Warmest Birthday Wishes

 

 

 

Happy Saturday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. We had a great family time last night at my hubby's nephews home. There were 14 of us in attendance enjoying a great meal together. Lauren and Jared were such wonderful hosts. we sat outside on their newly constructed deck for the entire evening.

 

They grilled steak, chicken and shrimp kabobs and some delicious veggies. I brought a big tossed salad that was a hit as well. The lettuce (green leaf and red bibb) I bought at the farmer's market and was able to use my newest kitchen gadget- a salad spinner. I have always wanted one of these and finally bought one (lol).  

 

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for the Viva la Verve challenge on Splitcoaststampers. Last night when I came home, I found out I won the challenge and the prize is a $100 gift card to the Verve store. How awesome is that!! I love Verve products so spending this will be quite easy.  

 

We had to make 4 cards using the sketches provided. I have already posted 1 of my entries here.  Will show the other 2 in the coming days.

 

This was the sketch that was provided by Maureen.

I used some old Stampin-Up designer paper from the "porcelain prints" collection. The card colors are not quite navy and wild wasabi to coordinate with the designer paper.

 On the wasabi background panel I used the Sizzix embossing folder "fancy fan".
My oval panels are cut from the Spellbinders die "floral ovals". I stamped my sentiment directly on my designer paper. Sentiment is from the Stampin-Up  "field flowers" set.

I finished the card by die cutting flowers with a Memory Box die "chloe stem".

 

Well that's it for me today. Have some chores to do around the house and then get ready for a get together at a neighbor's home tonight.

 

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

 

I am also entering:

1.  Delicious Doodles has an anything floral challenge.

2.  Sister Act Card Challenge has an anything goes challenge.

3.  Aud Sentiments Challenge wants us to use any sentiment.

4.  Dutch Dare Card Challenge has a birthday wishes.



5.  Happy Campers Challenge is to use a stamp.

6.  Simon Says Stamp has an anything goes challenge.

6.  Seize the birthday has an anything goes birthday.

 

  

 

Masculine Birthday

 



Happy Tuesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. Summer is winding down and school is getting ready to start for my grandsons. They go back after labor day. They never complain too much about the start of school. So that's always good.

 

My daughter-in-law took them out this weekend for back to school shopping. They  like doing that -surprising because their boys. Maybe because they are getting stuff (lol)!!

 

Well anyway onto my card for today. This one I created for the color challenge #441 on Splitcoaststampers. Becky is our hostess and she chose some great masculine colors. She wants us to use navy, Cajun craze and soft sky.

 

My background designer paper is from Stampin-Up’s “natural composition” collection. Using this color as my neutral. I thought the musical score would be good for a masculine birthday card. The navy chevron designer paper  is from Stampin-Up’s “etcetera” collection.

I used the MFT chevron die and cut a strip in Cajun craze to line the navy panel. Cut a flag from the MFT “flag stax” die. Turned my designer paper over and stamped my MFT sentiments in night of navy.

Punched a few stars to complete my card. The layout is one I found on Pinterest and it was a design from Jen Del Muro. I made changes to make it my own.

 

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

 

I am also entering:

1.  Created With Love has an anything goes challenge.

2.  Robyn's Fetish Blog has a "rectangle cards only" challenge.

3.  A Gem Of A Challenge wants us to use anything with a "B". I used 2 different blues.

4.  Hiding in my craft room has a masculine challenge.

5.  Kitty Bee Designs has a birthday challenge.
 

 

Harvest Blessings

 

 

Happy Sunday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. We had a beautiful summer weekend here in Pittsburgh. Lots of sunshine and perfect temps-required no air-condition.

 

Friday night we celebrated my daughter-in-laws birthday. Saturday nothing special but we did have dinner on the deck. Something that we don't do often enough. Sunday was church and then my hubby went to help his sister with her yard work. So that left me with time to craft.

 

 

I decided to make some cards for the Viva la Verve August sketch challenge.

There are 4 sketches and they need to be completed by this Thursday. I managed to get 2 finished today. This is the week 1 sketch                                                  

                                                                                                                                           

 

My card is a 4 1/2" square and I decided to go with a Thanksgiving theme. I used some old Stampin-Up designer paper from the "autumn traditions" collection.

My sunflower is a die from Cheery Lynn Designs. The sentiment and leaf image is from the Verve set " bountiful harvest".  The flag is cut from the MFT flag stax die. I put it through the die twice to cut a flag on both ends.

 

Well 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

 

I am also entering:

1.  Pile It On wants us to use designer paper.

2.  2 Sisters Challenge Blog wants us to make a square card.

3.  Happy Campers wants us to use a stamp.

4.  Paper Crafting Journey has an anything goes challenge.

5.  Penny's Paper-Crafty challenge wants us to use dies or punches.  

 

 

Sympathy

Happy Thursday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. I made it to the Farmers Market yesterday and I did pick up more banana peppers.

The farmer was selling hot ones and a milder one. After last week, I decided to get the milder ones. I am going to stuff them again with a blend of sweet Italian sausage and ground beef.

The farm that brought the meat wasn't at the market this week so I will have to pick up it up at the grocery store. That's disappointing because the quality of his stuff is superior.

Well now onto my card for today. I needed a sympathy card for a friend who just lost her Mom.

I used the Splitcoaststampers sketch #sc449. Janette is our hostess and she gave us a great sketch to work into a card.

I used the Stampin-Up designer paper "paisley petals" collection for my background. My card colors are early espresso, river rock and baja breeze.

My center panel is cut in river rock cardstock and I used a Sizzix embossing folder. Added some baja breeze pleated ribbon over this layer.

My sentiment panel is cut from the Spellbinders die labels 28. I completed my card with 3 punched butterflies. The pennants are cut with the Verve pennant trim die.

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

I am also entering:

1.  A.R.T. card challenge has an anything goes.

2.  AUD Sentiments challenge has an anything but a birthday card with a sentiment.

3.  Little Red Wagon has a layers challenge.

4.  Paper Playtime wants us to use pearls.

 

Get Well Soon

Happy Monday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog.  We had a great weekend here in Pittsburgh. Nothing special just one of those laid back summer days that you do something and then nothing (lol)!!

I did some cooking and crafting - two of my favorite past times. Looking forward to this week's farmers market to see what else may spark my interest for a satisfying meal. Love the summer bounty and being able to purchase local grown items.

Now onto my card for today. I am the hostess for this weeks color challenge #440 on Splitcoaststampers. I chose 5 colors this week. I gave the option of working with just 3 of the colors or going for all 5.

This week I selected my card colors and my papers and then went after a layout. I used the MojoMonday #307 sketch. 

I used the Stampin-Up “quatrefancy specialty” designer series paper for my background layer. So I was able to work in all 5 of the colors that I selected this week. Love this bright and bold paper.

My triangle panels are cut in strawberry slush and cover my dessert option. The flag pennants are cut in island indigo from a Spellbinders die. My doily is from a Cheery Lynn Designs die and cut in island indigo. The center is cut from the Stampin-Up “Venetian Romance” collection.

I punched a circle and used the Stampin-Up square lattice embossing folder. I stamped an image from the mosaic madness set in strawberry slush and punched out with the matching punch.

My get-well sentiment is from Verve. I received it in a recent order as a thank you. Added a few pearls to complete my card.

I am also entering this card in the Moxie Fab World "trendy triangles" challenge. I just saw the challenge last night and didn't think I could get a card made. How perfect that my layout is using triangles. So this worked for 3 challenges. Love that!!

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

I am also entering:
1.  Cheery Lynn Designs has a doily challenge. I used the doily from the Polynesian Sails die.

 

Mosaic Thank you



 

Happy Sunday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. Kind of a laid back day for me. After church we had lunch and then I had some free time. Imagine that (lol)!!

 

I decided to try a card technique that I saw demonstrated at a rubber stamp show a few weeks ago. You use glossy paper, reinkers, alcohol and some felt. The colors I used would create sky, water and sand. I wanted to create a beach scene.

 

I sort of liked how it turned out, but I need to practice some more. I ran out of time before we went out this evening. I also need a little darker color for my sky and possibly a little lighter color for the water.

 

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for 2 challenges and they are both inspiration challenges. One is the Saturday inspiration challenge #402 on Splitcoaststampers.

Stef sent us to the  Winter Water Factory for our inspiration. Lots of inspiration and as soon as I saw this Tennessee Tote in navy, it reminded me of the new Stampin-Up mosaic punch and embossing folder.

And the other is the Moxie Fab World Tuesday Trigger, "I'm Craving Navy" inspiration. Love it that my card works for both inspiration challenges. I picked up on the navy theme for both challenges.

 

I used night of navy for my color scheme. The background embossing is done with the Stampin-Up "mosaic madness" embossing folder. I punched my shapes from Stampin-Up night of navy designer paper.

Punched a few flowers and added some pearls randomly. To complete my card, I die cut a pennant and used an old Stampin-Up rub-on for my sentiment that I found in my stash.

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

  

 

The Butterfly...........

 

Happy Saturday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. This was such a beautiful day here in Pittsburgh. Sunshine and warm temps and I was able to have the windows open instead of the air-conditioner. I spent the day making a couple of cards and then did some cooking.

 

I bought some banana peppers, sweet Italian sausage and ground beef at the Farmers Market and to make some stuffed banana peppers. They were delicious but really hot. I even soaked the peppers for a 1/2 hour to reduce the heat. My hubby could only eat one of them. I shared a couple of them with my neighbors who love spicy food. They thoroughly enjoyed them.

 

I browned the sausage and ground beef in a little olive oil with onions and garlic. Once it browned I added some fresh basil, oregano and salt and pepper. I stuffed the peppers and added some marinara sauce and topped with grated parmesan cheese.

 

First time I ever made these and they were a success but the heat of the peppers probably would keep me from making them again and also since Hubby liked the stuffing but not the pepper.

 

Well onto my card for today. This one I made for a new challenge blog - "Seize the Sketch".                                                                                                                                                     This challenge was their kick-off. Here is the sketch they provided.

 

 

Using angles on a card by stamping, or using ribbon or patterned paper is so popular right now in the paper crafting world. I have been wanting to try it so this sketch was the perfect opportunity.  

 

I used some Stampin-Up designer paper from the "tea for two" collection. The frame I used is a Darcie's U-cut from her "garden bird" collection. The butterfly is a die from Cheery Lynn Designs cut in pink and I added some small pearls.

 

Stamped the sentiment in island indigo ink and added some pink rhinestones to complete my card.

 

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

 

Some other challenges:

1.  One Stop Craft Challenge wants us to add stripes.

2.  Totally Gorjuss wants us to use die cuts or punches.

3.  Sister Act Card Challenge has an anything goes.

4.  Stampin For the Week-end has a butterfly challenge.

 

 

 

A Melon Daisy

Happy Wednesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. We have just returned from a fabulous 7 day trip to the Riviera Maya in Mexico. It was such a wonderful and relaxing time with my hubby and our son-daughter-in-law and 3 grandsons.

We stayed at the Now Jade Riviera Resort. It is such a beautiful tropical resort that spills into the Carribean Sea. The food and service was fabulous. We loved the 2 pools they had in the complex and the private white sand beach was wonderful. It was my first time in the Caribbean Sea and I loved the clear beautiful blue-green water.

We took an off site trip to a Xel-Ha. -  an all inclusive aquatic park. It is a natural aquarium water park with so many activities. My favorite was floating down the lazy river in a raft. The river receives a constant flow of fresh water and it's clear so you can see the fish in it.

Vacation has to come to an end sometime and now it's back to reality. But the memories remain and I have lots of photos. Now onto my card for today.

This one I made for the color challenge #439 on Splitcoaststampers. Kim was our hostess and she chose a great color palette with melon mambo, old olive and daffodil delight. She also wanted us to use flowers on our cards. 

My card started with my layout. This week I used the Mojo306 sketch. My background designer paper is from the Stampin-Up "green house gala" collection. I joined the 2 panels with some Stampin-Up pleated ribbon.

The circle is cut with a Spellbinders die and this designer paper is from Stampin-Up's "cheerful treat" collection.

I used the Spellbinders labels 18 die and cut in daffodil delight with the Cuttlebug embossing folder "kassie's brocade".

My daisy is the Stampin-Up  Bigz die "daisies #2". I also used a Cheery Lynn Designs die to cut my green leaves.
Punched a few butterflies with an Martha Stewart punch to complete my card. Well, that's it for me for today. So until next time.......God bless.

I am also entering:
1.  Craftin' Boutique Challenge is anything goes.
2.  Crafty Ribbons Challenge wants us to use 3 of something. I used 3 designer papers, 3 die cuts and 3 colors.
3.  Crafting By Designs has an anything goes challenge.
4.  Crafts and Me Challenge has an anything goes.

More Splitcoaststampers DTGD Challenges

Happy Friday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. Today I am showing another card that I made for the SCS DTGD challenges.

 

It is something special they run each year for the fan club members only. But, it's easy to join. Get info here.

 

This is my card for jellybean74's dtgd challenge.

I used Stampin-Up's "good morning sunshine" designer paper and paired it with summer sun, kiwi kiss and choc chip cardstock.

Used a Cuttlebug embossing folder on my choc chip panel. My sentiment is from the Verve set "stronger love". I stamped the sentiment directly on my designer paper and cut it out with a Spellbinders circle die.

Added a kiwi kiss bow with a summer sun corduroy button to complete my card. That's it for me for today so until next time........God bless.

Vintage Christmas



 

Happy Wednesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. Today I am showing a Christmas card that I made for the Splitcoaststampers monthly Christmas card Challenge and also for the DTGD challenge that Lydia hosted.

 

Stacy is the hostess of the Fan Club Christmas card challenge and she asked me to make a sample with her this month. That was exciting for me.

 

 The theme this month is: Hang it All! Anything that hangs such as wreaths, mistletoe, garland, Christmas lights, ornaments... you get the idea.

For my card I used an old Stampin-Up "simply scrappin" Christmas kit for the ornaments. Then I used several Spellbinders dies to frame the ornaments.

The dies are Resplendent rectangles, floral ovals, classic ovals large and small.

The designer paper is from Basic Grey's "fruitcake collection". I used some Stampin Up cherry cobbler ribbon with a snowflake button to complete my card.  

 

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

 

Splitcoaststampers DTGD Challenge

 

Happy Monday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. I had fun playing along with the DTGD challenges on Splitcoaststampers. I wasn't able to make a card for all 42 of them. But, we were able to combine challenges and that's what I did for most of the cards I created for the challenge.

 

This is my card for Jimmi's aka jpmayo dtgd challenge. And also for Kelli Jo's challenge.

I used Stampin-Up's "good morning sunshine" designer paper and chocolate chip scalloped dotted ribbon.

Also used the Stampin-Up basket weave embossing folder on my kiwi kiss panel.
My felt sunflower is something I found at Hobby Lobby. I think it works great on this card.

I am sending this off to a friend who is undergoing chemo treatments right now. I think it will brighten her day.

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

 

 

Splitcoaststampers DTGD Challenges



Happy Friday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. I can't believe August has hit the calendar already. I feel like I want to put the brakes on summer. It's going by sooo quickly. Gotta enjoy it while I can I suppose.

Yesterday, I cut some basil and froze it with olive oil. I used my herb scissors to cut it, then added the olive oil to cover it and placed in ice cube trays. I found a recipe online. When they freeze I will place the cubes in a freezer bag to use in recipes all winter.  I have never tried this before so I hope the flavor of the basil is retained. The recipe says yes.

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for the Fan Club challenges on Splitcoaststampers. They have them once a year and you have to be a member to play along.

We aren't supposed to give the details of the specific challenge since it's only for fan club members. There are prizes to be won from all the member companies. You can get more info here about becoming a member.

This card covered 3 of the challenges with the Stacy, Cassie and Lisa Henke challenges. I used poppy red designer paper from the Stampin-Up collection "pawsitively prints' and the black designer paper is something I found in my stash.

I used MFT stamps for my sentiments and MFT arrow dies. Arrows are so trendy right now for pointing out something on your card. In this case, my birthday sentiment.

I need cards that say its a little late- 'cause sometimes I send them a "little late" (lol). Even though I have them already made in my collection, I don't get them mailed on time.

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

I am also entering:

1.  Simon Says Stamp has an anything goes challenge.