STARTED BUT NOT FINISHED

Hi Everyone

I hope you have had a good Saturday.

Mine has gone well.

All gifts now bought .. .. with the exception of one .. .. .. I need another present for my Mum who says she doesn't want anything!  

Mr Heart has a birthday on Tuesday (how inconsiderate to be born a week before Christmas .. .. he is so expensive to keep LOL!!!).  So I will need to escape and get him a birthday pressie on Monday so hopefully I can find something for Mum too.  

The shops today were absolutely deserted.  No Christmas music playing at all!! :-(  

No crowds and folk pushing their way around as I remember in years previous.  Perhaps everyone is waiting until next weekend .. .. but I won't be there then!!!!

The only place that was heaving today was the Pound Shop!!  That clearly tells you something about the state of our economy at the moment!!

We are at my Sister's on Christmas Day and as a bit of fun at the table everyone is buying a £1 present for the other guests at the table .. ..  it will be interesting to see what folk have come up with.  

Anyway, each time we have returned home I have had a tiny play in my craft room but between shopping, present delivering and answering emails I haven't got very far with my Sketch Saturday creation.  This is how it looks so far:

If all is good with the world tomorrow I should have chance to finish it alongside my snippet make.

So after visiting folks to drop off presents and eating far too many cakes we are now off out for a Chinese with friends at their house .. .. and I just know it will be decorated beautifully everywhere!!!

Catch you tomorrow everyone and have a good evening.

Love

FROM OUR HOME TO YOURS

Hi Everyone

Happy Friday .. .. and happy start to the weekend!!

Don't you just know that it is going to be manic around the shops the next two weekend!!  LOL!!

Well manic or not I am braving them tomorrow in the hope of finishing off the buying of Christmas gifts.  As long as they have some decent Christmas tunes playing in the shops then I will be happy.  Not too many gifts left to buy .. .. and I know what I want to get for most so hopefully it won't be too painful .. .. other than to my little bank balance.

I have warned hubby that we are off out early because we have a lot to cram in.  Not just shopping but delivering of presents and then a lovely pre-Christmas celebration with friends in the evening.  

Ooooooo.......I love Christmas!! 

Anyway here is tonight's Christmas card (don't worry you will be getting a break from seeing them soon .. .. but I will still be quietly making them behind the scenes ready for Christmas 2013!!!)

This used:

Sentiment:  Pink Petticoat "Heartfelt Christmas Sentiments"

Backing Papers:  Pink Petticoat "Christmas Scripts" and "Colour Collection Snowflakes"

Stampin' Up Punch:  Mitten Builder 

Martha Stewart Punch:  Glacial Snowflake

Go Kreate Die:  Concentrics Frilly Squares #3

Josy Rose:  Nail Heads

Glamour Dust

Ribbon from my stash box

I will apologise now for using Pink Petticoat papers "yet again" .. .. but I printed and cut lots out and there is still plenty left in my basked that I need to use.  Far too lovely to just abandon to my snippet drawer(s)!!!!!!!!

So that is me for today.  Time to go and compile that shopping list for tomorrow.  

No crafty shops where I am going but there is the lovely lady on the market with her gorgeous ribbons and buttons.  It would be rude not to pay her a visit!!

Hopefully I will find time at some point tomorrow to catch up with you .. .. but if not you know that I am being held hostage by one of Santa's helpers for looking far too cheerful amongst the crowds of grumpy shoppers!!

Have a lovely weekend, whatever you are doing.

Love

JINGLE ALL THE WAY

Hi Everyone

I hope you have had a good day.

Mine didn't turn out quite as expected as the accountant got in touch to say that he was ill so could he postpone our meeting until next week .. .. .. I was pleased he didn't want to share his germs!!!

So I decided to crack on with a few more Christmas cards and a bit of present wrapping.  We are trying hard to get the majority of our parcels delivered over the weekend which will be brilliant!!

Another share of a quick make tonight .. ..

This used:

Sentiment:  Pink Petticoat "Joyful Christmas Sentiments"
Backing Paper:  Pink Petticoat "Pinstripes"
Diamond Stickles
Matt Gold Card
Spider Web Netting
Bells
Metallic Thread

I love the clean simpleness of this one .. .. and simple is what I need this late in the day!!!

As for yesterday's card!!  Well I didn't like it at all when I looked at it this morning.  That horrendous snowflake just had to be ripped of and replaced .. .. so my card now looks like this .. ..

much better I think .. .. .. and I have made quite a few of them for attaching to the presents I wrapped today.

I think I am winning "SLOWLY" LOL!!

Catch you again tomorrow sometime.  

Love

PINK PETTICOAT TO THE RESCUE

Hi Everyone

I hope you have all had a good day.

Lots of nasty germs going around at the moment .. .. so if you have managed to catch any then make sure you get rid of them nice and quick so that you can enjoy the Christmas break.

Thank you for all your lovely comments on my card of yesterday. 

My day has been spent getting all my paperwork ready for the accountant to inspect tomorrow .. .. so my head is about ready to burst.  I certainly couldn't work with numbers all day every day that's for sure!!  Give me a rubber stamp, an ink pad and a piece of card any day!

Well panic is just about ready to set in here.  I have been busy making cards for all my lovely customers to give but still don't have any to send myself .. .. .. and there are some people where a shop bought one just won't suffice .. .. but I can't spend ages and ages making some as there is just too much to do.  

So I am trying to come up with something nice and quick but hopefully worth receiving .. .. and at the moment this is my favourite.

This used:

Double printed Pink Petticoat Papers:  "Twas the Night" Script Papers printed in Sweet Bohemia overprinted with "Small Nordic Snowflakes" printed in Winter Pansy
Sentiment printed directly onto card base using font "Zipty Do"
Hobbycraft Punches:  Sowflakes
Josy Rose:  Nail Heads
Ribbon from the Stash Box
Glamour Dust
.. .. and a couple of lines of embossing from my ScorPal

Yep .. .. quite pleased with this .. .. .. but I can see it happening in a few different colourways!!  LOL!!!  It definitely needs to be done with those gorgeous Kraft papers I downloaded.

OK bath time for me.  Time to relax and get all those numbers out of my head before bedtime!

Enjoy the rest of your evening.

Love

NEEDLES AND CONES

Hi Everyone

How goes it?

The frost didn't really disappear from everywhere properly here today.  Lovely sunshine on the front of the house but frost on the back of the house all day.  Very weird!

But now we are back to frost and there is even a bit of misty fog!

Tonight's share is a nice "sensible" make which uses the stamp I won last month from the lovely ladies over at Penny Black Saturday.  (Thanks again ladies xx)

Whilst putting all  my goodies away yesterday following our "label day" I came across a pad of watercolour paper so decided to go all "arty" and watercolour my image with distress inks.  Quite enjoyed myself!!

So here is the first airing of my new stamp .. .. 

This used:

Image:  Penny Black "3994K" Needles and Cones
Sentiment:  Computer Generated using font "Zipty Do"
Backing Papers:  Papermania "Silent Night"
Nestabilities "Large Deckled Rectangles" and "Small Deckled Mega Rectangles"
Distress Inks
Glamour Dust
Josy Rose:  Nail Heads
Ribbons and Cord from my Stash Box

I am hoping that my entry will qualify for this month's entry at Penny Black Saturday where they would like to see "Glitter and Sparkle".  It is probably not quite what they had in mind but hopefully it will count.

A great day in the House of Hearts today.  Another batch of orders finished so I will need a little trip out to the Post Office tomorrow.  I hope the weather will be half decent!

Hubby has just landed home armed with a few supplies for Christmas.  I have had to smile as he bought the annual treat of a TV magazine showing the Christmas viewing.  We don't normally bother but always get one at Christmas .. .. though I don't know why because he will be moaning now about the pictures they put in to "ruin his viewing"!!  LOL!!!

Have a great evening everyone and I'll catch you again tomorrow.

Love

MONDAY SNIPPETS

Hi Everyone

Well that is it.  Label Day done and dusted for another year.

Everything is put back where it belongs and all the bits of paper and glitter have all been hoovered up.  Everywhere is looking decidedly tidy .. .. well that won't last long LOL!!!

Then the best thing of all .. .. the snippet drawers now close .. . woo hoo!!

There are a few of my labels below but first here is my snippet make for taking over to Di's Crafty Snippet Challenge and also for entering into the Digistamp Boutique Challenge for December.

I can't be lazy on a Monday so here are my ingredients:

Image:  Digistamp Boutique "Tia and Rufus Collection" .. .. on offer at the mo!!!
Sentiment:  Computer Generated using Font Wackadoo
Backing Papers:  From my Pink Petticoat Snippet Collection
ProMarkers and Chalk
Josy Rose:  Nail Heads
Dovecraft:  Holly Punch
Charm, ribbon and pom-poms from my Stash Box

So that is my share for this evening .. .. and here are some of my tags from yesterday.

We had a great day (as we always do when we are all together) and by far the most popular items on the table were the snippets of kraft card and the Memory Box Modern Landscape Border Die.  It was well used yesterday by everyone!!!

Hope you all had a lovely weekend and a great Monday.  This time in two weeks it will be Christmas Eve .. .. my favourite day of Christmas!!  Woo hoo!!!

So not many days of Christmas makes left .. .. but still lots to do!

Catch you again tomorrow.

Love

THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM

Hi Everyone

Well as promised here is the calm before the storm.

Creation is just about to start.

As you can see I managed the Christmas tree and a few decoration up .. .. and what do you think of that huge fig plant?

My Dad bought it as a tiny twig a lifetime ago.  I gained it and can't bear to part with it .. .. but it is just so huge!!  It lives outside during the summer and comes in for the winter.  It still needs some Christmas lights.

Right off to make a start.

Have a happy Sunday everyone.

Love

SKETCH SATURDAY

Hi Everyone

Happy Saturday.  I hope you are all having a great weekend.

We had a wonderful evening out last night .. .. midday and I still haven't eaten as I am still full!!!  (Plus hubby's wallet arrived home safely too .. .. woo hoo!!!).

Lots of jobs on the old "do list" today so I am hoping my day will last ages and ages.

This is my first make of the day using the sketch from over at Sketch Saturday this week.

This used:

Image:  Cuddly Buddly "Going Down"
Sentiment:  Digistamp Boutique "Simply Christmas Greetings"
Backing Papers:  Dovecraft Back to Basics "Vintage" .. .. again LOL!!!
Nestabilities:  Classic Circle and Scalloped Circle Large
Sizzix:  Winter Wonder for the snowflakes
ProMarkers
Glamour Dust
Gems and Ribbon from the Stash Box

Ooooppssss!!  Just noticed I haven't coloured Santa's nose!!  Sorry about that!  Can't be bothered to take another picture and do all the re-sizing and watermarking .. .. so just imagine it a lovely shade of pink!!  LOL!!

Time now to start getting the dining/living room ready for the mammoth label day tomorrow and putting together a little inspiration board for everyone.

For those who are new to my blog this is the day that my lovely Sister and I get together with as many members of our families as we can gather together to make the labels for our Christmas presents.

This results in loads and loads of my crafty goodies making their way downstairs in readiness for being put to crafty use .. .. including all those snippets.

You would think that so many of us using them would reduce them considerably for me .. .. but of course tags/labels do not make much of a dent .. .. but every little helps.

I am also hoping to get the Christmas decorations up to make it extra Christmassy!!

If I remember I will try and do a picture of the "calm before the storm".

Right time to get moving all those crafty goodies.  But in the meantime if you fancy playing along with the challenge here is the sketch. 

Have a good day everyone.

See you tomorrow with my snippet make .. .. which I have a sneaky feeling will be a Christmas present label!!!

Love

ALL FINISHED

Hi Everyone

Well very bright and early for me today .. .. ..  .. but let's face it my share for today was half done yesterday LOL!!

Had to laugh to myself this morning because once I saw my card in daylight everything I tried with it yesterday and rejected looked fine.  Roll on light nights and early mornings again that's all I can say.

So here is the completely finished card .. ..

This used:

Image:  Penny Black "2988H" Caroling Duck!
Sentiment:  Pink Petticoat "Tiny Christmas Sentiments"
Backing Paper:  Dovecraft Back to Basics "Vintage"
Cuttlebug Die:  Snowflake
Hobbycraft Punch:  Snowflake
Woodware Punch:  Label
Josy Rose:  Nail Heads
My Trust Sewing Machine
Embossing Powder for Snowflakes
Ribbon, Buttons and Button Twine from my Stash Box

I can't believe a card has hung over from one day to the next.  I know some crafters work on lots of projects at the same time, with various creations at various stages of completeness.  But for me I have to start and finish something before I move onto the next project (with the exception of the wedding work of course .. .. the same rule just won't work there).

So Christmas starts for us tonight.  We are off out for a scrummy meal with my Auntie and Uncle.  They take us every year as our Christmas present .. .. and a wonderful present it is too.  A magical evening .. .. .. and when we sit down to our first course we raise our glasses and say "Christmas starts here.  Happy Christmas".

So it is time to go and make myself look presentable.  For some reason it takes longer every year LOL!!  

Plus tonight I will be telling my lovely hubby to watch what he does with his wallet!!  I don't want a repeat of last weekend

Have a great evening everyone. 

Love

MAKE MINE A HALF

Hi Everyone

I hope you have all had a good day.

I came to finishing off my share for the day and just couldn't decide how I wanted to finish it .. .. so tonight you get to see half a creation .. ..LOL!!!

Hopefully tomorrow you will see it complete if I can come up with what I think it needs.  I don't like crafting in the dark, which is what I seem to have done since mid afternoon today!!  Electric lights seem to do funny things to the colours.  I always like my cards much better in bright daylight.

So here is my "half card" .. .. using what I think is my favourite stamp purchase of the year.  Though you are probably sick of seeing him now!!!

Isn't he cute ?!!!  I just lurve him!!!!

Right time to have a bit of supper and then off to the land of nod .. .. it is going to be one of those nights where you lie in bed listening to the rain lashing onto the window!!

It has rained really heavy all evening!  Still that is better than really heavy snow!!!

Catch you tomorrow

Love

FAB 'N' FUNKY

Hi Everyone

Well have you had snow?!?!?

We haven't had any .. .. in fact we had sunshine this afternoon and it was so bright I had to pull my blinds down so I could work!!!

Don't get excited about my share today.  I haven't gained a Grand-daughter.  This is a card for a friend to give :-)

This used:

Image:  Woodware Clear Stamp Set "JGCL502" Christmas Ribbon Tree
Sentiment:  Computer Generated
Backing Papers:  Wild Rose Studio "Wintry Christmas"
Josy Rose:  Nail Heads
My Trust Sewing Machine
ProMarkers
Glamour Dust
Ribbon

I am going to enter this into the "Fab 'n' Funky Challenge" where they would like to see Christmas cards using a colour or image that you wouldn't normally associate with Christmas.

I must admit I love purple and would be well happy to have a purple and silver tree.

In fact I think my camera likes purple too .. .. might have to change my blog to "Always With A Heart and Always Purple" LOL!!!

Enjoy what is left of the evening everyone and I will catch you again tomorrow.

Love

HAVE A CRACKING CHRISTMAS

Hi Everyone

Thanks again for your help earlier.  My selection has been made and the card can now be put together.  Yay!!!  I hate it when there are cards on my order list where I have no idea what I am going to use.

A quick share tonight which is a bit cruel because it features an image and sentiment that are no longer available ..  .. but I love them so I have had to use them LOL!!

This used:

Image and Sentiment:  Elzybells (sadly no longer trading but sometimes you do see a few stamps for sale on auction sites etc.  Such a shame because they always stamp beautifully .. .. including the sentiments).
Backing Papers:  Pink Petticoat "Snow Flurry" and "Christmas Kraft Organics"
Josy Rose:  Nail Heads
Martha Stewart Punch:  Embossed Zig Zag
ProMarkers
Glamour Dust

and that is it.

My share of the day is complete.  At least I am a little earlier tonight.

Time now to prep a few things in readiness for tomorrow.

Have a good evening everyone.

Love

IS ANYONE ABLE TO HELP?

Hi Everyone

A quick plea .. .. if anyone can help please.

I am trying to find a digi image for going on a very special Christmas card.

The request is for an Angel on a Christmas tree but I am having problems in finding one.

Has anyone seen anything like this on their travels?

So far I have spent longer trying to find an image than I will spend actually making the card LOL!!

Any help very gratefully received.

I'll catch you all later.

EDIT TO SAY:   Thank you very much blog pals.  Lots of helpful emails and comments and my purchase is made .. .. I had to substitute the Christmas tree for a cloud though!  Hopefully that will be OK.

Plus how many other fabby digi sites have been added to my list???!!  LOL!!

Thanks again for all the trouble people went to, I do appreciate it and I will be back later.

Love

CHRISTMAS HOLLY

Hi Everyone

I hope that your Monday has been a good one.  My day has been far less stressful than yesterday that's for sure!!

I'm afraid all my posts are likely to be quick ones this week as I have rather a lot to cram in.

Tonight's share uses a stamp I have had for ages .. . but I haven't used it very much as I haven't like the finished result before.  But this time I used my distress inks to distress and paint with and I splashed a bit of water on to give a mottled look.

I am well happy and the stamp will be getting a bit more use now .. .. yay!!

This used:

Image:  Elusive Images "Christmas Holly"
Sentiment:  Computer generated using font "Zipty Do"
Backing Papers: Papermania "A Silent Night"
Josy Rose:  Nail Heads
Gold embossing Powder
Distress Inks
Glamour Dust
Ribbon, Holly Berries and Stick Pin from my Stash Box

So that is me for today.  Late again :-(

Sorry!!

Love

SUNDAY SNIPPETS

Hi Everyone

Well what a day it has been in the old House of Hearts .. .. it started off very badly in that hubby couldn't find his wallet after our night out last night!!

I don't know.  We don't go out for months and then disaster strikes when we do!!!

So we have telephone calls to the police and to the taxi firm who brought us home and to cancel the bank cards that were in his wallet .. .. and we won't mention the cash. We decided it was either on the taxi floor or he had dropped in getting out of the taxi and someone could have picked it up.

The taxi people couldn't get in touch with the driver because he hadn't finished work until 4.30am and would therefore be sound asleep .. .. as he should be.

So frantic searching took place and you wouldn't believe the stupid places we looked.

But thankfully by mid afternoon the taxi people had been able to get in touch with our driver and thank goodness he found the wallet in the back of the taxi and we were able to meet up with the driver (and give him a reward for his honesty!!).  So there are still good honest people in the world!!  Yay!!!!

The day has been thrown completely off course .. .. but eventually I found time (very late in the day) to shuffle my snippets around my craft desk and this is what I came up with for taking to Di's Crafty Snippet Challenge this week.

So that is lazy me for today.

Only just going to eat .. so I will link up in a bit.

I hope your day has been less eventful than ours!!!  But at least ours is ending much better than it might have done!

Love