2023 Favorite Cards (Part 1)

Hello Blogger Friends! Happy New Year! Hope your Christmas celebrations were great and that you had time with family/friends. 

My son and his family left to go home to California today. The house is so quiet, and I miss them already. But we had some great family time with both our sons. One lives here in Pittsburgh and the other in CA. 

I am starting off my year with some of my favorite cards from 2023. I am posting 6 cards today and 6 cards tomorrow. 

February 2023

This next one is a birthday fun fold pop up card. I have a full tutorial on this post.

March 2023

April 2023
This is an easel treat card box. Full tutorial on this Blog post.

May 2023

June 2023

July 2023 (1)

July 2023 (2)

Well, that's Part 1 of my faves. Stop back tomorrow to see Part 2. God Bless!

Christmas Card Trio

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

It's 3 days before Christmas so I hope you are all on schedule with the Christmas Preps. I went our food shopping for my Christmas dinner this morning. The store opened at 8:00 am and that's when I got there.

The parking lot was already full and the store inside was packed. Fortunately, I had a list and was able to get everything I needed in 1/2 hr. That was a record for me. 

I finished up all my gift wrapping today and also made more cookies. I just have to run the sweeper and clean the bathrooms and I will be ready for my Monday dinner with my family. 

Now let's move onto my card for today. This one I created with some of the contents of the November 2022 Paper Pumpkin Kit from Stampin' Up. It was a kit to create tags, but I turned the tags into A2 size cards. 

My backgrounds are all designer paper from Stampin' Up. I coordinated the card bases with the colors of the dsp. The angled layers are also designer paper and cardstock that I embossed with a snowflake folder. 

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

I am also entering:

1.  Jingle Belles has a wrapping up Christmas challenge. 

2.  Most Magical Time of the Year- anything goes Christmas. 

3.  As You Like it Challenge is anything goes. 

4.  Creative Inspirations Challenge is anything goes. 

5.  Classic Design Challenge is anything goes. 

Merry Christmas Tag

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

It's the start of the Winter Solstice and also just 4 days until Christmas. I hope your Christmas preps are going according to schedule. 

I am finished with my gift shopping and as soon as I finish this post, I will be wrapping gifts. Then tonight I will get back to more cookie baking. I baked 10 dozen cookies last night. Tomorrow I will do my food shopping for Christmas dinner and then Saturday it will be a day of completing any wrapping or cookie baking I didn't get to. 

Now onto my post for today. This Christmas card I made using some of the contents of the Stampin' Up November 2022 Paper Pumpkin kit. I made several and will post them over the next several days. It is a kit to make tags, but I changed it to a A2 card.

I added designer paper for the background. It's from the Sweetest Christmas collection by Stampin' Up.  The glitter paper is a mint macaron shade also from Stampin' Up. The tag, candy cane and bakers twine are from the kit. 

To complete this card, I stamped the sentiment and scattered a few enamel dots. 

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

Card Details:

Stamps: From the North Pole (PPKit 2022)

Paper: sweet sorbet, mint macaron glitter paper, sweetest christmas dsp (Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: sweet sorbet (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: Paper Pumpkin Kit November 2022, sweet sorbet enamel dots (Stampin' Up)

I am also entering:

1.  Creative Knockouts has a time to be merry challenge. 

2.  ABC Christmas Challenge is "Z" for black & white or Stripes. 

3.  Fab 'n' Funky has a Christmas challenge. 

4.  The Sisterhood of Crafters has a Christmas challenge. 

5.  Shopping our Stash has a winter holidays challenge. 

Santa Letter Mailbox

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

It's a rainy Sunday here in Pittsburgh. We started our day off with church and we also taught Sunday school. My hubby and I have the 5–7-year-olds. It's a great age group to work with. 

We did our lesson on the Nativity and then we had them make a Nativity Christmas ornament to take home. I found this idea on Pinterest, and it worked out well. I didn't use her template but used a die and cut my own nativity scene. 

Now I am at home relaxing and enjoying a quiet Sunday afternoon. Maybe I should be wrapping gifts, but I just don't feel like doing anything. That can always be done tomorrow. I had a busy week and taking this day as a day of rest.

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for the color challenge #978 on Splitcoaststampers. I was the hostess and I chose real red, white and blueberry bushel for the color trio. Optional was anything goes. 

real red, white, blueberry bushel

This was one of my last Christmas cards, and I selected these colors so I could use this new to me mailbox die from Spellbinders.

Cut the images in the challenge colors and for my anything goes option I chose to use green - old olive and mossy meadow.

My background paper is from the Stampin' Up "winter meadow" collection. I cut a snowbank in white glitter paper and stamped my sentiment to complete my card.

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

Card Details:

Stamps: parcel & post sentiments (Spellbinders)

Paper: real red, white, blueberry bushel, old olive, mossy meadow, winter meadow dsp (Stampin' Up), white & red glitter paper (Paper Studio)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: real red (Stampin'-Up)

Accessories: parcel & post mailbox, parcel & post Christmas decorations (Spellbinders), stitched hils die (Lawn Fawn)

I am also entering:

1.  Crafty Calendar has a Christmas themed challenge. 

2.  Inkspirational Challenge is "celebrate".

3.  Cut It Up has a "celebrate" challenge. 

4.  My Time to Craft has a holidays around the world challenge.

   

Rocking Horse w/Toys Christmas Card

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

Well, I finished up addressing all my Christmas cards. This one was sent off to my friend in Washington. It was one of my Splitcoaststampers color challenge cards. She is on the design team with me. She commented that the card reminded her of a rocking horse her daughter had when she was little. So of course, I had to send her the card. She will be surprised when it arrives in her mailbox. 

I am ready to start my Christmas baking now. I am scaling back this year because I am on the Paleo diet and not doing sugar. So, I don't want to be tempted with all the candy and cookies I usually make. I am only making Pizzelles and my mini lady locks. My hubby is ok with it so that's good enough for me.

Now onto my card for today. this one I made for the color challenge #975 on Splitcoaststampers. We were to use cherry cobbler, night of navy and shaded spruce for our color trio.

cherry cobbler, night of navy, shaded spruce

 Optional was to use designer paper. I had the perfect paper- it's from the Stampin' Up "wrapped in plaid " collection. In fact, if you have this paper there is a sheet in the collection that has all 3 of this week's colors.

For my Christmas card, I used the CottageCutz Rocking Horse w/Toys die and cut in the challenge colors plus a couple of neutrals.

I used an edge die from MFT to cut the white panel and layered my images there. Added a few night of navy resin stars and stamped my Hero Arts sentiment in night of navy ink.

The bottom half of the card is featuring the designer paper in the cherry cobbler and shaded spruce colors. I like the gold trim on this design.

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

card details:

Stamps: Christmas Messages (Hero Arts)

Paper: cherry cobbler, night of navy, pecan pie, soft suede, early espresso, soft suede, crumb cake, wrapped in plaid dspwhite (Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: 4 1/2" x 5 3/4"

Ink: night of navy (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: Rocking Horse w/Toys die (CottageCutz), Stitched basic Edges die (MFT), Resin Stars (Stampin' Up)

I am also entering:

1.  Alphabet Challenge is "S" for Stars.

2.  Aloha Friday Challenge is Christmas/Winter Animals. 

3.  Jingle Belles is a Christmas theme-wrapping up 2023. 

4.  C.R.A.F.T. has a Christmas challenge.

5.  Little Red Wagon #735 is a Christmas challenge.  

Snowman Scene

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

It's only 11 days until Christmas. I feel like I am on schedule with my preparations. I am in the process of mailing my cards out. I should finish those tonight and they will go out in tomorrow's mail. 

I mailed 33 so far and have 10 more handmade cards to finish up. Then I have some boxed cards I send to family and friends who don't really appreciate a handmade card. And I don't feel guilty sending them a boxed card either (LOL). 

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for the color challenge #976 on Splitcoaststampers. We were to use silver, azure afternoon and blueberry bushel for her color trio. Optional is snow.

azure afternoon, silver, blueberry bushel

Of course, I had to go with a Christmas theme with these colors and the optional item.

My background paper is from the Stampin' Up "one horse open sleigh" collection. It's so perfect for creating outdoor scenes for Christmas or Winter. This background is featuring misty moonlight one of our allowed neutrals.

I cut my snowman and bird in the challenge colors. For the tree I used bristol smooth cardstock and an ink blending brush with mossy meadow ink and then cut the tree from that piece.

The bird is carrying a silver glitter star and a silver glitter present. My Merry Christmas sentiment phrase is cut in misty moonlight cardstock.

This when went to my hair stylist. She loves snowmen and I make her a card each year with snowmen.

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

Card Details:

Paper: white, azure afternoon, blueberry bushel, misty moonlight, one horse open sleigh dsp (stampin' Up), silver glitter (Coredinations), bristol smooth (Canson)

Paper Size: 4 1/2" x 6"

Ink: mossy meadow (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: snowman w/tree, merry christmas w/deer family dies (CottageCutz)

I am also entering:

1.  Cardz 4 Galz challenge is a Christmas card. 

2.  Creative Knockouts has a snow much fun challenge. 

3.  Krafty Chicks #694 has a Christmas challenge. 

4.  ABC Christmas Challenge is "Y" for your choice or anything goes. 

5.  Crafty Gals Corner has a "tis the season" challenge. 

Gingerbread Cottage

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

Only 22 days until Christmas! I have all of my decorating done except for my living room tree. That is my task for today after I finish this Blog post. Then I will be onto finishing my Christmas cards and getting them mailed. 

I sort of started my Christmas shopping, but I am not nearly done.  I am waiting for ideas from my family. I also will be baking and candy making. I feel like I am right on schedule for getting everything completed so I will see what happens. 

Now onto my card for today. I am featuring the new Gingerbread Cottage Die and created a center step fun fold.

Design Steps:

I used the colors from the Splitcoaststampers color challenge #970. We were to use real red, pool party, lemon lolly and old olive for the color combo. 

real red, pool party, lemon lolly, old olive

I had this center step fun fold card in my stash. I bought these premade. They are an A2 size card and fold flat for mailing. This premade base is ivory, and I wanted it to be the pool party shade. So, I cut cardstock and pool party designer paper to cover the ivory panels completely. I wanted to tone down the designer paper a bit, so I added a layer of vellum paper to each panel.

Next, I cut the Gingerbread Cottage in the challenge colors plus a few allowed neutrals. It's such a cute die. I love it as a Christmas card.
 

I wanted a bold Christmas sentiment and decided to use the CottageCutz Merry Christmas w/Shadow phrase (Christmas 2021). I cut it in red cardstock 2x and added it to a white glitter cardstock panel. 

To finish off my card, I attached the gingerbread cottage to the center panel with dimensional adhesive. I cut the pine trees that are part of this die in the old olive shade.

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

I am also entering:

1.  Crafty Calendar Challenge is Christmas themed. 

2.  Crafty Catz is anything goes-optional is to make them smile. 

3.  Creative Creases is anything goes with a fun fold.

4.  C.R.A.F.T. Challenge #700 is anything goes. 

5.  Creative Knockouts has a "tis the season" challenge. 

Holiday Lantern

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

Hope you had a great weekend and that your Thanksgiving celebration was a good one. Ours was such a wonderful time with family. I never take these times for granted anymore especially since the days of Covid restrictions. 

I started my Christmas decorating and hopefully will finish up this week. I put up two trees and I decorate every room downstairs, so it does take me 3-4 days. But I love Christmas and seeing my home look so festive. 

I wanted to get this card posted before I get back to the decorating.

This one I made for the color challenge #973 on Splitcoaststampers. We were to use granny apple green, polished pink and balmy blue for our color trio. Optional was anything goes. I chose to use red for the option. 

granny apple green, polished pink, balmy blue

I went with a Christmas theme for my card. I used the Vintage Holiday Lantern die and cut in 2 of the challenge colors plus a few allowed neutrals of mossy meadow, soft suede, a metallic brown and a metallic beige.

I cut my Noel phrase in polished pink. This is a new die from Stampin' Up. 

The background snowflake embossed paper is from Lasting Impressions. I have had it in my stash for years.

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

Card Details:

Paper: polished pink, granny apple green, mossy meadow, real red, soft suede (Stampin' Up), sea water (Bazzill), metallics (Worldwin Papers), white snowflakes embossed (Lasting Impressions)

Paper Size: 4 1/2" x 5 3/4"

Accessories: Vintage Holiday Lantern die (CottageCutz), Noel die (Stampin' Up),

I am also entering:

1.  Cardz 4 Galz has a wet or dry embossing challenge. 

2.  Alphabet Challenge is to use quadruple shapes or images. I used 4 letters for my sentiment. 

3.  Crafty Catz is anything goes w/optional of Christmas or Winter. 

4.  My Time to Craft Christmas has a theme of snowflakes. I used snowflake embossed paper. 

5.  Gem of a Challenge has an anything goes. 

Christmas Ornaments

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

It's the Saturday after Thanksgiving and time to start thinking seriously about Christmas. I will be taking down all my Fall decorations today and start with Christmas. 

For my Christmas decorating I usually take about 3 days to get everything done. I love this season and decorate every room on the downstairs level. I also decorate minimally the 2 bedrooms that my son and his family will use when they come for their Christmas visit. 

Then there are my Christmas cards. I have 19 made so far and still need a lot more. I send boxed cards to those who don't really appreciate a handmade card and I don't feel guilty about it (LOL).

Now onto my card for today. This one I made using the colors from the Splitcoaststampers color challenge #967. We were to use parakeet party, fresh freesia and highland heather. 

parakeet party, fresh freesia, highland heather

I thought this would be a great trio of colors to use for ornaments on a Christmas card. I used night of navy cardstock (allowed neutral) for the ornament itself and the challenge colors for the decorations on the ornaments.

My layout is a slimline design (3 1/2" x 7 1/2"). Background designer paper is from the Stampin' Up "penguin playmates" collection. The Ornament are a new die from CottageCutz- Old Fashioned Ornaments 2. 

I added some candy canes, holly leaves and peppermint twist candies for interest. Finished off my card with sequins.

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

Card Details:

Stamps: Christmas Messages (Hero Arts)

Paper: fresh freesia, highland heather, parakeet party, night of navy, white, pengruin playmates dsp (Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: 3 1/2" x 7 1/2"

Ink: night of navy (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: old fashioned ornament 2(CottageCutz)

Techniques: slimline card

I am also entering:

1.  Time Out Challenges has a Winter/Holiday Challenge. 

2.  Crafty Catz has an anything goes challenge w/option of Christmas or Winter. 

3.  Merry Little Christmas Challenge is anything goes.

4.  Inkspirational Challenge #303 is seasonal- I chose winter with a Christmas theme.   

5.  TicTacToe challenge #236 -I chose the 3rd column or right. 

Autumn Friends Celebrate Thanksgiving

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

Hope your Thanksgiving celebration was a wonderful time with family /friends. We celebrated with our family. It was a great time with our kids/grandkids and my meal turned out perfectly. Even the gravy didn't give me any trouble this year. 

My daughter-in-law bought a delicious broccoli-cauliflower gratin. I had my usual menu of turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, sweet potato casserole, corn, homemade cranberry sauce, rolls, pumpkin and apple pies. 

Needless to say, we were all more than full after dinner. We waited until after clean-up to have dessert. I am already looking forward to Christmas dinner because I will have my CA son and his family here as well. 

Now onto my card for today. This was the last one that I made for Thanksgiving 2023. I wanted to post it yesterday but there was just no time between Wednesday or Thursday.  

I used the colors from the Splitcoaststampers color challenge #974 for my slimline card. We were to use poppy parade, crushed curry, pecan pie and crumb cake for the color combination. Optional was anything goes. I chose the addition of blue for this part.

poppy parade, crushed curry, pecan pie, crumb cake

I cut the Autumn Friends (CottageCutz die) images in the challenge colors plus a few allowed neutrals.

For the Fall Tree (CottageCutz die), I wanted the look of the trees we see in PA in the Fall season. So, I cut in white cardstock and blended barn door and fossilized amber distress inks to get a beautiful Fall color. I colored the 3 leaves with the same inks. These inks are a match for the Stampin'Up colors.

Next, I chose this pattern of designer paper for the card background. I liked the blue sky and the sun rays. It's from a pack called "heavenly skies" (Divinity Designs) and they are sized for a slimline card at 6" x 9".
I cut a white card base 4" x 9" and the designer paper is also 4" x 9" to cover the white card front. I attached the designer paper to the card base. And cut a slope in the crumb cake shade using the Hills Slimline die. They are both attached with double sided tape.

I attached my images with clear drying glue except for the Bear & Owl. I used dimensional adhesive to  lift them slightly off the card base.

To complete the card, I cut a couple of clouds using the Stitched Sun, Clouds & Umbrella (CottageCutz die). I cut them from the leftover designer paper. Stamped my Happy Thanksgiving sentiment and attached to the card base.

That's my card for today. So, until next time......God bless. 

Card Details:

Stamps: gift of fall (Paper Pumpkin 2019)

Paper: crushed curry, poppy parade, pecan pie, crumb cake, soft suede (stampin' Up), Heavenly Skies Designer Paper (Divinity Designs)

Paper Size: 4" x 9"

Ink: pecan pie (Stampin' Up) fossilized amber distress, barn red distress, antique linen distress (Ranger), tuxedo black (memento)

Accessories: Fall Tree die, Autumn Friends die, Clouds die, Hill slimline die (CottageCutz)

I am also entering:

1.  The Paper Funday challenge is anything goes-with optional grateful/thankful.

2.  Crafty Animals Challenge #78 is anything goes with an animal. 

3.  Crafting Happiness Challenge is a Turkey or any animal. 

4.  Critter Crazy Challenge #80 is anything goes with a critter. 

5.  The Four Seasons Challenge is anything Fall goes.