Really Not Sure Where to Start...........

So just going to give you as brief an update as possible.  Since my last update i have been really poorly and had another 2 bad flare ups with the kidney stones. In the end i had to have an emergency hospital appointment with a Urologist on Wednesday evening to be told that i have got to have an operation.

I am not sure how long it will be but i am on an emergency list. Although i have been passing stones (well more like grit!) the specialist thinks that it is only particles from much bigger stones inside. He needs to remove the stones and to check if there has been any damage to my kidneys. I am hoping that they can be removed easily as it will be open surgery if not.

At the moment i am on painkillers and the specialist has put me on a drug to try to prevent any further, although until they can tell what type and what is causing them it will be a bit hit & miss.

He has told me that it is not a very nice op and will take 2 to 3 weeks to get over it and be pain free as such. You know the way i feel at the moment guys, it surely cannot be any worse than the beginning of a flare up as you just do not know what to do with yourself when you are in agony, throwing up and sweating profusely!!!. I can honestly say that i have never know pain like it and i have experienced a lot in my lifetime.

So i am going to keep you all updated, try and get back into creating as i have not done any in weeks and got so much to do. I also have a few things to share with you all so please bear with me. I may be slow but i will get there!!!.

Thankyou to all of my lovely friends who have been emailing, texting, phoning and sending cards. It really does make me feel better.

Lots of love

Clare xxxxx

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

A 21st BIRTHDAY CARD

I was asked to make another big Birthday celebration card for a friend's daughter. I have made it very similar to the 18th i made for Katie last week but this card was on a larger scale with an A4.

I added a lot more flowers, a lot more bling as some gorgeous patterned paper. I got the butterfly's when i was at Ally Pally and wish i had gotten more now. Will have to try and track them down.

INGREDIENTS

WHITE & BLUE BAZZILL CARD

CREATIVE INSPIRATIONS PP

PRIMA FLOWERS

WILD ORCHID FLOWERS & LEAVES

DREAMWEAVERS HAT PIN

KAISER BLING

BUTTERFLY STICKERS (MADE IN TAIWAN!!!)

SILVER PEEL OFF'S

ORGANZA RIBBON FROM STASH

SPELLBINDERS NESTIES LABELS EIGHT


Hope everyone is having a lovely day and enjoying another bank holiday weekend. I am having a nice easy day and looking after my two furbabies Bert & Simone who are both feeling very sorry for themselves today. I had to go get their annual boosters done yesterday which always makes them feel off colour for a couple of days. Bert always has to have an anti inflammitory now with the booster as it always makes him poorly. I just hate seeing them unhappy. I reckon they hate me today after taking them to the vets!!!.

Back again soon.

Lots of love Clare xxx

CHNC CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE

I have made this card for the Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas challenge blog. The challenge is to either add a touch of Easter for Christmas or use an oval shape on your card.

INGREDIENTS

WHITE LINEN CARD

MY MIND'S EYE COLOURFUL CHRISTMAS "WINTER WONDERLAND PP
PENNY BLACK CHRISTMAS SET STAMP
NELLIE'S OVALS & SCALLOPS
PROMARKERS (POPPY RED, IVORY, BLUSH, TAN, CINNAMON, BUTTERCUP, PEAR GREEN & COOL GREY)
BASIC GREY RED PEARLS
SMALL BLACK PEEL OFF'S
RED TWINE & RIBBON


Thanks for stopping by!

Big hugs Clare xxx

CHRISTMAS CARD CLUB - KERYN'S CHALLENGE

Hi there everybody and a very Happy Easter to all. Hope everyone is well and not too stuffed with chocolate!!!. Wow what another glorious day it is today.

Here is my card from KERYN'S challenge which was to make up a card from a list which which she had made where we had to pick one item from each of the 3 columns and use on our card. These were;

Penguin                  Red                      Buttons

Poinsettia              White                     Stitching

Presents                 Blue                      Ribbon

So i used presents, blue and buttons. Sorry Keryn but i used some ribbon too, i know slapped wrists!.

INGREDIENTS

WHITE LINEN CARD

KARS SNOWFLAKE PP

HOUSE MOUSE STAMPS "OPENING PRESENTS"

DECO ART SNOW WRITER

BLUE GLITTER, BUTTONS, RIBBONS, BRADS & SENTIMENT FROM STASH

I was a bit of a rebel and put snow writer all around the oval of the image and glittered it but i don't know if i like it now. It was a bit late though by the time i realized i didn't like it!!!. Oh well i guess it's a bit different lol. I just love the House Mouse stamps which i got from Ally Pally.

Our next challenge is set by SYLVIE (GIBMISS) and the challenge is to use pink and one other colour.

Please go pop over to the other girls blogs and check out their take on Keryn's challenge (their blogs are on my side bar).

Thanks for popping by.

Godbless and thankyou for all of the beautiful messages you send me. I absolutely cherish them.

Big hugs Clare xxx



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