Congratulations

Happy Tuesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. Well a few days ago I posted a photo of the robins nest and her 3 beautiful blue eggs. Today my hubby went out to check on them and they were gone.

Something got into the nest but we aren't sure what. We have crows-owls-squirrels and sometimes a cat roaming around. I felt so bad when I saw an empty nest.  It was almost like we had a part in it since I took photos and the Mama Robin even let me photo her sitting in the nest. It's all part of nature but I still don't like it.

We also have ducks that come to our backyard every year and build a nest somewhere around the creek that is at the end of our yard. My hubby gave them bread one day and now they come up looking for him every day. Here are some photos I took of them. Again, we were surprised they let us get so close. Hope we get to see the little duckies.



My hubby feeding ducks



Enjoying a little swim in the creek



time for a drink after eating





 Well now onto my card for today. This one I created for the color challenge #424 on Splitcoaststampers. Vicki is our hostess and she chose the palette of primrose petals, calypso coral and white. She also wants us to use lace on our cards.

I started my card this week by choosing my stamp set because I knew I was going to highlight one color and use the other as an accent. The set is Stampin Up’s “field flowers”.


I stamped in primrose petals and used pear pizzazz for the stems. I fussy cut one of the flowers and popped up for some dimension. After looking through my designer paper, I decided to use primrose petals as my main color. The designer paper is from Stampin-Up’s “more amore” collection.

My layout is this week’s Sweet Sunday sketch #183. My scalloped layer is in primrose petals and I used a Martha Stewart scalloped edge punch. I added some May Arts white lace and Stampin-Up primrose petals ribbon to complete my card.

I stamped the sentiment (stamp unknown) in calypso coral and added 5 circles punched in calypso coral to complete my card.

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

Our Daily Bread Designs Guest Designer

Happy Sunday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. We had a great weekend. Hope yours went well. I went shopping with my bff on Friday. I found a couple of deals in Chico's that I was happy about. I just love their clothes.

My friend was on the look-out for earrings and we went to Tiffany's in our local mall. She bought a pair of gold hoops. I was in sticker shock at the price. Somehow in this store you feel like you should be dressed to the hilt just to walk in there (lol)!!

Saturday we had a family get together at my nieces home. It was great to see the extended family. Julie has a karaoke program on her laptop that she runs off the flat screen tv. There is a wireless microphone so your voice bellows. I took a turn- well in fact several turns it was so much fun. I even persuaded my hubby to sing with me.

Now, onto my card for today. This is the last card I made for my guest design spot with Our Daily Bread Designs. My sentiment is from the Quote Collection 1 set. I just love this Abraham Lincoln quote from the set.

I used a layout from the MojoMonday sketch #289. It was a fun one to work with.

My designer papers are from the Stampin-Up collection "Parisian Breeze". My dies are all Spellbinders.

To complete my card I die cut a rectangle, a pennant flag and added a corduroy button.

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

I am also entering:
1.  Addicted To Stamps has a beautiful button challenge. Since my card is masculine, I think a corduroy button is great for a guy.
2.  Amusing Challenges has an anything goes.
3.  Challenges 4 Everybody has an anything goes.
4.  Robyn's Fetish has a stripes or dots challenge. I used both on my card.
5.  Outlawz Paper ala Mode has an anything goes challenge.

Warmth and Love

Happy Friday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. I mentioned the other day we have a robin that built a nest on the underside of our deck. I was able to take a photo of the nest. See here.

Mama Robin in nest

enjoying sunshine on deck steps

 

 

Today, I was outside and I noticed her sitting in the nest. I got my camera and a step stool to take a photo. She allowed me to get fairly close to take a photo. I also was able to get a photo of her on the steps of the deck as well. Robins come every year and build a nest in the same spot.

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for my weekly Friday post on The Great Impressions Stamps Blog.

I wanted to make a special card for my daughter-in-law here in Pittsburgh. I just watched a great video on how to use this Martha Stewart garden trellis punch. See video here. It is from Becca Feeken. I really liked her card so I used it as inspiration for mine as well.
This is a 6 x 6 square card. Don't usually make mine that big but the lattice layer ended up being a 5 1/2" square. I cut the lattice in lovely lilac card stock. My base color is early espresso and the layering color is pear pizzazz. I used GreenHouse Gala designer paper from Stampin-Up.

To finish up my card, I embossed the smaller pear pizzazz panel with the elegant lines folder from Stampin-Up. Added some pearls, lace and pear pizzazz seam binding.

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

I am also entering:
1.  DL.Art has a Mothers Day challenge.
2.  Paper Crafting Journey wants us to use a sentiment.
3.  Creative Belli has a spring challenge. Mother's Day is a springtime celebration and I used some retired designer paper.
4. Sisterhood of Crafters has an anything goes challenge.
5. Six Sisters Saturday Link Party- this is a great site.

6.     This is a fun new site I found. You can link up your fave post of the week. I had 2 posts about our Mama Robin.  


ODBD Guest Designer Week 4

Happy Wednesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. I had a freak accident on Monday. I was coming down from upstairs and my slipper caught the end of my step and I went sliding down. Now as a kid that was a fun thing to do but as an adult not so much.

My steps are hardwood and it seemed like ice when I started going. I wasn't able to stop myself until 6-7 steps later. It's almost comical now but as it was happening a thought flashed through my mind that I could get hurt.

When I stopped I realized I was okay but my lower back was a little sore and my shoulder blade.  My hubby was at work but I called him immediately so he could pray for me.

 I took an Advil a couple of times during the day. Well I am happy to report that I am okay and I had no stiffness or pain the next day. Just a bruise mark on my butt. Thank the Lord for his protection.
Lesson learned: Don't run down steps because your cell phone is ringing.

Now onto my card for today. This is my final week as a guest designer for Our Daily Bread Designs Stamps. I really enjoyed my month stint as a guest.

This card was made using the set "Let Us Begin". It has quotes from Mother Teresa. I picked up on the measure theme by using designer paper that has a ruler on it. It's from Stampin-Ups "storytime collection".

My layout is the sketch from MFT's Wednesday sketch club. Well that's it for me for this post so until next time...........God bless.

I am also entering:
1.  Pause, Dream, Enjoy has a friendship challenge.
2.  Challenges For Everybody has an anything goes.
3.  Hiding in my craft room has a banners challenge.
4.  Outlawz has an anything goes challenge.
5.  Simon Says Stamp has an anything goes challenge.

The Greatest Gift

Happy Tuesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. Spring is here I am so happy to say.
Our spring flowers are in bloom in our garden and the robin who builds a nest under our deck has returned. She built a nest and laid 3 beautiful blue eggs in it.
I took this photo of the nest from above and between the slats on our deck.


birds nest under my deck

The space between the wood slats is just 3/4" of an inch so I put my camera on the opening and snapped away. I was so surprised that it turned out so well. The mama bird was perched on a tree not to far away watching me.

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for this week’s color challenge #423 on Splitcoaststampers.  Becky is our hostess and she chose not quite navy, Baja breeze and river rock. Our option this week is to use plaid or stripes. I used both with my designer paper choices. 

I thought these colors would make a great masculine card so that was my starting point.
My sentiment from the new Waltzingmouse “man of the hour" set. I love all of the masculine sentiments in this set.
I stamped in not quite navy on river rock cardstock. I stamped and popped up the word “God” for added dimension. Cut with the Spellbinders labels 4 die. The button is a Stampin-Up sizzlits die.
                                    
My layout is an old MojoMonday sketch #250.

The background baja breeze designer paper is from the Stampin-Up collection “Parisian Breeze”.

The next panel is using not quite navy designer paper from the Stampin-Up collection nautical expedition”. I cut the pennant flags with the Verve “pennant trim” die.

My vertical panel is cut in not quite navy cardstock and I used the Stampin-Up square lattice embossing folder. I cut a flag with an MFT flag stax die in baja breeze.

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

I am also entering:
1.  Cards For Men has an anything goes challenge.
2.  Love To Scrap challenge blog wants us to use die cuts. I used several on this card.
3.  Mema's Crafts has an anything goes challenge. There is also blog candy-click here
4.  Outlawz has a greetings card challenge.
5.  613 Avenue Create has an anything goes challenge.
6.  Stamping Sensations has a special occasions challenge. Mine is Father's Day.

Take Time

Happy Friday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. Spring has finally come to the Pittsburgh area.

We have had a beautiful week of sunshine and warmers temps. Baseball season is in full swing now with my grandsons. In fact, we went to watch Aidin play yesterday. It was a double header but they lost both games.

I have flowers blooming in our gardens. And, I was able to cut some hyacinths and bring them indoors. The fragrance they give off is so lovely.

Looking at them in the vase reminded me of this Great Impressions Stamp -"jars of flowers" F262.

Friday is my day on the Great Impressions Stamps Blog to post as part of my design team duties. So I decided to create my card using this image. Love it when I get inspiration from what I see around me.

I stamped and then colored the image with Prismacolor pencils and gamsol. I cut the image with a Spellbinders oval die.

The background paper is from the fab Echo Park collection "sweet girl". We are now carrying it in the online store. If you like bright colors as I do, this collection is definitely for you.

My card sentiment is the Great Impressions Stamp - "little pleasures" C402.

 
 
 

I am also entering:

The layout is an older De-constructed Sketch #83. On the scalloped bottom layer I used Spellbinders classic triple scallop dies.  Cut this layer in melon mambo. I added some daffodil delight seam binding to complete my card.

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

1.  Paper Crafting Journey wants us to use a sentiment.

2.  Bloggers Challenge is "in bloom".

3.  Card Makin' Mama's has an all about ribbon challenge.

Mother's Day Blessings

Happy Wednesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. Well today we finalized our summer vacation plans. We are going to the Mexican Caribbean-the Riviera Maya. It is located on the North East coast of the Yucatan Peninsula.
I am looking forward to the family time. Hopefully my son and his family in California can get away and come with us.

Our spring flowers are in bloom right now. The tulips are a bit behind but they are on the way. We had some hail about 10 days ago and it destroyed some of them. Plus the deer are chomping. My hubby is trying to stay ahead of them. So hopefully he wins(lol)!!

Now onto my card for today. This is the 2nd one I made for my guest designer stint on Our Daily Bread Designs Blog. I made another Mother's Day card. This one is using 2 different ODBD stamps.

The image is the bleeding hearts stamp and the sentiment is from the Mother's Day set. I colored the image with Prismacolor pencils and gamsol.
I fussy cut the image and popped it on some river rock designer paper.

The layout is last week's Splitcoaststampers sketch #431.

My background paper is from an old Stampin-up collection "holiday harmony". I paired it up with purely pomegranate and river rock card stock. I used a Cheery Lynn Designs lace die for the middle panel to complete my card.

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

I am also entering:
1.  Creative Moments has a spring challenge. My bleeding hearts are a spring flower.
2.  Loves Rubber Stamps has a colors of spring challenge.
3.  Oldie But A Goodie has a make it girly challenge. Everything I used on this card is over 6 months old.

ODBD Guest Designer Week 3

Happy Wednesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. I have been watching off and on today the television coverage of the bombing attack in Boston.
This still makes no sense that someone could build a bomb to kill innocent people. How someone could justify an action like this is incomprehensible to me.

The stories of heroes are starting to come out as well. People acted quickly to help those in need. I read about the former NFL player who was watching the race and rushed to help victims.

I heard one TV commentator say today that we need to respect our God-given abilities, do good with them and help others in need. All I can say to that is AMEN!!

Onto my card for today. This is my 3rd weeks as a guest designer for Our Daily Bread Designs. I am still so thrilled that I was asked to be a guest designer.

This card was made using the set "birds and butterfly labels". It coordinates with the Spellbinders labels 18 dies. The sentiment is from the "Mother's Day" set.

I paired it up with Stampin-Up designer paper from the Sycamore Street collection. My layout is the April Week 3 Verve sketch.

I completed this card with some Stampin-Up pool party seam binding bow with a button center.

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

I am also entering:
1.  Addicted To Stamps and More has an anything goes challenge.
2.  Really Reasonable Ribbon has a Mother's Day and ribbon challenge.
3.  Fashionista Challenge is Mother's Day.
4.  Lexi's Creations has a lace or ribbons challenge.
5.  Stamping Sensations has a special occasions challenge.

Your Best Ever

Thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog on this Tuesday. We have just had a senseless tragedy in the Boston area. It is being called a terrorist attack that took place at the Boston Marathon. Two bombs went off at the ending site of the race.

My prayers go out to the people who were directly affected. The police are being praised for the effective job they did in handling the crowd. There is a scripture from Numbers 6: 24-26 that I am dedicating to the people of Boston.

The Lord bless you

and keep you;

 the Lord make his face shine on you

and be gracious to you;

 the Lord turn his face toward you

and give you peace.

My card for today is one that I did for the color challenge #422 on Splitcoaststampers.

I am the hostess this week and I chose the color trio of elegant eggplant, melon mambo and river rock.  I also wanted us to use text as the focal point of the card or as a sentiment to complement your image. 

For my card layout I used this week’s MFT Wednesday sketch #119.

The background panel is melon mambo designer paper from the Stampin-Up collection “sunshine and sprinkles”.




On the elegant eggplant rectangle layer I used a Stampin-Up border and edge punch.  There is a bit of a learning curve with these punches.
I had to watch a video online to get it figured out. The instructions that Stampin-Up sent with the corner punch don't work the way they said it should. A die would be much easier. Hmm -I think MFT makes one.

Layered river rock designer paper over that panel. Used a Spellbinders oval and stamped my sentiment . The sentiment is from MFT.

TO complete my card I used a chevron cut from elegant eggplant and added some melon mambo ribbon.

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

I am also entering:

 

1.  A Little Bit Crafty has an anything goes challenge.
2.  Card and Scrap wants us to use dies.
3.  Lady Anne has an anything goes challenge.
4.  Card Mania has a punches or die/cuts challenge. I used both on my card.
5.  My Craft Spot has an anything goes. 

Mothers - Patience-Kindness-Laughter-Love

Happy Friday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. I have returned from San Francisco and my visit with my sweet granddaughter Phoenix Daisy.

Her language skills have exploded and we can have a conversation now. I have to pay attention and ask her to repeat sometimes but it's such fun. She just found out my name-well besides Grandma that is. So sometimes she will call me Grandma Mary Marsh and just giggle. I love it!!

Well onto my card for today. Today is my day to post on the Great Impressions Blog as part of the design team. I decided to make another Mother's Day card. I like to send them to my family and friends so I need quite a few.

This one is using the Great Impressions Stamp "heap of love" G317 for my image. I colored it with Prismacolor pencils and gamsol. The "Mothers" sentiment is just a portion of the stamp "warmth and love" D388. I thought all the words on the image stamp described a Mother. Don't you think??

My layout is this weeks de-constructed sketch 97. I tweaked it just a tad to make it work with my image.  I moved the flag to the top corner and left off the flag embellishment.

My card is a 4 1/2" square. I used Stampin-Up's melon mambo and elegant eggplant cardstock as my card colors. The background designer paper is from Stampin-Up's "sunshine and sprinkles" collection.

The small striped piece is from Colorbok - "eggplant and sage" stripe collection. To complete my card I added some pearls to my scalloped edge.


Well that's it for me for today. So until next time.......God bless.  Here is a photo of my sweet granddaughter. She has this 2 wheel bike but it has no pedals. She pushes it with her feet. She had me breathless running after her. She moves it fast.


Phoenix Daisy on her bike.

I am also entering:

1.  Deconstructed Sketch #97.

2.  Dutch Dare Challenge has a photo inspiration. My jars and card colors fit right in this challenge.

3.  The Stamping Chef has a girly-girl challenge. Make a card for a girl-mine is for the big girls-Moms.

4.  Through The Craft Room Door has an anything goes challenge.

5.  2 Creative Chicks has a Mothers day challenge.

Our Daily Bread Designs Guest

Happy Wednesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. This is my 2nd week as the April guest designer for Our Daily Bread Designs.

For this card I used a sentiment from the Quotes Collection 1. I loved this one from Helen Keller. So I decided to use some bright and bold colors to go along with the quote.

I stamped the sentiment in chocolate chip and cut with the Spellbinders labels 18 die. Before I removed from the die I sponged with peach parfait ink. I layered over another die cut in peach parfait and added some pearls for a finishing touch.

My background paper is from a retired Stampin-Up collection. It features peach parfait and pear pizzazz. I embossed a panel with the Sizzix fancy fan embossing folder. To complete my card I added some peach parfait ribbon and a white lacy doily.

Well that's it for me for this post. I am traveling back from San Francisco today. So until next time..... God bless.

I am also entering:
1.  Crafts and Me has a lace and pearls challenge.
2.  Fab 'n' Funky has a spring colors challenge.
3.  Little Red Wagon has a lace challenge. I used a lacy doily.
4.  PaperCraft Star wants us to use a stamp.

Happy Birthday 2 You

Happy Tuesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. I am still out in San Francisco visiting with my precious granddaughter. I have scheduled a few posts for the days that I am gone. I will be back on Wednesday night. Looking forward to seeing my hubby since he stayed behind to take care of things in Pittsburgh.

My card for today is a masculine birthday card. I think you just never have enough of the guy cards around for when you need them.

I started with my layout on this one. It's from the SCS Wednesday sketch challenge #430.
My designer paper is from the Stampin'-Up collection "porcelain prints". 
I paired it up with wild wasabi, not quite navy and river rock card stock. I thought these colors, stripes and then the embossed panel gave it a more masculine feel. 

The sentiment is from MFT. It was a free set that I received in my latest order. I added 3 punched circles to this panel to complete my card.
Well that's it for me for today. Drop by again tomorrow because I will have my 2nd card for my guest design spot on the Our Daily Bread Designs Blog. 

I am also entering:

1. Artistic Inspirations has an anything goes. 
2. 2 Sisters has an anything goes challenge. 

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Sunday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. Today, on the Great Impressions Stamps Blog we have a brand new challenge for April. The theme is a fun one using dots on our creations. I love using designer paper with polka dots.

Hope you can play along with us. You may be our top pix or even win a $20 Gift certificate to the online store.

For my sample card, I decided to make a Mother's Day card. I wanted it to be bright and feminine so I chose melon mambo and lucky limeade card stocks.

My sentiment is the Great Impressions Stamp "Happy Mother's Day" - B190.  I love the elegant font on this stamp. It works so well with my paper and layout.

My patterned paper is from Stampin-Up's cheerful treat collection. I also used a Cuttlebug embossing folder and a Cheery Lynn Designs flourish die.

My layout comes from the de-constructed sketch #95.  This is a fun sketch to use several designer papers and my polka dot papers.

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

I am also entering:
1.  613 Avenue Create has anything goes with spring fever. I used lots of bright colors plus a Mother's Day theme.
2. Cupcake Inspirations has a photo inspiration. My card fit right in with all the polka dots.
3. Stamping Sensations has a special occasions challenge.
4. Crafty Catz has an anything goes challenge.

Get Well Wishes

Happy Friday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. I am away for a few days visiting my son-daughter-in-law and my precious 2yr old granddaughter, Phoenix Daisy. I left my hubby back in Pittsburgh to hold down the fort.

My trip out was I eventful. The plane trip even with a short layover went really quick. I read and just thought about seeing Phoenix. I arrived here when she just woke from her nap. She was excited to see me and we played until bed-time. She is a bundle of energy and will keep me going all day long.

Now onto my card for today. I used the Great Impressions Stamp -vintage big wheel-E683 and the sentiment is wishes your way - B177. I used my stamp-a-ma-jig to get the placement on 2 lines.

The designer paper is from Stampin-Up's world spectacular, polka dot parade and festival of  prints  collections. The seam binding is also Stampin-Up. My layout is an older MojoMonday sketch 236.

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

I am also entering:

Loves Rubber Stamps has an anything goes challenge.
PaperTake Weekly has an anything goes challenge.
Through The Craft Room Door is also anything goes.

ODBD Guest Designer Post

Happy Wednesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. It's quite a sunny and bright day here in Pittsburgh, although very cold. It always makes me feel good when the sun is out.
,
And, speaking of feeling good. For the month of April, I am a guest designer for Our Daily Bread Designs Stamps. Kelley will be featuring my cards for the next 4 Wednesdays. They had a contest a couple of months ago and I was one of three designers selected as a guest. I am so thrilled at this opportunity.

I love all their scripture based stamps and have been using their products almost from the beginning of the company. They are celebrating their 5 year anniversary now.

My card is using the set "little boys". This is such a versatile set and besides the image there are 6 sentiments. I used the 100% boy sentiment on my card. Perfect for a boys birthday especially with the designer paper I used.

I stamped the image in midnight muse ink and cut it out with a Spellbinders oval die. Added some background sponging. The paper is something I had in my stash and it's from ColorBok. I also added some blue fiber that I had in my stash as well. Bought it from QVC years ago.

My card layout is from the Sweet Sunday Sketch blog #179. 

Well that's it for me for today. Time to get my tax stuff in order since I have an appointment tomorrow to get it filed.

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

I'm also entering:
1. Loves Rubber Stamps has an anything goes challenge.
2. PaperTake Weekly also is anything goes.
3. Through The Craft Room Door is also anything goes.
4. Top Tip Tuesday has a girls/boys come out to play challenge.

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Tuesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. Hope your Easter celebration was a good one. We started ours with church in the morning. Our service was wonderful and our Pastor had a great message.

I had to leave quickly when service was over to get home to tend to my dinner. we had 10 people coming for dinner.
I did get up earlier to do some preps before church and also to get the ham ready for baking. I set the oven for delay start because my hubby bought a 20 lb ham and it was going to take 5 hours to heat it. So it needed to start by 11:00 am.

I made a cherry glaze for the ham which was a bit hit with my dinner guests. And we had extra to serve with the ham. Found the recipe in my Food Network Magazine.
I also had a hash brown potato casserole, mashed potatoes, roasted asparagus with orange zest, carrots with a butter and brown sugar sauce, roasted butternut squash salad with a sherry vinaigrette dressing and a fruit salad with a cream cheese dip.

My dessert was simple with sugar cookies and 2 different gelatos-Belgium milk chocolate and Tahitian vanilla bean.

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for the color challenge #420 on Splitcoaststampers. Peggy is our hostess and she chose quite a lovely trio of colors with red, so saffron and pool party. 

                                                                                                                                                                    The layout I used is last week’s sc429 from Splitcoaststampers. 

My background paper is from Graphic 45 “Eden Symphony”. I paired it with Bazzill maraschino card stock. The 2 panels on top of the designer paper are also maraschino card stocks and I used the Stampin-Up "fancy fan" embossing folder.

My flowers are from the Stampin-Up set “bloomin’ marvelous”. I stamped them in pool party, so saffron and fired brick inks and fussy cut them.

They are layered over a Spellbinders labels 18 die cut in so saffron. I stamped my sentiment in fired brick ink and added a butterfly to complete my card. The butterfly is a die from Cheery Lynn Designs.

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

I am also entering:
1. Fashionista Challenge is having a Mothers Day challenge.
2. Lexi's Creations wants us to use punches or dies.
3. Stamp and Create wants us to use at least 1 die cut.
4. Outlawz has a greetings card challenge.
5. The Paper Nest Dolls has an anything goes challenge.