Sending Hugs

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with The Charmed Life Blog this Labor Day weekend.

This weekend always seems to start the fall season. But, we are having warm, sunny days and the gardens are still producing profusely. I have 22 jars of tomatoes canned for winter time use. I also roasted a lot of them and put those in the freezer for winter time use.

I am not ready to let go of summer just yet. But, the seasons roll on much too quickly as all know. Today we are celebrating my daughter-in-laws birthday here at my home. I have a nice dinner planned for her. So let's get started with some details on this card before my busy day begins.

I made this card for my weekly DT post on the CottageCutz blog.  I used the new Birthday Hedgehog die to create a card of encouragement for my friend. She received a surprising medical diagnosis this week.  I also used this week's Splitcoaststampers sketch #764 for my layout.

The designer paper is from the Stampin'-Up  "gold soiree" collection. I used the coordinating colors of calypso coral, cantaloupe and garden green.  decided to add an additional layer to the sketch. I liked the coral and green coordinating colors so I went with both.

garden green card base: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"
calypso coral layering panel: 4 1/8" x 5 3/8"
designer paper layer: 3 7/8" x 5 1/8"

I cut the designer paper at 7/8", 1 1/8", 1 3/8"and 1 5/8". Adhered that to the coral base with double sided tape.

The Sending phrase is from the Sending Hugs Bear die. I cut it 2x in garden green cardstock to make it stand out on the designer paper. I attached it with Ranger multi medium matte. I like this adhesive because it dries clear unlike some other glues.  

I stamped my "hedgehugs" sentiment on a coral flag banner. It also had the word sending but I just masked that with tape before inking. I used my MISTI for placement.

To complete my card, I added this panel to the garden green base. I decided not to add any other embellishments because I thought the background scallop design was sufficient.

Dies I used to create card:

I am also entering:

1.  Allsorts has a feminine challenge.

2.  Brown Sugar has an anything goes challenge.  

3.  PolkaDoodles has an anything goes challenge.

4.  Creative Knockouts has a something to say challenge- include a sentiment.

Sweet Birthday Wishes

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

 

Well it's almost time to head back to Preschool. I was in my classroom today cleaning and organizing for our year which starts on September 10. I will go back on Thursday to get my bulletin board put together.

 

We have our welcome night on Thursday, September 5. Our first class on September 10 is only 1 hour and parents stay with their kids. We have circle time, a story and a craft. The hour goes so quickly but it introduces the 3 year old kiddos to their classroom and teachers. We may or may not have criers on the 2nd day of school when no parents stay (LOL).

 

Now let's move onto my card for today. This one I created for the color challenge #754 on Splitcoaststampers. I am the hostess and I chose gorgeous grape, lovely lipstick and coastal cabana for my color trio. Optional was to make a birthday card.

gorgeous grape, lovely lipstick, coastal cabana

For the card layout, I used the sketch from this week's Paper Players #456.

My mouse with cupcake image is fa new die from CottageCutz. I sponged the ears with lovely lipstick after I worked most of it off the sponge. I wanted it to look pink.

Background designer paper is from a watercolor pack I found at Hobby Lobby. The striped designer paper is from the Stampin'-Up "how sweet it is" collection.

The sentiment is from an MFT set. I finished off my card by scattering a few gorgeous grape enamel dots.

 

Well, that's it for me for this post. Time to dim the lights in Charmed Life land for another day. So until next time...…...God bless.

 

card details:

Stamps: bitty birthday wishes (MFT)

Paper: gorgeous grape, coastal cabana, lovely lipstick, whisper white, how sweet it is dsp (Stampin'-Up), watercolor pack (Hobby Lobby)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: gorgeous grape

Accessories: mouse with cupcake, birthday hedgehog, wacky stitched circle dies (CottageCutz), metallic enamel dots (Stampin'-Up)

I am also entering:

1.  Lemon Shortbread has an anything goes challenge.

2.  Double Trouble has a round and round challenge.

3.  The Creative Crafters has an anything goes challenge.

 

 

Hooray It's Your Day

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

 

Well I am on break from processing tomatoes for a few days. I canned 5 more pint jars on Saturday using 10lbs of tomatoes. We have about 20 more that will ripen in the next 2 or 3 days and  those I will roast them with olive oil, onion, garlic and balsamic glaze and then freeze. Roasting really brings out the flavor in a tomato.

 

I also made 2 loaves of zucchini bread. One we will eat now and the other I put in the freezer for some late fall or early winter enjoyment. I have another zucchini that I may also make into a sweet loaf. Although I did see a recipe in my Food Network magazine with zucchini, summer squash and pasta that sounded delicious.

 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for the DTGD challenges that were held on Splitcoaststampers. I was part of that design team for 6 months and every year the current and alumni members host challenges for a week. There were lots of prizes given away. This year we were celebrating 15 years of DTGD challenges so the event was open to all but you had to be a Fan Club member to win a prize.

 

This challenge was hosted by Sandee and she wanted us to make a masculine card. For my card I used some of the elements of the June 2018 Paper Pumpkin Kit from Stampin'-Up. The mouse with presents is a die from CottageCutz.

Attached the gold Hooray phrase which is part of the PP kit, stamped the sentiment and scattered a few gold sequins. To complete the card I used some black & gold twine.

 

Well, that's it for me for this post. So until next time...…..God bless.

 

card details:

Stamps: broadway star (PP Kit 2018)

Paper: lovely lipstick, lemon-lime twist, designer paper (Stampin'-Up)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: lovely lipstick

Accessories: PP Kit June 2018 (Stampin'-Up), Mouse with Presents die (CottageCutz)

I am also entering:

1.  A Gem of a Challenge has an anything goes.

2.  Crafty Calendar Challenge is anything goes.

3.  Watercooler Wednesday has a masculine challenge.

4.  Aud Sentiments has a masculine challenge + a sentiment.

5.  Creative Knockouts has a tic tac toe. I chose -twine-sentiment-stamping

  

Baby Animal Cupcakes Birthday

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

 

We are having some beautiful sunny days here in Pittsburgh. So perfect for our gardens both flower and vegetable.

The tomatoes are ripening at such a fast rate. I will be doing another canning today. It will be a half recipe because I have only 10lbs. But it adds to my winter use collection.

 

Since I have a busy day ahead I need to get started early so here are the details on today's card. I made this one for my weekly DT post on the CottageCutz blog. I used the Baby Animal Cupcakes die to create my card.

 

I had this old MojoMonday sketch saved to one of my Pinterest boards and I thought it would work well as a layout for the cupcakes.

I chose this pretty pink designer paper for the card background. Little girls and pink -how can you go wrong? I paired that with the matching blushing bride cardstock and my card base is a bright melon mambo. All my cardstock is from Stampin'-Up.

melon mambo card base: 4 1/2" x 5 3/4"
blushing bride layering panel: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"
designer paper panel: 4 1/8" x 5 3/8"
stitched circles: 5th largest die ( 2 1/4")

I cut the baby animal cupcakes in shades of cardstock just following the colors of the packaging. I used melon mambo, pretty in pink, powder pink, granny apple green, gorgeous grape and ivory.

Next, I cut the Make A Wish sentiment and the candle. I decided not to use the balloon because it seemed a bit to busy with that element. The ribbon is also from Stampin'-Up - a granny apple green shade.

I assembled the card elements using double sided tape and for the sentiment Ranger multi medium matte. I scattered some granny apple green metallic enamel dots to complete my card.

 

 

Well that's it for me for this post. Hope you have a great Saturday wherever your adventures take you.

 

dies I used to create card:

 

I am also entering:

1.  PolkaDoodles has an anything goes challenge.

2.  Seize the Birthday has a birthday challenge. Optional is butterflies.

3.  The Sisterhood of Crafters wants us to use dies as the focus.  

 

 

Ballerina Mouse Birthday

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

 

It's harvest time at the Marsh home. Our tomatoes are coming in fairly quickly now. I canned 8 pint jars the other day and I have enough to do another 8 jars today. It's a bit labor intensive, but I so enjoy going down to the basement in the winter and reaching for a jar off my shelves for a recipe.

 

It will take most of my day but we have no other plans for today. And, it is so much better than going to the grocery store to get a can of tomato sauce. Especially since my hubby does organic gardening. So I know what's in my jars.

 

Anyway, before my day starts let's move onto my card for today. This one I created for my weekly DT post on the CottageCutz Blog. I used one of the new Birthday dies- the Ballerina Mouse.

 

I need a birthday card for a friend's 3 year old daughter. We were invited to her birthday party last night. So let's get started with some details of how I created my card.

 

I used the sketch #762 from Splitcoaststampers. Diane is the hostess and she gave us a great layout for our cards. The layout allowed me to use designer paper, a birthday number balloon and a stamped sentiment.

I wanted the papers to be girly, and I found this older Stampin'-Up designer paper with shades of pink, teal and cocoa. I used the coordinating cardstocks as layering panels. 

 

Cocoa Card Base: 4 3/8" x 5 3/8"

Pink Layering Panel: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"

Designer Paper: 4 1/8" x 5 3/8"

I cut the Ballerina Mouse in smoky slate cardstock, her outfit in shades of pink and the slippers in teal cardstocks.

For the number balloon, I used the Stitched Numbers die. The sentiment is a stamp from MFT. It's a one liner, but with the help of my MISTI and masking I was able to stamp it on 3 lines inside the circle.

 

To balance off the corners of the card, I added the Happy phrase and a balloon bunch.

Well, that's it for me for this post. o until next time......God bless.

 

Dies I used to create card:

 

 

I am also entering:

1.  A Gem of a Challenge has an anything goes.

2.  2 Crafty Critter Crazies has an anything goes challenge.

3.  PolkaDoodles has an anything goes challenge.

4.  Crafty Animals has an anything goes challenge.

5.  Creations in Pink has an anything goes mainly in pink.

 

 

Fairy Birthday Wishes

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with The Charmed Life blog this Sunday in August.

 

Hope you had a great summer weekend. Ours was laid back but enjoyable. We drove to Ohio to visit a farm that my hubby likes. It's about 1 1/2 hours from our home. He is looking to purchase a couple more zucchini plants and no one has any. In fact, he can't even find any seeds.

 

Our plants are done producing and we would like to enjoy some more this season. I could buy them at the Farmer's Market but they use insecticides and my husband does not. He has really gotten into natural vegetable gardening. His gardens really produced this year.  

 

Today I started the processing of canning tomatoes. It takes so long that I spread it out over 2 days. Tomorrow I will do the water bath. I should get about eight (8) to ten (10) 16 oz jars of sauce. We have so many more tomatoes that are almost ripe and I will get a 2nd batch processed. They will carry me to the beginning of next summer.

 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for the Dare to Get Dirty challenges on Splitcoaststampers. I was the hostess for this challenge and you were to create a scene using die cuts. Anyone can participate in the challenges this year because we are celebrating 15 years of DTGD. But, you have to be a member of the fan club to win prizes.

 

I created a birthday card using the Cottage w/Petal Roof and Fairy Garden Flowers dies from CottageCutz.

 

I am sending birthday wishes from the fairy garden. I have a friend who has a fairy garden and will love this card especially the petal roof cottage. For the background I used a clouds stencil and sponged with tumbled glass distress ink.

 

Well, that's it for me for this post. So until next time...…..God bless.

 

card details:

Stamps: Bitty Birthday Wishes (MFT)

Paper: highland heather, whisper white, coastal cabana, granny apple green, soft suede, pretty in pink, so saffron (Stampin-Up), vellum (Paper Studio)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: gorgeous grape (Stampin'-Up), tumbled glass, mowed lawn distress inks (Ranger)

Accessories: cottage w/petal roof, fairy garden flowers (CottageCutz), cloud stencil (MFT)

Techniques: stenciling

I am also entering:

1.  Sweet Stampin' has a things with wings challenge.

2.  Brown Sugar has an anything goes challenge.

3.  Creative Fingers has an anything goes challenge.

4.  Simon Says Wednesday has a die cut challenge.

 

Birthday Mouse and Cupcake

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

 

It's been a bit since I have posted on my Blog and there is a good reason. My son, daughter-in-law and precious granddaughter were here for a visit. We had such great family time.

 

One of the days we went to our local amusement park. Both my sons loved going there when they were growing up. Well my 8 year old granddaughter loved it as well. It was here first visit to an amusement park ever.

 

And, to make it even more memorable she played one of those games that you never win, and she won. The prize was a huge elephant over 4 ft tall. She was so excited and of course she couldn't take it back home to San Francisco. So it's sitting in the bedroom we made for her, here at my home. Her parents haven't made a decision yet if we can send it out to her.

 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for my weekly DT post on the CottageCutz Blog. I used the cute Birthday Mouse Cupcake die to create a birthday card for my friend's little boy. So let's get started with some details on how I created it.

 

I had this designer paper from the Stampin'-Up "birthday Memories" collection. The presents and balloons were a perfect background for my image.

I die-cut the mouse using the colors that coordinate with the designer paper - pacific point, pumpkin pie and lemon lime twist. The cupcake is cut in choc chip cardstock and the candle in gorgeous grape.

The sentiment is from the MFT set 'bitty birthday greetings". It's a one line stamp but my panel wasn't long enough so with the help of my MISTI, I made it 2 lines.

I attached the image and the image panel with dimensional adhesive. I cut a banner and stamped another sentiment and used that for my images to rest on. That way they don't looks as though they are floating in the air.

 

I also cut a few streamers and added them to the designer paper. They fit in well. And, that's my card for this post. So until next time...….God bless.

Dies I used to create card:

 

I am also entering:

1.  Aud Sentiments has an animal + a sentiment challenge.

2.  Creative Knockouts has a furry friends challenge. HaHa don't know if a mouse its a friend but it is furry.

3.  Seize the Birthday is a birthday challenge.

4.  2 Crafty Critter Crazies has an anything goes.  

5.  Dies R Us has a bright colors challenge.