Lift The Flap Birthday

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

It's been a while since my last post but for good reason. I have been sick with this virus that's making its rounds. I had head and chest congestion and when it started to clear up, I got hit with body aches and a fever. But I am on the mend now and feeling so much better. 

We have made it into March and in a couple of weeks it's the Spring Equinox. And this weekend it's time to move the clocks ahead so longer days on Sunday night. I don't know about you but losing an hours sleep doesn't always go right with me. It takes me about a week to adjust.

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for my grandson's birthday. I love how it turned out. I used the colors from the Splitcoaststampers color challenge #1038. The colors were crumb cake, lost lagoon and early espresso. Optional was to make it masculine.  

crumb cake, lost lagoon, early espresso

I just purchased this new to me Lift the Flap die from Lawn Fawn. The above photo shows the flaps closed.

The trees are cut from early espresso cardstock. I added an owl, a hb2u phrase,a squirrel a snail and hedgie. These are all dies from CottageCutz. Used some allowed neutrals for some of the animals.

My background paper is from the Stampin' Up beautiful bokeh collection. I also cut the clouds using the same paper. Stamped my birthday sentiment to complete my card. 

The photo below shows the flaps open. And that's it for me for this post. So, until next time....God bless.

 

Card Details:

Stamps: Poppy Birthday (Verve)

Paper: lost lagoon, early espresso, crumb cake, pecan pie, basic gray beautiful bokeh dsp (Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: early espresso (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: Lift the Flap Backdrop die (Lawn Fawn), Forest Critters die, Slimline Clouds die (CottageCutz)

I am also entering:

1.  Elliebelle's Crafty Wednesday challenge is anything goes. 

2.  Little Red Wagon has a birthday challenge. 

3.  Unicorn Challenge is boys/men. 

4.  Crafty Animals challenge is anything goes featuring an animal.

5.  AAA Birthday Game #71 is a masculine challenge. 

 

Valentine Bears

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with The Charmed Life this last Sunday in February. This month just seemed to move forward so quickly. Maybe because we were in Florida for 10 days. 

I also had my 3rd annual Galentine Party on Friday evening. It was a fun night with 4 of my gal friends. We enjoyed lots of good food and some fun games. We played a "family feud" game. I even had buzzers. The girls really liked it. My other games were a Valentine riddle, Valentine candy match, Valentine trivia and a Valentine word scramble. And of course there were prizes to be won. 

I like to do something different each year so I will be on the lookout for different ideas for next year. Now onto my card for today.

This is the last of my 2025 Valentine cards. I gave this one to my husband. I liked the cute sentiment on this one and also the sweet little bears. 

I used the colors from the Splitcoasters color challenge#1037. We were to usebasic black, balmy blue and melon mambo for the color trio. Optional this week is Valentine's.

melon mambo balmy blue basic black

I started my card with a new to me die from Lawn Fawn. It's the "heart garland backdrop die". I cut it in melon mambo cardstock and layered it over a piece of balmy blue designer paper from the Stampin' Up "beautiful bokeh" collection.

I used the polar bears w/birch tree die from CottageCutz for my Valentine bears. Cut their scarves in the challenge colors.

My sentiment is a stamp from MFT- their X's & O's set.

I like making Valentine cards using non-traditional colors. And, I like how this one turned out.

Card Details:

Stamps: X's & O's (MFT)

Paper: melon mambo, black, confetti white, naturals white, beautiful bokeh dsp (Stampin' Up), white glitter paper (Recollections)

Ink: tuxedo black (Memento)

Accessories: Heart Garland Backdrop die (lawn Fawn), Polar Bears w/Birch Tree die (CottageCutz)

I am also entering:

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

2.  Crafty Calendar Challenge is hearts.

3.  Polkadoodles has an anything goes challenge. 

4.  Sweet Stampin' has a masculine makes challenge. This one went to my hubby. 

5.  MTTC #554 is a 1,2,3 recipe. 1-designer paper, 2-bears, 3-heart banners. 

Be My Valentine

Hello Blogger friends. Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with The Charmed Life Blog this cold Friday in February. 

Well, at least where I live in PA it's very cold, windy and snowy. It's about 26° right now but I am inside working on my Galentine Party that is set for tonight. I have the preps under control, so I decided to get another of this year's Valentine cards posted. 

The girls are coming at 6:00 pm for a fun-filled night. If you are interested to see what I have planned for the night see this post for more details. 

Onto my card for today. This one I created for the color challenge #1036 on Splitcoaststampers. I was the hostess, and I chose real red, gorgeous grape and highland heather for the color trio. Optional was to make it a Valentine. 

real red, gorgeous grape, highland heather

I started my card with using a new to me die from Lawn Fawn. It's the Radiant Heart die. I cut it in basic white and then used a real red card base underneath.

I added a little bird on a branch holding the flowing "love" word. Used both highland heather and gorgeous grape. This die is the "Love Bird Branch" from CottageCutz. 

Attached hearts to the branch cut in the challenge colors. Added my "be my valentine" sentiment and a few other red hearts in the corners to complete my card. This is also a die from CottageCutz- "Be My Valentine".

I like making Valentine cards using non-traditional colors. I gave this one to my trainer at the gym to give to his wife. He always appreciates me covering him for a Valentine card. 

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

Card Details:

Paper: basic White, Real Red, Gorgeous Grape, Highland Heather, Basic Beige, Pecan PieMossy Meadow dsp (Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: A2

Accessories: Radiant Heart Backdrop die (Lawn Fawn), Love Bird Branch die (CottageCutz),Be My Valentine die (CottageCutz)

I am also entering:

1.  Alphabet Challenge Blog has a "W" for wings.

2.  Crafty Catz is anything goes w/optional for the girls.

3.  Creative Fingers has an anything goes challenge.  

4.  Creative Inspirations Challenge is anything goes. 

5.  Simon Say Stamp has a cute and cuddly challenge.  

My Heart Buzz

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

It's a bitter cold day here in Pittsburgh with temps at 22°. I ventured out for my dental appointment and then went shopping for my annual Galentine Party. The wind was quite blustery, but I wrapped my scarf around my neck, donned my gloves and went where I had to go.

So back to the Galentine Party. This is the 3rd year for the party and the women I invite all love it. I usually have it before Valentine's Day but we were in Florida, so I scheduled it for tomorrow evening. 

I have done something different each year and this year it's a game night with prizes. I have a couple of trivia games planned, a Valentine's riddle game, a Valentine candy match and the last is a Valentine friendly feud game. I even have buzzers for this game. There are 4 women + myself so for the feud game it will be 2 teams of two and I will be the moderator. I think they will love the games. 

Then I have lots of appetizers planned and I went with a Mexican theme - taquitos, tacos, tortilla chips with guacamole and shrimp and queso for dipping and adding to the other food and a small charcuterie tray. I also found a recipe for baked scallops that sounded yummy, so I am making that as well.  Saturday is national Margarita Day, so I decided to make some margaritas. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created for a friend to give to his wife for Valentine's Day. He really liked it. She will be here tomorrow night so I will find out if she liked it. 

I used the Stampin' Up designer paper "Bee Mine" and created a fun fold card. I saw this sample on Cindy Lee Blog and decided to give it a whirl.

I didn't have the bee punch from Stampin' Up so I used a die from CottageCutz. I also added more stamping on the inside to make it my design.

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

Card Details:

Stamps: Bee My Valentine (Stampin' Up)

Paper: black, white, daffodil delight, vellum, bee mine dsp (Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: 4 1/2" x 5 3/4"

Ink: real red (Stampin'-Up)

Accessories: Busy Bee die (CottageCutz), Word Bubble die (Stampin' Up)

Techniques: fun fold

I am also entering:

1.  Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday is anything goes. 

2.  The Paper Shelter has a "with Love" challenge. 

3.  A Cut Above his anything goes with a die cut. 

4.  Aud Sentiments Challenge is love/wedding/anniversary plus a sentiment. 

5.  Make My Monday has a love challenge. 

With Love

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

We just returned from a 10 day stay in Florida. Friends of ours have a winter home there and invited us down once again. This is the 3rd year we have been there. The weather was sunny and warm and averaged 82° for the entire time we were there.  

When we left Pittsburgh, it was bitter cold. So, we were glad to have a bit of summer weather even if it was only for 10 days. When we returned home it was cold, and we have had snow and ice for the past 3 days. But the days are getting longer, and I just bundle up when I go outside. 

Now onto my card for today. This is another one of my Valentine cards. I gave this to the couple we stayed with in FL. Well actually to the man to give to his wife for Valentine's Day. He loved it and so did she.

I created a Z-Fold style card using the contents of the Paper Pumpkin Kit "Lovely Lavender"- February 2024 from Stampin' Up.  I saw a sample on Pinterest from Libby Fens. I changed the card base color and also added inside stamping.

The photo below shows the stamping I did on the inside.
 

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

Card Details:

Stamps: Lovely Lavender (PP Kit Feb 2024)

Paper: gorgeous grape, highland heather, real red (Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: highland heather (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: Paper Pumpkin Kit Lovely Lavender February 2024 (Stampin' Up)

Techniques: z-fold

I am also entering:

1.  Aud sentiments has a love/anniversary/wedding and or shimmer challenge. 

2.  Dream Valley Challenges is to use 2 or more patterned papers.

3.  The Neglected Stuff challenge - I used a kit from January 2024.

4.  Beautiful Blossoms challenge is anything goes floral w/optional mood board. 

5.  Triple B has a birds, blooms, butterflies challenge. 

Owl You Need is Love

Hello Blogger Friends! Happy Sunday to you. Hope your weekend is going well and that you had some time to get crafty. 

I was able to get into my craft room yesterday for a bit and finish up some Valentine cards. I usually make about 8-9 cards and give them to our guy friends for their wives. They appreciate it plus it saves them from having to go to the store and look through a myriad of cards. 

I have friends coming over in a bit so this is a short post. I am sharing one of the Valentine cards I made. I did more of the whimsical ones this year. Sometimes that's just how it works out. 

So this one was done with the colors from the Splitcoaststampers color challenge #1037. We were to use basic black, balmy blue and melon mambo for her color trio. Optional was Valentine's.

melon mambo, balmy blue, basic black

I started my card with a new to me die from Lawn Fawn. It's the "heart garland backdrop die". I cut it in melon mambo cardstock and layered it over a piece of balmy blue designer paper from the Stampin' Up "beautiful bokeh" collection. 

Next, I decided to use a Christmas Owl die from CottageCutz and turned them to the next holiday- Valentine's Day. They were cut in some allowed neutrals. Instead of an orange beak I used melon mambo.

Stamped my sentiment in basic black and this card was complete. I like making Valentine cards using non-traditional colors. And I also like how this one turned out. 

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

Card Details:

Stamps: Special Delivery (Lawn Fawn)

Paper: melon mambo, black, basic gray, baked brown sugar, pecan, beautiful bokeh dsp (Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: tuxedo black (Memento)

Accessories: Heart Garland Backdrop die (lawn Fawn), Christmas Owls die (CottageCutz)

I am also entering:

1.  Allsorts has an anything goes challenge with a theme of romance/music.

2.  Crafty Calendar challenge is hearts.

3.  Love Those Pretty Papers Challenge is anything goes. Optional theme is red. 

4.  Sweet Stampin' has a Love challenge. 

Love You With All My Heart

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with The Charmed Life Blog this 1st day of February. 

It's a bright and sunny day here in Pittsburgh and still pretty cold. But we are already into our 2nd month of winter and the days are getting longer. Last night it was fairly light at 5:50. The cold I can deal with, but I just love it when the days start to get longer. 

I just finished up some light house cleaning and thought I would get a Blog post in before I move onto straightening out my craft room. You know that's always an ongoing job. 

Now onto my card for today. This one I created using the colors from the Splitcoaststampers color challenge #1035.  We were to use azure afternoon, daffodil delight and granny apple green for the color trio. Optional was to make it a Valentine.

granny apple green, daffodil delight, azure afternoon

For my card I did a bit of upcycling with a thank you card I received. I loved the foiling on the card and it had the granny apple green color. So, I gave it new life as a Valentine card. I cut the card background and used it as designer paper.

The hearts were cut in the challenge colors and added to the tree branches. The heart die cuts are part of the Candy Hearts die from Lawn Fawn.

I used the Love phrase die from CottageCutz and placed it over the thank word that was on the card.
Stamped the rest of my sentiment and my card is complete.

These are different colors for a Valentine card, but I like using non-traditional colors for Valentine's Day.

Card Details:

Stamps: Love you with all my heart (MFT)

Paper: granny apple green, daffodil delight, azure afternoon (Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: granny apple green (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: Candy Hearts die (Lawn Fawn), Love w/Shadow die (CottageCutz)

I am also entering:

1.  Crafty Catz has an anything goes w/optional of using blue & green. 

2.  Cut It Up  challenge #322 is "have a heart".

3.  Time Out Challenge has a pick 2 - I have hearts and love. 

4.  TTTC263 - I used 1st row- hearts, designer paper-love sentiment.

5.  Krafty Chicks Challenge is anything goes. 

Be My Valentine

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

Well, we weathered the worst of the freezing temps and snow here in Pittsburgh. For the next 7 days or so we will have temps right at the freezing point and even into the 40° range next Thursday. And the days are getting longer with sunset set right around 5:30 pm. 

I can't believe that Valentine's Day is right around the corner. I make extra cards and let the guys from church pick one for their wives. They always appreciate me giving them a helping hand. 

I am also planning to have my Galentine party. It will be the 3rd year for this and the women that come love the evening together. I am not quite sure of the date yet, but it will probably be around February 21. I was perusing Pinterest the other night looking for some different ideas than what I did the past 2 years. There were some fun game ideas, and I think I am going to do a few of them. Then of course there will be prizes. 

Now onto my card for today. This is one of my Valentine cards. These are some non-traditional colors for a Valentine card, but I like how it turned out. I used a bubble gum pink and navy cardstock. My card base is an ivory metallic.

The background hearts are from the Blooming Hearts cutting plate from Taylored Expressions. I cut it out twice- once in navy and then a second time in the pink. I used the die inlay technique and added a few pink hearts.

The large scalloped heart and puppies are a die from CottageCutz. I sponged the heart in a deeper shade of pink ink for some contrast. I used gray and brown cardstocks for the puppies. 

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

Card Details:

Paper: : night of navy (Stampin Up), bubble gum pink (Darice), pearl metallic (Recollections)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: pretty in pink

Accessories: Be My Valentine Puppies die (CottageCutz), Blooming Hear cutting plate (Taylored Expressions)

Techniques: Inlaid Die Cuts

I am also entering:

1.  Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday challenge is anything goes. 

2.  I Spy with my Little Eye has a feathers and fur challenge.

3.  Little Red Wagon has a feel the love challenge. 

4.  Simon Says Stamp has a Funny/Punny Challenge.

5.  Crafty Animals has an anything goes w/an animal.  

Let's Celebrate You

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

It's a holiday here in the US and also inauguration day. We are celebrating the Martin Luther King holiday and also the inauguration of our 47th President. I spent most of the day watching the events on television. 

We are in the middle of a deep freeze here in the Pittsburgh area. We had snow overnight, but the plows were out early this morning clearing the roads. The temps are dropping, and it will be -1° tonight. It will get colder as we get into our week. Fortunately, I don't have to go out unless I want to. 

Oh, one other thing I did get all of my Christmas decorations put away completely by Saturday. My Valentine decorations are out. I love Christmas and get sad to put them away, so I quickly decorate for the next season. 

Now onto my card for today.  This one I created using the sketch #1044 from Splitcoaststampers. 

For my card I used the contents of the Paper Pumpkin Kit "Hugs from Shelli" to create a masculine birthday card. I have had this kit for a while but not used any of the contents until this card. 

This one is already in the mail to my brother who has a January birthday.  

I altered the design from the kit instructions. I cut a card base and used it for background designer paper and layered it with pretty peacock cardstock.

Stamped the bird images and the sentiment in pretty peacock ink. Added some ribbon in the same color for added interest. The feather was part of the kit. Even though I added ribbon I felt I stayed with a masculine vibe. 

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

Card Details:

Stamps: painted Petals (July 2024 Paper Pumpkin), Hugs from Shelli (May 2019 Paper Pumpkin)

Paper: Very vanilla, Hugs from Shelli PP Kit (Stampin' Up)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: pretty peacock (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: Hugs from Shelli PP Kit (May 2019), Pretty Peacock ribbon (Stampin' Up)

I am also entering:

1.  Crafter's Cafe Challenge is anything goes w/option of birthdays. 

2.  Creative Crafting Uncles has a birthday theme for January. 

3.  Lil Patch of Crafty Friends is anything goes. 

4.  Seize the Birthday is anything goes w/option of using something new.