Ronald McDonald House Blog Hop

Welcome to the Ronald McDonald House Charity Hop sponsored by Great Impressions Stamps! All the cards that you see on the blogs for this hop will be sent to the Ronald McDonald House Charities. These families will share the cards with the people that matter most in their lives during a difficult time.

We don't want you to miss a thing! Remember, stamping prizes are secretly hiding in several of the blogs, so be sure to leave everyone a little comment love!


You will have until Sunday, September 30 to leave your comments. The blog hop will end at 11:59 pm. Winners will be announced on the Great Impressions Stamps blog on Tuesday, October 2nd. When you finish the hop let us know by commenting on the Great impressions Blog.

You should have arrived here from Patti's blog.  If not, you will want to start at the Great Impressions Stamps Blog or check where you are on the list below.

For my card today, I used several Great impressions Stamps. The sweet tabby cat image -C351. I colored him with prismacolor pencils and gamsol. I framed him with Spellbinder oval dies.

The flag where I placed my sentiment is using is using the paw background - H157. The "hugs" sentiment is from the all about men -G266 stamp. I just inked up the one word from this stamp to use on my card.

My card layout is from this week's Sweet Stop Sketch  #177. My flag pennants were cut with MFT Flag Stax dies.

Your next stop on the hop is Teresa's blog. She will have a fabulous card to share with you.

Here is the blog list in case you get lost on the way:

1. Great Impressions Stamps Blog   2.Dawn   3. Angi

4. Patti   5. Mary (you are here)     6.Teresa      7. Mia     8. Jenny

9. Mynnette   10. Shanna   11. Ellen   12. Katy

13. Erin   14. Barbara   15. Peggy   16. Sue

17. Elizabeth   18. Tamra   19. Sue C.

20. Caroline   21. Great Impressions Stamps Blog

Making A Bookmark

Happy Wednesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. I have returned home from San Francisco and already am missing my sweet little granddaughter.

But, today I was able to spend some time with my 3 grandsons that live here in Pittsburgh. It was great to see them, and they were happy to see me and find out about my trip to see their cousin.

For my project today, I am showing a bookmark that I made for the virtual stamping night on Splitcoaststampers. The theme was back to school and there were challenges on Friday from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm.
Then on Saturday the action started at 1:00 and lasted until 10:00 pm.
Alicia was our hostess for the 9:00 pm Friday challenge, and she wanted us to make a bookmark.

I made a fold-over bookmark, I used the idea from the Technique challenge #392. Joan Ervin had a great tutorial right in her post for the challenge.

My base is Stampin-Up's taken with teal card stock. I added some Stampin-Up "sweet pea" designer paper and used a Martha Stewart zig zag punch for the edge. Also added some basic gray card stock and used the same edge punch on it.

I took some white rick rack and used an old olive marker to color it.

My robot image and sentiment are rub-ons also from Stampin Up - the retired "so cool" collection. I cut a piece of card stock in old olive and placed it underneath my robot's feet.

Punched a hole on top and added some taken with teal, basic gray and old olive ribbon.

I really liked how this turned out. I will give it to a little boy who likes to read.



Phoenix learns to blow bubbles 

Well that's it for me today. So until next time........God bless.  Here is another picture of my precious Phoenix Daisy and my daughter-in-law Ghilly.

Some other challenges:
1.  Simon Says Stamp has an anything goes challenge.
2.  Creative Craft Challenge also has an anything goes.
3.  Deep Ocean Challenge wants us to use more than 2 colors. I used 3- teal, white and olive.
4.  Oldie But Goodie Challenge wants us to use something at least 6 months old and show our ribbons. My rub-ons are 2 yrs old.
5.  Robyn's Fetish Challenge blog wants us to make a bookmark.

SCS Virtual Stamp Night Projects

Happy Sunday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life blog. I am having a wonderful time in San Francisco with my sweet and precious granddaughter, Phoenix Daisy.

We have been going to the park and playing outside with her baby and stroller and playing inside with everything.  Tomorrow is our day to go to the library for a toddler story time. She love s this.

Let me tell you that a 21 month old has unlimited energy. She will play and play and play and doesn't realize that she is wearing Grandma out (lol)!! But, I wouldn't change anything about this time for the world.

I may get tired but she is only a toddler for awhile and then poof it's gone. I have included a picture of her playing with bubbles. She was amazed that she could blow them and then trying to catch them was so much fun for her.

Anyway onto my card for today. This one I made for the Virtual Stamp Night challenge on Splitcoaststampers, Sept 21-22. The theme was back to school. It started on Friday night at 5:00 pm through 10:00 pm. Then picked back up on Saturday at 1:00 pm until 10:00 pm Saturday night.

There were challenges every hour. I was the hostess for the 9:00 hour on Saturday night. You only have 45 minutes to complete the challenge so a more simple card is what you need.

This card I am showing I did for 2 of the challenges. The first challenge on Friday evening was hosted by Leslie. She wanted us to use notebook paper on our card.

The last challenge on Friday evening was hosted by Lori. She wanted us to use some supply that you would find in a classroom.

I had this notebook paper in my stash that already had a pencil on it. It was some old scrap booking stuff. I layered the image on Stampin-Up marina mist card stock and stamped my “just a note” sentiment on it in marina mist ink.

Added some white ribbon and a spiral paper clip to the corner and that completed this card.

Well it's late and time to close this post. So I leave you with this precious picture of my sweet granddaughter.

Some other challenges:
1.  Scrappy Frogs has a back to school challenge.
2.  Memas Crafts -you can choose the theme you want. I chose the school daze.
 

CAS-ual Friday

Happy Friday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life blog. I am doing the happy dance. Why you ask? Well, I am out in San Francisco visiting my sweet little granddaughter Phoenix Daisy. She is a bundle of energy and love at 21 months old.

I get to take care of her while my son and daughter-in-law are at work. I just love it. This will be a short visit -only 5 days so I am making the most of my time with her. And I just found out today that they are coming to Pittsburgh for Christmas. I am super excited to have all my chicks with me for the  Christmas holidays.

I left my hubby home to take care of everything. He wanted to come but his work schedule didn't permit it this time.

So onto my card for today. I don't often do clean and simple cards. They are harder for me for some reason. I guess I just like lots of layers and designer paper.

But, today Great Impressions Stamps is sponsoring the CAS-ual Fridays challenge. Fall fun is the theme this week. So our design team from Great Impressions decided to join in on the challenge.  Click here to see all the design team creations.

For my card, I used the Great Impressions Stamp - second spring E550. I used a Spellbinders maple leaf die and cut it out in pumpkin pie cardstock.  I sponged some cajun craze ink on the cardstock and also stamped the sentiment in this color.

To complete my card, I used some pumpkin pie taffeta ribbon and added a sunflower button to the center.

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

Some other challenges:
1.  4 Crafty Chicks has a leaves challenge.
2.  Paper Crafting Journey has a sentiments challenge.
3.  Oldie But Goodie challenge is ribbon. Also use something at least 6 months old. My Spellbinders leaf die is 2 yrs old.
4.  Paperminutes blog has an autumn challenge.

Great impressions Stamps New Release

Happy Friday everyone and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. It's a bit of a busy day today so the post will be short. We have a wedding to attend tonight. So I scheduled a little primping for myself. I am getting a manicure and a pedicure as well as having my hair done in a fancy do.

My card for today is showcasing a new release from Great Impressions Stamps. This one is called Oops Kitty - E766. I just love his sweet eyes. I colored him with prismacolor pencils and gamsol in shades of gray.


For my card I decided to go with Stampin-Up's basic gray and melon mambo for my color scheme. On the background panel I used the spots and dots embossing folder from Cuttlebug.


On the rectangle panel I stamped paw prints in basic gray ink-using another new stamp from Great Impressions - big & small paw prints H213.

I computer generated my get well sentiment. Added a few punched hearts because the kitty looks he is sending lots of love with those eyes.

My layout is from the Wednesday sketch challenge #402 on Splitcoaststampers. Taylor was the hostess and she provided a great layout to work with this week.


That's my card!! Time to close this post so until we meet again.........God bless.

Some other challenges:
1.  Papercrafting Journey has a sentiments challenge.
2.  City Crafter Challenge wants us to use polka dots.
3.  The Crazy Challenge has a seeing spots challenge.

Harvest Blessings

Happy Tuesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life blog.

Today is the anniversary of the tragic terrorist attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Vice-President Joe Biden visited the Flight 93 memorial in Shanksville, PA and gave a heartfelt speech. It's a day that is etched in the memories of Americans.

We have jumped headfirst into fall type weather here in Pittsburgh. I had to use the comforter to keep warm the last two nights.

Well I guess I could have closed the windows but the cool air coming in was so welcome. I haven't had the air conditioner on for 3 days now. It warms up in the afternoon but no humidity.

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for the color challenge #392 on Splitcoaststampers. Vicki was our hostess and she chose the color trio of cajun craze, pumpkin pie and midnight muse.

I had a lot of trouble getting the blue to work with a fall card. But after a couple hours of getting nowhere I decided to minimize the blue and accent the other 2 colors.

I  used the leaf stamps from the Stampin-Up set “fantastic foliage” to create my background. Stamped on very vanilla cardstock in cajun craze and pumpkin pie ink.

I layered this panel onto pumpkin pie cardstock. Across the center of this panel I added more pumpkin and cajun cardstock and some vanilla crocheted lace from May Arts.

I die cut a maple leaf in pumpkin and sponged cajun craze ink. I stamped my sentiment in espresso ink.

Added a taffeta bow in pumpkin pie with a midnight muse dahlia button. I die cut 3 flags in midnight muse and added to the center panel to complete my card.

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

Some other challenges:
1.  Crazy Amigo challenge wants us to use flags.
2.  Paperminutes blog has a no designer paper challenge.
3.  Lexi's Creations has a colors of autumn challenge.
4.  Lollipop Crafts has a fall frolic challenge.
5.  Love to Create challenge blog wants us to use ribbon or twine.
6.  Tammy's Scrapin' Corner has a fall inspiration challenge.

Happy Baby Boy

Happy Sunday everyone and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life blog. We had a great week-end of activities. Saturday was our annual block picnic. It was a nice day of catching up on people's lives.

Everyone brings a dish to share and we cook hamburgers and hot dogs. My next door neighbor is the host house. We ended up our evening with a fire in the fire pit. We laughed because 2 days earlier it was so hot and humid we couldn't have even consider it. But Saturday was rain early in the day and then much cooler temps.

Sunday afternoon we went to Ethan's (middle grandson) football game. It was a somewhat cooler day but sunny -just perfect football weather. They won so that's always good.

Tonite we went to see the Jersey Boys at the Benedum Center in downtown Pittsburgh. My brother-in-law gave us tickets and we had great seats. About 10 rows back from the stage, and we really enjoyed the music. I will be singing the songs for a few days.

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for a couple from church that are our worship leaders. They just had a baby boy.

The Friday challenge on Splitcoaststampers was to make a baby card. But we were not to use the typical baby images.

There is also the Queen For A Day challenge as well. This week the honors went to Peggy McCurry. She is on the design team with me at Splitcoaststampers and I wanted to make a card to honor her.

I chose this card of Peggy's to recreate ala Mary Marsh style.

For my pinwheel, I used Stampin-Up's pacific point designer paper. It was cut with a die from Lil Inkers Design. My background layer is also Stampin-Up designer paper from the "attic boutique collection" in daffodil delight. I added some corduroy buttons in the center.

I used a Martha Stewart zig zag punch for my border and also used white rick rack. Stamped my sentiment also from Lil' Inkers pinwheel sentiments set.  That's my card for today.

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

Some other challenges:
1.  Come and get it challenges has a tic-tac-toe. I used die-cut-buttons-ribbon (rick-rack).
2.  Pile It On has a patterned paper challenge.
3.  Stampin Sisters In Christ has a bright colors only challenge.

Friendship Grows

Happy Friday and thanks for taking the time  to visit  the Charmed Life blog. This week flew by so quickly-don't you think? Holiday weeks are always like that for me.

We are still having hot, humid weather and my air conditioner is running 24-7. But we are in for a drastic change come Saturday - rain and cooler temps. We are having our annual block picnic this Saturday so I hope its not a rain-out.

Well onto my card for today. This one I have also posted on the Great Impressions blog as well. As part of the design team, Fridays are my day to publish on that blog.

I am happy with how this card turned out. I first chose my designer paper from the Stampin-Up "everyday enchantment" collection. I paired it with poppy parade and soft suede cardstock.

My image is from Great Impressions Stamps - Queen Ann's Lace(#H186). I stamped it in soft suede ink.I think this stamps is so pretty and I love all you can do with it.  I layered this panel in poppy parade and then sponged some poppy parade ink. Added some pearls and butterflies.

My sentiment is from the stamp "friendship grows" G184. I just inked up the sentiment from this stamp.

On the first rectangle layer, I used the Sizzix embossing folder "kassie's brocade" and soft suede cardstock. I wanted to use more designer paper but it just seemed to busy.

The layout for my card came from this week's sketch #401 on Splitcoaststampers. 

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

A few other challenges:
1.  Divas by Design has a friendship challenge.
2.  Simon Says Stamp has a put a stamp on it challenge.
3.  Word Art Wednesday wants us to use scripture or an encouraging sentiment.
4.  Southern Girls has a "it's all about the flora" challenge.

Language of Friendship

Happy Tuesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. Hope you all had a nice, relaxing week-end. Ours was just that.

Today is my day to spend with my grandsons. Two of them went back to school today and Austin (oldest) goes tomorrow. I traveled over to their house early and then Austin & I enjoyed a lunch together.

He is napping now, I guess the lunch wore him out (lol),  and I am waiting for the other 2 to come home on the bus. It always fun to listen to their first day stories.

My card for today is one that I created for the color challenge #391 on Splitcoaststampers. Julia is our hostess and she chose 2 neutral colors and one of the newest in-colors. She also wanted us to make our own patterned paper.

I had some difficulty at first getting my card together. But, once I figured out my stamp sets and the layering of colors it was a breeze putting the card together.

I made by background with the Stampin-Up - “parlor prints” stamp in gumball green.

My image is actually 2 Stampin-Up sets. The leaf flourish is from Stampin-Up’s -”wings of friendship” set stamped in gumball green.

The bird and sentiment are from the “language of friendship” set. I stamped the bird on chocolate chip designer paper and then used the Stampin-Up bird punch to punch it out.

The sentiment is stamped in basic gray ink. Used a Stampin-Up edge punch on this layer and some brown rick rack.

I punched a daisy in basic gray designer paper and added a green brad center. That completed my card. The layout is an old MojoMonday #159 sketch.

Well that's it for me today. Time for the boys to come home from school. So until next time......God bless.

Some other challenges:
1.  Tuesday Alchemy has an anything goes challenge.
2.  Stamp and Create has an anything goes challenge.
3.  The Pink Elephant has a patterned paper challenge. I used dp for my bird and flower.
4.  There's Magic in the Air has a "things with wings" challenge.

Great Impressions Stamps September Challenge

Happy Sunday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. We are enjoying a holiday week-end here in the USA. We are going to watch my youngest grandson play football this afternoon. But other than that no special plans.

Today also kicks off a new monthly challenge on the Great Impressions Blog. This month our theme is "sentiments". If you use a Great Impressions stamp you get a coupon worth 25% off an entire order at Great Impressions store.
The design team will be visiting blogs and hand picking three (3) top pix. So show us your best work and play along. Visit the blog here for linking your card and more info.

I really like taking a sentiment and building a card around that with designer paper, die cuts and ribbon.

My card for today is using the Great Impressions Stamp - "nicest perks F189". I just love the font on this sentiment. I stamped it in melon mambo ink then used the labels 4 Spellbinders die to cut it out. I lightly sponged pink pirouette ink before removing it from the die.

The designer paper is from Stampin-Up's "cheerful treat collection". I love the polka dots in this paper. The designer paper colors work with pink pirouette, melon mambo and lucky limeade. So that's what I went with for my card.

My center band is a jumbo scallop cut from a die from MFT. I added pink felt rick rack over that.

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

Some other challenges:
1.  Joanna Sheen challenge blog wants to see dots.
2.  Pan Pastel UK Challenge blog  is all about stripes.

Triple Stamping

Happy Saturday everyone and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life blog. Hope whatever plans you have for the weekend are fun and relaxing for you.

As for me, today is my quarterly stamp club meeting. There are 4 of us that get together and bring a sample card and the supplies to make it. It's always fun and I end up with 3 cards to bring home.

This is the card I am taking to my club meeting. I thought the girls might like to try a little triple stamping. I really like this technique. this meeting is all about Christmas.

Here is a video if you would like to try this technique.

I decided to make a navy blue and white card and add red as an accent color.  My larger snowflake image is from Stampin-Up's "winter post" set and the smaller one is from Stampin-Up's "season of friendship" set.


I stamped the snowflakes in night of navy ink. The smaller ones I stamped off first to make them a bit lighter.

My sentiment is from the StampinUp "season of joy" set. Stamped in real red and then punched with  oval punches. To finish my card I used some twine and added a pearl snowflake button.

Well that's it for me today. Have to get ready for my stamp club meeting. So until next time.......God bless.

Some other challenges:
1.  Creative Card Crew has a Christmas challenge.
2.  Tammy's Scrappin' Corner has a lots of layers challenge.