Believe

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

It's been awhile since I posted on my Blog but for good reason. I had eye surgery, and the ophthalmologist limited my screen time. All went well with the surgery, and I am healing well. 

But it's time to get back to creating and posting on my Blog. I have missed being here for sure. So, let's get started with some details on this Santa card. 

I created an easel card using a die from Crafters Companion for the easel part. I have had this die for years and never used it before. It makes an easel card quickly and easily. It was also made for the Splitcoaststampers Dirty Dozen Design Team challenge. 

My Santa is an older die from CottageCutz - it's the Woodland Santa. It's retired and not available any longer but there is a new Father Christmas die that would work just as well on an easel card. The sentiments are alos dies from CottageCutz. My background paper is from an older collection from Basic Grey - Figgy Pudding. 

And that's it for me for this post. Today is also our 36th wedding anniversary. We are going out to celebrate in a few hours. So until next time.......God bless. 

Card Details:

Paper: real red, old olive, soft suede, pacific point, white, black (Stampin' Up), med & light green (Bazzill), figgy pudding dsp (Basic Gray)

Accessories: rose easel die (Crafter's Companion), woodland santa die, country merry Christmas phrase die, believe die, pierced rectangle die, ( CottageCutz)

Techniques: easel card

I am also entering:

1. Use Your Stuff has an anything goes challenge.  This card used lots of "old stuff". 

2.  Die Cut Divas is all about the Holidays. 

3.  Girlz Creative Christmas Challenge is an easel card. 

4.  Peace On Earth Challenge #51 is anything goes. 

5.  Creative Creases is anything goes with a funfold. 

Holiday Front Door

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

It's a beautiful Fall day here in Pittsburgh. My hubby's vegetable garden is done for another year. His flowers are still blooming and that will continue until we have the first frost. It was a very successful year for his gardens. 

I have lots of food in my freezers for wintertime enjoyment. It was a lot of work for both of us. I spent so many hours in the kitchen each day that I really didn't have time for much else. So now I am playing catch up with things I wanted to do but didn't get accomplished. 

Thanksgiving and Christmas cards would be one of those projects. Today I am showing a Christmas card I made using the colors from the Splitcoaststampers color challenge #956. We were to use cherry cobbler, old olive and pool party for the color trio. Optional was to make it Christmas.

pool party, cherry cobbler, old olive

I used the Holiday Door die from CottageCutz for my card and cut in the challenge colors plus allowed neutrals. This will definitely be a one-of-a-kind card (LOL)! It was labor intensive with all the pieces. I ink blended the pool party cardstock to get a deeper shade of blue.

The background designer paper is from the Stampin' Up "tidings of Christmas" collection. My sentiment is also a die from CottageCutz- Christmas Greetings.

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

 

Card Details:

Paper: cherry cobbler, old olive, pool party, sahara sand, mossy meadow, tidings of Christmas dsp (Stampin' Up), glass slipper, sugar daddy (BazzillBasics)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: tumbled glass distress ink (Ranger)

Accessories: holiday door die, christmas greetings die (CottageCutz)

I am also entering:

1.  Most Magical time of the Year Challenge is anything goes- Christmas or Halloween.

2.  The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge #150 is anything goes. 

3.  The Crafty Addicts challenge #6 is anything goes. 

4.  The Little Red Wagon has a patterned paper or not challenge. 

Give Thanks

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with The Charmed Life Blog today. Hope your week went well and that you have some fun plans for the weekend. 

I had cataract surgery this week on my left eye. The surgery went well, and the healing of my eye is also going well. I did have some computer restrictions and close up work seemed to put a strain on my eye. So, I have not been doing much. If you follow my Blog, you know that I am always busy in my kitchen or my craft room. 

Needless to say I am happy to be posting a card today. This one I made before the surgery. But, I am so looking forward to getting back into the groove with card making. I will rest the weekend and then Monday I plan to be in my craft room. 

Now onto this card. I made it for the color challenge #961 on Splitcoaststampers. We were to use soft succulent, calypso coral and misty moonlight for the color trio. Optional is add an additional color.
I decided to try and make a Thanksgiving card with these colors. I believe I was successful.

soft succulent, calypso coral, misty moonlight

My turkey is a new to me die from Spellbinders- Happy Turkey Day. I used some allowed neutrals (crumb cake & choc chip) and the challenge colors + pale papaya as my 4th color to create him.

The background designer paper is from the Stampin' Up "tidings of Christmas" collection. It is a subtle pattern, and I thought it had a Fall appeal to it. I didn't want to cover it up, so I used an arch die to frame the turkey. Stamped my sentiment on the arch. It's a Paper Pumpkin Kit stamp from 2020. 

To finish off my card, I cut some leaves in soft succulent and sponged them with calypso coral and soft succulent inks. Added a few acorns and my card is complete.

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

Card Details:

Stamps: hello pumpkin (PP Kit Sept 2020)

Paper: soft succulent, misty moonlight, calypso coral, pale papaya, choc chip, sahara sand, ivory, crumb cake, tidings of Christmas dsp (Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: misty moonlight, soft succulent, calypso coral, soft papaya (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: essential arches die, happy turkey day die (Spellbinders), build a grapevine wreath die (CottageCutz)

I am also entering:

1.  Creative Fingers has an anything goes challenge. 

2.  Craft Rocket Challenge is Autumn or Halloween. 

3.  I Spy with my Little Eye has a something on or from a farm challenge. 

4.  The Crafty Addicts has an anything goes challenge. 

5.  Retro Rubber Challenge is anything goes. Stamp is from 2020.

Thankful and Blessed

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

It's another beautiful day here in Pittsburgh - sunshine and very warm. I even had to turn my air conditioner back on. But that will end soon. We have some rainy and cold weather coming over the weekend. 

I am part of a fundraiser tomorrow so I baked today.  We are having a Pittsburgh cookie table. It's quite a tradition at weddings and now even graduation parties. Here is a link to read more about it. I make mini lady locks. They are made with a puff pastry and then filled with a vanilla buttercream. So delicious and a big hit on the cookie table. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for the color challenge #966 on Splitcoaststampers. I was the hostess, and I chose daffodil delight, calypso coral and pumpkin pie for the color trio. Optional was pumpkins or a 4th color or both. I did both options and garden green is my 4th color.

calypso coral, daffodil delight, pumpkin pie

I used the round pumpkin stamp set from The Ton Stamps to create my pumpkins. It's a layering stamp set. I started with daffodil delight for my first layer, pumpkin pie for the 2nd layer, and calypso coral for the 3rd layer.

I cut the pumpkins with the coordinating die and added to the white card base. For the middle pumpkin I used dimensionals to lift it off the base slightly.

Stamped my sentiment using the Fill it in Holiday set also from The Ton Stamps. 

I used a vine die cut in garden green cardstock to place behind the pumpkins. Scattered a few enamel dots to finish off my card. 

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

 Card Details:

Stamps: Round Pumpkins, Fill it in Holiday (The Ton Stamps)

Paper: pumpkin pie, white, garden green (Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: 4 1/2" x 5 3/4"

Ink: daffodil delight, pumpkin pie, calypso coral, garden green (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: Round Pumpkins die (The Ton Stamps), enamel dots (Doodelbug), corner vine die (CottageCutz)

Techniques: 3 step stamping

I am also entering:

1.  Crafty Gals Corner has a signs of Fall challenge. 

2.  Little Red Wagon has a Fall colors challenge. 

3.  The Paper Funday has an anything goes w/optional use yellow, orange & green. 

4.  I Spy with my Little Eye has a something from the farm challenge. 

5.  Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday has an anything goes challenge.  

Gather Together & Give Thanks

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

Welcome to Fall and the month of October. I have my house all decorated for Fall but didn't add my Thanksgiving decorations yet. I will do that mid-month. We are still having temperatures in the 80's here in Pittsburgh so it doesn't quite have a Thanksgiving feel as yet. And my hubby's garden is still going strong- vegetables and flowers. 

Today I am featuring a Thanksgiving card that I made for the color challenge #962 on Splitcoaststampers. We were to use granny apple green, real red, crushed curry and coastal cabana for our color combination. Optional was to use die cuts.

real red, crushed curry, coastal cabana, granny apple green

I decided to try a Thanksgiving card theme with the colors. I started with my sunflower images. I cut them in crushed curry cardstock and then shaded with fossilized amber distress ink and real red ink.

Leaves are cut in granny apple green and shaded with the same ink. I cut some wheat stalks in coastal cabana and shaded in the same ink to get a deeper color. Artistic liberty here (lol)!!

Stamped the sentiment in soft suede ink, added the border die and scattered a few crushed curry enamel dots to complete my card.

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

card details:

Stamps: painted harvest (Stampin' Up)

Paper: real red, crushed curry, soft suede, granny apple green, choc chip, coastal cabana (Stampin' Up), dsp (Lasting Impressions)

Paper Size: 4 1/2" x 5 3/4"

Ink: real red, soft suede, granny apple green (Stampin' Up), fossilized amber distress (Ranger)

Accessories: sunflower die, stitched circle die (CottageCutz), border die (Cheery Lynn Designs), crushed curry enamel dots (Stampin' Up)

I am also entering:

1. Crafts Galore Encore Challenge is anything goes. 

2.  Die Cut Divas have a layering challenge.

3.  Farm Quest Challenge is sunflowers. 

4.  Gem of a Challenge is anything goes.

5.  Sweet Stampin' has an Autumn challenge.   

Fall Birthday

Hello Blogger friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with The Charmed Life Blog this last Sunday in September. 

Hope your weekend is going well. Mine was a bit different. I had a day and night to myself yesterday.  My hubby went to the Penn State Football game yesterday in State College. Our sons gave it to him as a Father's Day gift. Since it was a night game, they rented a house there and stayed overnight. 

He just came back home and now we are getting ready to go over to our Pittsburgh son's home for dinner to celebrate my birthday. Our California son came in for the weekend so it's a bonus that I get to see him as well. 

This morning it was my turn to teach Sunday school. I have the 5–7-year-old class. The lesson went over well, and they loved the craft we did that reinforced the lesson. I really like teaching this age level. They are receptive to the way I teach. I usually start with a game or 2 that ties into my lesson. Then I show a short video-always 5 minutes or less that is another reinforcement of my lesson, followed by some questions to see if they were listening. Then our craft time, then a snack and my 45 minutes is up. 

Now let's move onto my card for today. This one I created using the colors from the Splitcoaststampers color challenge #964. Our colors were moody mauve, misty moonlight and copper clay. Optional is to use die cuts.

moody mauve, misty moonlight, copper clay

I thought these colors would make a great Fall birthday card. My friend is celebrating in October. I used the CottageCutz Christmas Floral die and cut the greenery in moody mauve, copper clay and mossy meadow cardstocks.

The pot is cut in pecan pie (neutral) and shaded with the same ink. Added my sentiments -cut in copper clay.

The background designer paper is from the Stampin' Up "earthen elegance" collection. I added a few misty moonlight enamel dots to complete my card.

Well, that's it for me for this post. Time to head out the door for my birthday celebration. So until next time .......God bless. 

Card Details:

Paper: copper clay, moody mauve, mossy meadow, pecan pie, earthen elegance dsp (Stampin' Up)white

Paper Size: A2

Ink: pecan pie (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: christmas floral, fall phrases, Birthday w/shadow, stitched circle dies (CottageCutz), misty moonlight enamel dots (Stampin' Up)

I am also entering:

1.  Gem of a Challenge is anything goes. 

2.  Crafty Calendar is anything goes. 

3.  Crafty Catz has an anything goes. 

4.  Creative Fingers has an anything goes challenge. 

5.  Daring Cardmakers has an always autumn/forever fall challenge. 

6.  Paper Dragonfly has an anything goes/Fall splendor challenge. 

Sending Birthday Wishes

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

September is already on a roll, and I have been really busy in the kitchen with the bountiful harvest my hubby is getting from his vegetable gardens. We are going to buy a chest freezer to hold everything that I am freezing -  from roasted tomatoes, stuffed banana pepper, green beans, sugar snap peas and zucchini bread. We ran out of room in our kitchen refrigerator freezer. But we will have plenty of food for this winter to enjoy. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for the color challenge #963 on Splitcoaststampers. Our color trio was highland heather, parakeet party and daffodil delight for her color trio. Optional was to make it a birthday card.

highland heather, parakeet party, daffodil delight

CottageCutz recently released dies in the Folk Art style. I decided to use the Folk Art Butterfly die and create a birthday card.

This particular style is not in my comfort zone. So, I looked to Pinterest and I found this Folk Art butterfly art print, and I used it as my card inspiration.

My butterfly is cut in daffodil delight and the other elements that makes this folk art design are cut in highland heather and parakeet party.

My gray granite (neutral) background paper is from the Stampin' Up "bloom where you are planted" collection.

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

card details:

Stamps: parcel & post sentiments (Spellbinders)

Paper: highland heather, daffodil delight, parakeet party, bloom where you are planted dsp (Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: 4 1/2" x 5 3/4"

Ink: highland heather (Stampin'-Up)

Accessories: Folk Art Butterfly die, Folk Art Flowers Mixed die, Little Flowers die, Sending Hugs dies (CottageCutz)

I am also entering:

1.  Polkadoodles has an anything goes challenge. 

2.  Creative Inspiration Challenge is anything goes. 

3.  Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge #225- I chose Birthday, Die Cuts & Stamping. 

4.  Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday is anything goes. 

5.  Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge is stamp it. 

Sending an Ocean of Love

Hello Blogger friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with The Charmed Life Blog this last Saturday in August. Looks like we are going to have a great weekend here in Pittsburgh - weatherwise that is. 

I will be in the kitchen dealing with a huge tomato harvest. But that will get taken care of in a timely fashion today. Then I am going to put my patriotic decorations away and pull out my Fall stuff. I always like when it's time to change the decorations. Even though we have almost a month of summer left, I am going to put the summer decorations away. 

Now onto my card for today. This one is definitely one with a summer vibe. I created it for one of the DTGD challenges on Splitcoaststampers. We were to create a fun fold card. 

I used the July 2023 Stampin' Up "fun in the sun" kit. The kit gives you supplies to make 9 fun fold cards. This card is just one of the designs in the kit.

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

Card Details:

Stamps: fun in the sun (Stampin' Up)

Paper: azure afternoon, daffodil delight, flirty flamingo, melon mambo, pool party (Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: azure afternoon (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: Paper Pumpkin Kit July 2023 (Stampin' Up)

Techniques: Side Step Card

I am also entering:

1.  Aloha Friday Challenge is vacation mode. 

2.  Creative Fingers Challenge is anything goes. 

3.  My Time to Craft wants us to use die cuts. 

4.  The Paper Shelter Challenge has a summertime challenge.   

5.  Crafty Gals Corner has a summer fun challenge. 

Merry and Bright

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

I have been busy with the bounty from my hubby's garden. He picked 50 banana peppers, and they were waiting to be stuffed, some shared and the rest put in the freezer. I stuff them with a hot & sweet Italian sausage, onions, garlic, seasonings and a can of fire roasted tomatoes w/chiles. I sent 7 large ones to my niece, 8 large ones to my next door neighbor and 7 large ones to my son and daughter-in-law. 

I also roasted a bunch of tomatoes today. My hubby grows heirloom, opalka and some other round ones. I never asked him for the name of the round ones. But the heirloom and opalka when roasted with garlic, onion, olive oil, salt, pepper and a drizzle of balsamic glaze make for the most delicious marinara sauce. After roasting I put them in the food processor and puree the mixture then freeze. 

I will be in the kitchen daily until the beginning of October. That's when his harvest will stop. But I don't mind because everything I make, and freeze is another meal to be enjoyed over the winter months. 

Now onto my card for today. this one I made for the color challenge #958 on Splitcoaststampers. We were to use polished pink, gold and mossy meadow for the color trio. Optional is to make it Christmas.

polished pink, gold, mossy meadow

For my card I used a Suzy's watercolor print from Simon Says Stamp. You can use any medium to color it though. I used a combo of Stampin' Up (polished pink & misty moonlight (neutral)) & Copic alcohol markers and Prismacolor pencils and gamsol.

Card base is mossy meadow with a strip of gold. Scattered some gold epoxy gems to finish it off. That's it for me for this post so until next time......God bless. 

card details:

Paper: mossy meadow, brushed gold (Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: A2

Accessories: Suzy's Watercolor Snowman prints (SSS), gold epoxy gems (Stampin' Up), polished pink & misty moonlight Stampin" Blends (Stampin' Up), E31, E33, E57, E59, C00 Copic Markers, Prismacolor pencils 1090 Kelp Green, Black, Gamsol

I am also entering:

1.  Christmas Craft Creations has a clean and simple challenge.

2.  The Holly and Ivy Christmas challenge is anything goes. 

3.  Lil Patch of Crafty Friends has an anything goes challenge. 

4.  A Perfect time to Craft has an anything goes challenge. 

5.  Crafty Animals has an anything goes with an animal.