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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.

Sunday 30 September 2012

SUNDAY SNIPPETS

Hi Everyone

Here at last!!

I have been packing lots into today .. .. and then we had lovely surprise visitors this afternoon .. .. which has meant my snippets didn't get an airing until early evening.

This week my Sunday Snippets are meeting up with Sketch Saturday and this what I have come up with:




Sunday is my lazy day so I don't list what I have used .. .. but if anyone has any questions then ask away.

So my little creation is being entered into the two following challenges:

Pixie's Crafty Workshop Snippet Challenge 40

Sketch Saturday

and the sketch this week looks like this:



I hope everyone has had a lovely weekend. 

We have really enjoyed ours .. .. and thankfully the weather was lovely for the "happy couple" that got married on Saturday.  I was so pleased for them.  They should have some lovely photographs as their wedding venue has lovely gardens and backs onto the river.

Lots on my list again for this week .. .. but hopefully I will have time for a few shares too!

Have a great week whatever you have planned.

Love

Friday 28 September 2012

A THORNY AFFAIR

Hi Everyone

Well did you think I had fallen off the face of the earth ?!?!?

It seems ages since I posted last and yet time has flown by so fast!

I cannot believe how much I have got through this week .. .. I feel a lovely sense of achievement but my list continues to grow!!  (That is a good thing though).  Hubby finds it so amusing (and exhausting) that I wake up every morning mega excited.

Some of my weddings will have come to an end this week and next and one of my "happy couples" will be getting married tomorrow. Fingers crossed for lovely weather and none of this horrid rain we have seen so much of this week.  

I have also met up with some "new happy couples" this week so all is looking good on the old wedding front going forward with orders going into the diary for this time next year even before the fayre next month!!   Woo hoo!!!

Tonight though, I found a little time to make a Christmas card especially for Sandra's Rudolph Day Challenge.  There is a fabby prize on offer too if you get chance to play along.

So here is my share:




This used:

Image:  Penny Black "4092K" A Thorny Affair
Sentiment:  Woodware Clear Stamps "FRCL004" Family Christmas
Backing Papers: Dovecraft Vintage "Back to Basics Christmas"
Dovecraft Punch:  Holly
Promarkers and Chalk
Glamour Dust
Cord and Little Red Pom Poms from the Stash Box

The next thing I want to mention is something I am having more and more problems with week by week and that is stupid anonymous messages.  Nothing to do with what I am posting.  Nothing nasty and nothing personal .. .. just stupid annoying messages that are being sent I can only assume for advertising purposes.

In the past I have allowed anonymous comments on my blog .. .. and I have received lovely genuine comments from people who are anonymous .. .. but I'm afraid I am going to have to stop anonymous people being able to leave comments as I cannot be doing with having to vet everything.

Sorry everyone who is anonymous and leaves me proper comments :-(

I am just off to adjust my settings now as yet another has just plinged in!!  GRRRR!!!

Just hoping my changes don't cause any problems.

Have a great evening and weekend everyone.  I hope you find a little bit of crafty time!!

Love


Tuesday 25 September 2012

DON'T WAIT UP FOR ME

Hi Everyone

Don't wait up for me .. .. I'm not playing tonight as I am back in "mega work to do" mode having gained lots to add to the list over the last few days and I need to keep my head down and get on with it all.

I wouldn't like to think you were waiting up so you could find the heart before you go to bed!!  LOL!!!

Hope you are all having a good week and haven't been hit by the rain storms and floods.  The pictures on the news this evening looked horrendous!  

See you when  I do

Love

Monday 24 September 2012

JOEY'S BIRTHDAY CARD

Hi Everyone

Bright and early today with a showing of the birthday card I made for my lovely Sis (for her BIG birthday yesterday).

Apparently the birthday was the happiest one she has ever had.  Bless!

So here is her card:




Sorry the pictures aren't brilliant.  You know what it's like.  You put the card in the envelope .. .. suddenly realise that you haven't taken a picture .. .. take a load in a rush and keep your fingers crossed they will be OK because you are about to fly out of the house!!!  Then you find out later that they are actually a bit rubbish LOL!!!

Anyway, this used:

Backing Papers:  First Edition "Boho Chic"
Sentiment:  Computer Generated (sorry in my rush I didn't write down the font I used either)
Sizzix Dies:  "657186" Sewing Room and "657829" Sewing Edge
Nestabilities:  Labels Four
Papermania Punch:  Small Daisy
Then everything else was from the old Stash Box

My Sis has been on a week's holiday following the Festival and is back at work today .. .. armed with a mountain of cakes she and her daughters all made together.  Apparently they are in for "chocolate overload" in her workplace today.  Sounds good to me.

Right, that is me for today.

Time now to shut myself in my little craft pod, switch the radio on, get my head down and get on with my HUGE do list.  Today I need miracles!!

Lots of lovely rain at the moment which means I don't have to go and water the vegetables and I won't have to pull the blinds down to shut the sunshine out!!  Yep .. .. there is a silver lining to every cloud .. .. even a rain cloud!!!  But I am sure the poor people walking their children to school at the moment won't agree :-(

Have a good day everyone.

Love

Sunday 23 September 2012

SUNDAY SNIPPETS

Hi Everyone

Super early with my snippet creation today .. .. that is because instead of putting everything away from my make yesterday I decided to simply use them up for my entry into Pixie's Crafty Snippet Challenge this week!!

Just a few little snippets from my red snippet drawer and the rest was already strewn across the work desk.  (Disgusting!!).

So here we go




As always Sunday means I can be lazy and not list anything I have used .. . but in all fairness most of it was listed out yesterday.

Everything got abandoned to head out to my lovely Sis's birthday celebration.  We had a lovely evening with lots of her friends and family.  I think Frankie and Bennys wondered what had hit them!!  LOL!!!

So that is me for today.  I will now have a good old clear up of the craft pod ahead of a manic week.  I work so much better when everything is neat and tidy around me .. .. the trouble is it never stays that way for long no matter how hard I try!!!

Have a lovely Sunday everyone.

Love

Saturday 22 September 2012

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WISHES

Hi Everyone

Well can you believe it?  

After a grotty few days we have glorious sunshine today . .. . so what do I do?   

I shut myself away in my craft pod with a huge "do list" and pull the blinds down to stop the glaring sunshine!!

Let's face it .. .. I don't deserve sunshine do I!!  LOL!!!

Part of my "do list" called for a quick card .. .. so I decided to cut the thinking time down and use the sketch over at Sketch Saturday.

Next I delved into the drawer that is home to my Penny Black stamps because there is "always" something in there I will love using.  At this point I remembered the Penny Black Saturday challenge for September.  Because this is now a monthly challenge my normal Saturday morning ritual of checking the challenge has gone a bit awry .. .. but this week I remembered to check and all I needed to do was "add ribbons and buttons" to my creation.  Hopefully "a" ribbon and "a" button in the singular will suffice LOL!!!

So this is my share:




This used:

Image:  Penny Black "2078H" Birthday Dog
Sentiment:  Pink Petticoat "Happy Birthday Sentiments"
Backing Papers:  Pink Petticoat (part of the new colour collection download.  These were on offer recently with 5 different patterned papers in all the collection colours for £5 . .. but I am not sure if you can get them now or not as the special offer may have ended.  Here is the link if you want to check but I used three of the five here.)
Josy Rose:  Nail Heads
ProMarkers, Chalk and Glitter
Ribbon and Button from the Stash Box

Sorry .. .. have just come back to add the sketch.  I love it and will definitely be using it again.


We are out for a meal in a little while as my lovely Sis will be having a HUGE birthday tomorrow and we are celebrating!!!

I have been busy making cards for people to give to her .. .. very difficult making lots of cards for the same person and trying to come up with something different when she sees just about everything I ever make LOL!!

I will share my make for her on Monday when her birthday has come and gone as tomorrow will be snippet day.

Catch you then.

Have a great evening.

Love

Friday 21 September 2012

ON YOUR ENGAGEMENT

Hi Everyone

A quick share of a card I was asked to make by my neighbour for her brother who is getting engaged soon.

Cute and cuddly images I know just wouldn't be suitable so I am hoping she will like this instead.

I had asked what their wedding colours would be and the ever popular Cadbury's purple was the response so decided to incorporate them in their engagement card.

So this is what I have put together:





This used:

Image for the embossed background:  Inkadinkado "903" Lace Background
Sentiment:  No reference on the stamp . .. just the words "Heritage Rubber Stamp Co. Scotland"
Josy Rose:  Nail Heads
My Trusty Sewing Machine
Silver Embossing Powder
Diamond Stickles
Ribbon, cord, flower and charm from The Stash Box

Hopefully my neighbour will like it.

Well I have been putting off going to the post box because of all the rain .. .. but it looks like I can't put it off any longer or I will miss the last collection.

Raincoat on, umbrella up and off I go.  Where summer go?  Did I blink and miss it?!?!?!?

Have a good weekend everyone.  I hope you find a little bit of crafty time all for yourself.

Love

Thursday 20 September 2012

AM I LATE OR EARLY?

Hi Everyone

Happy Thursday .. .. but who stole Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday?!?!?!?

This week has just flown by!!!

So I am not sure if I am late (because I didn't manage to post anything yesterday) or early for today?  But either way I am here now with a little share. This is quickly becoming one of my favourite Penny Black floral images.




This used:

Image:  Penny Black "4239K" Scented Message
Sentiment:  Personal Impressions "Everyday Words - Happy Birthday"
Backing Papers:  Papermania "Hampstead Collection"
Distress Inks:  Tattered Rose, Victorian Velvet, Old Paper, Bundled Sage, Peeled Paint
My Trusty Sewing Machine
X-Cut Corner Rounder Punch
Josy Rose:  Nail Heads
White Gel Pen
Button and Ribbons from the Stash Box

I had almost forgotten how much I enjoy painting with distress inks.  

Time now for a quick coffee before getting settled into a huge stack of wedding work.  

Hopefully then chance for a blog catch up tonight.

Have a great day!!

Love

Tuesday 18 September 2012

THE GLITTER IS OUT!!

Hi Everyone

Well the Glitter and Glamour Dust is out . .. that can only mean one thing .. .. I have made a start on Christmas!!!

I know lots of you will think it is far too early . . but I know I am just going to have to "squeeze them in" wherever I can so you will be seeing a few no doubt over the next few weeks!

So here we go:




This used:

Image:  Penny Black "4203K" Snowscape
Backing Papers:  Dovecraft Vintage "Back to Basics Christmas"
Sentiment:  Pink Petticoat
Martha Stewart Punch:  Snowflake
Josy Rose:  Nail Heads
Chalk
Glamour Dust
Diamond Stickles
Ribbon
White Gel Pen

Nearly wishing I hadn't added chalk to the sky now.

I might rub that off tomorrow when the stickles are dry.

Right .. .. must fly.  I am supposed to be in the bath .. .. not crafting and posting .. .. so better go before I am "found out"!!!

Too late .. .. I hear footsteps on the stairs .. .. eeeekkkk!!!!!

Enjoy the rest of the evening.

Love

Monday 17 September 2012

MONDAY SNIPPETS

Hi Everyone

Here at last!

The Festival weekend was great.  Lots of laughing, eating, talking and meeting lovely people.  We had a great time and as always our time together passed by far too quickly.

I should have made more handbag cards.  I sold out of those very early and the little cupcake cards went well too.  I think folks just like the look of something that was a different shape to the norm.

Christmas cards were also popular and I wish I had made a few more of certain types .. .. but you can just go on for ever can't you.  

My lovely Sis did well too.  Her handbags were very popular .. .. both at the Festival and on her website. Thanks to everyone who left her supportive messages and also to those who took the plunge and bought from her website.  She has been so excited!

Anyway today has been spent clearing up some of my mess and doing a bit of the dreaded housework.  It was quite a novelty LOL!!!

But that is it now for a few weeks.  Lots of wedding stuff to do now and a wedding fayre to prepare for in October.

In the meantime here is my snippet make for Pixie's Crafty Snippet Challenge:



As it isn't Sunday though I can't be lazy and need to list my ingredients:

Backing paper:  A leftover snippet of Pink Petticoat
Sentiment:  Funstamps F-C60 "Happy Birthday Circular"
Cheery Lynn:  Fanciful Flourish (that I have pruned a little)
Sizzix Die: 656079 "Flower Layers No. 5"
Nestabilities:  Circle Large
Embossing Board
My Trusty Sewing Machine
Ribbons and Button from the Stash Box

and that is me for today.

I did intend taking some pictures at the Festival to share with you but guess who took her camera but left the battery charging up at home .. .. doh!!!  That would be me!!

The annoying thing is the battery wasn't even flat .. .. I was just "topping the charge up"!!

Never mind.  

Catch you again soon.

Love

Friday 14 September 2012

LOVE IS A FLOWER

Hi Everyone

Sorry I didn't get to share anything with you yesterday .. .. it is a busy old House of Hearts at the moment.

But so I don't let you down again today here is a little project I have just finished ready for The Festival tomorrow.  Woo hoo!!  Another special weekend with my lovely Sis is nearly here (more about my Sis in a bit).

For now here is my share .. .. and if you can't find the heart I am going to be "VERY" worried LOL!!





This used:

Sentiment:  Pink Petticoat "Tiny Blooming Sentiments"
Flowers Cut from:  Pink Petticoat "Big Fella Collection"
X-Cut Flower Punch
Josy Rose:  Gems
Frame and Mount from Dunelm

I am quite pleased with how this has turned out so am contemplating making just one more .. .. then if I don't sell them there will be one for my lovely Sis and one for me.

So now round to my lovely Sis.

You might remember that I mentioned her new website earlier this week.  Well there were problems with her server the day it was all due to be finalised .. .. but at midnight last night I got a message to say it was now live, up and running.  Woo hoo Joey .. .. I love it!! xx

If you fancy a little look at the lovely fabby creations my Sis has been making then her website link is always at the top of my sidebar .. . but today it is here too in celebration of her hard work.  Just click on her fabby artwork below.


It would be lovely if you had time to have a little look and leave her some feedback here.  I think she is attaching a blog to the website later .. .. .. we will have to wait and see .. .. but for now I am just mega excited for her and very proud to call her my Sis.

She lives in an old Chapel that has been split into a number of separate little homes .. .. and Joey has the original chapel doors as her entrance (which you can just about see in some of her pictures) .. .. her front door key is humongous and very heavy!!!

I'll try to give you an up-date as to how the weekend is going with a few pictures.

Have a good one everyone.  I hope the sun shines for you and you manage to find a bit of crafty time!

Love

Wednesday 12 September 2012

SEWING ROOM

Hi Everyone

Are you all a bit chilly or is it just me?!?!?!?

Long sleeves and a big sloppy cardigan were needed today!!

The weather had better buck its ideas up for the weekend.  We would like lovely bright sunshine for the Festival (pretty please!).

Today has been a very productive day on the wedding front .. .. part of which involved cutting mountboard to fit into a frame for a table plan.

I was left with some leftover strips of the mountboard which I decided would be brilliant for die cutting as the dies would be nice and rigid .. .. so out came one of my favourite dies to test the theory on and I was right .. .. a brilliant die just perfect for dressing up:





This used:

Sentiment:  New from Pink Petticoat "Happy Birthday Sentiments" (have been waiting for these beauties and stalking the boutique waiting for their appearance LOL!!)
Backing Papers:  Pink Petticoat "New Colour Palette Up-date
Sizzix Die "657186" Sewing Room
Distress Ink:  Tea Dye
Ribbons, button and pearls from the Stash Box

Not much of an ingredient list .. .. but it has resulted in a card I am happy with.

We had a lovely evening yesterday celebrating our youngest Son's birthday .. .. thank you for all the birthday wishes for him.  I passed them on and he says "thank you".

I have been up in the roof this evening passing down stuff to my hubby that I need to take to the Festival.  Still plenty to do .. .. but me being me I would never be satisfied no matter how much I had to take.  There definitely won't be as many cards to take as previous years .. .. weddings have taken pole position .. .. which is only right!

Catch you again tomorrow.

Off to cut hubby's hair now!

Love

Tuesday 11 September 2012

HAPPY BIRTHDAY STEVE !

Hi Everyone

Today is a special day in the House of Hearts . .. .. it is our youngest Son's birthday.

Happy Birthday Steve!!

I know he sometimes checks out my blog to see what I have been up to so I didn't want to post his card before I knew he had opened it .. .. and he has now!!  

Steve is mad about guitars and music and has more guitars than most women have pairs of shoes!!

I have tried to make this guitar look like one we bought him years ago.  I wonder if he will recognise it. LOL!!

I love the image and thought of him as soon as I saw it .. .. but it is so busy that you can't put very much alongside it .. .. even on a larger card base it looked "too much" with anything else added.

So it stayed looking like this:




This used:

Image:  Just Inklined "Rocking"
Sentiment:  Computer Generated using font "snap"
Backing Paper:  Nitwits "On A High Note Too"
ProMarkers and Distress Ink
Metal photo corners that have been in my stash for so many years it is unbelievable!!

So that is it.  

I have just sang Happy Birthday to the birthday boy before he heads off to work and then we are out to celebrate tonight.  

Have a good day everyone.  I hope the sun shines for you.

I am still trying to get stock together for the Festival alongside wedding work .. .. so I am now making use of (or should I say a mess of) the living room, dining room, kitchen, 1 bedroom and the craft pod.

Love