My Dear Niece

4 years ago today, I tragically lost my niece to a senseless act of violence. One would think that over 4 years time...it may be possible to move the pain away and find a way to trudge forward....Although this indeed is the case...the pain has shifted from the center of my heart...to another place that surfaces, although less frequently, still appears....as if it were yesterday, I can't forget...and never ever will. I can't drive past the baseball field I was standing at when one of my sisters indicated to me...that my dear niece was one of the 32 victims, her precious life being taken in Norris Hall. I can't drive past here without thinking about that phone call. I can't stand at the post office window that I was at when I chatted about being concerned that we had not heard from her yet...I can't stand there and purchase STAMPS...without recollecting that conversation. I can't stand in the express grocery check-out at Yokes...without remembering the tears running down my face in front of complete strangers...and recalling a "stranger" who put her arm around me and shared how she tragically lost her brother years ago too...that things WILL get better....

Since 4 years have passed...I have grown so much....I try to be a better person...I am ashamed at all the times where I "could have" been a better friend for friends who may have struggled through a loss, or tough situation. It is only until I personally endured such horrific pain, do I realize that often times...people "don't know" what to say or do...so true that was with me.....I pray that I have become a better person...and I know my sweet niece, Leslie, would not want any of her family to live a lifetime of hurt and pain....grasping to find a new direction, I've channeled my pain at times very unproductively and inappropriately, but have caught myself in moments where finally I've started the path to being more positive. My niece, in her 20 years gave so much kindness to others...so so so much...that in a lifetime...I could never imagine giving so so much. I would hope that all of mankind was so generous, but I know better. We give, we help, we do what we do...but this young woman did so with such ease and grace. In her young years, she taught me much....

I can't let today go by, however, without lifting a prayer to her, and her 31 classmates and faculty....if only we could turn back the hands of time...I'm sure we all would have done and said things differently to others...I know I would have. And for that I need to share her favorite quote

"And we should consider every day lost on which we have not danced at least once. And we should call every truth false which was not accompanied by at least one laugh."

-Friedrich Nietzsche

Sweet Leslie, I love you,

Trudi

Egg Shaped Card

This is sort of a little afterthought to post a picture of this card. First, I don't think I've ever posted it to my blog, but IF I did...oops on me. This is not a new creation, but one I did awhile ago....in fact, if I recall...it was one of those that I wasn't sure how the outcome would be...but in the end...I was pleased. I absolutely adore the stampset I used, it is a current SU set, I'd have to go look at the name of it...if anybody is interested, just shoot me an e-mail. (I don't know how to respond directly after a comment is made, I want to know how to do that...as I appreciate the comments!!!)

I see that one of the blogs I frequent:

http://heather-bittenbythebug2.blogspot.com/

is featuring egg-shaped cards to fit the Easter/Spring theme.....it was only after I had thought to upload this card today did I notice this theme on the BBT2 blog....it didn't say these had to be newly created cards, so I thought I'd attach to the Mr. Linky on this go-to blog! Every Monday they have a new theme...I've considered jumping in from time to time....

I did use the cuts on my Storybook cartridge ... (oval and scallop...and I OH SO HOPE my memory is correct on that...it's been awhile since I made this card...but...this would be my assumption!

The card screams Spring as well...and playing around with my never-ending supply of chocolate....the little foiled eggs seemed like they belonged in the picture! I just wasn't liking my pictures...so, I tried...gave you a couple of angles of the eggs...haha

Hope to have another card up on Buttons n' Bows this week....and of course...we all know Monday is CC Monday....aka Christmas Card Monday...so, for sure...(can't guarantee what time of the day though!)...there will something either green/red or green and red/or perhaps some variation of green or red ... maybe burgundy and hunter green...we'll have to see...I may just pull a fast one and do some fun new Trudi Christmas colors....I think over the last couple of years...I've had customers ask for purples and magenta and citrus green trees and Santas....so...I guess we'll see what my mood brings for my Bingo card, which I am casing of mine! LOL!

Thanks for stopping by!

Trudi

Friend Card

Here it is! When I saw a glimpse of this background set in the holiday mini SU catalogue...I knew I wanted it....mostly for fun enhancements in scrapbooking....(not sure why I was thinking that...since I haven't created a layout for ages...)....I had just seen some really cool designs created by a few of my scrapbook idols...and I wanted to give the bingo card concept a whirl too....so, this stamp was definitely coming to my house....(I could kick myself all over for not ordering other fun scrapblocks from CHF...so, I wasn't going to let this SU background disappear on me since it was in a mini catalogue...no guarantee it would end up in the "big" catalogue which comes out yearly....we'll know if this one made the cut this summer!)

I'm really not an "itty bitty" stamp kind of person either...so, it surprised me...when I kept thinking of all the fun possibilities I could do with this card and the little holiday stamps that coordinates with it.....well, one thing lead to another...and before you know it...I was almost talking myself into buying all kinds of itty bitty stamp assortments for this card....(I think there is another set in the SU main catalogue that has the right size and quantity that could work....)

I decided about a month ago, that this stamp was going to be my April Christmas Card design....but couldn't get the possibility of other sets to use as a non-holiday design.....I KNOW I have oodles of small stamps! I settled on doing a spring one with flowers...and selected my assortment of mini flowers that I purchased over 12 years ago from our local craft store. This is like the first assortment I have ever purchased.....going back to my earlier comment...I'm not a little stamp sort of person....I have to chuckle at that...because of the over 300 stamp sets (maybe even more) that I currently own...many have never seen ink...EVER...but this little flower set has been used over and over and over and over. I'm not even sure what company makes it...I have a little animal footprints set similar and a Halloween assortment too...about 18 mini stamps in a little cello tube-like box.....

Originally, I wanted fun spring colors on this....but NIXED that...it was too busy for me (I'm sort of surprised at myself on that too)....so, I went with the soft one-color stamping....(which after doing 11 of these....that's stamping 264 little boxes....it still looked naked to me, going the one color...I remember going to a baby shower where we played bingo with baby things typed in each box....that's when my oldie but goodie word sets came to mind....

The rest sort of fell in place....

I really had fun making this card....(I have 9 still to finish...basically assembly though!)....I didn't have enough of the prima flowers (I remember when I bought these...I was afraid to use them up! That was about 6 years ago...and I have so many bottles of these...I still luv them...) But, not having enough...I turned to the next best thing...my own flower creation. I'm the kind of person that needs a different texture on my designs....thus...my reliable sizzix with one of my many dies...produced the little felt flower.....

So, there you have it...probably a too long post about this card...but, I have warm fuzzies with this all over the place....the limited color (I first stamped in a charcoal gray, then aligned the stamp with my stamp-a-majig...stamped over in Silver Encore.....to give it that shimmer look)...I'm not convinced the white cardstock I used was the best "kind"...I knew I was going to use a lot for this project and felt I could get by with a lesser quality brand....it's OK...but, if I were to ever reproduce...I'd do so with SU's whisper white, or a similar quality...but, overall...it's probably just me who will notice the difference...although it's a "lesser" quality....it still is a GOOD quality...just not the BEST quality!

So....the next time you see me using this stamp.....it will be on April 18...the 3rd Monday of the month, AKA, Christmas Monday.... I will have cased my own design and turned it into a holiday theme.

Thanks for stopping by!

Trudi

Got Side Tracked....

OK...Taxes got in the way of my card-making plans over the weekend. But...yippee...I pretty much am FINISHED with my taxes...(thx Turbo Tax...I (heart) you. (I don't know how to put a little symbol in here...so just imagine a heart there....all I need to do is buy a new ink cartridge and print, sign and oh...write a check (ouch)

But...I hope to have a new picture on tomorrow. Once again, my less is more card is turning into a more is more card. I guess leopards really don't change their spots...(you know the saying)....analogy meaning....I'm destined to always put more labor into my designs than probably necessary, and always not everyone's "cup of tea"...but for some reason, I like to do things this way, and I'm not complaining....I could save time and probably bling bling money if I left elements OFF...but...my personality at this stage of my creative life is not leading me to do this...and...I work entirely on IMPULSE....I am going to case my own design (the one I'm posting tomorrow)...and turn it into a holiday design...as we all know...that 3rd Monday of the month (Christmas Card Monday, I now call it...) is RAPIDLY approaching...and this is a resolution of mine that I am on a mission to NOT flake on!!!! I truly think this has helped me get my creative inspiration back....I am already planning on what I'm going to do for May...

First things first, however...and RAK ladies....I really DO have a pile of cards for each of you....honestly....(ok, a pile of 2 so far...but they are THICK...haha)

My pictures: This is an order we shipped yesterday for a customer who will be handing these out to tenants...I'm not sure the details, as I don't work directly with the customer, but through one of the event/ad specialty customers of mine...anyhow...we separated by "bundles" some needing up to 50 units....what a fun order....the mini chocolate flower is bowed on top of a little package of chocolate sunflower seeds which we package...we make the flowers and tie on the imprinted ribbon (which we print here)...anyhow...a little glimpse for you all into my "other world"...next pic I promise will be "crafty".

Toodles,

Trudi

I'm creating something new!

I'm actually convinced it's back! My creative motivation is finally BACK! I'm designing something that I will turn around later and turn it into a holiday design...but for now...there is really no "reason" for this card....JUST BECAUSE...it's a JUST BECAUSE card. I see on the Cricut Circle Challenge this week...that is the theme....I've picked out the criteria, WITHOUT OVERTHINKING TOO! Now...to execute.

I will be going off to the store...then go for a 3-4 mile run/jog....because I KNOW I'll be eating late night "treats"....while I'm finishing my cards!

Big Smile here!

Trudi

P.S. The picture: My grandpups! Although, their daddy is yellow lab/golden retriever mix...they don't carry the color resemblence...but, they sure have his fun personality. The mom...she's border collie...what a great mix!

March Christmas Monday

It's the 3rd Monday of this month, and I have my new card to share. I TRIED to make this into more labor...and I struggled and learned a few things....

First, this stamp does not require extensive! That's my first lesson. I was going to stamp another "25" and cut it out to make it "pop"...but decided against it....The little bells do NOT need to be colored in glittery gold pen, that was a waste of time...the STAMPAMAJIG is VALUABLE on a design like this....my original "stamp" was in a rich brown "I thought pigment" ink .... which I used because I colored my flowers and leaves in with my Copics, then restamped over with Gold Encore...lastly, I spritzed with an opal "glimmer mist" (or brand similar)

So, what lessons did I learn?

1. Don't glimmer mist with a dye ink...it will RUN (I'm glad I started with 11 cards...because 3 are ruined, and my goal was FIVE)

2. Card Stock: For coloring with Copics...use the cardstock that is recommended...."one" of my cards was not with the suggested brand...and it got "trashed"...it was my "cut up and practice with" card....keep in mind...it took about 15 minutes PER DESIGN to "color"...so, waste of time and ink!

3. STAMPAMAJIG: I can't believe how much I really do use this. BUT...there is NO REASON TO RUSH THINGS...thus, pretty card...all messed up....trash trash trash (another 15 minutes of wasted time) (make sure it is aligned!!!)

4. Being impulsive: This doesn't pay off all the time....often, when I create, I AM impulsive.......grab a supply and run with it....in this case....on a couple of my "glimmer mist" foible cards.....I tried to stamp very lightly a music score over the "running ink"....WOW...it looks like I tried to stamp music notes over the running ink....the cards are OK...but, as you can see...they are not the ones I chose to photograph!

5. Take the effort to do what you "should" do in the first place rather than "improvise"...this meaning EMBOSS. I embossed the "warm wishes" sentiment...but attempted alternatives on a couple of the cards....the alternatives, are with the music notes. :) I'm surprised I don't like to emboss since I don't mind spending too much time on other techniques...just not something I ever really liked doing. I guess that's why I like using the "Encore" metallics so much!

All lessons learned....I will probably do this card again....This year, I plan on sending cards out to my biggest clients, hand-made, hand-written, we usually send an appreciation gift too, this is my industry and it's all about wining and dining....BUT....as much as I'd like to spend oodles of energy crafting...that time of year, I can't. So, having a quick design is critical! It was just pointed out to me too, that we will be celebrating our 25th year of business here in the chocolate this holiday season....how appropriate is that? Yep...I'll revisit this card....

It's great being back in the crafting spirit again....

Trudi

Monday is coming...

I actually spent 2 hours in my studio last night and finished something! The gnome card ... 12 finished and it is tweaked a bit, so the recipients who may have already seen it on my blog...are in for a surprise....the dude is modified, and I prefer the new and improved version....

I'm working on my Monday (3rd Monday of the month, I guess I'll call it Christmas Monday, March) card....I was only going to make FIVE...somehow, I can't do that...so, 10 it is...what is WRONG WITH ME?! It's this over doing it that gets me all out of whack. Five would be doable...but, this is a new Christmas stamp, never used...and I really like it...and it seems easy....?! I don't want to break my resolution, so I may have dark circles under my eyes on Monday...burning the midnight oil Sunday night! Hey, I'm in town this weekend...with only ONE thing to do...(besides clean house)...

Signed up for the Run For Ribbons FunRun...a funrun supporting our local cancer center. It might be rain...it might be windy...it might be rainy and windy...but, I'll be out there with my 11 year old daughter running a 5K....YIKES!

The picture: I brought this to this last weekend volleyball tournament for the snack item....the tray was loaded full of white chocolate dipped giant pretzels, foiled mint chocolate shamrocks and gold foiled chocolate coins. I may offer these trays at Christmas (decorated accordingly) as "office gifts"...probably not quite as loaded, but the presentation similar. What a hit!

Maybe a new picture soon....for sure a new picture on CHRISTMAS MONDAY!

Toodles,

Trudi