Happy Bee-Day

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

I can't believe February is almost over and Monday starts March 2021. Spring is just a few weeks away and also the switch to daylight savings time. I saw some daffodils at Trader Joe's the other day and it made me think Spring. And such a great price at $1.79 for 10 of them. I picked up 2 bunches.  They have all opened and are such a fresh site on my kitchen table. I buy flowers there until my hubby's garden starts blooming. But that won't be for some time yet. 

Now 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 Spring dies - Mouse w/Flower Cart to create a birthday card for my friend who celebrates on March 20th. So let's get started with some details on how I created this card. 

Design Steps:

I already had my colors selected for this card. It's a little sneak peak of the upcoming color challenge on Splitcoaststampers. So I decided to feature this new Mouse die and then I needed a layout. I found this one on the MojoMonday site. I loved all the layers so I went with it.

Since the colors were pre-determined, I looked for designer paper for the background layer. I chose this striped pattern. The 3 squares are cut from a bright pink cardstock using the 4th smallest die from the Square set.

Next, I cut my mouse, flowers and bees images using various colors of cardstock.

For the circle I used the 4th largest die from the Stitched Circle set. I stenciled some clouds and grass for added interest. Then I stamped my birthday sentiment.

Then for the center layer I decided to emboss some white cardstock.

Now that my elements are all prepared, I am ready to start card assembly. I attached the background striped layer to the card base using double sided tape. 

...and the sentiment circle also with double sided adhesive. 

To finish off my card I added my images. The mouse is attached with dimensional adhesive and the flower pots with glue dots.  For the bees I rolled some glue dots to lift them off the background slightly, it's a little technique that works great for smaller images.   

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 is anything goes. 

2.  Allsorts challenge is feminine. 

3.  Creative Fingers has an anything goes challenge. 

4.  Cute Card Thursday has a feminine challenge. 

5.  Creative Knockouts has an anything goes challenge. 

Clown with Balloons Valentine

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for stopping to visit with The Charmed Life Blog today. 

This will be a quick post because we are going out to dinner to celebrate my brother-in-laws birthday. I am so excited to be able to see them and actually go to a restaurant. They are all open in our area at 50% capacity. I feel as though life may be starting to return to somewhat normal. 

Now onto my post for today. This is an older card that I forgot to post on my blog earlier.

This one I created for the color challenge #825. Karen was our hostess and she chose gorgeous grape, granny apple green and coastal cabana for her color trio. Optional was to use pearls. I couldn't get it to work with this card.

I decided to use these colors for a non-traditional Valentine. It's went out to a little 5 year old boy so the colors were good for him.

I used a new CottageCutz die Clown with Balloons. It's part of a circus release but I used it for this Valentine card.

I Cut the clown in the challenge colors plus designer paper in the challenge colors. My background designer paper is from the Stampin' Up "have a cuppa" collection. I added a few hearts cut in gorgeous grape cardstock.

My Valentine sentiment is from the CottageCutz "be my valentine puppies" die. Well that's it for me for this post. Time to start getting ready for the celebration. So until next time........God bless. 

card details:

Paper: coastal cabana, gorgeous grape, granny apple green, basic black, baked brown sugar, whisper white, have a cuppa dsp, artistry blooms dsp (Stampin'-Up)

Paper Size: A2

Accessories: Clown with Balloons, stitched wide rectangle frame, be my valentine puppies dies (CottageCutz),

I am also entering:

1.  Paper Funday has an anything goes with optional of love is in the air.

2.  Challenge Up Your Life has a Hearts challenge. 

3.  Creative Craft Challenges has a happy Valentines /love challenge. 

You're the Grrreatest

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

I can't believe we are beyond the half way point in February. And, next month at this time it will be the first day of Spring. The days are getting longer as well. The sunset for tonight is 6:00- whoo-hoo! I don't mind the cold and snow but getting dark so early not so much. 

We just finished watching The Chosen series season 1. It's the story of Jesus ministry when He was on the earth.  I don't know why we were so late in getting on the bandwagon. Our friends were talking about it a year ago and then again recently. So we started watching a couple of weeks ago. They are free on YouTube or you can download the Chosen app and then watch on your TV. It's definitely worth the watch. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for my weekly DT post on the CottageCutz Blog. I used the new Leaping Lion die to create a birthday card for my Grandson. 

Design Steps:

I used the Splitscoaststampers sketch #841 for my layout. 

Next, I made my selection of designer papers and that determined the card colors. I chose some patterns that are festive and I thought would work well for this birthday card. Smooth sailing so far!

Black Card Base: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"

Background Designer Paper Layer: 4 1/8" x 5 3/8"
Dotted Paper Layer: - used 3rd largest Rectangle die (2 3/4" x 3 3/4")
Teal Layering Panel: - used 2nd largest Stitched Rectangle die \ (2 7/8" x 3 7/8")
White Image Panel: - used largest Rectangle die (3 1/8" x 4 1/8")

Then I cut the leaping lion in coordinating colors to the cardstock.

Stamped my sentiment on the white rectangle piece. It's element 3 of the sketch. I rounded the original panel and then my ink smeared. So I cut another rectangle and then forgot to round the corners on this cut (LOL).

 Now that all my elements are prepared I am ready to start card assembly. I attached the background designer paper to the black card base. 

Then I added the Leaping Lion to the stamped sentiment panel. I used glue dots and Ranger multi medium matte adhesive to secure. 

I attached the other panels to the card base using double sided tape. For element 5 of the sketch I used the stars from the Circus Side Show die and moved to the bottom of the image panel instead of the top. I scattered a few other smaller stars around the image panel just for added interest.

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

card details:

Stamps: leonardo the lion (Technique Tuesday)

Paper: basic black, bermuda bay, whisper white, crushed curry, melon mambo, kaleidoscope dsp (Stampin'-Up)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: tuxedo black (Memento)

Accessories: Leaping Lion, Rectangle dies (CottageCutz)

dies I used to create card: 

I am also entering:

1.  Sweet Stampin' has a card for kids/teens challenge.

2.  Creative Fingers has an anything goes challenge. 

3.  Creative Knockouts has a lots of layers challenge. 

4.  Crafty Creations has an anything goes challenge. 

5.  Crafty Animals has an anything goes. 

6.  2 Crafty Critter Crazies has an anything goes with a critter.  

Flying Unicorn Valentine

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

Hope you all had a great weekend and were able to celebrate Valentine's Day with someone you love. It was a cold day here yesterday and then snow overnight and now we are having freezing rain. They have travel advisories out now and I am sure the roads are bad. It's been raining for several hours now. 

It's just been a cold and overcast day. So for dinner we had some comfort type food. I had banana peppers in the freezer that I stuffed with hot and sweet sausage in August or September. Pulled them out and baked with some roasted tomato sauce that I made with our tomato harvest this summer. For a side dish I made some mac & cheese. 

It was a lot of work stuffing all the banana peppers we had this harvest, but I love pulling them out on nights like this and enjoying them. It makes me so appreciative of all the time and energy that my hubby puts into his gardens each summer. 

Now onto my card for today. I have a couple more Valentine cards to show and then that will be it for this season. This one I made for my great-niece who loves unicorns. Her Mom sent me a video with Allie thanking me for the Valentine. She even showed her class during her Zoom school call. So cute!

I started my card with the layout. I used this week's Splitcoaststampers sketch #840. It was a fun fold layout and I love how my card turned out. There is a tutorial for this front-flap fold and you can find it here. You could just use the sketch or take the double dare and make the fun fold. 

I used the Flying Unicorn die from CottageCutz for my card image. On the flap portion I used a die and cut some clouds and sponged the edges with distress ink. 

The background paper is some that I found at Hobby Lobby from Paper Studio and carries on the unicorn theme.

Added my valentine sentiment on the clouds and scattered a few hearts to complete this card. Well that's it for me for this card. So until next time.......God bless.

card details:

Paper: highland heather, pretty in pink, whisper white, coastal cabana(Stampin'-Up), unicorn w/flowers dp (paper Studio)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: tumbled glass distress ink (Ranger)

Accessories: flying unicorn, be my valentine puppies dies (CottageCutz), rainbow builder framelits(Stampin'-Up)

Techniques: front flap card

I am also entering:

1.  Always Fun Challenge is anything goes. 

2.  The Cutie Pie Challenge is Hearts & Flowers-Valentines or Mother's Day. 

3.  Get Creative Challenge is anything goes with optional to use red or pink.  

4.  The Fairy and the Unicorn has an anything goes challenge. 

5.  My Time to Craft has a love challenge. 

I + You =US

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit on this Valentine's Day 2021. We went out on Thursday night for our Valentine dinner. We thought the restaurants might be a bit crowded and we wouldn't be able to get a reservation on the week-end. So we went earlier and had a very delicious dinner and an enjoyable evening.

We picked an Italian restaurant near our home that is famous for it's Virginia spots. I can tell you that they are delicious served with a lemon cream sauce. My husband enjoyed Chicken Romano- something else that is their specialty.

Then today my neighbor sent over some delicious brownies with a fabulous icing. So we had those for dessert today. I gave my hubs his card either today. I already posted it on my Blog previously. You can take a look here.

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for a color challenge #827 on Splitcoaststampers. Barbara was our hostess and she chose call me clover, whisper white and cajun craze for the color trio.

call me clover, whisper white, cajun craze

I have to admit this color combo had me stumped because with the cajun craze my mind kept going to Fall. And, I didn't want to create that type of card. Then my teamie, Karen, gave me the idea of a nature theme. And, voila I thought of a cactus.

I was determined to make a Valentine card with these non-traditional colors. With the help of my punny sentiment I was able to pull it off. The sentiment I used is from the "let's stick together" set from MFT.

The designer paper background paper is from the Stampin'-Up "all is bright" collection. It's a neutral so I am good there.

The cactus images are a die from Cottage Cutz. For the blooms on the cactuses, I used the light craze craze alcohol marker from Stampin'-Up. I gave this card to the owner of my gym for his wife. He really liked the sentiment. 

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

card details:

Stamps: let's stick together (MFT)

Paper: cajun craze, call me clover, white, crumb cake, all is bright dsp (Stampin'-Up)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: call me clover

Accessories: potted cactus die (CottageCutz), stitched collage frame(MFT)

I am also entering:

1.  Lil Patch of Crafty Friends has an anything goes challenge. 

2.  Creative Fingers has an anything goes challenge. 

3.  Polkadoodles has an anything goes challenge. 

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

5.  Creative Moments has an anything goes challenge. 

Safari Animals Birthday

Hello Blogger Friends. Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with The Charmed Life this Valentine weekend. 

We went out on Thursday night for our Valentine dinner. We thought the restaurants might be a bit crowded and we wouldn't be able to get a reservation on Friday or Saturday. So we went then and had a very delicious dinner and an enjoyable evening.

We picked an Italian restaurant near our home that is famous for it's Virginia spots. I can tell you that they are delicious served with a lemon cream sauce. My husband enjoyed Chicken Romano- something else that is their specialty.

Then my neighbor sent over some red velvet cupcakes earlier in the day with a delicious butter cream icing. So we came home and had those for dessert.  I will give hubs his card either today or tomorrow. I already posted it on my Blog previously. You can take a look here.

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for the color challenge #830 on Splitcoaststampers. The color trio is bumble bee, bermuda bay and blueberry bushel. We are able to use neutrals of our choice. I used black, gray and brown. 

The colors had me stumped for a bit and then I decided to stencil a confetti like background using the 3 colors. I used distress inks for my stencil work and the MFT confetti stencil. 

Next, I cut my Safari images in the neutral shades of white, black, brown and gray. For the vine that is part of the monkey die I used bermuda bay cardstock. 

I stamped my birthday sentiment on a flag banner. Just so the animals would have something to stand on. The sentiment is from the MFT set - "pawty time". 

 

Now I am ready to start card assembly. I attached the stenciled panel to the card base with double sided adhesive. 

I attached the flag with double sided tape. The Safari animals are all attached with dimensional adhesive. I decided to give the monkey a little balloon to hold onto. The balloon is from the 2019 Ballerina Mouse die set. I stamped the hb2u phrase. This is the MFT stamp set- bitty birthday wishes.

Well, that's it for me for this post.  Hope you have a great weekend. It's President's Day on Monday so the weekend will get extended for some of you. Enjoy the extra time off and hope you find something fun to do.  So until next time.......God bless.

Card details:

Stamps: pawty time, bitty birthday wishes (MFT)

Paper: bermuda bay, whisper white, smoky slate, baked brown sugar, (Stampin'-Up) kraft (Ranger)

Paper Size: 4 1/2" x 5 3/4"

Ink: blueberry bushel (Stampin'-Up), peacock feathers, wild honey distress inks (ranger), tuxedo black (Memento)

Accessories: Safari Hippo, Safari Monkey, Safari Zebra dies (CottageCutz)confetti stencil set, flag stax die (MFT)

Techniques: stenciling

dies I used to create card:

I am also entering:

1.  Addicted to Stamps and More has a birthday challenge. 

2.  2 Crafty Critter Crazies has an anything goes with a critter. 

3.  Crafty Animals has an anything goes  with an animal challenge. 

4.  Crafty Calendar has a dies/punches challenge. 

5.  Seize the Birthday has an anything goes with optional hearts challenge. 

 

 

Sending Love

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

It's the Friday before Valentine's day. We went out last night for our Valentine dinner. We thought the restaurants might be a bit crowded and we wouldn't be able to get a reservation on Friday or Saturday. So we went last night and had a very delicious dinner and an enjoyable evening. 

We picked an Italian restaurant near our home that is famous for it's Virginia spots. I can tell you that they are delicious served with a lemon cream sauce. My husband enjoyed Chicken Romano- something else that is their specialty.  

Then my neighbor sent over some red velvet cupcakes earlier in the day with a delicious butter cream icing. So we came home and had those for dessert. I will give hubs his card either tomorrow or Sunday.  I already posted it on my Blog previously. You can take a look here. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I made and sent to a friend of mine. It's a Gal-entines card. I didn't have any sentiments that reflected that so I used what I had. I read about Gal-entines Day a few years ago and I really liked the concept. That way we can send cards to our girl friends particularly those who don't have a guy to do that.  

This one is part of the January Stampin'-Up Paper Pumpkin kit. Their kits have everything you need to either create cards or 3D projects. The mail box and corner stamping was preprinted. So I just added the little snail at the bottom and stamped my sentiment. It's part of the Stitched Garden Friends die from CottageCutz. 

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

card details:

Stamps: sending love (Jan 2021 Paper Pumpkin)

Paper: whisper white, poppy parade, basic black, smoky slate (Stampin'-Up)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: poppy parade

Accessories: Paper Pumpkin Kit Jan 2021, stitched garden friends die (CottageCutz),

I am also entering:

1.  Cut It Up has a love themed challenge. Use a die cut and create a Valentine or love themed card.

2.  Daring Cardmakers has a share the love challenge. 

3.  Simply Create Too has a use hearts challenge. 

4.  Cute Card Thursday has a CAS challenge. 

5.  Crafty Gals Corner wants us to add a heart