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/

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. 

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. 

Father's Day 2025

  

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

It's Father's Day here in the US. We started our day off with church and then went to lunch afterwards. Then we came home my hubby had a call from our California son.  We just spent 5 days with them, but it was nice to hear from him again.  

We aren't getting to spend any time with our Pittsburgh son because he is traveling to FL on business. We will get to see him next weekend when he returns. 

And right now, my hubby is watching the US Open Golf tournament. It's being held here in the Pittsburgh area. He did get to go last Monday for the practice rounds. A friend of ours gifted him with 2 tickets and he was able to go with his brother. It was a nice outing for them  

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for my hubby for Father's Day. I used the contents of the May 2025 Paper Pumpkin Kit from Stampin' Up for the card. I saw this card on Pinterest, and I liked the fun fold, so I decided to use the idea and make one for my hubby. I changed the sentiments around and did some additional stamping to change it up a bit. 

The first photo above shows the card completely closed. I took one of the envelopes from the kit and used it as a layer on the back of the middle layer. I stamped the bird images here.  

 This photo below shows the fun fold open. I have a die from Divinity Designs that cuts this fun fold design. It saves all the measuring you have to do. Once the base was cut from Misty Moonlight card stock, I took a printed card base from the kit and used it as designer paper. This particular die also cuts layers. 

The trees on the middle layer are die cuts from the kit as is the sentiment. I stamped the card front and the last layer sentiments and also stamped some bird images. 

My hubby loved his card. He is such a supporter of my work. Well, that's it for me for this post. So until next time......God bless.

I am also entering:

1.  Allsorts has a what makes you happy or anything goes challenge. I chose the ATG option. 

2.  Love Those Pretty Papers Challenge is anything goes. 

3.  We Love Stamping Challenge has a nature or anything goes challenge. 

4.  613 Avenue Create is anything goes w/option of masculine. 

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

6.  The Male Room has a fun fold challenge.

 

He is Risen

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

It's the day after Easter. Hope your holiday was celebrated and enjoyed. We had a wonderful family time with my hubby's family. 

My dinner turned out perfectly. I served ham, brussel sprouts in a kung pao sauce, honey glazed carrots, sweet potato casserole and pierogi's. My sister-in-law brought deviled eggs and my brother-in-law brought apple pie and ice cream. 

I was tired after a long day of cooking, but I did have help with the clean-up. That's always welcomed when help is offered. 

Now onto my card for today. This is my last Easter card for 2025. I have seen this fun fold design on Pinterest and decided to give it a try. I used this video to get the measurements for my card design.

 

I wasn't able to mail it because it was bulky. It was hand delivered to my good friend. She appreciates a handmade card design and the work that's put into making one.  

I made this one using the colors from the Splitcoaststampers color challenge #1049. We were to use flirty flamingo, lost lagoon and lemon lolly for the color trio. Optional was to use our fave embellishment. I like to use enamel dots.

I used designer paper form the Stampin' Up "sweet symmetry, simply marbelous and thoughtful journey" collections.

I added a few lemon lolly flowers, enamel dots and stamped my sentiment to complete this card.

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

Card Details:

Stamps: Alleluia Stamp set (Divinity Designs)

Paper: flirty flamingo, lost lagoon, basic white, lemon lolly, thoughtful journey dsp, simply marbelous dsp, sweet symmetry dsp (Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: lost lagoon (stampin' Up)

Accessories: circle & flower dies (CottageCutz), lemon lolly enamel dots,

Techniques: pop up fun fold

I am also entering:

1.  A Cut Above has an anything goes challenge using at least one die cut. 

2.  Aud Sentiments has a flowers + a sentiment challenge. 

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

4.  Polkadoodles has an anything goes challenge. 

5.  Sweet Stampin' has an Easter creations challenge. 

6.  Creative Creases has an anything goes challenge with a fun fold. 

Alleluia He is Risen!

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

It's Easter Sunday. We had a wonderful church service this morning and my brother came who hasn't been to church in forever. It was a wonderful surprise and awesome to have him there.

I have my dinner on schedule and all the food preps are ready for the oven. So, I had a quick minute to post another Easter card. 

This one I made for the Splitcoaststampers color challenge #1047. I was the hostess and I chose gorgeous grape, highland heather and garden green for the color trio. Optional was to use designer paper. I encouraged everyone to get creative. The designer paper could have different colors.

I decided to go with a fun fold design. It's called a split card front. I used the card base from the Stampin' Up Lovely Lavender PP Kit from 2024 as the designer paper option. And the back of the card base as the layering panel underneath the split front.

The card base is gorgeous grape, and I stamped my sentiment in the same color ink. The cross die is from CottageCutz and I used both highland heather and gorgeous grape for the layers.

The stamped sentiments are from the Alleluia stamp set from Divinity Designs. Scattered some grape sequins to finish off my card. And that's it for this post. So, until next time.......God bless.

Card Details:

Stamps: Alleluia Stamp set (Divinity Designs)

Paper: gorgeous grape, highland heather, garden green (Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: gorgeous grape (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: Paper Pumpkin Kit (Jan 2024) (Stampin' Up), Cross w/Lilies die (CottageCutz), Sequins (Recollections)

Techniques: Split Front Card

I am also entering:

1.  Stamping Sensations has an anything goes challenge. Theme of Flowers, Birds and Animals.

2.  Allsorts  has an anything goes or stencils & masks challenge. 

3.  Loves those Pretty Papers challenge is anything goes w/a theme of Springtime. 

Easter Basket

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

It's Easter weekend. Our weather is starting to warm up and Easter Sunday will be a warm and sunny day. We will have my hubby's family here for dinner. 

They haven't come for a couple of years because my mother-in-law wasn't leaving the house. But she passed away in January at 95 years old. So having the family together for the first holiday without her is important for all of us. 

Ham, pierogis, sweet potato casserole, and glazed carrots are on the menu. My sister-in-law will bring deviled eggs and rolls and my brother-in-law dessert. I plan on making the sweet potato casserole ahead on Saturday and then bake it on Sunday. 

The pierogis are from an establishment here in the Pittsburgh area. They are the best in the city, and I was fortunate to get 2 dozen of them for my Easter dinner. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for the color challenge #1043 on Splitcoaststampers. I was the hostess, and I chose summer splash, petunia pop and azure afternoon for my color trio. Optional was to use any 4th color. I chose coastal cabana.

I just purchased this new to me Easter Basket die from Stamps of Life. It's part of their "Fold-It" line. So, the die makes an Easter basket fun fold shape. The die also included the egg shapes.

I cut the basket outline in pecan pie (allowed neutral). I used the two-tone cardstock from Stampin' Up. It gives a lighter shade of the same color. I cut the basket front with the lighter shade.

For the eggs, I used the challenge colors. The summer splash egg is where I used the coastal cabana designer paper. I also used designer paper on the azure afternoon egg. It's from the Stampin' Up "bright and beautiful collection. 

On the petunia pop egg, I blended some ink on white cardstock to get a lighter shade. The outline and decorations are cut in petunia pop cardstock.

My cute little peeking bunny is cut in pecan pie cardstock, and the ears are the ink blended petunia pie.

I sent this off to my precious grandaughter in California. She should be receiving it in today's mail. Well, that's my card for this post so until next time......God bless.

Card Details:  

Paper: pecan pie, petunia pop, azure afternoon, summer splash, basic white, coastal cabana dsp, bright & beautiful dsp (Stampin' Up), Bristol Smooth (Canson)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: petunia pop (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: Easter Basket Fold-It die (Stamps of Life), Double Trouble Bunny die, Bunny Kisses die (CottageCutz)

I am also entering:

1. Craft Rocket Challenges has a layer it up challenge.  

2.  Creative Knockouts #545 has a 2 or more-pattern paper challenge. 

3.  TTTC #268 - I have a shaped card, free space and ink blending. The blending is on my pink egg.

4.  Crafty Gals Corner is fill in the blank - adorable.

5.  Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday is anything goes. 

  

Easter Blessings

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

Well, the first week of April has brought back some winter temps in the Pittsburgh area. We are going downtown for a theater show on Wednesday and it's definitely going to be winter coat weather. 

We are going to see The Thorn. It was a Christmas gift from our son and a dinner gift card to go along with it. It's the story of creation and weaves through time highlighting the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus. A perfect show for Easter. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for the color challenge #1045. We were to use granny apple green, fresh freesia and bubble bath for the color trio. Optional was anything goes. I chose a 4th color of petunia pop.

My fun fold design is called a double easel fold. I have measurements, photos and a video link of another card I made using this fold - see that here.

The background designer paper is from the Divinity Designs "Heavenly Skies" paper collection. I saw a card on Pinterest from Kendra Sands and used that for inspiration. I changed it up with different dies, colors and sentiment to make it my own.

The He is Risen phrase & Cross are a die from CottageCutz. I stamped my sentiment in petunia pop ink (my optional item) to finish up my card.

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

Card Details:

Stamps: Alleluia Stamp set (Divinity Designs)

Paper: basic white, bubble bath, fresh freesia, granny apple green, petunia pop (Stampin' Up), heavenly skies designer paper (Divinity Designs)

Ink: petunia pop (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: He is Risen Cross (CottageCutz)

Techniques: double easel fold

I am also entering:

1.  Creatalicious Challenge is anything goes w/option of Easter or Spring.

2.  Love to Craft challenge is anything goes.  

3.  The Four Seasons Challenge is anything goes Spring.

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

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