Autumn Wishes

Hello Blogger Friends. Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with The Charmed Life Blog today. I am glad that you checked in on me, by the way. 

The past couple of months have been so busy with the harvest from my hubby's garden. His hobby somehow became mine this summer. Not that I wanted it that way, but we had such a plentiful harvest that I was in the kitchen day after day working the tomatoes, green beans, basil and banana peppers. It left me with no time for my own hobby,

But his gardens are finished for this year and now I can get back to card making. And just at the perfect time to create for Thanksgiving and Christmas. So onto my card for today. 

Splitcoaststampers is having a card making challenge that they are calling the "Falliday Fest. This card is one of the first that I created for the challenge. We were to feature wood/woodgrain anywhere on our project.

Here is a link to the challenge.  Joanne's Falliday Fest Challenge - Woodwork. 
I used wood textures designer paper from Stampin Up and then embossed it with a wood plank embossing folder.

My image panel is designer paper from the Paper Rose collection - "Autumn Florals". I finished off my card with a twine bow and some enamel dots.This was a quick and easy one but it will go into my stash for the Thanksgiving cards I send out.

That's it for me for this challenge. So until next time......God bless.

Card Details:

Paper: pecan pie, timid tiger, wood textures dsp (Stampin' Up), Paper Rose Autumn florals dsp

Paper Size: A2

Accessories: Wood Embossing Folder, in-color enamel dots, twine (Stampin' Up)

I am also entering:

1.  Beautiful Blossoms is anything goes with florals. 

2.  Let's Craft and Create is anything goes + the colors of Fall.

3.  Paper Rocks Scissors is anything goes using paper and/or scissors. 

4.  The Four Seasons Challenge is an anything goes Fall challenge. 

5.  The Creative Crafters is anything goes.  

Happy 90th

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

Wow it's been some time since I posted to my Blog. I have been busy with the harvest from my hubby's garden. I never seem to be on top of it. Not that I am complaining because it's a blessing to have a bountiful harvest. In fact, as soon as I finish this post I have more tomatoes to process. 

So, let's get to my post for today. This card I made for a free for all challenge on Splitcoaststampers. The challenge was "Me Time". It was explained as what makes you happy and want to create.

Well, one of the things that makes me want to create is to have a purpose and destination for my cards. This one is going to someone very special who is celebrating her 90th birthday. That's quite a milestone and definitely deserves recognition.

I made a fun fold card using the elements from the Stampin' Up Paper Pumpkin Kit - "Time for Cake". The fun fold is a triple fold bridge card. I had it saved on one of my Pinterest boards but the idea is from the Stamp with Laurie blog.

The 90th is a number stamp from the Kit and the "Hooray" sentiment is also from the kit. This is the card closed. My next photo will show one of the flaps opened.

This is the inside panel of my card. I used half of the balloon designer paper from the Kit and matted it with night of navy cardstock. The balloon paper had a white space in the center so that's where I placed my sentiment.

This is the inside of my birthday card for the F4A857 challenge.

I cut an envelope apart that came in the kit and used it to border the white cardstock. I matted with night of navy cardstock. To finish off my card, I stamped another sentiment and added a candle die cut that came in the kit.

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

Card Details:

Stamps: Time for Cake (PP Kit August 2024)

Paper: petal pink, pretty in pink, night of navy, dsp from kit (Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: night of navy (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: Time for Cake PP Kit (August 2024)

Techniques: Triple Fold Bridge Card

I am also entering:

1.  Creative Inspirations has an anything goes challenge. 

2.  Krafty Chicks has a birthday challenge. 

3.  HQCOLCB has a heartfelt wishes challenge.

4.  Creative Creases is anything goes with a fun fold. 

5.  TTTC300 Challenge I used the first column. 

Wisdom tree

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

Well, the smoke that rolled in from Canada is finally gone. It created some really bad air quality for us here in Pittsburgh.  We were advised to stay indoors because the smoke was so bad. Then we had rain on Saturday and by Sunday it was minimal and today it's totally gone. We had sun and blue skies and manageable summer temps. 

My hubby was back in his garden today and after a few morning errands, I was in my craft room. Both of us in our happy places. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for the Fan Club Christmas challenge on Splitcoaststampers. We were to use numbers on our cards.

I had the perfect die for this challenge. It's the Wisdom Tree die from CottageCutz and displays the #25. I cut it 2x for a bit more dimension.

I used cherry cobbler cardstock for the card base and the die cut tree. I had some foils from an older Stampin' Up collection - "Love You Always Foil". These papers are in the sahara sand shade. I used the foil to cut the star for the tree top.

To finish off my card I added a few cherry cobbler rhinestones. I will be entering this in a few Christmas in July challenges. 

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

Card Details:

Paper: cherry cobbler, sahara sand, sahara sand foils dsp (Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: A2

Accessories: Wisdom Tree, Cherry Cobbler Ribbon, Holiday Rhinestones (Stampin' Up)

I am also entering:

1.  Make My Monday challenge is Christmas in July. 

2.  Inkspirational Challenge #372 is Christmas in July.

3.  Crafter's Cafe is anything goes w/option of Christmas in July. 

4.  Die Cut Divas has a Christmas In July challenge. 

5.  MLCCB has an anything goes challenge. 

Celebrate- It's Your Day

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

Well, it's harvest time here at my home. My hubby picked 22 of his banana peppers yesterday. I stuffed them with a combo of hot and sweet sausage, tomatoes, onions and garlic. I baked some, shared some with a neighbor and froze some.  

Today we cut basil and I am going to turn it into pesto. I don't add any cheese because I am going to freeze it. I add cheese when I am going to use it.  We enjoy it as a pizza topping and also with ravioli. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for a color challenge on Splitcoaststampers. Our colors were barely blush, hydrangea hue and crisp cantaloupe. Optional was to use designer paper.

barely blush, hydrangea, crisp cantaloupe

For my card I used some of the contents from the "Wildflower Wishes" Stampin' Up Paper Pumpkin Kit from 2018. From that kit I used the celebrate tag, the card base, vellum greenery and the designer paper. The celebrate tag is a sticker and I used the negative portion.

Behind the celebrate words I placed crisp cantaloupe cardstock instead of the flowers that came in the kit. They weren't the right colors.

Then I used a couple of dies from CottageCutz to cut my own flowers in the challenge colors. On the crisp cantaloupe flowers, I sponged the same color ink to get a deeper hue. The same for the barely blush flowers. I also added some greenery in mossy meadow.

To complete my card, I stamped my sentiment in mossy meadow ink and added a few hydrangea hue color dots.

This one is for my friend who celebrates her birthday at the end of July. 

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

Card Details:

Stamps: Manyl Manly Occasions (Paper Pumpkin Kit)

Paper: sahara sand, crisp cantaloupe, barely blush, hydrangea hue, mossy meadow, night of navy (Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: mossy meadow (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: Wildflower Wishers Paper Pumpkin Kit (2018), In-Color dots (Stampin' Up) Spring Vase w/Flowers, Fairy Gard Flowers dies (CottageCutz),

I am also entering:

1. Cardz 4 Galz has a Friends or Friendship challenge. 

2. Creative Inspirations Challenge is anything goes. 

3. Ellibelle's Garden Party challenge is anything in or from a garden. 

4.  Word Power July challenge is anything goes w/words as focus.

5.  Simon Says Stamp has a fabulous floral challenge. 

Joy Tree

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with the Charmed Life Blog this Tuesday in July. As I mentioned yesterday, I will be publishing cards all this week so hopefully you will stop again tomorrow. 

My hubby's vegetable garden is starting to produce and it's time for me to start stuffing, filling and freezing banana peppers once again. He has about 22 peppers waiting for me right now. This will continue through early October. But I love having wintertime meals ready to go. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for the Splitcoaststampers color challenge #1112. It's all about Christmas in July. I love creating Christmas cards. Our colors were  poppy parade, shaded spruce and pool party. Optional is Christmas in July with a theme of "O Christmas Tree".

poppy parade, shaded spruce, pool party

For my card I used a new to me die from the Stamps of Life. It's one of their fold-it card dies. The Joy Tree Fold-it. The idea is that you cut a shape from the 3 dies provided and in this case it's a Christmas Tree. And you end up a fun shaped card.

You use the first die and place it on your card fold. Then to cover up the edge line you use the die again and cut just one layer. Then the 2nd die cuts another layer, and the 3rd die cuts all your tree words.  

I used the challenge colors plus gold shimmer paper from Stampin' Up for my star and the peace word. My believe word was cut from pool party designer paper and inked with the same ink to get a deeper shade.

I made 2 cards using these colors and the one below shows my 2nd card. This card is made with the Christmas Tree Fold-it. 

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

Card Details:

Paper: shaded spruce, poppy parade, soft suede, simply marbelous dsp, gold fine shimmer dsp (Stampin' Up),

Paper Size: A2

Ink: pool party (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: Joy Tree Fold-it Die, Christmas Tree Fold-it die (Stamps of Life)

I am also entering:

1.  Peace on Earth Christmas #115 is anything goes Christmas. 

2.  Double Trouble #220 is a Christmas in July. 

3.  Creative Knockouts #574 has a Christmas in July. 

4.  Krafty Chicks #828 is Christmas in July. 

Mailbox Birthday Wishes

Hello Blogger friends! I guess you are wondering where I have been since I haven't posted on my Blog for over a month. 

Well, I have been busy but still creating and just haven't' posted to my Blog. I am involved in our local political scene and that has kept me quite busy these last few months. Things are a bit quiet now but will ramp up again as we head into our mid-term elections. 

I will post every day this week hopefully. So, make sure you come back to see my cards. This one I created for the color challenge on Splitcoaststampers.  We were to use balmy blue, darling duckling duckling and granny apple green for the color trio. Optional was an anything goes theme. I chose a 4th color of real red.

I needed a birthday card for a good friend who celebrates in July. So, I thought of the Spellbinders Pacel & Post die to create my card. I cut the mailbox in balmy blue and night of navy (neutral). The flowers are cut in the challenge colors + real red (my anything goes option). I used dimensional adhesive to lift it up off the background for interest.

I embossed the background panel with the Stampin' Up eyelet embossing folder. Stamped my sentiment to complete my card.

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

Card Details:

Stamps: Parcel & Post Sentiments (Spellbinders)

Paper: Balmy Blue, Darling Duckling, Granny Apple Green, Night of Navy, Real Red, White, Basic Beige (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: Parcel & Post dies (Spellbinders), Eyelet 3d Embossing Folder (Stampin' Up)

I am also entering:

1.  A Cut Above is anything goes with a die cut. 

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

3.  Can you Handle the Pressure is anything goes using an embossing folder. 

4.  Crafty Calendar has a Happy Birthday challenge for July. 

5.  Alphabet Challenge is "F" for festivities. Mine is birthday.

Birthday Wish

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

Another weekend is upon us and maybe it holds from crafty time for you. I hope to get into my space tomorrow and make a patriotic card. I had an idea pop into my head today for a card to celebrate America's 250th year. 

If it comes together on paper the way, it's in my head I may invite some of my friends over for a girl's night and let them make the same card. They aren't stampers so I will have to have the paper and dies all cut for them. They can stamp with some assistance. 

So, if it works out, I will post the cad on my Blog if anyone might be interested in re-creating it. Now onto my card for today. This one I created using the colors from the Splitcoaststampers color challenge #1075, Our colors were pool party, gorgeous grape and peach pie.

pool party, gorgeous grape, peach pie

I received this pretty envelope from a friend for my last birthday. She didn't write on it so I could use it again. But as soon as I saw it, I knew it was a match for gorgeous grape cardstock. So, it became designer paper on this card.

I trimmed the envelope down and layered it on peach pie cardstock and then gorgeous grape for my base. I colored the butterflies with a distress marker that complements the pool party color.

Added my birthday wish phrase in peach pie and white and scattered a few pool party glossy dots to finish off this first card.

I am going to give it to the friend who gave it to me for her birthday.

Paper: gorgeous grape, peach pie, white (Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: A2

Accessories: Confetti & Cake dies (Scrapbook & Cards Today), Glossy Dots Assortment (Stampin' Up) Tumbled Glass Distress Marker (Ranger)

Techniques: Upcycle

I am also entering:

1.  Creative Fingers Challenge #323 is anything goes. 

2.  Cut It Up Challenge #357 is anything goes with a die cut. 

3.  Crafty Catz has an anything goes challenge. 

4.  Ellibelle's Garden Party is anything from a garden.  

5.  Addicted to Stamps & More has a birthday challenge #518. 

Mother's Day Tulips

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with The Charmed Life Blog today. Hope your weekend was a relaxing one and you were honored or you honored someone for Mother's Day. 

I was honored by my next-door neighbor. She had dinner for her Mother-in-Law, and she invited my hubby and me to come for dinner. It was a lovely day. Her two little ones made me cards and I also received a beautiful plant. 

My son and daughter-in-law are away for a few days. I will see them later this week and we will celebrate then. So I get two celebrations. My CA son has a gift coming to me as well. Shipping was a bit delayed, but he won't tell me what is coming. 

Now onto my card for today. This is the Mother's Day card I will give to my daughter-in-law. She loves tulips. 

I used the colors from the Splitcoaststampers color challenge #1103. We were to use fresh freesia, misty moonlight and old olive for our color trio. Optional was to use designer paper.

fresh freesia, old olive, misty moonlight

I thought these colors were perfect for the card I had in mind. I started with the "bouquet of tulips" die from CottageCutz. I cut the vase and tulips in the challenge colors. I ink blended some of the tulips to get a darker shade.

I looked through my designer papers and found this pattern from the Stampin' Up "lighter than air" collection. I thought it had feminine appeal with the scallops. I continued the scallop theme with a die cut rectangle as a layer for my image panel.

I stamped my sentiment and added some purple sequins to complete my card. 

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

Card Details:

Stamps: 10 years of growth (PP Kit March 2023)

Paper: fresh freesia, misty moonlight, old olive, basic white, lighter than air dsp (Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: fresh freesia (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: Bouquet of Tulips die, Rectangle & Scallop dies (CottageCutz), Blueprints 15 die (MFT), Purple Sequins (Stampin' Up)

I am also entering:

1.  Beautiful Blossoms has an anything goes floral challenge. 

2.  Daisy Chain Challenge wants us to layer it up. 

The Beach Life

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

Well, it's Saturday and another start to a weekend. It's a rainy day here in Pittsburgh.  Just a slight drizzle for now so I have my windows open and a nice breeze is blowing through my house. 

I spent yesterday doing household chores. So, my Saturday will be freed up.  My family is coming over for a visit. We are going to the premier chocolate factory in Pittsburgh to enjoy one of their delicious ice cream sundaes and then go on a trip through the chocolate store.

My grandsons are in town for the NFL Draft. They went down to be a part of the massive crowd in Pittsburgh on Thursday night. We were with them on Wednesday night and now we will get to see them again today.  I am looking forward to it. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for the Splitcoaststampers color challenge #1101. 

wild wheat, misty moonlight, lost lagoon

We were to use wild wheat, misty moonlight and lost lagoon for the color trio. Optional this week is a 4th color. 

I used lots of dies to create my beach scene card, I started with the Beach Scene builder die from MFT. It created the sand and water.

I cut the water in lost lagoon and then stamped the waves in misty moonlight. The sand was cut in crumb cake (neutral) and I stamped sand granules in wild wheat ink.

I added the pelican, logs and starfish for added interest. Logs cut in soft suede (neutral). I cut the pelican beak in lemon lolly cardstock and sponged with the same color ink.

The top of the card is stenciled using soft sky ink. This covered my optional item of a 4th color. 

Finished off the card by stamping my sentiment on a cloud in misty moonlight ink and added a sun cut in lemon lolly and sponged with the same color ink.

I am going to send this one to my daughter-in-law for Mother's Day. She loves the beach and this is her serenity. This card will definitely give her a smile. 

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

Card Details:

Stamps: Island Life (MFP), Sunset at the Beach (Just For Fun),

Paper: basic white, lemon lolly, lost lagoon, crumb cake, soft suede (Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: Wild wheat, Misty Moonlight, Lemon Lolly, Soft Sky (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: pelican, die, stitched sun die, cloud die (CottageCutz), beach scene builder die, cloud stencil (MFT)

I am also entering:

1.  Crafty Gals Corner is anything goes.

2.  The Sisterhood of Crafters has a "make someone smile" challenge. 

3.  The Paper Funday has an anything goes w/optional twist of die cuts/punches.