peace & strength

Happy Thursday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. Our summer heat is returning to Pittsburgh. We are going to have temps up around 90 with high humidity. I will keep the hot weather for as long as possible.

So not ready for shorter days and cold nights. Although I do love the fall season. We have such beautiful displays of vibrant color on the trees in Western Pa. It's time to put away my summer decorations and bring out the autumn.

My card for today is one that I made for the color challenge #338 on splitcoaststampers.

Karen Barber was our hostess and she chose quite a challenging trio for us to work into a card. We were to use cherry cobbler, calypso coral and more mustard with neutrals of our choice.

I used vanilla and chocolate chip as my neutrals. Karen also challenged us to make our own patterned paper.

These colors seemed to speak of fall and leaves to me. So that's the direction I decided to go. My leaf image is is a newly released stamp set from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps. This clear stamp set is the "season of change".  This set was designed by the amazing Dina Kowal. I love the pattern on the leaves.

I stamped the leaf images as my background on the top par of the vanilla panel and then on the bottom I used a cuttlebug embossing folder. I stamped a bigger leaf and cut it out and popped it up on the rectangle panel. I also used the cuttlebug embossing folder on this panel.

I added some calypso coral ruffled ribbon and a corduroy button to the center. That completed my card.

The layout for my card is this week's sweet stop sketch #123.

That's it for today so until next time.......God Bless

Some other challenges:
1.  The Ai Factory challenge blog wants us to use buttons & bows.
2.  The Fab 'n Funky blog wants us to "go mad with embossing". I used a cuttlebug embossing folder on my card.

3.  Passionately Artistic blog has a linking party. Join in its fun

 

Creative Belli Challenge #125-Acetate or Vellum

Happy Wednesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. It's time for another Creative Belli Challenge. This 2 week period our team has a vellum or acetate challenge for you.

Remember, the spirit of the Belli challenges is to encourage you to use your OLD and FORGOTTEN embellishments!  Everyone is welcome to play along! Challenge a stamping friend!! Just follow the theme.

If you upload to an online such as Splitcoaststampers, please use keyword CBC125.

For my card, I chose to use vellum. I had acetate in my stash somewhere but I couldn't find it until I completed my vellum card (lol).

I stamped my balloon flower images on vellum and then heat embossed. I added a subtle touch of color with chalks to the other side of the flower. I cut them out and then popped them up for a little dimension.

My flower images are from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps- "your friendship" set.
This set is really versatile as well as beautiful. It could also be used to make poinsettias as an example .Look for those from me around Christmas time.

My layout is a sketch from the Paper Players blog.

I used Stampin-Up's pear pizzazz and pretty in pink cardstock as well as pear pizzazz designer paper. I added stain ribbon and a button center to complete my card.

Well, that's it for this post. Make sure you check out what the other Belli Girls have created. There is some fab eye candy you won't want to miss.

Some other challenges:
1.  The Stampin Sisters in Christ blog We are to chose at least 3 of the following for our card: ribbon, button, brad, popped-up images, a swirl, brad, hat pin or charm. I went with the ribbon, button and popped up images.

2.  The creative card crew blog has an anything goes challenge.

3.  The Stamps R Us blog also has an anything goes challenge.

Celebrate

Happy Monday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. Well, Hurricane Irene hit the eastern coast of the US on Saturday and left its mark. There was massive amounts of rain and flooding.

My prayers go out to all who have suffered the damaging affects of this storm.

There was a virtual stamp weekend on splitcoaststampers on Friday and Saturday. There were many challenges and I was able to complete 2 of them. My first card was from the 5:00 pm challenge on Friday. The title was "these boots are made for walkin". 

I didn't get to make my card until Saturday and upload until Sunday. But no worry because we have until Monday night to finish our cards.

We were to add stitching either faux or real to our card. I used a digital stamp image and there was stitching on the boot. That worked for me.

My image is a freebie I received from Meljens designs. This was the perfect opportunity to use it. I colored the image with prismacolor pencils and gamsol (odorless mineral spirits). I decided to create a masculine birthday card.

I used patterned paper from Stampin-Up's "elegant soiree" collection. Stripes always work for a masculine card. On the center panel I used the cuttlebug stars folder and I also punched stars from patterned paper. The sentiment is from a Stampin-Up set "just celebrate".

I have some family that lives in Texas so this card will work for one of the guys birthdays.

That's it for this post so until next time....may the Lord bless you and keep you and make his face shine upon you.

Some other challenges:
1.  The crazy for challenges blog wants us to create a male themed card.
2.  Challenge up your life blog wants us to create something for a man.
3.  The DYSU blog also has a masculine challenge.
4.  Meljens Designs blog wants us to show the first card we made using one of their designs. This works for me because this card is my very first card using one of their designs.

card recipe:
stamps: digi (meljens designs), just celebrate (su)

paper: su baja breeze, soft suede, neenah white, elegant soiree dsp
ink: soft suede
accessories: cb star ef, star punch, oval punches, prismacolor pencils and gamsol

Flowers of Love

Happy Friday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. We are having a beautiful day here in Pittsburgh but a major hurricane is looming over the East Coast.

There is a mandatory evacuation in the Outer Banks in North Carolina. I am praying that people evacuate and that lives are spared and damage is minimal.

My family reunion is tomorrow. We are having a picnic at one of our local parks. So I will be getting ready for that after I complete this post.

The card I made is for several challenges:

Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps hosts an inspiration challenge on splitcoaststampers on Tuesday. This was our inspiration photo this week.

My jumping off point was the yellow, black & gray. I also used yellow dotted designer paper and stamped my image on that. The image is from the Sweet 'n Sassy set  "wildflowers".
My sentiment is stamped on a lacy circle spellbinders die.

My layout is this weeks sweet stop sketch #122.  This week there was a twist to the sketch. We are to add some fibers. I layered charcoal bakers twine on top of my satin ribbon. I also made a bow from the twine with a button center.

Also, on the Stampin Sisters in Christ blog the challenge was to try something new. I have never stamped on designer paper before. I like the look of it.



phoenix daisy first tea party

Well it's time to draw this post to a close. So until next time.........God Bless

Oh yes, here is a picture of my sweet granddaughter, Phoenix Daisy. She was having her first tea party when I was visiting a few weeks ago. And, I was able to enjoy it with her along with her animal friends.

card recipe:
stamps: wildflowers (sweet 'n sassy stamps)
paper: su black, basic gray, su dsp
ink: memento tuxedo black
accessories: spellbinder lacy circle & circle dies, twine, button, satin ribbon

Happy Anniversary

Happy Wednesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. Well the big news on the East Coast is the earthquake that registered 5.9. The epicenter was in Virginia but we felt the after shocks here in the Pittsburgh area Tuesday afternoon.

My husband had just come in from work and was sitting in his recliner watching TV and the chair started moving.
The after shocks that happened here weren't enough to cause any structural damage though. We don't have earthquakes here so this was a big happening.

Well onto my card for today. I made this one for the sketch challenge on splitcoaststampers. Our hostess, Roxie, provided a great layout for us to work into a card. 

I wanted to make an anniversary card for a friend of mine. Just need to make sure I get it in the mail.

I dug into my stash for some patterned paper and card stock. I decided to go with a pink & green card. I like the way these colors complement each other.

The anniversary sentiment is from a Verve stamp set. I also used the cuttlebug embossing folder- birds and swirls. A pink satin ribbon and a flower and pearl center completed my card.

It's time to dim the light in charmed life land for another day. So until next time.......God bless

Some other challenges:
1.  Stamps R Us blog has an anything goes challenge.
2.  The Outlawz blog has an anything goes challenge.
3.  The Corrosive Challenge blog has a "girlie" challenge.

card recipe:

stamps: wishing you (verve)

paper: su pink pirouette, kiwi kiss, vv, su dsp

ink: old olive

accessories: pink satin ribbon, offray flower with pearls, hero arts rhinestones, cb ef

Rhubarb goes to school

Happy Tuesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog.

Life is slowing returning to normal in our household after vacation. Today I went over to take care of my grandsons which is part of my normal Tuesday routine.

Aidin had baseball practice this afternoon so my day ended earlier than usual.
We had to drive to a field about 45 minutes from his house. They love north-the field was west and I live south.
So I dropped him off and my daughter-in-law who works west was picking him up. I went home. Whew-did you get all that.

Now onto my card for today. I made this one for the color challenge on splitcoaststampers. This week Julia was our hostess and she chose some great primary colors. Red, navy and yellow and turn it into a back to school card was our order.

I decided to use this new cute digital image from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps - Rhubarb goes to school. Korin has about 25 different Rhubarb images. One is cuter than the next. Check them out, believe me you won't be disappointed.

I colored him with prismacolor pencils and gamsol. I went to my stash and found some ruler patterned paper from a scrap kit I purchased back in 2006.  The embossed school books are from We r Memory Keepers. It was another scrap kit that I bought years go from QVC

I added some navy blue rick rack and cut out some apples from some other patterned paper in my stash.

That completed my card. So until next time God bless...........

Some other challenges:
1.  The Use It Tuesday blog has a back to school challenge. We have to use stuff from our stash. This challenge was made for me. I used 2 different patterned papers, some embossed images all are anywhere from 3 to 8 years old.
2.  Shopping our Stash blog wants us to use either red, ribbon or roses. I used red and rick rack.
3.  2 Sisters challenge blog has a back to school challenge.
4.  Fairy Tale challenge blog also has a back to school challenge.

card recipe
stamps: rhubarb back to school(sweet 'n sassy stamps)

paper: su real red, night of navy, neenah classic white, su dsp, ruler paper dp(unknown)
accessories: prismacolor penciles & gamsol, rick rack, embossed design from we r memory keepers

Season of Change

Happy Monday everyone and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. We have just returned from a week at the beach. We went to Topsail Beach in North Carolina with friends. I am all rested and relaxed and ready to get back to creating.

Today it was my turn to post on the Sweet 'n Sassy blog.  My last 2 blog posts I have done cards that I have titled "frame it". See those posts here and here.


I love taking a sentiment stamp and use dies, embossing folders, patterned paper and ribbon to frame the card. So I decided to continue with that theme again this month.

I used the cuttlebug embossing folder "scroll works" to frame the sentiment from the new set "season of change". This set was just released this month. It even has a matching die. I love the versatility of this set.

Instead of patterned paper I chose metallic card stock in chocolate and cream. I punched some leaves from copper metallic paper and added a few rhinestones for a little bling.


My ribbon is some that I recycled from a fall wedding shower a few years ago. I liked the coppery shimmer and the fall words printed on it. I thought it worked great with my card today.

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

Some other challenges:
1.  The Outlawz blog has a challenge to make your own embellishments. I punched my copper leaves.
2.  Allsorts challenge blog has a "you've been framed challenge. My exact theme for this card.
3.  Challenge up your life blog has a no patterned paper challenge.

Creative Belli Challenge #124

Happy Wednesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog.

It's time for another Creative Belli challenge. This 2 week period we are using gingham. It can be stamped, patterned paper or ribbon.

The spirit of the Belli challenges is to encourage you to use your OLD and FORGOTTEN embellishments!


Everyone is welcome to play along! Challenge a stamping friend!! Just follow the theme
.
Drop by the Creative Belli blog to see what the rest of the Belli girls design team has come up with. You will not be disappointed.
For my card, I decided to use red gingham patterned paper. My sweet bear image is a new line of digital images from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps- the Rhubarb collection. There are 25 of these cute little guys. You can see all of them by clicking here.

I colored him with prismacolor pencils and gamsol. Since Rhubarb is picking apples I cut out a few from some old designer paper I had. I added some white rick rack and used a cuttlebug folder to add texture to my brown panel.

The sentiment is also from Sweet 'n Sassy stamps and they go along with the Rhubarb images.

Well, that my card for today. So until next time........God Bless

Some other challenges:
1.  Try It on Tuesday blog has an anything goes challenge.
2.  Use it on Tuesday blog has an Indian Summer challenge. This represents harvest to me. My little bear is harvesting apples. All the patterned paper I use is over 2 years old-I cut my apples from the patterned paper. The embossing on my brown panel is done with a cuttlebug folder that is over a year old.
3.   Bling it on blog has an ABC challenge. I have an apple, a bear and a circle (sentiment).

Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Sweet Peak #8

Happy Monday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog.

Well, today is sweet peak #8 of the fall release for Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps. This month it's all about autumn.

If you long for the cool, crisp air and the beauty of the changing season, you are going to love what we have in store for you.

If you would like to see all the glimpses of the sets right now visit the Sweet'n Sassy blog to see what the other designers have done.

Or you can come to our release party tonight on Splitcoaststampers. We will be in this forum showing the full reveals of all the new sets, a few challenges and there are prizes to be won.
Hope you can join us from 8:00-10:00 pm tonight. It will a lot of fun and chatting.

There are a couple of big announcements being made tonight at the release party so you don't want to miss out. A little hint - it has to do with this stamp set that I am showing today.

Now onto my card for today. I used the new set "season of change". It has 4 different patterned leaves and 2 sentiments. I decided to stamp the leaves and make patterned paper. I like the look it gives.

I made the sentiment on this card the focal point.  I stamped it in a cajun ink and layered it on an oval spellbinders die. Since this is a fall set, I used some of the colors of fall- peach parfait, cajun craze and an espresso shade. I used a cuttlebug folder that has the words of fall and a peach parfait ribbon to complete this card.

Well, that's it for me for now. Hope you will drop by Splitcoaststampers tonite at 8:00 and join the party!!

Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Sweet Peak #7

Happy Sunday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. Today I am giving you a peak of a new stamp set from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps.

This set will be released along with 7 others on Monday night at the release party.

The big news is this month it will be held over on Splitcoaststampers website. The reason is that Sweet'n Sassy is now a member company on Splitcoaststampers.

This is such good news for Korin & Dan Sutherland. I am excited for them as I watch their company grow. I am thrilled to be a part of it as a design team member.

So onto my card for today. I used the new set "peace of God". This is such a great set with 7 sentiments and this beautiful bird image. It looks just like the little titmouse that visits our bird feeders so I colored him in grays and whites and just the tiniest hint of color near his wings.

I used prismacolor pencils and gamsol. Since this is our fall release I went with that color scheme for my card. My designer paper is from Stampin-Up a retired collection "autumn traditions". I paired it with eggplant & mustard cardstock. Artichoke ribbon and a red & mustard button completed this card.

The layout is this Saturdays sweet stop sketch #121. 



Well that's it for me today. Make sure you drop by again tomorrow. I will have another sweet peak for you and also the link to the forum on splitcoaststampers. That way you will be able to join our release party.