Season of Thanks

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with The Charmed Life Blog today. 

It was a beautiful Fall Day here in Pittsburgh with lots of sunshine. My hubby is slowly taking out his vegetable and flower gardens. He took out all of the sunflowers and marigolds. He still has all of his dahlias but a few more nights with frost and they will be done for this year. 

Today he picked the last of his banana peppers and took out the plants. He isn't giving up on the tomato plants yet. Although I am over all of it (LOL)!!! 

The basil is just about done and today I cut a bunch of it and made some pesto. I don't add the cheese so I can freeze it. I use basil, garlic and pistachios. The garlic is also from my hubby's garden.  

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for the color challenge #1069 on Splitcoaststampers. The trio of colors were pretty peacock, wild wheat and lost lagoon. Optional is anything goes. I chose ribbon for the option.

lost lagoon, wild wheat, pretty peacock

I created a double Z-fold Thanksgiving card. I have had this designer paper for a long time (since 2019) and have wanted to use it for a Fall or Thanksgiving card, and I finally did it.  It's from the Stampin' Up "Come to Gather" collection. The measurements for the fun fold I found on Julie's Stampin Spot.

The designer paper is the star of the show on this card. I cut a label for my sentiment added some ribbon and wild wheat glossy dots. The sentiment is from the Stampin' Up set "Season of Thanks". The pumpkin image is fussy cut from the designer paper.

On the inside panel I stamped wheat using wild wheat ink. I stamped off once to get a lighter image.
This sentiment is from The Ton Stamps. The "Round Pumpkins" set.

Well, that's it for me for this post. So, until next time.....God bless.

Card Details: 

Stamps: Gather Together (Stampin' Up), Round Pumpkins (The Ton)

Paper: pretty peacock, lost lagoon, basic white, come to gather dsp (Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: Pretty Peacock, Wild Wheat (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: Stitched Nested Label dies, wild wheat glossy dots, pretty peacock ribbon (Stampin' Up)

Techniques: Double Z Fold

I am also entering:

1.  A Place to Start Challenge is ATG + option of pumpkin it up for pumpkins. 

2.  Aud Sentiments is Fall/Thanksgiving or Ink Blending + a sentiment. 

3.  Neglected Stuff Challenge is ATG . I used dsp from 2019.

4.  Sisterhood of Crafters has a Fall challenge. 

5.  Creative Creases is ATG with a fun fold. 

Happy Fall

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with The Charmed Life Blog today. 

My day started off with church. I was supposed to teach Sunday School today but none of the kids were there.  My Hubby & I have the K-2nd grade class. We only have 5 kids, and I know that 3 of them were sick. I have my lesson and craft all prepared so I will just take next week's class.  

Then after lunch the rain started. It was just one of those days when I just lounged around, watched TV a little, scoured the internet and now I am posting on my Blog. I made Beef Barley soup yesterday in the crockpot so that's what we had for dinner. I like to make it a day before we are going to eat it to let the flavors blend. It turned out delicious. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I made using the colors from the Splitcoaststampers color challenge #1069. Our colors were pretty peacock, wild wheat and lost lagoon for the color trio. Optional was anything goes. I chose designer paper on this card.

Lost Lagoon, Wild Wheat, Pretty Peacock

For my card I used designer paper from Divinity Designs.  It's their Scarecrow Season collection and it's all about scarecrows. I thought the paper had this week's colors in it.

I cut the image with a square die and layered the image onto pretty peacock cardstock. That is also my card base color. The designer paper is from the Stampin' Up "Come to Gather" collection. I cut a strip of pretty peach and lost lagoon cardstock and layered it across middle of the designer paper. 

The Happy Fall words are a die from CottageCutz and they are cut in wild wheat cardstock. Added a couple of wild wheat enamel dots to complete my card. 

Well, that's it for me for this post. So until next time......God bless.

Card Details:

Paper: pretty peacock, lost lagoon, basic white, wild wheat, come to gather dsp (Stampin' Up), scarecrow season designer paper (Divinity Designs) Paper Size: A2 Accessories: Fall Scarecrow die for words (CottageCutz), in-color enamel dots

 I am also entering:

1.  The Crafting Challenge has an Autumn/Halloween challenge.

2.  The Four Seasons Challenge has an anything Fall goes challenge.

3.  We Love Stamping has an anything goes w/a Fall theme challenge. 

4.  Love Those Pretty Papers Challenge is anything goes using patterned paper.   

5.  Cut It Up Challenge is to use a die cut and add embellishments.

Paper Pumpkin Birthday

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with The Charmed Life Blog today. 

I was online checking out the Windows 10 ending and decided to hop over to my Blog and create another post. That's 3 days in a row for me. I have lots of cards to show and I intend to stay very active on my Blog. 

But speaking of the end of Windows 10. After some research I discovered that Microsoft is offering extended security updates for Windows 10 through October 2026. I enrolled in it. They will provide security updates only and that was good enough for me. 

I wasn't ready to add Windows 11 to my Desktop computer since I have a laptop with Windows 11. I mainly use the desktop for my Blog and financial banking. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created using the colors from the Splitcoaststampers color challenge #1071. I was the hostess and my color choices were Pretty in Pink, Bubble Bath and Mossy Meadow. Optional was gold dots or sequins.

pretty in pink, bubble bath, mossy meadow

For my card I used the contents of the Stampin' Up Dec 2024 Paper Pumpkin Kit - "Notes from the Heart" and created an alternative design from what the kit called for. With these Kits from Stampin' Up you get everything you need to create cards. Sometimes I make the kits according to directions and other times I will use the contents and create an alternative design. 

I started my card by stamping a background. I used 3 different Stampin' Up sets and stamped on white cardstock. I just realized that I have no bubble bath ink, so I substituted pink pirouette. The stamped background is layered on a bubble bath cardstock base.

The pretty in pink floral image is from the Kit as are the vellum leaves.

I stamped the happy birthday sentiment on one of the labels from the Kit. I embossed a piece of bubble bath cardstock and added it under the label.

I added a gold cord bow and gold dots from the Kit. Well, that's it for me for this post. So, until next time.......God bless. 

Card Details:

Stamps: Notes from the Heart, Lovely Lavender, Full of Charm (Paper Pumpkin Kits), Artisian Textures (Stampin' Up)

Paper: bubble bath, white (Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: pink pirouette (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: Notes from the Heart Paper Pumpkin Kit Dec 2024), Greenery Embossing Folder (Stampin' Up)

Techniques: dry embossing

I am also entering:

1.  Addicted to Stamps and More has a birthday challenge.

2.  PIP challenge #2451 is anything goes. 

3.  Crafts Galore Encore Challenge is anything goes.

4.  Creatalicious Challenge is anything goes.  

5.  The Creative Crafters has an anything goes challenge. 

  

Flower Seeds

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with The Charmed Life Blog today.

I mentioned yesterday that I would be back with regular updates and posts on my Blog. And here I am with another card a day later. I was creating all the time that I was absent from my Blog but my hubby's garden harvest had me busy with kitchen duties. That's come to an end for another year. Today I roasted my last batch of tomatoes. They are pureed and in the freezer for wintertime enjoyment.

This card I made for the color challenge on Splitcoaststampers. We were to use early espresso, crumb cake (kraft) and pool party for our color trio. Optional this week is a 4th color.

crumb cake, pool party, early espresso

I used the contents of the "May Good Things Grow" Paper Pumpkin Kit.  It's an older Kit from Stampin' Up from March 2018. It had two of this week's colors- early espresso and crumb cake.

I took one of the envelopes and cut it to use as designer paper. The roses are powder pink so that's my 4th color. The leaves are mossy meadow (neutral). I layered that on early espresso cardstock and the card base is powder pink.

To get the pool party color I added a few glossy enamel dots. Not sure about the dots but my hubby said he liked them. Oh well they are on the card now. I am going to give this one to my neighbor who is celebrating an October birthday. She is an avid gardener and I think the card is perfect for her.

Well, that's it for me for this post. So until next time......God bless.  

Card Details:

Paper: Powder Pink, Early Espresso (Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: A2

Accessories: Paper Pumpkin Kit March 2018, Glossy Enamel Dots (Stampin' Up)

I am also entering:

1.  Lil Patch of Crafty Friends has an anything goes challenge. 

2.  Love Those Pretty Papers Challenge is anything goes with patterned paper.

3.  Polkadoodles has an anything goes challenge. 

4.  Creative Fingers has an anything goes challenge. 

5.  Creative Inspirations Challenge is anything goes.  

Sending Oceans of Love

Hello Blogger Friends! Wow long time no posts from this Blogger. 

It's not that I haven't been creating it's just that my hubby's garden and his harvest is like the Energizer Bunny. It just doesn't quit (LOL)!!! I have been canning tomatoes, making pesto and freezing it and roasting tomatoes and freezing them. the canning process is labor intensive and keeps me from doing other things. Like posting on my Blog. 

I have one last batch of tomatoes to roast and freeze and then it's over for me. Our freezers are full to the brim. So, we will give what's still growing away for others to enjoy. 

Now onto this card I created in August for my sister-in-law's birthday. It was in September, and she had just come back from a beach vacation so it was perfect for her. 

I used the colors from the Splitcoaststampers color challenge. Our colors were melon mambo, daffodil delight and pumpkin pie for her color trio. Option al was a summer theme. 

daffodil delight, melon mambo, pumpkin pie

I used the contents of the Stampin' Up Paper Pumpkin kit from July 2023 to create a summer scene. The kit was designed for fun fold step-cards but I chose to make it a flat card. I had this card saved on Pinterest. I changed the colors, sentiment and added starfish to make it my own.

The water scene featuring the boat and sky is designer paper from the kit. The beach and palm trees are dies from the kit. For the water I sponged it with night of navy ink (an allowed neutral).

I added the dies to a melon mambo background and then the card base is basic white.

Stamped my sentiment in pumpkin pie ink and added a few starfish that I cut from a CottageCutz die. And that finished off my card.

Well, that's it for me for this post. So, until next time......God bless. I promise it won't be another month till I post. 

Card Details:

Stamps: Mermazing (MFT)

Paper: basic white, melon, mambo. pumpkin pie )Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: night of navy, pumpkin pie (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: Fun in the Sun Paper Pumpkin Kit (July 2023), Starfish die (CottageCutz)

I am also entering:

1.  A Cut Above has an anything goes challenge using a die cut. 

2.  Neglected Stuff challenge is anything goes. I used a Paper Pumpkin Kit from July 2023. 

3.  Crafts Galore Encore is anything goes. 

4.  Die Cut Divas has an anything goes challenge using a die cut. 

5.  Girlz Creative Fun Art of Scrap is anything goes using designer paper. 

Floral Charm

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop for a visit at The Charmed Life Blog. 

We are starting the 2nd week of September and the only thing that's changing is the length of our days. It's getting dark before 8:00 p.m. I always like the long days of summer but you an't hold onto thme forever!

I have still been busy working with the harvest from my hubby's garden. I canned 12 jars of tomato sauce last week. I did buy a tool that is going to make the process a bit easier now. Its a food strainer and removes the skin and seeds for you. I used it once last week and I am amazed at how quickly it does the work. I bought the VKP 250 model, and it works like a charm.

Now onto my card fortoday. This one I created for the color challenge #1066. I was the hostess, and I chose pretty peacock, timid tiger and early espresso for the color trio. Optional was designer paper. 

The paper can include colors that are not in the trio.

pretty peacock, timid tiger, early espresso

For my card I used the Stampin' Up June 2025 Paper Pumpkin kit. It has the colors I chose for the challenge this week.

I made a Z-fold card and used some of the kit contents but not the directions they gave. I started with a pretty peacock card base.

I embossed 2 pieces of pretty peacock cardstock and added them to the front and inside panels.

I cut apart one of the envelopes in the kit and used that on the card front. I also used part of the envelope on the card inside.

The die cut flower is part of the kit. To finish off my card, I added some timid tiger circles as accents.

Well that's it for me for this post. So until next time .....God bless.

Card Details:

Stamps: Full of Charm (June 2025 Paper Pumpkin)

Paper: pretty peacock, timid tiger (Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: A2

Accessories: Full of Charm Paper Pumpkin Kit (June 2025), Dot Die (CottageCutz), Snow Flowers EF (Sizzix)

I am also entering:

1.  The Crafter's Cafe has an anything goes w/option of patterned paper. 

2.  Daisy Chain Challenges has a more than 1-fold challenge. 

3.  Allsorts Challenge is birthdays or anything goes. 

4.  Creative Creases is anything goes with a fun fold.

5.  Krafty Chicks has a birthday challenge.  

Birdhouse on Vine

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with The Charmed Life Blog today. 

We are into September already. I feel as though the summer months just flew by. The weather here is still summer like. Lots of sun which is good for my hubby's tomatoes. His garden did amazingly well this year in spite of the early non-stop rain and now a drought of sorts has settled in. But he is out there every day tending to his gardens and his hard work is paying off. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for a color challenge on Splitcoaststampers. We were to use boho blue, crushed curry and pebbled path for the color trio. Optional was to add a bird.

pebbled path, boho blue, crushed curry

For my card I used the Birdhouse w/Vine die from CottageCutz and cut it in the challenge colors. The vine is cut in mossy meadow (neutral). 

The background designer paper is from the Stampin' Up "beauty of the earth" collection. It looked like a sky to me, so I didn't have to create one.

I added a white frame to the background designer paper. Stamped my sentiment. That's from the March 2024 PP Kit from Stampin' Up. Added a few birds and some pebbled path enamel dots to complete my card.

Well, that's it for me for this post. So, until next time......God bless. 

Card Details:

Stamps: memorable meadows (Stampin' Up PP March 2024)

Paper: boho blue, crushed curry, pebbled path, mossy meadow, beauty of the earth dsp), basic white (Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: pebbled path (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: Birdhouse w/Vine die, Pierced Wide Rectangle die (CottageCutz), in-color enamel dots (Stampin' Up)

I am also entering:

1.  The Crafter's Cafe Challenge has an anything goes w/option of designer paper. 

2.  Girlz Creative Fun Art of Scrap has an AG challenge using designer paper. 

3.  Love to Craft has an anything goes challenge. 

4.  Paper Rocks Scissors challenge is AG using paper and/or scissors. My card is all paper. 

5.  The Crafting Challenge has a "wonderful thought" challenge. 

Daisy Birthday Wishes

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with The Charmed Life Blog today. 

It's been some time since I have posted on my Blog. The month of August was a busy month for me. My hubby's garden harvest is coming in and I have been spending my days in the kitchen processing tomatoes for caning. I also roasted a bunch of tomatoes and froze those. And his banana peppers seem to be on overdrive (lol)!! But I am stuffing those and have my fridge freezer full of them. We have some friends and family that love my stuffed banana peppers, so I have taken care of them as well. 

I will be grateful when the winter months roll around and we can enjoy some summer goodness, but it definitely is a lot of work. 

Then my sister lost her husband, and I have been trying to spend as much time with her as I can.  Walking through grief is never easy. They were high school sweethearts and married for 50 years. But she is taking one day at a time and her son and daughter are by her side as well. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for a color challenge on Splitcoaststampers. Our color trio was fresh freesia, pumpkin and melon mambo. Optional was to use your favorite green. I like all of the Stampin' Up greens but for this card I chose granny apple green.

For my birthday card, I used the Stitched Daisy die from CottageCutz. I cut the daisies and pot in the challenge colors.

I cut an arch in the white embossed background using a Spellbinders die. The embossing is done with an old Cuttlebug folder. The die cut birthday is a die from Scrapbook & Cards. 

Stamped my sentiment and that is from a Spellbinders set. I added a few sequins to complete my card.

Well, that's it for me for this post. So, until next time......God bless. 

Card Details:

Stamps: Parcel & Post Sentiments (Spellbinders)

Paper: melon mambo, feresh freesia, pumpkin pie, granny apple green, basic white (Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: melon mambo (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: Stitched Daisies and Tulips die (CottageCutz), Birthday die (Scrapbook and Cards), Purple Sequins (Stampin' Up), Scrollworks Ef (Cuttlebug)

Techniques: dry embossing

I am also entering:

1.  Beautiful Blossoms Challenge is anything goes with flowers.

2.  A Cut Above is anything goes with a die cut.  

3.  Allsorts has a birthday challenge. 

4.  Can You Handle the Pressure has an ag challenge using an embossing folder. 

5.  Lil Patch of Crafty Friends has an anything goes challenge. 

Daisy Daydream Birthday

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for takin the time to stop and visit with The Charmed Life Blog today.

Hope all is well in your neck of the woods. 

We just came back from a wonderful beach vacation in Surfside Beach, South Carolina just south of Myrtle Beach. It was a great family time, and the weather was sunny and hot. Just what you want for a beach vacation. 

We came back to a garden of vegetables that were ready to have something done to them. I stuffed banana peppers and froze them for wintertime enjoyment. I also made pesto with our basil that is doing wonderfully this year. Our tomatoes are a little late this year because of all the rain we have had. So, no roasting and canning going on with them yet. 

Now I am back on the Blog with a fun fold card. This one I created with the Stampin' Up Paper Pumpkin Kit from April 2025. It's the Daisy Daydream Kit. 

I made this accordion arched fun fold using the Daisy Daydream PP kit. Saw this alternate idea on Tami White's Blog. Changed it up a bit by adding more sentiments, bees and enamel dots to make it my own. 

The First panel is a card base from the kit that I cut using an arch die. The middle and end panel has more designer paper from the kit. I just cut them in the arch shape. 

I added my happy birthday sentiment using a banner from the kit. Finished off my card with die cut bees from the kit and enamel dots from my stash. 

I really like how it turned out and it folds flat for mailing. The photo below shows what it looks like when it's folded.  

I will give this to my friend for her September birthday. Well, that's it for me for this post so until next time.......God bless. 

I am also entering:

1.  A Cut Above is anything goes with a die cut. 

2.  Beautiful Blossoms Challenge is anything goes with a floral image. 

3.  Lil Patch of Crafty Friends is anything goes. 

4.  Love Those Pretty Papers challenge is anything goes. Optional is a summertime theme. 

5.  Creative Creases Challenge #106 is anything goes with a fun fold/