HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUM

It's been a pretty hard day today, but any special day marking the calendar is always hard when someone we have lost is not here to celebrate with. It was Mum's 73rd Birthday today and although it is 4 years on December 17th that we lost her it really does not get any easier. Having my blog really does help though so that I can mark these dates and share them and let my friends know just what an awesome and beautiful Mum she was.

Dad and I got Mum a dozen red and white roses to put on her memorial and I made a card like I always do.

It is such a beautiful and serene place in Mum and Dad's garden and was one of Mum's most favourite places in the world to be. Her Red Robin tree has flourished over the last 4 years it is gorgeous. This is the card that I made for Mum from the family.

Love and miss you every single day Mum

Thank you for letting me share.

Hugs Clare xxx

ICECREAM COLOURS!!!

Mmmmm yummy icecream!!! that is the challenge over at Polka Doodles this week. It was Daniele's turn to pick the challenge this week and she chose to make a creation with icecream colours. My favourites are chocolate and strawberry!!!!. 

I have been itching to make this chocolate card since finding it on a very talented ladies blog, Mariannes Papirverden. She has included a tutorial but I had to adjust the sizing to fit my chocolate bar so just check the sizes before attempting to make it!!!. 

I have used the gorgeous papers from Papers Boutique 111 and the images and sentiment is from Picknix Collection 1. I have used a Martha Stewart punch and ribbon, gems and card are from my stash. Not forgetting the chocolate bar was from Tesco!!!. 

Hope you can go over and check out the challenge at Polka Doodles. There are some great prizes to be won and although we love to see you using Polka Doodles stash you do not have to to play along.

I have entered my chocolate card into the following challenges;

DELIGHTFUL SKETCHES - Anything but a card
DIGI DOODLE SHOP CHALLENGES - Anything goes
DUTCH DARE CARD CHALLENGES - Sugar & spice & all things nice
IN THE PINK CHALLENGES - Pink & anything but square
MY HEART PIECES - Anything goes
SHELLY'S IMAGES - Anything goes
CRAFTS & ME - In the pink
WHIMSY INSPIRES - Anything goes

Big hugs Clare xxx

ACCORDIAN CARD

Ok I know, six days on the trot with a post, it's getting scarey now!!!. I did tell you I had been busy. I am now able to share another make which was a project for the awesome Pen & Paper Circle Club Magazine, Issue 4 which has just been released. The Pen & paper Circle is an exclusive club to Polka Doodles where you subscribe by pre-order only and to ensure you get a copy you need to hop over to the shop and click HERE to sign up to get an email when the next issue is available. The magazine is packed full of tutorials, offer's, hints & tips as well as a kit with a stamp set and CD containing papers and other exciting extra's.

I made an accordian card with the lovely kit included in this edition.

As you can see there are some gorgeous features in the Pen & Paper Circle magazines, the papers are so yummy. Make sure you go sign up for the email which will let you know when the next edition will be available and you will get to see the kit design before you order!!!.

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

BUNNY ZOE - Distressing
HOUSE OF GILLI - More than one fold
LOVE TO CREATE - Ribbon or twine
PAPER PLAY TIME - gingham & dies/punches
STAMP & CREATE - Anything goes
THE CRAZY CHALLENGE - Seeing spots
CHALLENGES 4 EVERYBODY - Anything goes
JOANNA SHEEN - Going dotty
NO MATTER WHICH CHALLENGES - Die cuts &/or punches
PILE IT ON - Patterned papers
ROBYNS FETISH - More than one fold
THE SQUIRREL & THE FOX - Anything goes

Thank you for stopping by today and you never know, there may be another creation tomorrow!!!.

Big huggles Clare xxx

CHRISTMAS CARD CLUB CATCH UP!!!

Well I have promised you some cards in todays post so that's what you will get!!!. Do hope everyone is having a good Sunday. 

I have two Christmas Card Club challenges to show you today. The first being one which was set by the gorgeous Debi which was to make 4 tags or 4 small cards. Here is what I came up with;

I used the gorgeous angel image by the amazingly talented Emma Canning. You can purchase the digi from the Polka Doodles online shop and it is only £1.25. The gingham paper's are from the Polka Doodles Here Come's Christmas CD Rom. I have coloured with Promarkers and stickles for the angel wings. I have used deckled oval nestibilities and ribbon, jewels and sentiments are from my stash.

My next challenge was set by our lovely Sue and she wanted us to use all of our favourite things and also to add a snowflake or two. 

Well you all know how much I love polka dots!!! that was an easy one lol. I used this gorgeous Hero Arts image too which is one of my favourite Christmas stamps. I coloured with Flexmarker's and stickles. I used a Woodware snowflake punch for the tiny flakes and the main snowflake was taken from a pretty clear peel off which I mounted onto white card. I have used a Martha Stewart border punch and layered with Kaiser blue bling. I stamped on to a deckled oval Nestie, the rub on sentiment is by Doodlebug which I have layered onto silver mirri card. Phew I think that's it!!!.

At least you all know now that I have been busy in the craft room and not just putting my feet up!!!. I have some more makes to bring you this week so hold tight. 

I am trying to get some cards made for the Macmillan Biggest Coffee Morning on 28th September. It seems to have crept up really quickly this year. Our local Haine & Son Funeral Director's participate every year and it is a cause close to my heart as they were a godsend when Mum was alive and so supportive. 
My lovely friend Debbie who works at Haine sets it up each year and goes to so much effort bless her. I know it's not a lot but I feel like I am doing my bit by making and donating cards and crafty bits to sell. Finger's crossed it all goes well again this year.

Right my lovelies have a wonderful rest of Sunday, i'm heading back to the craft room!!!.

Big hugs Clare xxx

GINGERBREAD TWIST SAMPLE, DAY 4

Well today is the final day to show you my last sample for the brand new Studio 12 CD, Picknix Collection 2, Gingerbread Twist which was launched on Saturday by Nikky Hall on Create & Craft.

I made a Christmas magnet to spruce up the fridge, freezer or anything else is will stick too lol!!!.

I managed to get hold of some of the cute Anita's 2013 mini calendar's. Again they make such quick and simple gift idea's and It was made within 30 minutes. Obviously taking longer with the fussy cutting!!!.

You can purchase the new Picknix 2 CD HERE and is currently selling for only £9.99 which is an amazing price. There are so many elements to choose from including colour and black and white images, gorgeous paper's, sentiments and embellishments. I absolutely love it!!!.

I hope that you have enjoyed my samples and when I get some spare time I am planning to add some tutorials to my blog.

I will have some cards to show you tomorrow.

Thank you so much for visit and your lovely comments, they make my day.

Love & hugs Clare xxx

GINGERBREAD TWIST SAMPLE, DAY 3

Hi there me lovelies, hope everyone is well and have had a good day. I bet you are all relieved it is Friday and hope we get more of this beautiful weather. Well day three is here to show you another sample to the new Studio 12 CD Picknix Collection 2, Gingerbread Twist which was launched by Nikky on Saturday on Create & Craft.

I have made a note pad holder which again just fancies up a plain and boring pad and makes a cute gift idea.

Isn't that reindeer just adorable!!!. There are some gorgeous images on the CD as well as beautiful paper's. If you would like to buy the new Gingerbread Twist CD click HERE which will take you to the Polka Doodles store. There is loads of other yummy stash there just to pre-warn you!!!.

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

INSPIRE ME FRIDAYS - Anything goes

Well that's it for now. Will be back tomorrow with the final sample.

Hugs Clare xxx

GINGERBREAD TWIST SAMPLE, DAY 2

Evening all!!!. Hope that everyone of my lovely friends have had a good day. As promised I have another sample to show you which I made for the launch of the fantastic new Studio 12, Picknix Collection 2, Gingerbread Twist CD released by Nikky last weekend on Create & Craft.

I made a yummy cookie box which makes such a quick and easy gift for someone for Christmas.

The paper's and images are so lush. You really are spoilt for choice and the hardest thing about CD crafting is deciding what to use first!!!. If you would like to buy the new Picknix 2 Gingerbread Twist CD just click HERE to visit the Polka Doodles shop. 

I would like to enter my Christmas creation into the following challenges;

MOVING ALONG WITH THE TIMES - Christmas gifts
PAPERTAKE WEEKLY - Anything goes
MY MUMS CRAFT SHOP - Anything goes
NUT CRAFTERS - Countdown to Christmas
CREATIVE CARD CREW - Christmas
INSPIRE ME FRIDAY'S - Anything goes

I will be back again tomorrow for another reveal.

Big hugs Clare xxx

GINGERBREAD TWIST SAMPLE, DAY 1

Good afternoon everyone. Hope you are all enjoying this glorious weather we are having this week. I promised in my last post that I would show you some of the projects I have been busy with over the last couple of weeks. 

Over at Studio 12 Nikky Hall has just released the new Picknix 2 Gingerbread Twist CD. Us DT girls have been busy beavering away at samples and the CD made it's debut on Create and Craft this Saturday just gone. I am going to show you the first of four samples I made and promise to bring you another one tomorrow.

There are quite a few pictures to show you the different sides to the box.

I absolutely love this new CD and it is packed with wonderful images, paper's, sentiments and embellishments. It is so easy to work with and if anyone is scared of the thought of CD crafting don't be. I was the biggest phobic!!!. Through joining the Polka Doodles DT it has made me realise so many benefits and I just love it. 

I laughed so much watching the Create and Craft show as Nigel May was presenting and he started lobbing the sweets all over the set for the crew to munch on, think they went down well!!!. 

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

PAPERTAKE WEEKLY - Anything goes
JOANNA SHEEN CHALLENGES - Going dotty
DREAM VALLEY CHALLENGES - Something old, something new (old ribbons from stash and a new CD)
ANYTHING CHALLENGE - Christmas
CREATIVE CARD CREW - Christmas
THROUGH THE CRAFTROOM DOOR - Anything goes
TUESDAY ALCHEMY - Anything goes
USE IT TUESDAY - Use that ribbon
MAKE IT MONDAY - Always anything goes
STAMPS & FUN - Anything but a card
THE PINK ELEPHANT CHALLENGE - Use patterned papers
TOTALLY STAMPALICIOUS - Anything but a card
LADYBUG CRAFTS - Anything goes
NATALIE & AMY - Anything goes
ANYTHING BUT A CARD - Anything goes
CHALLENGES 4 EVERYBODY - Anything goes
CHRISTMAS STAMPIN' ALL YEAR LONG - Anything but a card
INSPIRE ME FRIDAYS - Anything goes
PAPER CRAFTING JOURNEY - Anything goes

I will be back tomorrow with another creation.

Love and hugs Clare xxx

A CATCH UP WITH PIC'S!!!

Hello my lovelies. Do hope everyone is well. I finally have some time to have a bit of catch up. I have been doing a lot of creating I promise. I have managed to spend the afternoon catching up in blog land and made a start on visiting and commenting so bear with me if I have not got around to you yet!!!. I will get there. 

A lot of you have been asking about the animals!!!. Firstly my beautiful girl Simone is recovering well from her pancreatitus. Her fur is growing back to her neck and both paws where she had so many bloods, IV's and injections. The only thing is where she had so many needles to her scruff she developed really nasty sores, I guess where she was so run down. Simone developed a lot of stress through her ordeal and started over grooming so she has bald patches now in different area's. Poor little thing, everytime I go out or someone comes indoors she thinks she is being taken to the vets. I have invested in a Feliway diffuser/plug in which is meant to calm your animal down. I am also using Rescue Remedy in her water which is a natural medication to calm and relax. She does seem a lot more chilled. I am cringing today as Bert & Simone got their 6 monthly reminder letter to go have their flea programme injections done, aagghh!!!. Think I might let the diffuser well and truly kick in before I attempt to take Simone.

MY GIRL IN HER RASCAL TUNNEL!!!

MUSTN'T LEAVE OUT BERT IN HIS HIDEY HOLE!!!

At the moment I have two baby squirrel orphans I am weaning and I also have the 4 piggy girls staying while Monica is on holiday!!!. They are not too happy with me as I have had to bath them all as one of the guinea pigs has a skin condition which she can pass onto the other three. Luckily it is only a guinea pig condition. Had to take this pic of them in the bath yesterday!!!.

ALL THE GIRLS ARE LATHERED UP AND READY FOR A SHOWER!!!

It's such a shame as I have had a few baby hedgehogs which have not lived long. It has been a really bad year for hoglets and many of the rescue centre's have reported babies dying. All you can do is your best though and I have to keep telling myself that. We are the second best thing to them compared to being reared by their Mummies. Unfortunately this is not always enough. I like to think though that there are plans for them in their next life.

Meanwhile these two pictures were taken a week apart. What a difference a week makes in squirrel land!!!. One week eyes are tightly shut and the next they are wide open. They are such cute little things and they are now down to just morning and evening feeds. I have been tempting them with different foods and they definitely gave a thumbs up to Farleys Rusks!!!. 

ALL WRAPPED UP FOR A FEED!!!

IT'S A TOUGH LIFE BEING A SQUIRREL!!!

Right my lovelies I will hopefully be sharing a few posts with you this week as I can now show you the things I have been creating the last couple of weeks. 

Love and hugs Clare xxx

POLKA DOODLES FLOWERS CHALLENGE!!!

Good Morning friends!!!. I know, I know I have been AWOL since last challenge and I'm aware that is 2 weeks ago now!!!. I have been a very busy beaver and a lot of that is down to the boss at Polka Doodles!. So excited as we have all been busy making samples for the new CD Nikky is launching on Create & Craft this Saturday. Find the details towards the end of this post.

Well it is Friday so we have a new challenge at Polka Doodles which has been set by the lovely Norine and she has chosen flowers as the theme. Here is my card!!!.

I have used the gorgeous gingerbread papers and embellishments from the Here Comes Christmas CD. The pretty poinsettia flower dies are by Marianne Designs. I have used Red Berry Doodle Dewdrops in the centre of the flowers. Spellbinders Nesties Labels One on the inside of my card. The card that I have used is Bazzill. Finally the sentiment is a peel off from my stash. 

I do hope that you will all be able to come take part in the challenge as we love seeing you there and there's a great chance to win some super prizes. 

Don't forget to tune in to Create and Craft on Saturday morning at 10am and 4pm in the afternoon where Nikky will be releasing the new Studio 12 CD Picknix 2 "Gingerbread Twist". You can pre-order it now by popping over to the shop HERE. I am absolutely loving the CD and it's not one that you will want to miss out on. 

Ok guys I promise I will be back with some cards and from Saturday will be able to show you my samples for Gingerbread Twist!!! Can't wait!!!.

Big hugs Clare xxx

POLKA DOODLES TAG CHALLENGE AND DT CALL!!!!

Hello my lovelies. Wow what a gorgeous day it is out there today!!!. I hear the weekend is going to be glorious as well so we'd better make the most of it. So Friday means a new challenge over at Polka Doodles and this week you have to make a tag or a creation with a tag on it. Here is my project.

I have made a gift box using paper's and the sentiment from the new Here Comes Christmas CD. The gorgeous little Santa image is from the amazingly talented Emma Canning and he is called Sooty Santa!!!. I have coloured Sooty in with Promarkers. For the sentiment I have used red & white Bazzill card using a Nellie Snellen die. The ribbon, berries and jewel are from my stash.

I would love to see you guys have a go at this challenge. You do not have to use Polka Doodle products but would be a bonus if you do so that you can give us DT girls a run for our money lol!!!. 

As mentioned in the title Nikky is looking for new DT!!!. If you click HERE it will take you to the details. It is such an exciting opportunity and know how talented you all are so if you have the commitment then go for it!!!. 

Don't forget Emma Canning also has her DT call too so click HERE to apply.

Thank you for all of your beautiful get well messages for me and Simone. I'm still in quite a lot of discomfort but I managed to do some colouring yesterday and started making a card up. Simone was sick this morning (she had eaten some grass though!) but she seems pretty chirpy. Will be keeping an eye on her. 

Big hugs from me, Bert & Simone xxx

EMMA CANNING DT CALL!!!!

The lovely Emma Canning has her very first design team call!!!. If you go over to her blog at Flat Friends Challenge Emma will explain all. You will get the chance to work with her amazing new images which you can also purchase over at the Polka Doodles shop. 

Emma is such a lovely talented lady and her digi images are a pleasure to work with and brilliant for colouring too!!!. Emma has just released her new Christmas images so go check them out too. I am busy making up samples at the moment to show you all on my blog so stay tuned.

Some of my recent creations using Emma Canning's gorgeous images below. 

Big hugs Clare xxx

A BIG THANK YOU TO MY LOVELY FRIENDS

Just wanting to say a big thank you to all of my friends for all of their love and kind words lately. I am so lucky to have you all and you have cheered me up no end.

Wanted to update you all on the little one. Simone is doing a lot better. I took her back to the vets on Tuesday and although she still has a temperature it has gone down to what it was. Hetty (the vet) explained that it can take some cats a long time to get through things like pancreatitus and she will need to be on a long course of antibiotics. Thankfully this week I am able to give these to her at home before we go back next Tuesday. Her eating has picked up although still not great. My poor girl has got a big bald patch now on the back of her neck where she has had so many injections in her scruff. She is sleeping a fair bit which can only be a good thing for her.

Ive had a scare this week as I have been getting a lot of pain in & under my rib cage and into my back. When I went to my GP this week he ordered x-rays and bloods fearing I may have a blood clot in my lung. I had all of the tests done on Tuesday and heard earlier today that I am all clear for that so I am mighty relieved. I am still awaiting the x-ray results to check any fractures etc but my GP thinks it is muscular but because of the Rheumatoid it has made the inflammation and pain a lot worse. I am living on oramorph at the moment as it even hurts to breathe, cough, move......I can't even think that I even did anything to bring this on which is just crazy!!!. So this week I have not been able to do much and no crafting going on. I am having a dabble in colouring today so that I can make up some cards so watch this space!!!.

Thank you all again, and sure I will be back to normal very soon.

Love and big hugs Clare xxx

SIMONE

Wanted to give all of my lovely friends an update on my girl. Poor Simone has been to the vet everyday since last Saturday but finally she will get a day off tomorrow (but back on Tuesday). She still has a temperature which they cannot seem to get back to normal. It is going down ever so slightly but not to a level they are happy with. They want to give her a day off tomorrow in the hope that she can relax a little more as the daily trug to the vet is very stressful for her. She is still hardly eating so I have had to take to syringe feeding her which she hates. She has managed to eat a little on her own today which is positive. 

Their concern is that the pancreatitus is masking something else going on and that is why her temp is still high so as a precaution they have put her on an additional antibiotic injection to cover other things. Simone is also having vitamin shots too as she is not eating good atleast they can replace the lost vitamins.

So at the moment we just have to continue the way we are and hope that a day off tomorrow will help her. 

Had to get a pic in of my Bert doing his super cat impression lol!!!. He is a bit lost without playing with his Sister so I am making sure I play and give him plenty of fusses.

Please carry on praying for my girl as I know that it is helping her. I will update you on her after Tuesday.

Thank you so much for all of your lovely comments, emails and phonecalls they mean the world to us.

Big hugs Clare, Bert & Simone xxx

KERRY'S CCC SKETCH CHALLENGE!!!

Finally getting caught up on some of Christmas Card Club challenges. This fortnight was Kerry's turn and she had a sketch for us. I am working backwards as I thought I would work from the latest as have two other challenges that I am working on dating later than this one. Do hope that makes sense lol. Call it worry and lack of sleep lol!.

INGREDIENTS

WHITE, GREEN & RED BAZZILL CARD

ALL BACKING PAPER'S FROM POLKA DDODLES "HERE COMES CHRISTMAS" CD

HOUSE MOUSE STAMP

KAISER PEARLS

RIBBON & SENTIMENT FROM STASH

DERWENT WATERCOLOUR PENCILS

SPELLBINDERS CIRCLE DIE

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

TOP TIP TUESDAY - Ribbon
TUESDAY THROWDOWN - On the move
PAPERTAKE WEEKLY - Anything goes
FAB N FUNKY CHALLENGES - Use pearls or rhinestones
CRATY RIBBONS CHALLENGE - Spots & dots
CRAFTY CATZ WEEKLY CHALLENGE - Anything goes
BIZZY BECS STORE - Spots & stripes

Thanks for stopping by!!!

Huge hugs Clare xxx

A PANTS WEEK!!!

Just want to say a big big thankyou to all of my lovely friends for their kind words & support yesterday with messages and emails.  I spent most of yesterday blubbing my eyes out!. 

My beautiful Simone has been really sick too and was diagnosed with pancreatitus on Tuesday after falling ill on Saturday. She had to be hospitalised yesterday which was heartbreaking leaving her. She had to be put on a drip as her temperature has been high since the weekend and they wanted to flush it out of her system and hydrate her. Me and Dad have been taking her in to the vets for the last 6 days so has been a real stressy time.

When we had to leave her both Dad and I were crying our eyes out. She just looked so frightened.

My poor Bert was wandering around the bungalow looking for her when we got back home. I had to do my treatment yesterday which I could have done without. 

Please say prayers for my girl that she will get better soon. I will update you all on her progress.

Want to say a big apology for not blogging and visiting. Life is so hectic at the moment, no excuse I know but please do not think that I do not come and visit. It's the commenting which I need to get to grips with. Not getting a whole lot of time in the craft room at the mo apart from DT stuff. Hopefully soon things will settle down soon.

Hugs Clare xxx

A YEAR TODAY

Can't believe it is a year today since you have been gone Matthew. You have left a large gaping hole in everyone's lives who knew you, especially Helen, Jacob and Braiden's. 

Love you Bro and will never forget you xxx