Birthday Cheers

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

Hope all is well in your neck of the woods. There are some crazy storms hitting the US right now. We are expecting one later today, so I wanted to get this Blog post finished before any of it hits. 

It's a beautiful sunny and warm day right now. Although the winds have picked up. I had the windows in my bedroom open, and my African Violet plant blew over. It's a medium size plant in a heavy planter so I was surprised when I heard the noise. 

I have been asking my hubby to cut the plant back and separate the tubers for a smaller plant. It's just a bit large for my nightstand. And speaking of plants- my orchids are all in bloom and one of them is loaded with blossoms. I really like orchids, and I think they are relatively easy to care for. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for the color challenge #1049. We were to use  melon mambo, daffodil delight and coastal cabana for the color trio. Optional was a birthday theme.

melon mambo, daffodil delight, coastal cabana

I started my card with the designer paper. I used the Stampin' Up "artistry blooms" collection. I layered that over daffodil delight cardstock. The paper had two of the colors we were to use. 

My coconut tropical drinks are a die from CottageCutz. I cut the coconuts in pecan pie (neutral) and the other items in the challenge colors. For the drink umbrella, I ink blended the handle with coastal cabana to get a deeper color.

Added my Cheers phrase and a stamped sentiment in melon mambo ink. Scattered a few melon mambo enamel dots to complete the card. This one will go to my good friend. The tropical drink theme will be perfect for her. 

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

 

Card Details:

Stamps: Poppy Birthday (Verve)

Paper: basic white, melon mambo, coastal cabana, daffodil delight, pecan pie, artistry blooms designer paper (Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: melon mambo, coastal cabana (Stampin" Up)

Accessories: Aloha & Ukulele die (cottageCutz), Celebratory Greetings die (MFT),

I am also entering:

1.  Love Those Pretty Papers challenge is anything goes w/optional theme Springtime. 

2.  Alphabet Challenge is choose a letter and theme. I choose "B" for birthday. 

3.  Crafty Catz is atg w/optional feminine birthday. 

4   Seize the Birthday is anything goes w/optional of Stenciling. 

Stenciled Poppy Birthday Wishes

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

It's the last weekend in April. This month flew by so quickly. We are back to chilly weather here in the Pittsburgh area. But our hot weather will be here before I know it. So, I am not complaining. 

No plans for today. I did some household chores and made a delicious soup. My friend gave me the recipe for an Italian Sausage soup. The recipe called for heavy cream but I am not doing dairy, so I substituted full-fat coconut milk. Sausage, fresh spinach, onion, garlic and Italian seasoning. It is really flavorful, and my hubby loved it. 

I have a baby shower to attend tomorrow. My good friend's daughter is having her first baby and it's a girl. The shower will be fun, and I like to see all the gifts that the Mother-to-be gets and the expression of gratitude on her face.  A lot of women think this part of the shower is boring, but I love it. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for the color challenge #1048 on Splitcoaststampers. We were to use pretty peacock, peach pie and summer splash for the color trio. Optional was an anything goes theme. I chose a 4th color of coastal cabana for the optional item. 

pretty peacock, peach pie, summer breeze

For my card I decided to use a multi-layer stencil from the Ton Stamps. It's their Precious Poppies stencil.I used coastal cabana, summer splash, pretty peacock and peach pie for my poppy colors. I die cut them with the coordinating die and layered them on white cardstock.

The card base is pretty peacock. I cut my birthday phrase and stamped a sentiment. Added a few peach pie resin dots to complete my card.

This one was sent to my friend who celebrated a birthday yesterday. She loves flowers and always likes the cards I make for her. 

Well that my card for today. So, until next time .....God bless. 

Card Details:

Stamps: painted petals (PP Kit July 2024)

Paper: pretty peacock, basic white (Stampin' Up), Bristol Smooth (Canson)

Paper Size: 4 1/2" x 6"

Ink: pretty peacock (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: precious poppies stencil & coordinating die (The Ton Stamps), birthday phrase w/Shadow (CottageCutz), 2024-206 resin dots (Stampin' Up)

Techniques: Stenciling

I am also entering:

1.  Crafty Calendar has a feminine challenge. 

2.  Craft Rocket Challenge has a layer it up challenge. 

3.  Just Us Girls has a stencil challenge. 

4.  Crafty Catz has an anything goes w/optional feminine birthday.  

5.  Seize the Birthday has any anything goes w/optional of stenciling.

Hot Air Balloon Birthday

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

Well, another Easter celebration has come and gone. Now it's time to move on to other cards I have created. I have several birthday's coming up in the next month or so. So, I thought it's time to get cards started. That way I am not rushing at the last minute.  Now I just need to get them mailed on time (LOL)!!!

This one is a masculine themed card that I made for my son. The background is a card base from the Stampin' Up Paper Pumpkin Kit "Beyond the Horizon". I thought it would be a perfect backdrop for the hot air balloon. 

The hot air balloon is a die from Ellentina. I purchased it a Rubberstamp show several years ago from Tessler crafts. One of those must have items and not used (LOL)!!!

I cut it 3 times to get different colored pieces. Then I used the die inlay technique. It is a bit of work, but I like how it turned out. And honestly, I don't mind something like this. I find it very relaxing.

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

I am also entering:

1. Neglected Stuff Challenge is anything goes.  

2.  A Perfect Time to Craft Challenge is anything goes. 

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

4.  Crafts Galore Encore Challenge is anything goes. 

5.  The Creative Crafters Challenge is anything goes. 

He is Risen

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

It's the day after Easter. Hope your holiday was celebrated and enjoyed. We had a wonderful family time with my hubby's family. 

My dinner turned out perfectly. I served ham, brussel sprouts in a kung pao sauce, honey glazed carrots, sweet potato casserole and pierogi's. My sister-in-law brought deviled eggs and my brother-in-law brought apple pie and ice cream. 

I was tired after a long day of cooking, but I did have help with the clean-up. That's always welcomed when help is offered. 

Now onto my card for today. This is my last Easter card for 2025. I have seen this fun fold design on Pinterest and decided to give it a try. I used this video to get the measurements for my card design.

 

I wasn't able to mail it because it was bulky. It was hand delivered to my good friend. She appreciates a handmade card design and the work that's put into making one.  

I made this one using the colors from the Splitcoaststampers color challenge #1049. We were to use flirty flamingo, lost lagoon and lemon lolly for the color trio. Optional was to use our fave embellishment. I like to use enamel dots.

I used designer paper form the Stampin' Up "sweet symmetry, simply marbelous and thoughtful journey" collections.

I added a few lemon lolly flowers, enamel dots and stamped my sentiment to complete this card.

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

Card Details:

Stamps: Alleluia Stamp set (Divinity Designs)

Paper: flirty flamingo, lost lagoon, basic white, lemon lolly, thoughtful journey dsp, simply marbelous dsp, sweet symmetry dsp (Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: lost lagoon (stampin' Up)

Accessories: circle & flower dies (CottageCutz), lemon lolly enamel dots,

Techniques: pop up fun fold

I am also entering:

1.  A Cut Above has an anything goes challenge using at least one die cut. 

2.  Aud Sentiments has a flowers + a sentiment challenge. 

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

4.  Polkadoodles has an anything goes challenge. 

5.  Sweet Stampin' has an Easter creations challenge. 

6.  Creative Creases has an anything goes challenge with a fun fold. 

Alleluia He is Risen!

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

It's Easter Sunday. We had a wonderful church service this morning and my brother came who hasn't been to church in forever. It was a wonderful surprise and awesome to have him there.

I have my dinner on schedule and all the food preps are ready for the oven. So, I had a quick minute to post another Easter card. 

This one I made for the Splitcoaststampers color challenge #1047. I was the hostess and I chose gorgeous grape, highland heather and garden green for the color trio. Optional was to use designer paper. I encouraged everyone to get creative. The designer paper could have different colors.

I decided to go with a fun fold design. It's called a split card front. I used the card base from the Stampin' Up Lovely Lavender PP Kit from 2024 as the designer paper option. And the back of the card base as the layering panel underneath the split front.

The card base is gorgeous grape, and I stamped my sentiment in the same color ink. The cross die is from CottageCutz and I used both highland heather and gorgeous grape for the layers.

The stamped sentiments are from the Alleluia stamp set from Divinity Designs. Scattered some grape sequins to finish off my card. And that's it for this post. So, until next time.......God bless.

Card Details:

Stamps: Alleluia Stamp set (Divinity Designs)

Paper: gorgeous grape, highland heather, garden green (Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: gorgeous grape (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: Paper Pumpkin Kit (Jan 2024) (Stampin' Up), Cross w/Lilies die (CottageCutz), Sequins (Recollections)

Techniques: Split Front Card

I am also entering:

1.  Stamping Sensations has an anything goes challenge. Theme of Flowers, Birds and Animals.

2.  Allsorts  has an anything goes or stencils & masks challenge. 

3.  Loves those Pretty Papers challenge is anything goes w/a theme of Springtime. 

Easter Basket

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

It's Easter weekend. Our weather is starting to warm up and Easter Sunday will be a warm and sunny day. We will have my hubby's family here for dinner. 

They haven't come for a couple of years because my mother-in-law wasn't leaving the house. But she passed away in January at 95 years old. So having the family together for the first holiday without her is important for all of us. 

Ham, pierogis, sweet potato casserole, and glazed carrots are on the menu. My sister-in-law will bring deviled eggs and rolls and my brother-in-law dessert. I plan on making the sweet potato casserole ahead on Saturday and then bake it on Sunday. 

The pierogis are from an establishment here in the Pittsburgh area. They are the best in the city, and I was fortunate to get 2 dozen of them for my Easter dinner. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for the color challenge #1043 on Splitcoaststampers. I was the hostess, and I chose summer splash, petunia pop and azure afternoon for my color trio. Optional was to use any 4th color. I chose coastal cabana.

I just purchased this new to me Easter Basket die from Stamps of Life. It's part of their "Fold-It" line. So, the die makes an Easter basket fun fold shape. The die also included the egg shapes.

I cut the basket outline in pecan pie (allowed neutral). I used the two-tone cardstock from Stampin' Up. It gives a lighter shade of the same color. I cut the basket front with the lighter shade.

For the eggs, I used the challenge colors. The summer splash egg is where I used the coastal cabana designer paper. I also used designer paper on the azure afternoon egg. It's from the Stampin' Up "bright and beautiful collection. 

On the petunia pop egg, I blended some ink on white cardstock to get a lighter shade. The outline and decorations are cut in petunia pop cardstock.

My cute little peeking bunny is cut in pecan pie cardstock, and the ears are the ink blended petunia pie.

I sent this off to my precious grandaughter in California. She should be receiving it in today's mail. Well, that's my card for this post so until next time......God bless.

Card Details:  

Paper: pecan pie, petunia pop, azure afternoon, summer splash, basic white, coastal cabana dsp, bright & beautiful dsp (Stampin' Up), Bristol Smooth (Canson)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: petunia pop (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: Easter Basket Fold-It die (Stamps of Life), Double Trouble Bunny die, Bunny Kisses die (CottageCutz)

I am also entering:

1. Craft Rocket Challenges has a layer it up challenge.  

2.  Creative Knockouts #545 has a 2 or more-pattern paper challenge. 

3.  TTTC #268 - I have a shaped card, free space and ink blending. The blending is on my pink egg.

4.  Crafty Gals Corner is fill in the blank - adorable.

5.  Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday is anything goes. 

  

Easter Blessings

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

Well, the first week of April has brought back some winter temps in the Pittsburgh area. We are going downtown for a theater show on Wednesday and it's definitely going to be winter coat weather. 

We are going to see The Thorn. It was a Christmas gift from our son and a dinner gift card to go along with it. It's the story of creation and weaves through time highlighting the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus. A perfect show for Easter. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for the color challenge #1045. We were to use granny apple green, fresh freesia and bubble bath for the color trio. Optional was anything goes. I chose a 4th color of petunia pop.

My fun fold design is called a double easel fold. I have measurements, photos and a video link of another card I made using this fold - see that here.

The background designer paper is from the Divinity Designs "Heavenly Skies" paper collection. I saw a card on Pinterest from Kendra Sands and used that for inspiration. I changed it up with different dies, colors and sentiment to make it my own.

The He is Risen phrase & Cross are a die from CottageCutz. I stamped my sentiment in petunia pop ink (my optional item) to finish up my card.

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

Card Details:

Stamps: Alleluia Stamp set (Divinity Designs)

Paper: basic white, bubble bath, fresh freesia, granny apple green, petunia pop (Stampin' Up), heavenly skies designer paper (Divinity Designs)

Ink: petunia pop (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: He is Risen Cross (CottageCutz)

Techniques: double easel fold

I am also entering:

1.  Creatalicious Challenge is anything goes w/option of Easter or Spring.

2.  Love to Craft challenge is anything goes.  

3.  The Four Seasons Challenge is anything goes Spring.

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

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

Easter Z-Fold

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

I am excited to be guest designing with the Creative Creases Challenge today. This challenge is all about fun fold designs. I created a Z-fold with a cute Easter design for the kiddos that live next door to me. So here are the design steps to create this fun fold. If you would like to see a video, here is the one I found on YouTube. 

Design Steps:

I started my card by cutting the card base from Pacific Point (medium blue) cardstock. The base is 

8 1/2" x 5 1/2" and scored at 1 1/2" & 4 1/4". 

I used some retired Stampin' Up designer paper from the "Painted Blooms" collection. The pattern reminded me of Easter eggs. I cut those pieces at 2 11/16" x 

5 1/2" (front panel) and 1 9/16" x 5 1/2" (inside panel).

Next, I worked on the image panel. I used the Essential Arches dies from Spellbinders. The bunny images are the Double Trouble Bunnies die from CottageCutz. I used a stencil and broken china distress ink for the background clouds.

I attached the designer paper and the image panel to the card base using double sided tape. 
 

To finish off my card I added white cardstock on the inside. This piece measures 2 5/8" x 5 1/2". I decided to cut a small strip of the pacific point cardstock to cover the area where the pieces joined together. This strip is 1/4" x 5 1/2". 

Well, that's my card for today. I hope you can join in with us over at the Creative Creases Challenge Blog. There are many different fun fold ideas from the design team to get your creative juices flowing. So until next time.....God bless.

Where There is Faith

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

It's the last Monday in March. This month went by so quickly and shortly we will be celebrating Easter.  The trees are budding here and some have already bloomed and flowered. 

The daffodils are up and my hubby's Lenten Rose bush has bloomed. His tulips will be up in the next 10 days, I am guessing. He keeps spraying them to keep the deer away. I love to see the earth come back to life after a long and cold winter. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for the color challenge #1034 on Splitcoaststampers.  We were t ouse petal pink, pool party and soft seafoam for the color trio. Optional is a 4th color. My 4th color is old olive.

For my card I used some of the contents of the May 2019 Paper Pumpkin Kit - "Hugs From Shelli". It had the colors of petal pink and pool party. I cut a card base and used it for background designer paper and layered it with petal pink cardstock. I used petal pink ribbon on this panel.

The card base is very vanilla and I stamped some background splatters with a stamp from the kit in soft seafoam ink.

I used a label from the kit to stamp my sentiment in pecan pie ink and add the die cut flowers- also from the Kit. I used pool party glossy dots to get the pool party color in there.

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

Card Details:

Stamps: Hope Box (PP Kit August 2021), Hugs from Shelli (PP Kit May 2019)

Paper: Very vanilla, Hugs from Shelli PP Kit (Stampin' Up)

Ink: soft seafoam, pecan pie (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: Hugs from Shelli PP Kit (May 2019), Glossy Dots, Petal Pink Ribbon (Stampin' Up)

I am also entering:

1.  Creative Fingers has an anything goes challenge. 

2.  Ellibelle's Garden Party (new Challenge) is anything from the garden. 

3.  Little Red Wagon wants us to use ribbon, twine or thread on our project. 

4.  Stamping Sensations has an anything goes or hello Spring challenge.  

5.  Lil Patch of Crafty Friends is anything goes. 

Coneflower Thanks

Hello Blogger Friends! Hope all is well in your neck of the woods. 

Well, we are into our first week of Spring and the weather here has been downright cold. It's dipping below freezing every night. I still have my polar fleece sheets on my bed, and they will probably not get changed out for summer sheets for a few weeks. 

I invited a friend over to craft with me last week. She used to do scrapbooking and is interested in card making. I have so many of the Stampin' Up Paper Pumpkin kits so I thought that would be a good way to introduce her to card making. And a great way to use up some of these kits. 

We made 4 cards and a gift tag She is already looking forward to coming next month and so am I.  

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for the color challenge #1042 on Splitcoaststampers. We were to use pretty in pink, daffodil delight and old olive for the color trio. Optional is flowers.

I used the multi-layer "Coneflower"stencil from Spellbinders for my card.  I used the challenge colors plus the distress ink "kitsch pink" for a bit of a deeper color on the coneflower lines.

Cut my thanks word in old olive and white cardstock using a die from CottageCutz. I scattered some enamel dots to complete my card. I am sending this to my neighbor who invited us to their Fl winter home in February. She is an avid gardener and loves flowers.

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

Card Details:

Paper: pretty in pink, old olive (Stampin' Up), Bristol Smooth (Canson)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: pretty in pink, daffodil delight, old olive (Stampin' Up), kitsch pink distress (Ranger)

Accessories: Coneflower Stencil (Spellbinders), Thanks Phrase (CottageCutz),

Techniques: stenciling

I am also entering:

1.  A Cut Above has a die cut challenge -using a least one die. 

2.  Craft Rocket Challenge is for the girls.  

3.  Cut It Up has the colors of Spring challenge using at least one die cut. 

4.  Crazy is our fame-stencils are our game challenge is anything goes.

5.  Cardz 4 Galz has a Springtime challenge.