HEART OF HEARTS

Hi Everyone

Just nipping in quickly with an anniversary card to share .. .. one which uses what has probably been the most used die in my collection.  Surprise, surprise!

It is useful and loved for so many reasons.  Once I thought I had lost it and it felt like the end of the world LOL!!  Luckily I only had about 20 minutes of torture before I found it again and now it has its own special place to live (inside a tin with a mass of die cut and punched hearts) .. .. .. I dread to think what a huge mess it would make if I was ever to drop it!!! 

This is what I love doing best with it . . . . . a bit like a fun jig-saw and it uses up lots of snippets in the process.

This used:

Heart of Heart Die - Impression Obsessions
Julie Hickey - Layers, Frames & Banner Rectangle Die Set
Sentiment - MamaElephant "Bountiful Blessings"
My Trusty Sewing Machine
Lots of snippets .. .. .. some of which are lovely black flocked ones

So that is me for today.

Enjoy your weekend everyone - I hope you manage to find a bit of crafty time to enjoy.

PERFECT PEAR

Hi Everyone

Happy Saturday .. .. .. and wishing you all a super happy weekend!

A busy old week here which has meant no blog posts!  Sorry about that, but Mum and admin work has taken priority.

Here now though with a Wedding Anniversary card which I was hoping to have posted yesterday, but by the time I got home the natural light was rubbish.  I don't know about you but I am certainly not ready for the nights to start drawing in yet. 

So here is my perfect pear (well I think so anyway):

This used:

Image:  Watercolor Fruits Clipart  from Solomikka via Etsy (I copied and pasted the image and flipped one of them over to make a mirror image). Lots of fruit in this download .. .. .. all hand painted beautifully .. .. .. oh to have talent like this!
Sentiment:  Computer Generated

My Trusty Sewing Machine

The background for the fruit was from a Typewriter Digi Kit that I purchased from Theclipartfairy years ago, but I can't find it anywhere now.  I re-coloured and altered the depth of colour from the original.

I have been spending quite a bit of time creating and manipulating images using the Serif Craft Artist 2 programme but I am now attempting to learn a new programme which I purchased half price whilst we were in lockdown.  Still created by Serif so some things are the same .. .. but capable of doing so much more (much of which is like a foreign language to me at the moment).  It is called "Affinity Designer" and Mr Heart bought me a huge instruction book for me to work through.  Shame it didn't come with a huge dollop of extra hours for adding to my week too!

Anyway, that is me for today.  I am hoping for lots of crafty time over the weekend.

Hopefully you will have a good one too, doing whatever makes you happy!

ANNIVERSARY WISHES

Hi Everyone

I hope your weekend has got off to a good start .. .. .. .. I am sure the England football result will certainly have helped.

We have had thunderstorms and rainstorms here this evening so I felt sorry for anyone who was hosting a mini BBQ / football viewing with friends.

My share today is a wedding anniversary card:

Mmmmm... .. .. not sure how many people would celebrate their anniversary in a bath .. .. .. but it sounds pretty good to me LOL!!

This used:

Image:  LOTV "Bubble Bath"
Bubble Frame:  Digi Treats "Doodles Set 1"  So many frames available here and I love them all!!  xx
Sentiment:  Computer Generated using font "Ink Free"
Backing Papers:  From snippet mountain, but originally from The Works
ProMarkers

Ribbon

My Trusty Sewing Machine

I hope the rest of your weekend goes well .. .. .. the garden definitely got a good rainwater watering today .. .. but tomorrow I would like to see some nice washing drying weather pretty please.

Apologies for the continued lack of posts and blog comments. This last week has been gobbled up by gardening duties, wall painting and most importantly .. .. keeping Mum happy and comfortable.  My blog will always be here but my Mum won't, and I need to make the most of being with her whilst I can.

But hopefully this coming week will see my blog being a little more active as all my orders are currently up to date.  Yay!!!!

TO LOVE AND TO CHERISH

Hi Everyone

Happy Wednesday!

Is your weather anything like ours .. .. beautiful glorious sunshine one minute and then throwing it down with rain by the bucketful the next?  

Just popping in today with a card for taking over to the "As You Like It" Challenge Blog where this fortnight they would like to see your favourite way of using ribbon on your cards.

Now anyone who knows me knows just how much I love ribbon.  I love tying it into big scrummy bows and I love adding just a strip between layers on a card to link colours together.  I love making different types of bows .. ..  .. .. but I also like to use up all the bits that I have collected over time.  After 10 years of wedding work and being someone who saves anything useable "just in case", I have lots of ribbon bits to use up.

So here we go.  Strips of grosgrain ribbon used to make a background behind a die cut heart:

This used:

Backing Paper:  Pink Petticoat "Isabelline"
Spellbinder Dies:  Heart
Sizzix Thinlits Dies:  "661806" Small Tattered Florals

Grosgrain ribbons
Pearl

My Trusty Sewing Machine

and that is me for today, I thought my card might make a nice wedding or wedding anniversary card.

Enjoy the rest of today and have a good day tomorrow.

ENDLESS LOVE

Hi Everyone

Happy Monday!

It is definitely a happy Monday here as it is our wedding anniversary .. .. .. which means a romantic dinner for two this evening at the House of Hearts Bistro.  I have booked the best table in the house but still need to clear it and get it all set up.

March is a mad month in this house and the mantlepiece has been having a steady turnaround of cards this month.  We started with Mother's Day, then my Birthday and now our Wedding Anniversary.

This is the card I made for Mr Heart .. .. .. a special card for a super special man.  I was definitely at the front of the queue when they were handing out kind, thoughtful and loving husbands (and I choose to overlook the fact that speedy DIY tasks are not one of his strong points LOL!!).  We can't have everything can we .. .. .. that would be greedy.

So here we go:

This used:  

Image:  Three Heart Design Shop "Endless Love Song Lyrics Heart Design"  -  I added the two little birds and the extra heart myself using a tiny bird that was part of a Digistamp Boutique Birdcage and Bird download (sadly they are not trading anymore)
My Trusty sewing machine .. ... and that is all!

So, nearly time for me to start finding that dining room table, the candles and the matches.

Catch you again soon.

 

TWEET TWEET MY LOVELY

 Hi Everyone

I hope the first day of your weekend has gone well.

Too hot for me to be out there in the great outdoor, so I have been in my little craft pod for a good bit of the day and this was one of my creations:

This used: 

Stampin' Up Bird Bird Builder Punch

Backing Paper:  The Works

Sentiment:  Computer Generated using font "Aracne Condensed Regular"

X-Cut Flower Punch and Heart Punch

ProMarkers

Nail Heads

Gems

My Trusty Sewing Machine

and that is me for today.

I hope everyone has had a good day and I wish you a good one tomorrow too.

ANNIVERSARY WISHES

Hi Everyone

Another week has flown by and the weekend is nearly here .. .. where are the days and weeks disappearing too?  Hard to believe we are halfway through 2020 already!

It dawned on me the other day that when we get to new years eve the programmes that recall the exiting year are are going to be a pretty depressing review.  I hope that somewhere in the remaining six months there are going to be some "highlights" that will be good and uplifting .. .. .. please, please, please!

But in the meantime here is one of the cards I created today

This used:

Image:  LOTV "Love Petals"

Sentiment:  Computer Generated

Backing Papers:  More from my snippet mountain (trying really hard to cull these)

Spellbinder Circle Dies

ProMarkers

Twine

Pearls

Eyelet and Eyelet Setter

My Trusty Sewing Machine

So come on, how many of you are going to have your hair cut this weekend and then run off to the pub to whet your whistle and grab a meal?

Definitely none of the above will be happening here.  It is going to be a long while before we will be brave enough to take the plunge on any of those fronts.  I have just seen a headline on the news saying we need to "eat out to help out".  Personally I would rather "eat in, and feel safe" thank you .. .. and continue to snip away at my own hair.  A trip to the supermarket is scary enough for me at the moment!

Anyway, on that note I will love and leave you and hopefully catch you again tomorrow.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

Hi Everyone

I hope your Thursday has been a good and productive one.

My day started by opening up the greenhouse and watering all the crops that are now getting nicely established.  I then suggested to Mr Heart that we have breakfast outside .. .. .. which we did, and I enjoyed it very much.  

It was the first time I have sat in the garden this year .. .. what a waste of all the lovely sunshine we have been having.

Weddings are starting to make an appearance in the House of Hearts again with signed off proofs being returned by brides who are now wanting me to go ahead and make their stationery.  So things are hotting up on more that just the weather front!

So with my head full of weddings this is what I have created to share today:

This used:

Image:  LOTV "Bunnies Swing"

Sentiment:  Computer Generated using font "Ink Free"

Backing Papers:  From the snippet mountain which I am determined to reduce drastically

ProMarkers

Corner Rounding Punch

Ribbon

Crystal Glamour Dust

My Trusty Sewing Machine

and that is me for today.

Many thanks to everyone who has been leaving comments and emailing regarding the sewing I do on my cards.  You are all very kind.  Unfortunately for those who would like me to do a YouTube video .. .. I am sorry but I wouldn't have the foggiest idea how to do that.  

But I will try to do something on my blog sometime that shows the process in photographs along with instructions.  But it won't be something I can do in the very near future I'm afraid. 

MERLIN

Hi Everyone

Happy Saturday!

So sorry for my absence from blogland once again .. .. .. lots of wedding work has been happening here in the House of Hearts and there have been new "happy couples" to meet up with and make samples for .. .. all alongside more medical appointments with Mum.

My Brother and Sister take over sorting Mum at the weekends and today as I have no wedding couples visiting I have moved lots of crafty goodies downstairs to sit and play at the dining room table.

My printer, pens, box of stamped images, sewing machine and a mini mountain of snippets are there for playing with ALL WEEKEND .. .. all my ironing and washing is up to date so no reason not to just sit and play!!  Lucky me!!

This was my first make of the day:

This used:

Image: DigiStamp Boutique at LOTV "Merlin Valentine"
Sentiment:  Computer Generated using fonts "Back Black" and "Youngsook"
Backing Papers from my snippet mountain
Nestabilities:  Classic Circle and Scalloped Circle
ProMarkers
Josy Rose:  Nail Heads
My Trusty Sewing Machine
Ribbon
Crystal Glamour Dust

As you will know due to other pressures I have chosen to step down from the DigiStamp Boutique DT (boo hoo!!) .. .. but that isn't going to stop me playing with their scrummy images and showing you how I have used them.  I just love colouring them sooo much and find it very relaxing and therapeutic!!

Sally-Ann's images are now sold via Lili of the Valley but if like me you also love the more watercolour effect / print images that Sally-Ann has been producing then you will find these on her "Etsy site".  These are on my "play list" for the weekend too.

So that is me for now.

We have actually had rain today and the air is much clearer and fresher .. .. which is the good news.  The bad news is that one of my "happy couples" were getting married today and the weather hasn't been very kind at all.  Such a shame because they were having a horse and carriage as part of their celebrations.. ..  taking the bride to the Church and then the newly weds to their reception.

They do live quite a long way away from here though so fingers crossed their weather wasn't quite so wet.

Hopefully catch you again soon with more of my weekend creations.

Hope you have a really good one too, and can find a bit of crafty time for yourself.

NEW RELEASES FOR DIGISTAMP BOUTIQUE

Good morning everyone

Bright and early for me today .. .. .. for a change!!

It must be because I am excited to be sharing one of the new releases from DigiStamp Boutique.

I have used another of the "new style" of images that Sally-Ann is so brilliant at creating .. .. but I am showing how I have used it in two different ways.

This is my first card which for me represents the beautiful sunshine we have been experiencing recently .. .. and I have simply matted a layered the scrummy image and added a sentiment from the set along with various little embellishments.

and for my second card I indulged myself in a little inky playtime ... .. and have turned the background into a moon.. ..

These two cards used:

Image and Sentiments:  DigiStamp Boutique "Large Flower Panel Set"
Background Papers:  Docrafts "Kraft Notes"
Distress Inks:  Stormy Sky, Dusty Concord, Mermaid Lagoon and Iced Spruce
X-Cut Punch:  Corner Rounder
X-Cut Mini Die:  Moon Gazer
Inkylicious Duster Brushes
My Trusty Sewing Machine
Ribbon, Cord, Charm, Button, Flower and Pearls from my Crafty Stash Box

I love both cards but enjoyed playing with my inks on the second one very much.  To create this look I printed off the brown version of the image firstly onto copy paper and then onto smooth white card (the set has brown, green and grey/purple options within the set for you to choose from).

I cut the moon from the photocopy printing and used a temporary glue runner to attach it as a mask over the moon on the printed card.  I then used duster brushes to add colour in bands across the image starting with the lightest shade at the bottom and working up. 

Once happy with the inking I then removed the mask and added a little ink to the moon image so it wasn't too stark.  It was just a case of trimming and layering the panel up then.

So what do you think to the cute little rabbit die?  I saw it cut out on an inspiration board at a local craft store (the die cuts the rabbit and the flowers) but it was never in stock.  It sold as quickly as it arrived!!  Then one day .. .. in an attempt to take Mum somewhere "different" I took her a drive out to a garden centre for a bite to eat and a nosey around .. .. and guess what?!?!  There the little beauty was.  Just one solitary little rabbit sitting waiting just for me!!  I love him!! 

Anyway, there we go.  Two ways to use a digi download.  One for if you are in a bit of a rush and one for when you have the luxury of a little "playtime".

Can't wait to play with the other new releases Sally-Ann has created .. .. .. but first it is back to wedding work.  I have two weddings in July and am chipping away at Order of Services and venue stationery for those.  So, I had best get on.  

Have a great day and thank you for calling by to see what I have been up to.

SUNDAY SNIPPETS

Hi Everyone

Happy Sunday!

I hope everyone is having a lovely weekend.

Today is a special day in our family .. .. it is the London Kids wedding anniversary .. .. and this is the card I made for them.

As no full pieces of card were harmed during the making of this project it is perfect for taking over to share in Pixie's Snippets Playground Challenge where we are encouraged to use our "leftovers" from other projects.

Everything for this creation came from my huge pile of snippets apart from the ribbon.  That needed to come off a roll because all my offcuts were completely the wrong colour.

So that is me for today.  A short and sweet post because on a Sunday I am always lazy and do not list my ingredients .. .. but if there is anything you wish to know then please just ask away.

I am busy trying to catch up with myself (again!!) after a couple of days away.  

I always feel like I am on "catch up" these days.  What a shame the laundry fairy didn't come and take up residence whilst we were away!  They would have been very, very welcome!

Catch you again soon.

FAB NEWS TUESDAY

Hi Everyone

Happy Tuesday .. .. I hope it is a lovely day full of sunshine for you.

I can't believe that this is my first post for July (although Mr Heart and I did escape for a few days last week)!!  

The month has simply flown by .. .. but judging by the amount of wedding and magazine work that has been completed I'm surprised it isn't August already!

Plus, amongst everything else, more excitement entered the House of Hearts when I had a wonderful invitation from Fiskars asking if I would consider becoming an Ambassador for them.  I certainly didn't need to think about it for very long .. .. I love every Fiskars product I own .. .. and there are a fair few in my collection.

Everything I have ever purchased is still going strong .. .. .. .. .. even my very first small Fiskars guillotine which must be at least 15 years old and has been used nearly every day .. .. ..perhaps it would be of interest in a crafting museum now LOL!!

Anyway, I received a fabby box of goodies to see what I could create with them and this is my very first offering which uses a lovely word punch  .. .. ..

This used:

My lovely Fiskars Intricate Shape Love Punch
Backing Papers:  First Edition Papers "New Leaf"
Sentiment:  Pink Petticoat (but sadly no longer available)
Ribbon and Iridescent Cord
Charm
Glamour Dust
My Trusty Sewing Machine

The punch, as regular visitors will know, is right up my street .. .. it is as if Fiskars know me already! LOL!!

Taking my photographs for posting I had a little brainwave for my next wedding fayre.  Lots of "love words" punched and sprinkled across my tables.

So there we go.  I hope you like my first Fiskars offering.

Catch you again soon.

PENNY BLACK SATURDAY CHALLENGE

Hi Everyone

I hope your bank holiday weekend has got off to a good start - certainly a mixed bag of weather here - but nice enough for my "happy couple" all being well.  No major rain showers .. .. yet!!!

One of the things I miss most when I am busy on the wedding front is playing with my Penny Black stamps .. .. so today I decided I would indulge in a Penny Black session and see what the theme is this month over at the Penny Black Saturday Challenge.

Well a bit of a struggle for me this one .. .. Wedding, Anniversary and all things Love .. .. LOL!!!

But here is what I came up with:

This used:

Image:  Penny Black "1587K" So Glad to Catch You!
Sentiment:  Computer Generated using font "Aracne Condensed Regular"
Backing Papers:  Nitwit "Everlasting Collection"
Nestabilities Dies: Circles and Scalloped Circles
Josy Rose:  Nail Heads
ProMarkers
Glossy Accents
My Trusty Sewing Machine
Metallic Twine from my crafty stash box

and that is it.

Having a crafty session with my lovely Sis today (YAY!!!) and then and Indian takeaway together ... .. happy times!!!

Catch you again soon.