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.

Tuesday 28 October 2014

TEENY, TINY TUESDAY !

Hi Everyone

Happy Tuesday!

I hope today has been a good day for you .. .. and if not that tomorrow is much, much better for you!

As usual mine has flown by far too quickly!  Where does the time go?  Days at school used to last a lifetime .. .. but not now!!

Anyway, time for one of my tiny 3.5 x 3.5 inch makes.  I think I get on far better the smaller the card is you know.  I just find them soooo cute and easy to work with!

So here we go:




This used:

Lots of scraps of card, paper, ribbons and a bit of Mr Heart's old jeans (nicely washed and ironed before use)  .. .. .. .. yes it is true .. .. .. there is hardly anything I throw away LOL!!
Sizzix Die:  654995 Stars #2
Part of a Pink Petticoat Sentiment
My Trusty Sewing Machine
Studs that are yonks old from My Crafty Stash Box
We R Memory Keepers Envelope Board

and there we are.

I'll catch you again soon.  Enjoy the rest of the evening.

Love

Sunday 26 October 2014

SUNDAY SNIPPETS AND RUDOLPH DAY

Hi Everyone

Happy Sunday!

I would like to start by thanking everyone who left such lovely comments on my last post.  You are all so very kind and I was really touched by the lovely things that were said.  What lovely blog buddies I have.  Thank you!  Mwah!!!

I hope everyone has had a lovely weekend .. .. and enjoyed your extra hour!  

It certainly seems like an extra long day.  Very nice indeed!  What a difference an hour makes.

I made sure some of the extra time was used making a couple of cards for taking over to Pixie's Snippets Playground and also Sandra's Rudolph Day Challenge.  I haven't had chance to scurry over to the playground the last couple of weekends .. .. but I am sure I know the way .. .. even in the dark!!

So here are my makes.  Rudolph Day calls for two or more Christmas cards and making two very similar cuts the thinking time in half LOL!!



As most of you will know I am lazy on a Sunday and do not share my ingredients but if there is anything you want to know then you only have to ask.

Time now for the dreaded ironing board :-(

Catch you again soon.  Enjoy what is left of Sunday!

Edited to say:  

Hi Dawn C .. .. I am really sorry but I can no longer get to your blog :-(  I have been trying for a few weeks now.  You used to have a link on the first page of your Google+ but I can't see it any more so can't see any of your lovely makes.  Do I find you some other way now?  I don't do Google+  Love Jules xx

Love

Friday 24 October 2014

KNOCK ME DOWN WITH A FEATHER !!

Hi Everyone

Happy Friday!

A blog post that I never in my wildest dreams thought I would write .. .. something so amazing has happened .. .. and I just can't believe it.

Me and my teeny, tiny blog have made an appearance in the British Craft Awards 2015 
under the category of "Most Inspirational Craft Blog".




How scary and unbelievable is that?!?!?

Who would have thought that little old me and my teeny tiny blog would be a contender!!  I would certainly never have put money on it that's for sure!

But no matter how many times I pinch myself I really am there .. .. alongside these other awesome nominees:


barbaragray.blogspot.co.uk (Barbara Gray)

craftingwithhunkydory.tumblr.com (Anne-Marie Catterall)

creative-studios.co.uk

ideastoinspire.blogspot.co.uk (Lili of the Valley)

inkyfingerzone.blogspot.co.uk (Julia Watts)

particraft.blogspot.co.uk (Sue Wilson)

pinkpiggywiggy.blogspot.co.uk (Dawn Phillips)

sizzixukblog.blogspot.co.uk


I feel like a Sunday league footballer who has been asked to be a substitute in the Premiership and cannot believe my blog has even been mentioned in the same breath as those above.  I know I stand no chance of winning but how lovely to be nominated.

Perhaps more people like looking for hearts than I thought LOL!!

So this blog post serves as a good time to thank my lovely family for putting up with me and my crafty mess and for all the help and encouragement they always give to me.  I couldn't do any of what I do each day without their support, especially Mr Heart.

It is also a thank you to all you lovely blog pals who still continue to visit my blog even though I disappear on wedding missions every so often .. .. and whose comments I often take an age to return :-(  Sorry!

It is also a huge thank you to whoever thought my blog was worthy of being added to the list of nominees.

If you fancy being part of the voting and the chance of winning £200 of crafty goodies then you just need to visit The British Craft Awards website and cast your votes.  There is one section headed: Stamp Range You Couldn't Resist.  I bet you can guess where my vote would go in that section! LOL!!

Enjoy your weekend everyone when it arrives .. .. don't forget the clocks go back an hour!!  I wonder what we will all do with our extra hour?  I would like to think I would have an extra hour of sleep but I know I won't.  I am rubbish at sleeping in.

Take care everyone.

Love

Thursday 23 October 2014

A LITTLE BIT OF THAT NEW STASH!

Hi Everyone

Happy Thursday!

Today I actually set myself a "realistic" do list .. .. so have managed to make a little share with one of my new crafty purchases:




This used:

Backing Papers:  First Edition Paper "Gilded Winter" and Glitter Sheets
Sentiment:  Lili of the Valley "Christmas Sentiment Tags"
Memory Box Die "Snowflake Heart" [Doh! I've given it away now LOL!!]
Dovecraft Holly Punch (ages old .. not sure it is still available
Josy Rose:  Nail Heads
My Trusty Sewing Machine
Acrylic Paint Dabber and Clear Embossing Powder for the holly leaves
Ribbon, cord, fine glitter and little jingle bells from my crafty stash box

I am sure you can guess that my piece of new crafty stash is that beautiful Memory Box die .. .. and of course now I am left with lots and lots of tiny snowflakes for sticking onto other creations.  LOL!!

The shiny background to my die isn't part of the glitter sheets .. .. I put strips of strong adhesive tape on the back of the cut die and sprinkled fine glitter into it.  A good old press down and it has stayed in place no problem.

I think I shall be making a few of these!!

I'll catch you again soon.

Love

Tuesday 21 October 2014

WELL WHAT CAN I SAY?

Hi Everyone

Well what can I say other than .. .. time certainly flies when you are having fun!  I can't believe it is two weeks since I posted.  It feels like two minutes!!

I got a great comment on my blog today from my very lovely blog buddy Eve.  Her comment really made me smile and I have thought about it a few times whilst crafting away today.  

It read:

Come out come out wherever you are - I have counted to 100 and I still can't find you!! LOL!!
I bet you are hiding in your craft pod under a mountain of ribbons and snippets!!


The only good thing about your hiding is that my bank balance has stayed the same as I haven't seen your amazing cards so have not been tempted to buy anything!



I hope all is well with you and you are happy - though I can't imagine a sad Jules!!
xx

Bless her!!

In answer to all the questions that were addressed in that comment and all the "House of Hearts" news  .. .. well here goes:

Yes, I am under a mountain of ribbons and snippets .. .. and making more by the day!!

As you may remember we have a wedding fayre in a couple of weeks that I am meant to be preparing for but instead of creating new makes for that I am busy seeing, and making up samples for new brides who are getting in touch ahead of the fayre!

Lots of general orders done and dusted and lots more arriving too!!  Eeekk!!!

Fabby new commissions from Quick Cards Made Easy Magazine where I am getting to work on new techniques.  Really enjoying these as it makes me focus on new things and widen my horizons. I have been let loose on embossing pastes recently and really enjoyed using those .. .. a new passion there!!

Here was one of my favourite makes which is in this month's issue


So much to share.

The London Kids have got their mortgage approved and are now having their own Homebuyers Survey done before committing themselves.  Very sensible!  It never even crossed our minds to have that done when we bought our first home at the tender ages of 18 and 20.  If all goes to plan they could be moving next month I would have thought.  I have my image earmarked for their new home card!! (no Eve it isn't made yet).  LOL!!!

Our youngest Son .. .. the musician .. .. has just created his own website that went live yesterday.  If you fancy a peep you will find it here.  Of course I am super biased and love everything he does but if you get chance to watch the clips associated with Alexia Sinclair (A Frozen Tale) and Fairyland Photography I feel sure you will enjoy the brilliant little films.  I love them as much as Steve's music and have watched both so many times.  He was actually sent one of Alexia's pictures as a gift and it graces the wall in his home.  It is stunning with such gorgeous colours.

Now last, but certainly not least .. .. Mr Heart.  He has finally finished the patio!!! Yay!!!  He has been coming home from work every day for weeks and going out until it is dark lifting and leveling one night and then pointing up the next.  He must feel like a lost soul now because he hasn't had to do any this week at all!!  He is a bit of a perfectionist though and is really annoyed that some small puddles appear when it has rained.  I think he sees each puddle as a failure.  Silly man!  I just think he has done a brilliant job.  Definitely 100 team points I think!  I wanted to stamp a heart into some of the wet cement but when I suggested it I didn't get a very positive response so I left that .. .. .. this time.  Perhaps when he does the next area further down the garden, next summer, I will sneak a cheeky one in somewhere and then get him to find it months later LOL!!!

So back to Eve's comments.  She was pleased that I wasn't posting in a way as I was saving her some pennies.  Well beware!!  Every time I have an invoice paid I treat myself to a crafty investment for future projects .. .. sometimes it is something daft like a new paintbrush, but other times it is a new stamp, download or die set!!!  So because I have been so busy there have been a few crafty treats which are waiting to be used and shared!!  Hopefully soon.

But there we have it.  An explanation as to why I haven't been around .. .. I just haven't had time for any makes to share .. .. not even a teeny tiny Tuesday make :-(

I hope everyone is keeping well and finding some crafty time.  Sorry for the absence and the long post .. .. nothing for two weeks and then War and Peace LOL!!

I am not keen on these dark nights!!  Electric lights just aren't the same as bright daylight are they?

Catch you soon

Love

Tuesday 7 October 2014

TEENY, TINY TUESDAY

Hi Everyone

Happy Tuesday!!

Another day gone in the blink of an eye!

All the inserts got put into my Christmas cards and I have made another one of those silly vows to always put an insert straight into a card as I finish it .. .. I wonder how long that will last?!?!!?  We shall see! LOL!!

Here is my teeny, tiny 3,5, x 3.5 inch share for this week:




This used:

Image:  Joy Craft Clear Stamps:  Silhouette Grass
Sentiment:  Pink Petticoat
X-Cut Punch:  Tiny Butterfly
Distress Inks:  Tumbled Glass and Bundled Sage
Clear Embossing Powder
Button and twine from My Crafty Stash Box
We R Memory Keepers Envelope Board

and that is me for today.

Enjoy what is left of today.

Love

Monday 6 October 2014

HELLO PRESENT

Hi Everyone

Happy Monday!!

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend.

Ours was brilliant because we were able to have all our family together as the London Kids came home again for the weekend so that our eldest Son could take part in a local 10K run to raise more funds for the Motor Neurone Disease Charity.

They were also super excited about their house purchase and were sharing all of their plans.  The building society are doing the valuation tomorrow so we are hoping everything goes to plan.  If so we are guessing things will move quite quickly as there are only the London Kids and the current occupier in the chain. 

They went home late morning :-(  so it is now time for me to hit the ground running again.  Not much time to catch my breath at all during October so I might be a bit of a hit and miss blogger for a while (I know .. .. nothing new there!!).  

There is a little share today:
  


This used: 

Image:  Penny Black "2178J" Hello Present
Sentiment:  Pink Petticoat  "Tiny Everyday Sentiments"
Backing Paper:  Pink Petticoat "Watercolour Stripes"
Cuttlebug Embossing Folder "Swiss Dots" - inked with Pear Tart Memento Ink before embossing    
My Trusty Sewing Machine
ProMarkers
Ribbon from My Crafty Stash Box    

and that is me for today.

Just preparing for tomorrow now when my lovely Sis is calling by to collect wedding stationery samples for changing the cabinet in the salon .. .. and she is also ready for the first stand full of Christmas  cards.  Eeekk!! I have been making Christmas cards all year and still feel no-where near where I should be!!  Guess who is putting inserts into Christmas cards tonight?!?! LOL!!!

There is a teeny, tiny card lined up for tomorrow so I will catch you again then but in the meantime have a lovely evening.  

Love

Wednesday 1 October 2014

COVERED IN SPARKLE REALLY

Hi Everyone

Happy Wednesday .. .. and happy October to everyone!

No white rabbits on my card, but lots of white space which is quite rare for me and quite hard to accept  LOL!!

There is also lots and lots of sparkle on the card (and me) but it didn't show up in the photographs too well.




This used:

Image:  Stampendous! "CRR143" Snowy Postcard
Sentiment:  Lili of the Valley "Christmas Sentiment Tags"
Sizzix Movers and Shapers Die: "657493" Mini Reindeer and 25 Set
Glamour Dust 
My Trusty Sewing Machine
Josy Rose:  Nail Heads (coloured with ProMarkers)
Ranger Embossing Tinsel:  Bridal
Ribbon from my Crafty Stash Box

and that is me for today.

Still on mega catch up at this end after our few days away and not feeling like I am getting anywhere in a hurry.  I worked really hard before we went and seem to be having to work just as hard now we are back.  Plenty to keep me out of mischief. 

We have another wedding fayre in 4 weeks with lots of preparation to do in readiness, and as seems to be the trend, brides get in touch in the run up to a fayre so they can "nab a place" early.  We only do two fayres a year, always at the same lovely hotel, and they keep me nice and busy .. .. along with the recommendations that previous "happy couples" send my way.

I bet this is the only line of work where you don't want any "repeat business" because it would mean the "happy couple" didn't stay happy :-(

Anyway, must fly.  Catch you again soon.

Love