the charmed life

Happy Birthday

2012-02-29T23:10:00.001-05:00

Happy Wednesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. I didn't get to post anything yesterday because Aidin (middle grandson) was sick and off school and I went to take care of him. He went to the doctors today and he has a sinus infection.

He was sick with a cold last week and it hung on and moved to his sinuses and infection set in. He is on an antibiotic now.
He went to school after the doctor visit. I don't know if that was his idea like he claimed or my daughter-in-law sent him. He will be fine in a few days once the antibiotic does its thing.

Then we had bible study at church last night and when I came home I was just worn out. So I went to bed early.

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for the sketch challenge #374 on Splitcoaststampers. Holly was our hostess and she provided a great layout to work with. When I looked at the sketch I thought the layout would be perfect for a masculine card. You know the guys don't like frilly and fussy.

My wolf image and happy birthday sentiment are from the Marks Finest Papers set "north american woods". I stamped it in chocolate chip ink. I colored only his eyes with prismacolor pencils. I love the dramatic look with the green eyes.

The designer paper on the rectangle layers is from Stampin-Up's "pawsitively prints" collection. I layered it on pear pizzazz paper. I won this paper over on Ann Schach's blog a month ago. This pattern is so perfect for a guy card.

I wanted a sentiment on this card so I stamped the happy birthday and used a Spellbinders ribbon tag die to cut it out. I used a piece of May Arts chocolate ribbon on the die.

Oh yes, I entered this card over at Scrap-Creations. They had a critter challenge and my card was picked as one of the top 3. Whoo-hoo!!

Well that's it for me today so until next time........God Bless

Some other challenges:
1. Creative Craft challenges has a "boys will be boys" challenge.
2. Here Come The Boys has a vintage feel challenge. I thought my dp has a vintage/retro look to it. As well as my wolf image.
3. Scrappy Frogs Blog has a die cut challenge. I used my oval die and a ribbon tag die.
4. 2 Sisters Blog has an anything goes challenge.

thank you

2012-02-28T00:01:00.001-05:00

Happy Monday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. We had such a beautiful day here in Pittsburgh. The temps were mild and I noticed that our tulips are up about 2 inches. My hubby is already thinking about spraying them with something to repel the deer. They love to munch the new growth. He planted lots of new ones last fall so I want to see them produce a flower.

Well, my card for today is one I created for the clean and simple challenge on Splitcoaststampers. I have such trouble with this type of card because I always want to add layers. But, I liked the colors they wanted us to use and I needed a quick thank you card.

I started my card by embossing a Spellbinders labels 4 die. I stamped my dogwood image in rich razzleberry ink.

My image and sentiment are from the dogwood blossoms set by Marks Finest Papers. Of course I needed some ribbon so I took my rich razzleberry ribbon and ruched it on the card front. Punched a few butterflies with a Martha Stewart punch to complete my card.

Here a few other challenges for this card:

1. The crazy challenge has an anything goes. Love those challenges.

2. The Cutie Pie challenge has a flowers challenge. I stamped a dogwood blossom on my card.

3. Crafty Catz wants us to use something with a "B". I used some punched butterflies.

Well it's late and time to dim the lights in charmed life land for another day. So until next time .........God bless.

Relax A Bit

2012-02-26T22:39:00.001-05:00

Happy Sunday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. We have had such a busy weekend. A family birthday party on Saturday night and then a covered dish dinner with some friends from church tonite. Both were such fun times and interestingly the menus were fairly similar. How does that happen with 2 completely different sets of people?

We had pulled pork at one and pulled beef at the other. Cheesy potatoes and a fruit salad at both. Desserts were different at both and oh so delicious.

Yummy food and I ate too much at both. So here I am on Sunday night after 3 nights on the go just kind of wiped out. I am really looking forward to getting to bed in a few minutes.

My card for today is one that I made for the featured stamper #264 challenge on Splitcoaststampers. This week the paper artist being honored is Janice Melton aka catcrazy. She has a gallery filled with beautiful cards. I chose her thanks a latte card to recreate ala Mary Marsh style.

Instead of a coffee mug I used a teapot. My image is on a rectangle Spellbinders die instead of an oval. The teapot image & sentiment are from a new stamp set from Marks Finest Papers - "relax a bit". I colored with prismacolor pencils and gamsol.

I changed the card colors as well but somewhat kept the layout. Instead of a paper crimped background I used card stock that has embossed teapots.

My paper is from StampinUp- always artichoke, river rock and the white embossed paper is from Lasting Impressions.

Added some pink ribbon and a flower center to complete my card. Well that's it for me today. My eyes are screaming for some sleep so until next time.......God bless.

Some other challenges:

1. Cupcake challenge #149. I used the green cupcakes as my inspiration and my card colors.
2. 2 Sisters has an anything goes challenge.

Lilies

2012-02-26T01:06:00.003-05:00

Happy Saturday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. It's been a few days since I have posted on my blog but for good reason. I was one of the hostesses for our monthly women's meeting at church. It was the kick-off of our secret sisters program.

Secret Sisters” provides a fun opportunity to encourage a new friend or get to know someone better through through the giving and receiving of cards, treats, little gifts and prayers for a 3 month period.

We really hyped up this event by titling it "who doesn't love a good mystery". We didn't tell the women what we were doing until the event took place this past Friday night. We gave clues each week in the church bulletin.

We even had a little skit last Sunday in church and one of the guys played "super sleuth". He came to help solve the mystery. Of course that just added to the mystery because he didn't solve it.

Anyway, this week I made some cute decorative boxes to give away to 4 of the women who agreed to bring dessert for the meeting. Do you believe I forgot to take pictures of them. Someone asked me if I would make her one and I agreed. So when that one is finished I will definitely take a photo.

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for the technique challenge #365 on Splitcoaststampers. Holly aka Toy was our hostess and she wanted us to do an acrylic distress technique.

I found an Adirondack acrylic paint dabber in my stash. This one is a "cool peri" color (lilac). I bought it about 3 years ago to use for something and I never opened it until today.
I followed this tutorial to complete my card.

My background is the cuttlebug embossing folder "floral fantasy". After I sanded, I used Stampin-Up's close to cocoa ink on the sanded part. Since this gives such a distressed background, I took my card that route.

My lily image is from the blessings set from Marks Finest Papers.

I colored the image with prismacolor pencils and gamsol. Cut it out and layered it over a labels 18 Spellbinders die. I also used some Lasting Impressions Lilac designer paper underneath the frame and sponged it with ink to distress.

I distressed my chocolate chip ribbon with water and then tossed it in the microwave. Layered that over a piece of crocheted lace. I am not usually a technique person. It's out of my comfort zone so this card was a stretch for me. But I like how it turned out.

Well its really late and time to dim the lights in charmed life land for another day. So until next time..............God bless.

Some other challenges:
1. Speedy Fox and Friends has a lace challenge.
2. The Outlawz - Paper a la mode has a flower power challenge.
3. The Stamp Man challenge blog wants us to use the colors of Easter/Spring.

Happy Spring

2012-02-22T00:17:00.001-05:00

Happy Tuesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. Feeling better today and I was able to go over to meet my grandsons school bus.

Aidin is still sick with his cold. He went to school today but he said he really didn't feel good. I took him some E-mer-gencee. It's a vitamin C powder with antioxidants and electrolytes plus B vitamins.

I made him something to eat and he drank some of the vitamin C mixture and he perked up a bit.

I helped him with his vocabulary homework. He is so proud that he is maintaining a 100% average when he takes these tests. He always credits me and the time we spend together working on this.
He is amazed every week that I know the words and definitions plus I correct some of his pronunciations. It makes me feel good to be looked up to in this way.

So anyway that was part of my day. Now onto the card that I made.

This one was made for the color challenge #363 on Splitcoaststampers. Joanne was our hostess and she chose the beautiful color trio of pink pirouette, pretty in pink and basic gray. She also wanted us to use buttons on our card.

My bunny image is from the “blessings” set a new release from Marks Finest Papers. I colored with prismacolor pencils and gamsol.

The layout I used is this week’s mojomonday sketch #229.

My background layer is pretty in pink then for the sketch panels I used basic gray designer paper. The image panel is mounted on pink pirouette paper and I added basic gray satin ribbon and some pink ribbon to this layer.

Topped it off with a button.

To complete my card I stamped my sentiment in a Spellbinder pennant die and punched a butterfly.

Well its late and time to dim the lights in charmed life land for another day. So until next time.....God bless.

Some other challenges:
1. Scrap-Creations has a critter challenge.
2. The Outlawz has a recipe challenge this week. Use 2 papers-2 embellishments-1 ribbon.
3. Creative Stamp Friends has a theme of being inspired by your favorite song. With this card my song is "Here comes Peter cottontail".
4. Pollycraft Monday challenge wants us to use ribbon and buttons.

Just Because

2012-02-21T00:15:00.000-05:00

Happy Monday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. I am feeling under the weather again. Like a cold is starting to come on me. My grandson was sick last week when I went over and here I am not feeling well now. I love my grandkids but I am so over catching what they have.

We had tickets for the Pitt basketball game last night and I couldn't go because I didn't feel well. The team lost but I missed an opportunity to go out with my husband and I wasn't happy about that.

I am taking my vitamin C and echinacea but this one came out of nowhere with no advance warning so I am just hoping to lessen the symptoms.

So onto my card. This one I made for the free for all challenge on Splitcoaststampers. We were to use an envelope on our card. I have an old envelope template so I pulled it out to create my mini envelope.

I used a doily die and added my little envie onto that. My flower is from the Verve set "great friend". I stamped, layered and then popped them up for dimension. Added some ribbon, lace and a pennant die for my sentiment.

The background paper is from Lasting Impressions. I like the watercolor look it gives my card. Well, my energy is fading fast so it's time to make this a wrap.

Until next time.........God bless

Some other challenges:
1. Crafty Cardmakers has a recipe challenge. Use 1 image, 2 background papers, 3 embellishments -must include 1 heart. My stamped image is my flower-my 2nd bg paper is on my envelope and also on my flower image. Embellishments: I used pearls, a punched and stamped heart, and ribbon and lace.

2. Creative Mondays has an anything goes challenge.
3. House of Gilli has a pearls, swirls and lace challenge.
4. Make my Monday has a Victorian Romance challenge.
5. Sew Many Cards wants us to use 2 designer papers and 4 or more gemstones. I used 7 pearls.

Marks Finest Papers Blog Hop Day 4

2012-02-17T00:03:00.002-05:00

Hello! Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's February Blog Hop!

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Relax A Bit Featured February 14
North American Woods Featured February 15
Blessings Featured February 16
Dogwood Blossoms Featured February 17

Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the following blogs (don't forget this one), each day for more chances to win! (You do NOT have to comment on all the blogs each day! The names are drawn randomly!)

All four winners will be announced on February 18, 2012 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. (HINT: The more you comment, the more chances you have to win and comments on the MFP blog count twice!)

The deadline for commenting is 11PM EST on Friday February 17, 2012.

Lois
Vicky
Anne
Pat G.
Karen H.
Patty P.
Mary (you are here)
Dawn M.
Marilynn
Chrissy
Karen K.
Pam
Debbie
Nancy
Bonnie
Harriet
Kathy
Brenda
Mark's Finest Papers

Our new promotion begins this month! With the purchase of the February New Release Package, you will receive this stamp set for FREE!

Our February New Release Mini:

Spring Joy

I love the images on this dogwood blossoms set. I colored my image with prismacolor pencils and gamsol in a soft pink. They are layered on a celery panel.

My background designer paper is from the Stampin-Up's "lap of luxury collection. I won this on Ann Schach's blog.

My layout is from Splitcoaststampers Sketch challenge #372. This is the final day of the new release blog hop. I wish you all good luck-someone has to win and it could be you. Just leave a comment.

Next stop is Dawn's blog.

Marks Finest Papers Blog Hop Day 3

2012-02-16T00:07:00.000-05:00

Hello! Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's February Blog Hop!

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Relax A Bit Featured February 14
North American Woods Featured February 15
Blessings Featured February 16
Dogwood Blossoms Featured February 17

Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the following blogs (don't forget this one), each day for more chances to win! (You do NOT have to comment on all the blogs each day!

The names are drawn randomly!) All four winners will be announced on February 18, 2012 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. (HINT: The more you comment, the more chances you have to win and comments on the MFP blog count twice!)

The deadline for commenting is 11PM EST on Friday February 17, 2012.

Our February New Release Mini:

Spring Joy

I used the lily from the Blessings set and colored it with prismacolor pencils and gamsol.

For the card layout I used Stampin-Up's lap of luxury designer paper that I won on Ann Schach's blog. Thanks again Ann. This paper works perfectly with my Easter lily image. I used a 1 1/4" punch to cut my squares.

I die cut a flourish, added some pearls, and placed the lily image over that. I used some concord crush ribbon and a pearl pin. I stamped the Easter sentiment on a tag to complete my card.

Next stop on the hop is Dawn's blog. See you tomorrow for our final day.

Mark Finest Papers Blop Hop Day 2

2012-02-15T00:03:00.001-05:00

Hello! Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's February Blog Hop!

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Relax A Bit Featured February 14
North American Woods Featured February 15
Blessings Featured February 16
Dogwood Blossoms Featured February 17

Our February New Release Mini:

Spring Joy

I love this new set for making masculine cards. It's so perfect.

I stamped my bear image on some patterned paper from Basic Grey - "Indian Summer" collection. I love the look it gave my bear image.

My bottom panel is also patterned paper from the same pack. I paired it up with early espresso (deep, rich brown) & crushed curry cardstock.

I embossed the crushed curry panel and also punched a panel with a Martha Stewart punch. Added some twine and some brown decorative beads to complete my card.

That's it for me today. Next stop is Dawn's blog and she will have an amazing project for you using this set.

Mark Finest Papers Blop Hop Day 1

2012-02-14T00:05:00.001-05:00

Hello! Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's February Blog Hop!

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Relax A Bit Featured February 14
North American Woods Featured February 15
Blessings Featured February 16
Dogwood Blossoms Featured February 17

Our February New Release Mini:

Spring Joy

I stamped my tea cup image in melon mambo ink and then colored just the leaves with prismacolor pencils and gamsol. On the background panel, I used an embossing folder. The center white panel is cut with a Spellbinders edgeabilities and I layered ribbon over that. Completed my card with a bow.

Your next stop on the hop is Dawn's blog. She will have a fabulous sample for you. Don't forget to leave a comment here and see you again tomorrow.

Happy Easter

2012-02-12T23:40:00.000-05:00

Happy Sunday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. It is pretty cold and snowy here in Pittsburgh but honestly I like having winter. We had our fireplace going last night and I was just really comfy. Now if I had to be ousidet for a long time maybe I wouldn't like it so much.

We had an excellent service at church this morning. The worship team was fabulous and our Pastor had a good message. A perfect start to my week, I tell ya. We went to lunch afterwards with a young couple that we mentor.

This afternoon my hubby took a nap and I got my sample ready for the color challenge on Splitcoaststampers this coming Tuesday. I also have a blog hop upcoming with Marks Finest Papers starting Tuesday. There is a chance to win some stamps so stop back on Tuesday.

Now onto my card for today. I made this one for the virtual stamping night on Splitcoaststampers. This was the 5:00 pm challenge hosted by Kelly. She wanted us to create a card with either a chicken or an egg or both.

I immediately thought of the Stampin-Up set- " a good egg" and my card was started from there. I had both the chicken and the egg. I decided to paper piece my eggs and went with the color scheme of wisteria wonder and pear pizzazz. I colored the chicks with prismacolor pencils.

The designer paper I used is from the Stampin-Up "sweet shop collection" and the in-color pattern pack.

I also used a Martha Stewart border punch and layered some white ribbon over that.

That's my card.

Well, its late now and time to dime the lights in charmed life land for another day. So until next time......God bless.

Some other challenges:
1. Stampin Sisters in Christ have a challenge to create a happy card. I think my little chicks are happy.
2. CES challenge wants us to uselots of layers - 3 or more. I like using layers on my cards.
3. Moving Along With The Times has a cute critters challenge.

Happy Spring

2012-02-11T23:04:00.001-05:00

Happy Saturday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. Well winter has reared its snowy and blustery head. We have had about 5 inches of snow today and its only 18 degrees.

One of those days that you stay in front of a cozy fire. That's what I did. Well this evening anyway. We went out to dinner to celebrate Valentine's day. We usually go earlier because the restaurants are jammed on the 14th.
The roads were a bit slick but we have an SUV so we maneuvered ok. The restaurants were crowded. You wouldn't know that we are in the middle of a winter storm warning.

When we came back home we got on the Ipad and had a video call with Phoenix Daisy. Apple uses technology they call facetime. The quality of the call is fantastic. We watched her crawl around and she gives us kisses. Well she kisses their Ipad (lol). I miss her and plan on going out the end of March for a visit. It wont come soon enough.

So onto my card for today. There is some challenges going on over on Splitcoaststampers for their Spring virtual stamping nights. I have joined in on 3 of them so far. This challenge we were to use a flourish on our card.

Kelly was our hostess and she titled the challenge the "twists and turns of spring". I used a Cheery Lynn flourish die and cut my flourish. For my background I cut squares of Stampin-Up's "blueberry crisp" designer paper.

This particular paper I won on Ann Schach's blog. I love the pattern on this and I thought it would work perfectly for my inchies card.

I pulled a ribbon flower from my stash, added some pearls and a butterfly.

I didn't have a bigger sentiment stamp for happy spring but I found this one in my stamps. . It was attached to a chick so I stamped it and cut it out and laid it on my square. After I finished this card I remembered some new stamps that had this very sentiment on it

That's my card for this challenge. Well its late and time to dim the lights in charmed life land for another day. Church in the morning and then I will be back in the afternoon to post another card.

So until next time ............God bless.

Some other challenges:
1. Sweet Stampin' has a clean and simple challenge.
2. Bloggers Challenge is "in bloom". Lisa left it to our interpretation.

Promise

2012-02-11T00:20:00.001-05:00

Happy Friday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. My day started early with a leadership meeting at church. We are having a coffee bar on Friday's now from 9:00-11:00 am. For awhile the coffee and doughnuts will be free. So my hubby and I hung around there for awhile to chat with the people who dropped in. I ate 2 doughnuts-they were really yummy but I cant do that every week or I wont be fitting in my clothes come summer (lol)

When we returned home I wanted to do some card making and I did. Today I made 3 cards and in record time as well. I will post them over the next few days.

The one I am showing now I made for the free for all challenge on Splitcoaststampers. Dawn was our hostess and she watned us to use a rainbow on our cards.

Well I had the perfect paper in my stash for this challenge. I layered it on some soft pastels card stock.

I just stamped sentiments on this card. They are from a new set to be released next week by Marks Finest Papers -"dogwood blossoms".

The new set had the perfect sentiments to go with my rainbow. I stamped them in rich razzleberry ink. I used a Spellbinder labels 4 die cut.

To complete my card I used some certainly celery ribbon and lilac bakers twine- made a bow added a button and I am done.

I also wanted to send a big thank to Wilfreda from the Wennie in Wonderland blog for extending to me the liebster blog award. The idea of the award is that it be given to bloggers with less than 200 followers in the hope that it will bring them new friends and followers.

She paid me such a sweet compliment on her blog about my work.

Well its late and time to dim the lights in charmed life land for another day.

Some other challenges:
1. Crafty Ann's Challenge blog has a "love is in the air" challenge.
2. Delightful Challenge has a love challenge.
3. Fab 'n 'Funky has a love is in the air challenge.

howl- I love you

2012-02-09T00:19:00.000-05:00

Happy Wednesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. Today was my day with my grandsons. They had a busy after school schedule. Austin ha d to be back at school at 5:00 for basketball practice. Aidin had after school practice for a play and had to be picked up at 4:30. Ethan had a basketball game at 6:30 and Aidin played after Ethan was finished.

No one had homework today. Whew-good thing with all the driving I had to do. I made them something to eat and then we left for the basketball games. Ethan's team won by 1 point and Aidin's team lost by 10.

So now I am back home and watching CSI as I type my blog post. I love being with the boys and wish I lived closer to them. It's something I have been thinking a lot about lately.

So for my card today. This one I made for the sketch challenge #371 on Splitcoaststampers. Holly was our hostess and she gave us this awesome layout to turn into a card. I actually got this one together fairly quick. I was able to complete it before I left for my sons's home.

My image is from a soon to be released stamp aet from Marks Finest Papers - the North American Woods set.

This card is for one of my grandsons. I made the sentiment a little play on words with the "howl" and "I love you". He will like it a lot.

My patterned papers are from BoBunny -heart attack" collection. On the middle panel I used a heart paper crimper. The red heart is cut from a Spellbinders die.

That's my card for today. It's time to draw this post to a close so until next time.......God bless.

Some other challenges:
1. Crafts and Me Challenge wants us to use a new image.
2. Sisterhood of Crafters wants us to make a valentines card. This is Austin's (my grandson) card. I will stamp happy valentines day on the inside.
3. The Paper Shelter has a valentine challenge.
4. Top Tip Tuesday also has a valentine's challenge.

with all my heart

2012-02-07T11:11:00.001-05:00

Well this is pretty unusual for me to post 2 cards in the same day, but here I am. This one I made for the My Favorite Things guest designer contest. Today is the deadline and I wanted to have it blogged before noon.

I used the MFT pure innocence image - "with all my heart". I love these sweet little girl images.

They so remind me of my precious granddaughter Phoenix Daisy. In fact, this is her card for valentines day. She is only a year old but she loves looking at the cards I send her and then trying to eat them of course (lol).

The PI girls are so perfect for paper piecing. That way you can change her outfit a lot. Just the ways girls like to do it!!

I stamped my image and paper pieced her dress with patterned paper from BoBunny. It's the "sweetie pie swoon collection.
And, then colored her with a combo of prismacolor pencils and gamsol + copic markers. Cut her out and layered her atop a doily image that is also from MFT.

These are such great die cuts and work well on my big shot.

The middle rose red heart panel was run through my heart crimper. The layout on my card was last weeks MFT Wednesday getting sketchy #56. It was a good starting point for my card.

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

Some other challenges:
1. Crafty Boots has a valentines challenge
2. Lexi's Creations alos has a valentine's theme.
3. Lollipop Crafts has a valentine's challenge.
4. Stampin Sisters in Christ want us to make a card that shows love.

That's my card.

Bear with me

2012-02-07T00:52:00.001-05:00

Happy Tuesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. We have had a couple of sunny days here and it's making it feel like spring. When in actuality it's almost 2 months away. Such a crazy winter we have had here.

We had a great week-end and got to spend time with family so that is always wonderful. My son and daughter-in-law always have us over for the Super Bowl even if the Steelers aren't playing. We had some good food. My daughter-in-law is a great cook. We were rooting for the Giants and happy when they won.

Tonight I am taking a colored pencil class at one of our local craft stores. It's a 3 hour class and will run for 2 weeks. I want to improve my coloring skills so I hope the class is worthwhile. They run it several times a year so I am thinking that it must be well attended. I will keep you posted.

My card for today is one that I made for the color challenge on Splitcoaststampers. I am part of this team and this week was my turn to sample with our hostess, Peggy.

She chose a great trio of colors in soft suede, riding hood red and daffodil delight. I thought these colors would make a great masculine card.

Maybe even one that I could send to my husband when I am being a bear with him (lol)!!

My image and sentiment are from a new set – North American Woods- being released next week by Marks Finest Papers. This entire set will be perfect for masculine cards.

I stamped my bear image in soft suede ink. I used riding hood red, daffodil delight and soft suede designer paper. I die cut a button in riding hood red and ran some soft suede cardstock through the button holes.

The sentiment is stamped in soft suede ink- used the word window punch- added a brad to complete my card.

The layout is this week's sweet stop sketch #144. I thought it was so perfect for a masculine card-fairly clean and simple.

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

Some other challenges:
1. Cards for men has a seeing red challenge. My card base is red along with the patterned paper and the faux button.
2. The Outlawz greeting card challenge is "anything goes".
3. Fashionable Stamping Challenge #14 is "make it a guy thing".

you're too kind

2012-02-05T00:23:00.002-05:00

Happy Saturday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. Well the groundhog said 6 more weeks of winter and today we had snow (lol). Not much accumulation but still snow.

Our tulips are starting to poke through the ground. That's not good in early February. We may not have any tulips this spring. Our temps are supposed to go back up to the mid 40's this week. We have had such a mild winter. We haven't even had our fireplace going yet.

I heard on tv today that Eastern Europe is in the middle of a deep freeze. This one has caused deaths and is trapping people in their homes with the snow they have recieved. This winter has seen some crazy entremes thats for sure.

So onto my card for tday. This one I made for the inspiration challenge on Splitcoaststampers. Judy is our hostess and she chose the Charleston Gardens site for our inspiration. I liked the products in this store. I wanted to go shopping (lol). But, I restrained myself and made a card instead.

I chose this yellow finch pillow as my inspiration and created my card from there. My image is from Our Daily Bread Designs - "He watches me" set.
The image was colored with prismacolor pencils and gamsol and cut out with a Spellbinder oval using the out of the box technique.

The designer paper is from my stash. I only had this piece left so I don't know who makes it. I used a Spellbinder edgeabilities die and a cuttlebug embossing folder for the center panels.

I die cut a tag to stamp my sentiment. The sentiment is from Stampin-Up's "whimsical words" set.

The layout is from this week's Just Us Girls challenge #122.

That's my card for today. It's late and church is in the mroning so unti lnext time......God bless.

Some other challenges:
1. Stamp, Scrap and Doodle Saturdays has a die cuts or punches challenge.
2. Poodles Parlour has an anything goes challenge.
3. Delightful Challenges has a punches and die challenge.

Sending Sweet Thoughts

2012-02-03T00:31:00.001-05:00

Happy Thursday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. Well today is Groundhog Day and Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow today. So 6 more weeks of winter. Well Phi,l we haven't had much of a winter here in Pittsburgh to this point. So 6 more weeks of this would be okay (lol).

We had a young couple that we mentor -Kendra & Aaron over for dinner last night. It was such a relaxed evening with lots of good conversation. I made a Chicken & Spinach pasta dish that I found on Pinterest. It was good and my husband definitely wants me to make this again.

I had some leftovers tonight and it was even better than last night. If you decide to make this watch the onions closely. If you leave them in the oven for 15 minutes, they will carmelize.

On another note, a couple of weeks ago I was a winner on Ann Schach's blog - The Stampin' Schach. She sent me 50 sheets of Stampin-Up designer paper. I love Stampin-Up's paper because it's a perfect match for their cardstock and ribbons. So thanks again Ann.

My card for today is one that I made for the Ways to use it challenge on Splitcoaststampers. Toni was our hostess and she wanted us to make a card in honor of the movie "groundhog day". Repetition was the theme of that movie and our theme for today. She wanted us to use our image multiple times.

For my card I chose to repeat the sentiment. It's from the Stampin-Up set "wandering words". My tiger lily image was colored to look like a day lily with a Stampin-Up melon mambo marker. For the leaves, I used prismacolor pencils and gamsol.

My card colors are from this weeks color throwdown #177.

My card layout is the Wednesday sketch challenge #370 from Splitcoaststampers. I just used the sketch and did not make a fancy fold or a card pocket.

I used a Cheery Lynn Doily die for one of the rectangle layers. I cut it in melon mambo cardstock. For the scalloped layer I used a Martha Stewart border punch and layered ribbons over that.

To complete my card I added some pearls in the upper corner. I have been making cards for my sister-in-law Diane who is battling lung cancer. If you want to pray for her, it would be appreciated.

Well it's late and time to dime the lights in charmed life land for another day. So until next time.......God bless.

Some other challenges:
1. Moving Along with the Times has a heart challenge.
2. The Outlawz "twisted Thursday" is a valentine's/love challenge
3. Creative Belli has a hearts/valentines challenge. Nothing new on my card. Everything is from my stash and at least 6 months old.

WOW

2012-01-31T23:36:00.001-05:00

Happy Tuesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. It was 61 degrees here in Pittsburgh today. It's January 31st people!! We have had the strangest winter this year. It's cold then it warms up then snow-but just a bit. I sort of expect February to be a cold, snowy month. So we shall see.

Today was my day with my grandsons. Lots of driving this one here and picking this one up and homework and..... I arrived and Austin wanted something to eat before he had to go back to school. He had a basketball game.
Aidin stayed after school for his play practice. I picked him up and then we had his weekly vocabulary to work through. He loves having me help him with this. He usually gets 100% on his tests on Thursdays.

Ethan came home on the school bus and didn't have to be anywhere until 6:30. Whew, no wonder my hubby said I was wound up when I came home (lol).

I love being with them and today Ethan gave me a big hug and said he loves me being his Grandma. My heart just melted. Wouldn't yours??

So lets get onto this card of mine. I made this one for the color challenge on Splitcoaststampers. Julia was the hostess this week and her color choices were pool party, island indigo and white. She only wanted us to use a sentiment as our image.

So I used island indigo as my main color and matching designer paper.

I stamped the “wow” sentiment on a square of white then layered it with indigo and pool party.
I popped up each layer on the square for dimension. I am giving this card to a friend from church who did a teaching at our recent women's meeting. She really did a fabulous job.

I added a heart button on this panel. I found this one in my stash and thought it was a good match for the pool party color.

The sentiment is from Marks Finest Papers the “you are cherished” set.

I layered white ribbon and then island indigo ruffled ribbon over that. Added a few butterflies to complete my card.

The layout on my square card is this week’s mojomonday 226.

That's my card for today. It's late and time to dim the lights in charmed life land for another day, So until next time........God bless.

Some other challenges:
1. Oldie But Goodie challenge wants us to use hearts. My sentiment has a heart as well as the heart button. The button is about 4 years old.
2. Tuesday Throwdown alsohas a hearts challenge.

Put a little love in your heart

2012-01-31T00:37:00.001-05:00

Happy Monday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. Another sunny day for us here in Pittsburgh. Almost makes me feel like spring is coming. Well it is I guess in 2 months (lol). I did notice that it is almost staying light until 6:00 pm. So the days are getting longer.

Tonight we had a new members class at church. It's a 3 week course that people that want to become members go through. Our Pastor taught the first week. My hubby and I taught this one.

The class went really well. I like it when we can team teach. We work well together and play off each others strengths. He did such a great job with the material he presented. I was really proud of him.

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for the "try a new technique" challenge #362 on Splitcoaststampers. Holly was the hostess and she had a Plan A & B this week. She wanted us to try a fancy fold or we could do a new technique called "double vision".

The fold was just a bit more than what I could undertake today so I went with the "double vision". It is simply stamping your image/sentiment in one color and then stamping again in a complimentary color slightly off from the original color.

I just inked up only the word "valentine' and used the double vision technique. The stamped sentiments are from Marks Finest Papers-"love remains set".

I die cut 3 Spellbinder hearts and stamped the sentiment "love" inside of these. I just ordered these dies and they arrived today. Just in time to make this card.

My card stock is early espresso and the designer paper is Stampin-Up's "sending love speciality" collection.

I added some satin ribbon and pearls to complete this card. Well it's late and time to dim the lights in charmed life land for another day. So until next time........God Bless

Some other challenges:
1. Crafty Boots has a "inspired by a song title challenge. How about "put a little love in your heart".
2. Stamps R Us has a valentines/love challenge
3. Outlawz Greetings challenge wants us to use hearts.
4. Paper Sundaes has a valentines challenge.

Howdy

2012-01-30T00:30:00.001-05:00

Happy Sunday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. It's a tad cold here today but there is no snow and we are seeing the sun.
That's big for us in Pittsburgh. In January & February, we don't have a lot of sunny days.

Our service at church was awesome this morning. Our worship team, really did a fantastic job. Everyone seemed so energetic today and lots of people just hung around after to chit chat and have some coffee.
I love starting my week with the Lord at the forefront. Its inspiration that carries me through until next Sunday.
This evening we went to watch our grandsons play basketball. Ethan's team lost and Aidin's team won. We love watching them play as much as they love us coming to watch. We headed home around 9:00 and now I am getting this post ready before bedtime.

My card today is one that I made for the featured stamper challenge on Splitcoaststampers. This week the honor went to Shirley aka wannabcre8tive. I love her user name as well as her stamping ability.

I chose her "giddy up" card to recreate ala Mary Marsh style. We are to make at least 2 changes on our card.
Shirley used a cricut to cut her cute cowboy. I don't own one but I did have a cute cowgirl stamp from Marks Finest Papers. It's the cowgirls rule set.

My changes: I stamped my image with versamark and embossed with white embossing powder. I cut it out with a spellbinders labels 4. I like how this image looks without actually coloring. I haven't done that in a long while.

I used a different color scheme and added a layer. Placed my ribbon on a diagonal and then used bakers twine over that.

To complete my card I stamped a cowboy hat from the same set. This was cut out and I used dimensional glue dots for a little dimension. I punched a mini tag and stamped my "howdy" sentiment on that.

Well, it's late and time to dim the lights in charmed life land for another day. So until next time.........God bless.

Some other challenges:
1. Crafty Calendar Challenge has a new news challenge. I am using new stamp set, ribbon and bakers twine.
2. Speedy Fox and friends challenge wants us to use at least 4 layers.
3. My Sheri Crafts has a new things challenge. I used new stamp set, ribbon and bakers twine.

You Are Cherished

2012-01-28T23:10:00.001-05:00

Happy Saturday everyone and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. Today was a busy day and packed with activities. I started my day by hosting a women's luncheon at our church. We had a soup & salad lunch. I made one of the soups and I was pleased with all the comments and recipe requests.
It is a Squash-Apple Soup. I used butternut squash, carrots, sweet potato, carrots, apple, rutabaga and onion. This combo gets tossed together with butter and cooked until onion is translucent about 5 min. You then add chicken stock and cook for about 20-25 minutes. I then pureed it in my food processor. Add heavy cream-real maple syrup and cayenne pepper. It is delicious.

We also served an Italian wedding soup made by another woman in our church. It also was super delicious. For our salad we served a Romaine-Spinach salad and some great crusty bread. I had all the salad additions served on the side so the women could add what they wanted to the lettuce mixture. Another woman in church makes an incredible blue cheese dressing and she brought it today.

It was a successful day and a great woman's get together. We then headed to a family 50th birthday party. In fact, the card I am posting today is one I made to give along with our gift. It was a fun family time although we left a bit early because I am still not feeling 100%.

Onto my card for today. I made this one for the free for all challenge on Splitcoaststampers. Wendy was our hostess and she wanted us to make a card using kraft and chocolate chip cardstock. This was in honor of National Chocolate Cake day.

My card used both those colors of cardstock and designer papers. My image is from the new set at Mark's Finest Papers - "love remains" and the sentiment is from the "you are cherished" set.

I colored the rose with prismacolor pencils and gamsol. I layered it with real red and chocolate chip cardstock.

To complete my card I used some red satin ribbon also from Mark's Finest Papers.

Well, time to dim the lights in charmed life land for another day. So until next time..............God bless.

Some other challenges:
1. Secret Crafter challenge wants us to use ribbons.
2. Stamp, Scrap and Doodle has an anything goes challenge.
3. Fussy and Fancy has a polka dots challenge.

The Rose

2012-01-27T21:30:00.001-05:00

Happy Friday and thanks for visiting the charmed life blog. Well today I was up and about and actually felt good after 2 days of being down with some sort of virus.
I went out to run a few errands and after being laid out on my sofa for 2 days it was good to get fresh air. Funny the little things that can make you happy.

Tomorrow at church we are having a women's soup & salad lunch. I was responsible for making one of the soups. I had a young woman from church come over to give me a hand. We mentor her & her husband. So it was good to catch up on everything with her. She is in her final year of nursing school and today just passed a big exam. I was so excited for her.

Well onto my card for today. this one I made for the sketch challenge #369 on Splitcoaststampers. I liked working with this sketch and my card actually came together pretty quickly.

My rose image is from a set by Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps. I colored with prismacolor pencils and gamsol. I cut it out and placed it on the center card panel. I embossed the panel with the "kassie's brocade" cuttlebug folder. I sponged blushing bride ink over the embossing.

My card base is blushing bride and I used Basic Grey's cappella collection paper and the diagonal layer is the same paper using the opposite side. To complete my card I used some Stampin-Up blushing bride pleated ribbon layered over May Arts burlap.

Well it's time to close this post to watch our Friday night shows- CSI and Blue Bloods. So until next time ........God bless.

Some other challenges:
1. My Mum's Craft Shop has a flowers challenge.
2. Simon Says Stamp has an anything goes challenge.
3. The Outlawz has a color challenge of peach-green and cream and a twist of adding roses.
4. Bloggers challenge this week is to texturize your card.

Flowers in the tub

2012-01-26T23:06:00.000-05:00

Happy Thursday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. Well I finally got rid of my cold and then a sort of stomach virus came on me.

I was down for 2 days-and I slept most of that time. I haven't eaten for a couple of days either just liquids and crackers. I am so over being sick and want this to move out of my house as soon as possible.

basic black

poppy parade

I made this card before my sickness blew back in and took me out. It was for the color challenge on Splitcoaststampers.

lucky limeade

Karen w.as our hostess and she chose the color trio of poppy parade, lucky limeade and basic black

I went a little different this week and used just a touch of poppy and limeade.

My image is an older one from My Favorite Things - "be calm". I colored it with prismacolor pencils and gamsol. I also used the current sketch #55 from MFT for my card.

I used the cuttlebug embossing folders "diamonds in the rough" on my white background panel and then on the smaller image panel. I sponged black on the image panel.

To complete my card I added some licorice twine and punched butterflies in the poppy parade color.

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

Some other challenges:

1. Crafty Ribbons Challenge has a love is red and black challenge.

2. Paper Crafting Journal has a floral challenge.

3. The Outlawz Twisted Thursday challenge is anything goes with a touch of red.

4. Sisterhood of Crafters wants us to use stripes on our project.

Be Mine

2012-01-22T22:15:00.000-05:00

Happy Sunday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. We were out in San Francisco visiting our son, daughter-in-law and our sweet Phoenix Daisy. It was such a wonderful visit and we had our Phoenix time. She had a cold and gave it to me. So for the past week I have been battling a cold.

Lots of congestion and I cant take any otc medication. I just don't react well to it. So I have been going the natural route with Vitamin C-Echinacea and Vitamin A. I started as soon as I felt the cold coming on but I couldn't nip it in the bud. Oh well its winding down now.

Phoenix Daisy has been sick with colds 3x this year and I have been there all 3 times. She just learned how to kiss and hug and when she is eating she loves to share with me. So I know that I let her pass it to me but I don't even think about it when I am with her. I just love her so!!

So onto my card for today. I made this one for several challenges.

1. The inspiration challenge on Splitcoaststampers where Stef is our hostess and she took us to the Land of Nod site. A fun children's site that was filled with loads of inspiration for card making or shopping as well. I chose this "fresh flowers" pillow sham as my inspiration piece. I loved the flowers on this pillow and decided to create my card around those colors. Which brings me to challenge #2.

2. The Sweet Stop Sketch for this week had a great layout to use. The twist on this challenge was to create a Valentine's card in non-traditional colors.

Well this one was easy I already decided to use bright pink, yellow and green-that sounds like a non-traditional valentine to me (lol)!!

My card image is from the Stampin-Up "sweetheart" set. I stamped the "be mine" heart in a crushed curry ink and then punched a heart in melon mambo and embossed it. The leaf images are stamped in pear pizzazz.

I used some Stampin-Up designer paper "razzlebery lemonade" collection. My ribbon border punch is also from Stampin-Up. I did some hand stitching with yellow floss for a little interest.

Some other challenges:

3. Robyn's Fetish has a "love" challenge.

4. Stampin' Sisters in Christ wants us to make a {heart} stand out on your project.

To end my post today- I leave you with a picture of my sweet Phoenix Daisy. She is wearing a sleeper that I bought her for Christmas. Until next time...........God bless.

Phoenix Daisy

Marks Finest Papers Blog Hop Day 4

2012-01-20T02:00:00.001-05:00

Hello! Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's January Blog Hop!

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Love Remains Featured January 17
Cowgirls Rule Featured January 18
Sending Happy Thoughts Featured January 19
You Are Cherished Featured January 20

Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the following blogs (don't forget this one), each day for more chances to win! (You do NOT have to comment on all the blogs each day! The names are drawn randomly!)

We will announce all four winners on January 21, 2012 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. (HINT: The more you comment, the more chances you have to win!) The winners will be chosen at 11PM EST on Friday January 20, 2012.

Lois
Vicky
Anne
Pat G.
Karen H.
Patty P.
Mary (you are here)
Dawn M.
Marilynn
Chrissy
Karen K.
Pam
Debbie
Nancy
Bonnie
Harriet
Kathy
Silvia
Brenda
Mark's Finest Papers

Today is the final day of the blog hop new releases for January. Hope you have enjoyed the past 4 days. We are showing the "you are cherished" set today.

For my card I stamped the daisy wreath and colored with prismacolor pencils and gamsol. I then did some fussy cutting on this. I stamped my "love you" sentiment on a banner that I cut from a Spellbinders die. I die cut a tag and ran it through a cuttlebug embossing folder and then sponged over that.

I added some pleated ribbon and a few hearts and a button to complete my card. Remember to leave a comment here for a chance to win one of these awesome sets. Then drop over to Dawn's blog to check out her amazing project.

Marks Finest Papers Blog Hop Day 3

2012-01-19T03:00:00.005-05:00

Hello! Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's January Blog Hop!

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Love Remains Featured January 17
Cowgirls Rule Featured January 18
Sending Happy Thoughts Featured January 19
You Are Cherished Featured January 20

Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the following blogs (don't forget this one), each day for more chances to win! (You do NOT have to comment on all the blogs each day! The names are drawn randomly!)

We will announce all four winners on January 21, 2012 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. (HINT: The more you comment, the more chances you have to win!) The winners will be chosen at 11PM EST on Friday January 20, 2012.

Lois
Vicky
Anne
Pat G.
Karen H.
Patty P.
Mary (you are here)
Dawn M.
Marilynn
Chrissy
Karen K.
Pam
Debbie
Nancy
Bonnie
Harriet
Kathy
Silvia
Brenda
Mark's Finest Papers

This is day 3 of the new releases. The design team has been showing some fabulous cards. My card today is one for some encouragement. I am sending this to my sister-in-law who is battling lung cancer. Her name is Dee if you would like to pray for her.

I used the rose image from this set and colored with copic markers and prismacolor pencils. I layered it on a red doily. The doily is cut from a die by Cheery Lynn Designs. To the doily I added pearls for accents.

Since my rose is red I chose some patterned paper and ribbon to go along with the color scheme. I layered ruched white ribbon over my red. I stamped the sentiment to complete my card.

Remember to leave a comment here and then drop by Dawn's blog. She is next on the stop. She will have an amazing project using this set.

See you back here tomorrow for our last day of the release.

Marks Finest Papers Blog Hop Day 2

2012-01-18T03:00:00.001-05:00

Hello! Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's January Blog Hop!

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Love Remains Featured January 17
Cowgirls Rule Featured January 18
Sending Happy Thoughts Featured January 19
You Are Cherished Featured January 20

Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the following blogs (don't forget this one), each day for more chances to win! (You do NOT have to comment on all the blogs each day! The names are drawn randomly!)We will announce all four winners on January 21, 2012 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. (HINT: The more you comment, the more chances you have to win!) The winners will be chosen at 11PM EST on Friday January 20, 2012.

Lois
Vicky
Anne
Pat G.
Karen H.
Patty P.
Mary (you are here)
Dawn M.
Marilynn
Chrissy
Karen K.
Pam
Debbie
Nancy
Bonnie
Harriet
Kathy
Silvia
Brenda
Mark's Finest Papers

My card today features the boots and the hat from the "cowgirls rule set". There are 4 images and 5 sentiments in this set. I needed a birthday card for my niece and she lives in Texas. So how perfect is this set.

I colored the boots with prismacolor pencils and gamsol. My hat was stamped on designer paper and cut out for an embellishment. Used a spellbinders lacy square to frame the image.

Added some stars and ribbon to complete the card. Remember to leave a comment here and then jump over to Dawn's blog to see her amazing project.

See you here again tomorrow.

Marks Finest papers Blog Hop Day 1

2012-01-17T03:00:00.002-05:00

Hello! Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's January Blog Hop!

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Love Remains Featured January 17
Cowgirls Rule Featured January 18
Sending Happy Thoughts Featured January 19
You Are Cherished Featured January 20

Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the following blogs (don't forget this one), each day for more chances to win! (You do NOT have to comment on all the blogs each day! The names are drawn randomly!)

We will announce all four winners on January 21, 2012 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. (HINT: The more you comment, the more chances you have to win!) The winners will be chosen at 11PM EST on Friday January 20, 2012.

Lois
Vicky
Anne
Pat G.
Karen H.
Patty P.
Mary
Dawn M.
Marilynn
Chrissy
Karen K.
Pam
Debbie
Nancy
Bonnie
Harriet
Kathy
Silvia
Brenda
Mark's Finest Papers

My card today is featuring one of the rose images from the "love remains" set. There are 2 beautiful rose images plus 7 sentiments in this set. All that you need to create a beautiful valentines card or even a wedding or anniversary card.

I colored this image with prismacolor pencils and gamsol. I used a doily die from Cheery Lynn Designs and some Spellbinder circle dies and placed my rose in the center. I added a mini tag and stamped the "love" sentiment from this set.

That's it for me today. Remember to leave a comment here for a chance to win this set and then drop on over to Dawn's blog to see some amazing eye candy using this new set.

Love you

2012-01-16T01:34:00.003-05:00

Happy Sunday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. Cold and blustery was our day here in Pittsburgh. A perfect day for staying home in front of the fireplace and relaxing. That would be an ideal day for sure. But we didn't do that.

After church we had lunch with our Pastor and a guest speaker that came to church. The speaker really brought and encouraging message to our church. He spoke on miracle comebacks and used the sporting world for analogies. He said God loves the word "impossible".

It was a great message to start our day. We came home in time to change and go our grandsons basketball games. One win and one loss was the order there. We went out to dinner with our son, daughter-in-law and grandsons. We ate too much but it was a fun time.

Now I am back home and its still cold and the fireplace is not on (lol). Oh well onto today's post before its time to dim the lights for another day.

This card I made for the inspiration challenge on Splitcoaststampers. Stef is our hostess and she introduced us to the Polyvore site. It the web's largest fashion community site and was loaded with inspiration to create a card.

I chose the Moschino cheap and chic bag as my inspiration piece. I thought I would make another Valentines card in black and red. I kept this one fairly simple.

I used Core-dinations black cardstock and punched hearts in red. My large heart is lined with licorice bakers twine. I added a Stampin-Up heart brad to the center.

My middle layer is a piece of Bazzill maraschino cardstock and I again used licorice bakers twine. I added a spellbinders ribbon tag for my sentiment.
The sentiment is from a soon to be released this week from Marks Finest Papers - "you are cherished".

I am part of a blog hop starting Tuesday that will show all the new sets and samples from the design team so drop on by then.

Well thats my card for today. So until next time.......God bless.

Some other challenges:
1. Outlawz Sunday Challenge is to use twine on as CAS card.
2. Stampin Sisters in Christ has a something new challenge. I used a new stamp set.
3. Designed To Delight has a hearts challenge.

Valentine's Card 2012

2012-01-12T22:28:00.001-05:00

Happy Thursday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. I have some new and exciting news today. For the next several months, I will be part of the senior design team at Mark's Finest Papers ( a Heinrich company). I was so excited and honored to be asked to be a part of this team.

My card today is showing 2 new sets that will be released next week. I used the sets "love remains" and "sending happy thoughts". These 2 sets are just fabulous and perfect for your Valentines cards.

I colored the rose image with a combination of Copic markers and Stampin-Up markers.

My background was created using the Spellbinders "diamonds and stars" Impressabilities. I created a stencil effect using riding hood red ink.

I made this card for the color challenge #357 on Splitcoaststampers. Joanne was our hostess and she chose the color trio of blushing bride, riding hood red and baja breeze. It seemed like and unlikely combo for a valentines card, but I really like how it turned out.

I layered my rose image over a Cheery Lynn doily die cut in riding hood red. Added some pearls and punched hearts to this layer.

I completed my card with baja breeze and riding hood red ribbon and a pearl center on the bow.

That's my card for today. It's time to close this post. So until next time..........God Bless

Some other challenges:
1. C.r.a.f.t Challenges has a "celebrations" challenge.
2. Cooking It Up With Katie has a show me some pink with pearls challenge.
3. Gingersnap Creations has a ribbons challenge.

Card Recipe:
Stamps: Love Remains and Sending Happy Thoughts (Mark's Finest Papers)
Paper: baja breeze, riding hood red, whisper white
Ink: memento tuxedo black
Accessories: baja breeze and rhr ribbons, cheery lynn doily die, spellbinders impressabilities, copic markers and su markers, postage stamp scissors

The Rose

2012-01-05T23:53:00.001-05:00

Happy Thursday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. Our snow is on the melting path. We had lots of sunshine today and the temps are supposed to rise over the next few days. So snow will be gone until the next storm pushes through.

We went to Aidin's (middle grandson) game tonight. It was on our side of town and since they very rarely play here we had to go. We live south and they live north. They lost the game by 2 points. It was a disappointment but there is always another game-on Saturday as a matter of fact.

For my card today, I decided to create a symbol of summer- "the rose". The "ways to use it challenge" on Splitcoaststampers had an interesting assignment for us today. It is our hostess Michelle's (aka tygerpaws11) birthday and she wanted us to create a card with her favorite elements or we could use our own favorites.

I didn't have a lot of time today because I had a dentist appointment this morning and then a hair appointment shortly after that. So my card is more on the clean and simple side. Something that I don't do very often but I like how this one turned out.

Some of my favorite elements include: dry embossing, ribbon and spellbinder dies. I am also sharing this rose. I love roses and can't wait until they are back in bloom again in our gardens.

The rose image is from a set by Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps. I colored the rose with copic markers and the leaves and stem with prismacolor pencils and gamsol. I am still on the learning curve with copics but it's one of my goals for this year.

I used a cuttlebug folder for my white background and a Spellbinder oval die to frame the rose. To complete my card I added 2 different red ribbons and a white ribbon rose for the bow center.

That's my card for today. Thanks for coming by to see what's up in charmed life land. So until next time........

Some other challenges:
1. The Outlawz "twisted Thursday challenge" is to use punches and diecuts. We can use primsacolor pencils and copics for this one. My image is right in the guidelines-50 % markers-50% pencils.

Happy Birthday Brother

2012-01-05T00:10:00.001-05:00

Happy Wednesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. Well we had our first snowfall yesterday. We had about 4" of snow and several snow squalls throughout the day.

I was on my way to my son's home when one of them blew threw. It created slippery roads and white out conditions. I was about 15 minutes away from my home and still had another 35 minutes to get to his home.

I turned around and went back to my house. I do not like driving in the snow even though I have an SUV. I had to do that for 30+ years when I worked. Now that I am retired I do not have to drive in snow unless I want to. And, usually I don't want to (lol)!!

I was so disappointed because this is my day with my grandsons. They understood because of the snow and the distance I have to drive to their house. But, we will see Aidin tomorrow night. He has a basketball tournament at one of the schools on our side of town.

Well now onto my card for today. This one I made for the sketch challenge #366 on splitcoaststampers. Taylor is our hostess and she gave us a great sketch to work into a card.
This one has tilted panels and I really like working with those. Although my husband doesnt really like the tilts so I hope its not a guy thing. Because, I needed a birthday card for my brother so I made a masculine card today.

The patterned paper I used is from Creative Imaginations. I cut one of the cars from the paper and used it for my image. I added some music score paper for the bottom layer.

Punched some stars to use for the row of circles and that completed this card. Well, it's late and time to dim the lights in charmed life land for another day. So until next time...........God bless.

Some other challenges:
1. Unstampabelles blog has an anything goes challenge. No stamps allowed on this challenge. I dry embossed my birthday greetings and my car image is cut from the patterned paper.
2. Bloggers challenge wants us to celebrate good times.

It'll Be Okay

2012-01-03T00:54:00.002-05:00

Happy Tuesday everyone and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. Well it's official-winter has arrived here in Pittsburgh.

We had snow yesterday. There were several squalls and some of it stuck on the roads, but it's done for awhile. I liked looking at it through my window because I didn't have to drive. There will be plenty more where that came from over the next 3 months for sure.

My card for today is one that I did for the color challenge on Splitcoaststampers. I am sampling this week with Betty as our hostess.

She chose a great trio of colors for us to work with-lucky limeade, island indigo and basic gray.

I also am entering this in the My Favorite Things January guest designer contest. You are to do paper piecing for this contest.

I made a letterpress background with the Spellbinders circle impressabilities.
The first panel was sponged with basic gray ink and the smaller panel was sponged with island indigo.
I really liked how this background turned out. It seems to fit my image so well.

My sweet image is from My Favorite Things - "pure innocence" line. This one is called my umbrella.

I just love these sweet little girls. They remind me of my granddaughter, Phoenix Daisy. I have already sent her a couple of cards using these images.
These images are so perfect for paper piecing which is exactly what I did with her. I used designer paper for her umbrella-rain coat and boots.

I did some fussy cutting and then foam mounted her on an oval die. The sentiment I used is from the same MFT set. I used the banner dies from My Favorite Things to stamp the sentiment. This die is great. It cuts 2 sizes so you can layer easily and also cuts the little scallop edge to fancy it up.

I completed my card by adding some basic gray satin ribbon and a button center.

Well its time to close this post so until next time.........God bless.

Oh yes, I mentioned Phoenix Daisy in this post.

Here is her latest picture with my daughter-in-law as well. they were out on a hike.

I love the hats!!

Some othe challenges:

1. Incy Wincy Designs has an anything goes challenge.

2. Stamps R Us has an anything goes.

flower child

2012-01-01T22:06:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year everyone and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. I cant believe we are starting 2012. I am not one to make resolutions but I do set some goals for myself. For 2012 my goals are centered around my passions, which would be my family and my crafting.

For my family, I don't want to put off until another day what you can do today. You may not have another chance.
For my crafting, I want to venture to try new techniques and think out of the box. I think that will expand me as a paper artist.

Last night (New Year's eve) we spent with my son-daughter-in-law and grandsons. We had dinner to celebrate my hubby's birthday and then spent the night playing games. We watched the ball fall in Times Square on TV and then headed to bed after that.

My daughter-in-law made a great breakfast for us this morning and we just lounged around in our pj's. Headed home around 3:00 to watch the Steeler game (we won) and now I am just relaxing and typing this post.

The card I am showing today is one I made for the sketch challenge at the "my favorite stamps" forum on splitcoaststampers.

I used the Pure Innocence image "being cute is what I do". I colored her with a combination of copic markers and prismacolor pencils and gamsol.

My designer paper is from the BoBunny collection "flower child". On the center vertical panel, I used the cuttlebug embossing folder "just my type". I sponged daffodil delight ink on the embossing to make it pop.

I used a button, a spellbinder pennant die and a border punch to complete my card. That's it for me today so until next time.........God bless.

Some other challenges:
1. Paper Sundaes blog wants us to use something old something new. My designer paper and button are old and the pennant die from Spellbinders is new.
2. Pile It On blog has an anything goes challenge.
3. Secret Crafter Saturday challenge has an anything goes.
4. Totally Gorjuss wants to see something happy.

Emboss Resist

2011-12-30T15:51:00.001-05:00

Happy Friday everyone and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. I cant believe that 2011 is drawing to a close. Where did the year go to??

As I reminisce back on this year, I realize I had the opportunity to visit my new granddaughter Phoenix Daisy 6x. She lives in San Francisco. I see my grandsons once a week. That always warms my heart. My desire for more family time is being met. Although, I still wish I lived closer to my grandsons and that Phoenix Daisy lived here in Pittsburgh.

On my stamping front I was a designer for Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps & Creative Belli. I did guest design stints for ODBD-stamping in time challenge, Pals Paper Arts, Craft your Passion and Raise the Bar challenge. I am still a design hostess for the color challenge on Splitcoaststampers.

So my creative goals are being met. I have set goals for 2012 as well. So as the year unfolds, I will see how that progresses.

Now onto my card for today. I wanted to try an emboss resist technique and I knew I had the perfect stamp for it. This image is from Our Daily Bread Designs-"worship the Lord" set. I stamped in versamark and heat embossed with white embossing powder.

I sponged with Stampin-Up crumb cake and soft suede inks. I like how it turned out. I may make a few more of these for next year's Christmas stash.

I used cherry cobbler and soft suede card stock. The designer paper is from Stampin-Up as well-"Christmas Cocoa" speciality paper. It's retired now. Used a scallop border punch on the image panel.

Added cherry cobbler ribbon, an angel charm and some glittery stars to complete this card.

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

Some challenges:
1. ODBD "shining the light challenge" has an anything goes.
2. The Stamping in Time challenge also at OurDaily Bread Designs is anything goes as well.
3. The crafty purple frog has a Christmas challenge.
4. Art Impressions Stamps has a die cut or punches challenge.
5. Craft Us Crazy has a Christmas challenge with anything new. I used a new angel charm and ribbon.
6. Paper Play Challenges also has a Christmas challenge.

Winter Time

2011-12-29T01:39:00.000-05:00

Happy Wednesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. We are still relaxing and enjoying the holiday week. This afternoon we went to watch Aidin (middle grandson) play a basketball game. It was a good game and their team won.

My hubby is funny at these games. He yells out from the stands somethings the refs have missed( IE). "over the back, 3 seconds, walk, goal tending". The boys know when he is there because they hear him. He isn't obnoxious in the least. His knowledge of basketball is just so evident and some of the refs are quite as good.

This is another card I made for the color challenge #355 on splitcoaststampers. Our colors for this week are navy, bashful blue and white. Vicki is our hostess and she made an amazing sample. Click here to check it out.

For this card I again used some old Stampin-Up rub-ons. It's from the "word flurries" collection.

Since the sentiment had the word time in it, I decided to pick up on that with the clock image and my background embossing. I used the Cuttlebug "clockworks" embossing folder and a clock image from Marks Finest Papers Stamps.

I used some white mesh from May Arts ribbon and a glittery snowflake on the clock to complete my card.

It's late now and time to dim the lights in charmed life land for another day. So until next time.........God bless.

Some other challenges:
1. Little Darlings has a cold challenge.
2. Simon Says Stamp has an anything goes challenge.
3. Anything Goes Challenge blog wants us to use the color blue + one other color.
4. Karen's Doodles wants us to use a clock on our card.
5. Top Tip Tuesday has an anything goes challenge.

One Kind Word

2011-12-27T11:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Tuesday everyone and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. Hope your Christmas celebration was a great one. Ours was wonderful. We are having my husbands extended family here tonight for a get-together. It will be simple as far as food goes. We are just having pizza and a salad. So I will be able to mingle with my guests instead of spending all my time in the kitchen.

My grandsons also are in school basketball tournaments so Wednesday and Thursday will be spent with them. It will be fun and we love watching them play.

My card for today is one that I created for the color challenge on splitcoaststampers. Vicki is our hostess and she chose the fab color trio of night of navy, bashful blue and white. She also wanted us to use some glitter on our card.

For my card I used some old Stampin-Up rub-ons for the sentiment panel. It is from their "word flurries" collection.

This panel was completed with a scallop Martha Stewart border punch and some white ribbon. I thought the ribbon picked up the swirly snowflakes.

My background layer is embossed hearts cardstock from lasting impressions and I sponged bashful blue ink on this panel..

For the glitter option I added a snowflake button that has glitter on it. Although the sparkle didn't show up well in the photo.

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

Some other challenges:
1. Incy Wincy Designs has a winter wonderland challenge 126.
2. The Outlawz Monday challenge has an "anything goes". You have to use a sentiment on your card.
3. Paper a la Mode from Outlawz blog has a shades of blue challenge.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T12:09:00.002-05:00

close-up view of poinsettia

Merry Christmas to all my blogger friends. Hope your celebration is a blessed one.

We are having our family celebration today. My son, daughter-in-law and grandsons will be here shortly for our Christmas dinner.

I will be back in a couple of days with regular posts.

We have several family & friend celebrations here so my card making will be on hold until mid-week.

This card was one that I made for Christmas.

God bless!!

Creative Belli Challenge #133

2011-12-21T13:44:00.002-05:00

Happy Wednesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. It's time for another Creative Belli Challenge. This is the last one for 2011 and also the last one for me. I am leaving this design team as of December 31. Something else is coming but more about that in January.

This challenge is all about "Merry Christmas". You have to have the word "Christmas" on your card. The spirit of the Belli challenges is to encourage you to use your OLD and FORGOTTEN embellishments! Everyone is welcome to play along! Challenge a stamping friend! Just follow the theme.

For my card I used an image from the stamp set "Christmas light" from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps. It has a matching die so the cutting out of the image is super easy.

I used the Cheery Lynn die 'deco border light". I love this die. I think it makes for such an elegan card.
I also used the Spellbinder "lacy circle" for my candle image.

My old and forgotten part is paper from my stash. I had this BoBunny green striped designer paper and I was able to use it on this card. I found the perfect shade of gold to match it. The red border and circle are Stampin-Up's real red cardstock.

I colored the image with prismacolor pencils and gamsol. I stamped the word "peace" on the candle from another set I had. No name on that one.

Well that's my card for today. Hope you will join in on the challenge at the Creative Belli Blog.

Some other challenges:

1. Creative Card Crew has the lights of Christmas challenge.
2. Papertake Weekly has a last Christmas card of the year challenge.
3. Top Tip Tuesday has an anything Christmas challenge.
4. Cheery Lynn Designs has a "tis the season" challenge. I used the deco light border die.

Christmas Tag

2011-12-20T00:28:00.001-05:00

Happy Tuesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. The countdown continues. It's only 5 days until Christmas. I felt very good about all that I accomplished today.

I finished my decorating and the majority of my cleaning. I am on track for the goals that I set for this week. There is less stress for me that way.

The Christmas tag I am showing today is one that I made as my sample for the color challenge on Splitcoaststampers. Peggy is our hostess and she chose a fabulous color trio of calypso coral, wisteria wonder and lucky limeade.

These colors certainly didn't lend themselves to Christmas but Peggy wasn't intending that they would.

However, I need a slew of tags for gifts so I decided to create one using these colors. I like how it turned out.

I cut my tag in white cardstock using a Sizzix die. I wanted some texture so I used the Cuttlebug embossing folder "Kassie's Brocade" . I sponged this in wisteria wonder and calypso coral.

My calypso coral and lucky limeade layer has the same embossing folder and sponged in calypso coral and lucky limeade. The sentiment is from the Stampin Up “winter post” set.

I used the Spellbinders “poinsettia die” for a coral poinsettia with limeade leaves. I finished my tag with lucky limeade and calypso coral ribbon tied with gold memory thread and a gold pearl.

Well, it's late and time to dime the lights in charmed life land for another day.

So until next time...........God bless

Some other challenges:
1. Crafty Cardmakers has a challenge to use it 3 times. I used the same embossing folder 3x. First on my white tag-then on my coral layer and finally on my limeade layer.
2. Crafty Boots has a Christmas challenge.
3. Lawnscaping Challenge wants us to add texture to our project. I used embossing.
4. Lexi's Creations has a non-traditional Christmas color challenge.
5. Make My Monday has a seasonal tag challenge.
6. Ooh-La-La creations has an "anything but a card" challenge.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-18T23:56:00.000-05:00

Happy Sunday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. The countdown to Christmas continues and today we are at 7 days.

Don't know how your preparations are going but mine are running behind. I haven't started to wrap any of my gifts as yet. And, I do special wraps on each gift. So probably Tuesday will be the start of a marathon day of gift wrapping.

I sort of have my menus for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day worked out so I will have to make my shopping list for the grocery store. I will probably do that on Friday morning. The rest of the week will be cleaning and finishing up other tasks. So maybe I am not so behind. Glad I talked this out I just made myself feel better (lol)!!

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for the inspiration challenge on Splitcoastampers. Anne was our hostess and she sent us to the "at west end" site. It is a great site with lots of rustic and recycled items.

I chose the "red mercury glass votives" as my inspiration to create a card. The cranberry striped paper I thought was a good match for the color of the votives. And my candle image is in keeping with the votive.

My image & sentiment are from the stamp set "Christmas light" from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps. It has a matching die so the cutting out of the image is super easy. I used the Cheery Lynn die 'deco border light" and a Spellbinder "lacy circle" for my candle image.

Well, it's time to close this post and dim the light in charmed life land for another day..........

Some other challenges:

1. Craftyhazlenut's Christmas Challenge #51 has an "anything goes".

2. Just Us Girls has a color challenge. We are to use red, olive and white or kraft. I stamped my image on white cardstock before coloring with prismacolor pencils.

3. Speedy the cat's friends challenge wants us to make a Christmas card.

Snowflake Joy

2011-12-17T00:52:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. Well it's just 9 days to Christmas now. I mailed the last of my cards today and I am finishing up on some decorating. On Monday my friend will come over and we make pizzelles together. My house will have the smell of anise for several days after this.

Earlier this week I attended a holiday tea at my neighbors. Everything was so beautiful and the food was incredible. She had 8 of us there. Her dishes were the blue willow pattern and she read us the story behind this dishware that started our afternoon.

Our tea menu started of with roasted tomato soup and a sun-dried cheddar biscuit. then we had a delicious quiche with sun-dried tomatoes, onion and ham. She had a strawberry on the plate that was sliced in a fan effect. Loved the quiches as well as the presentation.

Then we were served an orange scone and a cranberry-ginger scone. These were served with lemon curd, orange marmalade and some clotted cream. These were also incredibly delicious.
then she served from tea sandwiches with egg salad, a strawberry-almond cheese and some smoked salmon served in a cucumber round. Fabulous!!

And, if we weren't filled enough she served us some excellent chocolate cake. This was followed by sorbet with kiwi slices. we had 3 different kind of teas served with all this. Our take home gift was an angel from this blue willow pattern. The piece is titled "wishes of grace for a palace". It is a limited edition and just beautiful. I thoroughly enjoyed this afternoon and was so honored to be invited.

Now I want to have one at my home. Maybe I will think about it for next Christmas.

Onto my card for today. This one I made for the VSN challenge on splitcoaststampers. We were to use a snowflake on our card.

My background paper is from Stampin-Up's "ski slope" collection. The red snowflakes are feltand the white one is a button. I also used a Stampin-Up border punch, oval punches and some espresso bakers twine. The sentiment is from Amuse stamps.

That completes this card and also this post. So until next time.......God bless.

Some other challenges:
1. Raise the Bar has a Christmas challenge.
2. Really reasonable ribbon challenge has an anything goes & ribbon theme. I used bakers twine on my card.
3. 4 crafty chicks blog has a Christmas card challenge.
4. Card Makin Mamas has a Christmas challenge.

Herald Angels Sing

2011-12-13T00:33:00.002-05:00

Happy Tuesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. Wow the busyness of the season has me going. I just finished my Christmas cards and will get them in the mail tomorrow. Then I have to finish my inside decorating. I am really excited for that. I love all the decorations and lights.

Today I went to my friends home and we made candy together. Its become a tradition with us now. She said to me today-with names like "Mary & Holly" how could we not do something together for Christmas.

We made all chocolate candy-chocolate covered pretzels, chocolate covered oreos, chocolate peanut butter sandwiches and cashew clusters. It took us 7 hours, but it is so worth it. I give this candy to my grandsons and neighbors. They all love it.

always artichoke

crumb cake

cherry cobbler

So onto my card for today. This one I made for the color challenge #353 on Splitcoaststampers. I am the hostess today and I chose the regal color trio of cherry cobbler, crumb cake and always artichoke.

My image is from Just-Rite Stamps-the "O Christmas Tree" set. I stamped it in cherry cobbler and then again in always artichoke. I cut some of the artichoke pieces and layered it over the cobbler.

I used the spellbinders pennant and lacy pennant dies to cut the image. I also used the Spellbinders “poinsettia die” for a corner embellishment.

My ribbon is Stampin-Up’s quilted satin cherry cobbler ribbon and I added an angel button to my bow.

The background designer paper is from Bo Bunny “Father Christmas” collection.

A star placed atop the tree completed my card.

Well, it's time to get back to my Christmas preparations. So until next time..........God bless.

Some other challenges:

1. Make My Monday has a "red ribbon" challenge.

2. Stamps R Us has an angels challenge.

3. Stampin Sisterhood Sundays has a Sunday inspiration challenge.

Believe

2011-12-07T07:00:00.004-05:00

Happy Wednesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. It's time for another Creative Belli Challenge. This time around the challenge is anything related to Winter or Christmas

************************

The spirit of the Belli challenges is to encourage you to use your OLD and FORGOTTEN embellishments!Everyone is welcome to play along! Challenge a stamping friend! Just follow the theme.

For my card I decided to use this Santa image that I bought this summer at a stamp show here in Pittsburgh. It's from Darcie Stamps and is a die cut. Well actually the company calls them U-cuts because you cut the image out yourself. I think this Santa is so cute.

I used some retired Stampin-Up designer paper from the "merry moments" collection. On the white background panel I used the Cuttlebug folder "winter wonderland". I added some green velvet May Arts ribbon to this panel also.

I stamped the believe sentiment and that completed my card.

I hope you will play with us at the Creative Belli blog. Drop over to see what the other design team members have done with this challenge. You won't be disappointed.

We are so excited to bring back the "Belle of the Belli"! For each challenge, we will choose the one card that WOW'd us and closely followed the theme! If you are chosen as a Belle, you will be asked to be a Guest Designer for one of our challenges and have a badge to proudly post on your blog!

There is also a design team call going on so if you're interested in becoming a "Belli Girl" go to this post. You have until December 15 to apply.

So until next time........... God bless

Some other challenges:
1. Creative Card Crew has a "tis the season" challenge.
2. Ribbon Carousel has an inspiration challenge called "peppermint twist".
3. TopTip Tuesday has a "let it snow" challenge. I used a snowflake embossing folder behind my Santa.
4. Tuesday Throwdown has a "celebrate the season" challenge.

Christmas Candle

2011-12-06T01:02:00.004-05:00

Happy Tuesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. I am knee deep in Christmas as is everyone I suppose. I am still making Christmas cards even after I said I wouldn't be so late this year. My problem is I don't do a clean & simple design. I thought I had one the other day and it still took me all day to make 10 cards.

I have another idea for one that I will try today. I may be able to mass produce this one easily. We will see.
I also have a cookie exchange that I am going to tonight. It should be fun. Its with the younger women in our church. They invited me-probably because I am part of the leadership so I am going. They are making some good cookies. I will bring my signature Christmas cookie-a mini lady lock. I fill them with french vanilla butter creme.

Anyway onto my card for today. This one I made for the color challenge #352 on Splitcoaststampers.

Karen is our hostess and she chose a great Christmas color trio- wild wasabi, real red and vanilla.

My candle image is from the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps set “Christmas light” and the background text is from the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps set “light of Christmas”.

The text on my candle is from an unmounted stamp that I bought but I don’t have a name. The idea to stamp the text on the candle came from Christmas banners in our church. They have a candle image and the names of Jesus (IE.) Shepherd, Ruler, Redeemer and Savior.

The candle image is colored with prismacolor pencils and gamsol and then cut with the die from this set. I used glossy accents on the berries and the candle wax. The text is stamped in wild wasabi ink.

I punched a layer to use over my text. Its done with the fiskars holly border punch.
My layout is one that I have used before. In fact I copied myself from this card.

Well time to close this post. So until next time God bless..........

Some other challenges:
1. The Ribbon Girl blog has a "jingle all the way to Christmas" challenge.
2. 2 Sisters Challenge blog wants us to use punches/dies. I used both on my card.
3. So Artful challenges has a "tis the season". I used red and green.
4. Daring Cardmakers has a December flower challenge-either Holly or Narcissus.
5. Raise the Bar has a "it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas challenge.
6. Tuesday Throwdown has a "celebrate the season" challenge.

Dec 25

2011-12-02T00:13:00.000-05:00

Happy Thursday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. We got our outside window wreaths put up today. They are the type that have led lights on them and work from batteries. I noticed on one of them that some of the lights are dim and one or two don't come on. If anyone knows if these type lights can be replaced let me know.

They are Bethlehem Lights wreaths that I purchased from QVC a couple of years ago. I looked on their but they did have any info about replacement bulbs. Any help would be appreciated.

So onto my card for today. I made this one for the "ways to use it" challenge on Splitcoaststampers. We were to use a "faux letterpress" technique with our embossing folder. I inked up one side of my folder and placed my cardstock in. I used bashful blue ink because I wanted a soft background.

I was happy with how it turned out. My tree image is from a Christmas patterned paper pack from DCWV. I did some fussy cutting and placed it on my card. I punched a mini tag and used some Stampin-Up rub-ons for the "Dec 25" sentiment. The gold cord is "memory cord" that Betty Wright gave me a heads-up on.

To complete my card I added some green and red ribbon. And I have another Christmas card finished and this one is flat for mailing. How nice is that!!

Well, its late and I have a busy day tomorrow so until next time.......God Bless

Some other challenges:
1. Our Creative Corner has a "O Christmas Tree" challenge.
2. Colour Create Blog has a red, green and white challenge.
3. Crafty Ribbons Challenge is to make a tag.
4.. Incy Wincy Designs has a "trees" challenge.
5. Stamps R Us has an "emboss it" challenge.

Peace On Earth

2011-11-29T00:19:00.002-05:00

Happy Tuesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration. Ours was wonderful and so relaxing.

We celebrated with friends from church this year. My bff was here for the the first time as well. I loved it!!

My son & daughter-in-law were with her family.we chatted by phone but Ididnt see them. My mother-in-law was taking care of her daughter. She just had a lung operation. We sent leftovers which they loved.

I tried a couple of new ideas for my stuffing and gravy. I was pleased with the outcome so I will use it again next year. I subscribe to the Food Network magazine and the Thanksgiving issue was packed with lots of helpful ideas. I loved the cranberry recipe in the issue. My guests did as well.

So now onto my card for today. I cant believe its been a week since I posted. I missed creating with paper but I definitely created a fine feast in my kitchen.

This card was done for the color challenge on Splitcoaststampers. I am on the color challenge team there and this week was my turn to post a sample. Our hostess was Julia and she chose the color trio of Kraft, Pear Pizzazz and White.

I had some difficulty at first because I knew I wanted to make a Christmas card but the colors were somewhat limiting. So I decided to use images that didn't require coloring.

The kraft background is stamped with the snowflake from the Verve “winter wonder remixed” set. I used the cuttlebug snowflake folder on my white square background piece.

The circle snowflakes and sentiment are from the same Verve set and I used a spellbinders die to cut it.

To cover the pear pizzazz color I cut a Spellbinder lacy square and circle. I also used some pear pizzazz seam binding and bakers twine.

Added an angel charm and some Anna Griffin dimensional snowflakes to complete my card. Another Christmas card for my stash that is nowhere near being completed. But, I have plans to work, work, work this week.

Well, its late and time to dim the lights in charmed life land for another day. So until next time........God bless.

Some other challenges:
1. Craft Your Passion has anything holiday or winter related.
2. Hooked on Craft Challenge has a winter wonderland challenge.
3. Make it Monday with Kraft Outlet has a Christmas challenge.
4. Outlawz greetings challenge is anything goes.
5. Ribbon Reel has an anything goes challenge.
6. Oldie But Goodie blog has a Christmas challenge wit hno red or green. My stamp set is 3 years old.

card recipe:
stamps:winter wonder remixed (verve)
paper: su crumb cake, pear pizzazz, white
ink: pear pizzazz, crumb cake
accessories: spellbinders lacey square & circle dies, pear pizzazz ribbon, baker’s twine, Anna Griffin snowflakes, dress it up angel charm,

Let It Snow

2011-11-19T23:32:00.001-05:00

Happy Saturday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. Can you believe it is the Saturday before Thanksgiving? I love celebrating this holiday. It's one that evokes many happy childhood memories in me.

My son & daughter-in-law will spend the day with her parents. We share this holiday as it should be. My husband's family isn't coming this year. My sister-in-law is recovering from a surgery and my mother-in-law wants to spend the day with her.

I invited my bff-this is the first year we will celebrate together. She usually travels to Virginia or has her family here. But that didn't work out this year so she & her hubby will be with us.Whoo-hoo!!
We also will have a young couple from church that we have taken under our wing. They are from Texas and have no family locally.

I bought my turkey today-a strapping 21 lb bird. And now the week long preparations will begin.

I wont be spending much time card making this week but I do have one to show you today. I made this one for the sketch challenge on Splitcoaststampers. This is the layout we were to work into a card.

My mitten image is a spellbinder die that I cut in pretty in pink cardstock and then embossed with the cuttlebug embossing folder "dots". I added some ribbon and pearls for a trimmed edge.

My background is also a cuttlebug embossing folder-"snowflakes". The 3 squares are spellbinder rectangle dies and I stamped a snowflake in the middle from Verve's "winter wishes" set.

I punched a tag and added some of the curly white trim. The sentiment is from Stampin-Up's "tiny talk set. Some pearls were added to complete my card.

Well it's late and time to close this post. So until next time.........God bless

Some other challenges:
1. CES challenge blog has a snowflakes challenge.
2. Just Some Lines blog has a tic-tac-toe challenge. I chose embossing-ribbon-punch or die-cut.
3. Winter Wonderland challenge has a "cute Christmas image". I think pink mittens fit this.
4. CCEE Stampers has a 2 diecuts or punches challenge.

Card Recipe:

Stamps: tiny talk (su), winter wishes (verve)

Paper: su pretty in pink, ww, old olive, basic grey eskimo kisses dsp

Ink: melon mambo
Accessories: spellbinders mitten & rectangle dies, ribbon, pearls, cb ef -snowflakes

The 3 Kings

2011-11-16T23:43:00.001-05:00

Happy Thursday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. Today I went for a cooking class at my favorite cooking school here in Pittsburgh- The Crate.
The classes are demonstration type. The instructors prepare the meal in front of the class and we get to eat a full meal when the demonstration is complete.

Besides card making, cooking is my next passion.

Today our menu consisted of: butternut squash soup with apple & bacon, roasted butternut squash salad with sherry vinaigrette(loved this with Gorgonzola cheese & toasted pecans), sweet potato & yam gratin, cranberry chutney, and bourbon pumpkin tart with walnut streusel. All this was prepared in front of us. We also had roasted turkey which the staff made but did not demonstrate.

I have decided I will make all of the dishes between my Thanksgiving & Christmas menus. Everything we had was so delicious.

calypso coral

lucky limeade

baja breeze

Well onto my card for today. This one I created for the Splitcoaststampers color challenge.

Betty was our hostess and she chose the amazing color combination of calypso coral, lucky limeade and baja breeze and the neutrals of our choice. My neutrals are early espresso and white.

I thought of this “three kings” image (Morning Star Stamps) immediately when Betty gave us the colors. I colored the images with prismacolor pencils and gamsol and cut it out with a spellbinders oval die. I stamped the star in gold and used a sakura glitter pen for highlights.

My background designer paper is from the Stampin-Up “ski slope” collection. The taffeta ribbon is early espresso and my lace is a die from Cheery Lynn Designs-“deco lace light”. Betty wanted us to make a decorative edge on our card. I finished my ribbon with a decorative edge.

I added a brad to my bow center to complete my card.

This is the card that took me all day to finish. Don't ask me why or how it happened but it did. I am a slow crafter anyway but this was a bit ridiculous. I felt like I was moving in slow motion all day on Monday.

Well my friends its late and time to dim the lights in Charmed Life Land for another day. So until next time.........God bless.

Some other challenges:
1. Paper Pretties Blog has a Christmas challenge with non-traditional colors.
2. Sweet Stamps also has a Christmas challenge with non-traditional colors.
3. Stamptacular Sunday Challenge has a punch or die-cut challenge.
4. Craftyhazelnuts Christmas has a challenge -whatever lights your candle. I used a star above the 3 kings.

Let It Snow

2011-11-15T00:38:00.000-05:00

Happy Monday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. I would like to say that I don't know where the day went today. I was working on a card for the color challenge on Splitcoaststampers and that's all I did. It took all day for me to finish the card. I am not sure how that is possible but it happened.

I will be showing that card tomorrow. The one I am showing today I made for the winter wonderland mini viritual stamping night on Splitcoaststampers. Lisa is our hostess and she wanted us to make a card or project with an image of a something you'd bundle up with....scarf, hats, mittens, sweater, blanket, etc.....AND to make it warm and cozy....... incorporate felt into your project.

I always wear a scarf in the cold weather to bundle up and keep warm. For the felt part of the challenge, I found this snowman in my stash. It's a felt applique. OI added some sparkle with red rhinestones.

I have had it for years and today it finally gets used. I have another one so I can make 2 of these cards anyway. There was a .25 sticker on the back-I must have found it on clearance somewhere.

My background embossed layer is the Cuttlebug "snowflakes" folder. My stamped snowflakes are from the Verve set "winter wonder".
I stamped in navy ink several times without re-inking to get a gradient look.

The tag sentiment is from Stampin-Up's "tiny talk set".

I added some red ribbon with a snowflake button and bakers twine to complete my card.

Well it's very late now so I have to dim the light in Charmed Life Land for another day. So until next time.......God bless.

Some other challenges:
1.   Craft Your Passion has a "let it snow" challenge. I am so on this one!!
2.   Hooked on Craft wants us to use a punch or a die cut. I used both.
3.   Incy Wincy Designs has a tic tac toe challenge. I chose red-christmas sentiment-ribbons.
4. Ooh-la-la creations has a bingo. I chose ribbon-diecut-sparkle.

Christmas Tree Collage

2011-11-14T00:10:00.000-05:00

Happy Sunday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. This day rolled by so quickly. Yet it was a relaxing day spent with my husband. Our day started with church and our service was wonderful today. Well I think it's that way most weeks.

This evening we had tickets to the Univ of Pittsburgh basketball game. I love going to these games. There is such an energy in the Petersen Events center with the cheerleaders, band and the team. Pitt won so that always makes the game better.

We stooped for an Italian hoagie on the way home-yummy. And now I am sitting here typing up my blog post and watching TV. Just about ready to dim the lights in Charmed Life Land for another day. But I wanted to post my newest card before I did that.

This one I made for 2 challenges on Splitcoaststampers. The featured stamper challenge. Anne aka itsapassion is the stamper who is being featured this week. We select one of her cards and make it over in our style.

I chose this Christmas card of hers. I kept Anne's tree and poinsettia theme. My tree is a Christmas tree and my poinsettia is a spellbinder's die cut.
I changed the colors and added another layer and ribbon. On my tree I placed red pearls and highlighted the candles and the tree top with a glitter pen.

In the corner I used a cherry lynn doily die and cut it in quarters and placed my die cut poinsettia on top. The stamp image is from Our Daily Bread Designs-"Christmas Tree Collage".

The other Splitcoaststampers challenge is the holiday virtual stamping challenge. There are 6 challenges and this one is #3. The challenge is to create a card that represents your favorite holiday song. Use at least two layers and two embellishments (i. e. ribbon, brads, something shiny).

This card actually represents 2 of my favorite carols. O Christmas Tree and Joy to the world. The background sheet music on my image has the words "joy to the world".

Well that's it my blogger friends. Hope you liked my card for today.

Some other challenges:
1. Stamptacular Sunday challenge wants us to use a punch or die cut. I used a poinsettia die & a lace doliy die.
2. Craft Your Days Away blog has an embellishment bingo. I chose pearls, flowers and ribbon.
3. Craftyhazelnut's Christmas challenge is "whatever lights your candle". I have several candles on my christmas tree and also a star on the tree top.
4. Totally Gorjuss has a Christmas traditions challenge. One of ours is a Christmas tree with decorations. In fact I put 2 trees up each year.

Blog Candy Winners and more.......

2011-11-13T01:05:00.000-05:00

Happy Saturday everyone and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. We had a somewhat busy day today. Our 2 grandsons were in a basketball tournament and it was in our section of town. So we went over for the 11:00 game for Ethan and the other team didn't show up. In fact, they dropped out of the tournament but our kids were never called. It didn't matter for us because our drive was a short one for a change. But my son & daughter-in-law had to drive 40 minutes to get to the school.

So they let Ethan's team practice and then we went out to lunch because we had some time before Aidin's team played. It was a nice relaxing lunch in fact we sat outside and ate. Do you believe that?? It's November 12 and we had a warm sunny day here in Pittsburgh.

Well Aidin's team won and both the boys teams will play on Friday night. I will probably go over and pick Ethan up after school and bring him to my house. His parents won't get home from work in time to drive across the city during rush hour for a 6:30 game.

Time to move on to the next matter at hand- blog candy. I picked a winner for the Bo Bunny paper and that was Margaret from Black Shadow Creations -comment #38. So Margaret send me your address so I can get the paper out to you.

During the blog hop I had some of you start to follow my blog. I had my 100th follower during this blog hop. I decided to give something else away. It's a pack of designer paper from DCWV- their Harvest Gathering matstack. My 100th follower is Peggy Wainman from Heartfull Stamping. So Peggy if you send me your address, I will get the paper out to you.

Now onto my card for today. This is one I created for the free for all challenge on
Splitcoaststampers. This is Dawn's challenge: ...make a thank you card...but with a twist. Include on that card the embellishment that YOU are most grateful for! What is your most favorite, always the "go to" embellie, trademark embellishment...that completes your card?

I really like using ribbon on my cards. I like the completed look it gives my cards.

On this card I used Stampin-Up twine and I layered a fall multi-colored ribbon on top of that from American Crafts. My bow has a sunflower button for the center.

My images are from Stampin Up's "autumn days" set. I stamped the wheat in wild honey distressed ink and the berry sprigs in old olive and pumpkin ink.
The sentiment is from Verve's "bountiful harvest" set. I embossed my background with the cuttlebug folder "pumpkin harvest".

That's it for me for today. Church in the morning and then tomorrow I have a Christmas card to post.

Some other challenges:
1. Our Creative Corner wants us to create a project using pumpkins or the color pumpkin pie as the focal point or main color of your project! I used the color and then a pumpkin embossing folder as well.
2. Stamp, Scrap & Doodle Saturdays wants us to make a thank you / Thanksgiving card.
3. Card Makin' Mamas has a "be thankful" challenge.
4. Frosted Designs has a fabulous Friday challenge of embossing. I embossed my background layer.
5. Fussy and Fancy Friday challenge is to make a Thanksgiving card with a sentiment.

card recipe:

Stamps: autumn days (stampin-up) bountfiul harvest (verve)

Paper:su vv, choc chip, pumpkin pie

Ink: su choch chip, old olive, pumpkin, ranger wild honey

Accessories: su twine ribbon, american crafts multi, spellbinders dies, cuttlebug ef

Scarecrow Gives Thanks

2011-11-10T23:17:00.000-05:00

Happy Thursday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. I finally put my cards for the Cancer Center in Houston in the mail today. I was involved with the "hope you can cling to" challenges on Splitcoaststampers. Click on the above link to get more info.

I was able to make 15 cards out of the 31 challenges and send them off. It was a great feeling knowing that the families and even the patients themselves have the opportunity to pick one of the cards sent in and give it. I didn't know about the challenge last year but now that I do I plan on being involved every year.

There were 3600 cards made by the stampers at Splitcoast. The response was amazing. But I see that's what happens when you put out a vision where there is a need.

Here are all the cards I made: Challenge #1, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #11, #12, #13, #14, #16, #18, #21, & #24.

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for the color challenge #348 on Splitcoaststampers. Vicki was our hostess and she chose the trio of cajun craze, turquoise and crumb cake. I used some chocolate chip as my neutral color for layering.

I thought this color scheme was just screaming for a fall card. I needed another thanksgiving card (maybe 2) so I took that route. This one will go to one of my grandsons.

I used the scarecrow & pumpkins from the Stampin-Up set “happy fall y’all”. I colored my scarecrow with prismacolor pencils and gamsol.

I cut him out and then layered on a piece of cardstock to create a little scene. I punched a little fence, tied a little tag to it and popped up pumpkins.

I paper pieced his hat and the leaves with cajun craze cardstock.

My background embossing is the cuttlebug folder “autumn type”. Added some ribbon and twine and that completed my card.

Well, it's late and time to dim the lights in Charmed Life land for another day.

Some other challenges:
1. CCEE Stampers wants us to use 3 different shapes on our card. I used a tag, rectangle & fence-since we can use dies.
2. Charisma Cardz is having a cutesy challenge. I think my scarecrow is pretty cute.
3. Dutch Dare Card Challenges wants us to use our punches and dies. I used 2 Martha Stewart punches-the mini tag and the fence punch.
4. The Outlawz greetings card challenge wants us to "give thanks".
5. Creative Card Crew has a "thankful" challenge.

My Artsy Card

2011-11-10T00:01:00.002-05:00

Happy Wednesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. We have had 4 of the most beautiful fall days here in Pittsburgh. I love lots of sun and warm temps. Not too many days left like this before the cold, snowy days of winter roll into town. So I enjoy it while I can.

My card layout is Wednesday's sketch from Splitcoaststampers. I wanted to use the colors from Wednesday's color throwdown and I was having a little difficulty.

The sketch and color throwdown weren't particularly difficult but when I wanted to put them together is when I had the problem.

I titled my post today "my artsy card" because that's how I think my card ended up looking today. But, I was determined and my perseverance paid off.

I had some embossed paper from K & Co and I sponged all the challenge colors on the leaves on the paper. I thought it took on a "artsy look".

I used this for the largest layer on the sketch. On my 2nd layer I embossed with the cuttlebug "autumn type" embossing folder and sponged this with riding hood red. On the oval layer I stamped my sentiment. The sentiment is from the Verve sets "bountiful harvest" and the stamped leaves are from "dream big".

I punched 2 maple leaves with a Marvy punch and added some lucky limeade ribbon with a button center to complete my card.

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

Some other challenges:
1. Crafting for all Seasons has a texture challenge #13.
2. Paper Pretties has a button challenge.
3. Truly Scumptious blog has a bingo challenge. My card fits in embossing-buttons-ribbon block.
4. The Sisterhood of Crafters has a "giving thanks" challenge.

card recipe:
stamps: abundant blessings & dream big (verve)
paper: su very vanilla, riding hood red, k & co embossed dp
ink: riding hood red, lucky limeade, pool party, pretty in pink
accessories: cuttlebug ef, limeade ribbon, button, spellbinders oval dies

Creative Belli Challenge #103

2011-11-09T01:58:00.003-05:00

Click here for the SNSS blog hop

Happy Wednesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. It's time for another Creative Belli Challenge. The challenge this time is paper piercing your project.

The spirit of the Belli challenges is to encourage you to use your OLD and FORGOTTEN embellishments! Everyone is welcome to play along! Challenge a stamping friend! Just follow the theme.

There is also a design team call out for the Creative Belli Blog. Would you like to be a Belli Girl? Check out all the details here.

For my card I used a spellbinder poinsettia die. My old embellies are my rhinestones and my designer paper. I did my piercing on the sentiment layer. That was cut with the spellbinders rectangles die.

The sentiment is from the Our Daily Bread designs set "worship the Lord". I used my stampa-ma-jig to line it up vertically.

I added some cherry cobbler seam binding from Stampin-Up to complete my card.

The layout is from the ODBD blog. It's their Saturday shining the light challenge #83. It was a fun sketch to work with and gave me a chance to make another Christmas card.

Well that's my card for today. Time to close this post.

Some other challenges:
1. Top Tip Tuesday has a Christmas anything goes challenge.
2. Christmas Inspirations wants us to use bows on our project.
3. I Did It Creations Challenge is looking for our Christmas creations.
4. Mark's Finest Papers has a fall or winter theme.

Card Recipe:
stamps: worship the Lord (ODBD)
paper: su cherry cobbler, kraft, deck the halls dsp
ink: cherry cobbler
accessories: spellbinder poinsettia & rectangle dies, darice rhinestones, su cherry cobbler seam binding

SNSS Birthday Blop Hop

2011-11-07T08:00:00.021-05:00

Hello and welcome to the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps birthday blog hop. Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps is so excited to be celebrating 4 wonderful years.

I have had the amazing opportunity of being on the design team for the past 6 months. I truly enjoyed my experience with Korin and the rest of the Sweet 'n Sassy Team. Even though my design term has come to an end, I was thrilled to be asked to be a part of this birthday blog hop.

A fantastic group of Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps design team members past and present, along with some special friends, have put together this fabulous Birthday Blog Hop to kick off a whole month of fun. We have 36 stops so the hop will take place over three days - feel free to take your time visiting each blog!

You have until 11:59pm EST November 9th to leave comments on as many blogs as you can. On Saturday, November 12th Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps will announce FOUR winners (chosen at random from comments on random stops along the hop); each lucky winner will receive a prize pack including stamps, dies, paper & twine valued at $40!

I also have blog candy to give away to one lucky commenter. It's a brand new 36 page pack of the BoBunny "blitzen collection" christmas paper.
Just leave me a comment and tell me to enter you in my drawing. I will announce my winner on Friday, November 11. So check back here to see if you won this candy.

If you have been following along already you should have come from the amazing Jerusha Borden's " I love papercrafting blog".

If you are only starting here, please head back to the SNSS blog and go from there. You won't want to miss any stops along the way! Also, don't forget to comment on as many stops as you can....the more comments the better your chance of winning one of the fabulous prize packs! :)

Here is my card for the blog hop:

I am using "Christmas Light" set designed by the amazing Dina Kowal. This set has a matching die. Can that make card making any easier?

I water colored my image and then popped it up on a spellbinder lacy circle die. My sentiment is also from this same set and it was stamped and then embossed.

I used gold metallic paper so the embossing helped my red ink to show up a little better.

My lacy border is the Cheery Lynn "lace light" border die. They cut with such great detail. I used a maraschino cardstock to cut the border and the spellbinder lacy circle.
My striped designer paper is something I have had in my stash for years.

Your next stop on the hop is the incredibly talented "Lori Craig" but just in case there are any hiccups, here is the whole list of celebrants on this party train:

Korin Sutherland
Holly McMillen

Because I Care

2011-11-03T23:08:00.003-04:00

Happy Thursday everyone and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. Another beautiful fall day here in Pittsburgh with lots of sunshine.

We had snow last Saturday. It was just a dusting but nonetheless snow. We weren't here but my neighbor took pictures and emailed them to me.

I mention this because before we left for San Francisco our dahlias were still in bloom. It was the last of our summer bounty.

Do you believe that my husband just cut 5 flowers and brought them in today. they survived the snow. It's the last of them until next year. I didnt take any photos maybe I will do that for tomorrow's post.

Ok so onto my card for today. This one I made for the "ways to use it" challenge on splitcoaststampers. Toni was our hostess and she wanted us to use newsprint on our cards. I have seen it done many times but I have never used it before.

I scoured the newspaper looking for an article to spark my creativity. I found this one on breast cancer and it was in color. I am still making cards for the "hope you can cling to" challenges. This challenge was to use different size shapes.

For my layout I used the sketch #213 from the MojoMonday blog. we could make either a round or square card. I chose the square one this time around.

I pulled out my spellbinders circle dies, my stampin-up oval punches and I cut the rectangle myself. So I was good for the hycct challenge.

My patterned paper is from American Crafts. My sentiment is from Stampin-Up's "because I care" set.
The felt flower is from Pebbles and my butterflies are from a Martha Stewart punch. I added some brown pearls to the corners and the sentiment panel to complete my card.

And that my friends also completes this blog post. So unti lnext time..........God bless.

Some other challenges:
1. 4 Crafty Chicks blog has a diecuts challenge.
2. Create me Pink blog has a flower challenge

Have Courage

2011-11-03T00:22:00.000-04:00

Happy Wednesday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. We had a beautiful fall day today here in Pittsburgh. Lots of sunshine and warmer temps makes winter seem so far away. But this Sunday we end daylight savings time and it will be darker an hour earlier.

We are getting closer to Thanksgiving and then Christmas will be just around the corner. I have started planning both menus and also have made a dent into my Christmas shopping. I wish I could say the same thing about my Christmas cards. I have made about 15 cards so far and I need somewhere around 80.

I do have some ideas for quick and easily mass produced cards. I just have to get moving on them.

I did make a card today though that wasn't Christmas. I liked the sketch challenge on splitcoaststampers and I knew it would work for the idea I had in mind.

I am still making cards for the "hope you can cling to" challenges on splitcoaststampers as well. Click on the above link for more info.

This challenge was hosted by Taylor and she wanted us to make a girlie card-using lace-ribbon-pearls all the stuff girls like.

On my middle white panel I used the "distressed background" stamp from Great Impressions with melon mambo ink.

For the panel across the card, I used the Cherry Lynn lace border die and ran white ribbon thru it. Then added a small bow with a rhinestone center.

I also used a cherry lynn flourish and added a ribbon flower for the image part of the sketch. I finished my card with a tag and sentiment.

Well, my friends its late and time to dim the lights in charmed life land for another day.

Some other challenges:
1. Freshly Brewed blog has an anything goes challenge #71.
2. Create Me Pink blog has a flower challenge.
3. Creative Craft blog has a fancy edges challenge.
4. Papertake Weekly has an anything goes challenge.
5. Ribbon Carousel has an anything goes challenge.

Card Recipe
stamps: tiny words (wordsworth), distressed background (great impressions)
paper: su ww, melon mambo, old olive
ink: melon mambo
accessories: offray ribbon flower, cherry lynn lace border & flourish dies, ms tag punch, hero arts rhinestones

Give Thanks

2011-11-02T00:10:00.000-04:00

Happy Tuesday everyone and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. We just returned from a 4 day visit with our sweet Phoenix Daisy in San Francisco. Well, of course we visited with Brett & Ghilly as well.

My hubby helped Brett with the backyard. They made a living wall and planted a bunch of succulents. The living wall was made with a canvas pocket and then you add dirt and your plants.

I took care of Phoenix for 3 days and gave Ghilly some free time. She and Brett also had a much needed date night. It was such a wonderful visit and just way to short. They aren't coming here for Christmas so I have some disappointment to deal with there. But, I have my other son, daughter-in-law and 3 grandsons to enjoy.

I have already started to plan my Christmas menu. The boys are already starting to talk about the day and what we will be eating. We will have a wonderful day with our 5 blessings here in Pittsburgh.

Well onto my card for today. this one I made for the color challenge #347 on splitcoaststampers. Peggy was our hostess and she chose the rich color combination of bravo burgundy, more mustard and always artichoke.

This screamed fall to me so I created a thanksgiving card. I need a few more cards to send.

I used the Stamping-Up set "autumn days" for my images. I stamped the pheasant image in chocholate chip and then used markers to add artichoke, bravo burgundy and mustard to the bird.

I placed him on a background stamped with the berry branch from the same set and embossed with the Stampin-Up basket weave folder. Then added mustard ribbon, a burgundy button, a tag stamped with a sentiment from Stampin-Up's tiny talk set.

My designer paper is from the the"autumn vine" collection. That's my card for today.

It's time to dim the lights in charmed life land for another day. So until next time........God bless

Some other challenges:
1. Clear it out challenge wants us to show our favorite holiday. I made a thanksgiving card, This holiday is right up there with Christmas. Almost everything on my card is over a year old and from my stash.

2. Oldie but Goodie blog has a buttons nad bows challenge. My pheasant image stamp is a year old.

3. The Outlawz has a greetings challenge and we are to use some scrap paper. My designer paper is a leftover from a 12 x12 sheet as well as my vailla & burgundy layers.

4. Tuesday Throwdown has a "thanks" challenge.

5. Craft your Passion has a "bingo" challenge. I chose -buttons-(my choice) embossing and sentiment

Raise the Bar Guest Designer

2011-10-28T06:00:00.005-04:00

Happy Friday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. I am so excited to be chosen as a guest designer again with the Raise the Bar blog.
The dt picked this card of mine as one of their favorites and now I have another gdt spot.

The challenge this week is "Sew What". We are to create a card using either real or faux sewing.
I wish I could sew and I have been thinking about buying a craft sewing machine but I don't have it yet. So I went the faux sewing route.

I decided to make my card a sewing themed one. My images are from the Mark's Finest Papers set " sew what".

I used the stitch stamp for my faux sewing. My dress form image is stamped in Stampin-Up's "wisteria wonder". I paper pieced the skirt with wisteria wonder designer paper. I popped it up for some dimension and added a flower at the waist for some pizzazz.

My color scheme on this card is elegant eggplant and wisteria wonder. My dress form is framed with the spellbinders labels 10 die. I added some buttons real and faux and some wisteria wonder ruffled ribbon to complete my card.

Hope you can play along with this challenge. It may be you in the guest designer role next week.

So until next time........God bless

Some other challenges:

1. Paper Pretties blog has an "embellish it" challenge.
2. Simon Says Stamp has an anything goes challenge.
3. Whimsy Inspirations blog has a "button it" challenge.

card recipe:
stamps: mfp "sew what
paper: su elegant eggplant, wisteria wonder, ww, su patterns dsp
ink: ranger eggplant
accessories: sizzlit button die, buttons, su ruffled ribbon, spellbinders labels 10

Christmas Card

2011-10-26T09:26:00.007-04:00

Happy Wednesday everyone and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. It's time for another Creative Belli challenge.

This time our theme is a 1234 challenge (example: 1 piece of designer paper, 2 flowers, 3 colors, 4 brads, whatever combo you wish but it must be 1234)

The spirit of the Creative Belli challenges is to encourage you to use your OLD and FORGOTTEN embellishments! My designer paper is from last years Stampin-Up Christmas collection-spellbinder dies are a year old.

Everyone is welcome to play along! Challenge a stamping friend! Just follow the theme-it's that easy.

Check out what the other Creative Belli designers have made for this interesting challenge. You won't be disappointed.
Anne Harmon, Robin Parker, Joan Ervin, Ceal Pritchett, Karen Wallace, Joy Hadden, Holly Brown,
Chris Dickinson, Maria Matter, Jessica Stockmeyer

For my card, I used 1 piece of ribbon, 2 sentiments, 3 paper embellishments (spellbinders tag die, poinsettia cut from designer paper and holly sprig cut from designer paper), 4 poinsettias.

My stamps are from the Sweet 'n Sassy sets, Christmas Light and Light of Christmas.

These 2 stamp sets are so versatile. They can be used in a variety of ways and without a stamped focal image. And that's what I am showing you today.

I used the background stamp (Light of Christmas set) and stamped it in artichoke ink directly onto my designer paper. The Merry Christmas (Christmas Light set) sentiment I stamped in cherry cobbler ink and layered on a spellbinders fancy tag 2 die.

I cut one of the large poinsettias from the designer paper and popped it up for dimension. I used some cherry cobbler ribbon and cut a holly leaf and added to the bow center.

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

Some other challenges:
1. Stampin Sisters in Christ wants us to make a card showing time (ie) a season.
2. Clear it out challenge blog wants us to use trims. I used ribbon from my stash.
3. Craft Your Passion blog want us to use kraft paper. I used kraft to stamp my sentiment and kraft is part of my designer paper.
4. Christmas Inspirations blog want us to use die cuts or punces. I used a die-cut ot label my sentiment.
5. Lollipop Crafts wants us to embellish it with at least 3 embellishments/ I used a tag die cut. a ribbon, and a holly leaf on my ribbon

Sweet Pure Innocence

2011-10-25T00:18:00.002-04:00

Happy Tuesday everyone and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. Today is my day for meeting my grandsons' school bus. Helping with homework is something I really look forward to-believe it or not.
My grandsons are at an age where they are still impressed with Grandma's knowledge (lol). I help Aidin every week with his vocabulary and last week he asked me how I know the definitions for all these words without looking. So how good do you think that made me feel?

Now onto today's post. I am the color challenge hostess on Splitcoaststampers this week.

I chose the trio of rich razzleberry, island indigo and baja breeze. My add-on element is dry embossing.

I decided to use the MFT pure innocence image “being cute is what I do” stamp. She fit so perfectly in my layout. The layout is the Mojomonday 212 sketch.

I paper pieced her clothes with rich razzleberry and gave here a baja breeze flower. The designer series paper is from the island indigo patterns.

I colored her hair & face with blender pens & close to cocoa, chocolate chip & blush blossom ink.

I used the Stampin-up dotted ribbon scallop border punch and Spellbinders labels 18 for a tag. I made all paper embellishments because this is also for the Splitcoaststampers "hope you can cling to challenges". I am making these cards to send to the Cancer Center in Houston Texas. Get more info here.

This challenge was titled "hope". We are to "h"ave "o"nly "p"aper "e"mbellishments on our card.

That's it for this post. So until next time.....God bless.

Some other challenges:
1. Cupcake Craft blog has a denim and lace challenge.
2. Karen's Doodles has an emboss it challenge.
3. One stitch at a time has an emboss it challenge.
4. The Outlawz have a "tag your it" challenge.

Best Friends

2011-10-22T23:54:00.000-04:00

Happy Saturday everyone and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. We had a beautiful fall day here in Pittsburgh today. Perfect for outdoor activities or yard work. My hubby was out raking leaves and cleaning up his flower beds.
As for me I was inside creating cards. So it was a perfect day for me as well.

My card for today was one that I made for several challenges. The first was the inspiration challenge on splitcoaststampers. This week we visited the Liberty site for our card inspiration.
I chose this yellow moss silk scarf as my card inspiration.

I am also taking part in the "hope you can cling to" challenges on Splitcoaststampers. It's a good cause and there are prizes to be won. Get more info here.

This challenge is called the colors of hope. Green and yellow represent hope and brown represents comfort. So they are my card colors.

The layout is from the Wednesday MFT sketch challenge.

My image is from the MFT set "being cute is what I do". I paper pieced her outfit and colored her hair & face with blender pens and ink.

The designer paper I used is from Stampin-Up-pear pizzazz collection.

I scored the panel my image is layered on and then sponged with daffodil delight ink.

I used chocolate chip satin ribbon and some rhinestones to complete my card.

Well, time to dim the lights in charmed life land for another day.

Some other challenges:
1. Our creative corner has a fabulous faces challenge. Love the sweet face of the pure innocence images.
2. Totally Papercrafts has a layer upon layer challenge.

Raise The Bar Guest Designer

2011-10-21T11:58:00.003-04:00

If you are here for The Twinery and Sweet 'n Sassy blog hop click here

Happy Friday everyone and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. Today I am a guest designer on the Raise the Bar blog. I was so excited to have this card selected as on of their favorites.

So they invited me to be a "guest bar-tender" this week. The challenge is black and orange but not necessarily halloween. I don't do halloween so I decided to take the colors and make a harvest blessings card.

My image and sentiment are from the Verve stamps "abundant blessings" collection. I colored the pumpkins with prismacolor pencils and gamsol. I cut the image out and layered it on a spellbinders oval die. The die was sponged with pumpkin ink before I removed it from the die.

The designer paper is from Bo-Bunny. I added some Offray orange ribbon to complete my card.

That's it for this post. So until next time................God bless

Some other challenges:
1. CCEE Stampers has a fall/autumn challenge.
2. C.R.A.F.T. Challenge also has an autumn challenge
3. Paper Crafting Journey has a black, white and orange challenge.
4. Southern Girls challenge wants us to use stripes and polka dots.
5. Paper Pretties Blog has a black, white and one other color challenge

The Twinery and Sweet 'n Sassy Blog Hop

2011-10-19T08:00:00.005-04:00

and

design teams have joined up today for a fabulous blog hop with 24 stampers.

So if you came here from Carolyn Stender's blog you are in the right place.

The blog hop starts at the Twinery. If a link didn't work or you got lost along the way, you might want to jump back there for a complete list of participating blogs.

There are prizes to be won. The Twinery will give away to one winner: All you have to do is leave a comment on all the participating blogs and two lucky commenter's will win either the SNSS stamp & die set or The Twinery's Bakers Twine.

One utimate color sampler pack (retail value $25)

Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps will give away to one winner:

One Season of Change stamp & die set (retail value $28).

The deadline to leave comment's is Saturday, October 22nd at 11:59 pm. Winners will be announced on The Twinery Blog as well as The Sweet 'n Sassy Blog.

My card uses the "season of change" set that Sweet 'n Sassy is giving away for this blog hop. This is a beautiful set and matching dies designed by the amazing Dina Kowal. The sentiment is from the "your friendship" set.

I stamped my background leaf images with tangerine tango and pear pizzazz inks and I also used wild honey distress ink. The leaf I popped up was stamped in tangerine tango then sponged with wild honey and bit of chocolate chip.

I layered card stock, lace and then The Twinery's Mandarin bakers twine available at the Sweet 'n Sassy store now. I tied a bow with the bakers twine and added a sunflower button to the center.
That completes my card. Remember to leave a comment on this post as well as all the other blogs to be eligible to win.

Your last stop on the blog hop is the amazingly talented Holly McMillen's blog.

God bless and happy blog hopping!!

card recipe:
stamps: season of change, your friendship (sweet 'n sassy stamps),
paper: su choc chip, tangerine tango, ivory
ink: su tangerine tango, pear pizzazz, choc chip ranger wild honey
accessories: lace, twinery mandarin twine, su deco label punch

Bliss Anniversary

2011-10-17T22:36:00.000-04:00

Happy Monday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. The week is off to a good start. I was really energized after church on Sunday. I started my Monday morning with reading my bible. I just love reading the Psalms. Well all of the bible really. It holds the keys to life.

Just a small excerpt from Psalm 77.....what God is so great as our God. You are the God who performs miracles. You display your power among the peoples.

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for the featured stamper challenge on Splitcoaststampers. The honors this week went to Dawn Olchefske. She is a talented stamper and offers great technique videos.

I chose her butterfly bliss card to recreate ala Mary Marsh style. I kept her layout and stamp set.

I changed the card colors to black and ivory and added a layer. My background striped paper is from lasting impressions "uptown pinstripe" collection.

The black lace is from May Arts. I just won a giveaway on their blog. They sent me 3 huge rolls of ribbon.

I used the fiskar's "upper crest" border punch and added another layer here.

I stamped my butterfly in Stampin-Up's "poppy parade". So I decided that I would add a bow in poppy parade as well. I used a black button and a rhinestone for the center.

My "bliss" sentiment was stamped and then embossed with white embossing powder. I then used the decorative label punch to punch it out.

Well that's it from me for another day. So until next time........

Some other challenges:
1. Paper Playtime blog has a say it with a sentiment using buttons and bows.
2. Simon Says Stamp and Show has a stripes challenge.
3. The Outlawz has a greetings challenge.

Love You

2011-10-16T23:24:00.000-04:00

Happy Sunday and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. It was a beautiful fall day here in Pittsburgh.We started it off with church. Our Pastor had a great message and the worship team was awesome.
Football was the order of the day after church that is. Our 2 grandsons-Ethan & Aidin- had the opportunity to play at Heinz Field at half time of the Steeler game. They are on different teams but for the same school. Each team had the opportunity for 6 plays. Aidin caught a touch down pass. He was so excited.
We didn't get to go because you need a ticket for the Steeler football games. We just watch on TV each week. Although the network doesn't show the half time events. So we got the details from my daughter-in-law. The boys will give me more info when I see them on Tuesday.

So onto my card for today. This one I made for a couple of challenges on Splitcoaststampers. The ways to use it challenge was a pink-pink-pink challenge. I am also taking part in the "hope you can cling to" challenges.

Splitcoaststampers is partnering with the UT MD Anderson Cancer Center In Houston, TX to benefit those affected by breast cancer. Get more info here.

My friend Wanda Cullen was hosting one of those challenges. She called it "hang in there". She wanted us to create a card with something hanging on it.

My card uses the Stampin-up set "season of friendship", "aviary" and "joy". I stamped my tree & bird cage in chocolate chip ink and my bow & birdies in pretty in pink.

Punched a tag from the Martha Stewart tag punch and hung that from the tree as well. I added some pink satin ribbon, felt rick rack and hero arts pearls to complete my card.

Well my blogger friends it's late and time to dim the lights in charmed life land for another day. Until next time ........God bless

Some other challenges:
1. Stamptacular Sunday challenge has an anything goes challenge.
2. Bling it on blog has a no designer paper challenge.
3, By the Cute and Girly challenge blog has an anything goes challenge.

Hope

2011-10-14T23:24:00.000-04:00

Happy Friday everyone and thanks for taking the tome to visit the charmed life blog. Well this morning completed my week with my grandsons. I got them up made breakfast and drove them to school. We had a good week together.
Now its time to get back to my routine. Although I loved the change and would never pass up the chance to spend time with my boys.

Now onto my card for today. I made this one for the "Hope you can cling to" challenge on Splitcoaststampers. Wendy was the hostess for the butterflies of hope challenge and she wanted us to make a card with butterflies.

Butterflies are a symbol of hope and renewal. One of my card colors is early espresso. I used it because brown represents comfort.

I also used blushing bride and pear pizzazz cardstock. My images are from Stampin-Up's "bliss" set.

On the blushing bride background I used the Stampin-Up tulip embossing folder.

I stamped the flourish image in early espresso on blushing bride designer paper. The butterflies are stamped in pear pizzazz and cut out.

I finished my card with early espresso ribbon and a ribbon flower center on my bow. My hope sentiment is computer generated.

That's it for this post so until next time..........God bless

Some other challenges:
1. Raise the Bar blog has a "pink is in" challenge. October is breast cancer awareness month.
2. Flutter By Wednesdays blog wants us to use scraps plus butterflies. I used a scrap of designer paper to stamp my image on. I also used scraps to stamp the butterflies and cut them out.
3. My Mum's craft shop blog wants to see cards that remind you of a song. My song is "fly away" by Mariah Carey.
4. Tuesday Throwdown has a "think pink" challenge.

Wildflowers

2011-10-13T23:13:00.000-04:00

Happy Thursday everyone and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. This week is just flying by- well for me anyway. I have been taking care of my grandsons while their parents are on a little r&r in Florida.

It's been a good few days. I just love being with them and there hasn't been any issues which is a good thing as well. I get them off to school in the morning and then drive back to my home and spend a few hours creating. Then its back over to meet the school bus-homework-basketball & football practices-dinner- a few hours together then off to bed.

Aidin (middle grandson) really blessed me today. He had to write something at school about who inspires him. He said it was me- his Grandma. How precious is that?? We spend time having discussions about God-politics and other current events. He likes to be challenged with thinking and he holds strong opinions already.

My son and daughter-in-law return home on Saturday night. The boys are holding up just fine. They only mentioned once not being taken to Marco Island.

Oh well onto my card for today. This one I made for the sketch challenge on Splitcoaststampers. Roxie was the hostess and she gave us this great layout to work into a card.

Splitcoaststampers is also hosting the "hope you can cling to" challenges. Teresa was the hostess of the "brave heart" challenge was to make a card that has at least one heart on it. These challenges run all through October and there a re prizes to be son. So why not join in on the fun. Get more info here.

My image and sentiment are from the Sweet 'n Sassy set "wildflowers".

I stamped it in baroque burgundy ink. My designer paper is from Stampin-Up's "paisley petal" collection. I added a flourish that was die cut from a Sizzix sizzlit set.

I punched some hearts and layered one of them on a burgundy button.

That's my card for today. Time to close this post so until next time.......God bless

Some other challenges:

1. Divas by Design has a button challenge. I used a burgundy button underneath one of my hearts.

2. Whimsy Stamps has a diecut or punch challenge. I used a sizzix die to cut my flourish and a corner rounder punch on my layers and a heart punch.

3. Top Tip Tuesday wants us to use designer paper.

Creative Belli Challenge #128

2011-10-12T06:00:00.001-04:00

Happy Wednesday everyone and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. It's time for another challenge on the Creative Belli Blog. Our theme this 2 week period is:

Challenge #128 Flower Soft, Felt or Chunky Glitter

The spirit of the Belli challenges is to encourage you to use your OLD and FORGOTTEN embellishments!

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Everyone is welcome to play along! Challenge a stamping friend! Just follow the theme- it's simple right? And it gives you a chance to use some of your stash.
If you upload to an online gallery, please use keyword CBC128

Check out the great inspiration from the Belli Girls Design Team:

My card uses mica flakes and is one that we made at our stamp club meeting. We all bring ideas and when we leave we have 4 cards to take with us. It's always lots of fun.

Our Stampin-Up demo Christine brought this idea. Check out her Splitcoaststampers gallery here. She has a growing collection of pretty cards.
We used the Stampin-Up Vintage Ornament stencil and sponged cherry cobbler ink. I just love how this card turned out. Thanks for a great idea Christine.

The tree branch is from the lovely as a tree set. We used the new mica flakes on the branch.
The circle sentiments are from the Perfect Presentations & Delightful Decorations set. The designer paper is new and from the Frostwood Lodge collection.

That's it for me for today. Hope to see you play in this challenge. I will be around to the blogs checking out your creations.

So until next time.......God Bless

Have Courage

2011-10-11T11:55:00.002-04:00

Happy tuesday everyone and thanks for taking the time to visit the charmed life blog. This will be a shorter post because I have t oleave soon to meet my grandsons school bus. I wil lbe staying over night because my son and daughter-in-law are out of town. They will be having some much needed rest and relaxation in Florida.

I will be taking cre of the boys while they are gone. It will be a fun time for us back here. They jsut dont know it yet. They are disappointed because they didnt get to go. Florida in October at the beach, I can see why they are disappointed!!

Anyway onto my card for today. This one I made for a couple of challenges over on Splitcoaststampers. The color challenge this week is hosted by Julia and she chose tempting turquoise, elegant eggplant and pumpkin pie as her color trio.
She wanted us to make a halloween card, but I dont celebrate this holiday. So I added some pumpkins to my birdhouse as a fall decoration. That worked for me!!

I found this birdhouse template on my computer that I downloaded over a year ago and never used it to make a card. I thought a birdhouse would look great all dressed up in this week’s colors.
I beleive you can still download the template and its free.

I used the stampin-up bird punch and the border punch for the birdhouse roof and then added some pumpkin rickrack trim.

On the birdhouse front I used elegant eggplant designer paper and a spellbinder lacy circle. My sentiment is from the tiny words set by Wordsworth.

On the bottom I added some sheer turquoise ribbon that has a velvet center. I like the little fence look it gave my house.

This is also for Bridget’s “hope you can cling to” challenge “things are looking up”.

These are month long challenges at Splitcoaststampers. There are prizes to be won so check it out.

Our challenge is to make a card with things we can see when looking up! Birdhouses are usually hanging from a tree so I thought this fit right in.

Well thats it for me for today. So unti lnext time........God Bless

Some other challenges:
1. Crafty Boots blog has a zoo or animal theme.
2. Crafty Cardmakers has an anything goes challenge.
3. Simon Says Stamp and Show blog has a "things with wings" challenge.
4. Stampin' Sisters in Christ has an anything goes challenge.