A RETURN OF THE STONES!!!

No not the "Rolling Stones" im afraid, kidney stones!. Just wanted to let my lovelies know this is why i have not been around much and commenting on blogs, also the lovely personal emails i have received. Promise i will get around to you as soon as i feel better.

I have so far managed to avoid hospital, especially after my last visit where i had to wait for 9 hours to get pain relief, IV and anti-sickness drugs. I have had the Doctor in and have promised to go straight in if things get worse. I feel strangely reassured this time knowing exactly what it is. I am on the good old morphine, anti-inflammitory and anti-sickness which is all that they would do in hospital anyway. Atleast i can take it when i need it though and not be laying on a guerney in agony for hours. I have had to dig out the old pee jug too which was starting to gather cobwebs in the bathroom wicker basket! this is to check for any stones by the way lol!!!.

Promise i will be back in touch as soon as i can ok. Just want to say a big Happy Birthday to the gorgeous Heather J in OZ, good luck tomorrow Squirrel girl and to have a wonderful weekend Carol D & Sylvie (Gibmiss) who are having a holiday weekend. Also to Margaret i hope the car is wonderful and want to see some pics!!!. Sorry i have not emailed back girls but promise to real soon.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Lots of love Clare xxx

CLEAN & SIMPLE WITH INCY WINCY

Hi all, just made a quicky card to play in the INCY WINCY challenge this week. The challenge is "clean & simple" which i found quite hard to do as i am so used to lots of embellishments and normally a stamped image. Hope it fits the criteria ok!!!.

INGREDIENTS

WHITE BAZZIL CARD

DOODLEBUG LADYBUG SWISS DOTS PAPER

PAPERMANIA (CLARE CURD'S SIGNATURE RANGE) HAPPY BIRTHDAY SENTIMENT STAMP

CRAFT CHIPBOARD FLOWER

SPELLBINDERS LABEL ONE NESTIE

RIBBON, BIND & BUTTONS FROM STASH

As you can see im still in love with my red & white polka dots lol!!!! don't see myself changing this anytime soon. Hope everyone has a good evening.

Thankyou for all of your lovely comments.

Big hugs Clare xxx

BIRTHDAY CARD FOR CHALLENGES

Hello everybody! hope all is well on this cloudy Tuesday. Apologies for not being around much the past few days. Im happy to say that the steroids have finally kicked in and im feeling a lot better at the moment and my painkillers are doing their job.

I was asked to do a Birthday card for a friends Mum for tomorrow and i came up with this using one of my all time favourite Penny Black stamps.

INGREDIENTS

WHITE, GREEN & MAUVE BAZZILL CARD

PENNY BLACK GOSSAMER STAMP

STAMPING ALL DAY "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" CIRCLE STAMP & "MUM" STAMP

KAISER MAUVE PEARLS

HATPIN, BUTTERFLY & RIBBON FROM STASH

MAUVE CARD CANDY

SPELLBINDERS SCALLOP & CIRCLE NESTIES

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges;

CRAFTY CREATIONS - ANYTHING GOES

PAPERTAKE WEEKLY - BLOOM & GROW

MOVING ALONG WITH THE TIMES - TWO B'S    (BUTTERFLY & BOW)

Thanks for stopping by!!!

Hugs Clare xxx

(REST IN PEACE MEG 1993-2011 YOU ARE NOW WITH THE ANGELS BEAUTIFUL GIRL)

THANKYOU

Hello my friends. Just want to say a big thankyou to everyone for such kind messages. I ended up at the hospital yesterday as i was in so much pain and even morphine wasn't really helping. My Rheumatologist ended up giving me a big dose of injected steroids on top of my daily Prednisolone. It usually takes a couple of days to really take effect so hopefully i may start feeling a better soon.

I made a card on Friday for one of my lovely neighbours. He is such a kind person and always running around after other's worrying about everyone else. He is 77 and he does wood turning as a hobby and he made me a lighthouse for my new kitchen. I still need to paint it so will put some pics up when it is done. He is so clever. I just wanted to make him a thankyou card with a nice sentiment.

INGREDIENTS

WHITE & ORANGE BAZZILL CARD

KAISER PP

PAPER MAKEUP SENTIMENT STAMP

PRIMA FLOWERS

BROWN VELVET RIBBON

BUTTONS & TWINE FROM STASH

Thanks for stopping by

Hugs Clare xxx

CARD AND A HALF CHALLENGE KICKS OFF THIS SUNDAY!!!!!!!!!

Hello my lovelies!!! just want to let everyone know Helen's new card challenge blog

CARD AND A HALF kicks off this Sunday with the very first sketch!!!. I am so excited and so is she.

Helen has been trying to get the word out but with all of the blogger problems over the past couple of days a lot of the comments everyone has made have not reappeared on her first post where she has asked you to comment to be in with the chance of the very first prize pack. Please would you go check and if it is not there make sure you add your comment again to be included. Also check that your follow status is still there as there has been 4 lovely ladies who have disappeared from that too. Helen is so disappointed but unfortunately it has been out of her control. BLINKIN' BLOGGER!!!!!.  I know that we have all been affected by it in one way or the other.

I would like to thank loads of my lovely follower family for extending the love and support to Helen with her first new challenge blog. I know it is going to be a big success with exciting challenges and fantastic prizes. Make sure you all pop over on Sunday to see the first sketch going up!!!.

Lots of love

Clare xxxxx

BRAND NEW "CARD AND A HALF" CHALLENGE BLOG BEING LAUNCHED!!!!!!

Hello my lovelies!!!. I would just like to do a plug for my lovely Sister Helen who is launching a brand new card making challenge blog. It is called CARD AND A HALF and Helen is going to be setting a monthly sketch challenge with a new sponsor and a different prize every month. Also throughout the month she will be doing "just for fun" challenges and inspire us into making more cards and to get our creative juices flowing. It is open for all cardmakers whether you have been creating for years or never made cards before and just want to have a go.  

Please go pop over and check it out!!!!. By helping Helen to spread the word you will be entered into a draw for the very first prize pack . Make sure you leave her a comment!!!.

I can't wait for the launch, stayed tuned for the date girls!!!!!.

Thankyou for your support.

Hugs Clare xxx

A TOOT TOOT!!!! AND A CHRISTMAS CARD!

Hello everyone!. I have some really happy news to share with you, well happy for me anyway!. Yesterday i posted a card on my blog which i stamped with an Imaginisce Snag em stamp from their Twitterpated range.

This morning i had a message to say that i had been i-spied by the lovely MELINDA SPINKS who is the IMAGINISCE  Design team Co-Ordinator and that my card was appearing on the Imaginisce blog HERE!!!. I am well chuffed as i have been a bit poorly with the RA this weekend so it has cheered me up no end. The only problem is is that i have got bloggy problems today and i cannot actually see the pic of my card on the blog. Hope i will get to see it tomorrow.

Which leads me on to my card for the Christmas Club. I cannot believe another fortnight has passed. The lovely SYLVIE set the challenge which was to use pink, white and one other colour on our Christmas card.

I guess silver is my other colour but i do have several colours for the colouring of the stamp. Thankyou for the super challenge Sylvie!!!.

INGREDIENTS

WHITE SILVER SHIMMER CARD

PINK & WHITE BAZZILL CARD

CRAFT CREATIONS PINK GINGHAM PAPER

LOTV STAMP

BUTTONS, RIBBON, TWINE & PEEL OFF'S FROM STASH

PROMARKERS

SQUARE SPELLBINDERS NESTIES

DIAMOND, RED & GREEN STICKLES

Please go pop over to the other girls blogs in the Christmas Club by clicking on my sidebar. Thankyou for popping by!!!.

Hugs Clare xxx

Paper Piecing Challenge at Simon Says!

Hello everyone. Just a quick share which i made to enter into this weeks SIMON SAY'S challenge which is paper piecing. I absolutely love this technique and should do it more often as i just love the effect you get.

INGREDIENTS

WHITE LINEN CARD

BROWN SHIMMER PAPER

K&CO AMELIA BLOCKS FLAT PAPER (FOR FOXY)

BO BUNNY "ROUGHIN' IT IN THE WOODS"

IMAGINISCE "TWITTERPATED" FOXY STAMP

WILD ORCHID LEAF'S

PRIMA BROWN FLOWER

KAISER PEARLS

SPELLBINDERS LABEL ONE NESTIE

NELLIE OVAL NESTIE

TH DISTRESSED INK PADS (CRUSHED OLIVE & WALNUT STAIN)

RIBBON & PEEL OFF FROM STASH

Hope everyone is having a fantasic weekend. Will be back again soon.

Big hugs!

Clare xxx

POLKA DOTS & CHALLENGES!!!

Hi there everyone!!!. Hope we are all happy and well today. I would like to enter this card into some challenges. Yes it is different from yesterday's Get Well card, although i did use the same ingredients. It is a Birthday card for my SIL.

INGREDIENTS

RED & WHITE BAZZILL CARD STOCK

CRAFT CREATIONS POLKA DOT PP

PENNY BLACK "WONDERFUL DAY" STAMP

LADYBIRD BOTTLETOP EMBELLISHMENT BY MARGI OLIVER AT "BITS & PIECES"

GINGHAM BOW & SENTIMENT FROM STASH

KAISER CRAFT RED PEARLS

SPELLBINDERS SCALLOP CIRCLE NESTIES

PROMARKERS

GLOSSY ACCENTS

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges;

MY TIME TO CRAFT CHALLENGE - RED & WHITE

LADYBUG CRAFTS -  GOING DOTTY!!!

PAPERTAKE WEEKLY -  ANYTHING GOES

TOP TIP TUESDAY  -  OPEN CHALLENGE

MOVING ALONG WITH THE TIMES -  ANYTHING GOES

Have a great day everyone!

Love & hugs
Clare xxx

GET WELL WENDY!!!

Hi chooks! hope we are all well on this fine Wednesday. Unfortunately poor Wendy is not so good. She went in for her chemo yesterday and on her way out of hospital she felt very unwell. She was taken to A&E and  it looks like she has had a mini stroke. Poor bugger it is the last thing that she needs as she also has had a rotten kidney infection. But in true Wendy style she has trooped on and has managed to get home under strict rest.

I went to see her earlier and i must admit i was not sure how i would find her. I was reassured when i saw her though as she looks exactly the same and all of the symptoms she had are gone. I made her a card and took her some strawberries to cheer her up!.

Wanted a nice bright cheery one for her and she, like me, likes red yay!!!.

INGREDIENTS

RED & WHITE BAZZILL CARD

CRAFT CREATIONS POLKA DOT PP

PENNY BLACK "WONDERFUL DAY" STAMPS

MY BEAUTIFUL FRIEND MARG OLIVER HANDMADE THE FUNKY BOTTLE TOP (DETAILS AT END OF THE POST)

BLACK PEEL OFF SENTIMENTS, HEART BUTTON, TWINE & RIBBON FROM STASH

SPELLBINDERS SCALLOP CIRCLES NESTIES

PROMARKERS

GLOSSY ACCENTS

Get well soon my beautiful friend!!!!

Love & hugs Clare xxx

HERE IS THE LINK TO MY GORGEOUS FRIEND MARGI'S BLOG WHERE SHE SELLS HER BEAUTIFUL HANDMADE EMBELLISHMENTS. PLEASE POP OVER AS THEY ARE AMAZING!!

    http://bitsandpiecescreatedby-marg.blogspot.com/

PICTURES OF MY NEW LOOK KITCHEN!!!

Atlast some pics of my new kitchen!!!. Apart from some bits which i will be replacing eventually and a shelf to go up above the tiling on the boiler wall my lovely kitchen is done. I absolutely love it and although it may not be everybody's cup of tea but it certainly is mine!!!.



A SIGN JUST INCASE I CAN'T FIND THE KITCHEN!!!



HAD TO BUY THIS MAT FOR THE FLOOR AS THE LINO GOT RIPPED WHEN PULLING OUT THE FRIDGE & FREEZER!!!




I EVEN MANAGED TO FIND A RED & WHITE POLKA DOT DOOR MAT! OH BY THE WAY THAT IS ONLY CAT GRASS IN THE CORNER!!!



I LOVE MY RED & WHITE GINGHAM BLINDS



I EVEN MANAGED TO GET A RED BIN

DON'T WORRY I DID NOT GO OUT & BUY A RED CAT BOWL SET! BERT & SIMONE HAVE HAD THESE SINCE KITTENS

MANAGED TO GET SOME RED SAUCEPANS, EVEN GOT A POLKA DOT FRYING PAN AND MILK PAN! THINK I NEED SOME SPRAY PAINT ON THE VERY PINK SINK TIDY. EVEN MANAGED TO GET SOME POLKA DOT DISH CLOTHS!

GOT THE PLATE RACK & SPRAY PAINTED IT RED ALONG WITH THE SHELF

HAVEN'T GOT MY PLATES YET BUT HOPE TO GET THEM SOON. I HAVE JUST STUCK BITS UP ON THE SHELVES SO THEY DON'T LOOK BARE!!!

MY LOVELY NEPHEW MANAGED TO GET THESE FUNKY MUGS IN THE CATS PROTECTION CHARITY SHOP BLESS HIM!

OK I KNOW I NEED A RED KETTLE & TOASTER, WILL DO ONE DAY!

Next job on the agenda is the bathroom & toilet. Really want to do each room as and when i can afford it and get the entire room done. Had a lot to get for the kitchen so put all of my money into it but wanted it all completed before moving on.

Will be interested in comments guys, good or bad!!!. Thankyou for popping by my lovelies.

Big hugs Clare xxx

AUTUMN FLYING 18th BIRTHDAY CARD & SOME CHALLENGES

I hope everyone is fit and well and has enjoyed the bank holiday. Was it just me today or was it cold? gorgeous sunshine but such a cold wind. By the time i finished hanging out the washing earlier i looked like i had been dragged through a hedge backwards and resembled Alice Cooper where my mascara had run all over my face!!!. So not a good look, i think i scared the life out of the cats.

Anyways after making everyone else's cards for Katie's 18th Birthday i nearly forgot to do one for her from me!!!!.

I have been looking forward to using more of my cute House Mouse stamps so couldn't resist using them on this card.

INGREDIENTS

WHITE HAMMER CARD

GREEN BAZZILL CARD

DOODLEBUG "SPRING DOT" PP

HOUSE MOUSE "AUTUMN FLYING" STAMPS

PROMARKERS

BLING, RIBBON & EYELETS FROM STASH

SILVER PEEL OFF'S

I spoke to Katie earlier today and she was having a fantastic day bless her. HAPPY 18th BIRTHDAY KATIE!!!.

I would like to enter this card into some challenges too.

PAPER CUTZ CHALLENGE - Anything goes

SPARKLES FORUM CHALLENGES - Anything goes

SIMON SAYS STAMP! - Anything goes

MOVING ALONG WITH THE TIMES - Anything goes

The furbabies are getting back to normal bless em, thankyou for your kind messages.

Oh by the way, i promise i will put up pics this week of my new look kitchen. Hope everyone has a good day tomorrow.

Big hugs Clare xxx