~One Starry Night~

 

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. My home is so quiet now. Our son, daughter-in-law and precious granddaughter left yesterday morning for a week at the beach in Mexico. We had such a wonderful week with them and my older son who lives here in Pittsburgh.

 

Yesterday we had my extended family celebration. My brother held it at his home and there were about 45 of us in attendance. It was a great family time.

We all brought a side dish to share. And then with money that we have in our kittie we bought a turkey and ham. My brother smoked the turkey and it was really delicious. My sister-in-law made the ham with a delicious glaze.

 

We do this twice a year- at Christmas and then again in summer. In the summer, there are more of the family that come out.

 

Now onto my card for today. This was another one that I made for Christmas. For my card, I created a Bethlehem village scene using a Lasting Impressions stencil and translucent embossing paste tinted with soft suede re-inker. This embossing paste dries with a glossy sheen. On the palm tree I mixed Ranger peeled paint acrylic paint with the embossing paste.

The background textured gold paper was something from my stash. The last piece I had though. Bought it some years ago and I am not sure where (lol)!! I thought it worked perfectly for this little scene.  

 

I cut some stars with my metallic gold paper and the joy word with cherry cobbler card stock. I added a frame cut in mossy meadow card stock to complete this card.

 

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

 

card details:

Paper: cherry cobbler, mossy meadow, crumb cake (Stampin-Up), decorative India gold (Paper Co) Paper Size: A2 

Accessories: lasting impressions stencil, Spellbinders Matting basics A & B, PTI joy die, Northern Star (Frantic Stamper), starry die (Verve), DreamWeaver translucent embossing paste, soft suede reinker, Ranger peeled paint acrylic paint 

Techniques: mixed media

I am also entering:
1.  Pile It On is anything goes Christmas and to incorporate with other challenges.
2.  Come and Get It challenge is Merry Christmas
3.  Christmas Card Challenge #4 is anything goes. 
4.  Glory of Christmas Challenge is anything goes
5.  A Gem of a Challenge is anything goes Christmas.

Christmas Joy

 

Happy Christmas Eve my Blogger Friends. Thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. It's early and the house is still quiet so I thought  I would get my blog post finished before the busy day starts.

 

Last night we had a fun family activity with my sons, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, my daughter-in-laws family and one of my brothers and niece. We all went bowling. It was a great night of all being together.

 

Brett & Phoenix Daisy

Here is a photo of my son with my sweet Phoenix Daisy as she was bowling. We decided to try and make this an annual event since everyone enjoyed it so much.

 

Now onto my card for today. I have used this layout on several of my Christmas cards and just changed the colors and paper.  Once you have a layout, it is easy to just change up the papers and colors to create another card. It made my last minute card making go a bit faster.

 

On this one I used real red and soft suede cardstock as well as designer paper from the Stampin'-Up "Christmas Cocoa" collection.

 

The snowflake is a stamp from the November Stampin'-Up paper pumpkin kit. The "Joy" word is a die from Paper Trey Ink and my paper bow is a die from MFT.

 

Well, it's time to end this post and start my day. My in-laws are coming for dinner and I have some baked goodies to drop off at my neighbor's. My sister is also dropping by to  visit with Brett and family.

 

So until next time.......Christmas Blessings to all!!

 

Christmas Wreath

 

 

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. My son and his family arrived safely from San Francisco on Saturday night. No flight delays for them and my sweet 4 year old granddaughter Phoenix Daisy was so excited to be in Pittsburgh.

 

Today we baked cookies together. I bought the both of us matching aprons and she loved them. I had this cookie press I bought years ago and used it for the first time today. It makes a spritz cookie. They are really light and delicious and she was able to sprinkle them with colored sugar after I squeezed them out of the press.

 

Tonight was our preschool Christmas program where I work 2 days a week. Phoenix Daisy was able to come along with me. The kids were so cute singing their songs and we had a full house with parents and grandparents.

 

Tomorrow is another busy day with some family stuff planned. I have to get to the food store and do my Christmas Eve and Christmas day shopping.  I am enlisting my son and daughter in laws to help me in the kitchen this year. I don't usually do that but  I simplified my menu and their help will work for me.

 

My in-laws come on Christmas Eve and even with them I asked for help. I will bake a ham and they will bring all the side dishes. This is so not my norm and I am having a bit of difficulty "letting go". If this works, I may just do this again next year.

 

Now onto my card for today. This is another of my Christmas cards. I only made one of these. I was on a quest this year to make more flat and mail friendly cards as well as on the simple side.

 

I liked how this one turned out so I am not sure why I didn't make more of this one. I used some designer paper from Stampin-Up's water wonder collection. The color on the designer paper and card stock base is smoky slate. I used an embossing folder on the designer paper to add some background interest.

 

The wreath is a die from Cheery Lynn Designs. I hung it from a strip cut with an MFT die. to complete my card, I used a die from PaperTrey Ink to cut my "joy" word.

 

Well blogger friends, that's it for me for today. Time to dim the lights in Charmed Life Land for another day. So until next time........God bless.

 

card details:

Paper: smoky slate, real red, mossy meadow cardstocks, watercolor wonder dsp (Stampin-Up)

Accessories: Wreath die (Cheery Lynn Designs), MFT Blueprints 3, Joy die (PaperTrey Ink), snowflake embossing folder (Sizzix)

 

I am also entering:

1.  Card Mania has a Christmas Challenge.

2.  Crafty CardMakers has a Christmas challenge.

3.  Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge is anything goes.

 

 

 

Joy

 

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog during this busy season. I appreciate all my readers and followers.

 

I finished my Christmas shopping yesterday. Today the wrapping gets finished and some baking. Then tomorrow food shopping and cleaning and  Iwill be all ready for my Son and his family. They get in Saturday night at 11:00 pm.

 

Only one snafu from yesterday's shopping expedition. One of the stores I went to charged me twice for a sweater I bought and I picked up the wrong size shirt for my son. Fortunately the store is very close to me. So last night at 10:30 I went back to exchange the shirt and get my bill straightened out.

 

I wanted to get my blog post done early so I can get into my day. This is another version of this card I posted yesterday. I changed my word to Joy but otherwise all the paper and layout is the same.

 

I made several of these cards with different words and papers. The layout was an easy one to reproduce for my last minute card making.

 

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

 

card details:

Stamps: simply snowflakes (Stampin-Up)

Ink: lost lagoon

Paper: lost lagoon, soft sky, ww, all is calm dsp

Accessories: MFT Blueprints 3 die, Spellbinders Matting Basics A & B, PTI Joy die

 

I am also entering:

1.  Red Rubber Inspirationals is all about Christmas Cheer.

2.  Southern Girls Challenge is Christmas cheer. 

3. Time Out Challenge is Christmas is Love.

 

Christmas Blessings

 

Hello Blogger Friends!! I cant believe it's been a week since I posted on my blog. I was out in San Francisco for my precious granddaughters 4th birthday. She was so excited to have her Grandma there for the party. 

 

This is a picture of her from pre-school. They were having a cookie baking day. I just love her chefs hat.

 

 

 

I am back home now and in last minute crunch mode to finish up the things I need to get done before Saturday. They are coming here for Christmas.  

 

I still have Christmas shopping to finish as well as gift wrapping and food shopping to get done. The malls will be crazy with people and traffic but I have to go there today to finish up.

 

I haven't completely planned my Christmas menu as yet. I always have these elaborate meals and I am in the kitchen most of the day. My daughter-in-law said I should keep it simple this year. I am leaning towards that end but don't know to do to make that happen.

 

So let's get to my card for today. This is another of my Christmas cards that I sent out. I tried to keep my cards flat this year so extra postage wouldn't be required. Instead of real ribbon I opted for a faux look with a die from MFT.

 

My background designer paper is the "all is calm" collection from Stampin-Up. I wasn't going to buy any new designer paper this year but I couldn't pass this up. It is so pretty and I really liked all the different patterns in the collection.

 

On the tilted panel,  I used the snowflake stamp that came in the November paper Pumpkin kit. I stamped in lost lagoon ink. The Christmas word is a die from Simon Says Stamp.

 

To finish up my card, I added a snowflake with a rhinestone center. The snowflake was also from the November Paper Pumpkin kit.

 

Well, blogger friends that's it for me for today. Time to tackle the mall and finish the shopping. So until next time.........God bless.

 

card details:

Stamps: simply snowflakes (Stampin-Up)

Ink: lost lagoon

Paper: lost lagoon, soft sky, ww, all is calm dsp

Accessories: MFT Blueprints 3 die, Spellbinders Matting Basics A & B, Simon Says Stamp Christmas Blessings die

 

I am also entering:

1.  Crafty Creations has a diecut challenge.

2.  Creative Moments has an anything goes/non-traditional colors for Christmas.

3.  Fresh Brewed Designs has an anything goes Christmas challenge.

4.  Little Red Wagon is a Christmas theme challenge.

5.  Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge is a winter inspiration theme. I didn't use Penny Black Stamps but a SSS die.

 

 

Card Concept Challenge #25

 

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. Well the decorations are done and last night I made my final cards. Although I think I said that the other day (lol)!!

 

Today I will be addressing and mailing them. Not exactly where I wanted to be on the 10th of December but progress is being made on my to do list.

 

Today the card I am showing is my final one as a member of the Card Concept Design Team. My term has gone by so quickly. Thank you Lesley Croghan for an amazing opportunity. I wish you and the Card Concept Challenge a successful 2015. 

 

Now onto the challenge for this time.  It is the last one for 2014 and is titled "silent night neutrals". Lesley and team will return on January 7th for a one year anniversary celebration.

 

1. This week we are inspired by the colors in this "sweet" photo! You could be inspired by the shapes, the textures or even the theme! The skies the limit, as long as you are able to explain how you were inspired.
2. The team is divided into the different styles and each designer explains how they were inspired by the challenge! 
3. So come and join us and try your hand at a brand new "style" of card making or work in your comfort zone, it is totally up to you!

The styles are explained here and this is the  inspiration photo we are using this time around.

 

 

My card falls into the classy and elegant category. Although I have to admit I did have a bit of trouble using these colors. I am not a "neutrals only" designer. But that is what expands you as a designer - when you move out of your comfort zone.

 

After a few failed attempts, I decided to case myself with a card I made for the SCS color challenge. See that one here. Then things fell into place for me.

 

My card colors are from Stampin'-Up and I used baked brown sugar, sahara sand, white, silver and some designer paper from the Holiday Lounge collection.  

 

I stamped the sentiment panel with a snowflake image in baked brown sugar ink and added the "joy" word. To complete my card, I used some silver stars leftover from another card and a paper bow cut from an MFT die.

 

Check out the samples from the rest of the design team here. then pull out your neutral paper and start creating. Until next time........God bless.

 

card details:

Stamps: simply snowflake ( Stampin-Up)

Ink: baked brown sugar

Paper: baked brown sugar, sahara sand, ww, silver, holiday lounge dsp

Accessories: MFT Blueprints 3 die, PTI wonderful words die, Spellbinders matting basics A & B, Stars - November Paper Pumpkin Kit (Stampin-Up)

 

~season's greetings~

 

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. Especially during this busy time of year when we could all use a few more hours in the day and a few more hands to help us out.

 

I have finished decorating. Yay!! I was working on cards yesterday and  I decided that I am finished there as well. Once I get on a roll with Christmas cards I could keep on making them. It's such fun.

 

Are any of you like that? Which once again makes me ask myself why don't I make them throughout the year so I don't have this last minute frenzy. Hopefully, I will change that this year.

 

I pick-up my grandson after school on Tuesday's so when I return tonight I will start addressing the cards. Don't know if  I mentioned it before but on Friday I fly out to San Francisco. I am going for Phoenix Daisy's birthday. It's a short trip and I return Monday evening.  She is so excited that I am coming out. She turns 4 this year. Where has that time gone?

 

Now onto my card for today. This is another one I made using the color combo from CC506 on Splitcoaststampers. It was rose red, mossy green and basic black.

 

I used the Stampin-Up "bright and beautiful" stamp set and matching star framelits.
The star ornament is 2 stars stamped in rose red. I scored down the middle for a 3-d effect. I hung the star on a piece of black glitter paper cardstock.

Added some rose red seam binding with black ric-rac and a black metallic sequin center. Die cut some stars in mossy meadow with the Verve starry night die.

My layout is from a card I saw on Sandi MacIver's blog. She made her card in green and gold. I wanted to try that color combo just didn't get around to it. Oh well, maybe next year (lol)!!

 

Well friends it's time to close this post. I have Pre-School class this morning, So until next time.......God bless.

 

card details:

Stamps: bright and beautiful (Stampin-Up) 

Paper: mossy meadow, ww,(Stampin-Up) black glitter paper (Tessler Stamps) 

Paper Size: A2 Ink: mossy meadow, rose red 

Accessories: rose red seam binding, Starry night die (Verve), sequin die (MFT), black ric rac   

~Snowflakes Sparkle~

 

 

Hello Blogger Friends and a good Saturday morning to you. Thanks for taking time out of a busy season to visit the Charmed Life Blog.

 

My Christmas decorating is a bit off my planned schedule but I hope to finish all today. I took some time yesterday to go to an All-Clad cookware sale. It is held 2x a year her in Pittsburgh. This fabulous cookware is made in a plant not far from my home.

 

I did picked up a few Christmas gifts at some great prices. My youngest son really likes this cookware so I am adding to his collection.  I have to go through what I have purchased since July to see where I am at with gifts. I did a lot of online shopping at QVC in July.

 

Time to get to my card for today so I can get back to decorating. I have another Christmas card to show today. That will be my theme for awhile. Christmas that is!!

 

I really like using dies to create scenes on cards. On this card I used several for my forest scene.

 

The colors are from CC506 on Splitcoaststampers. Becky is our hostess for "tis the season". She chose the color trio of rose red, mossy meadow and basic black. 

 

 

My black background is stamped with white craft ink and the MFT "snowflake background" stamp. I decided not to emboss for a more subtle effect. I just used the heat tool to dry the pigment ink.

The white birch trees are cut from a Memory Box die. I added 3 birds cut with a PaperTrey Ink die in rose red.

My snow slope and deer are PaperTrey Ink dies. Added some small pine trees cut in mossy meadow with a die from Poppy Stamps. To complete my card I used some Stampin-Up chunky glitter on the snow bank and the tree tops.

 

I created this card with a variation in colors. I used real red, midnight muse (dark blue) and whisper white. My trees are a die from Impression Obsession.

That's my cards for today. Time to get on with my day. So until next time.........God bless.

 

card details:

Stamps: in the meadow (PTI), snowflake background (MFT)

Paper: ww, rose red, basic black Paper Size: A2 

Ink: tuxedo black (Memento), White Craft (Stampin-Up) 

Accessories: birch tree die (memry box), in the meadow dies (PTI),  Impression Obsession evergreen die

 

I am also entering:

1.  Alphabet Challenge is "V" for Variety. I used 3 different embellishments with my dies.

2.  Brown Sugar has a winter challenge.  

3. Crafts 4 Eternity has a winter challenge.

4. 4 Crafty Chicks has an animals challenge.

5.  C.R.A.F.T.  challenge is Christmas

6. A Crafty Mess has a Christmas traditional colors challenge. My 2nd is red, white, green and blue.

 

~Believe~

 

Hello Blogger Friends! Hope this Thursday finds you happy and well.

Well ,it's 3 weeks until Christmas and I feel like I am a bit behind where I wanted to be at this point. But, today is another aggressive work day for me and I hope to get a lot accomplished. I hope to get 2 trees decorated today.

 

I have already started getting Christmas cards in the mail and mine are not ready to be mailed yet. Or, I should say I don't have enough made to mail. Every year I say I will get involved in the Christmas card challenges in blogland, but I don't do it. That will be a resolution for me again next year. So I will see where that goes (lol)!!

 

Now onto my card for today.  I had this idea for this card floating around in my head for awhile. It turned out just like I pictured it. I used a lot of different dies and stamps to create it.

My card colors are from the Splitcoaststampers CC502. Vicki is our hostess and she chose marina mist, midnight muse and gumball green. Option is to use a die cut word.

The colors were perfect for my Santa scene.

 

 

 My background snowfall is done with the MFT "snowfall" stamp. I stamped in Versamark and then heat embossed with white embossing powder.

 

The Santa and reindeer are cut in midnight muse with a die by Impression Obsession. The moon is cut with a Spellbinders circle die in some textured silver metallic I had in my stash. The believe word is a die from Elizabeth Crafts.

The landscape was created with stamps and dies from PTI- the holiday home set and the rolling hill is the "in the meadow" die. I added some chunky glitter to the hill. My evergreen trees are a die from Memory Box.

 

I may make a few more of this card. With all the dies, it made it fairly easy to assemble.

 

Well, Blogger Friends it's time to close this post and get moving on my decorating day. So until next time.........God bless.

 

Card details:

Stamps: Holiday Home (PaperTrey Ink), Snowfall (MFT) 

Paper: WW, midnight muse, marina mist, gumball green (Stampin-Up) Paper Size: A2 

Ink: choc chip, Versamark 

Acessories: MFT snowfall bg stamp, Santa die (Impression Obsession), In the meadow and holiday home dies (PaperTrey Ink), believe die (Elizabeth Crafts), Stampendous EP, Evergreen border  die(Poppy Stamps), chunky glitter (Stampin-Up), Circle die (Spellbinders)

I am also entering:

1.  Crafting By Designs - anything goes with a twist -all things Christmas.

2.  Crafting For All Seasons challenge is "tis the season.

3.  Divas By Design has a Festive challenge.

4.  Fresh Brewed Designs has an anything goes Christmas challenge.

5. Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge is Christmas/Holidays

6.  Happy Little Stampers has a sketch challenge. This was made for my card (lol)!!

7.  Kylie is addicted to Stamps has a Christmas Card challenge. She is offering a watermark and blog signature.

 

 

HYCCT1422 ~love you a latte~

 

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog.

 

Today was pre-school day. It was our first day back after Thanksgiving break. The kids were a bit energetic but still cooperative.

 

We started practicing songs for our Christmas program. They really like to sing. I had them make a gingerbread man for our school Christmas tree. They turned out so cute. I usually buy the packaged kits from Michael's or Oriental Trading. They give you everything you need for the project.

 

I work with the kids one-on-one for these projects. It's good for their fine motor skills but to attempt it as a group wouldn't work as well. They love doing crafty things and of course I do too (lol)!!

 

This afternoon I started my Christmas decorating. I had a goal set of where I wanted to be at the end of the day and I met it. The trees will probably go up Friday or Saturday. I put up 3 of them. Then it will be onto mailing my Christmas cards and gift wrapping.

 

My cookies and candy need to fit into this mix as well so my days need to be organized and full. I will keep you posted on my progress.

 

Now onto my card for today. This is one I created during the HYCCT challenges on Splitcoaststampers. I never got it posted on my blog.

 

I used the new "perk up" MFT stamps and dies for this card. 

My card colors are real red, crumb cake and coastal cabana from the Splitcoaststampers CC501 challenge. I was the hostess for that challenge. The layout is an old MojoMonday sketch #322.

 The background paper is from the Stampin-Up "fresh prints" collection. The heart and stripes embossing folders are from Darice.

That's my card for today. Time to dim the lights in Charmed Life Land for another day. tomorrow will be another busy day. So until next time........God bless.

 

card details:

Stamps: perk up (MFT) Paper: real red, coastal cabana, crumb cake, fresh prints dsp (Stampin-Up) Paper Size: A2 Ink: real red 

Accessories: coffee die (MFT), Darice hearts and stripes embossing folders, red ribbon

I am also entering:

1.  A Little Bit Crafty has an anything goes.

2.   Crafts Galore Encore Challenge is anything goes.

3.  Crafty Hazelnuts Patterned Paper challenge is anything goes.

4.  One Crazy Stamper has an anything goes challenge.

5.  The Crafting Café wants us to reflect on our favorite thing from 2014. Mine is dies.