Birthday Hugs and Kisses

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

It's Mother's Day weekend and my son and family are taking me out for a brunch. We used to do the Race for the Cure walk that happened on this weekend in previous years. But with the pandemic it was canceled for the last 2 years. So we will still go to the same spot for our brunch just no walk ahead of time. 

It will be wonderful just having family time. Something else that we haven't done a lot of since this whole virus thing started.  I am so over it and want my life back again!!!

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for my weekly DT post on the CottageCutz Blog. My great-niece is turning one and I made this for her. 

Design Steps:

Since I knew I would be using the Windows Slimline die, I looked for images that would work in the window openings. I also wanted something for a one year old girl. I selected the Balancing Elephant and Juggling Monkey. I thought these ones could be made girly by using shades of pink cardstock on their hats, clothes and accessories.

Next, I cut the window slimline with a magenta shade of cardstock. I cut a white card base 8" x 6" and scored at the 3" mark. The window frame is attached to the base with double sided tape.

Stamped the birthday sentiment in magenta ink. It's a one line stamp but with the help of my MISTI, I masked off and stamped it on a second line.

I cut the window slimline a second time in a heart designer paper. I used the die inlay technique and secured these back in the window frame. Left the middle window white because that's the sentiment panel. I didn't want the heart background to interfere with the sentiment.

Secured the elephant and monkey with dimensional adhesive. On the sentiment panel I attached the balloons with glue dots. I cut a small bow from an older die - the Elegant Champagne Glass die. The number 1 candle is also an older die- number candles.

And that's my card for today. So until next time.......God Bless. 

dies I used to create card:

I am also entering:

1.  Creative Knockouts has an anything goes challenge. 

2.  Cute Card Thursday has an anything goes.

3.  Simon Says Stamp has a feminine challenge. Mine is for my great-niece.

4.  2 Crafty Critter Crazies has an anything goes with a critter. 

5.  Crafty Animals has an anything goes challenge. 

Mother's Day at the Bunny Cottage

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

Happy May Day to you all! Can't believe that April 2021 is in the history books. Looking forward to all the warm weather that is coming our way. And to all the crops my hubby will be planting this year. I love getting produce from our summer gardens. He already has his lettuce, kale, basil, beans and peas started.  It's just a bit too early yet for tomatoes and peppers. He is hoping for another bountiful harvest just like last year. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for my weekly DT post on the CottageCutz blog.  I used  the Scalloped Stitched Rectangle Slimline die along with the Bunny Tree Cottage dies and I created a Mother's Day card. My next door neighbor has 2 little ones and this will go to her. Her little 3 year old loves to bake with Mommy so I thought this scene would be perfect for her.

Design Steps:

I started my card by cutting the Bunny Tree Cottage in different colors of cardstock. I cut 2 of the little bunnies and cut their outfits in blue and pink. My neighbor has a little boy and girl. Instead of the Mama bunny holding the pie, I put it in the hands of the small bunny. So she is presenting it to Mama for a Mother's Day gift.

Next I cut my background panel. I used the 2nd largest Scalloped Stitched Rectangle Slimline die and cut in white cardstock. I sponged tumbled glass distress and mowed lawn distress inks on the panel. I also used the Clouds Slimline die and cut in white cardstock then sponged it with tumbled glass distress ink.

I stamped my Mother's Day Sentiment in an indigo blue ink directly on the clouds. Used my MISTI tool for placement and just in case I needed to stamp sentiment again. But one inking worked fine. 

Now that the card elements are done I am ready to start assembling my outdoor scene. I attached the clouds with double sided tape. The tree and cottage door with glue dots, the grass tufts and mushrooms are attached with Ranger multi matte adhesive. The bunnies are attached with dimensional adhesive. I also cut a flower pot & tulip and put it in the hands of the little boy bunny.

To finish off my card, I cut a medium purple card base 5 1/2" x 7 1/2" and scored at 2 3/4" and attached the image panel to the base. I also added a couple of mushrooms at the tree base and front door to the cottage.

Well, that's it for me for this post. Have a great weekend and until next time.......God bless

dies I used to create card:

I am also entering:

1.  Cardz 4 Gals has a Mother's Day challenge. 

2.  Simon Says Stamp has an anything goes challenge.

3.  2 Crafty Critter Crazies has an anything goes with a critter. 

4.  Crafty Creations has an anything goes challenge.

5.  Shopping our Stash has a "I made this for you Mom challenge.  

Mother's Day Blessings 2

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

It's such a beautiful, sunny and very warm day here in Pittsburgh.  We, my hubby and I, went out for a 3 mile walk this morning. I have been doing this with him at least 4-5 days a week. He goes every day. 

As we walked through our local high school grounds we saw some teachers outside with their gym classes. It was nice to see the kids back in school and life beginning to return to normal. 

On the weekends the soccer and baseball teams are having games at the high school. A year of shutdowns makes you appreciate American life as we know it. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for the Splitcoaststampers color challenge #840. Chris was our hostess and she chose flirty flamingo, petal pink and coastal cabana for her color trio. Optional this week is stitches. I used the MFT stitched basic edges die on this card. I also subbed powder pink since I don't own the petal pink color.

I decided to go with a Mother's Day theme for my card. I need several Mother's Day cards since I send to friends and family.

I used a new to me wreath stamp set from Concord & 9th. It's one of their turnabout stamps. My teamie Barbara has used them on several occasions so I bought a couple to try them. I am hooked and I may get a few more. They give you a template to use so as you turn the stamp you can use different colors. Here is a link to their site if you want to see the turnabout in action. 


I stamped the wreath in the challenge colors and then added mossy meadow as my 4th color on this image. You turn it 4 times and add a different color on each turn.

I stamped my Mother's Day sentiment on vellum and embossed with an emerald embossing powder. It looks black in this photo but irl it's a pretty shade of green that matches well with the colors.

I finished off this card by adding coastal cabana ribbon and bow and scattering some flirty flamingo enamel dots. Well that's it for me for this post. So until next time .......God bless. 

card details:

Stamps: wreath turnabout stamp (Concord & 9th),mother's day (Divinity Designs)

Paper: coastal cabana, whisper white

Ink: flirty flamingo, powder pink, coastal cabana, mossy meadow

Accessories: stitched basic edges die (MFT), coastal cabana ribbon, flirty flamingo enamel dots (Stampin'-Up)

I am also entering:

1.  Shopping Our Stash has a "I made this for you, Mom" challenge. 

2.  A Place to Start has an anything goes - make it elegant challenge.

3.  Get Creative Challenge has an anything goes. 

4.  A Gem of a Challenge has an anything goes challenge.

5.  Sweet Stampin' has a no squares challenge.   

Showers of Love

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

Hope you are all enjoying this Spring season. We had snow overnight the other day but it quickly melted. But the overnight freezing temps have stuck around. But it's supposed to start warming up again in the next few days. Looking forward to enjoying some warmer weather. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for my weekly DT post on the CottageCutz Blog. I am using the Nested Stitched Rectangles Slimline, Clouds Slimline and the Spring Showers Buddies dies. I created a special I love you card for my precious little granddaughter. She loves getting cards from me and saves them all. So let's get started with some details on how I created my card.

Design Steps:

I started my card by cutting the Spring Showers Buddies images. I wanted to see what size slimline die to use for my rainy day scene. I cut them using the packaging colors. I like bright colors and these ones are so perfect.

Next I used designer paper and cut my image panel background with the largest of the Nested Stitched Rectangles Slimline die. It measures 8 1/2" x 3 1/2". Then I took a raindrops stencil and stenciled raindrops on the background designer paper.

I used gray designer paper to cut the clouds with the Clouds Slimline die. Then I attached to the background designer paper.

Stamped my showers of love sentiment in dark grey ink. I die cut a water puddle and splashes of rain water from the 2019 Spring collection "Rainy Day Duck". It's out of stock but you could use a snowbank die for the same effect. Like the one from the Snowman w/Lamp Post die.

To complete my card I attached the Spring Showers Buddies to the background designer paper with dimensional adhesive.

That's my post for today. So until next time.......God bless.

dies I used to create card:

I am also entering:

1.  Crafty Catz has an anything goes w/optional all creatures big and small. 

2.  Simply Create Too has a stitching challenge. Clouds & image background has stitching. 

3.  2 Crafty Critter Crazies has an anything goes with a critter. 

4.  Crafty Animals has an anything goes challenge. 

5.  Creatalicious Challenge is anything goes with optional of a slimline card. 

   

Father's Day "in the spotlight"

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

We are almost a month into Spring and everything is returning to life and blooming here in Pittsburgh. Although we have had a return of colder temps. It's supposed to warm up next week though. 

I am looking forward to opening the windows again  and letting the breeze blow through my home. It just seems to freshen things up. 

Anyway, let's move onto my card for today. This one I created for my weekly DT post on the CottageCutz Blog. I created a slimline card for Father's Day using new Slimline dies. So let's get started with some details of how I created this card. 

Design Steps:

I started my card by cutting the Rounded Rectangle Slimline shape using the 5th largest die in this collection. It measures 2 1/2" x 7 1/2".

I used a spotlight stencil from MFT to put my image in the spotlight. Stencil work is done with wild honey distress ink. Next, I stamped my sentiment at the top of the image panel. It's a single line sentiment but a little too long for this panel. So with the help of my MISTI I turned it into a 2 liner. I will stamp my Father's Day sentiment on the card inside.

I cut the Ringmaster image in the packaging colors. I thought they would work well for a Father's Day card and they are good masculine colors. For the face, hands and nose I cut in white and then colored with Copic markers- E00 skin white and E11 barley beige. For his hair, moustache and eyebrows I cut in white cardstock and colored with a cool gray 70% Prismacolor pencil and gamsol.

I wanted some background designer paper behind the image panel. This paper is from the Stampin'-Up "berry delightful" collection and used the 2nd largest Nested Stitched Rectangle Slimline die to cut. The die measures 8" x 3". I cut my white card base the same 8" x 3" size and secured the designer paper to the panel.

Now that all the elements are prepared I am ready to start card assembly. I used dimensional adhesive and attached the Ringmaster inside the spotlight. Then attached the image panel to the designer paper base.

To complete my card, I cut some stars and scattered them on the card. Well that's it for me for this post. I hope you all have a great weekend. So until next time.......God bless. 

dies I used to create card:

I am also entering:

1. Aud Sentiments has an anything goes with a sentiment.

2.  Creative Knockouts has an add a sentiment challenge. 

3.  Crafty Creations has an anything goes challenge. 

4.  Creative Moments has an anything goes challenge.

5.  Watercooler Wednesday has a masculine challenge.  

Mom's Slimline Lift Flap Card

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

Our neighborhood has come alive with the signs of Spring. Flowering trees in bloom, tulips, daffodils, hyacinth and crocus are everywhere. I love walking the neighborhood to take in all the new life. And we are having such warm weather and lots of sunshine. 

Our Easter celebration with my in-laws was great last Sunday. My meal turned out perfectly and I had lots of compliments from everyone. I bought a huge 15 lb ham and I have been making different dishes all week with it. Tonight will probably be the last of it. I am making a ham & swiss cheese braid. Also using spinach and mushrooms with crescent dough. It's a new recipe for me so I will see how it goes. 

Now onto my card for today. this one I created for my weekly DT post on the CottageCutz Blog. I used the new Slimline Lift Flaps Stitched Rectangle die to create a Mother's Day card. So let's get started on some details of how I created my card. 

Design Steps:

I started off by cutting my Stampin'-Up purple posy cardstock with the double stitched rectangle die that is included in this set. I use a Big Shot machine and you do need the extended platform for the slimline dies.

Next, I laid the lift flaps die on the rectangle I just cut, secured it with tape and ran it back through the Big Shot.

I didn't want the flaps to be empty so I decided to stencil some flowers on the 2 end flaps. This stencil was so small and even though I covered the edges, I did manage to get a bit of the violet ink in the corner. Not to worry because I was going to use enamel dots, and it will cover it.

Now I am ready to cut the bouquets of flowers that will go under the flap. I used different colors of cardstock for the vases, teapot, flowers and leaves.

I adhered the vases under the flaps with a combo of double sided tape and Ranger multi medium matte adhesive.

I adhered the image panel to a white card base. Finished base size is 8" x 3". I cut my card stock at 8" x 6" and then scored at the 3" mark.

To finish off my card I added the "Mom" phrase cut in a grape cardstock. It's from the 2018 Mom w/heart die. I scattered a couple of grape hearts and a few enamel dots.

Well that's it for me for this post. Hope you are having some great weather wherever you are and that you get out this weekend to enjoy it. So until next time........God bless. 

Dies I used to create card:

I am also entering:

1.  Crafty Catz has an anything goes challenge. 

2.  Just Add Ink has a choose two challenge - leaves-petals-feathers.

3.  Cardz 4 Galz has a slimline card challenge. 

4.  Creative Knockouts has a for the girls challenge. 

5.  Crafter's Cafe has an anything goes challenge. 

6.  Crafty Friends Challenge is ladies/girls.