IT IS A PROVEN FACT .. .. HEARTS MAKE YOU HAPPY !

Hi Everyone

Yes, it is true .. .. hearts make you happy .. .. but more about that later.

First here is my share for today

This used:

Image:  Hero Arts "G5311" Silhouette Spray (single image stamped three times)
Sentiment:  Hobby Art Clear Stamps "CS016D" General Greetings
Backing Paper:  Nitwits
X-Cut Punch:  Butterfly
Silver Embossing Powder
My Trusty Sewing Machine
Josy Rose:  Nail Heads
Ribbons, cord, flowers and pearls from the Stash Box

The central strip is actually very fine but wide ribbon .. .. isn't it scrummy?!?!?

So back to hearts making you smile.

Further to me telling you about the floating foil balloons yesterday .. .. they stayed where they landed yesterday .. .. wrapped around the top of a telegraph pole .. .  but some looked to have burst and others were starting to deflate.

My craft desk looks out onto the main road and this morning you wouldn't believe how many people taking their children to school this morning pointed and smiled at the lovely hearts blowing about in the wind.  Little children would jump up and down as if they expected to be able to touch them. (I even saw grown men looking at them and smiling!!!).

But the happiness wasn't to be left to reign for long because looked what happened later in the day .. .. ..

BT came and removed the balloons :-(  and I decided that I just had to have a picture to remember the day by (thanks for encouraging me not to miss a "Kodak moment" Sally LOL!!).  

I couldn't bring myself to go out into the street to take the picture though and instead chose to hang out of our bedroom window!!

So today has been an extra day in the year for us all.  I hope it has been a good one for you .. .. don't forget ladies you are allowed to propose to the man you would like to spend the rest of your life with today (if you aren't already married of course).  LOL!!!

Have a lovely evening everyone.

Love

WELL WHAT CAN I SAY?

Hi Everyone

Well I can only apologise .. .. on two counts!!!

Firstly because I do not have anything to share with you tonight card wise.  It has been a big day in the House of Hearts with lots of pearl sticking and ribbon tying .. .. but with so much to do I just haven't had chance to escape to the craft pod and make anything I can share :-(  

Secondly .. .. well it would seem that last night's heart was as difficult as Sunday's heart!!

It is something about male cards I think.  I tend to try and disguise them a little better.

Anyway, to put you out of your misery here is where last night's heart was hidden.

Just floating in the water .. .. next to the diamond stickles that clearly wasn't dry when I took the picture LOL!!

There was a lovely sight out of my front windows today which I would have loved to have got a photograph of .. .. but sadly couldn't without looking like I needed to "get a life"

It was a huge bunch of helium filled heart shaped foil balloons all in red and silver with the words "I Love You" on some of them.

There were loads and loads of them.  First they got stuck around the overhead telephone cables .. .. they they drifted off to wrap around a tree and now they are attached to the top of a telegraph pole.

Any other time things end up in my garden .. .. you know empty crisp packets that people haven't disposed of properly, shopping receipts, or empty envelopes  .. .. all of them end up in my garden for me to pick up.  But the one thing I was hoping would wrap itself around the tree in my front garden (just long enough for me to take a picture of) came nowhere near!!!  LOL!!!

I wonder where they will be in the morning and I wonder who has lost them?!?!?

Hopefully time will be kinder to me tomorrow ..  but in the meantime have a good evening and a night off from heart searching.

Love

FLOATING DREAMS

Hi Everyone

A super quick one from me today .. .. but using one of my favourite Penny Black images.

It always makes me feel relaxed when I look at this image (as well as a little envious of the cute little mouse snoozing away without a care in the world).  I wonder how long that paper boat will last before the water makes it capsize?

Mmmmm.. perhaps I'm not so envious after all LOL!!!

So here is my share for today:

This used:

Image:  Penny Black "1645K" Floating Dreams
Sentiment:  Personal Impressions "Everyday Words" Happy Birthday
Backing Papers:  DCWV "All About Boys" Stack
Josy Rose:  Nail Heads
ProMarkers
Diamond Stickles

It would appear that I gave a few people some torture treatment last night .. .. sorry folks :-(

The problem is on male cards the hearts usually need to me a little less "in your face".

But to put you out of your misery here is where last night's heart was hidden (under the image on the gingham paper).

Easy when you know where!!

Have a good evening everyone.

Love

SUNDAY SNIPPETS

Hi Everyone

I hope you have all had a lovely Sunday.

The weather has been so lovely here  .. ..   I hope this is a sign of a nice Spring and Summer this year.

Only one share today as time fast ran out today .. .. but at least it used up a few of those pesky snippets for  Pixie's Crafty Snippet Challenge

As always I am totally lazy on a Sunday and don't list what I have used or anything!!  (Tut, tut)  But if there is anything anyone wants to know about my make then just ask.

So after all of this lovely weather Jules no has no washing at all .. .. but she does have a mountain of ironing.

Guess what I am doing tonight :-(

Have a great evening everyone and yes, there is a heart today!!  Tee hee!!

Catch you again tomorrow.

Love

HAPPY RUDOLPH DAY!

Hi Everyone

I hope the weather has been as bright and beautiful where you are as it has been here.  Lovely sunshine but quite windy (which has been good for the old washing).  How many shirts have I now got to iron :-(   .. .. .. but at least they will smell of beautiful fresh air!!!

So we are round to another 25th of the month .. .. which means Rudolph Day .. .. so I am joining Sandra in her challenge which you can find here.

I am creeping a little bit and hoping to get extra points for sharing a Rudolph card on Rudolph Day LOL!!!

This used:

Image:  Hampton Art Stamps "4611" Rudolph
Backing Paper:  Dovecraft "Noel" Premium Paper Pad
Josy Rose:  Nail Heads
ProMarkers
Glamour Dust
Diamond Stickles
Ribbon, cord and bell from the Stash Box

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

You are all so lovely .. .. .. but I don't think I actually deserve such lovely blog buddies at the moment.  

My weddings are taking up all of my time and I am not getting chance to return many of your comments .. .. .. ..  so I understand completely if you just want to have a look at my make and then disappear without leaving one!!!

Enjoy the rest of Saturday everyone.

Love

UNDER CONSTRUCTION JOBBIE .. .. FINISHED !!

Hi Everyone

Well I am pleased to say that the beginnings of the card I shared yesterday is now finished .. .. I hope you feel it was worth waiting for!!!  LOL!!!

This used:

Image:  Stampendous! "P091" Beaded Bodice
Sentiment:  Pink Petticoat
Backing Paper:  DCWV "Nana's Nursery "Baby Boy"
Ranger Liquid Pearls:  Mint Green
Crystal Stickles
My Trusty Sewing Machine
ProMarkers
Woodware Punch:  Tag
Lace, Cord, Flowers, Pearls, Eyelets and Feathers .. .. all from the Stash Box

Another one of my weddings came to a close today :-(

I find I get quite close to the happy couples, as we seem to share so much enroute, and it is quite sad to say goodbye when everything is finally complete.  Though I guess if I ever come across a "bridezilla" I won't feel quite the same LOL!!!

I also saw another side to what I do today as my happy couple arrived early .. .. .. with the bride apologising and saying "I'm sorry we are early .. .. but I just couldn't wait any longer to see everything".  

Bless her, by the time she actually saw everything sitting ready for her she cried!

People do sometimes get upset .. .. either when they see their samples with their names and everything on ready for signing off .. .. .. or when they see lots of their finished stationery all lined up .. .. ..  but I never considered the excitement of waiting to pick them up.  But I will now!!  

So on that note .. .. I had better go and work on making another bride happy!!!

I hope you all have a great Friday evening and a lovely weekend.

Love

I'VE STARTED .. .. BUT I WON'T FINISH !!!

Hi Everyone

Flying by the seat of my pants today.

People arriving in around 30 minutes and I still need to make the place look decent and clear the dining room table!!!

So tonight's share is an "under construction" jobbie

Tee hee!!!  Yes this is as far as I have got with today's share.

But I will finish it tomorrow and post the completed creation then I promise.

I have been desperate to have a play with this black lace I bought the other week.  I actually bought it to make some wedding samples (I know .. .. black isn't everyone's colour of choice for a wedding but you would be surprised how many people head straight for the black and white samples when we do a wedding fayre!!!).  But this isn't a wedding stationery sample.

So just time to find the bottom of the washing up bowl .. .. make myself look presentable and clear that table!!

Thank goodness food went into the slow cooker earlier today that's all I can say!!

Have a great evening everyone.

Love

WHISPERS (AGAIN)

Hi Everyone

My Penny Black "Whispers" stamp is out .. .. .. AGAIN!!!

Just love paper piecing this little beauty and used it for my share for today

This used:

Image:  Penny Black "3377K" Whispers
Sentiment:  Pink Petticoat
Backing Papers:  Papermania "The Big One"  (far too big in my humble opinion - I can't see me ever being able to use it all .. .. .. even if this stack was all I used for a whole year!!)
My Trust Sewing Machine
Josy Rose:  Acrylic Stone
Joy Craft:  Butterfly
ProMarkers
Chalk
Ribbon and pearls from the Stash Box

Short and sweet from me today as I am a busy bee at the moment.  (So I'll buzz off!!!  LOL!!!)

Have a good evening.

Love

GOOD THINGS COME TO THOSE WHO WAIT

Hi Everyone

I hope that your week is going well.

It is quite dull and cold here today .. .. but we are promised that the week will be getting warmer and warmer as it progresses . .. .. . with Friday being the best day of the week!!  We shall see!!!

Thank you for all your lovely comments whilst I have been busy with my wedding work.  I am slowly starting to make headway in returning your lovely comments.   

I am early with my share today as I have just finished one wedding mission.  Have packed all of those materials away and am now about to start another.  Once I get stuck in I can't stop .. .. so I decided a quick sandwich and snippet make was in order and then I will get back into wedding mode.

Today's share is my entry into Pixie's Crafty Snippet Challenge - number 8.  

I am normally lazy on a Sunday and don't list my materials .. .. but as punishment for being late this week I will list my goodies:

Sentiment:  Elzybells (no longer trading)

Backing Paper:  Digichick Boutique

Sizzix Die:  "656521" Flower with Leaves and Stem #2

Josy Rose:  Nail Heads

My Trusty Sewing Machine

Organza strip ripped from a larger piece ages ago and left languishing in my ribbon drawer (pleased that is out of the way now LOL!!)

Button with the shank cut off

So my post title said .. good things come to those who wait.  How true!!

The Sizzix die I have used here is one that I have wanted for around 3 years.  I have kept looking and looking and couldn't justify buying it .. .. .. but last week I was in the craft department of a local garden centre buying a birthday present for a little crafty friend of mine when I saw the die in the bargain section .. .. .. half price!!!!  Woo hoo!!!  At long last the gorgeous die could be mine.  Just great for using up those pesky snippets!

OK .. .. back to wedding work.  Cream and aubergine this afternoon (those are the colours I am working with .. .. not what I am eating LOL!!!).

Have a great rest of the day.

Love

HAPPY HANDY HIPPO DAY

Hi Everyone

I hope you have all had a good weekend.

Regular visitors to my blog will know that yesterday for me was spent at a Wedding Fayre where I got well  and truly cold as they had the doors open to the public for the whole 4 hours.  Even though it was a nice sunny day it didn't stop a good draught whizzing around our ankles!!!  Never mind .. .. I am warm again now and have already had some emails from potential customers I met.   Woo hoo!!!

When I started this lovely little Handy Hippo mission all those months ago it felt like such a long commission .. .. .. but I am at the end of this first little series now.  It seems like only yesterday it started .. .. .. how  very scary!! 

The busier I get the faster my life seems to be disappearing before my very eyes!!

For my last project in this series I have tried to do something a little different .. .. and must admit I love this cute little card .. .. 

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

As for the stitching on my little make.   Well unfortunately you cannot buy that.  You have to do that yourself.  LOL!!

In the meantime here are a few photographs as to how I made the base for this project.

I started off by using the dies to cut out two of the largest lacey squares in purple and one of the large classic large squares in white.

Then for the inside of the card I made a small base card from a piece of the white card that measured 18cm x 9cm (scored and folded to form a 9cm square card).

I used the fingerlift tape to attach the lacey squares to the front and back of the card base.

The remaining square was then distressed, stamped, decorated and stitched prior to mounting it onto the lacey square with double sided tape (or you can use glue if you prefer working with that).

Lastly I threaded some ribbon through the spine of the card .. .. but it does look just as cute without the ribbons too!

Have a good week everyone.

Thank you to everyone who has been visiting and leaving encouraging comments.

I'll see you again soon. 

Love



and all the lovely friendly people at Handy Hippo

WEDDING FAYRE .. .. DONE!!!

Hi Everyone

I hope you have all had a great Sunday.

Our wedding fayre went really well .. .. much better than I expected.  It was held at a small local hotel where you can get married and have your reception (after having your photographs taken in their lovely gardens by the river).

In fact it is probably the busiest wedding fayre we have done yet.

Lots of "happy couples" of all ages.  Some looking far too young to be getting married (says she who was a whole 19 yrs and 3 days old when she married Mr Heart  LOL!!!).

It was really hot when we arrived at the venue today.  They had the heaters going full pelt out of the air conditioning units .. .. but once the fayre started they had all the doors propped open and the draughts were a bit much!!!  We came away frozen.

In fact I got so cold that I think it is going to take a while to get properly warm again.

So Mrs Heart needs to get some samples made for interested people .. .. and then we have another wedding fayre in two weeks!!!

No Sunday snippets from me today as I haven't had chance to play.  I will just have to arrive late into the playground with a note from my Mum LOL!!

I'll see you tomorrow with the last of my Handy Hippo posts for this series .. .. I can't believe that my time with them has flown by so quickly and that my first stint is now complete.  Though looking at my wedding work list I think it might be a good thing.

Enjoy your Sunday.  I am going to clear the hallway and put all my samples away and then have a nice relax .. .. .. if I can shut my brain off.  But if I manage it then I will probably fall asleep.  Tee hee!!

Love

WITH LOVE MUM

Hi Everyone

I hope you are having a good weekend.

Mine started off with a good old tidy up and a visit to the loft to rescue some of the display equipment I need for the wedding fayre tomorrow.

Just about everything is ready and lined up by the front door.  I just need to print off some more price lists and grab all my card and ribbon samples and then I think I am there.

Not sure what to expect from tomorrow as it is a new venue for us.  But hopefully it will get our names around town a little more.  We aren't looking for any immediate work as we both have a good few orders in our books .. .. but it would be nice to see some people who are getting married later this year or early next.

Anyway, today's quick make is here:

This used:

Image:  Stampendous! "CRR112" Ranunculus Field
Sentiment:  Personal Impressions (A mixture of two sets .. "Happy Birthday" set and "To A Dear" set.
Backing Paper:  Wild Rose Studio "Gorgeous Ginghams"
Aqua Markers
Diamond Stickles
Glamour Dust
Pearls from the Stash Box
Ribbon from the "naughty drawer" LOL!!!

.. .. .. and that is me for today.  Excuse my painting skills  .. .. they leave a bit to be desired .. .. .. but I'm not giving up without a fight!!

As I promised yesterday I will get round to catching up with everyone eventually but at the moment it is all work .. .. and no blog hopping!!

Will let you know how the fayre goes tomorrow when I get home.

Enjoy your Saturday evening and have a good Sunday.  I'm off to print out those price lists!

Love

MY SECRET IS OUT !!!

Hi Everyone

Another quick one from me today.  No colouring required !!!  LOL!!!

But whilst rushing around this evening I have dropped a huge clanger.  I left that drawer open in our bedroom into which I had stashed all of my ribbons a few weeks ago.

Picture the scene .. ..

Hubby walks in and sees them all .. .. I was right behind him kicking myself for being so forgetful in leaving it open and I could see him just stop in his tracks and stare at the open drawer.

Hubby says "What on earth is all that doing in there?  Those drawers are meant to be for clothes!!"

I laugh and say "Oh no .. .. my secret is out .. .. they have been stashed in there for ages.  Even blogland knows they are in there .. .. we have been wondering how long it would be before you found out".

Hubby then laughs himself and says "Well let's face it.  You never buy any clothes so I can't expect there to be any in there can I!"

So my secret is out .. .. but it looks like I got away with it!!  Phew!!!  LOL!!!

So here is tonight's share:

This used:

Sentiment:  Elzybells (sadly no longer trading)
Stamp used on dress:  "90355-Y" Inkadinkado
Backing Paper:  Aimee Asher
Sizzix Dies:  "657186" Sewing Room and "38-1058" Eyelet Washers #2
My Trust Sewing Machine
X-Cut Punch:  Small flower
Distress Ink:  Tea Dye
Pinking Shears
Ribbon, Pearls and Embroidery Thread and Gem from the Stash Box

The Sewing Room Die is just a little too big for my card fronts so I had to cut the stand and tuck it under the dress form.  That is why it looks a little more "squat" than it should be.

I will catch up with you all sometime.  The House of Hearts is busy in wedding mode and I have a wedding fayre on Sunday that I need to finish preparing for.

So I may be a bit absent for a little while .. .. but will return your visits eventually I promise.

Have a good evening.

Love

YOU KNOW WHAT COMES NEXT!!!

Hi Everyone

Well we have had Valentine's Day .. .. the day has come and gone (but hopefully if you received any flowers they are still going strong) .. .. so what comes next?

Yep!!  Mothering Sunday!!!  

So my makes are now turning in this direction.  Not that I have a lot of Mum's .. .. but I do know a lot of people who will be wanting cards.  So prepare for Mother's Day overload over the next few days/weeks.

Here is today's .. ..

This used:

Image:  Penny Black "2409K" Letter and Daisy
Sentiment:  Pink Petticoat
Backing Papers:  Aimee Asher
My Trusty Sewing Machine
Josy Rose:  Nail Heads
ProMarkers
Ribbon from the Stash Box

I am ashamed to say that this stamp often gets overlooked when I rummage through my Penny Black drawer.  I don't know why.  I think it is perhaps because I don't like the picture that has been put onto the block as an example added to the fact that when I bought it years ago every time I used it the results were rubbish

but now I have actually used it and am happy with the results I think it will be being inked up a bit more often.

OK .. that is me.  Off to tidy up before Hubby lands home.

I have had a few deliveries today ready for some wedding orders and there are empty boxes, supplies and those foam cheesy wotsits all over the place!!

Oh .. .. by the way .. .. a few of you fell in love with the football kraft card I used yesterday.  It didn't have any manufacturer's name on it but I did buy it from here  .. .. but don't blame me if you spend your pennies on any of the other goodies too!!!

Have a good evening.

Love