Christmas Mailbox

 

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

It's the last Saturday in October. The end of year holidays are now upon us. Hope you have your Thanksgiving cards made. I will be working on completing mine today. I have a couple of Stampin'-Up kits that I plan on using to get those cards done. 

I have a good start on my Christmas cards but still need about 20 more. I send a lot and I also have a big family. This is another one that I made using new CottageCutz Christmas dies. It's also for my weekly DT post on the CottageCutz Blog.

Today for your viewing pleasure, I am featuring the whimsical Christmas Deer w/Mailbox and The Merry Christmas w/Shadow dies. This one will go to my sister-in-law who loves woodland animals and feeds the deer regularly. So let's get started on some details of how I created my card.

Design Steps:

This week I started my card with my layout. As I have said so many times before having the sketch in mind helps start as well as simplify the card making process for me. I liked the sketch #877 at Splitcoaststampers. I thought it would work well for this cute little Christmas deer.  

Next, I cut the images and stuck with the traditional Christmas colors of red and green.

 

Then I looked through my selection of Christmas paper to see what would work for the sketch I chose. I found one that I liked. I thought I would use some vellum over the designer paper to tone down the somewhat busy pattern.

red card base: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"
designer paper layer: 4 1/8" x 5 3/8"
white layer (element 3 of sketch: - 1 3/4" x 4 1/8"

Next, I cut my Merry Christmas w/Shadow sentiment in red and green. Love this new shadow die.

Now that my card elements are prepared I am ready to start assembly. I attached the vellum to the designer paper with glue dots. It definitely gave a muted look to the designer paper. I put them in places that I new would be covered with the white panel and then the images.

The white panel with the sentiment is attached with double sided tape. I trimmed the design paper layer a bit because I was going to attach a snow bank.

The images are attached next with dimensional adhesive. I cut two snow banks from the North Pole die and attached them with double sided tape. I added two snowflakes for elements 4 & 5 of the sketch to complete my card.

And, 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.  Crafty Catz has an anything goes challenge. 

2.  Jingle Belles has a creature feature challenge. 

3.  Aud Sentiments challenge is use a Christmas sentiment.

4.  Creative Knockouts has an anything goes challenge.  

5.  CHNC Challenge #566 is anything goes.

6.  Little Red Wagon Challenge is "outside".

 

Wisdom Tree

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

Another weekend is upon us and it's also the last weekend in October. I can't believe that we are already into the last several months of 2021. Where has this year gone to? 

We don't have any plans for this weekend. Just the normal stuff of working around the house and of course I will be in my craft room. Probably working in my kitchen as I finish off the last produce of the season. We are expecting some temps in the low 30's next week so that will definitely finish off the vegetable and flower gardens. 

It will be time for me to start thinking about Thanksgiving and my dinner menu. That is always fun and then decorating for Christmas shortly after that. I have started on my Christmas cards and here is one of them.

This one I made for the color challenge #852 on Splitcoaststampers. Chris was the hostess and she chose black, white and red for her color trio. Optional was Christmas. 

I kept my card more on the CAS side. I used the Wisdom Tree die from CottageCutz to create my focal point image.  It's a sold out die from several years ago. I cut it 2x to give it a bit more depth. 

The background paper is from the Stampin'-Up collection "merry little Christmas". To frame my image I used the Wide Rectangle Frame die from CottageCutz. Scattered a few red rhinestones to complete my card.

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

Card Details:

Paper: real red, whisper white, merry little christmas dsp (Stampin'-Up)

Paper Size: A2

Accessories: wisdom tree, pierced wide rectangle frame dies (CottageCutz), red rhinestones (Darice)

I am also entering:

1.  C.R.A.F.T. challenge has a non-traditional colors.

2.  Addicted to Stamps and More has a Christmas challenge.

3.  Christmas Craft Creations has a black, white + one challenge.  

4.  Simon Says Stamp has an anything goes challenge. 

5.  The Holly and Ivy Challenge #104 is anything goes. 

Night Before Christmas Slimline

Hello Blogger Friends! Happy Sunday to you all. Hope your weekend has been a great one and you had some fun involved. Maybe even some cardmaking activities.

I love watching the Hallmark Movie Channel and their Christmas movies have started. They had one on Friday night, 2 on Saturday night and one on tonight.  It just puts me in a Christmas mood even though it's October. I have started on my Christmas cards and will continue making those through November. I do need to get finished with my Thanksgiving cards though. 

So today I have a slimline card that I made for my weekly DT post on the CottageCutz Blog. There is a new Christmas release with 4 new Slimline designs. Today, I am featuring the Night Before Christmas Slimline die. So let's get started with some details of how I created my card.

Design Steps:

Since I had the design mind I was going to use, I looked through my designer paper for something with a nighttime sky. I found this one that I thought would work perfectly with the Night Before Christmas die.

white card base: 9" x 3 1/2"
designer paper layer: 9" x 3 1/2"

Next, I cut the image from white cardstock.

I decided I wanted a moon in this night sky so I used a 1" punch and cut one from designer paper. The paper was a lighter blue and I sponged navy ink around the edge to bring out the lighter shade. Then I stamped my ho-ho-ho sentiment.

After I assembled the card I didn't like this moon so I cut one from white cardstock and sponged 2 shades of yellow ink.

Now that my card elements are prepared, I am ready to start card assembly. I attached the designer paper to the card base with double sided tape.

My image is next and I used a combo of double sided tape and dimensional adhesive for Santa and reindeer. I changed the moon and sponged a couple of shades of yellow ink and then stamped the sentiment. I used the 2nd largest stitched circle die for the moon.

I also placed some of the white pieces back into the die using the inlay technique. To get the yellow light in the windows, I cut small pieces of yellow cardstock and glued them to the back of the panel. This method was a bit easier than laying in all the individual pieces.

Well, that's it for me for this post.  This is a card that I think would be quite easy to create multiples of to save some time with Christmas card making. So until next time........God bless

dies I used to create card:

I am also entering:

1.  Peace on Earth has an anything goes Christmas with optional inspiration board.

2.  Alphabet Challenge is "O" for outdoors. 

3.  Jingle Belles has a not a creature was stirring challenge. 

4.  ABC Christmas challenge is "V" for vocabulary.

5.  Crafty Creations has an anything goes challenge.  

Joy of the Season Slimline

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

Hope you are enjoying the Fall season. Our temperatures have just started to change and we are getting very cool nights. The tomatoes and peppers are winding down for the season. But just when I think it's over,  my hubby brings in 8-10 more for me to do something with. When we have our first frost it will definitely be over for the year. It's been an abundant harvest for us this year and I thank the Lord for all the vegetables that were harvested. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for my weekly DT post on the CottageCutz Blog. In the new Christmas release, there are 4 slimline designs. For this post I am featuring the Winter Scene Slimline die. So let's get started with some details on how I created this card. 

Design Steps:

For this card, I decided to create an ink blended background. It's another way to add the "wow" effect to a card. I used a blending brush an ink daubers along with chipped sapphire, navy, seedless preserves, grape, wild honey and spiced marmalade inks for the blending. I used Bristol smooth cardstock for this layer. I really like the way it takes ink.

Then I used some white acrylic paint mixed with a bit of water and splashed the background for a starry look. I added a few stars cut from white cardstock for a bit more interest.

Next, I cut the Winter Scene Slimline die in white cardstock. I added some pale yellow cardstock behind the windows to project a warm glow. I also sponged the moon with a bit of wild honey ink. For the sentiment on this card, I decided to stamp directly on the snow bank in navy ink.

Now I am ready for card assembly. I attached the winter scene image with double sided tape. I decided to add some layers to this card. I used navy cardstock and then the card base is a sugarplum shade. I thought it coordinated with the purple inks I used.

Sweet Sugarplum card base: 9 1/4" x 3 3/4"
Navy blue layer: 9 1/8" x 3 5/8"
Image panel: 9" x 3 1/2"

To finish off my card I added some wink of stella to all the stars and trees. IRL its really shimmery.  This one would be easy to create multiples of and each ink blended background would look just a bit different. Well 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. CHNC #155 is anything goes Christmas. 

2.  Aud Sentiments Challenge is to use a Christmas sentiment.

3.  C.R.A.F.T. Challenge is non-traditional Christmas colors.  

4.  Christmas Crafts All Year Round has an "S" or "T" challenge. A scene and slimline card is mine. 

5.  Happy Little Stampers Christmas is anything goes with option of Joy. 

6.  MLCCB #39 is anything goes Christmas. 

Gingerbread Christmas House

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

We are into the Fall season on the calendar but it has been so warm and sunny here that I am still thinking summer! Our vegetable and flower gardens are still producing. My hubby's dahlias are going crazy right now. I have been cutting bouquets and giving them to friends. The more I cut the more that bloom. 

I have more tomatoes and banana peppers waiting for me to do something with today. The peppers I thought I would stuff and give them to friends. The tomatoes I will roast and turn into a sauce to use for the peppers. My hubby picked the last of the eggplant for this year and I turned it into eggplant parmesan for dinner yesterday. I just love having a garden that you can turn into an enjoyable meal.

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for the color challenge #862 on Splitcoaststampers.  LeAnn was the hostess and she chose cinnamon cider, garden green and real red for her color trio. Optional was to create a Christmas card. 

garden green, real red, cinnamon cider

For my card I used some of the contents of the Stampin'-Up Nov 2020 Paper Pumpkin kit- Jolly Gingerbread. It's a kit designed to create a 3-d gift card box. I cut the gingerbread house box in half and used it to create a card.

The white overlay was in the kit. I did some stamping with one of the stamps in the kit. I removed the white door and added a piece of red cardstock. Used enamel dots in the challenge colors to surround the door. Added a white enamel dot for the knob and an acrylic shape that seemed to fit the gingerbread house theme.

My background designer paper is from the Stampin'-Up "plush poinsettia" collection. I embossed the smaller white panel with the brick embossing folder and added some garden green ribbon and a bow.

I couldn't fit a sentiment on the card front and will add my Christmas wishes on the inside. I was happy with how my card turned out and I have a few more of the gingerbread houses left in the kit to recreate this card.

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

card details:

Stamps: jolly gingerbread (Stampin'-Up PP Kit Nov)

Paper: real red, whisper white, plush poinsettia specialty paper (Stampin'-Up)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: real red (Stampin'-Up)

Accessories: Jolly gingerbread paper pumpkin kit Nov 2020, glitter dots, all the trimmings enamel dots, 2020 in-color enamel dots, gingerbread & peppermint acrylic shapes, garden green ribbon (Stampin'-Up

I am also entering:

1.  Cute Card Thursday has an anything goes challenge. 

2.  Krafty Chicks has a Christmas challenge. 

3.  Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday has an any holiday challenge. 

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

5.  Get Creative Challenge is anything goes with optional of Holiday. 

Holiday Ice Skates

Hello Blogger friends! Happy Saturday to you all. Hope your weekend has some fun mixed into it. 

We are going to take a drive today to go Fall leaf watching. Something we haven't done for a couple of years. We will also find a nice out of the way restaurant to stop and get something to eat. It should be a fun day. So I wanted to get this Blog post done before we head out the door.

This is a card I made for my weekly DT post on the CottageCutz Blog and also for the color challenge #864 on Splitcoaststampers. We were to use real red, bermuda bay and black for the color trio.

 Optional was to use something weathered. I went with a distressed designer paper.

Red card base: 4 1/2" x 5 3/4"
Medium brown layering panel: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"
Designer paper panel: 4 3/8" x 5 3/8"

Next, I cut my ice skates and the floral images in the challenge colors.

I cut the Merry Christmas sentiment in red. I decided to cut it 2x to give more dimension to my card.

Now that all my card elements are prepared, I am ready to start card assembly. I attached both layering panels to the card base using double sided tape.

To attach the images I used a combo of double sided tape, glue dots and art glitter glue (my new fave -it dries clear). I scattered a few bermuda bay sequins and my card is completed.

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

card details:

Paper: real red, soft suede, basic black, whisper white, bermuda bay, (Stampin'-Up), BoBunny dsp, gray metallic cardstock (Hobby Lobby),

Paper Size: 4 1/2" x 5 3/4"

Accessories: Holiday Ice Skate Floral, Merry Christmas w/Snowflakes dies (CottageCutz), bermuda bay sequins (Stampin'-Up)

I am also entering:

1.  CHNC #563 is anything goes Christmas with optional of sentiment as focal point. 

2.  Christmas Crafts All Year Round has an anything that starts with "S" and/or "T". 

3.  MLCCB #39 has an anything goes Christmas challenge. 

4.  Winter Wonderland - pincecones & poinsettias challenge. Mine are small but both are on my card. 

5.  ABC Christmas Challenge is "V" for vocabulary- use your words.

6.  Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge is anything goes. 

7.  Peace on Earth Christmas Challenge is anything goes. This is a brand new challenge so check it out. 

Grateful for Family

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with The Charmed Life Blog today. Well, it's October and we are moving onto cooler weather, falling leaves, heartier meals and upcoming holidays. 

Speaking of heartier meals we had some delicious vegetable soup courtesy of a neighbor yesterday with some great homemade crusty bread. It was such a treat. Then my neighbor on the other side sent us some Broccoli Cheese soup. That one was packed with flavor as well. We love having soups throughout the Fall and Winter. I am blessed with such wonderful neighbors who are always sending food to us. Of course, I reciprocate with delights from my kitchen as well.

Now let's move onto my card for today. This one I created for the color challenge #861 on Splitcoaststampers. Karen was the hostess and she chose cajun craze, pool party and mossy meadow for her color trio. Optional was to use Designer paper. 

For my card I tried a technique I have seen around for awhile - the split front card technique. I found this tutorial on YouTube. 

My designer paper is from the Stampin'-Up "gilded autumn" collection. The dies are from CottageCutz - Harvest Fall Corner, Pumpkin Pie & Latte (for the leaves) dies. The sentiment is from a 2019 Stampin'-Up Paper Pumpkin kit.

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

card details:

Stamps: Gift of Fall (Stampin'-Up Paper Pumpkin 2019)

Paper: cajun craze, very vanilla mossy meadow, gilded autumn dsp (Stampin'-Up)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: mossy meadow (Stampin'-Up)

Accessories: harvest fall corner, pumpkin pie & latte dies (CottageCutz)

Techniques: split front card

I am also entering:

1.  Use You Stuff has an Autumn /fall challenge.

2.  Incy Wincy Designs has a Halloween or Be Thankful challenge. 

3.  Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends has an anything goes challenge.

4.  We Love Chocolate Baroque has an anything Autumn challenge. 

5.  Crafter's Castle has an anything goes.