HAPPY 2018

Hi Everyone

I hope you have all had a wonderful Christmas.

Did Santa bring you any crafty goodies?

He very kindly left a pack of duster brushes under my tree and I am looking forward to having a play with those at the earliest opportunity.

No crafty makes to post from me but I have been playing with my sketches in the background today whilst folks have been watching a film (sitting through a film isn't something I am very good at .. .. mainly because I end up nodding off and waking myself up snoring and embarrassing myself LOL!!) so instead of that I have added another four sketches to my little sketch library which you will find here or on the tab at the top of my blog.  Please feel free to use any of them if they tickle your fancy!

New year celebrations for us this evening and then tomorrow we have to part company again for a short while .. .. and no doubt attempt to shake off some of those extra pounds we will have gained!

Certainly posts to my blog haven't been so prolific this year.  Weddings seem to have taken over my life quite a bit.  But I still love playing with my crafty stash when I get chance and these have been some of my favourite makes of this year.

I wonder what 2018 is going to bring?  

Does anyone else look at those empty pages in a sparkly new diary and wonder what each day could potentially hold?  Hopefully they will all be good days for us all!

There are certainly lots of new year resolutions on my list .. .. but I am not going to share all of those .. .. you wouldn't believe that one person can be so imperfect that they need to make so many anyway!!

Wishing everyone all the very best for 2018.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE

Hi Everyone

Happy Monday .. .. but more importantly .. .. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS

I wish everyone the best Christmas they could possibly have.

I know that for a few of my blog friends it is going to be a difficult time .. .. but I hope you can find comfort in memories of Christmases that brought happier times your way.  I shall be thinking of you.

My next few days are going to be spent with my lovely family so I am not sure when I will be making my next appearance .. .. but until then many thanks to everyone for all your encouragement and kind words this year.  They have meant more than you will ever know.

Have fun!!

NEARLY TIME

Hi Everyone

Happy Friday!

I hope your day is going well and those Christmas plans are coming together.

Mr Heart finished work on Wednesday so we have been able to make an early start on delivering parcels etc.

Perhaps this is going to be the first year we will be able to actually chill and enjoy Christmas Eve ahead of Santa arriving.  I don't know about you but Christmas Eve has always been my most favourite day of the year.

On the bad side my tumble drier has decided to die and a replacement isn't going to be delivered until the first week in January .. .. so at the moment the House of Hearts looks like Mrs Wishy Washy has moved in with washing draped everywhere .. .. because it certainly isn't going to dry outside!!

But never mind.   People managed before they were invented so I am sure we can cope for a few days. 

I am here with a quick share today that uses an image I couldn't wait to colour and decorate .. .. what a lovely thought .. .. loading up your car with Christmas goodies to share with family or friends!

This used:

Image and Sentiment:  DigiStamp Boutique "Loaded up for Christmas"

Backing Papers:  Dovecraft:  12 x 12 Christmas Basics

ProMarkers

My Trusty Sewing Machine

Ribbon and Embellishments from my crafty stash box

and that is me for today.

I am going to link up to the DigiStamp Boutique Customer Competition for December and then I am off to deliver a little bit more Christmas cheer to family and friends before it gets dark!!!

Have a lovely evening everyone.

SAD TIMES

Hi Everyone

I hope you are all having a good week and things aren't too manic for you in the run up to Christmas.

It suddenly dawned on me today that whilst up to my eyes in wedding work I didn't share my favourite cards from the current issue (Issue 173) of Quick Cards Made Easy .. .. and I can't let that pass by without sharing a couple of the cards from a commission called "Paperback Cards".

I really enjoyed this commission and I still have loads of pages left in the second-hand book I bought from the charity shop .. .. which cost a whole 20p !!  In fact I felt so guilty at only wanting one book I bought a few. I must go back sometime and see if there are any books with "coated" pages so that I can do a bit of ink blending on them. Paperback paper doesn't lend itself to that very well.  

I only remembered that I hadn't shared anything from Issue 173 when Issue 174 dropped through my door this morning, ahead of going on sale next week (28th December).  

These are my favourite makes from Issue 174.  This first one features a technique called "Partial Heat Embossing"

and a second commission which featured "Magic Slider Cards".  Not something I had ever made before .. .. but something I found hard to stop making .. .. and I will definitely make some again in the future!  Not easy to photograph but hopefully you get the general ideal here with the closed and open shots:

But rather than the normal excitement I feel when I see the magazine on the door mat, it was tinged with sadness when it arrived today because Issue 174 is going to be the last ever publication of Quick Cards Made Easy.. .. boo hoo!!  I have enjoyed my time with the magazine soooo much and have worked with, and met, some fabulous people.  I have been very lucky.

I was first featured in the magazine in 2011 when the published a feature on my cardmaking and "always with a heart" journey.

I can still remember my very first commission like it was yesterday, starting with the magazine in January 2012 and now finishing in January 2018.  A whole six years ... and I have been fortunate to appear in each magazine during that time.

But as my Mum would say "all good things must come to an end  .. ..  the same as all the bad ones" and I will wait to see what the future holds for me now.  I do believe things always happen for a reason and perhaps my wedding world is just going to take over completely!  Who knows?

I know the future starts with two wedding fayres in January so no time for me to rest on my laurels that's for sure.

But before then we have Christmas, and I am so looking forward to some lovely "chill time" with  my family.  I love it when we are all together.

So that is me for today.  I will be back again soon.

WAKEY, WAKEY LITTLE BLOG

Hi Everyone

Warning .. .. super long and picture heavy post alert.

Happy Monday!!

My hugest apologies for my lack of activity in blogland.  I have been absent for nearly a month!!  

I have been the busiest I have ever been over the last six weeks or so, with even a few night shifts being worked .. .. .. but those weeks did see two weddings being finished and collected, along with all of my Christmas orders and magazine commissions being crossed off my list.  I even got the accounts finalised and off to the accountant. 

This now just leaves me with the making of Christmas cards for our own use (because currently the house of hearts has none) along with a few samples which are needed for happy couples who are getting married next year.  

But to add to the excitement Mr Heart has a birthday today and friends and family often ask me to make a card for them to give him.  So I thought I would wake my blog up and share those with you.  I will just say where the images and sentiments came from because the papers are all very random ones.

Image:  Digistamp Boutique "Cheeky Monkey"
Sentiment computer generated

Image:  Lili of the Valley "Candles"
Sentiment:  Computer generated

Image:  Bugaboo Stamps "Mouse Candle"
Sentiment:  Computer generated

Image and Sentiment:  Digistamp Boutique "Cheers to You"
I took my inspiration for this card from the sample on the website .. .. simply adding a little bit more wording to the sentiment.  The beer glasses were arranged to form the border using Craft Artist 2

Image:  Lili of the Valley Simply Print "On the Farm"
Sentiment:  Digistamp Boutique
"Simply Birthday Greetings - Male"

I bet you are thinking that doesn't look a very romantic birthday card .. .. and that is true (for the outside).  It actually represents a bit of a family joke based around a farm based computer game and he knew exactly why I had chosen that fabby image and loved it.

If you click on the DigiStamp Boutique links you will see there is a fabby sale on there at the moment .. .. I think I will be partaking of a few more sentiments and images for my download file before it runs out!!

Also, to finish I would like to thank everyone for all your lovely comments on the Teeny Tiny cards that made an appearance on my last blog post .. .. a few weeks ago! (shame on me - I really don't deserve such loyal blog pals).

I had a few emails and queries about what I had used on them stamp wise and was able to reply by email to most .. .. but for those I haven't been able to contact .. .. .. here we go:

1.  The Robin used for the first two cards is a Penny Black Stamp "2995F" Stocking.

2.  The second set of cards used a stamp I purchased years ago from a local craft store that closed down.  They used to do cardmaking classes and sold off all the "pre-loved" materials.  The stamp was labelled PSX "F-2104" sometimes called Christmas Town and other times Snow Village.  It seems to be just an Ebay stamp now.

3.  I think the two last cards with the little birds on got the most compliments  .. .. .. and a few more of those are definitely going to be made this week for my own use.  These used a Just Rite Clear Stamp Set "CR-05030" Doodled Birds and a Hobby Arts Clear Stamp Set called "CS138D" Nature Trail.

Enjoy your day.  I hope your Christmas plans are coming together nicely.  I will see you again before Christmas .. .. but for now I am off to start on the big clean up and to burn a few calories away before we go out to celebrate later!!

TEENY, TINY TUESDAY

Hi Everyone

Happy Tuesday!

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

I have pulled in a few (much needed) teeny tiny cards today and whilst at it I decided whilst making one I should make two!  

Here is what I came up with:

I haven't made a note of everything I used because I got a bit carried away and wasn't expecting to do as many as I did .. .. but if there is anything in particular anyone wants to know then please just ask and I will let you know.

All I do know is that I used only snippets of card and paper which means I can make a very rare visit to the snippet playground to join in with Pixie's snippets challenge and see the lovely Di and all the playmates.

LET IT SNOW

Hi Everyone

Happy Thursday!

I hope your week has been going well.   Mine has been mostly wedding work but I was determined to pull in a Christmas card this morning before I returned to printing and ribbon tying duties.

Those of you who were kind enough to visit my blog last year will remember I fell in love with tartan and plaids for my Christmas makes .. .. .. well it looks like I didn't quite get it out of my system because it seems to be creeping into  Christmas makes this year too. 

In fact tartan ribbon has also made its way onto the wedding work I sent for the wedding cabinet I am fortunate to have in my lovely Sister and her partner's salon. Basically there is just something about tartan ribbon that I love!!  LOL!!

So, here with a little tartan ribbon is my share for today

This used:

Image:  Hobby Art Stamps "CS138D" Nature Trail

Sentiment:  Penny Black "30-259" Wonderful & Jolly

Backing Paper  Craft Sensations "Merry Christmas"

Circular Stitched Die for embossing with from Ebay

Distress Ink Pads:  Peeled Paint, Tumbled Glass and Frayed Burlap for a bit of dodgy watercolouring!

Glamour Dust

Red Stickles

My Trusty Sewing Machine

Fabby Tartan Ribbon,Snowflakes and Gems from my crafty stash box

and that is it!

Coffee break over and time to get back to the wedding invitations.

Enjoy the rest of your day

QUICK CARDS

Hi Everyone

I hope you all enjoyed your weekend and are all geared up for another week!

A scheduled post from me today (one of a few I have managed to cobble together) because I have a big week of wedding work ahead of me.

This one shows you my favourite makes for the latest Quick Cards Made Easy Magazine which is currently on sale.

My first commission saw me working on a Technique called "Mason Jar Cards" .. .. using a fabby stamp and die set from Stampin' Up! called Jar of Love.  Who would have thought it would team up perfectly with lots of penguins from DigiStamp Boutique.  I loved all of my cards from this collection but this one was my favourite .. .. and it is currently the wallpaper on my laptop!  A very festive reminder to crack on with more Christmas makes .. .. LOL!!

and my second commission was entitled Foil Transfers and saw me playing with foil transfers from Crafter's Companion.  Such a great selection of sentiments and designs .. .. and great fun to use too!  This one was my favourite from this collection

So that is me for today on the posting front.

More festive creations to follow as the week goes on .. .. yay!

Enjoy your day.

THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS

Hi Everyone

Happy Saturday.

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

I have been busy working on weddings and a little bit of Christmas work .. .. of course the weddings are secret but I can share a little bit of Christmas:

This used:

Image:  Hero Arts "H5629" Many Branches Tree
Sentiment:  Penny Black "30-316" Season's Gifts
Backing created using Hero Art "CL622" Designer Snowflakes - some stamped with Hero Hues Unicorn Pigment Ink and others heat embossed with white embossing powder
Josy Rose:  Nail Heads
X-Cut Star Palm Punch
Diamond Stickles
My Trusty Sewing Machine

and that is it!

Another much needed Christmas card added to the box.  Yay!!  

Many thanks for your lovely comments and messages following my last post.  You are all so very kind.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

A SHARE AT LAST

Hi Everyone

Happy Thursday!!

I hope everyone is well and life is being nice and kind to you.

I did warn you that life was going to be extra busy in the House of Hearts .. .. and there is still no change there .. .. but I am having to turn my hand to the odd Christmas card amongst everything else that is going on .. .. .. so I thought I would share one of them here with you in an attempt to shake my blog out of slumber.

Add into the mix being blessed with a dose of shingles and pretty much sleeping for a whole week and you will appreciate why my blog has been so quiet.  I am very fortunate in that I am only ever ill  once every five or six years .. .. just a shame now was the time .. .. but let's face it there is never a good time is there?  At least that will be it now until 2022 or 2023 .. .. what a great positive!

But hey, we will forget all about that now.. .. all is good again and I am back fighting fit, full of energy and raring to go .. .. just in time for Christmas .. .. yay!!

So to celebrate here is a rare Christmas card which uses one of my favourite Snowmen:

This used:

Image and Sentiment:  DigiStamp Boutique:  "Sketchy Snowperson" and "Large Xmas Word Art"

Backing Paper:  Craft Sensations:  Merry Christmas

ProMarkers

Josy Rose:  Nail Heads

My Trusty Sewing Machine

Glamour Dust

Snowflakes, Ribbon and Gems from my crafty stash box

I will hopefully be back again soon with another of those Christmas cards I wish I had made earlier in the year!!  Will I never learn?!?!?!   LOL!!!

This little creation is also going to make its way to the DigiStamp Boutique Competition for November so just off to link up now!

Take care.

MAKING HEADWAY

Hi Everyone

Happy Tuesday!

No teeny, tiny make from me this week .. .. .. .. all my time has been scheduled for wedding and magazine work .. .. which is likely to keep me amused for the rest of this year and beyond judging by the orders and emails that are coming through.  But don't worry I will be trying hard to pull in and share with you some of those much needed Christmas makes too!

But for now I will share, as promised yesterday, my makes from the current issue of Quick Cards Made Easy, which is now on the shelves.

I was very lucky to be asked to work on a few commission and these are my favourites from each commission:

The first one I will share uses the free gift .. .. which is a rigid plastic template and scoring tool along with free papers and toppers.  Great for making little filled gift boxes for hanging on the tree or even lining up to create a completely different type of advent calendar.  You could simply tie numbered tags to the little boxes! No glue needed, you just draw around the template, score the fold lines then cut and thread the little tags at the top through the slits you cut.

 The little box below was made for hanging on a tree

My second commission was to make Festive Bookmark cards.  I really enjoyed this commission and with knowing lots of avid book readers I think bookmark cards will be featuring in my card making a little more.  Of course all cards in the commission showed different styles of bookmarks .. .. but this was my favourite overall finished look.

My third commission saw me playing with the fabulous Mockingbird Hill dies from Sheena Douglas to make Festive Scene cards.  I glued my card elements inside an acetate fronted shadow box style card.  There were concertina style sides so that the different elements could be glued in a variety of positions to give the card some depth.

I actually saw Sheena on TV with the dies after I had finished my makes .. .. and she likened the dies to the Fuzzy Felts she used to play with as a child.  I knew exactly what she meant.  I spent many a happy hour playing with my Fuzzy Felts - mixing the sets together to make strange scenes  . .. ..  as you do!. LOL!! 

 So there we go .. .. a few makes for you to see today.

Must fly now though as my coffee break is over and I need to return to card cutting duties ahead of a major printing session this afternoon.

Take care everyone and have a lovely day.

WHAT CAN I SAY?

Hi Everyone

Happy Monday!

Well, what can I say about my absence from bologland?

To be honest I hadn't realised until now just how long it has been .. .. so much has been happening that time has been flying.

Mr Heart has started his 4 day working weeks (which in itself has changed the dynamics somewhat), we have had a mini break away, done a huge wedding fayre and I have been making samples for new couples like there is no tomorrow!  Some of which have already turned into orders.

Then on top of all that excitement my lovely Sister's eldest daughter got married yesterday.  A wedding that couldn't have been more perfect.  Lots of proud tears being wiped away yesterday from lots of eyes.  

So lovely for all the family to be together .. .. even the London kids were able to make the special trip to be with us .. .. but sadly they are on the train home now 😢.

I was honoured to get involved with my Niece's wedding stationery which at the end of the journey culminated in sitting in front of these place-names.  I needed to make 81 of these little beauties.

Not a brilliant picture unfortunately.  Sadly my ipad woudn't fit into my super dinky handbag so I took a snap on my phone and emailed it to myself.  Not perfect, but better than nothing.

So after a long weekend away celebrating we are now back home and I have a mountain of work to be cracking on with (don't tell my Mum but I took my Cuttlebug with me to get ahead of the game with a couple of my weddings for this week). I was more than happy to sit and turn my handle whilst folks were having afternoon snoozes .. .. no stamina some folk LOL!!!

So one very special wedding ticked off the list and lots of new ones being added.

It is definitely Weddings R Me at the moment .. .. which makes me very happy and excited.

I hope everyone has been getting along OK in my absence and the world is being kind.  Quite a few of my blog pals have been in my thoughts over the last few weeks as I know they are going through difficult times.  Still haven't found a magic wand for putting the world to rights for everyone .. .. but I will never stop looking for one.

I will catch you again tomorrow with my makes for this month's Quick Cards Made Easy magazine but in the meantime I need to unpack those cases, put the washing machine and breadmaking machine to work and then get the guillotine on overdrive for this week's wedding work!!

Don't anyone dare mention Christmas!!!!

Take care everyone.