~Mother's Day~

 

Hello Blogger Friends!! Thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. Springs has totally sprung in Pittsburgh. We are having some beautiful, warm days.

 

In fact, I turned my air conditioner on for the first time this season yesterday. It was in th high 80's and way too warm in the house for me. 

Funny, but as I typed this I decided to re-open all the windows. It's early morning and still cool enough to enjoy the warm gentle breeze.

 

This weekend is Mother's Day. I am still working on my cards. Not sure where the days are going, I guess I need to organize my time better.

I give cards to my friends in church, and I have always passed them out on Mother's Day. For my mother-in-law, we will give her card along with her gift. Then for my daughter-in-law, I will give her card in person as well.

 

So I am ok with the delivery, I just need to get the cards completed. I have 5 done and am working on a 6th one. That's my daughter-in-laws and I always want that to be special.

 

Now, onto my card for today. I have been wanting to use the Stampin'-Up "Lotus Blossom" stamp set and I thought a Mother's Day card was a good opportunity.

This is a 3 step stamping set. My flower is stamped with tangerine tango first,  then calypso coral and finally crisp cantaloupe ink. I really like the shading in the flower by using the 3 colors. Although there is a bit of a learning curve.

 

Stampin-Up has marked the flowers 1-2-3 so you know which order to stamp. And, they even have a placement guide on the stamps themselves. Just don't ink up the placement guide because it makes a wonky looking flower. I had to search YouTube to figure out how to use this set. Because, there were no instructions on the stamp set itself.

The background designer paper is from the Stampin-Up "gold soiree" collection. I layered it on garden green cardstock and then calypso coral for my base. This is such a beautiful collection of paper.

The light green panel is pistachio pudding cardstock and I used the Cuttlebug folder "birds and swirls. The "happy" word is from the MFT happy trio die-namics set. I finished by adding some calypso coral ribbon and a few pearls to complete my card.

 

The layout on this card is from the SCS Wednesday sketch challenge #539.  So until next time.....God bless. Happy Mother's Day!!!

 

 

 

 

 



Stamps: Lotus Blossom (Stampin' Up), Happy Mother's Day (whipper Snapper Designs) 

Paper: calypso coral, garden green, pistachio pudding, ww, gold soiree dsp 

Paper Size: A2 

Ink: Calypso Coral, Tangerine Tango, Crisp Cantaloupe, pistachio pudding Accessories: MFT happy trio die, Spellbinders matting basics A & B & circle dies, Cuttlebug birds & swirls ef, calypso coral ribbon, pearls    

I am also entering:
1.  Bloggers Challenge is May Flowers.
2.  Brown Sugar has a layers challenge.
3.  Frosted Designs has an "all about Mom" challenge 
4.  Crafty Ribbons Challenge is anything goes with ribbon.
5.  Addicted to Stamps challenge blog has a holiday challenge.
 

A Little Shabby Chic

 

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. Things have been quite busy in the Marsh household these past few weeks.

 

Life can sometimes get in the way of pursuing my passion of card making. But, I am hoping that there will be a bit of settling and my routine can return to something a bit more on my normal terms (lol).

 

My preschool year is drawing to a close so quickly. We have only 3 more weeks of school left. The kids are preparing for their graduation on May 21. They are learning some new songs to be sung for the parents that night. 

 

This group really likes going onto the stage to sing for their parents. They aren't shy and really get animated. I will miss this class. Next year all but 2 of them will move up to the 3 day program. We will have a new class that I am sure I will love just as much as this one.

 

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for the Color Challenge #527 on Splitcoaststampers. Karen was the hostess and she chose the color palette of wild wasabi, pink pirouette and sahara sand. Our option was to make a shabby chic card.

 

wild wasabi, pink pirouette, sahara sand

The colors and option this week are out of my stamping element. But, that's what makes you expand as a stamper- right???  I jumped right in and made a shabby chic card and a mixed media one at that. It took me awhile to finish it but when it was done I was pleased with the outcome.

I used some sahara sand designer paper from the Stampin-Up "thoroughly modern" collection. I lightly sponged a little pink pirouette ink and stamped some text in the corners using the Stampabilities faded background text stamp.

And, then I flicked gesso onto the designer paper with a toothbrush. Used my TH paper distresser for the designer paper  and the sahara sand layer.

I purchased a shabby chic kit from the Funkie Junkie years ago and never used it. Why I would buy it when I don't do that style of card I am not sure. But, it was here for me for today's project.

There was an image, seam binding and lace in the kit that I used on this card. I cut the image down with a circle die and then layered it on a Cherry Lynn Designs die in pink pirouette.

Made the bow, added the lace, some paper and silk flowers and the decorative corner element to complete my card. 

 

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

 

card details:

Stamps: background faded text (Stampabilities) 

Paper: pink pirouette, sahara sand, thoroughly modern dsp (Stampin-Up) 

Paper Size: A2 Ink: choc chip, pink pirouette 

Accessories: Spellbinders Matting Basics A & B, Cherry Lynn Designs polynesian sails die and lace corner deco dies, lace and seam binding (May Arts), flowers (unknown), pearls (Darice}, paper distresser (Tim Holtz) T

Techniques: mixed media, shabby chic 

 

 

You Are Loved

 

Hello Blogger Friends!!! Thanks for taking time out of your day to visit the Charmed Life Blog. I am nursing a spring cold. The type with chest congestion and a cough. Several of the kids were coughing and sneezing last week in preschool. I am guessing that's where I picked it up.  Oh well its on the downside now so I expect to be back to normal by the weekend.

 

As I type this post, I looked out the window and the rain we were getting turned to snow. How crazy is that for the end of April?? 

 

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for my niece who is battling breast cancer. She completed her chemo and today is having a lumpectomy. Then she starts radiation. She has an aggressive form of cancer but the doctors caught it very early with a mammogram. I have been trying to send her cards to let her know I am praying for her.

tempting turquoise, rose red, island indigo

 

This is my sample for CC526. Vicki is our hostess and she chose tempting turquoise, rose red and island indigo for her color trio. Dessert is to use flowers.

I decided to create an outside garden scene this week. My inspiration came from this card from the KittieKraft blog. I added some layers, an embossed background and the die cut tree to give it my touch. As well as change the colors.
 
I cut my tree from the Taylored Expressions shade tree die. The background embossing is the Stampin-Up "cloudy day" folder. I brayered the embossing folder with turquoise ink to add a little background color.

My hilly slope is cut with the Lawn Fawn stitched hillside borders die in turquoise.
I recently purchased the Impression Obsession wheelbarrow die and this card was the perfect opportunity to use it.

 The wheelbarrow is cut with island indigo cardstock and the flowers are from the Poppy Stamps wildflower patch die.

I finished up my card by adding the die cut "you". I cut it several times for dimension and layered the choc chip slightly offset.
My sentiment on the wheelbarrow is from the Simon Says Stamp set "expressions for you". It also includes the "You" die.

 

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

 

card details:

Stamps: Expressions For You (Simon Says Stamp) 

Paper: ww, tempting turquoise, rose red, choc chip, island indigo (Stampin-Up) 

Paper Size: A6 

Ink: basic black (Stampin-Up) 

Accessories: Shade tree (Taylored Expressions), Cloud Day Embossing Folder (Stampin-Up), Wheelbarrow (Impression Obsession), Wildflower Patch (Poppy Stamps), stitched hillside (Lawn Fawn), Heart Punch(Marvy Uchida)   

I am also entering:

1.  Addicted To Stamps has an anything goes challenge.

2.  Crafty Gals Corner has a girls, girls, girls challenge. Flowers and girls go together and I made this one especially for my niece.

3.  Curtain Call has a bouquet challenge.

4.  Die Cuttin' Divas has a Garden Month challenge. Something from the garden.
5.  2 Crafty Girls has a spring time challenge. This is a brand new challenge- check it out.

CC525 ~Happy Birthday~

 

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

 

Spring has finally come to Pittsburgh. We have such a beautiful week-end with lots of sunshine and Monday was warm, just a perfect spring day.

 

The daffodils, crocus and hyacinths are blooming. The tulips that the deer didn't eat have not bloomed as yet. But, my husband has been very consistent to use the deer-off spray to keep them away. 

 

This morning was my day at pre-school. The kids were very high energy and we decided to take them outside to the play area for about 15 minutes. They worked off some energy before the parents came back to pick them up. I can't believe we only have a month of school left. Where did the year go???

 

Today we made grape juice with the kids. They learned the letter "j" so this activity tied right into their learning. They really enjoyed putting the grapes in the juicer and watching the grape juice come out. Not to mention that they loved the sweetness of the juice. And, no added white sugar.

 

I am going to do a fun activity with them for the remaining Tuesdays of the school year. Next week I plan on ice cream. I own a Vita-Mix and you can make some fabulous ice cream really quick in that machine.

 

Now onto my card for today. this is another one that I made for Color Challenge #525 bingo game on Splitcoaststampers. Since the challenge is over, I can now say that we did have a hidden prize for this fun game.

 

You had to use the diagonal row of colors consisting of cherry cobbler, bermuda bay, mossy meadow and soft sky. The prize was a Splitcoaststampers mug. We only had 1 stamper select that color combo. So we didn't have to do a drawing for the winner.

 

We had 2 prizes to award and the other went back to the prize bag. Not going to say what the other prize was because we will run the game again in about 6 weeks.

As an incentive to the other stampers, I used that color combo to make this card. The "Happy" word is the PaperTrey Ink "phrase play #5 die. My birthday word is from the Stampin-Up set "see ya later". I stamped in cherry cobbler ink.

Added some mossy meadow thick bakers twine and candy dots in cherry cobbler and soft sky to complete this card.

 

Well, that's it for me for today. Time to get ready for my photography class for tonight. So until next time.......God bless.

 

card details:

Stamps: See Ya Later (Stampin-Up) 

Paper: WW, bermuda bay, Kaleidoscope dsp (Stampin-Up)

Paper Size: A2 Ink: cherry cobbler 

Accessories: PTI Phrase Play #5 die, SB pierced rectangles die, corner rounder, Mossy Meadow thick bakers twine, regals & soft subtles candy dots (Stampin-Up)

 

I am also entering: 

1.  PaperTake Weekly Challenge is words, words, words.

2.  Craft-dee Bowz is anything goes with a handmade bow.

   

The Kindness You Show

 

Hello Blogger Friends!!! Thanks for taking time out of your day to visit the Charmed Life Blog.

 

This week kind of got away from me. I have wanted to post a card earlier in the week but somehow it didn't happen. Ever have weeks like that??

 

We had a very nice Easter celebration here at my home. The in-laws + our next door neighbors were here for dinner. The food was plentiful and delicious.

 

I made a new brussel sprouts recipe that everyone thoroughly enjoyed. It was made with bacon, shallots and thyme. One of those keeper recipes. If anyone would like it, just let me know in your comments and I will send it along.

 

We are having a guest for the weekend so I have some household chores to do before he arrives. Nothing major since the cleaning was already done for Easter. And I kept ahead of everything during the week.

 

We are also going to Ikea today to pick up some storage stuff for my craft room. I am excited to be getting additional pieces to get this room finished. More on that later.

 

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for the Color Challenge #525 on Splitcoaststampers. I am the hostess this week and we are having a bingo game. See post here for all the details. Something may be hidden in the bingo card so come and join in on the fun. Just sayin'!!!

 

 

Just like regular bingo, you can pick a horizontal or vertical row. A diagonal line might be interesting. You can even select the 4 corners for your combo, if you like. , 

 

I chose a vertical row for my colors of blushing bride, rich razzleberry, mossy meadow and pear pizzazz. I liked the contrast of greens and the mix of razzleberry against the soft pink of blushing bride.

My card uses lots of dies and background stenciling. I had this card saved on one of my Pinterest Boards and used it for my inspiration today. I added some layers and changed colors to give it my own touch.

The stenciling is done with a Heidi Swapp stencil in pear pizzazz ink. I lightly splattered some rich razzleberry ink with a toothbrush.

I used 3 Memory Box dies : My background die is the "massa leaf frame" and I cut in mossy meadow cardstock. I also used the "chloe leaf die" and cut those in pear pizzazz cardstock. My flower is the Pavilia bloom outline and background dies. I cut the background flower in rich razzleberry and the outline in white.

To complete the card I added a butterfly cut with an Elizabeth Craft die in blushing bride and the butterfly body in rich razzleberry for some contrast. Scattered some sequins cut with the MFT sequin die.

Well, that's my card for today. Time to get on with my busy day. So until next time.......God bless.

 

card details: 

Stamps: lotus blossom (Stampin-Up) 

Paper: blushing bride, mossy meadow, rich razzleberry, pear pizzazz, ww 

Paper Size: A2 Ink: pear pizazz, rich razzleberry 

Accessories: massa leaf frame, chloe leaf die, Pavilia bloom outline & background dies (memory Box), small butterfly (Elizabeth Crafts), sequin die ( MFT), Heidi Swapp stencil 

Techniques: stenciling 

 

I am also entering:

1.  Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge is spring showers and or spring flowers

2.  Sister Act Card Challenge is anything goes.

3.  4 Crafty Chicks has a die cuts challenge.

 

 

~Easter Blessings~

 

Hello Blogger Friends!!! Happy Easter to all of you. Hope your day is a blessed one. We are starting off the day with a church service.

 

It will be a full congregation today so I have to get there a bit early to get a seat. No walking in as service starts for me today. (lol)!!

 

Then our family celebration will be with my in-laws. Our son and daughter-in-law are with her family this year. So the dinner table will be a bit less full. I invited my next door neighbors who are driving home from Philadelphia today. That way a nice warm meal will be waiting for them.

 

Now onto my card for today. This one I made as my last Easter card of the season. I used the layout from the SCS sketch challenge #534. I added a few more layers to my card but still kept to the basic sketch design.  

 

scs534

 

 I chose my designer paper first and that determined my card colors. The designer paper is from the Stampin-Up "all abloom" collection.

The Easter word is cut with an Impression Obsession die. The flower is the Pavilia bloom outline die from Memory Box.

The curved bottom of the designer paper is cut with the stitched hillside die from Lawn Fawn and the blessings word is a die from Simon Says Stamp.

 

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

 

Card Details:

Paper: strawberry slush, mossy meadow, blushing bride, all abloom dsp (Stampin-Up) 

Paper Size: A2 

Accessories: Easter Joy die (Impression Obsession), Pavilia Bloom die (memory Box), Christmas Blessings die (Simon Says Stamp), Stitched Hillside die (Lawn Fawn)

~Easter Joy~

 

Hello Blogger Friends and a happy April to you all!!! Thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog.

 

My hubby and I were out in San Francisco for 5 days taking care of our sweet granddaughter, Phoenix Daisy. My son and daughter-in-law both had business trips. 

 

The time went by so quickly and of course we were exhausted at the end of the day. She has boundless 4 year old energy and wants to play all day. She was so sad the day we left to go home.

 

When we arrived in Pittsburgh, my daughter-in-law called us because Phoenix Daisy was crying. She wanted to FaceTime with us and the service did work on my phone in the car.  She called again the next morning and we did the Facetime for about an hour.

 

This video service from Apple is wonderful. And it's so perfect when you have family or friends that live far away. The quality of the connection is great. It runs over your internet connection or your cell phone service.

 

I will be back out there at the end of May because the parents want to go away for a little r & r over Memorial Day. Hubby wont make that trip because of work. I am already looking forward to it.

 

Now onto my card for today. I am showing another Easter card. I didn't make many this year and I didn't mail any of the ones I made yet. Hopefully that gets done today.

 

The colors are from the SCS color challenge #523. Barbara was our hostess and she chose and she chose choc chip, melon mambo and garden green for her color palette.  Our option this week is to make a spring card. 

 

melon mambo, choc chip, garden green

 I thought these colors were perfect for an Easter card. I also found some Basic Grey designer paper in my stash that had all the challenge colors and flowers. How is that for a great score???

My frames are from the Spellbinders floral oval and small oval collections. The Easter word cut in choc chip is a die from Impression Obsession. I cut it 3 times and then layered to give it more dimension.

To finish my card, I added some ribbon and bow with a sequin center and also candy dots from the brights collection at Stampin-Up.

 

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

 

card details:

Paper: choc chip, melon mambo, ww, Basic Grey sultry dsp 

Paper Size: A2 

Accessories: Spellbinders A & B matting basics and floral oval dies, Impression Obsession die, Michael's ribbon, Darice sequin, SU candy dots   

I am also entering:
1.  Addicted to Stamps has a holiday challenge.
2.  The Crafters Café has an Easter challenge.
3.  Fab 'n Funky has lots of layers
4.  Clear It Out Challenge is to use 2 or more things from stash. I used the last of both the dp as well as the ribbon.
5.  Craft-Dee Bowz is anything goes with a handmade bow.
6.  Get Creative Challenge is to use a die cut.
7.  Crafty Ribbons has an Easter challenge with ribbon
8.  613 Avenue Create has an anything goes

Stained Glass Cross

 

Hello Blogger friends!!! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit at the Charmed Life Blog. I appreciate all the guests who come by.

 

Well, I know it's spring because it reads that way on the calendar and some of our crocus have popped up. But, we had over an 1" of snow here in Pittsburgh tonight.

 

I was busy with other things before I noticed the snow on our deck. When I went to the front of my house it looked like a winter wonderland - pretty and so serene. Just like you would want on December 24th or 25th but not on March 24th (lol)!!

 

Oh well, the spring flowers are coming up and I have seen lots of robins. So I know for sure that Spring is about to make a grand entrance soon.

 

Until that happens, I have an Easter card to show you with some spring colors. This one I made for the color challenge #521 on Splitcoaststampers. Karen was our hostess and she chose a lovely palette of colors with lost lagoon, daffodil delight, strawberry slush and pear pizzazz. Our option is to use flowers but not stamped ones.

 

lost lagoon, daffodil delight, strawberry slush, pear pizzazz

I  just bought this new stained glass cutting plate from Taylored Expressions after seeing the beautiful card samples on her store web site. I thought Karen's colors would be beautiful as a stained glass window.

I cut the image once in white and then again in all the challenge colors. I pieced in the die cuts for the stained glass look. Before I started the piecing of the dies. I layered the white image panel over a panel of strawberry slush card stock.

My Easter word is a die from Impression Obsession. The tulips are a die from the Frantic Stamper.

I layered them over a piece of vellum because they seemed to be competing with the background. The vellum is a nice separation, I thought. This idea came from Joan Ervin. Thanks Joan.

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

 

card details:

Paper: WW, daffodil delight, lost lagoon,pear pizzazz,strawberry slush, vellum 

Paper Size: A2 

Accessories: stained glass cross cutting plate (Taylored Expression), Easter Joy die (Impression Obsession), tulip accents (Frantic Stamper) 

I am also entering:
1.  Artistic Impressions has an anything goes with a twist of Easter.
2.  ABC Challenge has a "F" for festive.
3,  Always Something Creative has an Easter challenge.
4.  My Craft Creations has an anything goes.

5.  Curtain Call InspirationChallenge - I used the colors from the inspiration photo



 

~Easter Joy~

 

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

 

It's March Madness time in our household and in the rest of the country!!!. My hubby is a big college basketball fan and Pittsburgh is hosting some first and second round playoffs this year. The teams for the Saturday games are NC State vs Villonova and Notre Dame vs Butler.

 

So he was able to go to the games on Thursday and Saturday with our son and grandsons. He decided to take the train downtown tonight. The last game went to overtime, and he didn't know if he missed the last train from downtown.

 

I was thinking that I would have to drive into the city at 12:30 am to pick him up. He did manage to get on a train that was running to the parking lot where he left his car, he thinks. But as I type this, I am still not sure if I have to drive somewhere to pick him up.

 

So I decided to write up a blog post while I wait for the outcome of his adventure. Can you believe it's spring already. Yesterday was cold here and today was not much better. But, the temperatures look like they are on the rise all this week. By mid-week we will have a 60 degree day. Yay!!

 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for the color Challenge #520 on Splitcoaststampers. Vicki was the hostess and she chose coastal cabana, real red and daffodil delight for her color trio. 

coastal cabana, real red, daffodil delight

I didn't re-read my email with the challenge colors before I made my card. And, I used so saffron instead - oops!!. I think I would have liked the daffodil delight much better on my card but too late now. 

 I decided to try these colors for an Easter card. With a downplay on the red, I think they worked. I recently purchased 2 new to me Impression Obsession dies after seeing this card by KittieKraft. I used it for my inspiration this week.

The background is the Impression Obsession Easter cutout square. I paper pieced the flowers with real red.

To make the frame I used some Spellbinder square dies. My sentiment is the Impression Obsession Easter Joy die. I cut in real red and layered the coastal cabana cut over that.

Now I have one Easter card finished. Still need a few more and I am working on that. As I am ending up this blog post, I hear the garage door opening. My hubby made it home safely. Thank the Lord!!

 

card details:

Paper: coastal cabana, so saffron, real red, ww, Paper Size: Square 

Accessories: Easter cutout square, bunnies, Easter Joy dies (Impression Obsession), Spellbinder square dies  

 

I am also entering:

1.  Challenge Up Your Life has an Easter challenge.

2.  Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers has an "E" for Easter challenge 

3.  Bloggers Challenge has an "outdoors" challenge.

4.  Brown Sugar has an anything goes challenge.

5.  Aud Sentiments has a 2 word sentiment challenge.

 

 

Baby card in a box

 

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

This month has been a bit of a whirlwind for me. I was sick for a week and then over at my son's home taking care of my grandsons for a week.
I just returned home yesterday morning and then off to preschool. I also am taking a photography class and that is on Tuesday nights.

So yesterday afternoon was spent getting the homework done and also buying the extra stuff he wants us to have for our cameras. That would be an extra battery-a lens hood-uv filters and a tripod. I was only successful in getting the extra battery. Turns out we didn't need any of the extras for this week's class. So I stressed myself for nothing (lol)!!!

Today will be a day of getting our receipts etc. ready for filing our income tax. It seems like I do so much of the work for the accountant who actually prepares the return. But, I guess that's the way that goes. I will be glad when it's done for another year.

Anyway, onto my card for today. This one I created for a young couple in our church who had their first baby. I really like making the cards in a box and I thought this one turned out so cute.

I used the colors from CC518 on Splitcoaststampers. I was the hostess and I chose
brown sugar, pistachio pudding, hello honey, crisp cantaloupe, and coastal cabana. The option for the challenge was to make a baby card.

brown sugar, pistachio pudding, hello honey, crisp cantaloupe, coastal cabana

I used the Stampin-Up set "something for baby" and the matching framelits dies to cut out the images.

My designer paper is from the lullaby collection from Stampin-Up. For the "baby word", I used the MFT little letters dies.

Here is a link to a tutorial for the card in a box. It's put together by Frenchie a Stampin-Up.

 

And, some other side and rear views of the box. 

 left side view

 rear view

 left side view

right side view

 

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









Card details:
Stamps: something for baby (Stampin-Up) 
Paper: WW, coastal cabana, hello honey, pistachio pudding, lullaby dsp (Stampin-Up) 
Ink: coastal cabana, pistachio, pudding, hello honey (Stampin-Up) 
Accessories: babys first framelit dies (Stampin-Up), MFT blueprints15 and MFT little letters  

I am also entering:  
1.  Addicted to Stamps has an anything goes challenge.
2.  Crafting For All Seasons has a pastel hues challenge.
3.  Inspiration Destination has an anything goes challenge.
4.  Going-Grey with Scrap Creations has a pastels challenge.
5.  Not Just Cards has an anything goes challenge