Congratulatte Sequined Card

Popping in quickly to post as my handsome and talented Mr is cooking a huge Indian Feast for guests today and I’m in charge of table decorating and flatting the tandoori bread.  I’ve got my Sari (gift from my dear friend Kuljeet) at the ready – its so beautiful!  With no further ado, here’s my post:

I’m fuelled by dark and light, meaning good strong caffeine and nice bright sunshine too – so making any card along these themes excites me much.  I was happy to jump in on this week’s Inkspirational #155 Photo Challenge – COFFEE!

Yup, even though thought of a dark roast first thing in the morning puts butterflies in my tummy!  Haha! 

I used a lot of white on my card to allow the graphic and sentiment to be the focus.  I used a Stampin’ Up stamp for the focus, embossing it in a Gold Tinsel.  The sentiment is also Stampin’ Up.  I employed some Simon says Dies for the windows. I embossed the forefront window panel with a We R Memory Keepers embossing folder.  I finished off with various sequins, including Pretty Pink Posh.

Layered Pink & Brown Birthday

My photo is a little darker than usual because I couldn’t get the proper lighting I was hoping for.  I am making this for Freshly Made Sketches #325

I took liberties with how I interpreted by making my sentiment and shape as one, but adding some small floral diecuts as a small complimentary shape.  I married K & C Company DP with basic brown cardstock, cutting opposites using some die cuts and just cutting other layers on the slicer.  I kept rotating bits all the way.  I used a birthday sentiment from Your Next Stamp  with versamark and finished off with a strip of florals diecut from Sizzix.  The final touch were three tiny gems.

Technorati Tags: freshly Made Sketches,Barb Derksen,Barbara Derksen,Mrs Miles,Osoyoos,Osoyoos BC,Okanagan,Sizzix,Your Next Stamp,K & C Company

Be Brave Enough card

I’m really managing to get a few card makings tucked in between work and chores this week – makes me super happy.  I’m building this card on the theme of this week’s CAS(e) this Sketch #260

I used a DP from Studio Calico – “Wanderlust”, Sentiment Forever in Time and the tiny puffy sticker by We R Memory makers “High Five”.  I’ve also used an embossing folder by Darice and some rectangular die cuts by Simon Says 

It is a FABLUOUS sunny day outside but I’m choosing to stay inside to make cards as the creative feeling is upon me.  Do you think I made the right choice today? 

Technorati Tags: CASe this Sketch,Barb Derksen,Barbara Derksen,Mrs Miles,Osoyoos,Osoyoos BC,Handmade Card,Homemade card,Simon Says,Simon Says Stamp,We R Memory Makers,Studio Calico

A Gentle Card – no sentiment

Its not often I make a card without a sentiment on the outside, but I found it refreshing.  Sometimes saying nothing says a lot of things!

Following the cue of this week’s Tuesday Throwdown Sketch Challenge #380 – I used a scrap of pretty DP from an earlier project (so earlier I don’t remember which it was – I must remember to pencil in the info on the back of the paper before storing…)  I layered this up several times and I used this lovely stamped image by Stampin’ Up and coloured it in with soft hues which compliment the DP using my Tombow Markers. 

Our lake is finally frozen over all the way to the other side of the lake (as far as I can see, at any rate) and the conditions were perfect this morning so I bundleed up in several layers and headed for the shore. 

Even a small feather becomes ‘fethered’ with ice crystals

This one makes me think of a fried egg!

Thanks for stopping in today – I hope you’re finding some magic in the little things, wherevery you are. 

Technorati Tags: Tuesday Throwdown Sketch Challenge,Tuesday Challenge,Barb Derksen,Barbara Derksen,Mrs Miles,Osoyoos,Osoyoos Lake,Osoyoos Ice,Ice,Okanagan Ice,Stampin' Up,Tombow

Monochrome Masculine Birthday Card

Another challenge I’ve never taken before!  Gotta love this – Hand Stamped Sentiments Sketch Challenge #283:

I chose this backdrop of grey cardstock embossed – (can’t recall the name of the folder) – and then layered it up.  The vertical panel is a scrap of DP.  I stamped this birthday wish from an ART-c which I die cut, then layered it atop of coordinating grey and black to frame it.  I seated a bit of black ribbon between the two!  I finished up with various sized sequins, some of them from Pretty Pink Posh 

Technorati Tags: Mrs Miles,Barb Derksen,Barbara Derksen,Handmade Card,Pretty Pink Posh,Hand Stamped Sentiments Sketch Challenge,Card Challenge,Osoyoos,Osoyoos BC,Okanagan

Thinking of You floral card

I’m always happy to join in a new challenge and so  I was taken with The Library Challenge today.  I really liked the following inspiration photo/sketch:

My SIL  Judy joined in crafting with me from afar. 

I have a good collection of floral paper which I love to rumage through.  I found my Designer Paper from Basic Grey – this one called Curio.  It had both the blooms, some faux lace and some writing on it so I let the paper do a lot of the work.  I stamped a Hero Arts Sentiment onto some vellum.  I added on another strip of die cut vellum and then glued a thin bit of real lace atop this.  Next I painted a bit of glue onto the rose and added some Fairy Dust glitter on the edges of petals. Lastly I added a black base behind my card and bumped it all up with foam tape. 

So far this year we have escaped much of the cold temperatures and snow which has hit everywhere else so I have no reason to squeek about it being below freezing with a biting wind today. I was not going to let this stop me from going out for a walk though.  I dug out snowpants and my warmest of warm layers and mummyed myself up and topped it all off with a fluffy soft grey sequined scarft.  I imagine I looked quite the sight as I was going about.  I was nice and toasty though and thats whats important.  I took this photo at the lake’s edge.  I love how deep blue the water gets in winter.  Do YOU still get out in the cold for walks?

I also would like to give a Thank You shoult out to Pop Card Press for sending me this LOVE-ly card I won through a contest!  I will save it and savour it on my mantle for a while and then send it to someone to brighten up their day.  I enjoyed seeing all their beautiful cards online! 

Technorati Tags: The Library Challenge,Pop Card Press,Barb Dersken,Barbara Derksen,Mrs Miles,Basic Grey,Hero Arts

Catch a Wave Card

Sometimes I make a card for the sheer fun of it, and this is one.  Because, I really have nobody in mind at the moment who this could make sense to.  I mean I do know people who live near the ocean and even some who are going on vacations near oceans but I won’t be there with them so they can’t catch a wave “with me”  but I’m sure one day this card will find its way to the perfect person at the ideal time. Do YOU ever make a “just because you’re inspired” card?  At any rate, I was inspired to take this week’s Tuesday Morning Sketches (joined by Nina and Judy who are family who create with me)  Only, I’m more than a few days after the Tuesday we created together.  This week’s sketch looked like this:

I Used Designer Paper from the “Coastal” premium stack by DCWV, Stamps and Die Cuts by Sizzix, Sequins by Pretty Pink Posh and Simon Says and the cool silvery Sea Horse from K & C Company. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Technorati Tags: Tuesday Morning Sketches,Simon Says Stamp,Simon Says,Pretty Pink Posh,DCWV,Barb Derksen,Barbara Derksen,Osoyoos,Osoyoos BC,Okanagan,Craft,Card Making,Handmade Card

Sending Love Card

Loved this simple and clean sketch from Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #249 this week:

I used a patterned embossing folder for the backdrop.  I used Peachy Cheap die cuts for the hearts, a sentiment from Hero Arts and embellished with some totally tiny and shiny tinsel (thread)  Sometimes lots of clean white realty allows all the small details to do the rest of the work.  My sister in law Judy  is playing along today too – love that even though we never seem to fit a visit in these days we still manage to create long distance.  Do YOU have someone you enjoy crafting with? 

It seems this winter is stretching on and on, though we can’t really complain much.  So many folk have it worse than us here in the Okanagan. We get a mixed bag of weather, sun, cloud, rain, snow, rain, snow and then start all over again.  I’d rather have the small variety than all rain or all snow.  All the more reason in inclement weather to stay snuggled indoors and craft and celebrate stuff.  For example, my sweet Mr and I rejoiced in another “forever” anniversary (we don’t count the years, we prefer to enjoy the quality of our bond much more than the milestones)  He made me a most sumptuous shrimp, cheese, tomato, pesto, pasta and shrimp dish baked in French Onion Soup bowls and served with crusty Ciabatta, second to none, from our local Village Bakery here in Osoyoos.  I’m using today to play catch up and I feel so ready for the week.  Hope you have a truly inpsired one!

Technorati Tags: Osoyoos,Okanagan,Mrs Miles,Barb Derksen,Barbara Derksen,Hero Arts,Atlantic Hearts Stamp Challenge

Eat Cake! Card

I owe out SO many birthday cards its kinda scary!  Lol – by the time some arrive at the Birthday-ee’s they will have been more appropriate had I made them “Belated”  Anyways, I fashioned my card after this week’s Atalantic Hearts Sketch #248 challenge:

I lucked out that my SIL Judy also found some time to make a card too – its always more fun knowing someone else is being creative beside me (though from afar, in their own space) 

I used a patterned paper from a Heidi Swapp 6x6 paper pad – September Skies.  I used some fussy cut images from a Forever in Time paper.  I used an embossing folder for the white backdrop cardstock and used various die cuts from Simon Says - Pass the Cake sentiment stamp from Hampton Arts and finished things up with some glitzy sequins from Pretty Pink Posh. 

THE SUN WAS OUT TODAY!  Thanks for dropping by. 

Technorati Tags: Atlantic Hearts Stamp Challenge,Heidi Swapp,Simon Says,Simon Says Stamp,Barb Derksen,Barbara Derksen,Mrs Miles,Osoyoos,Okanagan,Osoyoos BC Hampton Art

LOVE-ly Anniversary Card

Oh it feels SO good to be back home and in my creative space. My very first project was to create an anniversary card for my Mr (who rarely, obviously, checks my blog…) (shhhh!)  So I decided to find a card challenge to inspire me.  I was drawn to The Sketch File:

I used a pretty heart die cut which I bought from Peachy Cheap, a bit of glittery romantic red sparkle cardstock, a round die-cut from Simon Says, a sentiment stamp from Forever in Time and some We R Memory Keepers 6 x 6 patterned paper.  Sprinkled around a few sequins from Pretty PInk Posh and there you have it. 

HOPING to get a few more days in my craft area before life whisks me off again …

Technorati Tags: The Sketch File,Mrs Miles,Barb Derksen,Barbara Derksen,Osoyoos,Osoyoos BC,Pretty Pink Posh,Simon Says