Celebrate in the City

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

It's a solemn day of remembrance for the terrorist attacks that took place 20 years ago in the US.  There were memorial services held in NY, Washington DC at the Pentagon and also in Shanksville Pa where Flight 93 went down. 

I remember 20 years ago watching in shock at what was going on in NY as the buildings collapsed and the terror on the streets. Then hearing a plane had hit the Pentagon and then Flight 93 going down in Shanksville. It's something that I would never want to see repeated here. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for my weekly DT post on the CottageCutz Blog. Today for your viewing pleasure I have created a slimline card featuring the new City Skyline Slimline + Pinking Shear Edge Slimline dies. For my sentiment, I chose the new Celebrate w/Shadow die.

I needed a birthday card for my nephew. I like to create his card with patriotic colors of red, white and blue. He is a vet and served 4 tours of duty in Iraq. And, I am proud of him and like to honor his service. So let's get started with some details on how I created my card.

Design Steps:

I wanted a fireworks background for my city skyline scene but I didn't have any of that type paper in my stash. So I looked on Pinterest and found some Fireworks paper that you could download for free. Whoo-hoo it was just what I was looking for! I printed it on 8 1/2" x 11" cardstock. So I will have some left to use on another project.

I decided I wanted the pinking sheer edge to frame my city scene. So I used the largest die 3 1/2" x 8 1/2" and cut in red cardstock. Then I took the next size die and cut again to get my frame. I like how it adds to the festive appeal of my card. The card base is also red.

Red card base: 3 1/2" x 8 1/2"
Designer Paper: 3 1/4" x 8 3/8"

Pinking Shear Edge: 3 1/2" x 8 1/2"

Next, I cut the city skyline in a royal blue cardstock. And the Celebrate phrase in red and the shadow in white for contrast.

I decided to stamp some sentiments directly on the designer paper. I used the "celebrate" & "birthday wishes" words from the Lil' Bluebird Designs Happy Birthday set. And the word "party" from the Kitty Love set.

Now that all my card elements are prepared, I am ready to start card assembly. I attached the designer paper to the card base with double sided tape. The city skyline is also attached with double sided tape.
For the pinking shear frame, I used Tombow Mono liquid glue.

I added my celebrate phrase and scattered some sequins to the center of the fireworks.

And that's my card for this post. So until next time.......God bless

Stamps and Dies I used to create card:

I am also entering:

1.  Crafty Catz has a masculine birthday challenge. 

2.  Aud Sentiments has a birthday sentiments challenge. 

3.  Seize the Birthday has an anything goes birthday challenge. 

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

5.  Mod Squad Challenge Blog has a slimline card challenge. 

Pet Sympathy Card

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

It's the Labor Day weekend holiday so hope you have some fun and celebrations with friends or family planned.  I am off to a baby shower for a good friend's daughter in a bit. So I wanted to get this Blog post finished before I leave. 

I made this card for my weekly DT post on the CottageCutz Blog. And, here are the details on how I created it. 

Design Steps:

Having a layout in mind at the card start is always a big boost for me. That way I can just choose the card colors and designer paper, and I am good to go. I liked this week's Sketch #869 from Splitcoaststampers. I thought it was a great layout to use several of the stamps.

I found this dog themed paper in my collection. I liked all the "dog" words and the distressed appeal of the paper. Even with the diamond shape you can still read though a lot of the words.

Maraschino red card base: 4 3/4" square
Designer Paper Layer: 4 1/2" square
Diamond Layer (Element 2) - 2nd largest Stitched Square die

Circle Layer: 3rd largest Circle Set

Next, I stamped and colored the images from the set that I was using for my card. I used both Copic markers and Prismacolor pencils for my color medium.

I used a stamp that had the words "sending big" and masked off the words I didn't need. Used my MISTI just in case a double inking was required and it did need it.

Now I am ready to start card assembly. I attached the card layers with double sided tape.

To finish off my card front, I attached the images with dimensional adhesive. The "hugs" phrase is attached with glue dots.

To complete the inside, I stamped a pet sympathy sentiment. I used the paw print from this stamp set just for a little added interest.

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

Stamps & Dies I used to create card:

I am also entering:

1.  Crafter's Castle has an an6ything goes challenge.

2.  Creative Fingers has an anything goes challenge. 

3.  Polkadoodles has an anything goes challenge. 

4.  Aud Sentiments has a thinking of you/get well/sympathy sentiments

5.  Cardz 4 Gals has a National Dog Day challenge. I think this pet sympathy card fits. 

 

Christmas Wishes

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

We had some heavy rain- 4"-6" a couple of days ago and it caused a lot of flooding and many school closures in the Pittsburgh area. It was the after affects of Hurricane Ida. Our house wasn't affected even though we have a creek behind the house it didn't overflow.  There were so many boat rescues of people who tried to drive their cars through flooded streets. One area even had to rescue a school bus because the driver attempted to drive through flood waters. 

But many people in our community weren't so fortunate including the neighbor across the street who had water come in his basement and garage. Now the clean-up begins for so many. My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone who was affected. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for the color challenge #858 on Splitcoaststampers. Chris was the hostess and she chose bumblebee, soft succulent and poppy parade as her color trio. Optional was dry embossing. 

For my card, as you can see, I went with a Christmas theme. I used the Stampin'-Up poinsettia dies to die cut and then emboss my petals. The leaves are cut in soft succulent and then I used the same color ink and sponged the edges for a deeper color shade.

The sentiment is from the Stampin'-Up Christmas toile set. My background paper is from the "Painted Christmas" collection.

I added some gold cord behind the poinsettia for interest and a couple of berry sprigs. Now I have another Christmas card for my collection. I actually may make a couple of these cards because I was really happy with how it turned out. 

That's my card for this post. So until next time.......God bless. 

card details:

Stamps: Toile Christmas (Stampin'-Up)

Paper: soft succulent, poppy parade, bumblebee, painted Christmas dsp (Stampin'-Up)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: poppy parade, soft succulent (Stampin'-Up)

Accessories: poinsettia, Christmas cardinal dies, gold cord (Stampin'-Up), vine wreath with berries die (CottageCutz)

I am also entering:

1.  Christmas Crafts All Year Round has a "Q" or "R" challenge. I have a red poinsettia, banner and berries. 

2.  Merry Little Christmas Challenge is anything goes. 

3.  ABC Christmas challenge has a "T" for ? - I have 2 berry sprigs and 2 words.

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

Birthday Wishes

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with The Charmed Life this last Saturday in August. 

Wow can you believe we are entering into September next week. This year seems to have flown by. I feel as though I haven't accomplished a lot of the goals that I set for myself this year. But, I still have 4 months to go and I do intend to meet those goals. 

I had a busy week with the harvests from my hubby's gardens. I canned 20lbs of tomatoes which resulted in 7 - 16 oz jars of a tomato sauce for winter enjoyment. I use it as a base for a marinara sauce as well as in my Chili recipe. I have approx another 8lbs waiting for me to do something with. I may roast these ones and then freeze them. I also have about 20 banana peppers that I want to stuff and freeze. Again that will be a meal in the middle of winter.

Now let's move onto my card for today so I can get into my kitchen. This card I created for my weekly DT post on the CottageCutz Blog. I am featuring the new Lil' Bluebird Designs Happy Birthday Stamps & Dies + the Kitty Love Stamps and Dies. I used the sets to create a birthday card. I like to have birthday cards on hand to send out to my family and friends. I have a large extended family so I am always in need of cards. So let's get started with some details on how I created my card.

Design Steps:

Having a layout in mind at the card start is always a big boost for me. That way I can just choose the card colors, and I am good to go. I liked this week's sketch #868 from Splitcoaststampers. I thought it was a great layout to use several of the stamps.

After many attempts to use designer paper for my image panel, I finally gave up and decided to keep the background white. It just seemed to busy with any of the patterns I tried to use in addition to the circles.

Light Purple Card Base: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"

White image panel: 4 1/8" x 5 3/8"
Light Purple Circles: 1 5/8" (I used the 4th largest Circle Set die)

Next, I stamped, colored and die cut the birthday images. I used both Copic and Stampin' Blends  markers to color the images.

Photo of the alcohol marker colors I used for coloring.

Now I am ready to start card assembly. I attached my images to the circles with dimensional adhesive. Then the circles are attached to the white image panel with double sided tape.

The birthday swag banner & the happy birthday phrase are both attached with dimensional adhesive.

I added some sequins to the card. I just didn't like the empty white space. I am not a clean and simple stamper (lol)!!! The image panel is attached to the card base with double sided tape to finish off my card.

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

Stamps & Dies I used to create card:

I am also entering:

1.  Gem of a Challenge has an anything goes. 

2.  Sweet Stampin' has a lots of layers challenge. 

3.  Creative Fingers has an anything goes challenge.

4.  Cut It Up has a sketch challenge of your choice + include a die cut.

5.  Simon Says Stamp has an anything goes challenge.  

 

Another Birthday - No Prob-llama

Hello Blogger friends! Happy Saturday to you. Hope you are having a great weekend and are doing something fun to enjoy the summertime weather. If you are in the hurricane path, I am praying for your safety and protection. 

We started our day by going to Costco and then stopped at Bahama Breeze for a lunch. The lunch was delicious and the time spent with my hubby was great as well. We haven't had a "date day" for awhile. Even though it started with shopping it ended with a nice lunch and time to talk uninterrupted. 

Now I have to get into my kitchen and start processing all the tomatoes that my hubby just picked from his garden. I am going to do canning so it will take quite awhile for this process. It will be a tomato sauce that  I will use as a basis for a marinara sauce or for chili. And, any other recipes that call for a tomato sauce base. So now onto my card for today. 

This one I created for my weekly DT post on the CottageCutz Blog.  I am featuring the new Llama Love stamp & die set from Lil' Bluebird Designs - it's a Scrapping Cottage Company. I used it to create a birthday card. I like to have birthday cards on hand to send out to my family and friends. I have a large extended family so I am always in need of cards. So let's get started with some details on how I created my card.

Design Steps:

Having a layout in mind at the card start is always a big boost for me. That way I can just choose the card colors and designer paper and I am good to go. I liked this week's sketch #867 on Splitcoaststampers because of the somewhat simplistic design. The circle was also a good resting spot for my llama image.

I looked through my designer papers for a fun and festive designer paper. I found this one with a fiesta theme and I thought it would be a good background for the llama. I also embossed the angled rectangle panel with a cactus folder.

Turquoise Card base: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"
Designer Paper Layer: 4 1/8" x 5 3/8"
Crushed Curry (Yellow) Angled Rectangle Layer: 1 1/2" x 5 3/8"
White Image Circle: - Stitched Circle Set (4th largest)
Melon Mambo Layering Circle: - Circle set (3rd largest die)  

Next, I stamped, colored and die cut the llama and cactus images. For my coloring mediums, I used a combination of alcohol markers and Prismacolor pencils and Gamsol.

For the llama body I decided to use some Stampendous fun flock. It gives a fuzzy texture and is adhered with a 2 way glue pen. You press it into the image and let it dry. IRL it looks great on my card. The recipient will love the added touch.

The photos below show what makers and pencils I used.

I stamped the first sentiment on the white circle with a turquoise ink. I placed it at an angel for added interest. This sentiment is not part of the Llama Love stamp set.

Now that my elements are prepared, I am ready to start card assembly. I attached the embossed panel first because it needed to be trimmed once I angled it.

Next, I attached the circles to the panel with double sided tape. The images are attached with dimensional adhesive. For the flag element below the circle, I used a white flag I had in my stash and stamped my 2nd sentiment in turquoise ink. This sentiment is part of the Llama Love Stamp set. I layered it with a strip of melon cardstock and attached with dimensional adhesive.

To complete my card I added the turquoise card base to the image panel with double sided tape. And, that's my card for this post. So until next time......God Bless. 

stamps & dies I used to create card:

I am also entering:

1.  Cardz 4 Galz has a texture challenge. 

2.  Creative Knockouts has a birthday wishes challenge.

3.  Seize the Birthday has a birthday challenge.  

4.  Little Red Wagon has an animal antics challenge. 

5.  Simon Says Stamp has a add a sentiment challenge.