Father's Day "in the spotlight"

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

We are almost a month into Spring and everything is returning to life and blooming here in Pittsburgh. Although we have had a return of colder temps. It's supposed to warm up next week though. 

I am looking forward to opening the windows again  and letting the breeze blow through my home. It just seems to freshen things up. 

Anyway, let's move onto my card for today. This one I created for my weekly DT post on the CottageCutz Blog. I created a slimline card for Father's Day using new Slimline dies. So let's get started with some details of how I created this card. 

Design Steps:

I started my card by cutting the Rounded Rectangle Slimline shape using the 5th largest die in this collection. It measures 2 1/2" x 7 1/2".

I used a spotlight stencil from MFT to put my image in the spotlight. Stencil work is done with wild honey distress ink. Next, I stamped my sentiment at the top of the image panel. It's a single line sentiment but a little too long for this panel. So with the help of my MISTI I turned it into a 2 liner. I will stamp my Father's Day sentiment on the card inside.

I cut the Ringmaster image in the packaging colors. I thought they would work well for a Father's Day card and they are good masculine colors. For the face, hands and nose I cut in white and then colored with Copic markers- E00 skin white and E11 barley beige. For his hair, moustache and eyebrows I cut in white cardstock and colored with a cool gray 70% Prismacolor pencil and gamsol.

I wanted some background designer paper behind the image panel. This paper is from the Stampin'-Up "berry delightful" collection and used the 2nd largest Nested Stitched Rectangle Slimline die to cut. The die measures 8" x 3". I cut my white card base the same 8" x 3" size and secured the designer paper to the panel.

Now that all the elements are prepared I am ready to start card assembly. I used dimensional adhesive and attached the Ringmaster inside the spotlight. Then attached the image panel to the designer paper base.

To complete my card, I cut some stars and scattered them on the card. Well that's it for me for this post. I hope you all have a great weekend. So until next time.......God bless. 

dies I used to create card:

I am also entering:

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

2.  Creative Knockouts has an add a sentiment challenge. 

3.  Crafty Creations has an anything goes challenge. 

4.  Creative Moments has an anything goes challenge.

5.  Watercooler Wednesday has a masculine challenge.  

Mom's Slimline Lift Flap Card

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

Our neighborhood has come alive with the signs of Spring. Flowering trees in bloom, tulips, daffodils, hyacinth and crocus are everywhere. I love walking the neighborhood to take in all the new life. And we are having such warm weather and lots of sunshine. 

Our Easter celebration with my in-laws was great last Sunday. My meal turned out perfectly and I had lots of compliments from everyone. I bought a huge 15 lb ham and I have been making different dishes all week with it. Tonight will probably be the last of it. I am making a ham & swiss cheese braid. Also using spinach and mushrooms with crescent dough. It's a new recipe for me so I will see how it goes. 

Now onto my card for today. this one I created for my weekly DT post on the CottageCutz Blog. I used the new Slimline Lift Flaps Stitched Rectangle die to create a Mother's Day card. So let's get started on some details of how I created my card. 

Design Steps:

I started off by cutting my Stampin'-Up purple posy cardstock with the double stitched rectangle die that is included in this set. I use a Big Shot machine and you do need the extended platform for the slimline dies.

Next, I laid the lift flaps die on the rectangle I just cut, secured it with tape and ran it back through the Big Shot.

I didn't want the flaps to be empty so I decided to stencil some flowers on the 2 end flaps. This stencil was so small and even though I covered the edges, I did manage to get a bit of the violet ink in the corner. Not to worry because I was going to use enamel dots, and it will cover it.

Now I am ready to cut the bouquets of flowers that will go under the flap. I used different colors of cardstock for the vases, teapot, flowers and leaves.

I adhered the vases under the flaps with a combo of double sided tape and Ranger multi medium matte adhesive.

I adhered the image panel to a white card base. Finished base size is 8" x 3". I cut my card stock at 8" x 6" and then scored at the 3" mark.

To finish off my card I added the "Mom" phrase cut in a grape cardstock. It's from the 2018 Mom w/heart die. I scattered a couple of grape hearts and a few enamel dots.

Well that's it for me for this post. Hope you are having some great weather wherever you are and that you get out this weekend to enjoy it. So until next time........God bless. 

Dies I used to create card:

I am also entering:

1.  Crafty Catz has an anything goes challenge. 

2.  Just Add Ink has a choose two challenge - leaves-petals-feathers.

3.  Cardz 4 Galz has a slimline card challenge. 

4.  Creative Knockouts has a for the girls challenge. 

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

6.  Crafty Friends Challenge is ladies/girls. 

You are Tea-riffic

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

It's Easter weekend and today is Good Friday. The day that Christians remember the suffering and death of our Lord Jesus Christ. Looking forward to a great service at Church on Sunday as we celebrate His resurrection. 

I am having my in-laws for dinner on Sunday and today is cleaning day and tomorrow will be my meal prep day. So I Wanted to get this post done so I can start cleaning. Not much to do just dusting and run sweeper because I try to stay on top of all this weekly. 

My card for today is featuring the new Spring Tea Party die. This is also my DT post on the CottageCutz Blog. I created a Mother's day card for a tea loving friend. She also collects teacups so I think she will like this one. Let's get started with some details on how I created my card.

Design Steps:

Since I knew what die I wanted to use I just needed the layout that would work with it. I found this one online. I liked the multiple layers and it gives me a chance to use designer paper.

I looked through my papers to see what would work best. I decided to go with different shades of purple. The background paper is from the Stampin'-Up "playing with patterns" collection and the gingham paper is from their "gingham gala" collection. 

The card base is purple posy and it measures 4 1/4" x 5 1/2". The designer paper layer is 4 3/8" x 5 3/8". All the other measurements follow what's listed in the sketch. 

I cut the fox image in smoky slate and basic gray cardstocks. Next, I stamped my sentiment in black ink with the help of my MISTI tool. Just in case I needed to double stamp. Sometimes the clear stamps don't make a good impression on the first stamping. And, for this one I did need to triple stamp to get a good image. The sentiment is from the Stampin'-Up set "a nice cuppa". 

Now that all my elements are prepared I am ready to start card assembly. I attached all the layers with double sided tape.

For the image panel, I used dimensional adhesive on the fox. I usually like images lifted off the background slightly for added interest. 

To finish off my card I scattered a few grape rhinestones. And, that's it for me for this post. I hope you all have a blessed Easter celebration. 

dies I used to create card:

 

I am also entering:

1.  Alphabet Challenge is "Z" for zoology

2.  Creative Fingers has an anything goes challenge. 

3.  2 Crafty Critter Crazies has an anything goes with a critter. 

4.  The Crafters Cafe Challenge is anything goes. 

5.  Crafty Animals has an anything goes challenge. 

6.  Cute Card Thursday has an anything goes. 

7.  Simon Says Stamp has an anything goes challenge. 

Brighten Your Day

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

Getting so close to wave goodbye to the month of March and welcoming April. Spring is sprouting up all over our area. Today I saw the first butterfly of the season. 

And we have so many robins in our neighborhood. They usually make a nest on the support beams underneath our deck. Nothing has started as yet, but I expect to see Mama Robin begin her building process soon. I just love the new life that is represented in this Spring season.

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for color challenge #836 on Splitcoaststampers.  Jeanne was our hostess and she chose highland heather, pineapple punch and granny apple green for her color trio. Optional was to use dots. I used enamel dots.

For my card I used elements from the April 2019 Sentimental Rose paper pumpkin kit. I stamped the rose image in highland heather ink and then fussy cut. The leaves are stamped in granny apple green and also fussy cut.

My background text paper was part of the kit. I cut it on an angle and layered it on whisper white cardstock. To join the 2 panels I used yellow ribbon.

The sentiment is from the June 2020 paper pumpkin kit- "a box of sunshine". I stamped in highland heather ink. I am sending this off to a good friend in Arizona who was just involved in a car accident that totaled her car. I just want her to know that I am thinking and praying for her. 

To finish off my card I scattered a few pineapple punch enamel dots. And that's it for me for this post. So until next time.......God bless. 

I am also entering:

1.  The Creative Crafters has an anything goes challenge.  

2.  Gem of a Challenge has an anything goes. 

3.  Sweet Stampin' has a "for a special woman" challenge. 

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

  

Easter Bicycle Scene

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with The Charmed Life Blog today. Hope your day is going well and that you are getting to enjoy this Spring season in your little spot in the world. 

Our area is starting to bring forth all the Spring blooms. In my yard there are crocus, daffodils and Lenten rose in bloom right now. The tulips have pushed through but it will be a few more weeks before we see the blooms. 

Today we had some crazy high winds early in the day. Even the birds didn't show up at our feeders for awhile. But it seems to have quieted down now. I get concerned with the high winds that our power will go out. That happened last year at the start of the pandemic and both our freezers were filled to capacity. But today nothing happened just the winds. Whew!!!

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for my weekly DT post on the CottageCutz Blog. I used the new Spring Bicycle die to create an Easter card for my bike riding friend. So let's get started on some details of how I created this card.

Design Steps: 

I started my outdoor scene by stenciling some clouds with 2 shades of blue distress inks. I used a blending brush and peeled paint distress ink for the ground area. The colors I used are a little peek of what's coming for this week's Splitcoaststampers color challenge.

Next, I started my die cutting. The Spring Bicycle is cut in Stampin'-Up pacific point cardstock. I decided to add some tulips and a garden fence as well. The tulips and tree are from the Spring Bloom Cottage and the fence is from the Picket Fence Border die.

I stamped my sentiment directly on the image panel using pacific point ink. It's two separate stamps so I used my MISTI to line everything up. I attached the fence with glue dots and the tree + flowers with Ranger multi medium matte. I rolled up adhesive dots and attached to the bicycle image. I wanted it lifted off the background scene slightly.

To complete my card I attached to the royal blue card base. Scattered a few sequins and added 2 little bunnies. They are cut in a light gray cardstock from the Bunny Gnome 1 & Bunny Gnome 2 dies. I attached them with dimensional adhesive.

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

Dies I used to create card:

I am also entering:

1.  Aud Sentiments has an animals challenge + a sentiment. 

2.  C.R.A.F.T. challenge is Spring/Easter. 

3.  Cute Card Thursday has an Easter challenge. 

4.  Crafty Creations has an anything goes challenge. 

5.  Creative Moments has an anything goes challenge. 

Some Bunny Loves You

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

It's the first day of Spring today. And we welcomed it in Pittsburgh with blue, sunny skies. It's a bit cold but the temp is supposed to warm up to 57°. 

My hubby is busy cleaning out his garden beds and getting ready for the upcoming growing season. He already planted his lettuce and onions. We had a nice harvest of many vegetables last year and are looking forward to another this one.   

The tulips are pushing their way up through the ground. The deer are already on the hunt. He has been spraying them with an organic fertilizer that deters them from eating the tulips. But they found some under the oak trees in our front yard that weren't sprayed and they promptly ate them last night. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for my weekly DT post on the CottageCutz Blog. I used the new Bunny w/Butterfly die to create an Easter card for the two little ones that live next door to me. So let's get started with some details on how I created my card.

Design Steps:

I started my card this week with my layout. I found this sketch #845 over on Splitcoaststampers and decided to use it. The layers would allow me to use designer paper to create a fun Spring card.

I looked through my designer papers and decided on these two coordinating patterns. I used the largest Stitched Square die for layer #2 and the largest Square die for layer # 3. For the background layer #1 I found this piece of light gray card patterned paper. I cut it to 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" and secured it to a white card base.

For layer #5 I used a piece of light purple cardstock and cut it to 3/4" x 3 1/2". I stamped my sentiment in a grape ink on this panel using my Stamp-a-ma-jig to get the placement. Sentiment is from Great Impressions Stamps. 

Next, I cut the bunny and butterfly images. I used colors that complimented my designer paper.

Now that all the card elements are prepared I am ready to start assembly. I secured the gray patterned paper to the card base first with double sided tape. Next, I attached layers 2, 3 and 4 secured to the card base. Added the sentiment strip with double sided tape.

I attached the bunny image using dimensional adhesive. I scattered a few enamel dots to finish off this card.

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.  Creative Fingers has an anything goes challenge. 

2.  Crafters Castle has an anything goes challenge. 

3.  Daring Cardmakers has a Spring Things challenge. 

4.  Creative Knockouts has a "Spring is in the air" challenge.

5.  Simon Says Stamp has a 2 or more patterned papers challenge. I used 3 papers. 

6.  2 Crafty Critter Crazies has an anything goes with a critter.