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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.

Tuesday 14 February 2012

HANDY HIPPO DAY - WEEK 22

Hi Everyone

Happy Handy Hippo day to you all!!  Sorry for the delay .. .. but it will have given you chance to get your ribbons out ready for a play later !!  LOL!!!

These Handy Hippo weeks are definitely coming and going very, very quickly!!

My share this week uses a clear stamp set that I really love and I enjoyed making this card so much:







I haven't used all of the images in the stamp set .. .. there are little birds, another tree and other sentiments that you can put onto that cute little sign post (or other places if you want to).

Just wish I knew someone who was moving house now so that I could send this card to them LOL!!  Never mind .. .. one day I will need it (if I can bear to part with it)  LOL!!

Below you can find the Handy Hippo magic button .. .. and if you click on it you can see all the lovely goodies I used to make this little project.  Everything I have used has been automatically added to a shopping basket and as always you can remove anything you do not need (or add anything else you can't resist).  




and now to the last in my little series of  "things to do with ribbons"

Firstly how about stamping on your ribbon.

Here I have stamped my sentiment
onto a scrap of ribbon using
black Stazon ink
Using a clear sentiment on an acrylic block
lets you see exactly where your image is going
to go

You can leave the ends of your ribbon rough
.. .. or even fray them a little if you want to .. .. or you can
stop the ends fraying by applying just a tiny amount
of clear nail varnish.

Here is one I attached to a card the other
day using my sewing machine.  I chose to zig-zag
over the ends to stop them fraying
.

This next way of using up ribbon gives a lovely look ... .. but can be a little bulky when finished .. .. but sometimes that does matter does it

Take a need and a piece cotton of cotton
.. .. knotted at the end
(I use my cotton doubled up so that I don't risk it breaking).
Starting a little way in do small running stitches.

Stop before you get to the end 

Then pull the thread to gather up your ribbon
and do a few back stitches to fasten
your cotton off and stop your
ribbon unravelling again.

Cut the end of your cotton off and you are left
with a lovely gathered ribbon.  I always
think satin ribbon looks particularly nice
but of course you can do it with any type.

Attach your ribbon to your card
by taping down the ends of the ribbon
that you didn't gather.

Turn your work over and this is
what you have .. .. all ready for mounting
onto some backing card.

The little strip that I did isn't going
anywhere .. .. but if you decided to do this
technique over a large area you could always
secure the ribbon down with a glue dot.
You just need to make sure that your
gathered ribbon is long enough for what you need
before you fasten it off with your back-stitches.

You can always not have your gathers
quite so tight as mine if you are short
on ribbon and need to make it stretch

just that little bit further.

.. .. ... and now for the last example in this little mini ribbon series LOL!!!

Take a length of ribbon

Cross the ends over to form a loop
.. .. I work right over left
but you can work left over right if you feel
more comfortable doing it that way

Pass the end you crossed over through your loop.

Hold both ends and pull to form a
loose knot

Play with the knot to make it neat and then you can
attach it to a card by taping it at
the back

That was the technique I used on this card here .. .. ..  using a piece of very wide ribbon.  Great when you don't have enough to tie round the whole of your card.



So that is me for this week.

I hope that you have enjoyed looking at the little ribbon ideas I have shared over the last three weeks.  

Have a lovely day. 

Love




and all the lovely friendly people at Handy Hippo

45 comments:

Lisa said...

Hi Jules, FAB card! Love the gingham. Thanks for sharing your ribbon tips ... might have to give the ruffled ribbon a try :-)

Lisa x

Elizabeth said...

Hi Jules, another gorgeous card - love that stamp set and the gingham papers are perfect for the theme. Like your ribbon treatment - it looks great threaded through the button.

I won't run out of ribbon ideas after seeing all your fab tuts - thanks for sharing.

Elizabeth x

Anonymous said...

Happy Heart Day Mrs Heart!

This is one of the prettiest cards I've ever seen and I love it! Gorgeous design with my favourite gingham papers - so fresh and crisp. Lovely!

Another knit 1 purl 1 day for me today. Have a lovely day.
xx

Beryl K said...

Gorgeous card Jules, love all the gingham. Thanks for another great tutorial for using ribbon
Beryl x

Di said...

Hi Jules - what an amazing card, I'd move house just to have you send me that one :) And the duckie is adorable too. So glad you did the ribbon tutorial - no more tappity tapping from me :) Loads of great tips, thanks! Love, Di xx

Carol said...

Love your card Jules, the gingham looks great. Thanks for the ribbon tutorials too. Carol x

Sarn said...

Wow . . . gingham rocks!

Wonderful card and great tutorials. Thanks xxx

Irene said...

Brilliant cards Jules, I love the house stamps. thanks for your ribbon tuts.
luv
irenexxxx

Gibmiss said...

Hi Jules
Love your ribbon tutorials ......will try them like the one rushed up .....

Hugs Sylvie x

Anne said...

Morning Jules, how I look forward to catching up with your blog. Your moving house card is absolutely beautiful, clean and fresh. Wish I was moving!!! Thanks for your ribbon tips and finishing off with another gorgeous card. Have a good day. Hugs x

Crafting Queen said...

Just adore that first card, the colours and papers are perfect together. Thanks for the tips and have a great day. :)

Roma said...

Gorgeous cards jules ,lovely colours & images x

Karen M said...

Jules, your new home card is so cute, I love, love, love it!! Even though there is a lot of detail, it still has a clean and fresh look about it. And what about those mini ribbon tutorials - brilliant ideas, especially the ruffled ribbon. You are sooo talented! Kx

XxJULESxX said...

Oh Jules that card is stunning!! and thanks for the ribbon tut!

loftylass said...

Love your card Jules - gingham always looks so clean and fresh don't you think. Thanks for the ribbon tips - soooo useful.
Have a lovely valentines day.
Hugs
Heather W
x

Anonymous said...

What an amazing New Home card. I have to do one soon and this one is a great inspiration! Absolutely beautiful!! Thank you for showing how to stamp on ribbon! Hadn't even thoought of trying that, but what a fab idea!!! x

Denise said...

Hi Jules.
Another grat ribbon tutorial - TFS.
Love your card - the gingham is gorgeous and so is that image. Really clean and fresh looking.
Hugs
Denise xx

Unknown said...

Jules, I love this card, perfect for moving home. The gingham is so fresh. x

Anonymous said...

Hi Jules

Another lovely card, more great colouring and some valuable ribbon techniques. I love the ruffled ribbon, it looks a little like a wedding garter. You are an inspiration.

Have a great day

Rach xxx

Home sweet home said...

Wow,this card is soooo really beautiful,and I love the paper that you have use , they are so cute.
Fabulous work.

Jenny said...

Super card Jules, the patch work house looks very versatile.
Great tips for ribbon trims too...never thought of nail varnish, don't know why, it's the thing of choice for laddered tights!
Jenny x

Debbie said...

Hi Jules, another fab ribbon tutorial - great tips yet again -thank you. Will have to have a little play.Your New home card is stunning.I love all the ginghams especially the paper piecing.Inspiring!Love Debbie x

angelwhispers said...

Jules the cards are just beautiful and just loving your ideas with the ribbon. Chanelle xxx

Princess Judy Palmer said...

Such a happy card with its whimsical house and cheery gingham. Thanks for all the ribbon tutorials too. I have quite a lot of ribbon so it is always nice to have other options with it.

Jaimy said...

its beautiful!
now I am your newest follower.

When you like it.
take a look at my blog.
www.jaimyskaartjes.blogspot.com

Greetings, Jaimy

Sue said...

Hi hun
two gorgeouys cards, luv the new home card, great ribbon tip, luv the ribbon on your get well card, sue,x

Sue B said...

This is gorgeous Jules! I love the soft pastels and gingham. Fab image and sentiment - it's a really sweet New Home card!
I love that stamped ribbon and it looks so good with the stitching. I wish I still had a sewing machine! the zig zag stitch looks really nice.
I have really enjoyed the ribbon ideas, and the instructions and photos have been fab!! Thanks for doing it!!
Hope you have a great evening!
Love Sue xx

Bernie said...

This is adorable Jules! I love the soft pastels and gingham.

I really am enjoying your ribbon tutorials!
Hugs & Blessings
Bernie

Debs M said...

great card , thanks for the ribbon tips x

Doreen said...

Just gorgeous as always Jules,love the ribbon tips.xxx

Kietha said...

Lovely card love all the gingham and the colour combo. Thanks for sharing more of your ribbon tips with us all xx

susiestacey said...

Hi Jules gorgeous card, very pretty. Thank you for the ribbon tips too x Susan x

Marie-Louise said...

Love both of these cards and really enjoyed the tutorial. Got some of the gold and some silver cord but now have to work out how to incorporate it into a bow - maybe a tutorial here - Please.

coldwaters2 said...

Wow Jules both cards are fantastic I especially love the first one with all that wonderful gingham, your tutorials on the ribbon are brilliant I am going to bookmark this for future reference. Thank you so much for sharing.
hugs
Lorraine x

Sally said...

Love this stamp set Jules & such a pretty card. Love the way you've used different patterns on the house. Another great ribbon tut, keep 'em coming. lol.
Sally x

coops said...

stunning card jules.i love the fab image and yout gingham papers are gorgeous ;D

xx coops xx

jem (jane elizabeth middleton) said...

I adore your card Mrs heart,love houses and love gingham,perfect together.janex

Minami said...

Beautiful card, and i love those ribbon ideas, especially the ruched one :)

Lindsay Craftymonster81 said...

Hi Jules, these are both gorgeous, I love all the different ginghams on the first one and the image on the second card is so sweet. Thanks for sharing your little mini tutorials with us
Lindsay xx

Nikbee said...

A gorgeous card. I love the gingham. Your ribbon ideas are wonderful too. I might try out the gathered one soon.
Nikki x

Anonymous said...

Love your gorgeous moving house card Jules and another great ribbon tutorial, thanks!
Helen x

M said...

Hi Jules, well I certainly have some thinking to do after you've shared so many ideas! Now I need to put some into practice! I love the ruffled one - it looks a bit like a garter and I bet it would look great in white on a white wedding card! M x

Little K Smith said...

More fab cards Jules, both sooo pretty and another brilliant tutorial! :)
Kelly.x

Grenouille Greetings said...

This is fabby, Duck! And I love your patchwork house and fabby tutorial! Hugs, Lesley

Tara Cardwell said...

Your ribbon tutorials are just brilliant!!!! Thank you so much for taking the time to make them.
The card is pretty darn awesome too!
Tara x