Paper Hugs

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

My CA kids just finished up their visit here in Pittsburgh. It was a wonderful family time. We had our family reunion on June 22 with 50 in attendance. That was also a great family time. 

Then last night we were at our Pittsburgh son's home for a family dinner. My daughter-in-law is a fabulous cook and she served Greek grilled chicken thighs, zucchini tian w/rice. I brought a Greek salad and appetizers of hummus, baba ghanoush, stuffed grape leaves and pita bread. There is a great Lebanese grocery near my home where I bought the apps. 

We just took the CA kids to the airport to send them back to CA. I am planning a trip out there in October and then they come back here for Christmas. So, in the next 6 months I will get to see them twice.  

Now onto my card for today. This one I made using the colors from the Splitcoaststampers color challenge #1005. We were to use petal pink, flirty flamingo and old olive for the color trio. Optional was to add butterflies. 

petal pink, flirty flamingo, old olive

I needed a card of encouragement for a friend who is going through a rough time right now. So, I thought I would send her some paper hugs. I tried a new to me technique called a braided card. Here is a link to see how it's done + a template to cut the braid.

My braided card base is in the petal pink. I used the Folk Art Flower Pot die from CottageCutz for my image and the Hugs w/Shadow die for the sentiment.

To finish off my card I added a few butterflies and some flirty flaming enamel dots. Well, that's it for me for this post. So, until next time.......God bless.

Card Details:

Paper: Petal Pink, Flirty Flamingo, Old Olive, White, Brights DSP (Stampin'Up)

Paper Size: A2

Accessories: Folk Art Flower Pot, Hugs w/Shadow dies (CottageCutz), Butterfly Punch (Martha Stewart), Rainbow adhesive dots (Stampin' Up)

Techniques: Braided Card

I am also entering:

1.  Path of Positivity is anything goes w/option of power of words.

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

3.  Creative Fingers has a fabulous florals challenge.

4.  Allsorts challenge has a blooms, bees or butterflies challenge.

5.  Polkadoodles has an anything goes challenge.    

Thanks For Your Hospitality

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with The Charmed Life Blog this first Sunday in March. 

It's a beautiful Spring like day here with temps hovering around 64°. We just came back from a 2-mile walk and I thought I would get a Blog post in before it's time to start dinner. I am planning on a salmon dish I made before. It's really delicious and here is a link to Pinterest if you are interested in the recipe.  

I am still having trouble with my FeedBlitz account and this has been going on since October. Customer service has once again escalated to their billing department so I will just have to wait and see what happens.

Now onto my card for today. This one I made as a thank you to send to my neighbor who invited us down to their Florida home for a week's stay. It was a wonderful week of sunshine and warm temps.

I tried a technique I have seen on Pinterest and YouTube. It's called the Fractured Card technique. It's a fun and easy technique. I followed this YouTube video from Lisa Curcio. She gives the measurements to use for each cardstock and designer paper piece you need for this card. Here is the link. 

I used the colors from the Splitcoaststampers color challenge #988. The colors were blueberry bushel and white. Optional was anything goes. I chose to use green for a 3rd color.

The designer paper is from the Stampin' Up "berry delightful" collection. The blueberry images are from the "berry blessings" stamp set. It's a 2-step stamp set, and I think it gave the blueberries a watercolor look. My neighbor does water coloring so she will like this card. 

The sentiment is also Stampin' Up - it's from the Paper Pumpkin "Welcome Inn" kit from June 2023. 

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

Card Details:

Stamps: berry blessings, Welcome Inn (Stampin' Up)

Paper: blueberry bushel, white, berry delightful dsp (Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: blueberry bushel, night of navy, garden green, granny apple green (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: stitched square die (CottageCutz)

Techniques: Fractured Card

I am also entering:

1.  Die Cut Divas has an anything goes challenge. 

2.  Crafts Galore Encore is anything goes. 

3.  Polkadoodles has an anything goes challenge. 

4.  Creative Fingers has an anything goes challenge. 

5.  C.R.A.F.T. Challenges is female. 

 

Happy New Year

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with The Charmed Life Blog this last Saturday in January. 

It's a damp and cloudy day here in Pittsburgh. Rain is in the forecast for later on today. But the days are getting longer. Sunset is now at 5:30 so it's light until about 5:45. 

I didn't get any craft time in today, but I am getting my craft room straightened out. That is a never-ending job! My plan this winter is to purge what I am not using and get it organized a little better than I have right now. 

So, if you are in the US and would like any designer paper let me know. I am giving it away at no charge and will gladly mail it out to you. It's all Stampin' Up paper. I have so much of it that I have to let some go. 

Now onto my card for today. I made this slimline card for my trainer at the gym and enclosed a gift card to one of his favorite restaurants. I didn't get to see him right before Christmas, so I gave it as a new year and new goals card. 

The colors are from the color challenge #981 on Splitcoaststampers. We were to use balmy blue, highland heather and smoky slate for our color trio. Optional was to make it sparkle.

highland heather, balmy blue, smoky slate

The background paper is a slimline card front from Divinity Designs. It had the perfect colors. I added a couple of snowmen since it is a winter themed scene. Their scarves are cut in the challenge colors. 

I used white glitter paper (2024), balmy blue glitter paper (snowman scarf) and a gray glitter paper (stars) for the sparkle. 

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

Card Details:

Paper: black, highland heather, balmy blue, Balmy blue glitter paper, white, black (Stampin' Up), slimline card fronts (Divinity Design)

Paper Size: 8 1/2" x 3 1/2"

Accessories: snowy village accessories, star dies (CottageCutz), little numbers (MFT)

Techniques: slimline card

I am also entering:

1.  Allsorts has an anything but square or an anything goes. 

2.  Crafty Calendar has an anything goes challenge. 

3.  Polkadoodles has an anything goes challenge. 

4.  C.R.A.F.T. Challenge is winter. 

5.  Crafty Gals Corner challenge is winter fun has an anything goes challenge. 

 

Thankful and Blessed

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

It's another beautiful day here in Pittsburgh - sunshine and very warm. I even had to turn my air conditioner back on. But that will end soon. We have some rainy and cold weather coming over the weekend. 

I am part of a fundraiser tomorrow so I baked today.  We are having a Pittsburgh cookie table. It's quite a tradition at weddings and now even graduation parties. Here is a link to read more about it. I make mini lady locks. They are made with a puff pastry and then filled with a vanilla buttercream. So delicious and a big hit on the cookie table. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for the color challenge #966 on Splitcoaststampers. I was the hostess, and I chose daffodil delight, calypso coral and pumpkin pie for the color trio. Optional was pumpkins or a 4th color or both. I did both options and garden green is my 4th color.

calypso coral, daffodil delight, pumpkin pie

I used the round pumpkin stamp set from The Ton Stamps to create my pumpkins. It's a layering stamp set. I started with daffodil delight for my first layer, pumpkin pie for the 2nd layer, and calypso coral for the 3rd layer.

I cut the pumpkins with the coordinating die and added to the white card base. For the middle pumpkin I used dimensionals to lift it off the base slightly.

Stamped my sentiment using the Fill it in Holiday set also from The Ton Stamps. 

I used a vine die cut in garden green cardstock to place behind the pumpkins. Scattered a few enamel dots to finish off my card. 

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

 Card Details:

Stamps: Round Pumpkins, Fill it in Holiday (The Ton Stamps)

Paper: pumpkin pie, white, garden green (Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: 4 1/2" x 5 3/4"

Ink: daffodil delight, pumpkin pie, calypso coral, garden green (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: Round Pumpkins die (The Ton Stamps), enamel dots (Doodelbug), corner vine die (CottageCutz)

Techniques: 3 step stamping

I am also entering:

1.  Crafty Gals Corner has a signs of Fall challenge. 

2.  Little Red Wagon has a Fall colors challenge. 

3.  The Paper Funday has an anything goes w/optional use yellow, orange & green. 

4.  I Spy with my Little Eye has a something from the farm challenge. 

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

Nativity Screen Divider Card

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

Hope you all had a great weekend and did something fun. I celebrated my birthday on Saturday. My hubby took me out to dinner at one of our local restaurants. I enjoyed a delicious pasta with grilled salmon in a creole sauce.  

And then we went to one of our favorite ice cream parlors and had a sundae. The parlor is part of a local chocolate factory, and the chocolate is incredible. The ice cream is covered with their warm milk chocolate. Can you say delicious! Back to watching calories now (LOL)!!!

Let's move onto my card for today. I have another fun fold card and this one is a screen divider card. I thought this fold and dies I used tell the Christmas story across the four panels. So, let's get started with some details of how I created my card.

Design Steps:
I started this card by getting the screen divider cut and scored. The red panel measures 5 1/2" x 11" and is scored at 2 3/4", 5 1/2", 8 1/4". I put a pencil mark at 1 3/8" on the first panel. This is the center of each panel and where I will place my punch to cut the base of the screen card.

There is a notch on the punch that I aligned with the pencil mark I made. I will make this same punch across each panel.

I folded the first punched panel back on itself to use as my guide for cutting. I forgot to take a photo of this in the red cardstock. I was going to use blue cardstock originally and then changed my mind. 

I used this same method to cut the other 2 panels. It made lining up the cuts so much easier using this method.

Next, I cut the image panels. I found this starry night designer paper in my collection and decided to use it as the backdrop for my Nativity images.

white layering panel: 2 5/8" x 4 7/8"
designer paper layer: 2 1/2" x 4 3/4"

Now for the images I am using. I cut all of them from white cardstock. I like the contrast against the dark blue background.

For the image panel sentiments, I used the Silent Night Forest die. and Joy to the World Tree die (Christmas 2019 collection). I also cut these in white cardstock.

The last panel has a computer-generated sentiment. I cut with the 3rd largest Oval die (2 3/8" x 1 3/8") To complement the sentiment I added a Christmas Star from the Journey to Bethlehem (Christmas 2018) die. I cut in yellow cardstock and added some wink of stella.

Now that the images, sentiments and panels are prepared, I am ready to start card assembly. I attached the images with a combo of dimensional adhesive and clear drying glue.

This is an A2 size card does fold flat for mailing. It fits in the regular size envelope I mail my cards in.

For the back of the card, I added white cardstock to two of the panels and stamped 2 additional sentiments. Scattered a couple of red glitter enamel dots and this card is finished. 

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

Dies I used to create card:

I am also entering:

1.  The Holly and Ivy Christmas  #124 challenge is anything goes.

2.  Peace on Earth Christmas is anything goes. My joy to the world fits the pillow on the board. 

3.  CHNC challenge #112 is anything goes Christmas. 

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

5.  Aud Sentiments is Christmas + a sentiment. 

  

Faith over Fear

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

It's such a beautiful late summer day here in Pittsburgh. Next week is the official start of the fall season. Although the past few nights have been really cool. Hopefully we will still have warm sunny days because we have lots of tomatoes that need to ripen yet. 

My card for today is featuring a triangle easel fun fold design. Here is a link to a YouTube video to see how it's made. 

I am also guest designing on the Creative Creases Blog. It's an anything goes challenge using a fun fold design. I was so honored to be asked to guest design with them.

For my card. I used the colors from the Splitcoaststampers color challenge #911. We were to use soft succulent, sweet sorbet amd flirty flamingo for our color trio.  

Soft Seafoam, Flirty Flamingo, Sweet Sorbet

A friend asked me to make a card for her friend who is battling breast cancer. So, I thought I would try to make one with this week's colors.

My card is emphasizing the flirty flamingo color but I did get all 3 of them in. I used the Baseball Cap die from CottageCutz and cut it from Stampin' Up designer paper. For the ribbon on the cap, I used the Hope die also from CottageCutz.

The designer paper on the card front is from the Stampin' Up "Pattern Party" collection. It is featuring the flirty flamingo color. To allow the card to stand up, I used the Hope die again and the ribbon symbol is the anchor. I attached this to soft seafoam cardstock.

The sentiment on the card front is stamped in watermelon wonder ink- sub for sweet sorbet. The sentiment is from the Stampin' Up "charming sentiments" stamp set. Debbie from The Secrets to  Stamping hosts this challenge and you can purchase it from her online store. 

I finished off my card by adding a few flirty flamingo enamel dots.

Well, that's it for me for this post. I hope you can join us over at the Creative Creases Blog for this new challenge. So, until next time ......God bless

Stamps: charming sentiments (Stampin' Up)

Paper: flirty flamingo, soft seafoam, basic white, pattern party dsp (Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: watermelon wonder

Accessories: baseball cap, hope dies (CottageCutz), flirty flamingo enamel dots (Stampin' Up)

Techniques: fun fold, twisted easel

Fun Fold Golf Birthday Card

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with The Charmed Life Blog this last Saturday of August. 

It's harvest time here at the Marsh household.  I was in my kitchen all day on Thursday. We had another harvest of basil and I made pesto and put it in the freezer for wintertime enjoyment. We also had another harvest of banana peppers. I like to stuff those with a combo of hot and sweet sausage and freeze them as well. I shared a panful of these with a friend who came to visit on Thursday night. He was so grateful since banana peppers are his favorite. 

Today I will roast some tomatoes. Our big harvest on those hasn't come in yet. When it does, I will be in the kitchen for days preparing those. It's a time of year I do enjoy as I see the work of my hubby's hands be used for food for us. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for my weekly DT post on the CottageCutz Blog.  My card today is featuring the new Golfer Silhouette, Putting Green, Golf Cart  and Golf Bag & Clubs dies. I made this for my hubby's friend. He has a September birthday and is also an avid golfer. So, let's get started with some details of how I created my card.

Design Steps:
I love trying different fun fold techniques. I ran across this one while perusing Pinterest one night. You know how that can be! I thought the fold would be great to show off some of the golf dies.

I started by selecting my card colors and designer papers. I decided on these ones that had a masculine appeal and also the one pattern looked like trendy golf balls. At least that's what I thought (LOL)!!!

Here is a diagram of the cardstock size and where it's to be scored.

Fold both these panels into the center and burnish on the folds. Added a piece of white cardstock measuring 4 1/8" x 5 3/8" to inside of card. This will be decorated as well.

Next, I cut the designer paper for the front panels. On the lower panel I used the striped paper and cut it at 2" x 4". The top panel I used the "golf ball" paper and I cut it at 3" x 4".

For my image panel I used the 2nd largest (2 1/2" x 3 1/2") Stitched Rectangle Die and cut it in red cardstock. I used the 3rd largest (2 1/4" x 3 1/4") Rectangle Die and cut in white cardstock. I stenciled some clouds and added some grass using the Spring Grass die. It's an older die but still available.
I cut my golfer silhouette in navy blue cardstock and used dimensional adhesive to secure to card. On the image panel, only use adhesive to the top part of the panel to allow the card to open.

Now to the card inside, I used the Putting Green & Golf Bag & Clubs dies. I stamped the sentiment in navy ink to complete this part of the card.

Normally I don't do anything to an envelope, but I am not mailing this card. It will be hand delivered. I already had the golf card die cut and it didn't work on the inside of the card. So, I decided to use it on the envelope and also added the word phrase "par". It was cut from the Stitched Alphabet die.

To complete the front of my card, I added a "happy birthday" phrase. I stamped on white cardstock and then added blue and red flags for interest. Well, that's it for me for this post. So, until next time......God bless. 

Dies I used to create card:

I am also entering:

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

2.  Daring Cardmakers has an "in the long run" challenge. Golfers hit long shots. 

3.  Cardz 4 Guys has a "use a stencil" challenge. I stenciled some clouds. 

4.  Country View Challenge is birthday. 

5.  Craftyhazelnuts Patterned Paper Challenge is anything goes.