Hey Cowboy

Happy Thursday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. Ran a few errands today and picked up my new glasses and did some clothes shopping.

I am pleased with the new frames. Sometimes you pick out the frame and then when you get them you're not so sure. But that wasn't he case this time. Good thing- glasses are so expensive even with insurance coverage and you have to keep them for at least a year.

As for the clothes shopping, I just picked up a few new tops and a pair of slacks. It's been awhile since I went shopping. But, it's always fun to get new clothes. Don't ya think??

Well onto my card for today. This one I made for the sketch challenge on splitcoaststampers. Korin was our hostess and she provided a super easy layout to work into a card.

I used the cowboy image & sentiment from the Marks Finest Papers set "hey cowboy". The sentiment I stamped on some rick rack that I die-cut.

I stamped in chocolate chip ink and then used a pumpkin marker for his lasso. I wanted to give it a little color since I chose not to color the image.

My card background is done with Stampin-Up's pacific point designer paper. I added a pacific point corduroy button and some twine to resemble a lasso. Punched some stars and that's my card.

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

Some other challenges:
1.  C.R.A.F.T. challenge wants us to use animals.
2.  Simon Says Stamp has an anything goes challenge.
3.  Crafty Boots has a "no girls allowed" challenge.

Big Cat Birthday

Happy Wednesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. Well after a few cold, rainy and snowy days we are back to more mild spring-like weather.

I tried a new pasta recipe today and my hubby & I both liked it. So it's a keeper.

I roasted some onions, butternut squash and a little crushed red pepper flakes.
When that was done I combined it with rigatoni, Philadelphia original cooking creme and Kraft shredded 3 cheese Italian blend.  Topped it with crushed croutons and a little more cheese and baked.

It was delicious. If your interested in the recipe click here.

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for a couple of challenges on Splitcoaststampers. The technique challenge is "stamping nostalgia". We are to make a card like we were back in the early days of stamping. No die cuts, no embossing, no pearls, no sewing. We could use eyelets, ribbon, older designer paper.

The clean and simple challenge   is "at the zoo".

My card uses the big cat image from the Marks Finest Papers set "North American Woods".
I used some old Stampin-Up designer paper from my stash in the "more mustard" shade. Stamped my happy birthday sentiment directly on the designer paper.

I added some black rick rack and brads. I tried to set some eyelets but after ripping 3 sheets of paper I gave up. I was using an old eyelet setting tool and I must have lost the touch (lol!!).

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

Some other challenges:
1.  Belli Challenge wants us to use animals on our card.
2.  Make My Monday blog has a birds or animals challenge.
3.  Outlawz has an anything goes challenge. Has to be a clean & simple card.

The Birthday Train

Happy Tuesday everyone and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. We are having some crazy spring weather here in the Pittsburgh region. It is really cold -as in freezing temperatures cold. And there was snow in our area today.

The ski resort that is about 1 1/2 hrs from us had so much snow they are opening a few trails today. Spring extremes I tell ya!!

We had such a busy week-end. We had a garage sale with my son and daughter-in-law. Whew-what a lot of work getting ready for the sale. It was at their home because they had more stuff to sell than we did.
Of course Friday was a beautiful, warm  and sunny day, but not our sale day. Then Saturday the rain came and it lasted all day. We had their garage all set up on Friday. Le me tell you we utilized every bit of space in the garage. we had it packed to the hilt.

We didn't get all the people that we would have if there was no rain. But, it still went well. Glad its over though. I was so exhausted on Sunday that what I intended as  a brief 5:00 nap turned out to be an all night sleep (lol).

Onto my card for today. This one I made for the color challenge on Splitcoaststampers.

Karen was our hostess and she chose the color palette of more mustard, early espresso and pool party.

I decided to make a scene using a brayer technique. I  used a train image from the Marks Finest Papers set “train talk”.

Instead of using designer paper, I created a little scene by brayering the background with pool party and more mustard inks. I sponged in the mountains with early espresso ink.

My train track is a Martha Stewart fence punch and I cut the top off. I stamped my image and colored with Stampin-Up markers in the challenge colors.

I did some fussy cutting and placed it on the track. Stamped a couple of pine trees, added a birthday greeting and 3 punched circles to complete my card.

That's it for me today my blogger friends. So until next time......God bless.

Some other challenges:
1.  Outlawz greetings challenge is "inspired by a song". How about "long train running" by the Doobie Brothers.
2.  Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge has an "inspired by a movie" challenge. How about The Great Train Robbery-starring Sean Connery.
3.  Totally Gorjuss has a "boys toys" challenge.
4.  Crafty Ann's Challenge blog has a "it's a man thing" challenge.

Marks Finest Papers Blog Hop Day 4

 Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's 
April Blog Hop!

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Fabulous Dogs Featured April 17
Daffodil Greetings Featured April 18
Hey, Cowboy! Featured April 19
Train Talk Featured April 20

Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the following blogs (don't forget this one), each day for more chances to win! (You do NOT have to comment on all the blogs each day! The names are drawn randomly!)

All four winners will be announced on April 21, 2012 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. (HINT: The more you comment, the more chances you have to win and comments on the MFP blog count twice!) The deadline for commenting is 11PM EST on Friday April 20, 2012.

Lois
Vicky
Anne
Pat G.
Karen H.
Patty P.
Mary
Marilynn
Pam
Debbie
Nancy
Bonnie
Kathy
Brenda
Toni
Tangii
Anna S
Sue
Kelli
Janine
Mark's Finest Papers

I love this train talk set. This image could be colored as well. But what I decided to do was to brayer a background and just stamp the image. I like how it turned out.

For the background I brayered 3 shades of blue ink. Then I tore a post it note and sponged around that for my mountains. At the base of the mountains, I sponged olive ink and a little black.

I stamped my train image and decided to make it a birthday card. So I used the sentiment from the daffodil greetings set. I layered the image panel over olive cardstock and then marina mist (medium blue).

No ribbon, lace, buttons or brads and that's different for me. But, I wanted to show all of you that with our images you don't always have to color.  Sometimes you can just stamp and go. And, that's exactly what I did (lol)!!

This is the last day of our hop. I hope you have enjoyed all the samples we have shown you with the new sets. Now click over to MariLynn's blog to see what she has to show you.

Marks Finest Papers Blog Hop Day 3

 Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's 
April Blog Hop!

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Fabulous Dogs Featured April 17
Daffodil Greetings Featured April 18
Hey, Cowboy! Featured April 19
Train Talk Featured April 20


Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the following blogs (don't forget this one), each day for more chances to win! (You do NOT have to comment on all the blogs each day! The names are drawn randomly!)

All four winners will be announced on April 21, 2012 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. (HINT: The more you comment, the more chances you have to win and comments on the MFP blog count twice!) The deadline for commenting is 11PM EST on Friday April 20, 2012.

Lois
Vicky
Anne
Pat G.
Karen H.
Patty P.
Mary (you are here)
Marilynn
Pam
Debbie
Nancy
Bonnie
Kathy
Brenda
Toni
Tangii
Anna S
Sue
Kelli
Janine
Mark's Finest Papers

For my card I chose to use the silhouette cowboy image. I stamped him in soft suede ink onto some Basic Grey designer paper. I used a labels 4 spellbinder die to cut the image from soft suede cardstock and make a frame. Layered the frame over some Creative Imaginations cowboy themed designer paper and that is layered over some Stampin-Up cajun craze striped paper.

The card base is cajun craze and I layered soft suede over that. I used some vanilla twill ribbon and stamped the barbed wire image from this set in soft suede ink. I sponged some cajun craze  ink to give it a more rustic look. It's tied with twine. Cut a Spellbinders pennant and stamped my sentiment.

The cowboy boots are cut from the designer paper.  Click Here for another sample I made with this set. 

Well that's my sample for today. See you again tomorrow for the final day of the hop. Now onto MariLynn's blog.

Marks Finest Papers Blog Hop Day 2

 Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's 
April Blog Hop!

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Fabulous Dogs Featured April 17
Daffodil Greetings Featured April 18
Hey, Cowboy! Featured April 19
Train Talk Featured April 20

Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the following blogs (don't forget this one), each day for more chances to win! (You do NOT have to comment on all the blogs each day! The names are drawn randomly!)

All four winners will be announced on April 21, 2012 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. (HINT: The more you comment, the more chances you have to win and comments on the MFP blog count twice!) The deadline for commenting is 11PM EST on Friday April 20, 2012.

Lois
Vicky
Anne
Pat G.
Karen H.
Patty P.
Mary (you are here)
Marilynn
Pam
Debbie
Nancy
Bonnie
Kathy
Brenda
Toni
Tangii
Anna S
Sue
Kelli
Janine
Mark's Finest Papers

For my card sample I used the daffodil bundle from this fabulous new set. I stamped image on watercolor paper and then heat embossed it. I used some watercolor crayons to color the daffodils. I saw daffodils this color in a gardening magazine my husband receives. They were a white flower with pink centers. Hence my color choices.

I used a square Spellbinders die and layered some pink designer paper over that. Added some pink satin ribbon and some pleated green over that. Added a few pearls to complete my card.

Now onto the next stop in this hope-it's MariLynn's blog. See you back here tomorrow.

Marks Finest Papers Blog Hop Day 1

 Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's 
April Blog Hop!

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Fabulous Dogs Featured April 17
Daffodil Greetings Featured April 18
Hey, Cowboy! Featured April 19
Train Talk Featured April 20

Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the following blogs (don't forget this one), each day for more chances to win! (You do NOT have to comment on all the blogs each day! The names are drawn randomly!)

All four winners will be announced on April 21, 2012 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. (HINT: The more you comment, the more chances you have to win and comments on the MFP blog count twice!) The deadline for commenting is 11PM EST on Friday April 20, 2012.

Lois
Vicky
Anne
Pat G.
Karen H.
Patty P.
Mary (you are here)
Marilynn
Pam
Debbie
Nancy
Bonnie
Kathy
Brenda
Toni
Tangii
Anna S
Sue
Kelli
Janine
Mark's Finest Papers

I love this cute little doggie. I colored him with prismacolor pencils and gamsol.  I fussy cut him and popped him up on a Spellbinders oval circle.

My card base is basic gray and then I used some old designer paper from my stash. My card colors are from the Splitcoaststampers color challenge #371.  

On my middle rectangle panel I used the technique from Monday’s Splitcoaststampers “technique challenge”. It is called magical masking. I used masking tape and basic gray ink to create the background.

My sentiment is from this “fabulous dogs” set.  I stamped it on some die-cut pennants. I used some paw buttons to complete my card.

My layout is a case of myself from this card.

Well that's my sample for today. The next stop is Marilynn's blog.  Don't forget to comment for a chance to win these fabulous sets. See you tomorrow.

Cowboy Birthday

Happy Thursday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. One of those laid back days for me. Well except for all the telemarketing calls I have been getting lately. I am on the do-not call list but I still get the non-profits and political calls.

I picked up my phone to make a call today and there was a telemarketer on the line. Oh how convenient for them (lol). Today I had a call from the same Washington DC # every 15 minutes for an hour. I know it's someone's job but honestly do they realize how annoying their calls are???

I did work on a card. I made this one for the "ways to use it" challenge on Splitcoaststampers. Hannah was the hostess and she loves ruffles. So that was her challenge to us. Make a card with some ruffles on it.

I wanted to make a masculine card and after some thinking I decided I could ruch my ribbon. Then tie the end with twine and still keep a masculine feel to it.

My cowboy silhouette image is from a soon to be released set from Marks Finest Paper- "hey cowboy". I stamped it in artichoke ink and then sponged the background with some blues and a little wild honey.

I cut it with a label 10 Spellbinders die. My striped background paper is from BoBunny. The ribbon is from Stampin-Up- riding hood red.

For the sentiment I used another set from Marks Finest Papers - "cowgirls rule". I stamped the wood plank in wild honey on white cardstock and then stamped my birthday sentiment on riding hood red cardstock. I cut it out and distressed the edges.

Added some corner buttons and that completes this card. I think it still looks masculine even with a ruffled ribbon.

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.  My Mum's Craft Shop wants us to make something showing a celebration.
2.  Shopping Our Stash has a masculine theme challenge.
3.  Use It Tuesdays has an anything goes challenge. I used buttons from my stash and designer paper that I have had for over a year.
4.  Love To Create Challenge blog has a birthday challenge.

Spring Butterfly

Happy Wednesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. Wow it feels like winter has returned here. It was really damp and cold today. Tonite our temps are going down to 29. Our tulips just opened so I hope it doesn't affect them.

Today was my day with my grandsons. They just came back from an Easter trip to San Antonio. They had a wonderful time sightseeing and they even were able to attend a San Antonio Spurs basketball game.

Ethan was the only one who had homework and he didn't need help. Aidin & I usually do his vocabulary together but he didn't have it this week.  I dropped Ethan off at basketball practice at :00 and headed home.

Aidin left his gym bag in my car and he has gym on Friday. I didn't want to drive 45 minutes back over there so my hubby will take it with him to work tomorrow. My daughter-in-laws office is near the airport where he works. I have to check the car because they usually leave something in there. Just forgot to look this week.

Now onto my card for this week. I made this one for the sketch challenge #380 on Splitcoaststampers. It was all about circles this week. I really didn't have any trouble with this one. Just deciding on what papers to use took me a little time. 

For my background, I used designer paper from Stampin Up's "cheerful treat" collection. The circles are cut with various other Stampin-Up designer paper in melon mambo, concord crush and lucky limeade.

For the rectangle panel I used melon mambo cardstock and cut it with a Martha Stewart lattice border punch.
My large butterfly image is from a soon to be released set from Marks Finest Papers - "daffodil greetings".
I used markers to color in melon mambo, lucky limeade and pool party. The spring sentiment is from the blessings stamp set - also from Marks Finest Papers.

I punched some small flowers and butterflies to complete my card. That's my card for today. So until next time........God bless.

Some other challenges:
1.  Celebrate the Occasion blog has a "just because' challenge.
2.  Crafty Sentiments Design has a "spring" challenge.

Peek of new Set

Happy Tuesday everyone and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. Hope your Easter celebration was a good one.

We had such a fantastic service at church on Sunday. Our worship team was just superb. We did something really different for one part of the service today.

A woman in our congregation, who happens to be an artist, did a painting during one of the songs. The painting was related to a scripture from Revelation 22 1:7. This scripture refers to the river of life and the tree of life.
She did this outstanding painting depicting this theme. As she painted the scripture was read. Then our worship team started playing. It was such an incredible experience for our Easter service.

We had dinner here at my home and my husband's family + a young couple from church joined us. I was very pleased with how my meal turned out.
I made a ham and basted it with a new glaze recipe I found. For the glaze I used brown sugar, real maple syrup and Dijon mustard.

Then with the leftover glaze, I added crushed pineapple & cornstarch and heated it until it thickened. I served it with the ham. I loved the taste and so did my guests.

We also had a potato & cheese casserole, asparagus with mushrooms in a vinaigrette sauce, carrots with a brown sugar glaze and a fresh fruit salad.
Our dessert was carrot cake. It was all yummy and we even had leftovers for dinner tonight.

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for the color challenge #370 on Splitcoaststampers.

I am the hostess again this week and I chose the colors of tangerine tango, daffodil delight and old olive. Since this is such a bright color palette, I chose to use a daffodil image. 

The image is a soon to be released set from Marks Finest Papers - "daffodil greetings".  I colored the image with Prismacolor pencils and gamsol.

I cut it out with an oval Spellbinders die. My background designer paper is from Stampin-Up's "attic boutique" collection. The middle rectangle panels are old olive designer paper. On the longest rectangle layer, I added a scallop border in tangerine tango.

My ribbon is from Offray and for the center I used a Stampin-Up antique brad. My card layout is an older one from the Sweet Stop Sketch blog #106.  

The challenge over there is to pick one of the older sketches for your card. It's their 3rd anniversary celebration. I left off a sentiment because I am not sure how I will be using this yet.

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

Some other challenges:
1.   Cupcake Craft Challenges has a "spring is in the air" challenge.
2.  Karen's Doodles has a "something spring" challenge.
3.  That Craft Place blog has an "all about spring" challenge.
4.  Creations by Gill M. has a color inspiration photo challenge.

Dogwood Blossoms

Happy Thursday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. We have had such beautiful sunny days for the past 4-5 days. Warm days and cool nights are such perfect spring days. I am lovin' it I tell ya!!

Lat night we went to see the Beauty and the Beast musical. The traveling show is in Pittsburgh for 5 days. I purchased the tickets a couple of months ago and we had fantastic seats. My husband really liked the show as well.

Funny story and a mix up: My friend saw the Lion King in New York a few years ago. She told me the costumes and music were incredible and if I could ever go to do it.
So, I get this email about Beauty and the Beast coming to Pittsburgh. I was being offered the chance to buy tickets in advance of the general public.
Of course I jumped on the opportunity. Don't know how I got confused but I am thinking this is the show that Tracey mentioned to go and see.
So I buy the tickets and only after they arrived in the mail did I realize the mix-up. She said Lion King not Beauty and the Beast (lol). Too funny!!
Needless to say I wasn't really excited about going but after seeing the show I was so glad I did.

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for the sketch challenge #379 on Splitcoaststampers. Taylor was our hostess and she provided a great layout for us.

My image & sentiment are from the dogwood blossoms set from Marks Finest Papers.

I stamped my dogwood image in calypso coral ink and then did some fussy cutting. I popped it up on the center panel for dimension.

My card base is Stampin-Up's pool party and the designer paper is from the "everyday enchantment" collection. The middle panel is calypso coral designer paper.

My pennants are cut from a Spellbinders die in pool party party. That completes this card.

Time also to dim the lights in charmed life land for another day. So until next time.........God bless.

Some other challenges:
1.  4 Crafty Chicks has a flowers challenge.
2.  SJ Crafts blog has a 1,2,3 challenge. I used 1 stamp set for image and sentiment, 2 patterned papers, 3 flag pennants and 3 flowers.
3.  Crafty Creations has a "signs of spring" challenge. Dogwood blossoms are a definite sign of spring.
4.  Simon Says Stamp wants us to use our favorite tool. I love all the Spellbinders dies. I used the pennant die on this card.
5.  Great Impressions Blog has a lots of flowers challenge.

Vintage Easter

Happy Tuesday everyone and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. Today is my day with my grandsons so this post will be a short one. Have some errands to take care of and then I have to meet their school bus.

So onto my card for today. I am the hostess for the color challenge #369 this week on Splitcoaststampers.

I chose the trio of peach parfait, lucky limeade and pool party. I thought it would make for a great vintage Easter card.

For my card I have used some of my new sale-a-bration goodies from Stampin-Up. I made this one a Stampin-Up only card.

The stamp set is “fresh vintage”. I used markers and stamped the image in all of today’s colors.

My designer paper is from the everyday enchantment collection. I also used some soft suede as my card base and as a layer for my image panel.We can use neutrals of choice for this challenge.

The ribbon is Stampin-Up’s ruffled ribbon in lucky limeade and I added a brad to the center.

For my decorative edge, I used a Stampin-Up scalloped border punch and that completes my card. My layout is one that I used previously on this card. I like it and have used it several times before.

Well that's it for me my blogger friends, so until next time......God bless

Some other challenges:
1.  Crafty Cardmakers has an Easter challenge.
2.  My Craft Spot also has an Easter challenge.
3.  The Crazy Challenge has a spring challenge.
4.  Paper Sundaes has an Easter Challenge.