~Harvest Blessings~

 

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. Well, we said goodbye to the summer season of 2015 and hello fall as of this past Wednesday.

 

The warm  and sunny days are continuing here in Pittsburgh. So I am still getting a lot of tomatoes from my garden. In fact, yesterday I roasted a lot of them and made a tomato pesto to serve with spaghetti noodles. It was really delicious and flavorful.

 

After roasting the tomatoes, I put them in my food processor with basil (also from our garden), garlic, pine nuts, olive oil and parmesan cheese. And, just tossed this with the spaghetti. I also grilled some marinated chicken tenders and served it on top of the pasta. I was completely satisfied with how everything turned out as well as my husband.

 

If anyone would like a more detailed recipe let me know and I will get it to you. Now onto my card for today. Speaking of harvest that is the theme of my card for today.

 

This one I made for the color challenge #548 on Splitcoaststampers. Maura was our hostess and she chose a fall palette of crushed curry, cherry cobbler, pumpkin pie, and garden green. Our option was to use leaves.

 

garden green, pumpkin pie, crushed curry, cherry cobbler

 I am a bit behind on my Thanksgiving cards and these colors are perfect for a fall card. I saved this card last year from the Kittie Kraft blog and used it as my inspiration for today's card. I eliminated her big leaves and added a wheelbarrow instead.

Used the Taylored Expressions “shade tree” die and cut with distress watercolor cardstock. I colored the tree and leaves with a blender pen and sponge daubers. Blended cherry cobbler and crushed curry together to get the look of the fall trees I see here in Pittsburgh.

My wheelbarrow and pumpkins are dies from Impression Obsession. I used the Stampin’-Up cloudy days embossing folder behind my tree and lightly sponged some pool party ink. The wheelbarrow was the perfect spot to stamp my greeting.

 

That's my card for today my Blogger friends. Time to get busy with more canning. I am making pear butter this time around.  More on that in another post.

 

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

 

card details: 

Stamps: bountiful harvest (Verve) 

Paper: white, cherry cobbler, crushed curry, pumpkin pie, garden green Paper Size: A2 

Ink: fired brick, hello honey distress inks (Ranger), choc chip, crushed curry (stampin’-up), tuxedo black (Memento) 

Accessories: shade tree cutting plate (Taylored Expressions), wheelbarrow, pumpkins (Impression Obsession), cloudy days ef (Stampin’-Up) 

 

I am also entering: 

1.  Crafting Musketeers has an autumnal colors challenge.

2.  DL.Art has a fall challenge

3.  Little Red Wagon has a happy fall y'all challenge.

4.  Simon Says Stamp has a no designer paper challenge

5.  Sisterhood of Crafters has a pumpkin patch challenge.

~Teacher~

 

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with the Charmed Life Blog. We had such a beautiful day here in Pittsburgh. Sunny and warm was the order of the day.

 

After church I came home to get busy canning more tomatoes. I love preserving the bounty for use during the winter. Once I get started I could keep going, but I ran out of tomatoes. I have 9 pint jars and 1 quart jar to store away. 

 

my canned tomatoes

 

My friend just brought me a bushel of pears from her Mom's farm. I will be busy this week making pear butter. It is a yummy jam to use on toast or bagels. Anyone that I have shared a jar with absolutely loves it.

 

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for the color challenge #548 on Splitcoststampers.  Maura was our hostess and she chose crushed curry, cherry cobbler, pumpkin pie and garden green for her color palette. 

 

garden green, pumpkin pie, crushed curry, cherry cobbler

I needed some teacher cards so I used these colors to create one of them. My pencils are a 2 step stamp set from PTI. There are different patterns for the pencils in the set and then a matching die to cut them out.

I found this stamp set very difficult to work with. I cut my pencil shape first and then did my stamping. I used my stamp-a-ma-jig to get placement of the stamps. I tried using my Misti tool but the pencil shape is to small to be held in place with the magnets. My friend sent me some pointers so I am going to try what she suggested and see if it makes this set any easier to use.

 

The teacher word is also a die from PTI. Made a quick banner using a die from MFT. My background is embossed with the Stampin'-Up alphabet press embossing folder.

I colored the pencil points with a crumb cake & black marker. My erasers are cut from crisp cantaloupe cardstock. I also used basic gray cardstock to simulate metal under the eraser. It's stamped with an image from the PTI set.

 

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

 

card details:

Stamps: pencil me in (PaperTrey Ink) 

Paper: crushed curry, garden green, white Paper Size: A2 

Ink: pumpkin pie, crushed curry, cherry cobbler,(Stampin'-Up) peeled paint distress (Ranger) Accessories: pencil me in & teacher die (PaperTreyInk), flag stax (MFT), alphabet press ef (Stampin'-Up)  

I am also entering:
1.  Crafty Calender Challenge has anything goes.
2.  Hiding in My Craft Room has a freestyle challenge.
3.  Southern Girls has a layer it up challenge.
4.  Crafty Girls Creations has an anything goes.   

~Sending Wishes~

 

Hello Blogger Friends!! Long time no post (lol)!!! I have been busy with the beginning of year stuff at our church pre-school. Spent some long days there the past week.

 

We added a new class as well as built a new room this year. That part was taken care of by some skilled craftsmen. I was organizing our supplies and decorating 2 hallways for the start of school.

 

I really like how the hallways turned out. I went with a fall theme with cute scarecrows, pumpkins and leaves. This theme will be good through Thanksgiving.

 

The organization of supplies is still not done. I put everything in plastic containers and labeled the containers. So when we need something we know right where to look. I just have the construction paper to separate by color.

 

So that's where I have been but I am back creating with my first love of card making. This one was done using the colors from the color challenge #547 on Splitcoststampers.

 

turquoise, pink pirouette, blackberry bliss

Barbara was the hostess and she chose tempting turquoise, blackberry bliss and pink pirouette. Our option was to make a card with at least 4 layers. That is definitely covered- I have 9 layers counting my ribbon treatment.

 

I forgot, then remembered too late to send a friend a birthday card in August. She commented on it to my daughter-in-law and said how much she looks forward to getting my cards each year.

 

Embarrassing!!! So I made this card to send. Then I still didn't send it. What is wrong with me (lol)!! I just received a birthday card from her in the mail today. Double embarrassment now.

I used an older Sweet Sunday Sketch for my card and I cased myself. Original here.

My background designer paper is from the "park lane" collection from Stampin'-Up. On the white embossed panel I used the Stampin'-Up "fancy fan" folder.

My sending word is a die from Simon Says Stamp. The pot of flowers and sequins are dies from MFT.

Completed my card with some ribbon and turquoise decorative trim. The trim frayed when I cut it but I like the look of it. Well, that's my card for today. time to close this post. I have a counter full of tomatoes to prepare for canning.

 

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

 

card details:

Stamps: better get better (MFT)

Paper: White, blackberry bliss, pink pirouette, tempting turquoise, park lane dsp (Stampin'-Up) Paper Size: A2 

Ink: blackberry bliss 

Accessories: sending die (Simon Says Stamp), spring garden & sequin dies (MFT), turquoise decorative trim (Hobby Lobby), white satin ribbon (Michael's), fancy fan ef (Stampin'-Up)

 

I am also entering: 

1.  ABC Challenge is R for recipe- I chose flowers, dies and purple.

2.  Card and Scrap wants us to use dies.

3.  Crafting For All Seasons has a layering it up challenge.

4. Simon Says Stamp has a die crazy challenge.

   

~Woo-Hoo~

 

Happy Saturday Blogger friends! Thanks for taking the time to visit The Charmed Life Blog. It's a holiday weekend here in the US.

 

We are having my son and family over tomorrow for a cookout. Don't know how much time we will be outside because its going to be 87° with high humidity. But being together as family will be so nice.

 

For today, I have a couple of hours work left with the wedding invitations I am working on. They will be ready for mailing on Tuesday morning. I will post photos of them at another time.

 

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for the color challenge #546 on Splitcoaststampers. Peggy is our hostess and she chose rich razzleberry, cucumber crush and tangelo twist for her color palette.

 

rich razzleberry, cucumber crush, tangelo twist

 

I decided to make a kid's card with these colors. I will need birthday cards throughout the school year for our pre-school kiddos. This one will be perfect for a boy.

Saw some robot cards on Pinterest the other day and thought I would give it a try. I really like how it turned out. Used lots of Stampin'-Up punches and a Spellbinders die.

Robot body and head - Spellbinders square dies
Legs and arms - Stampin'-Up word window punch
Circles on body- 1 ¼" and 1" circle punches
Circles on legs- ½" circle punch
Circles at shoulders- ¾" circle punch- cut in half
Hands ¾" circle punch and cut into with a ½" circle punch
Eyes - used owl builder punch eyes
Mouth - ½" circle punch
Ears - owl builder punch
Feet - 3/4" circle punch - cut in half

On my background I used the Stampin'-Up chevron embossing folder. The sentiment is from the Stampin-Up "just sayin" set.

That's my card for today. We are going out to look at appliances. Lots of Labor Day weekend sales and we are beginning the process for our kitchen update. so until next time.......God bless.

 

card details: 

Stamps: just sayin' (Stampin'-Up) 

Paper: ww, basic black, cucumber crush, rich razzleberry, tangelo twist 

Paper Size: A2 Ink: tuxedo black (Memento) 

Accessories: square & matting basics dies (Spellbinders), 1/2" 3/4", 1", 1 1/4" circle punches, owl builder punch, chevron embossing folder (Stampin'-Up) 

Techniques: punch art 

 

I am also entering: 

1.  Crafty Friends wants us to use a sentiment.

2.  Crafts For Eternity Recipe Challenge is all about children

3.  Jo's Scrap Shack has an anything goes challenge.

4.  Scribbles Designs Challenge is "boys will be boys"

 

~Merry~

 

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. The holiday weekend is here. We aren't going away but will enjoy the day spent with family.

 

Friends of ours invited us to their camp about 3 hours from Pittsburgh. But, I am working on wedding invitations with my neighbor and they won't be finished until Saturday (hopefully). Then on Sunday my son and his family are coming over for dinner.

 

I am not really an outdoorsy type person but this camp is very nice and my hubby would love it. So maybe the next time they go up we can tag along with them.

 

Yesterday,  I spent the day with my daughter-in-law for her first canning venture. It's what mothers should do for their children, even as adults. She had a lot of garden tomatoes so I offered to teach her how to can them in a water bath.

It was a success and now she has 6 jars of tomato sauce. It is used as a base in any recipe that calls for a tomato sauce. And, we go to spend time together which I love.

 

I have yet to do this myself this growing season. I am hoping that I am able sometime this weekend. I just used the last jar of what I preserved from last season so I am anxious to make more.

 

My daughter-in-law had 4 different varieties of tomatoes which is ideal. I will only have 2 but I am okay with that. I will keep you posted on my progress.

 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for the Color Challenge #545 on Splitcoaststampers. Karen was our hostess and she wanted us to use metallic gold and vanilla for our colors.

 

The colors are perfect for a Christmas card so that's the direction I went. I had this card from limedoodle design saved on my Pinterest board and used it for inspiration today.

My background is a Sizzix snowflake embossing folder. I used a shimmery vanilla paper for embossing. The snowflakes are cut from an Impression Obsession die in gold mirror card stock. The merry word is a die from PaperTrey Ink.

I used a panel of vellum to layer my snowflakes and the merry word. Finished up this card by scattering some gold dots that were popped out of the snowflakes.

Really happy with how the card turned out and I plan on making about 10 more. I forgot how difficult it is to get a good photo with a mirror gold cardstock.  I played around for about 2 hrs. trying to get a decent photo. Yikes! I finally went outside to get the gold to photo gold nd not black.

 

Well, blogger friends that's it for me for today. I am off to the gym and then back to the wedding invitations. So until next time.........God bless.

 

card details:

Paper: Very Vanilla, Recollections shimmery vanilla & vellum, Gold Mirror Card Stock 

Paper Size: A2 

Accessories: Sizziz snowflake embossing folder, wonderful words holiday dies (PaperTrey Ink), snowflake dies (Impression Obsession)

 

I am also entering: 

1.  Bloggers Challenge wants us to use ovals or circles

2.  Christmas Stampin' all Year Long has an anything goes

3.  Crafty Catz has an anything goes challenge.

4.  Holly Jolly Christmas Challenge wants us to use a die

5.  Winter Wonderland wants us to add a sentiment

~We Give Thanks~

 

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

 

We are in the middle of another wave of heat here in Pittsburgh. The last 4 days it has been 85° and higher. Love it, and I also know it won't last.

 

We also have not had rain for a couple of weeks. The high heat and lack of rain is causing some of our tomatoes to split. Then the bugs get in them. Although, we are getting a lot of tomatoes and my hubby has been picking them as soon as they are ripe. We have lost a few though.

 

Today, I am going to roast the latest batch and then freeze them. I will have them available as a base whenever I am making something with tomatoes. Roasted tomatoes are so delicious. If you haven't tried it, you should. Here is a link to the recipe I use.

 

Now onto my card for today. This one I made as a sample for Color Challenge #544 on Splitcoaststampers. Vicki was the hostess and she chose wisteria wonder, so saffron, calypso coral as her color trio.

 

I thought the color trio might make a nice Thanksgiving card so I decided to use a window die and create an outdoor scene.

I sponged calypso coral and so saffron inks on the background and then used the scenic selections" stamp set from MFP for my fall scene.

For the window inside, I used Stampin'-Up designer paper to create a wall paper look and for the chair rail I used so saffron ribbon. My window is cut in wisteria wonder.

 

Added some die cut pumpkins from an Impression Obsession die. The bow at the top of the window is from the Stampin'-Up wreath framelits. I finished by stamping my sentiment directly on the window. I used my Misti tool for placement.

 

Well, my friends it's time to make this a wrap for today. I have lots to do today and then tonight I am meeting some of my friends for dinner. So until next time.......God bless.

 

card details:

Stamps: scenic selections (MFP), we give thanks (PSX) 

Paper: calypso coral, ww, wisteria wonder, so saffron, crumb cake dsp (Stampin'-Up) 

Paper Size: A2 Ink: calypso coral, so saffron, chocolate chip 

Accessories: grand madison window die (Poppy Stamps), wondrous wreath thinlits , so saffron ribbon,(Stampin'-Up)  pumpkin die (Impession Obsession) 

Techniques: sponging

I am also entering:
1.  Retro Rubber Challenge - anything goes. Stamp has to be 1+ yrs or older. Both are at least 4 yrs.
2.  Incy Wincy Designs is anything goes.
3.  Ooh La La has a signs of autumn challenge.
4.  Crafty Friends wants us to use a sentiment.

~Life ~ Breaths~ Moments

 

Happy September Blogger friends! I can't believe we are now in the last quarter of 2015. I think the year has whizzed on by us like a drop in the bucket.

This quarter is certainly my favorite time of the year with fall, thanksgiving, Christmas and then of course I have a September birthday.

 

Now, I am thinking on preserving the garden bounty. I will be going to help my daughter-in-law on Thursday with her first canning adventure. I have the pot, jars and accessories. She certainly has the skill to do this just not the equipment. And, it will be fun working together in the kitchen. We do that well.

 

Now onto my card for today. This is another that I made for the DTGD challenges on Splitcoaststampers. Edna wanted us to use 4 different stamps to create our background and Kathleen wanted us to make a masculine card.

 

To create my background I used several stamps: Great Impressions' distressed background, Stampin'-Up's gorgeous grunge, Verve's text objects.

Stamped in Bermuda bay, tangerine and baked brown sugar. On the striped portion I used my SU markers to get all 3 colors.

My sentiment is from the wedding silhouettes collection by Artful Inkables. The feathers are a set from Stampin'-Up. I really like the feather images in this set. To complete my card I tied the feathers with thread and added some bermuda bay sequins.

 

Well, it's time to close this post. I have lots to do in my kitchen today. We are going to a friend's home to have a meal together, and I am bringing the main course. They have a toddler so this will make it easier on them.

 

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

 

Card details:
Stamps: distressed background (K94- Great Impressions Stamps), four feathers & gorgeous grunge (Stampin'-Up), text objects (Verve), wedding silhouettes (Artful Inkables) 

Paper: bermuda bay, whisper white Paper Size: A2 

Ink: bermuda bay, tangerine tango, baked brown sugar 

Accessories: feather framelits (Stampin'-Up), bermuda bay sequins & thread  

 

I am also entering: 

1.  Crafting From the Heart has an anything goes challenge.  

2.  Craft Your Passion has an anything goes challenge.

3.  Crafty CardMakers has a no patterned paper challenge.

4.  Get Creative Challenges has a no printed paper challenge.

5.  Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge is to use a trio of colors.