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