A Labour of Love for David's Birthday!

It's David's Birthday today! He's 36, and as he says closer to 40 than 30 now. I'm sure he won't mind me telling you. Happy Birthday David, I love you!

I made this card in celebration of his Birthday. I only made it yesterday as I'm not very good at making cards for a real occasion. I'm much better at doing what I want, as my mood takes me, and then fitting them to an occasion.

Have you ever made a card, and changed your mind about a thousand times, and that's before you have even stuck anything down? This was the case for this Labour of Love. The layout must have been moved around umpteen times before the final composition was decided, then I stuck down the spotty panel before deciding that I wanted to wrap string around it. So off it came, and string was applied.

Then I coloured the bear and didn't like how dark it was, but I was happy with the belt and the tool box so I cut them out and started again. I used vivid inks applied to a non-porous surface for a change to my whispers pens. I was so happy when Do Crafts started distributing them, as I live using them in so many different ways! I also tried using the chalk inks in this way too, and it worked and still gave a chalky appearance. I'm still not happy with the watercolouring of the bear though (a bit too dark for my liking), but David loves his card so I suppose that's all that matters.

For the greeting I wanted it to look a bit grungy, so after I had inked it up I pressed my ruler edge into the ink to create lines. I think it turned out pretty well! I really hope you like it as much as David does.

Supplies for the card

Papers: Anita's Essential A5 paper Stack; Core'dinations Cardstock in black and burgundy; Papermania Cardstock in Latte, black A6 card blank. Stamps: Forever Friends; Happy Birthday taken from the Anita's Ferrari Wooden stamp. Inks: Vivid inks in Inky blue, Brown, Coffee Bean, Color Box Chalk ink in warm red; Colorbox Pigment Ink in Dragonfly Black; Heat it up! Clear embossing Powder; Anita's Acrylic paint in Metallic Silver; Embellishments: String; Papermania Silver Brads.

We are going to a hotel for a couple of nights starting today, as David also has his New Year Ball on Saturday night, so I'm really looking forward to relaxing in style.

See you soon, Love, Clare x

Then there was Light!

It arrived yesterday. There was a knock on the door as I was asking Joseph for the fifteenth time to eat his toast before we were late for school again, and at the door was a man holding a gleaming box, I think it had an aura of it's own.

Once I had got Joseph into school (made it on time by the skin of our teeth), I ran home (well almost - I did walk fast) and opened the aforementioned gleaming box of delights.

I wanted to share with you the excitement of opening the box, complete with shredded bills within. Can you guess what it is yet? I think the writing on the box gives it away!

Yes, I decided to hell with it - I'm just going to get a new lamp. I bought it online on Tuesday and yesterday it came - quick eh? Now, if a lap can be gorgeous, then it's the most gorgeous lamp you have ever seen. It emits daylight and everything. And is fully adjustable, as every angle poise lamp should be. I want for nothing. Well maybe a large vanilla slice, but you can't have it all.

Thank you to everyone who kept an eye out for a lamp for me, including Emma, who even did a little search ! You're so kind. Blogging friends are just the bestest!

Love, Clare x

A Card, But Sadly Not a New Card :(

Yey!, I thought to myself, at last I've found I card that I haven't shared with you all, but then the dark clouds of realism gathered above my head, as I started to realise that I was just cheating myself, and you, my BBF (Best Blogging Friends), as this card has seen the light of the camera flash before, just not here.


This card is used in the current issue of the Do Crafts Creativity! Magazine, to promote the fourth year that Do Crafts have supported the Marie Curie Cancer Care Appeal. Click here to find out more details of this extremely worth while cause.
There has also been a clear stamp set specially designed by Erica Martin (Creator of Daisy and Dandelion) to raise money for the campaign, with £2.00 from every stamp set sold going straight to the charity. It even comes with an acrylic block, what a bargain!

I really hope you like the card, I really enjoyed putting the masking and reverse masking techniques into practice. You can find more instructions on how to make the card here.

Thanks for looking...

Love, Clare x

Whoo-wha-whoo-ooo!

I've finally managed to do it! For ages I've been trying to work out how to change the font on my blog and create some little tabs to my projects and I've finally done it! Can I get a Whoop Whoop?

Of course I could not have done this on my own, I did it with the help of a fantastic blog called Tips for New Bloggers. It's great! You need to concentrate (something I'm not very good at), but if I can do it so can you. Go and have a look to see if there's anything you've always wanted to do but didn't know how it's sure to be on there.

Love, Clare x

Let Me Know What You Think...

I have made a poll here about my blog music. Since I have stopped it playing automatically (on recommendation from a colleague), I have had a few e-mails saying it is missed.

Please let me know what you think by entering the poll.

Thanks!

Love, Clare x

Do you want to know what I've been up to this Morning?

Well, do ya? I've been having a sort out- or rather muck out, that's what and now I need my bed! I'm blummin' exhausted, although I do have that wonderful self satisfied feeling inside of me (that might have been the individual strawberry trifle I had for lunch though).

It all started yesterday when I decided I would buy me a new swish lamp for my room. My energysaver daylight lamp (bulb) which cost me £10(!) had blown after only 2 months of use, so me not a happy chuckle. I have had this happen before, so even though David had tested the lamp by sticking two prongs (commonly known by electrical engineers as a multi meter) into the lamp with it plugged into the mains (whilst I stood by covering my eyes, waiting for David to do his" Oh, dear, I'm having a pretend electric shop judder"), and it was okay - are you still following this? I couldn't pass up the opportunity of spending money with the ligitimate excuse of it being for the 'greater good of the business'.

Anyway, I managed to get a couple of normal bayonet daylight bulbs, but could I find a normal lamp that would take a 60 watt bayonet bulb anywhere - no I couldn't! Everyone I came across were with halogen or screw in ...screw in - excuse me, but when did we get transported to the 19th Century? And believe me, I tried Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury's, Next, Wickes, B & Q, Argos and T K Maxx and probably some more I can't remember and no luck. I came home downhearted, and then remembered that the daylight bulbs that I'd bought were no good as my lamp was a screw fitting too! Aaaarrrrggghhh. So please, this is an appeal if anyone knows of anywhere I can get an angle poise style lamp which will take a 60 watt bayonet bulb, I will kiss you forever!

Then this morning I have put all the things that I haven't used in my craft room into the loft. I must have moved 13 thousand craft magazines up there. Plus, folder and files, and the stuff from QVC. I have made a ribbon rack from dowling and a couple of hooks I got from IKEA for the kitched eons ago. I have also given my sewing machine that i got for xmas from my mum and dad a home too. what do you think... Looking good, Mister Chandler! (You'll only get the last bit if you watch 'Friends').Well, better get on...hope to have some cards to share soon....I'm dying to have some to share!

Love, Clare x

I've been taggaroonied!

By the lovely Jane! Now, this is an interesting and unique one! I have to go to folder 6 in my picture stash and post picture 6 in that folder, and this is the one that it turned out to be. The folder is entitled "Chester Zoo '08" and is a piccy of David trying to show Joseph how to split a blade of grass to whistle through. I can never so that, can you. Makes me go all light headed and i nearly pass out! This was also taken before David stopped using gel on his hair as his hairdresser told him he made his hair look thinner than it is, and to use mousse. He has stopped using the gel, but says mousse is a girl thing.

Now I get to tag 5 other people to do the same, so here goes...

Sheila (of course)-my little craft space

Katy Godbeer - Scrapping and Newfys

Katy -Katy's bloggeroo

Beckie - Life is short - live it!

Leonie - Leonie Pujol

So crack open those folders girls and let's see 'em. No rudie ones though!

Love, Clare x

Demonstration at the Range, Scunthorpe, Tomorrow!

Just a quick note to let you know I have a demo tomorrow at the Range in Scunthrope! It would be great to meet you if you could make it! Love, Clare x

It's All Over for Another Month!

(BTW, this is posted in retrospect ‘cos I’m not paying 75 pence a minute to get on t’internet at the hotel)

Monday 19th January.

I arrived at the hotel at about 1.30pm, and very nice it is too. Dressing gowns, fluffy slippers, luxury toiletries and everything. Even a coffee percolator and this impresses me a lot seeing as it flows through my veins. No milk though, just coffee whitener, and only three sachets. Stingy. Wish I’d brought my camera so I could show you, but couldn’t fit another thing into my fit-to-burst case.

Funny thing was, I checked in and went up to my room with turquoise case and A1 portfolio carrier, and sat on the sofa, jumped on the bed and generally made use of my room, then about an hour and a half later, I left the hotel again with case and portfolio carrier(Now slightly lighter as I’d unpacked my clothes and such), and I think the doorman was a tad confused. He said “but you’ve only just arrived”. When I explained I was going to work, he said “Goodness, you take a lot of work home with you!” Ha ha ha!

Got to QVC about 3pm as I was having a rehearsal for the TSV (which now of course I can tell you was the Ultimate trimmer from Purple Cows) and who was the presenter – only Charlie Brook! I was a little surprised to see him, and I’d only just seen him on t’telly down in reception, but that’s the magic of television I suppose. I had done my very first appearance with him back in September, and it brings back great memories. Especially when he said that the sparkling trims reminded him of lingerie, and I said “Ooh Charlie, you dark horse!!” It was funny at the time. I suppose you had to be there.

After the rehearsal I got a taxi back to the hotel (there isn’t a tube station near QVC, can you believe it?) and that’s when the fun started. The taxi driver (not a black cab) said do you know where the hotel is, and he TUTTED when I said no. Did I know a street – no, another tut. Now, maybe I should have known a street name, but come on, I am a visitor in a strange city, and I would have thought taxi drivers would know the hotels. Glad I checked he was a licenced taxi driver, as I would have been down to my knuckles with worry at this point. Then, get this, he rings someone and starts asking him if he knows where it is, WHILST DRIVING. All I can think is “OMG, I hope they can find someone at short notice to do the TSV, ‘cos I’m going to be on ICU at this rate”. Then, praise the Lord, I find a postcode. Not good, as then he starts to put it in the postcode WHILST DRIVING! Then he says the postcode is from the south of the Thames (where we’ve just come from), even though I knew that the hotel was on the North Bank. He kept saying, are you sure, and all I could think was “Yes, or maybe I imagined going over that bl***y bridge. Eventually he found it, and I parted with £10 for the privilege of getting lost, being tutted at, questioned and scared out of my wits. Believe me when I tell you, he didn’t get a tip.

So, I’ve had a bath, and am now sat in the aforementioned dressing gown and fluffy slippers, awaiting my moment in front of the firing squad…I mean cameras. I feel like a part of me is missing, not having Sheila with me. Just a Billy No Mates, I’ve even been talking to the telly. Need to get a grip. That’s why I’m talking to you.

So, better get my moisturiser and slap on for the grand unveiling. Hope my fishnet body stocking won’t strobe on telly (only joking, wouldn’t do that to the viewing pubic).

Funny thing to add about the midnight presentation of the TSV: Did anyone spot the look of sheer horror on my face when Sara (the presenter) started rpping off the perforated bits of the samples! I was mortified - I only had a few! Funny now, but not then.

Tuesday 20th January

Got back to the hotel last night about 2 15 am, and although I was yawning like a good ‘un in the taxi I knew I would have trouble getting to sleep. And I did. Ended up watching Jeremy Kyle, that’s how bad it got. Eventually went to sleep at about 3.15am, and then before I knew it my alarm was bleeping me into consciousness.

Arriving at QVC 7.15am is not my idea of glamour. And coupled with the fact that I had left my make up at the studios I didn’t look all that glamorous either! I just had to make sure I had my face on before I met Simon Biagi. I had been looking forward to meeting him, not least to ask him about his paranormal experiences from a show he used to present. Also I wanted to find out for sure the name of the show that he used to present about doing up a room in a house. I bet he was looking forward to the grilling!!

So, slap in place and a smile on my face (ooh that rhymes!) I met Simon and the programme was called 'Real Rooms'. Do you remember it? Apparently he did 350 shows before he hung up his golden Stanley knife. The show seemed to go very smoothly with him as presenter, he lets you say what you have to say and listens too. I'm really looking forward to working with him again (wink, wink) although I think he finds the prospect a little scary.

All the other TSV slots went well throughout the day, although I was getting more weary throughout the day and my left eye was driving me batty as it kept watering.

When Dawn finished her show at 9pm we all went back to the hotel and had a well earned drink and something to eat. Dawn and JJ very kindly treated me to a 'Strawberry bubble' concocted from Champagne and strawberry. Very Yummy!

I fell into bed at midnight, as the next day Leonie and I were going to have a couple of hours at the V & A museum before she had to go and prep for Dawns show that day. We had a gorgeous stroll through London to the museum and a good old mooch around the textiles, sculpture and and iron work. Very inspiring! That girl is sooo funny too! I had a great time.

I got home at about 7.30 pm, but nearly missed my stop on the train as I fell asleep, and only just woke up in time! What a great end to the day that would have been!

Love, Clare x

Some awards for me?

I'm so behind at the moment! And now I'm trying to catch up on everything.

I have been given some wonderful awards from some very kind people of the past couple of weeks and have felt so bad that they bestowed the honour upon me,although I have not as yet pu them on my blog. Well it's time to put that right.

Firstly, I have this lovely award from Mrs. Wonka (AKA Zoe). Thanks so much Zoe! I nominate 5 fantasmagorical blogs to pass this award on to and they are... Katy, Kerry, Beckie, Katy G and Kath. Wear your award with pride!

Secondly I have a wonderous award from Hazel (aka Dido's Designs). It's really lovely hazel, and thanks for your lovely comments, it really means a lot. I pass the honour onto Sheila, Susiesugar, Marcea, Sharon and Sharon Armstrong.

Finally, I received this lovely award from my gorgeous friend Beckie Dreyer! She really got me out of a pickle with helping me for the QVC TSV (more on that later!). Thanks Beckie! I respectfully pass this award to Leonie, Elaine, Christine, Debby and Tabby.

love, Clare x

Have you seen the streets of London?

Love that song, must try and find it for my blog music player. BTW, I have taken the music player off auto play, as I was told by someone that it can put people off visiting your blog, and I certainly wouldn't want to do that! If you want to listen to some music whilst visiting, scroll to the bottom and press play!

Just travelling down to London Town for tonight on QVC. I have a rehearsal at 3pm, so hopefully my train will get me there in time. I couldn't face going in the car after last times rig-ma-role, even though I have a suitcase the weight of a small elephant, no not full of clothes, but full of make up (I jest!) and an A1 portfolio case for the mount boards.

So, who knows what the next 36 hours will hold, probably me looking extremely tired as I couldn't get to sleep last night till about 12.30 and was woken by Joe at 6.15am. I'll probably be up tonight till about 2am then I have to be back at QVC at 7am. Sooo glamorous, NOT!

The other problem I have had is clothes. I have to have a few changes of clothes, partly because i don't want to look like a pikey scrubber, and because it will make me feel better, but quite frankly I don't have that many outfits fit for an appearance on TV. I mean, I'm usually justdossing around the house in a t-shirt and my fav jogger bottoms, and I don't think they would approve of that!

Another thing I wanted to mention in passing is the sad departure from this mortal coil of Tony Hart. If you didn't see the news he died yesterday at the grand old age of 83, which I know is a good age, but still. I think he was the first person that I used to watch in awe (the other person was Rolf Harris) and probably fired up my interest in all things arty and crafty - I mean, I even wrote to Jim'll Fix It! and asked to meet him and Morph. I knew Morph wasn't real (sorry to burst your bubble) but I wanted to meet that little lump of plastescine (don't know who to spell this) all the same. Never did get to do it.

Thanks for the inspriation and memories Tony,

Love, Clare x

Q...V...C!

How are you all?

Can't believe I haven't been on here for so long, and feel as though I have really neglected you and blog, but I have been down at DO head office and in and out of meetings and filming video of the week.

I also found out that I will be presenting the TSV on QVC on Tuesday 20th January, so that is exciting but also hard work, we have all samples to do with less than 72 hours so do it in. All I can say is thank you to Jenny Pearce, Sheila Halliwell, and Beckie Dreyer for all the last minute help you have given.

I will be on at 12 midnight, 1am, 9am, 12 midday, 3pm, and 7pm, so if you can join me I will be on either at the beginning or the end of the hour. Goodness knows I'm a little stressed right now, so going to have a little G & T to see if that helps me wind down before bed.

Love to you all, I promise normal will resolve normal service as soon as possible!

Clare x

Have you seen the Biggest Ever January Sale?(well, that's probably a bit of an exaggeration, so please don't get trading standards onto me.)

Over on the do crafts website there is a sale to beat all sales with fantastic bargains, including slashed prices on BasicGrey!!!! There are BG stamp sets from £3.99, Rub-ons from £1.99, then there's buttons, fibres, brads, tools, chipboard etc, etc all at silly prices!

Why not go and have a look now, before it's all gone. Click here to be taken straight to it. Just don't tell your other half I told you about it!

love, Clare x

There's a party goin' on right here..

A celebration to last throughout the year.....Whoo Hoo! It's all done! Yes the mammoth card making extravaganza that was the past four days has now ended! All projects waved off today via Special Delivery, and I can tell you there were tears in my eyes - joyous tears. I really enjoyed making them, as most of them were using my new range of products, but I just never thought I'd get them done in time. To celebrate I went next door ingot the Co-op and purchased a cream and jam doughnut and Rosemary Conley's Diet Magazine, just to balance the equasion.

Seriously.

I think the woman behind the counter thought I was a few raisins short of a fruit cake, but there you go.

So, now I am sitting with a clutter free desk, with full view of my laminate flooring (oh yes, only the very best for moi) where only a couple of hours before there were strewn the casualties of crafting.

Now all I have to do is write the editorial and step by step instructions for 17 cards. Joy upon Joy! I have to admit in relation to making the cards etc I hate this bit, however I don't hate it compared to, say, having root canal treatment without anesthetic. Now that I would hate.

Today I have a sneaky peeky and a - wait for it - a full card for you. Yes a full frontal!

Here is my sneaky peeky. It's again using the Daisy and Dandelion Stamps and it for Clare's corner of Do Crafts Creativity Magazine. Yummy colours and the first real glimpse of Squeek. Gosh, I'm really spoiling you!

Now this card I made back in July for the Do crafts website, but I never got around to putting it on there and now some of the papers I used are unavailable (at the Do Crafts warehouse, there may still be some available in shops) but I though it would be a shame to waste it. The flowers are mode from wooden flowers which I demonstrated on QVC recently, and I've just applied a few layers of burgundy embossing powder and stamped into the molten embossing powder.

I love this Happy Birthday greeting, I think it's the font that does it for me!

Well, that's all for tonight! Don't forget to sing along to Kool and the Gang!

Love, Clare x

Carry On Regardless!

Oh wow! I really meant to blog last night to reassure you all that I had not succumbed to the after effects of de glittering my room, I really did, but I have honestly not had a minute to come on here to make sure that no one has called the crafting police! I haven't had the squad team burst through the front door shouting "Foam square backs - clear" yet, so I assume that no one got to that stage yet (I think I'm absolutely loosing it - I need to get out and stop breathing in the fumes of my permanent pens I think!).

Only four more cards to go and then I've completed my projects for the march Issue of the Do Crafts Creativity! Magazine. Can I got a Woop Woop!? Don't get me wrong, it's not that I don't enjoy it, I just think that when you have so many projects to complete ( I had 17 for the mag) in so little time, it's such a relief when you know you're going to make it.

Then I have a card to do for Project of the Week (which I like to sing to the music of Harry Hill's TV burp "TV Highlight of the Week") for DO Crafts, and then catalogue my ideas and sketches for the next collection to be included in Clare Curd's Signature Range (Can I just say, I don't take myself seriously when I write that, it seems very strange to have a range with my name on it!)

Next week Sheila and I are travelling down to Dorset to Do Crafts Head Office for a meeting about the Craft Show at Olympia where Sheila is running card making workshops and I will be in the demonstration theatre. The show is running from 19-22nd March, so why not come along and say hello! I also have some Videos of the Week to write and film, and some cards to make too, surprise surprise! I just know that Sheila and I will have an absolute ball, both down in Dorset and at the Olympia. We both work hard and when the going gets tough we just 'Carry On Regardless' and have a laugh whilst doing it!

Now, for the sneak for today. This is a card for the March Creativity! Magazine, and again it's using the Daisy and Dandelion Collection created and designed by Erica Martin. This is the stamped image that made me gasp when I lifted the stamp. I just could not believe the detail to the image. It's just gorgeous!

Well, better get back to those last four cards! Lots of love to you all!

Clare x

A Lovely Award!

Hi Everyone!


Phew, having a break from cardmaking for a moment and thought I would come on here for a minute. Let me tell you, I need to have a clear up.There are things everywhere, and glitter, don't get on to me about glitter. Pesky stuff. I love it on projects but not all over every surface in my room. You clean it up and think you have escaped it's grasp, only to find more laughing at you! The same goes for those squares from the back of 3D foam pads. I think they're intent on sending my husband to the Loony Bin. I even found one on his back in bed one morning!

Anyhoo, the real reason for me being here is I have been honoured with another award. Thanks so much Clare (great name BTW!). Check out her blog now!



The rules of accepting this award are:-You have to give it to 5 others and link to those people as well as who gave it to you.Those 5 shall also pass it on to another 5 people. Plus you have to write down 5 things you are addicted too.

Now I've done this before, so I shall try and think of another 5 addictions...

1. My husband David and little boy Joseph (all together now - heave!!)
2. I'm quite partial to a golden syrup sandwich (no butter so the treacle soaks into the bread and goes all hard. Yum.) Can't fathom why I have 30 fillings and am 2 stone over weight!
3. Skypeing my best friend Sheila. I speak to her every day on there, sometimes for 3 hours! David is amazed that we can find that much to talk about, but mostly we're not talking to each other, just crafting together.
4. Coffee. I bet it's running through my veins.
5. buying craft mags. Every month I say to myself - that's it, no more. I never really make anything from them, I just like to look. Then the next month comes around and I end up buying every one - even if I've not liked it for the past 6 months. Well, it might have something nice in it! Must cost me a blummin' fortune!

So that's my addictions... now to the five people.

Katy - Katy's Bloggeroo
Chris - Sketching Stamper
Mrs Wonka - and her crafting factory
Alison - Ali's Stamping Heaven
Kim - Paperbabe

Thanks so much. Off to de-glitter my desk. I could be away for a considerable time. If I'm not back on here tomorrow, call the Crafting Police!

Love, Clare x

Candyfloss and Marshmallow...Mmmm, lovely!

Well, that's resolution 2 well and truly scuppered, and by the 4th of january too!

I said that I would post every day, not try and post every day, but post every day. I do have a very convincing alibi for my absence though, I have been v. busy with work, so my days have been filled with nothing but making cards since my last post. Nothing to report. Nada.

I will make it up to you all now though, by giving you a sneaky peek of a card that I have created for the March issue of Do Crafts Creativity! Magazine. It's using the 'Candyfloss and Marshmallow' stamps from the Daisy and Dandelion Collection, designed by Erica Martin, and let me tell you, they are a joy to use, and sooo cute too! I made an audible gasp when I stamped 'Daisy' for another card which will become a sneak peek another day. The clear stamps are so detailed, and every little line was picked up - and that was using pigment ink too! Imagine what could be achieved with dye based ink! Go on, imagine!

On New Year's Day Me, David and Joseph went to Thornton Abbey for a little walk, and thus an opportunity to use my new Tripod which I got at Christmas!

Since we last visited, the Abbey (a 14th century Monestary, saved from demolition by Henry VIII because of it's breath taking beauty - aren't you inpressed by my historical knowledge - it's amazing what you can get from notice boards.) has been bought by the National Trust, and therefore an admission charge of £4.00 is in place. David, being the Northern skinflint that he is refused outright to pay "£4.00 to look at a pile of rubble" (the monestary, now being very old has now collapsed, so he is right, it is rubble, but never the less historic rubble) so I took a few pictures of the Gate House (still splendid) and we came home. There and back in 30 minutes, now there's a day out.

Come back tomorrow for another sneaky peek , and more tittle tattle. Anyway, enough of this waffling - I have 13 more projects to complete for Wednesday so I'd better get on! Go on, get yerself off!

Love, Clare x

New Year, New Beginnings...

I really don't know why, but I just love the start of a New Year. I suppose it's the opportunity for a fresh start, a new leaf and new beginnings. Metaphorically we can wipe the slate clean and start all over again.

I must admit, there's not much at the moment that I would change...I have an fantastic and amazingly supportive family, a gorgeous and intelligent little boy who is the joy of my life; a job I used to dream of doing, and a lovely life in general...but there are always some tweaks that can be made aren't there?

Therefore, I Clare Curd solemnly promise that:

1. I would like to lose a couple of stones in weight at least. I know my excess weight does nothing for my looks, or health. I would love to lose a bit more, but let's start slowly, shall we?

2. I'm going to blog every day, be it chatter, or cards. I will always try and include a picture if I can.

3. If I could put in more hours of work, I would, but seeing as though David and Joseph can only be so understanding, if I did more I would probably have an appointment at the divorce courts. So, I'm going to try and be more productive with the time available, and have even been very organised and drawn up an 8 week running rota of work!! How's that for a start? I wonder how long that will last for?

4. Finally, I Will try and keep up with the house work. A clean house is a tidy mind after all(apparently)!

With the second promise in mind, here is a card I want to share with you today.
I made this card for my pages of the January Creativity! Magazine, and now it is Project of the Week over on the Do Crafts website. I didn't realise that it was my turn again this week, so it was a lovely surprise when I logged onto the site to see my card staring back at me.

I love this stamp - as soon as I saw it I have been itching to use, but never seemed to get the right moment until now. I knew that I would remove the centre of the image, and layer up to give the card depth and interest. And just look at that scrummy glittered cardstock from Doodlebug. Isn't it to die for? I just love that colour combo. The ribbons are NEW too - from Anita's, there are oodles of colours to choose from, in stripes, spots, sheer patterns, thick and thin widths, all on a spool for just 49p. WOW!!

If you would like instructions on how to make the card, or want to see the card in closer detail, click here.

Thanks for looking and I really hope you have all had a great New Year's Day!

Love, Clare x