Let Us Give Thanks

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

We are in the full phase of Fall in our area. The trees are in their beautiful autumn colors. We will have plenty of them dropping in our yard since we have 2 huge pin oak tree. Fortunately, my hubby likes going out and raking leaves. I help sometimes but it's not my thing for sure. Yesterday he raked a huge pile of leaves and the two little ones from next door came over and jumped in the pile. My hubby joined them (LOL)!! They love coming over here and spending time with us. 

We just came home from a 2-day getaway at a wonderful Inn about 2 hours away from us. The inn is Tara and we were celebrating our 37th wedding anniversary a little early. It's a beautiful country inn with exceptional rooms and dining. Click here to check it out. 

Now onto my card for today. I have started creating my Thanksgiving cards for this year. And that's what I am showing today. 

This is my card for the Splitcoaststampers color challenge #1022. Barbara is our hostess and she chose crushed curry, cajun craze and coastal cabana for the color trio. Optional this week is Autumn.

coastal cabana, crushed curry, cajun craze

For my card I used the Stampin' Up Paper Pumpkin Kit for September "Autumn Abundance". I ran across a Stampin' Up video where they showed this card as one of their alternate samples. Then I saw the card on Pinterest from the designer. Here is a link to her card. 

Instead of using the snail and mushrooms from the kit since they were the wrong colors, I die cut my own using a CottageCutz die. The mushrooms are cut in the challenge colors and the snail in pecan pie and crumb cake (neutrals).

The card front is a card base from the kit but in a 4" square size. By creating a step fold card, I was able to change it to a full-size card. The wood grain designer paper in the background is another card base from the kit that I cut.

The cajun craze leaves are part of the kit. I stamped a sentiment from an old Verve set (7+ years old) and added a few cajun craze enamel dots to complete my card.

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

Card Details:

Stamps: Bountiful Harvest (Verve)

Paper: cajun craze, crushed curry, crumb cake, pecan pie, coastal cabana (Stampin' Up)

Ink: cajun craze, coastal cabana (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: Autumn Abundance PP Kit, cajun craze enamel dots (Stampin' Up), stitched mushrooms die, stitched garden friends die, stitched circle die (cottageCutz)

Techniques: step fold

I am also entering:

1.  Love Those Pretty Papers Challenge is anything goes. 

2.  Retro Rubber Challenge wants us to make a Fall card. 

3.  Gem of a Challenge is anything goes. 

4.  Inkspirational has a Seasonal challenge.

5.  Polkadoodles has a anything goes challenge.  

Harvest Blessings

Hello Blogger friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with The Charmed Life Blog this last Friday in October. 

Wow this month just flew by. Soon we will be celebrating Thanksgiving and then onto Christmas. I have been making my Thanksgiving cards and the one I am showing today is another one of those. It's somewhat of non-traditional colors for a Thanksgiving card but I like how it turned out.

I used the colors from the Splitcoaststampers color challenge #1021. They are pretty peacock, pool party and lost lagoon for the color trio.

pretty peacock, pool party, lost lagoon

Optional is anything goes. I took some liberty, and I chose Fall for the optional. That way I was able to add some fall colors for my trees to create a Fall scene.

I stenciled background clouds in broken china distress ink using an MFT stencil. I used Bristol smooth card stock for the background. I find it blends much smoother than other white cardstock I have tried. 

Cut my houses in pretty peacock and used lost lagoon cardstock for the house trim. The house des are from CottageCutz. 

I punched some tree trunks and used a cloud die for the tree foliage. I sponged wild honey, spiced marmalade and fired brick distress inks. For the hills I used mossy meadow designer paper.

Stamped my sentiments to complete my card. Well, that's it for me for this post. So, until next time.......God bless. 

Card Details:

Stamps: bountiful harvest (Verve), holiday home (PTI)

Paper: pretty peacock, lost lagoon, so saffron, soft suede, beauty of the earth dsp (Stampin' Up), bristol smooth (Canson)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: pretty peacock (Stampin' Up), wild honey distress, spiced marmalade distress, fired brick distress, broken china distress (ranger)

Accessories: winter village die, stitched cloud die (CottageCutz), tree punch (paper Shapers), mini cloud stencil (MFT), stitched hills border die (Lawn Fawn)

I am also entering:

1.  Just Add Ink has a stenciling challenge.

2.  C.R.A.F.T. challenge is anything goes. 

3.  Craft Rocket challenge is Autumn or Halloween.

4.  Just Us Girls has a stencil challenge. 

5.  Crazy is our Fame-Stencils are our game has a stencil challenge. 

 

Scarecrow in the Pumpkin Patch

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

It's a beautiful sunny and warm day here in the Pittsburgh area. A bit unusual for us this time of year but I love it! It's one of those days when you feel like you could accomplish so much. 

I went for a 35 minute walk this morning. Then made a quick trip to Trader Joe's. Put together some guacamole for my hubby. He likes this as an afternoon snack, and I have a delicious recipe. I cleaned my kitchen, sorted laundry, changed bedsheets and now I am writing up this Blog post. 

It's been a while since I have posted here on my Blog but it's not like I haven't been creating. We are coming into my fave time of year with Thanksgiving and Christmas, and I have lots of cards to make. The card I am showing today is one of my Thanksgiving cards.

I used the colors from the Splitcoaststampers color challenge #1017. We were to use crushed curry, old olive and poppy parade for the color trio. Optional this week is a 4th color. I chose pecan pie for the 4th color.

crushed curry, old olive, poppy parade

I thought these colors were perfect for a Fall themed card. I started my card by embossing the background with the pumpkin harvest embossing folder from Cuttlebug. An older one for sure, but I still like the design of it. 

Then I went to work on my pumpkin patch scene. My scarecrow is cut in the challenge colors plus chocolate chip (a retired neutral). It's a die from CottageCutz. I think he has the cutest face. 

My sunflowers and pumpkins are cut in crushed curry and shaded with the same ink plus spiced marmalade distress ink. They are also dies from CottageCutz.

To complete my scene, I added a sun die cut. And that's my post for today. So until next time.....God bless. 

Card Details:

Paper: crushed curry, poppy parade, old olive, crumb cake, pecan pie, choc chip (Stampin' Up), chantilly cream (MFT)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: crushed curry, crumb cake (Stampin' Up), spiced marmalade distress (Ranger)

Accessories: Fall Scarecrow, Fall Gate w/Flowers, Stitched Sun dies (CottageCutz). Pumpkin Harvest EF (Cuttlebug)

I am also entering:

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

2.  Aud Sentiments has an embossing, Fall + a sentiment challenge. 

3.  Double Trouble has a Fall Bat color challenge (green, red, yellow)+ option of a Fall die. 

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

5.  The Four Seasons Challenge is anything goes with a Fall theme.   

Climbing Roses

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

Hope your Fall season is going well. I just changed the decorations out in my home last week and converted over to Fall. I will leave these up until Thanksgiving and then convert over to Christmas. Can't believe that I am mentioning Christmas, but it is October. 

My card today is one I made for the color challenge #1018 on Splitcoaststampers. Our color trio was 

pretty in pink, berry burst and granny apple green for the color trio. Optional was to make it summer.

What could be more summer than roses? They are still blooming nicely in my hubby's garden. So, I decided to put roses on a birthday card for my neighbor who loves to garden as much as my hubby does. She celebrates in a couple of weeks. And her daughters are having a surprise birthday party for her. 

pretty in pink, berry burst, granny apple green

I used the Climbing Rose multi-layer stencil from The Ton Stamps. I stenciled with spun sugar, pretty in pink and berry burst for the rose image. The leaves are stenciled in granny apple green and mossy meadow (an allowed neutral in this challenge).

Used the accompanying rose die to cut my image. For the card background I added a trellis cut in berry burst. I did the die inlay technique fora few of the trellis panels just for added interest. Stamped my birthday sentiment to complete my card.

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

Card Details:

Stamps: Charming Sentiments (Stampin' Up)

Paper: white, berry burst (Stampin' Up), bristol smooth (Strathmore)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: pretty in pink, berry burst, granny apple green, mossy meadow (Stampin' Up), spun sugar distress (Ranger)

Accessories: climbing rose stencil & dies (The Ton Stamps), sentiments die (Stampin' Up), trellis background die (CottageCutz)

Techniques: stenciling

I am also entering:

1.  Beautiful Blossoms challenge is anything goes with florals. 

2.  Die Cut Divas has an anything goes for world card making day.

3.  The Flower Challenge wants us to add a stencil.  

4.  Triple B Challenge is anything goes with, birds, butterflies and/or blooms. 

5.  A Place to Start has an anything goes using pink. 

 

Celebrate

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

I am guest designing today with the Creative Creases Blog. It's a challenge where you create a fun fold card using any products you like. Debbie Mageed is the hostess of the challenge. If you like creating fun fold designs this challenge is definitely for you. The team members and guest designers have some great samples for cards, so check it out.

For my card, I created a book binding fold. This fun fold card has a unique “book spine” that’s simple to create. It's only two simple scores lines create this unique fold. If you want to see a video creating this fun fold- click here. 

Design Steps:

Start with a piece of cardstock that measures 4 1/4" x 11". Then on the 11" side you score at 4" and at 5 1/2".

Then fold in half on the 5 1/2" scoreline. Then fold back on the 4" scoreline and you have created your fold. I have indicated where you add your score tape, but I didn't do that step until after I added my ribbon and card front. 

  

Next you attach your favorite designer paper and add stamps or dies. For my card I used the contents of the Paper Pumpkin Kit "time for cake". Instead of following the kit instructions, I decided to create an alternative style card. 

I cut one of the petal pink kit envelopes apart and used that for my background and also the book spine. Background piece measures 3 3/4" x 4" and the book spine piece measures 1 1/4" x 4". The image panel is a card base from the kit. I cut the base to measure 3 1/2" x 3 3/4". I used navy blue ribbon and secured it behind the spine area. 

To finish off my card front, I added a die cut celebrate phrase. It's cut in petal pink and moody mauve using a die from CottageCutz. I scattered a few moody mauve enamel dots. 

When the card is opened, it looks as if it’s hinged, revealing the inside greeting. The stamps are from the "time for cake" kit as is the candle. 

Well, that's it for me for this post. Make sure you check out the other fun folds on the Creative Crease Blog. So until next time......God bless.

Card Details:

Paper: White, Paper Pumpkin Kit August 2024 (Stampin' Up)

Ink: night of navy (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: Night of Navy Ribbon, Moody Mauve enamel dots (Stampin' Up)

Techniques: Book Binding

I am also entering:

1.  Crafty Gals Corner is anything goes w/optional to add ribbon. 

2.  Creative Fingers is anything goes. 

3.  Fab 'n' Funky wants us to add gems or pearls.

4.  Simon Says Stamp has an anything goes challenge. 

5.  Seize the Birthday is anything goes + optional phrase "celebrate".

  

Harvest Blessings

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

Hope you are enjoying the last few weeks of the summer season before we enter Fall. It's sunny and warm here today with low humidity. Just a perfect summer day. When I finish this post, I am headed off to a local Farmer's Market. I am picking up some local produce since my hubby let his vegetable garden rest this year. 

We do have lots of beautiful flowers blooming so I have fresh bouquet's every several days. His dahlias have been spectacular this year and so large. The colors are also amazing. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for the color challenge #1016 on Splitcoaststampers. The color trio was cajun craze, wild wheat and gorgeous grape. Optional was to make an Autumn card.

cajun craze, wild wheat, gorgeous grape

I was all over the place creating this card. I kept thinking of a sunflower card and after several attempts that I didn't like I came up with a design.

I used designer paper from the Stampin' Up "Thoughtful Journey" collection. It has the cajun craze and wild wheat color in this pattern. I cut away the top portion of the paper and left the bottom for a harvest meadow scene.

Cut the bottom layer of my sunflowers in cajun craze cardstock. For the top layer I cut with Bristol smooth cardstock and sponged cajun craze ink to achieve a lighter look.

The fox is cut in both cajun craze and crumb cake cardstocks. He is sporting a scarf in gorgeous grape. The pumpkins are fussy cut from more designer paper. It's the Stampin' Up "Painted Autumn" collection. I have so much designer paper and yet every time Stampin' Up comes out with new patterns I buy them (lol)!

I finished off my card with my sentiment stamped in gorgeous grape ink and scattered a few gorgeous grape enamel dots.

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

Card Details:

Stamps: Bountiful Harvest (Verve)

Paper: very vanilla, cajun craze, gorgeous grape, crumb cake, mossy meadow, thoughtful journey dsp, painted autumn dsp (Stampin' Up), Bristol Smooth (Canson)

Paper Size: 4 3/4" x 5 3/4"

Ink: cajun craze, gorgeous grape (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: Sunflower , Autumn Friends dies (CottageCutz), gorgeous grape enamel dots (Stampin' Up)

I am also entering:

1.  Shopping our Stash wants us to think about what's in our stash. I confess designer paper. 

2.  Stamps & Fun =Creativity has an anything goes challenge. 

3.  Crafty Animals is anything goes with an animal. 

4.  Triple B - is anything goes with birds, blooms or butterflies

5.  Allsorts challenge is Autumn colors or anything goes. 

Celebrate with Wildflowers

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

It's been a great couple of days weather wise here. The air is a bit cooler, and I have my windows open to let in some fresh air. I was able to do that for a few days this billing cycle to save a bit  on my electric bill. The bill dropped $60 which is good for any budget. 

My hubby's flower garden is in full bloom. He just cut some of the blooms today and we have such a beautiful bouquet right from the garden. I love it when we can do that. Another way to save money so I am not buying bouquets from Trader Joe's (LOL)!

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for the color challenge #1014. We were to use white, black and crumb cake (kraft). Optional is to add some bling.

Well, the colors were a bit of a challenge to me. Then I decided to use some allowed neutrals on my card, and it came together for me. I used blackberry bliss and mossy meadow and created a mini slimline design.

My background is crumb cake designer paper from the Stampin' Up "perfectly artistic" collection. I embossed the paper using the fancy fan embossing folder. I like the white swirls on the paper.

Then for my flowers, (which is where the challenge came in) I decided to use mossy meadow as a die inlay technique for the leaves and blackberry bliss designer paper for the flower centers. Since there is gold swirling through this paper pattern, I am counting this as my bling. The designer paper is from the Stampin' Up "blackberry beauty" collection.

To finish off my card, I added some greenery to the corners and the celebrate phrase is in black and crumb cake.

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

Card Details:

Paper: Black, crumb cake, mossy meadow, white, blackberry beauty dsp, perfectly artistic dsp (Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: 3.5" x 6"

Accessories: fancy fan embossing folder (Stampin' Up), folk art flowers die, celebrate w/shadow die (CottageCutz)

Techniques: slimline card

I am also entering:

1.  Beautiful Blossoms Challenge is anything floral goes.

2.  Crafts Galore Encore is anything goes. 

3.  Girlz Creative Fun Art of Scrap is anything goes with patterned paper. 

4.  Love to Craft Challenge #82 is anything goes. 

5.  Lil Patch of Crafty Friends challenge is anything goes. 
 

Celebrate You

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with The Charmed Life Blog this first Monday in September.

It's the Labor Day holiday here in the US. We had a laid back kind of day. I was in my craft room creating a card for this week's color challenge on Splitcoaststampers and hubby was out working in his yard. 

We had an easy dinner. I made burgers and hubby roasted some of his green beans from his garden. That's really the only vegetable he grew this year. He is getting quite good at preparing the green beans. The burgers I serve with veggies that I sauté in olive oil- mushrooms, onion and red peppers. It's like getting a burger in a nice restaurant. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for the color challenge #CC1013. We were to use peach pie, boho blue and petunia pop for our colors. Optional was a die cut or punch.

For my card I started with the background. I stenciled the daisies using a multi-layer stencil from The Ton Stamps using petunia pop, peek-a-boo peach, mossy meadow and lost shadow inks. These last 2 colors are allowed neutrals in this challenge.

I die cut the arch and birthday phrase from petunia pop cardstock. Stamped my sentiment in petunia pop ink and scattered a few boho blue dots to complete my card.

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

Card Details:

Stamps: painted petals (Stampin' Up PP Kit July 2024)

Paper: petunia pop, (Stampin' Up), bristol smooth (Canson)

Ink: petunia pop, peek-a-boo peach, mossy meadow (Stampin' Up). lost shadow distress (Ranger)

Accessories: darling daisy stencil (The Ton), essential arches die (Spellbinders), happy birthday w/shadow die (CottageCutz), in-color dots (Stampin' Up))

Techniques: stenciling

I am also entering:

1.  A Cut Above challenge is using a die cut with anything goes. Option monochromatic.

2.  Beautiful Blossoms is anything goes with an optional mood board. 

3.  Allsorts Challenge wants us to use a sentiment or anything goes. 

4.  Polkadoodles has an anything goes challenge. 

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