Thinking of You

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

We are already at the mid-point of January. The days are getting longer and that always makes me feel good when I am out and about around 5:00 pm. 

I am still taking down my Christmas decorations. Today my goal is to get all the peripheral decorations in all 4 of the downstairs rooms plus my powder room packed and put away. That may not sound like much, but I have a lot placed in each room. Then I will just have my 2 remaining Christmas trees and the outside wreaths. I will continue my progress on each Blog post. 

Now onto my card for today. A friend asked me to make a card for her friend who is battling breast cancer. 

I used the colors from the Splitcoaststampers color challenge #1020. We were to use blueberry bushel, calypso coral and lemon-lime twist for the color trio.

blueberry bushel, calypso coral, lemon-lime twist

I started the card with my background paper. It's a pattern from the Stampin' Up "thoughtful journey" collection. Added a frame around this panel in calypso coral. My hummingbird is cut from the same designer paper, and I ink blended with calypso coral and lemon-lime twist.

For the flowers, I used Bristol smooth cardstock and blended with prize ribbon distress ink which is a very close match for blueberry bushel. The blending brushes allowed me to get a lighter shade. The centers are cut with blueberry bushel cardstock.

Leaves are cut in lemon lime twist cardstock and shaded with the same color ink. Stamped my sentiment in blueberry bushel ink to complete my card.

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

Card Details:

Stamps: Birds of a Feather (PP Kit Oct 2018)

Paper: vanilla, lemon-lime twist, calypso coral, thoughtful journey dsp (Stampin' Up), Bristol smooth (Canson)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: calypso coral./ lemon-lime twist, blueberry bushel (Stampin' Up), prize ribbon distress (Ranger)

Accessories: Garden Birds die, Spring Blooms die, Pierced Wide Rectangle die (CottageCutz)

I am also entering:

1.  2 Sisters on the Blog has an anything goes challenge.

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

3.  Beautiful Blossoms Challenge is anything floral goes. 

4.  Crafty Animals has an anything goes challenge. 

5.  Critter Crazy Challenge is anything goes. 

Happy New Year 2025

Hello Blogger Friends and a happy New Year to you all. Hope the start of the year has been a good one. 

I finished up yesterday with the last of my 2024 Christmas cards. I am also in the process of taking all my Christmas decorations down. I made some big headway today. I have 1 of my 3 trees all packed and put away. I took down all the greenery from my kitchen cabinets and china cabinet. 

Tomorrow I will go after all the accessories in all the downstairs rooms and possibly the tree I put upstairs. Plus, I have wreaths on my windows that need to come down. I definitely go all out for Christmas and the takedown seems to take so long.  I want to get my Valentine decorations up!  

Now onto my card for today.  I am starting off 2025 with a New Year card. This one I created using the colors from the Splitcoaststampers color challenge #1031. I was the hostess and I chose basic white, night of navy and poppy parade for my color trio. Optional was New Years or Something New. 

I had both options covered since the designer paper I used was new to me and I created a slimline card.

I started with my background designer paper which is from the Stampin' Up "O Holy Night" collection. It's layered on a basic white card base cut at 81/2" x 4". I thought the paper would work well for a nighttime sky with fireworks.

I cut the buildings with a CottageCutz die in night of navy cardstock, the fireworks (CottageCutz die) in poppy parade and white glitter paper.

The Happy New Year is a die from Impression Obsession cut in poppy parade and I added some Nuvo glitter gloss. The camera didn't pick that up well.

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

Card Details:

Paper: poppy parade, night of navy, thick white, o holy night dsp (Stampin' Up), white glitter paper (Recollections

Paper Size: 8 1/2" x 3 1/2"

Accessories: Fireworks die, City Skyline die (cottageCutz), Happy New Year die (Impression Obsession),

Techniques: slimline card

I am also entering:

1.  A Cut Above challenge is anything goes with a die cut and optional of new. 

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

3.  Creative Fingers Challenge is anything goes. 

4.  Cut It Up Challenge is something new with a die cut. I used new designer paper. 

5.  Craft Rocket Challenge is something new. I used new designer paper.

More Christmas Day 4

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

Well, I have finally started to take down my Christmas decorations. It's a slow process for me and I am not in a big hurry to take them down. But today I made headway. I took down one of the 3 trees I put up. Plus, I have Nativity sets in all the rooms, so I wrapped 4 of them and got those put away. That was my goal for today and I accomplished it. 

Tomorrow I will set another goal just not sure what yet (lol)! 

Now onto my cards for today. This is the last of my 2024 Christmas cards.  I was creating for Christmas but neglecting to post on my Blog. These cards all used dies from my CottageCutz collection. 

More info on this card here:

More info on this card here:

More info on this card here:

More info on this card here:

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

I am also entering:

1.  Girlz Creative Christmas Challenge has a Stars challenge.  

2.  Peace on Earth Christmas Challenge is anything goes + a mood board for inspiration. 

More Christmas Day 3

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

Most of the country is in the middle of a freeze and we are no exception here in Pittsburgh. We are expecting another 3" of snow tonight into tomorrow morning. I had plans to meet my friends for breakfast, but they may be put on hold if we get snow. 

Anyway, it's day 3 of showing the Christmas cards I made for 2024. These ones I made using dies from my CottageCutz collection and a die from MFT. I was creating for Christmas but neglecting to post on my Blog.

 More info on this card here:

More info on this card here:

More info on this card here:

More info on this card here:

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

I am also entering:

1.  Creative Knockouts has a celebrations challenge. 

2.  Krafty Chicks has a Christmas challenge. 

3.  Sisterhood of Crafters has a snowflakes challenge. 

More Christmas 2024 -2nd Day

Hello Blogger friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with The Charmed Life Blog today. It's a cold day in January but the good news is that the days are getting longer. 

I haven't taken down my Christmas decorations as yet. It's a labor-intensive job because I decorate every room on my downstairs level. I also put up 3 Christmas trees. So, packing everything so as not to damage any of my decorations just takes time. I go at it very slowly. I will probably start this coming Sunday and take 3-4 days next week to complete. 

In the meantime, it's day 2 of showing the Christmas cards I made for 2024. These ones are alternative cards from Stampin' Up Paper Pumpkin Kits. I was creating for Christmas but neglecting to post on my Blog. 

More info on this card here

More info on this card here

More Info on this card here

More info on this card here

Well, that's it for this post. Stop by again tomorrow for more of Christmas 2024. Until next time.....God bless. 

I am also entering:

1.  ABC Christmas Challenge has an A for anything goes and a B for a building. 

2.  Crafty Gals Corner has a "fill in the blank.....Snow. 

  

More Christmas 2024

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

We have been having snow and very cold weather the past few days. I have shoveling duty because my hubby pulled a calf muscle playing basketball with our son and grandkids last week. It's swollen, sore and he is hobbling around. He has been icing it and our chiropractor told him to wear compression socks and use a cane to walk.  

Shoveling is not a chore that I like to do, but we are a team, and you do what you have to do. I woke up this morning to a couple more inches, so I was at it again. Our driveway swings around to the back of our home so it's labor intensive but I did it. Hopefully the snow is done for a few days.

I am showing 5 more of the cards I designed for Christmas. I have been negligent on my Blog and for the next several days I will show all of the cards that I created for Christmas.

More info on this card here.   

More info on this card here

More info on this card here (card closed)

More info here: (card opened)

More info on this card here:

More info on this card here:

Well, these are 5 of the cards I sent out this year. Tomorrow I will have another 5 to show. So, until next time......God bless. 

I am also entering:

1.  Creative Creases challenge is anything goes with a fun fold. 

2.  MLCCB #60 is anything goes Christmas.

3.  The Holly and Ivy Christmas challenge is anything goes. 

Candy Cane Wishes

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

This is a short post today. I am one of the first ones up this morning and with a quiet house I decided to get a Blog post in. My CA kids are still sleeping, and I just heard my hubby stirring. It's nice to have a bit of alone time in the early morning. 

This is another of my 2024 Christmas cards. This one I made using the colors from the Splitcoaststampers color challenge #1007. I was the hostess, and I chose real red, garden green and sweet sorbet for my color trio.  

real red, garden green, sweet sorbet

For my card I used designer paper from the Stampin' Up "sweetest Christmas collection, sweet candy canes stamp set and the coordinating dies". The dies cut candy canes from the designer paper.

I used white glitter paper and the striped die that is part of this bundle to cut the card front and then layered sweet sorbet designer paper under it.

Stamped my sentiment and added a few greenery sprigs and red enamel dots to complete my card.

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

Card Details:

Stamps: sweet candy canes (Stampin' Up)

Paper: sweet sorbet, real red, garden green, white, sweetest Christmas designer paper (Stampin' Up), white glitter paper (Recollections)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: real red (Stampin'-Up)

Accessories: candy cane dies, real red enamel dots (Stampin' Up), Christmas Farmhouse Floral die (CottageCutz)

I am also entering:

1.  A Place to Start is anything goes w/option of Happy Holidays. 

2.  Christmas with the Cuties is anything goes Cute and Christmassy.

3.  The Cutie Pie challenge is cute Christmas.

4,  Girlz Creative Christmas Challenge is anything goes Christmas. 

5.  We Love Stamping has a Winter Theme challenge. 

Peace and Joy

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

Well, it's December 29 and another Christmas Day has come and gone. We are still celebrating the holiday season though. Our son and his family are here from California. It's been such a wonderful visit. They leave in a couple of days, and I am not anxious to see them go.

Yesterday was my hubby's birthday and we had a celebration for him here at our home. My Pittsburgh son and family came for dinner and a great evening of family time. Since this was his 70th birthday we are planning a family vacation sometime next year. He wants to go on a cruise to Alaska. That is on my bucket list as well.

Now onto my card for today. This is another of my Christmas cards and one I made for the color challenge on Splitcoaststampers. 

I was the hostess, and I chose garden green, cherry cobbler and coastal cabana for the color trio. Optional was to use designer paper. And I said to get creative with the optional item.

For my card I used some of the contents from the Stampin' Up "Nests of Christmas" Paper Pumpkin Kit and made an alternative card instead of following the kit directions.

I cut one of the card bases down for my card front so I could just use the coastal cabana dsp and the foiled arch. The arch is in shaded spruce, but I did say you could get creative with the designer paper option. I layered this panel on shaded spruce cardstock.

The bird and the greenery are from the kit. I added some additional berry sprigs and cut those with a die from CottageCutz. I added the "peace and joy" phrase cut in cherry cobbler to complete my card. If you have this kit, check out Tami White's Blog. She has several ideas for alternative card designs using this kit.

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

Card Details:

Paper: white, cherry cobbler, garden green, shaded spruce (Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: 4 1/2" x 5 3/4"

Accessories: Nests of Christmas PP Kit (Stampin' Up), Peace and Joy Wreath die, Christmas Greenery die (CottageCutz

I am also entering:

1.  613 Avenue Create has an anything goes w/optional any Winter Holiday.

2.  Peace on Earth has an anything goes challenge w/optional mood board. 

3.  Aloha Friday has a Christmas/Winter challenge. 

4.  Cut It Up has an anything goes challenge. 

5.  Simon Say Stamp Wednesday challenge is to use dies. 

Sending Christmas Cheer

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

Wow it's been a couple of weeks since I have posted here on my Blog. I have been creating Christmas cards and just been busy with decorating my home. 

And I also had some unexpected dental surgery and that took me out of the loop for a few days. I had to have a dental implant removed that was in place for 9 years because of some bone loss in that area. It caused the metal post to come loss. 

They sedated me to take it out then gave me some pain medication. I don't deal well with either of these. It just takes me some time to get it out of my system. The removal was far more painful than when I had it implanted. Go figure!

Well anyway that's my story. Now onto my card for today. This one I created for the color challenge #1027 on Splitcoaststampers.  I was the hostess, and I chose garden green, cherry cobbler and coastal cabana for the color trio. Optional was to use designer paper. And I said you could get creative with the optional item.

For my card I used the contents from the Stampin' Up "Nests of Christmas" Paper Pumpkin kit and made an alternative card instead of following the kit directions.

The foiled arch and designer paper are from the kit. The arch is a cutout from the card base. The arch is in shaded spruce, and I did say you could get creative with the designer paper option. The cardinal and greenery are from the kit.

My stamped sentiment is from a Hero Arts set- Christmas Messages. 

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

Card Details:  

Stamps: Christmas Messages (Hero Arts)

Paper: coastal cabana, white, shaded spruce (Stampin' Up)

Ink: shaded spruce (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: Nests of Christmas PP Kit (Stampin' Up),

 
I am also entering:

1.  Creative Crafting Uncles has a Christmas or New Years challenge. 

2.  Critter Crazy Challenges is anything goes with a featured critter. 

3.  Triple B Challenge is anything goes with birds, butterflies or blooms. 

4.  Crafty Calendar challenge is anything goes.

5.  Love Those Pretty Papers is anything goes w/optional theme of Christmas.

  

More Thanksgiving 2024

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

It's been a bit busy here since the Thanksgiving holiday and I haven't posted for over a week. But I have been creating and today I am showing one of the last cards I made for that holiday. 

We had a wonderful celebration with my in-laws and all my side dishes, and the turkey turned out really well. Everyone was well satisfied with what I served including my pumpkin pie for dessert. 

We shared the side dishes with my next-door neighbor. She just had a hip replacement and wasn't able to cook a meal. Her daughter came to town on Wednesday evening, so she was only able to make the turkey. We had plenty so sharing what I made wasn't a problem at all. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I made using the contents of the September Paper Pumpkin Kit from Stampin' Up. Instead of using the kit instructions, I made an alternate faux step fold card. 

To create the fun fold, I cut early espresso cardstock 8 1/2” X 5 1/2”. Then I scored on the long side, 3″, 6″, 7 1/4″, and folded (mountain-valley).

For the top piece, I use the wood card base from the kit and cut it to a 4″ X 8″ size. The leaves are part of the kit. I stamped my Thanksgiving sentiment to complete the card front. 

This photo shows the card inside. I sent this one off to my son and daughter-in-law in California. 

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

I am also entering:

1.  Dream Valey Challenge is anything goes. 

2.  Gem of a Challenge is anything goes. 

3.  Polkadoodles Challenge is anything goes. 

4.  Lil Patch of Crafty Friends is anything goes. 

5.  Aloha Friday has a Thanks challenge.