Christmas Joy

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

We are in the middle of a heat wave here in Pittsburgh. It's been 90° or close to it for a couple of weeks. Our air conditioner has been running non-stop but I am not complaining. I love the summer weather and long days.

We have been getting a harvest from our vegetable gardens as well.  I made stuffed zucchini the other day and yesterday roasted potatoes and green beans that also came from the garden. I am getting excited for the tomatoes to ripen. 

I love roasting the roma and heirloom tomatoes with onions, garlic, salt, pepper and balsamic glaze. Then I puree them and I have a fabulous sauce and nothing else is needed. I may do all of the tomatoes that way this year instead of canning them. It's easier and we love the flavor that comes from roasting them. 

coastal cabana, balmy blue, soft seafoam

And amidst this heat wave I am creating Christmas cards. This one I made for the color challenge #799 on Splitcoaststampers. Jeanne was our hostess and she chose  coastal cabana, balmy blue and soft seafoam for her color trio. Option is Christmas in July.

These are non-traditional colors for Christmas but I was able to pull it off by emphasizing the coastal cabana color. I used the Church Scene die from CottageCutz and cut it in white cardstock.

My background coastal cabana designer paper is from the Stampin'-Up "follow your art" collection. I used balmy blue Stampin' blends and colored the birds. My church doors are also balmy blue and the church windows are done in soft seafoam and I did a die inlay technique.

Cut my joy word 3x in coastal cabana for added dimension. That completes this card.

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

card details:

Paper: whisper white, coastal cabana, balmy blue, soft seafoam, whisper white, follow your art dsp (Stampin'-Up)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: coastal cabana (Stampin'-Up)

Accessories: church scene, joy dies (CottageCutz), balmy blue stampin' blend (Stampin'-Up)

I am also entering:

1.  Dream Valley Challenges is Christmas in July

2.  The Paper Girls has a Christmas in July Challenge. 

3.  CHNC Christmas challenge is anything goes.
4.  Cute Card Thursday is Christmas in July.

  

You Arrrrgh Awesome

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with The Charmed Life Blog this last Saturday in July. Wow, this month just zipped on by for sure.

But, I am enjoying the beautiful summer days we have been having here in Pittsburgh. Our flower gardens are blooming profusely as are our vegetable gardens. Although something is getting into the tomato plants and taking a bite out of the almost ripe red tomatoes and then moving on to the next one. My hubby is trying to figure out what's getting in there to stop it before we don't have a tomato harvest this year. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for my weekly DT post on the CottageCutz Blog. I used the new Pirate die to create what I thought would be a kid's birthday card. When my hubby saw it, he thought it would be a good one for our adult son who has a birthday this coming Tuesday. So I will see where this goes. 

I am showing a fun fold card this week. This one is called a split panel fold. I started off with an olive card base measuring 4 1/4" x 11". I scored it at 5 1/2" for an A2 size card.

Then I cut the front panel at the 2" mark. From the piece I cut off, I cut another 2" x 4 1/4" panel.

I picked a bright colored designer paper for my layering panel. This one is from the Stampin'-Up "dinoroar" collection. I cut the designer paper at 1 7/8" x 4 1/8". 

Next, I decided to cut the Pirate image so I would know how large to make the image panel. I used the cardstock colors to match the designer paper. I used a striped designer paper to give him some fancy pants. For his face, hands and hair I cut in white cardstock and colored with Copic markers. I attached the pieces with Ranger multi-medium matte.

Skin: E00, E11, E21
Hair: E35, E57, E59

For the image panels I used the 2nd largest Stitched Rectangle (2 7/8" x 3 7/8")& 2nd largest Rectangle (2 3/4" x 3 3/4") dies. I sponged the panel with a cloud stencil and tumbled glass distress ink then sponged salty ocean distress ink for water. Stamped my sentiment "you arrrrgh awesome" on an angle in the right corner in black ink. It's from the Lawn Fawn "Ahoy Matey" stamp set. 

I attached the Pirate with dimensional adhesive, I decided to have him stand on a sand dune so I cut one from the Treasure Chest Island die. 

For the image panel I just used double sided tape on the top and bottom.

I attached the image panel to the card base. You don't tape the bottom panel. The image panel attached to that to hold in place.

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

dies I used to create card:

I am also entering:

1. Crafty Catz has an anything goes w/optional to make it funny. 

2.  Festive Friday #FF0064 has an inspo list. I chose: die cut, summer fun, sweet sentiment & brown.

3.  Craft Rocket Challenge is for the men/boys. 

4.  Paper Funday has an anything goes w/optional of the great outdoors

5.  The Sisterhood of Crafters has an ocean/beachy challenge. 

Coneflower Birthday Wishes

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

 

Hope this day finds you well and getting to enjoy the summer weather. We just returned home from a family vacation at the beach. We went to Sandbridge, VA for a wonderful week with our son and his family. We rented a condo with an oceanfront view.

 

This year was a bit different for us. We usually go out to eat each night but this year we cooked in 4 nights and ordered take-out for 2 and then Friday night was a leftovers night. 

 

On the beach, people did social distancing. The beach umbrellas, tents and chairs were all 6 feet from the next group. So we were very comfortable the entire week. The only thing that happened was on Tuesday morning at 5:30 am the fire alarm went off in our building and we had to evacuate. Fortunately, the condo building was only 4 stories high. We were on the 4th floor but it was a quick walk down the steps.

 

It jolted us all out of a sound sleep. At first we thought it was the smoke alarms in our unit but quickly realized it was the building alarm. The fire department showed up and after about 45 minutes we were allowed to re-enter. I did get a picture of the sunrise so that was a bonus.

 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for the color challenge #797 on Splitcoaststampers. Barbara was our hostess and she chose terracotta tile, tranquil tide, berry burst and so saffron for her color combo. Optional was to use a stencil.

 

terracotta tile, so saffron, tranquil tide, berry burst

For my card I used a retired stamp & die combo from CottageCutz- Oriole w/Blossoms. I colored with a combo of Copics and Prismacolor Pencils matching the challenge colors.

On the image panel I used a leaf stencil and Clarity Stencil brushes with a light touch on the berry burst ink.

The background paper is from the Stampin'-Up "fresh florals" collection. To finish off my card I added some tranquil tide ribbon and a few berry burst enamel dots.

 

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

 

card details:

Stamps: Oriole w/Blossoms (CottageCutz), be blessed (Verve)

Paper: whisper white, berry burst, fresh florals dsp (Stampin'-Up)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: tranquil tide (Stampin'-Up)

Accessories: tranquil tide ribbon, glitter glue dots (Stampin'-Up), Copic markers BG70, BG75, BG78, E19, Y35, Prismacolor Pencils PC930 (magenta), PC1082 Chocolate, PC947 Dark Umber, PC946 Sand, PC942 Yellow Ochre. interlocking leaves stencil (A Colorful Life), Clarit

I am also entering

1.  Get Creative has a birthday challenge.

2.  Gem of a Challenge is anything goes.

3.  Crafter's Castle has an anything goes challenge.

4.  Crafty Friends has a birthday challenge.

 

Christmas Wishes

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

 

Hope you all are enjoying the summer and getting to see some family or friends even though restrictions are still in place. This month has reached the halfway point. Yikes, I feel like the summer is just flying by and way to quickly for me.

 

Today, I am featuring a Christmas card. Not that I am trying to rush the Christmas season either. I made this one for the color challenge #796 on Splitcoaststampers. Stef was our hostess and she chose  real red, garden green and pool party for her color trio. Optional this week is use your favorite yellow.

 

real red, pool party, garden green

When I saw these colors, I thought of Christmas. So I decided to use this cardinal stamp from Stampin'-Up. I colored the cardinal with real red Stampin' Blends and highlighted with a bit of cherry cobbler. I used the daffodil delight Stampin' blend for the beak and that also covered the optional item. The stampin' blends are an alcohol based marker. This stamp set also comes with matching dies.

For the branch and leaves I used Prismacolor Pencils in a shade that matched garden green and a shade that matched soft suede (neutral). The sentiment is from the same stamp set. I attached the cardinal and the sentiment banner with dimensional adhesive. I wanted it lifted off the background slightly.

My background paper is from the feels like frost designer collection. I love this paper and just bought another complete pack to create more Christmas cards. It's retired but I found it on Ebay. Just recently I saw a Stampin'-Up demonstrator announce this paper is coming back to the 2020 Christmas catalog.

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

card details:

Stamps: christmas toile (Stampin'-Up)

Paper: White, night of navy, feels like frost dsp (Stampin'-Up)

Paper Size: 4 1/2" x 5 3/4"

Ink: tuxedo black (Memento)

Accessories: christmas cardinal dies, toile tidings glitter dots, stampin' blends real red (Stampin-Up), prismacolor pencils, pc911, pc1094, gamsol,

I am also entering:
1.  Shopping our Stash has an anything goes Christmas challenge.
2.  The Holly and Ivy Christmas challenge is anything goes.
3.  Dream Valley challenge is all occasions.
4.  Stampin Sensations has an all creatures great and small challenge.
5.  CHNC has an anything goes Christmas.
6.  My Time to Craft has a Christmas in July.

 

 

Hello Dear Friend

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

Hope you are enjoying the summer season. I started walking since the pandemic. I walk approximately  for 2 -3 miles every morning . I am already noticing a difference. I am not going to the gym 3x a week anymore since March. But what I am doing now is working with a trainer 1x a week in a training facility. It's by appointment only and yesterday there were just the 3 of us there. It's clean and they sanitize everything when you are done with it. I go with a friend for a 1 hour session. It's something to keep me healthy and my body limber. I just feel it's so important as you age to stay active. 

Anyway, let's move onto my card for today. This one I created for the color challenge #795 on Splitcoaststampers. Karen was our hostess and she chose poppy parade, old olive and mango melody for her color trio. Optional was to make the sentiment the main focal point. 

poppy parade, old olive, mango melody

For my card I used the big sentiment from the Stampin'-Up set "life is grand". I stamped that in chocolate chip ink.

The berries are from the Stampin'-Up set "gift of fall". I stamped on crumb cake cardstock in poppy parade ink and then colored with Prismacolor pencils that matched the mango melody color.  I used a white pencil on the berry ends to highlight them. Finished off my card by scattering some old olive glitter enamel dots.

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

card details:

Stamps: life is grand (Stampin'-Up), gift of fall (Stampin-Up Paper Pumpkin Aug 2019)

Paper: poppy parade, mango melody, crumb cake (Stampin'-Up)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: poppy parade, choc chip (Stampin'-Up)

Accessories: Prismacolor Pencils PC1002, PC1003, PC923, PC938, gamsol (inky antics)old olive glitter enamel dots (Stampin'-Up)

I am also entering:

1.  Cute Card Thursday has a "not square" challenge.

2.  Southern Girls has an anythinggoes challenge. 

3.  Crafty Creations has an anything goes challenge. 

4.  Crafty Sentiments Design has an anything goes challenge. 

5.  Retro Rubber Challenge has an anything goes with a older stamp. Mine is at least 3 years old

90 Birthday Wishes

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

Hope your holiday weekend was a good one. We were able to spend some time with my son and daughter-in-law on Saturday. It was great to see them. It's been a month since we have seen them. Phone calls keep you connected but nothing like being there in person. A positive thing from this Covid-19 is a reminder of how much you appreciate family. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for CC794 on Splitcoaststampers. Jeanne was the hostess and she chose rococo rose, blushing bride and pear pizzazz as her color trio. Optional was 

roses and pearls. 

rococo rose, blushing bride, pear pizzazz

I used the Stampin'-Up stippled blossoms stamp set for my card. This is a 2 step stamp set and it's perfect for these colors. I used blushing bride and rococo rose for my rose image. For the leaves I used pear pizzazz and stamped off once to get a color gradient.

My background is embossed with the Stampin'-Up "elegant lines" embossing folder. For the bottom half of the card I used designer paper from the "woven threads" collection. Used some white lace as an accent for where the 2 parts meet.

This is a birthday card for my Mother-in-Law's 90th birthday. What a milestone birthday and it was a great family celebration. I cut the "90" from an MFT numbers die.

Finished off my card by adding some pearls to the flower centers and a few faceted rococo rose enamel dots.

card details:

Stamps: bitty birthday wishes (MFT), stippled blossoms (Stampin'-Up)

Paper: rococo rose, whisper white, woven threads dsp (Stampin'-Up)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: blushing bride, rococo rose, choc chip, pear pizzazz (Stampin'-Up)

Accessories: circle dies (CottageCutz), little numbers die (MFT), elegant lines embossing folder, pearls, faceted enamel dots (Stampin'-Up)

I am also entering:

1.  Gem of a Challenge is anything goes. 

2.  Crafty Calendar Challenge is to add a ribbon. 

3.  Creative Fingers Challenge is anything goes.

4.  Festive Friday inspo list - I chose geometric shapes (designer Paper), birthday theme, floral theme. 

5.  Seize the Birthday has an anything goes birthday. 

  

You're a Treasure

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

And, happy 4th of July to all my American friends. It will be a different celebration for most of us because of all the restrictions but nonetheless it's still America's birthday, And, I can say that we learn from past mistakes and will move on to become a better and stronger nation. God bless the USA. 

We have no plans for today. My hubby is already out working in his gardens. It's expected to reach 90° again today so I don't know how much outdoor activity I will have. Just going for my daily walk as soon as I finish this post.

So, let's move on to my card for today. This one I created for my weekly DT post on the CottageCutz Blog.  I am featuring the new Treasure Chest Island and I created a card of encouragement for a friend who is always doing something special for me. I thought I would make her a card and let her know how special she is to me. Here are some details on how I created my card.

Since I was using the Treasure Chest Island die I wanted to do some ink blending to create an ocean scene. I use jumbo daubers for my ink blending technique. I started off with the sandy shore. I cut 2 templates and used crumb cake and old paper distress inks for the sand.

Image Panel: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"

Next I sponged in the water using salty ocean distress ink. I laid my 2nd template over the sand and began sponging the blue ink. I used the other end of my template and sponged more salty ocean ink to create the horizon line. I wanted it just a bit darker than the water.

I used a sun ray stencil and sponged the sun with wild honey and abandoned coral inks. I took a cloud stencil and lightly stenciled in some clouds using tumbled glass distress ink.

I stamped a few sand granules on the sandy shore just to add a bit of texture. My stamp had lots more than just the sand so I taped off what I didn't want. Then, with the help of my stamp-a-ma-jig I was able to stamp the sand where I wanted it.

I decided to stamp my sentiment directly on the sandy shore. I used a medium brown ink and my MISTI for placement. I did stamp the sentiment 3 times to get the color intensity I wanted.

Now that my background is completed I am ready to cut the die images. I used different colors of cardstock to cut the palm tree, treasure chest, oyster and the mound of sand. I attached it to the background using dimensional adhesive.

I used a royal blue cardstock for the layering panel and attached this with double sided tape to my image panel. Then attached to the yellow card base. To finish off the card I added 3 enamel dots to highlight the sentiment. 

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

die I used to create card:

I am also entering:

1.  Challenge Up Your Life has a vacation mood challenge. 

2.  Aud Sentiments has a summer + a sentiment challenge. 

3.  Cute Card Thursday has an anything goes challenge. 

4.  Moving Along With The Times has a beach challenge. 

5.  Simon Says Stamp has a bright and cheerful challenge.