most wonderful time of the year

Happy Tuesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. Happy Tuesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog.

This is a short post because I have lots of errands to run. My husband is off work and we did plan to do something together.

My card today is for 4 challenges:

1.  the color challenge on splitcoaststampers. Our hostess and fellow design team member, Vicki Dutcher, chose turquoise, poppy parade and whisper white as her colors.


I thought the colors lended themselves more toward a Christmas card. But, if you check out the other cards in the scs gallery you will see quite a variety.

2.  The layout for my card came from the mojomonday blog. Julee provided another great sketch. It showcases whatever image you use. I used a digital image that Verve stamps gave free last year. I am just getting into digital images but an early opinion from me is that I would rather have the rubber.

I printed the images 3x so I could paper piece the mittens in turquoise and a poppy parade cuff. I used poppy for the lacy scalloped background layer and my ribbon. I added a snowflake button and that completed my card.

I have another Christmas card completed and this is one I may make more of. I think it would be a great card for a little girl. I do have some on my list that get cards from me.

3.  the 3rd challenge is on the craft your passion blog.  We were to double anything on our card. My card has 2 mittens of course.

4.  the 4th challenge is from the anything goes blog. This week we were to emboss our creation. I used the cuttlebug "swiss dots" folder on my card.

Until next time.......

card recipe:
stamps: verve winter mittens(digi-image)
paper: su poppy parade, tempting turquoise, ww
accessories: nesties lacy squares, cb swiss dots ef, poppy parade ribbon, snowflake button
techniques: paper piecing

holiday dasher

Happy Monday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. I spent my day crafting. Although I didn't get very far. Only 1 card made and photos of some that I did on Saturday when my friend Linda came to stamp.

I did make 10 Christmas cards then. I am making a dent into the 80 that I usually make. I am going to mass produce some of them.

That is something that I don't usually do either. I make 4 or 5 of one design and then move to something else.

So maybe even as I am saying mass produce I mean 10 max of one design. They will be sent to friends or family that don't really appreciate all that it takes to make a handmade card. Yes, I have an A, B & C list for my Christmas card recipients.

So my card for today is for 3 challenges:

1.  The free for all challenge on splitcoaststampers on Friday had us making a card with something that has a tail. I chose to make a Christmas card with my Dasher stamp. After all, deers have tails!! The layout for this card came from one that I had seen on Becky Jensen's blog.

2.  The 2nd challenge is from the raise the bar blog. They wanted to see curves on your project. My top note die has curves. And my background paper has curves as well.

3.  The stamps r us blog was challenging us to use buttons and bows. 

I made my first card using white card stock as my base. Then my husband suggested I try a gray base since I used gray ribbon. There is a touch of gray in the background paper I used. i really like this paper. It's from Stampin-Up one of their retired collections "holiday lounge". Teal is the main color in this collection. I like using that color for Christmas cards. So needless to say I was pleased with how this one turned out.

I only made 4 of these cards, but I may make a few more.

Well, that's it for this post. God Bless!! Check out the color challenge on splitcoaststampers tomorrow. It's another great one. I have my sample all set to go. I will post tonite when the challenge goes live.

card recipe:

stamps: dasher (stampin-up)

paper: su ww, teal, basic gray, holiday loung dsp

ink: taken with teal

accessories: top not die, satin ribbon, sakura gel pen, rhinestones

damask thank you

Happy Sunday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. After church today I went to Aidin's last football game for this season.

It was a cold one sitting in the stands with the wind blowing and 47 degree temperatures. Oh, the things we endure for our grandchildren. Cold weather and all, I wouldn't have missed it for the world.

His team lost 14-0. Honestly, he didn't seem too upset after the game. He gave me a big hug and was ready to go home.

Onto the next sporting season, which for him will be 7th grade basketball. At least this will be inside.

And now it's onto my card for today. It covers 4 challenges:

1.  The featured stamper challenge on splitcoaststampers chose jazzytobi as the featured artist this week. Our hostess, Kim, described her cards as smooth and full of style. I chose her get well soon card to re-create ala Mary Marsh style.

We are to make at least 2 changes to the original card. My changes:  I kept my card to black and white, I used a different shape for my sentiment, I eliminated the scallop trim.


The damask background caught my eye because i knew I had some great paper just waiting to be used in my stash.
My background is actually recycled from a card I received from a friend. This was a store bought card, and I loved the damask background so I cut it out to reuse.


I also used some new (for me) Waltzingmouse stamps-they coordinate with the nestabilities labels 1 die. My sentiment is from Verve "dream big" set.
 
2.  The 2nd challenge is for the creative card crew. They wanted to see punches on your card. I used the labels 1 nestabilities on this card.

3.  The 3rd challenge is from the anything goes blog. We were to create something with the letter "B". My "B's" are a black card-black ink-black background.

4.  The 4th challenge is a new one for me but I have seen lots of other blog jump in on the Moxie Fab World- Tuesday Trigger. We were to incorporate damask into our design in an innovative way. I recycled this damask pattern from a store bought card.

Well, that's it for me for today my blogger friends. Hope you had a great Sunday.
 
card recipe:
stamps: waltzingmouse vintage labels 1, verve dream big
paper: su black, white
ink: memento tuxedo black
accessories: su satin ribbon, michaels sheer white ribbon, rhinestone, nestie label 1

Mojo 163 card

Happy Friday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. I am not sure where the day disappeared to? I was crafting and then I look and its 7:00 pm. I didn't get to any of my household chores today and I have a friend coming to stamp tomorrow.

Fortunately, its just a little bit of picking up that needs done. There are just the two of us here so the house doesn't get really dirty.

I thought I might be going to San Francisco today but it just didn't work out. Brett (youngest son) & Ghilly are having a baby shower tomorrow and since this is my first granddaughter I thought it would nice to pop in for the weekend. My husband works for USAirways which is the reason I could consider going. Flying privileges are one of his benefits.

But, I couldn't get a flight back until Monday and they both have to work on Monday. But, once the baby is born I will be there a lot. I am determined that my granddaughter will not grow up and not know her Grandmother.
Ghilly only has 6 weeks to go before birthing.I can't believe how fast the months went. I sent them the cutest bedding set for the crib. It's so girly with all the pinks and cute angels. A bit of a change after having 3 grandsons.

One of the cards I made today is for the MojoMonday challenge. The first week of every month they hold a contest. Last month this card made it to the final 18.  That was exciting for me.

But, there were only 6 winners and I didn't make it that far. I will keep trying though. And I have another entry for this month. I was pleased with how this one turned out. I think it has a vintage look to it.
 

This is the layout that we have to work with for our card.

My designer paper is from Provo Craft. I found it in my stash and thought it would work well for my card. I may make a few more of these to use up the paper.

My base is kraft and then a layer of old artichoke. The cherry cobbler
matched this designer paper so well and also the seam binding that I used for my bow.
The tree image is from the Stampin-Up "season of joy" set. I stamped it and cut it out for more dimension.

Well, that's my card for today. Time to dim the lights in charmed life land for another day.

card recipe:
stamps: season of joy
paper: su kraft, artichoke, cherry cobbler, provo craft dp
ink: artichoke
accessories: nesties, fiskars border & star punch, snowflake button, seam binding

We Give Thanks

Happy Tuesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. Today is a big one for me.

I am hostessing my first challenge on splitcoaststampers as part of my design team duties. I even get to sport this blog button.

I chose the colors peach parfait, cajun craze and early espresso, I named the challenge the peach espresso craze. The option on this challenge is to use rick rack. These colors are so rich looking and perfect for a Thanksgiving card.

My cornucopia image is from an old Stampin-Up set "turkey talk". The sentiment is also an old stamp from PSX. I colored my image with prismacolor pencils and gamsol.

The designer paper is from Stampin-Up's "autumn vine" collection. I have used this on a lot of my Thanksgiving cards but the paper stack doesnt seem to diminish. I am really trying to use up my existing stash.

I punched my peach & cajun layers with a Stampin-Up border punch to complete my card

Today, was also another first for me. I went to the voting polls to pass out literature for one of our candidates. I just felt that it was time for me to get involved in the political process. I wanted to do more than just vote. So I will see where this leads me. The bibile says the Lord directs our steps and i firmly belive that!!

Also entered my card in the following challenges:

Lexi's creations:  there is an anything goes challenge on this blog
Wee memories: has an anything goes challenge


card recipe:
stamps: turkey talk, psx

paper: su early espresso, peach parfait, cajun craze, ww, autumn vine dsp
ink: cajun craze
accessories: su border punch, leaf punch, rick rack, prismas & gamsol

Scarecrow Thanks

Happy Monday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. We are having such a beautiful fall day here in Pittsburgh. Lots of sunshine but the temps are a little on the cool side.
Love seeing the sun-we are coming into the time of year where we don't get much. So I appreciate it when its out and shining brightly...

We are having a time of prayer at church tonight to pray for tomorrows elections. My husband & I are heading it up so I wanted to get my post done early.

I have also volunteered to work the polls tomorrow on behalf of one our local candidates. I have never done this before but I thought it's time to get out and support the candidates.

I will be passing out literature and asking people to vote for the candidate. I am excited. I will let you know tomorrow how it went.

Now onto my card for today. This one covers 4 challenges:

1.  The crazy for challenges blog had a sketch posted on Saturday. Our hostess, Silke Ledlow, had this layout posted for us. It makes it easier as a starting point when you have a layout in mind.

2.  The stampin b's blog wanted us to make a thanksgiving card that featured pumpkins. I am still making Thanksgiving cards so this was an easy one.

3.  The challenge this week with speedy's friends was to make a holiday card. I chose Thanksgiving.

4,  The craft your passion blog had an anything goes challenge this week.

I stamped my image on watercolor paper and then used my aqua painter and dye ink to color him. I cut him out with the spellbinders labels 4 die.

My embossed layer is dusty durango and a cuttlebug folder. I also cut out 2 of the pumpkins and used them to complete the sketch requirement.

The designer paper is from Stampin-Up the "autumn vine" collection. My rick rack is a die from MFT. That completes my card for today.

card recipe:
stamps: happy fall y'all, tiny talk
ink: dusty durango, bermuda bay, choc chip, garden green
paper: watercolor paper, dusty durango, choc chip, autumn vine dsp
accessories: cb ef, mft die, circle punch, nesties lables 4

flaky friends

Happy Sunday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. I can't believe we just steam rolled through another month.

What is the saying about time? Oh yes, that it waits for no man. It sure didn't wait on me this month. I blinked and it was gone (lol)!!

We had a harvest festival for the kids after service today. They played games, painted pumpkins and had face painting done.

It was a great day for them and of course they had lots of candy. Our church doesn't celebrate Halloween because we believe its a day that honors evil and death. So we have a fun festival for the kids instead.

Early this evening I met some friends for dinner at a local Chinese restaurant. Its a good night to go out to eat-no lines and no waiting. 

When I came home I decided to make a card for the featured stamper challenge on splitcoaststampers. The honors there went to Cheryl (aka cherylquilts). She has an awesome gallery and is quite a talented stamper.

I chose her flaky snow friends as my inspiration. I decided to keep her layout and the designer paper. I bought the Basic Grey "eskimo kisses" paper last year but just couldn't get any inspiration to use it. Today was my day. She used this paper on her card.

I changed the ribbon treatment and added a snowflake button and moved the sentiment to the top. I used the Stampin-Up watercolor crayons on this card. I am not sure if I liked them to watercolor. I have to practice with them some more.

I also added some polar white flower soft as snow at the base of the snowmen. First time I have used this.  Ilike the look.

Well that's my card for today. I have another one for my Christmas stash. I really need to do some mass production work real soon.

Good night and God bless.

card recipe:
stamps: flaky friends, just celebrate
paper: su bravo burgundy, ww, watercolor paper, basic grey eskimo kisses
ink: stazon black
accessories: watercolor crayons, nesties, ribbon, button, circle punches, polar soft
techniques: watercoloring

Winter Snowflake

Happy Saturday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. It is such a beautiful cool fall day here in Pittsburgh.

Our temps dipped really low last night. I don't think that we had frost, but we pulled in some potted plants and covered some others.

Just not ready to let go of what's still blooming yet!!

Aidin (middle grandson) has his final football game this afternoon and I am planning on going. It's about an hours drive for me so I wanted to get my post in early.

My card today is for 3 challenges:

1.  the inspiration challenge on splitcoaststampers took us to the "destiny creations" site. It has such pretty art jewelry. I used this snowflake necklace as my card inspiration.  Instead of silver I used a metallic gold paper for this clean and simple card.

2.  Our daily bread designs blog was giving us a choice of their top 3 challenges- either sparkle, texture or dies or punches.  I used sparkle with my K & Co snowflake.

3.  The creative cottage blog challenged us to use embossing. I used the cuttlebug embossing folder "flourished frame" on my Christmas card.

4.  The paper garden blog wants to see our holiday cards. This is another one that will go into my stash for Christmas.

Well, my card requires no more description since I did that above with all the challenges I put this one in. I am off to go see Aidin play football. God Bless and see you after church tomorrow

Psalm 27

Happy Tuesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. We are under a tornado watch here in the Pittsburgh area until 9:00 p.m. tonight so I wanted to get this post in early in case we lose power.

I also have to go and pick up my grandson from school and spend the night with him because my son & daughter-in-law are out of town.

They were all in Marco Island for a week- Austin had to come back earlier because he couldn't miss that much school, So we get to spend the night with him. It will be fun.

My card for today is for 3 challenges:

1.  Our daily bread design blog had a challenge to use the colors kraft, black and one other color besides a neutral. I used some BoBunny designer paper that is an earthy yellow color with a brick red variegation.

2.   The layout for my card is from Mercy Kerin's Tuesday sketch challenge.

3.   The oldie but a goodie blog was challenging us to use butterflies. I added  them to my card to fill in the space on the sentiment and the rick rack.

I used a stamp set from our daily bread design "light of the world" collection. I added some black rick rack and punched 3 butterflies and added black pearl centers. That completed my card.

Time to head out the door to pick up Austin. God Bless!!

card recipe:
stamps: odbd light of the world
paper: black, kraft, kraft dsp, bobunny dsp
ink: memento black
accessories: ms butterfly punch, rick rack, pearls

heartfelt sympathy

Happy Monday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. It was a rainy, damp day here in Pittsburgh. One of those days that a nice, hot bowl of soup is so comforting.

I was at a taste sampling of various foods at a local store on Friday night.  I tried this really delicious soup. It was an apple rutabaga cream based soup.

To be honest I had never tasted a rutabaga before, and I didn't even know what one looked like.

After I sampled the soup, I knew it was on my list of to-dos. So I made it today and it met with rave reviews from my husband as well.

Besides the rutabaga, it also had apple, carrots, sweet potato, butternut squash, onion, chicken broth, heavy cream, maple syrup and cayenne pepper.
We just love eating soup in the fall & winter along with some crusty rolls and a salad-a perfect lite meal.

My card today is for the color challenge on Splitcoaststampers. I am on the design team for this challenge for the next 3 months.

Our challenge colors today are baja breeze, crumb cake and blushing bride. We had an option to use pearls or lace this week. I decided on the pearls.

These are very soft colors and I thought they would work well as a sympathy card. A friend of mine just lost her Mom and I am sending this off to her.

I used designer paper from Stampin-Up's "elegant soiree" collection along with some blushing bride ribbon. My flower is stamped in blushing bride and the image is from the "kind and caring thoughts" stamp set and the sympathy sentiment is from Rubber Cottage.

The layout for my card is from the sweet Sunday sketch blog.

That's my card for today. It's time to dim the lights in charmed life land for another day.

card recipe
stamps: kind & caring thoughts, rubber cottage

paper: blushing bride, baja breeze, vv, elegant soiree dsp
ink: blushing bride, baja breeze, pear pizazz
accessories: blushing bride ribbon, pearls

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