Floral Charm

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

We are starting the 2nd week of September and the only thing that's changing is the length of our days. It's getting dark before 8:00 p.m. I always like the long days of summer but you an't hold onto thme forever!

I have still been busy working with the harvest from my hubby's garden. I canned 12 jars of tomato sauce last week. I did buy a tool that is going to make the process a bit easier now. Its a food strainer and removes the skin and seeds for you. I used it once last week and I am amazed at how quickly it does the work. I bought the VKP 250 model, and it works like a charm.

Now onto my card fortoday. This one I created for the color challenge #1066. I was the hostess, and I chose pretty peacock, timid tiger and early espresso for the color trio. Optional was designer paper. 

The paper can include colors that are not in the trio.

pretty peacock, timid tiger, early espresso

For my card I used the Stampin' Up June 2025 Paper Pumpkin kit. It has the colors I chose for the challenge this week.

I made a Z-fold card and used some of the kit contents but not the directions they gave. I started with a pretty peacock card base.

I embossed 2 pieces of pretty peacock cardstock and added them to the front and inside panels.

I cut apart one of the envelopes in the kit and used that on the card front. I also used part of the envelope on the card inside.

The die cut flower is part of the kit. To finish off my card, I added some timid tiger circles as accents.

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

Card Details:

Stamps: Full of Charm (June 2025 Paper Pumpkin)

Paper: pretty peacock, timid tiger (Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: A2

Accessories: Full of Charm Paper Pumpkin Kit (June 2025), Dot Die (CottageCutz), Snow Flowers EF (Sizzix)

I am also entering:

1.  The Crafter's Cafe has an anything goes w/option of patterned paper. 

2.  Daisy Chain Challenges has a more than 1-fold challenge. 

3.  Allsorts Challenge is birthdays or anything goes. 

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

5.  Krafty Chicks has a birthday challenge.  

Birdhouse on Vine

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

We are into September already. I feel as though the summer months just flew by. The weather here is still summer like. Lots of sun which is good for my hubby's tomatoes. His garden did amazingly well this year in spite of the early non-stop rain and now a drought of sorts has settled in. But he is out there every day tending to his gardens and his hard work is paying off. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for a color challenge on Splitcoaststampers. We were to use boho blue, crushed curry and pebbled path for the color trio. Optional was to add a bird.

pebbled path, boho blue, crushed curry

For my card I used the Birdhouse w/Vine die from CottageCutz and cut it in the challenge colors. The vine is cut in mossy meadow (neutral). 

The background designer paper is from the Stampin' Up "beauty of the earth" collection. It looked like a sky to me, so I didn't have to create one.

I added a white frame to the background designer paper. Stamped my sentiment. That's from the March 2024 PP Kit from Stampin' Up. Added a few birds and some pebbled path enamel dots to complete my card.

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

Card Details:

Stamps: memorable meadows (Stampin' Up PP March 2024)

Paper: boho blue, crushed curry, pebbled path, mossy meadow, beauty of the earth dsp), basic white (Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: pebbled path (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: Birdhouse w/Vine die, Pierced Wide Rectangle die (CottageCutz), in-color enamel dots (Stampin' Up)

I am also entering:

1.  The Crafter's Cafe Challenge has an anything goes w/option of designer paper. 

2.  Girlz Creative Fun Art of Scrap has an AG challenge using designer paper. 

3.  Love to Craft has an anything goes challenge. 

4.  Paper Rocks Scissors challenge is AG using paper and/or scissors. My card is all paper. 

5.  The Crafting Challenge has a "wonderful thought" challenge. 

Daisy Birthday Wishes

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

It's been some time since I have posted on my Blog. The month of August was a busy month for me. My hubby's garden harvest is coming in and I have been spending my days in the kitchen processing tomatoes for caning. I also roasted a bunch of tomatoes and froze those. And his banana peppers seem to be on overdrive (lol)!! But I am stuffing those and have my fridge freezer full of them. We have some friends and family that love my stuffed banana peppers, so I have taken care of them as well. 

I will be grateful when the winter months roll around and we can enjoy some summer goodness, but it definitely is a lot of work. 

Then my sister lost her husband, and I have been trying to spend as much time with her as I can.  Walking through grief is never easy. They were high school sweethearts and married for 50 years. But she is taking one day at a time and her son and daughter are by her side as well. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for a color challenge on Splitcoaststampers. Our color trio was fresh freesia, pumpkin and melon mambo. Optional was to use your favorite green. I like all of the Stampin' Up greens but for this card I chose granny apple green.

For my birthday card, I used the Stitched Daisy die from CottageCutz. I cut the daisies and pot in the challenge colors.

I cut an arch in the white embossed background using a Spellbinders die. The embossing is done with an old Cuttlebug folder. The die cut birthday is a die from Scrapbook & Cards. 

Stamped my sentiment and that is from a Spellbinders set. I added a few sequins 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: melon mambo, feresh freesia, pumpkin pie, granny apple green, basic white (Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: melon mambo (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: Stitched Daisies and Tulips die (CottageCutz), Birthday die (Scrapbook and Cards), Purple Sequins (Stampin' Up), Scrollworks Ef (Cuttlebug)

Techniques: dry embossing

I am also entering:

1.  Beautiful Blossoms Challenge is anything goes with flowers.

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

3.  Allsorts has a birthday challenge. 

4.  Can You Handle the Pressure has an ag challenge using an embossing folder. 

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

Daisy Daydream Birthday

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

Hope all is well in your neck of the woods. 

We just came back from a wonderful beach vacation in Surfside Beach, South Carolina just south of Myrtle Beach. It was a great family time, and the weather was sunny and hot. Just what you want for a beach vacation. 

We came back to a garden of vegetables that were ready to have something done to them. I stuffed banana peppers and froze them for wintertime enjoyment. I also made pesto with our basil that is doing wonderfully this year. Our tomatoes are a little late this year because of all the rain we have had. So, no roasting and canning going on with them yet. 

Now I am back on the Blog with a fun fold card. This one I created with the Stampin' Up Paper Pumpkin Kit from April 2025. It's the Daisy Daydream Kit. 

I made this accordion arched fun fold using the Daisy Daydream PP kit. Saw this alternate idea on Tami White's Blog. Changed it up a bit by adding more sentiments, bees and enamel dots to make it my own. 

The First panel is a card base from the kit that I cut using an arch die. The middle and end panel has more designer paper from the kit. I just cut them in the arch shape. 

I added my happy birthday sentiment using a banner from the kit. Finished off my card with die cut bees from the kit and enamel dots from my stash. 

I really like how it turned out and it folds flat for mailing. The photo below shows what it looks like when it's folded.  

I will give this to my friend for her September birthday. Well, that's it for me for this post so until next time.......God bless. 

I am also entering:

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

2.  Beautiful Blossoms Challenge is anything goes with a floral image. 

3.  Lil Patch of Crafty Friends is anything goes. 

4.  Love Those Pretty Papers challenge is anything goes. Optional is a summertime theme. 

5.  Creative Creases Challenge #106 is anything goes with a fun fold/

Orchid Thank You

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

Hope your weekend is going well and you have found some time to get crafty. Or maybe you are just relaxing and enjoying the summer. I am doing a bit of both. 

I decided to pamper myself a little and went for a pedicure today. That's something I haven't done in a long time. I usually do my own nails and toes, but I decided to go for a spa pedicure. It was 45 minutes long and I loved every minute of it. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for the color challenge #1057 on Splitcoaststampers. We are to use granny apple green, strawberry slush and pool party for the color trio. Optional is an anything goes theme. 

granny apple green, strawberry slush, pool party

I needed a thank you card for a friend who loves orchids. I had the perfect die and colors to create my card.

I cut the orchids and stem in the challenge colors. For the orchid center I used strawberry slush designer paper.

My background designer paper is from the Stampin' Up 2025-2027 in-color collection. The background banner is embossed with the Stampin' Up "Greenery folder".

Stamped my sentiment using the Charming Sentiments stamp set & die. Finished off my card with pool party enamel dots and green sequins for the optional theme.

Card Details:

Stamps: Charming Sentiments (Stampin' Up)

Paper: strawberry slush, granny apple green, white, strawberry slush, choc chip, pecan pie, designer paper (Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: strawberry slush (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: Orchid die, circle dies (CottageCutz), greenery embossing folder, sequins, dots for days enamel dots (Stampin' Up)

I am also entering:

1.  Allsorts has a pretty flowers challenge. 

2.  Love Those Pretty Papers challenge is anything goes. 

3.  C.R.A.F.T. has a thank you challenge. 

4.  Can you handle the Pressure is anything goes with embossing.

5.  Creative Inspiration challenge is anything goes. 

Nativity Scene

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

It's been a busy week for me. Some of my hubby's vegetable garden was ready for harvest and I was in the kitchen. He has so much basil right now and I made 4 or 5 batches of pesto. I freeze it for wintertime enjoyment.  The first of his banana peppers were also ready so I had to get those stuffed and, in the freezer, as well. 

He also has beets that really produced well this year. I just cut them up and put in my smoothie. I just use one beet and add some chocolate protein powder and peanut butter to cut down on the earthy taste.  But we also gave a bunch to my friend who loves beets in her salad. 

Today is a catch-up day for all I didn't get accomplished this week. My craft room is one of them. And laundry is another. 

So, let's get on to my card for today. This one I created for the color challenge #1060 on Splitcoaststampers. Our colors were night of navy, wild wheat and old olive for her color trio. Optional was Christmas in July.

night of navy, wild wheat, old olive

I thought these colors would work well for a Nativity scene. I tried a slimline trifold for the layout. I found cutting dimensions on this Blog post.

When I saw the colors, I immediately thought of the "O Holy Night" designer paper from Stampin' Up. I focused mainly on the Night of navy for my card but I did get the other 2 colors in there.

The stable is cut in wild wheat cardstock and I shaded it with pecan pie (neutral) ink. I left the star the same color because it looks gold. For the old olive I added a palm tree.

The first 2 sentiments are from the O Holy Night stamp set from PaperTrey ink. On the wisemen panel I used a sentiment from Blue Knight Stamps.

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

Card Details:

Stamps: O Holy Night (PaperTrey Ink), Light of the World (Blue Knight Stamps)

Paper: night of navy, wild wheat, old olive, basic white, o holy night dsp (Stampin' Up)Glitter Paper (Recollections)

Paper Size: 3 3/4" x 8 1/2"

Ink: night of navy, pecan pie (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: Nativity Holy Family & Wisemen, Nativity Stable, Shepherd & Animals, Palm tree & Angel, Circle dies (CottageCutz), Northern Star die(Frantic Stamper

Techniques: Slimline Trifold

I am also entering:

1.  Creative Creases has an anything goes with a fun fold design. 

2.  Cut it Up has a Christmas in July challenge.

3.  Craft Rocket Challenge is Christmas in July.

4.  The Paper Shelter has a more than one-fold challenge. 

5.  Addicted to Stamps has a Christmas challenge.   

O Holy Night

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

It's a beautiful warm day here in Pittsburgh. I started off going to the gym for my weekly trainer workout. Then running around to complete some errands. I came home and my neighbor called and invited me over to her pool for an afternoon swim. Of course, I said yes. We were in for about an hour just talking and floating around the pool. So, refreshing and relaxing for both of us. 

I wanted to get this Blog post completed and then I have to make a birthday card for my son. I was at a Rubber Stamp show in our area on Saturday and I bought some new goodies that I am anxious to try out. 

So, onto my card for today. This one I made for a color challenge on Splitcoaststampers. We were to use night of navy, pecan pie and balmy blue for the color trio. Optional was a flower theme. I decided to go with a Christmas theme instead. 

.

night of navy, pecan pie, balmy blue

When I saw the colors, I thought masculine at first and then I remembered this designer paper. It's from the Stampin' Up "O Holy Night" collection.

It has the night of navy color. And even though the sand is crumb cake, I ink blended pecan pie to get that color on my card.

I made a faux sidestep fun fold. I had this card pinned on my Pinterest page and never got around to making it for last Christmas. The creator gives all the dimensions for cutting your card.  I changed it up to make it my own design.

My nativity and wisemen are dies from CottageCutz. On the right side of the card I cut a bulb ornament and added my wisemen. The sentiment from PaperTrey Ink is stamped in night of navy.

To get the balmy blue color in I cut a smaller star and added it over the large one that is on the designer paper.

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

Card Details:

Stamps: O Holy Night (Papertrey Ink)

Paper: night of navy, vary vanilla, balmy blue, silver metallic, O holy night dsp (Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: night of navy, pecan pie (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: Ntivity Holy Famil & wise Men die, Nested Bulb Ornament die (CottageCutz)

Techniques: Faux Side Step Fun Fold

I am also entering:

1.  Aud Sentiments has a Christmas in July challenge + a sentiment. 

2.  Sweet Stampin' has a Christmas in July challenge. 

3.  Creative Creases #105 has an anything goes with a fun fold design. 

4.  Cut It Up #334 has a Christmas in July using die cuts. 

5.  Krafty Chicks Challenge #776 is Christmas in July. 

Santa's New Ride

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

It's a hot summer day here in Pittsburgh. I went out for a walk around 9:00 am this morning before it was too hot to walk. There was a gentle breeze blowing and I finished when the sun was starting to get things heated up.  

Since none of my hubby's vegetable garden is ready for harvesting yet, I went to the Farmers Market in my area. Lots of people shopping at all the farmer's booths. I picked up some corn, peppers and cucumbers. 

With the cucumbers I made a cucumber mint agua fresca. It was a delicious non-alcoholic drink.  I had the recipe saved on Pinterest and was anxious to try it. I used a cucumber, mint leaves, ginger, lime juice and water. It's such a refreshing drink. I think the next time I make it; I will use more mint and more ginger. You could add a splash of tequila if you wanted to take it up a notch. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for the color challenge on Splitcoaststampers. I was the hostess to kick off our 7th annual color challenge Christmas in July celebration. 

The color trio is coastal cabana, real red and summer splash. Optional is Christmas in July.

coastal cabana, real red, summer splash

My card is featuring Santa in a new ride- a space rocket. Those girls that went up in one earlier this year have nothing on Santa. He will make it round the world in one night! Imagine that (lol)!!!

I used the Santa Space Rocket die from CottageCutz and cut it in the challenge colors. For the summer splash, I ink blended with the same color ink to get a deeper shade.

My background is some older Stampin' Up designer paper, and it has two of the challenge colors. I only had this small piece left and I don't know the name of the collection it was in.

I made it into a mini slimline card. I also used a window sheet for the spaceship dome. I wanted it to have a glass look.

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

 

Card Details:

Paper: real red, coastal cabana, summer splash, white, window sheets, coastal cabana dsp (Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: 3 1/2" x 6 1/2"

Ink: summer splash (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: Santa Space Rocket die, Merry Christmas w/Shadow die (CottageCutz)

Techniques: mini slimline

I am also entering:

1.  Fab 'n' Funky has a Christmas in July challenge. 

2.  Little Red Wagon is having a Christmas in July challenge. 

3.  Lost Coastal Portal to Creativity is Christmas in July. 

4.  Aud Sentiments is Christmas in July + a sentiment. 

5.  Girlz Creative Christmas Challenge is anything goes Christmas. 

Hibiscus Birthday

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

Hope you had some time to get a little crafty today. It's really hot and humid here so staying inside in the air conditioning worked for me. My hubby harvested a bunch of his basil, and I spent the afternoon making pesto and freezing it for wintertime enjoyment. I just don't put the parmesan cheese in it until I am ready to use it. He has plenty out there still and I may make some more tomorrow. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for the color challenge on Splitcoaststampers. I was the  hostess and my color trio was melon mambo, berry burst and pretty in pink. Optional was to use your favorite green. I used old olive- it's one of my fave green inks.

pretty in pink, melon mambo, berry burst

For my card I used the layering stencil "Climbing Hibiscus from The Ton Stamps. I started with pretty in pink, then melon mambo and then berry burst. I picked the colors with this stencil in mind. I also used a Bristol Smooth cardstock. I like how it blends the Stampin' Up inks.

I used a stamp & die combo from a Scrapbook and Cards kit for my sentiment. Finished off my card with a few melon mambo enamel dots.

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

Card Details: 

Stamps: Confetti & Cake (Scrapbook and Cards)

Paper: melon mambo (Stampin' Up), Bristol Smooth (Stratmore)

Paper Size: 4 1/2" x 5 3/4"

Ink: pretty in pink, melon mambo, berry burst, old olive (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: Climbing Hibiscus Layering Stencil (The Ton Stamps), solid faceted gems (Stampin' Up)

Techniques: stenciling

I am also entering:

1.  Little Red Wagon has a go bold challenge. They want to see bright colors. 

2.  Simon Says Stamp has a Sending flowers challenge. 

3.  The Paper Funday Challenge is anything goes w/optional to use stencils. 

4.  Beautiful Blossoms challenge is anything goes with florals.

5.  Triple B has an anything goes with birds, blossoms and/or butterflies.