Thursday, February 26, 2015

CTMH Mandala card


Hello! Hello!  I have had so much fun with this month's Stamp of the Month stamp set. This project began with the creation of the mandala.  I loved the way it turned out and decided to use it as the focal point on a simple card.  What do you think? The rest of the card evolved similarly :). I got the front done, and then thought, "That sentiment is perfect for the inside."  So, I added the sentiment; however, the inside didn't look quite complete, so I added the stamps at the bottom.  I sat it on my craft desk for the night quite pleased with my creation.  In the morning, I looked at it and thought it would be perfect for an event I was participating in.  So, I added a gift card pocket to place a coupon giving the recipient 2 free craft classes. 

I love this card!  So fun and cheery and easy to make! 

Recipe for my card: (CTMH products)
*White daisy card base
*flaxen card stock (front)
*smoothie? textured card stock (from the Free To Be Me bonus paper pack last summer)- band on front and pocket inside
*Vine embossing folder
*February 2015 SOTM set
*Skylark Workshop on the Go Stamp set (flourish on inside bottom)
*3D foam tape
*Dye inks: flaxen, lagoon, glacier, hollyhock, sunflower (canary current match)

There is still time to order this fantastic stamp set!  Check with your consultant, or if you don't have one, I'd love to be yours :). You can shop with me at dariscreativecorner.ctmh.com.

I love feedback :).  Thanks for stopping by! -Dari

Thursday, February 19, 2015

CTMH February 2015 SOTM Creations!

Hello! Hello!  Two days ago I was browsing a CTMH SOTM (Stamp of the month) blog hop.  I was totally inspired by some of the creations out there.  One in particular sparked my creative juices. Jeanie Burch from clearlycards.blogspot.com created a very simple card using a washi tape masking technique.  I fell in love with it!  I had to use this technique to create my own works of art :). Her blog walks you through the steps for this technique, so hop on over to her blog to learn how to do it.  Thanks Jeanie for a great tutorial.

On the layout you see above, I masked off three areas and used her technique.  I began with a piece of white cardstock and stamped away.  When I finished, I was so happy with the results that I had to finish the page (lol).  Do you ever do that?  If I didn't like it, I thought I would just trim off the section I had stamped and save the rest for another project :). As I looked through my printed photos, I ran across this one picture from my wedding day and thought, "That's perfect!" Read on to see some of my favorite parts of this layout (besides the masking technique).

This is a closer photo of the stamping technique.  In addition to the February 2015 SOTM set, I used another favorite stamp set Happy to Be Friends (C1605).  The sentiments were perfect for my layout :).  This stamp set is in CTMH's Seasonal Expressions, which is only available through March (next month).
I not only used the February SOTM set for the background blocks, I also used it to create my focal embellishment.  I stamped the different layers and then assembled them using 3D foam tape.  On the white background, I used the leaf stamp in the set.  The larger flower I sponged more color on so it wasn't so white and added some purple glitter glue to the center.  It looked better before I smeared it with my palm (that's a typical me thing to do :).)
After I created my epoxy paper clip in the top of the photo frame, I had a little piece of stamped paper left over.  I couldn't throw it away because I liked it so much; so, I moved it around on my paper until I found a spot and idea how to use it.  Adding the three stamps (also in the SOTM set) and some of CTMH's lagoon striped washi tape, I had the perfect layout.

For this layout, I used the following CTMH products:
*White daisy cardstock
*Glacier cardstock
*Lagoon Striped washi tape
*Dye inks: Pear, Lagoon, Thistle, Glacier, Sunflower (current color- Canary), Flaxen.
*3D Foam tape

This was my first creation I made from Jeanie's technique.  I love the way this one turned out as well!  We need those days, right?  When we are pleased with the results :).

For this card, I cut a piece of white daisy cardstock to 3.75" x 5" and masked off a section that had a 1.5" high area to stamp. I used the washi tape masking technique.  Then I stamped the sentiment from the SOTM set (so many versatile stamps on this set).  I ran half of my card base through my cuttlebug. Next, I glued down my card front onto my base.  It looked fine, but I had to give it some more bling!  I rummaged through my scraps and found this little remnant of flourishes and the flower embellishment.  I thought they fit perfectly.  I put some clear glitter in the center of the two orange flowers and wah lah!

Oh, a tip if you want to use this masking technique- on this card I used some cheap washi tape I had that I don't see myself using again.  It was too sticky.  If you look closely at my card above, you can see some areas where the paper got peeled up a little.  For the layout, I used CTMH washi tape- not as sticky and came off better :). Shucks, I was hoping to find a good use for this washi tape!

I couldn't leave the inside of my card blank.  My blogging friend, Donna, has inspired me to decorate the insides of my cards as well as the fronts.  Thanks Donna! the inside is really simple.  I just stamped along the right edge with images I had used on the front of my card and glued it down.

The CTMH products I used for this card are:
*White Daisy cardstock
*February 2015 SOTM set (only available this month)  You can get it for $17.95 or $5 with a $50 order.
*Mini flourishes
*Skylark embellishment (discontinued)
*Dye inks: sorbet, sunflower (current- canary), lagoon, thistle, pear

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope I have inspired you to give this technique a try!  I would love to hear/see what you create from this post. -Dari

P.S.: To order any of the products mentioned in this blog, contact your consultant, or I would love to be your consultant :).  You can click on my CTMH link on the right. Have a great day!

Monday, February 16, 2015

CTMH Envelope punch board box without the punch board!


Hello! Hello!  I'm so glad you've stopped by today :).  This past week I have been creating all kinds of fun treat boxes for a Medical Fundraiser for a friend of mine.  She has to have surgery this week to save her eyesight. 

One of my favorite YouTube channels I watch is PootlesPapercraft.  She had a tutorial for a box made from the popular Envelope Punch board, which I don't own.  After watching a few different tutorials using this tool, I thought to myself, "I wonder if I can do that without the board."  

Of course, as soon as that thought comes to my mind, I have to figure it out!  It's just who I am.  I am pleased to say, "I did it!"  

I have put together a YouTube tutorial for the box above on my channel: Dari's Creative Corner.  I walk you through the entire process for this box- from the box creation to the decorative embellishments :).

I used the following CTMH products for this lovely box:
CTMH Heart Strings Paper Packet
CTMH Silver trim
CTMH Forever in my Heart stamp set
CTMH Cranberry dye ink
CTMH white daisy cardstock
CTMH 3D foam tape
Fiskars Paper Trimmer/Scorer (through CTMH)

Leave me a message if you have any questions! Happy Crafting- Dari

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

CTMH Love Struck layout

Hello! Hello!  I found this adorable sketch via YouTube.  I can't remember the creator of the video; however, she got the sketch from nutsaboutsketches.blogspot.com. When I saw it, I knew I had to create my own layout from the sketch.  We will be creating this in my monthly scrapbooking group the last Thursday of the month :).

Here are the CTMH products I used to create this:

CTMH Heart Strings Paper Packet
CTMH Artbooking Cricut cartridge (banner)
CTMH lagoon washi tape
CTMH cranberry, slate and black dye inks
CTMH Forever in My Heart stamp set (C1604)- title and hearts
CTMH Take Note Stamp Set (D1574)- journal lines

Thanks for stopping by!  Happy Crafting :) -Dari

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

My New Winter Hat!

Hello! Hello!  OK.  So, I know winter is more than half over, but I wanted to make myself a new hat.  I pulled out my scrap skeins and my crochet hook.  This took me awhile, because I didn't follow a pattern.  I just made it up as I went.  Sorry, I won't be posting directions for this one :)! 

My favorite color has always been some kind of hue of blue.  Right now it is almost a turquoise blue.  In this hat, I used several different stitches: single crochet, half double crochet, double crochet, double crochet cable stitch, and a double crochet shell.

I LOVE my hat!  My husband thinks it is an old lady's hat.  He tried to explain it to me, but I still didn't get it :).  He doesn't have to wear it.  My little princess loves it, too.  She wants one just like it "except it needs to be purple and pink and have ears" is what she said (lol). 

Thanks for joining me today! Hope this inspires you to create your own work of art :) -Dari