Christmas Card Club Challenge 25. Cute

Hello Folks. I'm sure like me most of you are keeping busy with Christmas Cards and Present  Wrapping. I have always enjoyed this time of year but this year has been mixed with sad and happy memories and for everyone out there that has lost someone dear to them I know what it feels like now myself.  But on a brighter note CCC has our last challenge of the season and the lovely Sylvie would love to see cute. My card for this challenge is a really old wooden stamp but I still love it and think its cute.  Now I'd like to Thank our Chief Card-maker The Duchess who does lots of hard work through out the year and I'd like to Thank Her for keeping this lovely Challenge Blog alive throughout the year. If anyone would like to join us, send anyone of us an email and we'll get in touch with Margaret who I'm sure will welcome you along to our lovely club. Meantime I Wish you All a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and we'll meet again on Sunday the 7th January.   Hugs Rita xxxx

Christmas Card Challenge 24 is All Wrapped up

Good Morning Everyone, well here we are at the Challenge 24 and this time it is Carols chance to choose our theme and she has chosen All Wrapped Up. So I have chosen to make a little gift box containing 4 cards and envelopes and decorated the Box with a large red Pointettia made and painted with Starlight Paints from Imagination crafts. I add a little tartan bow and a sentiment but will add a sentiment to cards later as I'll either put Thank-You or Best Wishes and then it could cover different cards. The set is made from cream card, but the box looks white. I really enjoyed making this Carol.. Winter chill is now here and Christmas Day is getting nearer too.  Take Care of yourselves and I'll see you again in 2 weeks  Hugs Rita xxxxx

CCC challenge 23 is Gifts

Hello Everyone, I'm having bother showing my post this week and as my Craft Room has nothing in it at the moment due to a makeover taking place. no computer either so Margaret who kindly runs our lovely little christmas card club is hoping to help me put my post on. Sadly its my turn to choose our theme this time round and I chose gifts. So my lantern might not go up. Sending hugs to everyone and Thank you all for the lovely cards and kind thoughts on my dear husbands passing on the 14th September 2018. I should at least be able to comment on your posts tomorrow.  Hugs Rita XXXX.  

  

Sad Times ahead

It is with great sadness I have to tell you that my  dear husband of 60 years passed away suddenly on Friday of last week. I'd like to Thank everyone who send me cards and messages as it helped me and my family so much to get through this sad time. I will return to my crafting at some point in the future.   Hugs Rita xxx

Sue Wison Christmas Card

Hello Everyone.   Not a nice day here at all, very changeable.  In between making my Grand-Daughters invitations, I took time out to make a Special Christmas Card. Using the new Sue Wilsons dies, I decided I wanted to try Blue and White for a change. I have to say these dies are so easy to use and make such beautiful cards. You can tell how pleased I am with the finished card, for once in a long while I have made a card I was happy with. nearly finished the invites and then I can get to work on my latest Journal.  Hope you are all well and happily crafting. Will try to get around more blog posts soon. I feel so much better that I have done in a while as the break away with my eldest daughter Annie has done me good. Thank You All for staying with me.  Hugs Rita xxxx

Christmas Club Challenge18. Trees and Foliage

Hello Again to Everyone..  We are now into September and my Christmas Card Box is nearly full.  Thanks to Margaret ( Dutchess ) for organising our little club. This time around its our lovely Zoe who chose the theme of Trees and Foliage, no excuses this time as Trees play a big part of Christmas. My card is 6 X 6 Kraft card and the addition of corrugated card that was originally a box. Distressed both with Frayed burlap before adding my Stampington Christmas Tree stamp that I embossed on to Green card. Finished it off with a pine branch and a tartan bow.  Just back from the most wonderful holiday that Annie my eldest daughter arranged with the rest of the family. We started off by heading for Buxton , then we paid a visit to Bollington in the Peak District where our dear friends  Anne Redfern and her wonderful husband David live, we were joined there by Tracy Evans and after a fabulous lunch we enjoyed some crafty time. It gave me the confidence to freshen up my almost redundant crafty brain. I'll show you the result at a later date. The following day we went tp Lyme Park  and again had the most enjoyable day. After that we visited Art from the Heart on our way to Harrogate and another spectacular place. Drinks in The Ivy before our dinner at Betties. we Stayed in the  5 star accommodation in The Grafton Boutique. A wonderful adventure for us both. Till the Next Time.  Hugs Rita xxxx

CCC Nativity Card

Hello again Everyone. Firstly let me apologise to Maureen for not taking part last time, not well enough to make a card. However, much better this week and Gran Margaret has asked for Nativity this time round. As a child growing up Christmas was a great event with Christmas church services and Christmas parties it really was a lovely time. Nativity plays a big part in primary schools though and I still enjoy a midnight service.  My card for Nativity is an image I received in one of the craft magazines and I really liked it. My base card is grey pearlescent and I matted and layer some blue and white cardstock to enhance the image before adding some ice glitter around the edges. Finished off with a silver bow and some tiny stars.  Our weather in the West Coast of Scotland has changed over this last week, but hopefully the sunshine will return again before winter sets in. Hugs to All Rita xxxx

Special Birthday Card

Hello to All my Friends and Followers, Todays card is one I made for older sister who was 91 on the 6th July and still enjoying her life and still dances 3 times a week, then on the 7th July it was my turn and the beautiful cards and gifts I received from friends and family left me speechless. So a huge Thank You to All of you for the friendship and kind thoughts throughout my time blogging.  So here is my Sisters card. Hugs Rita xx

CCC Challenge 15. Carol Singers

Good Morning Everyone. Time once again for our Christmas Card Club Challenge, and Margaret has chosen Choir or Carol Singers as our theme. I have chosen one of my favourite decoupage by Cuddly Buddly and as a bear artist I fell in love with them many years ago now.  Base card is white, matted with Red Mirri card white and then my decoupage. Finished off with a red seam binding bow that was crushed, I add some sparkling glitter here and there to make it more of a Christmas look.  Busy with lots of projects at the moment along with Wedding Invitations for my Grand-Daughter Louise who gets married in February. Last Monday Annie and I had a wonderful day with our friend Astrid, we made Junk Journals and I enjoyed it so much I intend to do another one when this one is complete.  Have a lovely week-end and I'll catch up soon.  Hugs Rita xx

CCC Challenge 14: White on White

Here I am again Folks. Sometimes I wonder if I should give up as I find it more difficult to get time to blog.  Hope you are all enjoying this Idyllic weather.  Some days it has been much to hot for me, even with the french doors open wide and a fan inside. Not moaning about the heat, just cleaning and cooking is awful. I think Ill just let it go for a while. ( Dreaming of Course )
Anyway, this Challenge was chosen by the lovely Christine, and she would like to see White on White.  I love WoW cards, but I rarely get a good picture.,So please forgive me if it doesn't look quite right, I did use a sparkly backing.  Met up on Thursday with our dear friend Kate and had a lovely day in Glasgow, not much shopping done but our tongues had a good work out. Great Day.    Hope you all have a lovely weekend.  Hugs Rita xx

CCC Challenge 12. Anything but Square.

Good Morning All.  Sorry to have missed the last challenge. my head has been all over the place and cards wast on the list I'm afraid. But I thought i like to try again and give my cardmaking another go. 
So for the lovely Sylvie's challenge I thought I;d do an oval card so I chose spellbinders large set and chose the middle size in white, cut another size in red that I passed through an embossing folder from years ago and then finally the little Robin enjoying his apple. I used my gold pen to edge the white and the red as you can see my hands were shaky and I went slightly off at the side. not used these dies for years and the effect is really nice.  Hope you're all well and enjoying the beautiful sunshine we've had for two weeks now and long may it continue. Feeling lots better than I did and trying to catch up with things that have been neglected.  Have a good week.  Hugs Rita  xxxx

Christmas Card Club. Challenge 10. Sentiments

Hello to Everyone.  Beautiful day here today, although I love the sun I really don't sit out that much, unless under the Parasol, So I did my card for Challenge 10 and theme is Sentiments chosen by the lovely Carol. I do love sentiments.
I just love the new 3D folders, so chose another one to put my sentiment on. Really enjoyed doing this card. Although tonight I have the start of a Migraine and can hardly see what I'm writing. So I have taken my tablet and off to bed for me. Sorry my post is short and sweet this time, but I need to leave the computer for a while.  Hugs to you All.  Rita xxxx

Christmas Card Club. Challenge 9 Theme : Wreaths

Well, here we are again and another two weeks have gone by. Where has the year gone. Anyway, Today it is my turn to choose the theme and I'd like to see some Wreaths or anything else you may prefer.  For this challenge I have created three cards, yes three, all showing wreaths.  The first one was a 3D folder in gold then matted and layered with red and bottle green card. The sentiment was from Cardio and with the addition of a red seam binding bow my first card was complete. The second one was using a beautiful die from Sue Wilson cut in Gold and layered on to a wine background. the stamp was a freebie from a magazine that I coloured with Pro-markers and enhanced with a gold bow and some peel off corners.  My third card was done with Cardio poinsettia stamps, holly and cones and finished off with a silver organza ribbon and a few little stones to finish it off.  I do hope you all enjoyed my choice as much as I did making my cards. Looking forward to seeing what my other colleagues have done.  Lovely spring weather in Scotland at the moment and long may it continue too.  Enjoy your Sunday folks.   Hugs Rita xxx

Christmas Card Club Challenge 8. Poinsettias or Greenery

Good Afternoon Everyone.  Sorry I was a bit late with my card this time around. It was chosen by our Lovely member Mary H and she asked that the theme be Poinsettias or Christmas greenery. As I dont have access to my craft stuff at the moment due to house improvements going on. So this is one of my new 3D embossing folders from Crafters Companion and it was to hand so i did not have much choice but to use it.  It is a beautiful folder and embosses a treat so Mary I hoppe you like my card.  I have viewed and commented on all the members cards and they are all very stunning.  Sending Love and Hugs to you All and to my dedicated followers who have stayed by my side in the last few months.  Rita xxxxxx

Wedding Invitations

Hi Everyone. Please dont think I'm neglecting you all. I have been very busy with Family things and will be for most of this year I think. I started with sample wedding invitations and now the special one has been chosen by my first Grand-Daughter Louise to be married next February this is her chosen theme.  Julie her sister gets married in August 2019 and has not chosen her style yet.  I am also bag sewing and knitting too mostly in the evenings.  We are having new triple glazed windows put in this Friday, so hopefully I get my CCC card scheduled before then, if not it will be late.  Change in the weather today after a very warm and sunny day yesterday. Enjoy your week.  Hugs Rita xxx

Christmas Card Club Challenge 7. Christmas Animals

Happy Easter Sunday to Each and Everyone of You.   So once again we have a new challenge here at the Christmas Card Club and the theme this time has been chosen by my lovely friend and colleague the lovely Kate and she would like to see Animals.
Well Kate I hope you will like my card as I have so many friends/family living abroad I thought I should do a really Scottish theme and what can be more friendly at Christmas are these two lovely Scotty Dogs.all curled up together by the fire..  This card was mostly matting and layering apart from the gold edging that was done with my trusty Pen-Touch gold pen.  The sentiment was done on the computer  So enjoy this Easter weekend and try and refrain from eating too many eggs.. I am having to clear my craft desk before having new windows put in on Friday 13th April, so I will have to do my card for the next challenge before then as my craft desk is on the window wall, so lots of packing to be done before then.  Happy Days.   Till next time.  Hugs Rita xxxxx

Christmas Card Club Challenge 6. Christmas Flowers

Good Morning Everyone. Its time again for another challenge at our Christmas Card Club. This time its the lovely Rachel who chose our theme this time round.  Everyone probably knows by now how much I love Poinsettias, so of course that is exactly what I have chose.  I used Tim holtz dies on Vellum and painted them with starlight paint by Imagination.  My card is 5 x 7 and I used this gorgeous 3D embossing folder as my first layer. added another die to hold my sentiment before attaching my finished Poinsettias. I used Imagination Alchemy wax to highlight the embossing and once again no bow was added.  Hope you are all well and enjoying this lovely spring weather too.  I have been teaching my daughter Annie to knit socks on 5 needles and I'm so glad to report she finished them in 2 weeks and cannot wait to do her next pair, in fact she has already cast them on.  See You All Soon.  Hugs Rita xxxxx

 

Annies Socks

Christmas Club Challenge 5 is Robins.

Hello again Everyone. Not had a great start to the year Im afraid, but hopefully turned a corner now.  Apologies first of all to Zoe for missing her challenge last month, but I have sibce finished my card and put it on with today's post.
Beginning of march already and we are now at Challenge 5 and the lovely Valery asked us to show Robins on our cards. So hopefully my cards for this one will pass muster.  Trying hard to get myself motivated again as that is what happens when you stay away a bit too long. Anyone that would like to join us in our fortnightly challenges please get in touch with me or anyone of our team.  Im sure you'll enjoy it.  Have a Great Week Everyone.  Hugs Rita xxx

Zoe's Challenge 4 Reindeer

Valery's Challenge 5

Valery's Challenge 5

Christmas Card Club. Challenge3. Angels

Hello again.  Sorry I'm a wee bit late with today's post . Chosen by the lovely Gran Margaret and she asked to see Angels for her challenge.  I chose the Angel die from the the Sara Davies signature collection.  I used an 8x8 card for base and added a silver frame then I added starry night paper. using dies again I added the Tim Holtz Christmas greeting, along with a few other bits and pieces from my stash, then I added the angel that I lined the wings and the dress so I could glitter the spaces.  I did try to take pictures late afternoon yesterday but the daylight had gone.  I really enjoyed your challenge Margaret, so Many Thanks for that.  Today the sun is shining brightly so hopefully everyone is getting their share.   Spring is on its way as the buds are showing their leaves a little.    Hugs Rita xxx

CCC Challenge 2: Christmas Baking

Hello Everyone. Hasn't it been dreadful weather this past week, I know it January but the days have been so dark and cold it makes it depressing.  This is our last January post and the theme this fortnight is Christmas Baking / Anything goes.  I like to try the chosen challenge, but sadly again I had no stamps or dies suitable, so another image I'm afraid, but I think it has made a really nice card. I layered it up with red, white and silver before adding Shaved Ice round the edges. Finished it off with a die cut snowflake and a Winter die.  No bows on this one folks as the postage now is so expensive. We'll see how long I can last before I get the urge to add a bow.  Hope everyone is keeping well and crafting again.  This year I have two lots of Wedding Invitations to do, so that will keep me busy along with knitting and sewing with a few cards along the way.  Hugs Rita xxxxx

 

Christmas Card Club 2018. Challenge 1 :Elves

Hello Everyone and Welcome once again to our Christmas Card Club 2018.  The very first January challenge was chosen by Margaret ( Dutchess ) to us ladies.   I searched and hunted through all my stamps and lo and behold no elves at all.  So I'm afraid it was back to images for me and my goal this year is to make 2 cards for each challenge.  Pictures are not so good as I took them at night, something I don't normally do.  All glittered up and  my first two cards have met the challenge.
  Our first Grand-Daughter Julie got engaged at Christmas and so we all had a great celebration at Annie & Ronnies this year. All sixteen of us together for the first time in a number of years.  We had the best time and it lasted in to the wee sma hours.  New Year was a much quieter affair for us and it was welcomed too.  So this year I have two lots of Wedding Invitations to do as Julies younger sister Louise gets married in 2019 as well, Louise in February and July for Julie. So plenty offers of help as we are very crafty family.   Hope you All had a lovely time and now it is back to the grind of another hopefully successful year.    Thank You All for your encouragement last year as things were not so good, but this year I will put my positive hat on and do my best.  Hugs Rita xxx