to connect at least a couple somehow.  This week, I connected the parameters "Textile" to "May Garden Colors".  Originally I thought I'd be using a burlap on my card, or ribbon, etc...but when I ran across this delicious woven blanket type material patterned May flower colors paper...I hit the creating jackpot in my mind.  The rest fell into place.  I KNEW I had a stamp set in my offerings that just screamed "use me" for a Southwest themed card featuring that really cool paper.  Dress Up Riley Southwest was retrieved out of my Riley Stamps, and I went to the desert in my mind.  (Although a totem pole is typically found in the Pacific NW versus the desert...I ran with the desert vibe / hybrid Pacific NW for the beautiful tulip fields found in the Skagit Valley)

I picked the Crocodile for no particular reason, other than that I thought the green would match nicely with the patterned paper...it wasn't until I was finishing up, that I thought about how fitting it was for a garden to be wearing crocs in it...I own crocs.  I love my crocs...  I even have one of those expensive croc "Bogg" bags, if you spend enough $ at Uline, you can get one for free, lol.

I LOVE this bag...and will probably be "earning" another one or 2 on my next few orders with Uline.

While coloring my stamped images, (which I did remote, I had to make decisions which SW accessories I was going to color and fussy cut for my square card, no going back)... I realized that a totem pole has layers.... like one spirt animal layered on top of another...so, that really is my justification of layers.  I did know, however, I could take the easy route and justify layers by all the layers of card stock there is used to put together a card.  Patterned paper + Card Stock + Character + Character Clothes + Card Base (I started making card fronts ONLY and adhering to a folded card base, it closes so much better, and makes total sense to do this....  I will probably always do this now, some of the thicker card stock simply doesn't score well, and I can use my bling bling card stock without wasting it on the actual folded card...more cost efficient too.  :)

In the end....  I started thinking about clothes... like when it's cold outside, you wear LAYERS of clothes.  And bingo...another justification of "layers".  My crocodile only has 2 layers, but, if I really wanted to...I'd find a way to get a 3rd layer on her...IF I wanted to go that route for layers.

This card came REALLY easy, once I found that paper.  I did struggle with what color background.  I'm truly sitting on the fence ... Kraft or White?  And sentiment or NO?  I chose a "dream" sentiment in my stash, because I included the dream catcher.  Am I the only one that sees that connection?  Probably...  TONS of enamel dots or NO?  I didn't feel I centered things best, a slightly bigger square would have worked better, so I was thinking fill in the blank spaces...I chose the jade color because of SW turquoise.  SO.MUCH.OVERTHINKING!!!  (By the way...an Ardyth Square is 4-1/2" x 4-1/2", named after Craft Roulette member, Ardyth...who does beautiful work, and truly inspiring!)

I LOVE to finish the insides too....  Still need to get the message side finished up...

Back to Paper Dolls ... Every.Single.Time I make a paper craft card / project with the Dress Up Rileys...I think of paper dolls.  The inner child in me comes out to play, it's fun and great childhood memories come to surface.  I was given the gift of creativity from my so very creative Mom, and sisters too.  I cherish those memories so so much... About to get teary here, so I'll wrap this post up.  I know I'm wordy, but I truly hope that if you read this far, you may learn a tip or 2 or something new along the way.  I write these posts for fun for me...I'm not in that affiliate world, it's a little rough in that world, and sometimes I see almost cut throat...so, I make these posts in mind to share about companies that I LOVE and adore to work with...  It's all about positivity here!  

The FUN Factor rating with Dress Up Riley:  5 inks here!  (AKA 5 Stars)  It's a GREAT TIME!!!

Til next week!

Yabba Yabba Dabba Dabba Do Do Do

 Craft Roulette Episode #317, my 114th contribution, it's hard to believe I have made it this far!  I have been working on a project for awhile, that I put on ice for a year, and have decided to finish it up.  It got labor intense, and my mindset wasn't in the capacity to finish it up...Well, never say never to unfinished projects, and I'm super excited to get the thing done after taking the break

So...

How fun to have these little dudes ready to go, when MESK popped up as the 4th parameter!  What's funny is, however, I had to replace what I took, so I ended up with the replacement, because after a year or better of not working with my images, I see my coloring / choice of markers, cutting, etc., has evolved to something I prefer ... could be my choice of card stock, I believe it was/is my markers...

 

So, a little note here...I color extras... every.single.time.... so making something quick is probably not going to happen, if I color 4 of each to get 1, and fussy cut on top of it...That being said, it was a Craft Roulette guest that offered the idea of having a little binder of "extras" to save for a rainy day...  I believe hers was for die cuts, but, I decided to get one, and store all my colored images.  This binder might make it's way to Paperganza this summer....  I didn't have a dinosaur, or his 2 buddies in my binder (I did have their wives though)...but...but...but...  I had an abundance of palm trees, so it made my card so complete for me, and I was able to break the urge to pull out my ink and make new ones.  It's not as if I didn't spend time already!  lol!  I have two now of each traveler in the prehistoric car for future use!  Why only 2 if I colored 4 each?  Well...yup...I adhered 1 each in my Creative Companion of course!  I have as much fun journaling my card journeys in it almost as I have making the card!

 Justification Justification:

1.  A9 = big card:  8-1/2" x 5-1/2"

2.  Florist Shop Colors = Floral Tape / Leaves / Soil and Colorful Flowers

3.  Birthdays = An obvious birthday card...maybe for someone turning 50

4.  MESK = MESSY DESK ....  If you know me, you know me...  so easy to do pull something off that!

 

Now... I MUST tell you about my stamp set used here!!!  I used a limited edition kit from Kindred Stamps. I ADORE Kindreds kits, full of value and literally hours of creating fun.  This kit released many years ago, and whenever a kit pops up...you bet I'm in line to buy.    Come back later, and I'll try to get my linking working.  Something changed on my computer over the weekend, and I'm for whatever reason, not able to get my links working here!!!  

 Well...for now, thanks for stopping by!  I'm finally getting to a place where I can take a breath.  It's been a little overwhelming for me the 1st 4 months of 2026, one more hard hurdle to get over (tomorrow) and I can hopefully get a good nights sleep, and put those worries away for awhile.  I know that's not possible, but, at least any deadlines ahead of me are fun ones!!!   

Carapace Carapace!

Until Friday night, I had no clue what a carapace was...  I do now!  I honestly don't know why I decided to Google "Is a crab considered hexagon shaped?".... but so glad that I did!  Not only did I conquer the hex parameter on this week's Craft Roulette, but...I learned a little about the sea spiders that I so love...especially if it's a Pacific Northwest Dungeness!  

 I really enjoyed this one.  The color parameter, "calm" colors, put me in the mindset of a tranquil beach vibe.  I work/have worked with many a med spa in my chocolate past and present, that I have the tranquil colors already figured out in my head.  Light blues/jades/white/starfish and sand is what comes immediately to mind.  I probably could have found a hexagon shaped shell, but, I have wanted to die cut this crab out now for quite awhile... somewhat of a diversion from stamping characters, fussy cutting to the line that I color carefully with a black marker to get rid of that white cut margin look?!  I needed something different this week, the parameters popped up so timely!~

My parameters are justified by:

 

1. My waves are cut at a diagonal!  This was tricky, as these dies have a small width, and my math/geometry brain wasn't working up to snuff when I did the cutting...  In the end, I figured it out, but, what a struggle, I had to THINK!
2. Calm colors, as in a fun memory of a beautiful beach in La Jolla / San Diego area years ago...
3. My mat(s) are with my  Postage Stamp Nesting Dies from Unity Stamp Company
4. A crab carapace is / can be hexagonally shaped.  (Not all species of crab) SO  ... I made a little hex diecut to stamp my inside card sentiment, to be doubly sure of the hex parameter...just in case your eyes don't see the hex shape in the crab that mine do!  lol!

 

So, there you have it!!!  Another fun Craft Roulette night started and finished.  I can't believe I'm at 113... I've had a ton of fun at it, and it has become my "thing" these days.

My calm!

A little bonus addition to this post!!!

 So I gave myself permission to copy a recipe out of the Adams Place Cooks With Vinegar Cookbook that my Mom and I wrote in 1989..  We have since then, printed 3 more times, changing the colors of the cover, not changing the contents...  If you have never cooked with Flavored Wine Vinegars, it opens up a great world of tastes by decreasing the need for salt and unnecessary calories too.  (Wine Vinegar makes a GREAT meat tenderizer).  Oh how I miss those early days of our business...  Since then, my husband and I found a passion to go crabbing on the Oregon Coast...it all started when my daughter played beach volleyball, in her early volleyball years.  Once she started playing in college, the tournament conflicted with her college schedule, it's been awhile since we have thrown the pots off the bridge...but when we did...our haul of Dungeness Crab can be plentiful,  once yielding over 40...yep, 40 crab to crack and enjoy! This dip recipe was created in our pre crabbing days, when my husband managed a wholesale seafood plant in our early years of dating, even before we were married....  My Mom and I had just started our gourmet biz, and decided to add a cookbook to the line to go with our line of wine vinegars.  We are even having this tonight!  :)  I prefer it now days with the Dill Vinegar, but any will do!  (and green onion)

 

 I prefer using our Dill Vinegar, and Green Onions for the onion...  so so good.  So good.  

 

Adams Place Cooks With Flavored Wine Vinegars

by

Gerry and Trudi Adams

Kennewick, WA  99337 

 

Unfrogettable...

 My Oh My!  Craft Roulette this week...  As tempting as it was to pull out a new stamp set, or something fairly new...that "Hopping" parameter, with "Strawberry Fields" colors...was almost too easy to create with, that it made it hard for me.  I truly had a vintage strawberry patterned paper picked out, along with my Velveteen Rabbit stamp, all ready for me to color and go to town with.  BUT BUT BUT....as much as I tried to get the vibe with it...my mood was needing something a little more bright and cheerful, I've had a couple of emotionally draining weeks, and vintage was only making my mood worse.

So bring on the cheer.... 

 I knew I had lots of hopping options...that wasn't the issue.  And so many hopping creatures can be found in a strawberry field.  Nothing says I even had to have strawberries in the equation, after all, it's just the COLORS found in the strawberry field that was the requirement.  It doesn't even need to be the whole field of colors.  It could have been brown for dirt, blue for sky, green for berry baskets, etc...  That being said, once the word strawberry was mentioned, I really couldn't get it out of my mind.  I have options for the patterned paper, (I have TONS of Graphic 45, which this isn't, but...anything in nature, G45 is my go to when I'm in a creative rut...) I have strawberry stamps...(how powerful the feel to press a stamp into the ink and stamp away...)...  I just wasn't getting the bunny vibe...so, next thought was grasshopper......  My grasshopper is vintage (Creative Keepsakes)... so, I almost nixed doing this week altogether.  Lots of ideas, but nothing triggering that creative spark, and it was getting gloomy.   

Last thought...FROGS.  I knew I had a couple of options there, right?  Well....not really...as I hunted through my stamp stash...I couldn't find any frogs, although I KNEW I had a set from my Stamping Up! days...  YIKES...going through that cabinet of unorganized wood mounted mountains of stamp sets....did NOT sound fun...  I had a general idea of where to look...right?  WRONG...WRONG...WRONG...  I found all kinds of treasures in there though, (reaffirming that NO PARAMETER is undoable...I am convinced)...  hahahahaha  ...  I FINALLY found my frogs not in the cabinet, but a drawer...and my first thought...THESE LOOK SO EASY TO FUSSY CUT!!!  That's all it took, and I started coloring away....

 

 I found a bonus "Hello" stamp for my inside element...another from the SU days, never been mounted on the wood...which I still have ALL my sets on wood, or possibly someday put on wood.  It's sad how many I never used...ever....  

 

 So, this card is done and ready to go.  My goal this year, is to actually mail some of these cards out.  What's held me back, is that the insides aren't finished, and it's not my style to send out a naked card.  Nothing elaborate on the inside, but a finished look here!  And a double whammy of both the Project and Random parameters!

 Well, it's Thursday night, and it all starts again tomorrow!  This time, I have zero office (oh the joys of self employment) obligations lined up, I can let loose and let my creativity come out to play.  It's times like this, I really miss my CR bff.  (RIP Janet)... Now, off to cut up some strawberries to go with that half and half I picked up at the grocery store the other day!