Love is a Fruit

Happy Sunday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. We just returned from my youngest Grandson's basketball game.

Yes, he goes from one sport to the next. Just last Sunday we watched him play a championship football game. This Sunday it was a pre-season basketball tournament. What we liked about it besides getting to watch Ethan play was that it was held in the community we live in.
So instead of having to drive 45-50 minutes to get to the game we drove 5 minutes. Made it so nice for us. They won the tournament final game 32-30. Now we are home in time to watch the Pittsburgh Steelers play Sunday night football.

On another note, I had a voice mail message from my 2 year old granddaughter. Yes, she is comfortable with technology (lol)!!
She will take my son's I-Pad or his I-Phone and start touching the screen. When they try and take it from her she just says "Grandma" and sometimes they will give me a call or we use the FaceTime feature.

So yesterday she made a cell call to me but I missed it. But, good for me because I now have a voice mail message that I can save for a s long as I want to.

Phoenix Daisy

She is starting to talk in sentences or attempting to anyway. So her message was "hi Grandma (pronounced Bam-Ma by her)-then some silence then "how are you Bam-Ma".

I was all giggly the rest of the day just thinking about her. I even took my cell to church to let some of my friends listen to her. And of course I posted it on FaceBook. Oh, I am so one of those Grandmothers.

Now onto my card for today. This is another that I made for the Hope You Can Cling To Challenges on Splitcoaststampers.

Denise was our hostess and her challenge #22 was to use only one of each supply...one stamp, one button, one sheet of DP, one sheet of colored card stock, one rhinestone etc. You can use any combination of things but only one of each type of product (the card base, a sentiment stamp, and ink don't count).

For my card: 1 flower image (recycled from a wedding invite), 1 sentiment, 1 die cut, 1 colored card stock, 1 patterned paper. That completed my card for this challenge.

It's time to dim the lights in Charmed Life Land for another day. So until next time......God Bless.


Some other challenges:
1.  The Squirrel and The Fox has an anything goes challenge.
2.  Happy Campers Craft Collective has a "bright colors" challenge.
3.  Pin and Tack Handcrafted Delights has an anything goes challenge.

Heard you needed a lift

Happy Saturday everyone and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. Our dinner and trip to the Benedum Center to see War Horse was more than amazing.
We ate at the Capital Grille. Its just a few blocks from the theater and the food was delicious. Their speciality is dry aged steaks. This process makes the meat so tender. I have purchased steaks from our local speciality market that is dry aged. If you like steak, you should these. It's pricey but oh so worth it for a special occasion.

I had filet mignon with onions and wild mushrooms. We all shared the sides of Lobster mac 'n cheese, roasted mushrooms, grilled asparagus, and parmesan truffle fries. It was all a culinary delight.

The War Horse played to a packed house. It is a World War I drama that had a successful run on Broadway and now has hit the road for stops in 19 cities across the US. Again if it comes to your city-go and see it. You will be so impressed with the production.

Now onto my card for today. This is another one I created for the Hope You Can Cling To Challenges on Splitcoaststampers. Lisa was our hostess for challenge 20 "hope is in the air" was her theme. 

She wanted us to create a card with something that can be found up in the air. I knew immediately that I was going to do a hot air balloon card.

My images are all cut from Stampin-Up designer paper. The hot air balloon is from the "tall tales" collection and my house, clouds and trees are from the "welcome neighbor" collection.

I cut a hill from old olive designer paper with the PaperTrey ink "in the meadow" die.

My sentiment is Waltzingmouse stamps "half pint heroines" set. That's my card for today.

Time to run off to watch Ethan play a basketball game. So until next time.......God bless.

Some other challenges:
1.  Totally Gor-juss has a plain and simple challenge.
2.  Daring Cardmakers has a just because challenge.
3.  Simply Create Too has a use your stash challenge. All my elements were from my stash.  Designer paper that I have had for 2 years.

Three Snow Friends

Happy Friday everyone and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. Another weekend is upon us and I hope you have some fun plans.

Tonight my son and daughter-in-law are taking me to the theater in Pittsburgh to see the production of War Horse. We are going to a great restaurant in downtown for dinner before the theater. I will let you know tomorrow all about it.

This has been a new release week for Great Impressions Stamps. The design team has been showing great cards all week. Drop by the blog, there are prizes to be won.

My sample today is done with 2 new stamps -three snow friends J107 for my image. I colored these with prismacolor pencils and gamsol and paper pieced the pink scarf and hat. Added some polar white flower soft on this panel. The snowflakes are glittered with a clear Sakura glitter pen.

The background snowflakes are falling snowflakes E772 and stamped in Stampin-Up's marina mist ink.
The blue panels are marina mist card stock anddesigner pape. I used a Sizzix snowflake embossing folder.

The card layout is from this week's Splitcoaststampers sketch challenge #411. 

Added some mesh ribbon over the top red panel. That's my card for today so until next time....... God bless!!!!!

Some other challenges:
1.  4 Crafty Chicks has a winter challenge.
2.  Crimbo Crackers has a snowmen challenge.
3.  Crafts and Me has Christmas with non-traditional colors.
4. My Mum's Craft Shop has a winter wonderland challenge.

Primrose Birthday

Happy Thursday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. It was a busy day yesterday and I didn't get a chance to post to my blog.

I started my day with a cooking class at the Crate Cook. It's a demonstration type class so they prepare everything in front of you. And then we get to eat and enjoy it plus take home all the recipes.

It was a Thanksgiving meal, and I got some great new recipes. They butterflied a turkey, served bread stuffing in sweet dumpling squash bowls. I never had this type of squash before and it is delicious. Plus the presentation was so elegant.

The cranberry sauce was really good as was our pumpkin creme brulee for dessert.
We started our meal with a mixed green salad with a cider vinaigrette. They sauteed some honey crisp apples and added hazelnut coated goat cheese.

Needless to say I thoroughly enjoyed this lunch and learn.

Then last night I was working on thank you cards to give to the young couple that I had the baby shower for a week ago. They are all done and ready to be delivered to her today.

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for a couple of challenges on Splitcoaststampers.

For color challenge #398, Peggy was our hostess and she chose the soft, feminine color palette of primrose petals, pretty in pink and very vanilla.

My layout this week is the MojoMonday sketch #264. 
I mainly used embossing folders on my card instead of designer paper. My background is using the fancy fan embossing folder in pretty in pink. On the middle rectangle panel I used the Sizzix embossing folder “kassie’s brocade” in primrose petals.

The center square panel is stamped with the “faded text” stamp from Stampabilities in primrose petals on very vanilla cardstock.

On the circle panel I stamped my happy birthday sentiment from Verve stamps “wishing you”.  To complete this card I added some very vanilla & primrose petals ribbon.

My card is also for the Hope You Can Cling To Challenge 19 "a birthday in pink". Cindy is our hostess and she had an inspiration challenge for us. We were to pick one of the pictures she posted and make our birthday card.

Well that's it for me today. I am off to finish another card for the Great Impressions new Christmas stamps release week. So stop by again tomorrow to see what I have created.

Some other challenges:
1.  Lady Anne's stamp challenge is anything goes.
2.  Divas By Design also has an anything goes.
3.  Penny's Paper-Crafty is anything goes.
4.  365 cards wants us to make a "wordy background".

Wishes Have Wings

Happy Monday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. Hope you all had a great weekend. If you and the day off today because of Veterans Day, hope it was a relaxing one for you.

I was enjoying the warm weather and then in the afternoon the rains came in as well as the wind. It's supposed to get really cold tonight and maybe snow showers. Oh well its fall and soon the winter solstice sets in. It's time to get used to the cold weather (lol)!!

My card for today is another that I made for the Hope You Can Cling To Challenges on Splitcoaststampers. This challenge 16 was hosted by Taylor and titled "two times the fun". Everything on the card we had to use two of and they had to be slightly different. I used:

2 patterned papers

2 stamps (image & sentiment)
2 ribbons
2 flags- (cut in white & melon mambo)

My fairy image is from Great Impressions -fairy silhouette F411. The sentiment is also a Great Impressions stamp - "wishes have wings" E696.

The designer paper is from Stampin-Up's - cheerful treat collection". I paired it up with melon mambo paper, white rick rack and ruffled ribbon.

Punched a couple of butterflies to complete my card. The card layout is from Splitcoaststampers Sketch #407.

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

Some other challenges:
1.  Creative Stamp Friends wants us to use our favorite colors. I love bright colors-especially pink.
2.  Glitter and Sparkle has a things with wings challenge.
3.  Sweet Stampin' has an anything goes challenge.

Hope You Can ClingTo Challenge 15B

Happy Sunday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. 

We have had such a beautiful weekend here in Pittsburgh. Two warm and sunny days just perfect for having the windows and doors open. Which we did for awhile in the afternoon. It's hard to imagine after weather like this that snow could be right around the corner.

We went to watch our youngest grandson play in a championship football game. He is on the 6th grade team at his school and they won. He was so excited. The game was played at one of our local university fields.

Now onto my card for today. This is another that I created for the Hope You Can Cling To Challenges on Splitcoaststampers. It was made for the UT MD Cancer Center in Houston, TX. I did complete all 35 challenges and just sent the cards on their way.

For this 15th challenge, Bev was our hostess and she wants us to shine it out. We are to make a card using lots of sparkle.

For this card I found this great designer paper that was already glittered up. It's from Recollections. It also had this beautiful bird image with sentiment. So I didn't do any stamping on this card.

I added some mandarin twine, a bow with a tangerine button and my card was done. And this post is also drawing to a close. So until next time.......God bless.

Some other challenges:

1.  Challenges For Everybody has an anything goes.

2.  The Corrosive Challenge Blog has a "flutter by"-things with wings.

3.  Glitter and Sparkle Challenge Blog has a things with wings challenge.

4.  Loves Rubber Stamps Challenge has an anything goes.

Great Impressions Stamps New Release Week

Happy Sunday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. This is new release week at Great Impressions Stamps. All the design team will be showing the fab new stamps on the Great Impressions Blog as well as their own blogs. I am making a sample today as well as Friday.

I love making a card with a great layout and designer paper so that the sentiment is the focus of the card.  This new stamp is "wonderful time of the year"-  E771. It could be used with any of the Great Impressions Christmas image stamps to create a great card.

The pattern papers are from Stampin-Up's "jolly holiday" collection. My layout is from the MFT Wednesday Sketch club.

The mini banners are cut with the MFT die "banner day" die-namics. I used the Spellbinders snowflake #4 die to cut my snowflakes.

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

Some other challenges:
1.  Stamping Sensations has a traditional Christmas.
2.  Lady's Anne's Sentimental Friday challenge is anything goes.
3.  Christmas Stampin' all year long has an anything goes challenge.

Hope You Can Cling To Challenge 23

Happy Saturday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. I am still posting the cards I made for the Hope You Can Cling To Challenges on Splitcoaststampers.

I was able to finish all 35 challenges and today I went to the Post Office and picked up a priority box and got the cards in the mail. I really felt good after mailing them.
They are going to the UT MD Andersen Cancer Center in Houston, TX. The cards are available for families to give the patients or the patients to give to hospital staff or their own families.

Now onto the details for this card. My layout is from last weeks Paper Players Sketch #119. 

My designer paper is from Stampin-Up's "autumn vine" & "autumn traditions" collection.

The printed image is from Crafty Secrets "autumn blessings". I bought these images last year at a craft show and then I couldn't find them at Thanksgiving. But they showed up this year in a place where I don't remember putting them (lol). Love the vintage look.

I used the Stampin-Up square lattice folder on my pennant cut from an MFT flag stax die.

That's it for this card and this post. Off to complete some Saturday errands. So until next ime.......God bless.

Some other challenges:
1.  The Crafty Secrets Blog is having a linky party. My first time entering.
2.  Crafty Catz Challenge blog has an anything goes.
3.  DL.Art has a themed challenge. Any holiday from Oct thru end of year.

Christmas Window

Happy Friday everyone and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. Well another weekend is upon us.

Our youngest grandson is in a championship football game on Sunday afternoon. It will be cold but perfect football weather. I will be bundled up for sure. It's just middle school but we love going and cheering him on.

Other than that no plans. How about you? Anything fun or unusual happening? I love reading your comments so let me know.

Now onto my card for today. Fridays are my day to post on the Great Impressions Blog as part of their design team. This week we are having a name that Christmas Carol contest. So drop over and play along. There are prizes to be won.

Christmas -ah it's the most wonderful time of the year for me. I love all the festivities, decorating, baking, shopping, gift giving and family time.


For my card today I am showing you a window decked out for the holiday. I used two Great Impressions Stamps "merry wreath" -F344 and "have yourself" -E512.

The wreath is colored in with markers and then I did some fussy cutting and I used just a portion of the sentiment stamp. Did you know the wreath is a symbol of life with the evergreens and the circle shape represents infinity or immortality?

I used the Grand Madison window die to create the outside of the house and the illusion of looking in the window. On the brown background, I used the Tim Holtz brick embossing folder.

I added some Stampin-Up red designer paper behind the window for wallpaper and a touch of lace for my curtain. I also cut a window box and added some Stampin-Up holly stickers and stamped my sentiment.

The wreath is hung with some red grosgrain ribbon. That's my card for today. Do you think you know which carol inspired my card? I did drop some hints in the blog post. Drop over to the Great Impressions blog and register your guess. Until next time.....God bless.

Some other challenges:
1.  Craft Us Crazy blog wants us to use either our fav color or a holiday theme.
2.  The Southern Girls want to see Christmas projects.
3,  Just Keep On Creating has a Christmas challenge.

Hope You Can Cling To Challenge 14

Happy Thursday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. Well yesterday was a wonderful day in our household. We celebrated our 25th (silver) wedding anniversary.

My thoughtful husband put together quite the gift for me. He made-yes I said made- 25 cards with a memorable event from the past 25 years. He bought precut silver metallic note cards and then added his own embellies. I will take photos and show them. All my crafting is rubbing off on him (lol).

He bought a wedding ring frame and had it engraved with a 25th anniversary and he wants us to put our wedding photo on one side and a current photo on the other. I loved the idea.

He packed all of this in a beautiful vintage box with the number 25 up in the corner. He has given me some thoughtful gifts over the years but this one is by far the best.

Now onto my card for today. This one is another I made for the Hope You Can Cling To Challenges on Splitcoaststampers. This is challenge 14 hosted by Theresa. She wanted us to make a card that features text in some way.

I found this great Stampin-Up "attic boutique" designer paper in my stash. It was so perfect for this challenge. I used it as my background panel.

The designer paper colors are soft suede, daffodil delight and pool party. So I went with those colors for my card.

My layout is from Jen's deconstructed sketch #74.

The sentiment is from Stampin-Up's "curvy verses" set. Punched a daisy and some butterflies to complete my card.

Well that's it for me today. Time to travel over to meet my grandsons school bus. God bless.......

Some other challenges:
1.  Addicted to Stamps and More has a flowers challenge.
2.  Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge is lots of layers.
3.  Simon Says Stamp has a thinking of you/sympathy challenge.