Surprise blog candy giveaway

http://ninemoremonths.blogspot.com/2008/11/surprise-giveaway.html

I found this blog through one of my followers' blogs. This lovely lady in California is doing a surprise giveaway until 30th November so why not be quick, go and have a look and enter. Good luck.

Thank you

Thank you Han www.han1173.wordpress.com for your generosity in giving me loads of lovely cards to sell for my charity. You are a good friend and I really appreciate it. Thanks.

Blog candy - closes 8th December

One of my good new blogging buddies Emma at http://www.craftyemma.blogspot.com/ has some fab candy on offer to celebrate 2000 hits. Congrats to her. Why not visit her blog for a look.

I'm so fed up...

Well, I never made the church fair today. I didn't realise till I talked to my mum that it didn't start till 7pm and finishes about 10pm. It's about 45 minutes away from home, so even if I left at 10pm I wouldn't be home till almost 11pm. With 2 sick kids and hubby sick too it didn't seem fair to leave them all at home on their own while not well.

I'm so fed up as I was really hoping to sell some of my cards and handmade soaps to make some money for the Royal Marsden Hospital's Cancer Campaign to rebuild the Children and Teenage Unit where my son Tim was treated in 2002. My good friend Han donated lots of lovely cards she'd made to sell too. I'm just hoping some of my colleagues at work will buy some instead and I may make some money to donate. Oh well, these things happen for a reason. My family is most important so I can't do everything and they come first.

I'll post some pics of my soaps tomorrow. They look really nice wrapped in cellophane and would make great tree presents. Such a shame I can't sell them.

Wish me luck

Well, I'm really unprepared for the church fair tomorrow. After having 2 kids off sick all week and now hubby too I've not done any prep at all. Also I've been up to my eyes in dragons to wrap for customers and have been working at Asda part-time.

I still have soaps to wrap, have cellophane but no ribbon to tie it with. I've only made about 30 Christmas cards but luckily I have a stock of other occassion ones to bulk the stock out a bit. And thanks to my good friend Han who bought loads of cards she's made, I should be ok. I want to make some fudge to sell too but doubt I'll have time for that.

I really hope I sell some things and make some money as I'm trying to raise funds for the Royal Marsden where my son was treated. Just think of me and wish me luck.... thanks. Clare x

Ribbon tree - green red and gold

This is another ribbon tree that I've made for my nan. Hope you like it, I had great fun making it....

Yipee I won an award...

Look at the beautiful award I got today from the lovely Emma (Crafty Emma Crafting Mad). Thanks Emma, the thought is really appreciated. Cheered me up after a hard day at work.

The award comes with the following sentiment:-
This blog invests and believes the PROXIMITY - nearness in space, time and relationships!These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind blogger's aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers! Deliver this award to eight blogger's who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award.
I nominate the following lovely ladies (sorry if you have already received but I think you deserve the award again from me). Unfortunately, I don't know 8 bloggers well enough to nominate but here's the ones I do know.
Hannah at http://www.han1173.wordpress.com/

Carly at http://www.carlzcardz.blogspot.com/

Denise at http://www.craftycrafterdenise.blogspot.com/

Lea at http://www.englishautumn.blogspot.com/

Babz at http://www.babzaramma.blogspot.com/

Emma at http://www.craftyemma.blogspot.com/

Clare at www.wilky-clare.blogspot.com

Blog Candy open till 29th Nov - extended to 8th Dec

This fantastic blog candy is available for 4 winners - yes 4! at http://www.carlzcardz.blogspot.com/ open until 29th Nov and for posting internationally so why not take a look.... Extended till 8th Dec now...

Hooray

Hooray, met my friend Han today and it looks like we should (hopefully, fingers crossed, sickness permitting!) get together next week for a crafting session. Haven't met up for a chat and cardmaking for ages, due to family/work/sickness so let's hope it works out this time. It was nice to see her today, albeit briefly. It's all her fault that I'm addicted to blogging now!! Anyway, hopefully, once we've had our crafty session I'll have some good things to post. Need it, have my church fair at the end of next week so need some more things to sell. I also hope to finish my 2 other ribbon Christmas trees tomorrow to post as well. Am off to bed now, nightie nightie, pyjama pyjama. LOL, sorry my dad used to say that to me when I was little....

PIF PASS IT FORWARD - sorry now closed

This is my PIF (pass it forward) as I won recently from Clare (Taffy Crafty). All you have to do is leave a comment on my blog. The first 3 people who do so will get the goodies. I will send internationally so please leave me a comment here about the PIF and a link on your blog. I'll leave it till the end of November so that I can send in time for Christmas. The idea is when you win PIF you then put some goodies up for grabs to the 1st 3 people to leave comments on your blog. Go on, it's fun....

New Baby Card

I forgot to post this card. My neighbours had a baby boy last week on Wednesday named Christopher weighing 7lb 8 1/2 oz. Congrats to Andrew and Claire. They are older parents and it's their 1st baby (IVF 3rd attempt) and they're so thrilled with him. I'm so pleased for them.

I made this card using things from stash and took the photo late at night so it's not brilliant but you get the general idea.

Blog Candy - Closing Date 26th Nov

There's some fantastic blog candy on offer at http://passionforcrafts.blogspot.com/ including copic markers, K&Co paper and Sugar Nellie stamps to celebrate 12,000 hits. It's really generous. Why not visit and have a look....

Lost mojo

Help, I've lost my mojo. Can't find it anywhere. Got crafter's block. Think it must be stress due to the fact that I've got a church fair to do in a couple of weeks and have not made very good inroads into the cardmaking. Have been so busy with dragons that I've not had time to think about where my mojo has gone, let alone do much cardmaking. Need some assistance.

Fantastic blog candy giveaway

The lovely Rina is celebrating 1000+ hits to her blog by giving someone a chance to win her massive lovely candy, you just leave a comment, sign her guest book, and post a link on yours to hers. That's all you have to do...so good luck. Entries will be accepted up until Saturday, Nov. 22 @ 5:00pm (Hawaii time). Winner will be announced on Sunday, Nov. 23.And while your there,please take a look at her lovely creations. http://heartfulstamping.blogspot.com/

Royal Marsden Cancer Campaign

Hi all, just thought you'd like to know that so far I've collected £100 towards my cause, the Royal Marsden Cancer Campaign, especially their campaign to raise £15million to rebuild the children and teenager unit. Not bad for a start eh?

Hand made soaps

I made these soaps to sell at the end of the month at the church fair. They're made from glycerin with cosmetic grade colouring, glitter and apple scent. I wrap these up in cellophane with a nice flannel to make a nice gift, and I am going to sell them to raise money for the Royal Marsden. Hope you like them.

Best Friends Forever

This is me (white top) and my bestest friend in the whole world. We went to school together. She is my age (42) and has had 4 kids and still is only about 8 stone. Not jealous - honest! She lives in Florida and I don't get to see her anywhere near enough. Last time we went there was in 2003 after Tim was ill. She visited her family here last year for 2 weeks but it wasn't enough. But I love this picture as we'd spent a nice day together at Hampton Court Palace and it was great to see her and 2 of her children. Love you Shaz. BFF Clare x

PIF

Look what I got in the post yesterday! My PIF arrived from Clare (Taffy Crafty), thanks hun. It's fab. Can't wait to use it. See my PIF candy posted yesterday for your chance to win.

Sad news

We had some sad news yesterday. Hubby's uncle David had died very quickly after being diagnosed very recently with liver cancer. It's very sad for his family but mercifully for him it was quick.

But, as you know, my son Tim had lymphatic cancer 6 years ago. Poor Tim is really upset. He had wanted to visit him but as he lived a fair distance away and was really very ill we didn't arrange it in time. Uncle David came to visit him in hospital when he was ill and it meant a lot to Tim. Uncle David was a professional photographer when younger (he did our wedding photos) and in later life made stunt kites for sale on the internet. He made one specially for Tim. Who knows how a family member's death from cancer affects a 14 year old boy who's had cancer himself? He's kept it all in but I think he's suffering lots. On his MSN he's put RIP Uncle Dave. It's upsetting for us as his parents.

RIP Uncle David. Our thoughts are with your family.

Playlist

Hope you like my choice of music. Let me know what you think.

Santa 3

Santa 2

Santa

This one is a favourite. I like the Santa outline and traditional colours. TFL.

Purple Christmas Tree

Snowmen

More Christmas cards, made last night. This one used papers and stickers from stash with glitz it glitter.

Dragon notebook

Finally, I've managed to use one of the fab dragon stamps I won on the candy giveaway at www.bunny-zoes.blogspot.com about a month ago. Hope you like my notebook. I just love the dragon mummy and baby, so cute.

I'm a PIF Winner

Sorry Clare (Taffy Crafty) that I forgot to mention last week on my blog that I'd won your PIF. Been so busy. So, whooopeee, I'm a PIF winner and can't wait to see what I've won. Thanks Clare x

Blog candy

http://carlzcardz.blogspot.com/ Has fab blog candy on offer for 3 bloggers and will post worldwide. Why not pay her a visit.

Mum and Dad Anniversary Mini Album

I made this for mum and dad's 44th anniversary on Friday. Hope they like it.

Mum with her dad on her wedding day

me and my sisters about 25 years ago

Baby sister aged 4 (now 30)

Dad's 60th

more pics in the mini album for mum and dad

us kids & grandkids as a group and mum and dad "posh"

My sister as a child plus her kids

My kids

This is me about 4 years old

Cardmakers Yearbook 2009 - Woooo Hoooo

Look what arrived in the post the other day..... My new cardmakers yearbook 2009. I saw it in Simply Cards & Papercrafts 50th edition and ordered it online at

http://www.practicalpublishing.co.uk/shop/product176.html It only cost £6.99 + £1.00 postage and arrived within 3 days of ordering. It's in diary format with a week per page and ideas on each page too. It's fab. Can't wait to use it.

Feed Your Family For £5 Meatball Casserole

I know I'm probably not supposed to promote supermarkets and certain young blond chefs from Essex who campaign for healthier eating for our kids, so I'll name no names (especially as I work for a supermarket - but not this one!!) but I made this from one of their leaflets yesterday. In these times of less money I thought I'd share it with you. Everyone at home loved it.

Meatball Casserole

500g beef mince
4 loose carrots
2 loose red onions
600g tomato & basil soup
6 ready to bake petit pains

Plus items from store cupboard: olive oil, chilli powder, dried mixed herbs, salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 200C Fan 180C Gas 6.
Season 500g beef mince with salt and pepper. Mix with half a red onion peeled and grated. Add ½ tablespoon chilli powder. Shape into 20 meatballs. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a shallow flame and oven-proof casserole dish. Cook the meatballs turning frequently for 5 minutes until brown and cooked through. Remove and set aside. Peel and finely slice the remaining red onions and add to the dish. Add carrots peeled and finely sliced. Cook gently for 10 minutes covered, stirring occasionally until softened. Add meatballs to the vegetables. Stir in soup and season. Cut 6 petit pains in half lengthways and place on top of meatballs. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon dried mixed herbs. Bake in oven for 15 mins till golden and bubbling. Serve immediately.

I'm not a meat eater so don't know myself but hubby said it was lovely but could do with more meatballs (I only made 14 with that amount of mince) and more sauce so perhaps try adding more. It depends obviously on the size of your family but the one I made using the above quantities yesterday fed one hungry hubby, a ravenous teenage boy and a little girl. ENJOY.

Sorry

Sorry folks for not posting any cards this week. It's been mad here. My dragon website has been at full tilt for the Christmas rush and I've had 9 orders since Saturday. Doesn't sound a lot but I'm a mum/wife/housewife and work part time too. It all gets a bit much at this time of year doesn't it? Hope to post some creations soon. love Clare x

Thanks

Thanks Clare (taffycrafty) for sending the award back to me, at least someone loves me..... boo hoo....

Blog candy

Hi there's some lovely Sugar Nellie stamps on offer at www.kath-allthatglitter.blogspot.com so why not take a look for your chance to win....

More blog candy

Hi gang, there's some fab stamps up for grabs on www.juliesjapes.blogspot.com so why not visit her brilliant blog for a look.....

Pics of candy for 2 on previous post

2 blog candies

Lovely blog candy up for grabs, you have until 11 November. Visit the blogs for a closer look.

http://www.pink-sunflower.blogspot.com/
http://www.bevscrafts.blogspot.com/

Yipee I won an award! See if you have too...

Emma over at http://www.craftyemma.blogspot.com/ has given me this award... Thank You Emma x x
The rules are:-

1. The winner can put the logo on their blog...
2. Link the person you received your award from...
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs...
4. Put links of those blogs on yours...
5. Leave a message on the blogs of those you’ve nominated...

I would like to nominate the following:

Lea at http://www.englishautumn.blogspot.com/
Han at http://www.han1173.wordpress.com/
Clare (taffycrafty) at http://www.wilky-clare.blogspot.com/
Babz at http://www.babzaramma.blogspot.com/
Suzanne at http://www.slumbercards.blogspot.com/
Jak at http://www.crafterskitchen.blogspot.com/
Kath at http://www.kath-allthatglitter.blogspot.com/
Nikki at www.bunny-zoes.blogspot.com

(taking out any that Emma already has!)

Hope this isn't duplicated to any of you. Thanks to all of you for your fab blogs. They really inspire me. Clare xxx

Ty Beanies

Does anyone know where I can find out the value of some Ty Beanie Babies Bears and Dogs. I've got some which I think were quite hard to find when they were all the rage. If anyone knows I'd be grateful.

I've got Bears: Princess, Ariel, Millennium, Britannia, Curly, Erin, Peace, Valentino & Valentina, Fortune, Fuzz and Blackie.

I've got Dogs: Luke black labrador, Scottie black terrier, Tuffy brown & white terrier, Spunky cocker spaniel and Fetch golden retriever. Photo of dogs to be added later

Blue green xmas ribbon tree

Hi, I saw this tree done in traditional reds and greens in Simply Cards & Papercraft's 50th edition and loved it. I've made this one for my mum for Christmas. She'd told me she's doing a blue/green table this year so here's my take on the idea. I used a 27cm styrofoam cone from http://www.lainesworld.co.uk/ (only £1.15 each) an excellent website. I also used fab value bags of ribbon from http://www.craftyribbons.com/ (£3 per 15-18 metre bag or 3 bags for £5) another excellent website. Hope you like it.