Double Trouble Bunnies

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

It's the day after Valentine's Day. Hope someone did something special for you or you were able to celebrate with someone special. I celebrated with my hubby. We went out to lunch and then in the evening I put together some appetizers for us to continue our Valentine celebration. 

I made shrimp and garlic pasta and then some shrimp quesadillas. We toasted our evening with a glass of asti spumante. My hubby isn't really a wine drinker but he does like asti. It's a bit sweet for me, but I enjoyed it as part of our celebration. 

Now today, I am trying to get some chores done around my home. I ordered a new area rug for my craft room and as soon as my hubby gets home we will put it in place. I have an oval braided rug in there now. It was part of the room when my hubby used it as his den. But, since we changed the room over to my craft room, I wanted something bright and more appropriate to reflect art.  I found this one on the Bed, Bath and Beyond website. It arrived this morning and I really like it. The only difference is the trim on the edge of the rug is blue not orange as shown in the photo. I actually like the blue better. 

Now let's move onto my card for today. This one I created for my weekly DT post on the CottageCutz Blog.  I used the new Double Trouble Bunnies die for my card.

Design Steps: 

I started off with an older MojoMonday sketch.  As I have said so many times before, having a layout in mind at the start of my card is always a big boost for me. It jump starts my creative thought process. I love working with the sketches that are out there in the online world. That way I just choose the colors and designer paper and I am good to go.

I wanted some bright Spring colors for my card. I chose this watercolored designer paper from my collection and then paired colors that I thought would work well with it.

Daffodil Yellow Card Base:  4" x 5 1/2"

Designer Paper Layer: 3 3/4" x 4"

Square Panel: 2 3/4" stitched rounded square die (3rd largest).For this element of the sketch I kept it a square panel and made it a 1/2" larger than what was called for in the sketch. I needed it larger to accommodate my images.

Next, I cut the bunny images using grape, heather, gray and mint cardstocks. You could always cut everything in white cardstock and use the coloring medium of your choice. I just prefer using the colored cardstock.

I sponged clouds on the square panel using tumbled glass distress ink and a cloud stencil. It just adds a little interest to the outdoor scene. Now that all my card elements are cut, I am ready to start assembly. I started with the image panel. The images are attached with Ranger multi medium matte.I like this adhesive because it dries clear. I also used dimensional adhesive to lift them off the sponged panel slightly. 

I attached the designer paper to the card base using double sided tape. I used a grape ribbon to come across the middle of the designer paper per the sketch. 

Attached the image panel with dimensional adhesive. I also cut 2 small pieces of ribbon and attached them to the side of the image panel. I didn't have enough of this color to make a bow and the tufts make a nice presentation. To finish off my card, I scattered some grape glittered enamel dots and this one is complete.

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.  The Alphabet Challenge has an anything you wish challenge. 

2.  Little Red Wagon has a wild  one challenge. You are to use an animal found in the wild.

3.  Unicorn Challenge is anything goes. 

4.  2 Crafty Critter Crazies has an anything goes that features a critter. 

Easter Egg hunt

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

We had our first real taste of winter yesterday with a 5" snowfall. It closed the schools. It was one of those bone chilling days. The kind that makes you want to sit in front of the fireplace and cuddle under a blanket. 

My hubby was under the weather so he did that most of the day. Me on the other hand had a card to get ready for my weekly DT post on the CottageCutz blog. But, I did manage to make it to the gym for a workout. My community had all the main roads cleared by 12:00. 

I created my first Easter card for the upcoming season. So let's get started on some card details.

Design Steps:

As I have said so many times before, having a layout in mind at the start of my card is always a big boost for me. It jump starts my creative thought process. I love working with the sketches that are out there in the online world. That way I just choose the colors and designer paper and I am good to go.

I liked this week's sketch #787 from Splitcoaststampers.

I wanted some bright Spring colors for my card. I chose this gorgeous grape designer paper from my Stampin'-Up collection and then paired it with other Stampin'-Up colors that I thought would work well.

Gorgeous Grape Card Base: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"
Grape Gingham Designer Paper: 4 1/8" x 5 3/8"
Heather Heather Layer #2: 3 1/8" x 4 3/8"
Balmy Blue Layer #4: 2 7/8" x 4 1/8"

Next I cut the images from the die. I used various colored cardstock. You could always cut everything in white cardstock and use the coloring medium of your choice. I just prefer using the colored cardstock.

Now that my panels and images are cut. I am ready to start my card assembly. I started with the image panel. The images are attached with mini glue dots and Ranger multi medium matte. I like this adhesive because it dries clear.

My original idea was to use ribbon for panel 3 of the sketch. Instead I decided to cut a 1" strip of the lemon-lime cardstock and emboss it. This way the image panel would lay flat on top of it. My cards are always a work in progress.

I attached the image panel to the designer panel layer using double sided tape. For the bunny, I used dimensional adhesive. At this point I wasn't going to use the other bunny. But that changed as well.

To finish off my card I attached the grape card base. I used lemon-lime sequins for element 5 of the sketch. I thought it just kept with the whimsical card appeal. In the upper right corner I used some grape enamel dots. This is the point that I decided to go with the gray bunny. I attached him with dimensional adhesive and my card is complete.

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

die I used to create card:

I am also entering:

1.  2 Crafty Critter Crazies has an anything goes with a critter.

2.  Crafty Animals has an anything goes. 

3.  Crafty Catz has an anything goes with optional of embossing. 

4.  Cute Card Thursday has an anything goes. 

Bee My Valentine

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with The Charmed Life Blog this first Saturday in February 2020. January is one for the record books. 

Lots happened here in my neck of the woods but one bright moment was that my nephew returned safely from his tour in Iraq. So glad he is home for a bit and all is well.

Tomorrow is Super Bowl Sunday. We are going over my son's home to watch the game and eat some delicious food. It will be a great family time and I am looking forward to it. I will bring some appetizers for everyone to enjoy.

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for my DT post on the CottageCutz Blog. I used this new Busy Bee die and created a Valentine card. 

Here are some card details. 

I started off by choosing my designer paper. I decided to stick with traditional Valentine colors for this card and I wanted some heart paper. I found this one in my collection that I thought would work. The hearts are small enough and once I added my die cut hearts it wouldn't overpower the image.

Red Card Base: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"
Designer Paper Layer: 4 1/8" x 5 3/8"

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Next, I cut the bee image in normal bee colors- black and yellow. I used vellum for the wings and sponged them with tumbled glass distress inks.

I wanted a "punny" sentiment for my card. I had this "bee happy" stamp. So I masked off the happy word and with the help of my stamp-a-ma-jig I stamped just the "bee" word in the corner of my heart with black ink. To make it stand out I stamped in black onyx ink and then embossed with a black embossing powder.

To finish off my sentiment, I used just the "my valentine" phrase from the Be My Valentine Puppies die and cut in black cardstock. When I started card assembly I decided to recut this phrase in a shiny black foil to make it stand out like the stamped sentiment.

I also cut a 1 1/2" wide strip of black cardstock and embossed it with a heart folder. Just wanted to get some other color on the card besides the red and white.

Assembled my card and scattered a few red hearts to complete the card. 

Well that's it for me for this post. Enjoy your weekend! Hope it includes something crafty. So until next time......God bless.

dies I used to create card:

I am also entering:

1.  Cute Card Thursday has a Valentine's challenge. 

2.  Krafty Chicks has an anything goes challenge. 

3.  Simon Says Stamp has an anything goes challenge. 

Gnome Valentine

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

 

It's a cold and rainy day here in Pittsburgh. One of those days that you don't feel bad about staying inside and working on things that need done around the house. I did finally get all my Christmas decorations packed and put away for next year. Now I have cleaning and laundry to get caught up on.

 

I had some sad news this week. Our Preschool is not going to reopen next year. It is part of our church and opened 8 years ago. One of the women in our church had a dream of having a preschool, and we opened with just 9 kids.

 

I was part of it from the beginning. It grew every year and this year there were 85 families with multiple children enrolled and they were not part of our church. We have an excellent reputation in the community.

 

Our director was burned out with all the responsibility. She has 3 very active children involved in sports and a husband who just started his own business. The church was looking for a replacement but our Pastor put some restrictions on and within our congregation no one could be found. So the financial board decided to close the doors.

 

I will put my all into my class until our school year is over in May.  I thoroughly enjoyed working with the kids in our class over the past 8 years. I can honestly say it was a very fulfilling ministry for me. I am not sure where my path will lead.

 

Let's move onto my card for today. This one I created for my weekly DT post on the CottageCutz Blog. I used dies from the Christmas collection to create a Valentine card.

 

I had this beautiful winter scene paper from Stampin'-Up that I thought would make a great background for the Moose & Gnome. The paper is in a 6 x 6 pack and I didn't want to cut too much of it away so I created a 5 1/2" square card.  

 

Early Espresso Card Base: 5 1/2" x 5 1/2"

Rococo Rose Layer: 5 3/8" x 5 3/8"

Feels Like Frost designer Paper: 5 1/4" x 5 1/4"

 

I cut the gnome and moose in colors that coordinated with this Stampin'-Up paper. This die had 2 gnomes sitting on the sled but since I am making a Valentine card, I just used one.

I used dimensional adhesive to attach the images. I was going to stamp a sentiment directly on the designer paper above the trees. But I thought this "be my valentine" phrase would look like the gnome added it to the snow. My hubby did that for me one year when we had a snowstorm on Valentine's Day. He spray painted a heart and the same words I used on my card in red paint on top of the snow. It was so cute and the neighbors loved it as well.

I finished off my card by adding a few hearts above the tree tops on the designer paper. Just for a little added interest. After all it's a card for the big love day and I thought I should have them somewhere on the card (LOL).

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.  Crafty Friends has an anything goes challenge.

2.  Brown Sugar has an anything goes challenge.

3.  Creative Fingers has an anything goes challenge.

4.  Aud Sentiments challenge has an anything goes + a sentiment.

5.  Southern Girls has an anything goes challenge.

 

Happy BRRR-thday

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with The Charmed Life Blog this 3rd Saturday in January.

 

We are in the middle of winter weather here in Pittsburgh. Snow last night and early this morning and then it changed into a freezing rain. We had some plans to go out this morning but with the freezing rain that changed, and we stayed home. It's supposed to change to all rain by late afternoon and that should salvage our plans for this evening.

 

I had a great week at preschool. The kids are all healthy and back on track after Chrstmas vacation. Sometimes there is a change with some of them after Christmas break and that happened again this year. Two of the boys who weren't really talking came back as little chatterboxes. They have been participating in our group activities and interacting with the other kids.

 

Usually at 3 years old we don't see much interaction in the beginning of the school year but after Christmas for some reason that changes. All of them are playing together in their little groups. It just depends what interests them that day. I am looking for a good rest of the year with them. They are little sponges and absorbing so much.

 

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for both the color challenge #773 on Splitcoaststampers and also for my weekly DT post on the CottageCutz Blog.

 

so saffron, balmy blue, early espresso

 

I need a masculine birthday card for my brother's birthday, so I thought I would give the Polar Bear Fishing die from CottageCutz a go.

 

For the top half of the card I used a snowfall stencil and embossing paste. The bottom half is balmy blue designer from the Stampin'-Up "tranquil textures" collection. I thought it had a water like pattern to it.

I joined the panels together with a ¼" piece of balmy blue cardstock. I was going for the horizon line look.

 

The polar bear is cut in Stampin'-Up naturals white cardstock. His scarf and hat are cut in balmy blue cardstock and then sponged with the same color ink. For the hat trim and the fish, I cut in so saffron cardstock and then sponged with dried marigold distress ink.

The BRRR letters are from the CottageCutz Retro Alphabet die. I used blue glitter paper to make them stand out. I got the idea for the sentiment from this card that I saw on Pinterest.

The stamped part of the sentiment is done in early espresso ink and the fishing pole is cut in early espresso cardstock.

 

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

 

die I used to create card:

 

Card details

Stamps: Bitty Birthday Wishes (MFT), North American Woods (MFP)

Paper: whisper white, balmy blue, so saffron, early espresso, smoky slate, naturals white (Stampin Up) blue glitter (Recollections)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: balmy blue, early espresso (Stampin Up), dried marigold distress (Ranger)

Accessories: polar bear fishing, retro alphabet dies (CottageCutz), snowfall stencil (MFT), 3D molding paste (American Traditions)

Techniques: stenciling

I am also entering:

1.  Crafty Catz has an anything goes with optional twist of funny,

2.  Cut It Up has a snow much fun challenge.

3.  Seize the Birthday has a birthday challenge plus option of stencils.

4.  2 Crafty Critter Crazies has an anything goes challenge.

5.  Animal Friends challenge wants us to use polar bears.

6.  Crafty Animals has an anything goes challenge.