Sunday Snippets - A Valentine card from Dudley!

Being totally loopy here I followed, which makes me doubly loopy, Dudley's 'morse code woofed request to make a Valentine card from him - to Len! I had the perfect little set of stamps and dies, pleading to be used once again and this is the result:

I used:

- DL sized white card blank, tent style

- a sltightly smaller piece of the same card as the card blank, and then die cut the three square apertures using Just Rite's Frame Set 'Three in a Row'

- backed the frame piece with a snippet of light blue card, using red line tape

- glued the whole piece onto the card blank using Collall All purpose glue 

- next onto the dear little 'Dudley' puppies - using a set of stamps and matchng dies by Clearly Besotted called 'Puppy Love'. I still feel very sad that Clearly Besotted just faded away as it did, their products were such a joy and this particular set is probably my most loved and used one - I wonder why?

- stamped the three little puppies and a couple of sentiments onto snippets of white card and gently coloured their ears, paws and tails a little with a pale peach Polychromos pencil before die cutting the puppies and hand cutting the sentiments

- next I punched out a few small hearts using the same SU mini heart punch that I used for Len's card from me - and another snippet of the same Tonic pearlescent 'Red Velvet' card to have a little play before positioning the puppies into the frames

- added the puppies into the frames using thin sticky pads. followed by the punched hearts and two sentiments - using a glue pen

- final touch was to die cut a row of hearts from another snippet of the 'Red Velvet' card and just use a glue pen to add it underneath the puppies in their frames above. I used Positively Papercraft's 'Two Piece Heart set'. And speaking of Positively Papercraft. Ann seems to have given up her own Positively Paper Craft online shop and has teamed up with one of the UK shopping channels - I loved how she had such a good eye for different dies to many of the run of the mill ones and her prices were extremely good, so that's another loss it seems. 

As I had to make this card in secret, with Len likely to see what I was up to - I got rid of the snippets as I went along so as not to leave any clues!

I'd like to enter my card into the following challenge:

- Allsorts Challenge #817 HERE under the 'Anything Goes' theme. The main theme is 'Shades of Blue', which I hope to add a second card to during the challenge

Dudley Pupdate: I did have a few happy smiles when making this card as the three 'puppy poses' are our Dudley down to a 'T'! 

From left to right they are: 'Hello there, I smell food and am looking hopeful'. Middle one is 'Oh well, that didn't work, so am going into full pleading, begging and how cute am I then mode' and the final one on the right is 'You mean I have to actually wait until you finish eating to see if there's a little morsel left? Sigh.' Later .......... 'Am still in pose three in the puppy begging book and my tummy is now quite flat - get a move on!'. Len really laughed when he saw the card on Friday - no explanation needed!

Remember, I've just kicked off a new challenge over in the Snippets Playground HERE. It's yet another special one to celebrate our 500th challenge in The Snippets Playground! There is a mandatory theme if you wish to play and be a pick and/or be in with a chance of winning one of two mystery prizes, each to contain five items. The theme is 'Celebration'. 

Hope to see you on the swings - Sarn and I are waiting for you to come and play as well as join in our celebrations!

Love as always, Dudley Dog and me

Sunday Snippets - A Valentine card from me

I decided to get cracking and make a Valentine card for Len - I still have to make the one 'from Dudley Dog to Len' though, I know - crazy as ever:

I used:

- 5.25" x 4.25" black card blank, side opening (the card blank is .25" less in height than a true USA A2 card to accomodate the final size of the hearts panel BTW!)

- a snippet of white linen card for the background to trim once the next few steps had been done

- a piece of the same black card stock as the card blank - I do chop up matching bought cards to match the main card where necessary - even black comes in goodness knows how many shades!

- I used an unbranded die (I know, glutton for punishment) to die cut one edge of the black piece of card - the die cuts beautifully. hooray! The die is from Amazon called 'Hearts Border'  - happy to send the link to anyone as I'm as sure as I can be that it's not a copy

- then I could trim the top and bottom edges of the hearts edged piece of black card and ensure it balanced with the dimensions of the main card blank by trimming the left side down to suit 

- I could also trim the white layer to leave a border - so in effect I worked backwards a bit and had to also trim approx. .25" from the top of the black card blank. I ended up with a card size that's balanced to suit the top layer of hearts - it's a trick I often use

- next, glued the white layer onto the card blank then added the black die cut layer

- for the patterned hearts I used snippets from Altenews 'Black and White' paper pack and a glue pen

- then dug out a snippet of Tonic pearlescent 'Red Velvet' card and die cut the little 'With Love' sentiment twice, using a dear little die from a Die'sire set of dies called 'TeaTime Sentiments' and layered them 

- used a SU mini punch to punch out a few hearts from another snippet of the 'Red Velvet' card before having a play around for positioning and then gluing them and the sentiment in place - finished!

The leftover snippets were so tiny, just little scraps and were whisked into the bin as I was working in 'secret' and Len was around. I swept a soft brush over the card after the photo was taken to remove those tiny specks of white - blow me, they're actually in the card stock itself and with the naked eye are practically invisible! Always makes me smile that the camera will pick up what you don't even know is there and yet it stubbornly witll ignore very obvious spakle and shine much of the time!  

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Darnell's NBUS Challenge # 71 - HERE The 'Hearts Border' die was having a first outing

Allsorts Challenge #816 - HERE The theme is Romance and/or Music. Nice one ladies!

Dudley Pupdate: Last Sunday morning we watched something extra on TV before getting out of bed. Right at the end of the programme, suddenly a pair of front paws appeared beside me practically tapping on the bed with impatience. I looked straight down at Dudley, he literally locked eyes with me and then very deliberately looked over at the digital clock on a unit at the other end of our bedroom! Len saw it as it happened as well, so I'm not losing the plot here! Basically, time was creeping beyond his after breakfast treat time and he was dropping a not too subtle hint! Or was it coincidence? Watch this space. 

Very importantly, the results of Challenge #498 are now published HERE.  

Do please come and play in Sarn's current challenge over in the Snippets Playground - numbers are looking good and we might end up with queues for the trampoline that has mysteriously appeared!

Also, Challenge #500 starts next Sunday  and there is a mandatory 'Celebration' theme to comply with if you wish to enter the 'picks and/or the prize draw'. Sarn says there WILL be cocktails. Mine's a Mojito please!

Love from myself and Dudley, xxx

Sunday Snippets - 'Beautiful!'

I wish I could say that I spent a few hours stencilling and stamping ......... using a variety of my languishing Distress inks to produce the background for my snippets card - but then I would grow a nose just like Pinnochio! Read further down to find out  more:

I used:

- A6 linen 'Pale Ivory' card blank, side opening

- the 'cheats' layer is actually a sheet from an A & C pack of A6 double sided design papers! They do several sets, and some of the backs have ATC sized 'grungy' stamping. I chose Set #7 'Papyrus' for a first play as the colours are more muted than some other sets.Trimmed slightly to measure quarter of an inch less than the card blank on all sides

- then stamped the flower onto the front panel using VersaFine Clair 'Morning Mist' ink and a stamp from Crafty Roo - bought in a clearance sale a little while ago for the massive sum of £1, sadly there's no name or reference number on the packet but I imagine that's a moot point as Kym' s stock absolutely flew out of the door in the clearance!

- at the same time, I also stamped another flower exactly the same, as well as one of the sentiments which also came in the pack, using the same ink - onto snippets of linen 'Pale Ivory' card

- I had already selected a piece of card for the plain backing layer and so went with Zig Brush pens to colour in the flower head and centre, plus the leaves - stamped onto the linen effect card - all ready for some fussy cutting

- glued the fussy cut parts of the flower and leaves onto the image panel

- glued the image panel onto the plain 'beige' piece of card and then added the 'framed' panel to the card front using very narrow foam tape for a bit of a 'lift'

- finally, trimmed the stamped sentiment and backed it with a snippet of card left over from backing the image - and then glued it in place. finished!

I found the designs to be pretty similar in the pack but well worth playing with if you would like to dip a toe into 'grungy backgrounds'. 

I've just ordered a warm grey TomBow brush pen from Amazon, hindsight tells me that black for any touching up arounf the fussy cut edges doesn't cut it if you actually stamped in grey! To be fair, in real life it's much less obvious - how fickle is the camera eh? The colours are less washed out in real life, but I'm fiddling around with my desk lamp and its many angles and functions here.

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Allsorts Challenge #816 HERE - under the Anything Goes' Option. I LOVE the main theme which is 'Romance and/or Music. Perhaps I can make another card to join in - ANY help with kick starting inspiration here is alwaays welcome, right now I'm in a real 'slump'

Darnell's NBUS Challenge # 71 HERE

Dudley Pupdate: Dudley had a trim during the week - one hour session only but Len did a lot in that time and he looks good. Mind you, they were both exhausted from the 'fisticuffs' session that Dudley put Len through! My turn later today as he needs a thorough brush and comb, I did mention to Dudley that a b.a.t.h was in the offing before long. He totally ignored my hint and tapped me with his paw for a tummy rub! His annual vet's appointment is due very soon so I think we'll save that for sometime a few days beforehand.

We have a new Challenge #499 being run by our lovely Sarn over HERE. As always, Sarn has a lovely selection of items in the prize bundle to be won. AND, news of our' 500 Challenges' Anniversary as well! However did that happen?

Love from myself and Dudley, 

January Christmas Kickstart - phew, just in time!

I really thought I might have to miss Jo's Christmas Kickstart Challenge - HERE. The theme is 'Bring the Baubles'. My entry is very last minute and with a couple of scares along the way - here it is, YAY!

I used:

- 4.75" x 4.75" square white card blank, side opening

- a piece of ready embossed white card, another one sent by a friend to protect the front of her Christmas card to us - trimmed to approx. 3.75" square

- backed the pretty embossed white panel with a snippet of Tonic mirror 'Inca Gold' card, trimmed to leave just a very narrow frame - used Collall All Purpose glue - a huge favourite with me

- the fun (not!) part was die cutting the bauble itself - it's actually the same 3D-Sizzix Embosslits die as Jo is offering at the prize this month, but you have just over 24 hours until the challenge closes. It's a gorgeous die which cuts and embosses at the same time - called 'Ornament - No. 66505' .. and this was its first outing

- I don't have a Big Shot or similar so I Googled both Cuttlebug and Gemini Embosslits Plate Sandwiches. And that's when the fun began as I could only find a Gemini 'Plate Sandwich'! 

- the Gemini sandwich went into the machine - then got stuck fast! Something I'd feared would happen when emailing a friend about doubts

- thankfully, after my attempts failed - Len galloped to the rescue and gently retrieved the plates and the Embosslit! Visions of a totally 'kaput' machine here - immediately die cut a simple die as a tester and no lasting damage - phew

- so, I left well alone until earlier today, Thursday, one day before close of play over at the challenge, bit too close for my liking

- eventually, I stumbled across a site purporting to have ALL plate combinations for the Cuttlebug - so I dutifully got the Cuttlebug and plates set up - no luck with the suggested 'sandwich'! 

- in desperation, I actually used just plates A, the 3-D Embosslit and card with just one plate B - success!! I could have added a card shim but why chance your luck!?

- die cut a futher bauble using a snippet of white card, using the same die for additional rigidity and glued it onto the back of the gold bauble 

- popped a simple knotted small red satin bow onto the bauble - Collall glue again

- added the bauble onto the panel front using thin sticky pads

- then added the whole panel to the card front using very narrow foam tape for even more dimension

Done! And, I'vr slipped a piece of paper into the Embosslit packet with the plates for the Cuttlebug clearly itemised!

Having thought further about it, I have a feeling that the plate sandwiches I found were most likely 'pre' the days of 3-D dies and possibly referred to plain 2-D Embosslits, which I've never encountered at all but would likely explain the difficulties I stumbled across? Stumble? More like fell into ......... totally headlong!! One to watch out for it seems.

One big lesson is to rely on a hand cranked machine if in any doubt! And then, don't give up on  trial and error - with you in full command!

As well as Christmas Kickstart, I'd also like to add this card into Darnell's NBUS Challenge #70 - also about to finish! HERE.

I'm off for an early night in bed here - to fully recover!!

Sunday Snippets - Christmas card, also for Rudolph Days

Recently, I was browsing through dies on Amazon and came across a really lovely Christmas sentiment die set. The background is solid and then you cut the top outline layer and add it - thereby making a pretty stunning statement - err, so the theory goes. Possibly one of the very worst die sets I've ever struggled with. The main thing that kept me going was because I also wanted to use a second die cut on the card, using a lovely 'tall gift'  set of a stamp and matching die. Here's the end result:

I used:

- DL white card blank, tent style

- selected some smaller snippets - Tonic pearlised 'Red Velvet' and Tonic mirror 'Inca Gold' ready for the 'fun and games' to come with the sentiment die set. At this point I was blissfully unaware of what lay ahead of course, sigh

- used a snippet of the same white card stock to stamp the Gummiapan 'tall gift' and coloured it using a Polychromos pencil and Sansodor blending solution - a sort of rustic red and a perfect match to the sentiment snippet (more so in real life). Coloured the spots on the image using a Signo sparkly gold pen and let it have time to dry

- then cut a template for 100% accurate alignment before die cutting the 'gift box' - both the stamp and the matching die were a gift from a  very kind friend, I love it, thank you so much once again. In fact, the design of the die meant I didn't really need a template for accurate cutting - more kudos to Gummiapan!

- so, there was the gift all ready - now to make up the sentiment ........hollow laughter here!

- the sentiment dies are unbranded (needless to say) and I first die cut the solid red layer - immediately having my first misgivings as the card didn't want to part company with the die for love nor money. Eventually, having cut a second attempt, I did manage to end up with a perfect red solid sentiment layer

- naturally, it had to get worse! Next was the very outline narrow layer, which I initially die cut using a snippet of Tonic pearlised 'Majestic Gold'. That was practically a wrestling match to remove the die cut and it basically came out in pieces 

- so, I turned to my snippets of Tonic mirror 'Inca Gold' card and tried again. Once again, the same problem

- at that point I was ready to have a total rethink but, an old trick from early days of die cutting popped into my head - waxed paper!! 

- put the waxed paper over the die itself, wax side facing onto the die put more 'Inca Gold' snippet of card face down on top and had another try. Hoo flippin' ray!! It didn't pop straight out without a little bit of encouragement - but the old trick worked! Practially ran around the garden doing zoomies of relief.

- thankfully, adding the outline to the solid background layer using medium and fine nibbed glue pens went well - I was half expecting there to be a mismatch to be honest!

- die cut a further piece of the white card using a die by Creative Craft Products from their Slimline and DL Nestabilities range, called 'DL Stitched Straight Edge' die set - I used the second largest die in the set

- backed it with a snippet of Tonic mirror 'Inca Gold' card, just to show a narrow border, then glued that to the card front

- glued the sentiment onto the card front and then added the dear little gift. For the gift I used a snipped up thin sticky pad for a little dimension

- final step, added three sparkly gold sequins to break up the remaining white space a little 

What a marathon!!  All I can think of it that the metal used by the manufacturer isn't one which easily releases it's 'captive'!!! It's highly unlikely I would ever use the die set again - life is too short to sit peeling grapes for the fun of it. I just wish I knew, if indeed it even is a copy as I'd never seen it before, who made or makes the original design as that itself is very nice. Does anyone know?

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

- Allsorts Challenge # 815 HERE -  under 'Anything Goes'

- Rudolph Days Challenge HERE - anything goes, but obviously must be Christmas themed

- Darnell's NBUS Challenge # 70 HERE

Dudley Pupdate: It's been an uneventful week, unless you count 'Storm Eowyn', which thankfully didn't hit us personally. Those who were hit have our every sympathy, wind is so unforgiving and some of the TV footage was terrifying. During the storm I was sorely tempted to put Dudley's harness on him and attach a lead when he nipped out for a little wee in the back garden during the worst of it. Almost as if he waits as long as he can keep his legs crossed ........... then wakes us up for an emergancy trip outside Mind you, he's so nosy it's equally possible he wanted to see just what was going on out there. We had someone here about ten days ago doing a small household fix with Dudley inspecting every move he made, at one point I expected him to appear wearing blue overalls carrying a little toolbox to join in!

Remember, the results from Sarn's Challenge #497 are now published in the Snippets Playground HERE. 

Do come and play with us in the Snippets Playground - Dudley is waiting to join in with a game of 'Kiss Chase' as suggested by one wag (pun intended!). Be aware though, he charges for cuddles and there's a 100% mark-up on 'nose boops'!

Love as always, Dudley and yours truly,

Sunday Snippets - 'Love is in the Air'

My snippets card today echoes the 'theme' of our latest Snippets Challenge - 'Love is in the Air':

I used:

- 5.75" x 5.75" white card blank, side opening

- a smaller piece of the same card as the card blank, to be sure of 'matching shades of white', die cut using a die from Heffy Doodle's 'Stiched Squares' set of dies - sadly discontinued. The stitched edge panel measures approx. 4.75" x 4.75"

- die cut the word 'love' twice from a snippet of Lawn Fawn 'Watercolor Wishes' ombre paper - using a Memory Box die called 'Love Airy Script' then glued one on top of the other

- at that point I could place the word 'love' to see exactly where I wanted to place the next die to be used

- then used the unbranded 'Lacy Heart' die on the stitched panel to cut those pretty hearts

- added a further snippet of Lawn Fawn 'Watercolor Wishes' paper to the back of the panel, sticking it in place using sticky tape

- glued the die cut word 'love' in place

- final step was to adhere the finished panel image onto the card front, using narrow self- adhesive foam strips

NB. I did die cut a few additional hearts from the leftover snippets, using the hearts die - but they looked messy to me when I tried them so I left the card very clean and simple

A good few of the leftovers from the snippets I used are shown in the photo below the actual card.

I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges:

- Darnell's NBUS challenge #70 HERE  - the Memory Box 'love' and also the unbranded hearts dies are having a first outing - having been waiting patiently in the wings for ages!

- Allsorts Challenge #815 HERE under the 'Anything Goes' theme

Dudley Pupdate: Dudley truly is a little tinker! We don't allow him to take 'indoors' toys into the garden - mostly because they are likely to end up on our bed later on and we're not too keen on whatever might be on them! He has balls and weather proof toys for the back garden and a new 'Stinky Monkey' who lives in the cabin. So, the boundaries have always been set - but I don't think Dudley got the memo - or, if he did, he threw it away in disgust!! 

Once again, this past week, he tried to take 'Honka Duck' out into the garden. I heard Len telling him very firmly to drop Honka before he would let him into the back garden. Which he reluctantly did. But, the moment Len turned his back to get water for the birds - the little four-legged rascal nipped behind him, back into the house and grabbed Honka from the kitchen to take him for a jaunt around the garden! I sometimes wonder if Dudley wakes up with a plan for the day ............ on how to keep us on our tippy toes!

Remember, I've just kicked off a new challenge over in the Snippets Playground HERE.   

Hope to see you on the swings - I have no doubt that Sarn will have something extra warming in her satchel this week. I hear that she's been eyeing up little microwaves and could be doing a trade in warmed sausage or cheese and onion rolls. The other day Dudley snitched that an electrician has been installing a couple of electricity sockets in the treehouse which sort of confirms my suspicions! She fibbed earlier when I asked what the track of soil was right across the playground. She told me it was a mole ............. AND, what's worse, Dumbo here believed her!

Love as always, Dudley Dog and me

Sunday Snippets - 'Word Christmas Tree'

I had another dig around in the sweet little handmade folder of snippety toppers sent to me by a blogging friend over a year ago - and decided to use a 'word' Christmas tree die cut for my snippets card this week:

I used:

- 5.5" x 4.25" white card blank, side opening

- a snippet of Tonic gold mirror card (Inca Gold), literally trimmed just a tiny amount and set to one side

- a lovely piece of embossed white card - sent to me by another friend to protect the front of her Christmas card to us - such a lovely idea. Again, trimmed by just a little bit - then glued onto the gold backing card

- as I was putting the die cut gold Christmas tree onto embossed card, I wanted to double layer it - but of course I don't have the identical die here. However, what did I find in the packet of goodies but a second tree, die cut in plain red, what a result!

- so I glued the gold tree onto the red tree and then glued it onto the gold edged white embossed panel

- finally, added the whole front panel onto the card blank, using narrow strips of foam tape 

The leftover snippets were so tiny, just little strips and not really 'photo-worthy'.

Dudley Pupdate: We finally had some snow here. Just a little bit at first and Dudley wasn't very impressed. But, a few days later there was enough for him to get really excited and do his 'snow zoomies'. And he loves the part when he comes back into the house all damp aand gets a good going over with a towel! That seems to be all part of the fun - playing 'fight the towel'!

Very importantly, the results of Challenge #496 are now published HERE.  Four more lucky winners of the mystery prize bundles.

Do please come and play in Sarn's current challenge over in the Snippets Playground, we're celebrating 13 years since I originally took over the Snippets Playground from the lovely Jules  - and there's a prize voucher to be won too!

Love from myself and Dudley, xxx

Sunday Snippets - 'Three Little Trees'

We're celebrating 13 years  since I took over the Snippets Playground Challenge from Jules of 'Always With a Heart' How time flies when you're having fun and frolics!

I was a bit stumped for inspiration when thinking about my snippets card for today - and whilst musing I reached into one of my baskets of 'bits to use' and came across a lovely folder full of little pockets filled with die cuts and other delightfully card embellishments for Christmas. Sent by  European Playmate it has sat patiently waiting to be used since last Christmas, so I had a rootle and came up with a plan:

I used:

- 5.5" x 4.25" white card blank, side opening

- three adorable hand stamped and coloured 'Christmas Tree' shapes sent by my blogging friend, which I glued onto three snippets of Tonic pearlescent 'Majestic Gold' card which I had punched using Stampin' Up's Christmas tree punch

- a snippet of Tonic pearlescent 'Majestic Gold' card as the lower card layer, trimmed slightly and glued onto the card front

- then a further snippet of white card which needed a teeny bit of trimming before having some diagonal lines dry embossed across the bottom right hand corner - using my ScorePal. I scored six lines but with hindsight, another couple would have been better - not that they show very well in the photo needless to say!

- added the three pretty trees using thin sticky pads - first the outer two trees and then the middle one for the best chance at some decently even spacing

- final touch, the red 'snippets' sentiment, already made in two layers, using my favourite Tonic Christmas sentiments die - using a  glue pen

Dudley Pupdate: Dudley's silky hair is growing fast and at this rate he's likely to need yet another trim before very long. But, with colder weather supposed to be coming this weekend he won't be a shorn lamb just for a while yet. He's had a great Christmas ............... and has probably had too many little tasty treats slipped his way! It's really cold here with snow forecast - Dudley is loving just sniffing the crisp air whenever he's out in the garden

We have a new Challenge #497 being run by our lovely Sarn over HERE AND, it's a special one to celebrate our 13 year Snippets Playground Blogaversary. Nice prize as well!

No more leading a conga line for me as per the Playground Christmas Party report from Sarn last week - leading means you can't see what everyone else is up to! And Sarn, being the ring leader, wasn't going to snitch!

Love from myself and Dudley, 

Sunday Snippets - 'Delivering Joy Sleigh'

I fell in love with another Spellbinders set of dies recently when a Playmate over in the Snippets Playground (Kate) entered a really lovely sleigh card into Challenge 494 and was one of my picks. I discovered the set at a discounted price and the rest is history! 18 dies in total in the set by the way and this is my take, sticking very closely to the photo on the packet for a first play - more so as I found all the pieces of snippets lurking in a basket on my desk:

I used:

- white card blank, trimmed to 5.5" x 4.25", side opening

- a piece of cream card at one eighth of an inch smaller all round, with a gold Calligraphy pen run around the edge for a really fine line then set aside 

- a piece of white card (snippet) embossed using a Gina K 'Holiday Flora' folder, trimmed to one eighth of an inch smaller all round than the cream layer then glued onto the cream layer - then both were set aside

- next came some serious die cutting, using a variety of coloured snippets and also a snippet of Tonic 'Majestic Gold' card to die cut the sleigh and contents

- then assembled all the little elements - without losing a single die, yay!

- assembled the pile of presents, using clear tape on the back and stuck them into the sleigh

- then added the twinkled foliage and poinsettia plus the sweet little label and there it was, all ready to add to the card front, using thin sticky pads - finished!

I found this set of dies to be an absolute joy to work with, after finding issues with a couple of Spellbinders sets I used recently, it went together like a dream. There are some clever ideas in the design, such as grooves are impressed into the parcels as you die cut them, to make lining up the crossways ribbon a breeze. Top marks to Spellbinders from me and I'll certainly be having more plays with the set in the near future.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

- Allsorts Challenge # 812/3 HERE -  the theme is 'Use your dies'

- Rudolph Days Challenge HERE - anything goes but obviously must be Christmas themed

- Christmas Kickstart Challenge HERE - 'If it's Christmassy link it up!' 

- Darnell's NBUS Challenge # 69 - HERE

Dudley Pupdate: Oh boy, was Dudley in doggie heaven on Christmas Day - he was hopping around the kitchen in anticipation of some little extras with his normal dinner - and we didn't disappoint him of course. He adores little pigs in blankets, nicely cut up for him, most of all - mind you, he did leave the cut up sprouts I'd added, wishful thinking on my part! The bit about his Christmas present from Santa he loved best of all was ................... the wrapping paper. 😉 By bedtime he was exhausted and zonked straight out on our bed, on his back, for a long sleep, before we'd even brushed our teeth.

Remember, the results from Sarn's Challenge #495 are now published in the Snippets Playground HERE. 

Do come and play with us in the Snippets Playground - it's the final week of our December mystery bundles giveaway challenges. 

Love as always, Dudley and yours truly,

Sunday Snippets - almost Christmas Day!

My Snippets card today uses a cute unbranded die set, that Dudley bought for my Birthday back in September ...... with his very own pocket money from car washing on stilts at weekends  (just checking if you truly read this!). 

This is my Christmas card to you all:

I used:

- 5.75" x 5.75" square white card blank, side opening

- the dear little unbranded die set, featuring either a Christmas Gnome or at a stretch, Santa himself - let's refer to him as Santa here!

- selection of little snippets of card, to firstly die cut and assemble the 'Santa', sticking the parts together with glue pens and a teeny snippet of sticky tape on the back of the black lantern to pop the little flame coloured 'inners' in place. So fiddly and thank goodness for a pick-up tool by We R Stampers, rarely needed in the many years I've had it, but priceless when it does come to the rescue

- one assembled Santa, after I gave him eyes with a fine liner pen - but what to put him on, as a background? A further rummage in my easily reachable snippets basket threw up pieces of card in plain white, snippet of patterned snowy sky background (kept from making a recent card) and a scrap of Tonic 'Majestic Gold' pearlescent card

- first of all I glued the hand curved by 'moi' snippet of white card to the snowy background for later use and set it to one side

- then glued both background pieces as a single panel to a thinnish piece of white card for stability

- took a snippet of Tonic 'Majestic Gold' pearlescent card and die cut the outer part of the frame, the set of dies I used is Penny Black's 'framed' - gorgeous albeit fiddly! 

-next was the tricky part - I put the double gold frame, with it's wide apertures over the background piece of card(s) and carefully drew a cutting line along the centre of the empty parts of the frame itself then trimmed along those lines. This was so that the background wouldn't poke out beyond the frame on any side. NB, easier to plonk it straight onto a plain piece of card IMHO! 

- glued the panel to the back of the frame then glued the die cut white inner parts of the frame in place

- added a 5.5" x 5.5" white panel to the card front. using Collall glue as usual

- then added the framed image onto the the card front using narrow self- adhesive foam strips - which made it so much more robust and 'together'!

- final touch - my favouriite Merry Christmas die cut, double layered, in Tonic 'Majestic Gold' 

I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges:

- Darnell's NBUS challenge #69 HERE

 - Allsorts Week #812/3 HERE under the 'Use your Dies 'theme'

Dudley Pupdate: The magic in Dudley's eyes is so beautiful to see. He sat and watched, utterly enchanted, as Len and I decorated our twinkling Christmas tree. He's getting the vibes and is ready for his Santa hat any day now. Happy times indeed.

Remember, I've just kicked off a new challenge over in the Snippets Playground. It's our second challenge for December/Christmas with four bumper mystery prizes to be won.   

Love as always from Dudley Dog and me - and a Very Merry Christmas to one and all! 🎄🎅🎄🎅

Sunday Snippets - Decoupage 'Chee-wow-ah'!

I made this card for one of my best friends from boarding school, way back in the early days of the Beatles! She has a dear little Chihuahua - a real cutie called Patch! Now and then, as Dudley was outgrowing things like his puppy carrier and his baby harness etc., it was so nice to send them to Angie: 

I used: 

- 5.5" x 4.25" square white card blank, side opening

- a decoupage sheet by Hunkydory which was ready cut. I just trimmed off the little 'pips' holding the images to the sheet and layered then up using snipped up thin sticky pads. 

- added a layer of Tonic mirror card in 'inca Gold' to the front of the card blank - it was a snippet and only needed a teeny bit of trimming

- then I took a really precious snippet of the absolutely last piece of a Christmas paper design by LOTV in the 'Merry Christmas' pad (sob!) and trimmed just a little from the edges. That pad was much loved and so very versatile

- then glued the dear little decoupage pooch image onto the Christmas words panel - all done using Collall All Purpose glue

- final touch, added the little circular sentiment from the decoupage sheet onto the bottom right corner of the card, using a sticky pad, and called it done! 

The leftover snippets were so tiny, just little strips and I binned them without thinking to take a photo.

Dudley Pupdate: Poor little guy still has some straggly hair since his trim, so is scheduled for another session with Len. He'll be doing the Egyptian 'Sand Dance' all over the grooming table! Never mind Dudley ........ Santa tells me has something in his sack just for you! No doubt it will be loved, kissed and well licked then added to the pile as he returns to his 'True Love' - Honka! To be fair, he does return to each one of his 'babies' to give them a cuddle and a wash ............. in turn. 

Very importantly, the results of Challenge #494 are now published HERE. 

Do please come and play in Sarn's current challenge over in the Snippets Playground, we've moved onto mince pies and Christmas punch now - yay! Just scroll down from my results post - over in the Playground.

Love from myself and Dudley, xxx

Sunday Snippets - 'Special Delivery'

My snippets cards this time are heading off to Germany very shortly. We transfer funds to Kai, Mum of our two teenage English/German Grandaughters and she pops it in cash form into a card each for the girls. I usually send unsealed but already written cards from us for her to use as it seems a little more personal. Trust me - it's much easier all round and the girls have the fun of money to spend after the festivities. So, I made each of the girls a card and envelope:

I used:

- 5.75" x 5.75" square white card blank, side opening

- the stamped image was in a Gummiapan (UK Meissen) sale a year or so ago, no name but to me he's 'Skating Reindeer'. I bought three very similar different reindeer images and they too also come with matching dies, they cost me very little and one is still to make an appearance on here!

- stamped the image onto the reverse of a Tim Holtx piece of Mixed Media card, using a VersaFine Clair 'Nocturne' ink pad

- coloured the image using Arteza Watercolour pencils and a small brush and water for blending and then die cut it - using the matching die. I made a little jig of the image for best placement - always best to pay safe after spending precious time colouring an image!

- next, took a background 'snowy hillside with frozen pond' piece of card from the KanBan 'Christmas Wobblers' backgrounds pack and die cut it using a 5.5" x 5.5" Heffy Doodle 'Stitched Squares' die - now that I knew where the skating deer should be positioned

- glued the scene panel onto the card front which left a nice white outside border

- added the white 'snippets' sentiment, already made in two layers, using my favourite Tonic Christmas sentiments die - using a  glue pen

- the final touch on the card is the reindeer in action! The mixed media card was quite robust so I just added him to the scene using thin sticky pads and the usual glue stick trick whilst placing him

- made two whilst at it of course! Finished .......... Part One!

- Part Two - the 6" x 6" envelope needed something adding to make it a little more special - initially I thought about putting the German yellow post box onto the card scene itself - with a card in the reindeer's mouth as if he was on the way to posting it. Wasn't going to work though by any stretch of the imagination! Sigh

- so, I used the German post box idea on the envelope instead. The box itself with the 'extras' are all part of a delightful Charlie & Paulchen set of small dies - called 'Weihnachts Post' (Christmas Post) - bought not long after I discovered the delights of teeny tiny dies.

- used snippets of yellow card to cut the vertical sentiment strip and the actual post box plus leftover snippets of TH Mixed Media card for the envelope and the embossed panel on the little door - showing collection times, which I edged with a border of Tombow Black brush pen. Then used a glue pen to add the 'collection times' and also the envelope to the post box. The letter box itself opens to tuck things inside - cute! Glued both the sentiment strip and the post box onto the envelope

- finally, finally, die cut the sentiment 'Special Delivery' using an unbranded die and a snippet of Tonic pearlescent 'Red Velvet' card and glued that to the envelope front as well, leaving blank space above to write in the name of the recipient

I'd like to enter this card into:

Darnell's NBUS Challenge #69 - the reindeer as well as the post box dies were having a first outing!

Also Allsorts Challenge #810 - where the theme is 'It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas' or, 'Anything Goes'

Dudley Pupdate: a neighbour is having some indoor house alterations carried out and Dudley has generally coped well with the noises drifting over our garden .......... until the other day. We quickly realised that he was padding to and fro from the back to the front of the house upstairs and was evidently very anxious. He was terrified by an imtermittent sound and it took us a while to figure it out. Eventually it emerged that one of the numerous guys working indoors at our neighbours house was nipping outside to use a nail gun to assemble some woodwork. So it sounded like a faint shotgun such as we would hear during the hunting season around here - but much closer, for want of a better description. This is a pooch who is unfazed by storms, fireworks and thunder and lightning. But - take him out in a car OR get out of bed to get ready for the day and there's a real pantomime! He does keep us on our toes!

Speaking of Dudley, a couple of people mentioned it would be nice to see his new haircut. Instead, for now, I have a 'Spot the Dudley' photo - taken during this last week on our bed, in his favourite safe place where he'd literally built a circle of his most loved toys to act as his 'look out' spot with a bit of meditation thrown in:

I find it a rather sad photo, it's the pink around his eyes - which comes with being a fairly newly trimmed white Havanese. Aw, one of his ears was flipped back - they're like little pink shells inside. BTW, he literally gathers all the toy circle with his mouth and paws, no human intervention at all! And his chin is resting on Honka's neck .............. needless to say!

We have a new Challenge #495 being run by our lovely Sarn over HERE! AND, it's the first of our December/Christmas Challenges with more than one bumper prize bundle per challenge - go and take a look! Then get your snippets out.

Goodness knows what the latest storm Darragh has done to the Playground decorations ... just don't try to fix them back up with a nail gun, otherwise Dudley will go into total meltdown!

Love from myself and Dudley, 

For Brenda - 'A Winter Story'

I already entered over at Allsorts but really wanted to have a second entry with a Poinsettia theme. Brenda did almost throw down the gauntlet when I mentioned it, and I'll always try to take it up - so this is for Brenda. After almost burning the midnight oil here - it's done - ZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz:

I used:

- 5.75" x 5.75" square white card blank, side opening

- all papers are from the Stamps by Me' 'A Winter Story' kit - from last Christmas I should add, unused until now. There are various paper packs in 6, 8 and 12 inches square, plus printed A4 vellum. Some embellishments are also included and that's mostly the 6" pack I used today

- the 12" x 12" square pack of papers is plain on the reverse and, whilst too large a pattern on the front for my personal preference, the reverse using the same colour pallette is a perfect foil to pick up colours in all of the smaller patterned papers for framing purposes. Happy dance here when I realised that! 

- picked out the card front paper from the 6" square paper pack then found the perfect green for the 'frame' piece I had in mind from the 12" paper pack (reverse)

- die cut the sentiment circle from the 6" pack once again - using a Heffy Doodle 'Double Stitched Circles' die and pt it to one side

- 'fussy cut' a poinsettias embellishment from the 6" square 'A Winter Tale' paper pack, used a large ball ended rounding tool and a foam mat to round it a bit for dimension. Then 'shimmered' it using clear 'Wink of Stella'

- used the biggest die in the Heffy Doodles 'Double Stitched Squares' die set to cut the patterned paper to suit. To make it more 'lifted' I backed some plain 250 gsm white card with double sided 'Stick It' sheet bafore adding it to the reverse of the patterned sheet - before I die cut it 

- glued the green 'frame layer' to the card front then added the stitched edge wreath square of patterned paper - both using Collall All Purpose glue

- then popped the sentiment onto the front of the card, followed by the two poinsettias down below the robin. Used thin sticky pads for the sentiment and double layered thin sticky pads for the poinsettias

- final step once the topper parts were in place - added touches of clear 'Wink of Stella' shimmer to the purple berries in the wreath and one bauble in the sentiment. None of which I could captture in photos of course!

Naturally, I would like to enter this card into the current Allsorts Challenge, which is HERE - 'Winter Flowers and Fauna'.

Also, Darnell's NBUS Challenge #69 for December HERE - the 'A Winter Story' kit was having a first playtime!

Well, this was my first real toe-dipping into the wider world of predesigned and printed collections of papers, embellishments etc. Interesting and a different slant on making a card - once you choose the items to use, it's easy- ish!