Happy Mother's Day

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with The Charmed Life Blog this Memorial Day 2021. 

We didn't do anything special today. Just went for our 3 mile walk this morning and then hubby went to work in the yard. I did get in my home workout that my trainer put together for me.  That takes about 45 min to 1 hr. and then I went to my craft room. I was working on my sample for the Splitcoaststampers color challenge. This week it's all about masculine. So I did make a Father's Day card. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for the color challenge #841. I was the hostess on that challenge and the colors I chose were just jade, honey bee and rococo rose. Optional was to make a feminine or Mother's Day card. I just didn't get it posted here on my Blog and I wanted to do that while it's still May. 

For this card I used the elements from the February 2021 Paper Pumpkin kit. The die cut flowers are part of the kit and have all the challenge colors along with the neutral of merry merlot.

The background designer paper is from one of the envelopes in the kit that I cut apart. I thought the paper was to pretty for an envelope that someone would just throw away. I added an embossed background layer in just jade cardstock. The image panel is a layer of bumble bee cardstock and a layer of vellum.

To complete my card I stamped my sentiment on a stitched label die in choc chip ink and scattered a few just jade enamel dots.

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

card details:

Stamps: sentimental rose (Paper Pumpkin Kit April 2019)

Paper: rococo rose, just jade, bumble bee, vellum (Stampin'-Up)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: Choc chip

Accessories: Paper Pumpkin Kit Feb 2021, in-color enamel dots, stitched nested labels die, greenery embossing folder (Stampin'-Up)

I am also entering:

1.  A Place to Start has an anything goes challenge. 

2.  Dream Valley Challenge is die cuts and/or punches.

3.  A Gem of a Challenge is anything goes. 

Patriotic Gnomes

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

It's a holiday weekend and the kickoff for the summer season. It's rainy and a little on the cool side today but I have lots to do inside. We are having some friends over tomorrow night and I have dusting and sweeping to get taken care of. 

For my card today, I am going patriotic. I was on the Kirkland's website the other day and noticed the patriotic gnome theme in wall art, pillows and hand towels. That gave me the idea for this card. I focused on a July 4th theme since that's a big celebration for the US. I used the Flower Power Tomte dies from our 2020 Gardening release collection and dressed them in patriotic colors. I also used the Windows Slimline die.

I decorate my home in a patriotic theme that I leave in place until mid-August. So this card will be part of my decorations. So let's get started with some details on how I created my card. 

Design Steps:

I started the card off by selecting my designer paper. I wanted a patriotic theme but nothing that would overpower the gnome images. My patriotic paper is limited and I didn't want to make a run to my local Michael's store so I looked online for something that I could download for free. Yay- I found some on Pinterest. And it printed out nicely as well.

So I cut the windows slimline once from the designer paper and then again in a red and blue cardstock. My card base is white and measures 6" x 8" and scored at 3". It's the same size as the window frame.

Next, I cut the gnome images in red, white and blue cardstock. I didn't want them both to be exactly alike so I cut their hats in different designer papers and cut the hat bands in two shades of blue cardstock.

For the center panel, I decided to make that a solid color. I used the banner that comes with this slimline die and stamped my sentiment in blue ink. The July phrase is part of the Calendar Months die from our Valentine 2017 release, but is currently out of stock.

Now that all my elements are cut I am ready to start card assembly. I attached the red window frame to the white card base with glue dots. Then I attached the inlaid panels with double sided tape.

To finish off my card, I added my patriotic gnomes and secured them with dimensional adhesive. I decided to use the garden flags that come with the die. In the red, white and blue I think they look like flags that you would wave at a parade.

Well that's it for me for this post. Have a great holiday weekend and until next time......God bless. 

Dies I used to create card:

I am also entering:

1.  Allsorts has an any celebration challenge. 

2.  The Fairy and Unicorn challenge is anything goes. 

3.  Simon Says Stamp has an anything goes challenge. 

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

5.  Polkadoodles has an anything goes challenge. 

6.  Cute Card Thursday has an anything goes challenge. 

Mother's Day Bouquet

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

It's coming up on our first holiday weekend of the summer. There is a parade planned in our neighborhood development for this coming Monday. We had one last year during the pandemic because our township canceled the one they had planned. 

The neighborhood one was such a success that they planned another one for this year. It's fun to just have all the neighbors sit out in their front yards and watch all the festivities. We all line our front yards with American flags so the patriotic theme is amazing. 

I am not sure if we will have family over for a cookout. We might just make some plans with our next door neighbors. Now let's move onto my card for today.

This one I made for the color challenge #841 on Splitcoaststampers. I just forgot to post it on my Blog even though the Mother's Day celebration is over for this year. I was the hostess and I chose just jade, bumble bee and rococo rose for the color trio. Optional was to make either a Mother's Day or a feminine card. 

For my card I used a fun fold technique and the elements from the February 2021 Paper Pumpkin kit. The background designer paper on the front panel is cut from one of the envelopes in the kit. 

For the fun fold I used a white card base and cut 1 /1/2 inches off the front panel. I used the largest Stitched Rectangle (3 1/4" x 4 1/2") die from CottageCutz and cut the panel in rococo rose cardstock. Then cut another panel from the largest Rectangle (3 1/8" x 4 1/8") die also from CottageCutz and used this for the image panel. 

The beautiful bouquet is part of the kit and has all the challenge colors. The bouquet is accented with merry merlot (a Stampin'-Up neutral).

I stamped my Mother's Day sentiment in just jade ink and scattered a few just jade enamel dots to complete this card. The sentiment is from another Stampin'-Up Paper Pumpkin kit - sentimental rose. 

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

Stamps: sentimental rose (Paper Pumpkin Kit April 2019)

Paper: whisper white, rococo rose

Paper Size: A2

Ink: just jade

Accessories: Paper Pumpkin Kit Feb 2021, in-color enamel dots (Stampin'-Up), stitched rectangle die (CottageCutz)

Techniques: fun fold

I am also entering:

1.  Aud Sentiments has a "for the girls" challenge + a sentiment. 

2.  Stinkin' Inkers Challenge is "girls just wanna have fun". 

3.  Crafty Gals has a "for the ladies" challenge. 

4.  Little Red Wagon has a "say it with flowers" challenge. 

5.  The Sisterhood of Crafters has a flowers challenge. 

Happy Birthday Fishes

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 do something fun or crafty. We had some friends over for dinner on Sunday. It was a wonderful evening of just enjoying each other's company. We are going to be doing a lot of these evenings throughout the summer. Too long for being isolated and on lockdown. 

We are inviting our next door neighbor for dinner tonight. They are good friends and his wife just went to Colorado to visit her son. It's just something simple with burgers and fries. But he won't have to spend the evening alone. 

Now onto today's card. This one I made for a Throwback Tuesday post on the CottageCutz Blog. The throwback twist is using the Goldfish & Bowl die from an older CottageCutz collection and the newer Nested Rectangles Slimline dies.  

For my card layout, I am using the Splitcoaststampers sketch challenge #854. I thought the fish bowl would work well for element 3 of the sketch.

I chose some Stampin'-Up pool party (a soft blue) dotted paper for the card background. It's cut with the 2nd largest Nested Rectangles Slimline die. It measures 3 1/4" x 8 1/4". I cut a white card base the same size as the designer paper and secured with double sided tape.

I cut my Goldfish and bowl and added those to the card center. For element 4 of the sketch I used a couple more Goldfish. Stamped the punny sentiment and scattered a few white sequins to finish off this card. 

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.  AAA Birthday has a birthday challenge. They are celebrating their 2nd birthday and with prizes. 

2.  A Bit More Time to Craft has an anything goes challenge. 

3.  A Perfect Time to Craft has an anything goes challenge.

4.  Classic Design Challenge has an anything goes.  

5.  Crafts Galore Encore has an anything goes challenge. 

Happy Birthday from the Circus Animals

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

It was a beautiful Saturday here in Pittsburgh. We have been having warm weather all week and we even had to turn our air conditioner on mid week. Sometimes that bothers me to go from having the heat running and then a few days later the air. But for some reason this year it doesn't seem to matter. 

We are having friends over for dinner tomorrow. I am so looking forward to it. We plan on having friends over at least twice a month all summer. It's been too long that we have been shut up in our home and not seeing friends. 

I decided on Lasagna, meat balls and salad for the main course. We will start off with some appetizers.  For that I am preparing a charcuterie board with Calabrese Salame, Prosciutto, olives, grapes and 3 different kinds of cheeses. 

I made the sauce for the lasagna and meatballs today. In fact it's on the stove simmering as I type this post. I like to make it the day before so the flavors have a chance to meld together. I don't usually add meat to the sauce but for this one I added sweet Italian sausage. I thought that would work well for the lasagna. 

Well enough about food, let's move onto my post for today. This card I created for my weekly DT post on the CottageCutz Blog. Today for your viewing pleasure I have a slimline birthday card using the Circus Train Animal dies + the Scalloped Stitched Rectangle Slimline die.

 
I have a lot of nieces and nephews with young ones and I always seem to need a kids birthday card. These animals are perfect for a kids card. So let's get started on some details of how I created my card.

Design Steps:
I started my card this week with the layout. I saw this sketch #854 on Splitcoaststampers and I thought the layout would work well for the dies I am using.

Next, I selected the background designer paper. I wanted something fun and found this bright dotted paper.
I cut it with the largest Scalloped Stitched Rectangle Slimline (3 1/4" x 8 1/4") die. The card base is at 6 1/2" x 8 1/4" and then scored at 3 1/4". I used pacific point cardstock (royal blue) cardstock.

Then, I cut my animal images. The designer paper colors of blue, rose red and yellow would work for the hats and neck scarves the circus animals are wearing. I used different colors of cardstock to cut the animals. You could also cut in white and color with any medium you like i.e. Copic markers, Prismacolors pencils or distress inks. I forgot to take a photo of this step (lol)!

For element 3 of the sketch I used the largest Scalloped Circle die and then cut a portion off the bottom to give it a straight edge. I stamped my sentiment in pacific point ink. It's a long one line sentiment but with the help of my MISTI, I stamped on 2 lines.

I started the assembly of my card. For element 2 of the sketch I cut another piece of pacific point designer paper 1" x 8", I attached the circle with double sided tape and then secured to the designer paper panel.

Then I attached three of the Circus Animals in the circle using dimensional adhesive. The seal is attached in the corner for element 4 of the sketch. Instead of him balancing a ball, I have him holding a balloon. It's cut from the Clown with Balloons die.

To finish off my card, I attached the image panel to the card base with double sided tape. For the 2nd instance of element 4, I cut a spray of stars from the Circus Side Show die and attached to the right corner. I thought the middle looked empty so I added some rose red 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.  Allsorts has an anything goes with happy, bright and sunny colors. 

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

3.  Animal Friends has a bear challenge. 

4.  Crafty Animals has an anything goes challenge. 

5.  Sweet Stampers has an animals, critters or birds challenge.

6.  Crafty Catz has an anything goes with optional as cute as you like.  

If Friends Were Flowers Slimline

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

May is just flying by and we are already at the halfway point of the month. But our weather is still a bit cold especially at night. We are averaging mid 50's during the day and then down in the 30's at night. It's Spring time in Pittsburgh and I know soon it will be back to more normal temps. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for my weekly DT post on the CottageCutz Blog.  I have for your viewing pleasuring a CAS style card that would be very easy to reproduce.

I am using the Spring Flowers in Jar 1, 2, 3 dies and I created a card in the slimline style. So let's get started on some details of how I created my card.

Design Steps:

I started by cutting the images in white cardstock. I thought they would standout nicely against a bold and bright background.

Next I cut the image panel. I used just the double stitched rectangle from the new Lift Flaps Stitched Rectangle Slimline die and cut it from a bright magenta cardstock. 

I wanted an additional layer so I used the largest of the Scalloped Stitched Rectangle Slimline and I cut in black cardstock to continue with the bold look.

I stamped my sentiment in black ink directly on the magenta image panel. With this sentiment I will be able to use this card for a variety of occasions by stamping another sentiment on the inside. 

Now I am ready to start card assembly. I attached the image panel to the black scalloped layering panel with double sided tape. Then I attached the Flower jars using Ranger multi medium matte.

To complete my card I cut a white card base measuring 3 1/8" x 8 1/2". I will add another sentiment on the card inside.

I attached the image panel with double sided tape and scattered a few white faceted 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.  Aud Sentiments has a flowers + a sentiment challenge. 

2.  Creative Knockouts has a flower power challenge. 

3.  Cute Card Thursday has an embellish challenge. 

4.  Moving Along with the Times has a bouquet of flowers challenge. 

5.  Crafty Gals Corner has a for the ladies challenge. 

 

Mother's Day bouquet

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with The Charmed Life Blog today. It's the day after Mother's Day so I hope all the Mom's and Grandmothers had a great celebration that's set aside in your honor.

My son and his family took me out to brunch at a local restaurant. We had a delicious meal and even better family time. My son and his family in California sent me a beautiful basket with lots of wonderful treats. So they both made me feel very special.

I didn't get to see my mother-in-law but hubby and his family spent the day with her. My sister-in-law made dinner. It's a dish their family likes a lot- pigs in a blanket. They are cabbage rolls stuffed with ground meat and rice. So she had a great day as well.

Now onto my card for today. This is the card I made for my Mother-in-Law. The colors are from the Splitcoaststampers color challenge #842. We were to use crushed curry, seaside spray and garden green for our color trio. Optional was to add another color and I used berry burst. 

I cut the flowers in the challenge colors plus my optional of berry burst. To get a lighter color on the berry burst flowers, I used designer paper from the Stampin'-Up "color theory" collection.

For the flower pot, I used seaside spray cardstock and then sponged with the same shade of ink to get a deeper hue.

The card layout is this week's MOJO Sketch #559. I used the floral image where she has the center square. 

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

card details:

Paper: whisper white, seaside spray, crushed curry, garden gray, berry burst, color theory dsp (stampin'-Up)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: seaside spray, (Stampin'-Up) fossilized amber distress (ranger)

Accessories: spring flowers in pot, stitched square dies (CottageCutz), glitter enamel dots (Stampin'-Up)

I am also entering:

1.  A Place to Start has an anything goes challenge.

2.  Always Fun Challenge is Mother's Day.  

3.  Incy Wincy Designs has a flowers/Mother's Day challenge. 

4.  Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends has an anything goes. 

5.  A Gem of a Challenge is anything goes.