Feels Like Frost Birthday

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

It's a stormy day here in Pittsburgh and we have a tornado watch until 8:00 pm tonight. It's been raining most of the day and we have some sort of storm blowing through the area right now. So, I wanted to get this Blog post in before we have any lightning. Which is supposed to happen with this round of storms.

Now onto my card for today. I made this for a special niece for her birthday. She likes Bluejays so I colored this one with Stampin' Up alcohol markers in shades of blue. I used the colors from the Splitcoaststampers color challenge #1085. I was the hostess and I chose Night of Navy, Basic White and Silver for the color trio. 

White, Silver, Night of Navy

My background designer paper is from the Stampin' Up "feels like frost" collection. The card base is night of navy.

I used the Stampin' Up "Toile Christmas" stamp set for the bird image. I colored him with night of navy Stampin' Blends to make him look like a bluejay. Then I placed him on a branch cut from white glitter paper using a CottageCutz die. Also added die cut white glitter sprigs. Wanted it to have a snowy appearance.

The other side of the designer paper has silver designs, so I cut a frame for my bluejay. Stamped my sentiment and added some enamel dots to complete this card. 

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

Card Details:

Stamps: Toile Christmas (Stampin' Up), Sending You a Smile (GinaK- Scrapbook & Cards)

Paper: night of navy, feels like frost dsp (Stampin' Up), White Glitter Paper (TE)

Paper Size: 4 1/2" x 5 3/4"

Ink: night of navy (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: Christmas Cardinal dies, Ombre Matte dots (Stampin' Up), night of navy & pumpkin pie blends (Stampin' Up), Square dies (CottageCutz)

I am also entering:

1.  A Cut Above has an anything goes challenge using a die cut. 

2.  AAA Birthday Game #83 wants us to use die cuts. 

3.  Crafters Cafe #327 is "for the girls" w/option of anything goes. 

4.  Love to Craft is anything goes. 

5.  Paper Rocks Scissors is anything goes using paper or scissors. 

 

Gone Bananas

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

I have been showing my Valentine cards this week because I was traveling in January & February. Then I was down with a cold for a week. So, this card is another that I created for Valentine's Day. 

I gave this one to my friends little boy who is handicapped and in a wheelchair. I go to visit him weekly to give my friend a break. He looks forward to my visits, and I look forward to spending time with him. 

To create this card, I used the colors from the Splitcoaststampers color challenge #1091. We were to use crushed curry, blueberry bushel and azure afternoon for the color trio. Optional was to use a 4th color. I chose real red.

crushed curry, blueberry bushel, azure afternoon

I cut my juggling monkey in the challenge colors and used 2 shades of brown as neutrals.

For the bananas I used a blending brush and fossilized amber distress ink on white cardstock. I used a light touch to get the color to be more like bananas.

I added some strips of red designer paper to the bottom and top of the card. My stamped sentiment is from the Lawn Fawn "My Silly Valentine" set. the die cut sentiment is from CottageCutz.

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

Card Details:

Stamps: My Silly Valentine (Lawn Fawn)

Paper: Real Red, Blueberry Bushel, Azure Afternoon, Basic White, Soft Suede, Baked Brown Sugar, Sweetest Christmas Dsp (Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: 3 1/2 x 7

Ink: real red (Stampin'-Up), fossilized amber distress (Ranger)

Accessories: Juggling Monkey die, Heart dies (CottageCutz) I am also entering: 1.  Crafty Gals Corner has an anything goes w/optional twist of heart.  2.  Little Red Wagon wants us to use an animal on our card. 3.  Simon Says Stamp Challenge is to make it cute.

Hugs & Kisses

Hello Blogger friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with The Charmed Life Blog this first Friday in March. I mentioned earlier this week on my Blog post that my schedule between late January and February involved travel and then I was down with a cold for a week.

So, for the next several days I was going to post all the Valentine cards I made for this year. This is another one. 

I used the colors from the Splitcoaststampers color challenge. I was the hostess this week and I chose highland heather, real red and petal pink for the color trio. Optional was to make a Valentines or use designer paper (just in case you didn't need a Valentine).

highland heather, real red, petal pink

I picked my colors from the "Sweet Talk" designer paper collection from Stampin' Up. Because I need Valentine cards and I like the paper.

Used an envelope die from CottageCutz and added my hearts cut from the Lawn Fawn "candy hearts" die.

Stamped a sentiment from the Stampin' Up Paper Pumpkin Kit "Heartfelt Love Notes from 2018 and the other one was from the Lawn Fawn "Love Letters" set. I added a few hearts to complete this card.

Well, that's it for me for this post. One more card to feature tomorrow and then Valentine 2026 will officially be over for me. So until next time....God bless. 

Card Details:

Stamps: Heartfelt Love Notes (Paper Pumpkin 2018)

Paper: highland Heather, Real Red, Petal Pink, Sweet Talk DSP (Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: real red (Stampin'-Up)

Accessories: Candy Hearts die (Lawn Fawn), Spring Kitty w/Envelope die (CottageCutz)

I am also entering:

1.  Crafty Catz has an anything goes challenge. 

2.  Creative Fingers has an anything goes challenge.

3.  Creative Inspiration Challenge is anything goes.  

Heart Shaped

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit again with The Charmed Life Blog. As I mentioned yesterday my schedule between late January and February involved travel and then I was down with a cold for a week. 

So for the next several days I am going to post all the Valentine cards I made. 

This card I made for the color challenge on Splitcoaststampers.  I was the hostess this week and I chose highland heather, real red and petal pink for the color trio. Optional was to make a Valentine card or you could use Designer Paper (just in case you don't need a Valentine). 

highland heather, real red, petal pink

I picked my colors from the "Sweet Talk" designer paper collection from Stampin' Up. Because I thought it was perfect for a Valentine card or an Anniversary card.  

For this card I used the Heart Shaped Stamp & die set from Stampin' Up. I stamped the heart in real red and then used the die to cut the heart shape and overlaid it on the stamped image.

Stamped my sentiment and added a few enamel dots and hearts to complete my card. This card was my inspiration for the card I created. I changed the colors, designer paper and sentiment to make it my own.

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

Card Details:

Stamps: Heart Shaped (Stampin' Up)

Paper: highland Heather, Real Red, Petal Pink, Basic White, Sweet Talk DSP (Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: real red (Stampin'-Up), tuxedo black (Memento)

Accessories: Heart Shaped dies, real red enamel dots (Stampin' Up), Blueprints 3 die (MFT) I am also entering: 1.  Ally's Angels has an anything goes challenge.  2.  Crafts Galore Encore has an anything goes challenge.  3.  Paper Rock Scissors has an anything goes challenge.

Love Always Wins

Hello Blogger Friends. Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with The Charmed Life Blog today. It's been way too long that I have posted on my Blog. But for good reason. I was out to visit my son and his family in CA. When I came home from there I went to South Carolina with my other daughter-in-law. Then I came home and got sick with a head cold. Then we left to go to FL to visit our friends who have a winter home there.  

But I am now back and healthy again so here is my post for today. I know it's a Valentine card but I didn't get to post all the cards I made for Valentine's Day. So, they are coming in the next several days. 

I made this card for a challenge over on Splitcoaststampers. Here is the link to the challenge. The hostess wanted us to improve on a card in our gallery.  

Here is my original card. It's from way back in 2016.

I used washi tape and stickers on the original card. On the new and improved version, I made a book binding fun fold. For the tic tac toe game board, I used dies from MFT. I was looking for them for a while and then I found them on Ebay. 

The sentiment is also from MFT. My designer paper is from the Stampin' Up "Sweet Talk" collection. 

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

Card Details:

Stamps: Pizza My Heart (MFT)

Paper: real red, basic white, basic black, sweet talk designer paper (Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: tuxedo black (Memento)

Accessories: tic tac toe dies (MFT), heart die, square dies (CottageCutz)

Techniques: book binding card

I am also entering:

1.  A Cut Above has an anything goes challenge using a die cut. 

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

3.  Crafty Catz has an anything goes challenge.

4.  Creative Fingers has an anything goes challenge. 

Snowman Birthday

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

We just came back from a trip to CA. Our kids weren't able to make it home for Christmas this year, so we went out to see them. They left their tree and decorations up so our celebration would be festive. It was a wonderful 5 days with them. 

They got me such a thoughtful gift this year. They created a photo book of my cards that I sent them over the years. I had no idea that they saved them all. That meant so much to me. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for my granddaughter. The one we went to visit. Her birthday is on the 17th. I used one of the envelopes from the 2025 Taylored Expressions Advent calendar. 

The items we received in the calendar were all packed in these cute snowman envelopes, and they had dates on them. The 17th envelope was a bit wrinkled, so I die cut a stitched circle and die cut the #17. 

 

I cut the envelope down and layered it on white cardstock. Added some striped background designer paper for interest. 

I loved the Advent calendar and all the stamping goodies we received. I will definitely subscribe again next year. 

There was a stamp and die set included in the calendar because I subscribed early. So I stamped some sentiments and placed them around the snowman. I was pleased with how the card turned out. 

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

I am also entering:

1.  A Cut Above challenge is using a die cut with an anything goes option. 

2.  Sweet Stampin' has a new challenge. I used a new stamp, die and snowman envelope.  

3.  Make my Monday wants us to use paper with a pattern. 

4.  We Love Stamping has a new or atg challenge. I used a new stamp, die and snowman envelope.   

5.  Love those Pretty Papers challenge is anything goes w/option of a Snowman. 

Happy New Year

Hello Blogger Friends. Happy New Year. Hope your holiday celebrations were fun and crafty! 

We stayed home on New Years Eve and Day. Then Friday we had 5 couples over for dinner. That was a great night. Yesterday we celebrated Christmas with our extended family. My brother hosts at his home. It's set up perfectly for a large gathering of 50 people. We all bring a dish to share so there is plenty of food. 

Then this morning I got up to get ready for church and our power went out. It was widespread over the community I live in. My bathroom has no windows, but I was able to shower in the dark. I thought that it might be something short lived but it wasn't so I watched our church service online. I really don't like doing that but, in this case, it worked out. 

They restored power after several hours. It turns out that a car slammed into a pole and cause power lines to come down and then further down the road it caused power lines to explode and fall to the ground. Crazy start of a Sunday morning for sure.

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for the color challenge on Splitcoaststampers. I was the hostess and I chose Night of Navy, Basic White and Silver for the color trio. Optional was to make a New Year's card or Something New.

Basic white, Silver, Night of Navy

I send a New Year's card to a friend who spends December in her home state with her family. So a New Years card is waiting for her when she returns home.

I used the Stampin' Up "feels like frost" designer paper for the background. Layered with night of navy and a silver metallic cardstock. Cut my greeting in night of navy cardstock using a die from Impression Obsession to complete my card.

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

Card Details:

Paper: Night of Navy, Feels Like Frost DSP (Stampin' Up), Metallic Luster (Bazzill)

Paper Size: A2

Accessories: Happy New Year die (Impression Obsession)

I am also entering:

1.  Crafts Galore Encore has an anything goes challenge.

2.  Creative Crafting Uncles has a New Year's challenge.   

3.  Four Seasons Challenge is Winter  

4.  LTCCB #90 is anything goes. 

5.  Paper Rock Scissors has an anything goes challenge- I used paper. 

Christmas Cards 2025 (Final)

Hello Blogger Friends and Happy New Year! Hope you had a wonderful Christmas and New Year holiday. 

My Christmas was a wonderful family time. For New Years Eve and New Years Day we spent at home. I have friends coming for another Christmas get together tomorrow evening. It's a group of 12 and I wanted to keep it on the easy side for me since it's a dinner get together.

So, I decided to start with appetizers- charcuterie board, a cheese ball and mini meatballs with a cranberry barbecue glaze. Then for dinner I will make a salad, stuffed banana peppers and we will order pizza. The banana peppers are in my freezer, and they are from my hubby's summer garden. I am looking forward to it. 

Now onto my cards for this post. It is the last of my Christmas cards. This one was made using the Stampin' Up Paper Pumpkin Kit "Wrapped in Cheer".  The kit was designed to make tags and small gift boxes, but I changed it up to make cards. I used a 3D embossing folder from Spellbinders to add some interest. The wreath, bow and banner are part of the kit. I cut the Joy phrase from a die in my stash. 

This card was made using the green tag and greenery from the kit. I embossed the background, cut a banner with designer paper, die cut the Merry phrase and red bow, stamped and heat embossed the Christmas sentiment. 

This card was also made with the contents from the Wrapped in Cheer kit.  The tag, banner and bow are part of the kit. I angled the elements for a bit of interest. Again the layered panel is embossed using a Stampin' Up folder. The gingham panel is cut from a box that was in the kit. Behind that layer I added some designer paper. 

This last card was made using some of the contents of the Stampin' Up Joy to the World Paper Pumpkin Kit. This one is an older one from October 2020. I had a few embellishments left and decided to create a Z-fold style card. The floral images, white square and banner are part of the kit. The gold designer paper is from my stash. 

This photo shows the card standing up.

The photo below shows the card inside. I cut the peace, love, joy phrases and dove from a die in my stash.

I stamped my sentiments with the stamp set that was in the kit. I had one floral image left and added it here. 

Well, that's it for me for this post. I hope you have enjoyed the cards I showed today. So until next time......God bless. 

I am also entering:

1.  Little Red Wagon has a use some force challenge. 

2.  Sisterhood of Crafters has a Christmas challenge. 

3.  C.R.A.F.T. Challenge has an anything goes Christmas. 

Cozy Christmas Paper Pumpkin Kit (2)

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with The Charmed Life Blog this 30th day of December. As I mentioned in my post yesterday, I still have Christmas cards to show from my 2025 collection. I mailed them all and everyone got them on time.   

I made 35 cards this year and still sent out some boxed cards. My plan for 2026 is to make Christmas cards all year long so I am not working feverishly in December to get them done. Hopefully my plan unfolds. 

Now for my cards for today. These both are from the Stampin' Up Cozy Christmas Paper Pumpkin Kit. I made these 2 according to the Kit instructions with just a slight variation. Yesterday's post showed some alternate designs using the kit. See that post here. 

The Kits have all you need to create your cards. I particularly liked this one because the tree is a green flocking. I die cut the Christmas phrase and shadow to step it up a bit. 

This card uses the ornament image from the set and again the green embellishments are flocked. My variation here was to stamp the sentiment directly on the card and arrange the sequins in a different pattern. 

This card is also from the Kit and I did change it up from the directions they supplied. I cut one of the envelopes and added it to the top of the card base. The Joy phrase was a kit element. 

Well, that's it for me for this post. Stop by again tomorrow and check out the last of my 2025 cards. So, until next time ......God bless. 

I am also entering:

1.  Addicted to Stamps and More has a Christmas challenge. 

2.  A Place to Start has an anything goes w/option of winter things. I have a Christmas tree. 

Cozy Christmas Paper Pumpkin Cards

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

It's almost a wrap for 2025 but I still have some Christmas cards I wanted to show here on my Blog. These 2 cards I made using the Stampin' Up Paper Pumpkin Kit "Cozy Christmas". I love these kits because they include all the supplies you need to create 9 Christmas cards.  And when it's December and crunch time to get cards in the mail these kits come in handy. 

This fun fold card is called a "diagonal joy fold. The kit has you making CAS cards but I like to step them up a bit. I saw this design on Facebook and it was designed by Lauree Alexander. I changed it up a bit to make it my own. 

I cut the envelope to use for designer paper on the inside. I also cut one of the card bases to use on the right diagonal. This photo shows how the card opens. You lift the image flap then open the diagonal portion of the card. 

This photo shows the greeting I stamped inside the image flap section. 

This next card is the same fun fold design using the Kit. I die cut the Joy sentiment and added some sequins to the front panel. Again, I cut the envelopes and card base to use as designer paper. 

I changed the flap on this one to open horizontally from the right side. 

On the inside of this one I stamped a few stars and a different greeting. 

Well, that's it for this post. I have a few more Christmas cards to show and I will do that in the next 2 days. So, stop by again tomorrow for more eye candy.

I am also entering:

1.  We Love Stamping has a Red & Green Challenge.

2.  Creative Creases has an anything goes with a fun fold. 

3.  Cut It Up has an anything goes with a die cut.