Floral Blooms Birthday

Hello Blogger friends! Happy Sunday to you. We started our day here in our home with our online church service. 

Our Pastor had an excellent message on fear. Lots of biblical scripture to illustrate what he was preaching on. Here is a Facebook link to it, in case any of you might be interested. It starts off with some prerecorded worship and the actual message is 15 minutes later. 

Then my precious little granddaughter called me on FaceTime. We spent an hour together. So I am having a great day today.

Now, let's move onto my card for today. I used the Spring Blooms die from CottageCutz to create a birthday card.  Here are my design steps:

I started my card this week by selecting a designer paper. I already had a layout in mind using the Stitched Wide Rectangle Frame die that would frame the paper. I found this paper that was in a galaxy collection that I thought would work well because of the soft colors.

I paired it up with Stampin'-Up's highland heather (purple) cardstock

Heather card base: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"

Pierced Wide Frame: 3 3/4" x 4 3/4"

 and cut the frame in purple posy (light purple) cardstock.

I then cut the blooms various cardstock colors. You could always cut in white cardstock and then sponge on colors or color with markers or pencils.

I stamped the birthday sentiment directly on the designer paper in a grape ink.

I decided to add this panel to the card base before I attached the die cut blooms. Just in case I decided to take the flowers outside the frame. 

Next I attached the flower spray. I laid it out before attaching to get an idea of where everything should go. I used a combination of glue dots and multi-matte adhesive. 

I worked from the bottom up and used the packaging photo for help with placement. I adjusted to fit my card design. 

I added a few of the lighter purple sequins to finish off my card.

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

dies I used to create card:

Card details:

Stamps: be blessed (Verve)

Paper: highland heather, purple posy, gorgeous grape, pear pizzazz, daffodil delight (Stampin'-Up), galaxy dsp (Paper Studio)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: gorgeous grape, berry burst (Stampin'-Up)

Accessories: Spring Blooms die (CottageCutz), woven threads sequins (Stampin'-Up)

I am also entering:

1.  WT787 on Splitcoaststampers wants us to use the color purple.

2.  Lil Patch of Crafty Friends has an anythinggoes challenge.

3.  Sweet Stampin' Challenge is bloomon' wonderful.

4.  Creative Fingers Challenge is anything goes. 

5.  Aud Sentiments is celebrating 10 years with a birthday sentiment challenge.   

Garden Wheelbarrow

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with The Charmed Life Blog this Saturday in April. 

It has been really cold here the past several days so that's interfered with my outside walking. When temps are 40° or below I am not interested in being outside. It hasn't stopped my hubby though. I guess I am just a fair weather walker (lol)!!! Plus we have had no sun for 3 days so that makes it seem even colder. 

Needless to say, with the current stay at home order and cold weather, I am more than anxious to get outside for awhile. President Trump has laid out a plan for the gradual re-opening of America. I will have to wait and see what our Governor here in PA is going to do. 

Now let's move onto my card for today. This one I created for my weekly DT post on the CottageCutz Blog. There was a new release of Garden dies and today I am featuring the Garden Wheelbarrow and Garden Phrases dies. 

This was a work in progress for me this week. I had a basic idea of what I wanted to do, but I would have to lay it all out to see how it would look. I started by cutting the wheelbarrow and flowers. I used various colors of Stampin'-Up cardstock for the die elements.

Next, I cut a phrase from the Garden Phrases die. I couldn't decide which one to use but eventually settled on the Live life in full bloom phrase. But any of the three would have worked for my card. I am going to use this as a birthday card with the birthday sentiment on the inside.

I wanted the wheelbarrow and phrase to have a fence as the backdrop. I first used an embossing folder but I didn't like that look. So I pulled out this Hardwood background stamp from Stampin'-Up and used it to stamp my fence background. I used a light gray cardstock (smoky slate) and the matching ink. 

I didn't like the look of the fence without a bottom border of grass. So I cut a grass layer using the Spring Grass die. It gave a more finished look to my fence.

I started card assembly and attached the wheelbarrow first using dimensional adhesive. I lifted it off the fence background slightly. 

Next up, I attached the phrase using Ranger multi matte adhesive. I cut it 2x to give the phrase a bit more dimension. 

To finish off my card, I attached the image panel to the red (lovely lipstick) card base. I also scattered a few lovely lipstick enamel dots.

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

dies I used to create card:

I am also entering:

1.  Allsorts has a flowers/showers challenge.

2.  Creative Fingers has an anything goes challenge.

3.  Cut It Up has an "our beautiful earth" challenge. 

4.  Dies R Us has a Spring Flowers challenge.

5.  Crafter's Café has a flowers challenge.

6.  Simon Says Stamp has a knock on wood challenge. 

  

Easter Cross

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with The Charmed Life Blog this Easter Sunday 2020. 

It's a different celebration this year with the stay at home orders in place. We watched our church service live streamed on Facebook. Our Pastor encouraged us to dress up as if we were in attendance at church. So that's what my husband and I did. It felt good to have makeup on again and be dressed in something other than jeans. 

I have a ham in the oven for Easter dinner. It smells so good in my home right now. We are going to have an early dinner and then take some of the ham over to my sister-in-law. She has my mother-in-law living with her and buying a ham is just too much meat for them. Ours is 18 lb so we have plenty to share. Nothing will get wasted here. I can make plenty of meals from it and even freeze some of the ham.

Anyway, lets move onto my card for today. I saved this one to post on Easter Sunday. As a Christian the cross represents why we celebrate Easter, our Savior's death and resurrection. 

This one I created for the Splitcoaststampers color challenge #786. Chris was our hostess and hse chose rococo rose, pretty peacock and pool party for her color trio. Optional was to use stripes. 

pretty peacock, pool party, rococo rose

I was in need of one additional Easter card and I thought I would try with these colors. This card made it's way to my mother-in-law. It was a bit more of a challenge than I thought with these colors. But, I think I was able to pull it off. 

I cut my cross in neutrals of crumb cake (kraft) & soft suede. Then used the pretty peacock for the lily stem. The lilies are white with a small accent of rococo rose.

For the optional item, I had some older Stampin'-Up designer paper from the "color me irresistible" collection- I sponged pool party ink on the stripes.
Used some white mesh and pool party seam binding for added interest and finished off my card with a few rococo rose faceted enamel dots. My card layout is an older sketch that I had pinned to one of my Pinterest boards. See that here.

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

card details:

Stamps: easter lily (impression Obsession)

Paper: pretty peacock, pool party, rococo rose, whisper white, crumb cake, soft suede, embossed designer paper (Stampin'-Up)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: pretty peacock, pool party (Stampin'-Up)

Accessories: cross w/spring lilies, oval dies (CottageCutz), white mesh ribbon (May Arts), pool party seam binding, rococo rose enamel dots (Stampin'-Up)

I am also entering:

1.  All Fun Challenges has an anything goes with optional of Easter. 

2.  Lil Patch of Crafty Friends has an anything goes.

3.  Allsorts has a something old (Cross die), something new (enamel dots), something borrowed (used bleu striped paper), something blue (blue seam binding) 

4.  Joy of Sets has a tic tac toe- I used - designer paper, ink blending (I ink blended the designer paper)  and flowers. 

Daffodil & Egg garden

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with The Charmed Life Blog this Saturday in April. 

It's a beautiful, sunny but cold day here in Pittsburgh. We actually had snow yesterday. It didn't amount to much but it was still there. Not that it mattered anyway since we are still under the stay at home order in PA. 

Although, I read that our curve is flattening. That's such wonderful news. Our schools are not going to reopen this school year. So my Preschool is done. I feel so sad because I didn't get to say goodbye to my class. I am putting together their alphabet book that we worked on since October. Not all the letters are in there but it's still a memory from their first year of school. 

Anyway, let's move on to my card for today. Thinking about Preschool makes me too emotional. 

This card I made for my weekly DT post on the CottageCutz Blog. See this post for more photos and info. I featured the new Spring Daffodils & Eggs die. I love daffodils and they are now in bloom all over my neighborhood. Such a pretty welcome sight after the winter season.

I used the sketch challenge #795 on Splitcoaststampers for the card layout. I thought the sketch was a good one to use some designer paper in the background. 

I made more cards to send out for Easter this year to let friends & family know I am thinking of them during this time. What could be a better card for Easter than a Spring garden card- the symbol of new life. This one went to my good friend in Virginia. 

I used balmy blue gingham designer paper from Stampin'-Up. And, the Stitched Squares and Pierced Rectangle dies to cut the shapes. 3 different dies to cut the background layers. I stamped my "rejoice" phrase and this card was finished. 

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

dies I used to create card:

I am also entering:

1.  Crafty Friends has an anything goes challenge.

2.  Alphabet Challenge is "A" for anything goes. 

3.  Polkadoodles Craft Challenge is anything goes.

4.  Southern Girls Challenge is anything goes.  

5.  Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper challenge is anything goes. 

 

Marching in the Easter Parade

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

Well, even though we were given an extension on our income tax until July 15, I filed mine yesterday. I am so glad it's over and done with for another year. I use Turbo Tax software and it works fine for me. My state tax is also filed and now I just have to finish up our local tax. I don't know whether we were given an extension there or not. But, I will have that completed either today or tomorrow. 

Now that it's out of the way, I can begin on my craft room and the reorganizing of my closet. That has been on my to-do list for 2 years but somehow I just never got around to it.

So onto my card for today. This one I created for the color challenge #785 on Splitcoaststampers. Barbara was the hostess and she chose flirty flamingo, pineapple punch and bermuda bay. Optional was to make it Spring or Easter. 

flirty flamingo, pineapple punch, bermuda bay

For my card I decided to do a case of this card that I made a few weeks ago. The die I used is Spring Parade from CottageCutz.

I changed the colors to pineapple punch and flirty flamingo and added flirty flamingo enamel dots. I also made this one a long & skinny card to fit all the images - it's 7 1/4" x 4 1/4".

I used some Stampin'-Up neutral cardstocks for the bunny (baked brown sugar) and the lamb smoky slate & basic gray). For the bunny ears I sponged white cardstock very lightly with flirty flamingo ink - it produced a nice shade of pink.

Since, I didn't have a stamp with the word parade, I used the Retro Alphabet die from CottageCutz. I cut the phrase in Bermuda bay cardstock. 

The background designer paper is from a collection by Lawn Fawn. I also sponged lightly with mossy meadow (neutral) ink for a grassy knoll for the parade marchers. I am giving this card to a neighbor who needs a little pick-me up right now.

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

card details:

Stamps: Blessings (MFP)

Paper: bermuda bay, pineapple punch, flirty flamingo, baked brown sugar, smoky slate, basic gray, pumpkin pie, whisper white perennial essence dsp (Stampin'-Up), watercolor wishes dsp (Lawn Fawn)

Paper Size: 7 1/4" x 4 1/4"

Ink: bermuda bay, mossy meadow (Stampin'-Up)

Accessories: spring parade die (CottageCutz), flirty flamingo enamel dots

I am also entering:

1.  Craft Rocket Challenges has a furry friends challenge.

2.  2 Crafty Critter Crazies is anything goes with a critter. 

3.  Country View Challenge is animal magic.

4.  Die Cut Divas has an animals challenge.

5.  The Crafting Challenge has an Easter challenge. 

6.  Crafty Gals Corner has an Easter/Spring challenge. 

 

Easter Blessings

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

 

Don't know if you were able to see the moon last night but it was beautiful. I read it is the largest supermoon of 2020. I woke up before 6:00 am because it was shining in my bedroom.

I got up and went on my deck to take a look. It was so beautiful in between the trees. Tried to go back to bed but I was fully awake so my day started rather early. I have a photo on my cell phone. I will see if I can post it here on my Blog.

 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for the color challenge #784. Stef was our hostess and she chose blushing bride, melon mambo and graperfruit grove as the color trio. Optional was to add flowers to your card.

melon mambo, grapefruit grove, blushing bride

I decided to focus on the grapefruit grove color this week. My gingham background designer paper is from the Stampin'-Up "Brights" collection.

For the image, I used a new Spring die from CottageCutz- Hello Spring Bloom. The circle is cut from the Stitched Doily die also from CottageCutz.

 

For the leaves and stems, I used some designer paper in the Stampin'-Up mossy meadow (neutral) color. It has a nice gradient to it and I knew it wouldn't be to dark for these Spring colors.

Die-cut my Easter phrase, stamped the Blessings word (choc chip ink) and added a few white enamel dots to finish off my card. This card went out in the mail a couple of days ago. So it will arrive on time for Easter.

 

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

 

card details:

Stamps: Blessings (MFP)

Paper: grapefruit grove, melon mambo, blushing bride, smoky slate, basic black, perennial essence dsp (Stampin'-Up)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: choc chip (Stampin'-Up)

Accessories: Hello Spring Blooms, Happy Easter, stitched doily dies (CottageCutz), white enamel dots (Paper Studio),

I am also entering:

1.  Cuttlebug Mania has an Easter challenge.

2.  Always Fun Challenges has an Easter challenge.

3.  Crafting Happiness is anything goes with optional of Easter.

 

dies used to create card: 

 

 

 

 

Duckling Flying Kite

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with The Charmed Life Blog on Palm Sunday 2020. 

It seems so strange for me not being in our church service but our Pastor is streaming his messages live through FaceBook each week. And, that will continue as long as we are under this "stay at home" order. 

So Easter Sunday will be without my family around our dinner table. I am talking to them and also doing FaceTime but it's not the same. I am thinking that after this is all over, I will have a dinner here at my house with them. It will be like a reunion!!!

Now onto my card for today. This one I created using the colors from the Splitcoaststampers color challenge #778. Stef was the hostess and she chose pool party, mango melody and pumpkin pie for her color trio. Optional was to add texture. I used an embossing folder to create my texture.

pool party, mango melody, pumpkin pie

I struggled a bit with this color combination but in the end I thought my card turned out ok. For the layout I used Splitcoaststampers sketch sketch #787 for my card layout. I took element 5 of the sketch and moved it to the image panel. I used enamel dots.

My image is a new Spring die from CottageCutz. I think this little duckling was made for these colors. I sponged mango melody ink lightly on white cardstock to get a lighter shade of mango melody. I did try cutting the duckling from mango melody cardstock but it was just too intense of a color.

The little kite she is flying was sponged with tumbled glass distress ink. My background designer paper is from the "watercolor wishes" collection from Lawn Fawn.
I stamped my sentiment and added a few enamel dots to complete my card. I need to get this one in the mail tomorrow. I haven't sent any Easter cards as yet and I have at least 10 of them.

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

card details:

Stamps: Spring Accents (Stampendous)

Paper: mango melody, pumpkin pie, crumb cake, whisper white, brights dsp (Stampin'-Up), watercolor wishes dsp (Lawn Fawn)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: early espresso, mango melody (Stampin'-Up)

Accessories: seaside embossing folder (Stampin'-Up), tangerine enamel dots (Doodlebug), Duckling flying kite die (CottageCutz)

Die I used to create card: 

I am also entering:

1.  Allsorts Challenge is something old (embossing folder) something new (die) something blue (background paper).

2.  Inkspirational Challenge is word prompt Spring. 

3.  Crafty Catz Challenge #500 is anything goes.

4.  Cardz 4 Galz has a cute animals challenge. 

5.  Creative Knockouts has an outside fun challenge.  

A Birthday Wish to a Friend

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with The Charmed Life Blog this first Friday in April. Hope you are all staying safe during this stay at home time. 

I have been using the time to make cards (of course), get everything caught up for income tax preparation and clean and organize my home. This last one is a never ending job (Lol)!!! But keeping everything organized is important for me because I don't like clutter. 

I am going to dig into the closet in my craft room in the next couple of days and organize that. I can't find some things on the shelves in there and it's annoying me. I wanted to do that during my Preschool break last summer but somehow I never got to it. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for a friend's March birthday but I never got around to posting it on my Blog. I had t\ o wait until she received it and I was also late in mailing it. Yikes!!!

I used the colors from the Splitcoaststampers color challenge #783. Karen was the hostess and she chose balmy blue, soft seafoam, purple posy and highland heather. Optional was to use polka dots. 

balmy blue, soft seafoam, purple posy, highland heather

The calendar is from an older Stampin'-Up Paper Pumpkin kit Dec 2018. They gave 6 additional calendars that carried into this year. Good thing because I hadn't used anything from that kit.

The background soft seafoam designer paper is from the Stampin'-Up "tranquil textures" collection. For the layering panel, I used soft seafoam cardstock and sponged the edges with the same ink for a darker contrast.

The cupcake on the pedestal is from CottageCutz and I cut in the challenge colors. I also used mossy meadow (Stampin'-Up neutral).

To finish off my card, I added some purple posy enamel dots. Well, that's it for me for this post. So until next time...…...God bless.

card details:

Stamps: lovely day (Paper Pumpkin Feb 2020)

Paper: highland heather, soft seafoam, balmy blue, mossy meadow, purple posy, balmy blue, tranquil textures dsp (Stampin'-Up)

Paper Size: 4 1/2" x 5 3/4"

Ink: soft seafoam, mossy meadow, highland heather, gorgeous grape)

Accessories: birthday cake with pedestal die (CottageCutz), day by day paper pumpkin kit, faceted enamel dots (stampin'-Up)

I am also entering:

1.  Aud Sentiments has an anything goes + a sentiment.

2.  Cute Card Thursday has an anything goes challenge. 

3.  Seize the Birthday has an anything goes challenge. 

4.  A Bit More Time to Craft has an anything goes challenge. 

5.  Creative Craft Cottage Challenge is for the girl.s