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! 

BAALAMB

Hi Everyone

Happy Friday!  Nearly the weekend .. .. .. .. yet again!!!  Where are these weeks disappearing too?

Here today to share a quick card which uses one of the images I have enjoyed colouring whilst sitting in the garden.  I don't think I have ever had so many images coloured up and "ready to go".  

Every year I promise myself that I will sit and enjoy the garden and the fresh air more .. .. .. and every year summer comes and goes and all I have ever done is "physically" garden .. .. .. but not this year.  

At last I have learnt to enjoy my garden in a different and more relaxing way.  It hasn't been a case of just digging and weeding ... ... ... though I have had to do that as well!  LOL!!

Anyway, let me introduce you to Baalamb .. .. :

This used:

Image:  Woodware "JGS768" Fuzzy Friends - Baalamb
Sentiment:  Computer Generated using font Aracne Condensed Regular
Backing Papers:  From the snippet box .. .. all I know is it came from a Nitwits Collection
ProMarkers
X-Cut Corner Rounding Punch
My Trusty Sewing Machine

Isn't it just the most fun image?  Perfect for filling the front of a 14.5cm square card all on its own.

So it is nearly time for me to head off to Mum.  Friday is our laundry and cleaning day .. .. .. though today making a batch of peanut brittle is also on the cards. 

Mum really fancied some a while back and we have looked in every shop and supermarket over the last few weeks and haven't been able to find any.  I felt sorry for her, so decided I would have a go at trying to make her some myself.  She loved it .. .. .. so I am guessing this may become another part of our routine now.  LOL!!!

I know that looks like a huge glass of gin and tonic on the left .. .. but it is just cold water with ice in that I used to test my toffee was going to set  ... ... honestly guv!

So that is me for today.

Enjoy your day and your weekend .. .. whatever you are doing.

BIRTHDAY CHEERS

Hi Everyone

I hope your week has been going well ... ... and you have seen some summer sunshine!

Lots of re-organising and gardening has been happening here, which hasn't resulted in anything to share on my blog, but I did find a little bit of time today to make this:

This used:

Image:  GCR Designs: Wine Definition
Sentiment:  Computer Generated
Backing Paper:  JAnnB Designs Cork Papers
My Trusty Sewing Machine

and that is all! 

So now you know the definition of wine please don't get all your nutritional "5 a day" from a wine bottle .. .. .. as nice as that might sound you will more than likely end up with a BIG headache!  LOL!!

Take care everyone.

Hopefully catch you again soon.

LOADS OF LOVE

Hi Everyone

I hope your week has been a good one and that you are ready for your weekend.  Hope it is one filled with things you enjoy.

I needed to nip to the supermarket for some additional supplies for Mum today and I couldn't help but see what other folk were putting through the check-out!  Most folk appeared to be buying food that wasn't going to take much preparation to eat alongside the football on Sunday .. .. .. a few people even had bottles of bubbly so were clearly planning on having something to celebrate!  Oooooo .... ... wouldn't that be nice .. .. .. an England win .. .. .. in fact that would be very nice! 

Anyway, just a quick share from me tonight:

This used:

Image:  Julie Hickey "SKU: JH1043" Sweet Daisy Stamp Set
Sentiment:  Penny Black Clear Stamp Set "30-146" Loads of Love (Great to be able to curve clear sentiment stamps).
Backing Papers:  All from my snippet mountain
Distress Ink Pad:  Bundled Sage
ProMarkers
X-Cut Corner Rounding Punch

Ribbon
My Trusty Sewing Machine
and Sketch Number from Five from my Rectangular Sketch Library  (feel free to use it if you like the look of it).

Enjoy your weekend everyone .. .. .. whether you are a footie fan, a tennis fan or someone who isn't interested in either.  

Personally I don't have the foggiest idea how to follow the scoring with tennis .. .. .. but footie .. .. I will definitely be there for that!  Come on England!!!!

HARE IN THE MIDDLE

Hi Everyone

Happy Monday .. .. .. I hope you all had a good weekend and all the Dads enjoyed their special day. 

I needed to get up bright and early to clear the dining room table (yet again) ready for our youngest Son coming to celebrate the day with his Dad .. .. unfortunately the London Kids weren't able to be here but we had a good catch up on Facetime!

We can't wait for the day to arrive when we will all be together again.  It feels like a lifetime since we were.

A while back (in the good old days) I was fortunate to visit the offices of Immediate Media and whilst there got to sit in on a pre-issue planning meeting.  One set of cards that really stuck in my mind used a technique called "retiform".  

I thought about the technique over the weekend and decided to give it a go for the background of my card.  Not too bad for a first attempt.

This used:

Images:

Woodware Clear Stamp Set "JGS699" Hare in the Middle
Woodward Clear Stamp Set "JGS300" Going to Seed
Sentiment:  LOTV "Simply Cute Sentiments"
Sizzix Thinlits Die Set "664382A" Springtime Borders
X-Cut Flower Punch
Distress Ink Pads and Memento Dewdrop Ink Pads
Nail Heads

My Trusty Sewing Machine

I am taking this over to the As You See It Challenge where the theme is "Masculine".

Hopefully catch you again soon .. .. 

MOUSE BALLOONS

Hi Everyone

I hope your day has been a good one.

A birthday card from me today which I am taking over to the Bugaboo Catch the Bug Challenge Blog:

This used:

Image:  Bugaboo "Mouse Balloons"
Sentiment:  Computer Generated using font "Aracne Condensed Regular"
Backing Paper:  From the snippet mountain
ProMarkers
My Trusty Sewing Machine

So no opening of everywhere in England by the Government .. .. surprise, surprise .. .. but I "was" surprised that the number of people allowed to go to a wedding from the 21st June onwards isn't limited to 30 any more.  

Lots of  happy couples will be celebrating tonight .. .. .. the actual wedding celebrations won't be quite as we know them from times gone by .. .. but at least people can get married with more of their friends and family.  Probably after having their happy day cancelled numerous times in the past!

Catch you again soon.

A NEW SKETCH

Hi Everyone

Happy Saturday, I hope all is well with everyone and you are enjoying another weekend!  Hopefully a sunny one!

A new sketch made its way into my Rectangular Sketch Library earlier in the week and today I actually had time to play with it and used it to create this:

This used:

Image:  Hero Arts "H2817"Garden Flowers Sketch
Sentiment:  an Ebay purchase without proper packaging but a reference number of PICS066
Backing Papers:  First Edition "J'Adore
ProMarkers
Ribbon
Pearls
Nail Heads
My Trusty Sewing Machine

and Rectangular Sketch Number Four which looks like this (but my flower morphed into a tiny butterfly LOL!):

If anyone would like to use any of my sketches then please feel free do so so.  Both square and a few rectangular sketches are available on the tabs at the top of my blog.  More sketches for both tabs will be being added, but as the rectangular collection is new to my blog, that is the one I am trying to bulk up a little.

Enjoy your weekend everyone.

Catch you again soon.

BIRTHDAY GIRL

Hi Everyone

I hope you are all enjoying the Bank Holiday weekend.

Mr Heart and I spent yesterday planting up the hanging baskets and pots on the patio .. .. .. and the sun shone on us .. .. eventually.  

It ended up as the first day in ages and ages that I hadn't actually made anything.  How sad that I was getting withdrawal symptoms and ended up getting up super early so I could get something made and stop my crafty fingers itching!

This is what I came up with:

This used:

Image:  Hero Arts Stamp and Die Cut Set "657776"

Sentiment:  Lili of the Valley "Embossed Labels"
Stampin' Up Stamp Set "Gorgeous Grunge"  (one of my favourite stamps sets from Stampin' Up! but I think one I gained from Ebay the other week might overtake it!)
Crafters Companion Diesire Dies "Scalloped Tags"
Backing Paper:  Craft Consortium "The Essential Craft Papers - Watercolours"

Gold Embossing Powder

Distress Ink Pad: Speckled Egg
Pearls

Ribbon

My Trusty Sewing Machine

I am taking my card to two challenges:

The first is the "As You See It Challenge" where this fortnight the theme is to follow a recipe.

1.  Birthday theme ... ... tick!
2.  Heat Embossing ... ... tick!'
3.  Ribbon/Twine ... ... tick!
4.  Patterned Paper ... ... tick!
5.  Die Cut ... ... tick!

This is a fairly new challenge to me and one I am really enjoying.  Every fortnight the challenge theme  changes and the variety that they come up with is brilliant!  (Must admit I am looking forward to the next 10 minute challenge .. .. .. I really enjoyed that last time).

My card is also making its way into Pixies Crafty Snippets Playground Challenge where we are encouraged to use up our snippets and "odd and ends of paper, card, ribbon etc".  Everything on my card came from my snippet mountain except the card base .. ... .. even that scrap of ribbon!.

and that is me for today.

Enjoy the rest of your bank holiday weekend .. .. if you are allowed one .. .. and I hope you get to enjoy some sunshine!

CHEESECAKE PARADE

Hi Everyone

I hope your week has been a good one and you are ready for your weekend.  I was hoping this week was going to be an improvement for blog posting and visiting .. .. but sadly it wasn't to be. 

I will just have to keep my fingers crossed that improvements are on the horizon!

Here tonight though with a quick share .. .. .. 

This used:

Image:  Penny Black "1674K" Cheesecake Parade"
Sentiment:  Computer Generated using font "Aracne Condensed Regular"
Backing Papers:  Craft Sensations and Pink Petticoat
ProMarkers
X-Cut Corner Rounding Punch

Nail Heads

My Trusty Sewing Machine

and that is me for today.

I hope everyone has a lovely weekend.  

Personally I am hoping I will be able to stay indoors and craft away to my heart's content.  There is still lots I need to cross of my crafty "must do" list, and the more I cross off the more seems to be being added.  No rest for the wicked!  LOL!!

Have a good one everyone.

BIG HUGS

Hi Everyone

Happy Sunday!

I prepared the written part of my blog post for today earlier in the week .. .. .. with a very excited heart and a celebratory blog title of "big hugs".  What a shame that whilst adding the pictures to my post the news channels are not sounding that keen on us hugging now .. .. .. we have to "hug cautiously!".. .. .. and now Step 4 out of lockdown is looking dodgy too!   Bad news for the weddings I still have on my books who postponed from last year to this.

It has been quite a busy week here in the House of  Hearts with my fingers in far too many pies .. .. .. hence a bit of a drought on the blog post front .. .. but fingers tightly crossed there should be an improvement this week.

Today I am sharing a card that uses the most recent rectangle sketch I have added to my rectangular sketch library.  My rectangular sketches  are still very thin on the ground but I promise lots more will be being added.

This used:

Image:  Penny Black "3344J" Rosy 
Sentiment:  Penny Black "30-524" Happy Hugs
Backing Papers:  Make & Create - Sweet Garden Roses
ProMarkers
Nail Heads

My Trusty Sewing Machine

and my latest rectangular sketch

Please feel free to use my sketches if you like the look of any .. .. you will see the other two rectangle sketches and the fifty four square sketches on the tabs at the top of my blog.  Lots more of both will be appearing.

Enjoy your Sunday everyone .. .. .. let's hope we get a bit more sunshine and a lot less rain this week!   

NO BEES IN OUR GARDEN

Hi Everyone

I hope you have enjoyed your Saturday.

Definitely no bees in our garden today .. .. .. it has been far too wet.   But we do have two robins who have nested under our pergola and we have seen them lots today.  No doubt the rain has brought lots of worms to the surface for them.

But even if there were any bees they wouldn't look like this cute image:

This used:

Image: Penny Black "2243K" Bee Costume
Sentiment:  Computer Generated using font Aracne Condensed Regular
Backing Papers:  Nitwit Collections "Wildflower Collection"
Martha Stewart Punch:  Daisy Edge Punch
Spellbinders Nestabilities:  Classic Circle and Scallop Circle
ProMarkers

Nail Heads
Crystal Glamour Dust
My Trusty Sewing Machine

I am going to take my creation over to the "Sweet Stampin'" Challenge where this week the theme is "Things with Wings" .. .. .. bet they never expected a Cat to make an appearance LOL!!

Take care everyone, enjoy the rest of your weekend and thank you for calling by.

AS YOU SEE IT CHALLENGE

Hi Everyone

Happy Tuesday!

I hope life has been being kind to you.

I must admit I intended to post this creation yesterday .. .. .. but I got drawn into watching the snooker and time disappeared.

But I am here now, and am taking my card over to the As You See It Challenge which this fortnight is a colour challenge

This used:

Floral Images:  My Favorite Things "Plentiful Petals" and matching Die Set
Sentiment:  Mama Elephant "Make a Wish"
Variety of Ink Pads (the nearest colours I had to the challenge)
My Trusty Sewing Machine

and the colours for the challenge are:

Scrummy colours aren't they? .. .. and I must admit not necessarily ones I would have considered using.  

That is the beauty of  challenges for me .. .. they make you think differently.  Fancy playing along or just eating the macaroons?

I did wonder whether my spelling was correct and wondered if it should be macaroons or macarons .. .. .. .. and the interesting fact for today is that macaroons are made using shredded coconut and macrons use almond meal!   Thanks for that Mr Google.  Must admit I have never eaten either.

Enjoy your day everyone.