Out of this WORLD!

 This week's Craft Roulette lead me to making a card using the "Future is Bright" theme that I love using for graduation cards.  I have a fun universe set that I purchased not quite 20 years ago, that has really cool sayings from astronomers, outer space type sayings, etc... one quote:

"Who says the skies the limit, when there are footprints on the moon?"

Not sure who the quote belongs to, but it's in that collection of stamps that I love love love ... there is also 

"Reach for the Stars"

 You get my drift....  I have a ton of outer space type sayings ... not sure which one I'll settle on for this card, but I for sure will get one on the inside.  

 I've had hard personal things going on for the last few months, so I took a break from Craft Roulette.  I'm glad I fit this one in, it was great therapy for me, get my mind off of reality for a bit...plus I had an added bonus, my daughter was creating her first Craft Roulette card....what a fun night we had, after a week of deep sadness, lots of tears and intense emotions.

So...here is mine

 

 

AND...here is hers!

 

 

 

Love Me Some Spinach - Ahoy! Ahoy!

 Ahoy Mateys!  I'm super excited to share my designs using the Ahoy Matey  set in the Kindred Stamps May 2025 Release.  One thing I absolutely LOVE to design, are recipes!  I have several scrapbook cookbooks that I've designed over the last 25 years, and am currently working on one right now too, but...a  little thing like a Mem Dex Recipe Box got in the way!  How fun it is to make a mini version of my 8" x 8" could be pages, and condense them to a mem dex size....  I have my mem dex recipes displayed on my kitchen counter in the coolest mem dex box.  I've been just waiting for a set like this to POP up for a super tasty spinach salad, just in time for summer!

 I really enjoyed playing with the characters of this set!  I thought it might be fun to make a baby announcement using our sailor, his person and sailor baby characters!  

 

 

What's nice, is having a craft room FULL of embellishments....never used before ROPE ribbon, came in handy for my 3rd card ... I haven't made many "tag" cards over the years, but did a few months ago, that I enjoyed the process with, so I gave it a whirl here too.  You will see more "tag" cards from me in the near future...  I have another brewing for a future post.  :)

 

 

 

The Kindred Stitched Alpha Die Set came in handy for my rope embellishment, and what would I do without the Card Basics Die Set.  It is probably my most used die set in my craft room right now!  I used dies from this set on all 3 projects:  stars, stitched matting, and a "life saver" (with a little help from a random circle die to punch out the middle!  :)

 

I loved this release...I loved this set...and I love me some spinach salad too!  Find Ahoy Matey  and other fun sets in the May 2025 New Release Collection for Kindred Stamps!

 

 

 

ROCK ON and Leave Your Worries Behind

 Who wouldn't want to be living in a land of carefree, where everyone is kind, and you leave your worries behind.  Today I'm featuring ... one of the Kindred Stamps April 2025 New Release 4 x 8 sets, No Worries  which includes 6 characters and 4 unique sentimets.  It's colorful ... it's cheery ... it's FUN (did I say fun?!) ... it's whimsical and it's just what is needed in a time where we can all use a little (or a lot) less worry...

 Supplies I used for my cave dudes:

Tree Scene Craft Die  (for my cave icicles!!! stalactites!)

Fairy Cloche Die  was used to create my cave entrance

Card Basics Die used for front panel/cave

 

I had a ton of fun creating my second card....  We have some heart tugging personal life going on right now, and when I sat down to complete/design this card...I literally got lost for a couple hours in creative therapy...I honestly don't know what I would have done over the course of close to 30 years without the creative escape we need every now and then.  Whether is paper crafting or other...it's important for that me time for everyone.  

I used the Card Basics Die and Fairy Cloche Die (hanging foliage), I love the Fairy Cloche Die, I see it coming in handy, and I can't emphasize more...how well used and loved that Card Basics Die Set is....it's definitely a must have for my craft room....

My last project.... for those of you who don't know me...  Next year, I will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of my specialty food business, which launched in October 1986.  It has been a wild wild ride, that's for sure...lots of highs and lows, peaks and valleys, so to speak....and...we always came out on the other end.  A few months ago, Kindred released the Treat Box Die .  I KNEW I needed this, as this sort of packaging, is something I work with daily.  My expertise in the novelty chocolates/favor world was telling me I needed this die for my own personal use.  My orders can be in the many thousands of units, I didn't buy this for business use, but truly for fun...  and fun fun fun it was.  It was incredibly EASY to put together, and can be filled with all kinds of different bulk candies, maybe even those little building block ones too would have been a good choice.  Super easy, and the skies the limit with what to put inside, or how to decorate the outside!  I chose chocolate rocks, a candy shelled, chocolate rock...it so fit the theme of this set!  The chocolate shovel and hard hat...well... if you ever pop into our facility, you may see these in mass production.   

 So there you have it!  In a perfect world, I would be editing this over and over...but, I think I'll call it good...I wonder how many times I wrote the word... FUN!?  (What, did I say FUN?, lol)

 

Thanks for reading!  I hope you pop over to the Kindred Stamps April 2025 New Release 

Lots of shopping opps!  

 

Under the Sea Friends

 A couple of weeks ago, I made a card for Craft Roulette, that I never added to my blog here.  My reasons were valid...  I had a personal emergency for one, and simply didn't have time.  I also was in the process of working with the new release for Kindred Stamps, and wanted to dedicate my social media time to that...(it is a VERY COOL ).  I had used a stamp set that I had purchased a few years back, which was part of a limited edition kit I wasn't sure it was available and wanted to research that before I shared it....  Well... yesterday, I see this set is now available as a restock item.  There are so many reasons why I wanted to share this today!!!  First... this may be one of the top 5 most fun cards I've ever made.  Second....I have had a TON of chatter about this card, so I know...this theme is near and dear to many.  Next...It was quick and easy to make...  And...there are many characters on this set too, which means there are tons of options for fun cards!!!  Underwater Buddies is one you will want to snatch up!  I adore these limited edition kits, and so when the set (without the additional kit items) pops up later down the line, I'm glad for those who missed opportunity from the getgo!!!  Speaking of limited edition kits....  Kindred has one available right now you may want to check out: Nuclear Family I can't wait for mine to arrive!  :)

In the meantime, since I mentioned the March New Release.....  if you haven't already taken a peek...

I offer up the deets on the set I was working with: Best Buds and Dope Friends 

I see the set by itself may be sold out, but it appears that you can get it in the bundle, which I for one, plan on purchasing a few out of the bundle too...that alpha die needs to find it's way to my craft studio!  :)

March New Release Bundle 

 

Tonight is a craft roulette night...wonder what the wheel will bring!  I'm sort of working on a big bunch of things that are due on April 15, lol....but...hope to fit a little creative time in this week!!!  So...standby, I'll be sure to share!  My process is getting quicker and quicker and easier and easier...and I'm oh so enjoying the journey as I train my brain to be more efficient in my studio, organizational wise and creative thinking wise too!!  

 

Wish Upon A Star!

 What fun this one was!!!  After skipping a week of Craft Roulette...Mr. Wheel spun me the perfect parameters for my 73rd Craft Roulette entry.  I never thought I'd get this far...73 cards in less than 2 years is more than I've made in 25ish years.  (different cards).  My goal by the end of the year is to organize and start mailing these lil gems out to people!  This one, is specifically designed for a future hard to buy for person...maybe an adult child of mine, who lives in a different state?  (You know who you are....)

 

 

Once again, I used a Kindred Stamps  set for my weekly entry.  Kindred is one of my "go to" companies when it comes to perusing through my potential designs each Friday night.  I'm not done with this set...I adored coloring the characters, and plan to make more with different designs.  I wanted our marionette to appear wooden color...that's why he's a little dark compared to our angel and toy maker...all and all, a second stab at this, I may have changed it up a bit...but...I'm trying to train myself to go with my instincts and not dawdle...when I dawdle...I have undone project here, there and everywhere.  In 73 entries...I have come a long long way with my speeding up things...and I don't have unfinished projects much anymore either.  Having the week timeline, if I start something, I sure as heck plan to finish it to submit it!!!

 

My supplies!

 

Make a Wish   Stamp set from Kindred Stamps 

Card Basics Die Set  (I use this die set practically EVERY time I create...well worth having)

Stitched Alpha Die Set  (another well loved/used die set....so convenient)

 Holographic Sticker Paper Clear  I LOVE THIS!!!  So economical, I even applied to my fairy for those little sparkly stars all over it!!!!! 

Stardream Cardstock  Another very cool paper..used for the base of the card, the scalloped mat, the stars..

 

Very fun card to make...I even did my research a bit on it too...the inner child in me, enjoyed the process!!!

 

By the way....speaking of Kindred Stamps....  This months New Release is super cool!  I plan to order in the new font set... these fonts sets are a game changer for convenience when it comes to card making and scrap pages too!

 

Kindred Stamps March 2025 New Release 

 

 

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."