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Happy Tuesday everyone and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. We have been watching the Olympics like so many households I suppose .

The USA has won 23 medals so far. At least that was the total when I was typing this post. The swimming & gymnastics are so exciting.

Loved it when Missy Franklin -the 17 year old won the gold on Monday night.

So onto my card for today. I made this card for some challenges they are having on Splitcoaststampers. They have a fan club on the site-it's a paid subscription but I think it's worth the fee. Check it out here.

Anyway, once a year they have these challenges with prizes. This is the first year I took part and I am so glad to be playing along. There are going to be about 35 challenges in all. I don't know how many I will be able to finish. I have only done 5 so far and the deadline is Sunday.

This is my card for Kim Teasdale's challenge.

For my card I used images from the Marks Finest Papers set- be wild & free.

I used the "giraffe skin" image and stamped it in soft suede on so saffron cardstock. That is the background frame.

The giraffe image was stamped and then I did some fussy cutting and placed it on my Spellbinder oval.

Stamped the sentiment on a pennant die and cut some smaller pennants all in riding hood red to complete my card.

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 Stamping Boutique has an anything goes challenge.
2.  Twisted Tuesday Challenges has an anything goes.
3.  Crazy Amigo has a dies/punches challenges. I used dies for the ovals & pennants.

Triple Blossom Birthday

Happy Monday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. I had a busy day today but now that it is the end of the day I am not sure what I did besides card making (lol).
I did make a delicious dinner. I experimented with some of our garden tomatoes, basil and oregano. Added onion and olive oil and made a pasta sauce. Then to that I added some Kraft cooking creme in savory garlic. tossed it with some whole grain pasta and wha-la dinner was ready.

My hubby really enjoyed it as did I. I like it when my experiments turn out a nice meal.

I have so much basil so I am looking for ways to use it besides making pesto. I made some pesto last week and made a pizza- that was really good as well.

Well lets get onto my card for today. This one I made for the technique challenge on Splitcoaststampers. I don't often do techniques but I am so glad I did this one.  It is called triple stamping. You can get more info here and a video here.

In a nutshell, cut 3 layers of cardstock that are graduated sizes. Line them up, the smallest on top in the middle and work down. Choose a stamp that will cover over all three layers or use several stamps. Stamp over all the layers and then adhere the matting to the layers and adhere the layers together.

I used a  cherry blossom image  from the Marks Finest Papers set - asian delights.

I stamped in melon mambo and used an old olive marker to get some green leaves.

My happy birthday sentiment is from the North American Woods set - also from Marks Finest Papers.

To complete my card I added some trim and a bow. This is really a great technique that produces a beautiful card.  Give it a try.

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

Some other challenges:
1.  Whoopsie Daisy challenge has a lots of layers challenge.
2.  Fashionable Stamping Challenge has an anything goes challenge.
3.  Crafts 4 Eternity has a brillant birthday challenge.

Chili Peppers

Happy Sunday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. It is such a beautiful day here in Pittsburgh- sunny and warm and low humidity. I love it.

One of those days you could sit out and enjoy dinner on the deck. But, my hubby isn't home so I am inside watching the Olympics and posting to my blog. Oh well!!

My card today is one that I made for 2 challenges over on Splitcoaststampers. The first one is the Queen For A day challenge. This week the honors went to Bev Gerard aka texasgrammy. She has a beautiful gallery filled with gorgeous cards.

I chose her garden hop card to recreate ala Mary Marsh style. I kept the same layout & Spellbinder dies as Bev used but changed the card colors and designer paper.

Instead of a floral image I used hot peppers. Being a Texas girl, Bev knows all about these hot & spicy peppers (lol)!!

My image is from a new set by Marks Finest Papers - hot & spicy. The sentiment on the inside of my card reads " you make a hot & spicy couple".

I thought I would send this as an anniversary card to my sister who lives in Houston. She will love it!!

I am also entering this into the the July Fan Club word play challenge.

H - hot peppers
E - early espresso cs and embossed die-cuts
A - art pencils
T - trim -ribbon

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

Some other challenges:
1.  Secret Crafter has a bright and cheerful challenge.
2.  Dutch Dare Card Challenges has a color challenge. I used brown, red, green and white.
3.  Inky Impressions has a dies/punches challenge. I used dies.
4.  Simon Says Stamp has an anything goes challenge.

Happy Birthday

Happy Friday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. We have had some crazy thunder storms here the past few days. But the upside is everything is lush and green again. Our flower gardens really perked up after 2 days of rain.

Today, I decided to go with a friend to the Outlet Mall about 20 miles from my home. We only made it through 5 stores before it was time for us to head back. We got stuck in the Carter's store. I found quite a few outfits to send to my sweet Phoenix Daisy.

When I called my daughter-in-law to confirm the size she said Phoenix was walking around the house with my picture and kissing it. They were just here for a visit and I know I miss her. She is only 18 months old so I don't know how infants deals with a separation?

Well onto my card. This is my card for Thursday's  ways to use it challenge #385. Hannah was our hostess and she offered us a musical challenge.

It could be that your card is inspired by a song or perhaps has a musical element on it. My card has both.

The layout is this weeks MojoMonday sketch #251.

I used some musical background paper from Creative Imaginations for my panels. The doily is a die cut from My Favorite Things. I did some layering of circles with Spellbinders dies and then stamped my sentiment.

The sentiment is from a new set from Marks Finest Papers - Asian Delights.

I added a rhinestone flourish and several rhinestones on the sentiment circle to complete my card.

Well its late my eyes are heavy with sleep so its time to dim the lights in charmed life land for another day. So until next time.......God bless.

Gnome Birthday + announcement

Happy Tuesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. I have been quiet on the blog for a few days because my son, daughter-in-law and sweet little Phoenix Daisy were here visiting for 5 days.

We had an extended family reunion on Saturday. That was fine and even more special that Brett, Ghilly and Phoenix Daisy were able to come. The other days we just spent enjoying each other.

Their flight this morning left at 6:00 am. When my daughter-in-law brought Phoenix down at 4:15, I kissed her goodbye. She looked at me and said "come". She has limited vocabulary at 19 months but this came across loud and clear. Of course, I was emotional.

I hope to be able to visit with her in September. I will be counting the days until I can go.

So to keep my mind occupied today, I decided to do some crafting. I checked the sketch challenge on Splitcoaststampers to get my starting point. The layout was such a cute one and I knew you could add some embellishments to take it up a notch. 

I used some red background designer paper from Stampin-Up for the layout-a retired print patterns pack and some new polka dot parade paper.


My image & sentiment are from the newly released stamp set from Marks Finest Papers - garden art.

I paper pieced the gnome's hat & boots in the Stampin-Up colors of island indigo, his suit in real red and the flower in wisteria wonder. I also used prismacolor pencils and gamsol to color his skin, beard and the leaf.



challenge colors

I used these colors  for the Splitcoaststampers color challenge #385.  The challenge was hosted by Julia and she chose real red, island indigo and wisteria wonder as our colors.




To complete my card, I stamped my sentiment, used a border punch from Martha Stewart and also added a punched dragonfly. i thought this would be a cute kid's birthday card. I have a few nephews with upcoming birthdays.
 
I do have some other wonderful news. I submitted this card to the Great Impressions stamp company because they were looking for another designer. Well they liked it and have invited me to be a part of their fabulous team starting August 1. Whoo-hoo!! I am so excited.

So look for me on their blog as of August 3. That will be my first post for them using their stamps.

This card also was named to the top 3 at Card Crafters Circle.







Some other challenges:
1.  Crafts and Me has an anything goes challenge.
2.  Divas By Design has a happy birthday challenge #45.
3.  Simon Says Stamp has an anything goes challenge.
4.  Top Tip Tuesday challenge #81 is all about circles.
5.  Love To Create has a spots and dots challenge.

Marks Finest Papers July Blog Hop Day 4

Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's 

    July Blog Hop! 

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Asian Delights Featured July 17

Wild & Free Featured July 18

Garden Art Featured July 19

Hot & Spicy Featured July 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 July 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 July 20, 2012.

 

For my card today, I colored the peppers with prismacolor pencils and gamsol. My layout is from last week's Wednesday Stamp Club Sketch.

 

I stamped the single peppers from this set on the background of my card. They are stamped on kraft cardstock with cajun craze ink.  I added some texture by dry embossing 2 of my panels with a sizzix basket weave folder. I also used a Martha Stewart border punch.

 

I chose this sentiment from the set because I will send this card to my friends who will be celebrating an anniversary soon. 

 

Well, this is the last day of the hop. I hope you have enjoyed all my samples as well as the rest of the design team. All the stamps are available for purchase now at the Marks Finest Papers Store.  

 

The next stop on the hop is MariLynn's blog . Just click on her picture below.

 

Marks Finest Papers July Blog Hop Day 3

Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's 

    July Blog Hop! 

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Asian Delights Featured July 17

Wild & Free Featured July 18

Garden Art Featured July 19

Hot & Spicy Featured July 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 July 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 July 20, 2012.

My card for today is using just the sentiment from the garden art set. I love how you can take a sentiment and build a card around it. All it takes is some patterned paper-die cuts or punches-embellishments of choice. 

I started with my layout. This one is from the July fan club on Splitcoaststampers. Teresa Kline designed the sketch.

I wanted to carry the theme of the sentiment into the embellishements. So I chose some patterned paper with a background flower. I then layered a piece of pink paper that I embossed. This was a piece left from another card I made. I wanted to use a doily and I had some in my stash. Many companies makes these now. Mine are from Wilton-bought them in the cake decorating aisle at my local store or you could use a doily die.

I layered another die on top of the white one. This one is a die cut from  Cheery Lynn Designs. Then on top of that I layered my sentiment. I used a corner rounder to get the shape I wanted.

To complete the card I added a die cut butterfly with some pearls. I have a friend who is an avid gardener and she will love this card. She is also an artist so I wanted to step the card up a little for her.

This is another card I made previously  using this set.

That's it for me today. See you back here tomorrow for the final day of our hop.

The next stop today is Marilynn's blog. Just click on her picture below.

Marks Finest Papers July Blog Hop Day 2

Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's 

    July Blog Hop! 

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Asian Delights Featured July 17

Wild & Free Featured July 18

Garden Art Featured July 19

Hot & Spicy Featured July 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 July 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 July 20, 2012.

 

For my card today, I used a wax paper technique to create my background. It's an old stamp tv technique. I took wax paper crumpled it up-then straightened it out an then placed it between 2 sheets of white cardstock.  I pulled out my iron and ironed the cardstock for a few seconds.

wax paper background

I then used a direct-to-paper technique and rubbed distress ink all over the cardstock. I used wild honey and vintage photo. The next step is to take a paper towel and rub off the excess ink. The design you see here is what shows up on the cardstock. I thought it looked like animal skin.

I stamped 3 of the giraffes from this fab new set and some grass underneath their feet.  The grass is from a set we previewed last month - scenic selections.

Using my stamp-a-ma-jig for placement I took the sentiment and stamped it on 2 lines. I am going to give this card to a young couple that we mentor. They are pregnant with their first baby. On the inside I am going to computer generate "and baby makes 3".

To complete my card I added some chocolate ribbon and a corduroy button.

That's it for me today. So see you tomorrow for day 3 of the hop. Click on MariLynn's photo below for the next stop on the hop. 

Marks Finest Papers July Blog Hop Day 1

Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's 

    July Blog Hop! 

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Asian Delights Featured July 17

Wild & Free Featured July 18

Garden Art Featured July 19

Hot & Spicy Featured July 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 July 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 July 20, 2012.

My card is using the beautiful cherry blossoms from the Asian Delights set. I colored them with prismacolor pencils and gamsol.

I used an old sketch from the MojoMonday blog. I love the tilted panel look. The pink & green background panels is done with a sizzix embossing folding. I added some olive satin ribbon and a raspberry scalloped edge under the ribbon.

My birthday sentiment is from another new set "garden art". I stamped it on a Spellbinder pennant die and added some green pearls on the bottom right panel to complete my card.

See you tomorrow for day 2 of the hop. Click on MariLynn's picture below for the next stop on the hop. 

Our Home To Yours

Happy Saturday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life blog. We had a rubber stamp show here in Pittsburgh this week-end. I traveled out to the convention center and spent about 3 1/2 hours looking around and of course making some purchases.

One vendor had all the Cheery Lynn dies on display and she was doing some great demos with the dies. I decided not to buy any stamps or paper but the dies are another story. I did get a few of the ones that were on my wish list. I can't wait to use them.

They are not part of this card though. I have been seeing so many people getting a jump start on their Christmas cards. So my card today is a Christmas card. I had so much fun making it. I want to do a few other ones with this particular stamp and using this same idea.

The stamp is from Great Impressions and I have had it for several years and not inked it until now. I colored it with Prismacolor pencils and gamsol. I added some corners cut from a Cuttlebug die "vintage" collection. Added some Flower Soft on the snow flakes.

For the winter scene I used a die from PTI to cut the hill and the little sled rider. On the hill I used some polar white Flower Soft for the snow.

On my card base I used a Cuttebug snowflake die for a little background texture. Stamped my sentiment and the card was complete.

Have to get this post completed because I am entering this card on the Great Impressions blog design team call. I am just getting this in under the wire.

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

Challenges:
1.  Great Impressions blog has a stay in the lines coloring challenge.
2,  2 Sisters has a Christmas in July challenge #100.
3.  Card Crafters Circle also has a Chrismtas in July challenge.
4.  Christmas Stampin' all year long has a "no inky yet" challenge. Use a stamp that has not been inked yet. My stamp is several years old but this is the first time I have used it.

Ribbit Ribbit

Happy Wednesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life blog. It was such a beautiful summer day here in Pittsburgh. Sunny and hot but no humidity, just the type of day I like for summer.

I went to the farmers market this evening to pick up some of the season's bounty. We purchased some delicious corn on the cob, green peppers, broccoli, Spanish onions, cilantro and a cucumber.

This particular farmers market is represented by at least 15 local farms. It runs through October. I love going and being able to eat local fresh produce for several months.  

We ate the corn with our salmon, spinach and feta cheese burgers tonight. Dinner was yummy!!

Well onto my card for today. This one I made for the sketch challenge #393 on Splitcoaststampers.  Taylor is the hostess and she provided us with a unique layout this week. 

I already had colored my frog image so all I needed was the paper to go with it. I found this kraft and green dotted paper and kraft and striped paper that I bought a couple of months ago. I thought it would work with the layout and my image.

The frog and sentiments are part of a new set from Marks Finest Papers - "garden art" that will be released next week. In fact, there will be a blog hop starting July 17. So drop by then because there will be stamp sets to be won.

Well it's late and time to dim the lights in Charmed Life land so until next time........God bless.

Some other challenges:

1.  Celebrate The Occasion has a birthday challenge.

2.  Scrap-Creations wants us to use something we bought in the last 2 months. That would be my designer paper.

3.  Top-Tip Tuesday has a one for the men challenge.

4.  Cards for Men has a happy birthday challenge.

Raspberry Flowers

Happy Tuesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life blog. We have been having some crazy, hot weather here in Pittsburgh. But, I love it.
We went swimming in my neighbor's pool on Saturday and the water was so perfect. Sometimes I just put my feet in until my body gets used to the water temp. But when the temp is 96 degrees -it just makes for perfect water conditions.

We also went to watch our grandson play in a baseball tournament on Saturday and Sunday. They lost 1 game and won the other. Again it was hot but perfect baseball weather.

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for the color challenge #383 on Splitcoaststampers. Betty is our hostess and she choice some great colors. This week we got to use one of the new Stampin-Up colors - raspberry ripple. She paired that up with crumb cake and pink pirouette.

I knew as soon as she gave us the colors what stamp set I was going to use. I just love this field flowers set also from Stampin-Up. I stamped the flowers in raspberry ripple. I fussy cut one of them and popped it up for some dimension.

My card layout  is this weeks MojoMonday #249 sketch. I loved working with this layout.

My background designer paper  is Stampin-Up's deck the halls (crumb cake layers) and fan fair collection (pink pirouette layers).

I used the new in-color stitched satin ribbon in raspberry ripple. Also used the Stampin-Up scallop trim border punch to add a pink pirouette layer under the ribbon.

Added my sentiment to a Spellbinder pennant die. I changed the location of the sentiment because my flower images are big.

Some pearls in the corner completed my card.

Well, it's time to close this post so until next time........God bless.

Some other challenges:
1.  Penny Black blog has a summer blooms challenge.
2.  Stampin' Sisters in Christ has a "plan challenge" #147. 1 circle or oval element, 2 different papers, 1 embellishment. See the blog for an excellent commentary of scripture verse from Jeremiah 29:11.
 

Birthday Blessings

Happy Thursday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life blog. Hope all of you had a relaxing day yesterday. We celebrated American Independence day here in the USA.

We went to a friends home for a cookout and then went to watch a fireworks display at night. It was a great day to celebrate the freedoms that we enjoy here in our land.

The card I am showing today is one that I made for the sketch challenge #392 on Splitcoaststampers.  Korin was our hostess and she gave us a great layout to work into a card.

For my card background and the rectangle layer, I used designer paper from Stampin-Up's's "attic boutique" collection. I cut my doily in poppy parade with a die from Cheery Lynn Designs..

My image is from the Our Daily Bread Designs set "bird and butterfly labels". It coordinates with Spellbinders labels 18 and that's what I cut it with in soft suede.

The sentiment is computer generated. That's it for me today. I am all set to enjoy another fabulous summer day. So until next time........God bless.

Some other challenges:
1.  ODBD shining the light challenge #114 is anything goes using an ODBD stamp.
2.  WordArt Wednesday-either use their word art or use your own encouraging or       uplifting sentiment
3.  Cupcake Craftroom has a July challenge of lots of layers.
4.  Shopping Our Stash wants us to use 3 of items from their list. I used 2 die-cuts and a doily.

Playing in the rain

Happy Monday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. Busy day with my grandsons.
I am with them on Monday and Wednesday in the summer. Only one of them had basketball practice early in the day and then the other 2 had baseball games at 6:00.

We went out for a quick lunch after Austin finished basbetball. It was another hot and humid day so the boys were settled in the air conditioning.

I went to Ethan's game because it was a tournament. They lost 19-10. He was disappointed but only for a little bit. Kids get over things a little easier than adults.

So onto my card for today. This one I made for the  Try a new technique challenge #384. on Splitcoaststampers -  Joan was our hostess and she wanted us to use sunbursts on our cards. They are really trendy right now.

I had a template to make my sunbursts. This definitely made it easier. The template can be found here.

I used designer paper from Stampin-Up in real red, daffodil delight and marina mist to create the sunbursts. The striped paper is also Stampin-Up designer paper.

My image is from Darcie's U-cuts. They are images that you have to cut out yourself. I used a Spellbinderslabel die to cut the image and then layered it over another Spellbinders die cut in daffodil delight.

I added some marina mist ribbon to complete my card. I didn't add a sentiment because I am not sure how I will use this yet.

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.  Bunny Zoe's Crafts has a girls, girls, girls challenge.
2.  Stampin' Sisters in Christ wants us to use something new. My image is a new one and the sunburst technique is new for me.
3.  Hiding in my Craft Room has a freestyle challenge this week.