Tutti Fruiti LOL

 I could have really had a good time with this one....  Tutti Fruiti colors....  The connection of my name with Tutti Fruiti has been a lifelong thing for me, so if I really wanted to get creative, I could have run with this parameter....  That being said, this week, I was stuck with lack of ideas, I wasn't in a good mindset from the get go ... I had other things going on in my life and my mood wasn't very peppy....  

I look at my card, and yes, I should have/could have and if I used my first card as my "test" card, then my final card would have looked slightly different.  BUT....I am trying to be a one and done,  move on, rather than have tons of scraps and stuff to finish as I make "extras".  Had my old me continued with the extra one or two mindset...I would have never gotten to my 124th Craft Roulette contribution....  I'll elaborate on what I'd do different later on.

 Starting with the parameters:

Project:  Easy peasy.....  This is a typical A2 size card:  4-1/4" x 5-1/2"

Colors:  Tutti Fruiti:  My inspo colors shown here:  

Element/Container:  My tote bag is a container

Random/Unusual Color:  One of the tomatoes is an unusual color....greenish orange, the pre-ripening stage...you don't typically see green ones in the grocery store, at least I don't...but we will pick them out of the garden green... btw I sure loved fried green tomaotes when we were in Gulfport, MS....maybe it was the fun cheesy sauce poured on top...so yummy...the movie is pretty good too..PLUS...I think it's leaving Netflix, I just watched it a few weeks ago, glad I did before it's gone.  (so rambling there, but hey that's me)

 OK....couple of comments.  My produce was limited in my bag....the only other "fruit" included in my stamp set... were strawberries....  and my original "thought" was to have the ingredients to make a batch of fresh salsa.  I know if I looked hard enough in my craft studio, I'd probably find a stamp set that included onions, and other salsa ingredients to add...but, they wouldn't have been the same kind of solid looking stamp....OR...I could have gone with die cuts all the way, I could have even pulled other fruit stamp sets of mine, I think I have some other solidy type sets.  I was lazy and unenthused, my hip was hurting, and I just wanted to work with what I had.  

What would I do different, if I were to make another.

 For starters....I'd probably nix the stamped flowers, and use a die cut of flowers instead.  I'm ok with the the yellow color, but, a brighter yellow might have been a better option, or a white flower colored with a bright yellow alcohol marker, to stay with the "inks look"....  Speaking of inks...I don't stamp with these types of stamps too often, so this was a fun opportunity for me to learn.  I eyeball things, rather than painfully aligning things with thing-a-majigs and stamp platforms.  Maybe my frustration would have been less had I taken the effort to be more precise...I get impatient though, and as much as I LOVE my 3 different stamp platforms, I'm a clear block kind of stamper, and even have all my olden day stamps still on wood blocks.  Something about the "power" of plunking that block on the card stock...  works for me.   

Next change....INKS....I probably should have tried to use dye inks rather than distress oxide hybrid inks....for my stamped images.  I did use some dye inks for my green tomato, but, I suspect had I used dye inks all the way with the other contents...my fruit  might POP more (tomatoes are fruit!!!).  Now that I mentioned POP...if I really wanted to go there.....perhaps some glossy accents?  Hmmm...maybe not...the overlapped produce might not fare well if so...just a thought...  What do you all think?  :)

 Next in line for nixing and doing different.... Definitely not make those little black dots...they look weird.

NO BOW!!!  Well, I want a bow, just not a fabric one.  I love this ribbon, and use it in our chocolate factory for fun summer things ...... but had I not been lazy, I would have gone through my thousands of dies to find a bow shape, that I could cut out of card stock...  That would have kept this a one-stamper, if I ever choose to mail this...  Buttons and bows were definitely my older style too...my design has really changed, and I'm not as "everything but the kitchen sink" style as much as I used to be...

The ribbon is PERFECT for this fun chocolate trio of sun/sunglasses & flipflops, however!

Last...I can't believe this one slipped past me, but, even last night, when I was finishing this card up...I didn't feel the urge to do it...but, my instincts is to add some additional bling on this somewhere....or NOT?  I see the 5 rhinestones, and am afraid if I added more, it would be too much.  Once I adhered that bow on there....I said DONE...  I'm OK so so with this card.  I adore this stamp and die combo set:

Spellbinders: Fresh Packed Clear Stamp and Die Set 

I recently started subscribing to their monthly club(s) again....and decided to pick a few up from the past....this was one.  I think the tote is cute, and it was fun to make!  

 Well, that's the jest of it all....  I  can't believe next Craft Roulette I contribute will be 125 for me!  That's a whole lot of cards!  Some weeks are going to be better than others for me, and some weeks...I may just need to take a break....but....I tend to find myself in my craft studio, rummaging through my mega options, and just sitting down for a lil ole fashioned try....  The next thing I know, it's midnight or so, and I've started something that I feel the need to finish before any deadline.  I am getting faster and faster, and less tedious....I really needed to train my brain there.  Some weeks will be simple, some more intense, but hopefully all will be fun.  I will say, looking at my "Tutti Fruiti" colored card, it does look bright and cheerful, and just might put a sun shiney smile on someone's face....now...off to see if it will slide through a mail slider as a card, or a one stamper, because of that dang bow....  lol!

 Til next time! 

 

Here Comes the Bride

 Craft Roulette #123 for me, Episode #327.  That's a ton of episodes, and 123 cards is a ton of cards too.  At some point, my goal was to train my creative side to work a little faster with ideas and execution.  I think I have achieved that somewhat, but there have been a few incidents where the time went into overtime for me.  That was this week....  I don't think it's because I have a super complicated thing going here.  Originally, I had hoped to color up an image and go from there, but I remembered I had a new die set (I will elaborate on this die later on...worth the read)... that was specific to a wedding, and I have been wanting to switch up my style somewhat and use dies for this card, rather than coloring and fussy cutting....  Yes indeedy, I achieved that and then some....  

 I will talk about parameters first:

 

#1:  Interactive Card  

 I keep saying I could do a popup card when interactive card comes my way....and I probably would have, but...I really struggle with the picture taking part of an interactive or moving type card, and I really wanted to give myself a break from taking complex photos for entry and blog spiel....  So, I hope you see, that through the window of my gazebo...is a shaker card...with twinkly silver stars...  #1:  CHECK!

#2 Summer Colors

I think this might be the parameter that I got hung up on originally.  I was thinking beach/poolside/hot sun/popcicles colors!!!  I had pulled my Madonna stamp set out, and with research, I see she and Sean P were married in August of 1985/overlooking the beach...  I just couldn't find a way to make it make sense, it was causing my brain to freeze....so, I slept on it, and thought I'd take a stab at it the following day.  

 

What I really had hoped for was to do a card using some of my new fun Spellbinders Dies.... but Mr. Wheel, was sending me in a Madonna direction, I couldn't get my mind off of that...then much to my delight...I had a light bulb moment...  After madly searching through all of my dies (Spellbinders)...I recalled that I had recently acquired a specific wedding type die set off of Amazon ... I had wanted the gazebo, and got a bonus bride/groom and sentiment with it...(more on that later)...  So...bye bye Madonna...  this is where my literal thinking got warbly...  summer colors...geesh...  I really didn't want to go white and black, etc...  I had to pull a "you can make the colors fit" fast one, and went "general"... summer flowers, mid summer night colors... later on, I thought maybe the color of summer plums (we have a few trees in our orchards)... and even some summer veggies, like eggplant and organic carrots....  Geesh...  It seemed to work...  #2:  CHECK!

 

#3 Here Comes The Bride 

The last paragraph was a long one...so, I'll be brief...  Bride/Groom/Wedding Sentiment...  #3:  CHECK!

 

#4 Ink Edging

I knew I'd sneak this one in one way or another...  Had I chose to go Madonna, I would have inked around my fussy cut image, to clean off any glaring white edges.  But, no fussy cut image on this card...and I wanted to stay with a "clean" edge look with these die cuts....  Ahhhh.. I knew I was using those twinkly little stars for my shaker pieces...  I made a MOON!!!!!  I took a circle die cut piece and used it as a mask...inking all around the edge of that circle...woah lah!!!  my MOON!  This is a technique I learned through watching the incredibly talented Lavinia artists....  It's a quick and easy way to get a fairylicious MOON!  :)  #4:  CHECK!

 

There, I justified my parameters...now...on to my process and my setbacks.

 

First setback...I really couldn't get that Madonna thought and still can't out of my head.  I just was too lazy to figure the colors and still use the fun designer paper that I would have wanted to, yada yada yada.....plus I wanted to go die cuts all the way, something different for me than my usual ways.  I need to move on ... yet I still have that stamp set sitting on my work space...  and I have Madonna tunes running around in my head still.  I'm spiraling out of control with the thought of how I could have created  a card with Madonna.

 

Second setback....  and I've sat on the fence about this one, because it can get lengthy for me to share my thoughts.  I'm going to start out with:  YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR...  I have TONS of dies from the many wonderful stamp and die companies I purchase from.  That being said, I have once in a blue moon, purchased off of Amazon.  Here's where I'm reserved to not share my thoughts, because I don't want to start a huge controversial post.  I guess down deep, I should have assumed an inexpensive die purchased off of Amazon, could very well be a stolen / counterfeit die.  This particular one, if it is, I'm certainly not aware of it...I have perused my supplier sites and placed nice orders even a week ago from well known stamp and die companies....and I don't recall one like this.  I don't like the idea of supporting over seas companies who violate and steal ideas from our domestic craft companies.  That being said, I'm not the die police either, and I have no clue where a US based Amazon merchant is getting their ideas for a die, I suspect most dies purchased start out being manufactured out of China.  I'm in the promo biz, so I 100% understand how dependent we are with overseas supplies... I wanted this gazebo, I was placing an order for my coffee pods at the time, and that die impulsively ended up in my cart, not a wild search for a gazebo...just a quick add to my cart...  WHAT.A.PIA.THIS.DIE.TURNED.OUT.BEING!!!  

 

It wouldn't / couldn't / should have cut...  I went with the embossed look on the gazebo, since all of the little pieces simply would not cut...no matter how many shims or added pressure I added to my cutting "sandwich"!  I managed to get a bride and groom to finally cut out...the sentiment almost broke my Big Shot because of all the "shims" I had to use....  I did find success with my Intra Cut (GK) cutter... but only after 20 attempts or so, and even then, I was afraid I was putting too much stress on my "handle"...  I FINALLY got one, but, the struggle is real.  (I now have a warped Big Shot cutting plate too...all because if this inexpensive die)  So...my bad...I send this as a caution to those like me, who innocently buy a die off of Amazon...  I should have read the reviews...my bad, and will definitely be on the know for the future!!!

 

Before I get to my last card set back...  I do want to elaborate on my thoughts of buying things like this off of Amazon.  I see all kinds of comments directed to people like me who mention purchasing a die from Amazon or even the scary Temu / Ali Express.  I'm not one to consider purchasing from Temu or Ali Express, I'm careful who gets my info, but, to defend those who do...  not knowing their circumstances, it may be they don't know they are purchasing a stolen image/die, etc...  I am NOT defending buying counterfeit stamps and dies necessarily, but, I don't want to bash anyone who does either.  I think maybe a "buyer beware" approach is more in line...  I have owned my own business for 40 years now, and although I don't worry about overseas copying ideas, I have had MANY ideas of mine stolen by USA/domestic competitors, or customers too.  One competitor actually took the credit of something we have offered our customers (it's pretty unique), and said it was her idea from the getgo, when I know she scoured our product line, and was given info about us through a customer we shared.  There is NOTHING I can do about thievery....but, be a better vendor with service and quality... My spiel.  I most likely will NEVER use this die again, lesson learned, and although I don't have many...I seriously hope, some of my other Amazon purchases aren't as subpar, wishful thinking....

 

My last setback....  I kind of constructed my shaker myself by cutting my window material out using my gazebo as a cutting guide.  Since most of my gazebo cut out windows didn't pop out...I decided, no need to have shaker pieces shake in those areas....I can save on shaker pieces that way....  so...thin foam tape was secured around the areas that I need the little start to shake, rattle and roll....  well..DANG!  They are kind of "sticking" and not shaking.  I hope this doesn't disqualify my interaction here...lol...well...I guess banging the card hard against the table to get a star to fall...is interaction, so...it still is a CHECK CHECK CHECK!  (I certainly checked that box, lol)

 

No more setbacks, but a little bonus moment:  I dropped a little flower die inside a storage box by accident last night....I managed to find all kinds of treasures inside that box before I retrieved my tiny die....  including the most beautiful collection of paper that I picked up probably 20+ years ago.  I don't think I've ever used it...and today, I felt it would make a really pretty lining for the inside of my card.  

 

 

It's shimmery, I'm not sure you can tell....  I really wanted to print my sentiment on a piece of adhered pretty shimmery Stardream Card Stock  that I LOVE to use as go to card stock (it's what I used on my gazebo) .....  but....what another struggle, the ink doesn't dry, although I know some ink of mine (not Stazon, I don't have any) will and has dried fairly easily without heat setting or embossing, I just don't know which.  I tried dye ink, I then tried a distress/oxide ink, then Versafine Clair ink...then Memento (I really didn't want to use black)...I tried to emboss, I tried to heat set...I found impatience quickly setting in...and decided my regular card stock , will work just fine.  I avoided a major setback...  and now have a finished card for the next wedding we attend.  :)

 

Long post, maybe a little bit of rambling, I know.  I figured it was a lengthy process for this card, I wouldn't expect anything but a long post out of it!!!  hahahahaha

 

I'll try to be quick next time!  ;) 

 

 

 

LOL...I could have totally worked with these colors!!!  In fact, I'm seeing purples in that bouquet!
 

One Cool Dude

 I see Don Draper here with this card.  For those of you who know me well, promotion and advertising is my gig...my chocolate biz is 95% promo and working with corporate giveaways mainly.  It was my passion in college, once I finally figured out what I wanted to major in, and oddly, my life kind of sort of leaned that way (ultimately) with my specialty food biz.  I have worked with and still do with many well known companies, it's been a wild ride, that's for sure.  That being said, this cool dude does remind me of Don Draper in MadMen, one of the all time favorite series to binge watch.

 I also am reminded of a few of my nephews here.  I have several still in their 30s, and for some reason, when I see these images, it kind of reminds me of a couple of them, lol.  

After the matter, I wasn't loving the color of my circle and sentiment strip background....with limited designer paper left in my kit, I pulled out what I had, and my instincts were leading me in the rich brown/gold/black tones.  I do believe those colors would work for the parameter "Sleigh Ride" as well, but...my original card (shown above) was more the color scheme I was going for...

I think my new version with the browns works ok too....

 

 First I will tackle the parameters and my justifications.... after that, I want to spend a moment talking about my supplies, I used a kit for these cards, and I want to share info...

 

 

1. Project:  EASY!!!  It's a DUDE on a card for a DUDE.  Couldn't get much more dudey than this.

 

2.  Sleigh Ride Colors:  Addressed above...I was thinking Budweiser stein colors.  We have a giant collection of Budweiser steins, and I see the burgundy/browns/ivory/gold/black, etc....

 

3.  Farm Critter Element:  I burst out crazy laughing when I discovered my DUDE set had a sentiment with the word "CAT" in it.  Living in farm country, we know so well, there are CATS...so that fit the bill easily...and the only criteria is to one way or another get the parameter on the project...even if it's slipping the name of a farm critter on there, it checks the box, lol.  I couldn't see any other farm critter name that would work, like pig/cow/dog/horse/(maybe dog?)goose/etc., just doesn't sound right.  Glad this sentiment had CAT.

 

4.  Random Pen:  This one could have been a bit stretchy pants...  Originally, I felt by coloring with my alcohol markers, that really does fit the "pen" criteria.  I felt that was too broad, although I have no problem had I had to use it, I know it would work...I still wasn't satisfied.  Not sure why I started googling "pen" and "alcohol"... I did ask AI if alcohol markers were considered "pens".... anyhow, "Pen"icillin Cocktail popped up, so, I felt our Dude could very well be drinking one.  I still wanted to be doubly sure "Pen" was covered correctly, so I opted to include a little recipe of the drink.  I have never tasted a Penicillin Cocktail, but, now I am intrigued.  I wonder if it truly helps cure the ick.

 

So, I justified my parameters here...now, on to my supplies:  About a year ago, I decided to fall into temptation and become a Whit Kit subscriber from Unity Stamp Company.  For awhile, I had been impressed with the variety these kits included, I just never took the plunge.  Oh how fun it's been receiving my kit each month.  (I did put on pause a couple times, which you can, only because I had similar products already).  By being a Whit Kitter, you also gain additional company perks, I encourage anyone to go check it out.  Unity has probably the best quality rubber stamps ever, plus the variety of images created by the most talented artists keeps me coming back for more and more.  I also want to emphasize, I am NOT an affiliate here...I'm just a very loyal customer, so what I'm saying is truly coming from the heart.  It's a great company, and this month's Whit Kit (their "Kit of the Month too!) are really great kits, something to check out, that's for sure.

 

The Attaboy stamp set is available as well as the Distiguished Gents designer paper that came in the kit.  What you may need to search for are the other fun additions to the kit.  I also used the "Hounds Tooth" Stencil, that was included.....plus the ephemera (tags)...not used were some fun bling bling pieces and interactive swirly/bouncy pieces.  (I don't know what to call those)  So, IF you buy the kit...you receive a pretty good chunk of things:  (stamp set/patterned paper/plus possibly a stencil or dies, little elements, etc....)  If you miss your chance, no worries, you can still buy the stamp set and designer paper later on.  I like the whole kit and contents, fun to receive, but the additional company perks are well worth it too.  :)  That being said...this month's kit...  WOWZA it's so dang cute!!!!!  July Whit Kit 

 

So there you have it!!!!  Once again, I'm not an affiliate to either Craft Roulette or Unity Stamps.  I post these things about both, because I find joy in participating each week in Craft Roulette, and I have found Unity to be one of my favorite suppliers.  If you peruse through my blog, you will see I do use quite a bit of Unity stamps for my designs.

 

Now, off to get one of these 2 cards ready for a birthday boy, who actually could use a nap, as he has a newborn at home....lol...  Plus...  I do need to work, it's more fun playing hooky here, but, the chocolate is calling my name right now!  :)

 

 

 

for inspiration...... 

 and POOF...just like that...I started binge watching MadMen AGAIN on HBO...  It's been many years since I watched it (for the first time)...I don't remember much, so, it's fun to rewatch.  I do remember that classic ending though, once again...brilliant advertising!!!  :)