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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 20 October 2021

TEENY, TINY WEDNESDAY

Hi Everyone

A teeny, tiny card to share today .. .. .. which for anyone new to my blog measures a whole 3.5 inches square.   This should have been on my blog yesterday but it never happened.

This uses another image from the recently acquired Penny Black stamp set I bought via Ebay.




This used:

Image:  Penny Black "30-143" Joy to the World  & "30-259" Wonderful and Jolly
Sentiment:  Clearly Besotted "CBSP0225" Rockin' Robin
Backing Paper:  From Snippet Mountain
ProMarkers
Distress Ink:  Tumbled Glass
Gold Glamour Dust
My Trusty Sewing Machine

Thankfully I had most of this post written and ready for just adding the pictures .. .. .. because things are once again "pear shaped" here in the House of Hearts.  

Mum took a turn for the worse again (after me declaring her to be more like her old self), so I cancelled her flu jab and then Monday she ended up being admitted to hospital.  It felt extra horrible because I wasn't allowed to be with her due to the Covid restrictions and I knew she would be very, very frightened.  As they took her away she kept saying "can Julie come with me, let Julie come with me".  (Always my Sunday name with Mum LOL!!).

But this is how millions of people will have felt over these last two years, patients and relatives alike.   At least with Mum it isn't Covid related .. .. .. .. I am just hoping she doesn't catch it whilst she is in there!!

I am now allowed a half hour visiting slot (if there is one available) which means I am now the designated visitor.  So I am going to take my ipad with me so the others can see her when I go to visit later this afternoon.

Just playing the waiting game now to see what the next move is. 

But one thing we do know, it will involve the same sketch as last time she came home from hospital and my Sister and I will be doing sleepovers on Mum's settee until she is back to full strength

Anyway, we will see what today brings .. .. .. and if I don't get to post or comment on your lovely blogs for a while .. .. you know why.  I will be around again as soon as I can.

Hope everyone's week is going better than mine.  Take care!

Sunday 17 October 2021

CARDIO CHRISTMAS

Hi Everyone

I hope you have all enjoyed your weekend.

Another busy one here .. .. .. so just a quick Christmas make from me today.  I love making this style of card.




This used:

Images:  Cardio "Festive Scene" and "Mini Tall Trees"
Sentiment:  Penny Black "30-140" Christmas Cheer
Backing Paper:  The Lovely Studio "Twas the Night Script"  (looking like they have stopped trading)
Distress Ink:  Stormy Sky
My Trusty Sewing Machine


and that is me with another lovely flat Christmas card sitting waiting for the festive season.

I hope the coming week is going to be kind to everyone.  Take care.



Thursday 14 October 2021

BRING ON THE PUD

Hi Everyone

I hope your Thursday has been a good one.

I certainly can't say I am a fan of the nights getting darker so early.  I don't like crafting by electric light.

More Christmas from me today:




This used:

Image:  LOTV Digital Image "Christmouse Pudding"
Sentiment:  Computer Generated
Backing Paper:  Make & Create "Merry and Bright"
Corner Rounding Punch
ProMarkers
Ribbon
My Trusty Sewing Machine

and that is another Christmas card added to the box.

Many thanks for all the comments and emails regarding my Mum.  You are all so very kind.

It is certainly good to see her more like her old self again .. .. .. just in time to be treated to a flu jab on Saturday!! 

Catch you again soon

Wednesday 13 October 2021

WONDERFUL

Hi Everyone

I hope your week is progressing well.

I am super happy to report that Mum seems back on track again after a worrying week or so  .. .. .. thankfully life is feeling more normal again and I have been able to visit my little craft pod a little more frequently.

This is one little creation I have put together which uses a "new to me" stamp set which I acquired from Ebay.  I bought it because I wanted the image I have used here .. .. but there are some other beauties in the set that will be getting an airing too.




This used:

Image:  Penny Black Clear Stamp Set "30-143" Joy to the World
Sentiment:  Digistamp Boutique (sadly no longer trading)
Backing Papers:  From Snippet Mountain
ProMarkers
Snowflakes: Memory Box Die "99031" Snowflake Heart
Crystal Glamour Dust (not that you can see it in the photographs)
My Trusty Sewing Machine


As everything but the card base has come from snippet mountain, I am running over to Pixie's Snippets Challenge where we are encouraged to use up any leftovers we may have.  Be these card, paper, fabric, ribbon .. .. in fact anything you can create something else from.

I really don't think I will ever see the back of my snippets as hard as I try .. .. .. ..  or even feel I have them under control .. .. .. .. but I am going to keep up the fight anyway.  

Enjoy the rest of your day everyone.


Monday 11 October 2021

THE CAT'S WHISKERS

Hi Everyone

Life is still very hectic here .. .. .. last week was a blur with most of it centered around my Mum .. .. .. but I have my fingers tightly crossed that things are going to revert to some kind of normality again this week.

Today is a special day, it is our eldest Son's birthday.  The lovely London Kid who I am very proud of!  Not sure what I did to get two such wonderful sons but I am certainly glad and grateful that they are mine.

This is the card I made .. .. ..  which gives a nod to two black rescue cats he and his wife adopted early in 2020.




This used: 

Image:  Opulence by Design "Black Cat with Oil and Chalk"
Sentiment:  Computer Generated
Backing Papers:  Eline's House Digital Papers - Roses are Red 1 and The Lovely Studio (sadly nowhere to link to)
Spellbinder Circle Dies
X-Cut Corner Rounding Punch
Nail Heads
Metallic Cord
My Trusty Sewing Machine


Hopefully things are going to be improving here this week.  There is lots to be working on  .. .. including a little thing called Christmas!!

Talking of which I picked up the Royal Mail delivery dates for Christmas last week .. .. so here are our panic dates for this year:

Saturday 18th December 
-  Latest recommended date for 2nd class post


Tuesday 21st December 
-  Latest recommended date for 1st class post

Thursday 23rd December
-  Latest recommended date for Special Delivery

I am sure we will all be ready well before these dates though .. .. .. 
after all we have known about it all year!  LOL!

Catch you again soon.

Sunday 3 October 2021

WATERCOLOUR CHRISTMAS

Hi Everyone

Apologies for my absence (again) .. .. .. it has been a very hectic week here in the House of Hearts, but sadly not on the crafting front .. .. .. life had different plans for my time as Mum hasn't been too good.

Hopefully things will improve this coming week and I can open my craft pod door a little bit more often.  But if not then it just wasn't meant to be.

I did have a very quick attempt at a digitally created Christmas card though and it ended up looking like this:




This used:

Image Backing:  LOTV:  Watercolour Circles
Christmas Tree:  Fantastic Clipart:  Christmas Tree Clipart
Sentiment:  Computer Generated using font "Impact Label"
Backing Paper:  The Lovely Studio (sadly it still looks like this is another on-line store that has closed)

My Trusty Sewing Machine

Quite pleased with it really.

So short and sweet from me today as I try to catch up with the world and get back on top of things.

Take care everyone.