~Hello Autumn~

 

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog this Saturday, October 4. It is also world card making day so I hope to have a chance to make a card or 2 today. 

 

I have been on a cooking spree lately with canning and harvesting from my garden plus using all the local produce that's available. I have been visiting the local farms as well as the farmers markets.

 

Our green peppers are done for this year so I had to buy a few to make stuffed pepper soup. I used green bell and yellow peppers to make this delicious soup. It's one of my husbands favorites. I really liked how this one turned out.

 

In fact, I went to the Farmers Market last night and bought some red and green bell peppers to make more. This time I will freeze it to enjoy later in the fall. If anyone would like the recipe I used just send me an email or a comment on this post and let me know.

 

Now onto my card for today. This one is a sample I made for the Splitcoaststampers color challenge #497. Peggy was our hostess and she chose a lovely fall color trio with hello honey, blackberry bliss and very vanilla. Her optional item was to add splatters to your card.

vanilla, honey, blackberry

I went with a fall theme for my card. The background is the Cuttlebug embossing folder "autumn type". The leaves and acorns are cut with a Spellbinders die. I made a small bow with twine and taped it to my leaves.

The "hello" word is a die from MFT as is the cornstalk and arrow. My sentiment is a Great Impressions Stamp and I just used the autumn word and stamped in blackberry bliss ink.

For the splatters option, I used the Stampin-Up spritzer and attached a marker. I sprayed a few times on my card. That completed my card.

 

Well time to end this post. I have to get back in the kitchen because today it's more canning of tomatoes. So until next time........God bless.

 

card details:

Stamps: second spring -E550 (Great Impressions Stamps) 

Paper: blackberry bliss, hello honey, vanilla, soft suede, mossy meadow 

Paper Size: A2 

Ink: Blackberry Bliss, Hello Honey 

Accessories: Mft corn stalk,happy hellos, arrow dies, Spellbinders fall leaves, twine, cuttlebug autumn type embossing folder, SU spritzer 

 

I am also entering:

1. Anything Goes With a Twist -twist is anything goes.

2. Brown Sugar has an autumn/fall challenge.  

3. Kitty Bee Designs has a fall colors challenge.

4. Left Of Center Challenge is 3 or more layers.

5. Sister Act Card Challenge is anything goes.   

Christmas Nativity

 

Hello Blogger Friends and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. We have had some beautiful as well as sunny days here in Pittsburgh the past few weeks.

Our flower gardens are still flourishing as well as our tomatoes. I canned 9 jars of tomato sauce in the last few days. It takes 30 medium size tomatoes to yield 4 - 16 oz. jars. It's a bit of work but this winter I will be glad that I made the effort.

 

We have more tomatoes coming but not enough for another batch. So I may go to the farmers market tomorrow night and pick up some to can another 4 jars. I am getting into it I tell you.

 

I already made pear butter (jam) and strawberry jam. I will give this to family and friends at Christmas. Homemade food gifts are always appreciated at Christmas or anytime really.

 

Now onto my card for today. I mentioned the other day that I needed to get a move on my Christmas cards since it is already October. So I am showing one today.

 

This is the sample I made for CC496 on Splitcoaststampers. Karen was our hostess and she chose Cherry Cobbler, Soft Sky and Island Indigo for her color trio. Our dessert option this week is to make a Christmas card. I am behind on mine so this was perfect for me.

 

cherry cobbler, soft sky and island indigo

I decided to use this Nativity Border die that I purchased recently from Taylored Expressions. To create my scene I first sponged my background with the Spellbinders Impressabilities diamonds and stars. I sponged on soft sky cardstock with island indigo ink.

The angel is the first stamp I ever purchased but there is no name on it. I stamped in Versamark and island indigo and then embossed with clear embossing powder. I fussy cut her to give more dimension. The “peace” word is a die from PaperTrey Ink.

My card is a 5 ¾” square and the card base is where I used the cherry cobbler. Well, that's it for me for today. So until next time......God Bless.

 

Card Details:

Stamps: Angel (unknown) 

Paper: cherry cobbler, island indigo, soft sky 

Paper Size: 5 3/4" Square 

Ink: versamark, island indigo 

Accessories: Taylored Expressions nativity border die, PaperTrey Ink holiday words die, Spellbinders Impressabilities “diamond and stars”, Stampendous embossing powder

I am also entering:
1. WordArt Wednesday has an anything goes.
2.  ABC Challenge has a "U for Unique".
3.  Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas challenge is anything goes.
4.  Sparkles Monthly Challenge has a things with wings.
5.  Holly Jolly Christmas Challenge is anything goes.

~Card Concept Oct 1 Challenge~

 

Hello Blogger Friends!! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit the Charmed Life Blog. Hope you are enjoying this first day of October 2014.

I just saw a reminder on someone's blog that it is 12 weeks to Christmas. Yikes!! I need to get a move on my Christmas cards. Don't want to be caught up in the last minute frenzy again this year (lol)!!

 

It is time for another challenge over at the Card Concept Blog.  This 2 week period we have a color challenge - my favorite type. Here is a beautiful inspiration photo to help in creating your card.

 

current challenge theme

My card theme for this challenge is the freestyle collage. I like being on this design team because it takes me out of my card making box. I don't usually make collage style cards but I gave it a good effort.  Another big challenge for me was to use these colors and not make a Halloween card.

 

My card picks up on the colors, the gingham tablecloth, and also the fall themed items in the photo.

 

I started my process by stamping my background with the "gingham plaid" stamp from Impression Obsession in black on white cardstock. Then I started my die cutting.

 

I just bought this new "blessings" die from Simon Says Stamp and I cut the word from tangelo twist cardstock. I also used a couple of Cherry Lynn Designs dies - the lace corner deco and the fanciful flourish dies.

 

My final die cut is a pumpkin from Cuttlebug-it is embossed as well. I also used the bird image from the Stampin-Up set "nature walk". I had to fussy cut this one.

 

Then I just started layering all my elements on the card. I also picked up on the lace that was lining the pumpkins in the photo. So I added a piece of May Arts mesh ribbon to one of the corners to complete my card.

 

Hope you can join in on the challenge this time. With The Card Concept challenge, you get to choose the style of card making you are comfortable with or attempt a new style. Either way its a fun challenge!! Drop over to the blog to see all the fabulous inspiration from the other designers.

 

Card Details:

Stamps: nature walk ( Stampin-Up), gingham plaid (Impression Obsession)

Ink:  tuxedo black (memento)

Paper: whisper white, basic black tangelo twist (Stampin-Up)

Accessories: blessings die (Simon Says Stamp), décor corner and fancy flourish dies (Cheery Lynn Designs), Pumpkin die and embossing folder (Cuttlebug)

Masculine Birthday

 

Hello Blogger friends!! Thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. Well, fall has officially arrived. It will be the end of our growing season soon. No more flowers or fresh veggies- enter sad face here!!

 

Although we did have quite a harvest from our vegetable garden. Tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, zucchini, onions, leeks, eggplant, carrots, green peppers as well as all the herbs.

 

Today, I am going to can the tomatoes. I have made salsa before but never a tomato sauce. I found a recipe on the Ball website that I will use.

Last week I put up 13 jars of pear butter. I will give some as a little Christmas gift with a loaf of pumpkin bread. People always appreciate homemade gifts, I think.

pear butter

It is such a delicious recipe with the added cinnamon, nutmeg, ground cloves, apple cider and brown sugar. My hubby really likes it as well as anyone I have given it to. We have a friend with several pear trees and he invited us to come over and pick all that we wanted.

So the hubs picked two - 5 gallon buckets and then went yesterday and picked some more. I am thinking about making more of the jam but that's after I finish my tomatoes.

 

Now, onto today's card. This one I made for my son for his birthday. I forgot to take a photo of it at home so I took it over at his home with my I-Phone. I went outside but I think it looks okay.

 

It is a Stampin-Up mainly card. I used a few Spellbinder dies to cut my frame and oval. I really like how it turned out. My inspiration came from this card I saw on Becky Roberts Blog. I just changed the ribbon to black on my card.

 

I used the Stampin-Up set - "see ya later" and my designer paper is from the

kaleidoscope collection. For the candles I cut a small piece of paper and rolled it around a pencil then used glue dots to secure it.

 

The candle flame is punched using the Stampin-Up bird builder punch. This is the wing. It makes a perfect flame. Then to make it sparkle, I used dazzling diamonds glitter.

 

Well, that's it for me for this post. Time to get into my kitchen and start my tomato processing. So until next time.......God bless.

 

card details:

stamps: see ya later

paper: basic black, melon mambo, whisper white, daffodil delight, kaleidoscope dsp

ink: memento tuxedo black, melon mambo & pool party markers

accessories: Spellbinders mattings basics A & B and oval dies, bird builder punch (SU), black ribbon, dazzling diamond glitter

 

I am also entering:

1.  Crafting From The Heart has an anything goes.

2.  Incy Wincy Designs has an anything goes challenge.

3.  Sparkle N Sprinkle has any anything goes using glitter, embossing powder or flocking.

4.  Craftyhazelnuts has a patterned paper challenge.

5.  Paradise of Stamps has an anything goes challenge.

6.  Tok Bobok has a masculine challenge.

Card Concept Sept 17 Challenge

 

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking time out of your day to visit the Charmed Life Blog.

 

Today there are 2 events going on for me. The first is my birthday. We celebrated last night with a fabulous dinner at my son and daughter-in-laws home. She is such a wonderful cook and she honored me with her cooking talents. More on what she made in another blog post. So stay tuned!!

 

The 2nd event is another challenge over at the Card Concept Blog.  This 2 week period we have a color challenge - my favorite type. Here is a beautiful inspiration photo to help in creating your card.

 

My card theme for this challenge is the shabby chic style. Not my usual style of card making but I was happy with how this one turned out. My card picks up on the colors, of course, and also the fall leaves.

 

I found this designer paper from Graphic 45 - "the eden symphony collection". I thought it was a perfect starting point for my shabby chic design. I layered that over some cherry cobbler cardstock and did some distressing of all these layers.

 

Next I looked to my die collection to see what could assist me with this design. I found another big help with this Cherry Lynn Designs die - "border carnivale". I cut in cherry cobbler cardstock and added some pearls.

 

I thought that a shabby chic layout should include a doily so I cut one using another Cherry Lynn Designs die "French pastry" in so saffron cardstock. I sponged over the doily with so saffron ink to distress a bit more. The card is taking the shape I want at this point. The autumn sentiment is a stamp from Great Impressions.

 

I knew I needed some ribbon so I made a bow from cherry cobbler seam binding and spritzed it with water to give it a crinkly look. I think this is also one of the key elements of a shabby chic design.

 

To pick up on the leaf theme I cut some leaves using a Spellbinders die in cherry cobbler and lucky limeade cardstocks. That completed my card. This one is a bit larger than I usually make at 6 x 4 3/4, But I don't have to mail it since I will be giving it to my neighbor for her October birthday. How about that for being ahead of schedule??

 

Hope you can join in on the challenge this time. With The Card Concept challenge you get to choose the style of card making you are comfortable with or attempt a new style. Either way its a fun challenge!! Drop over to the blog to see all the fabulous inspiration from the other designers.

 

Card Details:

Paper: cherry cobbler, so saffron, lucky limeade (SU), eden symphony (Graphic 45)

Ink: cherry cobbler, so saffron

Accessories: carnival border, French pastry dies (Cherry Lynn Designs), fall leaf dies (Spellbinders), paper distresser (Tim Holtz), cherry cobbler seam binding (SU), pearls (Darice) 

 

Winters First Hello

 

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. I honestly don't know where the days are going. I don't seem to be accomplishing the goals that I have in mind for each day. A little tweaking is in order I think.

 

Our pre-school has started back up again. Yesterday was our first class. It was only for an hour and the parents come with the kids. Thursday will be another 1 hour class but no parents. The kids all did well as we introduced a modified routine to them. It will be exciting to see how they progress though the year. I only help out 1 day a week but for the first few months I will go both days. I do that to help get the kids acclimated to the routine as well as to get to know me. Just another reason I need to organize my days better.

 

Anyway, I wanted to get this post completed before I head off to the gym. On Wednesday's its our group day with the trainer. Don't know if I mentioned before that I exercise every Mon-Wed-Friday with 4 other women.  It's been good for all of us because if you have someone to go to the gym with, you are more likely to go. At least that's how it's worked out for me.

 

Now onto my card for today. This is the 2nd card I made for The Splitcoaststampers CC494. This one I created for the CC494 on Splitcoaststampers. I was the hostess  and for my color palette I chose melon mambo, basic gray and wild wasabi.

 

I chose the colors based on this comforter set I saw on Pinterest. Thought it would make a pretty card and based on the SCS gallery, I was correct.

 

 

I also gave an option to use these non-traditional colors to make a Christmas card or a winter scene. The 2nd option was to add flowers or create a summer scene for the card. You can see that card here.

 

I created this Christmas card using the Grand Christmas die from Memory Box. I saw this card on the Memory Box site and used it for my inspiration today. I changed the colors and dies to give it my touch.

Stamped the background trees in wild wasabi using a stamp from Just For Fun stamps. To complete my card I used the MFT Blueprints 3 dies and cut a bow and a stitched edged panel in basic gray cardstock.

 

This one will be easy to mass produce for Christmas. I will probably make at least 10 of these.

 

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

 

I am also entering:

1.  Robyn's Fetish has an anything goes challenge.

2.  Crafting At The Weekend has an anything goes challenge.

Summers Last Hurrah

 

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. It was a beautiful, sunny Sunday here in Pittsburgh.

 

Just the type of day that our tomatoes like to turn them red and ready for picking. They are ripening at a very nice pace. I roasted some the other day with olive oil, garlic and thyme. They were super delicious. I used them to make a vodka sauce to serve with some ravioli that I picked up at Trader Joes.

 

The sauce is really easy to make and is so delicious. I put the tomatoes in my food processor to puree them. Then I sautéed some onion and more garlic-added my roasted tomatoes, fresh basil (also from our garden) and 1/2 cup of vodka. The alcohol cooks off in this dish since you let it simmer for about an hour. To finish it off I added some heavy cream and it's done.  

 

I am definitely going to make this again. By roasting the tomatoes it really enhances  their flavor.  I have been roasting a lot of vegetables lately. They are so delicious and easy to prepare. You just drizzle with olive oil, salt, pepper and any other seasoning you like.  

 

Now, onto my card for today. This one I created for the CC494 on Splitcoaststampers. I was the hostess  and for my color palette I chose melon mambo, basic gray and wild wasabi.

 

I chose the colors based on this comforter set I saw on Pinterest. Thought it would make a pretty card and based on the SCS gallery, I was correct.

I also gave an option to add flowers or create a summer scene for the card. Wanted to make it summer's last hurrah. The 2nd option was use these non-traditional colors to make a Christmas card or a winter scene.

 

Today I am showing my summer's last hurrah card. This card is using lots of dies and background stenciling.

 

I had this card saved in my faves on Pinterest and used it for my inspiration today. I changed the colors and some dies to give it my touch.

 

The background die is the Memory Box “massa leaf frame, the lighter green is the Memory Box “chloe die”. My flower is the Cherry Lynn Designs “sunflower die” and I cut it from melon mambo cardstock.

 

The butterfly is from Elizabeth Crafts and it was cut twice-once in basic gray and then I layered the melon mambo over that. 

"Thanks" word is a Taylored Expressions die cut in basic gray.

I stenciled the background with a Heidi Swapp stencil and used melon mambo ink. I completed this card by adding some gray rhinestones.

 

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

I am also entering:

1.  Crafts Galore Encore Challenge wants us to make a card.

2. Scrap It Girl has a stencil or mask challenge.  

3. That Craft Place has a summery colors challenge.  

4.  A Gem of a Challenge has a summertime challenge.

 

Card Concept back to school challenge

 

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. It's September and that means back to school, cooler temps, shorter days and welcome fall!!

 

We are celebrating back to school this time on the Card Concept Blog with a theme challenge. As part of the wild card team, I am to create a card in the classy and elegant style.

 

I thought that might be a bit difficult with a back to school theme but I proved myself wrong. Using lots of layers and ribbon I think I achieved my goal. From this photo, I picked up on the colors, the chalkboard with the numbers, alphabet blocks and the apples.

Last year I bought some Verve Stamps that were all about teachers and school. So that was my go to set. I also used an older MojoMonday #293 sketch that was perfect for the style card I wanted to create. I also saw this card by Verve diva Laurie using this sketch and I liked her added use of ribbon.  

 

I used the numbers stamp from this set to create my own background. Stamped in old olive ink on ruled paper from Pink Paislee. Also used this same paper for my circles.

 

To pick up the alphabet theme, I used the Stampin-Up "alphabet" embossing folder on the red rectangle layer.

 

On my chalkboard,  I again used the numbers stamp and stamped, wet embossed and sponged with white ink to give a chalkboard look. I added a clip and some die cut circles that I had in my stash.

 

Instead of adding apples to my card, I used circles which is why this sketch worked so well for me. Stamped my sentiment, added a die cut heart and some ribbon and bow to complete my card. Circles cut with Spellbinders and MFT dies,

 

That completes my card for this challenge. Hope you can play along. Drop over on the Card Concept blog to get all the details and to check out the other amazing cards the designers have created. 

 

Card Details:

Stamps: teachers count (Verve)

Ink: old olive, craft white (Stampin-Up), Memento tuxedo black, white dye ink (Making Memories)

Paper: Maraschino (Bazzill), old olive, black (SU), 365 degrees (Pink Paislee)

Accessories: Spellbinders matting basics A & B, circle dies, MFT blueprints 3 die, metal clip, ribbon (SU) 

 

I am also entering:

1.  Dies R Us has a back to school theme.

2.  LadyBug Crafts has an anything goes.

3.  Really Reasonable Ribbon has an autumn colors with ribbon.

4.  Sparkles Monthly Challenge is back to school.

5.  Creative Card Crew has a chalkboard technique challenge.

 

~Cupcake Birthday~

 

Hello Blogger friends! Thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. Well, it's back to school time. My grandsons started back today. No issues with the school bus- so that starts the day off right. They both came home with homework and they weren't real happy but not to much complaining.

 

I picked Ethan (our youngest grandson) up after school. He was a little tired and a little cranky but, I was still excited to see him. I stayed with them until 10:00 this evening. Usually I am not there that long but my son and daughter-in-law had a dinner out planned with some friends.

 

Now I am back home and even the drive home was a little quicker than usual. I made it in just under 40 minutes. I wanted to get my blog post done and head off to bed. I have plans to go to the outlets tomorrow to look for a dress for an upcoming wedding.

 

So onto my card for today. I needed a card for a 70th birthday party we were invited to and this is what I came up with. I wanted some fun and trendy.

 

My card started with my layout and I used the MojoMonday #358 sketch. 

My card colors are from the Splitcoaststampers CC491. Peggy was our hostess and she chose the fabulous color trio of blackberry bliss, so saffron and bermuda bay. Our   option was to "put a sentiment on it". 

 

The card background panel is Stampin-Up designer paper from the  "moonlit" collection. I used the Stampin-Up set "cupcake party" and stamped in bermuda bay.

To complete my card I die cut the birthday word in bermuda bay. The die is from PaperTrey Ink.

 

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

~Coral Thanks~

 

Hello Blogger Friends!! Thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. I made it back safely from San Francisco. I was gone between vacation and then off to take care of my granddaughter for almost the month of August. It is good to be back home and sleeping in my own bed.

 

The flight home got a bit crazy. My first flight was delayed and that would have me missing my connection so I was rescheduled for another flight. The 2nd flight was all boarded and then the captain announced the aircraft was being taken out of service. There was a problem with the vacuum system in the lav. 

 

Since I had to connect to get back to Pittsburgh, I was re-scheduled for the next morning to fly out. Phoenix Daisy was glad to have me back. We played until her bedtime.

 

I am still adjusting to the time change but I will be fine in a few days. Now it's time to catch up on harvesting our garden crop and other house stuff.

 

But for now, I am going to catch up on my blog posts. So onto my card for today. This one I made for the color challenge #493 on Splitcoaststampers. Becky is our hostess this week and she chose the trio of old olive, calypso coral and lost lagoon. The option this week is to use something recycled.

 
I  used the Stampin-Up stamp set 'language of friendship". My flowers are stamped in lost lagoon and fussy cut. I layered each flower several times for added dimension.

The leaves are die cut with a Verve die. This is where I used the shampoo box. I also used the recycled box to cut my "thanks" word with a Taylored Expressions die.

My background paper is from the Stampin-Up collections -"I am me" and Epic day this and that". The coral ribbon is also from Stampin-Up.

My butterfly is cut with a die from Elizabeth Crafts.  I picked it up earlier this summer at a local rubber stamp show.  The center circles are cut with a Spellbinders scallop circle and an MFT die.

Well that's my card for today. Time to dim the lights in Charmed Life land for another day. So until next time......God bless.