Oh, Happy Days

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with The Charmed life Blog today. Another weekend is upon us. Hope you have some plans to do something fun or crafty.   

We do have plans for a birthday celebration tomorrow. It's my Mother-in-laws 91st birthday. So the Marsh family will get together and honor her. It will be a nice family time together. You just come to appreciate these get togethers so much more since the pandemic. 

My sister-in-law is going to grill filet mignon for us and everyone is bringing sides. I am making a tossed salad. It is a requested side from the family. We used most of our garden lettuce so I will have to go and buy some at the store. I was a bit disappointed that we didn't have much left. But there is another harvest coming soon.

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for the color challenge #836 on Splitcoaststampers. Our colors were granny apple green, pineapple punch and heather highland. Optional item was dots. I used sequins on this card. 

For this card I used the easel card technique to create a birthday card for my sister. She celebrated on April 23 but, I just forgot to post this card on my blog. 

The stamp set is from the Stampin'-Up June 2020 Paper Pumpkin kit- a kit in color. I saw this card on Pinterest and used it for my inspiration. Stamped the rainbow in the challenge colors. Used a cloud die cut from the kit and stamped my sentiment.

My background paper is from the Stampin'-Up "oh so ombre" collection. I computer generated an April calendar and circled the 23rd date- that's her birthday. Scattered a few sequins to finish off this card. 

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

card details:

Stamps: a kit in color (June 2020 Paper Pumpkin)

Paper: granny apple green, whisper white, oh so ombre dsp (Stampin'-Up)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: highland heather

Accessories: highland heather sequins (Stampin'-Up)

Techniques: easel card

I am also entering:

1.  Cut It Up has a shaped or fun fold card with at least one die cut. 

2.  Simply Create Too has an any shaped card.

3.  C.R.A.F.T. challenge is an easel card. 

4.  The House That Stamps Built has a fun fold challenge. 

5.  The Crafting Challenge wants us to use embellishments.

Birthday Greetings

Hello Blogger friends! Thanks for taking the time to visit with The Charmed Life Blog today. Hope you had a great weekend and were able to enjoy some outdoor time. 

The warm days of summer are fast approaching. The local strawberries are in season and the farms are starting their pick your own days. We are thinking of going out early tomorrow. We did this last year and enjoyed their goodness for a few months. I just froze them and used for my smoothies and also for strawberry ice cream. I may make some strawberry jam this year but I haven't decided on that as yet. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for color challenge #843 on Splitcoaststampers. The color trio was rich razzleberry, pear pizzazz and highland heather. Optional was flowers. 

I started my card by ink blending the white image panel corners with wilted violet distress ink. For the flowers, I used an older Stampin'-Up set from a Paper Pumpkin kit - "all about everything". Stamped the flowers in highland heather, the centers in rich razzleberry and the stems in pear pizzazz.

Cut a white panel for the die cut birthday sentiment and added some black faceted enamel dots to finish off the card. And, that's my post for today. So until next time ......God bless. 

card details:

Stamps: all about everything (Paper Pumpkin 2016)

Paper: black, highland heather, whisper white (Stampin'-Up)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: highland heather, rich razzleberry, pear pizzazz (Stampin'-Up), wilted violet distress (Ranger)

Accessories: birthday die (PTI), faceted enamel dots (Darice)

I am also entering:

1. Lil Patch of Crafty Friends has an anything goes challenge. 

2. Crafty Catz has an anything goes challenge.   

3.  Gem of a Challenge is anything goes. 

4.  My Time to Craft has a floral challenge. 

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

 

Hey Chick

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

It's a beautiful day here in our neighborhood and I can't wait to get outside to enjoy some of the day. Hope you are having some great weather in your area of the world. So let's move onto my card for today.

This one I created for my weekly DT post on the CottageCutz Blog. I am using a newly released die - Cowgirl Chick. She is just the cutest little thing and even a bit sassy. I thought it would make a great birthday card for a gal! So lets get started with some details on how I created my card.

I started my card by cutting the Cowgirl Chick die. For her hat and scarf I used the packaging colors because it's a perfect western look.

Next, I looked through my designer papers and found this one that already has an outdoor scene as part of the paper. It's the Landscapes Paper Pack from Divinity Designs  I decided to make a square card because I didn't want to cut to much of the designer paper.

Card Base: 5 1/2" square
Designer Paper layer: 5 1/4" square

Stamped my sentiments on both the clouds. They are from an MFT set - "The Whole Herd". I wanted the words to be a bit sassy like the chick. The "hey chick" sentiment has an exclamation point at the end. The clouds are from the Stitched Sun, Clouds & Umbrella die.

To finish off my card, I attached the image panel to the card base. I scattered a few red enamel dots just for some added interest. Well, that's it for me for this post. I hope I have given you an idea for a way to use this new die. So until next time ......God Bless. 

Dies I used to create card:

I am also entering:

1.  Alphabet Challenge is "E" is for easy-simple card.

2.  Beyond the Blue has a patterned paper challenge. 

3.  Aud Sentiments has an anything goes + a sentiment.

4.  Cute card Thursday has an anything goes challenge. 

5.  Crafty Gals Corner has a for the ladies challenge. 

Happy Mother's Day

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with The Charmed Life Blog this Memorial Day 2021. 

We didn't do anything special today. Just went for our 3 mile walk this morning and then hubby went to work in the yard. I did get in my home workout that my trainer put together for me.  That takes about 45 min to 1 hr. and then I went to my craft room. I was working on my sample for the Splitcoaststampers color challenge. This week it's all about masculine. So I did make a Father's Day card. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for the color challenge #841. I was the hostess on that challenge and the colors I chose were just jade, honey bee and rococo rose. Optional was to make a feminine or Mother's Day card. I just didn't get it posted here on my Blog and I wanted to do that while it's still May. 

For this card I used the elements from the February 2021 Paper Pumpkin kit. The die cut flowers are part of the kit and have all the challenge colors along with the neutral of merry merlot.

The background designer paper is from one of the envelopes in the kit that I cut apart. I thought the paper was to pretty for an envelope that someone would just throw away. I added an embossed background layer in just jade cardstock. The image panel is a layer of bumble bee cardstock and a layer of vellum.

To complete my card I stamped my sentiment on a stitched label die in choc chip ink and scattered a few just jade enamel dots.

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

card details:

Stamps: sentimental rose (Paper Pumpkin Kit April 2019)

Paper: rococo rose, just jade, bumble bee, vellum (Stampin'-Up)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: Choc chip

Accessories: Paper Pumpkin Kit Feb 2021, in-color enamel dots, stitched nested labels die, greenery embossing folder (Stampin'-Up)

I am also entering:

1.  A Place to Start has an anything goes challenge. 

2.  Dream Valley Challenge is die cuts and/or punches.

3.  A Gem of a Challenge is anything goes. 

Patriotic Gnomes

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

It's a holiday weekend and the kickoff for the summer season. It's rainy and a little on the cool side today but I have lots to do inside. We are having some friends over tomorrow night and I have dusting and sweeping to get taken care of. 

For my card today, I am going patriotic. I was on the Kirkland's website the other day and noticed the patriotic gnome theme in wall art, pillows and hand towels. That gave me the idea for this card. I focused on a July 4th theme since that's a big celebration for the US. I used the Flower Power Tomte dies from our 2020 Gardening release collection and dressed them in patriotic colors. I also used the Windows Slimline die.

I decorate my home in a patriotic theme that I leave in place until mid-August. So this card will be part of my decorations. So let's get started with some details on how I created my card. 

Design Steps:

I started the card off by selecting my designer paper. I wanted a patriotic theme but nothing that would overpower the gnome images. My patriotic paper is limited and I didn't want to make a run to my local Michael's store so I looked online for something that I could download for free. Yay- I found some on Pinterest. And it printed out nicely as well.

So I cut the windows slimline once from the designer paper and then again in a red and blue cardstock. My card base is white and measures 6" x 8" and scored at 3". It's the same size as the window frame.

Next, I cut the gnome images in red, white and blue cardstock. I didn't want them both to be exactly alike so I cut their hats in different designer papers and cut the hat bands in two shades of blue cardstock.

For the center panel, I decided to make that a solid color. I used the banner that comes with this slimline die and stamped my sentiment in blue ink. The July phrase is part of the Calendar Months die from our Valentine 2017 release, but is currently out of stock.

Now that all my elements are cut I am ready to start card assembly. I attached the red window frame to the white card base with glue dots. Then I attached the inlaid panels with double sided tape.

To finish off my card, I added my patriotic gnomes and secured them with dimensional adhesive. I decided to use the garden flags that come with the die. In the red, white and blue I think they look like flags that you would wave at a parade.

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

Dies I used to create card:

I am also entering:

1.  Allsorts has an any celebration challenge. 

2.  The Fairy and Unicorn challenge is anything goes. 

3.  Simon Says Stamp has an anything goes challenge. 

4.  Crafter's Castle has an anything goes challenge. 

5.  Polkadoodles has an anything goes challenge. 

6.  Cute Card Thursday has an anything goes challenge. 

Mother's Day Bouquet

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

It's coming up on our first holiday weekend of the summer. There is a parade planned in our neighborhood development for this coming Monday. We had one last year during the pandemic because our township canceled the one they had planned. 

The neighborhood one was such a success that they planned another one for this year. It's fun to just have all the neighbors sit out in their front yards and watch all the festivities. We all line our front yards with American flags so the patriotic theme is amazing. 

I am not sure if we will have family over for a cookout. We might just make some plans with our next door neighbors. Now let's move onto my card for today.

This one I made for the color challenge #841 on Splitcoaststampers. I just forgot to post it on my Blog even though the Mother's Day celebration is over for this year. I was the hostess and I chose just jade, bumble bee and rococo rose for the color trio. Optional was to make either a Mother's Day or a feminine card. 

For my card I used a fun fold technique and the elements from the February 2021 Paper Pumpkin kit. The background designer paper on the front panel is cut from one of the envelopes in the kit. 

For the fun fold I used a white card base and cut 1 /1/2 inches off the front panel. I used the largest Stitched Rectangle (3 1/4" x 4 1/2") die from CottageCutz and cut the panel in rococo rose cardstock. Then cut another panel from the largest Rectangle (3 1/8" x 4 1/8") die also from CottageCutz and used this for the image panel. 

The beautiful bouquet is part of the kit and has all the challenge colors. The bouquet is accented with merry merlot (a Stampin'-Up neutral).

I stamped my Mother's Day sentiment in just jade ink and scattered a few just jade enamel dots to complete this card. The sentiment is from another Stampin'-Up Paper Pumpkin kit - sentimental rose. 

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

Stamps: sentimental rose (Paper Pumpkin Kit April 2019)

Paper: whisper white, rococo rose

Paper Size: A2

Ink: just jade

Accessories: Paper Pumpkin Kit Feb 2021, in-color enamel dots (Stampin'-Up), stitched rectangle die (CottageCutz)

Techniques: fun fold

I am also entering:

1.  Aud Sentiments has a "for the girls" challenge + a sentiment. 

2.  Stinkin' Inkers Challenge is "girls just wanna have fun". 

3.  Crafty Gals has a "for the ladies" challenge. 

4.  Little Red Wagon has a "say it with flowers" challenge. 

5.  The Sisterhood of Crafters has a flowers challenge. 

Happy Birthday Fishes

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

Hope you all had a great weekend and were able to do something fun or crafty. We had some friends over for dinner on Sunday. It was a wonderful evening of just enjoying each other's company. We are going to be doing a lot of these evenings throughout the summer. Too long for being isolated and on lockdown. 

We are inviting our next door neighbor for dinner tonight. They are good friends and his wife just went to Colorado to visit her son. It's just something simple with burgers and fries. But he won't have to spend the evening alone. 

Now onto today's card. This one I made for a Throwback Tuesday post on the CottageCutz Blog. The throwback twist is using the Goldfish & Bowl die from an older CottageCutz collection and the newer Nested Rectangles Slimline dies.  

For my card layout, I am using the Splitcoaststampers sketch challenge #854. I thought the fish bowl would work well for element 3 of the sketch.

I chose some Stampin'-Up pool party (a soft blue) dotted paper for the card background. It's cut with the 2nd largest Nested Rectangles Slimline die. It measures 3 1/4" x 8 1/4". I cut a white card base the same size as the designer paper and secured with double sided tape.

I cut my Goldfish and bowl and added those to the card center. For element 4 of the sketch I used a couple more Goldfish. Stamped the punny sentiment and scattered a few white sequins to finish off this card. 

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.  AAA Birthday has a birthday challenge. They are celebrating their 2nd birthday and with prizes. 

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

3.  A Perfect Time to Craft has an anything goes challenge.

4.  Classic Design Challenge has an anything goes.  

5.  Crafts Galore Encore has an anything goes challenge. 

Happy Birthday from the Circus Animals

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

It was a beautiful Saturday here in Pittsburgh. We have been having warm weather all week and we even had to turn our air conditioner on mid week. Sometimes that bothers me to go from having the heat running and then a few days later the air. But for some reason this year it doesn't seem to matter. 

We are having friends over for dinner tomorrow. I am so looking forward to it. We plan on having friends over at least twice a month all summer. It's been too long that we have been shut up in our home and not seeing friends. 

I decided on Lasagna, meat balls and salad for the main course. We will start off with some appetizers.  For that I am preparing a charcuterie board with Calabrese Salame, Prosciutto, olives, grapes and 3 different kinds of cheeses. 

I made the sauce for the lasagna and meatballs today. In fact it's on the stove simmering as I type this post. I like to make it the day before so the flavors have a chance to meld together. I don't usually add meat to the sauce but for this one I added sweet Italian sausage. I thought that would work well for the lasagna. 

Well enough about food, let's move onto my post for today. This card I created for my weekly DT post on the CottageCutz Blog. Today for your viewing pleasure I have a slimline birthday card using the Circus Train Animal dies + the Scalloped Stitched Rectangle Slimline die.

 
I have a lot of nieces and nephews with young ones and I always seem to need a kids birthday card. These animals are perfect for a kids card. So let's get started on some details of how I created my card.

Design Steps:
I started my card this week with the layout. I saw this sketch #854 on Splitcoaststampers and I thought the layout would work well for the dies I am using.

Next, I selected the background designer paper. I wanted something fun and found this bright dotted paper.
I cut it with the largest Scalloped Stitched Rectangle Slimline (3 1/4" x 8 1/4") die. The card base is at 6 1/2" x 8 1/4" and then scored at 3 1/4". I used pacific point cardstock (royal blue) cardstock.

Then, I cut my animal images. The designer paper colors of blue, rose red and yellow would work for the hats and neck scarves the circus animals are wearing. I used different colors of cardstock to cut the animals. You could also cut in white and color with any medium you like i.e. Copic markers, Prismacolors pencils or distress inks. I forgot to take a photo of this step (lol)!

For element 3 of the sketch I used the largest Scalloped Circle die and then cut a portion off the bottom to give it a straight edge. I stamped my sentiment in pacific point ink. It's a long one line sentiment but with the help of my MISTI, I stamped on 2 lines.

I started the assembly of my card. For element 2 of the sketch I cut another piece of pacific point designer paper 1" x 8", I attached the circle with double sided tape and then secured to the designer paper panel.

Then I attached three of the Circus Animals in the circle using dimensional adhesive. The seal is attached in the corner for element 4 of the sketch. Instead of him balancing a ball, I have him holding a balloon. It's cut from the Clown with Balloons die.

To finish off my card, I attached the image panel to the card base with double sided tape. For the 2nd instance of element 4, I cut a spray of stars from the Circus Side Show die and attached to the right corner. I thought the middle looked empty so I added some rose red enamel dots.

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.  Allsorts has an anything goes with happy, bright and sunny colors. 

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

3.  Animal Friends has a bear challenge. 

4.  Crafty Animals has an anything goes challenge. 

5.  Sweet Stampers has an animals, critters or birds challenge.

6.  Crafty Catz has an anything goes with optional as cute as you like.