My photo
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, 20 October 2011

THE SAME BUT DIFFERENT

Hi Everyone

Thursday already!!!  Where is the week disappearing too!!!

Please can I have an extra two days in my week that no-one else has?

Two days when I am the only one awake .. .. time just stands still for everyone else?

I think that would be a really nice present.  I might ask Santa about that this year .. .. but if he doesn't think I have been good enough then I will settle for just one day.  (But personally I do think I have been good enough to warrant two LOL!!!).

So tonight I am sharing two cards .. ... both the same .. .. but different:





These used:

Image:   Woodware Clear Stamps "FRS104" Pram
Sentiment:  Woodware Clear Stamps "FRCL019" New Baby
Backing Papers:  Funky Hand "Happy, Happy Birthday"
Martha Stewart Punch:  Doily Lace
Cuttlebug Embossing Folder:  Swiss Dots
Josy Rose:  Nail Heads

Of course I like the baby boy card best .. .. because I love baby boys best!  LOL!!!

There shouldn't be any problem in find the hearts tonight .. .. but apparently there was a bit of a problem with one of my snippet makes on Sunday.

So here is the sneaky little heart I added to one of my snippet creations




Sorry about that Di .. .. I don't mean to torture you .. .. .. hee hee hee!!!

I'll catch you again tomorrow folks.

Just off to write an early letter to Santa before everyone else gets in before me .. ..

Love

Wednesday, 19 October 2011

LOVING THE LOOK

Hi Everyone

I hope you have had a good day .. .. though I know a few people reading this blog won't have had .. .. I'm sorry :-(

So today my card is dedicated to anyone and everyone that needs a good old hug!!

Just a quick and simple one as time has been short today .. .. .. but I love it just the same.




This used:

Image:  Whiff of Joy "Henry Hugging Heart" (I think!!)
Sentiment:  Elzybells (no longer trading)
Backing Papers:  Nitwits
ProMarkers
Ribbon from the Stash Box

Not a very long list today .. ..

I love this image so much .. .. especially the look of pure ecstasy on Henry's face .. .. he is so cute!!!

Loving the backing paper too - it makes the card look padded don't you think .. .. even that has a cute name "warm fuzzies too" LOL!!!

I'll catch you again tomorrow.

Love

Tuesday, 18 October 2011

LET IT SNOW! (BUT NOT YET)

Hi Everyone

Here I am .. .. back in my old bad ways of posting late!!!

I just don't know where today has gone.  Lots done .. .. but still lots on my "hurry up and get it done" list .. .. and still more ironing to do!!!  I am doing a little each day .. . but not getting to see the bottom of the basket yet :-(

A quick share tonight using one of my favourite snowman stamps





This used:

Image:  Whipper Snapper "BY802" Let It Snow Snowmen
Sentiment:  Penny Black "3502F" A Wish ...
Backing Papers:  Pink Petticoat
ProMarkers
Tulle, fibre cord and gems from the Stash Box

Right short and sweet from me tonight as I still have things to do!!

Catch you again tomorrow.

Love

Monday, 17 October 2011

HAPPY HANDY HIPPO DAY - WEEK 7

Good morning everyone

Happy Handy Hippo Day is here again!!!  Woo hoo!!!

Monday has never been such fun!!

A gorgeous card to share with you today using a fabulous stamp from Stampendous!







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




I thought that this week you might like to see how I worked the dragonfly element of the card.


Firstly I stamped the image using a Black Versafine Ink Pad and
clear embossed it.  I then trimmed it to size and distressed around
the outside with Bundled Sage distress ink.

Then I distressed again . .. ..  . this time using
Crushed Olive distress ink .. .. but not covering all
of the previous distressing.  I left some of the lighter colour
showing nearer the image.

I stamped and embossed the wings of the
dragonfly again and cut them out.  I then painted both sets of wings with
Tattered Angels Glimmer Glaze (waterfall) and left this to dry whilst
I worked on the remainder of my card

Once my card was finished and the wings were dry
I glued the cut out wings onto the main image .. .. shaping
the top layer slightly around a pencil to give a little
dimension.  They were then finished off with some
self adhesive black pearls.

The eagle eyed amongst you might be thinking .. .. but Handy Hippo don't sell any heart pegs that look like the one I have used.  Well, I actually covered the heart on the little peg with some of the backing paper so that it toned in. I stuck the paper to the heart and let it dry. Then I trimmed around it with a pair of small sharp scissors, distressed the edges with the crushed olive distress ink and then smoothed the edges off with an emery board. I really love these little pegs.

Thank you for calling by and having a little look at my creation this week .. .. I will catch you again next Monday for my next Handy Hippo make .. .. but it will be more than one make!! 

How many creations do you think you can actually make from one A4 sheet of coloured card and one A4 sheet of white card?  Call by next week to find out how many I managed.

Have a wonderful week everyone.

Love



(and all the lovely friendly people at Handy Hippo)

Sunday, 16 October 2011

JULES' CRAFTY SNIPPET CHALLENGE - WEEK 41

Hi Everyone

Well .. .. Sunday Snippets seem to have followed the same theme as the whole of last week .. .. I'm late!!!  Tut tut!!!

But with a very good reason which I will share later. 

But for now here are my snippet makes of the day







So why am I so late?

Well when big baby boy and his wife were visiting last week I asked if would be possible for me to "borrow" their spare camera to see if the picture it took would be better for my website than what I am currently using.

They very kindly brought it with them and today was my first chance to have a play.  (Thank you kiddie winks .. .. I will make you an extra pancake next time I see you LOL!!).

So these pictures are done by simply pointing and clicking.  I was advised to put the camera on a tripod .. .. but I have put that somewhere safe!!!  I think I need to get that found during the course of this week and I might be brave and have a play with the numerous buttons and settings!!!

First impressions I think the pictures look much better.

So round now to my lovely snippet  creations from my playmates last week .. .. .. and gosh what a lovely collection of shares!!

First to the playground was the lovely and hyperactive Hazel.  I think she might have had a few extra "E" numbers this week as Hazel has broken the snippet playground world record and visited the playground a whole EIGHT times!!!  So much lovely inspiration and you will find it all here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here!!  Well done Hazel.  Your snippets have clearly taken a good battering this week and your stocks simply "must" be reduced!!!

Not only is Hazel sharing a brilliant array of cards but she has also been covering notebooks with her snippets.  Make sure you have a good click around them all.  They are lovely!

Lynne was the next playmate to arrive and she shared a lovely card which you will find here.  Gorgeous colour combo and snippets!!

Lynne was closely followed by Irene who had made a gorgeous card with her snippets.  Again lovely colours and also a fantastic sentiment stamp.  When you look closely you actually appreciate just how many layers and snippets were used .. .. really lovely Irene. 

Debbie was next to share a lovely Christmas card .. . .which carried a lovely touch of tartan.  I don't know why but I always think tartan looks so lovely .. especially on Christmas cards.  Super cute image too!!

One of my Funky Hand playmates .. .. Jackie .. .. was the next to share a lovely array of snippet makes.  I know from pictures previously posted on Jackie's blog that she has a mountain of snippets (just as I have) .. .. it is probably something to do with the fact that we both make cards and wedding stationery full-time .. .. it is surprising how many you make!!  Anyway, Jackie shared four gorgeous makes which you will find here.

My next playmate was my lovely DIL Cat.  Who whilst visiting last weekend dived into my snippet drawer and very kindly used up a few of them for me .. .. as well as pinching a few images too LOL!!  Isn't it lovely to share!!!    Lovely stash Cat .. .. couldn't have chosen better myself LOL!!!

Sandra then called by the playground with a lovely card that has such a cute Penny Black image.  I would say it is one of my favourites .. .. but then I say that about them all!!  LOL!!!  I love how Sandra adds the little rectangles and flowers to her cards.  I think they look so cute .. .. and use up the smallest of snippets!!

Catherine then made an appearance carrying a card in each hand.  You will find one here and the other one here.  Both of Catherine's cards are gorgeous but the last one is my favourite.  I just love the colour combo and all the swirls and flowers! 

Di called by next with a lovely stepper card.  Not a card I have ever made .. .. but I can see it has great potential for using up lots of snippets.  Might have to give one of these a try!!  I am always about 6 months behind everyone else LOL!!!

Trick or treats made an appearance next .. .. but don't be frightened .. .. Sarah's post is definitely a treat!!!  Not only is Sarah sharing her lovely mini Halloween milk cartons .. she is also providing a lovely link so that you can make your own.  Thanks for that Sarah!!  Just perfect for snippets!!

Two lovely makes next from Elizabeth.  You will find one here and the other one here.  Both are gorgeous and I just can't choose a favourite because they are both stunning in their own right.  I think a mini mountain of snippets must have been used on these two!!  Great shares Elizabeth.

Along to the playground then came Mandy .. .. who brought with her a lovely butterfly card which you will find here.  Gorgeous colours and fabby use of snippets.  Love the touch of sparkle too!

A super cute Christmas card next from Sally .. .. which had me pondering on what song the little robins were singing.  Not sure if I guessed right .. .. but I was singing my guess for at least an hour afterwards!!  LOL!!! 

Next to share their creation in the playground was Lynn .. ... and what a lovely share it was.  I feel certain that we will all be trying to replicate the gorgeous bear that Lynn has created out of circles.  I love it!!!!  Thanks for sharing with us all Lynn.

Then last but by no means least was Mags who came along to share a lovely engagement card.  Lovely colours and such a sweet ribbon and flower embellishment.


For me it is now time to finish off the veg for our evening meal and then the ironing board is calling!!!  Boring!!!!!

I'll see you again tomorrow morning bright and early with my next Happy Handy Hippo make. 

Have a lovely evening.

Love




Saturday, 15 October 2011

FLOATING DREAMS

Hi Everyone

I hope you have all had a good Saturday.

The weather here has been really lovely .. .. and it forced me to do far too much washing!!!!   Grrr!!  How much ironing do I have now?!?!?!

Anyway, less of thinking about bad things .. .. here is my share of the day:





This used:

Image:  Penny Black "1645K" Floating Dreams
Backing Paper:  Raspberry Road "Pressed In Time Papers"
Nestabilities:  Classic Circle and Scalloped Circle
Distress Ink:  Tea Dye
ProMarkers
Chalks
White Gel Pen
Eyelets, button and cord from the Stash Box

I am entering my card into two challenges (get me .. .. they only usually go into one!!).

The first is the Penny Black Saturday Challenge where this week the theme is "on the move" .. .. I feel sure this relaxed little mouse must be moving "just a little bit"  LOL!!

The second is The St Luke's Charity Card Challenge where the theme for October is "let's hear it for the boys".  St Luke's run their challenge each month .. .. and if you are able to donate the card you enter (or indeed any other cards you can spare) then I know they will be very much appreciated.  The cards are sold to help raise money to help the St Luke's Hospice in Sheffield.  I hope you get chance to play along and help.

So that is me for today.

I'll catch you again tomorrow with my snippet makes.

Have a lovely evening.

Love

Friday, 14 October 2011

NOT AS EARLY AS I HAD PLANNED

Hi Everyone

Well I tried really hard to be early today as I wanted to have a relaxing evening along with a good old blog catch up.

But you know what they say .. .. the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry!!! 

Of course I am blaming Anice because she sent all the Funky Hand Funkettes another CD to play with this morning!!  How long did I spend drooling over the lovely papers and fabby digi images?!?!?  Answer .. .. too long!!!  LOL!!!

So once again I have ended up later than I wanted to be .. .. I just have no willpower where new papers are concerned!!

Anyway, here finally is my share for tonight




This used:

Image:  Penny Black ""4092K" A Thorny Affair
Backing Papers:  Aimee Asher
Distress Ink:  Old Paper
ProMarkers
Diamond Stickles
Glamour Dust
Glossy Accents
Ribbon, gems and charm from the Stash Box

A quick shout out too to say that the 1st Annual Super Summer Clearance Sale over at Handy Hippo is coming to a close .. .. only two days remaining and some fantastic bargains to be had !!

3038 clearance items with reductions of up to 75% !!!  Even the sets of five ProMarkers have 35% off!!

It could be time for you to persuade Santa you would like some crafty goodies for Christmas and ask if you can order them now whilst you can get more for your pennies .. ..  tee hee!!  Sorry to pass on my bad habits!! 

Have a lovely evening everyone and I promise I will catch up with everyone eventually!!  But for now .. bath time for me!!!

Wishing everyone a good weekend.

Love

Thursday, 13 October 2011

STILL PINK .. .. BUT NOT QUITE "SO" PINK

Hi Everyone

Well I seem to be in pink mode .. .. although tonight's creation is a little more of a delicate pink than last night!!  LOL!!!

This creation was a bit of a play .. .. but I am really pleased with how it turned out.

I don't know about you but I have a stack of mulberry papers hanging around from when they seemed to be the "in thing".

I hardly ever used them at the time .. .. but now I have made the following I think the supply will be disappearing rapidly.







This used:

Images:  Lace Effect  = 
Inkadinkado "90355-Y"  and Script  =  Elusive "32531 "Script Background
Versamark Ink Pad and Clear Embossing Powder
Distress Ink Pad:  Victorian Velvet
Sizzix Die:  Tattered Florals
Marianne Creatables:  Butterfly
Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist:  Iridescent Gold
My Trust Sewing Machine
Mulberry Paper
Ribbon and Gems from the Stash Box

So no backing papers from me today.  The backgrounds were made by clear embossing my stamps onto white card and then distressing with my victorian velvet distress ink pad.

For my mulberry flower I cut all four layers of the sizzix flower and fastened them together with a brad.  I then wet them .. .. screwed them up .. .. and dried them with a heat gun. 

I then decided they might look super scrummy with a bit of glimmer mist on them .. .. and I think they do!!  Not sure how well it is going to show up but I did an extra close picture in the hope that it does.

I just know I am going to be making a lot more of these flowers .. .. in different colours LOL!!!

Hope you have all had a good day. 

Catch you again soon

Love

Wednesday, 12 October 2011

IT TURNED OUT "VERY PINK" LOL!!

Hi Everyone

Well after lots of wedding work I cleared the decks and decided to make a Christmas card.

I always love getting my Christmas stamps out!!

This little beauty was bought for Christmas cards last year but didn't see the light of day .. .. so this is her first outing.  I am so pleased that she didn't grow up whilst waiting LOL!!

The finished card has turned out a bit on the pink side .. .. but I am sure there is a little girl somewhere who will love it.





This used:

Image:  Sugar Nellie "Snowflake"
Backing Paper:  Nitwits
Hobbycraft Punches:  Snowflakes
Tim Holtz Distress Ink:  Tumbled Glass
White Flock
ProMarkers
Glamour Dust
Ribbons, Gem and Charm from the Stash Box

Very late from me today .. sorry about that .. .. and I also need to make an amendment to last night's pancake report.

My lovely DIL sent me a message to say that they had to eat 6 dry crackers not 5!!!  I suppose had I got them lined up in front of me I would have remembered!!  LOL!!

I will try and be a bit earlier tomorrow!

Love

Tuesday, 11 October 2011

BIG BABY BOY HAS A BIRTHDAY!

Hi Everyone

Well today is the day my big baby boy celebrates his birthday "officially".  That is after us celebrating it unofficially when he came to stay over the weekend.

I ended up finishing and taking a picture of his birthday card very late and am thankful that it actually looks half decent. 

I spoke with him this morning and he was suitably happy with it so that is the main thing.  Happy Birthday big baby boy!!!





This used:

Image:  Teddy Bo
Sentiment:  Computer Generated
Sizzix Die:  Stars
Woodware Corner Punch
ProMarkers
Buttons and Ribbon from the Stash Box

Sadly he needed to go to work on his birthday .. .. hopefully he didn't work too hard and has had a lovely day.

Now round to the pancake results from Saturday night.  We actually changed the system this year so that no-one knew exactly how many pancakes everyone had eaten until the end.  Normally we have a tick chart going but this time we handed out a slip of paper when someone collected a pancake and the pancake eater would write their name on the paper and post it in a little ballot box!!

So there was no clue as to how many pancakes people were eating .. ..  much more tricky for the serious contenders!!

As you know my Sis was desperate to win .. .. but she didn't :-(

There was a draw between my lovely DIL and my niece's boyfriend.  We only have one trophy so a winner had to be found.  But how?  There was no pancake batter left?!?!?!?

So a different kind of  "eat off"  was instigated .. .. starting with chocolate truffles (which they had no problem polishing off) and then being the first to eat 5 dry cheese crackers.  Phew!!  How could they!?!?!?

I just cannot believe they could actually fit any more in.  Especially considering it was on top of the 16 pancakes they had already eaten.

Anyway, after brave attempts by both .. .. my niece's boyfriend - Steve - was the eventual winner!!!  Well done Steve!!!

I have a feeling that new rules as to how a draw will be dealt with in the future will be being thought up before next year's contest!!  LOL!!!

So 140 pancakes in total .. .. 10 of them were mine .. .. and I still managed to lose weight in the Monday weigh in!!  Perhaps pancakes aren't fattening after all!!!  But I do find that actually cooking them makes you not want to eat quite so many.

Just to finish off ... there is a bit of good news .. .. you may remember the lovely Penny Black stamp I used on my Happy Handy Hippo card last Monday here



Well the slapstick stamp was so popular that it was snapped up and out of stock by the time my card was posted .. .. but now you will be pleased to know it is available again at Handy Hippo here.

Oh I do love this stamp.

Have a great evening everyone.

Love

Monday, 10 October 2011

HAPPY HANDY HIPPO DAY - WEEK 6

Hi Everyone

Happy Monday to you .. .. here I am again with my next Handy Hippo project.

This week, to give you a change from Christmas I have gone with one of my other favourite types of cards to make .. .. a new baby card!!

Just look at this super sweet image.







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



Today I thought I would show you how I used the lovely Marianne Creatables Die to make my little flower embellishment.

The dies are lovely just cut and used as they are but I also think it is nice to add a little ink to them to bring a little more colour and interest to them.

Here you can see how I have added colour to my flowers

Firstly I cut out my shapes .. .. the smaller ones
get "teased" out with needle.

I then rub ink through the
holes of the die .. ..  it is quite nice
to use more than one colour at this stage too

Again to pop the flowers out I
tend to use the blunt end of a needle

All finished they are now
ready for use!!

When putting my flower together for this week I again coloured a clear gem for the centre of my flower as described in my Handy Hippo post last week

I did edit my post last week to add that sometimes it is necessary to give your gems more than one coat of ProMarker ink .. .. and to wait between applications for the layers to dry.  It is never easy waiting for things to dry .. ..but it is worth the wait LOL!!!

I hope that you all have a good week and I'll see you again next Monday with my next Handy Hippo project.

Love



(and all the lovely friendly people at Handy Hippo)