Grateful for Family

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

We are having another beautiful weather day here in Pittsburgh. Its 80° and I have my windows open.  There is a gentle breeze flowing through my home. I don't know how much longer this weather will stay with us, but I am enjoying it while it's here. 

I am having a lazy day today. I worked inside the voting polls yesterday for the first time. I led a team of 5 other people, and we were responsible for setting up our location, checking voters in and dealing with any issues that came up. Then when the polls closed, we had to close down the poll and I was responsible for taking election material to a secure location. My day started at 6:00 am and I got home at 9:30 pm. Hence the reason for my lazy day. 

So, after this Blog post I may just lay down for a bit. I need recovery time (lol)!!!

Now onto my post for today. This card I made for a color challenge on Splitcoaststampers. We were to use pretty peacock, pool party and flirty flamingo for our color trio. Optional was to use designer paper.

pretty peacock, flirty flamingo, pool party

For my card I chose a Thanksgiving theme. My designer paper is from the Stampin' Up "Come to Gather" collection. That collection is from 2019.

I layered it with pool party and early espresso cardstock. My leaves are cut in pretty peacock and I found some designer paper in my stash that had flirty flamingo splatters on a white base. I used that for my leaf top layer.

Stamped my sentiment to complete my card. The sentiment is from an older Paper Pumpkin Kit- The gift of Fall 2019.

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

Card Details:

I am also entering:

1.  Shopping our Stash has a so very thankful challenge. 

2.  Crafts Galore Encore has an anything goes challenge. 

3.  Girlz Creative Crafts has a layer it up challenge. 

4.  Love to Craft challenge is anything goes. 

5.  The 4 Seasons challenge is Fall. 

Autumn on the Farm

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with The Charmed Life Blog this last day of October 2026. 

Don't forget it's also the end of Daylight Savings Time. We move the clocks back 1 hour tonight. It will be getting dark tomorrow around 5:30. That's the part I don't like but seasons come and go!

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for the Falliday Fest that was being held on Splitcoaststampers. There were a lot of challenges. I didn't have the time to do all of them, but I was able to participate in 13 of them. 

This one was a Fall on the Farm challenge.  We were to create anything Farm related in the Fall.

I used the Farm Border die from CottageCutz to create a Farm silhouette. My background paper is from Blue Knight Stamps- "land and sea" collection. I thought the paper looked like farmland stretching off in the distance. 

I added my sentiments to complete my card. I am getting more of my Thanksgiving cards completed with the Falliday fest.

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

Card Details:

Stamps: Bountiful Harvest (Verve)

Paper: mango melody, pecan pie, (Stampin' Up) land and sea dsp (Blue Knight Stamps

Paper Size: 4 1/2" x 5 3/4"

Ink: pecan pie (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: Fall Phrases die, Farm Border die (CottageCutz)

I am also entering:

1.  Crafty Catz has an anything goes challenge. 

2.  Creative Fingers has an anything goes challenge. 

3.  Cut It Up has a thankful, grateful, blessed challenge using at least one die cut. 

Autumn - Give Thanks

Hello Blogger Friends. Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with The Charmed Life Blog this last Friday in October. It was another beautiful Fall day here in Pittsburgh. I had lots of errands and household chores to get accomplished. Everything worked out as planned for me and now I have a bit of a break before t's time to start dinner. 

Something simple tonight- chicken breast salads. We both enjoy them  and I may even do a Pittsburgh thing and throw some french fries on top.  

So let's move onto my card for today before I start my dinner. 

This one I made for the color challenge on Splitcoaststampers. We were to use cajun craze, timid tiger and pretty peacock for the color trio. Optional was an anything goes. With the option, I decided to choose designer paper. Since it is anything goes, I took some liberty with the designer paper colors.

timid tiger, pretty peacock, cajun craze

Starting with the background designer paper, it's from a Stampin' Up Paper Pumpkin Kit from 2022. It was all about sunflowers and had some really pretty envelopes. I took one of the envelopes and cut it apart to use as designer paper.

My scarecrow is a paper pad from Divinity Designs. He had 2 of the challenge colors. I layered it on a cajun craze circle. My autumn phrase is a die from CottageCutz and cut in pretty peacock.

I added a few timid tiger enamel dots to complete my card.

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

Card Details:

Stamps: Bountiful Harvest (Verve)

Paper: pretty peacock, cajun craze (Stampin' Up)

Ink: Pretty Peacock (Stampin' Up),

Accessories: Scarecrow Season Paper Pad (Divinity Designs), In-Color flat pearls (Stampin' Up), Fall Phrases die (CottageCutz), Sweet Sunflowers PP Kit (Stampin' Up)

I am also entering:

1.  Fab 'n' Funky has a 3 of something challenge. I have 3 enamel dots. 

2.  Simon Says Stamp has an anything goes challenge. 

3.  Sisterhood of Crafters has a Fall challenge. 

4.  Paper Funday has an anything goes challenge. 

Give Thanks

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with The Charmed Life Blog today. I can't believe that October is almost a wrap. This year just flew by for me anyway. 

We are having such beautiful Fall weather. It's been sunny and warm for almost 2 weeks. We usually get Fall rains this time of year, but it's not happened yet. But the leaves are dropping off the trees, and my hubby is out there every day raking them up. We have 2 huge Oak trees in our front yard. They drop have the leaves in Fall and the rest in the Spring. 

I am waiting for him to come home right now so I can start our dinner. We are having broiled salmon and sweet potatoes. I thought I would keep it simple tonight. He went to watch a friend of ours little boy play baseball. Hopefully he gets here soon because I am a bit hungry. (LOL)!!!

Well anyway let's move onto my card for today. This one I created for a color challenge on Splitcoaststampers. We were to use daffodil delight, cajun craze and pumpkin pie for the color trio. Optional was to use any green.  With these beautiful Fall colors, I went with Thanksgiving.

daffodil delight, pumpkin pie, cajun craze

I used a new to me paper pad from Divinity Designs - "Vintage Sunflowers". It had the challenge colors including the optional of green. .

I cut my "Give Thanks" sentiment in kraft cardstock and then made a shadow with cajun craze cardstock.

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

Card Details:

Paper: daffodil delight, cajun craze (Stampin' Up), Kraft (recollections) Vintage Sunflowers Card Fronts (Divinity Designs)

Paper Size: 4 1/2" x 5 3/4"

Accessories: Give Thanks Die (CottageCutz)

I am also entering:

1.  Cardz for Galz has an Autumn Florals/Foliage challenge.  

2.  Creative Knockouts has a Fall or Halloween challenge. 

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

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

Hello Fall

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

Hope you are enjoying the Fall weather. It's been great here in Pittsburgh. Lots of sunshine and warmer weather. The leaves are starting to turn to their beautiful Autumn colors. 

Our neighborhood is getting lit up with color. That means there are lots of trees and leaves to rake. We have 2 huge oak trees in our front yard. They turn a golden color in Fall, but my hubby spends lots of days raking up the leaves. And when the wind blows our neighbors get our leaves as well. No one in our neighborhood complains though. We all enjoy this time of year.

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for the color challenge on Splitcoaststampers. I was the hostess and I chose peach pie, poppy parade, pumpkin pie and old olive for the color combo. Optional was to create a fall scene and with that fall scene you also have the option to add 2 additional colors of your choice to complete the scene.

For my card I used a create in quads stencil from Taylored Expressions. The stencils cover a full sheet of cardstock and produce four different designs. After ink blending, you cut them apart and have the makings of four cards.

So, I used the challenge colors plus neutrals of mossy meadow and soft suede.

Not sure why the stencil was created to have a white tree and also a white trunk. But I like the contrast.

I used a Taylored Expressions cutting plate to create a frame for my Fall scene and cut that in pumpkin pie.

Added a Fall sentiment and some greenery to complete my card.

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

Card Details:

Stamps: Picture Perfect (Taylored Expressions)

Paper: bristol white (Strathmore), Pumpkin Pie, Soft Suede (Stampin' Up)

Ink: peach pie, pumpkin pie, old olive, poppy parade, mossy meadow, soft suede (Stampin' Up), broken chine distress (Ranger)

Accessories: Create in Quads Picture Perfect Stencil, Frame in Frame 4 Cutting Plate (Taylored Expressions), Fall Greetings (CottageCutz)

Techniques: stenciling

I am also entering:

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

2.  Make my Monday wants us to use the color orange.

3.  Crafty Calendar has an Autumn/Halloween challenge. I chose Autumn.

4.  Crafty Catz has an anything goes challenge. 

5.  Creative Fingers has an anything goes challenge.    

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.