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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.

Wednesday, 11 September 2013

SKETCH SATURDAY

Hi Everyone

Happy Wednesday!

Is it just me or is everyone feeling a tad chilly?  My winter cardigans have been dragged out already .. .. and been worn!!!  Shock horror!!!

I am so not ready for summer to end yet.

A quick play with the sketch from over at Sketch Saturday kicked my day off today:




This used:

Image:  Penny Black "3377K" Whispers  (I bet you all thought I had lost this much loved stamp as it hasn't appeared on my blog for a while LOL!!!)
Sentiment:  Pink Petticoat "Tiny Celebration Sentiments"
Backing Paper:  Pink Petticoat "Snow Daisies" part of a Christmas Selection
Cuttlebug Embossing Folder:  "Stylized Flowers"
Memento Ink Pad:  Rich Cocoa for rubbing inside the embossing folder before Cuttlebugging
Josy Rose:  Nail Heads and Acrylic Domes
Diamond Stickles

I was asked after my Sunday Snippet make how I manage to get my stickles so straight around the edge of my image and sentiment edges .. .. and do I use a ruler.

The answer is no.  No ruler.

In an effort to help here are my little tips:

1.  I store my Stickles upside down so there aren't any air bubbles in the nozzle

2.  I test on a piece of scrap before I get anywhere near my project

3.  I run the nozzle of the Stickles bottle along the edge of my work - squeezing gently in one continuous run.  If any is thicker than I want I either push it back in line or remove it with a scalpel


4.  This might be a case of sharing too much (sorry if it is but it is all in the name of artistic creativity and sharing) but the bottle contents work much better if the bottle is warm.  So as I start my card I pop the bottle into my rather ample cleavage to warm the contents up.  By the time I need to use them the Stickles are warmed up perfectly LOL!!!  The embarrassing thing is when you forget you put the bottle there and open the front door to the delivery folk with an extra bulge in your top!!!

and that is it.  Hopefully everyone will get on better with their Stickles now. 

If you fancy playing along with the Sketch Saturday Challenge then this is the sketch for this week


That is me for today.

It is my baby boy's 30th birthday today .. .. and as he is playing at a gig tonight we are having a birthday snack in his lunch hour .. so I had better make myself look respectable for him .. .. and make sure the Stickles bottle is no longer nestled down my top!!!

Have a good day everyone.

Love

49 comments:

Juls said...

Fab!! Love the paper pieced flowers & the soft sepia colour tones xxx

Crafting Queen said...

Lovely card, great details. Happy Birthday to your son! Keep warm. :)

Irene said...

Absolutely stunning. Thank you for sharing your stickles tip.
luv
irene
xxxx

Di said...

Another amazingly lovely card Jules - it's beautiful!

Thanks for the Stickles tips - especially the warming process :)

Hugs, Di xx

Sarn said...

Oh Jules . . . you are so funny! The picture I have in my head is making me chuckle (about answering doors with stickles in the wrong place!). Hmm . . . I don't have suitable equipment to warm up my stickles, but thanks for the tip anyway!

BEAUTIFUL Card by the way!

Hugs
Sarn xxx

Marie-Louise said...

Gorgeous card as always. Loved the tip about the stickles.

Sazzle Dazzle said...

Hahaha... almost fell over reading about your stickles tricks Jules! I had noticed they are always perfectly straight and I've loads of stickles but never find them neat and easy to use... Perhaps have to try that cleavage trick. By the way your card is beautiful and I was quite intrigued when you said you'd used memento ink with an embossing folder... Hmmmm... ingenious, gonna have to give that go too! Xx

Sue said...

LOL!! I love the way you warm up your Stickles - thanks for making me laugh Jules, I really did need that today! Interesting that you store them upside down though, I must try that.
Your card is stunning. I LOVE that image, gorgeous papers and the inked embossing looks fabulous.
Happy Birthday to your son, I hope he has a wonderful day.
hugs Sue xx

Stamps and Paper said...

Lovely card Jules, great layout and lovely colours...the embossed park of your background...Yes I too have pulled out the wollies...its certainly feeling a little bit like Autumn

Anne

cuilliesocks said...

Oh Jules I'm having a right good chuckle at the thought of you having the stickles bottle down your cleavage. However it's a good tip and will give it a go.

your card is lovely, not only the gorgeous flower image but the papers and colours, love it.

Hope your boy has a great birthday, hugs Kate x

Viv said...

But at least you sparkled on the boy's birthday!!!! LOL.. Great card Jules. x

Doreen said...

This is gorgeous Jules,love the fab image.xxx

Sue B said...

Oh this is gorgeous Jules!! it's a beautiful stamp and I love the pretty papers. The stickles look fab and are perfect - I usually put mine on piece of card, stir and then apply with cocktail stick - but as you can imagine it takes ages!!! so might have another go at doing it your way…. Ooh you made me chuckle so much about sticking it in your cleavage… will definitely have to try that!!! if my daughter sees me, she will think I've gone barking… although she thinks that already with some of the things that I do in the name of crafting!! LOL
It's chilly here too - I have my vest and woolly jumper on and the heating too!!
Hope your son had a lovely birthday and you enjoyed your lunch together!
Love Sue xx

Carole said...

Oh Jules you are so funny love the bottle warmer idea. I was only thinking the same the other day how does she do it, we'll now we all know. The card is very beautiful love the colours matching. Hope you enjoyed your lunch. I have just had a spray tan so my colouring is matching your lovely card lol xx

Betty said...

Beuatiful card Jules love the warming tip
Bettyxxx

sally said...

A lovely card but the best bit for me was the sharing of the Stickles tip, adequate support is available so I shall have to give it a try :-D. LOL

Sally

susiestacey said...

A Tad Chilly... it's blooming freezing, l am wrapped up like an eskimo complete with red nose. Love the stickles tip - you do make me laugh :) l will have to give that one a try - if l can get in with all these layers lol.
Gorgeous card by the way Jules, love this stamp as it is so quick and easy to use. Hope you are well x Susan x

Wendy said...

Absolutely beautiful Jules, love everything about.
Wendy xx

Kathleen said...

Just adore this, everything goes so fabulously and the stamp, well you know how I feel about the stamp.

Kath x

Eve said...

Oh Jules you have made me laugh so much!! Thank you for sharing your stickle warming secrets!! I have always wondered how you do it - now I know!
I will have to give it a try but I'm with Sandra - not enough equipment!
Your card is beautiful - love the colours and perfect paper piecing.
Happy birthday to your son - hope you have a wonderful day. xx

Cynthia said...

Oh, Jules, thanks for the best laugh of the day!!! Stickles...who knew?? Hahahaha!!

Lovely card too--and thanks for showing how you apply the Stickles. I will have to try that! The result is so beautiful!

And happy birthday to your son! =D

Beryl said...

So where do you stick the Stickles if you haven't got a decent cleavage? Don't think I even want to think about that in public.
It's a gorgeous card Jules. Love the colour tones and the interesting looking texture on the Cuttlebugged piece.
Hope you had a lovely evening.
Beryl xx

Gibmiss said...

Hi jules ... Fabulous card.... Love that tip on the stickles....
Lol....
Hugs sylvie xxx

Annmaree of Oz said...

awesome card and beautiful paper piecing!

Awesome tip with the stickles! LOL! I must try that, I know I myself sit there rolling in between my hands, and shaking it, but putting it between the cleavage seems much simpler and less tedious! Just have to remember its there, lol!

debby4000 said...

Absolutely beautiful card, great tip about the stickles.
luv
Debby

Pop's Cards said...

Good morning sweetie this is just gorgeous, have a great day hugs Pops x x x

coops said...

so gorgeous jules.stunning stamp and i love your soft neutral colours :D

xx coops xx

Debra Miller said...

Just stunning Jules, love your take on the sketch and the added sparkle. Thanks so much for joining us this week at Sketch Saturday! ~Deb

Anonymous said...

Such a beautiful card Jules!
Helen x

mags said...

Beautiful card Jules. Thanks for sharing your stickles trick, think I might have to try the warming one lol. Certainly made me smile reading it.
Mags
x

Carole Z said...

Fabulous Jules! Carole Z xx

Patricia said...

Good morning Jules, absolutely beauftiful card. I love the colours, the wonderful image and layout.
Now! That is a novel way to heat up the Stickles, really made me laugh. I must try that ...... The heating up but maybe not the way you do!!! Yes! Sure as eggs is eggs I would have to answer the door to the Postman or delivery driver!!!!
Off to look at your card again did not find the heart first time round.
Have a fantastic day
Hugs

Patricia xxx

Mrs A. said...

Love the sepia tones on this card. Thanks for sharing your titbits with us! Very informative. I have blown the page up, shrunk it down, worn me sunglasses on and off and I still can't see it? Put me out of me misery do! hugs Mrs A.

Unknown said...

This is so beautiful Jules, so elegant and classy. Love the style and soft colors and love the paper pieced flowers :) Wishing you a lovely weekend xxx

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cotnob said...

This is gorgeous Jules, I love your paper pieced image and embossed panel.
You did make me chuckle with your stickles warming story!
Pauline
x

Carol said...

This made me laugh Jules! I can see I've missed a few of your gorgeous creations whilst I've been off gallivanting. Love this one, the layout is fab.
Heating has gone on here!
Carol x

Nannieflash said...

Hi Jules oh wow what a beautiful card, I love your papers and that image is just gorgeous. hugs Shirleyxxx

Marjorie said...

Fabulous post Jules, just what I needed:).. stunning card as always.. and love the stickles tip!!..
Hugs,
Marjorie xx

MagsB said...

Beautiful! I love that stamp, it's brilliant for paper piecing!

I hope all is well with you and the Heart family!

love Mags B x

Anneke said...

dear Jules.
i am back again from holiday and a very busy time.
i saw your cards and i love them all.
so i hope you are alright and i am sending you a hug
Ann

May said...

LOL...Must try that one with the stickles....I hope your son had a wonderful Birthday...Love your card as always... Hugs May x x x

Unknown said...

where are you???? missing your updates

Unknown said...

Where are you??? missing you, its be aggggeeeessssssssss

XxJULESxX said...

Oh Jules beautiful card! thanks for making me smile too!

scrappymo! said...

Great card...Thanks for the stickles tutorial...especially the storage deets!!! lol

Anke said...

Wonderful card Jules, so lovely.

Hugs
Anke

Wendy Nicola Jackson said...

Gorgeous card Jules. Hilarious tip for the stickles! I'll have to put my ample cleavage to work on that too! LOL. Thanks for sharing that funny, but fabulous tip x

Jean said...

I love your card, with the lovely sepia tones and pretty paper pieced flowers.
Jean x