Frolicking Trio

Happy Friday everyone and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life blog. The holiday week-end is upon us. So if you are traveling stay safe.

We are staying home but have plans with family and friends. It's the last holiday of summer. So whatever you are doing enjoy yourself. Our youngest grandson Ethan has his first football game of the season on Sunday. So right after church we will be heading to the game.

We are supposed to have some rain so maybe we will be watching under umbrellas. But its what parents and grandparents do (lol)!!

The card I am showing today is also what I have posted on the Great Impressions blog. Friday is my day to post over there.
This card reminds me of summer. Little girls playing and just loving life. This sweet stamp is "frolicking trio" G342 from Great Impressions Stamps. 

My card colors are from this week's color challenge #390 on Splitcoaststampers. I was the hostess and I  chose a bright color palette with lucky limeade, rich razzleberry and daffodil delight.

An added option was to create a bow with ribbon or seam binding and use a button in the center.

I chose my background patterned paper and built my card from there. It's Stampin-Up's "floral district" collection. The image is stamped in rich razzleberry ink. I used a scalloped rectangle die to layer the image.


Made a seam binding bow in daffodil delight to pick up that color from the patterned paper. I added a rich razzleberry button center and used a yellow pearl for the button center.

and added to left corner. The flag is cut with an MFT fishtail flags stax die-namics in rich razzleberry.

The card layout is last weeks MojoMonday #354. 

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

Some other challenges:
1.  Inky Impressions has a primary color challenge.
2.  My Mum's Craft Shop has a 3 lots of 3 things challenge. I have 3 girls in my image, 3 punched circles on the bottom left and 3 flowers in my patterned paper.
3.  Simon Says Stamp has an anything goes challenge.
4.  Stampin Sisters In Christ wants us to use punches, dies or shapes of any kind. I used punches and dies on my card.
5.  Use It Tuesdays challenge #38: use that ribbon. I have so much ribbon and seam binding. I used seam binding on this card.

fairy silhouette

 

 

Happy Sunday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life blog. We have had 5 days of such beautiful sunny weather here in Pittsburgh. Our flowers are blooming profusely as well as our tomatoes.

 

We only have 2 regular tomato plants and 1 grape tomato plant. It's just enough for us and then as little to share. I want to make some salsa and can it so I will be making a trip to the farmers market to buy what I need.

 

Our service at church was great this morning. The worship team did a fantastic job and our Pastor had an excellent sermon today. It was so inspiring.

 

He was talking about making changes in our lives. If we don't change patterns nothing will happen. We need to move forward and make a decision not to waver anymore.

 

We came home and ate some chicken that I put in the crockpot in the morning. I just loved coming in hte door and smelling a meal waiting for us. Don't know why I dont do that every Sunday?

 

So let's get to this card I posted today. I just got this fairy silhouette image. It's from Great Impressions Stamps - F411.

 

I found the perfect paper in my stash to make this card. The paper is from Basic Grey - the "Indian Summer" collection. The piece that I used to stamp my image had a misty look to it. Like it was in a glen in the forest. So right for my fairy. I stamped the image in melon mambo (bright pink) ink.

 

My card layout is from the sketch challenge #399 on Splitcoaststampers.

The first background piece is from the same patterned paper collection and it had that same forest look to me.

I added a butterfly cut from a Cheery Lynn Designs die and 2 punched from a Martha Stewart butterfly punch.

My card base is early espresso and I layered the Indian Summer dp on this base. This Basic Grey designer paper is a great match for Stampin-Up's early espresso, melon mambo, rich razzleberry and crushed curry. If you have any of it in your stash.

My sentiment is from the MFP set - "oopsie daisy". I stamped in early espresso ink. I edged this sentiment panel with a scallop border punch from SU.

I am giving this card to my neighbor who has a fairy garden in her yard. It is so cute. There is a walking path with lots of plants and the cutest liitle accessories.

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

 

Some other challenges:

1.  Challenges 4 Everybody has an anything goes.

2.   Basic Grey has an anything goes challenge. I used Indian Summer desinger paper.

3.  Sugar Creek Hollow has a fairies or angels challenge with a vintage or shabby chic theme.

4.  Poodles Parlour has a winged things challenge.

5.  C.R.A.F.T. has a fairies challenge.

Back to School

Happy Friday everyone and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. Today will be a day of catching up on stuff around my home. I had a busy week with my grandsons and then some other things.

It is also my turn to post on the Great Impressions Blog today. Our theme the entire week is "back to school". The design team has been showing some great samples. Take a minute and drop by and take a peek. We are showing some new stamps as well.

My card is using the large school bus (F505) and the circle framed alphabet(K83). I decided to create a little scene for my bus. I colored the bus with prismacolor pencils and gamsol and then cut it out. I added glossy accent to the headlights and the tire centers.

To assemble my card, I started with my cloud background. I punched a scallop circle and used it as a template and sponged with bashful blue ink to create the clouds. I used a die from PaperTrey ink to cut my rolling hill. The trees are cut from some Stampin-Up patterned paper.

I stamped the alphabet circles and used a circle punch to punch them out. I then layered my scene on my card base.

Well that's it for me today. Just a reminder that Splitcoaststampers is having a virtual stamping night on September 21 & 22. It's a back to school theme. I am one of the hostesses so I hope you will play along. Get more info here.

The new stamps we have been showing all week will be perfect for all the challenges.

Until next time.......God Bless.

Some other  Back To School challenges:
1.  Crop Stop
2.  Inky Impressions
3.  Simon Says Stamp 
4.  Loves Rubberstamps
5.  Tuesday Alchemy

Queen Ann's Lace

Happy Wednesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life blog. I had to accompany my hubby to the doctors today for a test.

Thankfully everything is okay. It was the dreaded C---------- test that you have to get when you are over 50 years old. They give you an anesthetic so you are not able to drive. But its done now and he won't have to have it again for 10 years.

So onto my card for today. This one I made for the color challenge #389 on Splitcoaststampers.

Betty was our hostess and she chose quite the trio of fun colors with bravo burgundy, regal rose and summer starfruit. I don't usually use or like the regal rose color so I minimized it on this card.

My silhouette image is Queen Ann's Lace (H186) from Great Impressions Stamps. I stamped it in bravo burgundy directly on summer starfruit designer paper. This is a great silhouette stamp and I love how it picks up the ink so nicely.

My card layout is this week's mojomonday sketch #255.  
The background layer is Stampin-Up designer paper in bravo burgundy. On the smaller burgundy rectangle I used the fancy fan embossing folder from Stampin-Up.

To complete the sketch I used a scallop edge punch in summer starfruit and layered some white satin ribbon over that. Punched a few butterflies in regal rose to complete the color trio.

My sentiment panel is a Spellbinders labels 16 die and the sentiment is from the wildflowers set by Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps.

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

Welcome Back

Happy Tuesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life blog. Well the back to school routine has started in our area. That would be teachers return first -traffic increases and then the student come back (lol).

I ran into a lot more traffic driving to my son's home this morning. It always picks up when school re-opens. Fortunately, its only a couple of more weeks driving over in the early morning. Then during the school year, I go after school to meet the bus.

My grandsons don't go back until after labor day (September 4) but some of the other schools start as early as this Thursday.

Well onto my card for today. This one is a back to school card for my daughter-in-law who is a teacher.
I made this card for the Ways To Use It challenge #388. Cathy was the hostess and she wants us to use a school tool somewhere on our creation.
For my card, I used an embossed schoolhouse image I found in my stash. It's from "embossable designs" and I bought it years ago from QVC. That was back when they sold crafts. They don't anymore.

I stamped the welcome sentiment on the tree. It's from the "warm words" set by Stampin-Up.

My card base is early espresso (dark brown) and I layered it with riding hood red cardstock and the striped designer paper is from Stampin-Up's story time" collection.

I added some twill ruler ribbon and used a Martha Stewart border punch to complete my card.

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

Some other challenges:
1.  Scrap-Creations challenge has a back to school theme.
2.  Loves Rubberstamps Rubberstamps challenge is "back to school.
3.  Outlawz Greeting challenge is also back to school.

Friend to Friend

Happy Sunday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. It was such a beautiful summer day here in Pittsburgh. Warm, sunny and no humidity was the order of the day.

I had a young woman stop over for a visit this afternoon. We sat in the backyard and just enjoyed the day. She is one of the ones that I mentored as a teenager and young adult. Now she is all grown up with a 5 year old.

She lives out of state but we had such a good time catching up on our lives. She used to love to come over and drink coffee with me. She always said that I made the best. Well it helped that I always had a flavored creamer to serve with the coffee.

When she left I checked out the Featured Stamper challenge on Splitcoaststampers. This week the honors went to a stamper that I wasn't familiar with her work -  Maureen aka mamamostamps.

She has such a beautiful yet simple style of stamping. I chose her birthday quilt card to recreate ala my style.

I  made a quilt card using the top note die but I  changed the patterned paper. I chose Stampin-Up's "springtime vintage" collection. How you make the quilt is to punch 12 squares of paper using a 1" square punch. I taped them down on cardstock and then ran it through my Big Shot machine. I used the Stampin-Up top note die to get the shape.

My card base is rose red and I used the basket weave embossing folder for some texture.

I used pear pizzazz ribbon and made a side bow on my card. Instead of a pennant greeting I used the decorative label punch and then oval punches for my sentiment.

Well that's my card for today. It's late and time to dim the lights in Charmed Life land for another day. So until next time........God bless.

Some other challenges:
1.  Six Sisters Blog has a strut your stuff Saturday link party.
2.  Stampin Sisters in Christ has a sentiment only challenge.
3.  Craftymess Challenge Blog has a "words" no image challenge.
4.  Daring Cardmakers has a film quotes challenge. I used a quote from "Hanna" - she says to Sophie "I'd like to have a friend".
5.  Dilly Beans has a bright colors challenge.

New Release - Pocket of Flowers

Happy Friday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. It is release week at Great Impressions Stamps. The designers have been showing new stamps all week on the Great Impressions blog.

My card for today is using the image  H229 "pocket of flowers" and the sentiment is A139 "pocket full of wishes". The stamps are available in the online store for purchase today.

I colored the image with prismacolor pencils and gamsol. It was really a breeze to color, by the way.

The sentiment was stamped and then I used a ticket corner punch for some interest on the corners.

I selected some patterned papers, titled panels, ribbon and punched butterflies to complete my card. My card layout is this week's sketch from My Favorite Things.

Don't forget to leave a  comment on the release post here and on the Great Impressions blog for chances to win your very own Great Impressions Stamps.

Card Recipe:
Stamps: H229 & A139
Paper: brilliant blue, melon mambo, jersey shore and razzleberry lemonade designer paper (stampin-up), Neenah classic white
Ink: brilliant blue (stampin-up)
Accessories: blue grosgrain (michael's), Martha Stewart butterfly punch, ticket corner punch (stampin-up), prismacolor pencils and gamsol

In The Meadow

Happy Wednesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. I cant believe how fast this summer is flying by. My grandsons start back to school in about 2 1/2 weeks.

They have had so many activities and games that they were involved in this summer. Which is the reason that I think it's gone so fast. Many of my days with them have been dropping this one off and picking another one up and then actually going to the baseball games.

My time with them is so precious . I love the individual relationship I have with each of them. It's one of those reflective  days, I suppose.

Anyway onto my card for today. This one I made for the color challenge #388 on Splitcoaststampers. Vicki was our hostess and she had a blue challenge. Tempting turquoise, pacific point, and night of navy were her color palette choices.

I decided to make a Christmas card with these colors. My snowman image is the Great Impressions stamp – G289.

Stamped the image and then paper pieced their scarves, hats and boots with all 3 of the challenge colors. I fussy cut the snowman to layer on the card.

My card base is night of navy and I embossed it with a Cuttlebug snowflake embossing folder. I added 2 white Stampin-Up felt flurry snowflakes to the base.

I used some PaperTrey Ink dies – “in the meadow collection” and cut the snow bank as well as the little downhill sledder (pacific point). The sentiment and night of navy snowflakes are from this same “in the meadow set”.

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

Some other challenges:
1. Celebrate The Occasion blog has a Christmas in August challenge.
2.  Deep Ocean Challenge has a deep blue challenge.
3.  My Time to Craft has a Christmas in August challenge.
4.  Christmas Card Challenge wants us to use texture on our cards.

Happy Birthday Balloons

Happy Monday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life blog. Hope you all had a great weekend.

Yesterday, I went to a bridal shower for a young woman in our church. The tradition here in Pittsburgh is playing games and if you win a nice gift is usually yours. I won a tea gift basket.

It was really a great gift. Two different types of teas- a Tazo tea- and some Bentley tea in a wood box-a tea kettle-some chocolate hazelnut pirouettes-oven mitt and potholder-and it was packed in a beautiful basket. I was excited for sure.

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for another one of the fan club challenges on Splitcoaststampers. Actually this one fit into 3 of the challenge categories.  Susan (aka rainy) hosted a sketch challenge, Julie (aka jmasse) hosted a color challenge and Judy (aka stampingqueenjar) hosted an inspiration challenge.

I used the Stampin-Up set - "party this way" to create a birthday card. The balloon images and sentiment are stamped in lucky limeade. I cut out 2 of them and popped one of them up on dimensionals.

For my background daffodil delight layer, I used the cuttlebeug birthday embossing folder for some texture. My 3 rectangle panels are lucky limeade designer paper.

The rectangle panel across the center is more lucky limeade designer paper. I used a Spellbinder scalloped rectangle die and cut it in wisteria wonder to frame my image and sentiment panels.

I punched out 3 wisteria wonder circles to complete my card. Well that's it for me today so until next time.........God bless.

Some other challenges:
1.  Make My Monday color wheel challenge - split complimentary colors.
2.  Crafty Catz has an anything goes challenge #145.
3.  Polka Doodles has a celebration challenge.
4.  Wags 'n Whiskers has a birthday challenge.

Lacy Doily

Happy Friday everyone and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life blog. I have been away for the past 3 days at a women's conference in Lancaster, PA. Left hubby home to hold down the fort.

The conference has really been a big boost spiritually. It will help me with my duties as a leader in my church. There have been some amazing speakers here. Women that are leaders in their own churches or are national ministry leaders. I return home tomorrow afternoon.

I am typing this blog post as I sit in the lobby of the Marriott in downtown Lancaster. Internet service is free this way versus paying $12.95 a day for a connection in your room (lol). The manager did give me a free connect pass though for the other days that I am here. Talk about being in the right place at the right time.

So onto my card for today. This one I made for my Friday blog post on the Great Impressions blog.

I used the lacy doily stamp #J101.  Love the soft feminine look it gives to a card.

I used an emboss resist technique on my card. I stamped with versamark ink and then sponged blushing bride ink all around the doily image.

My card base is blushing bride and I used blushing bride ribbon. Added a bow and a butterfly to center  of the doily. I chose not to add a sentiment because don't know where this card is going yet.

I thought it would be great for a girly birthday card, a wedding or even an anniversary.

Well, time to close this post and get back to my conference. Our break is over and the next speaker is coming on.

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

Lifetime of Happiness

Happy Wednesday everyone and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life blog. I am away for a few days at a women's conference in Lancaster, PA. So I love the scheduling feature of blogger. It allows you to plan for posts days in advance.

This card I made for the fan club challenge on Splitcoaststampers. Lydia was the hostess and she wanted us to do an all white card. That in itself was a big challenge for me. I have never made an all white card before.

But, I took on the challenge face to face and I was the victor. Oh yes.

For my card, I used several Cheery Lynn dies. The oval, the butterfly and a scallop border die- this one is just barely visible.

I stamped my sentiment using the Verve set - Wishing You. I added a white satin bow with a satin flower and pearl trim to complete my card.

I have an upcoming wedding so this one will work perfectly. That's it for me today. More about the conference in a later post. So until next time.......God bless.

Christmas Sleigh Ride

Happy Tuesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life blog. Two beautiful days of sunshine and low humidity here in Pittsburgh. Just lovin' our summertime weather this year - intense heat and all!!

On Monday, we sat in the sunshine and watch our middle grandson in a regional pony league tournament. It was a step to the Pony League world series being held this coming week-end in Washington, Pa. Teams from all over the world will be here participating.

They lost 10-8. He was disappointed as well as we were. We were so impressed that his team made it as far as they did. He along with his teammates are some good baseball players.  So proud of  you Aidin!!

Onto my card for today. This one I made for two of the fan club challenges on Splitcoaststampers. Barbara (aka Bar) & Mona Pendelton were the challenge hostesses.
More info here.

My neighbor sent me a card with this beautiful vintage scene on it last year so I cut out the image for future use. Well, today was the day for upcycling.

My card base is marina mist. The next layer is bashful blue-I used a corner rounder on this layer and added a vintage die cut corner.

I used some May Arts white mesh and marina mist grosgrain ribbon to layer. I also used the same ribbon for my bow with a snowflake button center.

That's my card. So until next time.....God Bless.

Some other challenges:
1.  Craft Your Passion has an anything goes challenge.
2.  Stamps & Fun = Creativity has a Christmas in August challenge.
3.  The Ribbon Girl has a bingo challenge. I chose -button- bow-flower. The flowers are part of my image and alos on my die cut corners.
4.  Craftyhazelnut's Christmas blog wants us to use our favorite colors. I love blue    and white cards for Christmas.

Friendship Grows

Happy Sunday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. I am so happy to be playing along with Great Impressions Challenge as a designer this month. I have participated in the previous challenges but as a submitter.

This month I will be part of the team  visiting your blogs to take a closer look at what you have submitted for the "animal challenge".
So if you're just visiting my blog -check out the challenge from Great Impressions. There is a prize to be won.

For my card , I used this super cute mice stamp- "friendship grows G184".  I colored the mice with prismacolor pencils and gamsol. I decided to paper piece their little outfits. I cut the image with a Spellbinders circle die and layer that onto a Burgundy scallop die. Added some punched butterflies -using a Martha Stewart punch.

The background designer paper is from Stampin-Up's - "Paisley Petals collection". I layered the paper over some bravo burgundy cardstock. The paper has shades of tangerine in it so I decided to use some other paper from the collection with this color.

My top smallest rectangle layer is a 1/2" piece of burgundy cardstock that I used a cuttlebug "just my type" embossing folder on for a little texture.

I am still participating in the fan club challenges on Splitcoaststampers so this card is for the challenge that Jessie Rone &Sweet Miss Daisy are hosting.

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

If Friends Were Flowers

More from me today.  Something I don't usually do but I wanted to show another of the cards I did for the fan club challenges.

Late afternoon we went to watch one of our grandsons play in his baseball tournament. He is in Pony league and they are on regional playoffs right now. If they win a couple of more games they will advance to the world series.

But, today the game was rained out after 2 innings. We left to drive home in a heavy downpour. After we arrived home safely, the local TV station announced there was flash flooding on one of the roads we take to get back home. We passed the intersection where the flooding occured not 20 minutes before we heard the report.

There was flooding on this same road and intersection 2 weeks ago. We haven't heard how bad it got today because the Olympics have been on all evening.

So for my card today. This one I made for the color challenge #386. Peggy was the hostess and she chose 3 great colors for us this week - primrose petals, summer starfruit, and baja breeze.

I used some of the new Stampin-Up designer paper - the "patio party" collection.
It has all 3 of the colors that Peggy chose. My baja breeze paper is from the ski slope collection.

I added some ribbon tabs and a punched flower with one of the new in-color dahlia buttons.

I also used the fancy fan embossing folder for my vertical strip. My tilted sentiment panel is using Verve's "great friend" set. I stamped it in baja breeze and added some leaves from the same set.

This is also for Angela's (aka jellybean74) & Teresa's (VA.sunshine)  fan club challenge.

You have to be a member at Splitcoaststampers and a member of the fan club to enter these particular challenges. Click here to get more info.

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

Some other challenges:
1.  Avadares Challenge blog has an anything goes for August.
2.  Simply Create also has an anything goes.

Reach For Your Dreams

Happy Friday everyone and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life blog. Today is a special day for me. I am joining the Great Impressions Stamps design team. And, today was the first day that I posted on that blog. See post here.

I used the Great Impressions Ladybug & Daisy image for my card. I colored with prismacolor pencils and gamsol, copic & spectrum noir markers.

She looked like she has a goal in mind and is reaching for the top. So I used the "reach for your dreams" sentiment.

I used some Stampin-Up designer paper in black & daffodil delight. The red background is the cuttlebug embossing folder "birds and swirls". I added a ladybug button from my stash to complete my card.

My layout is from another of the Fan club challenges on Splitcoaststampers.  Susan aka rainy was our hostess for this one.

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

Some other challenges:
1.  Crafty Ribbons Challenge wants us to use spots & dots.
2.  DYSU has a polka dots challenge.
3.  Paper Play blog has a layer it up challenge.

Brayered Birthday Scene

Happy Tuesday everyone and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. Today, I took my bff out for her birthday and treated her & I to a spa pedicure.

It was such a great time together and I loved all the pampering with my feet. They exfoliated, applied a mask, massaged, took card of the cuticle-used hot towels-several layers of cream-our chair was a massaging chair. It was so wonderful and my feet look great.
I just wish I had a special place to go with hubby and wear some heels and a fancy dress.
We have a wedding next month so I plan on going back for more of the same treatment.

I wanted to take her to some place special for lunch. After talking we decided to go to a Chick-Fil-A restaurant and support them for their stand on marriage. Their was a nationwide call by many Christian leaders to go there today. So we felt that would be a good end to our day together.

When we arrived at Chick-Fil-A the line was out the door. The drive-thru was to the street and there were so many people waiting inside for orders. It was heartwarming to see so many people that believe in the same definition of marriage.

There are so many pictures on FaceBook of this scene being repeated across the country. Love it!!

Well onto my card today. This one is another I made for the Fan Club challenges on Splitcoaststampers.  It's a paid subscription, but I think its worth the $24.95 price. Check it out here.

For my card I pulled out my brayer to make a background scene. I used bashful blue, turquoise and not quite navy inks for the sky.

I used a torn post-it-not and sponged in my mountains. In front of the mountains, I sponged old olive and some basic black.

My tree images are from Stampin-Up's Plant Hope set and the birthday sentiment is from Marks Finest Papers -North American Woods set.

I used a deer die from PaperTrey Ink and a tag die from Sizzix to complete my card.



My layout is from this weeks sweet sunday sketch challenge.

Well, it's another late night so time to close this post. Until next time.......God bless

Some other challenges:
1.  Crazy Amigo has a dies/punches challenge.
2.  Die Cuttin' Divas has an anything goes challenge.
3.  Party Time Tuesdays has an anything goes.
4.  Alphabet Challenge Blog has a for men only challenge.