Our Beautiful Desert and a FREE Wild Rose Cut and PNG file for YOU!

 

Its so beautiful out this time of the year here - everything so lush!  This is antelope brush in bloom.  I wish I could send smell through this blog, with this and the sagebrush and lilacs in blossom its a banquet for all the senses. 

 

 

This is one of the critters which you might find at the Desert Center locally.  I love to take my camera  with me whenever my Mr & I go for a walk and to me that’s 90% of being a “good photographer” - thing is you can’t take that amazing shot if you don’t have the camera along, right?  This beetle is too funny, when it feels threatened it sticks its butt up in the air and I think I’ve heard it “hiss”  As it was early evening when we saw this ferocious insect it looked twice as scary to itself because the sun behind made it cast an extra long shadow. 

Well, since I had such a warm fuzzy greeting to my first post in a long time to the Silhouette forum I vowed I would make a cut for giveaway so I’ve done just this.  Here’s a card I made using my cut.  I created this card for a friend for her Mother in Law to be:

 

I made this Wild Rose cut for YOU - I’ve saved it every which way.  I saved it as a full SVG, then PNG’s and finally .studio files for your Silhouette SD  or Cameo.  I split the flower and leaves up for a few files and I even made a simple outline for them too so you can use the outline like I did and then cut your designer paper to be a “filler” for each. 

 

I did not include this round part or scallop because the circle is easy to make, the scallop came from the Silhouette SD store.  I typed the greeting in my Studio software and then had my machine sketch it using the pens in a pretty orange to co-ordinate with the other elements on this card.

So you can download the zipped folder for the Wild Rose Cuts etc by clicking the following link.  These are for your personal use.  I am pretty generous to give permission for you to use these files for commercial use though you must email me and make your request and also credit me.

DOWNLOAD WILD ROSE by Barb Derksen

And of course I’d ♥ to see how you use my files - just email me and I’ll feature your creation here. 

I’ll leave you with a few comical photos -

My girl assures me she DOES have a perfectly wonderful water dish for her kitty but…

Ewwww - *smirk*

Eating next to a 3 year old is interesting.  His jelly snack went plup! into the ketchup and got eaten with gusto.  Hmmm.

I’ll leave you with this poem I came across which might be wonderful for a birthday card sentiment.

AGE

Let me grow lovely, growing old -

So many fine things do;

Laces and ivory, and gold,

And silks need not be new;

And there is healing in old trees,

Old streets a glamour hold;

Why may not I, as well as these,

Grow lovely, growing old?

- Karle Wilson Baker

 

Sweet “Preserves” Card and the FREE Cutting and Sketching file for YOU!

Its about time I made something for YOU!  If you have an opportunity to read back over my previous post you will see I created a set of “Preserve Posies” - matching flowers and labels which dress up canning and jam jars.  I needed to provide instructions on how they assemble so I “drew” the jars and flowers in a graphics program. 

I figured since I’ve done all this work I might as well make it multi-purpose so I turned it into an SVG format as well as png and brought it into my Silhouette Studio software and did some tweaking and created the files which you can use to make the jar like on this darling card:

You cannot really tell here but the lid background is a shimmery copper color and looks very attractive.  I’ve included the outline (black part), the “jam” part, the lid and then I added the SWEET word art - I actually included that right in with the “jam” - so you can ungroup them if you wish and hide the outside cut while you have your Silhouette “sketch” the wording.  I then took a blue shimmery pen which matches the background paper and filled it in with color. 

So I hope you enjoy the cutting files and png’s (great for “digital stamps”) for your projects.   These are for your personal use.  If you would like to use them for commercial projects you need to email me for permission.  Please don’t share out my files directly but have your friends come here to download them via this post.  Just click the following link to grab the zipped folder:  Barb Derksen’s Mason Jar Cut File

And before I forget - I would ♥ to see what you make using my files?  Why not leave me a comment when you do and I’ll feature your project here. 

May May Bring Mushrooms?

 

Equation for Spring:

May + Moist + Mulch = Moss + MUSHROOMS! 

Moss and Mulch

Shaggy Manes

a MIGHTY Morel!

If you’ve not experienced these “wild” mushrooms before you’re truly missing out.  I remember thinking how gross they were when I was a child - my father was an avid mushroom hunter at the first signs in spring and fall, bringing home great feeds.  I recall him making pancakes of the big Shaggy Manes.  I also recall equating the look of morels as to brains… uh, I think this may have had some influence on my immature tastebuds. 

I found these specimens just yesterday and now I know where they reside I hope to have a great feast of them in the coming days.  Even better with asparagus growing roadside.  I sauté both together for a delectable dish.  

I recently came across a local Okanagan Food magazine which funny enough just featured an entire article on Morel mushrooms - this is a galluptious editorial and I’m thinking of subscribing after my sneak peek inside - check it out SAVOUR magazine.

I’ve been creating some new products for the newest coolest shop in Osoyoos BC, Indie Lulu Living.  With Mother’s Day coming fast I wanted to be able to bring something completely unique.  This is what I came up with:

I’m calling these Preserves Posies!

Living in the heart of the Okanagan Valley - in other words the heart of the finest fruit and produce in British Columbia makes this area huge for people to make gifts of their favourite preserves.  Oh yes, we’ve all done the fabric and ribbon decorating of jars however I wanted to find a new way to bring an elegant touch to your gourmet giving. 

Each package contains one jar topper and a matching label.  Your preserves will be the hit of the party!

I had to create new, tweak or modify some of my Silhouette Studio files for these custom items.  ♥ my Silhouette SD - aspiring to the Cameo one day in the future.

I’ve also included instructions in case you would like to give the gift of the Preserve Posie along with your own preserves!  A nice feature is the flower disc for the top is able to be used over and over again. 

As you can see, this product is manufactured exclusively for Indie Lulu Living, Osoyoos. 

I’ve a nice selection of handmade Mother’s Day Cards for you at both Indie Lulu Living and the Feathered Frog Soap Shop - come grab one before they are gone!

Thanks for visiting here and I’ll leave  you with some encouraging thoughts for your day:

No pessimist ever discovered the secrets of the stars, or sailed to an uncharted land, or opened a new heaven to the horizon of the spirit.  Helen Keller

When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you, till it seems as though you could not hang on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.  Harriet Beecher Stowe

Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.  Anais Nin

In our life there is a single color, as on an artist’s palette, which provides the meaning of life and art.  It is the color of love.  Marc Chagall

Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.  Thomas A. Edison

If only we’d stop trying to be happy, we could have a pretty good time.  Edith Wharton

Pretties from Indie Lulu Living and my Playing in Paradise #63 Card

 

I’ve been working at and creating "pretty stuffs” for Indie Lulu Living, a new shop here in Osoyoos BC.  Well, its the most fun and inspiring place that little bits of it have been coming home with me… haha BIG bits too it seems.  Here is the couch (pictured in the shop when it first arrived)

Isn’t it wonderful???  Really I had no idea at all if it would “fit” with the rest of my decor - but sitting on it is what made me decide.  This is one of the sort of vintage couches that cuddles you, inclines you, says “come read a book” upon it. 

Lucky for me, it “goes” nicely. 

But yes, little bits do come home, and you can see some of the wonderful wares in the coming days if you visit our new blog - http://indielululiving.blogspot.ca/  We will do our best to bring you new (and vintage and one of a kind) items over the coming days so stay tuned.  Better yet, perhaps you might “follow” our Indie Lulu Blog and then we can bring new treats to you daily too!

So I’ve been pretty busy with trying to get the social media happening, but I did manage to bring off a pretty Mother’s Day card today too - and I’ll share it here.

Playing in Paradise #63

The theme: Fabulous Flowers

 

Here is my take:

I printed the sentiment myself using Segoe Print font and cut it using my Silhouette SD.

Not sure what this designer paper is.

I am not sure which embossing folder made the strip - made that at a visit to my sister a way back.  (should have taken notes!)

The tulips are a cut from the Silhouette store made by  Lori Whitlock.  I shaded the blossoms with wisteria shade of ColorBox Cat’s Eyes Chalks (latest treat to self!)

So a pretty simple card on the whole and I’m happy to have completed it in a day and posted too. 

I’ll leave you with this good thought:

 

A PRAYER

 

It is my joy in life to find

At every turning of the road

The strong arm of a comrade kind

To help me onward with my load.

 

And since I have no gold to give,

And love alone must make amends,

My only prayer is, while I live -

God make me worthy of my friends.

 

~ Frank Dempster Sherman

 

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Playing in Paradise challenge 62 - BOLD “Hi!” card!

 

Imagine, two cards in two days - what’s gotten into me.  I could not resist this simple sketch from Playing in Paradise # 62. 

Ok, so in my haste of excitement … I missed out on the horizontal strip in the centre but still…  by the time I realized I had already solidly glued down all the elements and could not correct it all. 

The designer paper is Little Black Dress by Basic Gray.  The stamp is a Studio G - the original stamp actually had an outline to look like it was a tag but I trimmed that away because I felt that limited this stamp.  Have you ever cut parts of an acrylic stamp away to accommodate?  To make several smaller, partial stamps out of a larger one? 

The little plastic see through  “gems” were bought at a dollar store. 

Here are some photos taken around the newest little shop in town - Indie Lulu Living.  I have been creating items for there - love that I can work out my creative angst and someone might not only appreciate it but buy it as well.  These following photos are not any of my items but items that are already at the shop.  The store is an awesome eclectic melange of old and new - but it WORKS!  Everyone who walks in say that our town needed a shop like this.  There is something for everyone. 

 

Pretty Dishes

 

Window Display - April

 

 

 

Which came first?

 

Looks like a vintage painting.

More to come!

Mojo 237 card, a current “me ‘n’ my honey photo” and a tidbit of wisdom

 

I surely like this week’s sketch for Mojo Monday 237:

I had fun with it.  I’d been dying to try some of these pretty butterfly cuts I just bought from the Silhouette SD store.  The original butterfly cut is the one which is on it’s own at the top (and then I glittered it a bit) but I monkeyed with the other three, erasing out a few lines and then having them come out of the band in the middle. 

The stamp is by Kolette Hall and the designer paper Parasol LILYKATE by Basic Gray.  Gotta love these pretty floral papers which almost make the card in itself. 

I thought I might share a current photo of me and my honey out for lunch yesterday at our favorite Mexican Restaurant!  I usually get pics of everyone else and forget myself. 

I’m having my usual - a Chalupa (I always share some shell with my sweetie) and my Mr is having a combo which I know for sure has a tamale included.  (I’m sporting the suit I scored at the thrift store last Thursday.  Laid out an entire $3 for it!)

I’ll leave  you with an inspiring thought for this week as well, something to chew on.

 

Between stimulus and response,

there is a space.

In that space lies our freedom

and our power to choose our response.

In our response lies our growth

and our happiness.

 

~ author unknown

New Mojo Card and spring is sprung!

 

Here is the sketch and my card for this week’s Mojo Monday 236

 

I’m sorry that I really cannot provide any authentication on the supplies used as they were all fished from my scraps heap.  I am trying to attempt sewing on my projects, I’m a novice.  When I’ve got it down to a science I plan to sew some slip covers for my husband’s musical equipment. 

 

 

The year’s at the spring

And day’s at the morn;

Morning’s at seven:

The hillside’s dew-pearled;

The lark’s on the wing;

The snail’s on the thorn;

God’s in his heaven -

All’s right with the world! 

by Robert Browning

 

This poor little bird was “twitterpated” with it’s own reflection in the window and kept up a steady tap, tap, tap no matter how I tried to shoo it away:

 

New Card for Mojo Monday Challenge 235 and holiday photos

 

I took the Mojo Monday Challenge 235 challenge albeit a day or two after Monday. 

I paired a pretty polka dot “real” wallpaper from a wallpaper sample with two designer paper (unidentified) and then added the scalloped black border from Little Black Dress.  I built the blossom in three layers cut on my Silhouette SD.  The stamped sentiment is from Inkadinkado 

Spring is happening here, unfolding more each day.  I will have to go for a photo shoot/walk one day soon to share.  Here are a few random photos from my recent vacation to Victoria BC (waving at my Sis!)

me at the beach, ready to set sail

Empress Hotel

Gull makes “live catch” - tricky dining!

Houseboats on Marina

Sunny Day turns skunk cabbage into beauty

Thanks for visiting!

Playing in Paradise Card # 60

Just arrived home after a nice family vacation and while I unpacked and caught up on housework I worked on this week’s Playing in Paradise challenge where my sister Nina is Guest Designer this week.  Gotta post quick as it appears my husband is ready to call it an evening so this will be short and sweet.

Here is this week’s inspiration:

 

And my take on it:

 

I believe the designer paper is Recollections from Michaels.  Bunny is a cut I purchased from the Silhouette SD store.  I designed the grass cut-out myself.  This sentiment was stamped using a set of Studio G letter stamps. 

Thanks for visiting.  I’ll post some vacation photos as soon as I’m able.

Mojo 234

I’ve been away visiting with my sweet little sister, Nina and spending time with my in-laws (we are having an early Easter gathering as it fits in with Spring Break for school)  Basically internet-less and feeling almost scarily like I’m going through withdrawals.  But no time can be more valuable than family time so in other ways I’m very happy about that.

My time with Nina allowed us to have special sister time and  to craft together, we made a mittful of cards but I’m only going to share Mojo at this time because I am having to use my iphone as an internet hotspot and can’t afford to eat up my data.  I also will not be doing my rounds on blogs at this time either, its a longer process to comment than I’d like, and I like to comment if I visit and again, family time is precious so I will pop this post in and then do just that.   I’m having a just me and Mom-in-law lunch date today.  So I apologise if I’ve missed you but I will be back online this week. 

 

 

Here is my take on this sketch:

Designer Paper - Little Black Dress

Cupcake Stamp - Rubber Stamp Tapestry

Happy Birthday stamp - I’m not sure, I misplaced the packaging. 

The rest of the card items are just bits and bobs collected from thrift stores etc. 

 

I’m looking forward to sharing photos from my vacation, stay tuned!