My 1000th Post–really and truly! A 365 Card Challenge and a FREE template

Gracious – this milestone sneaked up on me.  I know that my yearly date will come up soon because I have that little counter gadget in the side of my blog but the actual number eluded me until I saw it on my blogger dashboard somewhere in the 990’s.   Wow.  It has been quite the journey. 

My blog has been a gift and joy in my life.  I’ve come to know many of you as friends over the years.  My family has joined in blogging too.  My blog has been a journal and I often love to comb back to compare what has transpired in previous years.  When I began my blog I prayed about it and asked the Lord for guidance on what the content should be.  As I was faithful to blog afterward, amazing things have happened, one of the most amazing to me, and still is today, is that I have developed many talents and I’ve been able to share them with YOU! 

One thing that was important from the beginning, and still is, is that this blog will always be a “safe” place.  I like to keep it simple.  Though I do sometimes promote some products and friends designs – and have at times sold my own designs through shops – I’ve still always made some ‘extras’ for YOU because being a stay at home wife (by choice) I know that there have been many times I’ve been blessed by the generous designs and items from others.  I like to pay it forward – and all the glory to the Lord for anything I’ve given that might have helped you. 

THANK YOU all so very much for visiting me and the encouraging comments you leave.  You have no idea how much they mean to me.  Thanks also to those of you who have chosen to “follow” me, it tickles me to know you would find my site a place you like to keep current with. 

♥♥♥♥♥

I am determined to learn my Silhouette SD inside and out and so today I wanted to “Print and Cut” a graphic.  Oh MY.  Good thing that I had lots of time sequestered away here for it took me several hours and lots of paper.  I decided to combine today’s challenge at 365 Cards with this technique. Thanks to my dear friend Valinda who spent the morning with me online while I grumbled and crumpled paper after paper and kept saying “I know you can do it.”

Today’s Day 149’s Background Challenge rules were:

Divide the background into 4 parts - 2/4 must be solid color and 2/4 must have a pattern.  The colors and patterns to not have to be the same on each part.

And here is my take on this challenge and also a tutorial on the lace I “made” for this card.

 

I got the image from Create with TLC (see, one of those generous places!)  I asked my Silhouette SD to trace the image and then I made an oval around it and then I asked it to print the graphic and then cut it out in the oval shape.  After something like 6 attempts I finally got it! 

I then created the beautiful Damask Oval shape using Photoshop and then I saved it as a PNG and that will be my gift to YOU at the end of this post!  Here’s more about this card. 

I used watercolour pencils on the graphic.  I inked the edges of almost everything.  The stamp is a Studio G, purchased at Michaels. 

Here’s the story of the lace -

 

I’m a girl who likes to “up cycle” things.  Being a stay-at-home anything requires one to be inventive in accumulating supplies.  I’d bought this frothy item a long time ago.  Now, you might see this as a pretty bit of lingerie or a nice cami – me, I saw it as lace. 

And, in fact, it is!  15 + yards in fact, after stripping it down with scissors.  Ha!

And because I did not want to be bothered with sewing I simply used a bit of very thin wire to gather the lace nicely.

Once I had it gathered then I cut it to the width I desired. 

I stuck it onto my card using double sided tape. 

Though there were a few things I’d do differently next time, I learned a lot of new tools and helpful techniques today. 

Do YOU have a good tip or technique you would like to share?  Please leave me a comment and I’d be glad to post here!

♥♥♥♥♥

 

And, as I promised, I am giving away a FREE template for YOU to use.  I will provide it in a zipped folder – a PNG, 300 dpi and also a .studio file for anyone visiting who has a Silhouette SD.  This is fine for you to use for your personal or commercial projects only I ask that you credit me and also link back to me, please.  And if you use my items in a project I’d LOVE you to show me!  Just leave a comment with your email or blog site.

Just click on the graphic to be taken to the download.  Enjoy!

Trying a "365" Card Challenge and some new FREEBIES available in "The Vault"

I am trying to work my way through a pile of cards I need to make so I'm trying to accomplish at least one a day, more if I am able, so I have decided to check out and accomplish a challenge or two.  Sometimes they give me just the inspiration or push that I need.  Today I'm going to do Monday's challenge for 365 Cards.  Their challenge is to use 1/2 polka dots and one half plain, decorating it any way I liked.  Here's my take on that idea and also some info on 'making' your own lace... from discarded doilies!

I know I know, its not just polka dots but I could not resist the combo of this paper with the red top!  The scallop was cut with my Silhouette SD, using a template I created myself, just cutting it narrower than I'd designed it for.  The "charm" is actually an earring - a lot of my charms are "harvested" from discarded jewelry.

Even my Mr has started collecting for me - he found this discarded bracelet in a parking lot - the clasp was broken and some pieces crushed.  He brought it home for me (this deserves me spoiling him by baking him something nice, methinks!)  

And so I used a pair of jewelry pliers to snip it into some little sections and some single charms!

Here's the story on the "lace".  It's actually just part of a doily.  Thrift stores are full of doilies, they are available for pennies at yard sales.  I take them and do all sorts of beautiful things with them.

This is the doily that I cut this "lace" out of - as you can see there is so much usable and interesting bits to it. Am I inspiring you, giving you new ideas?  I'm a frugal girl and love to upcycle used items.  

All in all this card cost next to nothing to make and yet is a unique little work of art.

What sort of items do YOU re-use to make your cards?

♥♥♥♥♥

On another note, I added 5 more "Freebies" into the Vault (Tab Uptop of blog page)  I tried to organize them into categories as I post eg: the cross element is sort of in a "spiritual" section, the Ice Fishin' Kit in with the winter/Christmas stuff at the end etc.  They are as follows: 

• Bill and Barry's Ice Fishin' Kit
• John 3:16 Cross
• Pink Lemonade Tapes
• Love Hearts and Charms
• Love Stamps

In case you are a die-hard "Carder" or "Stamper" and have just stumbled upon my blog, and are wondering what all these things are in my Vault, they are digital scrap-booking elements and kits.  These are all jpg (for the papers) and PNG (for the "elements' - buttons, flowers, brads etc) files, the PNG on transparent backgrounds.  I'm sure many of the PNG elements could be imported into your cutting machines to make custom elements for your cards.  I hope you enjoy them - all I ask is that you respect whether they are labeled "personal" use or "commercial" if it states, though I am open to allowing some use if you ask me permission.  The other thing would be a link to my blog and a credit.  You can credit me as Barb Derksen or Mrs Miles.  

Enjoy! 

Mojo Two-Oh-One and … My NEW Machine & a FREE Card Topper Template!

Well, I’ve been stay-cationing a bit between side trips (camping and such) and enjoying the quiet time playing a new machine.  Yes, my Mr spoils me.  We decided to make some smaller trips in vacation time this year and so he invested some of our intended holiday money into a dream of mine.  He bought me a machine to help me make my cards. 

I was paging through a PaperCrafts Magazine recently and saw an advertisement for the Silhouette SD – and on a whim visited their website and was WOWWED by the ability of this thing.  So, we put an order together and now I’m on a huge learning curve with it. 

My Silhouette SD can do so much more than just cut things out!  Oh my, I just visited the site to link here and discovered that there is a newer upcoming version which has the ability to cut papers up to 12 inches wide, mine does the standard 8.5.  I’m not complaining here. 

So, after much practice I designed my own scalloped template for today’s card.  Here is the Mojo Monday sketch for #201.  I know its sure not an exact following but I fear had I added it all it would have been too much the way I did it. 

And here is my take on the card.  I freely admit that I also took a lot of inspiration from Debbie Carrier’s take on the card too.

Honestly, this thing took me ALL DAY to create.  Haha, I muttered at myself quite a bit, I did.  First I asked my Silhouette to cut out the card itself on this pretty cardstock.  I wish I could tell you who made the cardstock but it was a gift.  Its nice and heavy, perfect for a project like this.  It was truly tricky designing the card so that the two sides were identical!  I used a template which came with the software to make the ribbon (with the holes in it) across the card, and asked the machine to cut the edge of the ribbon to exactly fit with the edge of the card (the scallops)  K, so that took me an hour in itself!

The sentiment and the shoe, I confess, are cut out from a book I picked up at a yard sale some time ago.  I had to use a razor cutter that slides over my finger to do that trick.  Another 1/2 hour. 

This part was the most fun! 

I created a butterfly template and cut it out twice – once with cardstock and then once with vellum. I used a dab of double sided tape to join the two in the centre.  Next I struggled for an hour with jewellery wire and teensy tiny pearls trying to create a set of antennae – another wasted hour and I was not happy with the result.  Yeh yeh, I’m a bit of a perfectionist.

I was at a loss and so when my Mr called me and asked me to help hold his guitar while he took out the old strings and put on new… yes, it was an epiphany!  I took one of the strings he discarded cut off a length,.  I then folded it in two and then I found some “crimping beads” which I had picked up one time at Wal-Mart because they were shiny and I’m attracted to shiny things and thought I might use them one day.  After adding a bead to the string at the height that looked right I crimped and voila!  I then added a light dusting of glitter to the edges of the vellum wings. 

(that’s another hour gone!)

Lastly I created three blossoms from ribbon using a little ribbon maker I picked up at a thrift store recently.  They were tricky little fellers – the “bud” was done freehand.   That too took me an hour.  What a MESS I had here!

So, in celebration of my new machine, I am offering up my FREE card topper template for you.  It is suitable for a card 5.5 inches wide.  You may use my template for personal or commercial use though I would ask you link to me when you use it, please.  I will start another “Page” up-top of my blog and perhaps share more templates in the future.  My files will be 300 dpi in PNG format so you may have to suss out how to import it into your particular software.  And as always, I’d LOVE to see how you use my template – or any of my designs!  Just leave me a comment and I’ll provide you my email.  click on the picture to be taken to the download.  Enjoy!

Here’s a sample card I made using this template and using a discarded earring as a charm.

And you would be missing out if you did not visit my sister Nina's blog too - she's a wicked good carder herself, and often is the one who puts seeds of ideas into my head that wind up being designs I give away here!   I've looked for my other family member's Mojo's today but nobody has posted yet - soon I bet! 

Back with Mojo No. 200 and a FREE Element!

Whew, I think I went through withdrawals this past week because I did not card or do any sort of hobby or craft for seven whole entire complete days.  My fingers were all twitchy and I felt like... weird!  So, now that I have a chance I attempted a mojo!  

CONGRATS to the Mojo team on their 200th sketch - and what a nice one it 'tis!  

Here's my take on it:

Paper is Jen Wilson's 29th Street Market (gotta love it, double sided!) 

Word Art from Elegant

Scalloped Ribbon - my own design

Flower - my own template, cut out and layered (all using opposite sides of the paper) 

Pearl - Forever in Time

*****

And here's another of my friend Pam's elements from her vintage family album: 

download

Wedding Weekend

My photos here are not great quality because someone (silly ME) captured most photos on my "real" camera with no computer to transfer etc to. Besides, I'd look pretty funny trying to use both iPhone and the camera at the same time - I had to choose one or the other. So what you will see here are photos of the screen of my "real" camera, taken with my iPhone and then enhanced as best I could. Little snippets that hopefully still share the essence.







In an architecturally eye pleasing building downtown Vancouver we has the pleasure of attending the wedding of our family, Kyle and Denise.







A romantic collision of Italian marries Chinese it was a cultural mashup - throw in friends from all over the world and even the couple's dog and it made for an eclectic and happy celebration.

If we can define it further in a culinary sense might we say bruschetta meets dim sum?







The banquet was held the previous evening in a five star Chinese restaurant and consisted of an eight course meal and included such delicacies as sea cucumber (pictured above). My usually squeamish Mr outdid me in adventurousness by eating a good portion of this dish - I just couldn't quite make it there.

We met relatives we haven't had the opportunity to until now - it's amazing and wonderful, like adding new leaves on our family tree!




Though it rained softly off and on the venue location featured a 'waterfall' theme.





Fortunately the interior of the building was light and bright and inviting.









And, this lovely event, anticipated for long was over all too quickly.

Congratulations Kyle and Denise!

Mojo Monday 199

Well I did'nt get things done on my big list of to-do's today... for when I was supposed to be checking that list off I got sidetracked by Mojo.  My sweet Mr does not call me "Miss Stubbs" for nothing, I was determined to finish this card no matter what.  It took me several hours in the end!

I really liked this challenge and I like how my card turned out - even if I really really struggled with it: 

I'm sorry I can't name the papers as they were given to me, but the shapes are all my own.  

The Rose  and Leaves are from Graphics Fairy. 

I sprinkled some glass beads over glue in the middle of the flower. 

The stamp is from Studio G

Happy Anniversary Lil Sister - a FREEBIE to celebrate!

It's my Sister Nina's wedding anniversary - wishing you both a v. special day!   To celebrate I made up this pretty stamp for you to use for your projects.  Its a png file, 300 dpi, aproximately 3 inches in size.  I am also including a staple so you can secure it :)  I took the photo with my iphone yesterday and added some filters to that!  G'wan over to Nina's and wish her a happy day instead of leaving a comment here if you only have one comment in you!

Right click on elements and "Save As"  

Personal Use! 

A Card for Seb's Mechanics & more FREEBIES added to "The Vault"

Most of you who are regulars to my blog know that we have a VW Vanagon and we ♥ it to bits.  It is not only our vehicle but it is our "home away from home" when life bites and when we vacation.  This is our second van, and this second one I picked out myself in 2008 for my birthday present:

Oh what a happy day that was!  At any rate, we have always "named" our vehicles and so this is Seb - short for Sebastian who was a famous Italian explorer and cartographer. 

We try to take very good care of Seb, so we take him in to get some TLC each year before summer.  Our mechanics specialize in VW's and are sooooo nice too, so we always do something nice for them when we pay the bill.  This time I made an extra special card for the people at the auto place to go along with their do-nuts: 

('scuze my finger holding it together)

This is a 5.5 inch card

The transparent road map panels on the sides came from

Making Memories - [clear creations] TRAVEL set

I love the little hunk of brown textured paper under the Thanks sentiment,

I just had a scrap of it.  Its almost plastic feel but I think it just finished

the card off perfectly! 

♥♥♥♥♥

I added 5 more personal use products into "The Vault" {click the tab at the top of this page that says "Mrs Miles...}  They are as follows:

• Heart Music (mini kit)
• Holly Wreath
• Howdy (rope words)
• Howdy Frames (rope )
• Howdy Knots (rope)

Enjoy - and a little comment would sure go a loooooong way to make more additions possible! *wink*

Clean and Simple

I'm just catching my breath after a few days visiting with my Sister in Law Judy - we had a wonderful time visiting, crafting and poking around in the local shops.  It was great to spend time with you Judy!  
I had to build a birthday card for a friend and my Sister Nina invited me to a simple card challenge and I decided to take her up on it.  Here's the sketch: 

Clean and Simple

And here's my take on it:

Grapic: Graphics Fairy

Stamp Studio G

Papers - various 

Luckily the person this card is intended for likes birds.  I loved how quick this card went - it gave me time to play with other projects - stay tuned!  

Mojo 198!

And here's what took me FOREVER to do today:

Just simple, I found this glittery thread I've never used from when I went to a Tatting Convention a few years ago.  I did not mark down all my supplies.  Sooooorry!  I kept my Sister Nina waiting forever for us to all blog together.  My sister in law Judy is here and we blogged all at one go and Judy fixed my sewing machine so I was able to sew on this card.  Now my husband has several "real" items of clothing he wants done... sigh!