The challenge now has it own sparkly new home (still run by the lovely Di) .. .. .. and it looks wonderful.
- Jules
- 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.
Wednesday, 12 January 2022
TEENY TINY SNIPPETS
The challenge now has it own sparkly new home (still run by the lovely Di) .. .. .. and it looks wonderful.
Saturday, 1 January 2022
HAPPY 2022
Hi Everyone
Things are starting to finally pick up and settle into a different routine. We now have carers on board to help "team Mum" and things appear to be slowly falling into a nice pattern. Although Mum has carers visiting twice a day, at least one and sometimes two of us kids spend time with her each day as well, so she isn't short on company, meals, drinks or love, that's for sure.
Perhaps my life will settle down a bit soon and I can get back to some blogging, and much missed crafting.
But for now all I can do is simply share some of my favourite cards from 2021 and the reasons why (mainly because I don't have anything new to offer you ... .. .. sorry!).
Tuesday, 9 November 2021
AND THE NEXT ONE
Hi Everyone
I hope your week has got off to a good start.
I am here today with another new sketch.
and I used it to create this:
Image: Digistamp Boutique "Watercolour Butterfly" (sadly no longer trading)
Sentiment: Penny Black "30-105" Gratitude
Backing Papers: The Lovely Boutique "Perfect Papers" and "Pinstripes" (also sadly no longer trading)
Circles stamped using an old stamp set from The Works
Corner Rounding Punch
My Trusty Sewing Machine
and that is me for today.
All routine has gone from my life and I am simply firefighting - thank goodness Mr Heart has an understanding soul.
Mum is looking like she is going to need more care now, on top of what us kids were already providing, and it doesn't help that she isn't a morning person! I get to her for 9.30am to give her her tablets and more often than not she then asks for "a little more snooze time" before we start the showering and dressing routine. We are getting a bit more slicker at that though!
I must admit that I thought everyone was like me and the minute their eyes open in the morning they are instantly awake and raring to go! Turns out I am just weird as I haven't yet found anyone else (other than my brother) who is like that!. That must be why we are both self employed - it must be a necessary trait LOL!!
Friday, 5 November 2021
A NEW SKETCH
Hi Everyone
I hope you are all well and your day and week has gone well.
There hasn't been much time or space for me to craft whilst spending time at Mum's, but during the quieter spells I amused myself by designing some more rectangular sketches for posting onto the tab at the top of my blog .. .. .. .. along with doing just a bit of colouring.
This means that hopefully as things start to calm down, I will be able to turn my coloured images into cards, using my new sketches. Well that's the plan anyway.
Here is the first sketch I would like to share:
and here is the first card I have made using it:
Backing papers: From Snippet Mountain
Spellbinders Circle and Scallop Circle Dies
Star Punches and Dies
Crystal Glamour Dust
ProMarkers
My card is for sharing with Jo over at the Christmas Kickstart Challenge where the theme is Christmas Snippets
Di is actually Jo's Guest Designer this Month (lovely to see you there Di .. .. congratulations!). Everything on my card, apart from the base card, has come from snippet mountain .. .. .. not that the mountain range looks any smaller. Sigh!
Tuesday, 2 November 2021
TEENY, TINY TUESDAY
Hi Everyone
Happy Tuesday!
Here at last after a two week break whilst trying to sort out things regarding Mum. We now have her back at home and we see little improvements most days .. .. .. which is brilliant considering the mayhem of the first week.
Once Mum banned me from sleeping on her settee we knew she was starting to feel a bit better .. .. and us three kids have drawn up a rota between us so that she is always being well cared for. We make a great team!
Mum isn't able to do everything she could do before she went into hospital .. .. .. but we haven't given up hope that as things continue to improve she will regain a bit more independence again. But if not .. well .. .. .. we will always be there for her.
I am breaking my absence gently with a teeny tiny creation .. .. which for anyone new to my blog measures a whole 3.5 inches square:
Image: LOTV "Hats Off" Digital Image (I copied and pasted a few of the snow dots to extend the blizzard)
Sentiment: LOTV "Swirly Festive Greetings" Digital
ProMarkers
Crystal Glamour Dust
My Trusty Sewing Machine
So that is me for today, but before I go I want to thank everyone who left me such lovely comments, and sent thoughtful emails regarding my Mum. It was really kind of you all, and the good wishes definitely helped.
Wednesday, 20 October 2021
TEENY, TINY WEDNESDAY
Hi Everyone
Sentiment: Clearly Besotted "CBSP0225" Rockin' Robin
Backing Paper: From Snippet Mountain
ProMarkers
Gold Glamour Dust
My Trusty Sewing Machine
Mum took a turn for the worse again (after me declaring her to be more like her old self), so I cancelled her flu jab and then Monday she ended up being admitted to hospital. It felt extra horrible because I wasn't allowed to be with her due to the Covid restrictions and I knew she would be very, very frightened. As they took her away she kept saying "can Julie come with me, let Julie come with me". (Always my Sunday name with Mum LOL!!).
I am now allowed a half hour visiting slot (if there is one available) which means I am now the designated visitor. So I am going to take my ipad with me so the others can see her when I go to visit later this afternoon.
Hope everyone's week is going better than mine. Take care!
Sunday, 17 October 2021
CARDIO CHRISTMAS
Hi Everyone
I hope you have all enjoyed your weekend.
Another busy one here .. .. .. so just a quick Christmas make from me today. I love making this style of card.
Images: Cardio "Festive Scene" and "Mini Tall Trees"
Sentiment: Penny Black "30-140" Christmas Cheer
Backing Paper: The Lovely Studio "Twas the Night Script" (looking like they have stopped trading)
Distress Ink: Stormy Sky
My Trusty Sewing Machine
and that is me with another lovely flat Christmas card sitting waiting for the festive season.
Thursday, 14 October 2021
BRING ON THE PUD
Hi Everyone
I hope your Thursday has been a good one.
I certainly can't say I am a fan of the nights getting darker so early. I don't like crafting by electric light.
More Christmas from me today:
Sentiment: Computer Generated
Backing Paper: Make & Create "Merry and Bright"
Corner Rounding Punch
Ribbon
and that is another Christmas card added to the box.
Catch you again soon
Wednesday, 13 October 2021
WONDERFUL
Hi Everyone
I hope your week is progressing well.
I am super happy to report that Mum seems back on track again after a worrying week or so .. .. .. thankfully life is feeling more normal again and I have been able to visit my little craft pod a little more frequently.
This is one little creation I have put together which uses a "new to me" stamp set which I acquired from Ebay. I bought it because I wanted the image I have used here .. .. but there are some other beauties in the set that will be getting an airing too.
Image: Penny Black Clear Stamp Set "30-143" Joy to the World
Sentiment: Digistamp Boutique (sadly no longer trading)
Backing Papers: From Snippet Mountain
ProMarkers
Snowflakes: Memory Box Die "99031" Snowflake Heart
Crystal Glamour Dust (not that you can see it in the photographs)
My Trusty Sewing Machine
As everything but the card base has come from snippet mountain, I am running over to Pixie's Snippets Challenge where we are encouraged to use up any leftovers we may have. Be these card, paper, fabric, ribbon .. .. in fact anything you can create something else from.
I really don't think I will ever see the back of my snippets as hard as I try .. .. .. .. or even feel I have them under control .. .. .. .. but I am going to keep up the fight anyway.
Monday, 11 October 2021
THE CAT'S WHISKERS
Hi Everyone
Life is still very hectic here .. .. .. last week was a blur with most of it centered around my Mum .. .. .. but I have my fingers tightly crossed that things are going to revert to some kind of normality again this week.
Today is a special day, it is our eldest Son's birthday. The lovely London Kid who I am very proud of! Not sure what I did to get two such wonderful sons but I am certainly glad and grateful that they are mine.
This is the card I made .. .. .. which gives a nod to two black rescue cats he and his wife adopted early in 2020.
This used:
Image: Opulence by Design "Black Cat with Oil and Chalk"
Sentiment: Computer Generated
Backing Papers: Eline's House Digital Papers - Roses are Red 1 and The Lovely Studio (sadly nowhere to link to)
Spellbinder Circle Dies
X-Cut Corner Rounding Punch
Nail Heads
Metallic Cord
My Trusty Sewing Machine
Hopefully things are going to be improving here this week. There is lots to be working on .. .. including a little thing called Christmas!!
Talking of which I picked up the Royal Mail delivery dates for Christmas last week .. .. so here are our panic dates for this year:
- Latest recommended date for 2nd class post
Thursday 23rd December
- Latest recommended date for Special Delivery
Sunday, 3 October 2021
WATERCOLOUR CHRISTMAS
Hopefully things will improve this coming week and I can open my craft pod door a little bit more often. But if not then it just wasn't meant to be.
I did have a very quick attempt at a digitally created Christmas card though and it ended up looking like this:
This used:
Image Backing: LOTV: Watercolour Circles
Christmas Tree: Fantastic Clipart: Christmas Tree Clipart
Sentiment: Computer Generated using font "Impact Label"
Backing Paper: The Lovely Studio (sadly it still looks like this is another on-line store that has closed)
My Trusty Sewing Machine
Quite pleased with it really.
So short and sweet from me today as I try to catch up with the world and get back on top of things.
Take care everyone.
Tuesday, 28 September 2021
TEENY, TINY TUESDAY
Hi Everyone
Happy Tuesday
I hope everyone's week is off to a good start .. .. .. and your cars have adequate supplies of fuel.
Our weekend was brilliant with all the family home. My little nest was full again .. .. just for a little while.
I was very good and shared the fun by calling round to my Sister (she was as excited as I was to see everyone) and we sat out in the sunshine with a cuppa, catching up on everyone's news. We also visited Mum .. .. .. so I wasn't greedy! I shared all the happy vibes that everyone was giving off.
We fitted so much in that I can't believe it really.
So now all of us are back in our own homes, but with extra memories crammed into our hearts and brains.
I promised myself that I wasn't going to sulk once it was all over, but was going to simply be super grateful that the London Kids were happy to travel all that way so we could all be together.
Back into the old routine now though and I have lots of cards and projects to work on. Never a dull moment here.
My day started with a little batch of teeny tiny thank you cards .. .. .. which for anyone new to my blog measure a whole 3.5 inches square:
These used:
Image and Backing Paper: Whimsy Dreams Clipart "Blue Fairy Meadow"
Sentiment: LOTV "Spring Mix "
Glitter Paper
My Trusty Sewing Machine
That just leaves me to make four teeny, tiny envelopes now.
So back to it now and hopefully this evening will see me start to catch up with my blog commenting again.