Filmstrip Graduation Card

Hello Blogger Friends. Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with The Charmed Life Blog. Hope your weekend is going great and you have some fun plans or maybe you're reading this while on vacation. That would even be better!

I had friends over on Friday for a night on my deck. I served up some great appetizers and sangria. It was just the girls for this one. We had a beautiful evening temperature wise and the time spent laughing and talking was so nice. 

Then Saturday we went to a graduation party honoring my nephew. I made him this card I am featuring today using the new CottageCutz Film Strip Slimline die.  So let's get started with some details on how I created it. 

Design Steps:

I cut the filmstrip from black cardstock. My white card base is 8 1/4" x 3 1/4". It's the same size as the filmstrip.

I cut another white panel 3 1/4" x 8 1/4" to stamp my sentiment and grad cap images. I just thought it would be easier this way rather than stamping directly on the card base. I laid the filmstrip down for placement of the stamps. These are wood stamps so I used my Stamp-a-ma-jig for exact placement. 

I am ready to start card assembly. I attached the filmstrip to the white background panel with Ranger multi medium matte. When I use this die again I will definitely use an adhesive sheet. It will be easier that way.

Next, I placed the camera image and smile phrase in the left opening. I used double sided tape and liquid adhesive to attach these images. Notice the graduation cap in the corner. It's not a die. I cut it out and in the next photos I will tell you how I did it.

Grad Cap Steps:

I started with a piece of red cardstock 2" x 1". I penciled a line at 1" and then turned it and penciled another line at 1/2".

Then I started making my cuts. I went from point to point so it would form the top of the graduation cap. The next photo shows the start of my cutting.

I went around and made 3 additional cuts going from point to point to form the shape. I believe it's called a parallelogram. I flipped it over since my pencil marks were still there.

Now to make the piece that fits on the grad's head, I used the 2nd largest stitched die heart and placed just a portion of it on red cardstock.

This is what the cut looks like. I am using the negative part of cut. I just trimmed until I got the size that would work for the cap.

Here is the finished piece.

And then I attached it to the head part. I was happy with how it turned out. Then I started thinking about a tassel but I didn't want to fuss with twine. So I looked through my dies and found a ribbon that I thought would work. It's from the Penguins with Presents die. I cut just the ribbon portion and then used the longest loop of the ribbon. I think it works for the tassel. I punched a 1/8" hole and added a gold brad.

Before I attached the white card base to the image panel, I stamped my inside sentiment. I also added a few stars that are part of this Film Strip die. I thought this sentiment is a perfect companion to the front of my non-traditional graduation card.

To finish off my card I attached the image panel to the card base using double sided adhesive.

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.  My Time to Craft has no patterned paper challenge. 

2.  Daisy Chain Challenge wants us to a die or stencil. 

3.  Creative Knockouts has a die cuts or punches challenge. 

4.  Addicted to Stamps and More has a die cut and/or stencil challenge. 

5.  Watercooler Wednesdays Challenge is all about occasions. 

   

Wishes Have Wings

Hello Blogger Friends! Happy Monday to you. Hope your weekend was a good one and that there was some fun involved. 

We had plans Friday night to have a young couple from church over for dinner. David wasn't feeling well and then it involved a hospital visit. He was released and it turned out not to be anything serious. Thank the Lord!

Saturday I spent all afternoon at a Rubber Stamp show that was held in the Pittsburgh area. Then Saturday night my hubby went to a men's cookout. It was put on by one of the guys from church. He had a great time, and I was able to spend the evening in my craft room. 

Sunday was a kickback day after church for me. My hubs went over to visit his Mom. Then we had dinner together later in the evening. All in all I enjoyed my weekend. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for the color challenge #848 on Splitcoaststampers.  I was the hostess, and I chose gold, blackberry bliss and calypso coral for the color trio. Optional was to use die cuts. 

This card is using elements from the July 2020 Paper Pumpkin kit "summer nights". This kit was all about summertime with a Ferris wheel, lightning bugs and summer lanterns. Everything you need to made cards are included in these monthly kits.

I made the card according to the kit directions except I angled the vellum jar to make it look like the "lightning bugs" or "fire flies" are flying out of the jar. I had to explain this to my hubby because he didn't understand why the jar was tilted. I thought it was a good idea - maybe not? I also stamped fireworks in calypso coral ink. 

My 'wishes have wings" sentiment is from a Great Impressions stamp. I will use this for a birthday card and the birthday sentiment will be stamped on the inside.

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

card details:

Stamps: Summer Nights (Stampin'-Up), Wishes Have Wings (Great Impressions)

Paper: card base (July 2020 Paper Pumpkin Kit), whisper white (Stampin'-Up)rom

Paper Size: A2

Ink: blackberry bliss (Stampin'-Up)

Accessories: die cuts (Paper Pumpkin Kit July 2020 (Stampin'-Up)

I am also entering:

1.  Crafting Happiness Challenge is anything goes. 

2.  Use Your Stuff Challenge is summer fun. 

3.  Gem of a Challenge is anything goes. 

4.  Creative Fingers #212 has an anything goes challenge. 

5.  Love to Craft Challenge is anything goes. 

Celebrate Your Day

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with The Charmed Life Blog today. Hope your weekend is going well and you were able to do something fun. 

I went to a Rubber Stamp Show that was held in the Pittsburgh area this weekend. I remembered about it yesterday morning while I was having my morning coffee. They didn't have one last year because of the Covid-19 restrictions so I knew I didn't want to miss it this year. 

It's about a 45 minute drive for me, but I always enjoy going and being able to pick up some stamping product. There were several companies that had make & takes. I was able to use pan pastels for the first time. I really liked working with them and ended up buying them. We made a background with a sunset and stamped a silhouette image over it. 

I also have been looking for some new patriotic stamps and I found a Taylored Expressions map of the USA and the die cut. I can't wait for the next patriotic holiday to use it. I also have wanted to try the Art Glitter glue because many stampers rave about it. It's one that dries clear so I bought it. Hopefully it works the way they all say it does. 

All in all it was a fun day for me. I came home around 4:00 pm after being there for 4 hours. So now onto my card for today. 

This one I made for the color challenge #848. I was the hostess and I chose blackberry bliss, gold and calypso coral.  Optional was to use die cuts. 

For this card I also used the die cuts that are part of the July 2020 Paper Pumpkin Kit from Stampin'-Up. This kit was all about summertime with a Ferris wheel, lightning bugs and summer lanterns. Everything you need to made cards are included in these monthly kits.

I really liked the Ferris wheel image and thought of a friend who travels around the country to amusement parks. She will get this one for her birthday.

I saw this card on Pinterest that made the card base into an easel card and used that for my inspiration. I used different stamp sets for my sentiments and the fireworks images. On the top sentiment panel I stamped fireworks and then used wink of stella to give them a bit of sparkle. The stamp is from Great Impressions Stamps. The birthday sentiments are from an old Verve stamp set. 

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

card details:

Stamps: poppy birthday (Verve), Fireworks (Great Impressions)

Paper: card base (July 2020 Paper Pumpkin Kit)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: blackberry bliss, calypso coral (Stampin'-Up)

Accessories: die cuts (July 2020 Paper Pumpkin Kit- Stampin'-Up)

Techniques: easel card

I am also entering:

1.  Crafter's Castle has an anything goes. 

2.  Polkadoodles has an anything goes challenge. 

3.  A Bit More Time to Craft has an anything goes. 

4.  A Perfect Time to Craft has an anything goes. 

5.  Crafts Galore Encore Challenge is anything goes. 

6.  Creative Creases has a fun fold challenge. 

Berry Best Birthday

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

Another weekend is upon us. Hope you have some fun plans now that our lives are starting to return to the more normal we are used to. Or maybe you have plans to do some crafting. A weekend doing that would be so much fun as well. Something that I haven't done for awhile. I may just contact some of my stamping friends and see if they would be interested in a day of cardmaking soon. We haven't done that for way over a year. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for my weekly DT post on the CottageCutz Blog. I am featuring the new Circle Windows Slimline die and the strawberry image that's included to make a birthday card for a friend. She celebrates her special day at the end of the month. So let's get started with some details on how I created my card.

Design Steps:

I started my card by cutting the windows slimline in white cardstock. The panel is 3 1/2" x 8 1/2".

I wanted to use a strawberry themed designer paper in the windows, and I cut the circles with the 4th largest die from the Circle set. The circles are slightly larger that the opening so they will fit nicely behind.

The strawberry image is part of this new die and I cut it in a poppy red cardstock and then again in a green cardstock for the hull.

Now that I have all the card elements cut, I am ready to start card assembly. The card base is 3 3/4" x 8 3/4". It will still fit in a #10 business envelope for mailing or you could make your own.

I attached the designer paper to the circle openings with double sided tape. Then this panel was attached with the same adhesive. After I attached the panels I realized I hadn't stamped my sentiment. I put it in my MISTI and stamped. I wasn't sure if I would have to ink a few times since I was stamping on 3 layers of cardstock. But one inking was fine.

Next, I attached the strawberries with dimensional adhesive. I decide to cut three small vines so the strawberries weren't hanging in mid-air. I used an older Strawberry die.

To finish off my card, I scattered a few green glitter enamel dots for some added interest. And that's my card for today. So until next time.......God bless.

Dies I used to create card:

I am also entering:

1.  Craft Rocket Challenges has a Summer challenge with a Birthday theme. 

2.  Creative Knockouts has a "something to say" challenge.

3.  Seize the Birthday has a Birthday challenge with optional of framed.

4.  Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper challenge is using patterned paper. 

5.  Love to Craft has an anything goes challenge.  

In Sympathy & Friendship

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

Hope you all had a great July 4th celebration. We had friends over on Friday night for dinner for an early celebration. Then On Saturday and Sunday night we had neighbors who had some incredible fireworks displays. The neighborhood skies were lit up with color. It was quite an expense for them I am sure. Just because of the length and the type of displays they both had. 

Now here we are in the midst of summer. I am enjoying the long days and warm nights. We had our first harvest of banana peppers today. Hubby picked about 7 of them so I will stuff them with a combo of hot and sweet Italian sausage. Our pole beans are also coming in at a fast and furious rate. I am planning on cooking up a big batch for dinner tonight. Just need to search my recipes for a tasty one. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for the color challenge #843 On Splitcoaststampers. Karen was our hostess and she chose rich razzleberry, pear pizzazz and highland heather for the color trio. Option is flowers.

I started this card by stenciling an oval with an oval stencil from MFT. I used a blending brush and wilted violet distress ink. I stamped the image and sentiment in rich razzleberry ink. The image is from Great Impressions Stamps - Queen Anne's Lace. The Sentiment is from MSE- Sympathy sentiments. 

I added a pear pizzazz strip on the left, punched a few butterflies with a Martha Stewart punch,  and scattered a few rich razzleberry enamel dots. And that finishes off this card. The card will go into my collection for when I need it. I like to have them on hand. 

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

Card details:

Stamps: Queen Anne's Lace (Great Impressions), sympathy sentiments (MSE)

Paper: highland heather, whisper white, pear pizzazz

Paper Size: A2

Ink: rich razzleberry (Stampin'-Up), wilted violet distress (Ranger)

Accessories: oval stencil (MFT), rich razzleberry enamel dots (Stampin'-Up), butterfly punch (Martha Stewart)

Techniques: stenciling

I am also entering:

1.  Make My Monday has an anything airborne challenge. 

2.  We Love Chocolate Baroque has a beautiful blooms challenge. 

3.  Gem of a Challenge is anything goes. 

4.  Crafty Calendar Challenge is anything goes.

5.  Creative Fingers has an anything goes challenge. 

Sassy Farm Chicks Birthday

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

It's a holiday weekend and I hope you ae all getting a chance to celebrate this Independence Day weekend. From 1776 to the present day, July 4th has been celebrated as the birth of American independence. We had friends over last night for some festivities. On Sunday night we are going out with some friends to a local community fireworks display. 

We started our Saturday off with a Prayer Gathering for our City. It was organized by our church and held on an overlook to the City of Pittsburgh. It was a great start to our morning. Here is a photo of the view we had of the City of Pittsburgh. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for my weekly DT post on the CottageCutz Blog. I am featuring the Country Farm Chicks from our Country Farm collection. I created a birthday card with a sassy birthday sentiment. I have a few brothers who would think this is just too funny. So one of them will receive it for their birthday. So let's get started with some details on how I created my card.

Design Steps:

I started my card this week with the layout. I had this one saved from Splitcoaststampers #856 and thought it would work well for the images I wanted to use. I did take some liberties with the sketch. Layer 4 is moved to the top of the image panel and instead of a rectangle image, I used a cloud.

Next, I die cut the chick images using different colors of colored cardstock. I used the packaging colors because I thought it was a good farm appeal.

I selected a sky themed background paper for layer 2 of the sketch. I used a blue panel for layering. My hill is cut from designer paper using the Hills Slimline die. I decided to add a sun and that is cut from the Clouds & Sun die.

Blue Layering Panel - 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"
Designer Paper Layer - 4 1/8" x 5 3/8"

I cut my cloud image and stamped my sentiment in a blue ink.

Now that all my elements are prepared I am ready to start card assembly. I attached the designer paper and the sun to the blue layering panel with double sided tape. The farm chicks and the cloud sentiment are attached with dimensional adhesive.

To finish off my card I added a white card base. The base is 4 1/2" x 5 3/4". Scattered a few glitter enamel dots and this card is complete. And, that's it for me for this post. So until next time.......God bless. Happy 4th of July everyone!!!

dies I used to create card:

 

I am also entering:

1.  Creative Fingers has an anything goes challenge.

2.  2 Crafty Critter Crazies has an anything goes with a critter. 

3.  Crafty Animals has an anything goes challenge. 

4.  Crafter's Cafe has an anything goes challenge.