thank you

Happy Monday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. We had such a beautiful day here in Pittsburgh. The temps were mild and I noticed that our tulips are up about 2 inches. My hubby is already thinking about spraying them with something to repel the deer. They love to munch the new growth. He planted lots of new ones last fall so I want to see them produce a flower.

Well, my card for today is one I created for the clean and simple challenge on Splitcoaststampers. I have such trouble with this type of card because I always want to add layers. But, I liked the colors they wanted us to use and I needed a quick thank you card.

I started my card by embossing a Spellbinders labels 4 die. I stamped my dogwood image in rich razzleberry ink.

My image and sentiment are from the dogwood blossoms set by Marks Finest Papers. Of course I needed some ribbon so I took my rich razzleberry ribbon and ruched it on the card front. Punched a few butterflies with a Martha Stewart punch to complete my card.

Here a few other challenges for this card:

1.  The crazy challenge has an anything goes. Love those challenges.

2.  The Cutie Pie challenge has a flowers challenge. I stamped a dogwood blossom on my card.

3.  Crafty Catz wants us to use something with a "B". I used some punched butterflies.

Well it's late and time to dim the lights in charmed life land for another day. So until next time .........God bless.

I Do

Happy Sunday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog.
I am busy working on completing the wedding invitations for Kendra & Aaron.
Time is ticking away and she wants to get them in the mail in the next week.
I ran into a few snags when I tried to stamp on copper metallic paper with brown ink. I found out that brown ink on copper metallic paper doesn't always turn out the color you think it will. And, depending on the ink it doesn't always stamp evenly.


But, with the help of my Paper Doll friends I was able to figure out what to do to move on. I have to emboss on this part.
It's an extra step but when I did it, I was really pleased with the look. I am stamping the couple's name on the front of the invitation. Kendra had a stamp made with their names on it.
 
I will post the invite on my blog when it's finished, I promise. I also have to get her shower invite posted as well. I just haven't had the time to get a picture of it. But that is coming as well. Along with an account of the beautiful afternoon tea that was held for her.
 
My card for today is one I made awhile ago , but never posted on my blog. It's a wedding card and I made it to be a clean and simple design. I gave it to a young couple from church who recently married.
 
The white background is embossed with the fleur de lis cuttlebug folder. I also used a  EK Success fleur de lis border punch. As a side note, I used this punch 3 times and then it stopped working. I tried aluminum foil, wax paper and even put it in the freezer for 5-10 minutes. Nothing worked so I contacted EK Success and they were very gracious to offer to replace it. That is definitely customer service.
 
My sentiment is from Studio G. I found it in Michael's $1 bin. I used Stampin-Up oval punches to frame the sentiment. Added some white ribbon and that completed my card.
 
Time to go- it's back to work on the wedding invitations.
 
God Bless!!
 
card recipe:
stamps: studio g
paper: gina k pure luxury, su black
ink: versafine onyx black
accessories: cb ef, ek success border punch, ribbon, su oval punches

America

Happy Monday and thanks or taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. It was a great week-end weather wise here in Pittsburgh.

On Sunday we had a Memorial Day tribute at church. I had the privilege of praying for the veterans. It really was a moving event. This is a day of remembrance and the bible admonishes us to " remember the former things, those of long ago" (Isaiah 46:9.)

Sunday afternoon we had 2 couples over for a cook-out. Such a relaxing time-good food-good friends. It was too humid to eat out on the deck but early evening it cooled down and out we went.

Today, we had my husband's family out for another cook-out. Again, it was too hot to eat out on the deck and then it started raining so that took care of any outdoor activity.

I did get to make a card early in the day. It covered 3 challenges.

1.  The clean & simple design challenge on splitcoaststampers was to make a card honoring someone who served in the military or some other hero. I chose to make a patriotic card for our friend who served in the military, and it is also his birthday on May 31. I can't believe I forgot. Originally, I was going to hand deliver the card today along with a little gift. Time got away from me so I will have to deliver it tomorrow (Tuesday).

2.  Sharon Johnson from the no time to stamp blog had a challenge to make a card with the colors of your country's flag.  Red, white and blue are the colors of the day.

3.  The StampinB design blog also had a challenge to make a patriotic card.

I used some creative imaginations designer paper and punched out my stars. The paper also had the word "America" on it. I cut it out and layered it on red cardstock.

Added some rick rack and a star button from the "dress it up" line. That completed my card and allowed me plenty of time to get ready for my guests.

Well, it's time to dim the lights in charmed life land for today. Until next time......

mackinac island inspiration

Happy Monday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog.
And yes, it was another beautiful spring day here in the 'Burgh.

All of our tulips are up and the late bloomers are getting ready to open.
I can't take any credit, my husband has done all the work. The yard is his creative outlet.
He has flowers blooming from early spring through late fall.  I just walk around the yard and admire everything.

My card for today was made for the clean & simple challenge on splitcoaststampers.
This week it was an inspiration challenge and postcards from Mackinac Island in Michigan is what we were to use for our creations.

The postcards were all so pretty and provided lots of inspiration. I chose this scene with a beautiful lilac tree as my inspiration.

Since I don't have any lilac stamps I decided to use my season of friendship set and make my flowers lilac colored. I stamped the tree and added some leaves. The flowers were stamped, cut out and popped up for dimension.
I thought they looked like individual lilac flowers. My background is the clouds designer paper from paper pizzaz. I cut my hill from stampin-up's tall tales designer pack. I added buttons to complete the card.
Well, my friends it's time to turn out the lights in charmed life land for another day. So until next time.....

card recipe:
stamps: season of friendship
paper: gina k white, paper pizzaz, tall tales dsp
ink: lovely lilac, memento rich cocoa, old olive
accessories: playground designer buttons

lilacs in central park

Happy Monday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. I took my husband to the furniture stores today to look at what I had picked out a few days ago.

We made a few changes to my original selections with the help of the store decorator. I wasn't happy at first but I quickly came around. He thought I went a little too formal for a family room. Which is what we were trying to get away from in the first place. He does live here also (lol)!!

I picked out some recliners for around the fireplace that were not what he had in mind. He was thinking of a recliner that he could fall asleep in and just relax reading a book etc. So we went with leather. At first I thought too masculine looking, but they will look great with our new sectional sofa.

He really liked the sofa I chose. We made a change to the ottoman-I am using that in front of the sofa. We went with leather on this as well.

We also changed the sofa table because the one I originally picked wasn't working with our new selections. I love the new one. It has a slate top and will look great in the room. We held off on the purchase of the accent chair. The decorator advised us to set up what we purchased and then come back for the chair.

I am okay with that idea also.

So now we have to get the painter in to paint the room We have 3 weeks until the new furniture is delivered. The sofa has striped pillows on it so I am going to pull my colors from there. When this is done I will take pictures and post them on the blog.

Now onto my card for today. I made this one for the clean and simple challenge on splitcoaststampers. This week it was an inspiration challenge with the theme being New York City.

I was stumped for a bit and thought maybe I wouldn't participate.

Then I did a google search for flowers in Central Park. There are lilacs there. I didn't have a lilac stamp, but not to worry.

I had these great k& co embossed paper stickers. So that's how I made this card. It was a quick one for sure.

I used lilac and celery paper. Put the sticker on white and added some celery rick rack. Card done in about 10 minutes. I have never done a card in 10 minutes (lol)!!

I can use this for Easter and stamp my sentiment near the bottom left. I haven't done any Easter cards as yet. Time to get moving!!

Well it's time to dim the lights in charmed life land for today.

But, before I sign off, I wanted to ask all of you to pray for my friend Linda. She will be having a heart catherization soon. She will appreciate all the prayers.

card recipe:

paper: su celery, lilac, white

accessories: brenda walton embossed sticker (k & co), am crafts rick rack

happy christmas

happy tuesday to all who are visiting the charmed life blog today.

we are having some great fall weather in pittsburgh. lots of sunshine and warm afternoon temps. I am enjoying it while its here. we don't get a lot of sunny days in the winter.

this coming week-end we make the time change back to standard time so it will be getting dark just a little after 6:00.

so enough weather and long winter nights talk and onto my card for today.

Splitcoaststampers had the clean & simple challenge today. we were to use brads or eyelets.

this card is made with the wandering words stamp set and stamped with night of navy.

the snowflake image was done with gold shimmer paint applied right to the stamp. the brad covers the monday challenge

the entire card is sprayed with the shimmer paint.

this new stamp set has a thanksgiving sentiment and one for valentines day. it's in the stampin-up holiday mini catalog.

I have a great stampin-up demo so if you are looking to buy anything, let me know and I will put her in contact with you. she doesn't have a blog.

that's all for today. thanks for coming by to look. if you would like an email directly to your inbox when I post, subscribe to my blog. it's free!!

card recipe:

stamps: wandering words

paper: su night of navy, vanilla, gold

ink: night of navy

accessories, shimmer paint, brad, circle punch

cas sympathy card

happy monday to all the visitors to the charmed life blog. it was a beautiful, sunny, fall day here in pittsburgh.

we had a killer frost overnight and now all the zinnias are gone. I cut about 10 flowers sunday afternoon which was a good thing. I have them in a vase to enjoy for the next several days anyway.

my husband was busy turning over the flower beds to plant his tulips for next year. he does such a beautiful job with our yard and I get to enjoy all the flowers.

tonight, we met with the young couple that we are mentoring.

we had dinner together and I prepared 2 new dishes. the main dish was one that rachael ray prepared on her 30 min meal show-spicy sausage meatloaf patties with italian barbecue sauce. If you have ever made one of her recipes, you know its a culinary delight.

the barbecue sauce was made with pancetta-garlic-onions-wine-beef stock-diced tomatoes-worcestershire and hot sauce. my side dish was a butternut squash risotto and that recipe was pulled from a magazine. I just don't know which one

I was very pleased, as were my guests, on how the dinner turned out. I am notorious for making new dishes when guests are coming.

I have both recipes if anyone would a copy let me know, I can email them to you.

now onto my card for today.

on monday's over at splitcoaststampers, they have the clean and simple challenge . this week we were to make a sympathy card.

I used a new stamp set from stampin-up called "kind & caring thoughts". my sentiment is from rubber cottage and I finished it off with a corner embellishment. I used the cuttlebug vintage die to create the corner.

thats it for today. thanks for taking the time to stop.

card recipe:

stamps: kind & caring thoughts

ink: printworks black

paper: su white & black

accessories: cb vintage die

thinking of you

blessings to you on this monday afternoon!! thanks for taking the time to make my blog a part of your day.

my card today is for 2 challenges. the stampin sisters in christ are hosting their 6th challenge. we are to make a card letting someone know that we are thinking of them or praying for them.

a "thinking of you" card is always sure to bring a smile to someone's face.

and, it blesses those who send it as much as those who receive it!

the bible tells us that we are to laugh with our happy friends when they're happy; and share tears when they're down. so this card can go either way. I will place it in my stash for an opportune moment to send it.

it is also clean and simple card day (limited layers and embellishments) over at splitcoaststampers. our challenge there is to use shades of pink, green, blue & (chocolate optional) + white or cream.

I used stampin-up porcelain prints designer to cover the green, flower fusion too in shades of pink and brown and added a blue pearl center.

thanks for stopping by and remember to leave me a comment. it's so nice to hear from my visitors.

card recipe:

stamps: sincere salutations

paper: gina k white, su wild wasabi, porcelain prints dsp

ink: memento rich cocoa

accessories: flower fusion too, pearl