~Calvary Crosses~

Happy Saturday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. I am back home after a few days taking care of my grandsons. Loved the time spent with them.
 It's going to be a beautiful week-end weather-wise here in Pittsburgh. The sun is shining and the temps are going to be warm,warm,warm!!!! Yay - good-bye to cold, dreary weather for now anyway.

Yesterday was our last fish fry of the year at our church. It was busy and a long work day for us in the kitchen. But, it's been fun these last 5 weeks. My shrimp and crab chowder sold out again. I received so many compliments. That always makes me feel good because its a lot of work. But, to know that people appreciate the work behind it all is great.

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for the color challenge #473 on Splitcoaststampers. Vicki was our hostess and shose the color combo of pool party, so saffron and sahara sand.  

I started my card by sponging the background in a sunshine pattern with wild honey distressed ink on white cardstock. I followed this tutorial by Gina K found on the StampTV site.
But basically I used a scrap piece of cardstock and sponged along the edge and kept moving the cardstock until I covered my background and achieved the sunburst look.

My crosses are Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps die and I cut those in soft suede (my other neutral this week) and then used a TIm Holtz embossing folder to add some texture. I used a PTI die for my hill and I cut that in soft suede designer paper.

Clouds are from an MFT die and the stamped sentiment is from Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps.

I used a Memory Box “wildflower die” for the flowers around the crosses. I cut with Sahara Sand designer paper for the flower stems and then cut again with pool party card stock for the actual
flowers.

That's my card for today. So until next time...........God bless.

I am also entering:
1.  Alphabet Challenge is "E" for Easter.
2.  Crafts 4 Eternity has an Easter challenge.
3.  Cut It Up has an Easter challenge-using die-cuts.
4.  JellyPark has an Easter challenge.
5.  Moving Along with the Times has an Easter/Spring challenge.

Celebrate America

 

 

 

Happy 4th of July and welcome to the Charmed Life Blog. This is a day of celebrating, parades, picnics and fireworks in most towns across America.

 

We will be spending the day with our grandsons and then going to a fireworks display at night. My hubby loves fireworks. So we don't miss going. Hope your celebration is a joyous one.

 

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for the color challenge #433 on Splitcoaststampers. Kim was our hostess and she chose red, white and blue with a patriotic theme. I love making patriotic cards. So this one went together easily for me.

 

For this card, I chose my layout and then my papers. I am using this week’s MojoMonday sketch #300.

 

The patterned papers are from Michael’s recollections papers. I had them in my stash from last year.

I used a Cuttlebug stars embossing folder on my card base. For my pennant I stamped the fireworks with the Great Impressions Stamps –“fireworks & stars G303” in real red and night of navy.

I made a rosette with the Tim Holtz mini rosette die from patterned paper. I used the Stampin-Up star punch for the large star and an EK success punch for the smaller stars.

My sentiment panel is using “patriotic cocoa” set from Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps. Well, it's time to close this post so until next time.........God bless.

 

I am also entering:

1.  Simon Says Stamp has a patriotic challenge. 

2.  Crafting By Designs wants us to use our country's colors.

3.  Inky Impressions Challenge Blog has a red, white and blue challenge.

4.  Pollycraft Challenges has a stars and stripes challenge.

5.  Sisterhood of Crafters has a stars and stripes challenge.

6.  The Stamping Chef has a red, white and blue challenge.

7.  Loves Rubber Stamps has an anything goes challenge.

8.  Party Time Tuesday's Blog has a patriotic challenge.

 

Happy Easter

Happy Saturday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. I was out shopping today with my sister. We went looking for some wall art for my home. I picked up a couple of items and I think they will work in my living room. When I get it up, I will take some photos.

I have another Easter card for today. I usually send 10-15 cards and this is only #2. This one would be an easy one to recreate in different colors.

I made this card for this week’s color challenge #414 on Splitcoaststampers. Peggy is our hostess and she chose a great trio of colors with certainly celery, crumb cake and chocolate chip.

For my card I used the “Jesus paid it all” stamp set and coordinating Calvary die from Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps. I decided to make a little scene on my Easter card. My crosses I cut with chocolate chip cardstock.

I added some grass cut from certainly celery cardstock with an MFT grass die. Added some wildflowers cut with the Memory Box “wildflower patch” die from certainly celery and white cardstock.

I cut & embossed some clouds with another MFT die and stamped my sentiments on them. My background designer paper is from Stampin-Up’s “elegant soiree” collection.
It was cut & embossed with the Spellbinders Matting Basics A & B dies.

This is also for the Splitcoaststampers LoveFest2013E challenge. Jana is the hostess and she wants us to use at least one die. I used 5 of them on this card.

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

Some other challenges:
1.  Crafty Catz has a dies and punches challenge.
2.  WordArt Wednesday has an anything goes challenge.
3.  Twist of Faith Card Challenges wants us to use spring colors and a scripture or uplifting verse.

You Are Such A Blessing

Happy Wednesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. It's a snowy, blustery day here in Pittsburgh.
This would be the ideal time to be in some place tropical and relaxing on the beach. But, since I am not there, I am sipping on some warm tea & honey and crafting (lol)!!.

And, some good news is that the days are getting longer and the vernal equinox is only 28 days away. That's when the day and night are about equal in length. Soon the tulips will be pushing up. Can't wait to see those since hubby planted about 200 of them.

Well enough of the spring day dream and onto my card for today.

Splitcoaststampers is having a LoveFest Challenge. There are prizes to be won so jump over there and check it out. Info Here.

For this challenge, Korin (owner of Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps) provided a sketch for us to use on our cards. 

For this card I used several stamps from Sweet 'n Sassy stamps. On the oval I stamped text from the Christmas Light set in crumb cake ink.
Over that I used the wildflowers set and stamped again in crumb cake ink.

My coral flowers are from the "your friendship" set. I stamped in memento tuxedo black and colored with copic markers.

My background designer paper is from the Canvas Corp. I really like the black & kraft look. The striped designer paper is calypso coral from Stampin-Up. The text on the flags is from the "your friendship" set.

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

Some other challenges:
1.  Crafting By Design has an anything goes challenge.
2.  Crafting For All Seasons has a dies/punches challenge.
3.  Fab 'n Funky has a flower power challenge.
4.  Penny's Paper Crafting has an anything goes challenge.
5.  The Perfect Sentiment Blog has a floral fantasia challenge.

A Special Purpose

Happy Sunday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. Well, another update on my Christmas un-decorating. I have everything taken down in my downstairs and packed away. I have a few things upstairs that need taken down and packed and then I am all finished for another year. Whoo-Hoo!!

We had some very spring-like temps this weekend her in Pittsburgh. It was 65° here today. The tulips will be getting confused if this continues. I even had my windows open and that is so unusual for January. No complaints here though.
Now onto my card for today. This one I made for the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamp challenge on Splitcoaststampers.

Ceal's was our hostess for this 4th challenge and she provided us with a sketch to use. She also wanted us to use long or large text.

I had this long text to use from the SNSS set - "one of a kind".

My card colors are pool party and soft suede. I used older Stampin-Up designer paper from the "autumn spice" collection.

Stamped my sentiment in soft suede, punched some butterflies from the designer paper and my card was done.

I also used Spellbinder A-2 matting basics dies collection to cut my layers. These dies makes it so easy to get an accurate cut without measuring. Well that's it for me today so until next time..........God bless.

Some other challenges:
1.  613 Avenue Create has an anythinggoes challenge.
2.  The Squirrel and the Fox has an anything goes challenge.
3.  Word-Play Saturday challenge has an anything goes challenge.

Weeds Be Wildflowers

Happy Wednesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog.  Well we have the outside decorations taken down and packed away until next Christmas. The wreaths are off the windows and tomorrow I will pack those away.

Next it's the first of my 3 Christmas trees. My husband reminded me that there is no time schedule to get the stuff packed and put away.

I knew that but it just made me feel better to have him remind me. The putting away process is definitely time-consuming and it cuts into my craft time (lol). But a little each day will whittle away at this major task.

I did make time to craft today. I checked out the sketch challenge on Splitcoaststampers for a start. Janette was the hostess there and she had a great layout for us.

For my card I used the SNSS stamp set "wildflowers" and stamped on vanilla cardstock in pretty in pink ink.

My other vanilla panel I used the Cuttlebug embossing folder "stylized flowers" and sponged with pretty-in-pink ink.

My background paper is some BoBunny that I had in my stash. It is black but I guess it looks green on some computer screens. At least that's what some girls on Splitcoaststampers think it is-oh well-no green here just black, vanilla and pink.

The sentiment panel is from the same SNSS set. I used my stamp-a-ma-jig to place the sentiment on this smaller panel.

I die-cut a butterfly from the black designer paper and added a few pearls to complete this card.

Well, it's time to dim the lights in Charmed Life Land for another day so until next time.........God bless.

Some other challenges:
1.  Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps has a color challenge for their January virtual stamp day.
2.  Divas By Design has an anything goes challenge.
3.  Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge has an anything goes.

Friends of Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Blog Hop

For the Ribbon Carousel Blog Hop click here:

Happy Thursday and welcome to the Charmed Life Blog. Today I am celebrating with Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps 5th anniversary. Korin has invited me to be a part of this Friends of Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Blog Hop.

My relationship started with Korin and SNSS back in February of 2011. It was a Tuesday morning and she sent me an email inviting me to be a part of her design team. I still have the email by the way.

Little did she know that I was feeling down because just the day before I had received the news that I did not make the final cut for the Spellbinders design team. I was in the final round of  20 but only 12 made the team. Korin's email put me on cloud 9 and I did not have to think about it very long before I said yes.

It was so exciting working with her for 6 months. She is such an encourager and so supportive of my work. So thank you Korin for a chance to celebrate with you.

There are prizes to be won for joining us in this hop.

~There will be 4 random participants that will win a $15 store credit to SNSS.

~To be included in the drawings, comments must be left by midnight EST Friday, November 30th.

~The winners will be announced on the SNSS Blog on December 1st at 8am EST

For my card today I used the Christmas Light set, candle die and the Light of Christmas background stamp. I colored my candle with copics and prismacolor pencils.


My designer paper is from BoBunny -the "Father Christmas" collection and also Provo Crafts "winter berries".  The cardstock is Stampin-Up's cherry cobbler, very vanilla and Bazzill ivy.  

The oval dies are Spellbinders floral and small ovals. I sponged the background with some distress inks. An idea that I borrowed from Cathy McCauley.
To complete my card I punched a mini tag and stamped the word "Christmas". It's from the Christmas Light set.
 

The card layout is this weeks Splitcoaststampers sketch #413.

That's it for me so leave a comment for a chance to win and then move to the next blog. The blog hop order is listed below.

The Rose

Happy Friday and thanks for visiting the charmed life blog. Well today I was up and about and actually felt good after 2 days of being down with some sort of virus.
 I went out to run a few errands and after being laid out on my sofa for 2 days it was good to get fresh air. Funny the little things that can make you happy.

Tomorrow at church we are having a women's soup & salad lunch. I was responsible for making one of the soups. I had a young woman from church come over to give me a hand. We mentor her & her husband. So it was good to catch up on everything with her. She is in her final year of nursing school and today just passed a big exam. I was so excited for her.

Well onto my card for today. this one I made for the sketch challenge #369 on Splitcoaststampers. I liked working with this sketch and my card actually came together pretty quickly.

My rose image is from a set by Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps. I colored with prismacolor pencils and gamsol. I cut it out and placed it on the center card panel. I embossed the panel with the "kassie's brocade" cuttlebug folder. I sponged blushing bride ink over the embossing.

My card base is blushing bride and I used Basic Grey's cappella collection paper and the diagonal layer is the same paper using the opposite side. To complete my card I used some Stampin-Up blushing bride pleated ribbon layered over May Arts burlap.

Well it's time to close this post to watch our Friday night shows- CSI and Blue Bloods. So until next time ........God bless.

Some other challenges:
1.  My Mum's Craft Shop has a flowers challenge.
2.  Simon Says Stamp has an anything goes challenge.
3.  The Outlawz has a color challenge of peach-green and cream and a twist of adding roses.
4.  Bloggers challenge this week is to texturize your card.

The Rose

Happy Thursday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. Our snow is on the melting path. We had lots of sunshine today and the temps are supposed to rise over the next few days. So snow will be gone until the next storm pushes through.

We went to Aidin's (middle grandson) game tonight. It was on our side of town and since they very rarely play here we had to go. We live south and they live north. They lost the game by 2 points. It was a disappointment but there is always another game-on Saturday as a matter of fact.

For my card today, I decided to create a symbol of summer- "the rose". The "ways to use it challenge" on Splitcoaststampers had an interesting assignment for us today. It is our hostess Michelle's (aka tygerpaws11) birthday and she wanted us to create a card with her favorite elements or we could use our own favorites.

I didn't have a lot of time today because I had a dentist appointment this morning and then a hair appointment shortly after that. So my card is more on the clean and simple side. Something that I don't do very often but I like how this one turned out.

Some of my favorite elements include: dry embossing, ribbon and spellbinder dies.  I am also sharing this rose. I love roses and can't wait until they are back in bloom again in our gardens.

The rose image is from a set by Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps. I colored the rose with copic markers and the leaves and stem with prismacolor pencils and gamsol. I am still on the learning curve with copics but it's one of my goals for this year.

I used a cuttlebug folder for my white background and a Spellbinder oval die to frame the rose. To complete my card I added 2 different red ribbons and a white ribbon rose for the bow center.

That's my card for today. Thanks for coming by to see what's up in charmed life land. So until next time........

Some other challenges:
1.  The Outlawz "twisted Thursday challenge" is to use punches and diecuts. We can use primsacolor pencils and copics for this one. My image is right in the guidelines-50 % markers-50% pencils.

Merry Christmas

Happy Sunday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. The countdown to Christmas continues and today we are at 7 days. 

Don't know how your preparations are going but mine are running behind.  I haven't started to wrap any of my gifts as yet. And, I do special wraps on each gift. So probably Tuesday will be the start of a marathon day of gift wrapping.

I sort of have my menus for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day worked out so I will have to make my shopping list for the grocery store. I will probably do that on Friday morning. The rest of the week will be cleaning and finishing up other tasks. So maybe I am not so behind. Glad I talked this out I just made myself feel better (lol)!!

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for the inspiration challenge on Splitcoastampers. Anne was our hostess and she sent us to the "at west end" site. It is a great site with lots of rustic and recycled items.

I chose the "red mercury glass votives" as my inspiration to create a card. The cranberry striped paper I thought was a good match for the color of the votives. And my candle image is in keeping with the votive.

My image & sentiment are from the stamp set "Christmas light" from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps. It has a matching die so the cutting out of the image is super easy. I used the Cheery Lynn die 'deco border light" and a Spellbinder "lacy circle" for my candle image.

Well, it's time to close this post and dim the light in charmed life land for another day..........

Some other challenges:

1.  Craftyhazlenut's Christmas Challenge #51 has an "anything goes".

2.  Just Us Girls has a color challenge. We are to use red, olive and white or kraft. I stamped my image on white cardstock before coloring with prismacolor pencils.

3.  Speedy the cat's friends challenge wants us to make a Christmas card.

 

 

Christmas Candle

Happy Tuesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. I am knee deep in Christmas as is everyone I suppose. I am still making Christmas cards even after I said I wouldn't be so late this year. My problem is I don't do a clean & simple design. I thought I had one the other day and it still took me all day to make 10 cards.

I have another idea for one that I will try today.  I may be able to mass produce this one easily. We will see.
I also have a cookie exchange that I am going to tonight. It should be fun. Its with the younger women in our church. They invited me-probably because I am part of the leadership so I am going. They are making some good cookies. I will bring my signature Christmas cookie-a mini lady lock. I fill them with french vanilla butter creme.

Anyway onto my card for today. This one I made for the color challenge #352  on Splitcoaststampers.

Karen is our hostess and she chose a great Christmas color trio- wild wasabi, real red and vanilla.

My candle image is from the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps set “Christmas light” and the background text is from the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps  set “light of Christmas”.


The text on my candle is from an unmounted stamp that I bought but I don’t have a name. The idea to stamp the text on the candle came from  Christmas banners in our church. They have a candle image and the names of Jesus (IE.) Shepherd, Ruler, Redeemer and Savior.

The candle image is colored with prismacolor pencils and gamsol and then cut with the die from this set. I used glossy accents on the berries and the candle wax. The text is stamped in wild wasabi ink.

I punched a layer to use over my text. Its done with the fiskars holly border punch.
My layout is one that I have used before. In fact I copied myself  from this card.

Well time to close this post. So until next time God bless..........

Some other challenges:
1.  The Ribbon Girl blog has a "jingle all the way to Christmas" challenge.
2.  2 Sisters Challenge blog wants us to use punches/dies. I used both on my card.
3.  So Artful challenges has a "tis the season". I used red and green.
4.  Daring Cardmakers has a December flower challenge-either Holly or Narcissus.
5.   Raise the Bar has a "it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas challenge.
6.  Tuesday Throwdown has a "celebrate the season" challenge.

SNSS Birthday Blop Hop

Hello and welcome to the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps birthday blog hop. Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps is so excited to be celebrating 4 wonderful years.

I have had the amazing opportunity of being on the design team for the past 6 months. I truly enjoyed my experience with Korin and the rest of the Sweet 'n Sassy Team. Even though my design term has come to an end, I was thrilled to be asked to be a part of this birthday blog hop.

A fantastic group of Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps design team members past and present, along with some special friends, have put together this fabulous Birthday Blog Hop to kick off a whole month of fun. We have 36 stops so the hop will take place over three days - feel free to take your time visiting each blog!

You have until 11:59pm EST November 9th to leave comments on as many blogs as you can. On Saturday, November 12th Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps will announce FOUR winners (chosen at random from comments on random stops along the hop); each lucky winner will receive a prize pack including stamps, dies, paper & twine valued at $40!

I also have blog candy to give away to one lucky commenter. It's a brand new 36 page pack of the BoBunny "blitzen collection" christmas paper.
Just leave me a comment and tell me to enter you in my drawing. I will announce my winner on Friday, November 11. So check back here to see if you won this candy.

 If you have been following along already you should have come from the amazing Jerusha Borden's " I love papercrafting blog".


If you are only starting here, please head back to the SNSS blog and go from there. You won't want to miss any stops along the way! Also, don't forget to comment on as many stops as you can....the more comments the better your chance of winning one of the fabulous prize packs! :)

Here is my card for the blog hop:

I am using "Christmas Light" set designed by the amazing Dina Kowal. This set has a matching die. Can that make card making any easier?

I water colored my image and then popped it up on a spellbinder lacy circle die. My sentiment is also from this same set and it was stamped and then embossed.

I used gold metallic paper so the embossing helped my red ink to show up a little better.

My lacy border is the Cheery Lynn "lace light" border die. They cut with such great detail. I used a maraschino cardstock to cut the border and the spellbinder lacy circle.
My striped designer paper is something I have had in my stash for years.

Your next stop on the hop is the incredibly talented "Lori Craig" but just in case there are any hiccups, here is the whole list of celebrants on this party train:

Korin Sutherland
Holly McMillen

Taylor Usry

Kim Schofield

Monika Davis

Lydia Fiedler

Harriet Skelly

Makiko Jones

Jerusha Borden

Mary Marsh

Lori Craig

Kim O'Connell

Chris Dickinson

Stephanie Wright

Shannon White

Janette Olen

Katlyn Traxler

Deb Felts

Stephanie Serrano

Jessica Fick

Kim Singdahlsen

Mary Faus

Sandy Domelle

Bridget Finlay

Ceal Pritchett

Dina Kowal

Margo Smith

Shelby Goolsby

Tami Mayberry

Lorie Souther

Darsie Bruno

Cathy McCauley

Beate Johns

Janice Melton

Jacquie Peifer

Lisa Hjulberg

Christmas Card

Happy Wednesday everyone and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. It's time for another Creative Belli challenge.

This time our theme is a 1234 challenge (example: 1 piece of designer paper, 2 flowers, 3 colors, 4 brads, whatever combo you wish but it must be 1234)

The spirit of the Creative Belli challenges is to encourage you to use your OLD and FORGOTTEN embellishments! My designer paper is from last years Stampin-Up Christmas collection-spellbinder dies are a year old.

Everyone is welcome to play along! Challenge a stamping friend! Just follow the theme-it's that easy.

Check out what the other Creative Belli designers have made for this interesting challenge. You won't be disappointed.  
Anne Harmon, Robin Parker, Joan Ervin, Ceal Pritchett, Karen Wallace,  Joy Hadden, Holly Brown,
Chris Dickinson, Maria Matter, Jessica Stockmeyer

For my card, I used 1 piece of ribbon, 2 sentiments, 3 paper embellishments (spellbinders tag die, poinsettia cut from designer paper and holly sprig cut from designer paper), 4 poinsettias.

My stamps are from the Sweet 'n Sassy sets, Christmas Light and Light of Christmas.


These 2 stamp sets are so versatile. They can be used in a variety of ways and without a stamped focal image. And that's what I am showing you today.

I used the background stamp (Light of Christmas set) and stamped it in artichoke ink directly onto my designer paper. The Merry Christmas (Christmas Light set) sentiment I stamped in cherry cobbler ink and layered on a spellbinders fancy tag 2 die.

I cut one of the large poinsettias from the designer paper and popped it up for dimension. I used some cherry cobbler ribbon and cut a holly leaf and added to the bow center.

That's my card for today. So until next time ........God Bless

Some other challenges:
1.  Stampin Sisters in Christ wants us to make a card showing time (ie) a season.
2.  Clear it out challenge blog wants us to use trims. I used ribbon from my stash.
3.  Craft Your Passion blog want us to use kraft paper. I used kraft to stamp my sentiment and kraft is part of my designer paper.
4.  Christmas Inspirations blog want us to use die cuts or punces. I used a die-cut ot label my sentiment.
5.  Lollipop Crafts wants us to embellish it with at least 3 embellishments/ I used a tag die cut. a ribbon, and a holly leaf on my ribbon

The Twinery and Sweet 'n Sassy Blog Hop

and

design teams have joined up today for a fabulous blog hop with 24 stampers.

So if you came here from Carolyn Stender's blog you are in the right place.

The blog hop starts at the Twinery.  If a link didn't work or you got lost along the way, you might want to jump back there for a complete list of participating blogs.

There are prizes to be won. The Twinery will give away to one winner: All you have to do is leave a comment on all the participating blogs and two lucky commenter's will win either the SNSS stamp & die set or The Twinery's Bakers Twine.

One utimate color sampler pack (retail value $25)

Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps will give away to one winner:

One Season of Change stamp & die set (retail value $28).








The deadline to leave comment's is Saturday, October 22nd at 11:59 pm. Winners will be announced on The Twinery Blog as well as The Sweet 'n Sassy Blog.

My card uses the "season of change" set that Sweet 'n Sassy is giving away for this blog hop. This is a beautiful set and matching dies designed by the amazing Dina Kowal. The sentiment is from the "your friendship" set.

I stamped my background leaf images with tangerine tango and pear pizzazz inks and I also used wild honey distress ink.  The leaf I popped up was stamped in tangerine tango then sponged with wild honey and bit of chocolate chip.

I layered card stock, lace and then The Twinery's Mandarin bakers twine available at the Sweet 'n Sassy store now.  I tied a bow with the bakers twine and added a sunflower button to the center.
That completes my card. Remember to leave a comment on this post  as well as all the other blogs to be eligible to win.

Your last stop on the blog hop is the amazingly talented Holly McMillen's blog.

God bless and happy blog hopping!!



card recipe:
stamps: season of change, your friendship (sweet 'n sassy stamps),
paper: su choc chip, tangerine tango, ivory
ink: su tangerine tango, pear pizzazz, choc chip ranger wild honey
accessories: lace, twinery mandarin twine, su deco label punch

Wildflowers

Happy Thursday everyone and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. This week is just flying by- well for me anyway. I have been taking care of my grandsons while their parents are on a little r&r in Florida.

It's been a good few days. I just love being with them and there hasn't been any issues which is a good thing as well. I get them off to school in the morning and then drive back to my home and spend a few hours creating. Then its back over to meet the school bus-homework-basketball & football practices-dinner- a few hours together then off to bed.

Aidin (middle grandson) really blessed me today. He had to write something at school about who inspires him. He said it was me- his Grandma. How precious is that?? We spend time having discussions about God-politics and other current events. He likes to be challenged with thinking and he holds strong opinions already. 

My son and daughter-in-law return home on Saturday night. The boys are holding up just fine. They only mentioned once not being taken to Marco Island.

Oh well onto my card for today. This one I made for the sketch challenge on Splitcoaststampers. Roxie was the hostess and she gave us this great layout to work into a card.

Splitcoaststampers is also hosting the "hope you can cling to" challenges. Teresa was the hostess of the "brave heart" challenge was to make a card that has at least one heart on it. These challenges run all through October and there a re prizes to be son. So why not join in on the fun. Get more info here.

My image and sentiment are from the Sweet 'n Sassy set "wildflowers".

I stamped it in baroque burgundy ink. My designer paper is from Stampin-Up's "paisley petal" collection.  I added a flourish that was die cut from a Sizzix sizzlit set.

I punched some hearts and layered one of them on a burgundy button.

That's my card for today. Time to close this post so until next time.......God bless

Some other challenges:

1.  Divas by Design has a button challenge. I used a burgundy button underneath one of my hearts.

2.  Whimsy Stamps has a diecut or punch challenge. I used a sizzix die to cut my flourish and a corner rounder punch on my layers and a heart punch.

3.  Top Tip Tuesday wants us to use designer paper.

Just Be You

Happy Saturday everyone and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. We had another beautiful fall day here in Pittsburgh. I am still not feeling up to par but I believe my cold is on the downside now. I mean how many days can you be sick with a cold-really now!!

Looking forward to tomorrow and getting out of the house for awhile. My grandsons will be playing little league football in the afternoon. It's supposed to be sunny and 80 degrees. That's perfect for an afternoon outing.

Well onto my card for today. This is another one that I made for the "hope you can cling to" challenges on Splitcoaststampers. They are running all month long and there are lots of prizes. So check it out and join in. Here is the link for the info.

This is also the card I made for Friday's free for all challenge. Jeanne was our hostess and she wanted us to make our own background.

For my background I used the hero arts stamp "raindrops and swirls". I embossed it then I sponged the background with pink pirouette and pretty in pink ink-for an embossed resist technique.

My sweet pink birds & sentiment are from the "one of a kind" set by Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps.

I colored the birds with prismacolor pencils and gamsol. The sentiment was stamped in chocolate chip ink and punched with the Martha Stewart tag punch.

To finish the card I used chocolate chip satin ribbon and layered pink satin on top of that. Tied my bow and that completed this card. I used chocolate chip as my neutral color because brown represents comfort.
That's it for this post my blogger friends. So until next time.........God bless

Some other challenges:

1.  Craft Your Days Away has a "tag it" challenge.
2.  Digi Designs Challenge blog has a "girly creations" challenge.
3.  My Sheri Crafts has a "think pink" challenge in honor of breast cancer awareness month.
4.  Fairy Fun Fridays is having a  sugar, spice and everything nice "girly challenge".

You are Treasured

Happy Friday everyone and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. It was another beautiful fall day with lots of sunshine here in Pittsburgh.

I am still battling my cold and now my hubby has come down with something as well. We were supposed to go to Ethan's (youngest grandson) cross-country race today. But neither one of us felt well enough to go out.

He pretty much spent the day in bed. I slept in and just spent the day in my jammies. We are just lounging this evening and watching one of our fave TV shows- "Blue Bloods".

Well onto my card for today. This one I made for the "Hope you can cling to" challenge over on Splitcoaststampers. It's running for the month of October with a new challenge every day. There are prizes to be won so check it out.

This challenge was hosted by Bev Gerard and was titled "looking in on you".  We are to make a window card and use the color pink if we want to.

I decided to use a "window frame" to create my card. I made a card using this technique previously. Check it out here.

For this version and challenge I used pink and green. I made my folded frame with designer paper from Stampin-Up's "sweet pea" collection. I used the Spellbinders labels die #16as the frame layer. The butterflies on the inside are punched with a Martha Stewart punch.

The sentiment is from the Sweet 'n Sassy stamp set - "your friendship".  On the pink background panel I used the cuttlebug folder "floral fantasy". I added some ribbon and a few pearls to complete this card.

It's time to close this post......so until next time.......God bless!!

Some other challenges:

1.  The card makin' mama's blog wants to see some fancy folds. I think my window frame falls into that category.

2.  Simply Create has an "older than 6 months" challenge. My designer paper, cuttlebug folder and Martha Stewart punch are all over a year old.

3.  The Dutch Dare Card Challenge blog also wants us to make a fancy fold. Again I think my window frame fold falls into that category.



Woof-Woof

Happy Thursday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. We have just had a couple of sunny, warm fall days and a few more expected. Love the warm days and cool nights of fall.

I am still battling this cold that came with me from California. I didn't have much energy today. Even creating 2 cards was somewhat taxing.  I know I should just be resting but I had some cards that I wanted to make. Priorities you know!!!

This one I made for the Wednesday sketch challenge on Splitcoaststampers. It's also for the inspiration challenge that Taylor hosts for Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps on Splitcoaststampers.

This is the layout we were to use for our cards.  It was a great layout to work into a card. I thought it would work well with the sweet puppy image I was using.

I chose my colors based on this inspiration photo that Taylor provided. I focused on the colors in the photo as well as the scallops.

For my card I used the Sweet 'n Sassy set "woof you".
I just love this cute little puppy.

I stamped him with memento tuxedo black ink and colored with prismacolor pencils and gamsol.

I paper pieced his bandana with Stampin-Up's designer paper the "parisian breeze" collection. It's also the designer paper I used on my card.

I added a sentiment from the same Sweet 'n Sassy set and some paw buttons from my stash to complete my card.

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

Some other challenges:
1.  The Southern Girls challenge blog has a slugs and snails and puppy do tails. We are to create a card for the man or boys in our lives.
2.  Creative Belli has a paper piecing challenge. I didn't get to make a design sample because I was called to California. So I am entering now.
3.  Divas by Design has a button up challenge. I used paw buttons on my card.
4.  Fab 'n Funky challenge blog wants us to use dies/punches.

card recipe:
Stamps: woof you (sweet 'n sassy stamps)
Paper: su ww, baja breeze, choc chip, parisian breeze dsp
Ink: choc chip
Accessories: spellbinders rectangle dies, stampin-up ovals, buttons, prismacolor pencils & gamsol
Techniques: paper piecing