~Birthday Blossoms~

 

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with the Charmed Life Blog. Hope your holiday weekend was a great one. Ours was busy with lots of activity and definitely enjoyable.

 

We celebrate memorial Day as a way to remember and honor the sacrifice of those who have given their life in defense of our great nation. There were parades is so many of the local communities. The news media reported that there is a rise in patriotism in the US. That's always good to hear. There is still lots of good about the US and I am proud to be an American.

 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for the color challenge #584 on Splitcoaststampers. Maura was our hostess and she chose watermelon wonder, crushed curry and pumpkin pie. Our option this week was to use our favorite green. 

 

I chose old olive although not necessarily my fave. I think it’s a good color for leaves.

For my card this week, I decided I wanted to do some coloring of flowers. So I chose the Verve set “be blessed” because I like the flower images and I could color them. For the coloring I used the Stampin’-Up pumpkin pie Blendabilities, and also the Copic markers of R24 & R27. I thought they were a good match for the watermelon wonder.

I used the Verve “petal points” die to cut the flowers and I popped them up with some dimensional adhesive. The background designer paper is from the Stampin’-Up “color me irresistible” collection. I like the black backdrop to showcase my flowers. 

The leaves are cut from the CottageCutz leaves & stems die. My butterfly is also a CottageCutz “fancy pocket plus” die set.

Cut my center strip in crushed curry with an MFT die. The sentiment is from the same Verve set and I used the MFT flag stax dies to cut the flag. I am spreading the love around this week with the different dies and companies (lol).

 

Well, that's it for me for today. Off to finish my DT card for the CottageCutz post on Wednesday. Then we have my grandson's baseball game this evening. So until next time.......God bless.

 

card details:

Stamps: be blessed (Verve)  

Paper: crushed curry, whisper white, color me irresistible & eastern elegance dsp (Stampin’-Up) X-press it blending cardstock (Copic) 

Paper Size: A2  

Ink: tuxedo black (Memento) 

Accessories: pumpkin pie blendabilities, regal candy dots (Stampin’-Up), R24 & R27 Copic markers, leaves & stems die (CottageCutz), flag stax & blueprints 3 dies (MFT). Petal points die (Verve) Techniques: alcohol markers   

 

I am also entering: 

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

2.  613 Avenue Create has an anything goes challenge

3.  Glitter n' Sparkle has a flower power challenge.

 

 

~April Showers bring May Flowers~

 

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with the Charmed Life Blog. It's Wednesday and halfway through the final week of May.

 

The first holiday weekend of summer is coming up. We will be having some appropriate weather for the kickoff here in Pittsburgh. It's also my middle grandson's prom on Friday and my brother is having a barbecue at his home on Saturday. Trout is on his menu-yum! so glad we were invited.

 

Onto my card for today. this one I created for my DT post on the CottageCutz blog. Today for your viewing pleasure, I am featuring a new die set from the May release. This one is the Spring Stamps die. It's an 8 piece die set with just the cutest images for your card making. Joanne has made it so easy to make a really cute card with this new set.  In fact, I think this die set almost makes the card for you (lol)!!!

So lets get started with how I put this card together. How I started my design process this week was with my papers and colors. I came across this patterned paper in my stash the other day and decided I was going to use it sooner than later.

Card Base: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" - using Stampin'-Up coastal cabana cardstock
Designer Paper Layer: 4 1/8" x 5 3/8"- using Stampin'-Up "Eastern Elegance"

 

Then I decided on my layout and found this older MojoMonday sketch. It's a good one to use all 4 of the squares from this new Spring Stamps set. Sketches are such a good way to get your card design going.

 

I thought the die cut squares would look good in a darker shade as a backdrop for the images. I chose Stampin'-Up basic gray and cut 4 of them. Each square die in this set has a different edge and is a 1 1/2" square. There is a scallop, a postage stamp edge, a pierced square and a stitched square. I used all 4 patterns.

 

 

Cut the images next and adhered them to the squares. The bird image is cut in coastal cabana and then I pieced old olive cardstock for the branch and leaf. On the cloud image I sponged some lovely lilac and night of navy inks to represent a rain cloud. I arranged them according to my sentiment the rain and sun brings the flowers and birds in spring.

 

 

I cut a 1" x 4 1/8" panel of the coastal cabana cardstock and used a Cuttlebug "just my type" embossing folder for background texture. Attached the panel right below the squares.

 

 

 

My sentiment is computer generated in Word 2016. It reads "April sun and showers bring May flowers". I used word art to put in a circular fashion. I won't give instructions here but if you want to know how I did this just leave a comment and I will get back to you. Cut with the stitched circles die using the 4th largest die. 

 

 

My butterfly is cut from another new die, the Fancy Pocket Plus. I will have a sample using the complete die in the coming weeks. Scattered a few centers that were left from the flowers I cut to complete my card.

Well, friends that's it for me for today. Just a little reminder that you still have 6 days to get your card completed for our 2nd challenge. This one is spring themed. Get more info here. These new dies would be perfect for the challenge.

 

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

 

I am also entering:

1.  Crafty Gals Challenge #73 is anything goes.

2.  Inspiration Destination has an anything goes challenge #87.

3.  Mod Squad Challenge is use it or lose it. I used some never used 2 yr old dsp. 

4.  Simon Says Stamp has an anything goes challenge.

 

  

~Thank You~

 

Hello Blogger friends and thanks for taking the time to visit with the Charmed Life Blog. Hope your weekend was a good one.

 

I had a fairly quiet one but enjoyed it nonetheless. Sunday after church we came home and I made our favorite brunch. Pancakes, eggs and sausage. The sausage came from Serenity Hills Farm a local farm that sells grass fed beef with no antibiotics or growth hormones. Their pork sausage is absolutely delicious and flavored with maple.

 

We have also enjoyed their lamb coming in the form of a gyro burger. So yummy and I even made my own Tzatziki sauce. That's the sauce that is put on gyros. It's made with Greek yogurt, cucumber, lemon juice and zest, fresh dill and garlic. It really flavored the lamb burgers.

 

All this food talk is making me hungry so I better move onto my card for today. This is another I created for the color challenge #583 on Splitcoaststampers. Barbara is our hostess and she chose so saffron, tempting turquoise and melon mambo as her color palette. Optional is water coloring. I took Barbara’s hint and mixed colors to get a green for my leaves.

so saffron, tempting turquoise, melon mambo

I wanted to use the Stampin’-Up “all about everything” stamp set I received in my Paper Pumpkin kit in April. I thought it would look good with my faux water coloring. What is faux water coloring you ask? Just read on and I will explain (lol)!!

The 2 smaller flowers were inked with picked raspberry distress ink, spritzed with water and then I stamped. I stamped a 2nd time without reinking. For the leaves, I just mixed wild honey and tumbled glass distress inks and made a light green shade.

The larger flower is also part of this same stamp set. I stamped the image and then fussy cut it. Completed my card with the sentiment. It’s also part of the same set.

The layout is last week’s MojoMonday #448 sketch. The background designer paper is from the Stampin’-Up “sweet pea” collection”. And, that's my card for today. Time to get busy with my day.......until next time, God bless.

 

 

card details:

Stamps: all about everything (Stampin’-Up Paper Pumpkin Kit April 2016)  

Paper: so saffron, melon mambo, sweet pea dsp (Stampin’-Up), distress watercolor cardstock (Ranger) 

Paper Size: A2

Ink: tuxedo black (Memento), so saffron (Stampin’-Up), picked raspberry, wild honey, tumbled glass distress inks (Ranger)  

Accessories: rectangle stax dies (MFT), square die (CottageCutz)    

 

I am also entering: 

1.  Artistic Inspirations has an anything goes/flowers challenge.

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

3.  Make My Monday has a in the garden challenge.

4.  613 Avenue Create has an anything goes with an optional twist of create your own challenge-mine is A2 card, encouragement, watercolor.

5.  Glitter 'n Sparkle has an anything goes challenge.

 

~What I like about You~

 

Hello Blogger friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with the Charmed Life Blog this Saturday in May.

 

It's a overcast and rainy day here in Pittsburgh. So perfect for staying indoors and doing some creating. Not that any day isn't perfect for creating (lol)! We crafters don't seem to need an excuse.

 

My hubby is off to work this afternoon and I have no plans. So card making is definitely on for me today. I hope to get 2 cards made but that doesn't always work out the way I planned.

 

I am such a slow crafter and sometimes I get stuck on a design or I try so many variations that I can't decide what to use. Don't know if that happens to anyone else.

 

Working 3 hours on a single card is very common for me. And, today I have no idea of what I am going to do. So that could mean extra time. But, all in all I love being creative and working in my craft room.

 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for color challenge #583 on Splitcoaststampers. Barbara is our hostess and she chose so saffron, tempting turquoise and melon mambo for her color trio. Optional is to watercolor.

so saffron, tempting turquoise, melon mambo

Barbara gave us a hint on mixing colors to get a green shade for my leaves. I took her hint and really like the shade of green that turned out for this card. 

 I wanted to use the Stampin'-Up "all about everything" stamp set I received in my Paper Pumpkin kit in April. I thought it would look good with my faux water coloring. What is faux water coloring you ask? Just read on and I will explain (lol)!!

On this card, I inked the flowers in picked raspberry and wild honey distress inks and tempting turquoise dye ink and then spritzed with water before stamping. Hence my faux watercoloring.

Again to get the green for the leaves, I laid down wild honey and tumbled glass distress inks on my craft mat and spritzed with water. Each time I did this technique I got a different shade of green.

The sentiment is from the "all about everything" stamp set as well. My large flower is from the Stampin'-Up "flower patch" set. I used the matching punch to punch it out. Completed this card with some melon mambo enamel dots.

The layout is this week's MojoMonday #448 sketch. I really like using angled panels.

 

The background designer paper is from the Stampin'-Up "perfectly artistic" collection". And, the angled panel designer paper is from the Stampin'-Up "gingham garden" collection.

 

Well, my friends, that's it for me for today. Off to pack my hubby's lunch and then sort my laundry so I can head off to my craft room this afternoon.  Until next time......God bless.

 

card details:

Stamps: all about everything (Stampin'-Up Paper Pumpkin Kit April 2016), flower patch (Stampin'-Up)

Paper: melon mambo, perfectly artistic & gingham garden dsp (Stampin'-Up) 

Paper Size: A2    

Ink: tuxedo black (Memento), so saffron, tempting turquoise (Stampin'-Up), picked raspberry, wild honey, tumbled glass distress inks (Ranger) 

Accessories: it's my party enamel dots (Stampin'-Up) 

 

I am also entering:    

1.  Crafty Catz has an anything goes challenge.

2.  Fussy and Fancy has a punch/die cut challenge.

3.  Jo's Scrap Shack has a 321 challenge. I used 3 colors, 2 embellishments- enamel dots and die cut flower & 1 technique-faux watercoloring

  

Sharing Your Sorrow

 

Hello Blogger Friends and a happy Friday to you all. Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with the Charmed Life Blog.

 

Yesterday, I happened to notice that since I returned from San Francisco the leaves on all the neighborhood trees have burst forth. Everything looks so beautiful in bloom. We have more spring flowers coming up. The tulips are all done for another season.

 

But, my hubby has plenty of other flowers that will take their place. He does such a great job year after year with our gardens. It's definitely not my thing but, I love the look he achieves out there.

 

My thing is my card making. So onto the card for today. This is a 3rd sample that I created for color challenge #581. Our hostess was Karen was our hostess and she chose blackberry bliss, wisteria wonder, soft sky and pear pizzazz for her color palette. Optional was to use sequins.

blackberry bliss, wisteria wonder, soft sky, pear pizzazz

On this card I simply sponged the challenge colors on whisper white cardstock. I stamped the silhouette image in blackberry bliss. It's from an old Stampin'-Up set - kind and caring thoughts".

Everything reminded me of a sympathy card so that's the direction I went with my sentiment. I never have these type cards on hand when I need one. I used some Stampin'-Up striped designer paper from the "park lane" collection and added a ½" strip on each side of my blackberry bliss card base. I used dimensional adhesive to pop up the image panel

To finish off the card I scattered some sequins and die cut a butterfly. Well, that's it for me for today Blogger friends. Hope you have a great weekend and can include some crafty time. So until next time.......God bless.

 

card details:

Stamps: kind and caring thoughts, Thoughts & Prayers (Stampin'-Up)  

Paper: blackberry bliss, whisper white, Park Lane dsp (Stampin'-Up) 

Paper Size: A2  

Ink: blackberry bliss, wisteria wonder, soft sky, pear pizzazz  

Accessories: sequins (Stampin'-Up), exotic butterfly (Cheery Lynn Designs)

 

I am also entering:

1.  Aud Sentiments challenge is anything goes + a sentiment.

2.  Time Out Challenges has a "may all your weeds be wildflowers".

3.  A Beautiful Mess has an anything goes challenge.

4.  Brown Sugar Challenge has an anything goes.

5.  Crafting With Friends has an anything goes challenge.

 

 

 

~Made of Wonderful~

 

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

 

We had our little program at preschool last night. The kids did such a great job singing for their parents and grandparents. Now we are officially on summer break.

 

It felt a little odd being able to sleep in a bit this morning. Although, I am not back on my regular schedule yet since my return from San Francisco. It takes me a few days to get back on East Coast time.

 

Today, I am also going to pick up my youngest grandson from school. I haven't seen him for a couple of weeks. My hubby took him golfing while I was away. Ethan really likes doing this and especially since he gets to drive the golf cart and have one-on-one time with his Pap.

 

I have quite a few things to do around my home so let's get started with my card. This one I made for the Splitcoaststampers color challenge #582. Peggy was our hostess and she chose a great color palette with real red, cucumber crush and sahara sand. Her optional item was to make it a picnic.

 

I found this gingham paper in my stash that was already cut with the Martha Stewart "garden trellis" punch. A score for me! So I decided to create a strawberry vine climbing up the trellis. I layered the gingham paper over sahara sand cardstock.

I used the CottageCutz "strawberry die" and cut in both cucumber crush and real red. My sentiment is from the Stampin'-Up picture perfect set. The flourish is from The Paper Pumpkin kit "chalk it up to love" kit.

 

Well, that's my card for today. Hope you find some to get crafty. Speaking of getting crafty, we are having our 2nd challenge on the CottageCutz blog. There are prizes to be won. Get all the info here.

 

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

 

 

card details:

Stamps: picture perfect, Paper Pumpkin Kit August 2015 (Stampin'-Up)

Paper: : sahara sand, cucumber crush, real red, whisper white, (Stampin'-Up) red tablecloth paper (Karen Foster) 

Paper Size: A2 

Ink: tuxedo black (Memento) 

Accessories: strawberry die, circle dies (CottageCutz)

 

I am also entering: 

1.  Crafting With An Attitude has an anything goes challenge.

2.  Cute Card Thursday has a food and or drink challenge.

3.  Little Red Wagon has a blooming fun challenge. My strawberries on the vine are in full bloom.

4.  The Crafty Addicts challenge is anything goes/add a sentiment.

5.  Inspiration Destination is anything goes.
6.  Cut It Up has a strawberry challenge.

  

   

Birthday Skirt Fold Technique

Hello Blogger Friends and a happy Wednesday to you all. Well, school is out for the summer. Yesterday was our final class at preschool. Tonight we have a little program as a sendoff for the kids. They will be singing a few songs for their parents and guests. They have all done well during practice so it will be a great evening.

 

Today's post is a bit long but I have a photo tutorial of the card I made. This is also posted over on the CottageCutz blog for my Wednesday DT post. So let's get started.

 

Skirt Fold Technique instructions:

 

Step 1: Start with your choice of patterned paper measuring 3" x 6. You score at 3/4", 1", 1 3/4", 2", 2 3/4", 3", 3 3/4", 4".

 

Step 2: Your paper needs cut in order to create an angle. Lay the paper on your trimmer with the wider part that is not scored to your right. The 2nd score line should be in the groove of your trimmer. The top left corner of your paper should be at the 1 1/2" mark on your trimmer. It will be at an angle in your trimmer and you just cut from point to point.

click on photo to enlarge to see score lines

 

 

Step 3: Fold accordion style, back and forth, on your score lines. The finished folded piece will look like this.

 

 

 Step 4: To hold the folds in place add some adhesive to the back of each pleat.

 

Step 5: Attach patterned paper to white card base. Base measure 3 7/8" x 5 1/2". At this point I also added my ribbon at the top of the skirt fold pleats. I think it adds a finished look. No photo of adding the ribbon step.

 

Step 6: Die-cut the teacups & flowers image. I used X-Press It card stock because I colored the image with alcohol markers.

 

 

Step 7: Attached teacup & flowers image to card base.  Stamped a sentiment and added some enamel dots.

 

I also added a die cut heart from the brand new fancy pocket plus dies to the bottom of my card. I am giving you a little sneak peek of the new This N That CottageCutz dies that were just released. There is a 25% off sale right now at the Scrapping Cottage store. More to come with these fabulous new dies.

 

 

 

Just a reminder about our newest challenge and there are prizes to be won. The theme is Spring and you have until May 31st to enter. Get all the deets here.

 

Thanks for sticking around to the end. Hope you enjoyed the post- until next time.....God bless.

 

I am also entering:

1.  Come and Get It Challenge is a fancy fold.

2 Craft-Dee Bowz has an anything goes with a handmade bow.

3.  2 Creative Chicks has an anything goes challenge.

4.  Creative Craft Cottage has a 3 of a kind challenge. Mine is enamel dots.

5.  Dies R Us has a birthday challenge.

 

~Thinking of You~

 

Hello Blogger Friends and a happy Monday morning! I made it back yesterday from San Francisco. It was a long day of travel, but there were no hiccups with the flights. Which is always good.

 

My sweet granddaughter Phoenix Daisy was teary eyed when I kissed her goodbye and then she was crying a lot during the day. My daughter-in-law told me that Phoenix said "I can smell Grandma but she's not here". That made my heart melt.

 

I usually used a vanilla based body lotion and she commented about it while I was there. My grandsons used to say the same thing when they were little. There comment was if you get a bath at Grandma's house then you smell just like Grandma.

 

It's interesting that a smell brings a good memory for kids. But, then I guess we, as adults, are the same way. When my son first moved o California, he would always do laundry when he was here. He told me once that he liked to take the smell of the fabric softener back home with him.  

 

Well, let's get onto the card I am posting today. This one I made for my Wednesday DT post on the CottageCutz blog. I couldn't get it posted here before I left for San Francisco.

 

I am featuring another of the April release dies. This time it's the Corner Flourish Elite die. I paired it up with the Mushroom & Flowers die to create a thinking of you card.

My card this week started with a sketch and from there I chose my patterned paper and coordinating cardstock. There are many sketch blogs on the internet and this time I chose the MojoMonday #447 sketch for my layout.

 

When you work with a sketch you don't have to follow it exactly. For instance, instead of the corner circles I used the corner flourish die. Let's get started with some more details on how I created my card. I hear card makers say that they struggle with card layouts. That's why I look for a sketch to help the process along. It just helps to get the creative juices flowing.

 

 

Cardstock and Designer Paper Measurements:

•  soft suede base measures 4 1/4" x 11" and scored at 5 1/2"
•  Stampin'-Up attic boutique designer paper measure 4 1/8" x 5 3/8"
• angled panel is cut with the CottageCutz square set. I used the largest one 3 1/2" x 3 1/2"
• rectangle patterned paper is 1 1/2" x 4 1/8". Daffodil satin ribbon is 5/8" wide.
• vanilla rectangle panel is 3 1/2" x 2 1/2"

For assembly: I die cut the corner flourishes in Stampin'-Up soft sky cardstock and attached with multi medium matte. I like this adhesive because it dries clear. I think the flourishes add an elegant touch to the card.

 

On the image panel, I used the flower from the mushroom & flowers set and cut in daffodil cardstock. I love the detail on The CottageCutz dies as well as the additional pieces that come with them. For instance, I was able to cut the pistil in the soft suede color for some great contrast. I am not a gardener, that duty falls to my hubby, but I think that's what this part of the flower is called (lol)!!!

 

 

For the sentiment, I used the thinking of you die and cut in the soft suede cardstock. I also used the multi medium matte to adhere the words. I scattered a few sequins and that completes my card for this week.

 

 

 

Well, that's it for me for today. There is another challenge on the CottageCutz Blog and prizes to be won. Get all the details here. So until next time........God bless.

 

Dies used to create my card:



 

I am also entering:

1.  Artistic Inspirations has a die cut challenge.

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

3.  The Crazy Challenge has 3 or more layers for a challenge.

4.  ABC Challenge is "H" for heavy-load the dies and embellishments.

5.  Classic Design Team Open Challenge has an anything goes.