Hugs Thinking of You Card

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

It's the first Saturday in June and we are having some great weather here in Pittsburgh. My hubby has all of his vegetable garden in and it's thriving already. We have harvested lettuce, spinach and kale so far. 

Our garlic scapes will be ready in a couple of weeks and then in July the garlic itself gets harvested. I use the scapes to make pesto. We just enjoyed some from last year's harvest a couple of nights ago. It's so delicious. I used it to make us a pizza and then last night we had a pasta dish with fresh veggies and the pesto. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created as a thinking of you card for my friend in Virginia. Her hubby had some devasting health news and I want her to know that I am supporting them both in prayer. 

Design Steps:

I started my card with my background. I had this envelope from an older Stampin'Up Paper Pumpkin Kit in my stash and decided to cut it apart and use it as designer paper. I just thought it was too pretty to use as an envelope. I layered it with an espresso cardstock and then my card base is a powder pink shade.
Powder Pink Base: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"
Espresso Layering Panel: 4" x 5 3/8"
Designer Paper Panel: 3 7/8" x 6 1/4"

I cut the Flower 3 images in powder pink cardstock and the pistil in a bold pink cardstock. I used a yellow enamel dot for the centers. The Leafy Branch 3 is cut in olive cardstock.

I cut my Hugs w/Shadow die in the 2 shades of pink cardstock.

Now I am ready to start card assembly. I attached the designer paper panel to the layering panel with double sided tape.
For the images I wanted them lifted slightly off the background, so I used dimensional adhesive to attach them. For the leaves I used a clear drying glue.

To finish off my card I attached the Hugs phrase, added a few enamel dots to the card corners and then secured everything to the card base.

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

I am also entering:

1.  Allsorts Challenge is to use dies or anything goes. 

2.  Creative Fingers Challenge #256 is anything goes. 

3.  Craft Rocket Challenge is anything goes. 

4.  Creative Inspiration Challenge is anything goes. 

5.  The Crafty Addicts has an anything goes challenge. 

Forest Friends Birthday

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

Yesterday was Memorial Day here in the U.S. Our local community always hosts a parade to honor the ones that have fallen in battle for our country. It's always well attended and then following the parade there is a ceremony in the local cemetery. We went with our next-door neighbor and her 2 little ones. They were dressed in their patriotic clothes and just loved the parade. 

Then the neighbor on the other side invited us for a cookout. It was nice getting to visit with them for the evening. We had the usual picnic fare of hamburgers, hot dogs, potato salad and baked beans and strawberry shortcake for dessert. Everything was so delicious. 

Not onto my card for today. This one I made for the color challenge #948 that I hosted. The colors were so saffron, calypso coral and mossy meadow. Optional was to use designer paper. 

so saffron, calypso coral, mossy meadow

I started my card with the designer paper. It's from the Stampin' Up "happy forest friends" collection. Then I built my scene from there. I decided to make a 5 3/4" square card because I didn't want to cut away too much of the paper.

The animal images are from the CottageCutz "campin' out" collection. The fox is cut in calypso coral and then I sponged with the same ink to get a deeper shade. I did the same with the little bird.

The happy birthday phrase was stamped and colored with Stampin' Blends alcohol ink markers. 

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

Card Details:

Stamps: happy birthday (Lil' Bluebird Designs), bitty birthday phrases (MFT)

Paper: calypso coral, crumb cake, baked brown sugar, smoky slate, happy forest friends dsp (Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: 5 3/4" square

Ink: tuxedo black (Memento)

Accessories: campin' out, holiday owls dies (CottageCutz)

I am also entering:

1.  The Cutie Pie Challenge has a 4 legged friends theme. 

2.  Gem of a Challenge is anything goes. 

3.  Use Your Stuff is anything goes.

4.  AAA Birthday #49 is a balloon challenge.  

It's Time to Party

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

It's Memorial Day weekend. A holiday that we stop and remember all the men & women who died while serving in the U.S. military. We have no one in our family in that category but we do have lots of veterans.  

Unofficially it's the start of the summer season.  My hubby is finishing up his vegetable garden planting this weekend. Other than that we have no plans. 

No onto my card for today. This one I made for the color challenge #945 on Splitcoaststampers. We were to use daffodil delight, mint macaron and highland heather for the color trio. Optional was to use something from stash that is retired or discontinued. The scallop rectangle die I used is retired from CottageCutz.

daffodil delight, mint macaron, highland heather

My birthday card is using the Spring Kitten w/Envelope die from CottageCutz. I cut it in the challenge colors. Sponged the tulip stems with mint macaron to get a deeper shade.

I used the Greenery embossing folder from Stampin' Up for some texture on the white background. The sentiment is from an MFT stamp set. Added a couple of bees and some enamel hearts to complete my card.

This one was already sent out in the mail to a friend who just turned 50. And that's it for me for this post. So until next time.......God bless.

Card Details:

Stamps: bitty birthday wishes (MFT)

Paper: highland heather, basic white, daffodil delight, mint macaron, basic gray, mint macaron dsp (Stampin' Up), gray (Bazzill)

Paper Size: 4 1/2" x 5 3/4"

Ink: highland heather, mint macaron (Stampin'-Up), hickory smoke distress (Ranger)

Accessories: nested stitched scallop rectangle, stitched rectangle, spring kitten w/envelope dies (cottageCutz), greenery embossing folder, heart enamel dots (Stampin' Up)

Techniques: dry embossing

I am also entering:

1.  Crafty Catz is anything goes w/optional to add flowers. 

2.  Cut It Up has a send me flowers challenge. 

3.  Krafty Chicks has an all-occasions challenge. 

4.  Seize the Birthday has an anything goes w/optional to make it pop. 

5.  Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge is to add a sentiment.

Christmas in May

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

It's such a beautiful day here in Pittsburgh. Lots of sun and blue skies just a bit on the cool side. I went out for a 45-minute walk earlier and had to wear a jacket to keep warm. 

With all the sunshine you may wonder why I am showing a couple of Christmas cards in May. Well, I told myself that I would create cards during the year so I wouldn't be in the last-minute rush at Christmas time. 

One of the online challenge Blogs Peace on Earth  is featuring an inspiration board with a sled. It made me think of this kit. These ones were made with supplies from the 2019 Winter Gifts Stampin'-Up Paper Pumpkin kit. I am determined to get these kits finished. I have quite a few of them but time always seems to get away from me and then a new kit arrives in the mail. But I did get a couple of cards finished from this kit and hopefully a few more. 

The sled and snowflake are part of the kit. The background paper on the first card is also from Stampin' Up and is part of their "festive farmhouse" collection. The Merry Christmas phrase is from Spellbinders Tinsel Time sentiments dies. 

This 2nd card is from the same kit. I just changed it up a bit with different designer paper and cardstock. This designer paper is part of the "be merry" collection. 

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

I am entering:

1.  Christmas Craft Creations for May is no stamping. 

2.  The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge is anything goes.

3.  Peace on Earth Christmas #40 challenge is anything goes w/optional inspiration board. 

4.  Jingle Belles challenge is a no stamping Christmas. 

Congrats on a New Home

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

Wow- it's been awhile since I posted on my Blog. It's not that I haven't been creating but life has been a busy. I hold an elected position in my community, and we just had our primary elections here in PA. So, I was involved with that. Then we went away for a few days to NY for my grandson's graduation. 

But, I have a fun card today that I made for my brother-in-law and his wife who are building a new home. I will give it to them when they move in along with a housewarming gift. My sister-in-law has even asked me to help her pick out new furniture for her home. I am excited to help there. 

Since I knew the theme of my card, I started off thinking about my background. I have a paper pad with different heavenly skies backgrounds. I selected this one with a blue sky and sun rays. I thought it would work perfectly with the die images.

The paper is 6" x 9" so I carefully cut it at 4 1/8" x 5 1/2".

Yellow Card base: 4 5/8" x 5 3/4"
Blue Layer: 4 1/4" x 5 5/8"
Designer Paper Layer: 4 1/8" x 5 1/2"

 

Next, I cut the birdhouse & bird images in cardstock with colors that would coordinate with the background paper.

I used an older die for my die cut phrase. It's the "Our New Home" die. I cut it in pacific point cardstock from Stampin' Up. 

Now that all my elements are cut, I am ready to start card assembly. I attached the layering panel and designer paper to the card base with double sided tape.

Next, I attached all the images with dimensional adhesive. On the windows I cut a pale-yellow cardstock to give the illusion of inside light. I placed this in the window openings.

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

Card Details:

Paper: daffodil delight, balmy blue, pacific point, pretty in pink, polished pink, sahara sand, soft suede (Stampin' Up), heavenly skies dsp (Divinity Designs)

Paper Size: 4 1/2" x 5 3/4"

Ink: rusty hinge, antique linen distress (Ranger)

Accessories: spring birdhouse cup, our new home dies (CottageCutz)

I am also entering:

1.  Allsorts challenge is anything goes. 

2.  Polkadoodles challenge is anything goes. 

3.  Lil Patch of Crafty Friends challenge is anything goes. 

4.  Crafty Catz has an anything goes challenge. 

5.  Cardz 4 Galz has a background challenge. 

Easel Card with Treat Box

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

I am guest designing today with the Creative Creases Blog. This challenge is anything goes with a fun fold.  I have a Mother's Day card to share with you all.

I created an easel card with a treat box. It's a new fun fold design type for me and I really like how it turned out. I had this saved on Pinterest -here is a link. This one will go to my Mother-in-Law for Mother's Day. She especially likes Hershey's kisses (who doesn't) so they will fill the treat box part of my card.

Design Steps:

I am using elements from the "Something For Everything" Paper Pumpkin kit from 2019. It's and older one for sure but it was sitting untouched in my craft room. My goal for 2023 is to get these kits finished.

I took one of the card bases from the kit and cut off  ½" on the solid part of the base. Then I scored at 2-3/4", 5-1/2" (is already scored), 6-1/2" and 7-1/2". If you're using other designer paper or card base, once you cut off the 1/2" your 2nd score line would be at 3 3/4".

I used Scor-Tape on the striped end of the card base and then folded on all the score lines. The small tab gets taped to the inside to form a box shape.

Easel Card Assembly: 

Stampin' Up Shaded Spruce cardstock measuring 10" x 2 1/4" and scored at 2 1/2" and 5". I used double sided tape and attached to the top of the box. 

Then a 2nd piece of shaded spruce cardstock (5" x 2 1/2") that will be for the image panel. I attached this to the easel panel with double sided tape to the bottom half of the panel only. 

Inside Drawer Box:

Shaded Spruce cardstock measuring 9" x 6 1/8" and scored at 3/4" x 1 3/4" on all 4 sides. 

Then you are going to cut the shorter ends only to form tabs. Cut the first 2 squares off each corner. Then cut the 1st square in the 2nd row. 

On the 2nd square in the 2nd row you will cut at an angle to form tabs. Add Scor Tape to the panels as shown in this photo. 

Peel the backing from the tape on the short sides first and fold over each tab on the score lines towards the inside. Next remove the backing from the long sides and fold these over the angled tabs. The box will look like this photo when folded. 

Decorating the image panel:

I cut a piece of white cardstock 4 7/8" x 2 1/4". This panel is decorated with floral images and enamel dots from the Paper Pumpkin Kit. 

This is the easel image standing up. I used a die from CottageCutz for the celebrate word. The sentiment is a stamp from the Paper Pumpkin Kit. 

This is a photo showing the box with the chocolate kisses inside.

Whew! This was a long post but I hope I have given you an idea for a Mother's Day card and treat box. 

I am also entering:

1.  Creative Knockouts has a Flower Power challenge. 

2.  Simon Says Stamp has an anything goes challenge. 

3.  Paper Funday is anything goes w/optional of flower power.

4.  Shopping Our Stash has a fun fold challenge. 

 

Split Trellis Fun Fold

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

It's Friday and the start of another weekend. Hope you have some fun plans in the works. We have a wedding to attend on Saturday. 

I was there at the venue today to decorate the trellis they will stand under for their ceremony. I used greenery and pink silk tulips, and she loved the look. Everything looks so beautiful - table settings, the table with the card box. This table has micro lights underneath the white tablecloth and the card box has greenery around it. It looks so stunning.

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for the Splitcoaststampers color challenge #944. We were to use blushing bride, very vanilla and soft seafoam for our color trio. Optional was to use bling. 

blushing bride, very vanilla, soft seafoam

I have to admit that I did struggle with these colors because soft, pastel colors are not my fave to work with. But after my card was finished, I was happy with how it turned out. 

I decided to try a new fun fold that I have been seeing all over Pinterest.  They are fairly easy and if you want to see how the card is made -  . Here is a link for instructions. 

I used the new Spring Butterflies die from CottageCutz and cut in blushing bride and soft seafoam. I did the die inlay technique using the soft seafoam pieces for the inlay. 

My CottageCutz die - hugs phrase is cut in designer paper from the "Brushstokes" collection from Stampin' Up. I also used the same designer paper on the card inside to add some color behind the trellis.

Scattered a few gold sequins and stamped some texture to complete my card. that's it for me for this post. So until next time.......God bless. 

card details:

Stamps: gorgeous grunge (Stampin' Up)

Paper: very vanilla, soft seafoam, blushing bride, brushstroke dsp (Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: soft seafoam (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: spring butterflies, hugs phrase (CottageCutz), gold sequins (Darice)

Techniques: trellis split fun fold

I am also entering:

1.  Cut It Up has a "what's in your garden" challenge. Butterflies and a trellis.

2.  Ellibelle's Corner has an anything goes challenge. 

3.  Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge has a things with wings challenge.

  

Daffodils for Mother's Day

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

It's a beautiful Spring day today here in Pittsburgh. I have my windows open and as I am putting this post together, I can hear the birds singing and our wind chimes moving so softly. It's such a melodic tone.  

I already  was out for a 3 mile walk and this afternoon my goal is to get my craft room straightened out. That seems to be a never-ending job. You know how that goes. 

We are going to a wedding on Saturday, and I committed to baking 10 dozen cookies for the cookie table. It's a Pittsburgh tradition and here is a link that explains what it's about. I love the tradition and I am making mini lady locks or creme horns as they are called in some places. They are about 2" long. 

I baked the shells yesterday and tomorrow I will fill them with a vanilla butter creme filling.  The caterers will prepare the cookie trays and set them out on a table. Here is a photo of what the cookie looks like.

Now onto my card for today. This one I created using new CottageCutz die for a Mother's Day card. I send several cards to family & friends and of course to my mother-in-law. 

Design Steps:

I started my card this week by cutting the daffodil images. I used Stampin' Up cardstock in daffodil delight and mango melody for the floral images. The stems are granny apple green.

I wanted to layer the daffodil images on black cardstock. I saw a card recently on Pinterest and it was so striking on black. I used the Stampin' Up 3D textile embossing folder for a bit of background interest. It's more of a subtle embossing which is the look I was going for.
Tip: when you use a 3D folder spritz the cardstock with water to break up the fibers. This way your cardstock doesn't crack.

I wanted a stamped sentiment on the card and after a bit of thought I decided to use one of the banner images from the Windows Slimline die. It was the perfect size for my sentiment. I cut the banner in the mango melody cardstock and stamped in black ink. The stamp is from a 2018 Stampin' Up Paper Pumpkin Kit. 

I am now ready to start card assembly. I secured the embossed panel to the black card base.
Black card base: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"
Black embossed panel: 4 1/8" x 5 3/8"

Attached the flowers with glue dots. I used these just in case I needed to move any of the floral images. It's much easier to do that with glue dots than liquid glue. Attached the banner sentiment and scattered a few green sequins on the card.

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

I am also entering:

1.  Splitcoaststampers WT945 challenge.  2 of something or double down on elements. 

2.  Retro Rubber Challenge is "It's Spring". Stamp is from 2018. 

3.  Crafty Gals Corner is Easter or Spring. I chose Spring. 

4.  Fab 'n' Funky has an April Showers/May Flowers challenge. 

5.  I Spy with my Little Eye challenge- April Showers or May Flowers.