Gift bag from Art Philosophy cartridge

Okay so sure there's some boxes and a regular gift bag ON the cartridge but how about one made from one of the label shapes???

I cut one of the many label shapes from the Art Philosophy cricut cartridge and measured 3/4 inches from center on the long side each way and scored a line. Then I measured the same distance in from each edge on the short side and scored. Fold up and you get a cute little gift bag!!
I have done this before with my Spellbinders grand label dies but this is so much easier!!!
To get the white edge like you would with a spellbinder die simple cut the same shape a little smaller and then use the negative over your bigger cutout and sponge ink onto it through the opening. (hope this makes sense).

I finished it off with a strip of red and a 3D flower (there are 6 different ones on the cartridge and they take less than a minute to assemble!).

I made this at the demonstration day for Carousel Rubber Stamps for something to do in between people watching the actual demonstration of the cricut itself.

Oh and I couldn't help but add the picture of that cute little girl I cut from the once upon a princess cartridge out of magnet forever ago! I have been making these cuties up to package up as gifts for all the little girls I know. They are cut from magnetic sheets from the dollar store (they have adhesive on top meant to stick a photo onto so you can just stick your cardstock down on it!). I plan to cut the clothes to fit the dolls to go in the package too and the girls can "dress" them up. :)

Art Philosophy coordinating stamps

Okay so if you've talked to me at all lately you know I am in LOVE with the new Close To My Heart Art Philosophy cricut cartridge... So much so that I signed up as a consultant!
I can honestly say that since I've gotten this cartridge I have not touched my other ones, and not because I was trying to only use this one but because every time I thought "now what cartridge has that shape" id realize that it was on this cartridge too!!
It has circles, ovals, squares, rectangles, scalloped versions of all of them, tags, label shapes (normally I would have to dig my Spellbinders out for these), assorted leaves, branches, birds, shaped cards, frames, stockings/socks, poinsettias, holly, ornaments, cards with images cut out of the front, flowers (both flat and 3D spiral ones.... Which I'm in love with!!), boxes, envelopes and lots more!!!

Anyways as much as I love this cartridge and the fact that it has stamps that coordinate to fit perfectly with some of the shapes (well that just puts it over the top!!! ) I was a little disappointed. Let me explain....
The stamp sets have the size each image needs to be cut at right on the sheet they are stuck to (however it is written REALLY tiny) but it doesn't tell you which shape in the handbook it is. This becomes time consuming a bit when youre using it constantly since there are 700 shapes in the cartridge to look through to find it! Soooooo... I thought well I am just going to make a cheat sheet for myself. I was so pleased with how it turned out and I thought well... I already took the time to find them all so I'm certainly not going to let anyone that orders from me spend all that time again.

Long story short I am sending already made up cheat sheets to anyone that orders through me for the stamp sets that come with the cartridge. If it's another stamp set that coordinates and I have it or you're local and have it shipped to my address than I will do one for those sets too. (I make them line up perfect with the actual stamp set so I actually need the set in order to do this).

I have all the shapes cut out of white (and stamped in black if it's a set I own) then they have repositionable adhesive on them so you can take them off the cheat sheet and place on your project to see if you like that image/shape there or not and gave an idea of how it will look. When you pull the shape off it reveals a cheat sheet underneath (see the maple leaf)... It will tell you what row and column on the keypad the button is for the shape and also if you need to press shift and/or any feature keys; it will also say what size to cut it at! Yay!!! I also stamp the non coordinating things in the stamp sets (like sentiments and such) on the black part in white ink. This whole thing slides right into your stamp envelope with your stamps so that it's all together or you can take it out and store elsewhere for quick reference if you prefer. Since the whole set is stamped you can still see the whole set through the packaging on the cheat sheet.

More of a visual person like me... How about some pictures of what I'm talking about???


Here are the pictures of the stamps that come with the cartridge (3 stamp sets plus 3 packages of chipboard shapes that coordinate with cuts from the cartridge come with it).

You can order from me here:
https://darlah.myctmh.com

The reason for a lack of posts

I just thought I'd share a couple pictures of why you haven't seen any recent posts from me. We also lost my dear father in law after his 4 1/2 year battle with cancer on August 27.
The picture with both kids is my 2 1/2 year old angel with his little sister the day she was born (August 2) and the other of just her is one I took just a couple hours ago. The 2nd 3rd and 4th pictures are what I am so proud of my DH for making lately. He created this carving out of acrylic to use as a temporary headstone for his Dad. I think he would be proud don't you?? The darker one is holding it up to a light source (in this case the sun outside)

I've still been doing cricut classes and creating things and was even honoured to be able to participate in Carousel Rubber Stamps 17th birthday demo day last weekend. It was a blast!!!
Unfortunately for my blog friends though something had to give and so I haven't been blogging.

New stamp of the month

Each month you can enjoy a new D-size stamp set, available for one month only, for just $5.50—that’s over 70% off retail! When you place an order of $55 CAN or more in Close To My Heart products, you qualify for this special Stamp of the Month pricing.

Oh and even though this stamp doesn't have the lines around it it actually DOES coordinate with the Art Philosophy cricut cartridge!! My customers will get my usual cutout cheat sheet template with this set if ordered through me, with all stamp shapes cut out in same layout as the stamp set to slide right into the envelope with the stamp set. Images stamped on white cut outs in black ink (for high contrast to see it better) on removable adhesive in the curious of the layout and image location on keypad with size written behind it. :) I promise to show pics of this on my blog soon... Have to find the camera or steal DHs iPhone.

If you have a Cricut you need to get your hands on our new Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge! If you aren't convinced then you need to check out Jeanette Lynton's blog everyday this month where she will be sharing a new art project featuring a different Cricut shape every day. That’s right: thirty-one days, thirty-one pieces of artwork, each highlighting a different fabulous shape from the Art Philosophy collection! Here is the first shape - and don't forget to check Jeanette's blog http://www.jeanettelynton.com/ for the next 30 shapes!

Also, if you were thinking of signing up as a consultant... Now's the time!! This month you get a FREE add-on kit of your choice! Yay!!

Up a creek without a paddle???

Sorry couldn't resist about the title. ;)
I got a call last night asking if I could cut some letters to go on a canoe paddle as a goodbye gift for a good friend of mines boss.
Usually easy peasy but of course he wanted to put it on a sanded paddle and then varnish over it a few coats so it would stand up to regular use... Oh and needed it totally finished to give to his boss on Wednesday which meant he dropped it off on his way to work and needed to pick it up on the way home. I also was already committed with a meeting with my CTMH upline from 930-11am and did I mention I have a 2 1/2 year old and a 7 week old as well. Lol
Still not really a problem until I realized the logistics of putting paper letters on it (since I already knew I was out of vinyl). I do this all the time but normally I just cut it "flipped" weed out what I don't want leaving my words backwards on the cutting mat, apply glue and lay my project over it and press it on.
Well... Can't really do that with a canoe paddle because I wanted absolute perfect letter placement and you can't "trim" a paddle to square it up again. Lol

Luck for me I found some left over chalkboard vinyl from a previous project. EXACTLY enough to do it.... No pressure but only one chance to cut it right!!! Lol
Good thing this friend of mine is awesome!!! He has done so much for me, especially when my DH was away on trips (he's in the navy). Him and his wife have become our closest friends over the last few years.
Anyways, in the end it turned out fantastic!!! The company logo is a sticker he had that he gave me a couple of when he dropped off the paddle. It cut just the right size the very first time and picked up and laid down perfect... Phew!!!! It's now sitting by the front door awaiting him for when he gets off work. :)
I will post more pictures after he varnishes it too. :)
What do you think?

Birthday card for my mom

So my moms birthday was in March... So I'm really late posting this and honestly hadn't realized I didn't yet until a coworker of mine who I had shown the pictures of it went looking for it here to see it again, couldn't find it and asked me to see it again. Oops.
I promise to get better at this whole posting thing... Really!!! Lol
I bought this cut file but I won't tell you where as I wasn't impressed... This end result is only after countless hours tweaking the file!!! The round part was jagged at first and the doors didn't match up perfectly and the part that goes between the front and back to give it dimension well... After cutting 5 or 6 then manually cutting them amd gluing sections of them and UGH now I remember why I didn't post this... By the time I finished it I just had no desire to look at it any more to write the post!

Well, in the end after all my fixing I was very happy with the result!!

Best cricut cartridge ever!!!!!

I just wanted to let you all know about the new Art Philosophy cartridge bundle by Close To My Heart for the cricut.
I am in love!!! So much so that I was sure that others would be too and signed up as a consultant so that when people ask in my "how to use the cricut" classes where they could get it my answer could be really simple... "from me!!"

This cartridge has it all!! 2 fonts, tons of shapes (including label shapes similar to the spellbinder ones we all love), tags, cards (beautiful shaped ones as well as ones with great cut outs in them great for revealing your stamped sentiment on the inside of the card), boxes, borders, paper lace and my favourite..... Rolled roses!!!!
Included with the cartridge are 3 yup 3!!! Stamp sets that coordinate with the shapes (there are more coordinating stamp sets available but these 3 come with it).
It also comes with some chipboard shapes that also coordinate so you can dimensionalize your project.

What?? You want to SEE the images??? I knew you would... So I'm putting the pictures at the end of this post!!

To order this great bundle you can order it directly from my site https://darlah.myctmh.com (just click shop online and then cricut collection) or send me an email!

Want to order more than just the bundle (like some of the other coordinating stamps)? Don't order online!!! Contact me about your order and let me place it for you as you will most likely qualify for some more free product!!! You can even host a gathering (and it can be online only if you want or we can have a real get together and have some crafty fun in person) and send invites to your crafty friends and if they order anything then you'll qualify for even more great stuff.... If they order enough then you might even be able to get you cricut bundle 50% off!!!
Just figured I'd throw it out there so you'd know as I wouldn't want anyone to miss that opportunity if it was available.

I also make cheat sheets that are just awesome if I do say so myself for the coordinating stamps just for my customer!!!! See my other post here > http://stampingunderdoctorsorders.blogspot.com/2011/10/art-philosophy-coordinating-stamps.html

Anyways, enough babble and onto what you've been waiting for... The pictures!!!!