He is Risen

 

Hello Blogger friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with the Charmed Life Blog. I am doing a quick post before Sunday service.

 

Today is Easter Sunday and a day of celebration in the Christian world. Scripture says that death and the grave couldn't hold Jesus down. It's the reason as Christians we have hope. My card for today expresses that hope. He is risen.

 

Karen was our hostess and she chose blackberry bliss, blushing bride and mint macaron. Optional this week is to use a die cut. I love using die cuts on my cards.

 

mint macaron, blushing bride, blackberry bliss

 

For this sample, I used the Taylored Expressions die "stained glass cross". I cut it 3x in the challenge colors and used blackberry bliss panel for the cross frame. I took the other colors and created my stained glass. It was a bit tedious with all the inlaying, but I liked how it turned out. In fact, I made 2 of these cards.  

I die cut the "He is risen" word in mint macaron and then again in blackberry bliss and did a slight offset. This die is from Frantic Stamper. Added it onto a panel of shimmery vellum to complete my card.

Well Blogger friends it's time to close my post and get ready for church. Hope your day is a blessed one.

card details:
Paper: very vanilla, blackberry bliss, pink pirouette, mint macaron, shimmery vellum 
Paper Size: A2 
Accessories: stained glass cross cutting plate (Taylored Expressions), He is risen die (Frantic Stamper

Bunny Patch

 

Hello Blogger friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with the Charmed Life blog. I am busy with preparations for Easter dinner tomorrow. We will have 10 people here to enjoy the meal with us.

 

I just set my tables and thought I would take a quick break before I get back to the meal preps. I like to try and do as much as possible the day before. That way I can sit with my family and enjoy time with them.

 

I'm making a couple of potato casseroles + a fresh fruit salad to go along with the ham we are having. The casseroles are a bit time consuming so I like to assemble them today and actually do the baking of them tomorrow. The fruit salad I will cut up tomorrow.  

 

My mother-in-law and daughter-in-law will both bring a veggie dish. Another guest will bring dessert and we are good to go. My daughter-in-law will also make her delicious orange sour cream pound cake which is always a treat.

 

All this food talk is making me hungry so lets get on to my card for today (lol)! This one I made for the color challenge #575 on Splitcoaststampers. Karen is our hostess and she chose blackberry bliss, blushing bride and mint macaron. Optional this week is to use a die cut. I love using die cuts on my cards so I jumped right on the option.

mint macaron, blushing bride, blackberry bliss

 For this sample, I cased myself with this card and also this card from KittieKraft. I used the Easter cutout square die from Impression Obsession. I cut it in white and then the flowers in blackberry bliss and pieced those in for some additional color.

I added some blushing bride glimmer paper for a frame and then a larger mint macaron frame. Layered that over blushing bride and then popped it up onto a blackberry bliss card base.

My Easter Joy word is a die from Impression Obsession and I cut in blackberry bliss cardstock. Added 3 little bunnies in blushing bride using the bunny set die from Impression Obsession. 

 

Well that's it for me for today. Time to get back to my kitchen. So until next time.......God bless.

 card details:

Paper: blackberry bliss, pink pirouette, mint macaron, whisper white, blushing bride glimmer paper Paper Size: 5" square 

Accessories: Easter cutout square, bunny and Easter joy dies (Impression Obsession) 

 

I am also entering:  

1.  Impression Obsession has an Easter Fun challenge.

2.  Crafty Enjoyments has an Easter/Spring challenge

3.  Brown Sugar has an Easter challenge. 

4.  Hiding in my Craft Room has an any holiday challenge
 

~Cantaloupe Flower~

 

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

 

Kitchen update: The company we are buying our countertops from came yesterday to measure. It took much longer than what I thought it would. He was here for about 1 1/2 hours.

They do a digital measure with photos and then take it back to the company and do a computerized layout for us. We will see how the granite will be cut and what it will look like in our kitchen. We go in on Saturday to check all of this out. This is such an interesting process.

 

Then next Friday, April 1 is our install day. I am so excited. We have a few things to do before they come out. My hubby is going to remove our existing countertops. It's a bit expensive to have the company do it. He said it won't be a problem getting the old ones out. I will be without countertops and a kitchen sink for a few days during this stage of the work. Hopefully, not too long. I may become friends with my basement laundry tubs (lol)!!!

 

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for the color challenge #574 on Splitcoaststampers.  Vicki was our hostess and she chose  crisp cantaloupe, sahara sand and crumb cake for her color palette.

 

sahara sand, crumb cake, crisp cantaloupe

I will admit here that I had a problem with this trio of colors. But, since we can use any neutrals on our card, I decided to use a soft suede to accent these very light colors. Once I did that I was pleased with how my card turned out.

 

I started with my card layout this week and I used the MojoMonday #439 sketch.

On the background panel, I used sahara sand designer paper. It's from the Stampin'-Up "thoroughly modern" collection. My dotted panel is soft suede designer paper and also from Stampin'-Up.

The flower is a new die from the March 2016 release by CottageCutz.  It's the 3D Flower #3 die and the thanks word is also a die from CottageCutz.

 

The flower is cut in cantaloupe cardstock and I sponged the edges with cantaloupe ink for depth. I popped up each flower layer with dimensional dots.

 

For the "thanks" word I cut 2x in soft suede cardstock and a 3rd time in crisp cantaloupe and did a slight offset. It adds a bit of visual interest.

For the middle rectangle panel in the sketch, I decided to use ribbon and cardstock. The mesh ribbon is from May Arts and over that I layered a piece of crisp cantaloupe cardstock and then crumb cake ribbon from Stampin'-Up on the top layer.

To complete my card, I used the small butterfly die from Elizabeth Crafts and scattered some die cut sequins. The sequins are a die from MFT. And that's my card for today, my friends.

 

Time for me to get started with my day. I am on Easter break from pre-school and I have lots to do. Easter dinner is here at our house so cleaning is my goal for today. So until next time.......God bless.

 

I am also entering:

1.  Through the Purple Haze has a flowers challenge.

2.  Addicted to Stamps and More has an anything goes challenge.

3.  Crafting By Designs has a 3 or more layers challenge.

4.  Fab 'n Funky has a flowers challenge.

5.  Ruby's Rainbow has "the earth laughs in flowers" challenge.

Nautical card in a Box

 

Hello Blogger Friends and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. I haven't given an update on my kitchen remodel for awhile.

 

We finally picked our countertop. We decided to go with granite. It was an interesting process to go through the warehouse and see all the slabs of granite there and choosing the one I wanted.

 

The piece we selected brings out the warm gold tones in our oak cabinets. They will be coming out to measure next week and then we go back to the store to see a computer layout of what it will look like. If we don't like it, we can choose another slab at that point. The install is scheduled for April 1.

 

I still need to pick my backsplash and flooring but I have a general idea of what I want. The contractor suggested I wait until the countertops are in before making any color choices. That makes sense to me. We are going to be inconvenienced for awhile and I will have to take my dishes to the basement to wash them. That alone will cause me to get a move on things and get a decision made (lol)!!

 

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for my post over on the CottageCutz Blog on Wednesday. The new release is all about nautical and I thought the best way to show off a lot of the dies was to make a pop-up box card.

 

Step 1: Cut cardstock to 9” x 5 1/2”. Score on the long side at 2 1/8", 4 1/4”, 6 3/8", and  then at 8 1/2”. Turn the cardstock 90° and score at 2 3/4".

Step 2:
Use a paper cutter or scissors and cut the score lines to the center score. On the end ½” score line cut it off on a diagonal to create a tab.

 

Step 3: For this step you need a bone folder, to fold all the score lines for a sharp crease. Once that’s done you tape the tab. Use red line tape and tape the outside of the tab. Bring the tab side over first to the middle and then bring the other half and press together. 

Step 4:
Now you have the look of the box. To add support to the outside back of the box, I used white cardstock measuring 2" x 4 7/8". You can use this panel to stamp a sentiment.  I added the lighthouse, birds (from lighthouse die) and star fish from the paddles and rope ladder die.

 

Step 5:To create my layers on the box, I used red card stock cut at 2" x  2 1/4" and patterned paper cut at 1 7/8” x 2 1/8” for the 3 box flaps that are hanging down. I decorated it with the CottageCutz Crab die cut in red cardstock. On the inside back panel the red cardstock measures 2" x 4 7/8" and patterned paper measuring 1 7/8" x 4 5/8".

Step 6:

For the inside dividers, cut cardstock to 3 1/8” x 3 1/8” and score this at ½” and 2 5/8”. Cut this piece in half and fold on the score lines. Both tabs should be folded back.

You use red line on these tabs as well. Tape on the outside of each tab. Tuck the tabs on the inside of the box to create your dividers. You can slightly close the box in this step to make sure the tabs line up straight.

Step 7: Decorating the box
I decorated the inside of the box with several CottageCutz nautical dies. On the back panel I used the large sailboat die, cut in navy blue cardstock. I stamped my "beach life" sentiment and used the circle set basics to cut it out. I cut another circle in red cardstock and slightly offset it.

I also used the Pelican die cut in a white confetti cardstock. Sponged his beak with distress inks. The wood mooring he is standing on is cut from Stampin'-Up soft suede cardstock and the ropes in kraft cardstock. The detail on the pelican and the wood mooring is amazing.

 

Well friends, that's it for me today. It was a long post so thanks for staying with me. I hope you enjoyed this card and will give the pop-up box technique a try. So until next time.......God bless!!!

I am also entering:
1.  Jade's Sparkling Butterflies has an anything goes with die-cuts.
2.  Craft Rocket Challenges is anything goes
3.  Just Keep on Creating has an anything goes.

HB2U

 

Hello Blogger Friends and thanks for taking the time to visit with the Charmed Life Blog. Is it spring? The warmer weather and flowers make me say yes.

 

We have snow crocus and tulips popping up in our yard. Although my hubby already has the tulips protected with some net to keep the deer away. His tulips are so beautiful and the deer are around every night.

 

Not that I am complaining but we didn't have much of a winter. And, the weather people are saying the snow is behind us now. Oh well let's go with the flow and enjoy what we are given.

 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for my post on the CottageCutz Blog. I usually post on Wednesday but I had the opportunity to make another card so this one was posted on Sunday.

 

I am featuring the super cute baby lion die as well as the balloon round mini die. This one is out of stock right now but here is another balloon variety die that would work well.

 

Using these dies together creates a really sweet birthday card for a child. It's another way to use the lion die other than on a baby card. Let's get started with some details on how I put this one together.

 

I used the sketch #583 from Splitcoaststampers for my card layout. My designer papers are from the Stampin'-Up "Bohemian" collection. It has rich razzleberry, bermuda bay and delightful dijon colors. I really like the patterns in this paper and I thought the chevrons fit nicely for a child's card.

 

 My next step was to die cut the lion. I used Stampin'-Up so saffron cardstock for his body and the mane is delightful dijon cardstock. I used a marker to add some definition to his legs and whiskers. I popped him on the bermuda bay blue die cut circle and attached the balloon to his tail.

 

Next up is the half circle I placed under the ribbon. This was cut from the circle basics set. I used the 3rd largest die and just cut it in half.

 

I used this circle layer for my sentiment and a birthday stamp from MFT with the HB2U sentiment.  Something different and perfect for a child's card. Stamped with delightful dijon ink and then I punched out the letters and placed them along the curve of the circle.  

 

Ta-Da! Card is complete and ready for the next time I need a child or even a masculine birthday card. Well, that's it for me for today Blogger friends. So until next time........God bless.

 

 

I am also entering: 

1.  Cards Und More has a ribbon challenge.

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

3.  Dream Valley Challenges is all about Birthdays.

Flower Thanks

 

Hello Blogger Friends and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. Another day of spring like weather here and also rainy.

 

It was also my day at pre-school. We have started working on Easter projects with them. Today we put together a really cute foam egg with foam flowers and buttons. I pick up kits that have all the pieces in it. The kids love sitting with me one on one and assembling them. I used it as an opportunity to have them count the buttons and the flowers. They do really well for kids that have just turned 4.

 

Next week we have St Patrick's day as well as another Easter project. I like being responsible for the craft projects they do. I am a crafter after all (lol)!!

 

Speaking of that, let's move onto my card for today. This is one I made for my Wednesday post on the Scrapping Cottage Blog.  I created a thank you card with several different dies from CottageCutz. My idea was to create a leaf frame with a flower surrounding it. Here are some details of how this card is put together.

 

I started off my card with some background stenciling. I chose a diamond patterned stencil from Heidi Swapp and used pear pizzazz ink from Stampin'-Up. Used a sponge dauber I sponged the pattern onto my cardstock going both darker and lighter.

 

My nest step was to create my leaf frame. I did that with the Cottage Cutz Square Set Dies. I used the 3rd and 4th largest dies for my frame. Ran them through my Big Shot machine and the next photo shows the frame that I ended up with.

 

 

The open frame is what I used for my card. The smaller square I will use on another project.

 

At this point, I die cut my flower with Stampin'-Up rich razzleberry cardstock using the CottageCutz 3D Flower #3. The leaves with pear pizzazz and mossy meadow cardstock using the Cottage Cutz Strawberry Petites die.

 

I layered the leaves around my frame and assembled my flower. My thanks word is from the CottageCutz Thanks die. I cut it twice and layered for more dimension.

 

Also, to give my flower more dimension, I used foam squares between each layer. This next photo gives a close up view of the flower.

 

To complete my card I added a butterfly cut in pink pirouette cardstock from the CottageCutz Butterfly with Flowers die and then scattered some pink pirouette candy dots.

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

 

I am also entering:

1.  Crafting with an Attitude has an anything goes challenge.

2.  Crafty Girls Creations has an anything goes.

3.  Creative Knockouts has a die cuts/punches challenge.

4.  Moving Along with the Times has a purple haze challenge.

He is Risen

 

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. Our temps were like what we normally have in May and this is March 8. The weather people are saying this happens in a El Nino year.

 

Don't know about all of that I suppose we take their word for it, but it just seems way to early in the year for weather like this. My hubby planted lettuce today. He is so excited to be out in his garden working again.

 

We were able to take the pre-school kids out today for about 20 minutes of playtime. They love going outside and letting off some energy. All in all they were very good today and tired at the end of the 2 hour class.

 

Since it's Dr Seuss month we read the Foot Book and then did a foot project. We traced their feet and cut them out. they colored them and added sequins for their toenails. Such a cute project and the kids just love art stuff. I can't believe that in 2 months our year with them will be over.

 

Anyway, let's move onto my card for today. This one I made for the current color challenge #573 on Splitcoaststampers. I am the hostess and we are having a bingo game this week. Check it out and there maybe something hidden in the game. Just sayin'.

 

 

 

I chose the left vertical row of strawberry slush, smoky slate, mossy meadow and pear pizzazz. Optional is anything goes this week and I am using die cuts.

I thought these colors would make a lovely Easter card. So that's the direction I took.

I started my card by cutting the large background die. Used the quatrefoil cutting plate from Taylored Expressions and cut in whisper white. Layered that over a piece of strawberry slush cardstock.

My next step was my flowers. I used a tiger lily stamp from The Rubber Café. I colored with prismacolor pencils and gamsol.
Layered them around a circle with some leaves cut with a Stampin'-Up die in pear pizzazz cardstock.

I just purchased this He is Risen die from The Frantic Stamper and I think it works well with the lilies. I cut it in mossy meadow card stock to complete my card. The card layout  I used is a Viva la Verve sketch from January.

 

 

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

 

card details:
Stamps: Tiger Lily (The Rubber Cafe) 

Paper: smoky slate, whisper white, strawberry slush, mossy meadow, pear pizzazz 

Paper Size: A2 

Accessories: quatrefoil die (Taylored Expressions), He is risen die (Frantic Stamper), secret garden framelits (Stampin'-Up), blueprints 3 die (MFT), butterfly punch (Martha Stewart), Prismacolor pencils and gamsol  
I am also entering:

1.  Deep Ocean Challenge Blog has an Easter Challenge.

2.  Crafting From The Heart has an anything goes challenge.

3   Where the HeArt... is has an Easter Challenge

It's Your Day

 

Hello Blogger Friends and a happy Wednesday to you. Have you noticed the days are getting longer? Sunset was at 6:15 tonight and it was still light at 6:30. Whoo-Hoo!

 

Maybe that sounds crazy to you but I love it when it's light until 9:00 pm. Makes the day seem to go on forever. Next weekend is the start of daylight saving time for us. We move the clocks ahead one hour. Even though we lose an hours sleep, it won't bother me. Because,in 2 weeks it will be light until 7:30 pm. Loving it!!!

 

Anyway, onto my card for today. This is one that I made for my first post as a Cottage Cutz design team member. Check it out the on the Scrapping Cottage Blog here.

 

I am using the round mini balloon die for this sample. Looks like this die is out of stock right now, but check out this cute balloon variety die that would work as well. So let's get started with the details of how to make this card.

 

cardstock and patterned paper sizes:

real red cardstock base measures 4 1/4" x 11" and scored at 5 1/2".

Stampin'-Up "I Am Me"striped designer paper layer is 4 1/8" x 5 3/8"

embossed so saffron layer is 3 3/8" x 4 5/8"

Stampin'-Up "I Am Me"dotted designer paper is 3 1/8" x 4 3/8"

image panel is 1 7/8" x 3 1/8" and real red layering panel is 2 1/8" x 3 3/8"

 

The dotted designer paper is placed on an angle for some card interest. Before the image panel was secured, I added some red burlap ribbon and then some red and white bakers twine over that.

 

Made a mini bow from the same bakers twine and added a red sequin center. Even though I am using ribbon on a masculine card, it's burlap and has a masculine appeal to it. Bakers twine is not feminine or frilly so that's ok also.

 

On the so saffron embossed panel, I used the Cuttlebug birthday words embossing folder.

 

For the image panel, I die cut the balloons in real red, so saffron and pool party cardstocks to match the colors in the designer paper. I sponged the edges of the paper with the corresponding inks to give some depth.

The sentiment is from the Stampin'-Up June 2015 Paper Pumpkin set "happy thoughts". I added some red sequins to complete my card.

 

I hope this card gave you some inspiration to make a masculine card using these super cute balloon dies. That's it for me for today. So until next time.............God Bless.

 

I am also entering:

1.  Crafting By Designs has an anything goes challenge.

2.  Crafty Gals Corner has an all about the boys challenge.

3.  Creative Moments has an anything goes with a twist of adding a sentiment

4.  Inspiration Destination Challenge #75 is anything goes

5.  The Crafty Addicts has an anything goes-card for a man challenge.

 

Birthday card in a box

 

other view

 

rear view

 Hello Blogger Friends and a happy March 1st to all of you. My hubby told me that our tulips just popped up through the ground. A sure sign that spring will be here shortly. Not that we had such a terrible winter because we didn't.

 

They are about an inch high at this point but just big enough that the deer will start chewing them. He usually sprays some organic deer repellent to keep them away. Otherwise we wouldn't have any flowers.

 

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for the color challenge #572 on Splitcoaststampers. Maura is our hostess and she chose real red, wild wasabi, marina mist and pacific point.

 

These colors seemed like great ones for a masculine card. So that was my starting point. From there I decided on a birthday card and from there I went with a card in a box. They are always such fun to make and receive. I have lots of guys who will appreciate a card like this.

The pacific point designer paper I used on the front, back and side panels is from the Stampin'-Up "schoolhouse collection".

The balloons and cupcakes are dies from Cottage Cutz. I cut the balloons in the challenge colors and then sponged the edges for depth. The cupcakes are cut from Stampin'-Up designer paper.

My front panel "happy" word is cut with a die from MFT in real red. I added some candles and fussy cut them. They are from the Stampin'-Up "party this way" set as is the birthday word.

On the back panel I die cut a circle and stamped my sentiment. This one is from the Stampin'-Up "birthday greetings" set.

There is a tutorial here and here on how to create and decorate these cards. I just bought a die from Sizzix that cuts the box template for you. Makes it so much easier.

 

Well, Blogger friends it's time for me to close this post. I have to get ready to leave for pre-school. Our lead teacher is out today and I am running the class. Something I have done before so it's no biggie for me.

 

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

 

 

 

 

card details:

Stamps: birthday greetings, party this way (Stampin'-Up) 

Paper: pacific point, real red, wild wasabi, marina mist, whisper white, schoolhouse dsp (Stampin'-Up) 

Ink: real red, pacific point, wild wasabi 

Accessories: cupcake mini & balloon round mini (Cottage Cutz), happy hellos & blueprints 18 dies (MFT), circle die (Spellbinders), oval punch (Stampin'-Up) 

Techniques: pop up box card   

I am also entering:

1.  ABC Challenge is "C" for cute. 

2.  Dies R Us has a shaped card challenge

3.  Simon Says Stamp has an anything goes challenge.