Vintage Christmas

Hello Everyone.  I dearly hope you are All happy and healthy and keeping free from the cold.  Really quite a dark day here and the lights have been on all day.   I got a lovely surprise this morning when my friend Jan phoned to ask if I fancied going out.  I was thrilled to bits to hear her voice saying those words.  As most of you know, she has been through high doses of chemotherapy and since the final one, she has been so very tired.  Girl Power indeed.
To-day's offering is a gift for my younger daughter Carolyn.  She is doing her first Craft Fair on the 7th December, so this was what I made for a centre-piece of her stand. . She can also use it for her Christmas table afterwards.
I had great fun creating this piece.  My dear friend Astrid had done one, and gave me guidelines on folding the pages.  I have a load of very aged books and that is how this project began.
Once I had distressed the pages I matted some some lovely card to the back and front covers and using Vintage Photo, I distressed everything again and edged it with a Krylon pen.  Now the fun part. I used Sizzix Lampost to start with and of course I had to rust it.  Then I realized  I need the red velvet ribbon to hold the book at the angle I wanted it to be.  The Numbers and Noel were also TimHoltz sizzix dies and now I could see where this was taking me.  So Christmas trees and lots of reindeers had to be given a place too.  Can you spot Rudolph ??     The front of my creation was Pine cones, leaves and berries with a gold safety candle in place to give the effect of a bright time of year, especially for children.   I hope you like my Christmas Project.   Thanks for your lovely comments.   Hugs Rita xxxx

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I'm entering it in to the following Challenges
SimonSays Wednesday challenge :  Anything Goes
Craft Room Challenge  : Vintage Christmas
Country View Challenges. : Letters

Christmas Tea-Light Card and Tag

Hello Everyone.  Well, I've had a busy weekemd, but mostly the dreaded household chores and using the pushing thing, but I feel fine now knowing its all done and put away.   So today I spent lots of time in my craft room, mostly finishing off some of my pieces.   I first made these cards over 2 years ago as  birthday gifts and I needed to do some for this year as Christmas gifts, so please forgive me if I'm treading old ground with these.
The paper pad that I used to decorate the box and the card was from Craft-Work cards  'Christmas Post' and its so lovely to work with too.  After preparing everything needed, I distressed all the edges with Vintage Photo before adding my papers etc.   I used a piece of Acetate on my box front so the  six Yankee candles could be seen, the scent from these candles is wonderful, and they are called Christmas Memories.   My poinsettia on the front is the two smallest SB die and I glittered them up a bit to suit the gold ribbon.   I hope you like what I've done, the only drawback they do take time and lots of card and paper, but so worth it when finished I think anyway.   Hopefully you are all keeping clear of this awful cold virus that's doing its rounds at the moment.  I'm off to visit some of my favourite blogs now.    Thank-you again for the lovely comments left on my blog, and everyone is appreciated...    Hugs Rita xxxxx

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Special Card

Hello Folks.  Hope you are all having a decent kind of a day.   I'm chasing my tail a bit now as Christmas is looming faster & faster.   However, My card today was one that I sent to a very special lady, just to let her know I was thinking about her.  Of course it was our very own talented blogger 'Redanne'.  I know she received it along with many others and she appreciated each and every one.  She is not out of the woods yet ,but slowly she is getting there.  Like most of you I miss her stunning cards and tags and with a bit of luck we will see her return some day soon I hope.  Got lots of inserts to do to-day to put in the cards for Carolyn's Christmas Craft Fair on the 7th December..I've done lots of boxes too.  So I hope you get time to relax over the weekend.  Hugs Rita xxx 

Graduation Card and Wallet

Good Afternoon my Friends.  I hope you are all keeping warm today as its really frosty and cold here on the coast.  But the sun is shining and if you wrap up well its a lovely day for a walk.  I walk every morning for the daily papers and now its part of my routine.   I hope all our friends in Illianois are coping with all the damage left from the storm. It looked really devastating on the news. Thinking of You All.
My card to-day was another commision for a graduation card for a daughter. This is my 4th this month.
 I went for ivory and gold as my theme for this one, and decoupaged the image that I have had since I started cardmaking, but its not showing up very well.  I used SB dies Enchanted Labels 28 and the corners were from the SB Lace Doilly accents. The wallet was made again from Ivory hammered card and the flap was in gold, the corners were cut using Marianne Anja dies.  Tryng hard to finish off some projects that I started months ago, thinking that Christmas was months away, now its upon us and I'm starting to panic.
  Take Care.  Hugs Rita xxxx

Birthday Card

Hello to everyone. I really hope you have all had a nice relaxing day.  Weather here has not been to bad.  Just been over to visit our son Alisdair, as it is his 50th birthday tomorrow and they are going to Edinburgh to Celebrate.  We had a nice couple of hours with him and the family as my Grandaughter came and picked us up.  So I thought you might like to see his card.
Its an 8X8 cream hammered card matted with a copper paper. I used a patterned paper from my Finnabair pad and using a cog stencil and vintage photo distress ink I created a background.  All the other elements are Tim Holtz.  Male cards are outwith my comfort zone, but I'm pleased with the way this one turned out.
I'm off to book my seat for the evening to watch Strictly Come Dancing and of course my knitting will be growing as well.   Hope you all have a lovely week-end what ever your doing.   Hugs Rita xxxx

Mini Star Book Tutorial

Good Morning Folks.  Here is my take on how I did this star. as many of you asked how it was done.   Sorry if its too many pictures.  Have a Good Day.   Rita xx 

Mini Star Book Tutorial

I have to tell you that this post is picture heavy as I’ve tried my best to give you a step by step tutorial.  Sorry its in stages as I went along and it is not distressed or embellished in any way.  I’ll explain as I go along showing what I've done.  Step by Step in pictures and hopefully it becomes clearer as I go along.   I started by cutting Five 3" x 3" squares and scored them all at 1.1/2"  

Then I scored them again from corner to corner on one side only and creased this fold. 

 Hope you are still with me

 When you push in the scored folds it should look like this one below

Just from another angle

All five little squares ...

 Waiting to be put together....

 Glue on the square as shown until all five have been added

 At this point I threaded a large eyed needle and put both ends down through the bead and tied a not . leaving the other ends and the bead free to add to the star. 

Take one of the ends of ribbon and stick on the corner with a smaller piece of card to cover  then the other side to match. 

Now if you slide the bead towards the star it keeps it open.

 To close it in to a little book, open it up again using the bead and turn it around till all the squares com together again and slide the bead down to close.

 This is what it should look like closed.  Hope this all make sense after such a long winded tutorial.

Now you see why I needed so many pictures. 

Hope you enjoy putting your own mark on these.  Have Fun.   Hugs Rita xxx

Christmas Star

  Hello again my lovely friends in blogland.   Its been a busy old week here, but hey ho tomorrow is Friday again.   I'm busy doing some Christmassy things at present, but you'll need to be patient a little while longer.  I have a few card orders to complete.
Months ago I made this star and took it to the Tim Holtz workshop to show the girls.  I loved making them and they are so simple to make.  This is a Christmas one. and because I put beads on it it was a bit more difficult to close. I hope you like it and if I get time I'll do a 'How To' , because as I said before I'm not very good at tutorials.  All you need is scrap card cut into 3" x 3" squares, 5 pieces make up the star. a  small piece of narrow ribbon and a bead. I'm sure that children would love making these.  Time is not something I have much of at the moment, but at least I do get some crafting done in between other things.   So not complaining too much.   Warming Hugs to you All.   Rita xxxxx

Snowflake Card

Hello Folks.  Thought I would show you a Christmas card that will be my sample for the neighbours cards this year.  I was looking for something that I could do quickly and easily, so this is the outcome of my card.  Sorry the diamond sparkle is not showing up on the snowflake.   I need about six. So not too bad.   Then I must think about my family cards after I finish Birthday and Anniversary cards.  I dearly wish I could buy more time as I don't get as much done as I'd like to in a day.  Its been very cold here to-day ,but beautiful sunshine and bright blue skies.   Take Care Everyone.   Hugs Rita xxxx

Gift Card ( Tutorial )

Hello my dear blogging friends.  Thank you all so much for all your Good Wishes, but really I think I'm out of the woods now and feel much more like my old self again.  I need to keep well as looking after OH is nearly a full time job. He goes to see the Orthepaedic consultant on December the 10th and the following week he goes for a Pre-Op. So he has not had too long a wait.
A few people asked how I made my Gift Card and so I have put together a 'How To' on what I did.  I'm pretty sure it was a you tube tutorial as I had only marked down the measurements etc.  I used an A4 sheet of card measured it out to 11 inches by 4 1/4, and then scored the two opposite corners and folded it over. You then scored the centre which is the V shaped part and fold it over, really that is all there is too it.  You can do the same again for your inserts, just make it a tad smaller and cut to size.  Could be used for Birthdays or Weddings too.  So easy, but if my instructions are not very clear, please feel free to e-mail me and I'll try to help further.  I'd much rather be sitting with you and making it, tutorials are not my strong point.  Here are a few pictures to guide you and that may help with the folds etc.   Enjoy your Sunday.  Its absolutely Glorious here.   Hugs Rita xxxx

Probably if you were to make it 4 inches you could get 2 cards.  Just a thought.

Gift Box and cards.

Hello to you all, another weekend is nearly over and although it has been rather nice to-day, I have just heard its to be a really cold night.  I'm certainly making my way back to normality after a week of not doing much at all.  I've now caught up with household chores and the washing etc, that's when I know I'm not well. I like them all done and dusted.  
I did have this box started when I took the cold for a second time and now its complete, I thought you'd like to see it. It holds 5 cards that are all cut and envies made ,but have still to put the toppers on the front.
The tutorial for this box is from John Next Door and he does such beautiful creations that you can see here.  My box and cards are made in ivory cardstock and I distressed the edges with tea dye as the little roses were made to match and then dipped into the Melt Pot ( I used Annies Melt Pot for this )  I used the SB dies  Gold Elements One to cut the panels out.  It was really easy to put together and will make a lovely gift for someone.   Lace and Satin heart were from my stash.  Hope you are All enjoying a lovely weekend. 
Hugs Rita xxxx


 The Front of the Box

The Back of the Box

Gift Card

Hello my friends in Blogland.  Hope that you are all well and managing some time to craft.   My cold and cough came back with a vengeance after having the flu jab last week.  I've had little or no energy and a can't be bothered with anything attitude for over a week.  This is definately not me as I'm always on the go with no bother.  Maybe I need to own up to the fact that I'm getting older, as that is something I have not been able to do.
On a brighter note. I made a few of these little gift cards a while a go and never got round to finishing them. So here is one that is complete now, even the gift voucher is in place. It can also hold money too, as I know my older Grandchildren appreciate it more.   I really need to buck up my ideas before hubby goes in for his knee operation.    Hugs to Everyone.  Rita xxxx

Graduation card

Hello my dear friends. What would I do without you all to keep me sane. No, please don't answer that.

Lots of things going on in the family at the moment and my concentration has gone.  However, my lovely hairdresser is Graduating to-morrow and of course I wanted to give her a card.  So this is what I have done. The idea, was not mine, it was one from Splitcoast Stampers a few years ago and for the life of me I cannot remember who did it originally. 'Tis just a Spring card put together to look like a mortar board, but I always liked it.  I need to make three Get Well cards now and that will keep me busy.  Hope you are all looking after yourselves and keeping well wrapped up as there is a definite chill in the air now.   Still sending positive vibes to those in need.    Hugs Rita xxxxx
PS. I have just had a lovely surprise to-night.  I phoned to find out how my dear friend Anne (Redanne ) was doing and low and behold she was home.  She really wanted home and although it will be around 8 weeks recuperation, she sounded tired and in a lot of pain  but pleased to be back home.  Typical Anne, she said at least the wedding went ok.  As usual, she thinks on everyone but herself.   I told her that everyone sends their Love & Best Wishes.