Christmas Card Club . Challenge 14 is Angels

Hi Everyone.   Like most of you I don't know where the weeks/months have gone.    Trying to have a catch up on household chores before we go through to our younger daughter Carolyns,  where we  house sit as we usually do,  to let them go om holiday.    I get to look after the chickens,  and this year I will have the dog for company on my walks.
The fortnightly challenge 14  over at the CCC was picked by Maureen where the theme she chose was Angels.    I thought I would  do a stepper card with an acetate cover for this one.  The papers are from the Craftwork Cards pad called The Magic of Christmas.    I  cut and matted them on to gold mirri card from Hunkydory.  The stamps and sentiment are all from Heartfelt Creations and I also used the matching SB die to cut them out.    The gingham ribbon was made into a bow using a method shown by Christina of card-making -magic.   The corner die is from Marianne and one that use a lot in my cards.  Sorry about the picture,  as I did try to get a picture with a plain background ,  but that did not work,  so this one was taken on the dining room table and at least you can see it is acetate.    Got lots of Birthdays this month too,  so I better crack on and get some of them done,   only a week to go before our hols too.    Enjoy your Weekend ,  hopefully with some sunshine too.      Hugs Rita xxxx

Scottish themed Birthday Card

Hello my friends and lovely followers.    Believe it or not I feel much better in myself now,  and part of that was due to the enjoyment of meeting one of my long term blogging friends ( RedAnnie) who visited us last week.   I wish we could have spent more time together .  Even Andrew has perked up a lot after having a good few conversations with Anne and David.    I made this card for a friend of my brother who is celebrating a birthday on the 1st July.   She has been a rock to him as he had to travel to Adelaide for Radiotherapy.    Isn't it lovely that people can help each other like this, and it certainly took a lot of the pressure of my brother too.
   Back in my craft room today and making a 21st Birthday card for a Marilyn Monroe fan.   Great to hear that she still has fans, even after all those years.  I still love all her films.
    At the foot of this post I have included one of my birthday gifts from Anne.  So lovingly  made and one I will cherish every day,  as it holds my knitting and crotchet.  We always try to make a creation for each other at Christmas and Birthdays, and have done this ever since we met, it makes for a really special day too.  Thank You Anne.       Hope your having some time in the sun as well as your craft space.   Take Care.    Hugs Rita xxxx

My treasured Knitting /Crotchet Bag that was made by Anne as part of my Birthday gifts

 Anne herself asked me to open this one and I was taken aback, by her beautiful stitching.

Happy Summer Days

Good Morning Everyone.   Hope you are all enjoying this fabulous weather.    I feel so much better than I did in a while, and of course part of that was due to a lovely two days spent in the company of my very dear friend  Redanne  as she is better known,  and her lovely husband David.   We started our friendship not long after Anne started blogging and this was the first time we had met.   It was as if we knew each other for years and we got on like a house on fire right from the start.    Andrew had a hospital appointment on Thursday and we all went along with him, luckily it did not take long, so it did not deter our time together.   We had a meal together on Thursday night with Annie joining us,  and poor David gave up his football just for us.  Thank You, David .   After our meal we sat on the balcony till nearly ten o'clock and sun was just beginning to set.   Then on Friday my dear friends were off early to drive to Aberdeen, and have dinner with another friend of ours , the lovely Kath Stewart, before Anne joins in with Everest Challenge workshop on Saturday.   Would love to have gone, but I have my raffle tickets at the ready Kath.    On Sunday my trekkers leave for Edinburgh and meeting up with our other dear friend Astrid,  for dinner at night.    David you are a gem for making this visit possible and I'll always remember this time together.   We promised each other we'd do it again.     Here are some of the pictures I took of their visit.   Enjoy your Day whatever you do. 
Hugs Rita xxxx

 Fabulous night

 Friendship

 Smile for the camera Girls

 The Perfect Couple

 Sunshades required

 Serious business this crafting lark

 The Sun was just setting

   

Birthday Card

Hi Again my lovely friends and fellow bloggers.
Now I must really make an effort to get cardmaking again,  it does you no favours having a break you know.
All I have been doing is making a card now and again and I now feel ready to try and finish my many projects that are lying around yet to be finished.
My card today is one that has to be in Australia for 1st July, ( maybe or maybe not.)   My lovely brother asked me to make him a card to give to a friend.  There is no shops where he lives and Adelaide is about 50 miles away.  So its ready to post in the morning and hopefully it will get there by Airmail.    He only let me know on Monday night, so I feel I have achieved a really nice card considering.   The gorgeous flowers are not my own,  but ones I could not resist buying from Samaflora on FB.   The backing papers are from Craftwork Cards Correspondence 8x8 pad.  .
I'm off to bed now,  but I'm sure I will not sleep as my dear friend Anne Redfern and her lovely husband David are arriving tomorrow and staying   till Friday.  Yippee.  This visit has been long awaited , although Annie met up with Anne and her husband last year.
  Before I go , can I just Thank you all for the kind thoughts that were left on my recent posts.  The sun shone yesterday and the funeral went well and we heard one of the nicest humanous services.   Now ,we all have to be strong for Jan as she gets on with her own recovery.     I might be missing for a few days as Anne and I have a lot of  catching up to do .      Hugs Rita xxxx

Challenge 13 at CCC the theme is Penguins.

Hello folks.   My head is in turmoil at the moment and I just about forgot  the Christmas Card Club challenge 13  and the lovely Carol ( CM Design) chose Penguins as the Theme.   However,  I managed to make a pyramage card  and I think it might have been from a Joanna Sheen CD rom,  I had previously cut it out.    I matted and layered it, and added some glitter .  The Merry Christmas is a die from Cheery Lynn designs.   Hopefully you are all enjoying this nice weather.   Hugs Rita xxxx

Retirement Card and Bag

Good Evening Friends and Fellow Bloggers.    Sorry I have been AWOL again , but I just have not felt like doing anything much at all recently.     My friend Jan is absolutely devastated  by Peter's sudden death,  to make matters worse the funeral is not taking place till Monday 16th June.  
I have another two Retirement cards to make and this is one of them.   Mary likes to travel and intends to do much more after she retires.    I have used Tim Holtz menagerie papers along with topper that I decoupaged.  I also added a couple of flowers that I distressed a bit to fit in with the colours.    Really lost my mojo big time at the moment.  Hopefully it will be back soon.   Take Care.  Love & Hugs Rita xxxx

Card and Bag

 Moon rising as the Sun sets at Irvine beach last night.

The Moon rises and the Sun sets

on all of us, Man or Woman,

 black or white, rich or poor.

Regardless of who we love ,

or where we live.

Some Sad News and a New Job Card

Hello Again Folks.    I got some shock news yesterday that My dear friend Jan's husband Peter sadly passed away.   It was his 60th Birthday on the 11th May and they both came over to see us on that day.    He was looking after Jan all the while she went through her treatment and then after her op in February this year.   We as a family as still in shock.   My heart goes out to Jan,  and I hope you can join me in sending her some positive vibes to help her get through the coming weeks.  

My card today is a commission for someone changing jobs.   I do love this card as it can do for so many different occasions.    The image was one from Card-making Downloads and so therefore easily put together.   A bag was required with this card too.       Hope you are all ok, and those who are suffering take care of yourselves.   
  Hugs Rita xxxx

Wedding Card and Bag

Good Morning Folks.   Not so nice today I'm afraid, how can the weather change so quickly.    My Wedding card and Bag was made for my Grand-daughter Louise to give to her long time friend from school,  and she and boyfriend have been invite to the full wedding cermony. 
Again my favourite card size 8x8 with a matching bag.   Lots of jewels on this one too as the brides dress is red,  I chose red and clear gems.   The papers were from a Joanna Sheen CD and the dies used on this card were Tonic and Joy Craft corners.    Sorry my posts are so short as I really don't have much time to stay at my PC for long.
 Hope you are all well and lots of hugs from those that are poorly at the moment.   Hugs Rita xxxx

This is one of the baby blue tits that left one of our boxes yesterday. 

CCC Challenge 12 is a Nativity Scene

Good Morning folks.   Hope you are enjoying this gorgeous weather.    The Challenge over at the  CCC  is a Nativity Scene and was chosen by  Sue J .    Sadly I had to find an image on the internet as I don't have any stamps that would be suitable for this challenge,  and did not want to let anyone down.   Most of it was just matting and layering and some glitter was added to the candles. I used the Spellbinders Ribbon Banners to  enhance my sentiment that was computer generated. .   Hope this card will fill the challenge Sue.    I do like the card and It certainly will be easier for posting too,  something we have to keep in mind at that time of year .    Enjoy the rest of the Week End. 
  Hugs Rita xxx