SUNDAY SNIPPETS

Hi Everyone

I hope life has been being kind to you since my last appearance here in blogland.

All mega busy this end, hence my lack of posts.  My feet don't seem to be touching the ground at the moment .. .. and I swear blind that someone actually stole a whole week out of November!!!  Shame on them!!!

Christmas cards and wedding creations are top of the list at the moment and as I can't show you current wedding work I thought I would share a Christmas card that I put together this morning using a gorgeous pre-loved Penny Black stamp that I have took ownership of a couple of weeks ago called Snowy Park.  It has been sitting patiently waiting to be played with and today was the day .. .. .. yay!! Love it!!

So here we go:

I am taking this over to Pixie's Snippets Playground too as I managed to use up a few offcuts of card that hadn't even made their way into storage.  

On a Sunday (when I do manage to post) I am lazy and don't list my ingredients but if there is anything you want to know just give me a shout and I will do my best to help.

Enjoy your day everyone.  Super windy here and we have had so much rain that Mr Heart has had to empty the water butts .. .. AGAIN!!  Thank goodness it is only rain falling because if each raindrop had been a snowflake then I hate to think how much snow would be piled up!

Off to make more Christmas cards .. .. I only need another hundred or so .. .. eeeekkkk!!!!!!

Love

THANK YOU AND A NEW SKETCH

Hi Everyone

Just wanted to pop by to thank everyone for all the lovely comments and emails I received after my post at the weekend.

You are all very kind and your lovely words are very much appreciated.

Have to admit that the excitement of it all has been rather dampened following all the awful happenings in the world at the moment. Scary times to say the least!!  Who would want to be Prime Minster ?!?!?! (Mind you I wouldn't want to be Prime Minister at ANY time.  How would I pull my cardmaking in then?  Would I be allowed to take a bit of colouring into the meetings?  I doubt it very much LOL!!)

I did pop a new sketch into my library yesterday in the hope of being able to put it to use on a Teeny, Tiny card but sadly time wasn't kind enough to even let me make a card of those small proportions. In fact if I get to use it this side of the weekend I will be very surprised.

Can you believe the weddings for next year are kicking in already .. .. sample requests and proof copy invites coming out of my ears .. .. along with Christmas orders.  Eeeeekk!!!  

So now I have said how much I need to do I had better go and get on with it all!

Here is the new sketch that I added yesterday .. .. some of you might use it before I do!

I am really pleased people are enjoying using them. Wish I had started doing these years ago as it has certainly made for faster cardmaking for me.

Have a good day everyone .. .. catch you again soon (hopefully).

Love

KNOCK ME DOWN WITH A FEATHER

Hi Everyone

Well I am here with some amazing news to share today that has made me feel "all giggly" inside.

Some of you may remember that last year I was surprised to be nominated in the British Craft Awards under the category of "Most Inspirational Blog" .. .. .. well knock me down with a feather it has happened again this year!  

It was totally unexpected, and once again I am nominated alongside names who I consider to be the Premier League of crafting  .. .. ..  whereas I am a Sunday League player.  Just look at the amazing folk nominated.. .. .. .. 

Barbara Gray  -  One Day at a Time

Anne-Marie Catterall  -  Crafting with Hunky Dory

Sue Wilson  -  PartiCraft

American Crafts Studio

Spectrum Noir

then .. .. .. lil' old me with my Always with a Heart blog

but looking through all the categories and nominees I then had the surprise of my life to see I had been nominated a second time under the category of "Favourite Card Designer".  To be nominated once was already amazing but to be in two categories is awesome.  Mr Heart confirmed that I was his Favourite Card Designer so that was good news!

My lovely fellow nominees in this category are:

Jane Millard

Simonne Clay

Fleur Pearson

Jenny Hodges

Charlotte Stowell

and again .. .. lil' old me

Now at this point you might be thinking .. .. .. but my favourite isn't listed in either of those sections. .. .. well that's OK .. .. .. there is a final line in each category called "Other" and that is where you will get the chance to type in your own choice.

Like me you have perhaps wondered how people actually get on these lists in the first place.  Well apparently people have been asked on social media about their favourite designers, craft stores and products and the answers were used to compile a shortlist for all the different categories .. .. .. .. so "thank you" to anyone who mentioned my name and got me onto the short list. You are very kind.

I know that everyone says "I don't expect to win" .. .. but that is truly, truly true .. .. because probably like every other crafting person out there I never feel my work measures up and I am always striving to be better and learn more.  But I am loving this journey so very much and I feel the day you think you know it all would be a very sad day.  I never ever want to know it all .. .. I always want to keep playing, learning and experimenting.

Anyway, voting is now open until the 17th December and if you would like to take part then just head over to here and cast your votes and you will be automatically entered into a draw to win over £200 worth of crafting goodies (might mean re-arranging your crafty stash a bit if you are the lucky winner - but that's OK isn't it?  LOL!!).

So there we go .. .. my exciting news is out .. .. but now back to earth.  Time to make friends with Mr Dyson and Mr Sheen ahead of meeting up with a new "happy couple" later today.

Catch you soon and have a good weekend.

Love

PHOTO OVERLOAD

Hi Everyone

I hope you are all well and finding a bit of crafty time for yourself.

We have a glimmer of sunshine today .. .. what a treat after the rubbish weather we have had recently.

Sorry I didn't make it as far as my blog yesterday . .. . it was a super busy day and it is looking like today is going to be the same, with orders to complete and wedding samples to make for couples interesting in booking for next year!  Woo hoo!!  Names already going into the 2016 Wedding Diary!!

So as I just know today is going to disappear in the blink on an eye I thought I would post my favourite makes from the new Quick Cards Made Easy Magazine that went on sale yesterday.

I worked on two commissions, the first being sequin shaker cards.  I loved this commission and here are two of my favourites:

and the following two pictures were my favourites for a Metallics Commission

Separate to Quick Cards Magazine I also did some work for a special Christmas Magazine that is out now .. Make Christmas Cards.  

a bumper pack of goodies included with this magazine and here are my three favourite submissions:

A bit of photograph overload I'm afraid .. .. .. but at least it gives you lots of hearts to look for .. .. some of which are not quite as easy to spot as others!!  LOL!!!

.. .. .. and for you Facebook fans .. .. Quick Cards are giving folk the chance to win prizes in their 12 days of Christmas giveaways. Head over here if you fancy testing your luck out - they are already on day 6!!  Always lots happening on their page so you might have to scroll down a bit.

Enjoy your day.  I hope it is sunny for you too.

Catch you tomorrow.

Love

TEENY, TINY TUESDAY

Hi Everyone

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

Here with my teeny, tiny 3.5" creation which uses a fabby sentiment stamp I found on Ebay the other weekend .. .. I am sure when you look at it you will know why I am so happy at having won it.  I can't say as I have ever seen it before .. .. but it is perfect for my little cards.

I love looking on Ebay to see what Penny Black stamps are being parted with because quite often they are ones that are no longer available anywhere else.  

So here we go .. .. my teeny, tiny card and fabby new stamp:

This used:

Sentiment  Penny Black "3669F" Birthday Wish
Backing Papers:  Snippets of Pink Petticoat Papers
Die Set:  Die-namics Blueprints 12
My Trusty Sewing Machine
Glamour Dust
Josy Rose:  Nail Heads
Button and Metallic cord from My Crafty Stash Box
We R Memory Keepers Envelope Board for the envelope made with Pink Petticoat papers that had been printed onto both sides of  thick paper.

Ooooo . .. I love that stamp and my Sis will think it is brilliant too when she sees it.

.. .. and because I have used up a few of my mountain of snippets I am going to take a rather rare trip over to Pixie's Snippets Playground challenge .. .. thankfully I can remember the way!! 

Catch you again soon.

Love

TWINKLE & SPARKLE

Hi Everyone

Happy Monday .. .. I hope you had a good weekend and the day has been kind to you.

Here with another much needed Christmas card for the collection.

This used:

Image:  Penny Black "1506J" Just Wishing You
Sentiment:  Lili of the Valley "Christmas Tags"
Backing Papers:  Kaisercraft "North Pole"
ProMarkers
Glamour Dust
Diamond Stickles
My Trusty Sewing Machine
Ribbon and Cord from my crafty stash box
and:   Sketch Five from my little Sketch Library Tab

and that is it!!

Talking of Twinkle and Sparkle, I had a lovely smile to myself today.  The burglar alarm chaps came to give our system its annual service  .. .. we exchanged pleasantries and I disappeared on drink making duties whilst they got to work.  The next time they appeared one of them had all glittery specks all over his face .. .. I'm sure they weren't there when I was speaking to him before!!  I wonder if his workmate told him later.

I didn't bother telling him because from experience I find that they are just impossible to remove.  I can even have a shower and still come out with glittery sparkles all over me!

I told you there was glitter everywhere in the House of Hearts!! Even in the dust.  LOL!!

So that is me for today.  Teeny, tiny Tuesday tomorrow when I can't wait to show you my fabby ebay purchase from last weekend which I feel certain was created just for me!!

See you tomorrow.

Love

THE LIGHT BRIGADE

Hi Everyone

I hope your weekend has got off to a good start.

We won't mention last night's football result :-(

Today I have spent a bit of time with my lovely "snowflake bride" and then I continued with my Christmas makes and put one of my Ebay Penny Black wins from last weekend to work .. ..

This used:

Image:  Penny Black"3916K" The Light Brigade
Sentiment:  Pink Petticoat  - sadly closing its doors soon :-(
Backing Papers:  DCWV "The Christmas Multi Stack"
Snowflake Die:  A freebie from Quick Cards Magazine last Christmas (given three layers of clear embossing powder and the edges sprinkled with Glamour Dust whilst still warm
ProMarkers
My Trust Sewing Machine
Glossy Accents
Large Pearl from my crafty stash box

and that is it!  The first outing for my new stamp.

Has anyone managed a trip to the NEC?  I was hoping to go this time as I haven't been for at least two years now, but sadly yet again there just wasn't enough time in my little world to escape :-(

Perhaps next time?!?!?!?  We shall see.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend everyone.

Love

SKETCH NUMBER TWENTY MAKES AN APPEARANCE

Hi Everyone

Happy Friday .. .. ahead of what I hope will be a happy weekend for you.

I have reached sketch number twenty in my little sketch collection (there is a tab at the top of my blog if you want to see the others .. .. feel free to use any you like the look of).

This new sketch has been ready for a while .. .. I just haven't had chance to make anything using it .. .. but today was the day and here is my creation:

This used:

Image:  Penny Black "4339K" Flourish Holly
Sentiment:  Penny Black "Sentimental" Clear Sentiment Set
Backing Papers:  First Edition Papers "Silent Night"
Spellbinders:  Nestabilities Squares
Josy Rose:  Nail Heads
Gold Embossing Powder
Magenta Stickles
My Trusty Sewing Machine
Cord from my crafty stash box

and here it is:

Sketch Number Twenty

Time to head of quickly now and have a quick clear up in the craft pod before the football starts.

Local derby match tonight where you are pleased to not be at the actual game but able to watch safely from your settee .. ..  .. .. Derby County -v- Nottingham Forest!!  COME ON DERBY!!
Catch you again soon.

Have a good evening.

Love

THAT POSTCARD STAMP IS OUT AGAIN !

Hi Everyone

Happy Thursday!

I hope it has been a good day for you .. .. still very dull, miserable and wet here and not a very good evening for those wanting to let their fireworks off  .. .. .. not that it is stopping people somewhere near .. .. lots of bright colours in the sky and bangs galore!!!

But never mind, even if it is miserable weather outside it is still happy and sparkly in the old craft pod.  Glitter EVERYWHERE!!! LOL!!

So another Christmas share tonight which uses that fabulous postcard stamp.  I love this stamp, very, very much and used it to make this:

This used:

Image:  Stampendous "Snowy Postcard"

Sentiment:  Lili of the Valley "Christmas Tags"

Backing Papers:  First Edition Papers "Vintage Noel"

Lots and Lots of Glamour Dust

ProMarkers

Ribbon, Pearls and Cord from My Crafty Stash Box

and there we go .. .. another one finished.

There is a new sketch for tomorrow .. .. just need to make something using it now!!

Catch you soon.

Love

FROM OUR HOUSE TO YOURS

Hi Everyone

I hope you are all well.

Haven't these last few days been dull and miserable weather wise?

I have been spending my time getting all my admin work up to date .. .. .. and am pleased to say I am "nearly" there.  Always something needing to be done in the old House of Hearts!!

But as always November makes an appearance and then panic sets in about all the Christmas cards I haven't yet made!! Eeeekkk!!!

So I decided to give myself a day off the admin work and start on a few festive makes.  This was my favourite of the day:

This used:

Backing Papers:  First Edition Papers "The Promise"
Sentiment:  Pink Petticoat (soon to close it's doors .. .. boo hoo!!)
Stampin' Up! Stamp Set "Gorgeous Grunge" for the snowy window background
Stampin' Up! Thinlits die set "Hearth and Home"
Tattered Lace Die:  Christmas Florals Pine
Memory Box Die:  Modern Landscape
Martha Stewart Punch:  Traditional Scallop
Distress Inks:  Faded Jeans and Broken China
Hero Arts White Pigment Ink Pad:  Unicorn
Glamour Dust
Diamond Stickles
Josy Rose:  Nail Head
Gems and Cord from My Crafty Stash Box

.. ..  gosh what a list!!!

I was lucky enough to win a few ebay bids at the weekend.  I have a feeling people are clearing out their crafty stash ahead of Christmas .. .. so a few new Penny Black images to be tickling with ProMarkers soon!

I am really, really pleased with one of them .. .. .. which will make an appearance on Tuesday next week as part of a teeny, tiny creation.  It must have been made especially for me!!  LOL!!

So off I go now and I am hoping to share another festive make tomorrow.

Love