Christmas Cards

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with The Charmed Life Blog this last day of December 2020. 

We have no plans for tonight just hanging at home, enjoying some appetizers and watching Hallmark movies. . And, yes I have a husband who watches them with me. 

I am showing the last of my Christmas cards on this post. I created all of these with the Stampin'-Up Paper Pumpkin Kit. I usually order this kit every Christmas. It's a way for me to supplement the handmade cards that I make. And the kits get better each year. 

In the kits, you get the card bases, clear stamp set, die cuts, ink and other embellishments. For this first card I made it according to the kit instructions. The beautiful die cut flowers came in the kit. 

For the 2nd card I decided to do a bit of an alternate.  I used the wreath and joy dies from the kit and then changed up the card base to soft seafoam cardstock. I layered the image panel with just jade cardstock. Added some just jade sequins to complete this card. 

On this 3rd card, I changed things up a bit by using cherry cobbler cardstock and die cutting the joy phrase. I like the embossed backgrounds that are supplied in the kit, and on this card I layered it with cherry cobbler cardstock.  I just added some red sequins and cherry cobbler bakers twine. 

On this last card, I completed it according to the kit instructions. I added a layer of cherry cobbler cardstock and a few red sequins from my supplies just to add interest. The gold  joy phrase came as part of the kit.

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

I am also entering:

1.  Crimbo Crackers has an anything goes Christmas challenge.

2.  Cute Card Thursday has an anything goes.  

3.  Crafters Cafe Challenge has an anything goes.  

4.  Crafty Sentiments Designs has an anything goes challenge. 

Merry Christmas Reindeer

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

It's been a relaxed day here in my home. The kind we usually like having after Christmas. Although there was no hectic pace this year and I wouldn't mind having a bit of hectic right about now. I want to get into my craft room and get things organized and even start a purge of stuff I have been holding onto but don't use. That may be a project for January. You know the time that everyone starts thinking about getting organized. 

My friend dropped off some homemade Italian Wedding Soup and crusty bread. That was such a wonderful surprise and I already had a bowl. It's always nice being thought of by friends, especially the food type surprises. 

For my card today, I am showing one of my Christmas cards. This card came as a kit from my Stampin'-Up demonstrator. If you purchase from her in a given month, she sends a card that just needs to be assembled and stamped. This one I had for a couple of years stored away in my craft closet. I found it one day when I was clearing out some things and put it together for this Christmas. 

The cute little deer is from an older Stampin'-Up set- "seasonal chums". The designer paper is from the Stampin'-Up Christmas 2017 collection. The piece of red glitter paper came with the card kit. I added the red glitter dots. 

This one was sent off to one of my nieces who has 2 little ones. I thought it was such a cute card. 

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

I am also entering: 

1.  ABC Christmas Challenge is Y for your favorite  things. Mine is die cuts & designer paper.

2.  Crafty Gals Corner has a Tis the Season challenge.  

3.  Merry Little Christmas Challenge has an anything goes. 

4.  SheepSki Designs has a feature a creature challenge. 

Joy Nativity

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

December is quickly drawing to a close and soon we will ring in a new year. I am sure most of us will be glad to say goodbye to 2020. The spread of this China virus and all that ensued with the spread was a lot of anguish for most people. But, enough of that for now.  

My card for today is one that I created for an event on Splitcoaststampers. I really liked the simplicity of this card and did create 2 of them. Something I don't usually do. I don't create multiples of my Christmas cards. Well, I should qualify that statement. I order the Stampin'-Up Paper Pumpkin Kit for Christmas and that gives me 10 quick cards to make. But my other cards are one of a kind and I like it that way.

This challenge was to use plaid on our card. I had the perfect sheet of 6 x 6 designer paper. And since I didn't need the entire sheet for this card I was able to make 2 cards. The cherry cobbler card base coordinates to the designer paper.

The Joy Nativity die is from CottageCutz and is currently on sale at 50% off. A good chance to pick up some dies for next year's cardmaking. The stitched edge is a die from MFT. I finished off this card by adding a few green glitter enamel dots. 

Well, that's it for me for this post. I still have a few more Christmas card creations to post on the blog. I will be featuring those over the next several days.

card details:

Paper: cherry cobbler, whisper white, festive farmhouse dsp (Stampin'-Up)

Paper Size: A2

Accessories: Joy Nativity die (CottageCutz), stitched basic edges die (MFT), glitter enamel dots (Stampin'-Up)

I am also entering:

1.  Lemon Shortbread has an anything goes challenge.

2.  The Holly and Ivy Christmas challenge is anything goes.

3.  Country View Challenge is an anything goes Christmas.

4.  Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge is anything goes.

5.   Die Cut Diva's has an anything goes challenge.    

Joy Snowman

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

Hope your Christmas celebration was a nice one. My son and daughter-in-law decided not to come for Christmas dinner. It was a bit tough for me at first and I had to work through it. They didn't want to bring anything here or have us give them anything. I completely understand that but it still doesn't make it any easier. 

My son in California called us to Facetime in the morning and we opened gifts together. My granddaughter was so excited as most kids are for Christmas. We stayed with them for about an hour so that was so nice.

Then my son here in Pittsburgh called us after dinner and we had a FaceTime call for about an hour. Technology is so wonderful when you aren't able to visit in person. 

Now let's move onto my card for today. This one I created for the color challenge #820. LeAnn was our hostess and she chose gorgeous grape, highland heather and balmy blue for her color trio. Optional was to add a bow and/or ribbon. 

I thought these colors would be great for a snowman and I had this new Joy Snowman die from CottageCutz to try and make it work.

Started with the card layout. It's an older sketch #514 from the Paper Players. The 3 panels work well for this image.

Then I chose my background paper. It's from the Stampin'-Up "snowflake splendor" collection. Perfect to cover the balmy blue and highland heather colors.

The "joy snowman" is cut in the challenge colors. The image panels are embossed with the Stampin'-Up "softly falling" folder.

To finish off my card I added some balmy blue ribbon and a few snowflakes cut from the designer paper. And, that's it for me for this post. So until next time.......God bless.

card details:

Paper: Highland heather, gorgeous grape, balmy blue, whisper white, black, snowflake splendor dsp (Stampin'-Up)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: balmy blue

Accessories: joy snowman, snowflake set dies (CottageCutz), balmy blue ribbon, softly falling embossing folder (Stampin'-Up)

I am also entering:

1.  Gem of a Challenge has an anything goes. 

2.  Crafter's Castle has an anything goes.

3.  Crafty Calendar has an anything goes.

4.  Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas challenge is Christmas or New Years. 

5.  Crimbo Crackers has an anything goes challenge. 

dies I used to create card:

Polar Friends

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

I am busy making cookies and candy today. Don't think if I will finish everything today but I will get done what I can. I wanted to get this Blog post finished and then back to the kitchen. My Christmas cards are complete and all in the mail. That always makes me happy. 

This one I created for my weekly DT post on the CottageCutz Blog.  I am featuring the new Polar Friends die. It's one of those whimsical dies from the Christmas Part 3 collection that makes for a really cute Christmas card. I kept it more on the simple side. I didn't send it out yet since it was made so last minute. I may hold it until next year. 

Design Steps:
My card this week started with the color challenge #822 on Splitcoaststampers. The colors are bright and I thought the polar friends would look great sporting these colors.

 

magenta madness, granny apple green, basic black

I decided to emboss my background with a new embossing folder from Stampin'-Up. It's the new 3D Evergreen Forest.  I used a designer paper in the granny apple green color. I liked the ombre appeal of the paper and it made for a quick background design. 

Next, I cut my images in the challenge colors. I used designer paper for their hats and the bears scarf. It just added to the fun loving appeal of this card. 

I am ready to start card assembly. I attached the embossed panel to the white card base with double sided tape. Cut a snowy slope for the polar friends to frolic around on. They are a perky little bunch after all! The slope is attached with dimensional adhesive as are the bear and penguins. .

White card base: 5 1/2" x 4 1/4"
Embossed panel: 5 3/8" x 4 1/8"

To complete my card, I stamped a playful sentiment and added some green glitter enamel dots. I scattered a few snowflake sequins in the sky and my card is complete. 

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 pine trees challenge. 

2.  CHNC has an anything goes with optional to use word Christmas.

3.  Simon Say Stamp has a Christmas Critters challenge.  

4.  The Alphabet Challenge is "S" for snow scene. 

5.  Cute Card Thursday has an anything goes challenge. 

Peace Wreath

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

We had a huge snow storm yesterday. It dropped 11" of snow on us. It was so beautiful just watching from  the window especially at night. There was no traffic out on our street and some of the neighborhood kids were out sledding on one of the side streets. They were with their parents of course and looked like they were having so much fun. 

My hubby was out for a couple of hours shoveling the snow this morning. And, then he built a snowman and spray painted the snow with "happy birthday" wishes to our precious little granddaughter. She lives in San Francisco so we took a photo and sent it to her. Mr. Grinch is part of this photo because she has adventures with him. Sort of like the elf on a shelf thing. 

I finally finished addressing all my Christmas cards and got the final batch to the post office today. Now it's on to baking and candy making. I will start that tomorrow. I don't have all the supplies I need for that task. So I will make a run to the candy supply store to pick up what I need. 

Now onto my card for today. This is one of the cards I made using supplies from the Stampin'-Up October Paper Pumpkin kit. They sent phrases for the wreath in gold but I wasn't real fond of them. So I cut the peace phrase in cherry cobbler cardstock from a CottageCutz die. It's part of the Love, Peace, Joy die. The dove is part of this die. 

Here is one of the cards I made using the "Peace" phrase in gold.

The white embossed panel is part of the kit and I layered it on cherry cobbler cardstock. The gold card base is part of this kit as well. I added a few sequins to complete my card. 

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

card details:

Stamps: Joy to the world (PP Kit Oct 2020)

Paper: cherry cobbler

Paper Size: A2

Ink: just jade

Accessories: October 2020 Paper Pumpkin Kit(Stampin'-Up), peace, love, joy die (CottageCutz), sequins (Darice)

I am also entering:

1.  C.R.A.F.T. Challenge is Christmas the last stretch.

2.  Crimbo Crackers is anything Christmas goes. 

3.  The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge is anything goes. 

4.  The Creative Crafters has an anything goes challenge. 

5.  Merry Little Christmas Challenge is anything goes. 

Baking Spirits Bright

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 snowstorm and are expecting between 4" to 7". It looks so pretty outside right now. It's a perfect day to stay inside and work on Christmas preps. And that's exactly what I am doing. 

I am finishing up on getting my Christmas cards addressed. This will be done today and tomorrow I will start on my baking and candy making. I am ahead of where I am most years. 

I took a quick break from card addressing to complete my Blog post. This one I made for the color challenge #817 on Splitcoaststampers.  Chris was our hostess and she chose calypso coral, mint macaron and misty moonlight and as her color trio. Optional was to use your favorite yellow. One of mine is mango melody and I used it for the snowman's nose.

calypso coral, mint macaron, misty moonlight

I decided to try and get these colors to work for Christmas. For my card I used the new Baking Spirits Bright die by CottageCutz. It's part of the Christmas Part 3 release. I used the challenge colors on the snowman. And, the little tray she is holding is cut in misty moonlight cardstock.

The sentiment is part of this die and I cut it in calypso coral. I decided to cut the rolling pin in white and then adding the "spirits phrase" in calypso coral using the die inlay technique. To finish off the card I added a few gingerbread that are also part of this die.

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

card details:

Paper: whisper white, calypso coral, mint macaron, misty moonlight, baked brown sugar, calypso coral dsp (Stampin'-Up)

Paper Size: 4 1/2" x 5 3/4"

Ink: mint macaron, calypso coral

Accessories: baking spirits bright, square dies (CottageCutz), softly falling ef (Stampin'-Up)

dies I used to create card:

I am also entering:

1.  ABC Christmas Challenge is "Y" for your favorite things. Mine are die cuts.

2.  Crafty Creations has an anything goes challenge. 

3.  The Paper Funday Challenge is anything goes. Optional is Christmas/Holiday. 

4.  Christmas 24 has a food/drink challenge. 

5.  Country View Crafts has a Christmas challenge. 

Merry Christmas Floral

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

Hope you are making progress with your Christmas to do's. I have finished all my decorating and am now working on finishing up my cards. My plan is to get them in the mail by tomorrow. So I hope I meet my goal. I would like to start baking and candy making next week. I am ahead of myself this year. I guess because I am no longer in Preschool. Ours closed in March as I mentioned previously. 

Now let's move onto my card for today. This one I created with the Stampin'-Up October Paper Pumpkin kit. If you're not familiar with these kits, they send you everything you need to make 8 of these cards. At Christmas I usually order 2 kits to get some cards together quickly. 

The other more detailed cards I make throughout the year go to specific people who appreciate the time & effort it takes to put them together. Full disclosure: I have an A, B and C list for my Christmas cards. The A people get my detailed cards. The B people get cards from the Paper Pumpkin kits like the one I am showing today. The C people get a store bought card. Yes, I actually send some store bought cards to about 10 or so people.  

This card today is one I created for the color challenge #816 on Splitcoaststampers. I was the hostess for the challenge and I chose just jade, soft seafoam and cherry cobbler for my color trio. Optional was to do anything Christmas. 

just jade, soft seafoam, cherry cobbler

The gold card base is part of the kit as are the die cut Christmas flowers and the gold flag banner. My sentiment is stamped in just jade ink with a stamp from the kit. I added some cherry cobbler bakers twine in the corner. It's also part of the kit. 

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

card details:

Stamps: Joy to the world (PP Kit Oct 2020)

Paper: whisper white, crumb cake base (Stampin'-Up)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: just jade

Accessories: elements from Joy to the World Paper Pumpkin Kit (Stampin'-Up)

I am also entering:

1.  Winter Wonderland has an anything goes challenge. 

2.  Crafty Gals Corner has a 'tis the season challenge. 

3.  The Holly and Ivy Christmas challenge is anything goes.

4.  Crafty Creations challenge is anything goes.  

5.  Creative Moments has an anything goes challenge. 

Safari Giraffe Birthday

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

My Christmas decorating is moving along nicely. I did it a bit differently this year. Instead of putting my trees up first, I placed all the decorations around my home. I decorate in every room. I am almost finished with them and I am happy with how everything looks. It's so warm and festive. 

As soon as I finish this Blog post I am going to start on my trees. I usually put up three but this year I am not doing the third one. That one goes in the room where my precious little granddaughter sleeps but they aren't coming this Christmas. They live in California and don't feel comfortable about getting on a plane. 

I don't usually take photos of my decorating but I think I am going to this year and I will post them on my blog. Now onto my card for today. This one I created for my weekly DT post on the CottageCutz Blog.

Design Steps:
I started my card this week with the sketch #830 from Splitcoaststampers. As soon as I saw it, I knew it would work for a card featuring one of the new Safari animals. 

I had this older collection of designer papers from Stampin'-Up. It is a wild themed designer paper and some of it looked like giraffe spots so I decided to use the Safari Giraffe die for my card. 

Next, I cut the giraffe image in a taupe and soft suede cardstocks to match the designer paper.

I stamped my sentiment on a Circle die. Used the 3rd largest die. Added a black layer using the Stitched Circle die - again the 3rd largest.

Now that all elements are cut and stamped it's time to start card assembly. I wasn't sure what pattern to use for element 1 of the sketch. I decided to go with the wonky stripes pattern.

taupe layering panel: 5 3/8" x 4 1/8"
element 1 (striped designer paper): 4 1/8" x 3 7/8"
element 2, 3 & 4 - 1/2" x 3 7/8"

Next, I attached the sentiment circle and the giraffe image. The circle is secured with double sided tape and for the giraffe I used dimensional adhesive. For element 6 of the sketch I added some leaves, and I cut those from the Safari Adventure Gang die.

To finish off my card, I attached the image panel to the black card base and scattered a few black enamel dots. Decided to add a couple of leaves under one of the enamel dots. 

Well that's it for me for this post. So 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 challenge. 

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

3.  Creative Fingers has an anything goes challenge. 

4.  PolkaDoodles has an anything goes challenge. 

5.  Aud Sentiments has an anything goes + a sentiment.