I missed out on Christmas and now I'm missing out  on New Year as well. Flu came and got me at Edinburgh on Christmas Eve and we had to come home on Boxing day. This flu is so cruel and has left me with a terrible cough and no energy at all. My temperature is all over the place.  I just want to wish you All a Very Happy and Prosperous 2013.  My wish is to waken up to-morrow feeling better. Its the cough that's weakening me. Hugs Rita xxxxx

Good Morning folks. Its quite dull at the moment here on the West Coast of Scotland this morning, but its dry and that's the main thing.  I needed a box to fit a lovely candle I bought for my friend, so what better excuse than to make another Origami box. Patricia, see what you have started, even the roses were made using Patricia's tutorial.  Quite a busy day ahead so I will bash on and hope you all have an interesting day. My craft room looks more like its usual now that I have put all things Christmas away.  Hugs Rita xx

Good Morning my Friends. Well, I found a little time last night to put to-gether my decoration that was a Tutorial from the very talented Patricia over at Summerhouse Crafts.  Luckily I had the dies that Patricia used ,but you could use different ones as long as you had the set. It actually looks much nicer in Situ as I found it hard to get a decent picture. I have distressed the edges with Fired Brick and added some tiny star gems to the peaks with a larger crystal heart in the centre. Its sitting on a Joycraft stand that matches well with the decoration itself,  I'm pleased I got time to make it .  To-day is going to be a Wrapping day, and hopefull by the afternoon it will all be finished for this year anyway.  Enjoy you day.  Hugs Rita xx

Hello to All my blogging Friends,  Hopefully this is the last of my Christmas cards. This one is for my long time friend and her husband.  This one did not take me hours like some of the ones I've done previously.  It a white 8X8 card and I used my MS punch to do a snowflake border on a smaller card, then I added the red card that has been stamped and embossed in gold. I edged the card with a Krylon gold pen added the white vellum poinsettia that has been edged with gold glitter,. the sentiment was computer generated. Now I have 2 Birthday cards to finish . I then I 'intend' to put away all my Christmas Crafting stash at least for a few months. Hope you are all enjoying a lovely week-end.  Hugs Rita xx

Good Afternoon Folks.  Its really dull & cold in Scotland to-day, so I'm not planning on going anywhere but I am going to work in my crafty haven.  Yesterday I received a beautiful card & gift from my very dear friend. Anne R, who is known to most you.  One of my gifts was in this beautiful bag and after consulting with Anne she did not mind if made one using her design.  I needed a bag to hold perfume and this way I was able to create a bag of the perfect size. I'm sure you will love both bags and maybe another idea for you to try.  Got another few Birthday cards to make as an order from my best friend for next week, so I had better move on and get started.   Hope this finds you well and keeping warm in this chilly weather.  Hugs Rita xxx

                         This is the bag I made

Hello my fellow crafters. I have been very busy all week and not had much time on my hands. Most things I cannot show because they are going to family for Christmas gifts. However, this was the card I made for Hamish my Grandson who is a beautiful redhead just like my oldest daughter.  So I thought this card was very apt for him.  It was made from papers etc that was a gift in the Crafter's Companion Magazine.  Now that he has seen it I can put it on my blog.  Sorry the quality of the pictures are not very good.  Hugs Rita xx

Good Morning Crafter's,  After a busy few days, I managed to catch up with some Christmas chores and put up the trees and finished my cleaning. I even wrote and posted my Christmas cards. I still have my wrapping to do though and finish some family & friends Christmas &  Birthday cards. This morning I finished a bag that I started ages ago. The instructions were given by the very talented Patricia over at Summerhouse Crafts who kindly gave her precious time to show us how its done. I used a vintage theme for mine as it will hold some of my Truffles either for a Birthday or Christmas gift.  The papers were  from our lovely Astrid McLean who again shows her kindness by giving us a Friday Freebie every week. So I'd like to thank both ladies for all they do to inspire us all.   I will always put a link back to the person if I use their ideas. As I really think its the polite thing to do.
 Hope you all enjoy a crafty week.  Hugs Rita xx

Good Morning All.  I hope you are well and keeping busy crafting, although its getting harder to find the time to craft. I know I need an extension added to every day so I can everything done. At least the sun is shining and the sky is blue, what more can I ask for.  To-Day I have made a card for my grand-daughter Molly who loves to dance and sing.  I've used the Graphic 45 Nutcracker Sweet papers for this and I think she will love it.  Lots to do to-day, so I'm afraid I will not get time to craft. To-Morrow we are putting up the trees and decorations, so that will take some time too. I'm planning a crafty Sunday though, so hopefully that happens.  Take Care & Keep Warm.  Hugs Rita xxxx

Hello again Folks, Thank-you so much for lovely comments left on my blog, its so lovely to read them and lovely to share my creations with you too.  Here is my first go at doing the Origami box, and I love it to bits, so I need to make some more to put my truffles in.  Thanks to Patricia at Summerhouse Crafts for giving the link. There are also some on You Tube too.  Its been very cold here in the West of Scotland to day, but its been sunny and dry.  I'm off to do a bit of ironing now and try to keep it down, some jobs that have to be done.   Enjoy your Day.  Hugs Rita xx

Good Evening Everyone. The last few days has been hectic trying hard to get the house in order before the week-end and then I can get my tree etc up. Trying to juggle crafting and house cleaning don't really work.
However, I have made these lovely top hats, one for each of my family, they were from a paper & printables download, but it was initially done by Tosh Leyendekker  back in January and you can see the tutorial Here. Not the cheapest gift to make, but I had fun making and decorating them.  Made from card and covered in felt, you can fill the inside with sweets etc. I used the circle dies to get the basic shapes.  I hope you like them and will give them a try.   The days are really flying in now and next week I want to keep free for my baking etc.  I hope you are all enjoying your craft time too.  I going to have a few hours watching the Royal Variety Performance to-night.   Hugs Rita xx

I am entering in to thefollowing challenges:
  Artful Times challenge : Anything Goes. 
Fashionable Stamping challenge : To Die for

Hello again , and a big welcome to my new followers. I really hope I can give you some inspiration that will help with your crafting .  I'm totally addicted to these double gate-fold cards, so here is another one for my youngest daughter Carolyn this time.  More traditional colours this time too.  Sorry the silver is not showing to well on the white. As Carolyn is mother to my youngest two Grandchildren I've kept the inside quite traditional too.   Molly who is nine years old is certainly a chip of her Gran as she loves to craft and sent me this surprise Tag that she designed and made by herself.  She even has a craft space bordering on mine. They stay in Edinburgh so when she comes through to us both she and her brother love to craft with me.  We're spending Christmas with them and I'm so excited to see what they've done.
  Hope your all enjoying a comfortable week-end.  Hugs Rita xxx