More Christmas Cards

using Stampin-Up ornament dies

card from our card club meeting

made with Echo Park Christmas papers

Happy Sunday and thanks for taking the time  to visit the Charmed Life Blog. The holidays are on the wind down side now.

But, I am not anywhere near ready to take down the Christmas decorations.
Seems like they just went up and the process of packing and putting away seems to take forever. So not for another week at least will I even attempt anything.

We had about 5 " of snow yesterday. It was so perfect watching from inside my home.

My hubby went out and built a snow woman. He wanted to send a picture to our sweet 2 year old granddaughter.

So he put a scarf and purse on her and took a photo. She is back home in California after being with us for Christmas.

Our neighbors are probably laughing and wondering what he was up to. But we are just some of those grandparents that love their grandkids sooo much.

So onto my cards for today. These are some more of my Christmas cards. I love making handmade cards for Christmas. Some of my friends told me they save my cards and use them for decorations each year. I was so blessed to hear that. Makes the effort of making so worth it.

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

Some other challenges:
1.  Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas challenge wants us to share any card not shown before. I have 3 new ones here.
2.  Card Crafters Circle has an anything goes challenge.
3.  Card Makin Mama's has a happy holiday challenge.
4.  Craft Us Crazy has a "merry christmas" challenge.

2013 Holiday Hugs

Happy Friday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. Well the hectic place of Christmas is over.

My son and daughter-in-law and granddaughter have gone and my home is quiet. No more patter of little feet or her bursting into my bedroom looking for me. We loved having them and playing with Phoenix Daisy for hours on end.

I didn't get everything done that I wanted to but somehow it didn't matter. Family doesn't care about the stuff being done. It was a good lesson learned for me this year.

I did get to make cookies with my 2 year old granddaughter. It was so much fun.  I bought her an apron and she loved wearing it.

In fact, she liked it so well that it didn't come off until bedtime. Here is a photo of the both of us in our aprons. My hubby caught us both saying "cheese". I created a memory for the both of us.

Well, onto my card for today. This one I made for my post on the Great Impressions Blog. I needed a card to give to my neighbor along with some of my home made Christmas candy.  So, I decided to make a New Years card.

To start my card I stamped my background with the Great Impressions Stamp - "Fireworks & Stars G303" in black ink and then I wet embossed. I layered that on a opal metallic paper.

My 2013 is cut from a Sizzix alphabet set in the same silk opal metallic card stock. Layered that on black card stock and punched a few stars. My sentiment is "holiday hugs A143".

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

Some other challenges:
1. Simon Says Stamp has an anything goes challenge.
2. Card Crafters Circle has an anything goes challenge.
3. CraftyMess Blog wants us to show some sparkle/bling.

Frosty Friends

Happy Friday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. Christmas countdown continues and it now is just 11 days away. I made a big dent in my preps yesterday. Today I plan on getting my 2nd tree decorated and then I will be finished in that area. Hopefully today I can start on the gift wrapping. Check back tomorrow for my progress report (lol)!!

My card today is one that I made for my regular Friday post on the Great Impressions Blog. I wanted to experiment with some Tim Holtz distress markers and a water brush. I saw a video on the Deconstructing Sketch blog and thought I would give it a try.

This super cute snowman stamp - "frosty Friends G289 was the perfect stamp to use.
I paired my image up with patterned paper from the Basic Gray "fruitcake collection".

My card layout is from the deconstructing sketch #75. I tweaked it just a little. 

Added a twine bow, a banner flag cut from the MFT flag stax die, stamped my sentiment from the stamp "It's Christmas - D453 and that completed my card. 

Time to close this post and do some Christmas stuff. So until next time.........God bless.

Some other challenges:
1. C.R.A.F.T. blog has a "winter" challenge.
2. Craft Us Crazy has a christmas/winter challenge.
3. Paper Crafting Journey has an "anything christmas" challenge.
4. Outlawz Twisted Thursday challenge is to add snowflakes.
5. Raise The Bar has a "let it snow" challenge.

~ dashing thru the snow ~

Happy Wednesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. Well, it's now 13 days until Christmas.

Don't know about you but I am so not ready, but the good news is that I am getting there. I have received more gift ideas from my family so I expect to finish the shopping in the next couple of days.

I am almost finished decorating my house and I am loving how everything is beginning to take shape. So, I guess I am on track just not ahead of schedule.

Now, onto my card for today. This one I made for the color challenge on Splitcoaststampers.

Peggy was our hostess and she chose a great trio of colors with real red, basic gray and gumball green.
Our extra option is anything to do with snow - snowmen, snowflakes, etc.

For my card I decided to use dies and stamps from the PaperTrey Ink set “in the meadow”. My card base is basic gray and then a layer of white.

I used some gray designer paper with stars from the Echo Park collection “very merry Christmas”. I added some red rhinestones for a little bling.

My tree is cut in gumball green and the sleigh in real red. I cut the rolling hills with the PTI die from this same set and then added some Stampin-Up chunky glitter.

I stamped my sentiment to complete my card. that's it for me today so until next time.......God bless.

Some other challenges:
1.  ABC Christmas Challenge is on the letter "Y". You are to use your fave die or punch. These PTI dies are my new fave-makes card making so easy.
2.  Simon Says Stamp Challenge wants to know what is our fave tool or product. I love using dies. They add so much to a card.
3.  Sweet Stampin has an anything goes challenge.
4.  Crafting For All Seasons has a green/red and glitter challenge.

Ornament Keepsakes

Happy Monday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. The countdown is on-only 15 days until Christmas. Hope all your decorating, baking, shopping, wrapping and card making and mailing is on schedule.

I went to my friends today for our annual chocolate candy making marathon. We made chocolate covered pretzels, oreos, coconut clusters, cashew clusters, peanut butter sandwiches. My friends and family all love getting a little box of chocolates at Christmas.

I will also make lady locks and pizzelles. Another friend will come over  next Wednesday and we will make 10 dozen pizzelles. She has the best recipe for these Italian treats. My hubby loves them.
We both have the iron you need to make them so it will take us about an hour. My house will have the aroma of anise for several days.

My cards are all made and they just need to be mailed. Hopefully that will happen on Wednesday or Thursday.

Now onto my card for today. I have another one of my Christmas cards to show today.
This one I made for the color challenge #404 on Splitcoaststampers. I was the hostess and I chose marina mist, cherry cobbler and early espresso.

I thought it would make a great Christmas card in some non traditional colors. I used the Stampin-Up set ornament keepsakes and framelit dies for my card plus the Stampin-Up ornament punch.

Stamped my 1st ornament in cherry cobbler and added an early espresso center with an espresso center accent. The 2nd ornament is punched in marina mist and then I used a Sizzix embossing folder on it.

My sentiment is from the Stampin-Up set “season of joy”- stamped in espresso. I punched with the Stampin-Up small oval and then the matching scallop oval punch.

I punched a couple of marina mist stars and glittered them up.
Added some early espresso ribbon-used the framelits labels embossed with the Stampin-Up fancy fan embossing folder to complete my card.

The designer paper is from the Stampin-Up “frostwood lodge” collection. My card layout idea came from my Stampin-Up demo ChristineLynn from our stamp club meeting this past Saturday. Thanks Christine.

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

Some other challenges:
1.  Christmas Card Challenges has a die cut challenge. I used several on this card.
2.  Dream Valley has a Christmas challenge.
3.  Fashionable Stamping Challenge wants us to use dies or punches. I used both.
4.  No Matter Which Challenge has a Christmas challenge.
5.  Robyn's Fetish has a Christmas card challenge.

It's Christmas

Happy Friday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life blog. It's only 18 days until Christmas. I am so not ready.

Today I will be home all day decorating. Once that's done I will tackle the gift wrapping. I havent finished shopping as yet but only a few more gifts.

On Monday I get together with my friend and we will make candy. It's become a tradition with us and all about chocolate. I give it as a small gift along with one of my handmade cards.

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for my regular Friday post on the Great Impressions Blog. My design term was to be over this month but I have been invited to stay for another 6 months. That was an early Christmas present for me. Whoo-hoo!!

The new stamps are the Christmas penguin - D454 and the sentiment "It's Christmas" - D453. Aren't they just the cutest little guys. I colored them with Copic markers and then fussy cut them for their downhill sliding adventure. On the trim of their hats I used polar white flower soft for fur.

On my background I used the Great Impressions Stamp - "falling snowflakes"E772. The snowflakes are stamped in bashful blue ink onto bashful blue cardstock. My tree and slope are die cuts. On the tree I used some red rhinestones for accent. On the slope, I used flower soft in polar white for some flaky snow.

To complete my card I stamped the sentiment in bashful blue ink. I think it is such a fun Christmas card. All the stamps are in the Great Impressions online store. If you click on the stamp name above it will take you right to the store for easy ordering.

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

Some other challenges:
1.  Lady Ann's Challenge is anything goes.
2.  Sweet Stampin has an anything goes challenge.
3.  Crafty Creations wants us to create a winter scene.
4.  Divas by Design has a let it snow challenge.
5.  Blogger Challenge is to create a scene.

~Merry Christmas~

Happy Thursday everyone and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. It's the most wonderful time of the year. I love the Christmas season and the family time, the gift buying, baking, special church services and plays, card making etc etc etc.

I am still working on my cards but they will be finished soon. We have the outside of the house decorated and today I will start the inside. Then a little break for lunch with a friend at Bahama Breeze. We both love their Salmon Tostada.

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for the featured stamper challenge on Splitcoaststampers. This week the honors went to Sharri aka sseffens.

I wasn't familiar with this stamper but she has quite an impressive gallery of cards.

I chose her Christmas Baubles card to recreate ala Mary Marsh style. I kept her layout and Christmas theme.

For my card I used the Echo Park "very merry Christmas" collection. It has quite an array of beautiful Christmas papers plus element stickers. I used the ornament stickers and the Christmas sentiment for my card.

Cut a Stampin-Up top-note die in cherry cobbbler and layered the ornaments on that. Used the Cuttlebug swiss dots embossing folder on the sentiment layer. Added some early espresso bakers twine to complete this card.

Well that;s it for me today so until next time.......God bless.

Some other challenges:
1.  Christmas at Sweet Stampin' has an anything goes challenge.
2.  Crafts and Me has an anything goes with an optional ornament.
3.  Deep Ocean Challenge has a "so this is Christmas" challenge.

Greatest Gift

Happy Saturday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. Well, December 1 is here and it's only 24 days until Christmas. I have lots to do to prepare but am confident that it will all get done.

My husband is almost finished with the outside decorations and I hope to start the inside ones sometime this weekend. Once I finish that I will start wrapping my gifts and baking. Just need to organize my days and stick to my schedule. Sometimes easier said than done.

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for my weekly blog post on the Great Impressions Stamps blog. I like the warm, country look to this card.

My card is using the Great Impressions Stamp "the greatest gift G290".  I did a little coloring of the holly & berries with Spectrum Noir markers.
I paired the stamp with Stampin-Up's poppy red designer paper from the "pawsitively prints" collection. The choc chip scallop is a die from MFT. Used some poppy parade poly-twill ribbon for my bow.

My layout is from the Splitcoaststampers sketch challenge 411.

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

Some other challenges:
1. Stampin Sisters in Christ wants us to make a Christmas card.
2. My Sheri Crafts has a 'tis the season" challenge.
3. Fussy and Fancy has a "I love Christmas" challenge.
4. Jingle Belles has an anything goes holiday challenge.

Friends of Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Blog Hop

For the Ribbon Carousel Blog Hop click here:

Happy Thursday and welcome to the Charmed Life Blog. Today I am celebrating with Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps 5th anniversary. Korin has invited me to be a part of this Friends of Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Blog Hop.

My relationship started with Korin and SNSS back in February of 2011. It was a Tuesday morning and she sent me an email inviting me to be a part of her design team. I still have the email by the way.

Little did she know that I was feeling down because just the day before I had received the news that I did not make the final cut for the Spellbinders design team. I was in the final round of  20 but only 12 made the team. Korin's email put me on cloud 9 and I did not have to think about it very long before I said yes.

It was so exciting working with her for 6 months. She is such an encourager and so supportive of my work. So thank you Korin for a chance to celebrate with you.

There are prizes to be won for joining us in this hop.

~There will be 4 random participants that will win a $15 store credit to SNSS.

~To be included in the drawings, comments must be left by midnight EST Friday, November 30th.

~The winners will be announced on the SNSS Blog on December 1st at 8am EST

For my card today I used the Christmas Light set, candle die and the Light of Christmas background stamp. I colored my candle with copics and prismacolor pencils.


My designer paper is from BoBunny -the "Father Christmas" collection and also Provo Crafts "winter berries".  The cardstock is Stampin-Up's cherry cobbler, very vanilla and Bazzill ivy.  

The oval dies are Spellbinders floral and small ovals. I sponged the background with some distress inks. An idea that I borrowed from Cathy McCauley.
To complete my card I punched a mini tag and stamped the word "Christmas". It's from the Christmas Light set.
 

The card layout is this weeks Splitcoaststampers sketch #413.

That's it for me so leave a comment for a chance to win and then move to the next blog. The blog hop order is listed below.

Ribbon Carousel & Great Impressions Stamps Blop Hop

Happy Wednesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. Today the design teams from Great Impressions Stamps and the Ribbon Carousel are teaming up for a blog hop.

You should have arrived here from Jenny's blog. If not the hop list is at the bottom of this post.

Prizes- you can win a $25 gift certificate for Ribbon Carousel as well as a $25 gift certificate from Great Impressions Stamps. Just for leaving comments!! 

My card today is using the "scent of a rose stamp -G456". I stamped in soft suede ink for a vintage look.

I used 2 different Ribbon Carousel ribbons on this card. I layered a net ribbon over my daffodil center panel.
The unwired net ribbon is a beautiful shade of brown that matched my soft suede card stock so wonderfully.

On top of the net ribbon I used a champagne shimmery sheer ribbon. I love the look of these 2 ribbons together.

I made a bow and added a pearl center-cut a doily die in daffodil to complete this card.

My next sample is a Christmas tag. I cut the tag using a Spellbinders labels 4 die in red. I die-cut a Sizzix tag and stamped the sentiment. I used the Great Impressions stamp - "have yourself E512".

To complete my tag I added a felt snowflake and some green 3/4" twill v striped ribbon. This is a great trendy ribbon and complimented my tag so well. I tied the ribbon with some jute and added a red button. Now I have my first tag done for Christmas (lol).

You next stop on the hop is Peggy's blog.


Some other challenges:
1. Crafts and Me has a ribbon or trim challenge
2. Simon Says Stamp has an anything goes challenge. 3.

Happy Birthday Deone

Happy Monday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. I feel like I am still recovering from the somewhat hectic Thanksgiving weekend.

I did manage to get some Christmas shopping done but no decorating yet. I want to start wrapping the gifts so I am not rushing at the last minute trying to get them finished.
My son-daughter-in-law and baby granddaughter are coming for Christmas so there won't be time to spend wrapping then. I have a plan now I just have to stick to it (lol)!!

Today is a special day for the owner of Great Impressions Stamps. It's Deone's birthday!! In honor of that all of the design team is having a virtual birthday party for her. We have all created a birthday card for her and posted on the Great Impressions Blog as well as our own.

For my card I used the stamp "E742 birthday wishes". I stamped in a turquoise ink.

The card layout is from an older ftl216. However since I struggle with cas cards I just kept adding stuff till it looked like the type of card that I create (lol)!!
These are also the colors from cc401 on Splitcoaststampers. Vicki chose tempting turquoise, gumball green and pear pizzazz.

My background paper is Stampin-Up’s tempting turquoise and I added some gumball green satin stitched ribbon to divide the panels. My ribbon treatment has a gumball green dahlia button.

The rosette is cut in pear pizzazz with a turquoise center and another dahlia button. Punched some butterflies in pear pizzazz to complete my card. Hope you like the virtual birthday party the design team is having for you, Deone.

Until next time........God bless

Vintage Bicycle

Happy Friday everyone and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration. There was a houseful here and we had good food, conversation and fellowship. I prepared a 23 lb turkey and there is not much left.

I wanted to go out shopping for Black Friday but right now I have no energy. So I am sitting here sipping my coffee. Our youngest grandson spent the night. He and hubby will be going to the local high school football championship games today. It's becoming a tradition with them each year. So I will have some free time this afternoon and I may go shopping then.

My card for today is one that is also featured on the Great Impressions Blog. Every Friday I post on there as part of the design team.

For my card, I started by choosing my layout. This one is this weeks MojoMonday #262 sketch.
I then chose my designer paper, which was easy because I knew I wanted to use this chevron design. It’s from Stampin-Up’s collection.

My image is from Great Impressions stamps – "vintage big wheel"- E683.
I stamped it in midnight muse and then used a spellbinder circle die to cut it out. Layered that on another Spellbinder scalloped circle die and then layered that on an MFT dizzy doily die in more mustard.

My pennants are from Spellbinders. I added some more mustard buttons in the corner and punched a razzleberry butterfly to complete my card. Well time to close this post so until next time.........God bless.

Harvest Blessings

Happy Wednesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. I am right on schedule with my Thanksgiving preparations. So that makes me happy.

I wanted to post this card before I get into my day. This is another that I made for the Hope You Can Cling To Challenges on Splitcoaststampers. Lydia was our hostess and she wants us to use any outdoorsy inspiration for our card.

My inspiration comes from the gardens in my neighborhood including my own. Asters, butterflies, pear trees can all be found here.

My background designer paper is from Graphic 45 -the Eden Symphony collection. I paired it up with Stampin-Up's so saffron and cherry cobbler card stock.

The printed aster tag is from Crafty Secrets "autumn blessings". I used the Verve set "bountiful harvest" and stamped in cherry cobbler ink.

Added a flag pennant and a bow with a vintage brad center.

That's my card for today. Hope all my American readers have a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration. So until next time........God bless.

Some other challenges:
1.  Loves Rubber Stamps Challenge is to use ribbon.
2.  Ribbon Carousel has a giving thanks/fall challenge.
3.  The Stamping Boutique has a giving thanks challenge.
4.  Use It Tuesdays Challenge is "be thankful". My images are from 2011-purchased but never used until this year.

~Friend~

Happy Monday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog.  Well it's Thanksgiving week and life is super busy.

I have 14 people coming for dinner on Thursday and all my preps have started today. I cleaned my upstairs today and tomorrow its the downstairs.  Then I have errands to run tomorrow and also finish the food shopping.

Wednesday will be spent cutting onions and celery and bread cubes, baking a pumpkin pie and making my speciality mashed potatoes. I will set both tables on Wednesday so I dont have to deal with that on Thursday.

This holiday is a favorite of mine and I love spending it with family.

Now onto my card for today. This is another that I made for the Hope you Can Cling To Challenges on Splitcoaststampers. This was challenge 24 and Libby was our hostess. She wanted us to make a card using the kissing technique. Info on that technique here.

My card is using Verve's "great friend" set. I stamped the flower in blushing bride ink and then the background stamp in bravo burgundy ink. My background stamp is Stampabilities "faded text".

I used the layout from the Viva la Verve October Week 2.

My background paper is Stampin-Up's "paisley petals" designer paper. I used baja breeze on my flower panel and layered that with the upper crest edge punch in bravo burgundy.

Used a leaf die from Cheery Lynn designs and cut it in old olive cardstock. My sentiment is also from the same Verve set and stamped in bravo burgundy.

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

Some other challenges:
1.  Artistic Inspirations has an anything goes challenge.
2.  Crafty Cardmakers wants us to use more than 1 punch/die. I used a die and a punch.
3. Paper Playtime has an anything goes challenge.

Love is a Fruit

Happy Sunday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. We just returned from my youngest Grandson's basketball game.

Yes, he goes from one sport to the next. Just last Sunday we watched him play a championship football game. This Sunday it was a pre-season basketball tournament. What we liked about it besides getting to watch Ethan play was that it was held in the community we live in.
So instead of having to drive 45-50 minutes to get to the game we drove 5 minutes. Made it so nice for us. They won the tournament final game 32-30. Now we are home in time to watch the Pittsburgh Steelers play Sunday night football.

On another note, I had a voice mail message from my 2 year old granddaughter. Yes, she is comfortable with technology (lol)!!
She will take my son's I-Pad or his I-Phone and start touching the screen. When they try and take it from her she just says "Grandma" and sometimes they will give me a call or we use the FaceTime feature.

So yesterday she made a cell call to me but I missed it. But, good for me because I now have a voice mail message that I can save for a s long as I want to.

Phoenix Daisy

She is starting to talk in sentences or attempting to anyway. So her message was "hi Grandma (pronounced Bam-Ma by her)-then some silence then "how are you Bam-Ma".

I was all giggly the rest of the day just thinking about her. I even took my cell to church to let some of my friends listen to her. And of course I posted it on FaceBook. Oh, I am so one of those Grandmothers.

Now onto my card for today. This is another that I made for the Hope You Can Cling To Challenges on Splitcoaststampers.

Denise was our hostess and her challenge #22 was to use only one of each supply...one stamp, one button, one sheet of DP, one sheet of colored card stock, one rhinestone etc. You can use any combination of things but only one of each type of product (the card base, a sentiment stamp, and ink don't count).

For my card: 1 flower image (recycled from a wedding invite), 1 sentiment, 1 die cut, 1 colored card stock, 1 patterned paper. That completed my card for this challenge.

It's time to dim the lights in Charmed Life Land for another day. So until next time......God Bless.


Some other challenges:
1.  The Squirrel and The Fox has an anything goes challenge.
2.  Happy Campers Craft Collective has a "bright colors" challenge.
3.  Pin and Tack Handcrafted Delights has an anything goes challenge.

Heard you needed a lift

Happy Saturday everyone and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. Our dinner and trip to the Benedum Center to see War Horse was more than amazing.
We ate at the Capital Grille. Its just a few blocks from the theater and the food was delicious. Their speciality is dry aged steaks. This process makes the meat so tender. I have purchased steaks from our local speciality market that is dry aged. If you like steak, you should these. It's pricey but oh so worth it for a special occasion.

I had filet mignon with onions and wild mushrooms. We all shared the sides of Lobster mac 'n cheese, roasted mushrooms, grilled asparagus, and parmesan truffle fries. It was all a culinary delight.

The War Horse played to a packed house. It is a World War I drama that had a successful run on Broadway and now has hit the road for stops in 19 cities across the US. Again if it comes to your city-go and see it. You will be so impressed with the production.

Now onto my card for today. This is another one I created for the Hope You Can Cling To Challenges on Splitcoaststampers. Lisa was our hostess for challenge 20 "hope is in the air" was her theme. 

She wanted us to create a card with something that can be found up in the air. I knew immediately that I was going to do a hot air balloon card.

My images are all cut from Stampin-Up designer paper. The hot air balloon is from the "tall tales" collection and my house, clouds and trees are from the "welcome neighbor" collection.

I cut a hill from old olive designer paper with the PaperTrey ink "in the meadow" die.

My sentiment is Waltzingmouse stamps "half pint heroines" set. That's my card for today.

Time to run off to watch Ethan play a basketball game. So until next time.......God bless.

Some other challenges:
1.  Totally Gor-juss has a plain and simple challenge.
2.  Daring Cardmakers has a just because challenge.
3.  Simply Create Too has a use your stash challenge. All my elements were from my stash.  Designer paper that I have had for 2 years.

Three Snow Friends

Happy Friday everyone and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. Another weekend is upon us and I hope you have some fun plans.

Tonight my son and daughter-in-law are taking me to the theater in Pittsburgh to see the production of War Horse. We are going to a great restaurant in downtown for dinner before the theater. I will let you know tomorrow all about it.

This has been a new release week for Great Impressions Stamps. The design team has been showing great cards all week. Drop by the blog, there are prizes to be won.

My sample today is done with 2 new stamps -three snow friends J107 for my image. I colored these with prismacolor pencils and gamsol and paper pieced the pink scarf and hat. Added some polar white flower soft on this panel. The snowflakes are glittered with a clear Sakura glitter pen.

The background snowflakes are falling snowflakes E772 and stamped in Stampin-Up's marina mist ink.
The blue panels are marina mist card stock anddesigner pape. I used a Sizzix snowflake embossing folder.

The card layout is from this week's Splitcoaststampers sketch challenge #411. 

Added some mesh ribbon over the top red panel. That's my card for today so until next time....... God bless!!!!!

Some other challenges:
1.  4 Crafty Chicks has a winter challenge.
2.  Crimbo Crackers has a snowmen challenge.
3.  Crafts and Me has Christmas with non-traditional colors.
4. My Mum's Craft Shop has a winter wonderland challenge.

Primrose Birthday

Happy Thursday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. It was a busy day yesterday and I didn't get a chance to post to my blog.

I started my day with a cooking class at the Crate Cook. It's a demonstration type class so they prepare everything in front of you. And then we get to eat and enjoy it plus take home all the recipes.

It was a Thanksgiving meal, and I got some great new recipes. They butterflied a turkey, served bread stuffing in sweet dumpling squash bowls. I never had this type of squash before and it is delicious. Plus the presentation was so elegant.

The cranberry sauce was really good as was our pumpkin creme brulee for dessert.
We started our meal with a mixed green salad with a cider vinaigrette. They sauteed some honey crisp apples and added hazelnut coated goat cheese.

Needless to say I thoroughly enjoyed this lunch and learn.

Then last night I was working on thank you cards to give to the young couple that I had the baby shower for a week ago. They are all done and ready to be delivered to her today.

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for a couple of challenges on Splitcoaststampers.

For color challenge #398, Peggy was our hostess and she chose the soft, feminine color palette of primrose petals, pretty in pink and very vanilla.

My layout this week is the MojoMonday sketch #264. 
I mainly used embossing folders on my card instead of designer paper. My background is using the fancy fan embossing folder in pretty in pink. On the middle rectangle panel I used the Sizzix embossing folder “kassie’s brocade” in primrose petals.

The center square panel is stamped with the “faded text” stamp from Stampabilities in primrose petals on very vanilla cardstock.

On the circle panel I stamped my happy birthday sentiment from Verve stamps “wishing you”.  To complete this card I added some very vanilla & primrose petals ribbon.

My card is also for the Hope You Can Cling To Challenge 19 "a birthday in pink". Cindy is our hostess and she had an inspiration challenge for us. We were to pick one of the pictures she posted and make our birthday card.

Well that's it for me today. I am off to finish another card for the Great Impressions new Christmas stamps release week. So stop by again tomorrow to see what I have created.

Some other challenges:
1.  Lady Anne's stamp challenge is anything goes.
2.  Divas By Design also has an anything goes.
3.  Penny's Paper-Crafty is anything goes.
4.  365 cards wants us to make a "wordy background".

Wishes Have Wings

Happy Monday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. Hope you all had a great weekend. If you and the day off today because of Veterans Day, hope it was a relaxing one for you.

I was enjoying the warm weather and then in the afternoon the rains came in as well as the wind. It's supposed to get really cold tonight and maybe snow showers. Oh well its fall and soon the winter solstice sets in. It's time to get used to the cold weather (lol)!!

My card for today is another that I made for the Hope You Can Cling To Challenges on Splitcoaststampers. This challenge 16 was hosted by Taylor and titled "two times the fun". Everything on the card we had to use two of and they had to be slightly different. I used:

2 patterned papers

2 stamps (image & sentiment)
2 ribbons
2 flags- (cut in white & melon mambo)

My fairy image is from Great Impressions -fairy silhouette F411. The sentiment is also a Great Impressions stamp - "wishes have wings" E696.

The designer paper is from Stampin-Up's - cheerful treat collection". I paired it up with melon mambo paper, white rick rack and ruffled ribbon.

Punched a couple of butterflies to complete my card. The card layout is from Splitcoaststampers Sketch #407.

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

Some other challenges:
1.  Creative Stamp Friends wants us to use our favorite colors. I love bright colors-especially pink.
2.  Glitter and Sparkle has a things with wings challenge.
3.  Sweet Stampin' has an anything goes challenge.

Hope You Can ClingTo Challenge 15B

Happy Sunday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. 

We have had such a beautiful weekend here in Pittsburgh. Two warm and sunny days just perfect for having the windows and doors open. Which we did for awhile in the afternoon. It's hard to imagine after weather like this that snow could be right around the corner.

We went to watch our youngest grandson play in a championship football game. He is on the 6th grade team at his school and they won. He was so excited. The game was played at one of our local university fields.

Now onto my card for today. This is another that I created for the Hope You Can Cling To Challenges on Splitcoaststampers. It was made for the UT MD Cancer Center in Houston, TX. I did complete all 35 challenges and just sent the cards on their way.

For this 15th challenge, Bev was our hostess and she wants us to shine it out. We are to make a card using lots of sparkle.

For this card I found this great designer paper that was already glittered up. It's from Recollections. It also had this beautiful bird image with sentiment. So I didn't do any stamping on this card.

I added some mandarin twine, a bow with a tangerine button and my card was done. And this post is also drawing to a close. So until next time.......God bless.

Some other challenges:

1.  Challenges For Everybody has an anything goes.

2.  The Corrosive Challenge Blog has a "flutter by"-things with wings.

3.  Glitter and Sparkle Challenge Blog has a things with wings challenge.

4.  Loves Rubber Stamps Challenge has an anything goes.

Great Impressions Stamps New Release Week

Happy Sunday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. This is new release week at Great Impressions Stamps. All the design team will be showing the fab new stamps on the Great Impressions Blog as well as their own blogs. I am making a sample today as well as Friday.

I love making a card with a great layout and designer paper so that the sentiment is the focus of the card.  This new stamp is "wonderful time of the year"-  E771. It could be used with any of the Great Impressions Christmas image stamps to create a great card.

The pattern papers are from Stampin-Up's "jolly holiday" collection. My layout is from the MFT Wednesday Sketch club.

The mini banners are cut with the MFT die "banner day" die-namics. I used the Spellbinders snowflake #4 die to cut my snowflakes.

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

Some other challenges:
1.  Stamping Sensations has a traditional Christmas.
2.  Lady's Anne's Sentimental Friday challenge is anything goes.
3.  Christmas Stampin' all year long has an anything goes challenge.

Hope You Can Cling To Challenge 23

Happy Saturday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. I am still posting the cards I made for the Hope You Can Cling To Challenges on Splitcoaststampers.

I was able to finish all 35 challenges and today I went to the Post Office and picked up a priority box and got the cards in the mail. I really felt good after mailing them.
They are going to the UT MD Andersen Cancer Center in Houston, TX. The cards are available for families to give the patients or the patients to give to hospital staff or their own families.

Now onto the details for this card. My layout is from last weeks Paper Players Sketch #119. 

My designer paper is from Stampin-Up's "autumn vine" & "autumn traditions" collection.

The printed image is from Crafty Secrets "autumn blessings". I bought these images last year at a craft show and then I couldn't find them at Thanksgiving. But they showed up this year in a place where I don't remember putting them (lol). Love the vintage look.

I used the Stampin-Up square lattice folder on my pennant cut from an MFT flag stax die.

That's it for this card and this post. Off to complete some Saturday errands. So until next ime.......God bless.

Some other challenges:
1.  The Crafty Secrets Blog is having a linky party. My first time entering.
2.  Crafty Catz Challenge blog has an anything goes.
3.  DL.Art has a themed challenge. Any holiday from Oct thru end of year.

Christmas Window

Happy Friday everyone and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. Well another weekend is upon us.

Our youngest grandson is in a championship football game on Sunday afternoon. It will be cold but perfect football weather. I will be bundled up for sure. It's just middle school but we love going and cheering him on.

Other than that no plans. How about you? Anything fun or unusual happening? I love reading your comments so let me know.

Now onto my card for today. Fridays are my day to post on the Great Impressions Blog as part of their design team. This week we are having a name that Christmas Carol contest. So drop over and play along. There are prizes to be won.

Christmas -ah it's the most wonderful time of the year for me. I love all the festivities, decorating, baking, shopping, gift giving and family time.


For my card today I am showing you a window decked out for the holiday. I used two Great Impressions Stamps "merry wreath" -F344 and "have yourself" -E512.

The wreath is colored in with markers and then I did some fussy cutting and I used just a portion of the sentiment stamp. Did you know the wreath is a symbol of life with the evergreens and the circle shape represents infinity or immortality?

I used the Grand Madison window die to create the outside of the house and the illusion of looking in the window. On the brown background, I used the Tim Holtz brick embossing folder.

I added some Stampin-Up red designer paper behind the window for wallpaper and a touch of lace for my curtain. I also cut a window box and added some Stampin-Up holly stickers and stamped my sentiment.

The wreath is hung with some red grosgrain ribbon. That's my card for today. Do you think you know which carol inspired my card? I did drop some hints in the blog post. Drop over to the Great Impressions blog and register your guess. Until next time.....God bless.

Some other challenges:
1.  Craft Us Crazy blog wants us to use either our fav color or a holiday theme.
2.  The Southern Girls want to see Christmas projects.
3,  Just Keep On Creating has a Christmas challenge.

Hope You Can Cling To Challenge 14

Happy Thursday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. Well yesterday was a wonderful day in our household. We celebrated our 25th (silver) wedding anniversary.

My thoughtful husband put together quite the gift for me. He made-yes I said made- 25 cards with a memorable event from the past 25 years. He bought precut silver metallic note cards and then added his own embellies. I will take photos and show them. All my crafting is rubbing off on him (lol).

He bought a wedding ring frame and had it engraved with a 25th anniversary and he wants us to put our wedding photo on one side and a current photo on the other. I loved the idea.

He packed all of this in a beautiful vintage box with the number 25 up in the corner. He has given me some thoughtful gifts over the years but this one is by far the best.

Now onto my card for today. This one is another I made for the Hope You Can Cling To Challenges on Splitcoaststampers. This is challenge 14 hosted by Theresa. She wanted us to make a card that features text in some way.

I found this great Stampin-Up "attic boutique" designer paper in my stash. It was so perfect for this challenge. I used it as my background panel.

The designer paper colors are soft suede, daffodil delight and pool party. So I went with those colors for my card.

My layout is from Jen's deconstructed sketch #74.

The sentiment is from Stampin-Up's "curvy verses" set. Punched a daisy and some butterflies to complete my card.

Well that's it for me today. Time to travel over to meet my grandsons school bus. God bless.......

Some other challenges:
1.  Addicted to Stamps and More has a flowers challenge.
2.  Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge is lots of layers.
3.  Simon Says Stamp has a thinking of you/sympathy challenge.