CCC Challenge 7 is "Cute Christmas"

Good Morning Friends and Followers alike.  Another Challenge over at Christmas Card Club. and Lorraine has chosen a Cute Christmas as the theme.  I don't have very many Cute stamps ,but the House Mouse is one of my favourites, so that is what I've chosen for my card.  This was one of the quickest cards to make. I stamped the image and sentiment on to white cardstock and using my Pebeo water colour Aquarelle I painted the little mouse.  I matted and layered it with Red and and Gold scalloped ovals from Spellbinders , the holly paper is from Graphic 45.  Finished of with peel off corners from my stash. .  I think I must have tired myself out with all the work in my last post, so really was not in the mood for a Christmas card.  However, I managed this challenge and at least it is a flat card for posting.    Enjoy Mothers Day and for Non Mothers have a Great Day anyway.   Hugs Rita xxx

Tim Holtz workshop Memory Album

Hello everyone. Hopefully you are all well and happily crafting.  Comforting Hugs to those that are struggling at the moment too.
One of my greatest crafty memories was last year,  when my lovely daughter Annie phoned me up and said I was going to the Tim Holtz workshop being held at the Windmill Village Hotel in Coventry.  This was a dream come true for me to meet TH himself.  We had 3 days of fun and met so many lovely crafters we only knew by name through blogging.  The kindness of everyone will remain with me forever. All of us have remained friends since.   So my post today is really picture heavy , so maybe a cup of tea or coffee would be nice if you feel like following my Journey with the great man himself Tim Holtz.
Before we left for home I did say to everyone that I wanted to make a special album of that day.  I think I have used everything TH,  even put my ticket on show. So here goes....... I have put the pages in order of how my album opens up and hope you can grasp the idea of all the hidden nooks and crannies within.  I started with heavy card and coated them all with Gesso, then using stencils and texture paste I started to build up my covers ,before I sprayed them with a mixture of Dylusions and Alcohol inks. So I will now let you see how it all came together with lots of pictures of people you know in this crafty world of ours. The papers were all from TH  French Industrial pad.   The album itself is very heavy after all the work that went into this, but I love it and so glad I got it finished too.   Hugs Rita. xxxx

I'm entering it in to    A Vintage Journey where Challenge 2  is Words.
 Country View Challenges the theme is Paper Chase
Ink on my Fingers 300th Challenge Anniversary the theme is Dream

Front Cover

First Page and the inside cover

Both Covers open

 A close up of the ticket

 Flap opened up

 Left page opened

 Another hidden Flap

 Right hand page

 Yet another label flap

 Sorry, more closed doors

 Close up.

 All is revealed in the Centre pages

  

This Label keeps the centre closed.

 

 Right hand Cover

 Back Cover

I hope you have manage to keep awake.  xxx

Birthday Card

Just to let you know that I have not completely deserted you.   Last week was taken up with overseeing the garden makeover, it finished on Saturday and Sunday I spent putting things back in place hopefully for lots of sunny days ahead..   Monday I thought I would make a start on my spring cleaning and get it done, still gots lots to do though, so I thought I would put up another birthday card that I made last week. Yes, its a Bag card,  I'm sure you will have seen similar ones before as they are always popular.   Hope you are all well and busy crafting or like me sorting out some neglected household chores.
  See you All again soon.   Hugs Rita xxx

French Country Card and Bag

Hello Folks.  Garden all completed , just for me to sort out my furniture,  pots etc and that can wait for a few days more.  Just need the Sunshine now to enjoy it. Luckily I am quite patient.  
 No time for crafting this week at all, so my card is one I was asked to make for a commission last week. The theme was to be French , so what is more French that G45 papers French Country.   I adore these papers.  My card was 8 X 8 and the bag was made to fit.   Apart from the Spellbinders Elegant Labels 4, the rest was created with Papers and images from the French Country pad.  Hope you like the finished set.  I have been trying to make time to finish my Tribute Album to Tim Holtz showing all the photos from last years workshop in Coventry.   Just got the spines and the right hand cover to complete and then I'll show you it finished.  Until then I'll show you a sneak peek.. Hope you are keeping well and happily crafting.    Hugs Rita xxx

Card

Bag

Sneak Peek

A Vintage Journey Tag.

Hello my friends and lovely followers.  Today I am showing the tag I created for the new challenge blog  A Vintage Journey.  The first challenge is Anything Tim, so what better way to start than to create a tag..  My tag started out as a plain manila type tag and after spritzing with Dylusions paint , I stencilled it using TH Spatters and Shatter with Wendy Vecchi Potting Soil ink.  I then added a piece of Faux leather down one side before adding the stamped image from TH.  the sentiment is also one from TH.  I used tissue tape and chit chat stickers along with some buttons to add some interest. The lace at the bottom was from my stash. and it was put on with the Mini Attacher.  I hope that I can inspire you to travel my Vintage Journey with me and the fabulous entries shown by the Design Team.  For me this is just the beginning and I hope to learn as I join in with the challenges.
We are having the garden landscaped this week as both of us are no longer fit to maintain it. So a busy week ahead , but I'm sure when finished it will be worth it.   Pray that the weather is kind to us.  Hugs Rita xxxx

.

Christmas Card Club. Challenge 6

Hello my friends and followers in Blogland.  I have been resting this week as I felt I had no energy and what I did have was used to cook the meals etc.   I nearly forgot that this was Challenge 6 for the CCC and our hostess this month is Christine.  She has chosen Wings so anything that has wings would do( Angels, Fairies or Birds).  I had no Angels or Fairies in a Christmas theme,  so I have chosen the Christmas Cardinal stamp from JustRite.  I stamped it in Archival Sepia and coloured it with Pebeo watercolour paints.  My card has been matted with a lovely gold and I used the 5 x7 Elegant Labels 4 die in a pale ivory before adding my image that I cut with my craft knife.  The image and the die are raised ,but sorry to say its not showing up.  Nearly missed the deadline with this card.  Phew, I made it.   Jan my long time friend got home on Friday, but has to go back to hospital on Monday for a check up.  She was quite overcome when I showed her your kind messages, so she said to thank you all for that.
 Hope you All continue to Enjoy your Weekend.   Hugs Rita xxxx

Sorry your Leaving Card

Hi Everyone.  Hope you are all enjoying this lovely spring weather.  On Thursday I started to make an Album to keep all my memories of my visit to Coventry in August last year to attend the Tim Holtz Workshop.   It was 2 days of fun and the 3rd was travelling home.   However, it's now on the backburner again.  Because I got an order for a card and bag needed quickly, so all stops were pulled and today I am showing you the card.   Another white 8X8 base card, matted and layered with Turquoise and Teal,  I then used dies and MS punches to give it some detail. then added some gems in crystal and turquoise  with a beautiful cameo to adorn the centre.  I hope you approve with what I've done.
Tomorrow I am travelling to Glasgow to visit my friend Jan, who is doing really well in the recovery from her operation.  I will let her know that my blogging friends were wishing her well.   So I won't be around tomorrow or Wednesday either as I am getting the works at my hairdresser., so I am having some Me time and going to make the most of it.  Hugs Rita xxx

Retirement Card

Hello Again Folks.  Yesterday was a very long day for me, and believe it or not I did not do much at all apart from cooking the meals and drinking endless cups of tea. .  However, at 5.20 I had a call from Jan's husband to say the operation had been successful ,but she was still in theatre.   She will be a further 3/4 days in ITU before being moved.  You'll never know how relieved I feel today.   Thank you all for the kind thoughts and prayers as I do believe they help at times like this.

My card to-day was another commission card and was for a Retirement.   Another 8 X 8 card very similar to the birthday card, but I changed the colours and the dies.  Purple is not a colour I use a lot ,but I really like how this one turned out.  I hope you are all enjoying a crafty day.    Hugs Rita xxx

ps.  I did my MS punches with foil and waxed paper as most of you suggested, and lo and behold they were much easier..  x

My Special Card

Hello my Friends and Fellow bloggers.  Another day of beautiful sunshine here, even though it was still a bit chilly.  My card to-day is for my Special friend Jan , who most of you know went through high dose Chemotherapy at the end of last year to shrink a tumour on the pancreas.  She went into Glasgow Royal today and is set to go through a 5 hour op tomorrow to remove the tumour.  Healthwise she is really positive and looking well, so hopefully that will help towards the op being a success.  I'll be keeping her in my thoughts and would love if you'd join me over the next few days at least.   I am also sharing the bag that was made to go with my last card for the 50th birthday.
Thank-you again for all the kind comments you leave on my blog and I hope I have returned the same for you.     Hugs Rita xxxxx

Jan's Card

 50th Birthday Bag

Handbag Card

Well Folks a great start to the week, the sun is shining and lots of lovely little Blue Tits around.  The silver birch is starting to get new leaves, so spring is most definitely on its way. Daffodils are ready for opening their buds as well.
My card to-day is an 8 X 8  commision card for a 50th Birthday,. Bags and Bling was to be order of the day for this one.  I still have a bag to make, so that will be my job for after lunch.  Now maybe someone can help me with this.  I have a box load of Martha Stewart punches that have not been used for months, maybe even years, and they are really hard for my hands now.  I did use them on this card but it was not easy. Any ideas for making them less stiff as I have tried foil ,with not much difference,  Morning chores all done, so maybe I'll get time to play after my bag is made. Yippee....
Enjoy your day and Happy Crafting.   Hugs Rita xxxx

Christmas Card Challenge 05- Feature a Robin.

Good Morning Everyone.  The last few days have beautiful even though its still a tad chilly.   However, To-day is Challenge 05 over at CCC and as Margaret is the Hostess it was her turn to choose the Theme for this fortnight : To Feature a Robin.  This little bird is a favourite of mine and he is always in the garden throughout the winter months.
My card is an 8 X 8 and as I did not have a robin stamp,  I used a beautiful decoupage image from Rob Adams CD " White Christmas ".  My background was made with an 8 x 8 Embossing folder a Brayer and Distress ink.  Very like a fine bisque china.  I cut it in to 3 pieces along my card. Matted and layer my robin image on gold mirri card along with a lovely little verse. My only embellishments on this one are the Sizzix snowflake and the Cheery Lynn die cut Merry Christmas.  No Beads or Bows on this one.    Still got a few orders to make ,so that will keep me out of mischief for a wee while at least.  My beloved Grand Calibur is on its last legs I think as its leaving a black oily residue on my plates etc.  I've cleaned it up a few times ,but its still leaking and the guarantee was up last year.  Luckily I have my Big Shot , so for now its ok. 
Have a Good Week-end everyone and Thanks for visiting.     Hugs Rita xxxxx