Welcome to our Hive

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

Hope your weekend is going well. We have no plans for today just a lot of little household chores. I am teaching Sunday School tomorrow for the kids, so I have a lesson to prepare. My class is K-1st grade. I love this age group. My hubby comes and helps me in the class. It's a good example for the kids to see a man who loves and serves the Lord. 

My card for today is one that I made for my weekly DT post on the CottageCutz Blog. I am featuring the new Bee Phrases and Honey Bee dies. We have new neighbors and I thought I would create a card to welcome them to the neighborhood.

Usually, I would make a meal or a baked treat to go along with it, but Covid changed all of that. I still send and receive meals from the neighbors on either side of me, but we have known each other for a lot of years.

I don't know how the new neighbors would feel about a meal coming from someone they don't know. So, I decided to cut flowers from my husband's flower garden and make them a bouquet. He has at least 10-12 different varieties of flowers so I will have a nice selection for the bouquet.

 Card Details:

I didn't really have a layout in mind for the card when I started so I cut out the hive, bees and welcome phrase first. On the vellum wings I sponged a bit of tumbled glass distress ink. 

My design idea then went to a slimline card. I cut a panel from the Scalloped Stitched Rectangle Slimline die. I used the largest die 3 1/4" x 8 1/4". I decided to stencil some leaves on the panel with twisted citron distress ink. I added a stenciled branch with ground espresso distress ink so the beehive would have something to hang from.

Next, I attached the "welcome to our hive phrase" with clear drying glue and the images with glue dots. 

To finish off my card, I added a few flowers. these are cut from the Strawberry Cottage die. I secured the card to a base of green apple cardstock. The base measures 3 1/2" x 8 1/2".

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

Dies I used to create card:

I am also entering: 

1.  Allsorts Challenge is to create your own background. I stenciled my background. 

2.  Crafty Calendar Challenge is anything goes. 

3.  Paper Dragonfly Creative Challenge is summertime buzz. 

4.  Addicted to Stamps and More challenge is die cuts and/or stencils. I used both.

5.  Paper Funday is anything goes with optional of friendship. 

 

 

Sweet Treat For You

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with The Charmed Life Blog today. It's been awhile since I posted on my Blog but for good reason. I had my son, daughter-in-law and precious granddaughter here from California for a visit. 

It was such a wonderful family time. We went to dinner at my other son's home and celebrated his birthday. We had our family reunion which was also a great family time. Less people showed up this year although I am not sure why. But we are on que again for Christmas time. 

My granddaughter and I went swimming in my neighbors pool every day. She loves doing that. We had a lemonade stand in front of my home. I was amazed at the generosity of people. Some just stopped and gave a donation. She earned $53 which she was happy with. She is quite the little entrepreneur just like her Dad. 

Now my home is quiet again and I miss her. She wants me to come out for a visit soon. I am thinking maybe September with my daughter-in-law and we will make it a girl's trip. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for the color challenge #897 on Splitcoaststampers.  We were to use pale papaya, calypso coral and bermuda bay for our color trio. Optional was to use something new. I am using a new CottageCutz die- Fountain Sundae.

pale papaya, calypso coral, bermuda bay

I seem to be into fun folds lately and this one is called a double easel fold. Here is a link to a video if you want to see the process.

The fountain sundae is cut in the challenge colors plus a neutral of gray. My designer papers are from the Stampin' Up "oh so ombre" collection and the "pocketful of cheer" Paper Pumpkin Kit. The "holder" for the easel is contents from the same kit.

Stamped my sentiment to finish off the front of the card.

This is the inside of my card and it's a birthday card for a friend, so I decided to add a "gift card" holder. I am giving her a gift card to a local ice cream parlor. They make the most delicious Sundaes.

The sentiments are stamps from Stampin' Up and Hero Arts. The gift card holder is designer paper from the "pocketful of cheer" Paper Pumpkin Kit.

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

Card details:

Stamps: jolly gingerbread (Paper Pumpkin Kit Nov 2020), pocketful of cheer (Paper Pumpkin Kit March 2016), Cupcakes (Hero Arts)

Paper: bermuda bay, calypso coral, pale papaya, basic white, oh so ombre dsp (Stampin' Up) grey (Bazzill)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: bermuda bay (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: fountain sundae, circle dies (CottageCutz), Pocketful of Cheer Paper Pumpkin (March 2016)

Techniques: double easel fun fold

I am also entering:

1.  Creative Fingers has an anything goes challenge.

2.  Aud Sentiments has a Summer + a Sentiment challenge.  

3.  C.R.A.F.T. challenge is summer. 

4.  Moving Along With The Times has an anything goes challenge. 

5.  Retro Rubber Challenge has an anything goes- stamps 5 yrs & 10 yrs

Buzzin' By

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for stopping by today to visit with The Charmed Life Blog. 

Hope you have some fun plans for the weekend. It's summertime and a chance to get out and enjoy yourself. We are going to a barbecue at a friend's home later today. That will be fun with about 10 couples in attendance. I am making an appetizer to share. I have made it before and it's always a hit. Using the fresh cucumbers from my hubby's garden. Here is a link to the recipe.

Now onto my post for today. This card I created for my weekly DT post on the CottageCutz Blog.  I am featuring the new Bee Gnome and Bee Phrases die. My friend has been sick with a lingering sinus infection and her hubby with complications from Covid. I want them to know I am thinking of them as well as praying for them. So, let's get started with some details on how I created my card.

Design Steps:

I started my card by stamping my sentiment. It is such a large one that I wasn't sure how many images I would be able to use. I wasn't getting a good image with this stamp even using my MISTI. After wasting several pieces of cardstock, I tried Versafine instant dry pigment ink. That was the ink that worked on this stamp.

After I stamped the sentiment, I used a Nuvo glitter gloss pen for some interest. It looks splotchy in some of the photos but IRL it's a nice even sparkle.

Daffodil Yellow Card Base: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"
Black Layering Panel: 3 7/8" x 5 1/8"
Daffodil Image Panel: 3 5/8" x 4 7/8"

Next, I cut the images from cardstock. For the gnome wings I used vellum and then shaded with some tumbled glass distress ink. I was going to use the hive from the Bee Gnome die But I thought the gnome would be perfect with the sentiment wording. He looks like he is saying "hi" and bringing some flower love!

My elements are prepared I am ready to start card assembly. I secured the image panel to the black layering panel with double sided tape. The gnome is attached with dimensional adhesive.  I laid out the honeycombs until I was satisfied with their placement and then secured them with Art glitter glue (clear drying). For a little added interest, I paper pieced some dotted designer paper in the honeycombs.

To finish off my card, I attached the panels to the card base and scattered a few sequins and black enamel dots. That's it for me for this post. So, until next time.....God bless. 
 

Dies I used to create card:

I am also entering:

1.  Through the Craft Room Door has an anything goes challenge. 

2.  Arty Divas has an anything goes challenge. 

3.  Love to Craft Challenge is anything goes. 

4.  The Creative Crafters has an anything goes.

5.  Fab 'n' Funky has an anything goes. 

Sweetest Birthday Wishes

Hello Blogger Friends! Happy Sunday to you. Hope your weekend is going well.

I went to a Rubber Stamp show yesterday in the Pittsburgh area. I went alone since I don't have any friends locally who are card makers. I had a great time browsing all the vendor products. 

There was even a new vendor there "The Ton". This company has been around for about 7 years, but I just heard of them. They have some really beautiful layering stencils.  I did a make and take with the peony stencil. I loved how it turned out. I did the make and take after I spent the last of my money at her booth. So, I do have some of her items on my wish list. 

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 created a birthday card. That seems to be the most needed card of the ones I send. So, I can never have enough of these. I have a big extended family plus the friends I send birthday greetings to.

I am featuring the new Strawberry Treats die. So, let's get started on some details of how I created my card.

Design Steps:

I wanted to use on my card and then chose my designer paper & card base.  My designer paper and cardstocks are al from Stampin' Up. 

Fresh freesia card base: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"

White border strip: 1/4" x 5 1/2"
Fresh Freesia Designer Paper: 3 1/4" x 5 1/2"

Attached to the card base with double sided tape.

Next, I cut the cake image and the sweetest phrase in colors that complemented the base and designer. Instead of the strawberry that is part of the cake design I decided to add flowers. I didn't think a red strawberry would look good with the shades of purple I was using.

I decided to place the images on a circle. I had this one in my supplies already cut from the Wacky Stitched Circle die. It's the 2nd largest one - approximately 3 1/8". I attached the circle with double sided tape and the images with dimensional adhesive.

To finish off this first card, I attached the sweetest phrase, stamped an additional greeting on a banner and added a few light purple gems.

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

Dies I used to create card:

I am also entering:

1.  A Gem of a Challenge is anything goes. 

2.  Polkadoodles has an anything goes challenge. 

3.  Aud Sentiments has an anything goes with a sentiment. 

4.  Creative Knockouts has a celebrations challenge. 

5.  The Paper Shelter has a birthdays celebration. 

Happy Birthday

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

Hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July celebration. We had our family here for a cookout. It was a great day. We went on Saturday night to watch our local community fireworks. That was also a great night. 

Our garden harvest is just starting. Yesterday I made garlic scape pesto. The scapes are the long green shoots that grow from the garlic bulb. My husband plants his garlic in the fall. The scapes are long, curvy, and kind of look like a cross between chives and scallions. The stalk of the garlic scape also has a bud on the end; and if the scape was left on the bulb, the bud would flower. You cut the scapes to allow the garlic bulb that is in the ground to grow. 

From the scapes we had, I was able to get 3- 16oz containers of pesto. I put it in the freezer for enjoyment this winter. 

Now onto my card for today. This is one that I made for the color challenge #896 on Splitcoaststampers. I was the hostess, and I chose fresh freesia, evening evergreen and polished pink for my color trio. Optional was to use vellum. 

So for my card I used elements of the Paper Pumpkin Kit from June 2021. It has all the colors and die cuts in the chosen colors plus evening evergreen twine.

The card base did not come in the kit- it's the fresh freesia color. I used a die to cut my happy birthday sentiment. The shadow is polished pink and the phrase is cut in vellum.

The background for the die cut leaves came in the kit and it's vellum. To finish off my card, I added a few gems in polished pink. 

This card was also selected as one of the entries for the Creative Scrapbooker Magazine card of the month for June. I lost in the 3rd round, but it was still nice to be selected. 

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

card details:

Paper: fresh freesia, polished pink, vellum (Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: A2

Accessories: Paper Pumpkin Kit June 2021, in-color opal rounds (Stampin' Up), Happy Birthday w/Shadow die (CottageCutz)

I am also entering:

1.  Addicted to Stamps and more has a birthday challenge. 

2.  Crafty Gals Corner has an anything goes challenge. 

3.  Elliebelle's Crafty Wednesday is anything goes. 

4.  Lil Patch of Crafty Friends is anything goes. 

5.  Gem of a Challenge is anything goes. 

Sweetest Berry in the Patch

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

It's July 4th weekend so hope you have some fun plans to relax and enjoy this Independence Day celebration. We will be with family having a cookout. And tonight, we are going to watch our community fireworks display. My hubby loves to watch fireworks. 

We just returned home from a beach vacation in the Isle of Palms South Carolina. It was a great family time - rest, relaxation, good food, beach, sand and sun. I just loved it! We had great weather and no rain. The condo we rented was beach front so that was good as well. 

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 am featuring the new Strawberries w/Mouse die and the Berry Phrases die, and I created a fun fold birthday card. So, let's get started with some details of how I created my card.

Design Steps:

I found a cute fun fold idea on Pinterest and decided to use it for my card today. Here is a link if you would like to watch a video. I had this strawberry paper in my stash and thought it would work well for a strawberry themed birthday card. After the card was done, I wasn't sure about the paper with the card front. My hubby wasn't real wild about it. Here are the  card details. All paper is Stampin' Up.

Poppy Parade Card Base: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"
Fun Fold Flap: 3" x 3 3/4"
Berry Delightful Designer Paper: 1 1/2" x 4 1/8"

I took the 3" x 3 3/4" piece of cardstock and added glue to the scored part. This piece will create the flap. I glued it to the red card base. Then I added the 2 sections of designer paper using double sided tape.

I used another piece of designer paper cut at 2 7/8" x 4 1/8" for the front of the flap. This pattern is from the "see a silhouette" collection. 

I set the card base aside to start cutting my images.

I cut the mouse image and berries from cardstock that matches the designer paper used. The berry phrase was cut in pacific point, poppy parade and garden green cardstocks. I attached the phrases with Art Glitter glue. I like this one because it dries clear.

This panel was attached to the card front flap. I attached the image panel to a white card base measuring 4 3/8" x 5 5/8".

I also decided to finish off the card inside. I cut a piece of white cardstock measuring 2 7/8" x 4". I stamped my birthday sentiment and added a few additional strawberries.

Well, that's it for me for this post. So until next time......God bless. Happy 4th 0f July!!!

 

I am also entering:

1.  Alphabet Challenge is "G" for giggle (Something humorous) I thought this little mouse was funny. 

2.  Gem of a Challenge has an anything goes. 

3.  Krafty Chicks has an anything goes challenge. 

4.  Crafty Gals has an anything goes challenge. 

5.  Simon Says Stamp has an anything goes challenge. 

Birthday Wishes

Hello Blogger friends! Happy Friday to you all. 

Another weekend is upon us. Hope you have some fun summer plans or even better crafty plans. Nothing special here but it is Father's Day weekend. 

I picked up an electric popcorn maker for my hubby. He started to make it on stove but ours is a glass cooktop and that isn't an easy feat without scratching it. He was careful but it's a lot more work and an electric unit will make it much easier. He doesn't know that I bought this so it will be a surprise. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for the color challenge #895 on Splitcoaststampers. Chris was our hostess and she chose soft seafoam, garden green and soft suede for her color trio. Optional was to use any animal.

soft seafoam, garden green, soft suede

I have had the Counting Sheep stamps set and dies since the 2021 sale-a-bration event and never used them. So Chris' challenge was just the opportunity to pull them out and design a birthday card. And also to use some elements from some older Stampin' Up Paper Pumpkin kits.

I had the stair step base in my stash and used it to create this card. The sheep I finished off with fun flock for added interest. Although it doesn't show in the photo well.

The wishes sentiment is from an older Paper Pumpkin kit, as is the sentiment banner. The Birthday and celebrate sentiments are from Paper Pumpkin kits. The balloons and fence are part of the counting Sheep die set.

This will be a birthday card for the many kids I give them to. The fun flocked sheep any kid will love. And, that's my card for this post. So until next time......God bless. 

card  details:

Stamps: Counting Sheep, (stampin' Up) Lovely Day (Paper Pumpkin Feb 2020), Poppin' Birthday (March 2019 Paper Pumpkin)

Paper: garden green, soft suede, soft seafoam, basic white, sunshine & rainbows dsp, subtles dsp (Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: garden green (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: counting sheep dies, wildflower wishes paper pumpkin kit, smokey slate stampin' blends (Stampin' Up), outer stair step card bases (The Paper Cut), fun flock (Stampendous)

Techniques: Outer stair Step

I am also entering:

1.  Creative Knockouts has a 2 or more patterned paper challenge. 

2.  DL.Art Thankful Thursday has a cute animal challenge. 

3.  Get Creative Challenge is 2 or more patterned papers.

4.  Critter Crazy Challenge is anything goes featuring a critter. 

5.  Crafty Animals has an anything goes with an animal. 

Father's Day Hot Air Balloon

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

We are expecting a severe thunderstorm in our area shortly, so I wanted to get this Blog post done just in case we lose power. They are forecasting large, damaging hail, wind and lightning so I am praying that our home is protected. It's almost summer now and storms are what happen.

Anyway, my card for today is one that I created for my nephew for Father's Day. It's already in the mail and he probably received it today. 

I used the colors from the Splitcoaststampers color challenge #892. Karen was our hostess and she chose pacific point, gorgeous grape and pear pizzazz for her color trio. Optional this week is anything goes.

pacific point, pear pizzazz, gorgeous grape

For my option, I chose to use a card base from the March 2022 Paper Pumpkin kit. When I saw this kit, I thought the mountain scenery would be a great background for a hot air balloon.

I cut the balloon 3 times in the challenge colors then used the die inlay technique to add the gorgeous grape and pear pizzazz colors back in.

I cut a banner from another die and stamped my Father's Day greeting, and my card is finished. And that's my post for today. So until next time.......God bless. 

Card details:

Stamps: man of the hour (Waltzingmouse)

Paper: pacific point, gorgeous grape, pear pizzazz (Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: tuxedo black (Memento)

Accessories: Paper Pumpkin Kit (Beyond the Horizon 2022), hot air balloon (Ellentina dies), plane with banner die (IO)

I am also entering:

1.  Aud Sentiments has a summer + a sentiment challenge. Hot Air ballooning is a summer event. 

2.  Moving Along With The Times is Father's Day/Masculine.

3.  Fab 'n' Funky has a celebrations challenge. 

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

5.  Cardz 4 Guys has a father's day challenge.