~flower patch birthday~

 

Hello Blogger Friends!! Thanks for taking the time to stop and check in on the Charmed Life Blog. I am doing fine and enjoying the weather this week in March as well as the longer days.

 

I am also taking a photography class at our local community college.  I bought a new Canon Rebel camera and have no idea how to use it. The class runs for 8 weeks so I should have an idea of what I am doing by the end of it. 

 

Last night was our first class and I like the instructor already plus he seems very thorough. He is teaching the class in my community on Monday nights and in a nearby community on Tuesday nights. He said rather than have to miss a class if we can't make our Tuesday night then come to the class on Monday night.

 

When I registered I was told the Monday night class was full so I had to register for the Tuesday class. So now I have an option which will help me out because of some conflicting plans in the next couple of weeks.

 

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for the color challenge #519 on Splitcoaststampers. We have a new hostess, Kim, in the group and this was her first challenge with us.

 

She selected the color trio of blackberry bliss, pear pizzazz and pool party. Our option was to use our favorite embellishment.

 

blackberry bliss, pear pizzazz, pool party

These colors spoke flowers to me. And flowers seem so feminine and from there birthday. So I went that direction and decided to use a new stamp set. I bought the Stampin-Up flower patch set with matching dies several months ago and didn't ink until today.

 

Stampin-Up stamp sets and dies always are a bit tricky to get lined up correctly. So first I had to search YouTube to find out how to do that. Frustrating for sure. You would think they would put some info on their website, but I guess that's too easy. I am so glad that demonstrators are willing to share tips and pointers on products.

 I stamped the flowers with blackberry bliss and pool party inks then die cut. I used the leaf die from the set to cut some leaves in pear pizzazz. I sponged the edges to give a little depth. My designer paper is from the Stampin-Up "gingham garden" collection.

To complete the card and include the option, I added some pear pizzazz ribbon. Die-cut the birthday word in blackberry bliss and scattered a few sequins.

 

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

 

card details:

Stamps: flower patch (Stampin-Up) 

Paper: blackberry bliss, pear pizzazz, ww, gingham garden dsp (Stampin-Up)     

Ink: blackberry bliss, pool party, pear pizzazz 

Accessories: flower fair framelits (Stampin-Up), pear pizzazz ribbon, birthday die (PTI), gold sequins (Darice)   

I am also entering:

 1. Fresh Brewed Designs has a flowers challenge.

2.  Mod Squad Challenge is to use flowers.
3.  Crafting From The Heart has an anything goes
4.  Really Reasonable Ribbon has a flowers and ribbon challenge.

~Bunny Hugs 'n Coffee~

 

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

 

We had a crazy snow and ice storm yesterday in Pittsburgh. It kept me from attending church services. It's supposed to continue during the week. At least the ice part of it. I am looking forward to March going out like a lamb since it came in like a roaring lion!!

 

And, I am also battling a sore throat -earache -and general body achiness.  I am pumping the vitamin C trying to stay ahead of a cold. So many people are sick right now with a variety of illnesses.

 

I won't be at pre-school tomorrow. Don't want to carry anything there. I also wont be picking up my grandson from school. That is a big disappointment because Tuesday is my day with him. I will try and schedule another day this week, possibly.

 

 

Now onto my card for today. This is another I made for the Spring Coffee Lovers Blog Hop. Get all the details here. There are lots of prizes to be won so pull out your coffee themed stamps and dies and play along. Already 259 stampers have posted cards!! Lots of coffee lovers out there.

 

I am sending this card to my friend who is in need of some cheering up. She loves coffee and needs some hugs right now. I will give her this card along with some K-cups. She likes the blend I buy from the San Francisco Bay coffee company.

 

Since the hop theme is spring I pulled out a Great Impressions Stamp (C343) and some Impression Obsession bunny dies. Along with my MFT coffee dies.

 

The designer paper is from the DCWV "spring mix pack". Lots of beautiful bright spring paper as well as spring glitter paper. I used some of the glitter designs for my card. 

 

The paper bow is an MFT die from the Blueprints 3 collection. Well that's my card for today. Time to make a cup of tea to soothe my sore throat. So until next time.......God bless.

 

card details:

stamps: some bunny loves you (C343) - Great Impressions Stamps

paper: white, daffodil delight, Baja breeze (Stampin-Up), DCWV spring mix pack 

ink: wild wasabi

accessories: MFT coffee and blueprints 3  dies, Impression Obsession bunny dies, Spellbinders matting basics A & B

 

Coffee Lovers Blog Hop

 

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to drop by and visit the Charmed Life Blog. It's been one of those crazy and busy type days. And, we have stuff planned all weekend.

 

So, it looks like the busyness will continue through Sunday night. But, I did manage to get my workout in at the gym today.

 

Our youngest grandson is coming to spend the night. My hubby and he are out watching some high school basketball games right now. It's playoff time and they enjoy going and just spending time with each other.

 

So I am here for the night, but I don't mind. I have plenty to do to keep me busy. It never seems to end, you know. The stuff to do part (lol)!!

 

Today, on my friend Vicki's blog, I noticed that there was another coffee lovers blog hop. I wanted to take part back in December but I couldn't so I decided today to jump in there for the Spring Hop.

 

Here is a link to the blog and info on how to enter your card.  Lots of prizes!!

 

I have these coffee themed stamps and dies that I purchased from MFT. All I needed was to select my color scheme and layout. I also needed a thank you card to send to a friend so my card sentiment was already decided as well.

 

I picked a bright color scheme so I hope this qualifies as spring. I just read the fine print after I made my card.

 

Since these designer papers from Stampin-Up were still out on my desk, I decided to use those. They are from the "retro fresh collection.

 

The bow is also a die from MFT. It gives the look of ribbon without all the bulk. The Post Office will be happy.

 

Well, that's my card for today. I am jumping over to the blog to see all the entries for the hop.

 

Until next time.......God Bless.

 

Card details:

Paper: tangerine tango, coastal cabana, baked brown sugar, very vanilla (Stampin-Up)

Ink: choc chip

Stamps: perk-up (MFT)

Accessories:  coffee die and blueprints 3 (MFT),  Spellbinders Matting Basics A & B, Darice Hearts embossing folder

 

Rose Happy Birthday

 

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. Hope you are staying warm in your neck of the woods. It's still cold here and tomorrow more snow is coming.

 

But, the cold didn't keep me away from my work-out routine. Today was my work-out day at my gym. I still have been going 3x a week. It helps to have a team of 5 women that I work out with regularly. We keep each other accountable.

 

For me, if I know the other girls will be there it makes me want to go. We are still working out 1 day a week with our trainer, Josh. The other 2 days we just do the routine he has us on. Today there were only 3 of us, but we had a good work out.

 

Josh has us on a routine where we work with weights for strength. He has us doing core exercises to help improve our balance and stability. And then we do some cardio to help burn calories and build endurance. 

 

Now, onto my card for today. I have been wanting to try the embossing folder stamping technique. Here is a link to a great tutorial.

 

 I used the wavy hearts embossing folder from Darice and inked it with picked raspberry and spun sugar distress paints. I then sprayed it with gold glimmer mist. I really like the way the background turned out.

 

My flower is from the PaperTrey Ink set "cutting garden". Stamped in picked raspberry ink and cut with the matching die. To complete my card I stamped the birthday sentiment and added some bold pink ribbon.

 

I also made this card for the SCS IC480 challenge. Audrie, our hostess, took us to the Crystal Gayle Photography site for our inspiration. Fabulous site and I looked in every category at her lovely work.

For my inspiration I chose this single pink rose card. I focused on the single flower and the pretty pink color for my card.

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

 

card details:

Stamps: cutting garden (PaperTrey Ink) 

Paper: pear pizzazz, melon mambo, pink glitter paper, mixed media paper 

Paper Size: A2 Ink: melon mambo, choc chip 

Accessories: picked raspberry and spun sugar distress paints, MFT sequin die, tattered angels glimmer mist, Offray shocking pink ribbon  

Techniques: embossing folder stamping

Mom's Valentine 2015

 

Hello Blogger Friends!! Thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. It's another snowy Saturday here in Pittsburgh.

 

We are expecting about 3-5" of snow when its all over. Our temperatures have risen overnight and we are expected to go above freezing today. Yay!!

 

We have a birthday party to attend later this afternoon so hopefully the roads will be okay when we have to travel. The freezing rain is expected to start right about the time we leave.

 

Luckily, I don't have to drive. My hubby will take care of that. We will see what my friends do about the party. They live about 20 minutes from us. We are the ones who will be traveling the farthest.

 

I still have to make a birthday card, but I wanted to get a blog post done first. I tried doing this last night but Internet Explorer kept crashing and I wasn't able to get online.

 

It looks like my Norton anti-virus was the culprit. I discovered that after doing some research this morning. I was just ready to contact Norton when they applied a fix to the problem. And Internet Explorer started working immediately.

 

Oh well that problem is taken care of so let's get on with the post for today.

 

I realize its a week after Valentine's day but I wanted to post this card  I made for my mother-in-law. She really liked the card and called to tell me so. I was very surprised because usually she doesn't say anything about the cards I make.

 

I kept it on the clean and simple for that reason but, I really liked how it turned out. I found this card on Pinterest and used it as my inspiration piece. I made several changes to make it my own but kept the same layout.

 

The background embossing is done with the Stampin-Up tulips embossing folder. I also used the Stampin-Up adorning accents embossing folder on the white panel.

 

My hearts are cut with the Spellbinders classic hearts die in real red cardstock and also some Recollections red glittered paper. Behind the largest heart I used some Starforms adhesive black glittered paper and also used the same paper to cut my love word. The adhesive made this a breeze to attach my love word.

 

I finished up this card by adding some red bakers twine. Well, that's it for me for this Saturday morning. Time to get busy and make the birthday card I need for today. So until next time.......God bless.

 

card details:

Paper: real red, whisper white, Recollections red glitter paper, Starforms glittered black adhesive paper

Accessories: Impression Obsession love die, SU tulip and adorning accents embossing folder, Twinery red twine, Spellbinders classic hearts die 

 

I am also entering:

1.  Left Of Center challenge is to use our dies

2.  Simply Create Too has an anything goes challenge.

3.  Miriam's Crafting Blog has a romance challenge.

4.  JellyPark Friends has a love is in the air challenge.

5.  Happy Little Stampers has a cas embossing challenge.

 

~Aidin's latte~

 

Hello Blogger Friends!! Thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog on this Friday in February. It's the day before Valentine's Day and I still have a few more cards to show.

 

This is one that I made for my middle grandson Aidin. He has started to drink coffee made from the new Keurig machine that my daughter-in-law received for Christmas. He has a lot of different favorites already.

 

So I thought a coffee themed card would be perfect for him for Valentine's Day. Aidin likes the cards I make for him and takes the time to look them over and give me feedback. He is always more positive than not, but he does let me know when he thinks something could have been done differently.

 

It's always so precious to hear from him. he told me recently that he has saved every card I ever made him. How about that!!

 

So onto the details for this card. This is my sample for this week's CC517 on Splitcoaststampers.  Barbara is our hostess and she chose the color trio of coastal cabana, old olive and bermuda bay. Our option this week is layers- and we are to use 4 or more.

I needed one more Valentine card and a masculine one so the colors worked out perfect for me. I like using non-traditional colors for Valentine cards.

My card layout is this week's Mojo384. Lots of layers in the sketch so the option is covered.

My bermuda bay panel is embossed with a new to me embossing folder from Darice - "heart background".
The coastal cabana designer paper is from Stampin-Up's "maritime" collection.
The heart border is Verve's "scalloped trim trio" die.

My coffee cup and sentiment are from The MFT "perk-up" stamp and coffee die set. I finished this card by adding some twine and a tiny bow.

 

Well that's it for me for this post. Time to get back to my stamp organization. I am still in the process of setting up my new stamping room. What an undertaking this has been.

 

So until next time.......God bless.

 

card details:

Stamps: Perk-up (MFT) 

Paper: early espresso, old olive, ww, bermuda bay, coastal cabana, maritime dsp (Stampin-Up) Paper Size: A2 Ink: bermuda bay 

Accessories: coffee die (MFT), heart background EF (Darice), scalloped trio die (Verve), twinery twine

 

I am also entering:

1.  Brown Sugar Challenge is a bow and a die cut.

2.  Bloggers Challenge is love is in the air.

3.  Chocolate, Coffee and Cards is love is in the air.

4.  Sister Act Card Challenge is anything goes.

~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.  

~Valentine XOXO~

 

Hello Blogger Friends!! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit at the Charmed Life Blog. It's such a bright, sunny day here in Pittsburgh. Tricks you into thinking it's warm outside (lol)!! But, I love when we get sunny days in the winter time. The ice in the driveway is melting anyway.

 

For today, I plan on going to the gym in a little bit to meet with my exercise team and getting back to the organization of my stamping supplies. I am still trying to get my new craft room setup. I want to do some card making as well, but I will see how that goes.

 

Now onto this card for today. This is another card I made for CC515. Karen is our hostess and she chose real red, crumb cake and early espresso for her color palette. Optional is to make 2 cards and use 2 punches. I made 2 cards and used dies instead of punches on this one.

 

real red, crumb cake and early espresso

 

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

I used the MFT heart doily die and cut in crumb cake. For the center of the doily I added a circle cut with a die from the MFT Blueprints 15 set.

My center heart is a die from Cherry Lynn Designs and to the center I added the "love" word cut with an Impression Obsession die.

To finish off this card I scattered some hearts and added the "xoxo" word cut with a Stampin-Up circle framelits die.

Well that's it for me for today. Time to start my projects for today........
So until next time, God bless.

card details:
Paper: early espresso, crumb cake, real red, sending love dsp (Stampin-Up) Paper Size: A2 Accessories: Spellbinders Matting Basics A & B, MFT Heart Doily and Blueprints 15 dies, 
Cheery Lynn Designs heart die, Stampin-Up Circle Card thinlits, Impression Obsession Love die 

I am also entering: 
1.  Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge is all things bright and beautiful.  
2.  Creative Moments has an anything goes/love challenge.
3.  Fab 'N' Funky challenge is hearts/flowers
4.  Stampin' Royalty has a "die" challenge. The "xoxo" word is from the SU circle card thinlits die collection.

 

~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 
 

 

~Valentine Cupid~

 

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

 

I woke up to a snowy, Sunday morning. We are under a winter storm advisory and expecting some a crazy mix of weather today and overnight.

 

The snow kept me from church this morning. I was torn on what to do but I am not adventurous in the snow so I decided to stay home. My hubby works on Sunday mornings and then just meets me at church. He decided to go but there is not time to come and pick me up. I like starting my week with church at the forefront but it wasn't to be this week.

 

We are also supposed to go over my son's home for a Super Bowl party later on but I don't know if we are going or not yet. We are supposed to get some freezing rain later this evening. It's a 45 minute drive to their house so it's a wait and see right now.

 

Enough of the snow talk and disrupted plans. Let's get on to my card for today. I am making Valentine cards right now. I send a lot and give some to my friends for their hubbies or wives.

 

This one I made using the sketch #524 from Splitcoaststampers.

 

 

My background designer paper is from Stampin'-Up's "modern medley" collection. For the panel 3 I used some mesh ribbon from May Arts.

The heart is a die from Cherry Lynn Designs. I really like the lacey and open look of this heart. The cupid, mini hearts and love you words are dies from Impression Obsession.

 

Well, that's my card for today. Stay warm and enjoy the big game today. That's if you are watching.

Card Details:

Paper: real red, basic black, modern medley dsp (Stampin'-Up)

Paper Size: A2 Accessories: Cheery Lynn Designs heart die, Impression Obsession love and cupid dies 

I am also entering:
1.  JellyPark Challenge is love is in the air
2.  Lil Patch of Crafty Friends is an anything goes challenge
3.  Stamping Sensations has an anything goes challenge
4.  The Ribbon Girl has a romance is in the air challenge and must use ribbon.
5.  My Sheri Crafts Challenge is Valentine's Day.