Snowman Birthday

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

We just came back from a trip to CA. Our kids weren't able to make it home for Christmas this year, so we went out to see them. They left their tree and decorations up so our celebration would be festive. It was a wonderful 5 days with them. 

They got me such a thoughtful gift this year. They created a photo book of my cards that I sent them over the years. I had no idea that they saved them all. That meant so much to me. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for my granddaughter. The one we went to visit. Her birthday is on the 17th. I used one of the envelopes from the 2025 Taylored Expressions Advent calendar. 

The items we received in the calendar were all packed in these cute snowman envelopes, and they had dates on them. The 17th envelope was a bit wrinkled, so I die cut a stitched circle and die cut the #17. 

 

I cut the envelope down and layered it on white cardstock. Added some striped background designer paper for interest. 

I loved the Advent calendar and all the stamping goodies we received. I will definitely subscribe again next year. 

There was a stamp and die set included in the calendar because I subscribed early. So I stamped some sentiments and placed them around the snowman. I was pleased with how the card turned out. 

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

I am also entering:

1.  A Cut Above challenge is using a die cut with an anything goes option. 

2.  Sweet Stampin' has a new challenge. I used a new stamp, die and snowman envelope.  

3.  Make my Monday wants us to use paper with a pattern. 

4.  We Love Stamping has a new or atg challenge. I used a new stamp, die and snowman envelope.   

5.  Love those Pretty Papers challenge is anything goes w/option of a Snowman. 

Singing Snowman

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with the Charmed Life Blog for Day 8 of my Christmas cards for 2025.  

I have been busy finishing up Christmas tasks. I was making candy and baking for the last 2 days. Tomorrow, I have to wrap presents and make a grocery run for my Christmas dinner meal. I also have to get some minor house cleaning done in the next 2 days. But I will have my hubby to help with that. 

Then tomorrow night we have our Christmas service at church. We have done a Christmas Eve Eve service for lots of years. This way we get to spend Christmas Eve & Day with family. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created using the colors from the Splitcoaststampers color challenge #1083. We were to use balmy blue, cherry cobbler and black for our color trio. Optional was an anything goes.

cherry cobbler, balmy blue, basic black

For my card I used the snowman die from the Taylored Expressions Advent Calendar. Taylor showed a card sample on her YouTube live last Friday with this die, and I loved it, so I used it as my inspiration with a few changes to make it my own.

I cut the snowman in white glitter paper. Her nose is my optional item. I used pumpkin pie. After all what snowman doesn't have a carrot for a nose? For the lips I used white paper and colored with the light cherry cobbler Stampin' Up Blend. The arms are pecan pie -another allowed neutral.

The background designer paper is from the Stampin' Up "You're a Peach" collection. I thought it looked like snow. My trees are also cut from designer paper - it's the "Festive Farmhouse" collection. They are mossy meadow (a neutral).

I had a die in my collection that had this little songbook and it is just the right size for the snowman to hold. Cut the snow banks in white glitter paper.

Finished off my card by stamping my sentiment and adding a couple of musical notes. Well, that's it for me for this post. So, until next time.....God bless. 

Card Details:

Stamps: Christmas Messages (Hero Arts)

Paper: Cherry Cobbler, White, Black, Pumpkin Pie, Pecan Pie, You're a Peach dsp, Festive Farmhouse dsp (Stampin' Up), White Glitter Paper (Doodlebug)

Ink: Cherry Cobbler (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: Snowman die, Triangle die (Taylored Expressions), Hills die (CottageCutz), Music Notes die (MFT), Snowflakes (Stampin' Up)

I am also entering:

1.  A Place to Start has an anything goes challenge w/option of winter things. 

2.  Stamps & Fun =CREATIVITY has a snowman challenge. 

3.  Creative Fingers has a Blog candy challenge.  

Warm Wishes

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

It's Day 6 of my Christmas cards for 2025. Although I must admit I am a bit behind with posting my cards. 

I was busy with finishing up my decorating plus finishing up on the cards I had to make. Then came the addressing and actually getting them sent. That part is a 2-day process with me. Maybe I fuss too much but the cards that I really like go to people that will appreciate them. 

Like this one for instance. The snowflake spins around the track. It will be a cute card for the 2 little ones that live next door, and my neighbor really appreciates the effort I put into creating my cards. 

I ordered the 2025 Taylored Expressions Advent Calendar. All the elements to make this spinner card were included in the kit. I never made a spinner card before so it was a bit of a learning process for me. But after a few small mishaps I got it together (lol)!!! I like how it turned out.

Each day you get to open a packet with a crafting item inside. I have loved everything that I received so far. Then on Friday on the TE YouTube channel they make a project using the week's goodies. This snowman card was demonstrated on the channel.

I used the colors from the Splitcoaststampers color challenge #1082. We were to use pool party, real red and pumpkin pie for the color trio. Optional was to make a snowman.

pool party, real red, pumpkin pie

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

Here is a short video that shows how this snowflake spins around the card. My hubby helped me out by spinning the card while I did the video. 

Card Details:

Stamps: Bitty Strips Essentials (Taylored Expressions)

Paper: white, pool party, black, real red, pumpkin pie, heartwarming hugs dsp (Stampin' Up). white glitter paper (Recollections)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: tuxedo black (Memento)

Accessories: Snowman die, Snowflake die, Track die, Spinners & Sliders, (Taylored Expressions Advent Calendar, Snowflake embossing Folder (Cuttlebug), Stitched Hillside Borders die (Lawn Fawn), Scalloped Rectangle die (CottageCutz)2025)

Techniques: Slider Card

I am also entering:

1.  Creative Knockouts has a Tis the Season challenge. 

2.  Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday has an anything goes challenge. 

3.  Little Red Wagon has a Christmas card challenge. 

4.  Sisterhood of Crafters has an anything Christmas challenge. 

5.  Die Cut Divas has a Christmas/Winter challenge. 

Joy to the World Tree

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

It's the Saturday before Thanksgiving and I am getting excited for the upcoming holiday. My son, daughter-in-law and grandsons will be coming for dinner. It will be a wonderful family celebration for sure. 

My hubby's family was also invited but they are going to celebrate at his brother's home. My mother-in-law who is 93 and has limited mobility thought it would be easier to go there for dinner. 

Now onto my card for today, I am featuring a Christmas card using the colors from the Splitcoaststampers color challenge #965. We were to use granny apple green, melon mambo, poppy parade and shaded spruce for our color trio. 

melon mambo, poppy parade, shaded spruce, granny apple green

For my card, I decided to try making it Christmas with these colors. I started by used the Blooming Holiday Cutting Plate from Taylored Expressions and I cut in white cardstock.

Layered that panel on a piece of shaded spruce cardstock. It's also my card base. Then I cut the image again in melon mambo and did the die inlay technique. I cut only the greenery stems in granny apple green and also did the die inlay.

My "joy to the world tree" is a die from CottageCutz. I cut it in shaded spruce cardstock. I added the ornaments in poppy parade, added a gold star and the tree base in soft suede to complete my card. 

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

Card Details:

Paper: shaded spruce, melon mambo, real red, granny apple green, gold, white (Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: A2

Accessories: Blooming Holiday Cutting Plate (Taylored Expressions), Joy to the World Tree die (CottageCutz)

Techniques: die cut inlay

I am also entering:

1.  Allsorts has a Christmas Time challenge. 

2.  Inkspirational has a Seasonal challenge. 

3.  Most Magical Time of the Year Challenge is Christmas or Halloween.

4.  My Time to Craft challenge is "it's got to be Christmas". 

5.  C.R.A.F.T. challenge is Christmas. 

6.  Art Impressions has a making spirits bright challenge. 

Easter Stained Glass Cross

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

Well, we are already halfway through the month of March. It has come in like a lion and hopefully it goes out like a lamb as the proverbial saying goes. We had snow a couple of days this week. That was a surprise since we didn't get much at all this winter. 

My hubby has already started his seedlings for his gardens. He has lots of stuff under the grow lights in the basement. Not sure what it all is but I do look forward to the vegetable gardens and the subsequent harvest. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for the Splitcoaststampers color challenge #937. We were to use so saffron, parakeet party and orchid oasis. Optional was to add a 4th color. I used polished pink. 

so saffron, parakeet party, orchid oasis

I decided to go with an Easter theme for my card. I used the Stained-Glass Cross die from Taylored Expressions.

I cut the image once in white and then again in all the challenge colors. Pieced in the die cuts for the stained-glass look. On this one I used an orchid oasis card base.

Used white glitter cardstock and cut just the cross image and then popped it up over the first cross.

The He is Risen phrase is a die from Frantic Stamper and the Tulips are a die from CottageCutz. I layered them over a piece of vellum because they seemed to be competing with the background. I thought the vellum is a nice separation.

Finished off this card by adding a few orchid oasis enamel dots.

I had a lot of pieces left over from my first card, so I decided to make another. I just pieced in what colors I had left. I switched it up a bit and used a white card base on this one. 

The Easter phrase and Tulips are dies from CottageCutz. Finished off my card by adding a few polished pink jewels.

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

I am also entering:

1.  Double D Challenge is Easter. 

2.  Allsorts Challenge is a trio of something. I have 3 tulips and 3 pink enamel jewels.

3.  Crafty Catz has an anything goes w/optional of Spring. 

4.  Creative Fingers has an anything goes challenge. 

5.  Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday is anything goes. 

Coffee & Donuts

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

 

It's a rainy and cold day here in Pittsburgh. In fact, it's supposed to rain and possibly snow the rest of this week. We just came through a 4 day stretch of sunshine which is unusual for us. But, it did help to melt the 7" of snow that was on the ground from last week.

 

So today is one of those days that it's perfect to stay indoors in the craft room. My hubby is at work until 7:00 pm so I can stay in here all afternoon. I have a couple of cards to make and then I will work on cleaning up the room. Don't know about you but when I am in here creating, it gets messy so quickly.

 

I am on Easter break from pre-school. We are off until next Thursday, April 5. I am also having Easter dinner here at my house and there will be 10 of us. My usual dinner is ham, hash brown potato casserole, fruit salad, mac n' cheese and a cooked veggie and some dessert. Nothing too complicated because I like to enjoy the family time.

 

I have lots to do to get ready for the day - cleaning, shopping and getting my Spring /Easter decorations out. Don't know why I haven't decorated yet. But, that's okay because I will leave the decorations up through April.

 

So let's move onto my card for today. This one I created using some Rise & Shine dies from CottageCutz. They are breakfast themed and the DT has made some really cute samples with the dies. See those here here and here.

 

I wanted to created a card to let that special someone know you love them. It could be used for an anniversary or birthday or even at Valentines day by changing up the patterned paper.

 

I used the Coffee & Donuts dies on my card. The sentiment is from a Taylored Expressions set. The designer paper is from the old Stampin'-Up Sweet Pea collection.

 

Well that's it for me for today. Time for me to get busy with my planned activities. So until next time..........God bless.

 

I am also entering:

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

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

3.  Pile It On has a circles and/or squares challenge.

 

 

Coffee & Donut Love

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

 

Well I am happy to say that I have finally gotten all my Christmas things put away. Whew what a job! Now I will be able to concentrate on the organization ideas for my craft room and also finishing up on some minor details in my newly remodeled kitchen.

 

Yesterday I found a cabinet knob that I like at Lowe's. I only bought one just in case it didn't look right. My hubby put it on last night and we both like it a lot. So tomorrow after preschool, I will drive there and get the others that I need. A new store opened up and they sent me a 10% coupon.

 

Now let's move onto my card for today. Valentine's Day will be here before you know it. I send out a few cards and also let some of our friends pick a card to give to their wives or husbands.

This one I made for the color challenge #617. Karen is our hostess and she chose old olive, blushing bride and pink pirouette as her color combo. 

old olive, blushing bride, pink pirouette

 My card is using the MOJO479 sketch.

The background was made using the Stampin'-Up "seasonal decorative masks". There are 4 stencils in this pack and I used the dots and stripes.
I used the Clarity brushes and Ranger spun sugar distress ink. It's a close match to pink pirouette -that pad was a bit dry and I didn't have a re-inker.

The Clarity brushes are awesome to work with. I love the way they lay down the color. I separated the panel with some pink pirouette cardstock that was cut with an MFT die.
For the long rectangle behind the image panel, I used old olive ribbon.

The coffee cup and whipped cream are a die from CottageCutz - mug with heart. I cut it in chocolate chip (one of my neutrals this week) and my heart in pink pirouette.

My donut is a stamp and die from Taylored Expressions - pizza my heart. I stamped and cut it in whisper white then layered chocolate chip over that and stamped again in blushing bride. I colored the sprinkles with Stampin'-Up markers.

The sentiment is also from Taylored Expressions set - "we go together". And, that completes my post for today. Time to get busy with some organization stuff around my house. So until next time.........God bless.

 

Card Details:

Stamps: pizza my heart and we go together (Taylored Expressions) 

Paper: choc chip, whisper white, pink pirouette, blushing bride

Paper Size: A2  

Ink: Pink Pirouette, Choc Chip (Stampin'-Up), Spun Sugar (Ranger)  

Accessories: Seasonal decorative masks, old olive satin ribbon (Stampin'-Up), mug w/heart die (CottageCutz), pizza my heart die (Taylored Expressions), Clarity Brushes, blueprints 3 (MFT)

 

I am also entering:

1.  Lemon Shortbread challenge #33 is anything goes. 

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

3.  Stamps & Fun =Creativity has an anything goes challenge.

 

    

 

 

 

He is Risen

 

Hello Blogger friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with the Charmed Life Blog. I am doing a quick post before Sunday service.

 

Today is Easter Sunday and a day of celebration in the Christian world. Scripture says that death and the grave couldn't hold Jesus down. It's the reason as Christians we have hope. My card for today expresses that hope. He is risen.

 

Karen was our hostess and she chose blackberry bliss, blushing bride and mint macaron. Optional this week is to use a die cut. I love using die cuts on my cards.

 

mint macaron, blushing bride, blackberry bliss

 

For this sample, I used the Taylored Expressions die "stained glass cross". I cut it 3x in the challenge colors and used blackberry bliss panel for the cross frame. I took the other colors and created my stained glass. It was a bit tedious with all the inlaying, but I liked how it turned out. In fact, I made 2 of these cards.  

I die cut the "He is risen" word in mint macaron and then again in blackberry bliss and did a slight offset. This die is from Frantic Stamper. Added it onto a panel of shimmery vellum to complete my card.

Well Blogger friends it's time to close my post and get ready for church. Hope your day is a blessed one.

card details:
Paper: very vanilla, blackberry bliss, pink pirouette, mint macaron, shimmery vellum 
Paper Size: A2 
Accessories: stained glass cross cutting plate (Taylored Expressions), He is risen die (Frantic Stamper

He is Risen

 

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with the Charmed Life Blog. We had such a beautiful day here in Pittsburgh. Our temps were like what we normally have in May and this is March 8. The weather people are saying this happens in a El Nino year.

 

Don't know about all of that I suppose we take their word for it, but it just seems way to early in the year for weather like this. My hubby planted lettuce today. He is so excited to be out in his garden working again.

 

We were able to take the pre-school kids out today for about 20 minutes of playtime. They love going outside and letting off some energy. All in all they were very good today and tired at the end of the 2 hour class.

 

Since it's Dr Seuss month we read the Foot Book and then did a foot project. We traced their feet and cut them out. they colored them and added sequins for their toenails. Such a cute project and the kids just love art stuff. I can't believe that in 2 months our year with them will be over.

 

Anyway, let's move onto my card for today. This one I made for the current color challenge #573 on Splitcoaststampers. I am the hostess and we are having a bingo game this week. Check it out and there maybe something hidden in the game. Just sayin'.

 

 

 

I chose the left vertical row of strawberry slush, smoky slate, mossy meadow and pear pizzazz. Optional is anything goes this week and I am using die cuts.

I thought these colors would make a lovely Easter card. So that's the direction I took.

I started my card by cutting the large background die. Used the quatrefoil cutting plate from Taylored Expressions and cut in whisper white. Layered that over a piece of strawberry slush cardstock.

My next step was my flowers. I used a tiger lily stamp from The Rubber Café. I colored with prismacolor pencils and gamsol.
Layered them around a circle with some leaves cut with a Stampin'-Up die in pear pizzazz cardstock.

I just purchased this He is Risen die from The Frantic Stamper and I think it works well with the lilies. I cut it in mossy meadow card stock to complete my card. The card layout  I used is a Viva la Verve sketch from January.

 

 

Well that's it for me for today Blogger Friends, So until next time.........God bless.

 

card details:
Stamps: Tiger Lily (The Rubber Cafe) 

Paper: smoky slate, whisper white, strawberry slush, mossy meadow, pear pizzazz 

Paper Size: A2 

Accessories: quatrefoil die (Taylored Expressions), He is risen die (Frantic Stamper), secret garden framelits (Stampin'-Up), blueprints 3 die (MFT), butterfly punch (Martha Stewart), Prismacolor pencils and gamsol  
I am also entering:

1.  Deep Ocean Challenge Blog has an Easter Challenge.

2.  Crafting From The Heart has an anything goes challenge.

3   Where the HeArt... is has an Easter Challenge

Valentine love you a latte

 

Hello Blogger Friends. Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with the Charmed Life Blog. Hope your weekend was a great one and in particular Valentine's Day.

 

We did something different this year. Instead of going out to dinner, I decided to make a special meal for my hubby here at home. He was really pleased with the Valentine meal that I served us.

 

I started us off with appetizers an a glass of Asti Spumonte. My hubby isn't a wine drinker but he does like the taste of Asti. Maybe because its sweet and bubbly (lol)!! The appetizers were simple just some Brie cheese, crackers and gourmet specialty olives. Our local Market District is kind of like a Whole Foods store and they have an olive bar with the most delicious olives.

 

For dinner I made my version of surf n turf. The surf part was a shrimp linguine that really had a lot of flavor with garlic and lemon zest. I tossed it with some fresh grated parmesan cheese. for the turf part, I grilled some strip steaks and served them with a blue cheese butter.

 

Then for dessert, we had some strawberries dipped in milk chocolate with mascarpone and another glass of Asti Spumonte. The strawberries were so delicious. I found them at our Market District store. So all in all our day was a special one for us. I even received a dozen of long stemmed roses. They are a beautiful dark peach shade.

 

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for a friend of mine to give to his wife for Valentine's Day. She loves coffee so it was perfect for her.

 

My stamps and dies are from Taylored Expressions - the pizza my heart" collection. I stamped and die cut the mug on white paper to start. Then I stamped again in the pool party and basic gray shades so I could do some paper piecing.  

 

The little faces are a part of another stamp from this set so I decided to use it on the coffee cups. I thought they looked super cute. I cut the pool party background panel with a stitched die from MFT. It just added a little interest to this panel. My background embossing is done with an embossing folder from Darice on basic gray cardstock.

 

I finished this card with some die cut hearts cut from red glitter paper. It added just a touch of bling to complete the card. Well that's it for me for today. So until next time..........God bless.

 

card details:

stamps: pizza my heart (Taylored Expressions)

paper: real red, pool party, basic gray, whisper white (Stampin'-Up), red glitter paper (American Crafts)

Ink: tuxed black (Memento)

Accessories: pizza my heart dies (Taylored Expressions), Blueprints 15 (MFT), hearts ef (Darice)

 

I am also entering:

1.  Addicted To Stamps has a die cut challenge.

2.  Come And Get It Challenge has a love is in the air.

3.  Crafting When We Can has a add hearts challenge.

4.  Glitter 'n Sparkle has a love is in the air challenge.

5.  One Stitch At A Time has a love is in the air challenge.

We Go Together

 

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

 

I was thinking this morning how much I have enjoyed having this blog and posting my work to it. I also like being able to share a bit of my life with my blog readers. It's been 6 1/2 years that I have been blogging. Where did those years go?

 

I look back at my work and see how I have grown as a stamper over the years. I have been on several design teams and now I am the design team coordinator of the Splitcoaststampers color challenge.

 

So thank you to my followers and readers who just stop by to have another look at my work. I so appreciate all of the support that I receive from everyone. Love reading your kind comments as well, and they are always welcome.

 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for the Free For All Challenge #311 on Splitcoaststampers. Jeanne was our hostess and she wanted us to create a Valentine card for a guy.

 

I just bought these bacon & egg dies from Taylored Expresssions specifically for making a guy Valentine card. Timing is everything!

I used a kraft, chocolate and red color combo. Thought they would be great guy colors as well. My designer paper is paper from the Canvas Corp that I have had in my stash for awhile.

I cut my heart from a Spellbinder die and added the bacon & egg images. Stamped the first part of my sentiment on the heart with a stamp also from Taylored Expressions. It's her "we go together" set.

I cut a scroll from a Verve die and added the remainder of my sentiment. Then cut a pennant added some hearts and I have another Valentine finished. This one I will give to my grandson Aidin-he loves bacon and eggs. And he always tells me that I make him the best breakfasts.

 

Well that's it for me for today. So until next time.........God bless.

 

card details:

Stamps: we go together (Taylored Expressions) 

Paper: kraft, real red, ww, soft suede, brown sugar (Stampin'-Up), chocolate dots (Canvas Corp) Ink: tuxedo black, (Memento), real red (Stampin'-Up) 

Accessories: classic hearts (Spellbinders), scroll & pennant trim die (Verve), bacon & egg die (taylored Expressions), love you die (Impression Obsession)   

We Go Together

 

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog on this last Saturday of January 2016.

 

Today I had my stamp group over for a day of crafting. There were only 3 of us but it was a fun day of talking, eating and working on our own projects. I made some beef stew for lunch and served it with cornbread.

 

One of the women brought some fabulous pastries from a favorite Italian Bakery in the Pittsburgh. Moio's has some fabulous desserts. There were some left and my husband even got to enjoy one for dessert.

 

I was working on some Christmas cards. Didn't complete anything but I have about 8 in the works. It's a head start for Christmas 2016. I am determined not to be stressing come December (lol)! So I will see how my plan works out.

 

Now onto today's card. This is another that I made for the color challenge #567 on Splitcoaststampers. I was the hostess and I chose strawberry slush, mint macaron and early espresso for my color trio. Optional this week is to make a Valentine using these non-traditional colors.

strawberry slush, mint macaron, early espresso

 I went with the Valentine option and I am using some new to me dies and stamps I just purchased from Taylored Expressions.

My background hearts are cut with the blooming hearts die. I used early espresso and replaced the espresso hearts with strawberry slush and mint macaron hearts. Layered this over very vanilla cardstock and my base is strawberry slush.

My cute images are from the "little bits - pb & j" dies. I cut the peanut butter from kraft cardstock and the jelly from strawberry slush. The sentiment is from the "we go together" stamp set and stamped on mint macaron card stock.

 

That's my card for today. It's late and time to dim the lights in Charmed Life Land for another day. So until next time.......God bless.

 

card details:

Stamps: pizza my heart, we go together (Taylored Expressions) 

Paper: strawberry slush, mint macaron, early espresso, very vanilla, kraft (Stampin'-Up) 

Paper Size: A2 Ink: early espresso 

Accessories: blooming hearts cutting plate, pizza my heart dies (Taylored Expressions), pierced rectangle stax (MFT)  

 

I am also entering: 

1.  Fantasy Stampers Challenge Blog has a love is in he air challenge.