Mixed Media

Happy Sunday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. We started our day at church. Amazing worship today. Our worship team was definitely on top of their game. I just love starting my week this way.

This afternoon we went to Ethan's (youngest grandson) baseball game. They are playing on our side of town this weekend. He won the first game and the 2nd game was rained out.
He wanted to come to spend the night with us.  So he is here and with my hubby at our high school field. Hitting balls and just enjoying time with each other. Ethan loves it and so does his Pap.

He plays tomorrow at 5:00 and then 8:00. We will take him to the game and then maybe he will just sleep over here again. Not sure yet.

We are going to enjoy pizza and salad for dinner. Tonight we will probably just lounge around and do whatever we want. Ethan doesn't need to be entertained. He just loves coming to our house without his brothers for the one-on-one time. 

Onto my card for today. This mixed -media card I made for the new mix-ability challenge on Splitcoaststampers. My first time joining in with the challenge and I am so glad I did.

The technique involves using a plastic credit card as a paint scraping tool which allows you to scrape various colors of acrylic paint across your card stock to create unique color blends and textures. It is like being an artist without having to try too hard!

Used acrylic distressed paints in picked raspberry, peeled paint and wild honey on watercolor paper. I took and old credit card and swirled it around with the edge of the card.

I then used the Stampin-Up "weathered" background stamp and inked it with picked raspberry. I stamped on the left side of the paper. I used some Dylusions spray ink on the same stamp and stamped in the bottom right corner.

I used a Dylusions stencil and sponged in some flowers with picked raspberry.

My image and sentiment are from Great Impressions Stamps - "vintage big wheel E683" and "all about the journey -D406". These both are stamped in chocolate chip ink. I added some rhinestones to the wheel centers to complete my card.


I am thinking of making an art journal to hold all of my mixed media creations. I can see that this is something I might want to get into a bit more.

Well that's it for me for today. So until next time.......God Bless.
 Here is a picture of my hubby and Ethan enjoying the pool today.

pool time

Some other challenges:
1.  613 Avenue Create has an anything goes.
2.  Challenges 4 Everybody has an anything goes.
3.  Hiding In My Craft Room has a freestyle challenge.
4.  Stampin For The Weekend has an anything goes challenge.
5.  Sister Act Challenge has an anything goes challenge.

Ten Little Fingers

Happy Friday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. Another weekend is upon us. We have baseball plans this time around. Tonight we go to PNC Park and watch the Pirates play. They are the #1 team in baseball right now. So it should be a fun evening and it's our church outing. So we will be with friends. I think there are about 50 of us going. I hope the rain stays away.

Then tomorrow Ethan (youngest grandson) is in some baseball tournaments on our side of town. And the fields are 5 minutes from our house. So it saves us the 45 minute drive across the city. We may even have my son, daughter-in-law and grandsons here between games.

Ethan came over to spend the night with us. Right now he is with my hubby at our high school field. Batting practice and a little morning workout, then we have to take him home. He wants to stay all day but we couldn't get him a ticket for tonight's game. On the way over here last night, he said how much he loves coming to Grandma's house. And one of the favorite things is we stop at the grocery store and pick up some of his favorite snacks. Building memories for him that will last a lifetime.

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for my Friday post on the Great Impressions Stamps Blog. This is my last one as a design team member for them. My 10 month term is over now. I can't believe how fast that time passed.

I read some statistics recently that the summer months are the top months for births in the U.S. August, June and July is the ranking. With those odds, I am sure to be invited to a baby shower. So, I decided to make a baby card today.

I just love this sweet sentiment stamp - "ten little fingers G49" from Great Impressions Stamps. It could be used for either a boy or girl. My card is using bright colors so I think it could go either way as well. The sentiment is stamped in pacific point ink. Cut with a Spellbinders oval die.

The designer paper is from Stampin'-Up's "sunshine and sprinkles" collection. I paired it with daffodil delight and pacific point cardstock.

I had these cute baby fet in my stash. I used a glue dot and placed them on a Stampin-Up corduroy button. The loopy edge is a die from the Cat's Pajamas.

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

Some other challenges:
1.  A.R.T. challenge is anything goes.
2.  Crafts and Me has an anything goes challenge.
3.  Simon Says Stamp has an anything goes challenge.



Spellbinders Design Team Competition

Happy Wednesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. Well, I didn't make the Spellbinders Design Team this year. I found out yesterday evening. I was disappointed but there is always next year.

Stacey put a quote from Winston Churchill on the Spellbinders blog that I love -“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” Not that I was a failure by any means, I just didn't make the team. And, I am not devastated that I didn't make it. Making it to the final round was such an affirmation of my work. So thank you Spellbinders for the opportunity.

The email that cameto me was encouraging. Stating that I am talented - I am valued - I am a success. So life goes on and I will see where the next step takes me.

That being said here are the projects that I submitted for the competition. This first one was the card for Round 1.


Round 1


For Round 2 I had to make a mixed media piece as well as a video tutorial. This totally took me out of my comfort zone, but they liked it enough to move me to the final round. Here is a link to the YouTube video as well. Click here.





Round 2 Mixed Media




Round 2 Mixed Media




Round 2 Mixed Media




Round 2 Mixed Media




Round 2 Mixed Media


For the final round I was sent the Gold label 4 dies that I was instructed to use on my project. The project was to be a scrapbook layout. I decided to use my friend's daughters beach wedding as my inspiration for the layout. Also the title is a play on her new last name. It's pronounced "Shoes". Hence the title is a new and the beach shoes.

Final Round Entry





Final Round Entry



Final Round Entry-(I sponged and stamped this beach scene)



Well, that's it for me for today. Hope your day is a blessed one. So until next time.........inky hugs









Feel Better Soon

Happy Tuesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. We had a busy but fun weekend. Love all the activities that summer brings. Friday we went to Ethan's (youngest grandson) little league game. It was a playoff and they won in extra innings. So exciting for him and us.

 

On Sunday a frined of mine from church was married in a ceremony after our regular church service. She asked me to stand with her as a witness. I was so touched by this gesture. She said she wants her marriage to be as successful as mine.

 

The ceremony was simple but beautiful. They served cake and punch afterward to a family and friends.

 

Sunday afternoon we went to a graduation party. It was great talking to some friends that we hadn't seen in a while. The graduate is filled with so many hopes and dreams and a little fear of the unknown with her college.  

 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for the color challenge #432 on Splitcoaststampers. Peggy is our hostess and she chose some of the new Stampin-Up colors for her trio this week. Smoky slate, coastal cabana and crushed curry are the colors we were to use.

 

I don't have the new colors as yet so a couple of substitutions were in order for me. Crushed curry was a former in-color so I had cardstock and designer paper but no ink. For the smoky slate I used basic gray and for the coastal cabana I used pool party.

 

My layout is this week’s MojoMonday #299 sketch.

I chose to make a round card. I used the Spellbinders lacey circle die and cut my card base in crushed curry. The next layer I used a Spellbinders circle die and cut some crushed curry designer paper from the Stampin-Up “razzleberry lemonade” collection.

I added a strip of crushed curry ribbon over the designer paper. My pennant flag, circle and rectangle panels are all cut in basic gray.

The pennant is MFT’s flag stax die, the circle I dry embossed with the SU fancy fan embossing folder, the rectangle panel I stamped in pool party ink and used the pocket silhouettes stamp set.

My sentiment is from the Stampin-Up set "kind and caring thoughts".

I die cut a butterfly in pool party using a Cheery Lynn designs die. Added some gray rhinestones to complete my card.

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

 

Some other challenges:

1.  Creative Creations Challenges has a shaped card challenge.

2.  Pause, Dream, Enjoy has an anything goes challenge.

3.  Catered Crop has a die cuts/punches challenge.

4.  Gingerloft Challenge is a yellow ribbon.

5.  Crafty Calendar Challenge has a things with wings challenge.

 

Never Give Up

Happy Saturday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. It's official and on the calendar-summer has arrived. I am looking forward to the long, warm and sunny days ahead.

Also, This weekend we have a treat in the sky with a beautiful full moon. I guess it's called a "supermoon". It will be the biggest, brightest and fullest moon of 2013.

So if the weather is cooperating in your area, make sure you take a peek. I love it when we have a full moon. It really lights up my back yard and also our bedroom.

Anyway, onto my card for today. It's my day to post on The Great Impressions Stamps Blog. Just part of my design team duties. Which will be coming to and end on June 30th. It was 10 great months working with the team and the company.

The stamps I used on this card are "tricycle E795" and the sentiment is "never give up A145".  I think this is a great card to encourage someone who needs a lift. I created a little mini scene by adding some die cut clouds and grass. I also sponged in some background clouds. I colored the image with Stampin-Up markers.

My background designer paper is from the Stampin-Up collection "sycamore street". The card colors are summer starfruit, rich razzleberry and island indigo.

My card layout is from the sketch over on the Pals Paper Arts blog.

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

 

Also entering:

1.  Sister Act Challenge is anything goes.

2.  Stampin' For The Weekend has an anything goes.  

3.  Cute Card Thursday has a "in the summertime" challenge.

4.  Dutch Dare Card Challenge has a things that begin with the letter "b".  I have bike, blue and blades of grass.

5.  Southern Girls has a punch and die cut challenge. I used both.  

One Little Baby

Happy Wednesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. This is my last day in San Francisco with my sweet Phoenix Daisy.
Her parents returned last night from their r&r time in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. My daughter-in-law is a school teacher so her summer vacation is here now as well.

Phoenix & I had a great time together, but she was happy to see her parents. She won't leave her Mommy's side today. I get to travel back to my hubby tomorrow. He missed me as did my grandsons. In fact, Ethan our youngest grandson, called me on Sunday night and let me know that he really missed me. So sweet. It's wonderful being a Grandmother.

My card for today is one that I made for a baby shower that I recently attended.  I used the designer paper from Stampin-Up's "sunshine and sprinkles" collection.

The little whale and anchor are Martha Stewart punches. My stamp is from Stampin-Up's "curvy verses"set. The entire sentiment is "one little baby, many happy hearts". On the white background I used the Stampin-Up clouds embossing folder.

Well that's it for me for this post. Time to take Phoenix Daisy outside for some playtime. So until next time.......God bless.

Some other challenges:
1.  Cutie Pie Challenge Blog wants us to make one for the kids.
2.  613 Avenue Create has an anything goes.
3.  Corrosive Challenge has an animal antics challenge.

Happy Father's Day

Happy Sunday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog.  I am out in San Francisco with my sweet granddaughter Phoenix Daisy.

It's another short visit and again I have left my hubby behind to take care of business back in Pittsburgh. This is the card that I made him for Fathers Day.

He subscribes to my blog and of course I will tell him when we talk today, but I want to say it here as well. Happy Fathers Day honey-you are a true gift to our sons, daughters-in-law, grandsons and granddaughter.

The sentiment on this card is so perfect for my husband. It speaks volumes about who he is as a man. It is from the Waltzingmouse set "man of the hour". As soon as I saw this set I bought it immediately. I love all the sentiments that are included in it.

The layout on my card is an older MFT Wednesday sketch. The designer paper is Stampin-Up's "good morning sunshine" collection. Kiwi kiss, not quite navy and basic gray are my card colors. I used a couple of Spellbinders dies-labels 4 and lacey rectangles and the chevrons are cut from an MFT die. I finished my card by adding some kiwi kiss ribbon.

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

I am also entering: 
1.  2 Sisters has a just for Dad challenge.
2.  Gem of a Challenge has a Fathers Day or male challenge.
3.  Hiding In My Craft Room has a die cuts challenge.
4.  LadyBug Crafts has a "for the men in your life" challenge.
5.  Really Reasonable Ribbon has a dots and ribbon challenge.

All About Dad

Happy Friday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. We are celebrating Father's Day this coming Sunday. So I have created a fun cas card to give honor to all the Dad's out there.

I saw this idea from Barbara Anders -Paper Pursuits Blog. She used the MFT paper bow die to create a bow tie. I thought it would be so perfect to give to the right guy. And, I had the right person in mind.

Today is my day to post on the Great Impressions Stamps Blog and this is the card I have posted over there as well. I used 2 Great Impressions Stamps on my card. The sentiment is "all about men"  G266. I stamped in old olive ink. The word "Dad" is from the "circle framed alphabet"-K83 stamp. I stamped these letters and used a punch to punch them out.

My bow tie was made using the MFT die "beautiful bows". I die cut with some designer paper from Stampin-Up's "sweet pea" collection. And that completed my card. I don't often do cas cards, but I love how this one turned out.

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

Stippled Blossom Birthday Wishes

 

 

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

We went to a wedding reception on Saturday. My friend's daughter had a destination wedding in the Outer Banks last month. And they had their Pittsburgh reception this weekend. It was held outside and we had a beautiful day for it.

 

I took an appetizer to share. I bought some gourmet cherry tomatoes-they were yellow, red and orange ones. I scooped out the pulp and lined the shell with fresh basil from my garden. I added some fresh mozzarella pearls and drizzled with  balsamic dressing. Made fro such a nice presentation. They were delicious and, I had several compliments. The recipe is pinned on my Pinterest page.

 

Now onto my card for today. 

 

This is my card for this week’s color challenge #430.

Vicki is our hostess and she chose a great summer palette of colors with pear pizzazz, old olive and daffodil delight.

 

My card is using the stippled blossoms set from Stampin-Up. The sentiment is stamped in old olive ink. Background designer paper is from Stampin-Up’s “greenhouse gala” collection.

I used the Sizzix embossing folder “stylized flowers” on my pear pizzazz and white panels. On my white panel, I added borders cut from the Stampin-Up finishing touches edgelit.

The small yellow panel is Stampin-Up’s “attic boutique” collection designer paper. To complete the card I added some pear pizzazz ribbon.

                                                                                                                                                                   My layout is this week’s MojoMonday #297 sketch.

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

Some other challenges:
1.  Crafty Friends has a bingo challenge-my card works for flowers, ribbon, diecut.
2.  Country View Crafts Challenge wants us to use die-cuts.
3.  Heck of a Challenge has a bingo. I chose yellow, die cut and green.
4.  The Cupboard Trilogy has a birthday challenge.
5.  Paper Playtime has an anything goes challenge.

　

 

Wildflower Silhouettes

 

 

 Happy Friday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. We are having rain here in Pittsburgh. It's a perfect reason to stay inside and do some crafting.

 

Not that I need an excuse mind you (lol)!! I have been working on my Spellbinders Design Team Competition final round project submission.

I have to have it finished by next Wednesday because I am off to San Francisco on Thursday.  I finalized my idea yesterday and now it's just getting it designed and constructed.

 

Now onto my card for today. Friday is my day to post on the Great Impressions Stamps blog. I am showing this card over there and here.

 

 For my card I used the Great Impressions Stamps "wildflower silhouette H184". I stamped in soft suede directly on my designer paper. I love the look of doing that.

The card layout is this week's Splitcoaststampers sketch challenge #439.

 

My designer paper is from Stampin-Up's '"attic boutique" collection. My card colors are soft suede, daffodil delight and pool party.

To complete my card I used the Stampin-Up "fancy fan" embossing folder and added some rhinestones.

 

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

 

I am also entering:

1.  Charisma Cardz Challenges wants us to use tons of layers.

2.  Creative Moments has a lots of layers challenge.

3.  Left Of Center Creative Challenge wants us to use that theme + 2 or more dsp.

4.  Sister Act Card Challenge has an anything goes.

 



Great Impressions Stamps and Play Date Cafe Challenge

Happy Thursday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. Rain is in our forecast here in Pittsburgh for the next several days. Perfect for staying indoors and crafting.

Here is a fun idea to get your mojo in gear. Great Impressions Stamps is sponsoring this week's Play Date Café Challenge #185. There is a $25 shopping spree for Great Impressions Stamps to be won. Hope you can play along.

This is the inspiration photo for this week. Aren't' the colors just fabulous?

The Great Impressions DT thought it would be fun to play along in this challenge. For my card I used the Great Impressions Stamps -"sunshine, happiness, love G484".

I colored with Stampin-Up Markers and then cut it out with a Spellbinders circle die.   

My card colors are sahara sand, bermuda blue and rose red. I had the perfect designer paper for this challenge. It's from Stampin-Up's "thoroughly modern" collection.

I cut a couple of pennant flags from an MFT die and added some rose red seam binding to complete my card.

Make sure you drop by the Great Impressions Blog as well. There is a prize to be won there also.

Until next time.........God bless.

 

Some other challenges:

1.  Creative Moments has a lots of layers challenge.

2.  Creative Card Crew wants us to use punches/dies.

3.  Created With Love has an anything goes challenge.

4.  Country View Crafts wants us to use die cuts.

5.  Scrap It Girl has a dies challenge.

 

Life and Love

Happy Wednesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. Somewhat of a busy day yesterday for me. Ethan (youngest grandson) was off school sick, and I had to go over there in the morning. We spent a somewhat quiet day together.

 

I was able to go to Aidin's (middle grandson) baseball game since I was on that side of town. They lost but it was an exciting last inning. Aidin hit a double to the outfield that started off the inning. I thought they were going to win but that didn't happen.

 

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for the CC429 on Splitcoaststampers. Becky was our hostess and she chose a very soft color palette with soft sky, pink pirouette and sahara sand.

 

My card is using 2 stamps sets. The flowers are Stampin-Up’s “secret garden”. I stamped in pink pirouette and tumbled glass distress ink. I don’t have soft sky ink yet. My sentiment is from the Verve set “stronger love”.

My background designer paper is from a retired soft sky designer paper pack. This is the first time I used it. Glad I held onto it now that this color is back (lol)!! The rectangle panel is sahara sand designer paper from the Stampin-Up “thoroughly modern” collection.

To complete my card I die cut a flourish in pink pirouette and added some pearls. I also die cut a butterfly in soft sky. Both these dies are from Cheery Lynn designs.

 

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

 

Challenges:

1.  Crafting Musketeers wants us to use a stamped image.  

2.  Creative Card Crew wants us to use punches/dies.

3.  Loves Rubber Stamps has an anything goes challenge.

4.  ABC Challenge is "O" for open. It's an anything goes.

5.  Country View Crafts has a die cuts challenge.



Congrats Grad

Happy Sunday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. Hope you were able to do something fun this weekend. Ours was laid back.

We went to watch our youngest grandson, Ethan play little league ball on Friday night. He hit a home run and it was over the wall in the outfield. Exciting for us and him. He did the same on Thursday night when we went to watch him play.

Saturday was just a day of running errands and hubby working in the yard. We had a great dinner. I made fresh salmon burgers with feta cheese and spinach and sautéed some onions and mushrooms and topped it with a kumato tomato. They are delicious brown tomatoes I picked up at Trader Joe's. I plan on making a salad with fresh mozzarella, basil and drizzle them with balsamic vinegar. But that's today's side dish.

Anyway, onto my card for today. It's time for a new monthly challenge on the Great Impressions Stamps Blog and this time around its a "sparkle" challenge.

My card is using 2 Great Impressions Stamps. The background stamping was done with the "fireworks and stars stamp" -  G303 . I stamped in Memento tuxedo black ink and added some clear rhinestones for some sparkle.

My sentiment is the "graduate stamp" - C379. I stamped and then cut it out with a Spellbinders labels 3 die. I sponged the edges in black ink and added 3 rhinestones on this panel as well. I added a die cut graduation cap with a rhinestone center on this panel.

The pennant flag is dry embossed with a Sizzix herringbone folder. the layout is the current de-constructed sketch #103. 

that's my card for today. Hope you can find the time to play along in our challenge. You can win some Great Impressions Stamps.

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

 

I am also entering:

1. Totally PaperCrafts has an anything goes challenge.

2. Sister Act Challenge is anything goes.

3. Southern Girls have a tic tac toe. I chose ink, stars and stripes.