Celebrate Today

Happy Monday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. Wow we had such crazy weather here in Pittsburgh overnight.

There was a severe thunderstorm watch in effect and then a tornado watch. We did have the thunderstorm about 5:30 am. The tornado didn't happen -thank the Lord.

We had some very warm temps (59 degrees), for this time of year, in the early morning. Then it started dropping all day and we will have 20 something overnight.

So tomorrow March begins. It will come in like a lion and hopefully go out like a lamb. I am ready for spring.

My hubby planted some new tulips and I cant wait to see them in bloom. He will have to watch them carefully because once they start to bloom the deer will be very interested in them. He uses some sort of organic deer repellent. It's good for the plants but the deer don't like the smell.

So anyway let's move onto my card for today.

I made this one for several challenges:

1.  The curtain call challenge act 71 wants us to use the following colors: so saffron, more mustard, cherry cobbler and crumb cake.

2.   The Sweet Stop sketch #97 challenge provided the layout.





3.  The Pals Paper Arts blog wants us to use scallops.

My card uses some graphic 45 designer paper-"fashionista collection"-vintage cherries. I also used, for the first time, a cuttlebug embossing folder- "caged bird". I have had this for awhile and today was the perfect opportunity to put it on a card.

The image is from Stampin-Up's "aviary" stamp set. I stamped and used an oval nestabilities to frame it. I added a spiral clip, rhinestones and some kraft seam binding to complete the card.

card recipe:
stamps: su aviary, pti
paper; su cherry cobbler, more mustard, naturals ivory, graphic 45 dsp
ink: cherry cobbler, memento tuxedo black
accessories: oval nesties, spirla clip, kraft seam binding, cb ef

birthday balloons

Happy Sunday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. We had a great week-end celebrating birthdays. Aidin (middle grandson) had his birthday party on Friday.

We went to a Japanese restaurant where they cook right at your table. The table top is a grill. It is one of Aidin's favorite places to eat.

He recommended the hibachi chicken to me. So that's what I ordered. The waiter does a little showmanship as he is cooking. It added up to a fun evening.

Then on Saturday we celebrated my brother-in-laws 60th birthday. We had dinner together at my niece's home and a good time was had by all. My hubby organized a "roast" and everyone had a story to tell. My brother-in-law loved it.

Today was church and then a laid back kind of day. I was here alone so I made some cards and watched the Pitt basketball game. We lost in overtime to Louisville but it was a good game. We played much better in the second half.

So onto my cards for today. Yes, I am showing 2. My first one is a birthday card that I made for my the color challenge on splitcoaststampers.  Betty, our hostess, chose some great colors- always artichoke, perfect plum and rose red.


I used rose red designer paper  from the Stampin-Up "thoroughly modern" collection. My image is from an old Stampin-Up set “nice & easy notes”. I colored the balloons with prismacolor pencils and gamsol.

The layout is from last week’s sweet Sunday sketch blog. Karen's sketch made it easy to finish my card.
 
card recipe:
stamps: nice & easy notes

paper: su rose red, ww,always artichoke, perfect plum, thoroughly modern dsp
ink: memento tuxedo black
accessories: circle nesties, cuttlebug folder, prismas & gamsol
techniques: gamsol technique

sympathy card

My second card is one I made for Thursday's

"ways to use it challenge" on Splitcoaststampers.  Kim, our hostess, challenged us to use gray as our neutral color instead of white or vanilla.  

She gave us some tips. (suggestions)

1. grey is typically a masculine color but can be pretty when adding girly elements to it
2. silver is another option
3. add a pop of color on a grey base.
4. grey goes with all colors...so play and have fun!

I used gray as my card base and combined it with Stampin-Up's bashful blue designer paper & satin ribbon. I also used basic gray designer paper on the squares.

My flowers are dimensional stickers from k & company. I made this a sympathy card since I have need of a couple.

My layout comes from Wednesdays sketch challenge on splitcoaststampers.

A few other challenges:

1.  Stampin' B's challenge #99 wanted us to use flowers on our creation.
2.  Shelly's images blog wants us to use ribbon on our cards.
3.  The crafty sentiments blog was urging us to think spring.

That's both cards for today. So until next time.......

card recipe:
stamps: pti

paper: su basic gray, bashful blue & basic gray dsp
ink: memento tuxedo black
accessories: k&co wedding flowers, bashful blue ribbon

my design team entries

Happy Thursday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. I shared on my blog previously that I had decided to enter the competition for the 2011 design team at Spellbinders.

They make the nestability dies-as I am sure most of you already know.

1st round card

I sent in this card and was moved to the second round of the competition..

2nd round layout

The 2nd round  had 43 of us competing.
I had to create a 12 x 12 layout for this round.
I used my sweet granddaughter, Phoenix Daisy, as my subject.





I made it through this round as well and I was moved to the final round. There were 20 of us in this round.



final round card

We were sent a set of dies from Spellbinders and we had to create an ensemble for this round. In other words a card and then a layout that complimented the card.



final round layout

I chose to do a wedding card and then my layout was pictures from Kendra & Aaron's wedding. This is the young couple that we mentored for 2 1/2 years.





Well, I didn't make the 2011 design team. I was very disappointed but after I thought about it, I was honored to have made it to the final round. It was such an affirmation of the work that I do.

I wasn't able to post the projects previously but I can do that now.

Hope you have enjoyed seeing what I've done for this competition. Until next time.....

featured stamper card

Happy Monday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. Hope you all had a great week-end.

Mine was such a fun one. On Saturday we had our stamp club meeting and we created 6 cards.

Each of us brought a card sample and supplies so it made it easy to get 6 done. I really liked each one that we made.



Ethan with his mvp trophy

Sunday
evening I went to Ethan's basketball 4th grade tournament championship game.

His school won and he was the tournament MVP. I was so proud of him. the final score was 28-17.
He scored 17 points in this game. He was the team high scorer in all 4 games. Plus, he is such an encourager to his teammates.

When I came out of the gym I was surprised to see it snowing. On my 45 minute drive home I also encountered freezing rain. This made it really slick in several areas. I was glad to pull onto my street and into my driveway safe & sound. Thank the Lord!!

The card I am showing today is one that  I made for the featured stamper challenge on splitcoaststampers. This week the honoree was cookie aka stampgroover. She has quite an impressive gallery and has definitely mastered the clean and simple technique.

I chose her ribbon frame card to recreate ala Mary Marsh style. This was my first time trying this technique and I was pleased with how it turned out. You simply use a slot punch and punch out 4 corners and run ribbon through to make a frame.

She used a clock collage stamp as her image and I decided to use a bird stamp. I used a friendship sentiment to complete my card.

A few other challenges:

1.  Aly's Sunday challenge blog has a give support challenge. I made this for a friend to let her know I value her friendship.

2.  The frosted design blog has a no patterned paper challenge.

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

card recipe:
stamps: wings of friendship

paper: su bermuda bay, black, gina k pure luxury white
ink: versafine onyx black
accessories: bermuda bay ribbon
techniques: ribbon frame

Creative Belli Challenge #111

Happy Wednesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. It's time for another Creative Belli Challenge. This one is such fun I am sure you will all want to play along. We are asking you to use felt or fabric on your creation.

Look in your stash and see what you have in there. After all that is what the Belli challenges are all about. We want to you use your old and forgotten embellishments. Be creative- use felt backdrop, shape it into a flower or an animal, you name it! If you do not have felt, use fabric- think old towel, flannel, etc.......


Everyone is welcome to play along! If you upload to a gallery use keyword CBC111

Here's how to enter:

Please link back to the Belli Challenge in your post and provide a direct link to your new posting dated between February 16- March 1st. My design team sisters have some fabby samples to insprie you. Click Here to see their awesome work.

I found this fabric pin that I bought about 8 years ago in a fabric store in Berlin, Ohio. My intent was to use it on a card. I just didn't realize it would take me this long to do it (lol)!!

I took the pin off the back because I am going to send this card to my best friend. I didn't think she would wear it because I know I wouldn't. But, I love the look of it on this card.


My colors are from the Tuesday splitcoaststampers color challenge. This week, our hostess, is Peggy McCurry,
She chose wild wasabi, so saffron and pacific point. I liked working with this combo.

My designer paper is from Cosmo Cricket's "sew much more collection". The ribbon is Stampin-Up's so saffron grosgrain.

I used a sizzlits die to punch out the buttons. This is where I used the pacific point color.

The layout is from the sweet stop sketch blog. This was a great layout to use my fabric embellishment. The 3 rhinestones at the bottom finished off this card.

A few other challenges:

1.  The ooh la la blog wants us to make a card for someone special. This one is for my best friend.

2.  The desert islands crafters blog wanted us to use 3 items from their list. I chose: buttons, 1 patterned paper and the word friend on your card.

3.  The top tip Tuesday blog wants us to use stitching on our card. My fabric embellishment is stitched together.

So until next time.......

card recipe:
stamps: wordsworth tiny phrases
paper: su garden green, so saffron, pacific point
accessories: sizzix sizzlits die, ribbon, hero arts rhinestones, fabric embellishment

owl love triangle

Happy Tuesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog, snow and some extreme cold are the order of the day here in Pittsburgh.

Our overnight temperature is going to be just 5 degrees.

The next 3 days will be very cold. Well it is February and this is the type of temps we usually get this time of year.

I just get concerned for the school kids standing out in the bitter temps waiting for their school buses. Some of our schools have called a 2 hour delay but not all of them.
I hope my grandsons bundle up. Our little one, Ethan,  runs warm all the time so he doesn't even like wearing a winter coat. Go figure!!

****My blue hydrangea card was picked as one of the shining stars over on the stampin sisters in Christ blog. I was excited to get that bit of good news today.****

My card for today covers several challenges. I wanted to make a love card but something a little different. So I pulled out my owl punch and set off to create. Someone over on splitcoaststampers remarked this looked like a love triangle. I laughed at that remark. I used it as my post title.

The color challenge on splitcoaststampers this week called for some unusual colors. Not quite navy, daffodil delight (yellow) and cajun craze (like chili powder).


 Karen, our hostess wanted to make it a real challenge. That's how I decided to use my owl punch and make a trio of owls in the required colors.

I had some designer paper in my stash from cloud 9 that works perfectly with the cajun craze color. That helped me decide what the card base would be.
The owls would be done in each of the challenge colors.

The layout for my card came from the sweet stop sketch blog.   This is my first time playing along with their challenge.

To complete the requirements for this sketch, I used some daffodil delight seam binding and the long rectangle layer is done in cajun craze. I used a spellbinders impressabilities die for some added texture here.


My text block is from the cloud 9 "cinnamon" collection. It is a rub-on.

That completed this card. Here are a few other challenges that I am entering:

1.  A spoonful of sugar blog wants us to show some love. There are 5 punched hearts on my card.

2.  The oldie but goodie blog wants us to add a heart. I am good with my 5 hearts.

3.  The simon says stamp and show blog wants us to use some embossing. My rectangle panel is done with a spellbinders impressabilities die "circles".

Time to dim the lights in charmed life land for another day. Until next time.......

card recipe:
paper: su nqn, cajun craze, daffodil delight,ww, su dsp,cloud 9 dsp

accessories: su 2 step owl punch, 2 step bird punch, nesties, cloud 9 rub-ons

regal heart

Happy Monday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. Well, it's the day after the Super Bowl here in Pittsburgh.
Our Steelers lost the big game to the Green Bay Packers.
It was a disappointing loss and kind of put a damper on the Super Bowl party at my son's home. But, there is always next year.

But, on the bright side it was a great time with my grandsons. And, I did spend the night at their home.

Austin, had a 2 hour delay at school so I drove him and then headed home around 10:00.
There was lots of controversy about the delay as well. The local paper was very critical. I thought it was a good idea.

The boys were all up past 11:00 and really didn't want to get up when it was time. Aidin & Ethan go to another school and they had no delay. They got up at normal time and they both were tired. That doesn't make for a productive day in my mind. But, I am not a teacher.

Anyway, onto my card for today. I made another Valentine's card. I haven't made one for my grandsons as yet so they need to be completed as well.

This card uses a digi image from Verve. Julee Tilman gave it out this time last year. I am just beginning to experiment with digital images. I used a copic marker on this heart. Notice that I said "a" copic marker. I only have one and it happens to be in red. I havent made the plunge to buy any more of these because of the cost.

My designer paper is from Stampin-Up's "sending love" specialty collection. It's already glittered & embossed. I also used a cuttlebug embossing folder on my background panel.

The card layout is from February's "viva la verve" challenge week 1.



Some other challenges I am entering:

1.  Craft your passion blog has an anything goes challenge.

2.  Incy Wincy designs has a love challenge.

3.  Stamps r us has a valentine/love theme for the next 2 weeks.

4.  Bunny Zoe's crafts has a "love is in the air" challenge.

5.  The pink elephant blog also has a valentine challenge.

Well, that's about it for today so until next time..........

card recipe
stamps: regal heart (verve digi)

paper: su pretty in pink, vv, real red, ww, sending love specialty dsp
accessories: real red ribbon, offray stylish accents, nesties, copic

because I care

Happy Friday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. It was a black & gold day everywhere I went in Pittsburgh today. Steeler mania abounds!!

Our Steelers are in the Superbowl this Sunday in Dallas. Although they had 7" of snow there today.

But, their stadium is enclosed so it wont affect anything going on inside the stadium. Everyone I know is planning a Superbowl Sunday party.

We are going over to my son's home and watch the game with them. We will have our Steeler jerseys on and our "terrible towels" to wave. It will be a day of fun, fun, fun!!

The card I am showing today is one that I made for the color challenge on splitcoaststampers. This week our hostess was Julia aka artystamper, and she chose gray, white and river rock. For some reason I had such trouble working these neutrals into a card. 

I decided to make the gray shade my card stock color. The accents are done in white and since I die-cut a daisy I used a green button to cover the river rock requirement. After it was finished I liked the outcome but not colors I would have chosen to use together.

My daisy was cut from designer paper that has text printed in gray. The grey designer paper is from Stampin-Up's "urban garden" collection. I found the white lace in my stash. The sentiment is a rub-on that I also found in my stash.

Some other challenges for this card:

1. The sew many cards blog has an anything goes challenge.

2.  The dutch dare card challenges blog wants us to use buttons on our card.

3.  The sisterhood of crafters has an anything goes challenge

That completed this card. Time to close this post because I am off to watch Aidin play basketball. I am going to take a few photos to post tomorrow.

Until next time........

Creative Belli card

Happy Wednesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. The card I am showing today is one I created as a design team member on the Creative Belli blog.

This 2 week period our challenge is jewelry. You can use stamp images of jewelry or use pearls, rhinestones, diamonds, etc...)  Everyone is welcome to play along!

If you upload to an online gallery use keyword CBC110.

Here's how to enter:
Please link back to the Belli Challenge in your post and provide a DIRECT LINK to your new posting dated between February 2- February 9.

The Creative Belli Girls have whipped up som fab samples so check out these blogs as well: Joan Ervin, Joy Hadden, Chris Olsen, Maria Matter, Karen Wallace, Tamara Morton, Beth Norman, Jessica Stockmeyer, Shelly Schmidt, Robin Kirkpatrick, Robin Parker, Darsie Bruno, Anne Harmon and Ceal Pritchett.

My card is sporting some flourish rhinestones and lace. I thought it was a good vintage look and one that  I could use for an anniversary card. My image is from the Stampin-Up "aviary set". I thought the bird cage has the look I wanted for this card.

My card base and designer paper are Stampin-Up soft suede. Well that's my sample for the jewelry challenge. Hope you will play along with us.

Also a few other challenges:

1.  The top tip tuesday blog has an "anything girlie" challenge.
2.  The crazy for challenges blog has a "vintage or shabby chic" challenge.
3.  The my time to craft blog has a flourishes challenge.
4.  The freshly brewed blog has an anniversary challenge.

Until next time.........

blue hydrangea

Happy Monday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. As laid back as yesterday was today was a complete turn around.

I just went from place to place and activity to activity today. But, I liked everything that I did and accomplished.

We are expecting a major ice storm on Tuesday. They have started delaying the school starts in a lot of areas already. I was going over to meet my grandsons' school bus tomorrow afternoon but ice and me don't agree (lol)!!

So I will stay put and get some crafting done. That will be fun as well.

Now onto my card for today. I made this one for several challenges. I wanted to make a vintage looking card. I was happy with how it turned out. I also have been practicing my coloring with my prismacolor pencils and gamsol (odorless mineral spirits). I was please with the coloring as well.

For a vintage card it helps if you have the right designer paper. I used some Stampin-Up from the "bella bleu" collection. The Martha Stewart lace doily punch helped as well. I added pearls to complete the look.

1.  The featured stamper challenge on splitcoaststampers gave the honors to "tillymint aka Sue". I chose her waltzingmouse stamps card to recreate in my style. I used an old sketch layout from splitcoaststampers as well #227. I changed the card colors, different image, paper, border punch and didn't use ribbon.

2. Our daily bread designs blog has a "blues" challenge. It is to be the main color. I used lots of blue on this card.

3.  The stampin sisters in Christ blog has a blue and green challenge. Their thoughts this week are from Psalm 23. So blue represents still waters and green represents green pastures.

That's my card for today. time to dim the lights in charmed life land for another day-God bless!!