Celebrate St Patrick's Day

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

Well the big snow that was predicted for the Pittsburgh area turned out to be nothing. We had about an 1" or less accumulation. Not that I would have minded having a lot more.

As I type this we are having some snow showers but it doesn't look threatening. We haven't had much snow at all this season. And now next week Spring starts.

It was very cold and blustery yesterday.

 

We had a family dinner at a restaurant that was on the river. Wow the wind was really blowing as we exited the garage to walk to the place. One of those cold to the bone winds! But the dinner was great.

 

My middle grandson was home on Spring break so both sets of grandparents, his parents and a couple others all had dinner with him. There were 12 altogether. Hubby and I had the privilege of him sitting by us. It was just a great family evening.

And he also wanted us to come over on Thursday night for dinner. This will be a little more intimate with just hubby and I and my son's family.

 

Now onto today's card. This one I made using the colors from the color challenge #625 on Splitcoaststampers. Barbara is our hostess and she chose emerald envy, gold and whisper white.  Optional this week is St Patrick's Day.

Well, I looked at the colors 2x before I started my card and somehow the emerald envy translated to cucumber crush. What is wrong with me??? As I was making my card, I was thinking that the green didn't look like an Irish green shade.

Of course it didn't, because it wasn't the color that Barbara picked. But, I didn't realize it until the card was finished and I was writing up my description for the card. So I  begged for a pass from my teamies (lol)!!!

Here are the details of my card. I noticed that over on the Verve site there was a free St Patrick's Day digi set - Feeling Lucky. So I downloaded it and used it for my card today. The sentiment inside the shaker is part of that set as are the shamrocks. I printed the shamrocks on the cucumber crush cardstock and fussy cut them.

The frame for my shaker elements is cut from the CottageCutz stitched rounded rectangle and square dies in whisper white cardstock. To cover the gold color I added sequins inside the shaker.

My background designer paper is from the Stampin'-Up collection "Cherry On Top". The celebrate word is a die from CottageCutz. And, that is my card for today.

So until next time......a happy St Patrick's day to all and God bless.

 

card details:

Stamps: Feeling Lucky (Verve Digi)  

Paper: cucumber crush, whisper white, cherry on top dsp (Stampin'-Up)  

Card Size: A2

Accessories: stitched rounded rectangle, square and celebrate dies (CottageCutz), gold sequins (Darice)

Techniques: shaker card

 

Dies Used:

 

 

 

I am also entering: 

1.  Crafting By Designs has a for a man challenge.

2.  Shopping Our Stash has a luck of the Irish challenge.

3.  Crafty Creations has an anything goes challenge.

 

~Valentine~

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

 

Spring is just about a month away but we are having such warm temperatures and the spring flowers are already popping up.

 

We were able to take the preschool out for a little outside play yard time. It so improves their classroom behavior and concentration time. We had a show and tell time this week.

 

They love coming up in front of the class and showing off their toy. We prompt them with questions about what they have brought into show the class. They are very talkative for 3 year olds. 

 

I can't believe how fast this year is going. This class more than previous years has really tugged on my heart strings. I will miss them a lot when the year is over.

 

So before I get emotional let's move onto my card for today. This is the very last of my 2017 Valentine cards. I made it using the colors from the Splitcoaststampers color challenge #618. Roberta was our hostess and she chose basic gray, rose red and very vanilla for her color trio. Optional was to make a Valentine card and that's just what I did.

 

I used MojoMonday480 sketch for my card layout. I think the sketch shows off the elements of the card without covering anything up.

My background designer paper is from the long retired Stampin’-Up Holiday Harmony collection. It’s a Christmas designer paper but it had one of the colors I was using on my card. It’s actually purely pomegranate which is a twin sister to rose red.

I used basic gray satin ribbon for the angled panel in the sketch. On the sketch square panel, I embossed with a hearts folder from Darice. The rectangle panel I used for my sentiment and that allowed me to get the very vanilla covered.

The sentiment is from the Verve “Hundred Hearts” set and stamped in purely pomegranate ink. I love this sentiment from Winnie the Pooh (lol)!

I finished off my card by scattering a few hearts. The top left heart is a new Valentine die from CottageCutz - “fancy heart”. The other hearts are cut from CottageCutz dies as well.

 

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

 

card details:

 Stamps: Hundred Hearts (Verve)  

Paper: basic gray, purely pomegranate, very vanilla, holiday harmony dsp (Stampin’-Up)  

Paper Size: A2

Ink: purely pomegranate

Accessories: fancy heart, rectangle & circle dies (CottageCutz), blueprints 15 (MFT), basic gray satin ribbon, hearts embossing folder (Darice) 

 

CottageCutz dies I used to make card: 

 

 I am also entering:

1.  Crafty Girls Creations has an anything goes challenge for February.

2.  Cards Und More has a Valentine's challenge #178.

~Birthday Blossoms~

 

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with the Charmed Life Blog. Hope your holiday weekend was a great one. Ours was busy with lots of activity and definitely enjoyable.

 

We celebrate memorial Day as a way to remember and honor the sacrifice of those who have given their life in defense of our great nation. There were parades is so many of the local communities. The news media reported that there is a rise in patriotism in the US. That's always good to hear. There is still lots of good about the US and I am proud to be an American.

 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for the color challenge #584 on Splitcoaststampers. Maura was our hostess and she chose watermelon wonder, crushed curry and pumpkin pie. Our option this week was to use our favorite green. 

 

I chose old olive although not necessarily my fave. I think it’s a good color for leaves.

For my card this week, I decided I wanted to do some coloring of flowers. So I chose the Verve set “be blessed” because I like the flower images and I could color them. For the coloring I used the Stampin’-Up pumpkin pie Blendabilities, and also the Copic markers of R24 & R27. I thought they were a good match for the watermelon wonder.

I used the Verve “petal points” die to cut the flowers and I popped them up with some dimensional adhesive. The background designer paper is from the Stampin’-Up “color me irresistible” collection. I like the black backdrop to showcase my flowers. 

The leaves are cut from the CottageCutz leaves & stems die. My butterfly is also a CottageCutz “fancy pocket plus” die set.

Cut my center strip in crushed curry with an MFT die. The sentiment is from the same Verve set and I used the MFT flag stax dies to cut the flag. I am spreading the love around this week with the different dies and companies (lol).

 

Well, that's it for me for today. Off to finish my DT card for the CottageCutz post on Wednesday. Then we have my grandson's baseball game this evening. So until next time.......God bless.

 

card details:

Stamps: be blessed (Verve)  

Paper: crushed curry, whisper white, color me irresistible & eastern elegance dsp (Stampin’-Up) X-press it blending cardstock (Copic) 

Paper Size: A2  

Ink: tuxedo black (Memento) 

Accessories: pumpkin pie blendabilities, regal candy dots (Stampin’-Up), R24 & R27 Copic markers, leaves & stems die (CottageCutz), flag stax & blueprints 3 dies (MFT). Petal points die (Verve) Techniques: alcohol markers   

 

I am also entering: 

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

2.  613 Avenue Create has an anything goes challenge

3.  Glitter n' Sparkle has a flower power challenge.

 

 

~Hugs From Afar~

 

Hello Blogger Friends! thanks for taking the time to visit with the Charmed Life Blog.

 

Today was my day at Preschool. We are working on the letter "L" so I took my juicer and we made lemonade. The kids loved being able to actually help make it. I cut the lemons in wedges and each child got to put a wedge in the hopper and then watch the juice come out of the chute.

 

They were really interested in the whole process. After we finished the juicing, I added water and sugar and each child was able to taste it. They all came back for 2nd and 3rd helpings. I have never made fresh lemonade and it really is quite delicious. So this day was a success.

 

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for the color challenge #577 on Splitcoaststampers. Barbara was our hostess and she chose pink pirouette, pool party and mossy meadow for her color palette. Optional was to use animals on our card.

 

I decided to use these super cute animal dies from CottageCutz and decided to use them for my card today. I didn’t want to make a baby card so I decided to go with a “thinking of you” type card.

My background designer paper is from the Stampin’-Up “sweet li’l thing” collection. I used a MFT stitched circle die to cut a circle for added interest on my card.
Cut my baby elephant die in pool party and the baby lion die (temporarily sold out) in pink pirouette and used some designer paper for his mane. I lightly sponged around the edges for depth.

My “sending” word is a die from Simon Says Stamp” and I cut in mossy meadow. My sentiment banner is a die from Impression Obsession. The sentiment is from Verve and it’s stamped in mossy meadow ink. I added a pink heart and some twine to complete my card.

If you have any CottageCutz dies, we are having a challenge on the Scrapping Cottage Blog. There are prizes to be won. Click here for more info. That's it for me for today. So until next time.......God Bless.

card details:

Stamps: order thank you (Verve) 

Paper: pool party, pink pirouette, mossy meadow, sweet li’l thing dsp (Stampin’-Up) 

Paper Size: A2 

Ink: mossy meadow, pool party, pink pirouette Accessories: Baby lion, sweet baby elephant dies (CottageCutz), Sending die (Simon Says Stamp), plane and banner, love you dies (Impression Obsession), Blueprints 15 & 18 dies (MFT) blossom twine (Twinery) 

Techniques: die cutting  
I am also entering:

1.  Kleurne Met Potloden has an animals challenge.

2.  Aud Sentiments has an anything goes challenge.
3.  Crafting with an Attitude has an anything goes challenge.

~Hugs From Afar~

 

Hello Blogger friends and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. It's a beautiful Saturday here in Pittsburgh. The sun is already shining and we are supposed to have temperatures around 60°. Definitely a spring like day and one to be enjoyed in the middle of winter.

 

Our grandson Ethan spent the night and he and my hubby went to some local high school basketball games. It's playoff time and this is something they have done for several years now. And this afternoon they will be back in the gym watching some more games. So that gives me a free afternoon.

 

I want to go to our local big box store to check out material for the back splash for our kitchen. We are at the point now in the remodel to begin picking our floor, backsplash and countertop.

I hope this stage doesn't get a bit overwhelming with all the options we will have. I am trying to narrow down choices so my hubby and I can make a decision together. Anyway,  I will keep you updated on my progress here.

 

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for the color challenge #570 on Splitcoaststampers. Peggy is our hostess and she chose cherry cobbler, mossy meadow and hello honey for her color trio. 

Love this color combo and I thought flowers when I was planning my card. I looked through my Stampin'-Up designer paper collections and found the "Farmer's Market" and "English Garden" collections with this week's colors. Score!!!

The pot of flowers is cut with dies from MFT. I added the "sending" word cut in cherry cobbler. This is a die from Simon Says Stamp. The sentiment is from Verve. It was a gift for an order I placed.

On the embossed panel, I used the Stampin'-Up "boho chic" folder. Completed my card by adding some very vanilla grosgrain ribbon and then some hello honey thick bakers twine.

This card is going off to my BFF, Elaine who is battling breast cancer. She just completed her 3rd chemo treatment and this one was a bit rough. Pray for her! I try to keep cards headed her way for a little bit of cheer during these treatments.

 

Well, that's it for me for today. Time to get my day started. So until next time......God bless.

 

card details:

Stamps: Verve 

Paper: cherry cobbler, hello honey, mossy meadow, very vanilla, farmer's market & english garden dsp (Stampin'-Up) 

Paper Size: A2 

Ink: cherry cobbler 

Accessories: spring garden dies (MFT), sending die (Simon Says Stamp), boho chic EF, hello honey thick bakers twine & candy dots (Stampin'-Up)

 

I am also entering:  
1.  Crafty Friends has a girly challenge. 

2.  My Time to Craft has a check it out challenge.

3.  Brown Sugar has an anything goes challenge. 

4.  Creative Fingers has an anything goes challenge. 

5.  4 Crafty Chicks has a friendship challenge. 

Christmas Nativity Scene

 

Merry Christmas Blogger Friends! After all the hustle and bustle of decorating, shopping, wrapping presents and sending cards the day has finally arrived. I am up early while the house is still quiet.

 

I have plenty of cooking to do today for our celebration with our son and his family. Then on Sunday my youngest son and his family arrive and we will have another celebration with them.

 

I wanted to get a blog post done before the busyness of my day takes over. Plus I feel as though I finally have a chance to sit and enjoy the fruits of all my hard work. So I am relaxing in front of the Christmas tree just taking everything in and sipping on my morning coffee.

 

Let's get to the details of this card. this one I made for the color challenge #560 on Splitcoaststampers. Maura was our hostess and she chosebaja breeze and night of navy. Optional is something gold (bling, embossing, foil etc).

 For my card I created a nativity scene with some dies from Impression Obsession. The silhouettes are cut in night of navy cardstock.
I wanted to create a soft glow look for the inside of the manger so I used some metallic gold cardstock and also for the Christmas star.

My background paper is from my stash that reminded me of a night sky. I only had one piece and I wanted to make a couple of these cards. Oh well!!

For the ground I used a Lawn Fawn die and cut in crumb cake cardstock. I stamped with a Sea Side Stampin' beach set that has sand and sand dunes.

My stars are cut in a sapphire metallic card stock with a die from Verve. And that's my sample for this Christmas Day 2015. Whatever your day holds my friends, I send you a blessing of peace and comfort. So until next time.......God bless and Merry Christmas.

 

card details:

Stamps: just beachy (Sea Side Stampin') 

Paper: baja breeze, night of navy, crumb cake, metallic gold & sapphire (The Paper Company), blue dp from stash 

Paper Size: A2 

Ink: crumb cake 

Accessories: small nativity & shepherds dies (Impression Obsession), starry die (Verve), stitched hillside die (Lawn Fawn), matting basics dies (Spellbinders)   

HYCCT1511 ~heard you need a lift~

 

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. It's been a busy start to the week.

 

Sunday, I attended my niece's bridal shower. It was so elegant and there was even a theme. They titled it "Brunch & Bubbly".

 

She is using a metallic theme for her invitations. I have seen a sample and they are really beautiful. The metallic theme was carried throughout the shower from the invitations to the table decorations as well as the other decorations around the venue. Her bridesmaids did a great job of putting this even on for Rachel.

 

Then at preschool this week we were preparing for our Student Art Gallery. Each class had quite a bit of the kid's art projects. Tonight was the showing and parents as well as grandparents came out to see the art projects. I was so impressed with our turnout. And the kids were so anxious to show off their work.

 

I am still working on my Hope You Can Cling To challenge cards. The challenges will be officially over on Saturday, October 31. Then we have until November 7 to get our cards uploaded. I was able to make 4 cards today. But I will need to keep that pace up for the next week. Hopefully I can do it. Wish me success!!!

 

Now onto my card for today. This was made for HYCCT1511.  Kim is our hostess and she wants us to create a card that features a mode of transportation. ANY transportation...cars, bicycles, trains....

Since I knew I would be using the CC553 challenge colors, I looked for my layout first. I am using the October week 3 Viva la Verve sketch. Then I looked for my designer paper. I chose this old olive striped paper from the Stampin'-Up "etcetera collection".

My bicycle image is a die from Cheery Lynn Designs cut in bermuda bay. My flags are dies from Verve and I cut in calypso coral.. I added some Stampin'-up candy dots in elegant eggplant and also stamped my sentiment in elegant eggplant. The sentiment is from the Waltzingmouse set "half pint heroines".

Completed my card by adding some die cut hearts to the wheels. Well, 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: half pint heroines (Waltzingmouse) 

Paper: Bermuda bay, calypso coral, old olive. etcetera dsp (Stampin'-Up) 

Paper Size: A2   Ink: elegant eggplant 

Accessories: bicycle die (Cheery Lynn Designs), hearts (MFT), pennant trim die (Verve), candy dots (Stampin'-Up)  

I am also entering
1.  Crafty Creations has a colorful challenge.
2.  Crafty Gals Corner has an anything goes challenge.
3.  Word Art Wednesdays has an anything goes challenge.

 

HYCCT1506 ~Love~

 

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. It's a lovely fall weekend here in Pittsburgh.

 

Yesterday we went to our neighbors wedding reception. It was held at The Overton Museum and Distillery, a historic and quaint site east of Pittsburgh.

The wedding reception itself was held in their barn. It was decorated so beautifully.

 

I helped out with the wedding invitations and also the table favors. Tijana was such a beautiful bride and she did a fabulous job of creating the wedding of her dreams. I was glad to have a small hand in it.

 

 

Now onto my card for today. This is another I made for the Hope You can Cling To Challenges on Splitcoaststampers. For this HYCCT1506 challenge, Stacy is the hostess and she wants us to create a card with a trio of hearts and add in some red somewhere too.

 

For my card I used the Love border die from Impression Obsession. The top hearts are from Cheery Lynn Designs and the bottom heart is from Spellbinders.

I completed my card with my sentiment. It's from the Verve "stronger love" set. I thought this would be a nice Valentine card or even on just to let the one you love know it. It will be sent off the MD Andersen Cancer Center in Texas.

 

Well, that's it for me for today. I am off to my craft room to make some more cards for these challenges. I am so far behind and hoping to get at least 4 cards made today.

 

So until next time blogger friends.........God bless.

 

card details:

Stamps: stronger love (Verve) 

Paper: ww, real red Paper Size: A2 

Ink: tuxedo black (Memento) 

Accessories: love border die (Impression Obsession), two of hearts die (Cheery Lynn Designs), Hearts die (Spellbinders)

I am also entering:

1.  Hiding in My Craft Room has a any holiday challenge.

2.  Brown Sugar Challenge is anything goes.

3.  Crafting With Friends has an anything goes challenge.

4.  Creative Fingers has an anything goes

5.  Crafty Girls Blog has an anything goes challenge.

 

~God Bless the USA~

 

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed life Blog.

 

We had a great 4th of July weekend. Hubby & I did get to see our community fireworks on Saturday night. They were quite spectacular.

 

Then today we were invited to a friend's home for a backyard cookout after church. It was a very nice and peaceful afternoon. They have a pool but the water was a bit chilly because of all the rain we have had. It didn't stop the kids from jumping in the water and playing.

 

Our friend had some roasted corn on the cob. It was so delicious. He has a smoker grill and used an apple smoked wood along with the charcoal. So all in all it was a great day spent with friends.   

 

Now onto my card for today. This is one I made to send to my brother for the July 4th holiday to thank him for his military service. He is an army veteran.

 

I used the Flourishes set "patriotism on parade" and the set has this silhouette plus the same images in an outline stamp.

Stamped the silhouette image and then stamped the outline image for the 2 flags. I colored the tiny flags in real red and navy and popped them up over the flags on the silhouette image. This covers the stripes portion of the SCS WT challenge.

My fireworks are from a stamp by Great Impressions and stamped in real red ink. The added stars are from the Verve scalloped trio die. I used this die and cut a border in marina mist to ground my silhouette image. 

 

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

 

card details:

Stamps: patriotism on parade (Flourishes), fireworks (Great Impressions Stamps) 

Paper: night of navy, marina mist, whisper white 

Paper Size: A2 Ink: real red, night of navy 

Accessories: scalloped trim trio die (Verve) Techniques: paper tole

I am also entering:

1.  SCS WT #537 Challenge is stars & stripes.

2.  DL. Art has a red, white and blue challenge.

~Starry Birthday~

 

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. It's Sunday and I am having a day of rest.

 

I picked up some germs that the pre-school kids pass along. I seem to be a bit more susceptible this year than last. we have 1 class left and graduation then school is finished for this year.

 

Yesterday, I thought I had bronchitis with a lot of chest congestion, raspy voice and pain in the chest. I couldn't seem to cough up the congestion, it was just laying in my chest. I guess that's the reason I had the pain. When I finally decided I should go to the MedExpress Urgent Care, it was closed.

 

But what I did throughout the day was to take lots of Vitamin C. I made a warm water drink that was infused with a tablespoon of fresh chopped ginger and honey. I made that infusion 3x yesterday. At night I boiled some water and put some Vicks Vapor Rub in it since I didn't have any Peppermint or Eucalyptus oil and did a homemade breathing treatment.

 

I woke up this morning and the chest pain was gone. The congestion loosened up overnight. Thank the Lord!!! I still have a raspy voice and congestion but I can live with that. I am continuing to take the Vitamin C and the ginger and honey drink. I was all set to go to the MedExpress Urgent care facility to see a doctor this morning, but I don't think I need one now. I just feel like I have a cold.

 

So now onto my card for today. This one I created for the Color Challenge #530 on Splitcoaststampers. I was the hostess and my color palette was a send-off for the retiring Stampin'-Up in-colors.

 

I chose coastal cabana, crisp cantaloupe, baked brown sugar, pistachio pudding and strawberry slush. You had the option of using just 2 colors or all 5 of them. The optional element this week is to use bakers twine or sequins in the in-colors.

 

  

coastal cabana, crisp cantaloupe, baked brown sugar, pistachio pudding, strawberry slush

My birthday card stash is low so I decided to go that route with this card. My inspiration for this card came from this card. I changed the colors and added a die cut word and used a different birthday stamp.

My card base is from one of the Stampin'-Up Paper Pumpkin Kits. My stars are cut with the Stampin-Up star framelits dies, the stars from the MFT blueprints 18 dies and the starry night die from Verve.

The happy word is die cut with the MFT happy trio die. I cut 2 in strawberry slush and layered them for a bit more dimension.

The birthday word is stamped in baked brown sugar ink and I used the See Ya Later set from Stampin-Up.

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

 

card details:

Stamps: See Ya Later 

Paper: baked brown sugar, coastal cabana, strawberry slush, pistachio pudding, Paper Pumpkin Kit card base 

Paper Size: A2 Ink: baked brown sugar 

Accessories: Star Framelits (Stampin’Up), blueprints 18 & hello trio dies (MFT), Starry Die (Verve)   

I am also entering:
1.  Crafting For all Seasons has a birthday challenge with 4 of something. I have 4 stripes on my card stock base.

2.  Curtain Call has a totally tassel challenge. The tassel colors are a perfect match for colors I used.
 

 

 

 

 

~keep me in your heart~

 

Hello Blogger Friends!! Thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. Hope you are staying warm in your area of the world.

 

We are in the middle of a deep freeze here in Pittsburgh. We have had a lot of cold but not too much snow. Nothing like they are getting in New England. But on a good note the days are getting longer.

 

Today was my day at pre-school and we had our valentine party. The kids were so excited. On Tuesday we made their valentine boxes. We used cereal boxes and covered them with white paper and then decorated them.

 

I die-cut large hearts and added the kids names in the center. I did that with alphabet dies. We had some foam and felt shapes and let the kids decorate them however they wanted. I was impressed with the creativity of 3 year olds.

 

I will get the photos of the boxes that the other assistant took and post them here.

 

Now onto my card for today. I still have Valentine cards to post. This one is my sample for CC516 on Splitcoaststampers. Peggy was the hostess and she chose a feminine palette with pink pirouette, melon mambo and whisper white.

 

pink pirouette, white and melon mambo

 

With these colors, I immediately thought Valentine. I started my card with the sketch and worked from there. I used last week's Mojo383 layout.

 The card base is pink pirouette. On the next layer, I used designer paper from Stampin-Up's "gingham garden collection". My next panel is embossed with the Darice `layered heart" folder. The sentiment panel is Verve's "hundred hearts" set. I just love this saying from Winnie the Pooh.

To complete my card and the sketch requirements, I die cut some flags in melon mambo and added a die cut heart from Cheery Lynn Designs in pink pirouette. The hearts on the sentiment panel are die cut with an MFT die.

 

Well, that's my card for today. Time to dim the lights in Charmed Life Land for another day. So until next time........God bless.

 

card details:

Stamps: hundred hearts (Verve) 

Paper: pink pirouette, melon mambo, ww, gingham garden dsp (Stampin'-Up) 

Paper Size: A2 Ink: melon mambo 

Accessories: Spellbinders Matting basics A & B and nested pennant dies, Cheery Lynn Designs two of hearts die, Darice layered heart background ef, MFT coffee dies (hearts)   

I am also entering:
1.  4 Crafty Chicks has a valentine's challenge.
2.  Cute Card Thursday has a perfectly pink challenge.
3.  In The Pink has a love is in the air challenge.
4.  Crafting By Designs has a love is in the air challenge.
5.  Penny's Paper-Crafty has an embossing challenge.  

~a hundred hearts~

 

Hello Blogger Friends and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. It's a cold but sunny day here in Pittsburgh. But, no new snow so that's good for me. I pick up my youngest grandson from school on Tuesdays and its a 45 minute drive to their house.

 

Today also was Pre-School day. It was a good day with the kids. We made a couple of Valentine's projects. One of them has their picture on it. They couldn't wait to show their parents what they did. This class loves art projects and are always anxious to take them home.

 

Sometimes we hang them up in the classroom or out in the hall. Which is what we did with the photo project. They will be excited to take them next week after our Valentine party.

 

Next Tuesday we are going to make Valentine boxes using cereal boxes. The lead teacher came up with this idea and I am anxious to see how they turn out. I am going to die-cut some large hearts and use my newly purchased alphabet dies to add their name.

 

Hopefully, I will remember to take some photos after they decorate them to post here. Now onto my card for today.

 

I am in Valentine mode here at home as well as at school.  This one I made using the colors from the Splitcoaststampers #515 color challenge. Karen was the hostess and she chose real red, crumb cake and early espresso as her color palette.

 

real red, crumb cake, early espresso

These colors said Valentine's Day to me so I went with that theme for my card.

I saw this card on Pinterest and used it as my inspiration.Changed it up to make it in my style.  I changed colors, used a flourish die for the tree branches, added designer paper and stamped a valentine sentiment directly on my designer paper. 

I used the Stampin-Up owl builder punch and created 2 little love owls. I added some hands to the owls with the thought that the female is throwing hearts to the male owl who catches one (lol)!!

I cut a leaf flourish in early espresso for the owls to stand on. I decided to use designer paper for my background. It's from the Stampin-Up "welcome neighbor" collection.

Punched a few hearts and added my sentiment to complete this card. It's time for me to end this post as well. I have to get out the door to pick Ethan up at school. So until next time......God bless.

 

card details:

Stamps: Hundred Hearts (Verve) 

Paper: real red, early espresso, welcome neighbor dsp (Stampin-Up) 

Paper Size: A2    Ink: real red 

Accessories: Cheery Lynn Designs Flourish, Spellbinders Matting Basics A & B, owl builder punch (Stampin-Up) 

I am also entering:
1.  Clear It Out Challenge is anything goes using your stash.
2.  Loves Rubber Stamps challenge is anything goes.
3.  Party Time Tuesday is anything goes. 
4.  Crafts Galore Encore Challenge wants us to use a stamp or digi 
 

 

~One Starry Night~

 

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. My home is so quiet now. Our son, daughter-in-law and precious granddaughter left yesterday morning for a week at the beach in Mexico. We had such a wonderful week with them and my older son who lives here in Pittsburgh.

 

Yesterday we had my extended family celebration. My brother held it at his home and there were about 45 of us in attendance. It was a great family time.

We all brought a side dish to share. And then with money that we have in our kittie we bought a turkey and ham. My brother smoked the turkey and it was really delicious. My sister-in-law made the ham with a delicious glaze.

 

We do this twice a year- at Christmas and then again in summer. In the summer, there are more of the family that come out.

 

Now onto my card for today. This was another one that I made for Christmas. For my card, I created a Bethlehem village scene using a Lasting Impressions stencil and translucent embossing paste tinted with soft suede re-inker. This embossing paste dries with a glossy sheen. On the palm tree I mixed Ranger peeled paint acrylic paint with the embossing paste.

The background textured gold paper was something from my stash. The last piece I had though. Bought it some years ago and I am not sure where (lol)!! I thought it worked perfectly for this little scene.  

 

I cut some stars with my metallic gold paper and the joy word with cherry cobbler card stock. I added a frame cut in mossy meadow card stock 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.

 

card details:

Paper: cherry cobbler, mossy meadow, crumb cake (Stampin-Up), decorative India gold (Paper Co) Paper Size: A2 

Accessories: lasting impressions stencil, Spellbinders Matting basics A & B, PTI joy die, Northern Star (Frantic Stamper), starry die (Verve), DreamWeaver translucent embossing paste, soft suede reinker, Ranger peeled paint acrylic paint 

Techniques: mixed media

I am also entering:
1.  Pile It On is anything goes Christmas and to incorporate with other challenges.
2.  Come and Get It challenge is Merry Christmas
3.  Christmas Card Challenge #4 is anything goes. 
4.  Glory of Christmas Challenge is anything goes
5.  A Gem of a Challenge is anything goes Christmas.