Swan Silhouette

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

August is moving right along. It's already halfway through the month. I want to put the brakes on and slow the days down a bit (lol)!!!

We had our family reunion this past Saturday. It was a great time of spending time with family and lots of good food. My hubby picked about 40 banana peppers so that was my food contribution. 

I stuff them with hot & sweet Italian sausage plus onion, garlic, oregano, Italian seasoning and a can of Trader Joe's fire roasted tomatoes w/diced chilies. That was the first dish to be emptied. Two of my nieces asked if I could share the next batch I stuff. So that's what I did yesterday for them. 

Today, I have garden tomatoes to roast with onion, garlic olive oil and balsamic glaze. Then I put them in a food processor to puree and freeze them.  Doing it this way I end up with a delicious marina to enjoy in the winter. 

But, before I get into the kitchen, I wanted to post a card. This one I made for the DTGD challenges on Splitcoaststampers. I was hosting this challenge and I wanted everyone to use a silhouette. The silhouette could either be a stamp or a die cut. 

I started my card with the background paper. It's from the "Landscapes Paper Pack" from Divinity Designs. The stamp and sentiment I used is from Blue Knight Stamps - "swan scene". I stamped with black archival ink from Ranger. 

This will be the card I give to my hubby on our anniversary in November. And, that's it for me for this post. So, until next time......God bless. 

card details:

Stamps: Swan Scene (Blue Knight Stamps)

Paper: gorgeous grape, basic black (Stampin' Up), landscapes paper pad (Divinity Designs)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: jet black archival (ranger)

I am also entering:

1.  Simon Says Stamp has a CAS challenge. 

2.  The Crafty Addicts has an anything goes challenge. 

3.  The Paper Funday Challenge is anything goes w/optional the great outdoors. 

4.  Crafting Happiness Challenge is anything goes. 

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

Sweetheart LoveBirds

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

I can't believe it is already mid-October. This year has gone by in a blink of an eye. We are still having very mild temperatures for Fall.

The leaves  on the trees are still green so I don't know if we will have the gorgeous display of autumn colors this year or not. I am hoping we don't go from warm temperatures into winter weather. I love the Fall season with its warm days and cool nights and the changing leaf color. Will have to wait to see what develops here.

In the meantime, let's move onto my card for today. This one I made for the DTGD challenges on Splitcoaststampers. Julie was the hostess for this DTGD17justwritedesigns challenge.

For my background, I used some Liquitex gloss gel, pistachio pudding, melon mambo and pink pirouette reinkers plus a heart stencil from Stampin'-Up. It is a simple technique that I thought made for the perfect background for my card.

The sweetheart lovebirds and love phrase are both dies from CottageCutz.  The love phrase is cut in melon mambo cardstock and the birds in pink pirouette and pool party. I sponged the birds with the matching ink for a little more depth.

 I thought I could use this as a wedding or anniversary card. And, that completes my card for today. So until next time........God bless.

Card details:

Paper: melon mambo, whisper white, pink pirouette, pool party

Paper Size: A2  

Ink: pink pirouette, pool party  

Accessories: sweetheart lovebirds, love phrase (CottageCutz), heart stencil, pistachio pudding, melon mambo, pink pirouette reinkers (Stampin'-Up), gloss gel (Liquitex)  

Techniques: stencil 

 

Dies I used on card:

I am also entering:

1.  Crafting From the Heart has an anything goes challenge.

2.  Get Creative has a wedding challenge.

3.  Glitter & Sparkle has an anything goes challenge.

HYCCT1531 ~pocket full of love~

 

Happy Saturday to all my Blogger friends on this fine November morning. Today is my wedding anniversary.

 

The day is cool just like it was on my wedding day 28 years ago but there is no sunshine today. Not yet anyways.

 

I remember the joy and happiness that was in my heart back in 1987. The love of my life was about to become my husband. We made a commitment to each other that day before God and man to love each other till death do us part.  

 

We determined early on in our relationship that divorce was not an option. We would have to work out our problems no matter what they were. So my advice to any young couple is to keep the lines of communication open and talk through your issues and always give grace to your spouse. You have to be willing to overlook their faults if you want yours overlooked.

 

That being said let's move on to the card I have for today. This one was made for a dual purpose. It was for another of the Hope You Can Cling To Challenges on Splitcoaststampers and also for my hubby for our anniversary.

 

For the HYCCT challenge, Lydia is our hostess and she wants us to incorporate a single, hand-drawn line (any color) on our project, and you have to have another element of your card crossing it.

I was searching through my stash the other night for something when I saw this paper pack by Basic Gray and it was filled with embellishments for a card. Oh yes my lucky day.

I cut layered and assembled my card added some silver studs (that didn't photo well) and red vellum corner elements. I used an MFT die to cut my hearts. And to complete my card, I drew the line through the sentiment per the challenge requirement.

 

I just gave the card to my hubby and he liked it. He is such a big supporter of my work and often gives me feedback on layout, embellishments etc. I trust his opinions because he has an eye for design.

 

Well, it's time to close this post and get ready for our day together. So until next time Blogger friends......God bless.

 

card details:

Paper: , confetti white (Stampin'-Up) Bow Ties red light & green light DSP (Basic Gray) Paper Size: A2 Accessories: Bow Ties vellum tape stickers, Bow Ties Title stickers, metal studs (Basic Gray) 

I am also entering:

1.  PDE Linky Party has an anything goes challenge.

2.  Simply Paper Craft has an anything goes challenge.

3.  Fab 'n Funky has a die cuts/punches challenge.

4.  The Crafty Addicts has an anything goes/die cuts challenge.

 

Fairytale Love

 

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. Today was my day at Pre-school. I go every Tuesday and for the first couple of months, I also go to help out on Thursdays.

 

I really like the class we have this year. The kids are so cooperative and love doing all the activities and lessons. We have 10 in this class. Today we had a leaf project that involved glitter. It was a bit messy but they love using glitter especially the boys.  For those type projects the lead teacher likes me to work with the kids one on one.

 

I took some Spellbinder die cut maple leaves and some other embellishments in addition to the glitter. Since the embellishments were small I took my "pick me up stick" for the kids to use. It helped them pick up the small ladybug buttons and place them on a glue dot and then on the leaf. It worked their fine motor skills. They were intrigued at how it worked.

 

Now onto my card for today. I used the blueprints 15 from MFT to create my card and the Stampin-Up colors of so saffron, smoky slate and strawberry slush. I also used the May 2014 blueprint 15 sketch.

The background designer paper is from Stampin-Up’s watercolor wonder collection. My sentiment is from the MFT set “clearly sentimental about romance”.

The flower die is from Cheery Lynn Designs cut in so saffron. The small panel under the strawberry slush is cut from the SU “silver fancy foil vellum” collection. I cut some hearts from this designer paper to complete my card.

 

Well, its late and time to dim the lights in Charmed Life Land for another day. So until next time.........God bless.

More Splitcoaststampers DTGD Challenges

Happy Friday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. Today I am showing another card that I made for the SCS DTGD challenges.

 

It is something special they run each year for the fan club members only. But, it's easy to join. Get info here.

 

This is my card for jellybean74's dtgd challenge.

I used Stampin-Up's "good morning sunshine" designer paper and paired it with summer sun, kiwi kiss and choc chip cardstock.

Used a Cuttlebug embossing folder on my choc chip panel. My sentiment is from the Verve set "stronger love". I stamped the sentiment directly on my designer paper and cut it out with a Spellbinders circle die.

Added a kiwi kiss bow with a summer sun corduroy button to complete my card. That's it for me for today so until next time........God bless.

Love is...........

Happy Saturday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. We had a nice 4th of July celebration with 2 of our grandsons. Their parents were out of town at a baseball tournament with our youngest grandson. So hubby and I were with the other two.

We enjoyed the fireworks display in their community. That was a first for us and we really liked their celebration. The park was filled with local residents, vendors selling food and music. It was a very friendly atmosphere.

I am back home now and just laid back today. My hubby spent some time with his family and I was home alone. I decided to do some crafting. Ha-ha -what else!!

I made another card using the Mojo300 sketch.

I used some of the new Stampin-Up colors and designer paper on this one. Loving all these new colors and on this card I went with crisp cantaloupe, pistachio and soft suede.

I used the honeycomb embossing folder on the card base. Both the designer papers are from Stampin-Up's "venetian romance" collection. My circle is cut in cantaloupe with a Spellbinders die.

On the sentiment panel, I used the Verve set "stronger love". Stamped in soft suede ink and sponged the panel with crisp cantaloupe. I added a Spellbinder's die cut heart to complete my card.

Well it's late and church in the morning so time to dim the lights in Charmed Life land for another day. So until next time........God bless.

I am also entering:
1.  Creative Fingers Challenge Blog has an anything goes challenge.
2.  Left of Center Creative Challenge wants us to use a sentiment on the front.
3.  Sister Act Card Challenge has an anything goes.

Marks Finest Papers Blog Hop Day 4

Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's

                        May Blog Hop!

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Oopsy Daisy Featured May 15
Get Reel Featured May 16
Scenic Selections Featured May 17
Flamingos on Vacation Featured May 18

Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the following blogs (don't forget this one), each day for more chances to win! (You do NOT have to comment on all the blogs each day! The names are drawn randomly!)

All four winners will be announced on May 19, 2012 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. (HINT: The more you comment, the more chances you have to win and comments on the MFP blog count twice!) The deadline for commenting is 11PM EST on Friday May 18, 2012.

Lois

Vicky

Anne

Pat G.

Karen H.

Patty P.

Mary (you are here)

Marilynn

Pam

Debbie

Nancy

Bonnie

Kathy

Brenda

Toni

Tangii

Anna S

Sue

Kelli

Janine

Mark's Finest Papers

This is such a fun set. I loved working with this one. I found some fun designer paper in my stash. It sort of looked tropical to me. I used a big scallop die for the trim and added some mesh ribbon and a satin bow with a brad center.

Now for these cute pink flamingos. I stamped them in a hot pink ink and for their bodies I stamped one in a limeade and one in hot pink. The limeade flamingo looked to me like a suave sort of fellow. Hence the sentiment is him speaking to her. The sentiment is from the Marks Finest Papers set - "dogwood blossoms".

The palm tree was stamped in limeade and chocolate chip. That completed my card. I thought this would make a great anniversary card.

This is the final day of the blog hop. I hope you have enjoyed all my samples this month. I will send you over to Marilynn's blog next.

Happy Anniversary

Happy Wednesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. Well the big news on the East Coast is the earthquake that registered 5.9. The epicenter was in Virginia but we felt the after shocks here in the Pittsburgh area Tuesday afternoon.

My husband had just come in from work and was sitting in his recliner watching TV and the chair started moving.
The after shocks that happened here weren't enough to cause any structural damage though. We don't have earthquakes here so this was a big happening.

Well onto my card for today. I made this one for the sketch challenge on splitcoaststampers. Our hostess, Roxie, provided a great layout for us to work into a card. 

I wanted to make an anniversary card for a friend of mine. Just need to make sure I get it in the mail.

I dug into my stash for some patterned paper and card stock. I decided to go with a pink & green card. I like the way these colors complement each other.

The anniversary sentiment is from a Verve stamp set. I also used the cuttlebug embossing folder- birds and swirls. A pink satin ribbon and a flower and pearl center completed my card.

It's time to dim the light in charmed life land for another day. So until next time.......God bless

Some other challenges:
1.  Stamps R Us blog has an anything goes challenge.
2.  The Outlawz blog has an anything goes challenge.
3.  The Corrosive Challenge blog has a "girlie" challenge.

card recipe:

stamps: wishing you (verve)

paper: su pink pirouette, kiwi kiss, vv, su dsp

ink: old olive

accessories: pink satin ribbon, offray flower with pearls, hero arts rhinestones, cb ef

Creative Belli card

Happy Wednesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. The card I am showing today is one I created as a design team member on the Creative Belli blog.

This 2 week period our challenge is jewelry. You can use stamp images of jewelry or use pearls, rhinestones, diamonds, etc...)  Everyone is welcome to play along!

If you upload to an online gallery use keyword CBC110.

Here's how to enter:
Please link back to the Belli Challenge in your post and provide a DIRECT LINK to your new posting dated between February 2- February 9.

The Creative Belli Girls have whipped up som fab samples so check out these blogs as well: Joan Ervin, Joy Hadden, Chris Olsen, Maria Matter, Karen Wallace, Tamara Morton, Beth Norman, Jessica Stockmeyer, Shelly Schmidt, Robin Kirkpatrick, Robin Parker, Darsie Bruno, Anne Harmon and Ceal Pritchett.

My card is sporting some flourish rhinestones and lace. I thought it was a good vintage look and one that  I could use for an anniversary card. My image is from the Stampin-Up "aviary set". I thought the bird cage has the look I wanted for this card.

My card base and designer paper are Stampin-Up soft suede. Well that's my sample for the jewelry challenge. Hope you will play along with us.

Also a few other challenges:

1.  The top tip tuesday blog has an "anything girlie" challenge.
2.  The crazy for challenges blog has a "vintage or shabby chic" challenge.
3.  The my time to craft blog has a flourishes challenge.
4.  The freshly brewed blog has an anniversary challenge.

Until next time.........

perfect pair

Happy Thursday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. My contractor wasn't here today so I took that as an opportunity to get some stamping time in.

We went out tonight to the lighting store to pick a chandelier for the dining room.

We narrowed it down to 3 choices. We didn't want something to fancy because it wouldn't go with our decor and nothing too informal.

I am so excited that this project is taking shape. I think I mentioned in previous posts that we are changing rooms around on our first floor.

I have also picked the paint color for the dining room. We are lifting the carpet in that room to refinish the hardwood floor.

It will seem like a new home once we finish. I like adventures!!

So now onto my card for today. This is actually for 2 challenges.

1. for Thursday's challenge on splitcoaststampers we were to pull out our fabrics, burlap or whatever we wanted and have some creative fun mixing textiles with paper for our ways to use textiles challenge.

I am not a sewer so I don't have any fabric. This sent me looking through my stash to see if I had anything that would work. I found some fabric applique iron-ons. They were all fruit appliques. So I have some ideas for other cards now.

I picked the pears and decided to make an anniversary card for my friends Karen & Mark. Their anniversary is on Valentine's day. Isn't that romantic!!

I thought of my designer paper from stampin-up that had these pears on it. So I was on my way.

2. my card layout was for mercy kerin's tuesday sketch challenge. I haven't been able to play along with that one for awhile. The layout she provided worked well for my card idea.

I used my Martha Stewart lace doily border punch and added some pearls. I computer generated my sentiment.

I don't know if anyone makes a stamp with these words. I don't have one anyway.

Well, it looks like its a wrap for today in charmed life land. Stay warm!!

card recipe:

paper: su kiwi kiss, choc chip, good morning sunshine dsp
accessories: fabric iron-on applique, su choc chip ribbon, hero arts pearls, word window punch, ms lace doily punch

my prince

happy sunday to you and thanks for taking time to visit the charmed life blog. it was another warm, fall day here in pittsburgh. lots of sun and beautiful blue skies made it a great day to be outside.

we went to aidin's championship football game (our middle grandson). the game was played at one of our local university football fields. so how exciting do you think that was for a group of 10 yr olds?

they won (14-8) which even made the game more exciting.

today I am posting the card I made my husband for our anniversary, which was yesterday.

I had this die cut from darcie stamps and it reminded me of cinderella's pumpkin. I knew when I eventually used it that it would be a card along those lines.

Then yesterday the occ challenge was an inspiration challenge. they showed this photo and asked us to create a card

So my card was starting to take life. I used the splitcoaststampers sketch from this past wednesday and created the card I titled 'my prince'.

I have been blessed with a wonderful man who loves the Lord and his family.

I used bazzill textured paper and a cuttlebug swirl embossing folder on the first orange layer.

my triangle sides are bobunny dsp and then the darice die-cut.

I bought a sheet of her fall designs. she calls them u-cuts because they need to be cut-out.

I computer generated my sentiment because I didn't have any stamps that reflected the prince charming theme.

he really liked this card. so all the work I put into it was so worth it.

well, its a wrap for another day my friends. I pray the Lord bless you and keep you in his care.

card recipe:

paper: bazzill textured, bo bunny dsp

accessories: cb ef, sq & oval punches