Seashells in the Sand ...

 

More completed projects to share! I have been taking a few stamped images out of my craft studio to color while watching TV....it has sparked inspiration to create again. I don't even have a plan with a few of them....I come up with that later. This is one of the images, that really didn't have a plan.... My bigger plan with these got put on hold for a little, since I got insanely busy in the chocolate factory. Things are settling down, so I will continue with my original idea with these cards. After I was finished with them, I decided I wanted to make a little gift box with some of our chocolates in the factory.... One of our most popular lines is our "in the sand" line.... and I love the idea of sending a little gift to special people along with this card. The pictures attached are only a tiny portion of our "in the sand" line. 

 

 

 

 

The stamps used in this card are from Colorado Craft Company:

https://www.coloradocraftcompany.com/.../aj501-anita...

 

The line from Colorado Craft Company is Anita Jeram. So very very cute...precious...and FUN to create with!!!!

 

https://www.coloradocraftcompany.com/anita-jeram?page=2

 

I believe there is a good sale going on this weekend at Colorado Craft Company! I LOVE this line..... It started with Lovely Legs...then the Big and Bold....now Anita Jeram. I have a feeling a few more are going to make their way to my mailbox.... It was a very hard decision on what to choose last time I ordered....so many on my wish list!!!

 

https://www.coloradocraftcompany.com/shop

 

Last but not least.... our Ocean and Beach line: (so much is NOT shown here...this is a very informational site for our distributors...)

 

 https://adamsplace.espwebsite.com/ProductResults/...

 

 

I wish I was at a beach today! 

 

 

Trudi

The Hills are ALIVE

 What a fun find it was to come across this favorite film in the form of stamps for me!  I can sing every song, and possibly even recite certain scenes, word for word.  I even have Adelweiss on my playlist!  This will NOT be the last of me creating with the Scrappy Boy "Music Release Stamp Sets Bundle".  

https://scrappyboy.com/collections/bundles-1/products/music-release-stamp-set-bundle

It's very much worth heading over to their website, there are many more bundles and sets that have managed to find their way to my craft studio.  I will have hours of fun!

https://scrappyboy.com/

I can wait to use this on a fun holiday project I'm working on!!!!!!  

~Trudi

Cutie Charcuterie!

 

It's been awhile since I've shared anything! I have a few projects to share. Today I'm sharing something that I passed up over the holidays. I had a customer ask me to design for them and fill an order for charcuterie gift baskets. They actually wanted a fair amount of baskets, like 100 or even more, so it totally would have been worth it for me to explore the idea. That being said, I was so stressed over the orders that I did have going, and dealing with supply issues, I passed up the opportunity. We are not a gift basket company, but we actually do get a few quantity gift basket orders every holiday for companies, and so in a normal year....I probably would have tried. I'm almost thinking this year, offering one up. I would modify it a bit, this was one that I made for special gift for a special person. (you know who you are, if you are seeing this post) 

 

I won't deny that the card was a bit challenging to color....and I'm taking another go at it, as I'm not 100% certain on some of the items on it for coloring. I don't have a full set of Copics (sure would LOVE a full set though)....but instead, I have bought several sets of the cost efficient brands on Amazon....they definitely aren't Copics (I do have about 60 or better of those, but, I tend to save them, not sure why....what I don't do...is mix them with other brands...these Amazon ones, I mix and match...and I have NO guilt throwing them away, when they get gucky, and they will overtime...at least I see one particular brand that has gotten icky after about 5 years...really goopy) 

 

Anyhow, I'm taking another whirl at this card....and every now and then, will tackle an element of it.....so round 2 with this card will be different, down the line, don't be surprised if you see it again. I also see changes on the basket too...but, for now....I'm sharing my first go at it!

The stamp set is from Colorado Craft Company. I absolutely LOVE their stamps, they have several artists that I just can't get enough of. 

 

This is in the Big & Bold line: (I see it's on sale right now)

 

https://www.coloradocraftcompany.com/.../bb563-big-bold...

https://www.coloradocraftcompany.com/

 

I think of all the fun possibilities with this set! 

 

 

Trudi

Lil Gnome House

I'm not sure if this is a gnome house or a little cottage house or what, but, I thought it made a perfect lil house for my lil gnome!  I used a variety of stamps on this card....

The house was super fun to color with alcohol inks.  I'm pretty sure I used an Amazon purchase instead of my Copics (it's been awhile)...I tend to be more "free" with my use of a fairly cost efficient brand of alcohol markers, but, I will put a plug in for Copics...there is nothing in my mind as quality as a Copic marker.  That being said, I know there are other super great brands (also expensive),  I just haven't tried them.  I only own the lower priced sets I purchase from time to time off Amazon...and then I have a growing inventory of Copics (under 100)...but, they truly are an investment...so when I want to go wild, I use my less pricey ones....hahaha

The house is artist Graciellie Design from Unity Stamp Company:

https://www.unitystampco.com/search.php?page=2&section=product&search_query=house

The trees and cute little birds are from one of my all time favorite artists:  

Kim Hughes of Paper Smooches 

I purchased many of her sets when she was affiliated with Cornish Heritage Farms (stamp company) MANY MANY MANY years ago.  I fell in love with her style and have followed her for several years...her images remain to be in my TOP favorites of all time.  So cute and so so easy to FUSSY CUT!!!  If you look close, the middle tree is fussy cut and popped up with dimensional tape....

Look close on this card...and you will see GRASS!  You know along the way, one tends to buy RANDOM little stamps...at craft stores...I'm pretty sure I picked up my grass somewhere...it comes on a set with all kinds of little accessories for a little tiny chick...I honestly do not know who this comes from..so I can't give credit.  If you do look at the arrangement of cards, you will see I couldn't settle at first on the perfect grass...so a couple have SU grass on it....I guess you can say, no 2 of these cards are alike.  hahaha

 Last, but not least....the HARD part of this card, was making a little DOOR open....and, I cannot say, it's perfect.  Maybe it was too late at night, my cutting skills were unfun.  I did use an old time tool...my COLUZZLE.  (If anyone knows or remembers that...you've been at it as long as I have!  hahaha  I'm so glad I never get rid of supplies....you just might want to cut out a little gnome door)

Anyhow...I'm thinking the door may be opening up the wrong way, but...it's a gnome door, so it is what it is!!! 

The little gnome stamp is from:  Riley and Company

https://rileyandcompanyonline.com/

https://rileyandcompanyonline.com/mini-gnomes-stamp-set-set-of-3/

I bought the little set of 3, and cut them a part, to make 3 stamps...  One little gnome fit perfectly inside the door.  I have used my little gnome on a mushroom card...  So fun to color and FUSSY CUT! 

I hope to be working on some fun new projects to share soon!

Toodles!

Trudi

Bluebirds of Friendship

 Hi!

 I'm not sure what to call this card, and it was WEEKS ago that I shared on my facebook page, 

The Trudio Studio

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057254447856

so.... I won't go into details!  I REALLY enjoyed creating this card...it was intended for Valentines Day, but, February 14 came and went...and I was still fiddling with it...so...I was happy I wasn't necessarily going with traditional Valentine colors!  lol!  I made this card with a Unity Stamp Company incentive stamp....I'm glad I have it, and can't wait to work with this artist more!  (Terra Jackson)

https://www.unitystampco.com/note-this-birdie/

 

 

Stay tuned...will be adding more of what I've been up to lately! 

Toodles - Trudi

Day 7 Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas!!!!

 

Day 7 Ho Ho Ho! 

 

Once I figured out how to stamp a straight line of the HoHoHos, it got really easy to finish this card. I already see an improvement I could have made...If to make again...I'd probably emboss "Santa" with polka dots, or swirleys or something, to add texture and fun. But, left alone, I was happy with the results too..... it was QUICK...it was EASY ... and I learned how important my Tim Holtz Stamp Platform became, while lining up the Ho Ho Hos....I enjoyed that so much, I decided to make 5 of these. It's a crisp, clean card, not my typical style, but, just as fun to make as any other. After 24 days of training my brain to be quick and simple...I may have a new style! lol!

 

Not sure I'll be back again for a few days...just in case you don't see me for a few....I'm currently working on Day 8, but, I will and must get to sleep early tonight....big chocolate week again...

 

Toodles!

 

Trudi

 

Day 5 and 6! Stocking Caps & Wreaths!

DAY 5

Well, I didn't make it past Day 4....although, I did open my little advent day, I needed sleep during the hours I wasn't working in the candy factory.  It was a super stressful chocolate week, and I knew I wouldn't be able to keep up as early as last SUNDAY!  I even had Day 5 finished, but couldn't find the time to upload it here....

So...Day 5....is this cute little stocking cap.  I decided to do something FAST...and use a background, I created over 13 years ago....it's the blur ink technique (I honestly don't think it's called that, but, it makes sense to me....)...it's one of the very first techniques I have ever ever EVER learned, like way back in the late 1990s maybe even....it's where you take your stamp, ink it...stamp off on a scratch piece of paper, then...stamp it on your cardstock, but, blur it...do that over and over, and even with different colors...it will look like a blurry soft version of your stamp....then, after all is said and done...stamp darker without the blur, your image....it's a very fun technique....

I've done wheat fields like this, garden images, and I must have loved doing these snowflakes...so much that about 13 years ago, I did extra backgrounds for me to use 13 years later, when I was trying to quickly make something for my Day number 5 of the advent calendar.  

I could have just stopped...but now, I needed to add felt snowflakes that have been sitting in my inventory for about 15 years...and of course BLING.  I have not finished the insides, but, just might do that soon...

This/these card(s) could have taken as little as 20 minutes to make...but, I had to agonize over it....I'm getting better at attempting a quick thing....

 

 

DAY 6

 

And here is where quick and easy came into play.....Holiday Wreath TAGS

 

So, do you ever worry about all the time you put into something, that most likely will get tossed?  Yes...I think about that....well, I finally made something, that if it got tossed...I wouldn't be wishing I hadn't put excess hours of creating into it...  The tags were a no brainer, and quick, and simple and will be perfect to either tie around a bottle of wine/cider/other...or even attach to a package.  IF a recipient wanted to keep it...it would make a bookmark...but...if it ended up in the garbage...that's ok too....

 

And you know what...I had just as much fun making these simple tags...as I would have making something complex.  I'm getting there on the quick and easy train...  I obviously couldn't decide bling or no bling on the ornaments and the ribbon image on the wreath.  I'm not in love with the glitter....I finally think Wink of Stella on the ornaments and glossy accents on the ribbon...but to be honest, I could have nixed both, and it still would have been ok!  I left the gold chord loose ends to tie easily onto and item or into the bow of whatever I decide to use them with....

 

 

I landed another big order this week...so, may not be keeping up again...but, I'm truly blessed to have these corporate orders sent our way in candy land....by next weekend...we will be winding down for the year.  

 

Toodles~

 

Trudi