Be Bold with Be Bold Blooms

Going out of my normal style to create a couple of cards using zero ink...just card stock and a very popular etched die by Spellbinders. For me, the challenge was choosing a color scheme, and to adhere the intricate pieces to the paper or card stock. I'm sure I'll get the hang of it in the future, and I fully intend to use this die again and again.

I'm an ink and alcohol marker kind of crafter in most recent years, but knew I had to get the Spellbinders etched die, "Be Bold Blooms" in my hot little hands, because I have seen so many beautiful creations made with this die. I was truly inspired by so many talented card making artists out in craft land! With my purple card, I dropped in at my favorite local craft store, and hit the sales rack, where you can purchase designer paper 4/$1.

I have found some very popular and beautiful 12x12 sheets of yummy designer paper there at clearance prices. I hope Craftwarehouse will always have those racks...I love to get my one piece I need...plus about 11 more! hahaha!! They also carry my favorite line: Graphic45. I have upon occasion found a goldmine there with a $ .25 sheet of G45, but, one cannot expect that, and I gladly pay full price for their beautiful designer paper. I headed straight for Graphic45 for a purple type paper, as I made this card specifically for someone who love purple. I didn't find what I was looking for, so, plan B.....where I found a TON of fun purple and lavender papers! :)

https://spellbinderspaperarts.com/products/be-bold-blooms-etched-dies-from-the-be-bold-collection

https://craftwarehouse.com/

I JUST joined a monthly subscription to Spellbinders die club....I just received the cutest dies ever...so, stay tuned...I may be sharing more....

As far as my local craft play ground.... I absolutely LOVE Craftwarehouse. It's a fairly local/regional (2 states) craft chain, that has been online for a couple of years now. Although you probably wouldn't be able to purchase clearance designer paper through their site, (there is something to be said about actually seeing the racks)...you can purchase tons of other supplies, and they offer free shipping over certain dollar amount. (I think it's $75ish). I just purchased 36 Distress Oxide inks on sale ($3.50ish) and even though CW is local to me....I had it shipped to me...I think it probably saved me even more money, as I wasn't able to impulse buy other fun supplies!!!!

Thanks for visiting my page, I hope to keep up with it for now, but I know my busy busy days are ahead of me in the chocolate factory.... That being said, crafting therapy is good for me, so, while I'm not working insane hours during the holidays in my business...I intend to put and hour here and there in!

 ~Trudi

The Trudio Studio

 

Happy Hollow Days!!!!

 One of my new favorite companies to buy incredibly fun stamps from now is Scrappy Boy. I made this card for the current July challenge going on...make a holiday card using a non-holiday set. 

 

I used 2 sets:

https://scrappyboy.com/collections/stamps/products/climb-every-mountain-6x8-stamp

I made my own lil poinsettias by coloring them red with golden yellow centers, that I free hand added a few more circles in the center from the Climb Every Mountain set. The original flower is an Adelweiss, but, I thought it made a perfect poinsettia.

https://scrappyboy.com/collections/stamps/products/coffee-girls-6x8-stamp

My second set I used was Coffee Girls. I binged watched the series Gilmore Girls on Netflix a few years ago, and enjoyed it very much. Since we have a barista in our household right now, I knew I'd love this set! I probably should have colored Luke's cap blue, but I wanted him to match Lorelai, and I was already overthinking this card way too much.

There is dimension...lots of dimension...there is glitter...there is heat embossing...and there are even BRADS...a thing we don't see much of anymore! I even had a little help from a cricut cartridge (Winter Wonderland), and a couple of Spellbinders thin dies. (Be Bold Blooms for the poinsettia leaves) I'm not sure what the name of the die is for the little bird....I felt the tree needed something and it made the 5th red object to give it that eye appeal on the card. I couldn't fit another poinsettia on it if I tried...so the bird made my uneven number, and 3 was too little for me. lol (By the way, that Be Bold Blooms die set is AWESOME...I haven't bought dies in YEARS...but just had to on this one, it was calling my name, and about a million others in craft land...there are tons of fun samples out there!!)

 

The mistletoe and the Happy Hollow Days was computer generated....

Fun card to make, and it's almost inspired me to rewatch the series!!!! :)

Now, I need to make sure to mail these during the holidays, and I need to find out who else shares my love for the series Gilmore Girls!

Have a nice weekend!

Trudi

Fairyliscious Background

My new favorite word to overuse:  Fairyliscious!  I so love creating with Lavinia stamps.  This background is created for an 8x8 scrapbook page actually, so before I stamp the pods and tree stump house on my next pages, I'll scan the colored background, write in my text, print and then after matter, stamp the fun magic images.  I am making a quantity, so it will save me a ton of time blending in the blue and green to get the colored edges.  I have a color laser printer, so worth every expensive penny of the ink cartridges, and the printer too...but, having it now for going on 4 years, I have only replaced the cartridges one time...and I use my printer for business.  I sneak my craft card stock into my facility, the ink is pennies to print....

Anyhow, I posted this on my The Trudi Studio Facebook Page:

 

My fun background cardstock made with Lavinia and other stamps. I REALLY love Lavinia...it so fairyliscious in every way! One can really get creative and you don't need a ton of colors...I'm sure I will be adding more and more and more in the future!!!!

 Have a magical weekend!

 

Trudi

Rocket Man - Skies the Limit!

I used a combo of stamp sets to make this unique graduation or inspirational card. I'm not sure the younger generation really knows who this lil dude is....but I sure do, as he is one of my favorite music artists. 

 

 

The stamp set is called "Rockin' which can be found at Kindred Stamps:

https://www.kindredstamps.com/products/rockin?_pos=1&_sid=cbeb4480a&_ss=r

 

 

The mini stars and the moon is from Lavinia Stamps:

 
https://laviniastamps.com/product/moon/
https://laviniastamps.com/product/stars-miniature/

Lavinia is based out of the UK, and I believe you can purchase some of their line domestically, through other fairylicious suppliers (or at least you used to be able to)...I'm not 100% sure of that though. I have done both, but not finding where I did through the US. I know going straight to Lavinia, you have the option to play in fairy wonderland...this is definitely one of the most creative and absolutely jaw dropping stunning companies ever. I have used my Lavinia stamps until they are stained practically, and I cannot say that about any other company that I own supplies from. I also belong to their fan facebook group. So much spectacular talent with this line. I'm star struck!

 

Last stamp company, is the really cool saying on the inside of the card, along with the "reach 4 the stars" stamped on my very own colored made background paper. I bought a wonderful set of astronomy stamps from a company that is no longer: Cornish Heritage Farms. I absolutely LOVED their company, and am glad I found them when I did before they sold their biz. One of the brilliant artists for them, created many background stamps and other....I will come back and edit this post when I confirm her name. I want to be sure I don't misquote..... I'm not sure what entailed about the sale of the biz, I never followed... I'm sure if CHF was still around, I'd be a faithful customer still. The quality of the rubber stamps was some of the best.

The little rocket is from my cricket....I used the Toy Story Disney Cartridge (Buzz Lightyear)...and modified it until I could turn it into something I could use. It was tiny, so the little detail didn't cut very well....I figured it out. I'm old school, and never evolved into the online cricket or design options. I have terrible wifi, and very little computer patience when it comes to learning. I do enough of that on my day work, that frustrates me...so...my crafting time is supposed to not be anything that tests my patience. Little rocket on cartridge it is. lol.... all glittered up with one of those sparkly pens... I believe they are called "Wink of Stella" (or similar) I purchased a 3-pack on Amazon, and just looked at my purchasing history and cannot find them! I know I bought 3, and I love using them...it gives things a little glitter without overdoing it. :)

Lastly, I got all my sizzix dies out the other day....and found my star die. I am so glad I have kept all of these....I feel like a kid in a candy shop when I create...I really have zero need to buy anything but adhesive and cardstock EVER....I have enough supplies to last my lifetime and probably 2 or 3 other people too. It really is fun. I will admit, I'm an ink and adhesive addict....so, I'm sure the craft stores will still love seeing me. lol

Long post, I know....but, when I can, I really do like to reference who/what/where when it comes to suppliers. I wish when I started this insane hobby, 25ish years ago, I had references...I could have saved myself a pile of money. I also have stumbled upon some companies that I just adore....

I have found myself gravitating towards Kindred a lot....especially when I want to be reminded of my younger me. It's very well worth a visit to their site:

https://www.kindredstamps.com/

They offer a "kit" box 3-4 times a year...which is limited. It's crazy how we all set our alarms to get in on the purchase....I plan to share more later on....but for today, this is a long long post....so, I'll rocket to the moon and sign off for now!

Trudi

 

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