FREE Corny download for Silhoutte Cutting File

Ah I was just playing around with some reflective yellow vinyl the other day and thought it might make a sweet card  when the sentiment jumped right out at me too. I don’t have an actual stamp that says corn-grats, but I have several sets of individual letter stamps that I pieced together to make the wording the way I wanted it.

I decided it would be fun to whip up a cut file right there on the spot and so this I did.  In my original cut file, unfortunately, I crossed the twisted leaf lines over and it created that leaf in two peices so I’ve since gone in and corrected it.  I bumped the corn out using foam tape.  You can’t see in the bottom photo (took it using my ipad so the quality is just not there) but I used something small but blunt to “carve in” some kernels in a pattern.  You could easily use nice cardstock for your project! 

I hope you enjoy! 

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.studio file format

(zipped file)

Personal Use Please

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FREE Silhouette Word Art file &365 Photo(s) of the day

I’ll Start off today with my FREE cutting file and then share some more photos of my oh-so-lovley daytrip away with my Mr last Saturday afternoon. 

Just click on the image to download this free “Happy New Dog” word art cutting file for your Silhouette Cameo.  (and thank you once again to GE.TT for the storage they have provided me to share my free cutting files with you.  I ♥ their great service, and NO ADS, refreshing, right?)

Here’s a card which I made using my word art freebie which I welded to a sweet dog shape which I purchased from the Silhouette online store:

Here’s how I made this simple and fun card.  I welded my wordart with the dog shape and then cut it out of black cardstock.  I embossed this and added a few little silver spangles ontop before I “cooked” it with my Heat Embossing tool.  The background is a 5.5 x 4.25 rectangle of glittered cardstock.  I added a few puffy heart sticker embellishments to finish it off. 

Now on to more photos of our trip to Molson, Washington this past Saturday:

  Today I’m taking you inside as well as outside the buildings at the Historical village.  Just bits that captured my eye. 

I could take pics of vintage typewriters and keys all day long. 

Loving the pattern and texture on this old-time woodstove.

In one building, which I believe was sort of a Mining Assay place, there is a plaque with all sorts of rock samples.  Unfortunately parts of it have been vandalized, so sad!

Someone created this interesting window box using all sorts of reclaimed vintage glass and items!

“Land Sakes! I wish you wouldn’t spring even more company on me like this” She said with an exasperated sigh. 

That’s what I think she might say in her quaint one-room log cabin. 

Which is decorated with new spring blooms and a mossy roof!

More photos tomorrow, which will pretty much wrap up my delightful day away with my husband.

Technorati Tags: 365 Photo of the Day,Freebie,Mrs Miles,Mrs Miles Freebies,Silhouette,Silhouette Cameo,free cutting file,Molson,Cameo

CASual Fridays 137 and a FREEBIE cutting file

365 Photo of the Day

Wow, I can hardly believe I’ve kept up my Photo of the Day for two entire months.  It does cause me to keep my lens in the front of my mind’s eye every day! 

I love buttons.  I have jars of them on display, sorted.  At one time (this will give you a chuckle) I wanted to get a visual of my efforts in doing sit-ups, and I had this (exausting and way cool at the time) idea that every time I’d do 10 sit-ups I’d sew a button on this plain blanket.  Mind you, I was doing several sets of sit-ups a day and eventually the blanket got very very heavy and I got exhausted.  It did look pretty cool though.  I know that blanket is haunting a corner of a closet somewhere. 

“Button your lip” “Cute as a button” “Stay buttoned down” – somehow just saying the word makes me feel warm and secure.

Create

I managed to squeak in another card today – gotta love any challenge that has “casual” in it’s title… I chose to take up the challenge from Casual Friday’s #137 challenge inviting us to:

CFC137: Using spring colors, create a music themed project and keep it Clean And Simple.

So here I go:

 

I’m sorry to say I don’t see any identification on the designer paper I chose – but in my mind these bright colors do fit into a “spring” theme.  This sentiment is from My Favorite Things.  Music backdrop to the sentiment is a cut I created using my Silhouette Designer Edition Software and I’d like to share it with YOU!

 

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Simon Says Monday Challenge & a FREE cutting file!

I just ♥ when a challenge comes along the exact time I’m thinking up a new creation in my head.  This is just what happened when I saw this Monday’s Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge and the theme is No Rules.

I decided to step up to the plate with a new cutting design I dreamed up in my head and will also offer it to you today too!

I decided to create this gift box and little gift tags set from the ground up.  I thunk it all up in the night as I fell off to sleep.

After I designed this cut for your Silhouette cutting machine (I have a Cameo) I made a few tweaks and then added these darling little gift tags as well.  This designer paper I chose “Fanciful Be You” by Junkitz is double sided so I added a piece of plain pink copy paper to the inside so the tags can be written in.  If you’re using one sided paper you won’t have to. 

And after the tags were all assembled with bits of twine (you might choose ribbon or sometimes I find crochet cotton is perfect for this as it comes in many colors and is inexpensive. Without further ado, here is the cutting file for you to enjoy.  I hope you’ll send folks here to download this FREEBIE – I do love a little comment ♥ if I must say.  Its like a hug for creating and sharing! 

 

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zipped file with previews

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Silhouette .studio FREEBIE - Paper Bracelet!

Pretty cool isn’t it? 

This is one of the most unique and fun things I designed in the past I think.  I came up with the idea after looking at a leather belt and I simply felt compelled to design a miniature version and turn it into a bracelet. 

 

The FREE .studio cutting file I’m gifting to you today is for the center piece – the paper part, the rest will be up to you, however you will like to design yours. 

As you can see I added all sorts of embellishments onto mine.  I chose to sew the little buckle part on and I sewed lace onto several as well.  I salvaged bits of jewelry and added beads to a few.  Because the bracelet itself is paper its pretty easy to sew through.  You may choose to use some sort of glue instead.  Its all up to you.

 

 

The tricky part is the prong.  I am providing the shape you will use as a template but I chose to cut the prong itself out of clear plastic packaging (the firmer the better) because its flexible and strong enough.  You can use the template I’ve provided to trace upon the hard plastic – or I simply held it fast with my fingers and snipped around the prong by hand. 

* I’m adding this bit in here after thinking as I was drifting off to sleep that I should give you a bit more accurate instruction of how the three pieces go together to get the buckle and prong on.  Please excuse my messy diagram, I’ve had to restore my computer and don’t have my vector graphics program of choice to illustrate, but hopefully my untidy drawing will help:

 

1. Cut your plastic prong out of a sturdy clear plastic (or you may choose to use colored too) using the template provided.
2. Place the clear plastic prong in between the two open ends of the folded over “buckle” (the folded end will be the outside of the buckle. 
3. Now that you have the prong inside of the buckle piece (and be sure to have the prong in front of the buckle, take the buckle and prong together and position both in the fold of the belt, lining the prong up with the hole on the fold, draw it through and up so that the buckle and prong are in position.  This is when you will either sew or glue the fold down.  After that’s done you can add the loop (which holds the tail of the bracelet down when you get it on your wrist. 

 

Just so you know, these are delicate creations of “wearable art” – meaning because the main part is created out of paper (thick cardstock type designer paper works the best, double sided patterns create really nice “pulled together” pieces.  So these are fragile and they are not waterproof.  But they are original and completely unique. 

I hope you enjoy this FREE pattern.  I’d love it if you leave some comment love – and if you create your own I’d definitely delight in sharing your takes on this fun project. 

Barb Derksen’s Paper Bracelet File

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Personal Use

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TMS 259 Card & FREE chevron .studio file

While I’m feeling creative,

While the iron is hot, so to speak - I’ll strike,

I’ll make and blog and then later on will be a little folding of the hands and such. 

So, I attempted this card

Tuesday Morning Sketches 259

And I managed to make this:

Supplies: DP “Brioche” by Memory Box, golden Gem by Art Minds, Stamps - sun by Studio G and sentiment by My Favorite Things, Accents - gelly roller pen and watercolor.

Chevron cutting file… ME! (I cut my chevrons out of vinyl - goes QUICK and easy!)  In fact, I’m giving away both the square chevron pattern and another pattern - like this:

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DOWNLOAD SQUARE CHEVRON

Today’s 1 small THING is a picture I painted of myself using ArtRage on my iPad (one must be able to make fun of oneself, no?

Thanks for visiting today!

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ATCAS #41 Challenge Card and a FREE Cutting File for YOU!

I’m feeling rebellious this fine Monday Morning so I am going to post my finished card first then the challenge graphic.  Perhaps I will do this in the future too. Its my blog and I can do what I want ha-ha!  Oh my, aren't I a piece of work this morning. 

Awww - isn’t this feller so sweet?  OK, might be a girl sun, you COULD add some false eyelashes… This is my take on:

Addicted to CAS #41 SUN

I used paper I chanced upon at a garage sale this past weekend - the cardstock did not have any way of identifying it - but the argyle is from a Ki Paper Pad called… Argyle! 

I built this fun FREE smiling sun Cut  in two pieces so you can pop the face up a bit using foam tape.  I would normally use “googly eyes” - you know, the kind you buy in the crafts section… but I was not crafting at home and so had to be resourceful.  I used a couple of sequins that color - coordinated with the cardstock of the face of the card, then added two tiny black pearl gems for the eye”ball”s.  I rather like the effect.  You may notice, if you look closely at the “rays” cut - I made it so you could actually cut your background in a square or rectangle to line up with the actual “rays” on the left side (right down the middle of the face) so half the sun face would hang over onto the backdrop… I hope you know what I mean.  I may build an alternative version of this in the future.

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Please enjoy my FREE Sunshine Smile .studio Cut for your personal or commercial use, but I ask simply you credit me when using and link to my blog.  Please do not directly share this download link but have others visit here to download.  Please consider “faming” my blog and FREEBIES on all and any social media, this helps me a lot and I appreciate it. 

Technorati Tags: Addicted to CAS,Handmade Cards,Barb Derksen,Barbara Derksen,Mrs Miles,Mrs Miles FREEBIE,Free Cutting File,Free Silhouette,Osoyoos BC,Osoyoos,Okanagan

BEAUTIFUL Music - and a sweet FREE Cutting file!

If you’ve followed my blog in this past year you may be aware that my life has been all tangled up with that of a special young lady and her family for an incredible journey and wonderful project.  Her name is Kayla Dawn and she’s a lovely and unique person who has had one of her fondest dreams come true over this time. 

Kayla is 18 years old and lives in Osoyoos BC.  She is graduating high school at the end of this month and is looking forward to a future in the music industry - her desire will be to become a music therapist.  She is a very motivated individual who also has a big heart in that she not only wants her music to bless you, but to also inspire.  Her own life’s experiences have given her insight and empathy for those who face challenges and she’s poured that very compassion into her songs.  I encourage you to read her biography which you can find through the links for her media which I will provide at the end of this post.

Kayla Dawn at her CD Launch event

A brief history of our relationship is that my Mr. met Kayla at YouLearn.ca where he is an instructor and after a period of time working with her on a digital music course found out that she writes her own original music.  After hearing her own “flavor” of music recognized raw talent and invited her to join in with a community event we put on called “All Bout Love”.  At this point of working together Miles felt positive he could help Kayla get her first album “out there”. 

Kayla’s family is incredibly supportive and we all sat down and worked out the details of what it would take (reminds me totally of Kayla’s song “Never Give Up”)  to bring this enterprise into fruition.  After we worked all the details out we all launched out on an incredible expedition which would lead to this happy day when I can be here telling you about it all.  I’ve come to love Kayla and her family as my own. She is a young woman of character and I’m proud to be in her life. I just know that one day I’ll be saying “I knew her when…”

CD Cover for Kayla Dawn’s first album

This was Miles first producing venture - he had an incredible amount to learn.  He’s a super-star though with meeting any challenge and pulling it off.  Not only this, he makes it appear easy.  I’m in awe (but don’t tell him I said that coz I don’t want it to go to his head too much *wink*)

With this said, I hope you will check out the following articles and sites to get to know Kayla Dawn and her music and how you can purchase! Be sure to click on all of the links at these sites - they lead to more media!  First of all you will want to check out:

Kayla Dawn’s Personal Website

I have to brag again that my husband created Kayla’s entire website as well.  

Kayla Dawn’s REVERBNATION page

(notice she’s at #1 for Canada!!!)

I hope you enjoy Kayla’s music and it encourages and uplifts your life as well.  We want to give you an opportunity to WIN A COPY of Kayla Dawn’s CD.  All you have to do is to visit her Reverbnation page to listen to her music.  (by the way, you may listen to the full album streaming from Reverbnation for the next few weeks but the list will be reduced to a smaller selection of songs at that time) - so listen up, choose a favorite song and leave a comment here on this post telling which it is and why you like it.  You also get an entry if you “like” Kayla-Dawn on Facebook or Tweet her on her Twitter account.  Leave the link for us to see on a comment in this blog post and you will be put in for a chance to win! 

Will you please consider using YOUR social media to give Kayla some exposure for her very first album, please, by linking to this post today?  Thank you so much - each bit helps. 

♥♥♥♥♥

A Card and FREE Cutting File:

I built this card quite some time ago and now I finally have a chance to post it.  I don’t know the details on the supplies and stamps I used here.

But this little “shelf” and is included in my download.

and these quaint children silhouettes which I traced from a vintage book.  I hope you enjoy! (PS - I’d ♥ to see how you use these files, would you consider sending me a link to your creation and I’ll share from my blog too?)

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Seize the Birthday - Tag! (and a FREE file for you)

 

I don’t think I can ever remember not blogging for an entire month!  How I’ve missed it - missed YOU visiting!   In case you don’t already know I have been on a very sad journey as my Father in Law passed away suddenly - so I took time out to be with my family.  He was a wonderful man - the sort you think “he’s like the PERFECT role model I’d choose to be a father figure in my life”. 

It has been a very beautiful journey.  I’ve drawn closer to the women in my family and also those surrounding my family - friends.  Women stick together.  We need each other.  Our family is blessed to have a network of incredible, beautiful, strong and lovely women who step in when life tosses us a curve. 

 

 

Women, who in our time of sadness, brought us food - and hugged us, feeding our bodies and souls.  Who offered us whatever support they could.  Who included me into their daily walks and made me feel like an “old friend” already.

And my amazing family of women, each in their own way a true treasure.  I feel I can never thank them enough for what they’ve done for me.  For my Mother in Law who is such a strong and independent example to me.  She is a tower of strength. My Sister in Law, Aunts, cousins and nieces.  Each one shone in a special way to me during this trial.  I am at total peace knowing my Mom is surrounded by a terrific community of caring women.

And now I’m home again.  I feel like a completely different person and its taken me a while to get back to a place of feeling creative.  I took a challenge with my sister Nina last night…

TAG - You’re It!

Though we are given the option to make a “plain old” Birthday Card, I opted to make a tag one:

FREE tag download

for your Silhouette cutting machine

I used paper from the Light Bright 6 x 6 inch pad from Colorbok.

I also accented with a GellyRoll Clear Star pen around the hearts and added some gems for the final touch.

 

Today’s 1 small thing is a picture of these beautiful spring flowers and a small poem to bring you peace, no matter what worries may be preying on your mind:

 

It may never happen…

How often have you tried

To set tomorrow’s pattern

With today as a guide?

 

How often have you panicked,

Dreading things to come,

Worried, and regretted

The things you may have done?

 

Yet, it may never happen,

So, why fret in vain,

Why cloud tomorrow’s sunshine

With un-promised rain?

by Anne Kreer

 

Technorati Tags: Mrs Miles,Mrs Miles Freebie,Mrs Miles Osoyoos,Osoyoos BC,Barbara Derksen,Free Silhouette cutting file

FREE .studio (Silhouette) File Hinged Easter Egg!

A friend of mine asked me to make her a couple of Easter cards and I decided to get original and design something myself.  I’m really EGG-cited about this file, it turned out so sweet!

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(personal use)

(I’m trying BOX for my files - let me know what you think?)

I used some sewing on this card, though I’m sure glue might work fine too.  I like the special touch sewing adds.  (besides, its good for me to keep up my sewing skills so I don’t sew over my finger again)  You need to decide and sew your lace parts on BEFORE you sew the bottom section or the top section together. 

This is a fun 3 part project.  A simple card base (definately does not have to be white - a coloured cardstock might be the ticket for YOU!) and then the actual EGG parts (no, not a white and a yolk, tho that is a funny thought) - actually four pieces, two for the top, two for the bottom with holes in the top part through which you can put a brad (I used a rather large dollar store brad, you might want to make your own holes smaller if you want to use a smaller brad - or even remove the holes out of the file and use a punch the size you desire)  and lastly, the inside “egg is a sketch file with a cut for the edge (you will have to set your machine to do this, i’ve created all the lines the same) I chose my designer paper to be one that is one sided, of a crisp stock.  The reason for one sided is so you sketch the sentiment on one side.  A nice touch is all I’m saying.  I’m all about the details.

Note - the butterflies are included - but not the flowers - the flower is from the Silhouette Store. 

Use a couple of glue dots to adhere your “EGG” to the card base but do mention this in your greeting to the person receiving it - they may like the option of taking it off of the card base and sticking it…on the fridge?

 

 

I liked it so much I created a “batch” of these sweet little cards.

Technorati Tags: Free Silhouette Cutting file,Free .studio Cut,Free Silhouette File,Silhouette Freebies,Easter,Easter Egg,Easter Card,Easter Egg Card,Handmade Cards,Mrs Miles,Barb Derksen,Barbara Derksen,Mrs Miles Freebies,Osoyoos,Osoyoos BC,Okanagan,South Okanagan