Cheers to 2014

 

Happy Tuesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life blog. It's New Years Eve 2013. Can you believe it is the final day of 2013?

 

This year went by so quickly that I am almost not sure where it went. A blogger friend of time encouraged me to do a review of the year to see what I have accomplished. It will probably be a lot more than what I think. So I am going to do that as well as do a review of my favorite cards for 2013. So stop by tomorrow for the card review.

 

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for the color challenge on Splitcoaststampers. I was the hostess for cc459 and I chose the color palette of black, silver and white. I decided to make a New Years card. I send these out as well as Christmas cards. This is a special one for a stamping friend of mine.

 

My layout is this week’s MojoMonday sketch #326. We had a round or square option and I chose to make a 4 1/2" square.

My background paper is a silver metallic textured that I found in my stash. I layered it over some Stampin-Up silver cardstock. The striped layer is some paper from BoBunny and to this layer I added a border die cut from Verve. The border die seemed to fit my celebration card.

The sentiment layer is a stamp from MFT. I used my stamp-a-ma-jig for placement on 2 lines. I stamped the remainder of the sentiment on the inside.
It reads: and another chance for us to get it right.

I cut a flag pennant from a Spellbinders die in silver. The 2014 are black alphabet stickers from my stash.

Completed the card with some licorice bakers twine and used some of the circles from the border die on the sentiment panel.

 

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

 

I am also entering:

1.  Fan-tastic Tuesday has a New Year challenge. My card is a 4 1/2" square.

2.  Shopping Our Stash wants us to use the last of something. I used my last piece of the silver metallic textured paper.

3.  Card Mania has a Happy New Year Challenge.

4.  Crafting From the Heart has an anything goes.

5.  613 Avenue Create has an anything goes with a twist. Use black + a fave color. I like black with silver for elegance.

 

Peace On Earth

 

Merry Christmas and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. We have had a wonderful weekend leading up to Christmas.  

 

My son and daughter in law came in from San Francisco with our sweet granddaughter Phoenix Daisy. And, we get to have her again this year for Christmas morning. She is so excited to have Santa come and bring her a new stroller for her "babies".

 

We took her to the mall today and had her ride the Christmas train. She wouldn't talk to Santa because she is still afraid of him. That was fine with me because the line to talk to him and get a photo was at least 30 deep.

 

She is in bed now so I took a quick minute to post my card. My card is using the Just Rite Stamper set “Christmas Treasures”. I stamped the wisemen in midnight muse ink. I used a Spellbinders circle to cut and layer. I stamped the background sentiment also part of this same stamp set in midnight muse and cut with a Spellbinders circle die.

My background baja breeze designer paper and the striped designer paper is from the Stampin-Up “ski slope” collection. To complete my card I added some satin ribbon and a gold star.

 

It's time to close this post and get to bed. It will be a big dinner at my home tomorrow with both my sons and their families.

 

I hope your celebration is a blessed one. Merry Christmas!!

Cup of Christmas Cheer

 

Happy Friday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. Well, its 12 days until Christmas.

 

My plan for completing all that I want is coming along slowly. I went out to finish Christmas shopping yesterday and 95% is done. I had intentions on starting my wrapping last night, but that didn't happen. So it will be a marathon wrap today.

 

I had several interruptions and then I didn't feel like starting it. Half of my cards are written out and ready to drop off at the post office. That will be a task for today along with the wrapping.

 

My son and his family come in on December 21 so everything that I want to complete has to be done by then. Once my granddaughter comes its all over for me. We have cookies to bake and then off to the mall to ride the Christmas train and maybe visit Santa. She was afraid last year so maybe now that she is 3 it will be different.

 

Now onto to my card for today. This is another of my Christmas cards. I wanted to use some Washi tape on one of my cards. I used this craft tape for the first time a couple of months ago. So I bought some red and decided to try it on a Christmas card.

 

I like how it turned out. My printed image is from Darcie's Stamps U-Cuts collection. They are all ready to go on a card. Just a lot of fussy cutting is required.

 

I placed the cup image on a Spellbinders die and added the word "Merry" cut from a PaperTrey ink die to complete my card.

 

Hope your Christmas tasks are going well. Leave me a comment and let me know I am not the only one dashing to finish (lol)!! Until next time..........God bless.

 

I am also entering:

1.   Pals Paper Arts has a color challenge. I used real red instead of rose red.

2.  4 Crafty Chicks has a food or drink challenge.

3.  Crafty Girls Challenge has an anything goes.

4.  Creative Knockouts has a "tis the season" challenge.

5.  Cute Card Thursday has a Christmas catch-up challenge.

6.  Happy Campers Craft Challenge is Christmas.

 

Merry Christmas

Happy Monday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. The Christmas countdown has begun. I have so much to do and it seems like not enough days to do it all.

This calls for a plan to organize my days wisely and pack in all that I can for each day. I am about 95% completed with my decorating. Then I have my cards to address and mail out.

I make chocolate candy so that is on the agenda for this week as well as some cookie baking. I don't do a lot here but the ones I make are time intensive. I have to finish my Christmas shopping and then the presents need wrapped. 

Christmas menu needs planned and the shopping for that. I have to have all of this done by December 21st because that's when my son and his family come in from California. When my sweet little granddaughter arrives there won't be anything happening except her because she will want my undivided attention. And, I want to give that to her.

Now, let's move to my card for today so I can get cracking on my to-do list. This one I made with a new die that I bought from Memory Box. The Merry Christmas words make for a quick and easy Christmas card. Then you can embellish it however else you want. I saw this card on KittieKraft blog and used it for my inspiration. I changed the bow to a poinsettia.

I decided to use the Spellbinders poinsettia die to complete my card. I di a little sponging on the flower and leaves for some depth.

Well, it's time to end this post and get back to my Christmas list. Hope your preparations are going well. So until next time..........God bless.

I am also entering:

1.  That Craft Place has a Christmas challenge.

2.  Hiding in my craft room has a colors of Christmas challenge.

3.  Bloggers Challenge is Christmas or Hanukkah.

4.  Crafters Café wants us to use red.

5.  Divas By Design has a feeling festive challenge.  

Words of Christmas

 

Happy Saturday everyone and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. I can't believe its been over a week since my last blog post.

 

It's not like I have not been card making because I have been working furiously at getting my Christmas cards finished. I just haven't taken photos of them yet.

I also have cards for sale in a boutique near my home and I had to make extra Christmas cards to display there.

 

Then there is all the other Christmas stuff that needs to get done plus I have my family in this mix. LOL - it makes me tired just thinking about all I have been doing and still need to do.

 

But I decided this morning before I get back to decorating my home that I would post on my blog. And, I have a Christmas card to show of course.

 

This one is done in some non-traditional colors but, I like doing that for a holiday. The color challenge #455 on Splitcoaststampers this week was hosted by Karen. She chose daffodil delight, wild wasabi an gold as her color trio. Her card is gorgeous so click on her name above and check it out.

 

I decided to highlight the gold and use a metallic brown as a neutral fro my card base as well as for my frames.  The Spellbinders poinsettia die is cut in the daffodil delight color with wasabi leaves.



My gold background paper is from K & Co –“Christmas Cheer gold words”. I used the Spellbinders Matting Basics A & B to create the rectangle frame. I layered inside that the Spellbinders Decorative Labels 28 cut in the brown metallic.

My poinsettia is cut with the Spellbinders die in daffodil delight. I sponged while in the die for some added depth. My leaves are cut in wild wasabi.

I added some gold ribbon treatment to complete my card. The layout is this week’s MojoMonday #322.

That’s my card for today. Time to resume the Christmas decorating. So until next time........God bless.



I am also entering:

1.  A Creative Romance has a "Sparkle at Christmas" challenge.

2.  Card Makin Mama's has a Christmas/New Years challenge.

3.  Crafty Hands Challenge Blog  has a seasons greetings challenge.

4.  Jelly Park Friends has a Christmas challenge.

5.  C.R.A.F.T. has a Christmas challenge.

 

Happy Thanksgiving

 

Happy Thursday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. We are celebrating Thanksgiving here in the USA. My hubby's family is coming for dinner. We have a 24# turkey and all the fixings. It will be a great family time of giving thanks for all our blessings.  

 

My menu is consistent every year. No one likes to change it and I myself don't want to. There is something after all about traditions. I serve mashed potatoes, a sweet potato casserole, honeyed carrots, fresh green beans and mushrooms, bread stuffing, fresh cranberries, rolls and butter, pumpkin and apple pies.

 

It's a meal that requires 2 days of cooking but I love it and also having everyone come here. The family looks forward to this celebration as well as my husband and I.

 

Well onto this card for today because its time to get into the kitchen. I made this one for the color challenge #454 on Splitcoaststampers. Vicki is our hostess and she chose the trio of Baja breeze, night of navy and daffodil delight.

 

I decided to make a Christmas card in somewhat non-traditional colors.

 

My card is using the Just Rite Stamper set “Christmas Treasures”. I stamped the Wisemen in midnight muse ink since my night of navy seems to be drying up and I don’t have an ink refill.

 

I used a Spellbinders circle to cut and layer. I stamped the background sentiment also part of this same stamp set in midnight muse and cut with a Spellbinders circle die.

My background baja breeze designer paper is from the Stampin-Up “ski slope” collection. The striped designer paper is from the Stampin-Up  “urban garden” collection. I used some midnight muse ribbon and added 3 daffodil delight candy dots.

 

The layout is based on this week's MojoMonday 321 sketch. I made a square card.

 

Well time to close this post so until next time..........God bless.

Washi Tape Birthday

 

Happy Saturday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. Our youngest grandson is coming over today to spend the day.

 

The local high school football championships are being played. Usually my hubby and he go to the stadium to watch all 4 games, but this year Ethan has a basketball game at 12:00. His game is on our side of town so we will go and then bring him back here. The football games will be on TV so they will eat pizza and enjoy each other's company and football. Their is a special bond between the two of them.

 

As for me, I will be making Christmas cards and also enjoying have Ethan over for the day. A local boutique is selling my cards on a consignment basis. So I have to get some Christmas ones made. I put 4 in their already but need at least 10 more. I don't make the same card so I have to come up with ideas and layouts for them.

 

Anyway, onto my card for today. This is another one that I made for the HYCCT challenges on Splitcoaststampers. The site is in the middle of awarding all the prizes now. I did win a $25 gift card to Waltzingmouse Stamps. Their are 5 grand prizes yet to be awarded and since I completed every challenge, I am in the running for those.

 

This is my card for Donna's HYCCT1314 blingtastic challenge. She wants us to create a card that is totally blingtastic and use glitter and rhinestones.

For the glitter I used pink glitter paper. I decided to create a birthday card. My birthday word is cut from the pink glitter paper with a PTI die.

I used Washi tape and some Tim Holtz tissue tape to create a background. I have never used Washi tape on a card before and I like the results so I will definitely try it again.

 My printed images (presents and bird) are from Darcie's Stamps-her U-cut line. They are all ready for a project-you just have to do fussy cutting. These images  helped me complete 4 cards for the HYCCT challenges. I added rhinestones to complete this card.

 

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

 

I am also entering:

1. Crafts For Eternity Recipe Challenge wants us to use glitter and sparkle.

2.  Crafty Hands Challenge Blog has a sparkle and bling.

3.  Sister Act has an anything goes challenge.

4.  Krafty Girls has an anything goes challenge.

5.  Happy Campers Challenge is to glitter it.

Let Us Give Thanks

 

Happy Friday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. It's been a bit of a busy week here in my neck of the woods. Just lots of little things that tie up days and before you know it the week is over.

 

I bought some new end tables for my living room. They are a match to the sofa table I purchased 2 years ago. I procrastinated on the purchase and they ended up costing me more than if I would have purchased them all at the same time.

 

But, I have them now and I am working on finishing off this room. I finally put some wall accents up. Not totally done with this yet but I will be soon. I plan on taking some pictures of everything after it's finished. the photos will be posted on my blog so watch for them. Hopefully it wont be another 2 years to completion (lol)!!

 

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for the color challenge #453 on Splitcoaststampers. Becky was our hostess and she chose the color trio of always artichoke, baked brown sugar and cherry cobbler.

 

I took the colors and decided to make one last Thanksgiving card. I am using this week’s MojoMonday 320 sketch for my layout.

My background striped patterned paper is something I found in my stash and it’s a good match for the baked brown sugar. On the long rectangle panel I used the Stampin-Up basket weave embossing folder. I added the scalloped edge in cherry cobbler. It’s the scallop trio die from Verve.

The artichoke panel has some designer paper from an old Stampin-Up collection “holiday harmony”. My sweet pilgrim boy and turkey are a printed image from Darcie’s Stamps. It’s her U-cuts line. They are all ready for card making they just have to be fussy cut.

I finished my card by adding a pennant flag cut from a Spellbinders die. The sentiment is from Verve’s “bountiful harvest” stamp set.

 

Well that's it for this post. Tiem to get busy with today's projects and household chores. So until next time........God bless.

 

I am also entering:

1.  4 Crafty Chicks has an anything goes.

2.  As You Like It has a spots or stripes challenge. I actually like both but on this card I used just stripes. I think spots and stripes adds interest to my design.

3.  Aud Sentiments Blog has an any sentiment challenge.

4.  Crafty Creations has an American Thanksgiving challenge.

5.  Die Cuttin' Diva's has a thanksgiving challenge.

You Light Up My Life

 

Happy Sunday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. We had a church outing today after service. It was an afternoon of bowling and pizza.  We had such a fun time but only about 45 people ended up going.

 

My hubby and I had a little competition going with each other. I won the first game with a 166 score and he won the second with a 143. Our time ran out on the 3rd game before we could finish the game. We only had 2 hours and the lanes shut down automatically at 2 hours exactly.

 

Now this evening we are off to the Univ of Pittsburgh basketball game. It's a pre-season game but it will still be a great atmosphere with the band and the cheerleaders.

 

Now onto my card for today. this is another that I made for the HYCCT challenges on Splitcoaststampers. Rebecca was our hostess and her challenge was "strength of steel".  

 

She wants us to show off our metal. She gave us several options for the metal. I used aluminum foil and embossed with a Cuttlebug flower embossing folder. I never used foil on a card before, and I was pleased with how it turned out.

Used the Stampin-U daisy die #2 and cut a flower from glitter paper. Added some flags with the Verve pennant trim die. Sentiment is also a Verve Stamp.

Completed my card by adding some ribbon treatment. The breast cancer awareness button is from Dress It Up Buttons.

 

Well that's it for this post. It's time to leave for our basketball game. So until next time.......God bless.

 

I am also entering:

1.  Hiding in my craft room wants us to use die-cuts. I used one for my daisy and one for my sentiment.

2.  A little bit crafty wants to see sparkle and shine. I used foil for my background and cut my flower with glitter paper.

3.  Emerald Faeries Challenge is ribbon and bling.

 

snow is glistenin"

Happy Tuesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. My day started with a trip to the fitness center and a workout with my trainer. I felt good when I left. As in I was glad I went. She really makes me work during my session.

I made a quick trip to a local furniture store to order some end tables. I wanted the matching pieces to my sofa table and after 2 years I finally ordered them. I will have them for Thanksgiving. I have a few accents for the wall and then finally this room will be finished.

My next plan is to do some updates in our kitchen. Just replacing the countertops, adding a backsplash, new floor and painting. I wanted that to be done by Christmas but I think it will be a winter project.

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for the color challenge #452 on Splitcoaststampers. I am the hostess and I chose the colors that make up the Stampin-Up "winter frost" designer series paper. And that would be island indigo, bermuda bay, coastal cabana, smoky slate and pool party.

Since I already had my paper selected, I chose my layout which is this week's MojoMonday #319 sketch.

My background paper is part of the winter frost collection. I layered it with Bermuda bay cardstock. The card base is coastal cabana cardstock. Layered panels are cut with Spellbinders Matting Basics A & B

For the sketch circle I stamped and die cut a snowflake. It's part of the Stampin-Up "festive flurries" set. The first layer is stamped in island indigo, then pool party, then smoky slate and more island indigo.

I layered pool party seam binding and island indigo ribbon over that. Added a bow and a pennant flag cut in Bermuda bay. My sentiment is an old Stampin-Up rub-on.

Well that's it for me for this post. Time to dim the lights in Charmed Life Land for another day.

 

I am also entering:

1.  C is for Challenge has a winter is coming challenge.

2.  Craft-Dee-Bow-Z has an anything goes with a bow.

3.  Pile It On wants to see our tools. I used dies for snowflakes, dies for flag, and dies for layered panels.