LIZZIE'S MUSICAL THEME CHALLENGE

Hello everyone. Hope everyone is well on this miserably dull and wet day. When is this rain going to stop!!!!. It resembles a rugby pitch in my back garden and I nearly fell A over T when I put the hedgie food out earlier!!!!. 

Well it's that time again and the Christmas Card Club had another challenge this time set by the lovely Lizzie which was to make a project with a musical theme. I chose one of my favourite Christmas songs by Andy Williams "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year". I wanted to try making one of these gorgeous star shaped cards/decorations and I was surprised how quick and easy they were. Think I will be making a few more of these!!!!.

INGREDIENTS

LILI OF THE VALLEY ESSENTIAL PAPERS "KRAFTY CHRISTMAS" PAD

STAMP BY LILI OF THE VALLEY

SENTIMENT IS POLKA DOODLES "HERE COMES CHRISTMAS" CD

SPELLBINDERS CIRCLE

CRAFTWORK CARDS BROWN SCALLOPED DIE CUT

ANTIQUE LINEN DISTRESSED INK PAD

PROMARKERS

DIAMOND STICKLES

BROWN RAFFIA RIBBON FROM STASH

Wow I absolutely love these new Lili of the Valley papers!!!!. I had been trying to be good and resisted buying for a while but when I was looking over there the other day the pad just jumped into my basket. Would have been rude to have sent it back!!!!. 

I am entering my card into the following challenges;

CHALLENGE 4 EVERYBODY - Anything goes
CHRISTMAS CARD CHALLENGES - Bows
MY TIME TO CRAFT - Just sepia
ONE STOP CRAFT CHALLENGE - Anything goes
FUSSY & FANCY - Anything goes
INSPIRE ME FRIDAYS - Always anything goes
CARDS GALORE - Anything goes
JUST KEEP ON CREATING - Christmas
LILI OF THE VALLEY - Anything goes
ABC CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE - U is for up to you
STAMP & DOODLE - Anything goes
DEEP OCEAN CHALLENGE - Anything goes
CRAFTY BLOGGERS NETWORK - Anything goes
FASHIONISTA CHALLENGE - Anything goes

Right Dad's just came in as he is having his dinner with me tonight so best get going before he gets grumpy and hungry!. 

Thanks for stopping by.

Big hugs Clare xxxx

HALLOWEEN AT POLKA DOODLES!!!!

Can't believe another week has passed since the last Polka Doodles challenge. This year is going so scarily fast!!!. Talking of scary the challenge theme for this week is "Halloween". Funnily enough in all the time that I have been card making and crafting I have never "done" Halloween yet I absolutely loved it and got into it so much I made two lots of cards and "Trick or Treat" bags. 

For the first set I used the cute spider papers from the Polka Doodles Halloween Bundle download. The sentiment and images are from Sundae of Seasons CD. The orange Puffy Stickers are from American Crafts. I have used a Martha Stewart border punch and a Spellbinders scalloped circle for the treat bag. Everything else is from my stash. I actually used the mesh bag from the chocolate pumpkins on my card, a bit of recycling!!!!.

I used the Sundae of Seasons CD for the images, Martha Stewart border punch, black Puffy Stickers from American Crafts and everything else from stash.

If you fancy having a play along this week at Polka Doodles you can find out more about the challenge and prizes HERE. Please remember that you do not need to use Polka Doodle products to enter into the weekly challenges but we would love to see the amazing creations you can make using the gorgeous Polka Doodles materials!!!!. 

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

CRAFTS & ME CHALLENGES - Anything goes
DIVAS BY DESIGN - Anything goes
PAPER PRETTIES - Halloween
STAMPAVIE & MORE - Halloween
CAN YOU DIGI IT - Creepy & kooky
DEEP OCEAN CHALLENGE BLOG - Anything goes
RIBBON CAROUSEL - Halloween spirit
NO MATTER WHICH CREATIONS - Halloween creations or Halloween colours
SCRAPPY FROGS CHALLENGE - Fall/Halloween
CRAFTY CALENDAR CHALLENGES - All things spooky

Thank you so much for all of your lovely get well messages. It has really cheered me up. I am feeling better than I was this time last week that's for sure. I am still taking things easy as still pretty fragile but I am getting back into creating which definitely helps keep your mind of feeling crappy!!!. Just wish that the sun would come back out as it is really cold at the moment.

Wishing everyone a wonderful and safe weekend.

Love and hugs Clare xxx

SYLVIE'S RED & WHITE CHALLENGE

Hello my friends. I am apologising again for my lack of blogging. Since I last posted things health wise had got worse and I ended up at the hospital on Wednesday for a steroid infusion. Even my throat has been inflammed and by the time Wednesday came I knew I could not carry on any longer feeling so bad. I am gradually improving but it seems to have really taken it's toll this Rheumatoid flare up. I have my monthly treatment tomorrow so am really hoping that this will also help. 

I have been trying to make sure my DT and Christmas Card Club work is done and this fortnight was the beautiful Sylvie's turn to choose the Christmas challenge which was a red & white theme. 

INGREDIENTS

DIGI IMAGE - EMMA CANNING

DIGI SENTIMENT - POLKA DOODLES "HERE COME CHRISTMAS" CD

PATTERNED CARD - POLKA DOODLES "HERE COMES CHRISTMAS" CD

RED BERRY DOODLE DEWDROPS - POLKA DOODLES

RED STICKLES 

PROMARKERS

RIBBON FROM STASH

Just want to say a big thank you for all of your well wishes, it really means so much. I just feel so bad that I haven't been able to get around to everyone's blogs for an update but please do bear with me. 

Lots of love and big hugs Clare xxx

NEW CHALLENGE OVER AT POLKA DOODLES!!!

Hello everyone, I'm so sorry that I have not been around but have been poorly since the weekend. I am having a really bad flare up of my RA at the moment and been in so much pain. All of my glands are up and my throat has been really sore too. To top it off where I am run down I have an outbreak of dermatitis on my face. Might as well stick a paper bag on my head now!!!. 

Anyway it's Friday and that means another challenge over at Polka Doodles. It was Ashley's turn to choose the theme and she wants a creation of your favourite holiday/occasion of the year ie, Christmas, Valentine's day, Halloween, Easter, Thanksgiving......Ashley has also added a twist which is to use the colour teal in your creation (this is optional though). 

My favourite has to be Christmas and this is what I created;

The yummy papers and the beautiful scene is from the new Picknix 2 Collection "Gingerbread Twist" CD. The sentiment is from the Here Comes Christmas CD. I have used Red Berry Doodle Dew Drops to decorate the tree and White Pom Pom Ribbon along the image. I used circular Nesties for the sentiment. 

I you fancy having a play along just pop over to the Polka Doodles challenge blog for more details. There are some awesome prizes to be won!!!.

Just want to remind you that there will be a show tomorrow on Create & Craft channel at 12 noon with Rosemary Merry for the launch of the new Studio 12 Picknix 2 "Gingerbread Twist" CD. Click HERE for more information. 

Hopefully in the next few days I will be feeling better and will get around to everyone's blogs. I'm so sorry for my lack of commenting. I really do appreciate all of your lovely messages and comments, they really do mean so much to me, especially when i'm not feeling too great.

Wishing you all a safe and wonderful weekend whatever you are doing.

Big hugs Clare xxx

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