CHALLENGES

This is the other card i was asked to do for Katie's 18th Birthday.

INGREDIENTS

RED HAMMER CARD

WHITE LINEN CARD

YELLOW SHIMMER CARD

PENNY BLACK STAMP "WODERFUL DAY" SET

BASIC GREY "JUNEBUG" PATTERNED PAPER

PEBBLES RUB ON'S

RED CARD CANDY

KAISER BLING

WOODWARE FLORAL PUNCH

MARTHA STEWART BUBBLE BATH PUNCH AROUND THE CORNER PUNCH

SPELLBINDERS FANCY TAGS

PROMARKERS (TAN, POPPY, BUTTERCUP, CORAL, IVORY, BLUSH, KHAKI, PASTEL BEIGE & CINNAMON)

DIAMOND STICKLES

EYELETS

ORGANZA RIBBON FROM STASH

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

C.R.A.F.T CHALLENGE -     flowers
TOP TIP TUESDAY -    open challenge
INCY WINCY DESIGNS -  bright & bold
CREATIVE INSPIRATIONS -  animals/pets
CES CHALLENGES -  spring colours/image

Thankyou for popping by on this gorgeous Saturday afternoon.

Love & hugs Clare xxx

ANYONE FOR A SHAVE!!!

This was one of the gorgeous House Mouse stamps i picked up at Ally Pally and have been itching to use it so thought Katie (the recipient of the 18th Birthday card) would absolutely love it!!!.

I was asked by Katie's Brother and Sister to make special cards for them to give to her so will be adding the other one tomorrow when it is finished. I still have to make her one so will have to think of something totally different!.

INGREDIENTS

WHITE & TURQUOIS BAZZILL CARD

DOODLEBUG "SWIMMING POOL" SWISS DOTS PAPER

HOUSE MOUSE STAMP "BUZZ CUT"

KAISER BLING

BLACK PEEL OFF'S

PROMARKERS

GLOSSY ACCENTS

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

TUESDAY THROWDOWN - polka dots

PAPERTAKE WEEKLY - spots & stripes

CHARISMA CARDZ - jokes & laughter (to make you smile/laugh!)

TOP TIP TUESDAY - open challenge

LADYBUGS CRAFTS - anything goes

Thanks for stopping by!

Love Clare xxx

AN 18th BIRTHDAY CARD & CHALLENGE

I was asked recently to do an 18th Birthday card  for a friends Grandaughter and she asked me specifically for white and pink, lots of flowers, a specific sentiment and 18 somewhere, didn't want any images but can add things to make it look pretty!!!

I always feel a bit awkward when someone is SO specific on what they would like. I always feel like it is to confining as i like to experiment when i make cards. Oh well lets just hope she likes it!!!.

I would like to enter this card into WILD ORCHID CHALLENGES - Wings

INGREDIENTS

 

WHITE & PINK BAZZILL CARD

WILD ORCHID LEAVES, FLOWERS & HATPIN

SILVER PEEL OFF'S

LACE & RIBBON FROM STASH

NELLIES OVAL DIES

SILVER NAILHEADS

BUTTERFLY EMBELLISHMENT FROM STASH

Big hugs xxx

P.S Thankyou my darlin friend Keryn for your advice and words of wisdom!

CHALLENGES!!!!

Hi there chooks, hope we are all well this fine Saturday afternoon. What a lovely day it has been. I am just sitting here in the conservatory, doors wide open, cats sleeping on the floor in the sun and some lovely fresh air in the lungs.

I was asked yesterday if i could do an Anniversary card which is being collected in an hours time. I was pretty chuffed knowing i had recently purchased this gorgeous LOTV love elephant so thought it would look perfect on this card.

Isn't he just adorable!!!. He ended up with 5 layers as i muffed the 4th layer up when i decided to water colour it. Hadn't used the right card and it ended up all lumpy from too much water!!!. Oh well ended up with Promarkers instead.

INGREDIENTS

CRAFTWORK CARDS LABEL STYLE CARD

CRATE PAPER "KATLIN COLLECTION" NOTEBOOK

LOTV ELEPHANT STAMP

NELLIE OVAL DIES

SPELLBINDERS FANCY TAGS

WILD ORCHID FLOWERS

PROMARKERS

KAISER BLING & SENTIMENT

GLOSSY ACCENTS

I have decided to take part in a couple of challenges this week, something i want to start doing more of. I am entering this card into;

A Spoonfull of Sugar - All reatures Great & Small
Papertake Weekly - Truly Dimensional

Back again soon!!!

Big hugs Clare xxx

A CARD FOR MY BEAUTIFUL FRIEND

My beautiful friend Wendy started her chemotherapy yesterday so i wanted to make her a special card and have a bouquet of flowers waiting for her when she got home from treatment.

The sentiment is very fitting for Wendy. Since my lovely Mum passed away she has been like a surrogate Mum to me and it kills me to see her going through this, especially as my own Mum went through so much and so similar.

Wendy is usually the carer and i think she is finding it hard having people wanting to care for her. But i know Wendy is a big fighter like my Mum and i want to do everything i can to make this journey easier in anyway, even if it is just to be an ear or to go have a natter with her.

Love you Wendy.

Thanks for stopping by

Clare xxx

INGREDIENTS

WHITE & RED LINEN CARD

PAPER MAKEUP SENTIMENT STAMP

MAGENTA FLORAL TILE STAMP

PROMARKERS

GLOSSY ACCENTS

RIBBON FROM STASH

A CARD TO SHARE!

Just wanted to share a card with you. Have been itching to use these lovely poppies on a card which i got recently from Wild Orchid.

INGREDIENTS

RED & WHITE LINEN CARD

PAPER MAKEUP SENTIMENT STAMP

POPPIES & LEAF'S FROM WILD ORCHID

RED RAFFIA LACE RIBBON

OTHER RIBBON FROM STASH

Thankyou for stopping by

Love Clare xxx

A FANTASTIC DAY!!!

Hi there folks!!! Had an amazing time at Ally Pally yesterday but definitely paying for it today! im on the heavy duty painkillers today but it was so well worth the pain. Not only the early start, the non stop walking but the 4 hours being on the coach are the cause!!!. Ally Pally is an amazing place and the best craft show i have ever been to.

I was so happy as i got to meet the gorgeous Sylvie (Gibmiss) and some of her awesome friends. We met when we got there and then we met up for lunch. I also got to meet Debby (Deb4000) and she is just lovely. I just wish there had been more time to have a good get together.

Me and Amanda, my friend that i went with, managed to spend some money. Here is a pic of my stash;

You are probably wondering what the wooden box is all about. There was an amazing stall selling alternate art projects with plenty of MDF!!! i love painting and making different things that cost £££££ made up in shops. Lots of shapes to make hanging photo frames, door signs, ornamental shapes to hang from doors etc. They were so so cheap. That box only cost £4.00 which i am going to make up for a memory box my friend Wendy.

Got some gorgeous House Mouse stamps and lots of odds and sods.

Although i am in agony today i am already thinking about the September show (gluton for punishment i know!). So nice meeting lots of different people and funnily enough when me and Amanda were getting on the coach there were 2 ladies that i knew so even if you went on your own everyone is so friendly and you are bound to see people that you know or make new friends with.

I heard earlier from Sylvie and she got back to Gibraltar safetly and she said what a wonderful time she had had.

Thanks for stopping by.

Big hugs, Clare xxx

BOY CARDS!!!

I recently managed to get hold of these cute dinosaur papers from My Minds Eye. It is from their Abbey Road collection called Stomp "Best Buddies" Dinosaur collection.

I didn't want to overdo embellishments etc as this paper is too cute to hide!!! kept them pretty plain. The polka dot strip pattern on card 2 is from the opposite side of the "stomp" paper. I am really loving Kraft card at the moment, i had a real job trying to get hold of some, now i have i keep using it!.

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs Clare xxx



CHRISTMAS CLUB - SALLY'S SKETCH!!!

Hi all, hope everyone is having a happy Saturday. So beautiful to have the sun shining, hope it continues. I am off to Ally Pally tomorrow so posting my Christmas club card earlier. It is my first time going to AP so im really excited, a bit nervous too and hoping that my body is going to play nice tomorrow (think i might double up on the steroids and i'll be buzzing around!!!). Anyway it was the lovely SALLY'S turn for the Christmas challenge this week and this is what i came up with;

This was Sally's super sketch and i hope i have done it justice!!

INGREDIENTS

MY MINDS EYE COLOURFUL CHRISTMAS "WINTER WONDERLAND" PAPER

KAISER CHRISTMAS RUB ON'S

KAISER RED PEARLS

RIBBON & BUTTON FROM STASH

Hope you will go pop over to the other girls blogs and check out their creations. If you go to my side bar all the girlies are listed there. Remember anyone is welcome to join our little group, just email one of us.

Probably have some more posts for today but before i forget i promise to email pics of Ally Pally and the bits i get hold of. I am meeting up with Sylvie (Gibmiss) and can't wait. Anyone else going just give me a shout and perhaps we can meet up.

Big hugs.

Clare xxx

HOUSEWARMING CARD

Remember the time you move in to your first place with the other half? (yeah im sure some of you are cringing right now!), well my lovely Nephew Dan has just moved into a flat with his Girlfriend Sam and i wanted to make them a housewarming card.

INGREDIENTS

WHITE & GREEN BAZZILL CARD

DOODLEBUG "WELCOME HOME" ICON STICKERS

RIBBON FROM STASH

BLACK ALPHABET PEEL OFF'S

Congratulations Dan & Sam!!!!

Thanks for popping by.

Hugs

Clare xxx

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY MUM, HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD.........

Feeling very mixed today. Happy as it is Dad's 78th Birthday and sad because i wish my Mum was here to celebrate Mother's day. I would like to share one of my fave pics of them both on my wedding day.

Im trying to be nice and cheery around Dad and im going to make him a nice dinner tonight. Martin came over today and we gave him some pressies (including Benedorm series 1 to 3!), a CD and some chocolate so he was very happy with that. My sis and kids were over yesterday and Rebecca made Grandad a huge chocolate cake.

BIRTHDAY BOY!!!

I managed to find a beautiful angel windchime from Past Times to put on Mum's memorial tree. We have all placed some lovely flowers and her card down and i just know Mum would be chuffed to bits with everything.

Thankyou for letting me share these pictures with you. Would like to say Happy Mother's Day to all and big hugs to all who have lost their beautiful Mum's.

Love you Mum and Dad xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

A CARD FOR A MALE MATE!!!

Isn't it strange how some times you get that "aagghh" moment when you realise that you nearly forgot that Birthday. I always try and keep some handy for such moments like these but then you do another "aagghh" when you have no male one's!!!!

INGREDIENTS

TURQUOIS BAZZIL CARD
PLAIN WHITE CARD
HOBBY ART SMALL LIGHTHOUSE STAMP
PAPER MAKEUP SENTIMENT STAMP
BROKEN CHINA DISTRESSED INK
TURQUOIS METALS
RIBBON FROM STASH


HAPPY BIRTHDAY FOR SUNDAY BRETT!!! Hoping it gets to you on time hun, Put 2 second class stamps on it!.

Big hugs Clare xxx

MY MUM'S SPECIAL MOTHER'S DAY CARD

Just wanted to show you the Mother's day card i made for Mum. My Mum absolutely loved flowers with abundance. Im going to buy some lovely flowers for her memorial place in Dad's garden for Sunday. I know she is still around me and she can see her card. She was my biggest supporter and she is my inspiration and always will be.

INGREDIENTS

CRAFTWORK CARDS LABEL STYLE CARD
SEI PP
PAPER MAKEUP STAMP SENTIMENT
WILD ORCHIDS ROSES & GYPSOPHELIA
PINK LACE RIBBON FROM STASH
KAISER PEARLS
DREAMWEAVER HAT PIN

I brought the stamp especially for my Mum as it is so appropriate (Abe thought so too!!!) and i just love the "Angel Mother" words, so so fitting.

Love you Mum xxx

CHRISTMAS CLUB - PINKY'S CHALLENGE

Hi there folks!!! sorry not been around the past fortnight but have been poorly with a not so nice viral infection in throat and a bad cold (plus all of the other crap that goes with it!). I totally lost my voice for a few days which was nice for some!!!.

Anyway im a little late but here is my take on the gorgeous PINKY'S sketch challenge.

(PINKY'S SKETCH)

I have just got some new LOTV stamps and this was the first time i had used this gorgeous polar bear Dad and cub stamp.

INGREDIENTS

LOTV stamp

Daisy Bucket pp

Echo Park pp

White card

Red Raffia Lace Ribbon

Kaiser bling

Black Peel Off

I would just like to send Pinky a big gentle hug as she has a very bad back at the moment and is also suffering sickness. Get well soon Pinky girl xxx

Please go pop over to the other girls blogs for the Christmas Club on my side bar. If you would like to join the club please just email one of us girls and we would be delighted to have you aboard.

Promise to be back soon as have some pictures of my yummy kitchen i would love to share.

Big hugs

Clare xxx

CHRISTMAS CLUB CARD SKETCH

Hi everyone, so sorry i have not posted in a week or so but i have been a busy busy girl. Firstly this is the card i made out of the sketch that i set for the Christmas Club.

Im not 100% happy with it as it was a rush job last night, i know i had 2 bloomin weeks to do it and i had even set the sketch challenge, so slapped hands to me!!!.

INGREDIENTS

WHITE LINEN CARD

KARS "HOLIDAY PAPER"

ECHO PARK "MERRY BORDER STRIP"

HAT PINS

WILD ORCHID FLOWERS

GREEN CANDY

MAKING MEMORIES RUB ON'S

The next fortnight sketch is set by the lovely PINKY. 

We have another addition to the Christmas Club and her name is DUTCHESS, welcome aboard lovely lady. Please pop over and see her lovely blog and her gorgeous cards. Also go visit all of the other girls work, CLAIRE, CRAFTY CHRIS, PINKY, KERYN, SALLY & SYLVIE.

If you would like to come join the Christmas Club just send any one of us a message or email us and we will send the details out. We are not a challenge blog, we are just a group of gals that want to have some fun, have a chat and hopefully have a few Chrissy cards made by the end of the year.

So as i said at the beginning i have been a busy bee as i have just started the home makeover to my bungalow this week. Me and Dad went out and brought some paint etc and we have started on the kitchen. I am just doing all the rooms as and when i can afford it and am not bothered that i am slow as, not like i am in a rush to get it all done

I absolutely love vintage/shabby chic/retro style and my kitchen is going to red and white with red n white polka dot accessories. I have got a little sneaky peek for you all but there is still heaps to do.

As soon as the room is done i will add lots of pics to my blog. So if im MIA a bit you know why!!!.

Promise i will be back soon though chookies!!!

Godbless

Love Clare xxx



CHRISTMAS CARD CLUB

Hello my lovelies!!!. Well it is my turn to find a card sketch for the following fortnight CHRISTMAS CARD CLUB.

The deadline for this challenge is Sunday 13th March.

A group of us girls decided that we did not want to get behind with our Christmas cardmaking this year or to leave them right to the last minute (sound familiar?) so every fortnight we take it in turns to put up a sketch and share our cards on our blogs. Anyone is welcome to join us, all you need to do is leave one of us girls a message and you will be included. Our aim is to have some fun and create.

We have two new follower's this week so welcome, SALLY & SYLVIE. Don't forget to go check out their blogs and the other girls, CLAIRE, CRAFTY CHRIS, KERYN and PINKY.

Just want to say GET WELL SOON KERYN. She is pretty poorly at the moment bless her. All thinking of you hun and can't wait till you are back and feeling better xxx

Thanks for stopping by!

Hugs Clare xxx

CHRISTMAS CARD CLUB - CLAIRE'S SKETCH

Hello my lovelies!!! what a bloody miserable Saturday afternoon it is out there. I just cannot wait for more sunshine, roll on Summer!.

Well it was the lovely CLAIRE'S turn to come up with the sketch for the CHRISTMAS CARD CLUB the last fortnight.

It was such a lovely sketch to work with and this was what i came up with;

INGREDIENTS

WHITE SHIMMER CARD

GREEN BAZZILL CARD

ECHO PARK PP MERRY BORDER STRIP

PENNY BLACK CHRISTMAS CRITTER'S STAMPS

NELLIE OVAL NESTIE

SPELLBINDERS RECTANGLES

PROMARKERS

DECOART SNOW WRITER

INKSSENTIALS OPAQUE PEN

WHITE GLITTER

The fortnight will be my turn to choose the sketch for the CHRISTMAS CLUB which i will post sometime tomorrow. Remember that anyone is welcome to join and is based on fun and achievement!!!.

Godbless

Clare xxx

A Year Older and a Busy Week!

Have had a busy one but a fantastic week. Have some pics to share with you as it was my Birthday on Monday (38, aarrgghh!!!). My Birthday kind of started last weekend as went out Saturday with Martin and we hung out and had lunch, then went on to meet my Sister, Nephew and Niece in Eastbourne. Did a bit of retail therapy then home to a huge chocolate cake my Niece Rebecca had made and some pressies.

I know, my Birthday was not until Monday but my Nephew Jack had come home for the weekend from Uni and knew i would not get to see them on the day (it would be rude not to as well!!!).

I was up at the hospital Sat and Sun afternoon to see Wendy but she forbade me to go up there on my Birthday but i was happy as i knew she would be home Tuesday.

I have been very spoilt this year and received some lovely gifts. The most amazing pressie i received was from the beautiful KERYN!!!

This exploding box card is amazing and the pics just cannot do it justice im afraid. Keryn is so amazingly talented and i feel so lucky to have received it.

Keryn also sent me all of this wonderful crafty stash!!!!.Thankyou so much my friend you are so so kind. Just want to send a get well wish to Keryn this week as she has been very poorly with a chest infection xxx

I also received some other lovely pressies. Bert & Simone got me Adelle's two CD's (19 & 21) and Israel Kamakawiwo'ole "Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World" single. I received some Pandora gift voucher's, "Open Season 2" DVD, £100 and some kitchen goodies. This year i am decorating my bungalow and i have started collecting bits and pieces for my kitchen (which will be the first room to have a makeover!). I absolutely love red & white polka dot, vintage and shabby chic style which i am going for.

The milk jug and sugar bowl was from my lovely niece Rebecca. As soon as she saw it in a Cambridge shop she thought of Auntie Clare!!!. The cutlery sets and tea towels were what i brought from NEXT on Saturday with some money i had already received.

I am having a lot of fun on-line looking at all of the gorgeous polka dot and red accessories etc. I am being sensible and looking for the best deals, especially on EBAY and Amazon. I have managed to get a dinner set buy one and get one half price by investigating. Im in red & white polka dot heaven at the moment lol!!!.

I had my Niece Rebecca to stay for a few days this week over the holidays which was fantasic. She came on Tuesday and we had plenty of fun and lots of crafting. I am just adding a lovely card which she made for her Mum for Mother's Day;

I am so proud of her as she made the whole card from start to finish on her own without any input. She started making her Dad a Birthday card but did not get it finished so she is going to come stay over the Easter holidays and finish it off and some other bits she had started. I love encouraging kids to get into crafting.

I would like to thank everyone for your lovely cards, emails, FB messages and texts this week it means so much. I am one lucky girl.

Will be back tomorrow with cards.

Big hugs Clare xxx

So Proud of my Friend!!!

Sorry i have not posted this week but been a very busy one. I am going to start my post by letting you all know that my beautiful friend Wendy is now at home recuperating.
She had the operation to remove the bowel cancer a week ago yesterday and she came home on Tuesday having had key-hole surgery.
She is a true inspiration to so many and stunned the doctors and nursing staff by her recovery. Wendy is one of the most positive people i know and i am sure this has got her through.
She has got to go back in 2 weeks time to see her surgeon and he will be able to tell her more about the op and whether she will need to undergo any chemo.

Wendy has decided that she is going on a mission when she is feeling better to make more people aware of free testing for bowel cancer, this is how she was diagnosed. Wendy was sent a testing kit through the post as in the UK they send these out when you are over 60.
Wendy had no symptoms at all and was suprised when an appointment came through to attend a follow up from the testing kit. She had to undergo tests and a biopsy where the bowel cancer was discovered. From start to finish it has been about 7 weeks from diagnosis to the operation.
Wendy has been looking into the origin of the testing as some of her friends have and some have not received these kits. She has had some friends who didn't go through with the test although they were sent the kits, needless to say they have now. This has saved Wendy's life and had she not been sent this information, well it would have been too late, they say that bowel cancer can be a silent killer and by the time it has been found it is too late.
I am so proud of Wendy and i will do all that i can to get the message out there for her.

Thankyou to everyone for your lovely messages and emails of support.

Godbless
Clare xxx

A set of Florals, my Beautiful Friend & a Cheeky Pic!

Hi all!!!. I have been working so far this week on a set of cards.

Im sure a few of you know that i absolutely love fussy cutting!. Sometimes when im feeling a bit icky but fancy doing something crafty which does not require too much thought i usually get the tiny scissors out and some cuttable (is that even a word?) papers & cards and start snipping away. I made some cards up a few posts back using up the last bits of a 12x12 BoBunny range called Petal Pushers Doodles. If i fall in love with a 12x12 with lots of potential i usually have to get 2 or 3 sheets!!!. I know they will not get wasted and i won't feel so bad if the urge to cut the sheet overcomes me.
I made a resolution to try to make atleast 2 (hopefully more) of the same card each time i create. With all of the doodles from the gorgeous sheet i have made 8 cards but still have enough to make more. Here they are;

I am really into sentiments and wanted to keep them fairly simple. The sentiments are a combination of rub-on's and stamps. I just added a bit of bling to the florals and some coloured layers to the base. Although the cutting out can take me some time the cards took no time at all.

One of the cards i duplicated is going to my beautiful friend who has gone in today for a major operation. She was diagnosed with bowel cancer 6 weeks ago and the doctors were going to cut the bastard cancer out of her and get rid of it. She is in a lot of pain but the op went according to plan and she is in high dependency for the night where they can look after her. I am praying that all of the cancer is gone and that is it. She may need chemo but won't know until she is able to see the surgeon.

I cannot stop thinking of her and am praying that she is ok and that her pain subsides soon. Just feeling pretty helpless and wish i could take the last few terrible weeks away from her. She's a tough bird though and know she will be fine. Love you my beautiful friend xxx

On a funny note i snapped this pic of Simone yesterday!!!. Does she looked chiiled out or what?. Sorry it is blurry but she was so close to the lense.

And not forgetting Mr.B, he was a bit grumpy as he was tired!!!

Ok darlins, need to sleep now. Have a great day tomorrow and i will be back real soon.

Godbless. Love Clare xxx