Moving blog and sketch # 24

The time has come. I am bidding farewell to this blog address. Not to worry I will not be deleting it so any past content that you enjoyed will remain here for you, and I have also imported all the past content over on my new blog so you don't "have" to remember this address from now on you can just look in the past content over on my new blog. :)

New blog "Die Cut Darla" can be found HERE and if clicking there didn't work the actual blog address is http://diecutdarla.blogspot.com  

You will find todays post for Sketch #24 from Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge over there as well (direct link to that post HERE).

I really hope you'll come join me at my new blog... I changed the graphics here to match my new blog so you wouldn't be in so you'd be more accustomed to the new look when you got there. ;)

Sketch 23

This card was fun, quick and easy to make.

Combine Sketch 23 from Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge with some silver glitter paper, sentiment from Christmas Village stamp set, Silver embossing powder and some embellishments (snowflake brads from my stash and a base & bling flower)... voila!

Please go check out the rest of the Design Teams creations using this weeks sketch HERE.

You can see the sketch itself and the entries so far this week HERE, we'd love to have you play along with us!

Products Used:

Sketch 23 Christmas Village D1554 Base & Bling Floral Accents Black & Grey Glitter Paper Silver embossing powder Colonial White Cards & Envelopes Versamark Stamp Pad 3-D Foam Tape Tombow Adhesive Craft Heater

InLinkz.com

Artbooking Made Easy (S01E05): Halloween Mini Albums

2 Fabulous Halloween mini-albums and a super cut princess layout from the same 2 keys on the artbooking cricut cartridge! Check them all out in this great video from CTMH corporate design team staff.

CUTE Sketch # 22

This week I honestly had a hard time with the sketch. I had tons of ideas but all involved buttons which I figured was an obvious route to take with the sketch and although would look wonderful I tend to take the not so obvious route with most of what I do. LOL

I decided to leave off the sentiment at the bottom and use the "circles" on the sketch as placement for letters to spell a sentiment instead. 

I used Cricut Craft Room and lined up the letters from the Art Philosophy cricut cartridge on the rounded corner square (which is on Art Philosophy and Artiste both (possibly on Artbooking as well though I don't see it at a glance haha). I cut that out of the Babycakes paper. I then cut the doily from Artbooking for the mat out of sunset cardstock and with the babycakes layer popped up on foam tape I flat taped the doily onto a whisper card base that I rounded the corners of. I added square sparkles to the corners.

Now go check out all the rest of the Design Teams wonderful creations this week (as well as the Top 3 from last week) HERE.

Also, if you'd like to play along with this weeks sketch you can find it and the link up for it HERE.

Artbooking Made Easy (S01E04): Spooky Halloween Layouts

As promised I'm back with the fourth video in the Artbooking made easy series from Close To My Heart corporate design staff.

If you miss any of these videos don't worry... you can check them out over on the Close To My Heart YouTube channel or over on my YouTube channel I have set up a playlist for them all HERE.




Now did I just hear you say you don't own this fantastic new cartridge yet?? Really?! Not to worry, you can order one for your very own right HERE making sure you join my monthly orders gathering and then send me an email with your mailing address after and I will mail you 2 brand new cricut blades as well (you can even choose if you want regular blades or deep cut blades or maybe even one of each). :)

Artbooking Made Easy (S01E03): Summer Mini-Albums

Check out the third video in the Artbooking made easy series from Close To My Heart corporate design staff. I'll be back later today with the fourth video in this series (since I'm a week late posting this one for you).

If you miss any of these videos don't worry... you can check them out over on the Close To My Heart YouTube channel or over on my YouTube channel I have set up a playlist for them all HERE.



Now did I just hear you say you don't own this fantastic new cartridge yet?? Really?! Not to worry, you can order one for your very own right HERE making sure you join my monthly orders gathering and then send me an email with your mailing address after and I will mail you 2 brand new cricut blades as well (you can even choose if you want regular blades or deep cut blades or maybe even one of each). :)

Tracing a PNG or JPEG in silhouette studio

Today I have a video tutorial again for you on how to add cut lines to a graphic. This time I will use a PNG (Portable Network Graphic) of Pinkie Pie from My Little Pony.

I hope you might find this helpful. Please let me know if there are any other tutorials you'd like to see and I will see what I can do for you. :)

You can also check out my other tracing video for Silhouette Studio HERE that uses a JPEG and also has a second cut line to cut out some white area inside the image as well..

Celebrate Sketch 21

I have to say that I am very happy with how my card turned out for this sketch! I did have a bit of help though as there was a card class I took at Carousel Rubber Stamps back in 2010 that I absolutely loved! I wanted to recreate it but of course it used a punch I didn't own (and couldn't find), a stamp that by the time I decided I wanted it was no longer available and expensive shimmery paper..... You can see the original from the class here. Of course I was going through all the sketches Michelle had given me to digitize and came across this one and nearly fell off my chair as if you look at it sideways was perfect.... I guess it was time to try to create the same stunning effect using what I had on hand. The Artbooking cartridge and Create-a-shade Pearl Paint made this extremely easy and I'm really glad I waited so long as I actually like this one to the original as the Sentiment stand out more, and I didn't have to heat emboss and fussy cut out (by hand) the butterfly. Yay!

This first one show the colours the best and more true with the Celebrate sentiment but I adjusted the colours a bit in the Remember sentiment one so you could see the shimmer that the pearl paint mixture adds better. 

I used White Daisy card base and for the top rectangle mat. The rest is all Colonial White that has been sprayed with a mixture of water and Pearl Paint. I am in LOVE with Pearl Paint for many techniques but this is by far my favourite!. :) I also sprayed some of the pearl paint mixture on one of my teflon craft mats and then stamped a swirl from Love Life in it and onto the top white piece randomly to add a bit of shimmer there as well and to provide some flight paths for the butterfly. I don't think you'll be able to see that in the photo though so you'll just have to trust me on that one. 

All the pieces (border, Sentiment and Butterfly were cut from the new Artbooking Cricut Cartridge. 

The ribbon is just some sheer ribbon from my stash that I got at Michaels when it was on sale.

Now go check out all the rest of the Design Teams wonderful creations this week (as well as the Top 3 from last week) HERE.

Also, if you'd like to play along with this weeks sketch you can find it and the link up for it HERE.

Products Used:

Cross Canada Blog Hop - Archives

Welcome to our September Blog Hop featuring Jeanette's Archived Stamps. You will see creations from our participants that will include 1 of 5 stamp sets that Close To My Heart has taken out of Jeanette's Archieved collection. To purchase any of the items seen in our blog hop today, contact your local consultant to place an order.

We hope that you will take the time to leave comments on our posts, as we love to get feedback from our viewers....whether it was something that you really liked or some new technique that was used that you would like to learn how to do....by leaving us comments, we get to hear what you like, and what you want to see. Thank you… now on to our hop!

If you have just hopped onto my blog, you can start here as this is a circular hop, but if you want to follow us across Canada then please start at the beginning and join Michelle at My Creations With Michelle. If you came from Michelle at My Creations With Michelle then you are in the right place!

My card today uses the Teddy Bear Birthday set from Jeanette's Archives stamp sets.

I stamped the gifts from the Teddy Bear Birthday stamp set on the Laughing Lola paper in Lagoon pigment ink and embossed with clear embossing powder. I also ran the pigment ink around the edges of all my papers (including the tag shape which I cut from the Art Philosophy cricut cartirdge) and embossed those with clear embossing powder as well. The sentiment is stamped and embossed as well. I added a variety of pink and purple sparkles from Z1326 Sparkles which is retired but in retrospect I think the Aqua Dots like I used in the middle of my metal snowflake/flower from yesterdays card might have worked better as they would be the same colour as the ink. Oh well, next time right?!?

Your next stop on the Cross Canada Hop is Rosalynd of In My Scrappin' Room.

If you get lost along the way, you can head to Michelle at My Creations With Michelle, as she has the complete blog list.

Thanks for hopping along with us - we hope we were able to inspire you to get creative using some of the designs, products and techniques seen along the way. Join us again in October when we will be featuring the Base and Bling line. We hope you will join us again on November 15th.

Products Used:

Poster Tidings

Welcome to our September Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!  This month's stamp from Close to My Heart is "Poster Tidings" and is available exclusively through your Close to My Heart consultant from September 1 - 30, 2013.  This month, you can receive this stamp set for $5 with a qualifying purchase.

If you don't already have a Consultant that you are currently working with, please contact one of the Consultants in our hop with any questions you have!

If you have just hopped onto my blog, please start at the beginning at Darla's blog – Crafting is Contagious . If you came from  then you are in the rightplace!

For my card today I chose to pair the Christmas stamp from this set with some clear embossing powder and the Frosted paper.

I first cut a 2.5" by 5.25" piece of Frosted paper and heat embossed the stamp with clear embossing powder on the lighter side of the paper. I used a bit of Juniper and Crystal Blue ink and sponged it over the embossing to bring out the un-embossed parts. I also took the crystal blue and sponged it on the bigger piece using the other side of the Frosted paper since I wanted to make it a bit more greenish hue. I added a sparkle flourish and a metal flower. I switched the sparkle in the metal flower out for an Aqua Dot. I also added a couple Base & Bling Teal Jewels to the top right. The card base is colonial white.

Hope you enjoyed my project and you continue through the hop to see the awesome projects my fellow CTMH consultants have for you today.

Your next stop on our "Poster Tidings" hop is Amber over at Scrapper's Therapy 

Here is the entire lineup in case you get lost along along the way:

1. Darla ~ Crafting is Contagious 
2. Amber ~ Scrapper's Therapy 
3. Rebecca - Show Me Scrapping
4. Jennifer ~ 4 Hearts Scrapbooking 
5. Janna - The Creative Princess
6. Pam ~ Pam's Crafty Creations 
7. Michelle ~ My Creations With Michelle

Thanks for hopping along with us - we hope we were able to inspire you.

Products Used:

Screencasting Saves Crafters Time, Confusion with Die-Cutting Tools

I am so excited about this I could just burst!!

I have been participating in a software review program for Techsmith using the Camtasia Studio software (which I absolutely love by the way) and now that the program is complete I can now share that I was a part of it with all of you, my blog readers. It was a fantastic program and I learned SO much through it. I have already told the wonderful Techsmith staff that if they ever need anyone to test absolutely any of their software in the future that I am definitely on board. From my experiences dealing with the staff there throughout the program I can honestly say that if I lived local to them I would be taking in my resume to apply to work there. :)

Now, although I am excited to have gotten the opportunity to have participated in the review program that's NOT why I am over the moon excited...

So what is the reason for my excitement you ask?? 
Well, that would be because of this post here -->Screencasting Saves Crafters Time, Confusion with Die-Cutting Tools over on the Customer Stories section of the Techsmith website. 

While I was participating in the program, the Techsmith staff noticed my links in my email signature and went and checked them out. They saw what I was using their software for and thought it was pretty neat. Kelly asked if she could send my info to Will, their "customer story guy". I was completely taken aback. Really?? YOU want to send MY info to the customer story guy?? Wow!! ABSOLUTELY!! I replied of course. :)

Now, I honestly figured the customer story guy was going to ask me to email him a review of their product so he could feature it on the side bar of their website as one of those customer testimonials you always see on companies websites... so imagine my surprise when he asked if he could call me. I was even more surprised when he called and had a genuine interest in what I do and had actually talked to a few of his crafter friends who were happy to have found my videos through him. It would be an absolute understatement to say that I was a nervous wreck through the whole conversation while relaying info about me to him, and every time he took more interest or continued to ask more questions when we had already been on the phone for almost an hour I can tell you my stomach had happy little butterflies and I was having a very hard time containing my excitement.

The program ended and I received a "draft" of what was to be Will Verchereau's post on the customer story blog section of the website. I had to pick my jaw up off of the floor to be quite honest. I wrote him back immediately to tell him I wanted to hire him as my personal publicist.

Now, after all was approved he took the time to send me an email to let me know the post was live and to offer his support with any questions regarding their software or anything else pertaining to Techsmith I might have at any time. Can you tell I'm still a little star struck from a wonderful company like Techsmith featuring little me on their website?? Woot woot!!!!!

Now.. if I haven't completely bored you senseless with my post PLEASE go check out Will's fabulous post HERE and while you're there go read some of the other customer stories as they are truly interesting stories and who knows you might just find some very helpful sites like I did.

Sketch 20 Peace

I actually intended to share a different card with you for this sketch but it never got finished as it's been another crazy week in our house. Keep an eye out though as I really want to make the other card I had in mind so I'm sure you will see it show up here eventually.

I had also made this card which is a variation on a card I had made a year or so ago at a local craft store that is now close unfortunately. I switched out some of the colouring and what I used for the colouring as well as popping a few squares up with dimensional adhesive.

I am on a search to find the name of this stamp for you but it is one of my older non-CTMH wooden ones and the name of it has worn off so if any of you recognize it by all means please let me know the name in the comments. I will find it though as I am determined and will update the post when I do. :)

Now head on over to see the rest of the design teams creations this week and check to see if you made top 3 or not by clicking HERE.

You can also go directly to this weeks sketch and link up your own entry by clicking HERE.

Make It with My Reflections™ (03)

Do you struggle with picking colours for your scrapbook layouts or cards? Check out this video to see why the Close To My Heart products are the perfect solution for you.



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Artboooking Made Easy (S01E02): A+ School Layouts

Check out the second video in the Artbooking Made Easy series and see how you can have School layouts done with ease!

Lovely Sketch 19

This weeks sketch over at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge was provided by one of our fabulous Design Team members Carrie Wright.

I decided to stick with the heart shape she used in her sketch and with a little help from some white embossing powder, Laughing Lola Paper and D1571 Sweet & Lovely which is one of the stamp sets that comes in the Artbooking Cricut Collection Bundle I came up with this card.

The strip down the left is just the zip strip on this paper which I just cut my piece for my card from that edge of the paper to include the zip strip.

Now please head on over to Atlantic Hearts Challenge Blog to see what the rest of the Design Team came up with this week as well as the Top 3 from last week by clicking HERE.

You can enter this weeks challenge and see the original sketch HERE.

It's Called Artbooking for a Reason

As many of you know, Close to My Heart has just released a brand, new Cricut cartridge: Artbooking!!! It's nothing short of fantastic!!! Oh the things you will be creating with this cartridge - we don't even know where to begin! So, we decided to show you some of the creations WE have made using this amazing, versatile cartridge It's not just for scrapbookers you know. There are 700 images with a ton of coordinating stamps.

If you don't already have a Consultant that you are currently working with, please contact one of the Consultants in our hop with any questions you have!

In this hop, you will see projects featuring this versatile cartridges from many talented crafty ladies! Enjoy our blog hop! 

If you have just hopped onto my blog, please start at the beginning at Lucy's blog – Love 2 Create. If you came from Lucy's blog – Love 2 Create then you are in the right place!

Today I decided to show you that although Artbooking has wonderful scrapbooking layouts all pre-designed for you that you just pick your colours and start cutting or mix and match to make your own, mini-books and all things scrapbooking... it is still fabulous for cards!

I am loving the page laces for card backgrounds like I used in my Halloween card that I made HERE.

This time however, I wanted to show you that with just a few scrap pieces laying on my desk I was able to add a couple cuts from the cartridge and make a card that I am very happy with. 

I used the stamp set Country-Born D1543 stamped in cocoa on colonial white and matted it with a piece of Babycakes B&T paper. I coloured the image with alcohol markers as well as sponged a bit of new england ivy on the bottom and some cocoa and cashmere around the edges. Then I grabbed some scrap pieces of ruby and honey and distressed the edges with cocoa. 

I cut the border image from page 72 at 6" from New england ivy and the leaves from both autumn terracotta and honey. I crumpled and sanded the leaves and then inked directly with the pigment inks and smooshed it around with my fingers until I was happy with the end result (I used cocoa, goldrush, autumn terracotta, cashmere and new england ivy for this). The image panel is raised up on foam tape as well as the swirl is raised up in some parts and stuck flat in others to give it more dimension.

Oh and I should have taken a photo of the inside... but the sentiment inside says "I love you a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck".

This will be going in my pile of cards to send to the Deployed Canadian Military for them to use to send home. I know I would love a card like this from my hubby while he is deployed, so I'm sure someone else will too. :) If you'd like more info on how to go about sending cards to our Deployed Canadian Military please check out the Facebook page I started HERE or contact me and I can send you the info.

Your next stop on our Artbooking blog hop is Jennifer of 4 Hearts Scrapbooking.

Here is the complete lineup in case you get lost along the way:

1. Lucy ~ Love 2 Create
2. Darla ~ Crafting is Contagious 
3. Jennifer~ 4 Hearts Scrapbooking
4. Wendy Kessler ~ My Scrapbooking Blog
5. Janna Gray ~ The Creative Princess

Thanks for hopping along with us - we hope we were able to inspire you.