Santa in the Aurora Lights

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with The Charmed Life Blog on day 5 of my Christmas Cards for 2025.  

Hope you all had a great weekend. Maybe a little stamping time, Christmas decorating or Christmas shopping or just plain relax time. Well, I did all of the things I mentioned. The Christmas shopping I did online, but I will make it to the mall sometime soon. 

I love Christmas time and all the preps that go into making this a wonderful day of celebration for my family. The only thing I really haven't done yet is think about my Christmas dinner menu. I am not sure why I don't have a traditional menu and stick to it each year. I always seem to change it up and sometimes that gets a bit difficult to figure out different recipes. But in the end, it always comes together. So, I will keep you all posted on what I am making for this year. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for a color challenge on Splitcoaststampers. We were to use pool party, gorgeous grape and peach pie for the color trio. Optional was to make it travel of some sort. I hit it on this card with Santa in his sleigh.

pool party, gorgeous grape, peach pie

These are definitely non-traditional colors for a Christmas card, but I was determined to make it work. 
I just bought this Lights Of Aurora designer paper from Stampin' Up. It has 2 of the challenge colors with Gorgeous Grape and Pool Party plus Blackberry Bliss which is a neutral color for this challenge.

I cut my images in white glitter paper and IRL they really pop on the card.

Added some peach pie cardstock to the house windows and attached the image panel to pool party card base. And that's it for me for this post. So, until next time......God bless. 

Card Details:

Paper: Pool Party, Peach Pie, Lights of Aurora designer paper (Stampin' Up) White Glitter Paper (Recollections)

Accessories: Believe in the Magic die (CottageCutz)

I am also entering:

1.  Christmas Crafts all Year Round has a Santa Claus is coming to town challenge. 

2.  Crafts Galore Encore has an anything goes challenge. 

3.  The Crafting Challenge is all about Christmas.  

4.  Moving Along with the Times has a Santa challenge. 

5.  Paper Rocks Scissors has anything goes challenge. I used all paper for my card.

Have A Frosty Holiday

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with The Charmed Life Blog this first Sunday in December. It's Day 4 of my Christmas Cards for 2025. 

I finished all of my Christmas decorating yesterday and now I am in Christmas card mode. I need at least 35-40 cards. Yes, I still send out that many Christmas cards. But this year I am going to make more of a CAS design. I have card fronts that I can use that will make the creating much easier. 

Then I will need to get them addressed and in the mail. I was thinking of printing labels out this year. That way I will have them for future years. My hubby can stick the address & return labels plus the stamps. I can type up the labels at night while we are watching television. Just looking for ways to simplify the addressing envelopes process. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created using the colors from a Splitcoaststampers color challenge. We were to use real red, lost lagoon and pretty peacock for the color trio. 

real red, lost lagoon, pretty peacock

My card started with the designer paper. I had this pack from Stampin' Up - the "Snowflake Magic" collection and it has the lost lagoon color. I loved the metallic glow. This package is one of those new never been used items. So, I decided to cut into it and go with Christmas.

I cut my snowman trio and used the challenge colors for their scarves and hat. The stick arms are pecan pie (a neutral) and I had to use pumpkin for their noses. After all what snowman doesn't have a carrot for his nose???

I cut a snowbank in white glitter paper. The greeting is from the Waffle Flower "snow cheer sentiments" collection and it's stamped in pretty peacock and cut with the coordinating die.

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

Card Details:

Stamps: Snow Cheer Sentiments (Waffle Flower)

Paper: white, real red, pretty peacock, lost lagoon, black, pumpkin pie, pecan pie, black (Stampin' Up), Snowflake Magic dsp (Stampin' Up), White glitter paper (Recollections)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: Pretty Peacock (Stampin' Up),

Accessories: Snowman Friends die (CottageCutz), Stitched Hillside die (Lawn Fawn), Snow Cheer Sentiment die (Waffle Flower)

I am also entering:

1.  Girlz Creative Christmas challenge is anything goes. 

2.  Allsorts Challenge is New or Anything Goes. I used new paper.

3.  Crafty Calendar Challenge is Winter/Christmas. 

4.  Love Those Pretty Papers Challenge is anything goes w/patterned paper.

5.  Sweet Stampin' has a it's Christmas challenge. 

Christmas Forest

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for stopping by to visit with The Charmed Life Blog today. It's Day 3 of my Christmas Cards for 2025. 

I missed yesterday because I was busy with my Christmas decorations and then I forgot about the Blog post. Imagine that!!! But, I am back today. 

 

Speaking of decorating I am almost finished. I just have to put up my living room Christmas tree and put the garland on the stairs that go upstairs and it's a wrap for 2025. Then I can get busy with my Christmas cards. I am really behind on those. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I made using the colors from the Splitcoaststampers color challenge #1074. We were to use blackberry bliss, pretty peacock and calypso coral for the color trio. Optional was an anything goes. 

blackberry bliss, calypso coral, pretty peacock

I chose designer paper and used from the Divinity Designs "Vintage Winter card fronts" collection for the optional item. So, my focus became the pretty peacock colors. I wanted the designer paper to be the star of the show. The card fronts in this collection are so beautiful as well as nostalgic. 

My sentiment is cut in white glitter paper, and the shadow is in pretty peacock. I also added some snowflakes cut from white glitter paper and added blackberry bliss and calypso coral enamel dots to complete the card.

Well, that's it for me for this post. See you again tomorrow. 

Card Details:

Paper: Pretty Peacock,(Stampin' Up), White Glitter Paper (Recollections), Vinage Winter DSP (Divinity Designs)

Paper Size: A2

Accessories: blackberry bliss faceted dots, happiness blooms enamel dots (Stampin' Up), Merry Christmas w/Shadow die (CottageCutz)

I am also entering:

1.  C.R.A.F.T. has a Christmas or anything goes challenge.

2.  Creative Knockouts has a winter wonderland challenge. 

3.  Crafty Gals Corner has a tis the season challenge. 

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

5.  Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge is to use dies. 

Sending Snowman Cheer

Hello Blogger friends! Thanks for stopping by the Charmed Life Blog today. It's Day 2 of my Christmas cards for 2025. 

Well, we recovered here in Pittsburgh from the first measurable snowfall of the season. Now it's just cold and dreary. Doesn't look like we will get much above 32° for the next week. My hubby delayed in doing his outside decorating for Christmas and now it looks like it will be delayed even more. 

But the inside is coming along very nicely. My goal for today is to get the tree up in the dining room and then place the greenery and lights around my other decorations. I put greenery on top of my china closet, on top of my cabinets and around my Nativity sets. I have 4 of these displayed. It's a lot of work but I just like how festive everything looks when I am done. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for the color challenge on Splitcoaststampers. Our colors were pool party, poppy parade, daffodil delight and lemon-lime twist for the color trio. Optional was to make it Christmas.

daffodil delight, lemon-lime twist, pool party, poppy parade

For my card, I used one of the Suzy Prints from Simon Says Stamp. They are designs printed on watercolor paper, and you can color with any medium. I used Stampin' Blends and Copic markers. I had to give him an orange nose - well because he is a snowman. I have more of these prints and if time allows, I plan on coloring them up. 

I topped the tree with a star cut from white glitter paper and added some glitter on the snowbank. I stamped some snowflakes in pool party ink to finish off my card. It's more of a CAS design that I usually do but at Christmas time a quick card is the way to go.

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

Card Details:

Paper: poppy parade (Stampin' Up) glitter paper (recollections)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: pool party (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: Suzy Prints (Simmon Says Stamp), Stampin' Blends - daffodil delight, poppy parade, granny apple green, mossy meadow, pumpkin pie (Stampin' Up), Copic Marker B00 Frost Blue, white glitter

Techniques: copic coloring

I am also entering:

1.  Ally's Angels has an anything goes challenge. 

2.  Crafts Galore Encore Challenge is anything goes.

3.  Girlz Rebel Challenge something that starts with "B". I have baubles on the tree. 

4.  The Crafting Challenge is Christmas.  

5.  The Four Seasons Challenge is Winter. 

Believe in the Magic

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with the Charmed Life Blog this 2nd day of December.

We had our first snowfall of the season today. About 4-5" fell on the Pittsburgh area. It was so pretty looking out the window at the freshly fallen snow. It wasn't long before the snowplows came and cleared up all the roads in my area. 

School was canceled for today, so the kids had an extra day for Thanksgiving break. The little one's next door were out playing and making a snowman as were the young boys across the street.  

So, this seemed like the appropriate day to start showing my Christmas card creations. 

This one I made using the colors from a Splitcoaststampers color challenge. We were to use night of navy, wild wheat and old olive for the color trio. Optional is Christmas.

night of navy, wild wheat, old olive

For this card I used designer paper from the "Night Sky 2 collection" from Blue Knight Stamps. I cut my images in white cardstock. 

Then for the houses, I used white cardstock and wild wheat ink for the soft light inside. I used the die inlay technique and covered over the white trees with old olive. I should have colored the trees with old olive alcohol markers. Didn't think of it until after the card was made. 

Well, that's card #1 for this Christmas season. I plan on posting a card every day until Christmas. So, stop by daily to see what I am creating for this season.

Card Details:

Paper: basic white, old olive (stampin' Up), night sky 2 set dsp (Blue Knight Stamps)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: wild wheat (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: Believe in the Magic die (CottageCutz)

I am also entering:

1.  A Cut Above is anything goes with a die cut. 

2.  A Place to Start is anything goes w/option of winter things. Santa is a winter thing!

3.  Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge has a die challenge.

4.  Girlz Creative Christmas Challenge is anything goes. 

5.  C.R.A.F.T. Challenge is Christmas /Anything Goes. 

Last cards from Thanksgiving 2025

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

Well, Thanksgiving 2025 has come and gone. Hope your holiday was one filled with family. We had 11 people here for dinner and everything went so well. My food turned out delicious. The turkey was so moist, and the accompanying gravy was amazing. 

My daughter-in-law made 2 spectacular veggie dishes - a brussels sprout and cauliflower au gratin and a green bean dish with bacon and egg crumbles. I also made a sweet potato casserole and sour cream, cream cheese and butter twice baked potatoes. That is one of my family's favorite dishes. 

Dessert was pumpkin pie, pumpkin roll and apple & pear streusel pie. I didn't have a lot of leftovers because of the number we had for dinner, but it was enough for us for Friday and Saturday. With the turkey carcass I will make a Turkey Vegetable soup. 

Now onto my cards for today. These are the last 3 of my Thanksgiving cards for this year. This one I used some of the contents of the Stampin' Up Paper Pumpkin Kit for September. The background designer paper is a card base from the kit. 

I embossed a piece of early espresso cardstock with the Tim Holtz "Bricked" embossing folder and then cut an arch opening. I added a copper foil frame around the arch opening. 

The fox is from the kit. The pumpkins and floral sprigs are a die from CottageCutz. I added some enamel dots to complete this card. 

This next card is also using the contents of the September 2025 paper Pumpkin Kit. The background and the triangle shapes are card bases from the kit. The acorn is from Lawn Fawn. I stamped and colored it and used the accompanying die to cut it out.  

I found this sketch on YouTube from Call Me Crafty Al. She has a sheet to download that gives all the measurements to cut your patterned paper. She made a Halloween card but I went with Thanksgiving. When I cut my paper I had enough to make 2 cards so I made one iwth a "family" sentiment and the one below with a "friend's" sentiment. 

This card is the same as the one above but with a different sentiment. The sentiments are from the Stampin"Up Kit - Gift of Fall 2019. 

Well, that's it for me for this post. So until next time.....God bless. I will be starting with showing my Christmas cards. 

I am also entering:

1.  Can You Handle the Pressure is anything goes with an embossing folder + twist of Thanks. 

2.  Just Add Ink has a stencils or dies challenge. I have dies on all 3 cards. 

3.  DL.Art has aa anything goes challenge with an option of Thanksgiving.  

Season of Thanks

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

It's the day before Thanksgiving and I will be really busy with my kitchen preps all day. I make a sour cream mashed potato recipe that you prep the day before and then bake on Thanksgiving. It has sour cream, cream cheese and butter. My family loves it, and I always make it for Thanksgiving. 

I will also make my pumpkin pie and toast the bread cubes for my stuffing and chop the onions and celery, so it's set to go tomorrow morning. If I have time I will make my cranberry sauce as well. Nothing like fresh cranberry sauce.  

Now onto the card I am featuring today. It's another of my Thanksgiving cards. I used the contents of the Stampin' Up September Paper Pumpkin Kit. It was all about Fall. I saw a sample of this card on Facebook and decided to try and recreate it. My card opens from left to right because I couldn't figure how to get it in the direction I wanted. This YouTube post will show how to make the cuts for the layers. 

I cut the card base from the kit to form the triangle layers of the kit. I added some additional color to the leaves & the pumpkins for a richer look. The leaves and pumpkins are part of the kit as is the ribbon. The sentiment is from the Gather Together stamp set from Stampin' Up. 

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

Card Details:

Stamps: Gather Together (Stampin' Up)

Paper: pecan pie, basic beige (Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: pecan pie (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: Fall for Toile PP Kit (Stampin' Up 2025)

I am also entering:

1.  Double Trouble has a 3-2-1 recipe challenge. I followed Thing 1.

2.  Make My Monday has a Gratitude/Thankful challenge. 

3.  Pammie's Inky Pinkies challenge is anything goes. 

 

Thanksgiving 2025

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

I am having 11 people for dinner on Thursday. So, my plan is to do my cleaning today. I keep up with my house regularly so it's just a matter of running the sweeper, cleaning the bathrooms and cleaning the kitchen. 

We moved our kitchen table into the dining room last night so everyone can be together in the same room. My hubby didn't like the idea of 2 separate tables. We had to get help from our younger next door neighbor because the kitchen table is heavy and I couldn't lift it. 

I will put the tablecloths on today and setting the table so it will be done. That way it frees me up tomorrow to do all my prep work for the big feast.

I wanted to get a post in today because I have more Thanksgiving cards to show. This card I created using some of the contents of the September Paper Pumpkin Kit from Stampin' Up. The colored and metallic leaves and the circle were part of the kit. I shaded the leaves with pumpkin pie and spiced marmalade inks for additional color.

I decided to use some background designer paper from the Stampin' Up "plaid tidings" collection. I thought it added some nice color to the card. The designer paper is layered with mango melody cardstock and the card base is rich razzleberry.

This one was sent to my good friend in Virginia. She told me she keeps whatever card I send her out on display until she gets the next one. Since I know that, I will send her cards throughout the year for each season or holiday. Usually I just do Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter and her July birthday. But now it will be Valentine's Day and something in September. 

Well, that's it for me for this post. Be back tomorrow with another Thanksgiving card.

 Card Details:

Stamps: Autumnn Stamp (Great Impressions)

Paper: rich razzleberry, mango melody, plaid tidings designer paper (Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: rich razzleberry, pumpkin pie (Stampin' Up), spiced marmalade distress (ranger)

Accessories: September 2025 Paper Pumpkin Kit, Rich Razzleberry ribbon (Stampin' Up)

I am also entering

1.  A Place to Start has an ATG challenge w/option of something new. The PP kit is new from Sept. 

2.  Love Those Pretty Papers Challenge is anything goes.

3.  Creative Fingers #312 is anything goes.  

4.  Creative Inspirations Challenge is anything goes.

5.  Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday is anything goes.  

Fun Fold Thanksgiving

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

Well, it's just 2 days until we celebrate Thanksgiving. It's my favorite holiday in addition to Christmas. I have 11 family members coming for dinner. It will be a wonderful day filled with food, laughter and family chatter. 

I am making my usual of roast turkey, stuffing, sweet potato casserole, twice baked mashed potatoes, a corn casserole and pumpkin and apple pies. I also picked up a pumpkin cheesecake.  My daughter will bring a green bean casserole with bacon & eggs and brussel sprouts and cauliflower gratin. Someone else is bringing glazed carrots. So, we will have plenty of food and with 11 adults, I don't expect a lot of leftovers. 

Then on Friday it's time to put away all the Fall decorations and start with Christmas. I have many Christmas cards to make yet so I will be busy the next couple of weeks. Plus, we are trying to schedule a trip to San Francisco to visit my son and his family. Hopefully that works out. If not now then it will be early January. My granddaughter just started high school and she is on the basketball team. So, we want to see her play. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for the color challenge on Splitcoaststampers. Our colors were early espresso, pecan pie and gray granite. Optional was to make it Fall.

I needed another Thanksgiving card so this option was perfect. I did struggle with these colors until I found a fun fold sketch on YouTube from Call me Crafty Al and my card took off. I like fun folds and sketches, so this one was perfect. If you check out her channel you can download the instructions.

I am not sure what this fold is called but it does stand on its own and also folds flat for mailing. After deciding to use this fold I chose my designer papers. They are some older ones from Stampin' Up. The acorn dsp is from the "into the Woods" collection, the striped is from the "Under the Tree" collection and the gray is from the "Frosted Floral Specialty" collection.

I cut my Thanks sentiment and leaf image from CottageCutz dies. Used both pecan pie and early espresso cardstock. Finished off my card with some brown enamel dots.

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

Card Details: 

Paper: pecan pie, early espresso, into the woods dsp, under the tree dsp, frosted floral specialty dsp (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: Fall Leaves die, Thanks w/Shadow die, Stitched Circle die (CottageCutz), Brown enamel dots (Altenew)

Techniques: fun fold

I am also entering:

1.  A Cut Above is anything goes using a die cut. 

2.  Lil Patch of Crafty Friends is anything goes. 

3.  Allsorts Challenge is a Focal sentiment or ATG. 

4.  Love Those Pretty Patterned Papers is anything goes with patterned paper. 

5.  Creative Creases #109 is anything goes with a fun fold. 

Sending Autumn Wishes

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

It's a damp and rainy day here in Pittsburgh but I have been in my craft room creating away. It's also my 38th wedding anniversary and we are going out to dinner tonight to celebrate. It's a double celebration tonight because I just won a political position in my community. I was on the ballot this past Tuesday and I came out a winner. 

Now onto my card for today.  This one I created for the color challenge #1076 on Splitcoaststampers. Our colors were daffodil delight, timid tiger and cajun craze for the color trio. Optional is anything goes. I used calypso coral on my pumpkin.

timid tiger, daffodil delight, cajun craze

I thought these Fall colors were perfect for my slimline card idea. I bought a paper pack from the Divinity Designs collection "Scarecrow Season". The scarecrows have all 3 of the challenge colors plus a couple of allowed neutrals. 

I cut the slimline windows with a die from CottageCutz. The pumpkin is a 3-step stamp from the Ton. I used daffodil delight, pumpkin pie and calypso coral (optional item) for the stamping and then die cut with the round pumpkin die.

Stamped my sentiment- this one is from the Stampin' Up PP Kit from September 2024 -Autumn Abundance.

I added my image panel to a timid tiger card base to complete my card.

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

Card Details:

Stamps: Autumn Abundance (PP Kit September 2024), Round Pumpkins (The Ton)

Paper: timid tiger, cajun craze, white (Stampin' Up), scarecrow season paper pad (Divinity Desgins)

Ink: daffodil delight, pumpkin pie, calypso coral, cajun craze (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: Windows Slimline die (CottageCutz), Round Pumpkins die (The Ton)

Techniques: slimline card

I am also entering:

1.  Creative Inspiration Challenge #32 is anything goes.  

2.  Just Us Girls challenge #800 is anything goes.

3.  The Sisterhood of Crafters has a "Fall" challenge. 

4.  Simon Says Stamp has a thinking of you challenge.  

5.  The Card Concept has an Autumn Days challenge. My card is clean and layered.