Emboss Resist

Happy Friday everyone and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. I cant believe that 2011 is drawing to a close. Where did the year go to??

As I reminisce back on this year, I realize I had the opportunity to visit my new granddaughter Phoenix Daisy 6x. She lives in San Francisco. I see my grandsons once a week. That always warms my heart. My desire for more family time is being met. Although, I still wish I lived closer to my grandsons and that Phoenix Daisy lived here in Pittsburgh.

On my stamping front I was a designer for Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps & Creative Belli.  I did guest design stints for ODBD-stamping in time challenge, Pals Paper Arts, Craft your Passion and Raise the Bar challenge. I am still a design hostess for the color challenge on Splitcoaststampers.

So my creative goals are being met. I have set goals for 2012 as well. So as the year unfolds, I will see how that progresses.

Now onto my card for today. I wanted to try an emboss resist technique and I knew I had the perfect stamp for it. This image is from Our Daily Bread Designs-"worship the Lord" set. I stamped in versamark and heat embossed with white embossing powder.

I sponged with Stampin-Up crumb cake and soft suede inks. I like how it turned out. I may make a few more of these for next year's Christmas stash.

I used cherry cobbler and soft suede card stock. The designer paper is from Stampin-Up as well-"Christmas Cocoa" speciality paper. It's retired now. Used a scallop border punch on the image panel.

Added cherry cobbler ribbon, an angel charm and some glittery stars to complete this card.

That's it for today. So until next time.........God bless.

Some challenges:
1.  ODBD "shining the light challenge" has an anything goes.
2.  The Stamping in Time challenge also at OurDaily Bread Designs is anything goes as well.
3.  The crafty purple frog has a Christmas challenge.
4.  Art Impressions Stamps has a die cut or punches challenge.
5.  Craft Us Crazy has a Christmas challenge with anything new. I used a new angel charm and ribbon.
6.  Paper Play Challenges also has a Christmas challenge.

Winter Time

Happy Wednesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. We are still relaxing and enjoying the holiday week. This afternoon we went to watch Aidin (middle grandson) play a basketball game. It was a good game and their team won.

My hubby is funny at these games. He yells out from the stands somethings the refs have missed( IE). "over the back, 3 seconds, walk, goal tending". The boys know when he is there because they hear him. He isn't obnoxious in the least. His knowledge of basketball is just so evident and some of the refs are quite as good.

This is another card I made for the color challenge #355 on splitcoaststampers. Our colors for this week are navy, bashful blue and white. Vicki is our hostess and she made an amazing sample. Click here to check it out.

For this card I again used some old Stampin-Up rub-ons. It's from the "word flurries" collection.

Since the sentiment had the word time in it, I decided to pick up on that with the clock image and my background embossing. I used the Cuttlebug "clockworks" embossing folder and a clock image from Marks Finest Papers Stamps.

I used some white mesh from May Arts ribbon and a glittery snowflake on the clock to complete my card.

It's late now and time to dim the lights in charmed life land for another day. So until next time.........God bless.

Some other challenges:
1.  Little Darlings has a cold challenge.
2.  Simon Says Stamp has an anything goes challenge.
3.  Anything Goes Challenge blog wants us to use the color blue + one other color.
4.  Karen's Doodles wants us to use a clock on our card.
5.  Top Tip Tuesday has an anything goes challenge.

One Kind Word

Happy Tuesday everyone and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. Hope your Christmas celebration was a great one. Ours was wonderful. We are having my husbands extended family here tonight for a get-together. It will be simple as far as food goes. We are just having pizza and a salad. So I will be able to mingle with my guests instead of spending all my time in the kitchen.

My grandsons also are in school basketball tournaments so Wednesday and Thursday will be spent with them. It will be fun and we love watching them play.

My card for today is one that I created for the color challenge on splitcoaststampers. Vicki is our hostess and she chose the fab color trio of night of navy, bashful blue and white. She also wanted us to use some glitter on our card. 

For my card I used some old Stampin-Up rub-ons for the sentiment panel. It is from their "word flurries" collection.

This panel was completed with a scallop Martha Stewart border punch and some white ribbon. I thought the ribbon picked up the swirly snowflakes.

My background layer is embossed hearts cardstock from lasting impressions and I sponged bashful blue ink on this panel..

For the glitter option I added a snowflake button that has glitter on it. Although the sparkle didn't show up well in the photo.

That's my card for today. So until next time.......God bless

Some other challenges:
1.  Incy Wincy Designs has a winter wonderland challenge 126.
2.  The Outlawz  Monday challenge has an "anything goes". You have to use a sentiment on your card.
3.  Paper a la Mode from Outlawz blog has a shades of blue challenge.

Merry Christmas



close-up view of poinsettia

 Merry Christmas to all my blogger friends. Hope your celebration is a blessed one.

We are having our family celebration today. My son, daughter-in-law and grandsons will be here shortly for our Christmas dinner.

I will be back in a couple of days with regular posts.

We have several family & friend celebrations here so my card making will be on hold until mid-week.

This card was one that I made for Christmas.

God bless!!

Creative Belli Challenge #133

Happy Wednesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. It's time for another Creative Belli Challenge. This is the last one for 2011 and also the last one for me. I am leaving this design team as of December 31. Something else is coming but more about that in January.

This challenge is all about "Merry Christmas".  You have to have the word "Christmas" on your card. The spirit of the Belli challenges is to encourage you to use your OLD and FORGOTTEN embellishments! Everyone is welcome to play along! Challenge a stamping friend! Just follow the theme.

For my card I used an image from  the stamp set "Christmas light" from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps. It has a matching die so the cutting out of the image is super easy.

I used the Cheery Lynn die 'deco border light". I love this die. I think it makes for such an elegan card.
I also used the Spellbinder "lacy circle" for my candle image.

My old and forgotten part is paper from my stash. I had this BoBunny green striped designer paper and I was able to use it on this card. I found the perfect shade of gold to match it. The red border and circle are Stampin-Up's real red cardstock.

I colored the image with prismacolor pencils and gamsol. I stamped the word "peace" on the candle from another set I had. No name on that one.

Well that's my card for today. Hope you will join in on the challenge at the Creative Belli Blog.

Some other challenges:

1.  Creative Card Crew has the lights of Christmas challenge.
2.  Papertake Weekly has a last Christmas card of the year challenge.
3.  Top Tip Tuesday has an anything Christmas challenge.
4.  Cheery Lynn Designs has a "tis the season" challenge. I used the deco light border die.

Christmas Tag

Happy Tuesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. The countdown continues. It's only 5 days until Christmas. I felt very good about all that I accomplished today.

I finished my decorating and the majority of my cleaning. I am on track for the goals that I set for this week. There is less stress for me that way.

The Christmas tag I am showing today is one that I made as my sample for the color challenge on Splitcoaststampers. Peggy is our hostess and she chose a fabulous color trio of calypso coral, wisteria wonder and lucky limeade.

These colors certainly didn't lend themselves to Christmas but Peggy wasn't intending that they would.

However, I need a slew of tags for gifts so I decided to create one using these colors. I like how it turned out.

I cut my tag in white cardstock using a Sizzix die. I wanted some texture so I used the Cuttlebug embossing folder "Kassie's Brocade" . I sponged this in wisteria wonder and calypso coral.

My calypso coral and lucky limeade layer has the same embossing folder and sponged in calypso coral and lucky limeade. The sentiment is from the Stampin Up “winter post” set.


I used the Spellbinders “poinsettia die” for a coral poinsettia with limeade leaves. I finished my tag with lucky limeade and calypso coral ribbon tied with gold memory thread and a gold pearl.

Well, it's late and time to dime the lights in charmed life land for another day.

So until next time...........God bless

Some other challenges:
1.  Crafty Cardmakers has a challenge to use it 3 times. I used the same embossing folder 3x. First on my white tag-then on my coral layer and finally on my limeade layer.
2.  Crafty Boots has a Christmas challenge.
3.  Lawnscaping Challenge wants us to add texture to our project. I used embossing.
4.  Lexi's Creations has a non-traditional Christmas color challenge.
5.  Make My Monday has a seasonal tag challenge.
6.  Ooh-La-La creations has an "anything but a card" challenge.

Merry Christmas

Happy Sunday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. The countdown to Christmas continues and today we are at 7 days. 

Don't know how your preparations are going but mine are running behind.  I haven't started to wrap any of my gifts as yet. And, I do special wraps on each gift. So probably Tuesday will be the start of a marathon day of gift wrapping.

I sort of have my menus for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day worked out so I will have to make my shopping list for the grocery store. I will probably do that on Friday morning. The rest of the week will be cleaning and finishing up other tasks. So maybe I am not so behind. Glad I talked this out I just made myself feel better (lol)!!

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for the inspiration challenge on Splitcoastampers. Anne was our hostess and she sent us to the "at west end" site. It is a great site with lots of rustic and recycled items.

I chose the "red mercury glass votives" as my inspiration to create a card. The cranberry striped paper I thought was a good match for the color of the votives. And my candle image is in keeping with the votive.

My image & sentiment are from the stamp set "Christmas light" from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps. It has a matching die so the cutting out of the image is super easy. I used the Cheery Lynn die 'deco border light" and a Spellbinder "lacy circle" for my candle image.

Well, it's time to close this post and dim the light in charmed life land for another day..........

Some other challenges:

1.  Craftyhazlenut's Christmas Challenge #51 has an "anything goes".

2.  Just Us Girls has a color challenge. We are to use red, olive and white or kraft. I stamped my image on white cardstock before coloring with prismacolor pencils.

3.  Speedy the cat's friends challenge wants us to make a Christmas card.

 

 

Snowflake Joy

Happy Friday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. Well it's just 9 days to Christmas now. I mailed the last of my cards today and I am finishing up on some decorating. On Monday my friend will come over and we make pizzelles together. My house will have the smell of anise for several days after this.

Earlier this week I attended a holiday tea at my neighbors. Everything was so beautiful and the food was incredible. She had 8 of us there. Her dishes were the blue willow pattern and she read us the story behind this dishware that started our afternoon.  

Our tea menu started of with roasted tomato soup and a sun-dried cheddar biscuit. then we had a delicious quiche with sun-dried tomatoes, onion and ham. She had a strawberry on the plate that was sliced in a fan effect. Loved the quiches as well as the presentation.

Then we were served an orange scone and a cranberry-ginger scone. These were served with lemon curd, orange marmalade and some clotted cream. These were also incredibly delicious.
then she served from tea sandwiches with egg salad, a strawberry-almond cheese and some smoked salmon served in a cucumber round. Fabulous!!

And, if we weren't filled enough she served us some excellent chocolate cake. This was followed by sorbet with kiwi slices. we had 3 different kind of teas served with all this. Our take home gift was an angel from this blue willow pattern. The piece is titled "wishes of grace for a palace". It is a limited edition and just beautiful. I thoroughly enjoyed this afternoon and was so honored to be invited.

Now I want to have one at my home. Maybe I will think about it for next Christmas.

Onto my card for today. This one I made for the VSN challenge on splitcoaststampers. We were to use a snowflake on our card.

My background paper is from Stampin-Up's "ski slope" collection. The red snowflakes are feltand the white one is a button.  I also used a Stampin-Up border punch, oval punches and some espresso bakers twine. The sentiment is from Amuse stamps.

That completes this card and also this post. So until next time.......God bless.

Some other challenges:
1.  Raise the Bar has a Christmas challenge.
2.  Really reasonable ribbon challenge has an anything goes & ribbon theme. I used bakers twine on my card.
3.  4 crafty chicks blog has a Christmas card challenge.
4.  Card Makin Mamas has a Christmas challenge.

Herald Angels Sing

Happy Tuesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. Wow the busyness of the season has me going. I just finished my Christmas cards and will get them in the mail tomorrow. Then I have to finish my inside decorating. I am really excited for that. I love all the decorations and lights.

Today I went to my friends home and we made candy together. Its become a tradition with us now. She said to me today-with names like "Mary & Holly" how could we not do something together for Christmas.

We made all chocolate candy-chocolate covered pretzels, chocolate covered oreos, chocolate peanut butter sandwiches and cashew clusters. It took us 7 hours, but it is so worth it.  I give this candy to my grandsons and neighbors. They all love it.

always artichoke

crumb cake

cherry cobbler

So onto my card for today. This one I made for the color challenge #353 on Splitcoaststampers. I am the hostess today and I chose the regal color trio of cherry cobbler, crumb cake and always artichoke.

My image is from Just-Rite Stamps-the "O Christmas Tree" set. I stamped it in cherry cobbler and then again in always artichoke. I cut some of the artichoke pieces and layered it over the cobbler.

I used the spellbinders pennant and lacy pennant dies to cut the image. I also used the Spellbinders “poinsettia die” for a corner embellishment.

My ribbon is Stampin-Up’s quilted satin cherry cobbler ribbon and I added an angel button to my bow.

The background designer paper is from Bo Bunny “Father Christmas” collection.

A star placed atop the tree completed my card.

Well, it's time to get back to my Christmas preparations. So until next time..........God bless.

Some other challenges:

1.  Make My Monday has a "red ribbon" challenge.

2.  Stamps R Us has an angels challenge.

3.  Stampin Sisterhood Sundays has a Sunday inspiration challenge.

Believe

Happy Wednesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. It's time for another Creative Belli Challenge. This time around the challenge is anything related to Winter or Christmas

************************

The spirit of the Belli challenges is to encourage you to use your OLD and FORGOTTEN embellishments!Everyone is welcome to play along! Challenge a stamping friend! Just follow the theme.

For my card I decided to use this Santa image that I bought this summer at a stamp show here in Pittsburgh. It's from Darcie Stamps and is a die cut. Well actually the company calls them U-cuts because you cut the image out yourself. I think this Santa is so cute.

I used some retired Stampin-Up designer paper from the "merry moments" collection. On the white background panel I used the Cuttlebug folder "winter wonderland". I added some green velvet May Arts ribbon to this panel also.

I stamped the believe sentiment and that completed my card.

I hope you will play with us at the Creative Belli blog. Drop over to see what the other design team members have done with this challenge. You won't be disappointed.

We are so excited to bring back the "Belle of the Belli"! For each challenge, we will choose the one card that WOW'd us and closely followed the theme! If you are chosen as a Belle, you will be asked to be a Guest Designer for one of our challenges and have a badge to proudly post on your blog!


There is also a design team call going on so if you're interested in becoming a "Belli Girl" go to this post. You have until December 15 to apply.

So until next time........... God bless

Some other challenges:
1.  Creative Card Crew has a "tis the season" challenge.
2.  Ribbon Carousel has an inspiration challenge called "peppermint twist".
3.  TopTip Tuesday has a "let it snow" challenge. I used a snowflake embossing folder behind my Santa.
4.  Tuesday Throwdown has a "celebrate the season" challenge.

Christmas Candle

Happy Tuesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. I am knee deep in Christmas as is everyone I suppose. I am still making Christmas cards even after I said I wouldn't be so late this year. My problem is I don't do a clean & simple design. I thought I had one the other day and it still took me all day to make 10 cards.

I have another idea for one that I will try today.  I may be able to mass produce this one easily. We will see.
I also have a cookie exchange that I am going to tonight. It should be fun. Its with the younger women in our church. They invited me-probably because I am part of the leadership so I am going. They are making some good cookies. I will bring my signature Christmas cookie-a mini lady lock. I fill them with french vanilla butter creme.

Anyway onto my card for today. This one I made for the color challenge #352  on Splitcoaststampers.

Karen is our hostess and she chose a great Christmas color trio- wild wasabi, real red and vanilla.

My candle image is from the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps set “Christmas light” and the background text is from the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps  set “light of Christmas”.


The text on my candle is from an unmounted stamp that I bought but I don’t have a name. The idea to stamp the text on the candle came from  Christmas banners in our church. They have a candle image and the names of Jesus (IE.) Shepherd, Ruler, Redeemer and Savior.

The candle image is colored with prismacolor pencils and gamsol and then cut with the die from this set. I used glossy accents on the berries and the candle wax. The text is stamped in wild wasabi ink.

I punched a layer to use over my text. Its done with the fiskars holly border punch.
My layout is one that I have used before. In fact I copied myself  from this card.

Well time to close this post. So until next time God bless..........

Some other challenges:
1.  The Ribbon Girl blog has a "jingle all the way to Christmas" challenge.
2.  2 Sisters Challenge blog wants us to use punches/dies. I used both on my card.
3.  So Artful challenges has a "tis the season". I used red and green.
4.  Daring Cardmakers has a December flower challenge-either Holly or Narcissus.
5.   Raise the Bar has a "it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas challenge.
6.  Tuesday Throwdown has a "celebrate the season" challenge.

Dec 25

Happy Thursday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog.  We got our outside window wreaths put up today. They are the type that have led lights on them and work from batteries. I noticed on one of them that some of the lights are dim and one or two don't come on. If anyone knows if these type lights can be replaced let me know.

They are Bethlehem Lights wreaths that I purchased from QVC a couple of years ago. I looked on  their but they did have any info about replacement bulbs. Any help would be appreciated.

So onto my card for today. I made this one for the "ways to use it" challenge on Splitcoaststampers. We were to use a "faux letterpress" technique with our embossing folder. I inked up one side of my folder and placed my cardstock in. I used bashful blue ink because I wanted a soft background.

I was happy with how it turned out. My tree image is from a Christmas patterned paper pack from DCWV. I did some fussy cutting and placed it on my card. I punched a mini tag and used some Stampin-Up rub-ons for the "Dec 25" sentiment. The gold cord is "memory cord" that Betty Wright gave me a heads-up on.

To complete my card I added some green and red ribbon. And I have another Christmas card finished and this one is flat for mailing. How nice is that!!

Well, its late and I have a busy day tomorrow so until next time.......God Bless

Some other challenges:
1.  Our Creative Corner has a "O Christmas Tree" challenge.
2.  Colour Create Blog has a red, green and white challenge.
3.  Crafty Ribbons Challenge is to make a tag.
4..  Incy Wincy Designs has a "trees" challenge.
5.  Stamps R Us has an "emboss it" challenge.

Peace On Earth

Happy Tuesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration. Ours was wonderful and so relaxing.

We celebrated with friends from church this year. My bff was here for the the first time as well. I loved it!!

My son & daughter-in-law were with her family.we chatted by phone but  Ididnt see them. My mother-in-law was taking care of her daughter. She just had a lung operation. We sent leftovers which they loved.

I tried a couple of new ideas for my stuffing and gravy. I was pleased with the outcome so I will use it again next year. I subscribe to the Food Network magazine and the Thanksgiving issue was packed with lots of helpful ideas. I loved the cranberry recipe in the issue. My guests did as well.

So now onto my card for today. I cant believe its been a week since I posted. I missed creating with paper but I definitely created a fine feast in my kitchen.

This card was done for the color challenge on Splitcoaststampers. I am on the color challenge team there and this week was my turn to post a sample. Our hostess was Julia and she chose the color trio of Kraft, Pear Pizzazz and White.

I had some difficulty at first because I knew I wanted to make a Christmas card but the colors were somewhat limiting. So I decided to use images that didn't require coloring.

The kraft background is stamped with the snowflake from the Verve “winter wonder remixed” set. I used the cuttlebug snowflake folder on my white square background piece.

The circle snowflakes and sentiment are from the same Verve set and I used a spellbinders die to cut it.

To cover the pear pizzazz color I cut a Spellbinder lacy square and circle. I also used some pear pizzazz seam binding and bakers twine.

Added an angel charm and some Anna Griffin dimensional snowflakes to complete my card. Another Christmas card for my stash that is nowhere near being completed. But, I have plans to work, work, work this week.

Well, its late and time to dim the lights in charmed life land for another day. So until next time........God bless.

Some other challenges:
1.  Craft Your Passion has anything holiday or winter related.
2.  Hooked on Craft Challenge has a winter wonderland challenge.
3.  Make it Monday with Kraft Outlet has a Christmas challenge.
4.  Outlawz greetings challenge is anything goes.
5.  Ribbon Reel has an anything goes challenge.
6.  Oldie But Goodie blog has a Christmas challenge wit hno red or green. My stamp set is 3 years old.

card recipe:
stamps:winter wonder remixed (verve)
paper: su crumb cake, pear pizzazz, white
ink: pear pizzazz, crumb cake
accessories: spellbinders lacey square & circle dies, pear pizzazz ribbon, baker’s twine, Anna Griffin snowflakes, dress it up angel charm,

Let It Snow

Happy Saturday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. Can you believe it is the Saturday before Thanksgiving? I love celebrating this holiday. It's one that evokes many happy childhood memories in me.

My son & daughter-in-law will spend the day with her parents. We share this holiday as it should be. My husband's family isn't coming this year. My sister-in-law is recovering from a surgery and my mother-in-law wants to spend the day with her.

I invited my bff-this is the first year we will celebrate together. She usually travels to Virginia or has her family here. But that didn't work out this year so she & her hubby will be with us.Whoo-hoo!!
We also will have a young couple from church that we have taken under our wing. They are from Texas and have no family locally.

I bought my turkey today-a strapping 21 lb bird. And now the week long preparations will begin.

I wont be spending much time card making this week but I do have one to show you today. I made this one for the sketch challenge on Splitcoaststampers. This is the layout we were to work into a card.

My mitten image is a spellbinder die that I cut in pretty in pink cardstock and then embossed with the cuttlebug embossing folder "dots". I added some ribbon and pearls for a trimmed edge.

My background is also a cuttlebug embossing folder-"snowflakes". The 3 squares are spellbinder rectangle dies and I stamped a snowflake in the middle from Verve's "winter wishes" set.

I punched a tag and added some of the curly white trim. The sentiment is from Stampin-Up's "tiny talk set. Some pearls were added to complete my card.

Well it's late and time to close this post. So until next time.........God bless

Some other challenges:
1.  CES challenge blog has a snowflakes challenge.
2.  Just Some Lines blog has a tic-tac-toe challenge. I chose embossing-ribbon-punch or die-cut.
3.  Winter Wonderland challenge has a "cute Christmas image". I think pink mittens fit this.
4.  CCEE Stampers has a 2 diecuts or punches challenge.

Card Recipe:

Stamps: tiny talk (su), winter wishes (verve)

Paper: su pretty in pink, ww, old olive, basic grey eskimo kisses dsp

Ink: melon mambo Accessories: spellbinders mitten & rectangle dies, ribbon, pearls, cb ef -snowflakes

The 3 Kings

Happy Thursday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. Today I went for a cooking class at my favorite cooking school here in Pittsburgh- The Crate.
The classes are demonstration type. The instructors prepare the meal in front of the class and we get to eat a full meal when the demonstration is complete.

Besides card making, cooking is my next passion.

Today our menu consisted of:  butternut squash soup with apple & bacon, roasted butternut squash salad with sherry vinaigrette(loved this with Gorgonzola cheese & toasted pecans), sweet potato & yam gratin, cranberry chutney, and bourbon pumpkin tart with walnut streusel. All this was prepared in front of us. We also had roasted turkey which the staff made but did not demonstrate.

I have decided I will make all of the dishes between my Thanksgiving & Christmas menus. Everything we had was so delicious.

calypso coral

lucky limeade

baja breeze

Well onto my card for today. This one I created for the Splitcoaststampers color challenge.

 Betty was our hostess and she chose the amazing color combination of  calypso coral, lucky limeade and baja breeze and the neutrals of our choice. My neutrals are early espresso and white.

I thought of this “three kings” image (Morning Star Stamps) immediately when Betty gave us the colors.  I colored the images with prismacolor pencils and gamsol and cut it out with a spellbinders oval die. I stamped the star in gold and used a sakura glitter pen for highlights.

My background designer paper is from the Stampin-Up “ski slope” collection. The taffeta ribbon is early espresso and my lace is a die from Cheery Lynn Designs-“deco lace light”. Betty wanted us to make a decorative edge on our card. I finished my ribbon with a decorative edge.

I added a brad to my bow center to complete my card.

This is the card that took me all day to finish. Don't ask me why or how it happened but it did. I am a slow crafter anyway but this was a bit ridiculous. I felt like I was moving in slow motion all day on Monday.

Well my friends its late and time to dim the lights in Charmed Life Land for another day. So until next time.........God bless.

Some other challenges:
1.  Paper Pretties Blog has a Christmas challenge with non-traditional colors.
2.  Sweet Stamps also has a Christmas challenge with non-traditional colors.
3.  Stamptacular Sunday Challenge has a punch or die-cut challenge.
4.  Craftyhazelnuts Christmas has a challenge -whatever lights your candle. I used a star above the 3 kings.

Let It Snow

Happy Monday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. I would like to say that I don't know where the day went today. I  was working on a card for the color challenge on Splitcoaststampers and that's all I did. It took all day for me to finish the card. I am not sure how that is possible but it happened.

I will be showing that card tomorrow. The one I am showing today I made for the winter wonderland mini viritual stamping night on Splitcoaststampers. Lisa is our hostess and she wanted us to make a card or project with an image of a something you'd bundle up with....scarf, hats, mittens, sweater, blanket, etc.....AND to make it warm and cozy....... incorporate felt into your project.


I always wear a scarf in the cold weather to bundle up and keep warm. For the felt part of the challenge, I found this snowman in my stash. It's a felt applique. OI added some sparkle with red rhinestones.

I have had it for years and today it finally gets used. I have another one so I can make 2 of these cards anyway. There was a .25 sticker on the back-I must have found it on clearance somewhere.

My background embossed layer is the Cuttlebug "snowflakes" folder. My stamped snowflakes are from the Verve set "winter wonder".
I stamped in navy ink several times without re-inking to get a gradient look.


The tag sentiment is from Stampin-Up's "tiny talk set".

I added some red ribbon with a snowflake button and bakers twine to complete my card.

Well it's very late now so I have to dim the light in Charmed Life Land for another day. So until next time.......God bless.

Some other challenges:
1.   Craft Your Passion has a "let it snow" challenge. I am so on this one!!
2.   Hooked on Craft wants us to use a punch or a die cut. I used both.
3.   Incy Wincy Designs has a tic tac toe challenge. I chose red-christmas sentiment-ribbons.
4.  Ooh-la-la creations has a bingo. I chose ribbon-diecut-sparkle.

Christmas Tree Collage

Happy Sunday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. This day rolled by so quickly. Yet it was a relaxing day spent with my husband. Our day started with church and our service was wonderful today. Well I think it's that way most weeks.

This evening we had tickets to the Univ of Pittsburgh basketball game. I love going to these games. There is such an energy in the Petersen Events center with the cheerleaders, band and the team. Pitt won so that always makes the game better.

We stooped for an Italian hoagie on the way home-yummy. And now I am sitting here typing up my blog post and watching TV. Just about ready to dim the lights in Charmed Life Land for another day. But I wanted to post my newest card before I did that.

This one I made for 2 challenges on Splitcoaststampers. The featured stamper challenge. Anne aka itsapassion is the stamper who is being featured this week. We select one of her cards and make it over in our style.

I chose this Christmas card of hers.  I kept Anne's tree and poinsettia theme. My tree is a Christmas tree and my poinsettia is a spellbinder's die cut.
I changed the colors and added another layer and ribbon. On my tree I placed red pearls and highlighted the candles and the tree top with a glitter pen.

In the corner I used a cherry lynn doily die and cut it in quarters and placed my die cut poinsettia on top. The stamp image is from Our Daily Bread Designs-"Christmas Tree Collage".

The other Splitcoaststampers challenge is the holiday virtual stamping challenge. There are 6 challenges and this one is #3. The challenge is to create a card that represents your favorite holiday song. Use at least two layers and two embellishments (i. e. ribbon, brads, something shiny). 

This card actually represents 2 of my favorite carols. O Christmas Tree and Joy to the world. The background sheet music on my image has the words "joy to the world".

Well that's it my blogger friends. Hope you liked my card for today.

Some other challenges:
1.  Stamptacular Sunday challenge wants us to use a punch or die cut. I used a poinsettia die & a lace doliy die.
2.  Craft Your Days Away blog has an embellishment bingo. I chose pearls, flowers and ribbon.
3.  Craftyhazelnut's Christmas challenge is "whatever lights your candle". I have several candles on my christmas tree and also a star on the tree top.
4.  Totally Gorjuss has a Christmas traditions challenge. One of ours is a Christmas tree with decorations. In fact I put 2 trees up each year.

Blog Candy Winners and more.......

Happy Saturday everyone and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. We had a somewhat busy day today. Our 2 grandsons were in a basketball tournament and it was in our section of town. So we went over for the 11:00 game for Ethan and the other team didn't show up. In fact, they dropped out of the tournament but our kids were never called. It didn't matter for us because our drive was a short one for a change. But my son & daughter-in-law had to drive 40 minutes to get to the school.

So they let Ethan's team practice and then we went out to lunch because we had some time before Aidin's team played. It was a nice relaxing lunch in fact we sat outside and ate. Do you believe that?? It's November 12 and we had a warm sunny day here in Pittsburgh.

Well Aidin's team won and both the boys teams will play on Friday night. I will probably go over and pick Ethan up after school and bring him to my house. His parents won't get home from work in time to drive across the city during rush hour for a 6:30 game.

Time to move on to the next matter at hand- blog candy. I picked a winner for the Bo Bunny paper and that was Margaret from Black Shadow  Creations -comment #38. So Margaret send me your address so I can get the paper out to you.

During the blog hop I had some of you start to follow my blog. I had my 100th follower during this blog hop. I decided to give something else away. It's a pack of designer paper from DCWV- their Harvest Gathering matstack.  My 100th follower is Peggy Wainman from Heartfull Stamping. So Peggy if you send me your address, I will get the paper out to you.

Now onto my card for today. This is one I created for the free for all challenge on
Splitcoaststampers.  This is Dawn's challenge: ...make a thank you card...but with a twist. Include on that card the embellishment that YOU are most grateful for! What is your most favorite, always the "go to" embellie, trademark embellishment...that completes your card?

I really like using ribbon on my cards. I like the completed look it gives my cards.

On this card I used Stampin-Up twine and I layered a fall multi-colored ribbon on top of that from American Crafts. My bow has a sunflower button for the center.

My images are from Stampin Up's "autumn days" set. I stamped the wheat in wild honey distressed ink and the berry sprigs in old olive and pumpkin ink.
The sentiment is from Verve's "bountiful harvest" set. I embossed my background with the cuttlebug folder "pumpkin harvest".

That's it for me for today. Church in the morning and then tomorrow I have a Christmas card to post.

Some other challenges:
1.  Our Creative Corner  wants us to create a project using pumpkins or the color pumpkin pie as the focal point or main color of your project! I used the color and then a pumpkin embossing folder as well.
2.  Stamp, Scrap & Doodle Saturdays wants us to make a thank you / Thanksgiving card.
3.  Card Makin' Mamas has a "be thankful" challenge.
4.  Frosted Designs has a fabulous Friday challenge of embossing. I embossed my background layer.
5.  Fussy and Fancy Friday challenge is to make a Thanksgiving  card with a sentiment.

card recipe:

Stamps: autumn days (stampin-up) bountfiul harvest (verve)

Paper:su vv, choc chip, pumpkin pie

Ink: su choch chip, old olive, pumpkin, ranger wild honey

Accessories: su twine ribbon, american crafts multi, spellbinders dies, cuttlebug ef

Scarecrow Gives Thanks

Happy Thursday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. I finally put my cards for the Cancer Center in Houston in the mail today. I was involved with the "hope you can cling to" challenges on Splitcoaststampers. Click on the above link to get more info.

I was able to make 15 cards out of the 31 challenges and send them off. It was a great feeling knowing that the families and even the patients themselves have the opportunity to pick one of the cards sent in and give it. I didn't know about the challenge last year but now that I do I plan on being involved every year.
 
There were 3600 cards made by the stampers at Splitcoast. The response was amazing. But I see that's what happens when you put out a vision where there is a need.

Here are all the cards I made: Challenge #1, #4,  #5,  #6, #7,  #8, #9, #11, #12, #13, #14, #16,  #18, #21, & #24.

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for the color challenge #348 on Splitcoaststampers.  Vicki was our hostess and she chose the trio of cajun craze, turquoise and crumb cake. I used some chocolate chip as my neutral color for layering.

I thought this color scheme was just screaming for a fall card. I needed another thanksgiving card (maybe 2) so I took that route. This one will go to one of my grandsons.

I used the scarecrow & pumpkins from the Stampin-Up set “happy fall y’all”. I colored my scarecrow with prismacolor pencils and gamsol.

I cut him out and then layered on a piece of cardstock to create a little scene. I punched a little fence, tied a little tag to it and popped up pumpkins.

I paper pieced his hat and the leaves with cajun craze cardstock.

My background embossing is the cuttlebug folder “autumn type”. Added some ribbon and twine and that completed my card.

Well, it's late and time to dim the lights in Charmed Life land for another day.

Some other challenges:
1.  CCEE Stampers wants us to use 3 different shapes on our card. I used a tag, rectangle & fence-since we can use dies.
2.  Charisma Cardz is having a cutesy challenge. I think my scarecrow is pretty cute.
3.  Dutch Dare Card Challenges wants us to use our punches and dies. I used 2 Martha Stewart punches-the mini tag and the fence punch.
4.  The Outlawz greetings card challenge wants us to "give thanks".
5.  Creative Card Crew has a "thankful" challenge.

My Artsy Card

Happy Wednesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. We have had 4 of the most beautiful fall days here in Pittsburgh. I love lots of sun and warm temps. Not too many days left like this before the cold, snowy days of winter roll into town. So I enjoy it while I can.

My card layout is Wednesday's sketch from Splitcoaststampers.  I wanted to use the colors from Wednesday's color throwdown and I was having a little difficulty.

The sketch and color throwdown weren't particularly difficult but when I wanted to put them together is when I had the problem. 

I titled my post today "my artsy card" because that's how I think my card ended up looking today. But, I was determined and my perseverance paid off.

I had some embossed paper from K & Co and I sponged all the challenge colors on the leaves on the paper. I thought it took on a "artsy look". 

I used this for the largest layer on the sketch. On my 2nd layer I embossed with the cuttlebug "autumn type" embossing folder and sponged this with riding hood red. On the oval layer I stamped my sentiment.  The sentiment is from the Verve sets "bountiful harvest" and the stamped leaves are from "dream big".

I punched 2 maple leaves with a Marvy punch and added some lucky limeade ribbon with a button center to complete my card.

Well it's time to dim the lights in Charmed Life land  for another day. So until next time .........God bless

Some other challenges:
1.  Crafting for all Seasons has a texture challenge #13.
2.   Paper Pretties has a button challenge.
3.  Truly Scumptious blog has a bingo challenge. My card fits in embossing-buttons-ribbon block.
4.  The Sisterhood of Crafters has a "giving thanks" challenge.

card recipe:
stamps: abundant blessings & dream big (verve)
paper: su very vanilla, riding hood red, k & co embossed dp
ink: riding hood red, lucky limeade, pool party, pretty in pink
accessories: cuttlebug ef, limeade ribbon, button, spellbinders oval dies

Creative Belli Challenge #103

Click here for the SNSS blog hop

Happy Wednesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. It's time for another Creative Belli Challenge. The challenge this time is paper piercing your project.

The spirit of the Belli challenges is to encourage you to use your OLD and FORGOTTEN embellishments! Everyone is welcome to play along! Challenge a stamping friend! Just follow the theme.

There is also a design team call out for the Creative Belli Blog. Would you like to be a Belli Girl? Check out all the details here.

For my card I used a spellbinder poinsettia die. My old embellies are my rhinestones and my designer paper.  I did my piercing on the sentiment layer. That was cut with the spellbinders rectangles die.

The sentiment is from the Our Daily Bread designs set "worship the Lord". I used my stampa-ma-jig to line it up vertically.

I added some cherry cobbler seam binding from Stampin-Up to complete my card.

The layout is from the ODBD blog. It's their Saturday shining the light challenge #83. It was a fun sketch to work with and gave me a chance to make another Christmas card.

Well that's my card for today. Time to close this post.

Some other challenges:
1.  Top Tip Tuesday has a Christmas anything goes challenge.
2.  Christmas Inspirations wants us to use bows on our project.
3.  I Did It Creations Challenge is looking for our Christmas creations.
4.  Mark's Finest Papers has a fall or winter theme.

Card Recipe:
stamps: worship the Lord (ODBD)
paper: su cherry cobbler, kraft, deck the halls dsp
ink: cherry cobbler
accessories: spellbinder poinsettia & rectangle dies, darice rhinestones, su cherry cobbler seam binding