Welcome To the Neighborhood

 

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with the Charmed Life Blog. It's such a beautiful summer day here in Pittsburgh. Lots of sunshine warm temps and no humidity. We have all our windows open and a gentle breeze is blowing through the house. Love days like this when we can give the air conditioner a break.

 

Today is my day for posting my DT creation on the CottageCutz Blog. For your viewing pleasure, I am featuring several new dies set from the June "Home Sweet Home" release. This release is chock full of dies that are all about the home. 

I thought I would make a "welcome to the neighborhood" card and also make it an easel card. Here in my neighborhood we have a lot of new families with young children that are moving in. So a handmade card along with a meal or a dessert is what I like to do to welcome them. It is always so appreciated by the busy Mom's and Dad's.

 

So let's get started with the details on how I created this easel card. Just an fyi - you can click on any photo to make it larger.

Step 1: cut your cardstock to 4 ¼” x 11”. Score at 5 ½” and then at 8 ¼”. Your card front will measure 5 ½”.

 

Step 2: Fold your card in half and then fold the other score line in the opposite direction.

 

Step 3: Use Scor-tape or other strong double sided adhesive on the small flap. Remove the liner and tape another piece of cardstock cut at 4 /14’ x 5 ½” to the tape lined flap.

 

Step 4: This creates the easel card base. Now it’s time to decorate the card front.

 

Since this is an outdoor scene, I wanted to add some sponged clouds to the card front. I have a well used cloud template. Even though its stained with blue inks, it doesn't affect your card. I move it around several times until I get the look I want.

I sponged just a few clouds on the white cardstock panel. This layer measures 4 1/8" x 5 3/8".

Then I started my die cutting. I used the Build-A-House Set 1. This set has the ability to make 3 different style houses. It also includes doors, windows, window boxes, a dormer and a chimney. It's an awesome set of dies, my friends. For the glass panes in the windows and door, I used vellum paper and sponged lightly with yellow distress ink. I wanted to give the appearance of light inside the house. 

 

For my outside accessories, I used the CottageCutz Build-A-House and the Garden Accessories dies. I added the lamppost, front steps, a mailbox, a fence and some pretty tulips. I added a sun that was cut from the Springs Stamps die collection. That completed my card front. Love all the detail on the roof.

 

Now it's time to start the inside and complete the easel look. In order to have the easel card stand up by itself, add an embellishment or an extra layer to the inside of the card. On my card I used the welcome word to keep the card from closing. Ideally, place the embellishment or layer at least 1/3 up from the bottom.

 

 

There are several new Expressions word dies released this month and the Welcome word is one of them. I used it along with my stamped sentiment for a welcoming message. I added some homemade enamel dots and a little black dog to complete my card. The dog is part of the Build-A-House Accessories dies.

 

 

Well, friends that's it for me for today. Hope you enjoyed my little tutorial. Until next time.......God bless.

 

Dies Used:

 

I m also entering:

1.  Crafty Girls Creations has an anything goes challenge.

2.  Southern Girls has an anything goes challenge.
3.  Sisterhood of Crafters has a create your own background challenge.

 

 

~Nautical Hugs From Afar~

 

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with the Charmed Life Blog. I think I have recovered from my West Coast trip. It seems to take me a few days to get back on East Coast time. I may be going back in mid-August for a week or so. Not sure yet.

 

Our next big trip will be to the beach in mid-July. I love going to the beach with my family. It's always a relaxing time and wonderful conversations with my grandsons. This year we are going to the Isle of Palms which is near Charleston, South Carolina. I am looking forward to going into Charleston and do some sight seeing.

 

Now onto my card for today. This one I made using the salted background technique. I used some Stampin-Up reinkers in coastal cabana, bashful blue and night of navy and an aqua brush and painted onto glossy cardstock. Then I sprinkled with chunky sea salt and spritzed with more water. the colors will blend a little more at this point. I set it aside to dry. After it dries you just brush off the salt.

 

With this technique, you get a different look each time you do it. It also depends on the colors you use. This one reminded me of water and sky so I went with a nautical theme.

 

My sailboat is from Memory Box and the airplane and banner are from Impression Obsession. The sentiment I used is from Verve. Well, my friends that's it for me for today. Have lots to do around my home. Nothing fun just chores like laundry and spot cleaning etc.

 

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

 

card details:

Stamps: Verve

Paper: night of navy, white, Kromekote glossy card stock

Paper Size: A2   

Ink: Reinkers: bashful blue, coastal cabana, night of navy   

Accessories: aqua painter, marina sailboats (Memory Box), plane with banner die (Impression Obsession)  

Techniques: salted background

 

I am also entering:

1.  Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge is anything goes.

2  Crafty Creations has an anything goes challenge.

3.  Crafty Gals Corner has an anything goes challenge.

4.  Inky Impressions has a Summertime Challenge.

5.  Mod Squad Challenge is Nautical.

 

~Whale Done~

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with the Charmed Life Blog. I returned from San Francisco in the wee hours of Friday. A series of mishaps in San Francisco caused me to have my flight rescheduled. So instead of returning at 8:30 pm I didn't get in until 1:00 am. I am still running on West Coast time so hopefully my internal clock adapts back to my time zone quickly.

It was a great visit with Phoenix Daisy, and I am already looking forward to her visit next month for 10 days here in Pittsburgh. She even gets to stay with me along for 4 days while her parents take a little side trip.

It will be a first for her and she is excited. Hopefully that excitement transfers over to bedtime when Mommy isn't here. I don't have any trouble at all in San Francisco at bedtime. I am thinking it will be the same here In Pittsburgh.

Now onto my card for today. This one I created as my sample for the color challenge #589 on Splitcoaststampers. Barbara is our hostess and she rose red, elegant eggplant and island indigo for her color trio. Optional this week is to use ribbon.

rose red, elegant eggplant, island indigo

This week we are also saying goodbye to Peggy aka pegmac71 and so we decided to dedicate the challenge to her this week. You can read more about it here. I went with a beach themed card because Peggy loves the beach. Well who wouldn’t- living in Florida (lol)!! You know what I mean???

I am using some new dies from Reverse Confetti and also their June sketch #37. Love the octopus as well as the little crab stamps and dies.

 My background designer paper is from the Stampin-Up “festival of prints” collection. I thought the stripes gave it some nautical appeal. The colors in the paper are island indigo and early espresso. Espresso is a deep rich brown shade but sometimes it wants to photo darker and look black. I am using it as one of my neutrals this week along with very vanilla.

Stamped my octopus and crab in rose red ink and the whale in island indigo ink. To get the eggplant color on the card and this week's optional, I used elegant eggplant ribbon and candy dots. The side flags are cut from early espresso cardstock.

 
The sentiment is from the Reverse Confetti “seaside” set. I stamped in elegant eggplant ink. I chose this sentiment because Peggy has done a fantastic job for the past 7 years for our team. Goodbye and God bless my sweet friend.

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

Card details:
Stamps: seaside (Reverse Confetti)
Ink: rose red, elegant eggplant, island indigo (Stampin’-Up)
Paper: island indigo, very vanilla, early espresso, festival of prints dsp (Stampin;-Up)
Accessories: seaside dies (Reverse Confetti), elegant eggplant enamel dots & grosgrain ribbon (Stampin’-Up)flag stax die (MFT)

I am also entering:
1.  Crafting From the Heart has an anything goes challenge.
2.  Use Your Stuff has a good things in 3's challenge. I used 3 images-3 colors-3 embellies-ribbon-enamel dots and flags
3.  Lil Patch of Crafty Friends has an anything goes challenge.


 

~Christmas Candles~

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with the Charmed Life Blog. I am still out in San Francisco although today is my last day here. 

My son and daughter-in-law returned home last night. She went to do some errands and Phoenix Daisy wanted to go with her. So I took the opportunity to get a blog post done. Tonight we are going out to dinner to celebrate Father's Day since they were in Mexico on Sunday. And before dinner the girls are going to a ceramic shop to do a little painting before we meet up with my son. It will be fun.

I miss my hubby and am ready to go back home. Tomorrow will be a long day of travel. They are all coming here in July for 10 days so I will get to spend time with them soon. Looking forward to their visit.  Phoenix will get to stay with me alone for 3 days while my son and daughter-in-law go to a concert. She and I are both excited about that. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for the color challenge ##585. I was the hostess for this challenge, and I chose wild wasabi, cherry cobbler and gold  for the color trio. I decided to go with a Christmas theme for my card. 

I used some Memory Box dies to create the Christmas candle and window scene. On the background, I used the Kassie's Brocade embossing folder from Cuttlebug. I inked it up with gold ink before putting my paper inside. 

For the sentiment, I used the Stampin'-Up set "come to Bethlehem". Used the MFT bracket die as an anchor. I plan on making about 10 of this design for Christmas. 

Well, my friends that's it for me for today. My next post will be done from my home in Pittsburgh. So until next time.......God bless.

card details:

Stamps: come to Bethlehem (Stampin'-Up) Paper: cherry cobbler, wild wasabi, whisper white (Stampin'-Up), gold mirror, ivory metallic(Recollections) Paper Size: A2 Ink: wild wasabi (Stampin'-Up), tuxedo black (Memento), gold (color box) Accessories: glowing candles, small gothic arch, small gothic window (Memory Box), bracket tab (MFT), Kassie's brocade EF (Cuttlebug) I am also entering: 1.  Stampin' Royalty has a "to die for" challenge.  2.  Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge is to add a little shimmer.  3.  A Snowflakes Promise has an anything goes Christmas challenge.

~Father's Day Lighthouse~

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit wit the Charmed Life Blog. Today is Father's Day here in the US. 

I am still away in San Francisco taking care of my granddaughter. We will celebrate Father's Day here on Wednesday when my son and daughter-in-law return from their little getaway. Then I will celebrate with my hubby when I return from San Francisco. 

While I was getting Phoenix Daisy ready for bed tonight she lost her 2nd baby tooth. She was so excited. We went through the process of putting it under her pillow and wait for the tooth fairy. It's been a few years since I went through this with her Daddy. It was exciting for me as well. I will post the photo I took of her tomorrow. It's on my cell phone and I am typing this post late and want to get it finished to get to bed. I will have a busy day with her tomorrow and she does wear me out. 

So let's move onto my card for today. This one I made for my son in Pittsburgh for Father's Day. I used the colors from the Splitcoaststampers color challenge #579. I was the hostess and I chose lost lagoon, hello honey and basic gray for my color palette. Optional was to make it masculine. 

I started by stenciling a sun in hello honey ink for my background. For my water, I used a stamp from PaperTrey Ink- the "ombre builders" set. It reminds me of waves. My Misti tool came in handy for placement and repeat stamping. The sentiment is a set from Waltzingmouse "man of the hour" also stamped in lost lagoon. 

Now for my die cut images. The lighthouse, sailboat and birds are dies from CottageCutz. They are part of the Nautical Release. 

For my sand, I used the Lawn Fawn hillside die and cut with whisper white cardstock. Sponged with crumb cake and soft suede ink and then for the sand granules, I used a stamp from Just For Fun but just inked up the sand grains with crumb cake ink.

Well, that's it for me for today. Time to get myself into bed and rest this body for tomorrow's full day with Phoenix Daisy. So until next time........God bless.

card details:

Stamps: man of the hour (Waltzingmouse), ombre builders (PaperTrey Ink), sunset at the seashore (Just For Fun) Paper: lost lagoon, whisper white, basic gray, hello honey Paper Size: A2 Ink: lost lagoon, hello honey, crumb cake, soft suede Accessories: : sailboat (large) & lighthouse with clouds dies (CottageCutz), Sunray stencil (MFT), stitched hillsides die (Lawn Fawn)

I am also entering:

1.   Amusing Challenges wants us to go masculine. 

2.  Come and Get It Challenge is Father's Day. 

3.  Crafty Calendar Challenge has a Father's Day/for a male.

~Birdhouse and Vine~

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with the Charmed Life Blog. I am out in San Francisco taking care of my sweet little granddaughter. My son and daughter-in-law went away for a few days of much needed r & r. 

I will be here until next Thursday although they come back on Tuesday. My hubby didn't make it this trip. He couldn't juggle the days with his work schedule. Phoenix Daisy is still in preschool for another week but it's just for half days and then she is done. My daughter-in-law is a teacher and her last day was yesterday. 

So I am typing this post while I have a few free minutes. I just dropped Phoenix off at school. Tonight I will be too tired to do anything after she goes to bed (lol). 

This card I made for my DT post on the CottageCutz blog on Wednesday. I just didn't have time to get it on this blog before I left for San Francisco. 

I am featuring a new die set from the May “This and That” release. I have used the Birdhouse with Vine set to create a sweet card of encouragement. You probably know someone that could use a little cheering up and a handmade card is a great way to do that. I just love the detail on the birdhouse roof. CottageCutz dies stand apart with the detail, in my opinion. 

In planning my card, I knew I wanted to use this die set and this patterned paper. So all that was left for me was the layout. I used this week's MojoMonday 452 sketch for my card. 

First, the background designer paper was actually an envelope that I cut to 4 1/8" x 5 3/8". It was part of the March Stampin'-Up Paper Pumpkin kit. Just another way to re-purpose our supplies and it was the perfect color for my bermuda bay card base. 

re-purposed envelope

envelope cut to 4 1/8" x 5 3/8" and card base 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"

My next step in the sketch was to cut the large circle. I used both the CottageCutz circle and the stitched circle dies because I wanted a wide circle frame. This way all the pretty designer paper isn't covered up with the other layers. Just another way to do something a little different with the sketch. I simply laid both dies on the magnetic platform of my BigShot machine and cut it.

2nd largest stitched circle and 3rd largest circle die

cut circle size 3 3/8"

 I then cut my rectangle layer using the CottageCutz rectangle dies. I used the 2nd largest rectangle die. I have been asked how I figure out the different shape sizes on a sketch. What I do is look at the sketch and then just guess-timate. I could have made the rectangle a little larger but again I didn't want to cover up the background paper.

I cut the birdhouse from Stampin'-Up tangerine tango cardstock and the bird and vine in bermuda bay cardstock. I stamped my sentiment and added some home made enamel dots. 

Adhered this panel to my card and then added my ribbon. Since it is only 1/8" wide I wrapped it around the patterned paper 3x. I made a small bow and used glue dots to secure it to ribbon. I used the bow in place of the rectangle piece of this sketch.

Well that's it for me for this post. And as a reminder, we are having our 3rd challenge and this one has a pocket theme. Get more info here. There are prizes to be won so get your craft on with CottageCutz dies and enter the challenge.

TIP: I made the enamel dots using Perler beads. They are the plastic ones that kids use for projects. I placed them on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and baked them at 325° for 35 minutes. There is no smell when they are in the oven. They melt into a round shape. I let them cool and then removed them from the pan. I used the same paper and baked another batch. Don't place them too close together or they will melt together.  

Until next time.........God bless. 

I am also entering:

1.  Crafting With Friends has an anything goes challenge. 
2.  Polkadoodles has a die cut challenge. 
3.  Really Reasonable Ribbon has a sizzlin' summer colors with ribbon challenge. 

 

~You're My Clark Kent~

 

Hello Blogger Friends and thanks for stopping in at the Charmed Life Blog on this Monday in June. Hope you had a great weekend.

 

We celebrated my Mother-in-law's 86th birthday yesterday. She is still able to get around on her own, drives locally and has a strong mind. She likes going to Bravo so that's where we took her. The staff knows her there and the manager came over to wish her a happy birthday. They sent desserts for the table. We all picked something from the menu to enjoy.

 

Then last night our Pittsburgh Penguins Hockey team won the Stanley Cup. It was an exciting game to watch. There were even fireworks in our neighborhood at game conclusion.

 

We also had a terrible shooting at a club in Florida on Saturday night. It is being labeled as a terrorist attack. My prayers go out to the families who lost loved ones in the senseless attack.

 

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for the color challenge #586 on Splitcoaststampers. Vicki was our hostess and she chose garden green, pool party and marina mist as her color trio. Optional was to make a Father's Day card.

 

garden green, pool party, marina mist

Good for me since I have a few to make yet. This one is for my hubby and he is my “Clark Kent” aka superman.

 The Clark Kent sentiment and glasses are from MFT. I bought them a few months ago and am finally getting around to using them. I die cut the glasses in black card stock 3x and adhered together. I used some glossy accents on top to give them the look of plastic frames.

Also used the MFT Blueprints 18 dies for the other elements on my card. The background designer paper is from the BoBunny –“Santorini Stripe” pattern. Love how it matches the Stampin’-Up marina mist cardstock

I added some candy dots to complete my card. I made the dots from Perler beads and melted them in the oven. I saw a little tutorial on Julia aka artystamper’s blog. They melt in the oven at 325° into this round shape and there is no smell. Now you can have some basic colors of dots at a fraction of the cost to buy them.

 

And, that my friends is my card for today. So until next time........God bless.

 

card details:

Stamps: geek is chic (MFT)

Paper: marina mist, garden green, pool party, Santorini Stripe dp (BoBunny)

Paper Size: A2   

Ink: tuxedo black (Memento) 

Accessories: geek is chic, Blueprints 18 dies (MFT), glossy accents (Ranger), Perler Beads 

 

I am also entering:

1.  613 Avenue Create has an anything goes challenge.

2.  Dragonfly Journeys has a Daddy Day care challenge.

3.  Glitter 'N Sparkle has a Father's Day challenge.

4.  Pile It On has an old, new, blue challenge. Old=do, new=dies & stamps, blue=card colors.

5.  Crazy For Challenges has a make it masculine challenge.

   

Fancy Pocket Plus Father's Day

 

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with the Charmed Life Blog. We have our youngest grandson here for the day. He spent the night with us which is always good for him and we love having him. Thought I would get this blog post done before he wakes up and our day starts.

 

Today is my weekly DT post on the CottageCutz blog. So let's get started with the details on how I created my card. I am featuring a new die set from the May release. I have used the Fancy Pocket Plus die along with dies from the March Nautical release and created a Father's Day card. This big day is approaching quickly so time to get busy making a card for your Dad, hubby, sons etc.

I started my card this week with the idea of using the Fancy Pocket Plus die and from there my Father's Day card developed.  Once I decided on a nautical theme, I looked through my designer paper stash to see what would work best. I already had my color scheme somewhat figured out.  I found this Stmpin'-Up "nautical expedition" collection that had a map on it and one of the colors I wanted to use.

 

Card base: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"Designer paper: 4 1/8" x 5 3/8"

 

Once the base and layer panels were cut, I started on my pocket. This new fancy pocket plus die makes it so easy to create a pocket for your card. No more measuring and scoring, It's all figured out for you with this die.

After it's cut all you have to do is fold on the score lines and then tape together. Easy Peasy! I used Scor-tape to secure it. It's a strong double sided adhesive so you don't have to worry about the pocket coming apart.

 

 

Now that I had my pocket assembled, I wanted to make an insert for the pocket. I cut more of the designer paper at 2 1/4" x 3 3/8". I decorated this with the lighthouse w/clouds die and stamped a Father's Day sentiment. The sentiment is from the Verve "strong anchor set".

The outside of the pocket is adorned with the pelican die and some starfish cut with the paddles & rope ladder die. I added a small clip to the insert to make it easy to remove from the pocket and for added interest.

I taped this pocket to the front of my card base along with a sailboat. Used the sailboat large die and cut with a deep red cardstock to complete the front of my card.

Stamped another sentiment on the inside and also decorated it with the rope from the paddles & rope ladder die and a crab using the crab die.

card inside

And, that is my card for this week. We are having another challenge over on the CottageCutz blog. There are prizes to be won. Get all the info here.

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

 

 

I am also entering:

1.  Inspiration Destination has an anything goes challenge.

2.  The Male Room has a Father's Day challenge.

3.  Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge is Father's Day/For a guy 

4.  Cardz For Guys has a Father's Day challenge.

5.  Tuesday Throwdown has a man's world challenge.