~gardening is an art~

 

Happy Sunday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. Hope you all had a great weekend. It was so beautiful here with lots of sunshine and warm days.

 

Some of our flowers are still blooming and have lots of buds so hopefully the killing frost will hold off for a few more weeks. I took some photos out in the back yard and on the deck the other day and have them at the end of this post.

 

Onto my card for today. This one I made for The Friday "free for all challenge" on Splitcoaststampers. Wendy was our hostess and she challenged us to make a card with four squares.

 

My card is a 4 3/4" square with 4 squares. My images are recycled from an old calendar I had saved because I liked the images and thought I might use them for a card someday. Well, this was the day.

My sentiment is from the garden art set by Mark's Finest Papers and stamped directly on designer paper.

.

I thought it worked perfectly with the herb images I am showing. I plan on giving this to my next door neighbor who is an avid gardener. She has all these herbs and then some in her garden.

To complete my card I added some butterflies, pearls and an arrow to bring attention to the "art" word in the sentiment.

 

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

 

Here are some of my garden and deck photos:

 

vinca flowers and potato vine

angelonia and pink geraniums

bougainvillea

friquolet dahlia

friquolet dahlia

jack-0-lanterns

tall zinnias

small zinnias

melanpodium

mums and lantana

 I am also entering:

1.  Robyn's Fetish has a nature challenge.

2.  AllSorts has a "how does your garden grow" challenge.

3.  Creative Corner Challenges is the great outdoors.

 



Trustworthy Anchor

 

 

Happy Thursday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. Today was my 2nd day with the pre-school class. I am getting to know the kids and they me. We had a good day today and they are starting to learn the routine of school and what is expected of them.

 

The weather was so nice that we took them outside today to enjoy the sunshine. They had sidewalk chalk and played with that. I am going to decorate the board for October. Our color is orange and next week's letter is "P". I will use some die cuts and cut pumpkins and oranges. Have to think of what else I might do so if you have any suggestions, I am all ears.

 

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for a good friend of ours that needs   some encouragement right now.

 

For my card I wanted to use the Verve set "strong anchor" that I just received in the mail. I won the Viva la Verve challenge last month and I was awarded $100 to shop in the Verve store. This is one of the sets that I picked plus the dies on this card.

My designer paper is from the Stampin-Up "nautical expeditions" collection. I thought it worked great for my nautical theme.
The anchor die is a match for the stamp set. I also used one of the dies in the scallop trim trio and cut in cherry cobbler.

 

My layout on this card is from the Splitcoaststampers Sketch challenge #454.

Well that's it for me for today. It's late and I am tired so until next time.......God bless.



Plaid Christmas

 

 

Happy Tuesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. Today was my volunteer day at the pre-school. Everything went well and there were no issues with the kids.

 

They were all very cooperative today and wanted to work on the projects and all the activities we do in the 2 hour class time. It's difficult for this age group of  2 1/2 to 3 1/2 to keep their attention for longer than 10 min when we do an activity. So the time is limited for each activity and they all did so well today.

 

I am going to go back on Thursday and help out again. It's somewhat easier to have 2 helpers plus the teacher in the classroom with 10 kids.

 

Now onto my card for today. I have started working on Christmas cards (just barely). This one was easy to create with using dies and will be easy to re-create. I will probably make at least 4 more of this type. I have the background paper in my stash and with no added bulk it will be an easy one to mail.

 

I made this one for the Virtual Stamp Night Challenge on Splitcoaststampers. Stacy was the hostess and she had a plaid and polka dot challenge.  She issued an extra challenge to make it Christmas so that's the direction I went.

I found the perfect paper in my stash. It is at least 4yrs old.

The paper has plaids and dots right on it. It's from the ProvoCraft -~gingerbread plaid~ collection. I also used some Christmas dies from PaperTreyInk. It's their "in the meadow" collection.

The word "Merry" I die cut in white and blue for a shadow effect. The horse drawn sleigh is cut in blue. My snowy hills are also a PTI die and I added some glitter on the hill top to complete my card. The glitter is also something from my stash I have had for at least 3 yrs and hardly ever use.

 

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

 

I am also entering:

1.  Creative Card Crew has a Christmas Challenge.

2.  Oldie but a goodie challenge is die/cuts punches. My dsp is at least 4 yrs old.

3.  Use It Tuesday challenge is to use 2 hoarded items. My paper is one and the glitter is another.

4.  Bunny Zoe's Crafts has a something blue challenge.

5.  C is for Challenge Blog has a make it sparkle challenge. 

Happiness Always

 

Happy Monday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. Today was my day at the gym with my trainer. She put together a new routine for me. We worked together for an hour. This new one is more intense and she said I will probably be sore tomorrow. I hope it's not too bad because tomorrow is my volunteer day at the pre-school.

 

Don't know if I mentioned this new venture at the pre-school. I go on Tuesday's and help out the teacher. We have 10 kids between 2 1/2 and 3 1/2. They are so precious. This is their first time in a "school environment". So Courtney is introducing little by little what we will be doing for the year.

 

The kids are so receptive. Last week the local librarian came for story time with them. They loved the interactive stories and songs and were so attentive. Tomorrow the kids will all get "jobs". So I will let you know how that turns out.

 

Now onto my card for today. This is the card I made for the Splitcoaststampers color challenge #443. Karen was our hostess and she chose such a beautiful color combo with midnight muse, strawberry slush and pear pizzazz. 

 

I wanted to try a more in-depth die layering technique. I have seen it so often on the Amazing Paper Grace blog. Becca makes it look so easy but it is labor intensive for sure.

 

I used the Spellbinder fleur de lis die and then a square die to make my first frame. Then I used 2 Spellbinders labels 16 dies to make another frame. I wanted to layer under that with pear pizzazz and strawberry slush so I used 2 more square dies and cut those layers to make frames.

Created my own background with the Stampin-Up sets “secret garden” and “flower shop”. I made a mask on this layer so while I was stamping I would leave the middle open for my sentiment. I layered this panel on strawberry slush and then the card is midnight muse. My sentiment is from the SU set “whimsical words”.

I finished up this card by adding some pear pizzazz ribbon and a bow with a midnight muse dahlia.

 

This will go into my stash for a wedding card. Well that's it for me for today. So until next time......God bless.

 

I am also entering:

1.  Creative Craft Challenge wants us to use ribbon.

2.  Through The Craft Room Door has an anything goes challenge.

3.  Craft-Dee Bowz has an anything goes with a handmade bow.

4.  Make My Monday has a flowers or trees challenge.

5.  Whoopsidaisy challenge is anything goes. 



Birthday Candles

 

Happy Sunday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. Hope your day went well wherever it took you. I started the day with church.

 

My Pastor's sermon today was so inspiring. He encouraged us from scripture and the book of Galatians 6:10 - "don't become weary in doing good for a the proper time we will reap a harvest if we don't give up". The key to Christianity-it's a long term investment not a short-term gain. And we need to be totally dependent on God. 

 

He spoke for about 40 minutes but it was one of those sermons that kept your interest. There was so much more that he spoke on and if you are interested here is a link to listen.

 

This afternoon I went to my grandson's football game. They lost but it was being with my family that mattered to me.

 

Now it's Sunday evening and I am working on my blog post and watch the QVC "Joy of Christmas". I did by a few things -gifts and some decorations for my home. I love decorating my home at the holidays and occasionally adding some new items.

 

Onto my card for today. This one I made for the Splitcoaststampers virtual stamping night. Peggy was our hostess and she had asked the color challenge design team to make samples for the challenge. Her theme was dots and stripes.

 

My dots and stripes paper is from the Stampin-Up "festival of prints" collection. My sentiment is also Stampin-Up  - the whimsical words set.

The candles are from the "party this way" set. I stamped and fussy cut them. I cut the flags from the Verve pennant trim die. I thought it would be a great birthday card for a guy.

 

Well, that's it for me for this post. Time to dim the lights in Charmed Life Lnad for another day. So until next time......God bless.

 

I am also entering:

1.  613 Avenue Create is anything goes/create your own color challenge.

2.  Seize The Birthday has a  has an anything goes birthday theme.

3.  The Squirrel and Fox has a birthday challenge. 

4.  Hiding in my craft room has a lots of layers challenge.

5.  Totally GorJuss has a dotty challenge.



 

Let us give thanks

 

Happy Friday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. It's the start of the last weekend of summer. So hope the weather is cooperating in your area and you can get out and enjoy. We had a beautiful day here in Pittsburgh. Sunny, warm and a bit humid. My air conditioner is back on for today.

 

I spent the afternoon with my neighbor, Sue and we made pear butter together. She has a pear tree in her yard and we turned it into a delicious pear spread. It has a thick texture like jam but doesn't require pectin.

 

We used apple cider, cinnamon, nutmeg and brown sugar to create our pear butter. We used the water bath method to preserve it. I plan on giving a few jars as gifts. And, my hubby really likes it so I have to keep a few jars.

 

Now onto my card for today. I have another Thanksgiving card to show today. I do send about 10-15 cards out so I have some more to make.  This one could easily be re-created.

 

My layout is from Splitcoaststampers sketch challenge #452.

My background designer paper is from the Stampin-Up "autumn spice" collection and it's layered with more mustard and soft suede card stocks.

I used cajun craze cardstock for my rectangle panel and the embossing folder is the Cuttlebug "autumn type".

The smaller rectangle panel I stamped my sentiment from the Verve set "bountiful harvest". I added a Cheery Lynn Designs die cut sunflower.

 

Well, it's been a long day so time to dim the lights in Charmed Life Land for this Friday in September. So until next time........God bless.

 

I am also entering:

1.  A Creative Romance has a dies/punches challenge.

2.  Bloggers Challenge is welcome fall.

3.  Chocolate, Coffee and Cards has an anything goes challenge.

4.  Daring Cardmakers has a harvest festival challenge.

5.  Fun-Day Friday challenge at Jo's Scrap Shack is anything goes.

6.  Sister Act Card Challenge is anything goes.

 

Sunflower Harvest

 

 

Happy Thursday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. Today was such a beautiful very late summer day. Lots of sunshine and so warm.

The bees are starting to get pesky. They start to bother me instead of tending to the flowers that are left. They come after me when I am out cutting flowers.

 

We also have these imported bugs from China called "stink bugs". If you smash them they leave off an odor hence their name. They even look oriental.

 

They like to get in your house to lay their eggs this time of year. Fortunately, we don't have as many as other areas of Pittsburgh. But. today they were on my window screens looking for access. They did manage to get in the screen on our French doors. I grabbed them in a paper towel and threw them back outside. I have to get a plan to keep them outside. Just don't know what that plan is yet.

 

Well enough about bugs. Let's move onto my card for today. I have another Thanksgiving card to show. On this one, I used 2 different Cheery Lynn Designs dies. The sunflower die and the pumpkin corner flourish die.

 I used the Cuttlebug embossing folder "autumn type" for my card background. The corner pumpkin flourish is a die from Cheery Lynn Designs. I cut it 2x once in olive and another in pumpkin. Snipped around the pumpkin and glued it over the green pumpkin. The 2 corner sunflowers are also a die from Cheery Lynn Designs.

The sentiment is from Verve's "bountiful harvest" set. I stamped it in chocolate chip ink on an MFT bracket die cut. Added some taffeta pumpkin pie ribbon and a small sunflower center to complete my card.

This is also my card for the Splitcoaststampers virtual stamp night -opposites attract. Ann was the hostess and her challenge was - "smooth and rough".

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

I am also entering:
1.  4 Krafty Girlz Challenges has an anything goes.
2.  Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog has an autumn challenge.
3.  Crafty Ribbons Blog has an anything goes with ribbon.
4.  Creative Knockouts has a texturize it challenge.
5.  Happy Campers has a show us your flowers challenge.
6.  Paper Crafting Journey has a flowers challenge.

A Bountiful Harvest

 

 

 

Happy Wednesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. Well yesterday was my birthday and a great day it was. My hubby took me to dinner at the Cheesecake Factory and then to the Benedum Center for the presentation of the lion King.

 

We had never been to the Cheesecake Factory and it was on the way to the theater. We had a good dinner but it took so long to get our food that we didn't have time to try one of their desserts. Probably for the best anyway, since we had enough food for dinner.

 

The Lion King was amazing with the costumes, music and great seats to take it all in. If this production comes to your city, it's definitely worth the price of the tickets.

 

Now onto my card for today. I am showing another Thanksgiving card. I made this one a 5" square. I used the Wednesday sketch at Splitcoaststampers SC453 challenge. Janette is our hostess and she provided a great layout for my thanksgiving card. 

My background paper is from DCWV's "harvest gathering" collection.

For my large circle I used a Spellbinders die cut in pumpkin and naturals ivory cardstock. Sponged the ivory with crumb cake ink and stamped my Verve sentiment in choc chip.

For the 2 other sketch circles I used an acorn (sizzix die) and a pumpkin (cuttlebug die). I added some burlap ribbon from David Tutera to complete my card. 

 

Well that's it for me for another day. It's late and time to dim the lights in Charmed Life Land for another day. So until next time.......

 

I am also entering:

1. Lady Anne has an anything goes challenge. 

2. PollyCraft Challenges wants us to use harvest colors.

3. Crafty Sentiments Designs has a fall/autumn challenge.

4. Just Inspiration Challenge has die cuts or shapes. I used pumpkin, acorn, circle.

5. Through The Craft Room Door has an anything goes.

6.  Craftin Desert Divas has a fall/autumn theme.

Thanksgiving Turkey

Happy Monday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. Today was one of those days that started and is about to end with a blink of the eye. I went to the gym this morning for my session with my trainer. Then the rest of the day is a blur (lol!!)

I was working on my card for this weeks color challenge and it was one of those times when it took forever to complete it. I really liked how it turned out and now I have another Thanksgiving card for my stash. I send about 10-15 Thanksgiving cards so I need about 9 more.

Now onto the details for my Thanksgiving turkey. Nancy is our hostess this week over on Splitcoaststampers for CC444 and she gave us some great fall colors to work into a card.  She also wanted us to do some fussy cut or use a die cut. I did both on this card.

I made a thanksgiving card and my layout is the Viva la Verve Sept Week 1 sketch.
My turkey image is from the Verve set “bountiful blessings”. I paper pieced him and that’s where the fussy cutting came in.

 I paper pieced his feathers in cajun craze cardstock. The pumpkin body is paper pieced in tangerine tango cardstock. I popped up his head and the beak is paper pieced as well.

My crushed curry background designer paper is from Stampin-Up’s “razzleberry lemonade” collection. Used the Stampin-Up  “basket weave” embossing folder on my choc chip circle and the Cuttlebug embossing folder  “autumn type” on the Cajun craze panel.

I stamped my sentiment on a crushed curry panel in choc chip ink to complete my card. Well that's my card for this post and it's time to dim the lights in Charmed Life Land ofr another day. So until next time.........God Bless.

I am also entering:

1.  Craft Your Passion has an autumn/fall colors challenge.

2.  Created With Love has an anything goes challenge.

3.  Lexi's Creations has an autumn colors challenge.

4. The Paper Nest Dolls has a happy fall ya'll challenge.

5.  Natalie and Amy's challenge is embossing.

6.  Alphabet Challenge is paper piecing.

 

~Give Thanks~

 

Happy Sunday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. Hope you all had a great week-end. They seem to come and go so quickly. Saturday evening we had dinner with my son-daughter-in-law and grandsons. We were celebrating my birthday which is this coming Tuesday. My daughter-in-law, Joellen is a fabulous cook and she prepared a great birthday dinner for me.

We had flank steak that she marinated in a combo of soy sauce, olive oil, garlic, rosemary and basil. It was delicious. She also made some baked red snapper with a garlic pesto. Incredible would describe the taste. We had a caprese salad-tomatoes-fresh mozzarella-basil-avocado drizzled with a balsamic vinaigrette. We grilled some zucchini with olive oil and sea salt and let it carmelize on the grill. The flavor was fabulous.

For dessert she baked some fresh peaches with a glaze of butter and honey. She then added a crumbled anise biscotti mixture and baked a little longer. She served this with French vanilla ice cream. Mine had a candle in it and everyone sang "happy birthday" to me. We also had some ice wine. It is a sweet dessert wine. You can only have a small amount because of the sweetness.

So needless to say I was made to feel very special by my family and I loved every minute of it.

Now onto my card for today.  I really like making thanksgiving cards and I send quite a few to family and friends. So over the next month expect to see several.

My background designer paper is from Stampin-Up's "autumn vine" collection. The eggplant circle is cut with 2 Spellbinders dies to form a frame.

The sunflower is cut with a Cheery Lynn Designs die in more mustard and always artichoke cardstocks. Added some eggplant ribbon used a brad leaf die and punched a small tag for my sentiment.

I entered this card in Susan's VSN challenge on Splitcoaststampers. It was the square peg/round hole challenge. She wanted us to make a square card with a circle on it.

Well, time to dim the lights in Charmed Life Land for another day. So until next time.......God bless.

I am also entering:
1.  613 Avenue Create has an anything goes challenge -optional to make a fall card.
2.  Challenges 4 Everybody has an anything goes.
3.  Crafting when we can has a seasons challenge. Mine is fall-colors-image and sentiment.
4.  Dream Valley Challenges has a purple and green challenge.
5.  My Time To Craft has an autumnal colors challenge.
6.  A Creative Romance has a die/punch challenge.