Have You Ever Had One of Those Days...

...when everything seems to go wrong? Well believe me, today has been one of those days. please allow me to explain, and maybe the release of the feelings will help in the recovery process.

We have had the water cut off today from 9 til 5pm. It was a planned thing, but as usual we forgot in the Curd household and I only remembered by sheer chance at 8.45am. Off I went, filling jugs, pans and anything I could get my hands on. I remembered my Dad recommending that we fill the bath to be able to flush the toilet, and so I started to run the bath with cold water. It takes ages for our bath to fill (we have low water pressure), and so I came into my craft room next door to the bathroom to catch up on my e-mails.

Some time later I had my head phones on, watching and listening to Most Haunted (as I always do whilst working on the challenge of the week and Project of the Week instructions for the Do Crafts website), when I heard a funny bubbling noise. what could it be - then it struck me - OMG the bath is still running! I immediately got up and legged it into the bathroom, causing mayhem and madness. My head phones were still attached to my head and my laptop, and sprung off my head. I knocked over the container which holds all my colourbox eye queue and single inks, but had to leave them and run to turn off the bath! When I got there the taps weren't running, and the bath wasn't over flowing. I really don't remember turning them off. I must have done it subconsciously. When I returned to my room, disaster had struck. All mu inks were all over the floor, lids off and colour scattered lover the laminate flooring. Also all the eye queues had come apart so I had to spent a good 2o minutes matching up lids to inks and the stacks of colour. I had also broken my head phones, but it could have been worse - I could have pulled over my laptop and smashed it!

In the afternoon, I went downstairs to make the tenth cup of coffee of the day (as you do), put a long handled spoon into the coffee, and proceeded to flick the spoon and therefore freeze-dried coffee all over the kitchen worktop and floor. So off I went to clean that up.

Soon after, I was sat at my laptop, typing up instructions and supply lists for the cards I have made for some new video's to be filmed next week. I took a drink of my coffee, which was still nearly full, and - you know what's coming next don't you - I didn't get my coffee onto my coaster properly and it spilled all over my precious cards, the phone, and my beautiful core'dinations cardstock. Nearly a full cup of coffee - I couldn't believe it. Quick as a flash I sprung into action, but not quick enough. One of the cards which took me ages to create a unique background is ruined I think. the others might be salvageable, I'll have to see what Lou (the photographer)thinks, and really put photoshop to the test! If they are ruined, I will make them again, as you all know, the thing what takes the time is the design after all.

Speaking to my best friend Sheila on the webcam , she reminded me that that should be it, as things come in threes. However, she was wrong, as when I was rearranging the freezer to fit in the shopping, I knocked over a box of fish fingers and they all fell to the floor!

I honestly think that someone upstairs (or below, if you believe in that too) has something against me. Maybe when I wake up in the morning, I will have a better day.

Putting my bad day aside, I have a card to share with you today. It's project of the week over on Do Crafts! It's called I Love you More Than....Chocolate Cake!, and you can see why. I really wanted to make a card that would be perfect for a lady to give to her man, after all the ladies do hold the majority vote when it comes to card making. If you want to have a go at making your own piece of chocolate cake (Sorry, it's not edible!) there is a template for you to follow. You can find the instructions supply list and templates here.

Off again to create mayhem and madness wherever my feet fall! See you soon.

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

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

Birthday Circles

Sorry.... I've not been on here for a while. I've just been so busy getting things ready for the next brand spankingly new issue of Do Crafts Creativity! magazine (which is due out in July), my demo at The Range in Hull on Saturday 3rd May, and also the up and coming Do Crafts stockists roadshows, where we will be showcasing all the yummy new products that will be adorning craft shop shelves in the not too distant future. Don't worry, you won't have to wait too long to see it, just a little while longer, and as soon as I get the go ahead to show you a smiggin (?) I will!

Last week saw Birthday Circles (above) an appearence as Project of the Week. This uses the new X-cut glass cutting mat and the X-cut shape cutter. Click here to find out how to make it.Also on the do Crafts website is Welcome Baby Boy card that i did for the Olympia craft show using the X-cut impress and some gorgeously cute new dies! Find the instructions here.

Flower Card Duet

Here is my offering for project of the week, this week over at Do Crafts. I called it Flower card Duet, as they are cards, there are two of them and they both use flowers. I don't know how I think these titles up! Go on, have a look over on Do crafts to have a look in more detail.

Also, some fantastic news, the best news ever over on Kirsty Wiseman's blog! They are back from their little trip across the pond, and they have great things to tell about their wonderful daughter Ellie (also affectionately known as Belle) I'll not spoil the suprise - go over there now! I'm so pleased for you all Kirsty, and I can't wait to see you again! It's going to be wild!!

Until next time... in the immortal words of E.T. ...be good!