CCC Challenge 25 Gifts

Hello Everyone. Hopefully by now all your cards will be finished. This will be our last Challenge of 2017 and as it was my turn to choose the theme, I Thought it would be appropriate to pick Gifts for this one. Now it could be Gifts on a card or boxes or any other gifts you might have made for this Christmas.  I chose an MDF Tall Book card for each of my children with the idea it would be a keepsake in the years to come.  Sorry to say they have now been discontinued and were sold on AnneMaries Website.  The papers and Dies and Stamps are all from Chloes Creations and the Glitter and Embossing powders too. This is my own take on this one as I added some extra foliage and embellishments. You can see the difference the lights make and I also showed one with the lights off. I really had fun making these and wish I could get more.         
My Dear Friend Kate and I spent the most wonderful day in Glasgow on Friday, listening to the buskers and taking in the atmosphere that only a Big City holds at this time of year. Numerous Coffee stops and then a lovely Italian lunch and an exchange of gifts ,then we indulged ourselves in a bit of shopping. then after a coffee it became time to say our goodbyes and travel homeward, leaving the Christmas lights of the city behind.
 So I'll leave you today with All Good Wishes for a Very Merry Christmas and a Prosperous and Healthy New Year.  See you All in January.   Hugs Rita xxxx

Christmas Card Club : Mixed Media.

Well Folks its getting near to the end of this years challenges , isn't it unbelievable how a year goes past. Our 24th challenge today was chosen by the lovely Mary, who chose Mixed Media as her theme.  So I gave it my best shot to put it on to a card. I started out with a 5 X 7 card and layered it up with gold before adding my background that I embossed with a holly spray stamp, Versamark and Wow embossing powder was used to do this. I gently sponged some Peeled Paint DI around the stamping then using a glue pen round the edges, and I applied TH glitter on top.  Whilst this was drying I stenciled a label using a TH stencil and Structure Paste then when it was dry I used my distress inks to colour the leaves, cones and firs.  The cones and holly leaves were created using my dies and the ribbons were died using ink pads and sprayed with water. The little sentiment came free with a magazine , finished off with gold embellishments. I hope you all had fun trying out Mixed Media for Mary's challenge.  Hugs Rita xxxxx

My finished card

 Close up view

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CCC Challenge 23 Shimmer & Sparkle.

Well here we are again, another two weeks have flown by. I really need an extension of a month . But Hey Ho, I'm sure I'll get there.  Challenge 23 was chosen by the lovely Lorraine , who would love to see some Shimmer and Sparkle on our cards.  I must say I really enjoyed this one and went for Red and Silver on my card. Looking forward to seeing what the other ladies have created.  Went to Troon on Thursday and it was so bitterly cold with strong winds that cut right through me,. so  now I have a horrible cold and sore throat.  Hope you are all keeping warm and free from the lurgy. Hugs Rita xxxxx

Christmas Gift boxes

Good Morning Everyone., I think this is the first time in months that I've shown another post in two days.  I said yesterday that I was making boxes for Christmas gifts and these ones will hold fine scarves. I watched a few of Chloe's Creations on Hochanda about a month ago and love her stamps, so then she brought out her christmas collection and of I fell in love with them all, and you know the rest, yes, I bought them and love making gifts and cards using them. They have certainly helped my state of mind and thinking of crafts as I set about using them.  Yesterdays card was the sentiment card and today its two of my boxes. Both of them are 6 X 6 X 13/4. so really quite big.  The largest of the Snow Flowers I did in Velum and the other one in Mars red pearlized paper.  I really enjoyed making those and now I will try some smaller ones.  Hope you like what I've done with card and paper.  Hugs Rita xxx

CCC Challenge 22. Sentiment to be the Focal Point

Hi Everyone, the end of October is nearly over and the weather is getting worse. We should all be getting an hour extra in bed today, so hope you all get a benefit from that.  We are now ar Challenge 22 and the lovely Sylvie would love to see a Sentiment as the focal point in this one. So I have kept my card simple so as not to detract from the verse.  The verse is from Chloes Stamps and the holly flower is also a die from Chloe. A pleasure to create Sylvie. Simple for me as I don't often manage a plain card.  Enjoy your crafting folks in the run up to Christmas now. I have done a few boxes that Ill post on Monday.  I am doing some gifts as well, so gradually getting back into the swing of things.     Hugs Rita xxx

Christmas Card Club Challenge 21 is Non-Traditional Colours

Hello Everyone.   The weather this week has been pretty miserable, so believe it or not I ventured in to my Craft Room.   Came across some things that were forgotten about and after sorting them out I thought I'd make my card for this weeks CCC 21 and it was chosen by my friend and colleague Carol,who asked for Non-Traditional colours.   I just adore Christmas but love the Traditional colours. So my offering this time around is Blue and Silver, hopefully it falls in to this category.  It is an 8 X 8 cards matted with blue and white card , the vellum Poinsettias are light blue & dark blue sprinkled with  glitter finished off with a lovely sentiment and Triple Organza bow..  Looking forward to seeing what the rest of the team have done.  There are links on my side bar.  Thank You Carol, as I did enjoy creating this card.   Till Next Time. Hugs Rita xx  

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CCC Challenge 20: Anything Round

Good Morning lovely people, Time again for another challenge here on the CCC, Valery chose the theme for this one and she'd like to see anything round.   So here is my card and I hope it fits the bill.  Mostly matting and layering for this one as time was short, but I did enjoy making it,  hoping now that Autumn is here I can return to my craft room again. Garden has has been tidied up for winter, apart from the constant battle with leaves etc. I dearly hope you are all well and finding time to craft as the the winter is fast approaching.  I feel I need a refresher course in crafting to get back in the mood, but Ill give it a go anyway.  Take Care and Look after Yourselves.  Hugs Rita xxxx   

 

Christmas Card Club Challenge 19. Penguins and Glitter.

Hello Again, Sorry to have missed last fortnights challenge , but time just ran away with me on board.  However, I made a bigger effort for this Challenge by my dear friend and teamie Kate, and Kate is looking for Penguins with lots of glitter content.   Unfortunately I have no stamps suitable so opted for this lovely image I got from Pinterest.  I used a 7 X 7 card blank and matted it with a deep red card followed by a Stampin Up card on top   Framed my image with a circular frame after adding Glitter. I also put crystals on my snowflakes and along with a ribbon bow and sentiment my card is complete.  Hoping now that winter is approaching it gives me more time to craft as the garden is tidied up now and only the shrubs are left and they do not need a lot of attention.
I have also started my Christmas knitting ans the weeks soon fly past and before I know it , it will be here.  Take Care Everyone and Happy Crafting.  Hugs Rita xxx

Christmas Card Club Challenge 17. The Meaning of Christmas

Good Morning Folks.  Another fortnight has passed and I managed to make a card.  Challenge 17 was chosen by the lovely Christine and she chose What Christmas really means.  So this time I have used a stencil from Imagination and I think this shows the true meaning of Christmas. I used their Silver Sparkle mediun on blue card and I liked that enough to proceed with finishing my card. it is 8X8 white card base matted with silver. I think maybe the die cut is a bit on the big side, but I really like the simplicity of the card.  Hope you all have a lovely week-end, the sun is shining and the sky is blue so hopefully it stays like that for a while.  Wishful thinking on my part as next weeks forecast is not looking so good.  Have fun and enjoy your crafting.   Hugs Rita xxxx

Christmas Card Club: Challenge 16. Carol Singers

Hello Again,  Time for another Challenge over at the CCC and the theme chosen by Gran Margaret is Carol Singers.   Sorry I don't have any stamps that would suffice,  so back to Pinterest and I fell in love with this image. . Matted on to blue card and then on to a white card that I stamped my sentiment on before attaching my image. I added some glitter all round the snow, but sadly because of the bright sky tonight it has not shown up.  Hope you are enjoying some nice summer days as it was 20 here today and the sun is still shining.   Hope to see you Soon.  Hugs Rita xxxx

Special Wedding Card

Hi Everyone.  Hope you are all enjoying some sunshine.  Here is a card I made yesterday for our lovely neighbours,  who get married on Saturday.  To be honest with you, I nearly bought a card and then had second thoughts, the prices for a decent card are ridiculous.  So I went home and duly got out some card and vellum and started my card.  It started out as a very simple card,  but I thought it looked to white and made these vellum Clematis flowers and leaves and it just gave it the lift it needed.  I always make my own flowers , but recently I lost my urge to make anything. However, I so enjoyed my day in the craft room yesterday, that I intend to make another card in the afternoon.  Sending my Best Wishes to everyone.  Hugs Rita xxxx

Christmas Club Challenge 15 Jingle Bells

Hello Everyone.  Yes, I'm still here though not making many cards.  But I like to try and do my card for the CCC challenges and this fortnight it is our very own Margaret who chose this one.  She would like to see Jingle Bells and I'm sure most of us will manage this theme ok.
My base card is 6X6 and I used a piece of red card and added a piece of embossed white card along with a piece of ribbon.  I used my Tattered Lace  Bells dies for this one and cut them out of silver mirri card.  Again I used a sentiment die and added it to a piece of red card that I fussy cut around and added it to the white snowflake embossed card.  Finished off with a red satin bow and added some glitter to the bells.  Looking forward to seeing the other members cars and hopefully find some motivation.  Look after yourselves and I'll see you soon.
BP still not stabilized but it is coming down, albeit slowly. .  Hugs Rita xxxxx

CCC Challenge 14 A Xmas Scene/ Snow Scene

Hello Again Folks.  Here we are half way to Christmas and your box must be filling up by now.  Sorry I had to miss the last one as my Vertigo was really bad and my blood pressure is still far to high, so I've been told to take it easy and go back to the Doctors in 2 weeks time, so hopefully it works as its a hospital referral if its still high.
 Our lovely Shaz has chosen the Challenge this time and she would like to see Christmas or Snow themed cards.   So I thought I;d do a pyrimage  card that I haven't done for years . Loved the scene and the card , but not so happy with the tiny snowballs I finished with Crystal glitter..  A snowy ribbon and my card was done.  No stress at all.   Thank You All for the lovely Birthday Wishes, Cards, Flowers and Gifts  I received from friends and family.  I really did enjoy a Wonderful Day. Will post pictures later in the week.   See You Soon.  Hugs Rita xxx

50th Birthday Card

Hello Everyone,  Hope you are All Well and not like me , been hibernating. Not been so good the last month or two with different things going on in my life. I hate complaining ,so we will not go there and hopefully I can begin to pick up the pieces again.  This was the Card, Bag and Box I made for my youngest daughters 50th Birthday on 20th June.  Made mostly with dies and hand made flowers from Heartfelt Creations Dies. The bag was coffee coloured card that I had in my stash, the beautiful ribbon was from Ribbon Girl and the box contained a little wooden Buddha  as part of her gift along with Donegal Tweed Aran Wrap that was 63 inches long and 24 inches wide and took 22 ball of wool. The the scarf pin was made from beech and complimented the colours in the wrap.  Hoping to have some time to craft this afternoon.  Lots of Hugs and Speak to you All soon again.   Hugs Rita xxxx 

Christmas Card Club. Challenge 12 : Anything Goes

Good Morning All. Where are are the weeks going, is it just me or do es anyone else feel the same.  The months are flying past and at least my Christmas Card Box is half full.
Our challenge this time was chosen by Sylvie and for this one Anything Goes is what she'd like to see.  So here is mu offering Sylvie,  I just love the sentiment on this card as it does fit many friends and relations that we don't see very often.   It's all glittered up in Vintage Gold flakes and is also decoupaged in 3 layers too.  I do love the wine coloured  theme at Christmas time and tend to use it a lot.  The image I think is a Craftsuprint from many years ago as my cardmaking started with Decoupage and Pergamano.  I hope you all had fun with Sylvies choice too.  Thanks to you all for the lovely comments on my cards.  Hugs Rita xxxx

Wedding Card and Bag

Hello Folks,
Apologies once more for not being very good at blogging recently.  Things have just got on top of me again.  After having a clear out of my craft stash I thought I would re-organise my craft room and lo and behold I could not find most of what I needed to make a few cards that were required. So I pulled things out again and now they are all labelled and in clear boxes so its easier to see at a glance where everything is. Truthfully, I have too many hobbies.   So here is the Wedding card and Bag made for a recent wedding. it was an 8 x 8  Easel card with lots of lace and pearls etc,  I used Blush card as a contrast because the bridesmaids were in that shade. The Bag was made to match the card and the Grooms Mother was delighted with it too.  Lots of cards to be made again this month and some sewing too.  Watch this space as I try to bring normality in to my life again.  Thank You All for bearing with me.  Hugs Rita xxxx

Christmas Card Club Challene 11. Mistletoe & Wine

Good Morning Friends and Followers. 
After all the tragedies of the past week and the lives that were lost and the trauma that those who are still badly injured are suffering,  we as a nation of British people must stick together and find a way to get through this awful tragedy in Manchester . People who were enjoying themselves brought together by the love of music.  Hope Heaven opens its door to them All. R.I.P.

Now on to our Challenge this week at the Christmas Card Club. This time its my turn to choose the theme and I chose a very much forgotten plant  and the song which I think is really nice for Christmas time.  Hope you all enjoyed doing something along these lines. 
My own card is 7 X 7 base card matted with wine card and I used a music embossing folder before adding my chosen stamps and dies.  I used two different ribbons to make the bow and This is my finished card.  If anyone would like to have most of the Christmas cards finished in time for Christmas, please don't hesitate to ask either myself or any member of CCC that is on my side bar, near the foot of the page.   Hope you Enjoy a nice Week-End.   Hugs Rita xxx

Eileen Hull Passport journal

Hello again.folks. I managed to finish the little passport journal made from a die by the lovely Eileen Hull. whilst visiting Astrid on Sunday, and this what we were making in between talking and laughing and deciding what we do. I really fell in love with these dies and this one will hold my favourite quotes.  I put lots of pages into it and that takes a little while amongst my other household duties.  My love of Vintage came into its own with this little book and now I will finish the inside pages at my leisure.  Now I am waiting till new stocks come in as it seems to be sold out everywhere.  Been a beautiful week in Scotland this week and most places have had sunshine.  Hope you enjoy seeing my version of our crafty day with friends.  Hugs Rita xxxx

Annies Birthday.

Hello Everyone.  Back to the rain here today.  But the weekend was beautiful and exciting.  My daughter Annie who most of you know through her crafting anyway, had her birthday last Friday, but did not arrive home from holiday till the early hours of Sunday morning. So we had arranged a day with our lovely friend Astrid a while back, so that was the first I saw Annie too.  We duly arrived at at Astrids lovely home and of course our friend from Shetland Jennie Atkinson who had also been on holiday too, met up with us also . After a fabulous lunch provided by Astrid we then set to do some crafting. She is always so organised too and an Eileen Hull  passport set out for us to create. What a fun time we had and after a raid of her stash it was nearly time to go to my younger daughter Carolyn for Dinner as she stays not to far from Astrid.   Here a few pictures of the Bag I made for Annie from Harris Tweed with leather handles, I lined it with some silk and mohair suiting I had from another project years ago and along with her card and a few pennies to spend her parcel was complete. The other picture was our fun day at Astrids and you can see the joy on our faces .  These kind of days are so Special and ones I'll always remember too.  Finishing off my little journal today and enjoying it immensely.  Hugs Rita xxx

Christmas Card Club Challenge 10. Christmas Carol

Hello Everyone,  Well then 2 weeks have passed since the last challenge on CCC.   Now we are on to Challenge 10 and this time is was Christine who chose our theme a Christmas Carol.
So this time I chose one of my favourite carols since my time as a child singing in the choir.  We all sang it with gusto too as it was such a meaningful story.  Been a busy week here with my daughter Annies birthday on Friday and my Younger daughter Carolyns 20th Anniversary next Wednesday. Last Monday my Son Alisdairs father-in-laws funeral, so all in all a busy week.   But Hey Ho, today  Annie and I are going through to our dear friend AstridMcLean to meet up with our friend Jennie Atkinson who has been on holiday recently too.  So a lovely Crafty Day will be enjoyed by us all.  So a long awaited day off for me and after our time with Astrid and Jennie we are going to Carolyns for dinner as she stays just outside Edinburgh too.  Extremely windy and wet yesterday, but nicer this morning.  Hugs Rita xxxx

CCC Challenge 9 is Nativity

Hello Lovely People,  the weather has been cold again, even with the sunny days. But Hey ho, Monday is the 1st May and hopefully a bit nearer to hot summer days.
Well,  here we are again at the Christmas Card Club with Challenge 9 and the lovely Mary would like to see Nativity.   You'll never believe it, but I managed to make 3 cards this week,  after thinking what did I have, not very much I can tell you, but Pinterest was used for two of my cards and my Imagination Crafts stencil was used in the other.  The first one was the stencil of the 3 wise men and I used a sheet of music that I aged a bit to depict the scene and distressed it a bit before applying my stencil. I used Black starlight ink on the main part and Gold sparkle Medium on the star. I thought I would use Raffia to make a bow and attached 2 rusty bells to age a bit more. The other 2 cards were made with images I saved from Pinterest, but I did love them, so made them up too for my box.   Really enjoyed this theme Mary ,so Thank you for choosing it for us.  Enjoy your Weekend.  Hugs Rita xxxx

Paper artsy Card

Hi Eveyrone. This is one of my latest cards using the stamps designed by Elizabeth Borer for Paper Artsy.
Beautiful stamps and ones that I consider could be used for multiple occasions.  I used my new Chameleon pencils to colour the images , and as someone who finds it hard to like my colouring ,these pencils did me proud.  I used starlight paint to give me an edge on a piece of spare card as the colour was perfect.  I loved the sentiment that comes with the set of stamps as it's really so true.  I know I will be using these stamps again and again. So thanks Annie as they were part of my Mothers day gifts.  Been busy knitting an Aran Wrap for Carolyn's 50th Birthday in June and it is 63 inches long, so far I have done 35" so more than half way. The wool is Debbie Bliss Donegal Tweed and is so soft when knitted up. So sorry if I am absent a lot at the moment.  Hugs Rita xxxx

 

 The Thyme Wrap

CCC Challenge 8; Humerous

Hi Everyone. Happy Easter to One and All. the weather here has been pretty mixed, sunshine and showers.  Here today with our next Challenge at the Christmas Card Club we are at Challenge 8 now and our lovely member Valery has chosen  Humorous for her theme today.   Hope mine will fit this challenge.  the image was coloured with Promarkers and I added a few embellishments to suit the theme.
Hope you all Enjoy your Week-End.  Hugs Rita xxx

Engagement Card and Matching bag.

Hi Everyone.  Sorry for being AWOL.  Had family visiting last week and all good intentions went to pot.  Enjoying this lovely spell of weather and my cheeks are burning after tidying up the garden over the weekend.
My card today was made for a friend whose daughter got engaged 2 weeks ago.  I was not very confident about it  ,but the family loved it and that's what matters.  I have got 3 knitting projects on the go and trying hard to get them done too as with one thing and another they are all overdue to friends and family.   Hope you're all well and enjoying some crafting time too as at this time of year so many other tasks need attention too.  Hugs Rita xxx

Birthday Card

Yes, its me again.  This was the Birthday card I created for my Grand-Daughter Louise whose birthday it is today. I used Imaginations Butterfly Stencil and Sparkle Mediun in Lavender, Diamond Quartz and Teal and added some gems on the wings. I used the Gold to edge my card all the way round and finished it off with a sentiment and bird s flight stamps from Lynne Moncrieff's New Stamps.  then added it on to an 8 X 8 card.    Not so nice to day but at least its dry.   My day was made with the delivery of Mary's Blog Candy and Wow, I loved all the goodies it held.  Thank You Mary.
Hugs Rita xxx

Christmas Card Club. Challenge 7

Hello Everyone,  Happily enjoying some spring sunshine at last. The last two weekends have been really sunny and warm and I for one feel so much better for it too.
Another 2 weeks have gone by since our last challenge  at the CCC and this time Carol has chosen  Christmas Flowers for her theme.   I absolutely adore Poinsettias and that is what I have used for my card today.   I started with a white 7 X 7 card,  and then a piece of matted card to that I added a TH stencil and Distress Inks in Festive Berries and Pine Needles for the Holly.   The decoupaged Poinsettia was made with the Marianne die. The lovely swirls are from Sue Wilson and the sentiment stamp from Serendipity Stamps.  Looking forward to seeing what my crafty sisters have created for Carol's Challenge.    Enjoy your Sunday and the forthcoming Easter Weekend.   hugs Rita xxxxx

CCC Challenge 6- Two or more Papers

Time once again for the CCC Challenge and today the Lovely Gran Margaret has chosen the challenge. She would like us to use 2 or more papers on our cards. 
I used a 7 x 7 card blank for my base and added my two papers from Joyful Peace Pad,  added a hessian border with Just Pearls from Imagination Crafts in pure gold.  My sentiment was made with a Sheena Douglas Scroll  that I heat embossed with Versafine gold EP, and I matted it on to gold card, finished off my card with a double organza bow in gold and green.  The months are flying by and I better start to make 2 cards each fortnight just to be sure I have enough come Christmas.  You can see what the other members create by using the list on my side bar.  Hope you All have a Good week and to those that are poorly Get Well Soon.  
Hugs Rita xxxx

Lady Rose card

Hi Everyone. Hope the weather has been good to you. we had a good week up untill today and the wind and rain is awful, but in between,  the skies are blue and the sun is shining,  seems its the tail ens of Storm Stella that is hitting America. Stay Safe my friends.
Thia was a card I started a couple of years ago and never got round to finishing it, so I am on a mission to finish projects just like this that are WIP.   I started with the Tim Holtz "Lady Rose " stamps and after matting them I used a script stamp to cover the 8 x 8 card.  The tree and bird stencil was from Imagination Crafts as was the Art Cutz corner that I used Starlights Paint in Bronze to tone in with the card, the colouring was done with Prima water-colour pencils with the addition of some pearls from Just Pearls again by Imagination. I have not put on a sentiment as I feel this card could be for different occasions.  Need to finish off my card for the CCC as well and then some chores to finish too. Very Exciting......     Hugs Rita xxxxx

Playing with New Distress Oxide Inks

Hello Everyone.   Hope you are all enjoying this beautiful spring weather, washing outside and dried too, Love it. 
Anyway, on with my post , the result of my playday with Anni and Astrid last week.  We had great fun trying different backgrounds with Annies Inks ( now I have my own she'll be glad to hear that. ) Only joking Anni, I know you don't mind
I do love all the colours and the excitement starts when you use the water..  Wonderful reaction, honestly give them a go and see how you get on.   Now I am hooked after saying I wouldn't buy them.   I turned my background into a card.  After layering my cream card with world stamps paper, I added black and rust coloured card in layers again. I added the background after distressing it a bit on the edges. Using some rice paper and napkins I then added the die cut Globe coloured in with Imaginations Starlight paints.  Added the arrow and the sentiment  to finish it off.   I now declare my first Oxide card finished. Cant wait to play again now.
  Take Care and look after yourselves.  Hugs Rita   xxxxx