Happy Birthday from the Circus Animals

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

It was a beautiful Saturday here in Pittsburgh. We have been having warm weather all week and we even had to turn our air conditioner on mid week. Sometimes that bothers me to go from having the heat running and then a few days later the air. But for some reason this year it doesn't seem to matter. 

We are having friends over for dinner tomorrow. I am so looking forward to it. We plan on having friends over at least twice a month all summer. It's been too long that we have been shut up in our home and not seeing friends. 

I decided on Lasagna, meat balls and salad for the main course. We will start off with some appetizers.  For that I am preparing a charcuterie board with Calabrese Salame, Prosciutto, olives, grapes and 3 different kinds of cheeses. 

I made the sauce for the lasagna and meatballs today. In fact it's on the stove simmering as I type this post. I like to make it the day before so the flavors have a chance to meld together. I don't usually add meat to the sauce but for this one I added sweet Italian sausage. I thought that would work well for the lasagna. 

Well enough about food, let's move onto my post for today. This card I created for my weekly DT post on the CottageCutz Blog. Today for your viewing pleasure I have a slimline birthday card using the Circus Train Animal dies + the Scalloped Stitched Rectangle Slimline die.

 
I have a lot of nieces and nephews with young ones and I always seem to need a kids birthday card. These animals are perfect for a kids card. So let's get started on some details of how I created my card.

Design Steps:
I started my card this week with the layout. I saw this sketch #854 on Splitcoaststampers and I thought the layout would work well for the dies I am using.

Next, I selected the background designer paper. I wanted something fun and found this bright dotted paper.
I cut it with the largest Scalloped Stitched Rectangle Slimline (3 1/4" x 8 1/4") die. The card base is at 6 1/2" x 8 1/4" and then scored at 3 1/4". I used pacific point cardstock (royal blue) cardstock.

Then, I cut my animal images. The designer paper colors of blue, rose red and yellow would work for the hats and neck scarves the circus animals are wearing. I used different colors of cardstock to cut the animals. You could also cut in white and color with any medium you like i.e. Copic markers, Prismacolors pencils or distress inks. I forgot to take a photo of this step (lol)!

For element 3 of the sketch I used the largest Scalloped Circle die and then cut a portion off the bottom to give it a straight edge. I stamped my sentiment in pacific point ink. It's a long one line sentiment but with the help of my MISTI, I stamped on 2 lines.

I started the assembly of my card. For element 2 of the sketch I cut another piece of pacific point designer paper 1" x 8", I attached the circle with double sided tape and then secured to the designer paper panel.

Then I attached three of the Circus Animals in the circle using dimensional adhesive. The seal is attached in the corner for element 4 of the sketch. Instead of him balancing a ball, I have him holding a balloon. It's cut from the Clown with Balloons die.

To finish off my card, I attached the image panel to the card base with double sided tape. For the 2nd instance of element 4, I cut a spray of stars from the Circus Side Show die and attached to the right corner. I thought the middle looked empty so I added some rose red 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 an anything goes with happy, bright and sunny colors. 

2.  2 Crafty Critter Crazies has an anything goes with a critter. 

3.  Animal Friends has a bear challenge. 

4.  Crafty Animals has an anything goes challenge. 

5.  Sweet Stampers has an animals, critters or birds challenge.

6.  Crafty Catz has an anything goes with optional as cute as you like.  

If Friends Were Flowers Slimline

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

May is just flying by and we are already at the halfway point of the month. But our weather is still a bit cold especially at night. We are averaging mid 50's during the day and then down in the 30's at night. It's Spring time in Pittsburgh and I know soon it will be back to more normal temps. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for my weekly DT post on the CottageCutz Blog.  I have for your viewing pleasuring a CAS style card that would be very easy to reproduce.

I am using the Spring Flowers in Jar 1, 2, 3 dies and I created a card in the slimline style. So let's get started on some details of how I created my card.

Design Steps:

I started by cutting the images in white cardstock. I thought they would standout nicely against a bold and bright background.

Next I cut the image panel. I used just the double stitched rectangle from the new Lift Flaps Stitched Rectangle Slimline die and cut it from a bright magenta cardstock. 

I wanted an additional layer so I used the largest of the Scalloped Stitched Rectangle Slimline and I cut in black cardstock to continue with the bold look.

I stamped my sentiment in black ink directly on the magenta image panel. With this sentiment I will be able to use this card for a variety of occasions by stamping another sentiment on the inside. 

Now I am ready to start card assembly. I attached the image panel to the black scalloped layering panel with double sided tape. Then I attached the Flower jars using Ranger multi medium matte.

To complete my card I cut a white card base measuring 3 1/8" x 8 1/2". I will add another sentiment on the card inside.

I attached the image panel with double sided tape and scattered a few white faceted 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.  Aud Sentiments has a flowers + a sentiment challenge. 

2.  Creative Knockouts has a flower power challenge. 

3.  Cute Card Thursday has an embellish challenge. 

4.  Moving Along with the Times has a bouquet of flowers challenge. 

5.  Crafty Gals Corner has a for the ladies challenge. 

 

Mother's Day bouquet

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with The Charmed Life Blog today. It's the day after Mother's Day so I hope all the Mom's and Grandmothers had a great celebration that's set aside in your honor.

My son and his family took me out to brunch at a local restaurant. We had a delicious meal and even better family time. My son and his family in California sent me a beautiful basket with lots of wonderful treats. So they both made me feel very special.

I didn't get to see my mother-in-law but hubby and his family spent the day with her. My sister-in-law made dinner. It's a dish their family likes a lot- pigs in a blanket. They are cabbage rolls stuffed with ground meat and rice. So she had a great day as well.

Now onto my card for today. This is the card I made for my Mother-in-Law. The colors are from the Splitcoaststampers color challenge #842. We were to use crushed curry, seaside spray and garden green for our color trio. Optional was to add another color and I used berry burst. 

I cut the flowers in the challenge colors plus my optional of berry burst. To get a lighter color on the berry burst flowers, I used designer paper from the Stampin'-Up "color theory" collection.

For the flower pot, I used seaside spray cardstock and then sponged with the same shade of ink to get a deeper hue.

The card layout is this week's MOJO Sketch #559. I used the floral image where she has the center square. 

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

card details:

Paper: whisper white, seaside spray, crushed curry, garden gray, berry burst, color theory dsp (stampin'-Up)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: seaside spray, (Stampin'-Up) fossilized amber distress (ranger)

Accessories: spring flowers in pot, stitched square dies (CottageCutz), glitter enamel dots (Stampin'-Up)

I am also entering:

1.  A Place to Start has an anything goes challenge.

2.  Always Fun Challenge is Mother's Day.  

3.  Incy Wincy Designs has a flowers/Mother's Day challenge. 

4.  Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends has an anything goes. 

5.  A Gem of a Challenge is anything goes. 

Birthday Hugs and Kisses

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

It's Mother's Day weekend and my son and family are taking me out for a brunch. We used to do the Race for the Cure walk that happened on this weekend in previous years. But with the pandemic it was canceled for the last 2 years. So we will still go to the same spot for our brunch just no walk ahead of time. 

It will be wonderful just having family time. Something else that we haven't done a lot of since this whole virus thing started.  I am so over it and want my life back again!!!

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for my weekly DT post on the CottageCutz Blog. My great-niece is turning one and I made this for her. 

Design Steps:

Since I knew I would be using the Windows Slimline die, I looked for images that would work in the window openings. I also wanted something for a one year old girl. I selected the Balancing Elephant and Juggling Monkey. I thought these ones could be made girly by using shades of pink cardstock on their hats, clothes and accessories.

Next, I cut the window slimline with a magenta shade of cardstock. I cut a white card base 8" x 6" and scored at the 3" mark. The window frame is attached to the base with double sided tape.

Stamped the birthday sentiment in magenta ink. It's a one line stamp but with the help of my MISTI, I masked off and stamped it on a second line.

I cut the window slimline a second time in a heart designer paper. I used the die inlay technique and secured these back in the window frame. Left the middle window white because that's the sentiment panel. I didn't want the heart background to interfere with the sentiment.

Secured the elephant and monkey with dimensional adhesive. On the sentiment panel I attached the balloons with glue dots. I cut a small bow from an older die - the Elegant Champagne Glass die. The number 1 candle is also an older die- number candles.

And that's my card for today. So until next time.......God Bless. 

dies I used to create card:

I am also entering:

1.  Creative Knockouts has an anything goes challenge. 

2.  Cute Card Thursday has an anything goes.

3.  Simon Says Stamp has a feminine challenge. Mine is for my great-niece.

4.  2 Crafty Critter Crazies has an anything goes with a critter. 

5.  Crafty Animals has an anything goes challenge. 

Mother's Day at the Bunny Cottage

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

Happy May Day to you all! Can't believe that April 2021 is in the history books. Looking forward to all the warm weather that is coming our way. And to all the crops my hubby will be planting this year. I love getting produce from our summer gardens. He already has his lettuce, kale, basil, beans and peas started.  It's just a bit too early yet for tomatoes and peppers. He is hoping for another bountiful harvest just like last year. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for my weekly DT post on the CottageCutz blog.  I used  the Scalloped Stitched Rectangle Slimline die along with the Bunny Tree Cottage dies and I created a Mother's Day card. My next door neighbor has 2 little ones and this will go to her. Her little 3 year old loves to bake with Mommy so I thought this scene would be perfect for her.

Design Steps:

I started my card by cutting the Bunny Tree Cottage in different colors of cardstock. I cut 2 of the little bunnies and cut their outfits in blue and pink. My neighbor has a little boy and girl. Instead of the Mama bunny holding the pie, I put it in the hands of the small bunny. So she is presenting it to Mama for a Mother's Day gift.

Next I cut my background panel. I used the 2nd largest Scalloped Stitched Rectangle Slimline die and cut in white cardstock. I sponged tumbled glass distress and mowed lawn distress inks on the panel. I also used the Clouds Slimline die and cut in white cardstock then sponged it with tumbled glass distress ink.

I stamped my Mother's Day Sentiment in an indigo blue ink directly on the clouds. Used my MISTI tool for placement and just in case I needed to stamp sentiment again. But one inking worked fine. 

Now that the card elements are done I am ready to start assembling my outdoor scene. I attached the clouds with double sided tape. The tree and cottage door with glue dots, the grass tufts and mushrooms are attached with Ranger multi matte adhesive. The bunnies are attached with dimensional adhesive. I also cut a flower pot & tulip and put it in the hands of the little boy bunny.

To finish off my card, I cut a medium purple card base 5 1/2" x 7 1/2" and scored at 2 3/4" and attached the image panel to the base. I also added a couple of mushrooms at the tree base and front door to the cottage.

Well, that's it for me for this post. Have a great weekend and until next time.......God bless

dies I used to create card:

I am also entering:

1.  Cardz 4 Gals has a Mother's Day challenge. 

2.  Simon Says Stamp has an anything goes challenge.

3.  2 Crafty Critter Crazies has an anything goes with a critter. 

4.  Crafty Creations has an anything goes challenge.

5.  Shopping our Stash has a "I made this for you Mom challenge.