Sweet Friend (Shaving Cream Technique)

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

It's a chilly November day here in Pittsburgh. It was also my pre-school day.

We weren't able to take the kids outside because of the cold. Most of them are coughing and have runny noses. I am loading up on my Vitamin C so I don't get anything that they have (lol)!

 We are already making plans for the Thanksgiving Feast we will be having in Pre-School. The kids get to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal but instead of Turkey they have chicken nuggets. It's always a fun day for them.

It's also time for me to begin thinking about my own Thanksgiving meal. We will be hosting a dinner at our home and my in-laws will be coming. My son and his family split the holiday between us and my daughter-in-laws family. So this year they will spend it with them.

I usually keep my menu the same. Tradition goes a long way with me. I like having my menu set and using my tried and true recipes.

So now onto my card for today. This one I created for a challenge over on Splitcoaststampers. We were to use the shaving cream technique for our background.

Into my shaving cream, I added Stampin'-Up melon mambo, pumpkin pie and old olive re-inkers. Squished the paper into the shaving cream, wiped it off and this background was produced. Here is a link to a tutorial that gives more details on how to work this technique.

I layered the background on melon mambo cardstock that was cut with the Locking Loops die from Spellbinders. The Birdhouse, vine and hello dies are from CottageCutz.

I finished off my card with my sentiment. Well that's it for me for this post. Until next time.........God bless.

card details:

Stamps: label maker sentiments (MFT) 

Paper: whisper white, melon mambo, pumpkin pie, mossy meadow   

Paper Size: A2   

 Ink: melon mambo

 Accessories: melon mambo, old olive, pumpkin pie reinkers (Stampin'-Up), birdhouse and vine and hello spring dies (CottageCutz), label maker dies (MFT), locking loops (Spellbinders)  

Techniques: shaving cream technique

I am also entering:

1.  Crafting with an Attitude has an anything goes challenge.

2.  Cute Card Thursday has an anything goes challenge.

3.  A Bit More Time to Craft has an anything goes challenge.

Thanksgiving Blessings

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

 

Welcome to November! I can't believe that I am even saying that. Where did this year go to so quickly? It's time for me to start thinking about my Thanksgiving menu.

 

Hope you survived the trick or treater's last night. I was surprised at how many parents had babies in strollers out for candy. Were they looking to give the babies a sugar high or just collecting treat for themselves (lol)? I think the latter and some were bold enough to say that's what they were doing. Oh well, to each his own.

 

We were with our next door neighbors and had the fire pit going and made s'mores. It was nice being with them and having lots of  interesting conversations.

 

Now let's move onto my card for today. This one I created for the color challenge #655. I was the hostess and I chose peek-a-boo peach, early espresso and lemon lime twist as my color trio. Optional was to make a fall themed project.

peek-a-boo peach, early espresso, lemon lime twist

For my card,  I used the Painted Autumn designer paper from Stampin'-Up.  I cut a sunflower with a Cheery Lynn Designs die in peek-a-boo peach and peach parfait (retired Stampin’-Up). I wanted a bit of a color variance in the sunflower. My leaf is from a CottageCutz die. I sponged the edges for a little more depth.

The blessing word is a die from CottageCutz and I cut it in early espresso cardstock. This cardstock is such a rich, deep shade of brown that I just love.

Stamped my sentiment in early espresso ink and added to a flag to complete this card. Well, that's it for me for this post. So until next time.........God bless.

 

card details:

Stamps: thanksgiving blessings (Stampabilities)  

Paper: early espresso, peek-a-boo peach, peach parfait, lemon lime twist, painted autumn dsp (Stampin’-Up)  

Paper Size: A2  

Ink: peek-a-boo-peach, lemon lime twist, early espresso  

Accessories: sunflower, blessings phrase dies (CottageCutz), sunflower die (Cheery Lynn Designs), flag stax dies (MFT)

I am also entering:

1.  Die Cut Divas has an all things thankful challenge.

2.  Dies R Us has an anything fall challenge.

3.  Crafty Gals Corner has a harvest colors challenge.

Good Wishes Tree Christmas Card

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with the Charmed Life Blog today. Hope your weekend was a good one. I spent both days crafting and that's always fun.

Today I get to visit my dentist and then hit the gym. But this afternoon I will be back in my craft room getting my sample card ready for the Splitcoaststampers color challenge.

But before all that I have a Christmas card to show on this post. This one I made for my weekly DT post on the CottageCutz blog. So let's get started with some details on how I created my card.

Step 1: I wanted to use red & green as the main colors and I found this paper in my Christmas collection. I thought the music background would work well with the Christmas words. I matched the designer paper with a pine green, a cherry red and kraft cardstocks.

The patterned paper had a nostalgic look to it so I decided to use burlap ribbon.

Step 2: I cut the good wishes words in the cherry red cardstock. I like the different style font that is used on each word.

I secured this to the patterned paper panel with glue dots. I used mini ones and rolled them into small lines.

Secured the image panel to the cherry red card base, I liked how the panels pop with the addition of the red card base.

Red Card base: 4 1/2" x 5 3/4"

Green Layering Panel: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"

Patterned Paper Panel: 4 1/8" x 5 3/8"

Step 3:  I thought the panel needed something else to complete it. I tried a small bow but that didn't work. So I cut some bells and added them to the corner and scattered some gold sequins. It completed the card nicely.

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

Dies I used to create card:

Falling Leaves Thank You

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with the Charmed Life Blog this final Sunday in October.

It's a rainy and damp day here in Pittsburgh. I am sitting here typing up my post enjoying a hot cup of coffee. I wanted to turn the fireplace on but I always like my hubby to be here for the first start of the year. We have a gas fireplace so I just like him to turn it on. But, today he is at work so no fire for me.

Yesterday, I had some of my stamping friends over for a fun day of crafting. Everyone was working on different projects. I pulled out one of my Stampin'-Up Paper Pumpkin kits to work on. I was able to make 7 cards. The kit includes a gift box to give the cards away. I plan on giving them to a friend for Christmas.

I will post pictures of those cards later. Today's card is another one I made using a different Paper Pumpkin kit. This one is the September falling leaves kit. I made this one using the colors from CC654. Stef was the hostess and she chose cajun craze, crushed curry and fresh fig as her color trio. Optional this week is metallics.

cajun craze, crushed curry, fresh fig

For my card, I used elements from the September "falling leaves" Stampin’-Up Paper Pumpkin kit. The large background die-cut leaf was already blended with cajun craze. I used the leaf stamp from the kit and stamped the leaf veins in Cajun craze ink.

The 3 smaller crushed curry leaves were stamped on very vanilla cardstock with another stamp from this kit. I fussy cut these leaves. The kit also had gold metallic leaf stickers that I used for the dessert option. Layered the gold leaf on top of the other leaves.

I scattered some sprigs and leaves cut in cajun craze and fresh fig cardstocks. These are from the CottageCutz pine spray die.

On my background I used the Stampin’-Up pinewood planks embossing folder. I splattered some cajun craze ink with a spritzer tool on the embossed panel.

To complete my card I stamped my “thank you” sentiment on the metallic die-cut tag that was also included in the kit. And, that's it for me for today Blogger friends. So until next time.......God bless.

card details:

Stamps: layered leaves (September 2017 Paper Pumpkin Kit) 

Paper: Cajun craze, very vanilla, fresh fig 

Paper Size: A2  

Ink: Cajun craze, crushed curry 

Accessories: September Paper Pumpkin Kit, spritzer tool, pinewood planks ef (Stampin’-Up) Pine Spray die (CottageCutz)  

dies used:

I am also entering:

1.  Addicted To Stamps has an Autumn challenge.

2.  Challenge Up Your Life has a die-cuts challenge.

3.  Polka Doodles has an anything goes challenge. 

Sweet Greetings Christmas Cupcake

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with the Charmed Life Blog. It's a beautiful Saturday here in Pittsburgh.

My plans for today are to spend the day in my craft room but don't know if that will work out. I want to go over my son's for a visit.

Tomorrow there is a baby shower at church. Our church is associated with a local Crisis Pregnancy Center and we are having a shower for a young woman who chose life for her unborn baby.

It's a sad situation because her parents threw her out of the house when she wouldn't have an abortion. She lives with an aunt now. But when she had a sonogram and saw the baby within her she couldn't have an abortion. The pregnancy center contacted our church and asked us to host a shower for her. There are 50 women from the church that are coming. I am excited to be a part of blessing her.

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for my weekly DT post on the CottageCutz blog. I used a new die Christmas Tree Cupcake, for my sample card. I wanted to show a card that would be easy to mass produce using this new die. So let's get started with some details on how I created my card.

Step 1: Since this is a Christmas cupcake, I knew I was going to use red and green for the cupcake itself. So I checked my cardstock and patterned papers for a Christmas theme of red and green. I found this dotted paper that I thought would look good as a background. Dots and stripes always work for me for Christmas.

Step 2: Once I had the shades of red and green chosen, I was ready to cut my cupcake image.  As with all CottageCutz dies, this has such amazing detail and just so cute.

Step 3: I wanted to have the cupcake framed inside a circle die. I used the Nested Stitched Doily die and cut in the cherry red cardstock. I also used the stitched circle die (3rd largest) as a layering piece and cut this in kraft cardstock.

 I adhered the circles together with double sided tape and then stamped my "Sweet Greetings"sentiment.

Step 4: I started the assembly of my card. I decided that I wanted to break up all the dots on the background panel. So, I used a 3/4" x 4 1/8" piece of the green cardstock and layered some kraft ribbon over that.  It will be just enough once my circles are layered on top.

Attached the cupcake to the circles with dimensional adhesive.  There are little circle ornaments that are part of this die that I forgot to attach earlier. I cut them in white, green and red cardstock. I scattered the extras on the image panel for added interest.

To complete my card, I attached the image panel to the red card base. I thought it just needed something else so I added a small bow made with the kraft ribbon. It finished my card off nicely.

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

Dies I used to create card:

I am also entering:

1.  Really Reasonable Ribbon has an anything goes challenge with ribbon.

2.  Winter Wonderland has a Christmas Flowers challenge. My cupcake has a poinsettia image.

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

4.  A Snowflakes Promise has an anything goes challenge.

Sweetheart LoveBirds

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

I can't believe it is already mid-October. This year has gone by in a blink of an eye. We are still having very mild temperatures for Fall.

The leaves  on the trees are still green so I don't know if we will have the gorgeous display of autumn colors this year or not. I am hoping we don't go from warm temperatures into winter weather. I love the Fall season with its warm days and cool nights and the changing leaf color. Will have to wait to see what develops here.

In the meantime, let's move onto my card for today. This one I made for the DTGD challenges on Splitcoaststampers. Julie was the hostess for this DTGD17justwritedesigns challenge.

For my background, I used some Liquitex gloss gel, pistachio pudding, melon mambo and pink pirouette reinkers plus a heart stencil from Stampin'-Up. It is a simple technique that I thought made for the perfect background for my card.

The sweetheart lovebirds and love phrase are both dies from CottageCutz.  The love phrase is cut in melon mambo cardstock and the birds in pink pirouette and pool party. I sponged the birds with the matching ink for a little more depth.

 I thought I could use this as a wedding or anniversary card. And, that completes my card for today. So until next time........God bless.

Card details:

Paper: melon mambo, whisper white, pink pirouette, pool party

Paper Size: A2  

Ink: pink pirouette, pool party  

Accessories: sweetheart lovebirds, love phrase (CottageCutz), heart stencil, pistachio pudding, melon mambo, pink pirouette reinkers (Stampin'-Up), gloss gel (Liquitex)  

Techniques: stencil 

 

Dies I used on card:

I am also entering:

1.  Crafting From the Heart has an anything goes challenge.

2.  Get Creative has a wedding challenge.

3.  Glitter & Sparkle has an anything goes challenge.

Snowflakes + Mother of Pearl Technique

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with the Charmed Life Blog on this Saturday in October.

I am back from my trip to San Francisco. I went out for a week to take care of my precious granddaughter, Phoenix Daisy. The time spent with her was so wonderful and went by so quickly. 

We play non-stop with her baby dolls, and she has 7 of them. I am always amazed at her creativity and the ideas she has to play with them. She told me no one plays "Babies" like I do. Of course, because that's what Grandma's do (lol)!!

It's been awhile since I have posted on my Blog. There was no time when I was away. I went to bed when Phoenix went to bed because I was so tired. Then just when my body adjusted to the 3 hour time difference, it was time to come back home.

My card for today is one that I made for my weekly DT post on the CottageCutz Blog. I used a new Christmas die, Snowflakes Set for my sample card. I chose the faux mother of pearl technique for my background because it's a very simple technique to do and it has a huge impact on your finished card.  I also thought it would give the illusion of a snow squall. So perfect for my snowflake images.  Here is a video link to a tutorial on Splitcoaststampers.

And, I also wanted to show a card that would be easy to mass produce using this new die. So let's get started with some details on how I created my card.

Step 1: I used some Frost White Acrylic paint from Tsunineko. It has a bit of a shimmer to it. This paint acts as a resist and shows through the colors that I will sponge on in the next step.

I put a small amount of the frost paint on my craft mat. I used a piece of cling wrap and scrunched it up and then dipped it in my frost paint. I pounced it on my craft mat to work it into my cling wrap and also to insure that I didn't have any big globs of paint.

I then dabbed it lightly on my white cardstock. I left some open space so I could sponge the colors I was going to use. There is lots of shimmer on this panel that is hard to capture in a photo. I set it aside at this point to allow it to dry.

Step 3: Once the paint was dry, I decided on the shades of distress ink with tumbled glass and broken china.

After I started to sponge the ink, I decided to add a 3rd shade of ink using peacock feathers. I liked the color variation that I achieved. You can see on the photo below the white paint has resisted the distress ink.

When I finished sponging I used a paper towel to rub off the ink that was sitting on top of the white frost paint. This allows more of the frost design underneath to come through.

Step 4: Since I was going with a turquoise card base, I decided to layer the pearl panel on white. Just for some variation between layers.

Turquoise Card Base: 5 1/2" x 4 1/4"

White Layering Panel: 5 1/4" x 4 1/8"

Background Panel Size: 3 7/8" x 5 1/8"

Step 5: I cut my snowflake images from white cardstock. They are such pretty shapes and I really like the size variation.  I was able to use all 4 of the images on my background panel.

To adhere the snowflakes to the background panel, I cut small pieces of dimensional adhesive. I didn't want them laying flat against the background.

Step 6: The sentiment is from an older CottageCutz die - Merry Christmas Santa. I cut it from one of my practice panels that I made. I sponged more ink on it for more of a contrast. I also cut another phrase in white and very slightly offset it. 

To complete my card I attached it to the turquoise base. I wanted some depth between these two panels so I used some white fun foam behind the image panel. It gave it just the lift I was looking for I secured it with Tombow liquid multi glue.

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

Dies I used to create card:

Christmas Joy Nativity

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with the Charmed Life Blog. Another weekend is upon us. Hope you have some great plans.

 

I will be in my kitchen today making cookies for my niece's baby shower. My contribution is a ladylock. It's a puff pastry with a delicious vanilla buttercream filling. I plan on making 8 dozen cookies.

I can't attend her shower because I will be out in San Francisco taking care of my precious granddaughter Phoenix Daisy. My son and daughter-in-law are going away for a little r & r over the Columbus Day weekend. My hubby is staying here in Pittsburgh to hold down the fort while I am gone.

I am looking forward to seeing her and doing all our usual stuff. Which generally means we will play with her baby dolls from morning till night. She just never gets tired of it. I get worn out at the end of the day though (lol)!!

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for my weekly DT post on the CottageCutz Blog. Today, I am using one of our new dies Joy Nativity. To me this die represents the essence of Christmas. I love the bold Joy word as well as how the Holy Family is nested in the letter "O".  So let's get started with some details on how I created my card.

Step 1:   This week I started off with a sketch. I found this perfect one on Splitcoaststampers. It wasn't too fussy and it allowed the Joy word to be the center focus.

Step 2: I looked through my paper stash for patterned paper that wouldn't take the focus away from the Joy word and at the same time have a touch of elegance to it. I found this red and gold paper that I thought would work for the elegant look I was after. I paired it up with a red card base that was almost a perfect match.

Maraschino Red Card Base: 5 1/2" x 4 1/4"
Patterned Paper Layer: 5 3/8" x 4 1/8"

Step 3:  For the oval elements #3 & #4) of the sketch I used the largest nested stitched eyelet die and the 2nd largest oval die. It nested quite nicely in the eyelet die and the eyelet die kept with the elegant look I wanted for this card.

Step 4: I cut my Joy word in a gold cardstock. There is such detail in this die. If you click on this photo or any of them really, it will allow you to see the detail I am talking about. Attached to the oval shapes with dimensional adhesive. Being raised a bit from the ovals will give it nice depth. 

Step 5: Attached the oval panel to the striped patterned paper layer. For the #2 layer of this sketch I decided to use ribbon. Looked through my ribbon stash and found this pleated ribbon that is a good match for the card base.  I really like adding ribbon on Christmas cards. I think it dresses them up nicely. 

 Attached my image panel to the card base and scattered a few sequins to complete this card. I hope I have given you an idea for using this new Joy Nativity die. By keeping your card simple, you could easily mass produce this one for Christmas. Well, that's it for me for this post. So until next time.........God bless.

Dies I used to create card:

I am also entering:

1.  Hiding in My CraftRoom has a freestyle challenge.

2.  Just Us Girls has a word die cuts challenge.

3.  Alphabet Challenge has an "O" for oval

4.  Winter Wonderland has an anything goes Christmas challenge.

5.  Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge is anything goes.