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. 

Happy July 4th

Hello Blogger Friends. 

Sending greetings from Pittsburgh to all my American friends as we celebrate the 249th birthday of America. 

Hope you are getting to take part in the many celebrations that go on today. Our community had a fireworks display last Saturday night. But tonight, many of the communities around us will be having theirs. 

We are having a cookout today at my home. Lots of sunshine and warm weather so the day is perfect for it. So, whatever your plans are for today enjoy the day and the country that we live in. America - home of the free because of the brave!!!

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for the color challenge on Splitcoaststampers. Our colors were real red, blueberry bushel and balmy blue for the color trio. Optional was to make it patriotic.

real red, balmy blue, blueberry bushel

I made this one for a good friend who uses my cards as part of her decorations. She was thrilled when I gave it to her.

I went with an arched fun fold card for my layout. They are really easy to make. Here is a video from Tami White that shows you how to create the layout. 

My dies are from CottageCutz - the patriotic line. I stamped my sentiment in real red ink and cut it out with a Stampin' Up label die. The sentiment is a stamp from Blue Knight. 

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

Card Details: 

Stamps: God Bless America (Blue Knight Stamps)

Paper: basic white, real red, blueberry bushel, balmy blue (Stampin'Up), firework fiesta dsp (Carta Bella)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: real red (Stampin'-Up)

Accessories: Patriotic Rainbow, Happy 4th of July, Fireworks Dies (CottageCutz), Essential Arches dies (Spellbinders)

Techniques: Arched Fun Fold

I am also entering:

1.  Four Seasons Challenge is anything goes with a summer theme.  

2.  Creative Inspirations has an anything goes challenge. 

3.  Creative Creases has an anything goes with a fun-fold. 

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

5.  Double Trouble has a summer fun-fold challenge.