FEELING VERY PROUD!!!!

Wow I have found out this afternoon that I was a winner's over at HOUSE MOUSE & FRIENDS for challenge #111 black & white card.

I am excited now as I was when I won Cardmaker of the Year for Craft Stamper magazine in 2010 lol!!!. This is the first ever blog challenge that I have won. I have not participated much in blog challenge sites until recently and now I definitely have the bug!!!.

I absolutely love HOUSE MOUSE & FRIENDS and I am building up quite a selection of these gorgeous stamps. You could say I'm addicted lol!!!. If you pop over HERE they are doing a blog hop with loads of lovely prizes. The theme for the next fortnights challenge #112 is "more than one heart" set by CHRISTINE.

Hope everyone is having a great Monday as I know I am despite the freezing cold weather.

Love & hugs Clare xxx

PINKY'S CHALLENGE AT THE CHRISTMAS CARD CLUB!!!

Hi there everyone!!!. Hoping everyone is well on this cold Sunday morning. I am just posting my card for PINKY'S challenge for the Christmas Card Club.

Pinky's challenge was to create a card with critter's on ie, an animal, a bug etc. So this was my take on it.

Sorry guys i'm so rubbish at taking pic's as it is a bit wonky lol!!!. Oh well atleast you can see it I guess.

MATERIALS I USED

WHITE, GREEN & RED BAZZIL CARD

PENNY BLACK "CHRISTMAS WISHES" STAMP

PAPER (THINK IT IS ECHO PARK)

KAISER RUB ON SENTIMENT

KAISER PEARLS

RIBBON FROM STASH

FLEUR DE LIS SQUARES NESTIBILITIES

PROMARKERS (TAN, BLUSH, IVORY, WARM GREY 1, RED BERRY & FOREST GREEN)

If you would like to take part in the Christmas Card Club just message me or any of the other girls. We make a card every fortnight with a set challenge. It is a great way of getting those Christmas cards made well ahead of December!!!.

Please go see the other girl's creations, they are all listed on my side bar.


I would also like to add my card to;


CHNC CHALLENGE which is to make a square card
LADYBUG CRAFTS which is to add bows to your card
SIMON SAYS anything goes
CREATIVE INSPIRATIONS anything goes
DREAM VALLEY CHALLENGES animals
BIZZY BECS anything goes


Thanks for looking and for your wonderful comments. They mean the world to me.

Have a great Sunday!!!.

Big hugs Clare xxx

BIRD WATCHING FRIENDS!!!

Hi everyone, hope you have all had a good Thursday. I'm just entering my recent make into some challenges. I absolutely love the Prima card that I have used but wish I had brought more as it's sooooo gorgeous!!!!. I can't find any more so if anyone out there knows where I can get some please let me know!!!!. 

MATERIALS I USED

BLUE & YELLOW BAZZIL CARD

PRIMA CARD

HOUSE MOUSE STAMP "BIRD WATCHING FRIENDS"

PEBBLES HAPPY BIRTHDAY RUB ON

MARTHA STEWART DOILY LACE BORDER PUNCH

KAISER PEARLS

PROMARKERS (TAN, SANDSTONE, BLUSH, IVORY, BUTTERCUP, KHAKI, PASTEL PINK & KHAKI)
GLOSSY ACCENTS

I am entering my card into the following challenges;

PAPERTAKE WEEKLY - Happy Highlights (mine is Glossy Accents)

SIMON SAYS  - Anything goes

BIZZY BECS - Anything Goes

DREAM VALLEY CHALLENGES - Animals

That's it for today. I'm just going out to tea with my lovely friend Wendy but will be back again real soon!!!.

Thankyou for your lovely comments, I really do appreciate them.

Big hugs Clare xxx

HOUSE MOUSE & FRIENDS BLACK & WHITE CHALLENGE

Hello blogland!!!! hope everyone is well on this Saturday afternoon. Not sure about where you are but it sure is blowing a gale in sunny Eastbourne. 

After a very slow start this morning with plenty of joint pain I have managed to get a few chores done around the house followed by a lovely warm bath and now heading to the craft room for the rest of the day (may have to shove a little nana nap in there somewhere too due to the heavy artillery painkillers!!!). 

Here is my card for the HOUSE MOUSE & FRIENDS challenge this week which had to be a black and white card.

MATERIALS I USED

CRAFTWORK CARDS CARD, CIRCLE SENTIMENT & SCALLOP CIRCLE

HOUSE MOUSE BIRTHDAY STAMP

DOODLEBUG BLACK & WHITE POLKA DOT PAPER

BLACK TWINE, BUTTONS & RIBBON FROM STASH

I am really loving taking part in the House Mouse challenges now I have plenty more HM stamps. One of my resolutions was to take part in more challenges out there so so far so good!!!.

Have a great weekend my lovelies.

Love & hugs Clare xxx

KERYN'S CHRISTMAS CLUB CARD CHALLENGE!!!

Think thin is this weeks challenge by the gorgeous KERYN. We had to create a card no thicker than 5mm in it's envelope so no 3d, no thick embellishments, ribbon, buttons etc. Keryn's inspiration for her challenge was through sending her Christmas cards off and being charge ridiculous prices just because they didn't fit within their 5mm limitation before the prices went up!!!. 

I must admit it was indeed a challenge as I had to stop myself reaching for my usual stash!!!. I have surprised myself though and actually really like the flat look. 

MATERIALS I USED

Magenta 5 large tree's stamp

Hero Arts Car With Tree stamp

Kaiser sentiment rub-on

Woodware snowflake punch

Bling from stash

Flexmarkers (Glacier Blue, Honeydew, Aniseed & Blue Grey 1)

Promarker (Sandstone)

Stickles (Eucalyptus and Diamond)

This year we have welcomed two new lovely ladies to the Christmas Card Club, ANNE and LORRAINE. If you want to get ahead with your Christmas cards we have a challenge every fortnight. If you are interested then just drop us a line. 

Please go see all of the other girls lovely cards, they are all listed on my sidebar. 

Hope everyone is having a great Sunday, it is a beautiful day here in Eastbourne but very cold.

Big hugs Clare xxx

MY FAVOURITE CARDS OF 2011

Hello everyone. Hope you are all having a nice weekend. Blimey it's cold out there isn't it!!! must admit I have been curled up in my little bungalow with the heating on all day with the furbabies. 

Ok, I haven't finished cards yet today to show but I thought I would show you my favourite cards of 2011. I didn't think I would find it had to narrow it down but surprisingly I did. I notice a lot of you have been showing off your cards so thought I would follow suit, although i'm probably late as usual!!!. So here goes. 

It is so weird to think of how fast 2011 came and went as doesn't seem that long ago since I was making these cards. 

Thanks for stopping by and I really love and appreciate you comments.

Best wishes Clare xxx

NEW SOMETHING

Aren't these two House Mouse character's just the cutest!!!. I am definitely addicted to HM stamps now and building up quite a nice collection. I made this card for  House Mouse and Friends challenge #110 which is to create something to celebrate which is new to you ie, new beginnings, new baby, new job, new hobby, new stash!!! anything basically that is new. So my "new" to my card is this stamp set which I got just before Christmas and this stamp has never been used before.

I HAVE USED

WHITE & YELLOW BAZZILL CARD STOCK

HOUSE MOUSE STAMP FROM BIRTHDAY SET

OCTOBER AFTERNOON "FARM FRESH-FARMHOUSE" CARD

RIBBON, SENTIMENT, BLING & BRADS FROM STASH

FLEXMARKERS

I am so happy that I have got back into blogging and card making. I have been a good girl and sticking to my resolutions to blog often and catch up with my friends. Finding it very theraputic. Right back to the craft room!!!.

Big hugs Clare xxx

Especially for You

Hello everyone. Hope you are all well on this Thursday Evening. It has been soooo nice seeing the sun today for a change. I even opened a few windows up!!!.

I have made this card for one of my lovely friends, just to let her know I am thinking of her. I used one of my favourite LOTV stamps.

I USED

White linen cardstock

Prima "Jack & Jill" collection paper's

LOTV stamp

Daisy & Dandelion sentiment tag

Bling, ribbon & flower from stash

Spellbinders Floral Doily Motif Shapeabilities

Promarkers & Flexmarkers

Antique Linen Distressed ink pad

Thank you for popping by my lovelies xxx

Loving my Polka Doodles!!!

Just made this card for one of my lovely friends for her recent Birthday. I am so loving Polka Doodle stamps at the moment as one of my gorgeous friends got me one of the sets for Christmas.

I USED

Craftwork Cards 8x8 White Card

White & Red Linen Card

Doodlebug red & White Polka Dot Paper

Polka Doodles Stamp Set

Pebbles "Happy Birthday" rub on

MSE "To a Special Friend" rub on

Kaiser bling

Vintage Photo Distressed Ink Pad

Promarkers & Flexmarkers

Stickles (Eucalyptus & Diamond) 

Hope all of my lovely friends are well and settling into 2012.

Big hugs Clare xxx

Baby Card

Just wanted to share this card with you that I made for my lovely friend Lizzie who has just given birth to her beautiful baby girl Isabella.

I HAVE USED

Craftwork cards 8x8 white card

Red Bazzill card
Funstamps "Baby Bear with Rattle" Stamp
Paper makeup "Little Baby" sentiment Stamp
Floral Doily Motifs Shapeabilities
Red Gingham paper, bling, hatpin, red ribbon and baby charm from stash
Promarkers & Flexmarkers (Tan, Sandstone, Pastel Pink & Antique White)
Worn Lipstick Distress Ink Pad 
Ranger Glossy Accents

Just want to say a very big thank you to all of my beautiful bloggy family for such a lovely and warm welcome back. 

Thanks for stopping by

Hugs Clare xxx

Some Christmas Makes

Just wanted to share some Christmas cards which I made.

Thanks for popping by xxx

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!! I am hoping and praying big time that 2012 is going to be a much better year and I for one was glad to see the back of 2011.

Well I know that it has been a long long time since I last blogged and you were probably wondering if I was ever coming back!!!. I ended up taking a much longer break than I had expected which I will try to explain as briefly as I can.

I had my kidney op which went well but ended up being more involved than just removing the stones. He ended up just doing my right hand side and when I went back for my post-op he has decided to leave my right side for the time being unless it gives me any problems. About 3 weeks ago I ended up having another kidney stone flare up on the side which was operated on which was a big shock as I thought that was the whole purpose of the bloody op, grrr!!!. I am leaving it for the time being as I am hoping it was a one off fluke. If I get any more flares I know I will have to get back in touch with the surgeon so finger's crossed.

After the operation I got really sick which ended up being sourced to the Methotrexate injections I was giving myself for my Rheumatoid Arthritis. All of my bloods were all over the place, I couldn't eat and kept being sick. The best thing was was losing over a stone in weight!!!. I know that is a real typical female thing to say lol!. Once I had come off the drug I gradually got better but I am now not on any drugs for my Rheumatoid, just anti-inflammatories, steroids and strong painkillers. I went to see my Rheumatologist just before Christmas and he wants me on another drug trial which I am waiting to hear about at the moment. I have had to go up on my steroids and had joint injections just to try control the RA flare up's in the meantime. I have had another bad weekend and been in bed for most of it hardly being able to walk. I'm feeling a bit better today but still high on the morphine!!!.

Enough health stuff. I do hope that everyone was thoroughly spoilt at Christmas time. I was very lucky with some yummy crafty gear, a printer, some new red and white polka dot kitchen wares, money, CD's, smellies, lots more.........I just want to share these cute pic's of Bert & Simone with their new Christmas baskets;

 JUST COULD NOT RESIST THE POLKA DOTS!!!

Both furbabies were thoroughly spoilt!!!. They got the big red doggy bone mattress too, a lovely fleecy mat and new blankets along with lots of toys and treats. 

So 2012 has kicked off to a good crafty start. I have been having a big craft room spring clean and have had to be really brutal and throw out loads of things I am not using, a big cull!!!. It is not all bad though as what my Mother-in-Law does not want I will donate to the hospice. I have been having a play with some gorgeous new stamps and bits I received for Christmas and even made a Christmas card for the first challenge for our Christmas Card Club (see the side bar for details). I am going to show my cards in some seperate posts so stay tuned.

I do hope everyone remember's me and does not think I have deserted you all!!!. I will pop over to everyone's blogs so bear with me.

With love and big, big hugs Clare xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx