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.

Saturday 26 May 2012

A SENSIBLE DECISION IN THE HOUSE OF HEARTS

Hi Everyone

No card to share today .. .. just a quick post to say that my blog and I are going on holiday for two weeks.

I spent this morning organising my ever increasing "do-list" and because it is so very, very long I have come to the conclusion that I need to be sensible and just work on getting on top of everything. Breaking away completely from blogland for a little while is going to be the only way I can do that.

So I am disappearing and am going to be super strong and stay away from blogland for a whole 2 weeks .. .. boy that is going to be so very hard .. .. but needs must.  No visiting, no commenting, no posting :-(   .. ..  oh dear I am getting withdrawal symptoms already.

Have a lovely two weeks whilst I am away and I'll be back on Saturday, 9th June .. .. the day my car is due for its MOT!!!  Eeeekkk!!!  It had better pass!!!

Love

Friday 25 May 2012

RED, WHITE AND BLUE, 5 OF 5

Hi Everyone

Here at last.

I was beginning to think I wasn't going to get here.

So I will cut to the chase and just get on and share the last of my red, white and blue makes.





This used:

Image and Sentiment:  Hero Arts "CL158" Clear Design Cupcakes
Backing Paper:  Pink Petticoat
Nestabilities:  Circles and Scalloped Circles
Woodware Punches:  Daisy
Cuttlebug Embossing Folder:  Happy Birthday
My Trusty Sewing Machine
Pinking Shears
ProMarkers
Glamour Dust
Ribbon, brads and button from the Stash Box

and that is finally me for today.

Hope you all had a great day and the sun shone beautifully on you.

The weekend is meant to be gorgeous .. .. so who knows I might catch a few rays .. .. at last!!!

Have a good one!

Love

Thursday 24 May 2012

RED, WHITE AND BLUE 4 OF 5

Hi Everyone

Well I would have been earlier .. .. .. if I could have found the memory card for my camera sooner!!!

I take my pictures upstairs and then bring the memory card downstairs to do my post.  But sometimes I have to have a little search campaign to find where I put it when I finished last time.  The problem is I have "too many" safe places that I put it.

But tonight it wasn't even in a safe place .. .. but buried in the "do list" LOL!!!

Hubby said that I need to have a little box and tie it round my neck.  I somehow don't think that will be a look that will ever catch on .. .. or one I will be taking up!!

Anyway, pictures taken and sorted here I am with my penultimate (do you like that word Di?) red, white and blue number.




This used:

Sentiment:  Pink Petticoat
Backing Paper:  Nitwits
Sizzix Die:  Sewing Room
Martha Stewart Punch:  Valentine Lace
My Trust Sewing Machine
Diamond Stickles
Ribbon, netting, pearls and buttons from the stash box

I haven't used this die for at least 2 weeks .. .. so decided it needed another airing!!

Hope everyone has had a good day and that there are no stories of sunburn out there!!!  I haven't managed any sunshine or garden time yet.  All I could grab today was a walk down the garden whilst munching on my sandwich!!  

What happened to those dreams of being my own boss and sitting out in the garden with my sandwiches to catch a few rays .. .. .. I seem to have less time now than I did when I was going out to work LOL!!!

Have a lovely evening.

Love

Wednesday 23 May 2012

RED, WHITE AND BLUE 3 OF 5

Hi Everyone

Another fantastic day weather wise !!!  Can't be bad can it?

I hope it lasts into the weekend.  

I'm a little earlier tonight as I want to settle into a mammoth Cuttlebug session and get as much as I can done before my lovely hubby gets home .. .. it must drive him mad squeaking away with each turn of the handle!!!  LOL!!

So my third red, white and blue offering





This used:

Image:  Penny Black "4129J" Game On
Sentiment:  Lili of the Valley
Backing Papers and buttons:  Papermania "Portobello Road"
Nestabilities:  Eyelet Circle
ProMarkers
Chalk
Cord from the Stash Box

and that is me!!

Time to go and get turning that Cuttlebug handle at super fast speed LOL!!!

Have a lovely evening everyone.

Love

Tuesday 22 May 2012

RED, WHITE AND BLUE 2 OF 5

Hi Everyone

What a glorious day today has been .. .. I hope that everyone has had the same weather as we have had here .. .. truly beautiful! 

Well here I am as promised with the second of my red, white and blue creations.  This time more of a fun one!! 

A little late .. .. yet again .. .. as one of my "happy couples" have been this evening to collect the final part of their wedding stationery so another bare patch in the House of Hearts now the table plan, table numbers and a few last minute place names are gone.

Won't it be lovely if the weather is like this for them on their happy day!

Anyway, back to my creation for the day




This used

Image and bunting:  Digistamp Boutique
Sentiment:  Computer Generated using font "pass the chex"
Backing Papers:  Digichick Boutique "Joyful Heart Designs"
ProMarkers

and that is it!!!

Not too much to it .. .. but I love it all the same!!

There are coloured and non-coloured images in the digistamp set.  I chose to colour the smiley grenadier guard but I used the pre-coloured bunting flags.  

So that is me for today.

I promise I will be catching up with everyone soon.  Just one more happy couple with a tight deadline and I will then "perhaps" be back to a more normal routine .. .. if I can force myself to slow down.  I will probably be feeling lazy then!!!  LOL!!!

Love

Monday 21 May 2012

PATCHWORK DAISY

Hi Everyone

I hope your day has been good.

The sunshine managed to make an appearance today .. .. and it was wonderful!!  Apparently we are going to have a few days like this .. .. so that will be nice.

I have set myself a theme for the next few days and am going to go all patriotic with "red, white and blue".

So here is 1 of 5 .. ..




This used:

Image:  Funstamps "FP110" Patchwork Daisy
Sentiment:  Pink Petticoat
Backing papers:  Papermania "Portobello Road"
ProMarkers
Josy Rose:  Nail Heads
Brad and Cord from the Stash Box

I really love this paper stack.  I think I am going to have to invest in another before it runs out!!!  Much happier with this make than I was with the spooky cat card from yesterday LOL!!!

Having said that though a few of you were very kind and actually said you liked it .. .. and others were just as spooked as I was!  Sorry about that!!  LOL!!

Bev from Majik Crafts (hi Bev xx) asked me where the cute little charm came from on my card yesterday.  Well I bought a little pack of them when I went to the NEC from a stall called Totally Beads and you can find them here (I was showing the other side of the charm yesterday).  But beware if you go and look.  There are so many fantastic charms and beads available you might rather not look!!!  Far more for sale now than I saw at the NEC .. .. and if searching don't miss the "next" button .. ..which I didn't see at first!! Doh!!

.. .. .. .. and please don't buy all the heart charms!!  Leave some for little me!!!

Sorry for being a bit late tonight.  We have had a dentist check up x 3 people .. .. but are really lucky because our dentist opens into the evening and we can get late appointments.

In fact we were really, really lucky because no-one needs to go back for a whole 6 months!!  Woo hoo!!

Right that is me for today.

I'll catch you again tomorrow with number 2 of 5 for my theme of the week!

Have a great evening.

Love

Sunday 20 May 2012

SUNDAY SNIPPETS

Hi Everyone

A little late today as I have been trying to squeeze far too much into my day .. .. but, better late than never, here I am with my snippet make  for entering into Pixie's Crafty Snippet Challenge.

Lots of snippets gobbled up on this little creation.  




As per usual on a Sunday I am super lazy and haven't listed anything I have used .. .. but if there is anything you want to know about just ask away.

Whilst watermarking this I decided that the cat looks like it is peering through a cat flap on a door .. .. and now that is all I see and I am finding it a little bit spooky!!  Normally I stand my cards up for a day or so before I package them up .. .. but not this one .. .. I can't have that cat staring at me for a minute longer LOL!!!

I hope you have all had a lovely weekend.

Enjoy the rest of Sunday and I will catch you again tomorrow.

Love

Saturday 19 May 2012

PENNY BLACK SATURDAY CHALLENGE

Hi Everyone

I hope you are all having a good weekend.

I have had a wedding order picked up today so am seeing a bit of space where goodies were once stashed .. .. my lovely "bride to be" kindly said I should now take the rest of the weekend off and have a relax!!  But no, there is still lots to be done for other "happy couples".

I did however give myself the treat of playing along with the Penny Black Saturday Challenge where the theme this week is to "recycle".  

Well this is what I have just finished .. .. not too sure about it .. .. perhaps because there aren't any cute hedgies or mice featuring anywhere LOL!!!  

Boy have I made a mess in the process of creating this!!





This used:

Image:  Penny Black "3868J" Portraits (for the flower background)
Sentiment:  Penny Black "3849E" Birthday Dreams
Sizzix:  Elegant Flourish and Tattered Florals
Backing Paper:  Sorry not sure where this came from.  
My Trusty Sewing Machine
ProMarkers
White and Clear Embossing Powder
Glamour Dust
Eyelets, Feather, Ribbon, Button and Pearls from the Stash Box
Page from an old paperback (that has nearly all been used up!!)

My re-cycled items were:  a page from an old paperback, cardboard saved from a crafty delivery and a button saved in "one" of the old button tins.  Not only do I have a button tin of my own but I also inherited one when we cleared out my late MIL's home.  I wonder why her button tin smells different to mine?

Anyway, that is my share for today.

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

Love

Friday 18 May 2012

A BRILLIANT SHARE

Hi Everyone

A quick but brilliant share tonight.

Not brilliant on my part .. .. but brilliant on Liz's part from Pink Petticoat.

She has designed a special download called The Diamond Jubilee Party Pack .. . and it is fabulous .. .. and also  free!!!

I have made a couple items using the download but didn't have any cakes to do justice to the rest!!!



(The buttons are not part of the download .. .. they have been in my button tin since 1992!!  You see things always come in useful eventually LOL!!).

You will find the download  here .. .. ..  along with some fantastic photographs of what you can make.  Lots of scrummy cakes on view too!!!!

The perfect download for any Jubilee celebrations you may be planning.  I can't believe it is free!  

Thanks Liz xx

Have a great evening everyone.

I'll catch you again tomorrow.

Love

Thursday 17 May 2012

FLYING BY QUICKLY

Hi Everyone

Just a quick fly in and fly out again tonight .. .. sorry folks!

No-where to go but lots to do before bedtime!!!

So here is my share:





This used:

Image:  Creative Cafe "CS6143C" Doodle Flowers
Sentiment:  Unmounted Stamp Company "BD-FR-01" Word Frame
Backing Papers:  Raspberry Road
Woodware Punches
Leone Em Pty Punch:  Ash Branch
Josy Rose:  Nail Heads
White Embossing Powder
Big and Juicy ink pad whose colours are starting to go a bit strange but suited this project LOL!!
Cord and button from the Stash Box

and that is me for today.

Very short and sweet.

Hopefully tomorrow I will have a little more time to be sociable .. .. but in the meantime have a lovely evening and thank you for calling by little blog.

Love

Wednesday 16 May 2012

GOING DOTTY !

Hi Everyone

I hope you have had a good day .. .. we have done well here and not had one drop of rain here all day.. ..  which can't be bad.

I have had a day of wedding work .. .. some of which involved me having to hold glued pieces in place until they "took hold" .. .. which was quite good as it gave me a free hand to do some "one handed commenting" today.  I feel much better at having caught up with some of your lovely blogs .. .. .. but I know I still have loads more to visit.  Never mind I'll get there.

For now though, here is my share for the day:





This used:

Sentiment:  Great Impressions "E411"
Backing Papers:  Wild Rose Studies "Polka Dots"
Martha Stewart Punch:  Embossed Zig Zag
Sizzix Dies:  "Elegant Flourish" and "Daises #2"
Buttons and Cord from the Stash Box

and that is it.

No colouring at all today :-(

I'll catch you again tomorrow.  Lots I want to do tonight before The Apprentice starts and then I am hoping I stay awake whilst watching it.

We had a very late night last night and my eyes are a tad tired!!!

Love

Tuesday 15 May 2012

NEW HOME

Hi Everyone

Happy Tuesday to you .. .. I hope you have all had a good day.

Chances are if your weather has been anything like ours you have got drenched at some point.  I had to time when I ran down to the greenhouse today so I didn't get rained or hailed on .. .. and even then it was touch and go as to whether I was going to make it!!  Thankfully I did.

My share today uses a ribbon I have been dying to use for ages .. .. aren't I sad .. .. making my card to match a ribbon LOL!!!





This used:

Image:  Digistamp boutique
Sentiment:  Computer Generated using two fonts .. .. "Daniel Black" and "Pass the Chex"
Backing Paper:  Nitwits
Distress Ink:  Tumbled Glass
ProMarkers
Ribbon, flower and button from the Stash Box

The felt flower I have used was actually free with a Hero Arts stamp set a couple of years ago.  Today it got to come out and play!!!

To make the circular sky around my image I cut a circle in some scrap card and lay this over my image which I had masked whilst I stippled the sky.

I really wanted to then draw a dotted line all around the edge of the circle but I was worried I would smudge and spoil my card .. .. and I just wouldn't have time to start again .. .. so I took the cowards way out and doodled around the outer edge instead LOL!!!  Perhaps I will be brave enough to do it another day when I have more time to play.

I am also entering this into the Digistamp Boutique Challenge for May.

Right off to link up and then start a printing session.

Have a good evening everyone.

Love

Monday 14 May 2012

RUBY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

Hi Everyone

I hope your day has been good.

We have had lovely weather again today .. .. until now .. .. when the heavens have just opened.  Oh well, that has given my car a good clean!!  LOL!!!

Can't stay too long tonight .. .. lots to be done .. .. in fact a very busy week for me so any shares are likely to be simple ones this week.

For tonight it is a Ruby Anniversary card.





This used:

Martha Stewart Punch:  Doily Lace
Woodware Punch:  Heart
My Trust Sewing Machine
Sentiment:  Computer Generated with font "Baroque Script"
Rose bud, cord and gems from the Stash Box

The red card I used is actually a lovely pearlised card but you can't tell that from the photographs.

Right back to it for me.  Sorry it is short and sweet.

Have a lovely evening everyone.

Love

Sunday 13 May 2012

SUNDAY SNIPPETS

Hi Everyone

I hope you have all had a happy Sunday.

Mine seems to have been one of those days that don't come around very often .. .. the sort where everything goes to plan .. .. and you get loads done!!!  Why can't every day be like today?

So much fitted in already .. .. and the day hasn't ended yet!!!   A trip with my Mum and siblings to the cemetery ahead of the anniversary of us losing the head of our family 21 years ago :-(   Tomato plants planted up in the greenhouse.  A bit of wedding work.  The wash basket is empty .. .. and the ironing basket is just about empty too (just waiting for a couple of shirts to dry on the line and then I will be bang up to date), dinner nicely on its way and my snippet makes for this week complete .. .. woo hoo!!

Football has been on whilst I have been ironing and we have been watching the Man City match.  We were desperate for Man City to win and were not disappointment.  I haven't seen such an exciting match in ages.  But in the process I have given myself a sore throat my squealing and shouting at the TV .. .. not that Man City are our team .. ..  we just wanted them to finish the league in top slot.

So here is my share for today





and I enjoyed making it that much that I made another too .. .. the same but different LOL!!!



As usual I am super lazy on a Sunday and do not list my ingredients .. .. usually because they are such a strange mix from lots of different paper collection.  But of course if there is anything you want to query then ask away and I will try my best to work out what I used.

I love making this card so much that the stamps never get taken off the acrylic block .. .. they are there in permanent residency sitting waiting to be used.  In fact I have lost count of how many times I have made this card and every time it looks completely different.

Right off to link up to Pixie's Crafty Snippet Challenge and then to the kitchen to sort some vegetables out and mix some yorkshire pudding.  Snippet gates are open for two weeks this week so the link will go back to last Sunday's post.

See you again tomorrow and thanks for calling by.

Is it just me or is anyone else being thrown off blogs and being given an error message?!!  Grrrr!!!!

Enjoy what is left of Sunday.

Love