Pretty card for The Card Concept #52

YAY for The Card Concept as it (you/they) celebrate their 2nd Anniversary!  Two years is a goodly long time in terms of being a card challenge – so many come and go – such a happy event worthy to be rejoiced along with!  I created my card with the theme of being soft and feminine, using text and using the tiny flowers.

Here’s the image we are offered for The Card Concept 52 – isn’t it sigh-worthy?  I was not certain I could live up to it but I gathered some supplies I thought might work and jumped right in. 

I fell in love with these little crochet flowers when I saw them on a hairband in the thrift store.  What – for a whole 15 cents I managed to salvage a dozen or so flowers and leaves.  I carefully soaked them and cleaned them and set them aside for just such a day as this.  I came across this paper a bit ago too, and caught the flowers out of the corner of my eye (I tend to leave a few supplies that inspire me laying right near at hand while the artistic inspriation is upon me) and when this challenge came up I just knew this was the day to bring it all together.

I trimmed the designer paper (sorry no ID on this one) to just smaller than my cardstock face.  In the meantime I soaked the ribbon lace strip in some weak tea to age it.  I used a Martha Stewart punch for the top of the sentiment and trimmed it to fit.  I stamped the sentiment on – an Ali Edwards Technique Tuesday stamp.  I bumped up the sentiment layer using foam tape then began glueing and arranging flowers. In the end I added some more “aging” using a Tim Holtz distress ink in Tea Dye.

Technorati Tags: Barb Derksen,Mrs Miles,The Card Concept,Martha Stewart,Tim Holtz,Ali Edwards

My “Less is More” 268 Card

Well this one was an easy choice for me – as the theme for Less is More Challenge 268 is:

“Whats outside your window”

So I was quite literal with my interpretation.  By the way the background paper may look like it has a dark splotch by the sentiment however that is just a shadow from a bud or two.  I was inspired by the orchard budding out and since I have two relatives who are moving into new homes…

The background paper is from Crate Paper – the image fussy cut from an SEI paper, then I punched the hole in, then added another small hole to put the string into.   The branch is a bit of thick brown twine pasted into place and the leaves coming off of this I drew by hand.  The sentiment is a partial stamp from a Katie and co stamp.

I had fun creating this card along with my Sister in Law Judy!

Technorati Tags: Barb Derksen,Mrs Miles,SEI,Crate Paper,Less is More,Osoyoos

My Tuesday Morning Sketches 344 card

I teamed up with my Sister in Law Judy to try this week’s Tuesday Morning Sketches #344 card challenge.

I simply layered and layered black and white cardstock with alternating layers of bold purple polka-dot and yellow glittery cardstock.  I added the bold sentiment in the center – from Forever in Time, embossing some parts and coloring the same as the background layers using my TomBows (thats when you’re happy you saved up and bought the WHOLE set one Christmas…)  Finally, I had just been given the ribbon yesterday at church from a friend, and in reality its burgundy and white but i went over it with my TomBow markers to match! 

I made this card for a friend who always dresses in eye popping colors, bold patterns and so very tastefully – she is not afraid to “Be Herself!”

Thank you for coming by today! 

PS – I WILL be doing a lot of commenting in the coming day.

Technorati Tags: Tuesday Morning Sketches,Barb Derksen,Mrs Miles,TomBow

My Mojo Monday 440 Card

I’m following along on this week’s Mojo Monday 440

I’m afraid I don’t know which company made this designer paper however the stamp is from Katie Hall.  I used the simple recipe of layer, upon layer, upon LAYER.  I added a bit of coordinating colors to the stamping using my TomBow Markers.

Its rather a cloudy day here, but warm, with all sorts of tweets outside – in fact, a Northern Flicker pounding madly on the side of the house!  It’s like a bird symphony outside, some warbles, some urgent raucous calls.  What birds are you seeing and hearing outside where you are?  I’d love to know.

Technorati Tags: Mojo Monday,Mrs Miles,Barb Derksen,Barbara Derksen,TomBow

Pretty Paper Players card

I’m posting my card on the Paper Players #287 Challenge –

I think my card looks simple and springlike enough!  Its difficult to see that there are yellowy orange dots in the bottom DP which matches the dots in the ribbon.  The sentiment stamp is a Paper Smooches.  The Die Cut for the bloom is by Cherry Lynn designs.

Now, time I get outside in the real world and inspect the signs of spring …

Technorati Tags: Paper Players,Mrs Miles,Barb Derksen,Barbara Derksen,Paper Smooches,Lynn Designs

A “delicate” card for Addicted to CAS

I’ve created this card to join in the Addicted to CAS #84 Challenge – the theme being “Delicate”  

My photography is bolder than the actual card, i took it using my ipad and its hard to get the colors to balance properly – for it is indeed much more “delicate” in natural light.  I used a designer paper from Basic Grey  for the backdrop – enhancing the feature floral by painting with an aqua pen using a versamark ink in “grape”.  I added a dot for the floral center and then a few gems in lesser flowers.  I stamped the sentiment – Stampin’ Up right onto the paper. 

I appreciate you coming to my blog day.  I’m including a few pics of my “Date Day” with my most handsome Mr today because my blog is also a journal of sorts where I can come back and visit happy memories too.  You get to come along!

First came the Chicken… not an egg for us!  We stopped in for our fave chicken at Hughes grocery store in Oroville, Washington – and had a HUGE apple fritter too.  They certainly know how to deep fry things in the USA! 

Then we meandered backroads down there and wound up driving up through Molson where they still have some snow -

I love this scene with the red willows tucked amongst the white barked trees and the snowy mountains in the background. 

Hope you enjoyed our little tour day too.

Technorati Tags: Addicted to CAS,Barb Derksen,Mrs Miles,Stampin' Up,Basic Grey

My card for CTS 164

I’m basing my card on the  - Case This Sketch #164 Challenge:

Supplies:

• White detail embossing powder
• Silver embossing powder
• Congrats Stamp – Hero Arts
• Pattern Stamp – Inkadinkadoo
• Pattern Stamp – My Mind’s Eye
• sequiins
• Crochet cotton
• Wire

This is the first time I’ve embossed white onto a dark background and I’m quite pleased with the effect.  I also made this twisted sequin wire and I believe its something I’d do again too.  What is some element YOU have dreamed up and made?  I’d ♥ to know!

Technorati Tags: Case This Sketch,Hero Arts,Inkadinkadoo,Mrs Miles,Barb Derksen

Fusion–Everythings Owl Right Challenge

Am I confusing with my card when you read the title of my post?  After all, looking at my card there’s nothing suggesting an owl at all!  Perhaps this will clear it up for you – I’m working with this week’s Fusion challenge:

So you’ve made it out that I’m using just the sketch. 

I wanted to try something new for me, sewing on the sequins which I felt would be interesting for the angled lines.  I’ve probably had these sewn sequin strips for a few years now so its about time I’d say! 

I sewed the sequins onto the card using my sewing machine, onto an embossed piece of cardstock (sorry don’t remember who’s folder, no identification on it) and then I stamped this sentiment using a Paper Smooches stamp.  I used varying layers of a very shiny foil like cardstock. 

Its cold and windy here today – I’d hate to be out in an orchard pruning I think.  No, its a stay inside and snuggle up with a warm beverage and good friends!  I hope you’re enjoying your day too.

Technorati Tags: Fusion,Fusion Challenge,Barb Derksen,Mrs Miles,Paper Smooches

Retro Sketches 239 Challenge – My take!

I made my card based on this week’s Retro Sketches 239

I must say I was pleased with this card and I may make several of them (some with different sentiments) as it was easy to make and I really appreciate the white space.  The most important part of a one layer card is using a good cardstock.  I believe this is a Neenah columns.  It stamps nice and has substance to it.  I salvaged a paper scrap for the tags at the top and bottom of the card and then die cut the butterfly using both sides of the paper with the set of MemoryBox butterfly die cuts.  Adding a sprinkling of varied sizes of sequins added the perfect finishing touches!

Thank you for stopping in today.

Technorati Tags: Mrs Miles,Barb Derksen,Barbara Derksen,Memory Box,Retro Sketches

Card for Mojo 439

This is my take on Mojo Monday 439

As you can see interpreted it quite literally just using layer upon layer of coordinating DP and cardstock and finishing it off with some crochet cotton and dollar store gems.  The DP is ColorBok.

I took this challenge today with my sweet SIL Judy!

Technorati Tags: Mojo Monday,Mrs Miles,Barb Derksen

MFT Wednesday Card challenge

No WAY – three posts in one day – and a success with a card even.  haha!  Seems like like is often feast or famine in my crafts arena too.  I’m following this challenge:

My Favorite things Wednesday Challenge Sketch 271

I only required a few supplies on this one!  You’ll notice I took liberties with the sketch by rotating it over 90 degrees.  I cut and embossed a piece of Gemstones canvas texture cardstock.  I used a Cuttlebug embossing folder.  My sentiment is actually a My Favorite Things – I seem to use this set over and over and ooooover!  I played around with several embellishments though in the end I went with simple sequins! 

Thanks for stopping by today.

Technorati Tags: Mrs Miles,Barb Derksen,My Favorite Things,Cuttlebug

CAS on Sunday #78

Here’s my card for:

CAS Sunday #78 sketch

I hear tell that “angled” cards are kinda in vogue at the moment though this is my first coming across it.  I just acquired the birdcage cut from the Silhouette Store and was eager to try it. 

I cut and gold embossed my birdcage.  I used the Gardenia Small die cut from Lynn Designs and put that together (my first attempt even!)  I used a scrap of paper from Craft Smith for the inside of the angle.  Next, I embossed the white panels using a Cuttlebug embossing folder.  After all this it was simple pimple to put it all together.

Looking forward to visiting your blogs and see what you created with this simple sketch!  Happy Crafting!

Technorati Tags: Mrs Miles,Barb Derksen,CAS on Sunday

CAS Mixup Card Challenge

I believe this is my first time to try my hand at a card for this CAS Mixup Challenge and I’m excited to add it to my list of challenges to take each time I can!

So I chose to use adding in some sparkle on the top of the butterfly as my “choice”  I used actual watercolor for the painting, the stamp is Flourishes and I used my Gelly Roll star pen to draw attention to the butterfly (who could have easily be overlooked with the bold florals)  The background is a gauze paper from a 6 x 6 paper pad. 

Hope you’re having a terrific week!

Technorati Tags: CAS Mixup March,Mrs Miles,Barb Derksen,CAS,Gelly Roll

CASe this Sketch Challenge 162 Card

This is my card – working from CASe This Sketch #162

Supplies I used include WeR Memory Keepers (Embossing Folder) Studio Calico (Designer paper – “yearbook”) MFT Stamp and I adapted a cutting file for my Silhouette Store for the middle shape and then added various embellishments and stitching on my real life, needle and thread and foot pedal sewing machine. 

The one thing I learned that I keep harkening back to which I learned from someone who’s card making skills far outskill my own is to layer layer LAYER.  The layers add interest and give your cards weight.  Do YOU have a valuable tip someone has shared with you and you use all the time? 

Technorati Tags: CASe This Sketch,MFT,My Favorite Things,Silhoutte America,Silhouette Cameo,WER Memory Keepers,Mrs Miles,Barb Derksen