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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.

Thursday 27 August 2015

COMING UP FOR AIR

Hi Everyone

Golly gosh what a mad few days!

So much happening order and wedding wise that I haven't had chance to up-date my blog.  Sorry :-(

Lots of work for "Bank Holiday" wedding couples .. .. along with chipping away at September/October weddings .. ..  and new happy couples arriving on the scene too.

But thankfully the imminent deadlines are now finished and I need to get the house back in order. Starting tonight with a humongous pile of ironing.  I shall be pleased when that is out of the way that's for sure.

But for now I thought I would share with you my favourite of the makes I put together for the current issue of  Quick Cards Made Easy .. .. I really enjoyed making these:



I have also added Sketch Thirteen into the library which I am looking forward to playing with tomorrow .. .. .. and it looks like this:


So I won't put it off any longer .. .. ironing board here I come!  Gosh I do have an exciting life LOL!!

Have a lovely evening everyone.

Love


Wednesday 19 August 2015

SEATING PLANS

Hi Everyone

Well here I am .. .. as promised with pictures of some of the wedding work I did for a lovely couple who got married earlier this year.

I was so lucky to be sent pictures of the table plans we designed together displayed in all their glory .. .. .. they are something I find very hard to photograph because they are so big, but this photographer did a fantastic job.  I particularly love the first black and white picture with the frame displayed beautifully alongside that fabby old typewriter!

So this is the first table plan which was for the actual wedding day itself:



and this is the second seating plan which was for the wedding celebration party the following day .. .. how lovely to have two days of celebrations.



I wonder if this will be the biggest table plan I will ever do .. .. a top table and 27 guest tables. 

I am so grateful to Maxine and James for allowing me to share their pictures .. thank you so very much xxxx.  They were such a lovely couple to work for and I feel certain they are going to be happy together for ever and a day!

It only feels right to thank the photographer too for their stunning work and I have linked to their website here .. .. Andy Porter Photography

So there we go.  A little glimpse at some of what I get up to when I am not making "teeny, tiny cards" LOL!!

I'll catch you again soon.

Love

Tuesday 18 August 2015

TEENY, TINY TUESDAY

Hi Everyone

Happy Tuesday.  I hope you have had a good day.

Teeny tiny Tuesday time again already .. .. .. not that I am complaining.  Today has been a mega productive day in the House of Hearts .. .. .. another 20 or so like today and I would be a very happy bunny!!

Is 20 being greedy?  OK then I will settle for 14 (at a push LOL!!).

So here is my teeny, tiny 3.5 x 3.5" make for this week:




This used:

Backing Papers:  Wild Rose Studios "Peach Blossom"
Sentiment:  Stampin' Up "Banner Banter"
Cuttlebug Embossing Folder "Swiss Dots"
My Trusty Sewing Machine
Twine Flower made with my Crazy Daisy Flower Loom
White Gel Pen for colouring in the Swiss Dots
Button and Pearls from My Crafty Stash Box
We R Memory Keepers:  Envelope Punch Board
and Sketch Number 6 from my little library



and that is me for today!

A special share tomorrow.

I don't know how many of you can remember me talking of a huge table plan I did a few weeks ago .. .. .. .. well my happy couple have returned from their honeymoon and have their official wedding photographs which they very kindly sent me the passwords to, so that I could look at their happy day(s).  There was a great shot of the table plan and they are happy for me to share it here so I will get that posted up tomorrow.

But it is time for me to give in for today now and spend a little time with Mr Heart.

Catch you tomorrow.

Love

Monday 17 August 2015

SKETCH TWO (AGAIN)

Hi Everyone

I hope your weekend was good and Monday has started your week of nicely.

Lots done, and lots more to do, here in the old House of Hearts .. .. but sadly one of today's creations needed to be one of those cards we don't like sending (or even making really).




This used:

Image:  Hero Arts "G5311" Silhouette Spray
Sentiment:  Computer Generated using font "Honey Script"
Backing Papers:  First Edition Papers "New Leaf"
Die-namics Die Set:  Blueprints 14
Gold Embossing Powder
Josy Rose:  Nail Heads
My Trusty Sewing Machine
Ribbons from My Crafty Stash Box
and Sketch Number Two from My Little Sketch Library (this one is quickly becoming a favourite and is getting lots of use here.



Sorry I am not getting very much blog visiting in at the moment :-(  Lots of wedding work needed for Bank Holiday brides .. .. but at least I am finding a few things to share with you.

So that is me for today.

I'll catch you again soon.  Enjoy your evening.

Love

Saturday 15 August 2015

BIRTHDAY WISHES

Hi Everyone

Happy weekend!

I thought I would get onto my blog nice and early today before a super busy weekend takes hold here in the House of Hearts to share a card I made using Sketch Eleven from my little library.  I didn't find this sketch too easy to use to be truthful .. .. I think it is because I just struggle big time with things not being square .. .. but I shall persevere with my phobia and try to "alter my brain" if possible. LOL!!

So here we go:




This used:

Sentiment:  Digistamp Boutique "Large Birthday Sentiment Set"
Backing Papers:  First Edition Paper "Paper Flowers"
Nestabilities:  Classic Circle and Scalloped Circle
Martha Stewart Edge Punch:  Traditional Scallop
My Trusty Old Sewing Machine
ProMarkers (for colouring in the machine embroidery)
Distress Ink:  Dusty Concord
Ribbon from My Crafty Stash Box (one of my favourite ribbon colours)

and tah dah .. ..

Sketch Eleven from my little collection


For anyone collecting them, the next sketch has made an appearance in the library today .. .. .. without any quirky angles this time LOL!!

Many thanks for all the lovely comments on my previous post.  For most of you the button heart was your favourite .. .. and it was mine too. 

Enjoy your weekend everyone.  Hope you manage to find a little bit of crafty time all to yourself.

Love

Wednesday 12 August 2015

WEDDING CARDS

Hi Everyone

I hope your weather has been as beautiful as it has been here today .. .. glorious sunshine for most of the day!

Many thanks for all your lovely comments and the sewing machine memories you shared in response to my blog post of yesterday.  My Mum's machine was used for sewing bits of chamois leather together to make full sized leathers.  She did this as outwork to bring a few more pennies into the house.  I can still smell the bits of leather now (and have to admit to always sniffing chamois leathers if I see them on sale anywhere).  

I did own a similar sewing machine back in the 70's when we were first married and I can remember spending many a happy hour turning the handle to make .. ..  .. .. wait for it .. .. .. Crimplene dresses!!!  LOL!!  But I foolishly traded it in to get a discount when Mr Heart bought me the "trusty sewing machine" I use now.  

No chance to clean up my new machine yet as I am still catching up from being away, but I am sure it won't be long as my hands are itching for a play with it.

But for now .. .. as promised .. .. here are a few of the wedding cards I made for various folk to give to my Niece who got married on Monday:

This is the one Mr Heart and I sent:



This was made for my youngest Son to give:



Then this was for my lovely Sis to give to her beautiful daughter.
It looked really nice nestled inside a vellum lined box.



I won't list what each one used as I will be here all day, but if there is anything you want to know more about then you know you only have to ask.

There are no prizes for guessing that the wedding was all themed around yellow and buttons!!

No rose petals scattered up the aisle for my Niece .. .. but die cut buttons cut from tissue paper along with the odd heart here and there.  Super cute and all loving cut by her Sister!  I bet she has RSI now!!

So that is me for today.

Time for favour box duties for me now.

Catch you soon.

Love

Tuesday 11 August 2015

BACK FROM THE WEDDING

Hi Everyone

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

We are back from my Niece's Wedding and all had a fantastic time .. .. shattered but full of happy memories.

The wedding wasn't until 2.00pm which gave us the morning to mooch around Leek .. .. and just look what I found and purchased .. .. something I have craved for a long time but never been able to find other than on ebay.


My Mum had one like this years ago and the shop owner had a couple for sale.  The first one I had to reject because it had the tension control missing .. .. but this one worked perfectly once I had tweaked it about.  Being the cheeky person I am I managed to reduce the price a little - but the shop owner said it was worth the reduction for the lesson I had given him in working and adjusting them LOL!!

I think he thought it strange though that I was happy to just sew on an old envelope!  I never admitted it was for sewing on cards .. .. and I bet the people of Leek thought us even stranger for taking it out of its box and taking a picture of it on some lovely steps we found.

Can't wait to give it a good clean and polish up!  I bet it would have a few tales to tell if it could talk.

The London kids have started their tracks home again :-( and now I must catch up on some work.  Mr Heart has kindly volunteered to drive me round this afternoon to collect some ribbons and supplies I have on order, which means I can just sit with my head down for the rest of the week.

So off I go to get the supplies in and I'll catch you again soon.

Love 

Saturday 8 August 2015

NEW SKETCH

Hi Everyone

Happy Saturday.

I hope that you have been having a lovely weekend.

No card to share unfortunately .. .. the only creations made today have been wedding cards ready for the happy couple on Monday and it doesn't seem right to share those yet.  Perhaps later if I get time to take photographs.

I have only known they are getting married for two years but have still ended up making mine at the last minute .. .. as always everyone else's creations come first LOL!!.

Quite challenging making the cards because I have made five in total for various folk and I wanted them all to be different.

So no card .. .. but I have added Sketch Number Eleven to my little sketch library .. .. which looks like this:


Enjoy the rest of your weekend everyone.

Catch you when I do.

Love

Friday 7 August 2015

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER

Hi Everyone

I hope you have had a good week and have a nice weekend planned!  Hopefully it will involve a bit of crafty playtime for those with itchy crafting fingers!

The London Kids are landing early doors tomorrow for us to spend a few days together .. .. my Niece is getting married on Monday so lots of celebrating to be done!!

But for now a share from me using the latest sketch in my little library .. .. Sketch number ten!  I am so pleased I have got around to using this one .. .. it was a favourite when I created it and I am quite chuffed with how it looks now I have used it.

So here we go:




This used:

Sentiment:  A very, very old Anita's Stamp (from way back when)
Backing Papers:  Craft Sensations by Grafix "Romantic Fine Art"
Woodware Punches:  Daisies
Josy Rose:  Nail Heads
My Trust Sewing Machine
Ribbon stolen from my wedding sample making box (the only place I could find the right colour LOL!!)

and tah dah .. .. 

Sketch number ten from my little sketch library tab


Best get another sketch added to the mix tomorrow .. .. but for now I had better disappear.  I am nearly in bad books with Mr Heart because I should be downstairs by now sharing quality time!!!! Eeekkk!!!

Catch you soon.

Love

Wednesday 5 August 2015

JUMP FOR JOY

Hi Everyone

Happy Wednesday!  Middle of the week already!!

Just flying in and out quickly today with a card I have been working on over a few days .. .. ..not that it is intricate or anything out of the ordinary .. .. I just didn't have time to do it all in one sitting.

So here we go:




This used:

Image:  Penny Black "3702J" Jump for Joy!
Sentiment:  Lili of the Valley "Sentiment Tags"
Backing Papers:  First Edition Paper "Boho Chic"
Nestabilities:  Classic Circle
Woodware Punches:  Daisy
ProMarkers
My Trust Sewing Machine
Josy Rose:  Nail Heads
Brad, Eyelet and Metallic Cord from My Crafty Stash Box
and ... ... tah dah ....

Sketch Number Nine from my little sketch library


That means I have used all the ones I have put into my library now  .. .. so I have added another one today.  My little library is the first place I go now when I want to create something so I am really pleased I started it.

Thank you for all your lovely comments on my machine stitching. That comes from years of sewing fabric .. .. which I no longer seem to get time for .. .. but the funny thing is that the type of stitching I admire is where folk do two rows that all wobble, wave and cross over each other .. .. and I can't do that!!  I can only sew straight (ish)  LOL!!.  

Enjoy your day everyone.  I am hoping to get some big jobs crossed off my crafty list today!!

Catch you soon.

Love

Tuesday 4 August 2015

TEENY TINY TUESDAY

Hi Everyone

I hope your week is going well.

All mega busy this end with "happy couples" .. .. both new and ongoing .. .. hence no time for blogging/visiting and definitely no time to play with my snippets on Sunday :-(

So I made amendments early doors this morning and used my snippet and Sketch Number Eight for today's teeny, tiny 3.5 x 3.5" creation (you can find my little collection of sketches on the tab at the top of my blog - feel free to use them if you want to).

I love working on my tiny little cards, mainly because they use up all the tiny offcuts I can't bear to throw away.. ..  and I don't need much space on my desk to create them .. .. the 8" square of working room I usually end up with is plenty for my little card and tiny paper cutter  LOL!!!

So here we go:



This used:

Image:  Penny Black "30-013" Critter Party
Sentiment:  Pink Petticoat (can't find it in the boutique now .. sorry)
Backing Papers:  All snippets of Basic Grey "Vivienne"
Nestabilities:  Circle
ProMarkers
My Trusty Sewing Machine
Buttons from My Crafty Stash Box
We R Memory Keepers Envelope Punch Board

and this is Sketch Number  Eight that I worked with:


I am all prepared with my share for tomorrow (yay!!) which uses Sketch Number Nine .. .. and number 10 will be making an appearance in the library too.

So just off to link my creation up into Pixie's Snippets Playground where I see this week my lovely blog buddy Eve is Prefect for the week to give our lovely Di a much earned rest.  I hope you are having fun Eve and that Di is managing to put her feet up and catch her breath!

Catch you again tomorrow.

Love