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A very warm welcome to my teeny, tiny part of the huge world of blogging. This is where I share my passion for making hand made greeting cards. So - why "Always with a Heart"? Well this is for two reasons. Firstly, it is because every card I produce carries a heart on it somewhere. This can be big and bold or small and almost hidden - the fun sometimes is just trying to find it! Secondly it is because I put my heart into everything I produce. I hope that any visitors enjoy seeing what I post. If you drop by then please leave me a comment so that I know you called. It would be nice to know that you have found my heart in what I do.

Wednesday 2 February 2011

MORE PENNY BLACK AND MY POPPIES

Hi Everyone

I hope you are all well.

It has been a sad day in the House of Hearts .. .. my lappy has been taken away to the computer doctor!!  So I am now struggling to post and comment on the old faithful stand alone in the corner (otherwise known as the donkey) .. .. but hey .. .. at least that is working!!!!

I have spent ages trying to rescue everything off my laptop before it went away .. .. hopefully I have everything I am going to need as it will have a new hard drive when it comes back.  Thankfully (and just for a change) I am still inside my warranty period with a few weeks to spare .. .. phew!!!  Not very often that happens to me.  I am normally a few days out of it LOL!!!

So hopefully everything posts as it should tonight - but it has been a struggle.  You just get used to where everything is on your own computer don't you.

Anyway, enough waffling and on to my share of the day:




This used:

Image:  Penny Black "1037K" Lovin' Flowers
Sentiment:  Funstamps "F-C60" Happy Birthday Circular
Backing Papers:  Docraft VandA Hanoverian
Fiskars  Punch:  Threading Water
ProMarkers
Diamond Stickles
Ribbon from the stash box

Next I thought I would share with you how I made my poppies on yesterday's Penny Black at Allsorts DT card.

Quite a few of you commented and contacted me by email asking how I had made them.  I wrongly said I had used a Woodware Punch to make them  .. .. but actually when I came to do a little tutorial on how I made them I realised I actually used a Shapeability flower die.  But the tutorial below shows that I don't really think it matters.  The result is the same.



To start with I have cut three flowers  - 
one set using the Shapeability Die
the other set using a Woodware flower punch.





I distressed all the flowers using a
Barn Door Distress Ink Pad
(and my silicone mat from the £1 shop  -  plus I got two for that!!)






Next I screwed up all of the flowers to break
down the fibres in the paper  - I then open each flower
out  and spray each one lightly with water. 

Screw them up again and then open them out carefully.
Lay them on the silicone mat - but try not to flatten them out
too much ..  then dry them with a heat gun .. .. holding
the flowers down with a pair of tweezers or something similar
to stop them flying away.




Make a hole in the centre of each flower and then
join them together using a black brad.

I think you will agree that there is hardly any difference in
the finished look.


So there you go.  That is how I made my poppies.

I hope that helps.

Have a great evening everyone.

Edited to say:  I started off this post saying it was a sad day in the House of Hearts .. .. but the world news has been on TV in the background whilst I have been writing all of this .. .. my house isn't sad at all .. .. it is a very happy and very fortunate house.  There are lots of people all across the world that would just be happy to have had their laptop taken off them - many are facing such horrible circumstances.  I need to count my blessings!! 

Love

30 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Jules, You made me smile with donkey, we call ours the snail computer, it's so old and slow. My laptop seems ok at the mo! shouldn't have said that! Gorgeous card, and great tutorial for the poppies. Sue x

Lou said...

Hi! a very gorgeous card Jules,lovely colouring with the ProMarkers!!
I am trying them but can't get it right yet-i think its the paper i have.
Oh Wow your poppies are perfect,just so lovely.
big hug,Lou.xxxx

Doreen said...

Love your card jules and the tutorial for the poppies.

I think we should count our blessings,all my problems seem so insignificant compared to what is going on elsewhere.xxx

Andria said...

thanks for the tutorial on the poppies.

Anonymous said...

Hi Jules, I can't bear the thought of anything happening to my lappy!! This is a gorgeous creation as always and thanks for the tutorial - fab!! xxx

Debs said...

Gorgeous card Jules and fab tutorial on the poppies - I have that punch and I think I have the shapeability too so I feel a flower making session coming on lol!!!
I love reading your posts - everyday!
I agree we should all count our blessings a little bit more than we do.
Thanks for reminding to do so.
Have a fab evening
Debs xx

chris said...

Hi Jules, wow this is gorgeous and your poppies are AMAZING, love them. what a pain in the bum having no laptop.
hugs chris xx

Sue said...

Hi Jules
gorgeous card, fab colouring, pretty papers & design, luv ya flowers, sue,x

Whisper said...

Oh simply gorgeous hun - thanks for the demo on the poppies too and let's hope your lappy won't be away for long, Luv Sam x

Sally H said...

Beautiful card, Jules. Thanks for the poppy step by step. I know exactly what you mean. I thought I'd had a bad day at work until I watched the news!

Debbie said...

Hope you soon get your laptop back Jules.Wow, thanks for showing how you did your poppies.They are fab.Lovely birthday card too.Debbie x

lisa said...

Hi Jules. Sorry to hear about your Laptop. Hope it can be made well again.
Thanks so much for the poppy tutorial. I shall be trying this tomorrow!! Your card from the last post was just beautiful as is todays. What a great image. I hope that will be me back in my garden very soon!!
Here Here to your edit. This sounds exactly like the conversation we had at teatime. We are truly blessed.
Hugs Lisax

Donna Mosley said...

Hi Jules, love this gorgeous card. That image is so adorable and love your fab colouring. Your poppy tutorial is great, thank you for that. hope you get your laptop sorted soon.

Donna x

Wishcraft said...

Gorgeous card Jules, love the image and fab sentiment - you have such great sentiment stamps! Great poppy tutorial too. Hope your poorly laptop is all better soon :o) Lisa x

Vicky said...

Gorgeous card Jules. Such a fab image and great dp's too. Ahh thanks also for the flower tutorial hun, they look gorgeous so I thinks I have a little play tomorrow lol!
And sorry about your lappy :o(. Hope it's better real soon :o)

hugs Vicky xx

Lou said...

Hi! Jules sweetie,thanks soooo much :)
Ooh!! bless your heart,not nice for you at all.
Will Google for my nearest store,take care-do you think you may visit Sirstamp this year?
I am doing a Demo on the Saturday before Mothering Sunday(2nd April) and Fleur and the girls usually come over in the afternoon,Chris has a Demo Day too(not sure of the date).
big hug,thanks again!
Lou.xxxx

coldwaters2 said...

Oh my Jules that image is super what a little cutie he is I love it big time I also love the tutorial for the poppies, awesome work.
Hugs
Lorraine x

Grenouille Greetings said...

Love your card! It's such a great image! And THANK YOU for the poppy tutorial. I'm defo gonna give it a go! Hugs, Lesley

Anonymous said...

lol @ the donkey! heheee!

Love this card, great image, and really love your colouring! you use promarkers right? they seem fab!

Great papers and LOVE those flowers, you did awesome!

Lynne K said...

Lovely cards over the last few days, Jules. The poppies are gorgeous, thanks for showing us how to make them. I dread anything happening to my laptop, even though I've got everything backed up. Hope yours is better soon! xx

mckinkle said...

Hello Jules,

Beautiful card, as always even if I cant find the heart!!

So pleased that your lappy was in guarantee, I swear that all manufacturers only make goods sturdy enough to last 365 days!! Sure seems it at times!

Couldnt agree more re the world news lately, we do have it quite cushy dont we!

I love your poppy tut, thank you for that and I cant wait to have a little play!

Keryn x

Juls said...

love your card!! he is such a cute wee chap!!! Also a huge thankyou for your poppy tutorial!! I really must learn to be a lot more creative with the dies I have, thank you for your inspiration!!! Hugs Juls

jem (jane elizabeth middleton) said...

super card, crisp with a great image, love those poppies. hope you get your pc friend back safe and working well. janex

Nikbee said...

A wonderful card. The papers are so pretty. I love the poppies - great tutorial.

Nikki x

Shell Shearer Swinscoe said...

Gorgeous card hun, just love that image so sweet!
Thanks for the tut will have to try & find time to play!!!
Hope your lappy comes back in better health, huge hugs shell xx

Tracy said...

I am really loving this style of Penny Black image, must go and look for them. I love your tutorial on your poppies, will be trying that one.

Fabulous makes today jules.

I know what you mean about counting our blessings, I say it alot when I see others having a much worse time than me.

Happy crafting
Tracy x

CraftyC said...

Its a beautiful card Jules and I love your flowers. Hope you laptop comes back happy and healthy to!
Clairexx

Nannieflash said...

Hi Jules, gorgeous card I do love that image and youve coloured him so beautifully.
The tutorial is really easy to follow and so useful. With love and hugs Shirleyxxxxx

Beryl said...

A gorgeous card - love that circular sentment stamp. Hope you've got your precious lappy back by now - how lucky to have been within the warrenty period.
Beryl xx

craftimamma said...

Fab card Jules. I love that image which I've seen before so I knew where the heart was, Lol!
Shame about the laptop and hope it comes back to you very soon in tip top condition. Brilliant tutorial.

Hugs
Lesley Xx