Happy New Year

Hello Blogger Friends. Happy New Year. Hope your holiday celebrations were fun and crafty! 

We stayed home on New Years Eve and Day. Then Friday we had 5 couples over for dinner. That was a great night. Yesterday we celebrated Christmas with our extended family. My brother hosts at his home. It's set up perfectly for a large gathering of 50 people. We all bring a dish to share so there is plenty of food. 

Then this morning I got up to get ready for church and our power went out. It was widespread over the community I live in. My bathroom has no windows, but I was able to shower in the dark. I thought that it might be something short lived but it wasn't so I watched our church service online. I really don't like doing that but, in this case, it worked out. 

They restored power after several hours. It turns out that a car slammed into a pole and cause power lines to come down and then further down the road it caused power lines to explode and fall to the ground. Crazy start of a Sunday morning for sure.

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for the color challenge on Splitcoaststampers. I was the hostess and I chose Night of Navy, Basic White and Silver for the color trio. Optional was to make a New Year's card or Something New.

Basic white, Silver, Night of Navy

I send a New Year's card to a friend who spends December in her home state with her family. So a New Years card is waiting for her when she returns home.

I used the Stampin' Up "feels like frost" designer paper for the background. Layered with night of navy and a silver metallic cardstock. Cut my greeting in night of navy cardstock using a die from Impression Obsession to complete my card.

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

Card Details:

Paper: Night of Navy, Feels Like Frost DSP (Stampin' Up), Metallic Luster (Bazzill)

Paper Size: A2

Accessories: Happy New Year die (Impression Obsession)

I am also entering:

1.  Crafts Galore Encore has an anything goes challenge.

2.  Creative Crafting Uncles has a New Year's challenge.   

3.  Four Seasons Challenge is Winter  

4.  LTCCB #90 is anything goes. 

5.  Paper Rock Scissors has an anything goes challenge- I used paper. 

Christmas Cards 2025 (Final)

Hello Blogger Friends and Happy New Year! Hope you had a wonderful Christmas and New Year holiday. 

My Christmas was a wonderful family time. For New Years Eve and New Years Day we spent at home. I have friends coming for another Christmas get together tomorrow evening. It's a group of 12 and I wanted to keep it on the easy side for me since it's a dinner get together.

So, I decided to start with appetizers- charcuterie board, a cheese ball and mini meatballs with a cranberry barbecue glaze. Then for dinner I will make a salad, stuffed banana peppers and we will order pizza. The banana peppers are in my freezer, and they are from my hubby's summer garden. I am looking forward to it. 

Now onto my cards for this post. It is the last of my Christmas cards. This one was made using the Stampin' Up Paper Pumpkin Kit "Wrapped in Cheer".  The kit was designed to make tags and small gift boxes, but I changed it up to make cards. I used a 3D embossing folder from Spellbinders to add some interest. The wreath, bow and banner are part of the kit. I cut the Joy phrase from a die in my stash. 

This card was made using the green tag and greenery from the kit. I embossed the background, cut a banner with designer paper, die cut the Merry phrase and red bow, stamped and heat embossed the Christmas sentiment. 

This card was also made with the contents from the Wrapped in Cheer kit.  The tag, banner and bow are part of the kit. I angled the elements for a bit of interest. Again the layered panel is embossed using a Stampin' Up folder. The gingham panel is cut from a box that was in the kit. Behind that layer I added some designer paper. 

This last card was made using some of the contents of the Stampin' Up Joy to the World Paper Pumpkin Kit. This one is an older one from October 2020. I had a few embellishments left and decided to create a Z-fold style card. The floral images, white square and banner are part of the kit. The gold designer paper is from my stash. 

This photo shows the card standing up.

The photo below shows the card inside. I cut the peace, love, joy phrases and dove from a die in my stash.

I stamped my sentiments with the stamp set that was in the kit. I had one floral image left and added it here. 

Well, that's it for me for this post. I hope you have enjoyed the cards I showed today. So until next time......God bless. 

I am also entering:

1.  Little Red Wagon has a use some force challenge. 

2.  Sisterhood of Crafters has a Christmas challenge. 

3.  C.R.A.F.T. Challenge has an anything goes Christmas. 

Cozy Christmas Paper Pumpkin Kit (2)

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with The Charmed Life Blog this 30th day of December. As I mentioned in my post yesterday, I still have Christmas cards to show from my 2025 collection. I mailed them all and everyone got them on time.   

I made 35 cards this year and still sent out some boxed cards. My plan for 2026 is to make Christmas cards all year long so I am not working feverishly in December to get them done. Hopefully my plan unfolds. 

Now for my cards for today. These both are from the Stampin' Up Cozy Christmas Paper Pumpkin Kit. I made these 2 according to the Kit instructions with just a slight variation. Yesterday's post showed some alternate designs using the kit. See that post here. 

The Kits have all you need to create your cards. I particularly liked this one because the tree is a green flocking. I die cut the Christmas phrase and shadow to step it up a bit. 

This card uses the ornament image from the set and again the green embellishments are flocked. My variation here was to stamp the sentiment directly on the card and arrange the sequins in a different pattern. 

This card is also from the Kit and I did change it up from the directions they supplied. I cut one of the envelopes and added it to the top of the card base. The Joy phrase was a kit element. 

Well, that's it for me for this post. Stop by again tomorrow and check out the last of my 2025 cards. So, until next time ......God bless. 

I am also entering:

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

2.  A Place to Start has an anything goes w/option of winter things. I have a Christmas tree. 

Cozy Christmas Paper Pumpkin Cards

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

It's almost a wrap for 2025 but I still have some Christmas cards I wanted to show here on my Blog. These 2 cards I made using the Stampin' Up Paper Pumpkin Kit "Cozy Christmas". I love these kits because they include all the supplies you need to create 9 Christmas cards.  And when it's December and crunch time to get cards in the mail these kits come in handy. 

This fun fold card is called a "diagonal joy fold. The kit has you making CAS cards but I like to step them up a bit. I saw this design on Facebook and it was designed by Lauree Alexander. I changed it up a bit to make it my own. 

I cut the envelope to use for designer paper on the inside. I also cut one of the card bases to use on the right diagonal. This photo shows how the card opens. You lift the image flap then open the diagonal portion of the card. 

This photo shows the greeting I stamped inside the image flap section. 

This next card is the same fun fold design using the Kit. I die cut the Joy sentiment and added some sequins to the front panel. Again, I cut the envelopes and card base to use as designer paper. 

I changed the flap on this one to open horizontally from the right side. 

On the inside of this one I stamped a few stars and a different greeting. 

Well, that's it for this post. I have a few more Christmas cards to show and I will do that in the next 2 days. So, stop by again tomorrow for more eye candy.

I am also entering:

1.  We Love Stamping has a Red & Green Challenge.

2.  Creative Creases has an anything goes with a fun fold. 

3.  Cut It Up has an anything goes with a die cut. 

More Whimsy Snowman Card Front Cards

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit on Day 11 of my Christmas Cards for 2025. 

Well, I finished all the tasks I had to do yesterday. The shopping for my Christmas dinner is complete, I wrapped all the gifts and they are under the tree. Today I am doing a few quick chores - running the sweeper, tidying up the bathrooms and I will be all set for my Christmas Day company. 

Tonight we go over to my son's home for dinner, so I wanted to get this post in early. I am showing 6 cards that I made using the Whimsy Stamps A2 card fronts. It's their Snowball Friends collection. Using these card fronts helped me make 7 cards quickly. I had 35 to make this year in total. Plus, I still send some box cards to those who don't really appreciate a handmade card. 

So here are the cards I made. The first one I picked up on the blues and pinks. Using a blue card base and my die cut greeting is pink & white. 

On this card I used a gold foiled greeting tab from Memory Box. 

On this card I picked up the pinks and green. I used a soft green glitter paper as a layer and then a pink card base. The sentiment is another Memory Box foiled greeting tab. 

This is another where I focused on the pinks and greens in the paper. My die cut greeting is the same color as the green glitter layer. It's the soft succulent paper from Stampin ' Up. 

This one was one of my favorites using these card fronts. I like using non-traditional colors for Christmas cards. I liked the bold bokeh background. I used petunia pop cardstock (Stampin' Up) for the card base as well as the die cut Christmas sentiment. 

On this last card I stayed with the pink. The sentiment is another of the gold foiled greeting tabs from Memory Box. 

I hope you have enjoyed a look at 5 more of my Christmas Cards for 2025. I still have a few more so stop again tomorrow. Until next time.....God bless. 

Peace, Love & Joy Christmas

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for stopping by for Day 9 of my Christmas cards for 2025. 

I am in busy Christmas mode right now, so this is a short post. I just came home from grocery shopping for my Christmas meal and now I am moving on to gift wrapping. I have lots of gifts to get under the tree so let's move on to my card for today.

This was one of my easy cards. I bought these card fronts last year and never used them. They are from Whimsy Stamps - their Snowball Friends set and all you need to do is add a card base and a sentiment. 

I layered the image panel with a glittery soft green to complement the green on the snowman hat. Then I layered that onto the pink card base. The gold foiled greeting tab is from Memory Box.

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

 I am entering:

1.  Crafts Galore Encore has an anything goes challenge. 

2.  Ally's Angels has an anything goes challenge.

3.  Classic Design Challenge has an anything goes w/optional to make it merry. 

 

Singing Snowman

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with the Charmed Life Blog for Day 8 of my Christmas cards for 2025.  

I have been busy finishing up Christmas tasks. I was making candy and baking for the last 2 days. Tomorrow, I have to wrap presents and make a grocery run for my Christmas dinner meal. I also have to get some minor house cleaning done in the next 2 days. But I will have my hubby to help with that. 

Then tomorrow night we have our Christmas service at church. We have done a Christmas Eve Eve service for lots of years. This way we get to spend Christmas Eve & Day with family. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created using the colors from the Splitcoaststampers color challenge #1083. We were to use balmy blue, cherry cobbler and black for our color trio. Optional was an anything goes.

cherry cobbler, balmy blue, basic black

For my card I used the snowman die from the Taylored Expressions Advent Calendar. Taylor showed a card sample on her YouTube live last Friday with this die, and I loved it, so I used it as my inspiration with a few changes to make it my own.

I cut the snowman in white glitter paper. Her nose is my optional item. I used pumpkin pie. After all what snowman doesn't have a carrot for a nose? For the lips I used white paper and colored with the light cherry cobbler Stampin' Up Blend. The arms are pecan pie -another allowed neutral.

The background designer paper is from the Stampin' Up "You're a Peach" collection. I thought it looked like snow. My trees are also cut from designer paper - it's the "Festive Farmhouse" collection. They are mossy meadow (a neutral).

I had a die in my collection that had this little songbook and it is just the right size for the snowman to hold. Cut the snow banks in white glitter paper.

Finished off my card by stamping my sentiment and adding a couple of musical notes. Well, that's it for me for this post. So, until next time.....God bless. 

Card Details:

Stamps: Christmas Messages (Hero Arts)

Paper: Cherry Cobbler, White, Black, Pumpkin Pie, Pecan Pie, You're a Peach dsp, Festive Farmhouse dsp (Stampin' Up), White Glitter Paper (Doodlebug)

Ink: Cherry Cobbler (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: Snowman die, Triangle die (Taylored Expressions), Hills die (CottageCutz), Music Notes die (MFT), Snowflakes (Stampin' Up)

I am also entering:

1.  A Place to Start has an anything goes challenge w/option of winter things. 

2.  Stamps & Fun =CREATIVITY has a snowman challenge. 

3.  Creative Fingers has a Blog candy challenge.  

Sleigh Bells Ring

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

It's Day 7 of my Christmas cards for 2025. Hope you are enjoying the cards I have posted so far. I have enjoyed making them> I could make Christmas cards all year and I don't know why I don't. It would save me a lot of stress at Christmas. Maybe this upcoming year will be the year that I will do just that. 

It's a very cold, blustery day here in Pittsburgh. We are having snow squalls off and on but the wind hasn't stopped. It blew one of our screens out of the window and also blew the lights that my hubby placed around our front porch. He will have to get to those another day. It's just too cold to be outside right now.

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for the color challenge #1081 on Splitcoaststampers.  We were to use wild wheat, blueberry bushel and pebbled path for the color trio. Optional was a 4th color. My 4th color is the red door on the designer paper.

wild wheat, blueberry bushel. pebbled path

I strugggled at first with these colors because I wanted to make a Christmas card.  Then I remembered I had this designer paper that had the pebbled path color. For the wild wheat I ink blended over the yellow that was coming from the windows. 

Now I just had to get the blueberry bushel color in there. So, I cut the sleigh in that color cardstock. 

My card base is misty moonlight (a neutral). Finished off my card with a gold foiled greeting. And that is my card for today. 

Easy Peasy- designer paper, a packaged greeting and a die cut. 

So, until next time ......God bless. 

Card Details:

Paper: misty moonlight, blueberry bushel, one horse open sleigh dsp (Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: 5 3/4" square

Ink: wild wheat (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: gold foiled greeting tabs (Memory Box), vintage sleigh (CottageCutz)

I am also entering:

1.  Cardz 4 Galz has a Christmas Sparkle challenge. 

2.  DL.Art has an anything goes w/option of Christmas challenge. 

3.  Krafty Chicks has a CAS challenge. 

Warm Wishes

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

It's Day 6 of my Christmas cards for 2025. Although I must admit I am a bit behind with posting my cards. 

I was busy with finishing up my decorating plus finishing up on the cards I had to make. Then came the addressing and actually getting them sent. That part is a 2-day process with me. Maybe I fuss too much but the cards that I really like go to people that will appreciate them. 

Like this one for instance. The snowflake spins around the track. It will be a cute card for the 2 little ones that live next door, and my neighbor really appreciates the effort I put into creating my cards. 

I ordered the 2025 Taylored Expressions Advent Calendar. All the elements to make this spinner card were included in the kit. I never made a spinner card before so it was a bit of a learning process for me. But after a few small mishaps I got it together (lol)!!! I like how it turned out.

Each day you get to open a packet with a crafting item inside. I have loved everything that I received so far. Then on Friday on the TE YouTube channel they make a project using the week's goodies. This snowman card was demonstrated on the channel.

I used the colors from the Splitcoaststampers color challenge #1082. We were to use pool party, real red and pumpkin pie for the color trio. Optional was to make a snowman.

pool party, real red, pumpkin pie

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

Here is a short video that shows how this snowflake spins around the card. My hubby helped me out by spinning the card while I did the video. 

Card Details:

Stamps: Bitty Strips Essentials (Taylored Expressions)

Paper: white, pool party, black, real red, pumpkin pie, heartwarming hugs dsp (Stampin' Up). white glitter paper (Recollections)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: tuxedo black (Memento)

Accessories: Snowman die, Snowflake die, Track die, Spinners & Sliders, (Taylored Expressions Advent Calendar, Snowflake embossing Folder (Cuttlebug), Stitched Hillside Borders die (Lawn Fawn), Scalloped Rectangle die (CottageCutz)2025)

Techniques: Slider Card

I am also entering:

1.  Creative Knockouts has a Tis the Season challenge. 

2.  Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday has an anything goes challenge. 

3.  Little Red Wagon has a Christmas card challenge. 

4.  Sisterhood of Crafters has an anything Christmas challenge. 

5.  Die Cut Divas has a Christmas/Winter challenge. 

Santa in the Aurora Lights

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with The Charmed Life Blog on day 5 of my Christmas Cards for 2025.  

Hope you all had a great weekend. Maybe a little stamping time, Christmas decorating or Christmas shopping or just plain relax time. Well, I did all of the things I mentioned. The Christmas shopping I did online, but I will make it to the mall sometime soon. 

I love Christmas time and all the preps that go into making this a wonderful day of celebration for my family. The only thing I really haven't done yet is think about my Christmas dinner menu. I am not sure why I don't have a traditional menu and stick to it each year. I always seem to change it up and sometimes that gets a bit difficult to figure out different recipes. But in the end, it always comes together. So, I will keep you all posted on what I am making for this year. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for a color challenge on Splitcoaststampers. We were to use pool party, gorgeous grape and peach pie for the color trio. Optional was to make it travel of some sort. I hit it on this card with Santa in his sleigh.

pool party, gorgeous grape, peach pie

These are definitely non-traditional colors for a Christmas card, but I was determined to make it work. 
I just bought this Lights Of Aurora designer paper from Stampin' Up. It has 2 of the challenge colors with Gorgeous Grape and Pool Party plus Blackberry Bliss which is a neutral color for this challenge.

I cut my images in white glitter paper and IRL they really pop on the card.

Added some peach pie cardstock to the house windows and attached the image panel to pool party card base. And that's it for me for this post. So, until next time......God bless. 

Card Details:

Paper: Pool Party, Peach Pie, Lights of Aurora designer paper (Stampin' Up) White Glitter Paper (Recollections)

Accessories: Believe in the Magic die (CottageCutz)

I am also entering:

1.  Christmas Crafts all Year Round has a Santa Claus is coming to town challenge. 

2.  Crafts Galore Encore has an anything goes challenge. 

3.  The Crafting Challenge is all about Christmas.  

4.  Moving Along with the Times has a Santa challenge. 

5.  Paper Rocks Scissors has anything goes challenge. I used all paper for my card.