LATE CHRISTMAS CARD CLUB CHALLENGE

Hello my lovelies, firstly a very big apology that I have not been around very much and have not been visiting blogs and commenting very much. I think you all pretty much know three reasons why life has been very busy!!! the baby squirrels are coming on leaps and bounds as you can see from the pics. Things will get easier as they become less dependant on me, mainly for food when they move on to solids (I know just sounds like a baby!).

My Dad is going good after his little hospital experience and has been behaving himself lol. 

Right onto my card which is late and I have another one due tomorrow (yikes!). It was SALLY'S turn for the challenge and she chose "winter sports". I did not have any stamps so I decided to go for my very first digi image. I chose one from Cuddly Buddly, Toby Tumble "Lets Go Sledging". Think it is pretty cute!!!.

If you would like to come play along with us girls in the Christmas Card Club just give one of us a shout. We make a Christmas card every fortnight to a challenge so that we have a few cards before December!!!. If you would like to visit us all go to my side bar and check out the girls lovely blogs.

I promise I will get around to everyone's blog and comment. Thank you for continuing to visit here and your feedback means so much to me.

Have a wonderful weekend with this beautiful weather.

Lots of love Clare xxxxxxxx

WEEKLY SQUIRREL UPDATE!!!

Hi guys! well promised more pic's this week of the little squirrels and here they are. You will all certainly notice a difference a week can make, so here are Sid, Alice & Sindy.

This is the squirrels new cage as they are getting bigger an their eyes are open they need more space

Little sleepy heads!

So cute

Someone has their eye on you!

Simone is now befriending the squirrels. Has taken a while for her to get to this point as usually she runs away bless her

Here's my beautiful boy keeping an eye on things. He is like an old mother hen with the squirrels and is usually around when it is their feeding time!

I have been helping the squirrels to start climbing this week now their eyes are open. Although you cannot see it my hands are ready beneath Alice to catch her if she falls!!!

She's getting there!

Still climbing!

Nearly there girl!!!

And totally knackered!!!

Here's little Sid, the poser!!

And what a cute pic of Sindy!

Sorry about all of the gaps between pic's and comment but Blogger is not playing nice. I really hope that you have enjoyed all of the photo's and I will be back with more next week. Thank you for all of your kind comments and support, it means so much to me.

Lots of love to you all 

Clare, Bert, Simone, Sid, Alice & Sindy xxxx

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY MUM

Just wanting to wish you a Happy Mother's Day to the best Mum in the world!

I miss you so much Mum and think of you each and every day. 

I made this card especially for you and it reminded me of you when you used to bath us when we were kids (obviously not in a tea cup though!!!) but sometimes in the kitchen sink!!!

Love you so much Mum xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

SQUIRREL UPDATE

Hello my lovelies!. So sorry I have not been around this week but have had some dramas. My Dad was rushed into hospital on Monday with a suspected heart attack which was pretty scary as he has already had three. Luckily though it was a bad angina attack. He also suffer's from diabetes and his levels were pretty high which they needed to monitor and his potassium levels were low so they had to give him drugs for that too. 

Thankfully he is back home recuperating and is now getting bored of resting so i'd say he is well on the mend lol!!!. Think it has been a wake up call as he really need to slow down. He is nearly 79 but still thinks he is 50 bless him.

It's been a very busy week with the squirrels too. I have a break until Sunday afternoon so trying to get some crafty stuff done. I reckon you will see a difference in them from the pictures I took on Thursday. Their eyes are still closed but Monica reckons any day now they will be opening.

Oh we have names!!!!. The little boy is Sidney (or Sid Squirrel!), Alice and Cindy. They are still guzzling puppy milk formula every 4 hours but as soon as their eyes are open they move on to goats milk and baby rice. When they come back Sunday their feeds will probably go to 4 feeds a day.

So here we go, loads of pics to share with you all!!!!!!!!!!.

The little one's will be in a bigger box on Sunday as they are moving around heaps more and need the room. I wanted to show you the cute pod that they have been in since they were rescued. Under the fleece there is a heat pad to keep them nice and warm as they need to be kept at a temperature that their Mum's would be to protect them and for them to survive. 

I will be taking pics every week for you guys and I really love all of your wonderful comments and questions. So happy that you want to share this journey with me.

I will be back soon with some cards. Please accept my apologies I have not been around commenting on your blogs and promise to visit very soon.

Thank you for visiting and for your support.

Love you guys xxxxxxxxxx

The Versatile Blogger Award

My lovely and talented friend Vee Cassidy has been awarded the Versatile Blogger Award. It could not go to a more deserving lady. 

I would love you guys to go over to visit Vee's blog HERE as she is such an inspiring cardmaker. She is a lovely lady too and so positive despite having health problems. 

Vee has decided to pass this award on to me and I feel so honoured for her to think of me. Here is the link to Vee's blog http://veecassidy.blogspot.com/ Thank you so much angel xxx

There are some conditions to follow when being given this award, these are;

1. You need to thank the person who awarded you this to you including a link to their blog

2. Select 15 blogs that you have either recently discovered or follow regularly

3. Nominate those 15 bloggers with The Versatile Blogger Award

4. Tell the person who nominated you for the award 7 things about yourself

The 15 people I would like to award are;

SYLVIE (GIBMISS)

MARGARET (DUTCHESS)

CAROL (CM DESIGN)

HAZEL (CRAFTY HAZELNUT)

ANNE (WICKED DESIGN)

DAWN (CRAFTY KITTEN)

SALLY (SCALLYWAGS)

DEANNE (THREE TREES)

TRACEY (HANDMADE WITH LOVE)

SANDRA (ROSEPETAL CREATIONS)

SQUIRREL

DEE (PAPER MISCHIEF)

JACKI (SCULLDUGGERY)

CHERYL (PASSION FOR PAPER)

CLAIRE (CRAFTY C'S CRAFTING LIBRARY)

It is soooo hard as I want to give it to all of my followers!!! I have tried to give it to everyone I have not given out awards to before. I notice that the Versatile Blogger Award is popular at the moment and some of my followers already have it lol!!!.

Ok 7 things about me are;

1. I love animals!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have my two beautiful furbabies Bert & Simone and look after wildlife throughout the year for WRAS. They include hedgehogs & squirrels. I also have a lovely semi feral cat which I feed every day and he has a kennel that I had made for him which is in my shed so that he can come & go when he pleases. I also have a regular fox who comes to eat at my place!!!. I put food out for the wildlife every night & I also have a flock of pigeons which I feed every day. Yep, gotta love animals!!!.

2. I have just started a new treatment for my Rheumatoid Arthritis. I have to inject myself every month. I am praying that it helps me.

3. I never do ironing!

4. I live in a lovely bungalow, it is my little piece of heaven and feel totally safe here.

5. I am a vegetarian and it is the best thing that I ever did. I feel a lot healthier too!

6. I lived in Australia from the ages of 9 to 17

7. My favourite colour is red and I am mad about red & white polka dots!!!

I'm sorry I know most of the things you probably know but so hard to think of things!!!.

Thank you so much again Vee for this award.

Hugs Clare xxx

SUGAR & SPICE & EVERYTHING NICE HMFMC114

Just posting my card for this fortnights Housemouse & Friends challenge, Sugar & Spice &  Everything Nice. 

INGREDIENTS

GREEN BAZZILL CARD

GREEN POLKA DOT CARD FROM HANDY HIPPO

HOUSE MOUSE STAMP

CRAFTWORK CARDS SENTIMENT

GREEN TWINE

SPELLBINDERS CIRCLE

PROMARKERS & FLEXMARKERS

Only a couple of days left to take part so best get your cards finished!!!.

Thanks for stopping by

Hugs Clare xxx

MY LOVELY LITTLE SURPRISE!!!

Ok, so in yesterday's post I promised to have a surprise for you all today. Be prepared for loads of photo's!!!.

Many of you maybe wondering what these gorgeous little creature's are??? tails too long for puppies & kittens. Have you guessed???. They are newborn SQUIRRELS!!!!!!.

My lovely buddy Monica rang me yesterday morning asking me whether we could take it in turns between us looking after them (i'm on the Sunday eve to Thursday eve shift, she is Thurs to Sunday obviously). Monica has to work at a nursery and is now unable to take her wildlife rescues in with her so she was despairing that she would no longer be able to care for them. A few weeks ago we had a chat and decided to look after them between us. Its good as it also gives me a break as all of the newborns need 3 hourly feeds. As tiring as it can be it is amazing being able to look after these gorgeous babies. It's nice to know that you have a hand in helping them to survive.

These little one's had been abandoned by their Mummy, she was probably scared from the nest. Luckily someone found them and took them to the rescue centre. They are about 7 days old and still have their eyes closed. In about another 7 days they should start to open their eyes up. 

I am going to give you regular updates like I do the hedgehogs each year and hope you enjoy this journey with me. I have a feeling it is going to be another busy year with casualties and orphans. A job I am blessed to be a part of.

 INSTINCTIVELY THEY ALL HUDDLE UP TOGETHER FOR WARMTH & COMFORT

 ME AND MONICA THINK THAT THEY LOOK LIKE THE PINK PANTHER WHEN THEY ARE BABIES!!!

 FEED TIME

HAD TO GET MARTIN TO HOLD THIS LITTLE ONE BUT STILL COULDN'T TAKE A CLEAR PICTURE!

LOOK AT THAT BIG TUMMY!!!

 AT THE MOMENT THEY JUST HAVE SHORT DOWNY FUR WHICH FEELS LIKE VELVET

LOOK LIKE MINIATURE SUMO WRESTLERS!!!

Thought you might like these guys, aren't they cute!!!!. By the way there are two little girls and a boy. We are trying to think of names for them so if anyone has ideas please share. 

Oh by the way can you remember these little one's???

Monica, Brian & Willow were the baby hoglets I was weaning last year at the end of Summer. I am happy to say that they are all in hibernation at the rescue centre and should be ready to be released in nearby woodland April time. 

I promise to be back next week with an update and more pic's so that you can see them grow. I'm so excited being able to share this with you as it is not everyday we get to see these babies. I have only seen baby squirrels once at the centre so this is pretty new to me as well. 

Thank you for visiting and hope it was worth the wait.

Big hugs Clare xxx

FAIRY BEST WISHES

Hello! hope everyone is well today. What a miserable bloody day it's been out there today!!! non stop rain here in Eastbourne. Just as well as I was hauled up in the craft room for the day. Have another card to share and this is for one of the little girls for the order I have nearly finished.

I found this cute little image in with a box of images I have in my stash. Only problem is I am not sure who it is by. The pretty backing paper is by Kanban. 

I will be back tomorrow with another card I made today. I also have something more exciting than a card to share with you all tomorrow!!!. Watch this space...............

Keep warm

Big hugs Clare xxxxxxxxxx

ONE OF MANY!!!

Afternoon my lovelies, hope everyone is well. I have quite a few cards to make this week and this is the first one of many. 

INGREDIENTS

WHITE LINEN CARD

GREEN POLKA DOT CARD FROM HANDY HIPPO

LOTV IMAGE

NELLIE DIE

CRAFTWORK CARDS SENTIMENT

RIBBON & BUTTONS FROM STASH

FLEXMARKERS

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

SIMON SAYS - Anything goes

PAPERTAKE WEEKLY - Anything goes

INCY WINCY DESIGNS - Something old, something new (new stamp, old ribbon)
CREATIVE INSPIRATIONS - Colour scheme (green & white)

Just want to say a really big thank you for all of the beautiful comments that you leave. It really does make my day and makes me realise how luck I am to have such wonderful friends.

Will be back soon with more cards.

Lots of love Clare xxx

TO FLORENCE WITH LOVE

Hello everyone, I'm sorry I have been so quiet this past week but have been having a big craft room overhaul. My mate Amanda (my craft buddy!) is moving her stash in with mine as she has not got a room at her place to keep it all. Every time she comes over she has to lug bags of stuff over with her which seems daft as she spends heaps of time at mine anyway. With three kids still at home getting her own craft room is looking a long way off so I have decided to share my room with her!!!!. 

We go halves in a lot of craft stuff to save money anyway so it's just been a case of combining. Boy there is soooooo much stuff!!!. It has given us the opportunity to have a good culling session too and we are going to donate a bit of stuff to the local junior school. Will have to take some pic's when it is all done.

I have only been able to make one card this week so have got quite behind with my order. I know my friend was not in a rush but really want to get the other half done this week. My latest one is made for little Florence (one of her Granddaughter's) so wanted to make it nice and cutesy for her.

MATERIALS I USED

WHITE & BLUE LINEN CARD

GINGHAM PAPER FROM HANDY HIPPO

LOTV STAMP

ANITA'S RIBBON

PEEL OFF LETTERS

PROMARKERS

GLOSSY ACCENTS

SPELLBINDERS LABELS ONE

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

SIMON SAYS - Anything goes

CRAFTY CATZ - Punches & Dies

CRAFTY SENTIMENTS - Shaped but not square

I promise to be back real soon!!!!

Hugs Clare xxx

LIZZIES CHRISTMAS CARD CLUB FOLD CHALLENGE!!!!

Hello all!!! wow what a beautiful day it has been. So nice to not have the heating on and have the windows open. Only now I am starting to get a bit chilly. 

It was LIZZIE'S turn this fortnight to select the challenge for the Christmas Card Club and she chose to create a card with two or more folds. This is my card;

MATERIALS I USED

PLAIN WHITE CARD FROM THE GLITTERPOT

MY MINDS EYE "TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS" CARD

HOUSE MOUSE STAMP

RIBBON FROM STASH

HOLLY SPRIG FROM MULBERRY CRAFTS

ANITA'S SENTIMENT

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

If you would like to join our expanding Christmas Card Club just send me or any of the girls an email. We make a card each fortnight and we are a group of friendly girls wanting to make a few cards before December. Go check out their cards on my side bar. 

Thanks for stopping by.

Big hugs Clare xxx

STAMPSCAPES SCENE CARD

Hope all of my lovely friends are well. Just a short post to tonight to share a card I made today.

MATERIALS I USED

CRAFTWORK CARDS CARD & ENVELOPE

BROWN BAZZILL

GLITTERPOT PLAIN WHITE CARD

STAMPSCAPES STAMPS (CATTAILS, CROOKED LIMB, LAKESIDE CABIN & ROW BOAT)

PEBBLES HAPPY BIRTHDAY RUB ON

RIBBON & EYELETS FROM STASH

DISTRESSED INK PADS (ANTIQUE LINEN & AGED MAHOGANY)

Just want to wish everyone a wonderful & safe weekend.

Big hugs Clare xxx