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, 16 July 2015

PLAYING WITH SKETCH TWO

Hi Everyone

Happy Thursday!

Well yesterday turned into a lovely sunny day eventually (Sally kindly sent the sun over from France) and today started off beautiful and sunny but is now turning decidedly grey .. .. typical after spending precious time watering all the flowers and crops.

Many thanks for your lovely comments on my creations over the last few days. I have really been enjoying being around a little bit more .. .. but I am sure you all know what is around the corner .. .. table plans and table stationery for all those August and September "happy couples" and save the dates for those who are just starting their journey with me  .. .. then a website to finish ahead of an October wedding fayre .. .. phew!!!.

But I have been trying to be more organised and get some cards behind me ready for sharing whilst I am chipping away at all of the above.  It is lovely to have my fingers in lots of pies and be able to jump from one type of crafting to another.  I love the variety.

Anyway, here is my share for today




This used:

Image:  Penny Black "4058J" Yearning
Sentiment:  Tag from Craftwork Cards "Potting Shed" Paper Pad
Backing Papers:  First Edition Paper "New Leaf"
Die-namics Die Set:  Blueprints 14
X-Cut Punch:  Flower
Twine and Dew Drop from My Crafty Stash Box
and .. .. tah dah .....

SKETCH TWO FROM MY LITTLE SKETCH LIBRARY


used at last which means I can now add sketch three into the mix.

It would appear that yesterday's heart wasn't easy for everyone .. .. .. so to put you out of your misery .. .. here it is .. .. nestling under that leaf:


Many thanks for calling by my blog .. and for looking for the hearts LOL!!

Catch you again soon.

Love

Wednesday, 15 July 2015

RANUNCULUS FIELD

Hi Everyone

Happy Wednesday .. ..  I hope your week is going well.

As promised here is the card I was supposed to have shared on Monday .. .. when I got side-tracked by the "running late" dentist. Thankfully it was only a check up, clean and polish so no sharp intake of breath needed as I didn't need to part with any hard earned cash LOL!  

So here we go with my share of the day .. .. which involved a bit of blending and painting with distress inks.  Very enjoyable!




This used:

Image:  Stampendous "CRR112" Ranunculus Field
Sentiment:  Penny Black "30-176" Sentimental
Distress Inks:  Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Tumbled Glass and Worn Lipstick
My Trusty Sewing Machine
Ribbon from My Crafty Stash Box

and that is me for today. Another "not used enough" stamp gets an airing.

The skies are looking a bit grey here this morning.  I was hopeful of some sunshine to dry a mountain of washing .. .. but the day is young .. .. there is time for improvement!  

Have a good one.

Love

Tuesday, 14 July 2015

TEENY, TINY TUESDAY

Hi Everyone

Happy Tuesday!!!

Sorry I didn't make an appearance yesterday .. .. I am blaming the dentist!  She was running rather late last night which put the scuppers on me getting round to pictures and blog posts .. .. but never mind, it leaves a card to share another day.

Today's share is one of my teeny, tiny makes .. .. but it is a little bigger than normal .. .. measuring in at a whopping 4 x 4 inches LOL!!




This used:

Backing Papers:  Kaisercraft "Key to my Heart"
Sentiment Die:  Paper Smooches "Birthday Words"
Sentiment Stamp and Punch:  Stampin Up! "Banner Banter" and Banner Punch
Distress Ink:  Worn Lipstick
X-Cut Punch:  Flower and Heart
Josy Rose:  Nail Heads
We R Memory Keepers:  Envelope Board (for the matching envelope)
Mr Trusty Sewing Machine

and there we go.  Another little one for the box.

Many thanks for your lovely comments about my sketch creation on Sunday.  You are all very kind.

I managed to add a tab to the top of my blog yesterday ready for collecting my sketches together .. .. after much faffing around.  I always alter things on my blog with my heart thumping a little.  I am always convinced I am going to wipe everything, and when it comes to publishing the changes I always hold my breath as I click the mouse button .. .. .. as if that is going to make any difference LOL.

I have added another sketch to the collection today but haven't used it myself yet.  I just felt one sketch looked a bit sad sitting there on its own.

Catch you tomorrow with the card I should have posted yesterday.

Have a good day today.

Love

Sunday, 12 July 2015

SUNDAY SNIPPETS

Hi Everyone

Happy Sunday

Well no hacking out of old grout for me today, I confined myself to the indoors as there were lots of indoor tasks needing to be done and I am determined to get back into the swing of my Sunday snippet makes .. .. one of which really does need to start being a Christmas card.  I haven't made a single one yet this year!! Eeekkk!!

I have also decided that in order to learn how to use my Serif Craft Artist programme more I am going to design a few sketches of my own .. .. and today's snippet makes use my very first one.  I know it leaves a bit (OK a lot) to be desired but I have to start somewhere LOL!!

So here is my very first sketch:

 

and here are my snippet makes for today including my very first Christmas card of 2015  .. .. yippee!









So there we are .. .. all finished ready for taking over to Pixie's Snippets Playground Challenge where we are encouraged to use up all our offcuts of .. .. well anything .. .. and as normal when playing with my snippet makes I don't list my ingredients as the cards are more often than not a mixture of lots of different papers all mingled together!

If anyone likes the look of any of the sketches I create then please feel free to use them .. .. and if you do then please let me know as I would love to see what you make.  I just need to work out how to put them onto a separate tab here on my blog so that I can keep referring back to them and use them again (and again, and again LOL!!).

Enjoy what is left of the weekend .. .. and I am pleased to report that I still have some cards stacked up ready to share whilst I am beavering away at the wedding work.  Woo hoo!!

Catch you soon

Love

Saturday, 11 July 2015

CONSTELLATIONS

Hi Everyone

I hope you are all having a good weekend.

Bet you thought I was a "no show" today!  Well I have to admit that I nearly was.

The morning was spent on wedding work and meeting up with a bride who called to collect some extra invitations she needed .. .. and she also gave me a lovely catch up on all her wedding plans.  She was so excited and "shining like the sun".  I was so happy for her.

Once my bride had left I very generously (or very stupidly) offered to give Mr Heart a hand with the patio work!  To be fair he did try to persuade me to "just get on with what I needed to do" but I felt a bit sorry for him and said I would do an hour with him.  So a quick change into scruffy clothes and off I go.  But of course once you get started an hour turns into two or more, .. .. .. and then you need a bath .. .. ..  and then suddenly the afternoon has gone as well!!

But I was determined to try and get a creation together .. .. and this is what I came up with:




This used:

Image:  Penny Black "3867K" Constellations
Sentiment:  Pink Petticoat (sadly no longer available)
Backing Papers:  First Edition "Botanical Notes"
WOW! Embossing Powder:  Metallic Platinum
Marvy le Plume Pen:  Wisteria
Josy Rose:  Nail Heads
My Trusty Sewing Machine
Ribbon from My Crafty Stash Box

and that is me for today.

Enjoy your evening everyone ahead of what I hope will be a lovely Sunday.

Love

Friday, 10 July 2015

DO MORE OF WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY

Hi Everyone

Happy Friday!

What a fast week this has been!

A quick share with you today which uses a new download from Pink Petticoat.  I get super excited when I get an email plinging in saying "new designs have been added to the boutique".  I love Liz's style so much that I  just know they will be great before I even look.  LOL!!

So here we go:




This used:

Image and sentiment:  Pink Petticoat "Beach Cottage"
Backing Papers:  Pink Petticoat "Shanty Chic" (on offer until Sunday)
Nestabilities:  Classic Circle and Scalloped Circle
X-Cut:  Combined Corner Rounder and Corner Inverted Punch
ProMarkers
My Trusty Sewing Machine
Dew drops and Ribbon from My Crafty Stash Box

So that is me for today.

Just need to stop singing "I do like to be beside the seaside" now because I am fed up with it, so I know Mr Heart must be LOL!!

Enjoy your Friday and the weekend .. .. I hope you get to do more of what makes you happy.

Love

Thursday, 9 July 2015

PENNY BLACK SATURDAY CHALLENGE - JULY

Hi Everyone

Thursday already!!

I hope everyone is having a good week.

Earlier in the week I told you about a Penny Black stamp that I have struggled with in the past .. .. well today uses the other stamp I eluded to that has caused problems.  Pretty happy with this one too now.

I am entering my card into the Penny Black Saturday Challenge for July where the theme this month is friendship.  Well let's face it, if you are going to be dangled by your tail from the top of a pile of plant pots you would only want a friend to be doing the "dangling"!!  LOL!!

So here we go:




This used:

Image:  Penny Black "1649K" Surprise!!
Sentiment:  Lili of the Valley "Sentiment Tags"
Backing Papers:  Craft Sensations by Grafix "Mix and Match All Time Favourites" (these are a new make to me. but I found them in The Range.  £2.99 for a 12 x 12 stack of 24 double sided design papers .. .. and not flimsy paper either .. .. a whole 250g)  Love sharing a bargain!!
Sizzix Decorative Strip:  "654468" Grass
ProMarkers
My Trusty Sewing Machine
Twine Flower made with the Crazy Daisy Flower Loom
Twine and Button from My Crafty Stash Box

and that is me for today!

Mr Heart is on holiday from work this week.  You may remember that last year he started to re-lay the patio.  Well he has just about recovered enough from the effort and boredom of doing that to start the next area now .. .. which is under the pergola .. .. and today "might" be the day he makes a start. Poor lad isn't looking forward to it .. .. but then again I don't look forward to ironing and I have to do that EVERY week!  LOL!!

Right off to link up and then it is favour box cutting time and wedding invites on my crafty work list for today.

A few folk have asked how my new website is coming along.  All I can say is .. .. "very slowly" .. .. but I will be proud of it when it is finished.

Have a great day today.  

Love

Wednesday, 8 July 2015

GET WELL SOON

Hi Everyone

Happy Wednesday!

I am loving having cards ready to share with you .. .. I promise to try hard and do this more often as I am loving being back in blogland. I have really missed everyone. Thank you for all the lovely comments and emails I have received - they truly are appreciated.

During my weekend crafting stint for the salon I tried to make cards that covered lots of occassions .. .. hence today's "get well" card.




This used:

Image:  Bugaboo Stamps "Mouse - Big Flower"
Sentiment:  Computer Generated using font "Cambridgeside"
Backing Paper:  Pink Petticoat
ProMarkers
My Trusty Sewing Machine
Glamour Dust

I think this cute little chappie might cheer someone up who is feeling under the weather.

Enjoy your day everyone.

Love

Tuesday, 7 July 2015

I MUST BE IMPROVING

Hi Everyone

Happy Tuesday!

No teeny tiny make today but a normal sized one that uses a stamp that hasn't appeared on my blog before .. .. even though it has been in my collection for quite some time.

I have tried to use this stamp so many times it is unbelievable, and never been happy with the finished look .. .. even though I have tried over and over again.

So unhappy with the stamp, and my pathetic attempts of using it successfully, it was relegated to the back of the Penny Black drawer - but over the weekend I decided it was time to "give it another go". 

AT LAST!!!  Something I am happy with .. .. my colouring must be improving and the stamp can now come to the front of the drawer for more use LOL!!  Yippee!!




This used:

Image:  Penny Black "1656K" Stitch in Time
Sentiment:  Pink Petticoat (no longer available - sorry)
Backing Papers:  Docrafts "Kraft Notes"
Martha Stewart Edge Punch:  Daisy
ProMarkers
My Trusty Sewing Machine
Ribbon from my crafty stash box

There is another Penny Black stamp in my collection that I struggle with too.  Perhaps it is time to give that one a go too and see if I have improved enough to be happy with that yet.

Enjoy your day everyone. 

I am loving having cards lined up ready for posting .. .. .. really must try and do this more often.

Love

Monday, 6 July 2015

HAPPY MONDAY

Hi Everyone

Happy Monday!

I hope everyone had a good weekend.

I really enjoyed mine, just playing with bits and pieces in the old craft pod .. .. .. I managed to get a few cards made for the salon .. .. and a few blogs visited amongst everything else that was cracking off (still loads more of you lovely visitors to catch up with but I will get there eventually I promise).

The old wedding list work got added to over the course of the weekend too, so even more to keep me out of mischief!

But I am quite chuffed to have a few cards under my belt to share with you over the course of this week and this first creation uses a stamp which was purchased very early in my crafty stamping life (not sure it is still available .. .. but I hope it is because it is so versatile .. .. even though it doesn't look it.

So here we go:




This used:

Image:  Stampendous "N130" Dream Block Trio
Sentiment:  Computer Generated using font "Georgia"
Backing Papers:  Pink Petticoat French Country "Tea Rose Classic Design Pack
Stampin' Up Punch:  Word Window 
Spellbinders:  Classic Heart
Cuttlebug Embossing Folder "Swiss Dots"
My Trusty Sewing Machine
Distress Ink:  Worn Lipstick
Ribbon, lace and flower from my crafty stash box

Have a lovely day today.   The weather looks like it might be kind .. .. at the moment.

Love

Saturday, 4 July 2015

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY

Hi Everyone

Happy Saturday and Happy 4th of July to all my American blog pals!

A super rare day here in the House of Hearts .. .. lots on the crafty do list but nothing is mega urgent so I am going to spend the day making "whatever takes my fancy" for putting into my lovely Sister's salon. The racks there are looking VERY SPARSE so I am hoping to get a few creations together for her .. .. which in turn means I will at long last have a few cards to share with you over the next few days.

I felt a good start would be to see what the sketch was for this week over at Sketch Saturday and to use up some of my pesky snippets and run like the wind to Pixie's Snippets Playground before the gates close at 11.00am !!  Eeekkk!!

Best get on with it .. ..




This used:

Image:  Bugaboo Stamps - Mouse Candle (half price sale on over there at the mo!!)
Backing Papers:  Stampin' Up "Patio Party"
Sentiment:  Computer generated using font "Chauncy"
Josy Rose:  Nail Heads
ProMarkers
My Trusty Sewing Machine
and here is the sketch I used in case you fancy playing along (I turned it on it's side)


OK - best dash and get linked up .. .. deadlines are a looming!!!

Have a fabby weekend everyone.

Love