FRIDAY ALREADY

Hi Everyone

Well, where has this week disappeared to?

I am convinced that the days go faster the nearer we get to the end of a year.

Just a quick share today .. ..

This used:

Coneflower Die (Unbranded from Ebay)
Papers and card from Snippet Mountain  (my battle to reduce these is continuing)
Sentiment:  LOTV Digital Stamp Block Sentiment
Spellbinder Dies:  Classic Circles and Scalloped Circles
Punch
My Trusty Sewing Machine

and that is me for today.

I hope everyone is doing well and your Christmas plans are coming together nicely.  I seem to be chasing my tail big time!!  Not helped by trying to pack the house up and now catching shingles!!  

Never a dull moment here in the House of Hearts!! 

NEW WEEK - NEW SKETCH

Hi Everyone

So did you wake up to snow yesterday?  Ours started late Saturday night .. .. and we got plenty of it!  But gradually rain has melted it away

Yesterday in order to "ring the changes" I challenged myself to learn how to draw and incorporate triangles into my sketches .. .. .. and I am happy to report that I mastered my challenge.  How sad to be happy to have drawn a simple triangle!  LOL!!  I am such a sad sack!

I used my new sketch to produce this:

This used:

Backing papers:  First Edition "Silent Night"
Sentiment:  Whimsy Stamps:  Christmas Chalkboards 1
Ribbon
My Trusty Sewing Machine

and  of course my latest sketch .. .. .. number 13 .. .. .. a number that some folk avoid as there is a saying that it is "unlucky for some" .. .. .. but it isn't for the House of Hearts so I am happy to add it to my rectangular sketch collection which you can find on the tab at the top of my blog!! 

Please feel free to use any of them if you fancy a play.

Project Downsize finds me trying really hard to use up some of my older design pads/papers, especially where there are only a few odd pages left .. .. .. so some antique papers might be making their way onto my blog over the next few weeks (and there are a few to go at - both of the Christmas and general variety).  

There is a very small care home just around the corner from us and ever since Covid happened I have been putting boxes of crafting goodies together for them to play with.  Be these full of wool for their "knit and natter" sessions, flowers and ribbons for making Easter bonnets, or card bases, envelopes, punches/stamps/stickers and papers for the cards they make. 

They create things to sell at their fayres to raise funds for entertainment.  It sounds like they have fun creating the things they sell, really enjoy the actual fayre days and of course when the entertainment happens .. .. .. be these trips out or events planned within the home .. .. so hopefully I am helping to bring some enjoyment to their lives in a number of ways. 

Right, time to hit the ground running .. .. .. I have lots to cram into today.

Hopefully catch you again soon.  Stay safe and warm and I hope you all have a good start to your week.

BACK ON TRACK - I HOPE

Hi Everyone

I hope you have had a good Saturday .. .. .. although for some reason all week my brain has been one day ahead .. .. so today I keep thinking it is Sunday!!  That's good though isn't it, because it is like I have gained an extra day in my week to play with LOL!!!

It has been another very hectic week here, but I am super happy to say that the house of hearts is sold again .. .. and our fingers are crossed that everything goes through smoothly this time.  Project downsize is back on track .. .. yay!!!!.  It must have been all of those good luck comments and messages I received from so many of you working their magic .. .. thank you for those.  Mwah! 

Christmas makes are still very much needed, alongside everything else that needs to be done here .. .. .. and the cold and frosty start we had today certainly got me in the right frame of mind and made me think of this lovely stamp that never gets to come out and play very often.  

So here we go .. .. .. 

This used:

Image:  Penny Black "3231K" Snowy Park
Sentiment:  Inkylicious "Walking Winter Wonderland"
Backing Paper:  The Works

DecoArt Crystal Glamour Dust
Double Sided Adhesive Sheet
Ribbon and Metallic Cord

Brad and Charm

My Trusty Sewing Machine

I attached the double sided adhesive sheet to the stamped image, removed the second covering and covered it with Crystal Glamour Dust.

It is super sparkly in real life .. .. .. but it didn't want to show off in front of the camera unfortunately.

Hope everyone is having a good weekend and you are managing to keep warm.  We have a yellow weather warning for snow and ice at the moment.   Eeeekkk!!!!

TEENY TINY TUESDAY TRIO

Hi Everyone

I hope you have all had a good Tuesday.  Another trio of teeny tiny Christmas cards from me today .. .. .. which are a whole 9cm square.

Still in Christmas mode here .. .. and still lots more to make.   This time next month my Mum will be saying "ah well, that's that over and done with for another year!" LOL!!

These were made using:

MFT Blueprints 6 Tag Builder
Snowflake - Amazon

Digital Papers from The Lovely Studio (sadly no longer trading)

Glitter Effect Wallpaper

LOTV Digital Christmas Sentiment Tags

Ribbon and Metallic Cord

Eyelet and Brad

My Trusty Sewing Machine

I didn't trust the snowflakes to stay glued to my glitter wallpaper so stitched those in place .. .. .. I do believe I am finally getting somewhere with my new sewing machine.

So a teeny tiny blog post for my teeny tiny makes.

I hope everyone is further ahead with their Christmas preparations than I am.  Far too much happening here at the moment .. .. I could do with December not appearing for another 3 months .. .. at least !!

SUNDAY SNIPPETS AND A NEW SKETCH

Hi Everyone

I hope you are all doing well and are having a good weekend.

All super busy and manic here in the House of Hearts, which means my "blogland comeback" hasn't been quite how I imagined .. .. .. but never mind .. .. .. I am enjoying what I am managing to do .. .. .. which is the main thing.  

Sadly our buyer had to pull out of our house sale this week due to their circumstances changing and it meant that we were back to hosting house viewings again yesterday. 

But they say everything happens for a reason, so we will just go with the flow and see what happens next.

Funny how the smallest room in our house .. .. .. "my little craft pod" .. .. .. ends up being loved by people as much as I love it .. .. .. and often sparks off the loveliest of conversations.   It is the last room I show to people on our "grand tour" and I describe it as my favourite room in our house (which it is) and where I have spent many, many, many happy hours.  I also describe it as a "tardis" where a very small space holds far more than it looks on the surface .. .. not many people (other than me) see the beauty of what it contains though of course. 

Anyway, today has seen me add another new sketch to my rectangular sketch library and this is how it looks

These are the snippets I started with:

and this is how I have used the sketch and my collection of snippets.

This used:

Image:  Penny Black "2754H" Xmas Kiss 

Sentiment:  Computer Generated

ProMarkers

Spellbinder Circle Dies

X-Cut Corner Rounding Punch
All paper, card and ribbon came from Snippet Mountain
Pearls and Charm

My Trusty Sewing Machine

I am taking this along to the "snippet playground" where a new challenge has just started with more wonderful prizes, and where we are encouraged to not cut into brand new sheets of card or backing papers, but to try to use up some of our "leftovers" from previous crafty sessions.  Certainly if you are anything like me you save the smallest pieces of card thinking "I can cut a leaf, a flower, a butterfly .. .. or even a heart" from that tiny piece of card .. .. so it gets stashed away in readiness for being used at a later date!  LOL!!

Hopefully catch you again soon. 

TEENY TINY TUESDAY - AGAIN

Hi Everyone

Back round to Teeny Tiny Tuesday again (already) .. .. .. where my creations are a whole 9cms square.

After the success of managing three teeny tiny Christmas cards last week I decided I would try and do the same again this week .. .. and using exactly the same supplies as well:

These used:

Image and Die Set:  MFT Polar Bear Pals

Sentiment:  Clearly Besotted "Speaking Out"

Background Word Stamp:  Julie Hickey "JH1061" Christmas Background Stamp Set

Design Paper inside the frame:  "Snow & Ice" The Works

Christmas Tree:  Cut and Make  - Mini Christmas Dies (very old)

Frame:  MFT-926 Stitch Round Square Frame

ProMarkers

Small Star Punch

Glitter Paper

Chalk (for those little rosy cheeks)

My Trusty Sewing Machine

So basically exactly the same supplies, just a different design (what makes you think everything was still loitering on and around my desk from last week LOL!!!)?

Many thanks for all your lovely messages and comments, they are all very much appreciated and I am hoping to catch up with everyone very, very soon.

BIRTHDAY SUNDAY SNIPPETS

Hi Everyone

Here again .. .. at last .. .. after a few VERY busy days here in the House of Hearts.

Our buyer wanted to come to view again and measure up in readiness for all the plans he has once we hand the keys over  .. .. and this involved us having to make the whole house "viewable" and "accessible" again!  We had boxes and piles of stuff we were sorting out everywhere LOL!!!   

So crafting (very sadly) had to take a back seat.

But I am back again today with a birthday snippet card (just to give you a break from Christmas).

This used:

Card and papers from the snippet mountain range
Martha Stewart Edge Punch:  Daisy
Julie Hickey: Sentiment Dies
First Edition: Flower Die set
X-Cut Mini Die Button

X-Cut Corner Rounding Punch

Hot Fix Nail Heads
My Trusty Sewing Machine

Sorry, not sure what die I used for the leaves, these were already cut and sitting in a box waiting to be used .. .. .. .. and how about my tiny snippet of ribbon threaded into the die cut button! I don't think I could ever use a smaller piece do you?

I hope you are having a good weekend?  A very wet and windy one here today so I'm not planning on setting foot out of any doors if I can help it! 

PATCHWORK CHRISTMAS

Hi Everyone

Thursday already!!

Who is stealing the days this week that's what I want to know?  Time seems to be flying by super fast.  I clearly must be having far too much fun because school weeks when I was a kid used to last forever in comparison.

Today's card is a Christmas version of a card I posted here .. .. and truth be told I am a little obsessed with making them.  Firstly because it uses up the smallest pieces of backing paper and lengths of ribbon and secondly because I really enjoy doing all the stitching .. .. so a "win" on two counts.  Well three counts actually if you count having a finished card at the end.

So here is my patchwork Christmas card

This used:

Papers:  Nitwits Collection "Yuletide Cheer"
Sentiment:  Julie Hickey "DS-HE-1020 Christmas Border A6 Stamp Set
White Embossing Powder
Spellbinders:  Classic Circle and Scalloped Circle Dies
Ribbon
Fabric Puffy Metallic Snowflake Embellishment
My Trusty Sewing Machine

I'm not sure where the puffy metallic snowflake came from originally .. .. .. I have had a collection of them for quite a while because I used to use them as decorations at the wedding fayres alongside my Christmas themed wedding stationery.  

But weddings are no longer part of my life .. .. ..  that boat has now had to sail of into the sunset as I cannot commit to them any longer.  

All of my weddings are now finished .. .. .. with venue stationery for the very last one being completed by a lovely fellow exhibitor who I met at the wedding fayres.  We hit it off straight away and became good friends and she was my first port of call .. .. .. .. doing a brilliant job for me "and" the happy couple.

So the remainder of my wedding stash is available for general use now, which gives me even more card, ribbon, lace, gems and embellishments to play with!   Unless I open a little on-line shop?  Now there's a thought! 

Not sure how I am going to store everything when we move .. .. .. but bless him Mr Heart hasn't once said "exactly how much stuff have you got?"  LOL!!!

Enjoy the rest of today and I will hopefully catch you again soon.  

TEENY TINY POLAR BEARS

Hi Everyone

I hope your Tuesday has been a good one.

I am here with my Teeny Tiny creation for today .. .. ..  a card that is a whole 9cms square.

This used:

Image and Die Set:  MFT Polar Bear Pals
Sentiment:  Clearly Besotted "Speaking Out"
Background Word Stamp:  Julie Hickey "JH1061" Christmas Background Stamp Set
Design Paper inside the frame:  "Snow & Ice" The Works
Christmas Tree:  Cut and Make  - Mini Christmas Dies (very old)
Frame:  MFT-926 Stitch Round Square Frame
ProMarkers
Small Star Punch
Glitter Paper
Chalk (for those little rosy cheeks)
My Trusty Sewing Machine

and whilst making one I actually made three .. ..

I will hopefully catch you again soon but in the meantime many thanks for your visits and lovely comments .. .. I am enjoying being back in blogland so very much and am not looking forward to having to pack away all my crafty goodies when we finally move!  My little craft pod will be the last room to be boxed up and emptied!  LOL!!

ACROSS THE MILES

Hi Everyone

I hope your week is off to a good start.

The weather is definitely very Autumnal here with the wind swirling a multitude of different coloured leaves all along the roads!  Not my most favourite season I must admit.  I love the colours but not the dark evenings or the thought of worrying winter weather looming.  

My share for today is a Christmas card which uses another of the cute images from the download I purchased on Friday .. .. .. I just knew this was the next character I "needed" to use.  I love the outfit so much that I would love a jumper just like it!  LOL!! 

This used:

Image and Sentiment:  Amanda Jayne Designs "Ultimate Christmas Bundle"

Backing Papers:  Buddly Craft - Kim MacFarlane - Silent Night Digi Papers
Memory Box Die:  Snowflake Heart
ProMarkers
Diamond Stickles

Glossy Accents

My Trusty Sewing Machine

I am trying really hard to make "at least" one card every day and will hopefully be here again tomorrow with a Teeny Tiny Tuesday creation.

But each card needs to be created alongside us working on what we are calling "project downsize" .. .. .. .. where we are sorting out our house ready for moving to pastures new.   Not an easy project!  We have lived here for 32 years and have accumulated far too much. We are all sold and have found our next nest .. .. .. but can't take everything with us! 

Various local charities are doing well out of us, and anything that we don't need which will help someone else is being passed along.  I just wish I could be given £1 for each time one or other of us has said "why on earth did we keep this?" LOL!!!

We have moved house a few times during our very happy marriage, and a couple of times the saying "new house, new baby" has turned out to be true .. .. .. but there is no chance of that anymore (unfortunately).  Those days are long gone.

Anyway, enjoy what is left of today and I hope the week is a good one for you.

SUNDAY SNIPPETS, GRATITUDE & A NEW SKETCH

Hi Everyone

I hope your weekend has gone well.

No Christmas card from me today .. .. today is about remembering those who lost their lives whilst in conflict.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them

and here is my card to say thank you to all of those who have fought so bravely and selflessly .. .. ..
 

This used:

Image:  Penny Black Clear Stamp Set "30-155 Blooming Garden"
Sentiment:  LOTV  Embossed Labels
Backing Papers:  From the huge Snippet Mountain Range
Distress Inks:  Tumbled Glass and Bundled Sage
ProMarkers
X-Cut Corner Rounding Punch
My Trusty Sewing Machine

I am taking this over to the Snippets Playground where another challenge has started today - but sadly I didn't take a picture of my snippets before I started putting it all together .. .. .. I got carried away .. .. .. but I promise no full sheets of card or paper were harmed in the construction of my homework.

This card (pretty much) uses a new sketch that I have finally worked out how to draw and add to my rectangular sketch file.  My new laptop is Windows 11 and it is proving to be a big learning curve for me.

Over the last year or so I have been "doodling" in a little notebook that has gone everywhere with me and loads of the pages are full of new sketches   .. .. .. so gradually my square and rectangular sketch library tabs will be increasing in volume.  Please feel free to use them if you like the look of any of them.  The tabs to access them are at the top of my blog.

The rectangles are lagging behind the squares greatly so I will work on bulking that section up first. This is the one that has been drawn, used and  added today:

I hope the coming week is kind to everyone and I will catch you again soon..

HO HO HO!

Hi Everyone

Happy weekend!  I hope yours has got off to a good start.

After what has been a very busy week I decided I was going to treat myself today and spend as long as I possibly could in my little craft pod making Christmas cards.  I didn't manage as long as I would have liked .. .. .. but then I am never satisfied.  I always want to play longer.

It was as if fate decided that it was going to lend me a hand and treat me too, because out of the blue yesterday evening I got an email via Amanda Jayne Designs promoting a special offer on her Ultimate Christmas bundle .. .. .. a whole 130 Christmas characters and 50 Christmas sentiments for £15.00.

I already owned a handful of Amanda's images and knew how lovely they were to colour/work with so I decided to treat myself and hopefully speed up increasing my Christmas card collection in the process.

Oh my days!  I am now spoilt for choice on what to use .. .. .. so many lovely images to choose from, and all easily downloadable from just one file I received via MailBigFile. 

I made the mistake of going through the whole download straightaway last night just before bedtime (well it would be rude not to LOL!!) and filled myself with excitement at the thought of it helping me with my craft makes today.  I was even tempted not to bother going to bed .. .. but to start playing straight away .. .. but of course that would be silly!

Anyway .. .. .. .. here is my favourite make of the day.  I have also printed out lots more images and plan to take them with me when I go to spend time with Mum tomorrow.  Nine times out of ten she will have a snooze so I sit quietly colouring until she wakes up.  Then she likes to look at everything I have done!

This used:

Amanda Jayne Designs "Ultimate Christmas Bundle" for the image and sentiment
Christmas design pad from The Works
ProMarkers and Chalk for the rosy cheeks
X-Cut Corner Rounder Punch
Die Cut Snowflakes
Tag Die
Ribbon
Diamond Stickles

My Trusty Sewing Machine

Always keen to share something I feel is amazing with my crafty pals .. .. you can see the images in the collection here on Etsy .. .. .. but if you decide you "need" the collection too don't buy it from the Etsy site.  To get the super special offer (it ends at midnight tomorrow - Sunday 12th November) you need to send a payment of £15 via PayPal to stokesamanda@ymail.com adding a message saying "ultimate bundle" and the email address you want the bundle sending to.  The bundle comes via MailBigFile within 24 hours (but mine came through pretty much straightaway).

I haven't been asked to promote this offer .. .. I just wanted to share the amazing deal .. .. but I did check with  Amanda first to make sure it was OK to do so.

So that is me for today.  

Going back now to play with my download a little bit more before my day of crafty fun ends. 

Hope your day has been as much fun as mine.

TREE OF LIFE

Hi Everyone

Back to Christmas here in the House of Hearts and today’s share features a lovely stamp set from Julie Hickey that is new to my collection .. ..

This used:

Image:  Julie Hickey Designs "JH1075" Tree of Life
Sentiment:  Dovecraft "Christmas Basics" (very old)
ProMarkers
DecoArt Gold Glamour Dust
Gold Cord
Nail Heads
My Trusty Sewing Machine

and that is me for today!

Have a good one everyone.

TEENY TINY TUESDAY RETURNS

Hi Everyone

Happy Tuesday!

Today sees the return of my Teeny Tiny Tuesday makes. 

In the past I would have said they were a whole 3.5 inches square .. .. .. but I have now progressed into metric mode at long last .. .. .. and now they are 9cms square isntead!  LOL!!

I am very sad because think I enjoy making the envelopes as much as I do the actual cards.

This used:

Image:  Penny Black "3347H" Duckling
Sentiment:  Card-io Sentiments-1 Hello, Best Wishes
Backing Paper:  Pink Petticoat AKA The Lovely Studio .. .. .. sadly no longer trading
ProMarkers
Nail Heads
My Trusty Sewing Machine
We R Memory Keepers Envelope Punch Board

It was lovely to pull my Penny Black drawer open today to rescue this stamp .. .. "one" of my many favourites!  

Take care everyone.

JOLLY HOLLY CHRISTMAS

Hi Everyone

Happy Monday!

I hope your week has got off to a good start.

I am happy to report that my Christmas stash is still being put to good use and my favourite make of today is this little number which involved a bit of paper piecing.  A technique I really enjoy.

This used:

Image: Amanda Jayne Designs "Holly Penguin" Digital Stamp 
Sentiment:  Computer Generated
Backing Paper:  Dovecraft 12 x 12 Christmas Basics (very old)
ProMarkers
Corner Rounding Punch
Diamond Stickles
Glossy Accents
My Trusty Sewing Machine

Hope everyone has a good week.