Cozy Christmas Paper Pumpkin Kit (2)

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with The Charmed Life Blog this 30th day of December. As I mentioned in my post yesterday, I still have Christmas cards to show from my 2025 collection. I mailed them all and everyone got them on time.   

I made 35 cards this year and still sent out some boxed cards. My plan for 2026 is to make Christmas cards all year long so I am not working feverishly in December to get them done. Hopefully my plan unfolds. 

Now for my cards for today. These both are from the Stampin' Up Cozy Christmas Paper Pumpkin Kit. I made these 2 according to the Kit instructions with just a slight variation. Yesterday's post showed some alternate designs using the kit. See that post here. 

The Kits have all you need to create your cards. I particularly liked this one because the tree is a green flocking. I die cut the Christmas phrase and shadow to step it up a bit. 

This card uses the ornament image from the set and again the green embellishments are flocked. My variation here was to stamp the sentiment directly on the card and arrange the sequins in a different pattern. 

This card is also from the Kit and I did change it up from the directions they supplied. I cut one of the envelopes and added it to the top of the card base. The Joy phrase was a kit element. 

Well, that's it for me for this post. Stop by again tomorrow and check out the last of my 2025 cards. So, until next time ......God bless. 

I am also entering:

1.  Addicted to Stamps and More has a Christmas challenge. 

2.  A Place to Start has an anything goes w/option of winter things. I have a Christmas tree. 

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. 

Season of Thanks

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

It's the day before Thanksgiving and I will be really busy with my kitchen preps all day. I make a sour cream mashed potato recipe that you prep the day before and then bake on Thanksgiving. It has sour cream, cream cheese and butter. My family loves it, and I always make it for Thanksgiving. 

I will also make my pumpkin pie and toast the bread cubes for my stuffing and chop the onions and celery, so it's set to go tomorrow morning. If I have time I will make my cranberry sauce as well. Nothing like fresh cranberry sauce.  

Now onto the card I am featuring today. It's another of my Thanksgiving cards. I used the contents of the Stampin' Up September Paper Pumpkin Kit. It was all about Fall. I saw a sample of this card on Facebook and decided to try and recreate it. My card opens from left to right because I couldn't figure how to get it in the direction I wanted. This YouTube post will show how to make the cuts for the layers. 

I cut the card base from the kit to form the triangle layers of the kit. I added some additional color to the leaves & the pumpkins for a richer look. The leaves and pumpkins are part of the kit as is the ribbon. The sentiment is from the Gather Together stamp set from Stampin' Up. 

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

Card Details:

Stamps: Gather Together (Stampin' Up)

Paper: pecan pie, basic beige (Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: pecan pie (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: Fall for Toile PP Kit (Stampin' Up 2025)

I am also entering:

1.  Double Trouble has a 3-2-1 recipe challenge. I followed Thing 1.

2.  Make My Monday has a Gratitude/Thankful challenge. 

3.  Pammie's Inky Pinkies challenge is anything goes. 

 

Thanksgiving 2025

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

I am having 11 people for dinner on Thursday. So, my plan is to do my cleaning today. I keep up with my house regularly so it's just a matter of running the sweeper, cleaning the bathrooms and cleaning the kitchen. 

We moved our kitchen table into the dining room last night so everyone can be together in the same room. My hubby didn't like the idea of 2 separate tables. We had to get help from our younger next door neighbor because the kitchen table is heavy and I couldn't lift it. 

I will put the tablecloths on today and setting the table so it will be done. That way it frees me up tomorrow to do all my prep work for the big feast.

I wanted to get a post in today because I have more Thanksgiving cards to show. This card I created using some of the contents of the September Paper Pumpkin Kit from Stampin' Up. The colored and metallic leaves and the circle were part of the kit. I shaded the leaves with pumpkin pie and spiced marmalade inks for additional color.

I decided to use some background designer paper from the Stampin' Up "plaid tidings" collection. I thought it added some nice color to the card. The designer paper is layered with mango melody cardstock and the card base is rich razzleberry.

This one was sent to my good friend in Virginia. She told me she keeps whatever card I send her out on display until she gets the next one. Since I know that, I will send her cards throughout the year for each season or holiday. Usually I just do Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter and her July birthday. But now it will be Valentine's Day and something in September. 

Well, that's it for me for this post. Be back tomorrow with another Thanksgiving card.

 Card Details:

Stamps: Autumnn Stamp (Great Impressions)

Paper: rich razzleberry, mango melody, plaid tidings designer paper (Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: rich razzleberry, pumpkin pie (Stampin' Up), spiced marmalade distress (ranger)

Accessories: September 2025 Paper Pumpkin Kit, Rich Razzleberry ribbon (Stampin' Up)

I am also entering

1.  A Place to Start has an ATG challenge w/option of something new. The PP kit is new from Sept. 

2.  Love Those Pretty Papers Challenge is anything goes.

3.  Creative Fingers #312 is anything goes.  

4.  Creative Inspirations Challenge is anything goes.

5.  Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday is anything goes.  

Paper Pumpkin Birthday

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

I was online checking out the Windows 10 ending and decided to hop over to my Blog and create another post. That's 3 days in a row for me. I have lots of cards to show and I intend to stay very active on my Blog. 

But speaking of the end of Windows 10. After some research I discovered that Microsoft is offering extended security updates for Windows 10 through October 2026. I enrolled in it. They will provide security updates only and that was good enough for me. 

I wasn't ready to add Windows 11 to my Desktop computer since I have a laptop with Windows 11. I mainly use the desktop for my Blog and financial banking. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created using the colors from the Splitcoaststampers color challenge #1071. I was the hostess and my color choices were Pretty in Pink, Bubble Bath and Mossy Meadow. Optional was gold dots or sequins.

pretty in pink, bubble bath, mossy meadow

For my card I used the contents of the Stampin' Up Dec 2024 Paper Pumpkin Kit - "Notes from the Heart" and created an alternative design from what the kit called for. With these Kits from Stampin' Up you get everything you need to create cards. Sometimes I make the kits according to directions and other times I will use the contents and create an alternative design. 

I started my card by stamping a background. I used 3 different Stampin' Up sets and stamped on white cardstock. I just realized that I have no bubble bath ink, so I substituted pink pirouette. The stamped background is layered on a bubble bath cardstock base.

The pretty in pink floral image is from the Kit as are the vellum leaves.

I stamped the happy birthday sentiment on one of the labels from the Kit. I embossed a piece of bubble bath cardstock and added it under the label.

I added a gold cord bow and gold dots from the Kit. Well, that's it for me for this post. So, until next time.......God bless. 

Card Details:

Stamps: Notes from the Heart, Lovely Lavender, Full of Charm (Paper Pumpkin Kits), Artisian Textures (Stampin' Up)

Paper: bubble bath, white (Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: pink pirouette (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: Notes from the Heart Paper Pumpkin Kit Dec 2024), Greenery Embossing Folder (Stampin' Up)

Techniques: dry embossing

I am also entering:

1.  Addicted to Stamps and More has a birthday challenge.

2.  PIP challenge #2451 is anything goes. 

3.  Crafts Galore Encore Challenge is anything goes.

4.  Creatalicious Challenge is anything goes.  

5.  The Creative Crafters has an anything goes challenge. 

  

Flower Seeds

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

I mentioned yesterday that I would be back with regular updates and posts on my Blog. And here I am with another card a day later. I was creating all the time that I was absent from my Blog but my hubby's garden harvest had me busy with kitchen duties. That's come to an end for another year. Today I roasted my last batch of tomatoes. They are pureed and in the freezer for wintertime enjoyment.

This card I made for the color challenge on Splitcoaststampers. We were to use early espresso, crumb cake (kraft) and pool party for our color trio. Optional this week is a 4th color.

crumb cake, pool party, early espresso

I used the contents of the "May Good Things Grow" Paper Pumpkin Kit.  It's an older Kit from Stampin' Up from March 2018. It had two of this week's colors- early espresso and crumb cake.

I took one of the envelopes and cut it to use as designer paper. The roses are powder pink so that's my 4th color. The leaves are mossy meadow (neutral). I layered that on early espresso cardstock and the card base is powder pink.

To get the pool party color I added a few glossy enamel dots. Not sure about the dots but my hubby said he liked them. Oh well they are on the card now. I am going to give this one to my neighbor who is celebrating an October birthday. She is an avid gardener and I think the card is perfect for her.

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

Card Details:

Paper: Powder Pink, Early Espresso (Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: A2

Accessories: Paper Pumpkin Kit March 2018, Glossy Enamel Dots (Stampin' Up)

I am also entering:

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

2.  Love Those Pretty Papers Challenge is anything goes with patterned paper.

3.  Polkadoodles has an anything goes challenge. 

4.  Creative Fingers has an anything goes challenge. 

5.  Creative Inspirations Challenge is anything goes.  

Sending Oceans of Love

Hello Blogger Friends! Wow long time no posts from this Blogger. 

It's not that I haven't been creating it's just that my hubby's garden and his harvest is like the Energizer Bunny. It just doesn't quit (LOL)!!! I have been canning tomatoes, making pesto and freezing it and roasting tomatoes and freezing them. the canning process is labor intensive and keeps me from doing other things. Like posting on my Blog. 

I have one last batch of tomatoes to roast and freeze and then it's over for me. Our freezers are full to the brim. So, we will give what's still growing away for others to enjoy. 

Now onto this card I created in August for my sister-in-law's birthday. It was in September, and she had just come back from a beach vacation so it was perfect for her. 

I used the colors from the Splitcoaststampers color challenge. Our colors were melon mambo, daffodil delight and pumpkin pie for her color trio. Option al was a summer theme. 

daffodil delight, melon mambo, pumpkin pie

I used the contents of the Stampin' Up Paper Pumpkin kit from July 2023 to create a summer scene. The kit was designed for fun fold step-cards but I chose to make it a flat card. I had this card saved on Pinterest. I changed the colors, sentiment and added starfish to make it my own.

The water scene featuring the boat and sky is designer paper from the kit. The beach and palm trees are dies from the kit. For the water I sponged it with night of navy ink (an allowed neutral).

I added the dies to a melon mambo background and then the card base is basic white.

Stamped my sentiment in pumpkin pie ink and added a few starfish that I cut from a CottageCutz die. And that finished off my card.

Well, that's it for me for this post. So, until next time......God bless. I promise it won't be another month till I post. 

Card Details:

Stamps: Mermazing (MFT)

Paper: basic white, melon, mambo. pumpkin pie )Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: A2

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

Accessories: Fun in the Sun Paper Pumpkin Kit (July 2023), Starfish die (CottageCutz)

I am also entering:

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

2.  Neglected Stuff challenge is anything goes. I used a Paper Pumpkin Kit from July 2023. 

3.  Crafts Galore Encore is anything goes. 

4.  Die Cut Divas has an anything goes challenge using a die cut. 

5.  Girlz Creative Fun Art of Scrap is anything goes using designer paper. 

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.  

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/

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.

 

Hot Air Balloon Birthday

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

Well, another Easter celebration has come and gone. Now it's time to move on to other cards I have created. I have several birthday's coming up in the next month or so. So, I thought it's time to get cards started. That way I am not rushing at the last minute.  Now I just need to get them mailed on time (LOL)!!!

This one is a masculine themed card that I made for my son. The background is a card base from the Stampin' Up Paper Pumpkin Kit "Beyond the Horizon". I thought it would be a perfect backdrop for the hot air balloon. 

The hot air balloon is a die from Ellentina. I purchased it a Rubberstamp show several years ago from Tessler crafts. One of those must have items and not used (LOL)!!!

I cut it 3 times to get different colored pieces. Then I used the die inlay technique. It is a bit of work, but I like how it turned out. And honestly, I don't mind something like this. I find it very relaxing.

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

I am also entering:

1. Neglected Stuff Challenge is anything goes.  

2.  A Perfect Time to Craft Challenge is anything goes. 

3.  Ally's Angels has an anything goes challenge. 

4.  Crafts Galore Encore Challenge is anything goes. 

5.  The Creative Crafters Challenge is anything goes.