Moment of Time

So, my project that I put off to the side while needing to finish the last Christmas card...(btw, March card...easy smeasy....and moving along nicely)...

I was thrilled to see a need to finish my little gnome card, as this little guy is one of the possible components for the Weekly Cricut Circle Challenge #22: "Once Upon A Time" ....include a fairytale or folklore image ...so, what better time than NOW to move forward and FINISH!!! Besides, I have RAK peeps to send these out to.....

A little info: I've used 3 cricut cartridges on this design:

1. Stretch Your Imagination (the tree) (3")
2. Freshly Picked (the gnome at 2")
3. Celebrations (the banner)

Bit of trivia here...I have limited banner cuts on my 50+ cartridges!!! I searched on my gypsy...nada....I have to tell you...Celebrations is one of my first cartridges I've ever owned...my kidlets gave it to me for Christmas the year I bought my original Cricut (2006)....this is MY go-to cartridge.....it seems to have the components that I need...this time the little triangles that I painstakingly attached together with the french knots. I wish I had a banner cartridge with the little scallopy edges...this WILL be in my future...but, I had fun playing with this just the same...

Another tidbit of triv....I'm a bit slow jumping on the banner bandwagon. I like what I see others do, ... I "get it" now....I REALLY like banners!!! I even have a banner included in on a FUTURE Christmas card design....not sure what month I'll be doing that one...but, standby...you will see more banners in my crafting future....hmmmmm....I wonder if you'll see banners with the little scallopy edges next time!!! I'm on a cartridge buying mission I see....

Look closely on this card...lots of dimension: polka dots on the hat....giant POP UP thingies on the little dude...of course a button (was going to attach brown macrame thread...but, decided I'm a button kind of girl! :)

Off I go...I made 12 of these....this is my first completed one....oh and the little guys EYES...I merely punched holes, put brown on the backside of the diecut...and applied glossy accents ... so, they sort of TWINKLE...all the little "cuts" on the gnome...I KNEW I wasn't going to be successful with him being so small...I decided to improvise and save a LOT of frustration!!!! Sort of reminds me of putting Goofy's teeth on once....(4" Goofy)...near impossible...freehand cutting, coloring of eyes, etc...works best for MWA!

Toodles and Happy Spring!

Trudi

It's the 3rd Monday of February!!

And that means....Christmas Card #2 is ready to show!!! I finished!!! I have already designed March's card....my craft inspiration is baaaaaaacccccckkkkkkkk!!!

A little comment about this card though....I started these almost 2 years ago...and put wayyyyyyyyyyy more labor into these than anybody should during busy holidays...so, finishing it NOW...when that December 25 date isn't lurking over my head...was a lot more fun....I like this no pressure approach....no wonder I gave up and didn't mail ANY Christmas cards ... this was too much ... Note to self....it's OK to make labor intensive cards...just don't tackle when there is a time crunch...that leads to not doing anything AT ALL....and picking up where I left off...almost 2 years later isn't fun either. Sadly, I have about 3 other projects in the same unfinished state....none of them Christmas...but...it's hard to get excited about something that was started over a year ago....(I took a long craft break)

One good thing about the long break...I've purchased supplies in between that helped "finish" the card...that I didn't have before....that being said...there are things that initially were "done" that I would NOT have done NOW....but...these are FINISHED!!! AND---they will be ready to mail out in early December!!!!

As for unfinished projects....I have one ready to get put back in "the spot"...the spot that I occupy on my giant craft table. I started it about a month ago....but moved it out of the way to get these cards finished...I intended to put this card on my January Christmas card posting...but discovered my little tin soldiers were TEDIOUS (which I really wanted to be a nutcracker...at THAT time...I did not have that cut on my cricut accessable...I do NOW...so, that would have been ONE change)....I even tried to draw a mustache on it...but...that is one skill I lack in....the hand drawing stuff....

Next Christmas card posting is March 21st....I am tickled with what I'm doing....pretty "flat" too...not as much dimension....nor as much labor (I don't think at least)...and I *might* actually do this one for my customers...I am going to incorporate some imprinting on it ... (what we do in my chocolate business...on packaging, ribbon, etc...)

I should have another card posted this week...just need to tweak it a bit...it's pretty much done!

Trudi

Fit For a King!

So, this isn't really how I would have painted these, but this is what the customer wanted....and I thought they looked sort of cool in the shipping box...before I taped it up to ship out...thought I'd take a picture....(actually, I wanted a picture for future reference if there is a re-order..I'll save the image in my customer file...since we've never done these quite like this before!)

Craft news: I'm faithfully cursing at myself for putting so much labor into the Christmas card that I'm finishing off right now....this is a 2 year old project that I don't want all my previous time and effort to go to waste....I tell ya....these (17) cards will ONLY be given to people who appreciate the fine art of card making...I am having fun though, since I don't have that magic December 25th date close ... and by challenging myself to produce a card (x5) once a month is fun. I have ideas all lined up for the next few months....I just don't want to leave these unfinished for another 2 years....so, 17 cards this round...

I see my other project ready to finish....but, I don't want to shift things around on my table quite yet...these Christmas cards are almost finished...I've been working a bit of them every day....I almost wanted to play hookie from work, but...can't really do that this time of year!

Anyhow...shipping a couple hundred of these out today along with the rest of todays orders!

Toodles,

Trudi

Where Did Winter Go?!

I would be lying if I said it was warm...as farmer talk goes...something to do with inversion...and without clouds the warmer temps aren't trapped under them...in about a month...this will be our household topic as we watch the night temperatures dangerously drop and put our orchard at risk...oh man, it's starting again! Howeva...I look forward to a new year...new challenges...somehow all the owies of the previous year get replaced as we anxiously wait to see what Mother Nature will do to us in the next few months! It's a way of life I've chosen and good, bad, or UGLY...I luv my lifestyle...

In the meantime....look what Mother Nature gave us today!!! Not a cloud in the sky...I'm off to do the weekly grocery shopping...and when I come home....I'm putting my Under Armour on and going for a run through the country....

Life is Good!

Trudi

Pictures: What a beautiful sky...I needed to share...the canyon shot...I attempted to capture a picture of the most beautiful pheasants...by the time I got outside in the bitter cold...they had hidden...if you look close though...you can see their clawprints....and...last but not least....proof of my February Christmas card...WHAT WAS I THINKING? This card has so much labor put into it (and I'm finishing 17)...I started it 2 years ago...no wonder I wasn't anxious to finish it...this is just a sneak peek too...there's more labor on it...but, you will have to wait until the 3rd Monday in February!!!

Christmas in January!

As I mentioned in my New Years Resolution:

New card x 5 to put in my stash (10 months in a row)...November rolls around...I'm all ready to mail cards...something I have NOT done now for going on 4-5 years....oh...and post on the THIRD Monday of each month, up to November...

YIKES! The only work I had to do on these were to move them from one storage container into another. I feel I failed somewhat my resolution!! haha...but...I will have February's card ready probably in a day or 2...so...no need to burn the candle at both ends in February! Drats these all unfinished projects! If not for them...I'd be posting new pictures like crazy. I think that was Resolution #3 or #4...get caught up with unfinished projects! I'm so ready to start something new for a change!

Anyhow, here is my first card to share for this Christmas Card goal of mine I have set....Card #1!!! Hope the lighting in my photo spot did justice for the sparklies! If it didn't ... trust me ... you might need sunglasses to wear this one....lots of GLITTER and STICKLES!

Trudi

p.s. My grammar and writing style has been a little lazy (proof reading and I'm more like rambling)....I've just been multi-tasking...and rather than edit, edit and rewrite and edit...I'm publishing! You get the jest of it...in the real world...I'm not that lazy with my publishing and writing...I just know...if I sit on things...I'll never post...so better to push the publish post button then not at all! (this is very hard for me to do....it's so not like me...I'm trying to ... relax a little, and I guess write like I talk?!" not sure...bye!

It's the 3rd Monday!

And it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas....NOT! OK....so, I don't want to flake on my resolutions already! As I publicly indicated in my Resolutions posting...

http://trudi-buttonsnbows.blogspot.com/2011/01/resolutions.html

I will feature a new Christmas card on the 3rd Monday of every month...so...as I was happily creating yesterday (my current non-holiday card...yep, that resolution I broke already...I was only going to make 6 or so of cards...I don't think I made that an official resolution though, and when I cut part of my design out, with my Cricut...12 cut out perfectly on my dp...so, I decided to make 12....) Anyhow, I had my Christmas card (obligation) "Ace in the Hole", so to speak....an unfinished Christmas design from 2 years ago....YIKES! Like about 25 cards...ready to finish....) My resolution was to complete FIVE....so...EASY SMEASY....at about 9:00 last night...I put my current project (It is so so so fun!!!) off to the side....(will post finished result when I finish in a day or 2)....well...my Christmas project from 2 years ago had more than a couple of hours work....my goal was FIVE....and with those FIVE....still more than 2 hours...

What to do? Not to break my resolution: Like in business ALWAYS HAVE A PLAN B....like if our equipment breaks down (I don't want to jinx me here...) PLAN B....have backup for production/raw
materials/etc....unfortunately in the "real world" that isn't always possible...but....I KNEW somewhere hidden I had 5 finished Christmas Cards yet to be sent to friends or family....whew....I had full intent of using these for a "month"...and with the exception of only a couple of friends (family) ... these have never been seen.....I did NOT intend to use these my very first month...but, I don't want to break this resolution....

I really like the card I'm working on (all 25) right now, however...so it WILL show up in February FOR SURE...I'm not moving it from my table...not even to finish my fun everyday cards! :)

Well...I PREFER to do all my picture/blog stuff here in the factory while I'm working like a busy bee...so....up to the photo area (it sounds professional....it is NOT....but, I try)....I go....and slowly, slowly, I hear the camera lense doing it's thing when I turn the camera on....slow slow slow...I'm not surprised I see BATTERIES TOO LOW....they are charging currently, crossing fingers I don't need it today for any chocolate proposals!!! My PLAN B card is all set up to take a picture of.....

WHAT TO DO? Slide over to tomorrow for my picture? (that would be breaking my resolution...and I don't want to do that!!!) I guess I'll post a late picture, but still have it on on this 3rd Monday of the month!

In the meantime....I don't think I've shared this card before. I was zooming through my picture gallery and found it. This was one of the most labor intensive cards I have ever made....I luv the technique of making my own dp with the smooshing the stamp ... I honestly don't know the name of the technique....but, it's fun.....

Anyhow, stand by for a Christmas card photo! Might be tonight!

Trudi

Bad weather is expected

AGAIN! I forgot...tomorrow I'm at a mandatory meeting ALL DAY...and it's out of town...and the expectation of snow and sleet is being told by weather guys! YIKES! So...if my creation is not pictured tomorrow or even Thursday...it's because of my meeting, which except for the free lunch and pastries...I'd rather not attend! It's a farm thing...and since I'm part of the farm...my body needs to be there! The future of our asparagus is at stake here!

I didn't think the asparagus field was as pretty as the orchard picture. I took these about a month ago...and actually have some beautiful out of the ordinary pictures.....I may upload those later if I don't get to my card first!

I'll touch base in a day or 2!

Trudi