SIGNING OFF FOR A LITTLE WHILE.........

Yep it's the day of my operation so just wanted to fit in a post. I would like to apologise for not posting earlier but life has been mad of late. Time seems to be flying past so quickly it is scary. 

Just wanted to let you all know that both of the fundraiser's went amazingly!!!!. Firstly the MacMillan Trust managed to raise £557.00 and at the weekend the coffee morning for St.Wilfred's Hospice raised over £450.00. Just waiting on those final figure's. Both events had a fantastic turn out and everyone had a great time.

On Sunday Willow, Brian and Monica had to (very reluctantly) go back to WRAS where they will spend the Winter together to fatten up and grow for next year. They will be able to be released safely March/April time 2012. Me, Bert and Simone are missing them so much but I have been assured that more babies will be on their way once I get over my op. Just want to share some pics I took last week to show just how much they have grown!!!.

Aren't they precious babies!!!. I feel so lucky to have been part of raising them and know they have been given a much better chance a survival.

Well I have my bags packed and have been reassured by Dad and Martin that the furbabies (and spikey garden one's!) are going to be well looked after in my absence. I feel so relieved as Martin is going to be staying here at the house so I know he will look out for Dad too. 

So im going to say ciao for now and will be back as soon as I can. I will be back card making before I know it. Just going to leave you with a couple of cards I made this week.

Godbless Clare xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KERYN!!!

I meant to post this comment yesterday so I am a day late celebrating Keryn's Birthday on my blog!!!. I obviously did speak to her yesterday though so i'm sure she will forgive me. Just wanted to share the card I made for my beautiful friend.

I used one of my new House Mouse stamps which I managed to get from EBAY. I also used my new yummy Flex Marker's. Everything else on my card was used from my stash. 

Keryn, thank you for being one of the bestest friend's a person can have. You have been brilliant, especially over the past few weeks which have been really hard. You have always been there for me. Love you mate xxxxxxxxxx

CHRIS' CHRISTMAS CLUB CARD CHALLENGE!!!

Hello everyone hoping you are all fit and well. I'm still being kept busy with those gorgeous little hedgehogs and found out today that I will be keeping them until 6th October, the day before my operation. Going to have to make the most of them. Will upload more pic's this week. Can't believe how quickly they are growing!!.

It was Chris' challenge this last fortnight for the Christmas Club and it was "anything goes" which was really nice, no pressure you know!. This is my card.

I really love this LOTV stamp and used it in my last challenge but decided to 3D it. I glittered it up a bit too and used MMI "Colourful Christmas" backing paper.

If you look on my sidebar you can click on the other girls blogs to see their cards. If you would like to join our little Christmas Club please feel free to message one of us and come aboard. It's great as it certainly gets you ahead on your Christmas cards and the challenges are once a fortnight. We are a real friendly group of gals and our motto is to have fun!!!.

Thanks for popping by!

Lots of love Clare xxxx

I WOULD LIKE YOU TO MEET WILLOW, BRIAN AND MONICA!!!

This is why I have not been around a lot!!! I am looking after these dear little baby hedgehog's (sorry hoglets!) who lost their Mum and I am having to bottle feed them as they should still be feeding off her. They are the most adorable little babies you could meet and these are the youngest I have ever handled. 

As you can imagine they are real little time waster's too!!!. I have had so many visitor's who have wanted to come see them the past few day's. They are a pretty rare sight to see so really wanted to share them with you and will be updating you with picture's. 

Ummm yes, they are standing in their food eating!!!. They have not quite grasped the concept of manner's yet. I am trying to get them used to solid food which is why it is there so it is all a learning process for them. I tell you what I am getting through so many baby wipes!!!.

Promise to be back soon with more photo's and updates so bear with me. I am still trying to make cards for the fundraiser's in between the feeds, cleaning them and everything else in my life!. 

Nite nite xxxx

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BEAUTIFUL MUM

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE MOST BEAUTIFUL MUM IN THE WORLD................... 

I miss you each and every day, some day's even more and especially on days like today so we can all celebrate together.

Me, Dad and Martin sat around in your garden this afternoon and talked about old times, shed a few tears and managed a few laugh's. We placed your Birthday card on your tree with gifts and flower's surrounding your memorial. 

I wanted to make a special card with the colours and things you liked. I knew you would love this cute little House Mouse image!!!.

Mum I really hope you are having a kick arse 71st Birthday party where you are right now surrounded by family and friends and also showing Matthew how it's done in heaven!!!.

Love you so much Mum xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

A BOX OF TOADSTOOLS!!!

I am trying to get some card box sets done which always seem to be good little seller's at charity events. My gorgeous friend KERYN made some beautiful box sets last year for my first St.Wilfred's Hospice fundraiser and they sold so quickly so I was determined to give it a go. Put it this way if they do not sell like Keryn's I will be getting her to do them in future lol!!!.

I wanted to keep the cards fairly simple with different everyday messages on them. The little toadstool stamp is by KARS and the fern is a Woodware punch. The greeting's are just tiny peel off's from my stash.

I am working on another little box set but not sure yet what the theme will be, think I will sleep on it as im tired!!!.

Thanks for stopping by, I really appreciate your comments and feedback is welcomed big time. 

Love and hugs Clare xxx

TOGETHER FOREVER

Another card creation for charity featuring this lovely LOTV stamp. Everything else on the card I used from my stash.


Hope everyone is having a good Tuesday.
Thanks for popping by xxxxxxxxxxx

CARD AND A HALF SKETCH CHALLENGE #4

Hi everyone. Hope we are all well and not freezing cold like me!!! I can't seem to get warm today, may even have to resort to my red and white polka dot hot water bottle later!!!.

Well there is only one more day left to get your card sketch in for this month's  Card and a Half challenge but there is still time. The sketch this month was designed by  Scraptherapy who are also the proud sponsors of this month's challenge.

Lee-Anne and Danny are giving away a $25 on-line gift voucher from their store and Helen has also put up a little goody prize pack.  

As well as using the sketch as a basis Lee-Anne is also asking to add texture to our cards ie, embossing, textured paper's or cardstock, glitter, gems, ribbon etc.

This is my card;

INGREDIENTS

BAZZILL BASICS WHITE DOT CARD

RED & WHITE LINEN CARD

HOUSE MOUSE BIRTHDAY'S ICE CREAM STAMP SET

CRAFTWORK CARDS SENTIMENT

RED RAFFIA LACE

BOW FROM STASH

PROMARKERS

SPELLBINDERS SCALLOP CIRCLE

Go check out the Card and a Half Blog as a new extra challenge has just gone up!!!. 

Hugs Clare xxx

A BEAR SHARE!!!

I am busy making cards at the moment for the forthcoming charity fundraiser's ahead for MacMillan Cancer and St.Wilfred's Hospice. It is good as it has given me a kick up the bum and I have a little conveyer belt of stamping images, colouring, cutting etc going on. I am trying to make at least a couple of each style card to bring the number's up. So I am going to be sharing cards with you over the coming weeks which I am going to be making for these wonderful charities.

INGREDIENTS

CRAFTWORK CARD BLANKS

WHITE & POWDER BLUE LINEN CARD

LOTV BBQ BEAR STAMP

CRAFTWORK SENTIMENT

PAPERS, RIBBON & BRADS FROM STASH

FLEXMARKER PENS

SPELLBINDERS FLORAL DOILIES

Nite, nite all xxxxxxxxxxx

Margaret's all White With Glitter Card Deadline!!!!!!

Hi All!. Hope everyone is well on this wet and windy Sunday afternoon. Hard to believe another fortnight has passed since the last Christmas Card Club challenge deadline. It was Margaret's turn and she chose an all white card with glitter. This is my take on it;

Hoping i am not breaking the rules with having a stamped image with obvious black outlining!!!!.

INGREDIENTS

WHITE LINEN CARD

LOTV POLAR BEAR STAMP

SPELLBINDER'S FLEUR DE LIS SQUARE'S NESTIES 

PRIMA JEWEL

BUTTON, RIBBON & SENTIMENT FROM STASH

My life is pretty busy at the moment as i am busy making cards for the St.Wifred's coffee morning on 1st October and in the week i was asked to help out for the MacMillan Nurses coffee morning on 24th September. 

I have found out that my operation has been scheduled for 7th October and that i have got to have the op twice as they will only do one side of the kidney at a time, great!!!. 

I still have my beautiful Murdoch the hedgehog who i am nursing. He ended up having another operation on his leg (or stump!) as it kept getting infected so the vet has now put staples in which seems to be doing the trick. I have got to look after him for another 2 weeks then he will go back to have the staples removed. Poor little bugger now has a skin infection so i am having to spray him in oil daily!!! he is not a happy hoggy at having this done and turns into a miniature rottweiler!!!. Will put up some more pic's of him shortly.

On Friday i am going to be looking after 3 baby squirrel's and possibly 3 baby newborn hedgehogs. The lady i deal with is going on holiday for 7 days and she has asked if i am up to looking after them. I am so excited guys and my camera will be doing overtime lol. It is good though as it is all keeping my mind occupied from the not so nice things happening in life. 

Ok will be back soon.

Love to you all, Clare xxxxxxxxxxxx

SYLVIE'S CCC MISTLETOE CHALLENGE

Made my first card in about a month and I am now up to date with the Christmas Card Club challenges. It was the gorgeous SYLVIE'S turn and she chose the theme of a card with mistletoe on.

I used this cute little Penny Black stamp along with a House Mouse sentiment from one of their Christmas sets. The red polka dot pp is from Echo Park and the mistletoe pp is from Do Crafts. 

The following fortnight's challenge is by our lovely Margaret and the theme is white with a bit of glitter. If you click HERE you will see Margaret's stunning take on her challenge.

If anyone would like to come and take part in the Christmas Club just message any one of us girls and go check out our lovely group which is featured in my sidebar. 

Thanks for stopping by guys.

Big hugs Clare xxx

KERRY'S CHRISTMAS CARD CHALLENGE

I'm finding it really hard getting back into the swing of life at the moment. I haven't even thought about card making the past 3 weeks but I made a bit of a breakthrough tonight, I think. 

I had a little dabble and began to make one of the latest cards for The Christmas Card Club challenges. I had already made the one below but have not yet blogged it. The lovely Kerry had her chance to set the challenge which was holly, a robin and the option of a letter box. 

Well it is kind of close!!! definitely some holly, the bird could be a robin and it could be a fancy letterbox!!!. I tried anyway. I love this stamp from LOTV and one of my Christmas favourite's.

I really need to get back into lots of creating as on 1st October me and Wendy are hoping to have another coffee morning to raise money for St.Wilfred's Hospice. If anyone out there is able to spare a card or two to donate for the hospice please just email me on earlygirl1@hotmail.co.uk and I can give you further details and my address.

I will be back very soon as I need to get lots of creating going on. I will also do updates on the hedgies and my lovely painted bungalow!!!.

Lots of love to you all and remember to tell the special people in your lives how much you love them xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I AM GOING TO BE A FOSTER MUM!!!!!!!!!!!

That is a hedgehog foster Mum......The day before we lost Matthew I was asked if I would like to get more involved in looking after hedgehogs and would I be prepared to become a foster Mum to little baby orphaned hoglets. 
In the Autumn the wildlife services become over run with little babies which need to be weaned and looked after which have become orphaned. Many are too tiny and underweight to hibernate in the Winter and die and as Hedgehogs are decreasing every year we need to look after these little protected creatures. It may also mean that I will have to look after them throughout the cold winter months indoors and release them when it warms up in March/April time. 


At the moment I am looking after two amputee hedgehogs which I have found sick in my garden missing limbs. Murdoch and Billy are doing really well and hopefully in the next week or so they will be well enough to release back into the garden. 


I have just been shown how the inject antibiotics into Murdoch which I have to do on a daily basis. This wasn't too hard for me as I have to inject myself weekly lol!. 


I have managed to get hold of a double hutch and will be setting up my conservatory to look after them. I even won a big cage from EBAY today for 99p!!!. I am having some supplies from the Wildlife Services too which will be a big help and already I have another big outdoor cabin and lots of food which they have supplied recently.


I am going to leave you with a few picture's of Murdoch and Billy;

THIS IS BILLY WHO I FOUND EATING FROM THE DISHES JUST OUTSIDE THE CONSERVATORY A WEEK AGO TODAY. BILLY HAD A LOT OF TICKS ON HIM AND WHEN I EXAMINED HIM UNDERNEATH MOST OF HIS RIGHT HIND LEG WAS MISSING. I GOT HIM TO THE VET AND THEY OPERATED AND HE HAS BEEN RECOVERING AT HOME WITH ME SINCE TUESDAY & DOING SO WELL.

THIS IS BIG MURDOCH!!!! THIS GORGEOUS HOGGY HAS BEEN WITH ME FOR ABOUT 3 WEEKS NOW AND IS ON HIS THIRD LOT OF ANTIBIOTICS. AGAIN, THE SAME AS BILLY I EXAMINED MURDOCH AND REMOVED TICKS AND I COULD SMELL REALLY BAD INFECTION ON HIM AND WHEN I LOOKED HIS REAR LEFT LEG HAD BEEN CUT CLEAN OFF. THE VETS RECKON IT IS PEOPLE USING STRIMMERS WHEN CUTTING THEIR GRASS BUT I'M NOT CONVINCED. MURDOCH HAS ANOTHER 4 DAYS OF ANTIBIOTICS AND A FEW DAYS TO SEE HOW HE IS AND HOPEFULLY BACK INTO THE GARDEN.

Just to let you know when I can release these little guys I will mark them so I know exactly who is who whenever I see them outside. Nail varnish is one of the safest and best things to use and stays on their spikes. Just another good reason to buy loads of different funky colours!!!!. 

Matthew was amazed by all of our little creatures when he came over for a holiday 5 years ago and I think he would have happily snuck them into his suitcase!!! Matthew has always loved animals and reckon he would be giving me a big thumbs up.

Thank you for stopping by.

Love and hugs Clare xxx   

A VERY BIG THANKYOU

I would like to say a really big thank you to everyone for all of the love and support that they are showing with the recent loss of Matthew. Your cards, phone calls, emails and texts have really helped and are definitely getting us through this tragedy.

Helen and the boys amaze me on a daily basis at their strength and courage to move forward in life. I know they will get through this with the help of everyone around her and with Helen's positive outlook in life this will get her and the boys through anything.

The main thing Helen wants is for life to go on as Matthew was the biggest go-getter around and would never want her to fall apart and stop doing things that she loves. With this in mind i am also going to do this and continue with happy stuff on my blog which i love to share with all of my beautiful friends.

My next post is going to kind of be a tribute to Matthew as i know he would be so pleased with the latest venture in my life. I just feel sad i did not get to tell him but i know he is up there looking over us all with approval. 

Thank you again everyone and i love you all very much xxxx

FAREWELL MATTHEW

I woke up early this morning and started lighting candles around my house as today was the day that my beautiful Sister Helen and darling Nephews put Matthew to rest. 

The funeral took place at 3.30pm which was 6.30am UK time. I sat and prayed and then thought about all of the wonderful memories and the priveledge i had in knowing Matthew and being able to call him my Brother.

I try to console myself that Matthew was meant for better things than this life but i cannot believe that there was anything better for him than Helen, Jacob and Braiden. I guess we will not know until it is our time to depart this earth. 

I do know that Matthew will be up there with Mum, my Brother and all of the other dear one's lost, all of whom will be looking over Helen, the boy's, family and friends guiding and protecting and trying to help us all come to terms with this tragedy. 

They have been looking after my Sister Carolyn who has just text me to let me know she has just landed safely in Sydney. In a few more hours after her connecting flight to Cairn's she will at last be with Helen and the boys and be able to hold them and cry with them and look after them as we all wish we could here at home. 

Farewell and Godbless Matthew, i know one day we will all be together again xxxxxxx

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR BEAUTIFUL MESSAGES, EMAILS, TEXTS AND CARDS. THEY HAVE MEANT SO MUCH TO ME AND DAD XXX

REST IN PEACE MY DARLING BROTHER-IN-LAW

I HAVE THE HEAVIEST OF HEARTS RIGHT NOW. MY BEAUTIFUL SISTER HELEN AND HER TWO BOYS JACOB AND BRAIDEN LOST THEIR DARLIN HUSBAND AND DAD IN A TERRIBLE MOTOR ACCIDENT YESTERDAY.  

I CANNOT BEGIN TO GET MY HEAD AROUND ALL OF THIS, THE WHY'S, THE HOW'S, THE WTF'S??? I WILL NEVER EVER UNDERSTAND ANY OF THIS BUT FOR NOW ALL I CAN DO IS BE A SISTER AND AN AUNTIE AND DO ALL I CAN TO GET THIS BEAUTIFUL BROKEN FAMILY THROUGH THIS.

IF YOU ARE OF THE PRAYING KIND THEN PLEASE SEND PLENTY IN THEIR DIRECTION.

REST IN PEACE MY GORGEOUS BROTHER-IN-LAW, YOU ARE NOW WITH MUM AND AMONST THE ANGELS XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Two Cards One Stamp

Ok im a bit too hot today guys. I know i shouldn't moan but really feeling it today and not in a good way. I used my Methotrexate injection today so that probably hasn't really helped. Right whinging over!!! hope everyone is well and that YOU are enjoying the heat.

I made a couple of Christmas cards at the weekend using the same Lily of the Valley stamp. It is one of my favourite's and find it really flexible with papers and card.

Atleast my Christmas stash is increasing although i still want to make plenty more before December. So glad that we have the Christmas Club going (see on my sidebar) which is so inspiring and a lovely group of girls. If you are interested and want more information on the group just send me a comment and i will email you. 

Love and hugs Clare xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

ANOTHER MMI SHARE!!!

Wow what a beautiful day today! i have to admit though i am keeping cool indoors with the cats with the fans on. I went out to hang two lots of washing on the line and came back in very hot and bothered!!!.


Just wanted to share another MMI Alphabet soup range card i made for my friends Daughter Alex who has a Birthday on Saturday. Added googly eyes and that cat & penguin look like they have been on my morphine!!!.

I am very excited today as i ordered an Ottlite from Create & Craft on Friday. I have been wanting one for a long while now and they had it on flexi-pay last week so paying it in two installments. I have set it up as my bedside lamp as will be so good if i want to craft of an evening on the bed. The light is supposed to be something like 95% as close to real daylight and is amazing.

It will be so cool for colouring images with my ProMarkers as will be seeing the true colours. Very chuffed with it indeed.

Keep cool everyone.

Hugs Clare xxx

CARD SHARE

Hope everyone is well. Just wanted to share a couple of my latest makes.

Im on a bit of a My Minds Eye infatuation at the moment and love their Alphabet Soup   range. I have used their girly Zoo Animal papers in the first card and used their chipboard elements from the same range. The baby sentiment stamp is by Stamping all Day. The second card i used their Garden Party range "Lush Blooms Daisy Chain" papers, again using some of the Alphabet Soup flowers and little birdie. 

Will be back again soon. Thanks for stopping by!.

Love Clare xxx