Best Buds and Dope Friends

 Just roll with me here.... it's the sign of the times.  And in the spirit of the National Holiday celebrated on April 20 (look it up, there is a holiday attached to this...)   Kindred Stamps launched with it's March New Release the PERFECT stamp set to create with ... I can think of several people I could send a card to with this set... So, in preparation of 4:20 pm on April 20th...  I have ideas to share, if that's your thing...or you know someone, whose thing it is.  I enjoyed working with this set, as always with any of the Kindred stamps.  I really wanted to do it justice, and had to let my imagination go...which this set lends itself to.  The more I played with it...the more ideas!  

First, I made my own background here...with a sun ray type stencil, and my very own "dots" stencil.  I merely took a piece of scrap cardstock, and randomly punched holes out, no particular pattern...just here there and everywhere...then gently stenciled over my starburst image ... lastly, I stamped my "blunt" image using the new release set:   Dope Friends and a random leaf image from my stash.  I made my own peace sign, using 2 circle dies...merely use a smaller circle positioned inside the large one, it will punch out a circle outline...  I used the  Card Basics Die set for my larger circle.  I promise you...that die set is now used for almost 100% if not 100% of my card making projects.  So versatile.  :)  I have random strips die for the "lines"... and to add interest...I used Spectrum Noir Glitter Brush Pen (I used gold) to gently brush over my "green" elements...it gives it that lil sparkle...I love these pens!

My next card, I used a designer paper in my stash for the background and titled it with "BEST BUDS" using the  Stiched Alpha Die  set, another "go to" set for fonts....  I LOVE having this, and I suspect I will want to add the new alpha die set from Kindred to my stash as well!  :)  

Lastly....my quickies!  A couple of releases ago, I made a quickie, and enjoyed the process, that I gave it a whirl this time too...  I made TWO quickies... I can see me doing more and more in the future, and actually plan to start mailing little cards out more frequently.  I think we need a little "happy" mail..every now and then...and I truly think  Dope Friends very well can get that grin going!

      

Well, there you have it!  Tomorrow, March 28, Kindred will be releasing this dope set, along with other really cool, man, releases...  you will want to join in...  it starts at 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time!!!  

 

Every Little Thing Is Gonna Be Alright ...

 Hey, mon!  Welcome to the island!  Where, every little thing is gonna be alright....  I've been waiting to use this stamp set...and didn't  look any further for an alternative for this week's Craft Roulette.  I already plan to mail this to someone(s)...  I even am finishing the inside of the card, and on the hunt for an envelope(s) to decorate and such.  I am sensing the need to get this in the hands of a few of my friends.

 

This week's Craft Roulette (#256 featured the following parameters:

Supplies used:  

• Stamp set for character:  Oddball Bob  from  Stamping Bella 
• Background stamp:  Beach Backdrop from Stamping Bella 
• Accessories:  Little Buddy  and Three Hour Tour and Cute Kids Pirates from Scrappy Boy 
  

For those of you who don't know...  an A7 card is roughly 5"x7" in size (some sites say 5-1/8").  For me, I'm fine with doing a large card, I know some struggle with the size, but my former crafting style would be gleeful with the amount of canvas space to fill up on a large card.  My first paper crafting passion will remain to be creating a 2 page 12"x12" scrapbook spread...and I'm inclined to fill up every spot on the pages, that's just me.  I started this insane accumulation of supplies about 26ish years ago, and since then, I have many unfinished or work in progress 12" scrapbooks...cards kind of got in the way... so did recipe cookbook scrap pages (I adore doing those, especially 8"x8" size...) MemDex recipe boxes, and so much more....  I will say, my projects are once again, left undone, since I stumbled upon and started participating in Craft Roulette... 70 projects ago!!!!!  I never dreamed I'd use all those supplies, and now I'm even getting the energy to organize things!  I LOVE my Friday nights...  I still have to perfect myself...I create these cards (leaving the insides blank to finish later when I mail them)...and never get around to mailing them.  I start out making multiple quantities (like 3-4 of each) and only finish the one that I submit during the membership window of Craft Roulette.  (for a small membership fee, I have until Thursday night).  

One might say, a goal of mine is to actually mail the cards out.  I'm at the point now, since I'm recording through my blog, facebook, now instagram (that's new!  @the_trudio_studio ),  I really don't need my original, if I ever want to duplicate!  I just know, I'm having fun doing what I'm doing, it's a no stress, no pressure fun way to play with my inks and stamps...  and in the meantime, I'm using stamps that have never been inked up!  This one, I REALLY enjoyed doing.  I even enjoyed more, researching Bob Marley.  What an inspiration he was with insight ... who I wonder what he'd be saying in this day and age.

I perused the internet and found several quotes that Bob Marley was known for saying.  I hesitated with posting a few, as I truly believe we are a wounded nation right now, and I'm fearful they may look political, even though I really wanted to put them on here...just I'm not going there on my social media.  I just can't.   But one quote that he said, reminds me of my answer when asked how I managed hard stuff.  I was going through a very very hard life tragedy/loss going on 18 years ago now, followed by life threatening health scares involving two of the closest people to me in my life within 6 months of each other...all of this within a matter of 3 years...I'd fall, pick myself up only to fall again, it was hard. A wise acquaintance of mine asked me how I managed.... 

...and I thought about it.... 

.....crafting has been a sense of therapy for me, so when you find something that is fun, I say run to it...until it's not fun anymore...hours and hours have been spent in my craft room, lost in other thoughts...true mental therapy, I'm sticking with it, warts and all for now!  I guess I've now had 70 weeks of fun and my new addition to my "therapy" (Craft Roulette) is habit, as Craft Roulette plays a role in my mental health I'm finding!  :)          Per Bob Marley:

"You never know how strong you are, until being strong is your only choice."

Picnic Pals!!!

 Welcome friends to the fun February 2025 release Picnic Pals  for Kindred Stamps!  While creating this first card, my inner child came out to play, as I weaved together a picnic basket using craft colored card stock.  I kind of remember in grade school, doing something similar with gum wrappers, or decorations around Thanksgiving and Christmas time.  Once I cut my thin little strips, it went pretty fast, so my memory of it definitely was pulled from something in my past!  It even ended up reminding me of a basket that we had growing up in our house.  We may have used it for a sewing basket of some sort.  I can think of so many reasons to send a card like this!  I also used the Tree Scene Craft Die for this card, I think this could be one of my most used dies I own.  It's great for so many wilderness type scenes!

 

My second card is perfect for that Beary Special person in your life!  Whether it be for a Birthday, Valentines Day, or Just Because Day...it was a warm fuzzies kind of card to create, sure to give someone a big bear paper hug!

My 3rd card / project is a little log book ... I designed this with the idea, how perfect it would be to jot down important little notes that we (me) at some point in our lives need to document, health wise.  I have personally struggled with high blood pressure since I was 18  years old...way before I had packed on the baby weight, even when I was jogging 3 miles a day...I am just one big ball of stress I guess.  I never really have been dedicated to jotting down my daily BP, but when I started this card... I thought, this would be something simple to put a little notebook in, and maybe something that would/could motivate me to do so.  The "Don't Feed the Bear"... well...that's because of all that baby weight still there (even though my babies are in their twenties now...yikes) ... I sort of liked the donut sentiment as a reminder to make better eating choices.  I could use this little log book as a weight tracker too!  Once I decide, I'll use my Stitched Alpha Die Set, the one I used for "LOG", and my tag verse, either BP for blood pressure or LBS for weight.  We will see, I started my road map to better health today.  :)

Every new release, I think I've found my favorite...well, this one very well may be my favorite!  :)  I'm excited each month playing with a new Kindred Stamps set, it keeps me coming back for more and more and more!  Make sure you mark your calendar for this Friday, as the February New Release is launched at 8 AM, Pacific Time...this and MORE treasures will be in the mix...you will NOT want to miss out!

 

Boop Boop Be Do!

 Two cards to share today...one a Boop Boop Be Do... using Smooches a fun fandom stamp set from Kindred Stamps .  I chose this fun sets for episode Episode #255 of Craft Roulette.

 

The parameters for this week lead me to this design, I've been wanting to use this set for awhile, and the timing was perfect!  It would have made a great Valentine's Day card, it can be saved for next year.  :)

 

 

My other card, another Craft Roulette card:  Episode #254 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I used a stamp from the Unity Stamp Company, one of the cuteness overload pooches from the new "rescue line".  Unity has launched this line in honor of rescue animals, and with each sale a % is donated to a rescue shelter.  The company has donated to several shelters already, it's such a great cause.  I bought this stamp because it reminded me of our Cubby, our teacup Pomeranian, that we adored many many many years ago!   She was all of 4 pounds, and had such a sassy personality...she literally was our baby who we adored to the moon and back.  She's been on the other side of the rainbow bridge for about 20 years now, but I still remember her little pitter patter feet on our dining room floor...tap tap tappity tap...which are now in our hearts, next to other cherished and loved family pets!

When You Wish Upon a Star!

 My recent Craft Roulette entry couldn't have fallen into place any better than it did...  It was almost as if Mr. Wheel was in my craft studio room peeking into my supplies.  I literally had probably 50 options for ideas, it could have gone in so many other directions...but...I took the first parameter:  Card for a Teenager and knew that for my element:  Fairy(ies) there was only ONE Fairy that was perfect...  TINKERBELL!

  

I couldn't decide if I needed a "ground" or not...then I went a little wild on the bling bling...

I used 2 of my most favorite companies to for the stamps:

I stamped my castle from the Midnight Couple  stamp set from  Kindred Stamps .  It's not the first time I've ever used this castle...and most likely won't be the last.  It's magical and so fun to color, even fussy cutting to the line felt effortless, I could have and probably will do a few more of these!  

Tinkerbell came from my other Craft Roulette "go to" company... Scrappy Boy.  I have been waiting to ink up my Neverland stamps for awhile now, such fun sets...I have both!

The parameters were EASY EASY EASY...  I'm one to take things VERY LITERALLY.... The challenge is part of the fun, I know some of the color categories can cover every color under the sun...and one could probably find a way to use any color scheme for "morning colors"... I chose to go with the sky at sunrise, ink blended on my White Diamond Print Inkjet Glitter Paper from Cardstock Warehouse . I then applied a film of Holographic Sticker Paper over that for extra sparkly!  So magical!  I did stamp my "Believing" sentiment before applying the film on my first card, I would suggest using a Misti or other stamp positioner to stamp the sentiment.  I did not, and wished I had.  

Back to morning colors... my card was already in the making and halfway finished... I had already chosen my colors, my design... I was coloring my castle, enjoying my MORNING coffee, almost half a cup gone already ..  it DAWNED (morning dawn) on me ... my cup!!!!  It was all insticts!!!

This weeks parameters, episode 252, I'm now 66 cards in!

For Friday night FUNN I encourage you to join!!!!  It's a great way to use supplies, and get creative!

Craft Roulette

 Another use of the castle!  Episode 216, Craft Roulette!

 

 Til next time!  

Who's Afraid of the Big Ole Bad Wolf!

 I've been waiting for the perfect Craft Roulette parameter to land my way to quickly gather my Little Red Riding Hood stamp set from Scrappy Boy Stamps .  

The sentiment(s) would be great for someone who is starting a scary new venture!  

Parameters for Episode #251 / My 65th entry!  Craft Roulette Live

1.  Slimline Card

2.  Lumberjack Colors

3.  Hat(s) or Cap(s) Element

4.  Doily Random

Very brief post here.... been a very busy week ... I'll try harder next week!  :)  It starts all over tomorrow night!  (Craft Roulette) ..  Truly, if you get in a creative slump...you ought to give it a whirl!!!

What a Glorious Thing to be Kindred Spirits!

 Just imagine a world of gloriousness, where kindred spirits can dance in a colorful field of flowers and embrace the uniqueness of each and every one..... I imagined all of this when creating with this wonderfully absolutely outstandingly great great great new release  Kindred Spirits from Kindred Stamps

 

I'm sharing 4 cards today with this fun set.  I used a few random dies from my craft studio stash, but I chose to do a little "freehand" pieces as well, I'll elaborate on those per card!

 

My first card, I created my "hills" and layered, starting with the background hills, ink blended in  earth tone colors with a lighter shade of distress oxides (greens), next "layer" using a grass green (shades of) distress oxide with little "grass" patches stamped randomly on, following up with a meadowy hill of yummy floral patterned paper.  I used my Stitched Alpha Dies for the word "HOME"...  (House was a die from my stash, any house will do!)   I chose to freehand create the fence, no need to be even or perfect, it has that rustic vibe you would see on a countryside farm!

 

My second card,  I created my own trees, which I adhered a couple with dimension, (the front tree with major dimension), to appear the depth of a forest.  I took a brown piece of card stock, gave it some texture of a "tree" (can be achieved with an embossing folder, or inking distress on it)...  then cut various widths of the piece, lastly cut a little heart out of the middle of the largest. I adhered the trees to a distress oxide ink blended background.   I found a piece of actual wood card stock to "carve" the sentiment on and position under the heart cutout, I've had it in my supplies for probably 20 years....  This card would be PERFECT to use initials of a Valentine recipient for the wood sentiment.  I wanted to do something generic, but...you honestly could  alpha an initial of each you and your "Valentine".  

My 3rd card, I pictured two bffs, also kindred spirits for life...running in a meadow of flowers.  I die cut a center out of my patterned paper, where I adhered it over an ink blended piece that was stamped with my sentiment.  I added a wreath with little flowers all around to match, along with my 2 best friends for life characters, each popped up with dimensional tape!

My last card, was very quick and simple.  I loved the paper choice and had just enough remaining to make a simple card.  I adhered a fancy mat, my 2 characters and a sentiment... I can see sending a quick little note to someone who might need a little cheering up after feeling a slight setback, we all experience.  Those little notes can brighten a blue mood, we all need those little pick me ups every now and then!!!!  

 

I thoroughly enjoyed designing with this set.  I was honored to work with the "Kindred" aspect of this.  We are all linked one way or another, as we share this passion for paper, inks and really cool stamps!  This set and other fabulous options release this Friday, the 31st!  You will want to visit the site, there are some really fun new offerings, I know I'll be adding a few new dies to my craftroom!!

 And one final note....  If you choose to use my affiliate links found here, it is of zero extra costs to you, but sends a little my way!  Thanks for stopping by!