new years eve

Happy Friday and last day of the year for 2010. Thanks for taking the time to drop by the charmed life blog.
Looking at the year in review, I would say the biggest highlight was the birth of our new granddaughter, Phoenix Daisy, December 17.

Some other notables for myself was being selected for the first ever color challenge design team at splitcoaststampers. Then I was also selected as a design team member at the creative belli blog.

I have also won various contests and challenges in blog land in 2010. Winning is always a positive affirmation of your stamping abilities. I hope this trend continues throughout 2011.

Tonight we are going to my son's home to celebrate his birthday. My daughter-in-law will have a fabulous dinner I am sure. We also have a sleep-over planned which will make our grandsons very happy. So all in all it will be a very good end to 2010.

My card for today covers 3 challenges:

1.  The mojomonday 171 sketch is what I used for my card layout. 

2.  Stacey's curtain call color challenge this week is baja breeze, pear pizzazz, early espresso and whisper white. My card base is the espresso and the ribbon tabs are espresso seam binding. The designer paper incorporates  the 3 other colors.



3.  The AiFactory challenge blog this week was all about elegance. I thought the designer paper I used and the pearl button center this card looked elegant.

The designer paper is from Stampin-Up's "greenhouse gala" collection. My flower image is a set from Verve -  "great friends". I love how you can cut the flowers and layer them for such an awesome look.

This one I wanted to make it look like the designer paper. So my center is done in espresso like the paper.  I added a pearls button and some seam binding tabs and that completed this card.

Happy New Year to all my blog readers and friends. I am looking forward to a great year in 2011.

card recipe:
stamps: verve- great friends
paper: su espresso, baja breeze, pear pizzazz, greenhouse gala dsp
ink: pear pizzazz
accessories: pearl button, espresso seam binding

more christmas

Happy Thursday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. Today my friend, Cindi, came over and we made pizzelle cookies. My house still has the fragrant aroma of anise wafting through it. I love it!!

We weren't able to get together before Christmas because of conflicting schedules. But today worked out fine for both of us.  Cindi has 2 pizzelle bakers so we finished 10 dozen cookies in 1 1/2 hours. She has the most delicious recipe of any that I have ever tasted.

My hubby will be very happy when he comes in from work because these are one of his fave cookies.
After she left I ordered the same pizzelle baker that she uses. I have her recipe so I plan on making these throughout the year for my hubby. Oh yes, for me as well (lol)!!

I wanted to post another of the Christmas cards I made this year. This one was  a "one" of a kind. And, it went to one of my "A" list people. Someone who appreciates a hand-made card.

I unabashedly copied this card from Ann Schach from the stampin schach blog. I love her work and when I saw this card I knew I was going to make one for Christmas.
I used a different stamp for the sentiment, but otherwise it's pretty much the same. That is really the only stamping on this card. The sentiment was punched out with the decorative label punch and layered with cherry cobbler cardstock. The paper is from Stampin-Up's "deck the halls" collection.


I used cherry cobbler seam binding for the bow and that is basically the card.



Brett, Ghilly and Phoenix Daisy


I also have another picture of my granddaughter, Phoenix Daisy, to show.
This time she is with her parents. My son, Brett, and daughter-in-law Ghilly. This was her first visit to the beach.

Well, it's time to close this post. god bless and see you next time.

happy birthday alan

Happy Tuesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. Today is a special day in our household. My husband is celebrating a birthday. I always try and make it special since it's so close to Christmas and it could very easily get overlooked. I guess that happens a lot with December birthdays.

I don't wrap his gift in Christmas paper and the card I make him is strictly a birthday card. No mention of Christmas or any Christmas images.  In fact, its the one I am posting today.

Since I was hosting the color challenge on splitcoaststampers today, I chose colors that would make a good masculine card - navy-olive green and daffodil yellow-I used this one as an accent color.

I used navy striped paper because it just screamed masculine to me. My image is from a stamp set that I bought from Waltzingmouse stamps.
It is designed to work with the spellbinder label 1. The sentiment is from Verve stamps " framed wishes" set.

I used a border punch that has masculine appeal. It's from Fiskars-the upper crest punch. I added a navy button and that completed my card.

We went to watch Ethan play basketball this morning. He had the winning shot for his team. So that was exciting for us and him.

Now we are taking Ethan to the movies to see the 3rd Chronicles of Narnia movie - "voyage of the dawn treader".

It's part of Ethan's Christmas gift. He asked to see this movie and then a sleepover without his brothers. We will have him until Wednesday evening. He is excited to come over and so are we.

So we get to do a couple of fun things for Al's birthday-have Ethan with us and go see a movie.

A few other challenges form this card:

1.  The abc challenge is "k for keep it simple". My card is a simple layout.

2.  The top tip tuesday blog has a "get embellishing challenge". I used a button on my card.

God Bless and enjoy the season!!

Christmas Eve

Happy Friday and also it's Christmas Eve. Thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog.

My presents are all wrapped-shopping is complete-and now its time to enjoy the most wonderful time of the year.

My son, daughter-in-law and grandsons are coming for our celebration tonight. The boys are so excited to come over for dinner, presents and our happy birthday Jesus party.

After dinner we move to the living room and we read the Christmas story from a book I purchased just for them a few years ago.
Last year the 3 of took turns and read parts of the story aloud.

We then open up gifts and this involves a little game. One of the boys gets to open a gift, then they select the next person. This way it's not a free-for-all and nobody knows what anyone received. It takes us over an hour doing it this way, but I love watching their reactions as they open gifts. As well, they like seeing what everyone else received.

We then move back to the dining room for our happy birthday Jesus party. We sing happy birthday to Jesus since this is the reason we celebrate Christmas. I bought the boys cookies at our local bakery that are made specifically as "happy birthday Jesus" cookies. It's a Christian owned bakery.

Miss Phoenix Daisy (5 days old)

Brett & Ghilly won't be home this year since they just had a baby. Phoenix Daisy will be 1 week old today.

We are probably going to visit the first week in January. I am so excited and just can't wait to meet her.

Well, onto my card for today. It's one of the ones that I made for Christmas. It was a pretty easy one to mass produce. For me that means I made 12 of these to send.
I just like to make a variety of cards at Christmas. I made 60 cards this year.

I saw this card on the stampin schach blog back in September and decided I was going to recreate it ala Mary Marsh style.

My paper is Stampin-Up's marina mist and very vanilla. I sprayed it with champagne smooch for a little dazzle effect. I used the new decorative label punch on my sentiment. The snowflakes are Stampin-Up's "northern flurry embossing folder". Added some pearls and that completed my card.

Time to close this post. Merry Christmas my blogger friends.

Creative Belli Card

Happy Wednesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog.
Today I am showing another of my Christmas cards and it's also for the the creative belli blog challenge.

This week its all about Christmas creations. We encourage you to use your old and forgotten embellishments in all of our Belli Challenges.

This can include ribbons, brads, buttons, glitter, patterned paper, chipboard, stickers - anything that is Christmas themed. It must be a NEW project!


I used this card layout for several of my cards this year. It is from the mojomonday blog, sketch 164. I saw this card on sarah's creations blog and loved the paper she used. It was from last year's Stampin-Up "Christmas cocoa" collection.

Anytime I can use up my stash is a good thing.

The image is from the perfect punches set and I punched it out with Stampin-Up's ornament punch. On my white panel I used the cuttlebug folder "winter wonderland". There are 5 folders in this pack and the one I used is the ornament folder.

My center square uses the spellbinder's lacy square die. I added some ribbon and that completed my card.

Stop by the other "belli girls" blogs to see the beauties they have created:

Darsie Bruno, Holly Brown, Joan Ervin, Joy Hadden, Anne Harmon, Robin Kirkpatrick, Robin Parker, Chris Dickinson, Maria Matter, Chris Olsen, Ceal Pritchett, Karen Wallace, Jessica Stockmeyer, Shelly Schmidt

I am in the middle of wrapping Christmas gifts so it's time to close this post. Merry Christmas everyone in case you don't drop by before then.

Some additional challenge for this card:

1.  A spoonful of sugar blog has a christmas challenge running.

2.  The stampin' for the weekend blog also has a Christmas challenge.

3.  The stamp-n-doodle blog has a winter and sparkle challenge running. This card has sparkle on the designer paper and I used a rhinestone in the center of my ornament.

card recipe:
stamps: perfect punches
ink: real red
paper: soft suede, ww, christmas cocoa speciality dsp
accessories: rhinestones, nesties lacy square, ribbon, oval punches

phoenix daisy



Happy Tuesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. I have been up to my ears in Christmas. Last minute decorating, baking cookies, shopping and then right in the middle of it all the most wonderful news.

Our first granddaughter, Phoenix Daisy, made her appearance on the world scene. She is the daughter of our youngest son, Brett and daughter-in-law Ghilly.

This is their first child as well. They live in San Francisco so I have only seen photos of her. Our first visit will be sometime after Christmas.
She was born Friday morning and weighed in at 6 1/2 lbs and is 19 1/2" long.

Mother and baby are doing fine and are at home bonding together as a family.

Her name has some very interesting meanings. Phoenix means "rebirth" and Daisy means child of light or pearl. I believe that our name speaks of our destiny.

So I have been on the phone and email with all my family here in Pittsburgh giving updates. As well as talking to the new parents in San Francisco. I just can't wait to hold her and give her lots of love and kisses.

I haven't posted on the blog because I have been so busy with Christmas stuff. But, I do have cards to post just couldnt fit it into the schedule.

My card for today is for the color challenge on splitcoaststampers. Our hostess this week is Joann Travis, and she chose black, red & white. Really great colors and ones that I think make such an elegant looking card. No matter what occasion it's for.

My card is a thank you and I will add it to the ones I will need for Christmas.

My background black fleur de lis pattern is something I recycled from a purchased card that was sent to me. It was originally 5 x 7 so I cut off the front and was able to make 2 cards from it. I just love recycling and turning it into a completely different creation.

I randomly added red rhinestones for some bling. I also added the red velvet ribbon and the gold butterfly and put a rhinestone in the center.

That's my card for today. I hope you are getting settled with all the pre-Christmas activities. I am off to start wrapping gifts now. It's the most wonderful time of the year.

Some other challenges that I am entering:

1.  The stamps r us blog has an anything goes challenge.

2.  The sugar sweet paper treats blog also has an anything goes challenge.

design team card

Happy Wednesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. Today was a productive day in that I accomplished a lot of my Christmas tasks.

I picked up a few more gifts, mailed my cards, and sent a package off to my son & daughter-in-law in California.

I decorated the tree in the living room. This is my Victorian tree. Tomorrow I will put away all the empty decoration boxes and make my grandson's Christmas cards.

I go to meet the school bus tomorrow. Ethan has a school Christmas play tomorrow evening.

Anyway, that's my update for today. Now onto my card.

This is one that I did as my design team sample on splitcoaststampers.

The color challenge this week was hosted by Vicki and she chose concord crush (deep purple), marina mist (blue) and basic gray.

I cased myself and recreated this card in the challenge colors.
My card base is a metallic gunmetal and I layered concord crush on top of that. The top striped layer isdesigner paper from lasting impressions and the purple metallic is from hot off the press.

I used a spellbinders lacy square die and cut more concord crush and layered designer paper on that. My Jesus image is colored in the marina mist to complete that requirement. I also used some concord crush to complete my card.

I also entered this one in the abc christmas challenge. This blog does a christmas challenge all year long. They take the letter of the alphabet to come up with their theme. They are at "z" now. For this challenge you could go back to any of the prior ones and pick one you missed. I chose "x" is for xmas.

The dutch dare blog had a christmas challenge as well.

Well, it's another busy day tomorrow so I am dimming the lights in charmed life land for another day.

Jesus

Happy Monday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. Winter has hit Pittsburgh today. It's snowy and blustery. Perfect weather for staying indoors and decorating the house for Christmas. And, that's exactly what I did. I am glad I took my own advice (lol)!!

Wanted to give a brief mention of the Christmas production we had at our Church yesterday. It was titled "Christmas at Cafe Fusion".

We held a dessert theater. We set up round tables that seated 8 people and decorated them for Christmas. Our desserts were cookies placed on cookie tiers. We served coffee & hot chocolate.

The production took place in a coffee shop and jumped between current day and the events at the birth of Christ. It brought traditional Christmas characters into a modern day cafe.

We had Mary, Elizabeth, the Wisemen, Angel Gabriel, and other angels. After they did their traditional part they would take off their costumes and then walk into the coffee house. It was the perfect production for our church because we bought a new building last year and it was a former social club. It has a big bar area in it that we kept when we renovated the building.

card inside

Our church has never undertaken anything like this before. It was a packed house last night, and we do this again on Friday & Saturday. Because of the response we have added a show on Sunday night as well.
I was one of the hospitality directors. Lots of work in the kitchen and then I volunteered to be one of the servers.

So I had 2 tables to serve the drinks and interact with the guests. I loved being a part of it all.

Anyway, my card for today is another of my Christmas cards. I only made 2 of these. But, when I got the idea for it I was so excited to see it transform int other actual card.

I made this one in blue & gray. The card base is a beautiful gunmetal metallic from the Paper Company. The striped metallic is from Making Memories "stardust stripe silver". The textured silver paper is from Hot Off the Press that I bought years ago.

The blue is Stampin-Up's night of navy. My image is from an old Stampin-Up set "miracle of Christmas". The sentiments describing who Jesus is came from Wordsworth stamps "Messiah" set. It has the names of God in this set. Bought it last year with the idea of using it on a Christmas card.

I am sending this to my husband's aunt in California. She is very complimentary of my cards. One of my "A" list Christmas card people.

Of course this is for a few challenges:

1.  The Ooh La La blog challenged us to make a nativity scene.

2.  The diecut dreams christmas club challenged us to be inspired by a Christmas song. Mine is "away in a manger".

3.  The creative card crew blog has an "anything goes" challenge.


Well, back to decorating so until next time.......God Bless and stay warm.

More Christmas

Happy Saturday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. Today I finished my Christmas cards and addressed them.
This process is a tedious one. I have to look through my cards and decide who gets what. I have my a, b, & c lists and then I have to divide my cards into a, b &c cards. My husband just laughs at me.

Now, I can move onto the decorating. I started to bring out boxes and managed to get my 3 nativity sets put out and some decorations on one of my trees.

Then I remembered that I had to order the sweatshirts that my grandsons asked for over a month ago. So that put a halt to the decorating for today.
I will work at it again some more tomorrow.

So now onto my card for today. I am showing more of the cards I made to send to family & friends.

 I used this sketch from the mojomonday blog. It's #164. I used it previously on this card. I liked the layout so well that I decided to use it again.

 I stamped, embossed and punched out the ornament from Stampin-Up's"tags till Christmas" set.

I paired it up with  designer paper from Stampin-Up's "jolly holiday" collection. I really liked this designer paper but I hardly used it for my Christmas cards and that was not my intent at all. Oh well, there is always next year.

My white panel is embossed with a cuttlebug folder from the winter wonderland collection. There are 6 different folders in this set.

I bought it from Bonnie McLain's "toyz for paper" store. She has great prices on cuttlebug & spellbinders dies.

I finished my card with some cherry cobbler seam binding and added my sentiment. That completed this card. It's addressed and being sent off to North Carolina.

I entered this card in a few challenges as well.

1.  craft your passion blog had an anything goes challenge this week,

2. Tthe daring cardmakers blog had a snow much fun challenge. You are to use snow somewhere in your card. My embossed panel is done in snowflakes. There is also a snowflake on my ornament.

3.  The paper pretties blog had a challenge to use punches. I used the stampin-up ornament punch.

4.  The stamps r us blog wanted us to make a holiday card.

5.  The stampavie blog has a Christmas challenge this week.

6.  The penny's paper crafty challenge has a "merry christmas challenge this week.

7.  The oh alice blog had a challenge of red & green +one. That's my card!!

And now it's time to dim the lights in charmed life land for today. Church in the morning and then we have a Christmas play at church that I volunteered to help serve desserts. So it will be a full day of activities. God Bless!!

card recipe:
stamps: su all year cheer
paper: su cherry cobbler,ww, jolly holiday dsp
ink: cherry cobbler
accessories: cb ef, seam binding, nesties, oval punches, gold ep

Christmas flower

Happy Wednesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. Lots planned for today. I start my day with a staff meeting at church. Then I have a cooking class planned at the Crate.  It's a local cooking school. They have lunch & learn's every Wednesday. I try and schedule at least 4-5 during the year. It's always such a fun time. The food is delicious and since I go myself, it's a time to meet new people.
The instructors do all the cooking in front of you and when finished it's our lunch.


Our class & menu for today is:


Lattice-Crusted Minestrone Pot Pies
• Arugula and Spinach Salad White Balsamic Vinaigrette and Parmesan Curls
• Chicago Palmer House Brownies.

The card for today is one I did for the Creative Belli Challenge. I am sampling with them again this week. The challenge is anything Christmas. So that can be paper, ribbon, images, any Christmas embellishment.  This challenge blog is encouraging you to use your stash and not go out and buy something new to participate.

My card uses Christmas designer paper from Provo craft. I have had this paper for several years. I like it and have used it on several cards this Christmas.

The stamp is one that I bought 6 months ago at a stamp show. I remember buying it and thought it would be a good image for Christmas. I stamped the image 3 times and then cut out the layers and popped them up. I added some stampendous gold dot sparklers to each flower layer. I have had these for several years as well.

I kept the card to a clean and simple layout since the flower is so big. The artichoke ribbon completed my card.

That completes my card for today. God Bless and I hope you are completing all your Christmas to-do's.

card recipe:
stamp: stamplistic
paper: cherry cobbler, artichoke, provocraft dp
ink: memento tuxedo black
accessories: dot sparklers, artichoke ribbon

let heaven and nature sing

Happy Tuesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. Christmas preparations are falling behind the schedule I had planned. Isn't that how it always happens though?? 

 I was feeling a bit stressed today. When that happens it's not good for me. I accidentally deleted this card from the gallery over at splitcoaststampers. Oops!!

I had to then -re-load the card since it was made as a design team sample for Tuesday's color challenge. That also meant I had to contact Betty Wright, our design team coordinator to have her link it once again to the gallery.

With that taken care of, I had to get ready to go over to meet my grandsons' school bus. No stress there-just lots of lovin' from the boys and Grandma. Needless to say,  I didn't get any Christmas stuff done today

So onto my card for today. For this color challenge, #300-we were to look back over the previous 299 and pick a color combo that we particularly liked. Since I wanted to make a Christmas card I chose #233 which was chocolate chip, red, and kraft.

I recently purchased these Just Rite stamps and decided to use them for this card.

The stamp set is Christmas Treasures. The ribbon I used is from Stampin-Up-“alpine originals,” and I used a crumb cake (kraft) button to cover that color.

This card is also for the splitcoaststampers featured stamper challenge from Sunday. This challenges is at #200. This was the same type challenge in that you could go back over the featured stampers and pick the one that you wanted. I chose the incredibly talented, Julie Warner aka justwritedesigns. She was featured stamper 113


I picked her cardinal Christmas card. I have to make at least 2 changes on my card.  I changed the colors, designer paper, and cuttlebug embossing folder. I added ribbon and a button.

Well, that's my card and post for today.  Until next time......

card recipe:
stamps: christmas treasures (just rite)

paper: su choc chip, real red, vv, dcwv dp
ink: real red
accessories: su alpine originals ribbon, crumb cake button, gold cord, nesties

mojo167 joy

Happy Saturday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. Such a busy day today but 'tis the season.

We went to church and helped out with the decorating for Christmas. We were there much longer than I thought because not a lot of people came out to help.

But all in all, I was pleased with how everything looked when we left.

We started decorating our own home this afternoon as well. I put up 2 trees and we did get the lights on both of them.

We hung the outside wreaths as well. I ordered a live wreath from QVC and that came the other day and is on the front door.

So its coming along nicely. I also made 8 more Christmas cards. I only stopped because I wanted to post on my blog. I started the mass production that I told myself I was going to do this year.


So my card for today is one of the ones for 2 challenges:

1.  The ways to use it challenge on splitcoaststampers wanted us to use letters. I cut the word "joy" from a sizzix alphabet set that I have on my Big Shot machine.

The holly & berries are from the stampin-up scrap set "holiday jingle". The background designer paper is also from stampin-up-their "merry moments" collection. The snowflakes are cut from the designer paper.





2.  The MojoMonday blog had a great sketch that I used for my layout. 

Well it's late and time to dim the lights in charmed life land for another day. Church in the morning and then more Christmas stuff the rest of the day. Yes, it's the most wonderful time of the year!!

card recipe:

paper: su old olive, vv, merry moments dsp

accessories: holiday jingle kit, sizzix alphabet, nesties, old olive striped ribbon

merry christmas

Happy Friday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. Last night we had Kendra & Aaron over for dinner.
If you follow this blog you will remember that this is the young couple we have mentored for 2 1/2 years. This is the first time they have been here since they married 1 1/2 months ago.

They came for dinner. I made pulled pork and french fries and Kendra bought an awesome dessert. She called them ooey-gooey brownies.
They were so rich and fabulous and she left them for us. This made my hubby very happy but now I will have to resist the temptation to eat them- maybe!!

We had a very enjoyable evening sitting in front of the fireplace and looking at their wedding photos-all 800+ of them. The guys were relaxing in the leather recliners and interacting with each other and sending comments our way occasionally.

I didn't get to post this card yesterday because I ran out of time and last night I was just too tired. So I am getting this post done early because I have lots to do today. That would include decorating for Christmas and Christmas card making.

This card was made for 4 challenges.

1.  Mercy Kerin's blog had another great sketch to work with this week. It's always a good starting point when someone else does the layout for you.

2.  The crazy for challenges blog wanted us to use script on our card. My background paper has script on it. It's some really old designer paper from Stampin-up-"holiday harmony".

3.  Speedy's friends blog wanted us to use a bow on our card. Easy enough!!

4.  The ABC Christmas challenge blog is on the letter "y" for yuletide. They wanted us to make a card red or green-holly or berries-or a canlde. I have 2 of the 3 that was aksed for in this one.

Some card details: I used all old stuff from my stash. The card stock is always artichoke, river rock, and pomegranate. The satin ribbon is also pomegranate and I added a star brad to the center of the bow.

My image is also an older stamp from great impressions company. I stamped it -then embossed-then colored with always artichoke-river rock-purely pomegranate inks and a blender pen. My sentiment is computer generated.

Well, friends that's my card for today. Hope you have a great day no matter where it takes you. God bless!!

card recipe:
stamps: great impressions
paper: su artichoke, river rock, pomegranate, holiday harmony dsp
ink: versafine black onyx, su artichoke, river rock, purely pomegranate
accessories: satin pomegranate ribbon, star brad,

joy at christmas

Happy Wednesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. Our weather has been crazy the past 2 days.

Yesterday we had about 3" of rain. It was the most ever for a 24 hr period in November. It was horrible driving yesterday and especially last night.

I met my grandsons' school bus yesterday and they live about 45 minutes away. The drive over wasn't too bad but the return trip last night was awful.

It was raining so heavily and there were big puddles of water laying on the roads. It was so dark because of the rain making driving an adventure. It was just hard to see.

It took me over an hour to get home safely. It was stressful and I was so glad to pull into my driveway.

But, on the way home and even today I thought about something Ethan (the youngest) said to me yesterday. We were at the dentist office waiting for his brother to finish his appointment. He said that he knew that I just drive over every week to spend time with them and that made him happy. He said I was a gift to them.

Let me tell you he melted my heart when he said that to me. I always tell them that they make my heart happy.

Tonite we went to Aidin's basketball game at a school near our home. It was snowing on the way over. When we came home about an hour later the salt trucks were out to salt the roads. They were very slick in some communities.

The winter snow and cold is upon us.  This was our first snowfall today. No accumulation just laid on the grassy areas.



color challenge colors

Lets, get onto my card for today. I made this one as a design team sample on splitcoaststampers. I was the hostess this week and Iwas able to choose the colors.

I decided to pick colors that would lean toward Christmas. My choice was real red, river rock (mossy green shade) and olive green.

I knew I had some Stampin-Up  designer paper in my stash that had these exact colors in it. It is the "dashing collection" from several years ago.

The Christmas trees were stamped, cut out and popped up for some dimension. This image is from the classic Christmas set. The sentiment is from the perfect punches set. 

I added a gold star brad and that completed this card.

This is also for some other challenges:

1.  Christmas Stampin - where you make Christmas cards all year long.

2.  Stamp and Create-also had a Christmas card challenge

3.  Freshly Brewed challenge was also about Christmas

4.  Daring Cardmakers blog wanted us to use stripes & spots. My card is right on with this one.

It's time to dim the lights in charmed life land for another day. Until next time.........

Numbers 6:24

Happy Cyber Monday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. I did order something online today to take advantage of free shipping. That is always a plus.

I don't have the gift list from the family as yet so I couldn't order anything else.
Although, I did take advantage of the deals on Black Friday. I was able to pick up quite a few gifts. I feel good about my progress so far.

I just need to get a move on my Christmas cards. I have a few ideas for mass producing but I haven't mass produced as yet. Go figure!!
I want to have these done and out in the mail by December 6 which is next Monday. So I see that I will be one busy woman this week.

Anyway, we had a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration with our family. The only one that didn't make it was my brother-in-law because he was sick with the flu. I sent a plate of food for him to enjoy later.
Everyone went home with leftovers and I still had a good bit for my husband & I.

Today, I am making turkey frame soup. Basically you put the turkey frame in water with an onion and let it simmer for 1 1/2 hrs. There is so much more meat on there than your realize. You remove it from the pot and stain the broth and take the meat from the bones.

I add 4 cups of fresh veggies + oregano, thyme. pepper and some chicken bouillon and let it simmer for another 45 minutes. Cook some noodles and I have a pot of delicious soup. It's one of my husbands favorites.

Well, now onto my card for today. I made this one 4 challenges:

1.  The stampin sisters in Christ challenge blog wanted us to make a card to encourage someone. I love this scripture because it sends a message of encouragement to the receiver.

2.  The artful inkables blog has a challenge that is all about punches & die cuts. I used both on my card.

3.  The fab 'n' funky blog has an anything goes challenge. Love these challenges!!

4.  The Little Paper Shop blog challenged us to make a funky edge. We are able to use whatever suits our fancy to create our edge, I used a corner rounder on my 3 layers. This is another new challenge for me as well.

I am trying to use up some of my stash and this designer paper from Stampin-Up is part of the "sending love speciality" line. This card from splitcoaststampers was my inspiration. I made a few changes to make it my own. I added chocolate chip ribbon between the two paper patterns and added a bow at top with a pearl.

I punched 3 butterflies and added pearls. My sentiment is a scripture stamp from Stampendous. I used the spellbinders labels 4 to highlight the scripture verse.

That's my card for today. God Bless.

card recipe:
stamps: Numbers 6:24
paper: su vv, sending love dsp
ink: memento rich cocoa
accessories: choc chip satin ribbon, hero arts pearls, ms butterfly punch, nesties labels 4

Belli Challenge #105

pocket card front

Happy Wednesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog.

Today will be a quick post because it's one of those busy, busy days before a holiday. I am having thanksgiving dinner at my home tomorrow and its a big prep day for me.




pocket card inside view





Everything that I can make or cut in advance I do. So very shortly my home will be filled with lots of good smells.

I will be chopping the celery & onions for my bread stuffing. I don't make this until Thursday morning but it's easy once everything is cut up.

My menu is mostly the same every year. My family & my in-laws like it so I figure why not repeat a success story every year. The only thing that really changes is the vegetable casserole. My daughter-in-law who is an excellent cook will wow us with something delicious. And of course the kids want their corn.

Menu: 

Roast Turkey

Bread Stuffing

Tennessee Yam Casserole

Cranberry-Apple Casserole

Vegetable Casserole (my daughter-in-law will bring)

Corn (for the kids)

Rolls & butter

Pumpkin & Apple Pie

So Happy Thanksgiving to all my American readers. Enjoy your day and remember to think about all your blessings from the past year.

My card for today is one that I made for the Creative Belli challenge. I am sampling this week with the Creative Belli Blog Design team. Whoo-Hoo a big honor for me!! 

This week the challenge is to use any embellishments that begin with an "R",

such as: ribbon, roses, rub-ons, ric rac, etc

The card is the same design from this post I just used different papers. Their challenge was to use something with the letter "R". My card was stamped in red ink  and uses red paper and button (all cherry cobbler). On my cherry cobbler piece on the front I used a cuttlebug folder to emboss it for some dimension.

The  "joy"sentiment on the front is a stamp from A-muse stamps and the inside is Stampin-Up's "season of joy" set. The bow on the front was an idea that I saw on Vicki Webb's blog.

All you do to create the bow is use oval punches. I really like the look it gives. For some bling on the inside I used Stampendous dot sparklers. Some real old stuff from my stash.

Time to get busy in my kitchen so until next time. God Bless!! 

card recipe
stamps: a-muse, season of joy (stampin-up)
paper: su cherry cobbler,choc chip dcwv christmas pack
ink: cherry cobbler
accessories; su button, gold cord, oval punches, oval punch, dot sparklers

merry christmas pocket card

Happy Tuesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. I went to Ethan's (youngest grandson)school today for grandparents day.

He goes to a Christian school so the day started with a church service.

After the service we were fed a continental breakfast. We were able to eat with Ethan and his friend Brendon who didn't have any grandparents there. It was such a fun start to my day.

I am hosting Thanksgiving so today is my shopping day. I have quite a spread planned for the 12 in attendance. This holiday and Christmas are my 2 favorite. It brings back such pleasant childhood memories for me.

The grocery store was really crowded and lots of short tempers. I was glad to get out of there in an hour.

Tomorrow will be my prep day.  I will be baking, cutting celery, onion and bread cubes for my stuffing. Well, just about everything that can be done in advance I do on Wednesday. That way Thursday is a day that I can enjoy as well as my guests.

My card for today is one that I made for the color challenge on splitcoaststampers. Our hostess, Joanne, selected  chocolate chip, cherry cobbler, and crumb cake. 

I saw this pocket card on flowerbugs blog and I really liked it. So I decided to make one of my own.

It is a really easy pocket card made to look like a present.  My card front uses designer paper from the  jolly holiday collection.
And, to that I added kraft taffeta ribbon and scrunched it up. I stamped the merry Christmas sentiment and punched it with oval punches. My button is also from Stampin-up the new big designer collection. I ran the taffeta ribbon through the button holes for a more finished look.

The card inside has a chocolate chip top that I embossed with snowflakes.  I stamped the sentiment in the cherry cobbler ink and added 3 chocolate pearls and that completed my card.

Stop by again tomorrow for another card I made with this same technique.

card recipe:
stamps: stampendous

paper: su vv, cherry cobbler
ink: cherry cobbler
accessories: choc pearls
techniques: pocket card

Ethan's Thanksgiving card

Happy Sunday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. This was such a laid back day for me.
My day started with church. Our worship team was exceptional today. I forgot to mention something to them after service. (Note to self-send Jesse an email!!)

Our Pastor had a different message today. It was about our names and the meaning behind them.
He said  our names speak of who we are and carry great influence in our culture whether we acknowledge it or not.

In our culture, most people don't know the meaning of their name. Or when we are naming our children we don't research the meaning of that name.
Several years ago for Christmas, I researched the meaning of my grandson's names. I put it on designer paper and framed it for them. They have them on their dresser,s and often I remind them of what their names mean.
Austin - means "guided by God"
Aidin - means - "little fire"
Ethan - means "steadfast in truth"

After, church I enjoyed a leisurely lunch, and then I decided to make a few cards. I did finish 2 that I will show on my blog in the next couple of days.

Yesterday, I had 3 of my stamp group over for an afternoon of stamping. We started with lunch first. I made some beef barley soup that they really enjoyed. And a "fruits of the forest" pie for dessert. I picked this up at our local bakery and it was really delicious. It had red raspberries, blackberries, strawberries and rhubarb. I don't usually buy store bought pies but this bakery is a top of the line. I wasn't disappointed in the least.

We all worked on different projects yesterday-mostly Christmas. I needed one more Thanksgiving card. It was for Ethan and he asked for a card with candy in it. Bless his little heart, he loves candy and this is a way for him to get some.

I bought some Stampin-Up sweet treat cups a while ago but never used them.  I knew that his card would be something with these cups so I fill it with m&m's

My friend Linda, brought me this stamp set "something sweet" to use with the cups and the idea for the card layout as well. I stamped in cajun craze for more of a fall look.

The cardstock on the side of the card pulls away to release the candy. I punched a leaf so he can pull that and also to make it look a little more fallish.
That way he wont have to destroy the card to get what his goodies.

My designer paper is from cloud 9 "cinnamon stick" collection. I added 3 small leaves in the corner and that completed my card.

This is for a couple of challenges as well:

1. The crazy for challenges blog had a fun challenge. Our hostess, Cindy Haffner, wanted us to use circles on our card. My background paper has lots of circles as well as the sweet treat cup and the m&m's.

2.  The Fab 'n' Funky blog had a forget me not challenge. We were to use a stamp or digi image that was forgotten. Linda brought me a stamp from her stash. And my dp is older stuff as well as my leaf embellishments.

Well, it's time to put the wraps on this post. Good night and God bless!

card recipe:
stamps: something sweet
paper: su cajun craze, ww, cloud 9 dsp
ink" cajun craze
accessories: sweet treat cups, me&m's, nesties rectangle die, leafs (unknown), leaf punch (marvy uchida)

thank you

Happy Friday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. It was a beautiful, fall day here in Pittsburgh. Lots of sunshine but very cool.

I didn't venture out because I wasn't feeling well. Just a scratchy throat and minor body aches. I took lots of vitamin c and drank lots of water.

At the time I am writing this post, I am starting to feel a lot better. Good thing because I have some friends coming over tomorrow to stamp and I didn't want to cancel on them. Priorities you know (lol)!!

My card for today is one I made for the free for all challenge on splitcoaststampers. Our hostess, Dawn, wanted us to make a thank-you card  to have on hand for that "hostess with the mostess!!"

Easy enough I thought. I went the easy route with a clean and simple card. I decided to use a cuttlebug embossing folder and make a frame and stamp a thank you in the center.

The sentiment is from the Stampin-Up "sincere salutations" set. I stamped and embossed this with clear embossing powder. The paper is a copper metallic. That completed my card.

It's time to dim the lights in charmed life land for another day. God Bless!!

card recipe:
stamps: sincere salutations

paper: aspire metallic
ink: versafine onyx black
accessories: cb ef flourished frame, embossing powder

we three kings

Happy Tuesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. I just came back from an energetic walk in the park with my friend, Stephanie.

We have a huge park (South Park) near our home that has about 2000 acres where you can picnic, swim, play tennis, golf, walk, hike & bike.

We started going on Tuesday mornings (weather permitting) for a 45 min walk. We will walk outdoors as long as we can. Once it gets too cold we have an indoor walking track at our community center.

So now I am energized to get all my household chores done and then have time to play with my crafting toys. For today, I am showing a Christmas card that I completed for 5 challenges:

1.  The first challenge is the Tuesday color challenge on splitcoaststampers. This is for my design team gig. I really liked the colors that our hostess, Betty Wright, chose this week.

The color swatch to the left shows the baja breeze, pear pizzazz and perfect plum

I knew that I was going to make a Christmas card and I thought my 3 kings stamp would be great.

2.  The creative belli blog had a something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue challenge. It did not need to be a wedding card. I used some old metallic paper from my stash, new pear pizzazz ribbon, baja breeze (blue), and I borrowed the layout from myself to created this card.

3.  The incy wincy blog had a rock on challenge. You make a card based on a song. So my Christmas card is based on the "we three kings" song.

4.  The paper sundaes blog had a challenge to use punches, ribbon, embossing and the color blue. I have 3 of the 4 sundae toppings on my card.

5.  The crazy for challenge blog wanted us to make a christmas card.

Well, this is my post for today. Off to do some cleaning!! God Bless

card recipe:
stamps: kings (morning star stamps)
paper: su perfect plum, pear pizzazz, baja blue, wjite watercolor paper, gold textured metallic
ink: baja breeze, perfect plum, pear pizzazz, gold
accessories: poly-twill ribbon, star brad, oval punch

O come let us adore him

Happy Thursday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. Also a shout-out of thanks to all the veterans who have protected the freedoms we enjoy here in the United States. God bless you all!!

I went over to my Stampin-Up demo's, house today for some stamping time. We had a fun 4 hours. We made a really cute scarecrow card that  I will post tomorrow. I worked on some Christmas cards as well.


Well, I made one Christmas card and then was doing the prep work to make about 10 more of this particular design. I willl post that one in the next few days as well.

My card for today iscovering 2 challenges:

1.  The sketch challenge on splitcoaststampers. The layout was a real easy one to work with and I could see me using it again for some other Christmas cards.

I had these Christmas rub-ons that I bought last year at Michael's on clearance. The card has lots of shimmer but the camera doesnt pick up all he sparkle.

The metallic paper on the card base is from the paper company- "uptown gold" and my gold middle layer is from Stampin-Up. The background paper is metallic textured paper that  I bought years ago from Provo Craft. I really like the paper. So I am not sure why this pack is unopened until today.

I added some gold cord and that completed my card. I have 3 of these rub-ons left so I am going to use them with this layout.

2.  The ABC challenge blog had a theme challenge "H" is for holiday.

Well, its late and time to dim the lights in charmed life land for today. So until next time......

card recipe:
paper: uptown gold (paper company), su gold, provo craft gold

accessories: royal langnickel rub-ons, gold cord, circle nesties

attitude of gratitude

Happy Wednesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog.

Today was my day with my grandsons.

 It was such fun and I love going to meet their school bus. We did homework and I made them something to eat.

They wanted me to sleep over and then stay until they come home from school  tomorrow. This really tugged at my heartstrings, but  I already have plans for tomorrow. They wouldnt let me say no-they said "just think about it Grandma".

Aidin asked me to take his picture so he could be on my blog. He is holding the card I made. Then he asked me to take Austin's picture and put him on the blog as well.


So Aidin here you are!!

And Austin here you are!!

Aren't they 2 good looking boys?? Ethan was outside playing so he doesn't get in this time around.

Now onto my card for today. I made this one for the November "viva la verve" challenge Each week in November, Amber, posts a sketch and if you complete all of them you are eligible to win the Verve stamp release for November.


This sketch also had an inspiration photo with it. The colors in the photo were all about fall. So I decided to make another Thanksgiving card.

I made it a square card for the challenge on the crazy for challenges blog. Cindy Haffner is the hostess this month.

I had a die-cut in my stash from Darcie Stamps and this cute little screcrow is the focal image on my card.

Here is the sketch

 

 

and the inspiration photo.

 

 



i stamped my background with different leafs from the Stampin-Up "fantastic foliage" set.



That's my celan & simple card for today.

So blogger friends until next time.........

card recipe:Stamps: fantastic foliage

paper: su soft suede, dusty durango
ink: soft suede
accessories: fiber, darcie's u-cuts