Joy Tree

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with the Charmed Life Blog this Tuesday in July. As I mentioned yesterday, I will be publishing cards all this week so hopefully you will stop again tomorrow. 

My hubby's vegetable garden is starting to produce and it's time for me to start stuffing, filling and freezing banana peppers once again. He has about 22 peppers waiting for me right now. This will continue through early October. But I love having wintertime meals ready to go. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for the Splitcoaststampers color challenge #1112. It's all about Christmas in July. I love creating Christmas cards. Our colors were  poppy parade, shaded spruce and pool party. Optional is Christmas in July with a theme of "O Christmas Tree".

poppy parade, shaded spruce, pool party

For my card I used a new to me die from the Stamps of Life. It's one of their fold-it card dies. The Joy Tree Fold-it. The idea is that you cut a shape from the 3 dies provided and in this case it's a Christmas Tree. And you end up a fun shaped card.

You use the first die and place it on your card fold. Then to cover up the edge line you use the die again and cut just one layer. Then the 2nd die cuts another layer, and the 3rd die cuts all your tree words.  

I used the challenge colors plus gold shimmer paper from Stampin' Up for my star and the peace word. My believe word was cut from pool party designer paper and inked with the same ink to get a deeper shade.

I made 2 cards using these colors and the one below shows my 2nd card. This card is made with the Christmas Tree Fold-it. 

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

Card Details:

Paper: shaded spruce, poppy parade, soft suede, simply marbelous dsp, gold fine shimmer dsp (Stampin' Up),

Paper Size: A2

Ink: pool party (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: Joy Tree Fold-it Die, Christmas Tree Fold-it die (Stamps of Life)

I am also entering:

1.  Peace on Earth Christmas #115 is anything goes Christmas. 

2.  Double Trouble #220 is a Christmas in July. 

3.  Creative Knockouts #574 has a Christmas in July. 

4.  Krafty Chicks #828 is Christmas in July. 

Daisy Daydream Birthday

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

Well, Tax Day (April 15, 2026) has come and gone for another year. Hope all of my American followers were able to get everything filed on time. I completed mine and even got a refund this year. 

Now I can concentrate on getting my craft room reorganization done. I keep putting it off, but I definitely need a better system than what I have right now. I know where most things are but sometimes, I forget about things I bought since my system is not so streamlined. But my goal is to get all that changed this year. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created using the contents of the March 2025 Daisy Daydream Paper Pumpkin Kit from Stampin' Up. These kits give you everything you need to create at least 9 cards. What I like to do is create alternate designs from what the kit calls for. 

This one is a fun fold card. It's called a Z-fold design. I used my own white card base and then took one of the printed card bases from the kit and cut it for designer paper. 

The daisy images were the front of the base and I cut those to 1 7/8" x 5 1/4". The honeycomb images were the back of the card base and I cut that for my card inside at 4" x 5 1/4". 

I cut 2 circle images and stamped then with honeycombs. The stamp set is also part of the kit.  The bees and daisy images were also in the kit. To complete my card I added some yellow enamel dots. 

For the card inside I added a honey pot. It's a die from CottageCutz. 

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

I am also entering:

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

2.  Cut it Up has a colors of Spring challenge using die cuts. 

3.  Craft Rocket Challenge #135 wants us to layer it up.

4.  C.R.A.F.T. challenge is anything goes. 

5.  Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge - I used middle panel- embellishments-free-circles. 

Bunny Kisses

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with The Charmed Life Blog today. It's Easter Monday and I am showing another of my Easter cards. I don't know how I get so behind posting these cards. I did the same with my Valentine cards (LOL). 

Anway hope your Easter celebration was a great one. Ours started off with church and then we had a lovely dinner with a friend. My meal turned out just as I wanted it too. And we sent some leftovers home with him and there was still plenty for dinner today and probably tomorrow. 

Now onto the details for this card. To create this one I used the colors from the Splitcoaststampers color challenge #1097. We were to use granny apple green, fresh freesia and balmy blue for the color trio. Optional was an anything goes theme. I chose to use a 4th color of petunia pop.

granny apple green, fresh freesia, balmy blue

I used the 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 includes the egg shapes and decorations for them.

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 plus my 4th color of petunia pop.

My cute little peeking bunny is cut in pecan pie cardstock. I added the bunny kisses sentiment to complete my card. Both of these dies are from Cottage Cutz.

Well, that's it for me for this post. Stop by again tomorrow to see a couple more of my Easter cards. So until next time.....God bless. 

Card Details:

Paper: Fresh Freesia, Balmy Blue, Granny Apple Green, Petunia Pop, Pecan Pie, White (Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: A2

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

I am also entering:

1.  A Cut Above Challenge is anything goes with a die cut and a twist of using pastels. 

2.  Double Trouble Challenge is from Thing 3 - using Easter elements. 

3.  Crafty Animals is anything goes with an animal.  

Wish Big

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

Hope your day is going well. I treated myself today to a manicure and a pedicure. It's been months since I have done this but after our taxes were finished, I felt something special was in order for me. After all I am the one who spends days working on them (LOL)!!!

The young woman who I go to is such a gem. She treats me so well and does an excellent job on my fingers and toes. She wondered why I hadn't been there in months. I was away so much in January and February, but sandal season is almost here and it's time to have feet looking presentable. Oh well enough about that. Let's move on to my card for today.

This one I created for the color challenge #1095 on Splitcoaststampers. We were to use flirty flamingo, lemon lolly and lost lagoon for our color trio. Optional was to use our favorite embellishment. I like enamel dots.

flirty flamingo, lemon loll, lost lagoon

I just picked up a new to me stamp and die set from Stampin' Up. It's the "hot air balloon" collection. I saw measurements for this fun fold from Denise on Pinterest and thought I would give it a try using this week's colors.

I stamped my balloon in flirty flamingo ink several times to get a cleaner image. I used dimensional adhesive and placed it on a background of designer paper.

My designer papers are from 3 Stampin' Up collections - Tartan Foils, Subtles and Thoughtful Journey. I liked the hearts paper since this card was going to a good friend of mine. I thought it gave a nice feminine touch. 

I added lemon lolly enamel dots to get the 3rd color on my card. And that's my post for today. So until next time......God bless. 

Card Details:

Stamps: hot air balloon (Stampin' Up)

Paper: lost lagoon, basic white, subtles dsp, thoughtful journey dsp, tartan foil dsp (Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: flirty flamingo (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: hot air ballon dies, rainbow enamel dots (Stampin' Up)

I am also entering:

1.  Love Those Pretty Papers challenge is anything goes w/option of circles. 

2.  Sweet Stampin' has a tartan/plaid challenge. I used a Tartan foil designer paper. 

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

4.  Creative Fingers has an anything goes challenge. 

Irish Blessing

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

Happy St. Patrick's Day. My maternal Grandmother was of Irish descent. I don't celebrate the day but here in Pittsburgh there is a St. Patrick's Day parade held downtown. They make it quite festive, and it draws a lot of people.

I did create a card for a friend of mine. She is going to give it away to a good friend of hers who goes all out for the celebration. She likes celebrating her Irish heritage. 

To create my card I used the colors from the Splitcoaststamper color challenge. We were to use garden green, crushed curry and black for the color trio. Dessert option this week is St Patrick's Day.

garden green, rushed curry, basic black

For my card I tried a new to me funfold. It's the latch fold. I found all the measurements on the Flowerbugs Inkspot blog.

I used a St Patrick's Day Cupcake die from CottageCutz and cut in the challenge colors. Stampin' Up has two-tone garden green cardstock and I used that for the cupcake frosting and for the background embossing. I used the Stripes folder from Stampin' Up".

The sentiment is an old digi set that Verve was offering back in 2017. The striped designer paper is also from Stampin' Up.

This is my card inside. Again I used the digi set that Verve was offering. It came in handy since it's the only St Patrick Day sentiments that I have.

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

Card Details:

Stamps: Lucky Day Digi Set (Verve Stamps)

Paper: garden green, crushed curry, black, white, Regals dsp (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: St Patrick's Day Cupcake die (CottageCutz), Textured Impressions Stripe EF (Stampin' Up)

Techniques: Latch Fold

I am also entering:

1.  Aud Sentiment Challenge is St Patrick's Day green + a sentiment.

2.  Love Those Pretty Papers is all about using our designer papers. 

3.  Lil Patch of Crafty Friends is anything goes. 

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

5.  Crafty Catz  challenge is anything goes. 

Love Always Wins

Hello Blogger Friends. Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with The Charmed Life Blog today. It's been way too long that I have posted on my Blog. But for good reason. I was out to visit my son and his family in CA. When I came home from there I went to South Carolina with my other daughter-in-law. Then I came home and got sick with a head cold. Then we left to go to FL to visit our friends who have a winter home there.  

But I am now back and healthy again so here is my post for today. I know it's a Valentine card but I didn't get to post all the cards I made for Valentine's Day. So, they are coming in the next several days. 

I made this card for a challenge over on Splitcoaststampers. Here is the link to the challenge. The hostess wanted us to improve on a card in our gallery.  

Here is my original card. It's from way back in 2016.

I used washi tape and stickers on the original card. On the new and improved version, I made a book binding fun fold. For the tic tac toe game board, I used dies from MFT. I was looking for them for a while and then I found them on Ebay. 

The sentiment is also from MFT. My designer paper is from the Stampin' Up "Sweet Talk" collection. 

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

Card Details:

Stamps: Pizza My Heart (MFT)

Paper: real red, basic white, basic black, sweet talk designer paper (Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: tuxedo black (Memento)

Accessories: tic tac toe dies (MFT), heart die, square dies (CottageCutz)

Techniques: book binding card

I am also entering:

1.  A Cut Above has an anything goes challenge using a die cut. 

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

3.  Crafty Catz has an anything goes challenge.

4.  Creative Fingers has an anything goes challenge. 

Christmas Cards 2025 (Final)

Hello Blogger Friends and Happy New Year! Hope you had a wonderful Christmas and New Year holiday. 

My Christmas was a wonderful family time. For New Years Eve and New Years Day we spent at home. I have friends coming for another Christmas get together tomorrow evening. It's a group of 12 and I wanted to keep it on the easy side for me since it's a dinner get together.

So, I decided to start with appetizers- charcuterie board, a cheese ball and mini meatballs with a cranberry barbecue glaze. Then for dinner I will make a salad, stuffed banana peppers and we will order pizza. The banana peppers are in my freezer, and they are from my hubby's summer garden. I am looking forward to it. 

Now onto my cards for this post. It is the last of my Christmas cards. This one was made using the Stampin' Up Paper Pumpkin Kit "Wrapped in Cheer".  The kit was designed to make tags and small gift boxes, but I changed it up to make cards. I used a 3D embossing folder from Spellbinders to add some interest. The wreath, bow and banner are part of the kit. I cut the Joy phrase from a die in my stash. 

This card was made using the green tag and greenery from the kit. I embossed the background, cut a banner with designer paper, die cut the Merry phrase and red bow, stamped and heat embossed the Christmas sentiment. 

This card was also made with the contents from the Wrapped in Cheer kit.  The tag, banner and bow are part of the kit. I angled the elements for a bit of interest. Again the layered panel is embossed using a Stampin' Up folder. The gingham panel is cut from a box that was in the kit. Behind that layer I added some designer paper. 

This last card was made using some of the contents of the Stampin' Up Joy to the World Paper Pumpkin Kit. This one is an older one from October 2020. I had a few embellishments left and decided to create a Z-fold style card. The floral images, white square and banner are part of the kit. The gold designer paper is from my stash. 

This photo shows the card standing up.

The photo below shows the card inside. I cut the peace, love, joy phrases and dove from a die in my stash.

I stamped my sentiments with the stamp set that was in the kit. I had one floral image left and added it here. 

Well, that's it for me for this post. I hope you have enjoyed the cards I showed today. So until next time......God bless. 

I am also entering:

1.  Little Red Wagon has a use some force challenge. 

2.  Sisterhood of Crafters has a Christmas challenge. 

3.  C.R.A.F.T. Challenge has an anything goes Christmas. 

Cozy Christmas Paper Pumpkin Cards

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

It's almost a wrap for 2025 but I still have some Christmas cards I wanted to show here on my Blog. These 2 cards I made using the Stampin' Up Paper Pumpkin Kit "Cozy Christmas". I love these kits because they include all the supplies you need to create 9 Christmas cards.  And when it's December and crunch time to get cards in the mail these kits come in handy. 

This fun fold card is called a "diagonal joy fold. The kit has you making CAS cards but I like to step them up a bit. I saw this design on Facebook and it was designed by Lauree Alexander. I changed it up a bit to make it my own. 

I cut the envelope to use for designer paper on the inside. I also cut one of the card bases to use on the right diagonal. This photo shows how the card opens. You lift the image flap then open the diagonal portion of the card. 

This photo shows the greeting I stamped inside the image flap section. 

This next card is the same fun fold design using the Kit. I die cut the Joy sentiment and added some sequins to the front panel. Again, I cut the envelopes and card base to use as designer paper. 

I changed the flap on this one to open horizontally from the right side. 

On the inside of this one I stamped a few stars and a different greeting. 

Well, that's it for this post. I have a few more Christmas cards to show and I will do that in the next 2 days. So, stop by again tomorrow for more eye candy.

I am also entering:

1.  We Love Stamping has a Red & Green Challenge.

2.  Creative Creases has an anything goes with a fun fold. 

3.  Cut It Up has an anything goes with a die cut. 

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. 

Season of Thanks

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

It was a beautiful Fall Day here in Pittsburgh with lots of sunshine. My hubby is slowly taking out his vegetable and flower gardens. He took out all of the sunflowers and marigolds. He still has all of his dahlias but a few more nights with frost and they will be done for this year. 

Today he picked the last of his banana peppers and took out the plants. He isn't giving up on the tomato plants yet. Although I am over all of it (LOL)!!! 

The basil is just about done and today I cut a bunch of it and made some pesto. I don't add the cheese so I can freeze it. I use basil, garlic and pistachios. The garlic is also from my hubby's garden.  

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for the color challenge #1069 on Splitcoaststampers. The trio of colors were pretty peacock, wild wheat and lost lagoon. Optional is anything goes. I chose ribbon for the option.

lost lagoon, wild wheat, pretty peacock

I created a double Z-fold Thanksgiving card. I have had this designer paper for a long time (since 2019) and have wanted to use it for a Fall or Thanksgiving card, and I finally did it.  It's from the Stampin' Up "Come to Gather" collection. The measurements for the fun fold I found on Julie's Stampin Spot.

The designer paper is the star of the show on this card. I cut a label for my sentiment added some ribbon and wild wheat glossy dots. The sentiment is from the Stampin' Up set "Season of Thanks". The pumpkin image is fussy cut from the designer paper.

On the inside panel I stamped wheat using wild wheat ink. I stamped off once to get a lighter image.
This sentiment is from The Ton Stamps. The "Round Pumpkins" set.

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

Card Details: 

Stamps: Gather Together (Stampin' Up), Round Pumpkins (The Ton)

Paper: pretty peacock, lost lagoon, basic white, come to gather dsp (Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: Pretty Peacock, Wild Wheat (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: Stitched Nested Label dies, wild wheat glossy dots, pretty peacock ribbon (Stampin' Up)

Techniques: Double Z Fold

I am also entering:

1.  A Place to Start Challenge is ATG + option of pumpkin it up for pumpkins. 

2.  Aud Sentiments is Fall/Thanksgiving or Ink Blending + a sentiment. 

3.  Neglected Stuff Challenge is ATG . I used dsp from 2019.

4.  Sisterhood of Crafters has a Fall challenge. 

5.  Creative Creases is ATG with a fun fold.