Drama, Drama, Drama!

Well, as you can probably see I've been really busy over the past couple of days, adding little touches to my blog to hopefully make it more appealing to the eye, and I've really enjoyed doing it! I must thank Shabby Blogs and Cutest Blog on the Block for advice and free blinkies! Gosh I remember about two and a half years ago, I didn't even have a blog - or know how to create a link or anything - it's amazing what you can learn from internet pages around the world, so thanks for all your help! I've also added some pages to my blog - Tutorials - with links to the tutorials I've done (only 2 so far, but I hope for more) and Challenges around blogland.

Had a bit of a drama on Saturday night - well, it started like this...David (hubby) had gone to bed, and I was still on the internet playing around with my blog. Decided I'd take a visit to the downstairs ladies room as you do, and minding my own business, walked straight into a BIG puddle of water all around the loo. Quick as a flash (rather like Mrs. Incredible) I ran upstairs to get David. Who stumbled downstairs (he does like his sleep, bless him) and tried to wake himself up. I did think about splashing him with toilet water, but thought he might object.

Anyhoo, to cut a long story short, it seems that the cistern is cracked all down the side and underneith, only a hair-line crack mind you, but I'm sure thats all it needs for those pesky molecules of water to escape. So there I was, midnight - suddenly tired at the thought of having to do some work scooping out water from the cistern with one of Joe's plastic beakers (which is now in the bin just in case you're wondering).

Now, every cloud has a silver lining - the floor isn't damaged (we think, it's a laminate floor), and it means that we need a new loo - Whoo hoo! (ooo, that rhymes!) and to finish it off we're going to have a small corner sink fitted, which will be great instead of having to use the kitchen or utility room sink. That's if we can fit one in...it's a very little, little girls room!

I'll try and be back soon with a card...thanks for coming to visit!

A new Signature!

Good Morning Everyone!

Goodness, before you know it you'll be sick of me updating my blog before long - I can't seem to stay away!

I just wanted to share my spiffing new signature that I just made using instructions from Shabby Blogs, it's so easy to do, and I can't believe after wanting one for all this time, it was as easy as it was! Knowledge is only powerful when shared, so why don't you go and have a look and make your own signature? I think I may have to mess about with the size, but it's a start!

I'm sure I'll be back later with news of what's happened over the weekend and a card, we had a bit of drama last night! Over to my signature....

A Lovely Award!

Well, I'm back again, this time to thank Sarpreet for my award which she gave to me about two weeks ago now. I'm so sorry for being delayed in accepting it, but now I have some time, I want to thank Sarpreet so much for choosing me.

The rules of this award is to link it to the person who gave this to you and award this to twelve other bloggers. Goodness, this could take some time!

Leonie Pujol

Paula Pascual

Kim Costello

Alexandra Kamann

Christine Dark (check out her digi stamp blog too - I love it!)

Emma Wood - (please do go and have a look at her blog and support the Yorkshire Air ambulance that she is raising money for in her father's memory)

Katy Harrison

Beckie Dreyer

Amanda Stokes

Fabrizio

Melanie Marshall

Katy Godbeer

Well, that took ages, everyone of your blogs are so inspiratonal that it was difficult for me to choose!

Please, go and pay them a visit and leave a lovely comment, it will make their day! And thanks again, Sarpreet!

Love, Clare x

More Storage Ideas - Love IKEA!

Now here's a little swishy idea for storing all your stickers, gems, decoupage and almost anything else that you can basically attach to a clip, and don't ask me how I came up with it, because I just don't know! I LOVE it, because I can see everything I have and therefore use it, before it was all hidden away in drawers and the like, and I forgot I even had it, so it never got used. Also it's all to hand just under my shelf near my desk, so I don't have to keep getting up (not that I'm lazy you understand), and the clips are really strong, so nothing falls off.

It's meant to be a net curtain wire and hooks from IKEA, but I soon changed that! You can also buy extra clips, which are a little bigger - great for bulkier items, or when you want to put a few things on a clip. For my docrafts goodies, I try and keep things from a collection on one clip, and other things I keep together such as letter stickers, rub ons, gems etc. The great things about this also is that the clips will detach from the wire and you can move them around.



The great thing about the clips though is that they are detachable so I can move them around on the wire. I would recommend though that if you are going to get something like this and you need to trim the wire, use some heavy duty wire cutters (proper DIY cutters), and not your lovely jewellery wire cutters as I did, or believe me - you will ruin them!


Finally, another obvious one, my best friend sheila bought me this cute little watering can and pail in aqua when I first decorated my room, and it's perfect for my pens! It's just the right size and allows me to see what I have. I have my watercolouring pencils and Papermania brush makers in the pail (not photographed). So cute!!!


That's all for now! Hope you're having a great weekend and making the most of the weather!

Love, Clare x

Storage Ideas

I can't believe it's nearly been a month since I last updated my blog. One day, I'll get the hang of keeping this thing up to date - I used to be so good at it, but I suppose over time I've become busier, and with that comes less time for things like this.

At the moment I'm having some time off work - next week I have some treatment at the hospital and docrafts have very kindly said that I can have some time off around the treatment - I really need it to be honest, life has been very hectic recently. Sometimes I feel that I never get time to look up and appreciate things around me - so the next few weeks will allow me to do just that.

So far this week I've cleaned out all the kitchen cupboards and restocked with food - goodness I can't remember the last time I went out for a good old food shop! Once, the cupboards were bare, now they are overflowing! I've also had my car serviced, and we';ve had the painters in and now have a fresh new hall, stairs and landing! I'm trying to catch up on all the things I never get the time to do. Next week I hope to have some chill time. I'm hopfully getting a swing sear (always wanted one of those!) to sit in the garden, but I think the weather is meant to get miserable next week again - I choose my moments!

Anyhoo, I DO have some cards to share with you (Pardon? I hear you scream) but tonight I want to show you some ideas for storage that now grace my room. I found these CD storage holders at Tesco, and I thought they would be perfect for my quickutz nesting dies and the like - and they were!

They are like a little filing cabinet, and I keep one set of dies in each CD pocket.

I also can fit in my Quickutz embossing folders ( and also other brands of embossing folders) so they are really handy to see what I have available. I also keep my Letterpress printing plates in the CD pockets too. Now I have three of these blue boxes, one for dies, one for embossing folders and one for my letterpress plates. I love them!

And now, these are quite obvious ideas, but I thought I would share the pictures anyway, becasue they are so yummy! I always buy Douwe Egberts coffee, and use the glass jars for storage as they have lovely glass lids with a vacuum lid (which I remove for the dishwasher), and they really don't look like coffee jars when used for someone else. I not too keen on using a glass jar with a plastic branded lid, as I think it takes away the beauty of what's inside - call me shallow, but there we are! The small er jars are from IKEA, as are the white stands, which allow me to layer my jars and get more on a shelf.

Anyhoo, that all for tonight, hopefully I'll be back before you know it with a couple more storage ideas!

Take Care,

Clare x

As promised!

WoW! I know... I can hardly believe it myself - I said I would be back with a card, and I am! Okay, are you alright after your fainting attack - I thought I heard a thud!

But there has to be a confession somewhere in this post doesn't there? I didn't actually make this card last night. I popped around to a friend's house for a quick chat and a brew last night, and it turned into a fish and chip supper with a glass of white zinfandel (which is actually rose - go figure!). So when I got back home about 9pm, I didn't feel like cracking open the inks and reaching for my papers - the sleep monster had me in his grasp. So I had a cuppa and after browsing through Facebook (seriously, I think I have an addiction - you can find me under Clare Docrafts Curd - original, don't you think?) off I went up the golden staircase to Bedfordshire.

So, THIS card is actually a card I made for the Forever Friends CD rom launch on Ideal World. I also used it as a demo card on a couple of the hours too. So, confession over, in any case I hope you like it. Photo is a bit wonky - no I didn't take it after a glass of wine!


If I remember correctly, the image, greeting and paper is from the Wedding section, and the green leaf paper (one of my absolute faves!) is from the Everyday section. I inked up the edges of each peice of paper with brown ink to create some definition, and added a faux stitching to the leaf paper. You can't really see it, but I also added Anita's 3D clear gloss finish to the wheels and lights of the car too. LOVE that stuff! The ribbon is from the Papermania Heather Capsule Collection.

Anyhoo, that's all for tonight - off to Am Dram in about 15 minutes for the first time in three weeks, darling!

Love, Clare x

Just a Bit of Sharing...

Hi there everyone!

Thanks for stopping by, I really do appreicate it seeing as I have heavily neglected my blog over the last few months - things have been pretty hectic what with one thing and another.

I'm really enjoying the Ideal World Experience - I love going there - everyone is so friendly and helpful, and it's really great to see Leonie again! By the way please stop me if I repeat myself, I have a habit of doing that - my memory is terrible!

On the health front, I have had my results, and without going into too much detail, I do have to have some treatment, but once that is out of the way, hopefully that will be it. Still feeling very tired and worn out though! I'm still having investigations for the blood results things look good. Thank you again for all your well wishes, it really means alot!

This week, I've been making cards for Creativity! Magazine, and Creativity! TV, so unfortunately I can't show you those, but I wanted to share some photos I took using one of my new lenses, a 50mm 1.8. Katy Godbeer introduced me to hers at the Christmas party, and a love affair was born! I love the combination of the colour of the walls in my living room, and the flowers - gorg!

Anyhoo, maybe I might have a card tomorrow, as I'm going to make one just for me tonight!

Love and best crafty wishes,

Clare x

Just to let you know...

I just wanted to let you know that I will be on Ideal World/Create and Craft from 9pm on the 18th April, with a number of hours until around 9pm on the 19th. I got the product today and have had a play, and all I can say is WOW, WOW, WOW! It's amazing!! I just can't wait to get cracking! I will give you more information on times as soon as I know.

I would also like to thank you all so much from the bottom of my heart for all the lovely comments and well wishes concerning my test results. They mean the world to me and are much appreciated. I wish I could visit you all and say a personal thank you, but where does the time go. I will try my best to over the upcoming weeks though.

I did actually get into the doctors on Tuesday (can I get a whoop whoop!), and to say I was absolutely amazed at the size of the queue at 7.50am on a chilly morning was an understatement! It resembled one of those queues you see at some top attraction in London! You would think that in this day and age there would be a better system in place to make sure that you can secure an appointment at the doctors without having to get up at the break of dawn, freeze your extremities off whilst you wait in line, at a time when you probably don't feel your best - after all you do want an appointment with the doc! Anyway enough of me moaning! My blood test results are still not right, so they are to be repeated (just think they are trying to bleed me dry so I won't feel the cold as I queue for the results :)) and I'm having some more tests too. I'm still waiting for my biopsy results, but can't decide if that's a good thing or not....oh well, more waiting. Not to worry, just trying to keep myself busy!

Hope you're all having a great weekend, and whereever you are you are benifiting from the good weather! It's making me feel better after what seems to have been a long winter I can tell you!

Love and hugs,

Clare x

Congratulations Baby!

Good Evening all!

Thought I should come here and post a card that I made AGES ago, and completely forgot about! I think I made it back in December on behalf of my friend who's sister had just had a baby boy. I'd had this stamp for ages and never used it (you don't say!) and thought I should team it up with some papers that I'd also had for eons and never touched.

I really wish I could tell you where I got the papers from, or what brand they are, but I have had them for so long, I really have no clue! I love matting with black cardstock though - it really makes all the colours pop!


I used my Promarkers to colour the Penny Black image and paper pieced the hammock onto the same patterned cardstock as the circle paper layer. Just look how cute this little hedgehog is...I love his feet!

I'm off to the doctors to hopefully get my blood test results on Tuesday. I got a letter on Monday asking me to go in to discuss the results, so as you can imagine I'm apprehensive to find out what they found. Unfortunately though, I have been unable to get an appointment as you have to book for the same day, and when you try and ring, the phone is constantly engaged for about 2 hours, then when you do get through, all the appointments have gone! So...I'm just going to go to the docs on Tuesday morning and wait for them to open to get myself in! I also had two biopsies about 10 days ago, and the results for that takes about three weeks, so I will be glad when I know what's going on!

Well, that's it for tonight. Hope you are having a lovely Easter!

I'm having a Massouive Clear Out!

Hi Everyone!

Just a quick post tonight just to let you know that I have started have a mammoth clear out of my craft Room, and wow! I'm taking no prisoners! I'm being so ruthless, nothing is being spared from having a stay of execution if I a) haven't used it for ages b) never used it (that's more like it!). My spare room where I'm storing the stuff I'm getting rid of is now looking like a craft room in it's own right, with a bed instead of a desk!

I've started to put the stuff onto Ebay, and believe me it's going to take AGES! I'm going to do a little bit every night when I can, so if you fancy having a look and grabbing yourself a bargain click here. Also please keep checking back, as I say there will be more added everytime.

I haven't forgotten about the blog candy either, I'm making sure I'm saving some of the more gorgeous stuff for that!

Have a great evening!

Love, Clare x