Craft Review: Darby Smart

So I finally got around to my Darby Smart crafting box.

Overall, I’m not underwhelmed…but I wasn’t “wowed” either.

I bought the ring dish kit, which promised supplies to make four jewelry dishes.

What I liked:

• Shipping speed: I ordered on the 5th, and it arrived by the 9th.
• Packaging: How awesome is a nice bright blue outer box? Totally fun to come home to.
• Quantity of supplies: In addition to the four dishes, it came with two super glues, four gold paint pens, a full can of spray sealer, and a handful of figures to choose from. Plus, I always feel like I never have all the ingredients for a craft project, so it was nice to get everything in one box.

What I didn’t like:

• Paint pens: They made it difficult to coat some of the figurines, with all the nooks and crannies. I ended up throwing out my Empire State Building, because I wasn’t happy with how the paint came out. I think spray paint would be better.
• Paint pens: Yes, I’m listing this twice. The pens really aren’t meant to write on the dishes with. I had made stencils on the Cricut, but when I tried to fill them in…the pens had a really streaky effect. Not. Cool.
• The directions: There was a card saying don’t spray the sealant on the dish, just on the paint. But how are you supposed to use spray-sealant on just the painted part of the dish? No idea.

Will I buy a Darby Smart box again? Probably. I want to try some of the glass etching ones, plus its a neat concept. However, still haven’t decided if I can pull the trigger on the subscription just yet.

Advertisement

DIY: Purple Haze Stationary

So the other day I was feeling inspired.

Yes, it might have been by the three beers I had just drank, but hey, inspiration comes from anywhere, right?

So I busted out the trusty paper cutter, inkadinkado, and some envelope liners, and made these notecards.

Perfectly purple, to go with the beer…or at least that’s how I justified it.

I don’t know if I will ever get good enough at stamping to do fancy things like embossing or debossing (can you ever just be “bossing” something..?) but I’m pretty happy with my stamping for dummies inkadinkado set. 

It lets you do nice accents easily, and its always an adventure in seeing how the patterns come out.

Just don’t use drink and use the paper cutter at the same time…

Summer BBQ Stationary: Swine You Up?

If you remember CP and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day, then you already know I had a major stationary fail a few weeks back.

This is said stationary.

Cute, right?

I do have to admit, after I got over the minor phone number RSVP mishap, the reprints turned out even better than the first set.

I happened to get some new inkadinkado stamps for the occasion, which I used on the outside of the envelopes.

Of course, liners on the inside.

And then the actual cards? Just a cute invite to a summer barbeque, with the RSVP line really taking the cake.

“Swine You Up, or No Shanks?”

I crack myself up, seriously.

And the baker’s twine was a nice finishing touch, if I do say so myself.

As always, #ilovepaper.

###

Monochromatic Stamped DIY Stationary

I might be on an inkadinkado kick.

Just a small one.

In addition to the bridal shower stationary, I made some monochromatic stamped notecards too.

Red cards with red ink – the stamp is fairly subtle, which I like. A lot of my stuff (neon anyone?) can be a bit loud, and I really like the quietness of these stamps.

And we all know know how I feel about fancy envelopes.

With liners.

I would seriously recommend an inkadinkado to anyone who likes stamping, or wants an easy way to spice up cards and stationary.

Let’s be real here, how cute are these?

This time, I stamped a 12 x 12 sheet of red card stock, and then used my paper cutter to make six cards (4 x 5.5). Stamping the paper first was definitely easier, but it was a bit harder to predict how the pattern would end up on the finished card.

Overall I was really happy with how these came out. I doubt most people receiving them will notice the liners or the finishing touches and minute details, but I like knowing they are there.

Custom Stamped Stationary with the Inkadinkado

So I’ve been getting back into crafting lately. I know, I always say that.

But seriously. I had an epic weekend of crafting.

One of my best friends is getting married this fall – and nothing is better to give at a wedding shower than stationary customized to the bride’s new last name. Sweet, right?

(Not to mention it helped me clean up at bridal shower bingo, I rocked the “homemade” category…competitive? me? never…)

So instead of my normal celery-stamps that I am known for, I decided to bust out the inkadinkado again. While the name is epically laughable, it does create some pretty sweet stuff.

I used 12 x 12 paper and sliced it into 4 x 5.5 notecards. These fit easily into 4.375 x 5.75 (A3) envelopes. I couldn’t decide whether to cut the paper first or stamp first, so I went with slicing the paper. This also gives you a bit more control over how the stamp is placed on the card.

And I stamped the envelopes too, because who doesn’t want to get a fancy envelope in the mail?

My favorite crafts are always the ones I make for people I love – and this was no exception. Can’t wait to toast the new Mr. and Mrs. S in the fall!

What I’m Loving Right Now: Neon DIY Stationary

I might be having a slight love affair with neons lately.

Yes, I know they are 1980s-esque and beloved by the Taylor Swift-liking under 21 crowd. Which, besides the fact that I like TSwift, I have nothing in common with…as I haven’t been under 21 in a loooooong while.

But I can’t help it. Neons just make me happy.

So I made some stationary.

In neon blue, pink, and green.

Talk about saying HELLLOOOOOO I received a freaking letter when you open one of these suckers.

These are 5″x7″ size, which gives the cards a substantial impact. I also really enjoy the contrast of the old-school engraving fonts against the neon paper.

I resisted making envelope liners for these…but only because I didn’t have matching neon paper for that.

But seriously, neons.

Love.

Flashback Craft: DIY Headbands

When I first really started crafting things (and I mean really started crafting), and by crafting I do mean crafting, not sewing (since I have been able to sew just about anything since I was 10)…

One of the first things I made was a three-bow headband. Grosgrain ribbon, satin ribbon, and elastic. Together?

A pretty sweet headband.

Satin ribbon is really hard to work with, so here’s to hoping you have nimble fingers. I use about 3 inches of elastic on the back part, so the headband has enough stretch to go over your head & stay in place. If you plan on wearing this with a ponytail, I’d suggest black ribbon and black elastic.

Here’s a close up. I stacked the bows a little bit, so they have more of a clustered effect rather than three in a row.

You can also make them with flowers.

It helps to have a mom with a pretty intense sewing closet. The flower on this one is made out of some kind of linen silk, which I snagged in a half-dozen colors. You need the fabric to have enough stiffness that the flower holds up.

Here is what it looks like in action, and you can find an easy-to-follow tutorial here.

(Mental note to self: do not EVER have a bob again. EVER.)

Or you can do other bows, like this.

These are super easy to make – and no two are alike, so it really just fuels my obsession with one-of-a-kind stuff.

DIY Mason Jar Flowers, aka what to do with the runaways.

I have these beautiful day lilies that grow in my garden. They’re a “set it and forget it” type plant. Lots of sunlight, little maintenance, self-propagating—they just grow. And bloom with these amazing orange flowers in the middle of summer.

Which brings me to the runaways.

Every spring, I have a dozen or so lilies that have decided to be born free fluffy, born free and escape the confines of their planters. (It’s that whole “self-propagating” part, you see).

So every spring I dig up the runaways and plant them someplace new, where they can grow and bloom and expand to their liking. But this year I decided to do something different.

I put the runaways up for adoption. Meaning, I made these cute mason jar flower holders, put two lily fans inside, and sent them home with some of my girl friends. To self-propagate in other peoples’ yards.

All you need is mason jars, some grosgrain ribbon, and cardstock. I used the jar lid to hold the flower tags on – which say “grow me!”  The tag pattern is available here – I just modified the text. Did I mention sharing flowers is way more eco-friendly than buying hot house bulbs? 

Add some special effects in a photo app, and you’re really fancy.

Doesn’t this just make you want to garden?

But only flowers folks, this girl doesn’t grow food.

DIY 90’s Cupcake Toppers

You know you’re dedicated when you cut out individual N’sync and Notorious B.I.G. action figures to use as cupcake toppers for a 90’s party…

But seriously, these are awesome.

Like any cupcake flag, after you slice them out very carefully, don’t want to lose a Backstreet Boy, tape them onto toothpicks, and you are good to go.

In case you’re wondering, the cupcakes are Irish Creme, and were epic & delicious.

Boozy cupcakes + 90’s cupcake flags? #Winning.

Easy DIY Thank You Card Set

So I still have a fascination with this whole “measuring” feature on my paper cutter. If I could go back to the days when I measured with a ruler and cut with an exact-o knife…I wouldn’t.

A few weeks ago I whipped up this set of thank-you cards. I already had the ‘thank you’ part printed out since I used them for my niece’s birthday party, and I hoard save things to “use them later.”

The blue paper was left over from my ombre Tiffany card project, and the dashed line cardstock I already had in-house.

A little slicing, a little glue stick action, and it’s thank you card game time.

I really like how these cards coordinate as a set.

Oh, and I still have more of the ‘thank you’ pieces to use up, so I’m sure you will see another variation of these on CP soon.

And who knows? Maybe I’ll even bake some cupcakes again soon, once I get this whole “work life balance” thing to stop being such a myth. Green velvet for St. Patrick’s Day anyone?