Holiday Traditions

 I will be brief on this...  I have elaborated on my facebook page:

 

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

 

I'm working super human hours, so I'll just post pictures for now!!!  These are a few of my recent Craft Roulette entries!!!!

I REALLY enjoyed this one, using an "oldie", but favorite retired Stamping Up "Gnobbly Gnomes" set.

Then there is this one.....  LOVED making this one, and intend to make MORE for Christmas cards this year!!!  I have 8 or so in the making!!!  I used an "Angie Girl" from Unity Stamps for this one.

And lastly, I found a few hours this weekend for this one....  I kind of copied a previous design of mine in the past (the snowy hills and the forest)  It worked for me then, but the cute "Bundle Girls Winter" from Stamping Bella, was a first for me.  I LOVE that line, you WILL SEE MORE of me using in the future!!!  This one will have a few extra touches on the extras I am making.  :)

Bye for now!  Need to get to working in the chocolate!  yikes...  HO HO HO HOLIDAYS!!!

Trudi

 

 

Back to School!!!

 I didn't give it a lot of time and thought for the sentiment....  I truly don't want to spend so much time on one card, this process is teaching me to "move along"... lol...  The weekly Craft Roulette challenge is doing just that...

What I'm THRILLED about, is using supplies that I wouldn't otherwise have thought of....  By choosing the sentiment that I did... I opened it up to send this to either a teacher, a school staff employee, or even a student... all awesome and all getting ready for a brand new year.

Episode #183 Craft Roulette:

Parameters:

1. Project: Ribbon / (tied matching ribbon on card)
2. Colors: Circus / (traditional red/distressed ivory/black/gold)
3. Element: September / Back to School
4. Random: Hand cut / fussy cut teacher image

 

 

 

This was one of my first REAL use of a stencil, adhered to my glass mat even, with purple repositional tape.  lol...  I have never used my mat to it's full potential, and I JUST BOUGHT the tape.  I may become a stencil freak now...  It was fun...  You need the little brush applicators.  I bought a bunch on Amazon, fairly cheap and have marked each one what color of ink they belong to....  I guess there are still MORE supplies for this crafter to buy yet.  (After 25+ years of buying...  hahahaha)

I used to use a ton of ribbon on my designs, not so much anymore, but I do have a few rolls from our chocolate factory in my studio room, and this one fit the color scheme.  I do have a narrower version of this ribbon in the factory...but, I'm not changing anything...  everything is cleaned and already put away...until next week!!!  

Side note...  I bought several Stamping Bella stamps 20ish years ago, and this was one of them.  These are some of the very first non-mounted stamps out in stamp land....it doesn't even have any cling foam adhered to the back.  I LOVE Stamping Bella then and love them now (they have cling foam on them now)...but this style of image isn't available anymore, so I treasure the 8 or so that I have, as you can't find them anywhere....  What a super creative company Stamping Bella is, was then and is now...  (RIP Emily)  I didn't look any farther for my "September" theme, once I found this image...I knew I wanted to design with it.  :)

Craft Roulette-Episode #182 - Groovy Groovy

The first time I inked up my Groovy Austin set, was for Craft Roulette, episode #182.  

Parameters:

1. Project: Circles

2. Colors: Vegetable Garden

3. Element: Screen

4. Random: Fuzz

 

 All kinds of wonky circle vibes going on here to cover the first parameter.  Vegetable Garden colors include carrots and radishes....  TV fits my "screen" element...  and although the intent was to showcase "fuzz" with the stamp off, blur and swirl, then stamp technique (background of the TV screen) you can't really see  it that well... so I also think Austin (and maybe me too) has a fuzzy brain while making this card.  lol  The technique (I really don't recall the exact name of the technique, so I called it what I think it should be called...) is REALLY COOL, and it was one of the first techniques I ever learned....  I promise, it will show up again in the future, but more when you can really see how it is shown.  

If I were to redo this card...I would change a bunch, but I just wanted to move on from it....  The die was really fun, I bought it from Scrappy Boy, the stamp set is from Kindred Stamps.

 

My lighting wasn't the best on the following pictures (both were made several years ago, using the stamp off, blur and swirl stamp technique....you can see muted snowflakes in the background and a few crisp stamped snowflakes/image/sentiment...super easy...and fun to do!  The wheat card was actually one of my all time favorite cards to make.  It was so simple, and it reminded me of the Palouse, driving back to college this time of year...through wheat fields, ready to harvest. 

 

 

Until next time...                                                                                                                                

Toodles!

Trudi

My NEW Found Inspiration!!!!!!

 Well, hello, it's been awhile!  This last year has been full of challenges and ups and downs, my paper crafting has been here, there and everywhere!  I'm working on a very labor intense project, that when complete, I definitely will share to the world.  It may be Christmas 2024 before that happens, and at this rate, perhaps 2025.  That being said, I truly LOVE working on it...  

Soooooooooooooooooooo....  what keeps me motivated?  Well...  I was introduced to something very fun...  like very FUNN...  called Craft Roulette.  Here is the link, and my this weeks contribution. 

https://craftroulette.live/

People who know me, have probably by now figured out, that I'm not as tech savvy as I could be, I JUST THIS YEAR ... started watching YouTube videos.  I see I can access them from my big screen Smart TV, I always could, but never thought about it, until I wanted to see who won Last Chance kitchen the day after each Top Chef aired.  My kids think I'm in the Flinstones days, I have a feeling.... I have been last to the party.  About 5 months ago, I received a Facebook invite to follow the Craft Roulette page... I never gave it much thought, and was a little confused about the concept.  It wasn't until this summer, did I decide to check it out.  Well... once I did, I never EVER looked back.  I have been toying with doing some sort of online craft something/business for a few years now, and sort of wish I had, this group is so much fun to play along with.  The weekly guests truly have exposed me to companies I never knew of, and the originator of Craft Roulette is a pure joy and delight to follow.  My concept isn't even close to this, nor will it be if I ever do my "thing"... but what I've learned, is to NOT BE INTIMIDATED!  I should know this, as in my chocolate business, I've had hesitation to try new business ideas....  RARELY am I disappointed with my decisions... I just need to go with it!

So... WHAT IS CRAFT ROULETTE?  you ask?  lol  (you really need to tune in to hear this question!)  Craft Roulette is owned by Mary Funn, (and  her son, I believe).... who has created 4 parameters, each with 24 wheel options...  The "wheel" is spun once on each parameter which then determines what you are creating with.  The concept is so cool, and my oh my...does it open up the creative gates, at least for me.  It has inspired me, and more important, has triggered me to use older, unloved  supplies that haven't seen the light of day for over 20 years!!!!  This post is getting very long winded, so I'll stop for now...  I urge you to go to my facebook page to see more: 

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

I have uploaded my 11 entries of Craft Roulette.  I missed a couple of weeks, I was sick for one, the other in a bad mood.  lol ...  I'll try to post updates here moving forward.  I lost my password, but found it... hahaha  Not sure anyone even comes to this blog, but if you do...  STAY TUNED!!!!!

My this weeks contribution was a ton of fun!  I enjoyed playing in The Trudio Studio this weekend, that's for sure!!!

 Toodles... Trudi

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