Sunday Snippets - 'Silly Snowmen'

I want to join in with this month's 'Kickstart Christmas' challenge and fished out a favourite stamp set plus a Whimsy paper pack to make life easier so I could focus on making a total of six Christmas cards, and these are the result: 

I used: 

- four DL cards and two 5.5" x 4" white card blanks, tent opening

- first of all I chose six (two of each of three designs) of background papers from Whimsy's Slimline 'Frozen' paper pack

- stamped the three snowmen twice onto somesnippets of thin white card, to make it easier to use scissors, using VersaFine Clair 'Nocturne' ink

- then coloured the images using polychromos pencils to tone with the chosen backgrounds I'd picked for each snowman 

- hand trimmed the snowmen and set them to one side

- at this point I knew I was pushing my luck with the still healing hand so just put everything to one side until the next day

- on the next day I found a couple of snippets of toning Tonic 'Amethyst ' satin mirror card and trimmed them so that they framed the, trimmed at one side, slightly less wide than it started out. scenic view paper for the skating snowman

- did the same with some 'Silver Damask' card for the sledging snowman background paper. slightly trimmed at one side again

- then trimmed the remaining two card blanks down to 5.5" x 4" and did the same with more 'Silver Damask' card and the two matching scenic papers -  which was just a long snowy bank from the tree right across the card so I chopped a chunk off. It would have worked for a little family of Christmas figures but the snowman was going to look too lonely! 

- glued the backing card and then the matching scenes onto the six white card blank fronts

- used a glue pen to add the snowmen in their selected positions on the card fronts

- only added a favourite white die cut sentiment one of the card designs - the sledging snowman ones. Thought the other two designs were busy enough and didn't need a sentiment 

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

Christmas Kickstart Challenge #103 HERE - the theme is 'Snow Alert!'

Allsorts Challenge #834 HERE - under the 'Anything Goes' option as my colours are far from traditional red. green and gold!

Dudley Pupdate: It felt good to be crafting again, within some limitations. My handmade Christmas card numbers are actually quite healthy but I'm mindful that it's silly to overdo things as you pay for it the following day! Dudley is less worried about Len and myself - which is a good thing and allows him to focus on being a fluffy bundle of mischief who never seems to grow up! Today, Saturday, a lady called at the house doing a Mori Poll on radio listening habits and Dudley's early warning barks kicked in. At first she thought we had a Rotweiler! Turned out she'd been badly bitten by a dog years and was rather nervous ago so Dudley just lay at the top of the stairs gazing down at her at the front door and looking like a little angel ......... after his opening whirling Dervish display!

We have a new Challenge #517 being run by our lovely Sarn, over HERE. Do come and play - we have some lovely Playmates and Sarn serves up some brilliant refreshments. I heard her muttering about Pumpkin Pie recipes for Halloween the other day! 

Love from myself and Dudley, 

Sunday Snippets - Woodland Critters

My snippets card today was inspired by the current challenge over at Allsorts - which is 'Woodland Critters'. I needed something that could be made quickly as it's been a busy week here - and this is the very simple result:

I used:

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

- a couple of snippets of white Mixed Media card by Strathmore - I keep every single scrap of that stuff as it's not cheap

- then washed over the bigger snippet in blue and green watercolours as well as the smaller snippet in a mix of watercolours to create 'bunny brown' and put them to one side to completely dry whilst I trotted off to do other things elsewhere

- once back to the craft desk I trimmed a 5.5" x 5.5" Core-dinations orange card layer using an unbranded 'Tree Circle Frame' die. Because of the intricate design, I popped a piece of waxed paper in between the die and the card when doing the die cutting for easy release and, as always, it worked a treat! 

- then die cut the 'woodland critters' using a pair of Gummiapan 'hare' dies and just dotted their eyes using a black fine line pen

- I worked out where the hares/bunnies should be placed on the blue and green backing card I'd watercoloured earlier and glued them in place

- then ran very narrow already cut strips of foam tape around the aperture and popped the cut to size backing in place

- used the same narrow strips to then go around each side of the back of the orange panel before adhering it to the card front 

- left the card without a sentiment for now, it could be used next Easter even

The very narrow tape strips I use are another find on Amazon UK and I use them a lot and they are so flexible. The beauty of the narrowness is that you don't need to faff around snipping little cuts to go round a curve - shout if you would like the link.

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

- Allsorts Challenge #833 HERE - the current challenge is ' Woodland Critters' and if my card doesn't qualify then  it's 'Anything goes'!

- Darnell's NBUS Challenge #79 HERE. The dies were all having a first outing

Whilst Darnell is in our minds, many of you will already know that Kevin, her rather gorgeous husband who possibly keeps a portrait in his attic, was in a very serious motorcycle accident at the beginning of September. To be honest, it's miracle he survived and his recovery will take some while. If you wish to know Darnell's email or snail mail address then just drop me an email - right now our love and support is so important to one of our most loved, and talented, blogging buddies!

More on health issues, for me, just a couple of fingers and a thumb are still taking time to recover so long as I don't do anything to overstretch things, else I pay for it for a few days then have to pick up and carry on where I left off. I expect that Pat our playmate will totally understand this.

Len's hernia surgery went well and he's back home, same day too! It's a relief for it to be sorted out and now he can move on - and perhaps even take up the pommel horse again. I think not, as the 15th of this month sees a milestone Birthday for him and he's already hung up his fetching gymnastic leotards! He gets very few Birthday cards at the best of times, like many men so Dudley and I are cooking up a way to send him extras! Ha, I am SO tempted to download an image of someone on a pommel horse and a witty comment! Suggestions welcome!!

Dudley Pupdate: It's been a tough week for Dudley as he always knows when things are 'due' or different - especially on Thursday when Len was away from early morning until 5pm having surgery and then recovering from the anaesthetic etc. before escaping for home. Dudley wouldn't even touch his brekkies so I had to hand feed him. He hunted the house and garden frequently looking for his 'bestie' and meanwhile either cuddled up to me or just lay at the top of the staircase, miserably watching the front door. That's a Havanese for you, apparently he's exactly the same when I go out - but this was a longer than usual excursion in a little dog's mind!

On a bright note, just a couple of days before Len went for his op. he clipped a couple of long shot CCTV images of Dudley - surveying the area of the garden where 'Willow the Killer' cat can be found!

I added both photos as is shows Dudley on the 'move' - looking towards the far side of the house. Probably at a pigeon on the far fence - 'How very DARE they - have they no respect for my Havanese Homestead boundaries?'. Nope Dudley, pigeons don't care much at all what you think little one! x

Remember, the results from Sarn's Challenge #515 are now published in the Snippets Playground HERE.

All I hope for here is a peaceful week and plenty of healing time for Len. And, loads of cuddles for Dudders of course.

Love as always, Dudley and yours truly,

Sunday Snippets - Christmas tree, from Dudley

Dudley, clever little chap that he is, popped a couple of dies in with his recent Birthday card to me - and this card uses one of them:

I used: 

- 7" x 5" white card blank, side opening

- an unbranded Christmas tree die, it's BIG, but so perfect on a 7" x 5" card. I die cut it, plus two others, from large pieces of Tonic pearlescent 'Navy Dazzle' card

- glued the navy tree outline piece to the card blank - having first found a die for the 'star' so I could position it with similar space above and below

- die cut the 'star' using a die from a set of snowflake dies bought from The Works a good while ago - and a snippet of silver mirror card from my 'on desk' snippets basket - then glued it to the top of the tree

- at this point, I actually had three identical card blanks, each with a tree and snowflake on - the number three was important to my plan

- then used the tree die again to die cut into a precious sheet of LOTV 'Frosty' paper - carefully hoarding the leftovers of course

- it happened to be the snowflake patterned paper so I glued the top piece into the top gap in the tree and worked my way down, gluing the right piece into every third gap. So long as I kept count it was much easier than die cutting three differently patterned sheets then playing with all the pieces out of the die - that was a disaster begging to happen knowing my luck!

 - did the same with the other two sheets - of course, the final one was a doddle!

- added the fallout of the pots to the bottom of the tree then popped a silve die cut bow on, from an unbranded set of small assorted bow dies

- lastly, out came the Josy Rose Hot Fix Nailheads and I added a sprinkling of silver star nailheads towards the top of the card where it looked a bit bare

- three more cards towards Christmas - yay!

These cards were great fun to make and three different papers seemed to be just the right balance IHMO. Bonus - I later found a packet of more LOTV Frosty papers squirrelled away! 

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

- Rudolph Days August Challenge HERE 

- Allsorts Challenge #833 HERE - under 'Anything Goes'

- Darnell's NBUS Challenge #78 HERE - the Christmas Tree is a NBUS die

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

Dudley Pupdate: Dudley is delighted to know that the slow progress with my hand here gets him out of being groomed - bit by bit it's improving but still annoyingly slow. Len is having surgery on Thursday so that will mean two of us not running on full power, happy days! Earlier this week I suddenly realised that Dudley had been missing for over an hour, right through us eating our evening meal and for a good while after - and he's never far away if there's food around! Searched the house high and low and my gut told me he'd been locked outside in the back garden. Eventually, Len checked and there he was, sitting quietly on the back lawn gazing at the back door - quiet as a mouse. Not one little woof even to let us know where he was!  He dashed straight to me for a cuddle and his fur was like cold silk - but he's fine and bounced right back. Yesterday was Dudley's 'Gotcha Day' - 7 years since he came home with us to live. And of course he had an extra treat or two! Photo taken just before we picked him up from the breeder:

Love as always, Dudley Dog and me

Sunday Snippets - Autumn Leaves

This card was totally made from scratch - despite my sore paw - which does mean that there is steady albeit slow progress, yay! Hence my choice of sentiment on this card:

I used:

- 5" x 5" brown card blank, side opening

- snippet of Tonic 'Ivory White Weave Textured' card, die cut using an unbranded square 'torn edge' die. BTW, it's very cream in real life and nicely textured. At 216gsm it's too lightweight for a card blank really but perfect for backgrounds and so on  

- die cut a couple of unbranded 'Fragmented Leaves' from a snippet of shaded card found in my snippets basket

- tied the leaves together using a little scrap of twine that was peeking at me from a little pot on my desk and then adhered to the torn edge panel. The knot tying bit was the trickiest part of all!

- added a Clarity sentiment sticker 

- finally, adhered the completed panel to the card front using thin sticky foam strips - done!

The card I used for the card blank is from a Hunkydory pack of card called 'Garden Treasures'. It's  white backed and perfect for card blanks - I managed the scoring fine and also cutting it and that made me extra happy.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Allsorts Challenge #832 - HERE. The theme is 'Trees, Leaves and Plants - chosen by our Val

Darnell's NBUS Challenge #76 - HERE. The 'torn edge' frame die was having its first outing!

Dudley Pupdate: Dudley is super-alert at the moment whenever I move an inch - even to the point that if I so much as even just cough, he squeals, grabs Honka Duck ............ and races off to tell Len if he's elsewhere! Len now knows that the arrival at speed of Dudley with Honks means I might even have blown my nose!

Very importantly, the results of Challenge #514 are now published HERE. 

Do please come and play in Sarn's current challenge over in the Snippets Playground - just scroll down from the results post.

Love from myself and Dudley, xxx

Sunday Snippets - quick Christmas card

Still recovering here so took another dive into the snippets basket on my desk and came up with a stamped and coloured baby deer image, a pre-cut and scored card, a panel of white card which was already die-cut using a pretty outline die and some snippets of green and muted gold card. This the result: 

I used: 

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

- added a pre-cut white card panel just slightly smaller - die-cut using a Penny Black set of dies called 'zig-zag stackers', found in my snippets basket!

- trimmed the image which I'd coloured using Pro Markers eons ago - the stamped image was sent to me by a blogging friend so I don't know the manufacturer but it has the look of Lawn Fawn perhaps?

- then backed the image using trimmed snippets of Tonic Pearlescent 'Majestic Gold' card and (possibly SU 'Certainly Celery') green found in the snippets basket

- used my Altenew mini die cutting machine to die cut my favourite Christmas sentiment (sadly discontinued) twice, from another snippet of 'Majestic Gold' card - double layered

- then adhered the image and the sentiment in place- used thin sticky pads for the image panel and a glue pen for the sentiment

Dudley Pupdate: it was my Birthday during the week - and Dudley was in ecstasy with packages and cards being opened whilst I was still in bed. Of course, everything had to have his critical eye cast over it - along with a nose bop of approval. Thank you so much for all of your lovely cards - it's a bit like Christmas here! We've also had a few heavy downpours and at times Dudley's been playing the 'towel-down drying game' with Len. Once released, he does zoomies around downstairs and then races upstairs like a little 'pocket rocketI' to find Honka and tell him all about it! 

Progress is slow but sure on recovery after my tumbling act' back in mid-August and every day brings another step forward. Using the mini die cutting machine is one example - being extremely right handed is a bit of a drawback when it's been injured so I was delighted to find I could use it comfortably once again!

We have a new Challenge #515 being run by our lovely Sarn, over HERE. I'm still taking it easy in the Staff Room under strict instructions from Sarn - but that doesn't mean I don't have my little undercover 'spy in a white fluffy coat' reporting back to me! I just wish he wouldn't insist on wearing a pair of my sunglasses in the hope of disguising who he really is as he saunters around!

Love from myself and Dudley, 

 

Sunday Snippets - Van Gogh washi tape

Still struggling here but, as luck would have it, I found a panel of 'Van Gogh' washi tape strips already made up onto a snippet of card - languishing in a basket on my desk, yay!

I used:

- 6.25" x 3.25" slimline card blank, tent style

- a snippet of white card which I'd covered in strips of 'Van Gogh's World' washi tape a good while ago. They came from the IEBEE company, based in China, in a set of 36 tapes

- trimmed the washi panel to 5.25" x 2.25"

- a snippet of Tonic satin mirror 'Soft Amethyst' card in my snippets basket - what a stroke of luck

- then trimmed said snippet down and added it as a 'frame' to the back of the scenic panel

- at that point I knew how much room there was to play with on the front of the card blank and so added seven embossed lines down the left hand side, so that I could add the scenic panel offset to one side. Thanks again Darnell for the technique!

- added the whole completed scenic panel to the card base using thin foam tape pads - and a glue stick swiped over the pads to allow some 'wriggle room' when setting it in place

- finally, added a 'Happy Birthday' sentiment to the bottom right hand side of the card - thankfully already snipped up in the packet of Creative Expressions 'Wordies Birthday Sentiments' 

A simple offering but, being unable to do quite a few of the things we take for granted when crafting, it made me happy to get this far! For example, on the domestic front am still drinking using a straw as I can't properly hold a mug or cup by the handle - YET!

If you squint at the scene you can almost see countryside in the front, lavender fields behind a barrier of lush tripocal trees - and then hills beyond with the sun setting over them! Told you, SQUINT!

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

- Allsorts Challenge #831 HERE - the current challenge is 'Birthdays'

Dudley Pupdate: The takeover of the shower room off our bedroom continues - it's Dudley's 'safe and quiet place' as well as his office. Yesterday, given the drop in temperatures here, I switched on the heated towel rail a little while before having a shower and closed the door so that the room would heat up a bit. The upshot was Dudley lying like a sheepskin rug with his nose pressed against the door in protest against being denied entry. I was hard pressed not to chuckle at the regular glares I was given over his shoulder! When I emerged after my shower he was practically leaning against a wardrobe tapping his claws!

Remember, the results from Sarn's Challenge #513 are now published in the Snippets Playground HERE.

It looks rather like Autumn is on the way - but all the more reason to find time to play with your snippets. No doubt Sarn will be running tasting sessions for her Halloween cocktails and nibbles! And nope - no bonfires allowed Missy! Bobbing for apples is permitted though.

Love as always, Dudley and yours truly,

Sunday Snippets - Santa Claus

I'm baaaack! Am still recovering but every day brings an improvement in movement, less swelling and pain plus the spectacular bruising is fading nicely. I can type reasonably well at last and even managed to use a guillotine for my snippets card by leaning on the blade with my left hand - tricky but do-able!

My snippets card for this week was made using an already assembled decoupage Santa, a matching sentiment, a snippet/surround of red satin mirror card and a white card blank: 

I used: 

- 7" x 5" white linen card blank, side opening

- an already assembled decoupage 'Santa Claus' image by Katy Sue - it's the last of the ones I assembled last Christmas

- trimmed a snippet of Tonic satin mirror card ('Scarlet Organza') and glued it to the back of the decoupaged image 

- added the ready trimmed sentiment to the top right hand corner of the image panel - once again with Katy Sue decoupage there are a couple of extras included which are small matching Santas for the back of the card plus the envelope

- finally added the image panel to the card front using glue - finished!

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

- Rudolph Days August Challenge HERE

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

Dudley Pupdate: I'm still not out of the woods here and Dudley is a constant companion, if not beside me then mostly in his little office - aka the shower room off our bedroom! I think we need to set up a 'hot desking' rota! 

Hope to see you on the swings in the Snippets Playground! I'm gonna sit in the corner just watching and will be wearing a Mr Blobby suit for protection............. just in case of any further tumbles!!

Very fetching, innit?! 

Love as always, Dudley Dog and me

Sunday Snippets - missing in action

Hi folks

A very short post from me this week - and sadly, no snippets card either. Sarn has sorted out my results post over in the Snippets playground - huge thanks Sarn. xx

I hope to be back playing as soon as possible, as soon as I'm more recovered from a fall. Right hand in particular being out of action is a slight drawback ....... understatement of the year!

Dudley is fine and is never far from my side needless to say!

With love, from Dudley and myself

xxx

Sunday Snippets - Polar bear family

It's been far too hot to spend time crafting in my little 'oven' - so this card was a bit of a last minute make! Sorry, the light bounced and sort of bleached the image:

Inside the card with sentiment - plus a little image at the front for the envelope

I used: 

- 7" x 5" white card blank, side opening chopped down from a 8" x 8" white card blank

- the decoupaged image of a Mama polar bear and two her little ones is by Katy Sue and was already assembled last Christmas then put aside

- dug through my snippets and found a piece of Tonic 'Navy Dazzle' card just the right size. The pale blue card, also Tonic, is from a whole sheet called 'Blue Cashmere' - both are pearlescent card by the way

- just glued the image onto the trimmed pale blue and navy layers and then onto the card front - simples!

- I wanted the card front to speak for itself with no sentiment, so I glued a sentiment strip from the same decoupage set across the inside of the card

- there's one little square image on the second photo and that will be added to the envelope when I'm writing Christmas cards later in the year

I love these Katy Sue decoupage sheets - they're fun to assemble and cards can then be as simple or elaborate as you wish to make them. Only one snippet from me this time folks!

Because this card is so simple I wasn't going to add it into any challenges - but at the last minute decided to share it after all:

Allsorts Challenge #830 HERE - 'B is for............ bears, branches and berries' 

Darnell's NBUS Challenge #77 HERE- the Katy Sue image is unique - you only get one of each design in the assorted pack I bought!

Dudley Pupdate: We have a much happier little Dudley now that the temperature has reduced here - sighs of relief all round really. He's been a little trouper and has done his best to keep cool - happily accepting regular sprays of cool water. His favourite spot, as I've previously written here, is our shower room - cool tiles are his idea of bliss! Recently, I've noticed that our bedcovers become rumpled after I've left the bed looking neat - and the other morning I caught the culprit in the act. Dudley, very carefully hooking a paw underneath the top sheet to flip that and the thin fleece to one side - so that he can make a nice cool comfy nest for himself! Little monkey.

No wonder this amused Len and myself today - Saturday. It came from a friend:

So very true and I would know a Havanese happy smile anywhere!

We have a new Challenge #513 being run by our lovely Sarn, over HERE. Hopefully, the little spell of cooler weather might entice many of you to use your snippets then .come and play.

Love from myself and Dudley, 

Sunday Snippets - Thinking of you

I made a Sympathy card for a blogging friend who has just lost her husband. They often took their dogs to the beach so I chose to make a seashore themed card:

I used:

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

- a snippet of white card - from my snippets basket, die cut to  4.5" x 4.5" for the top layer, using a square stitched die by Heffy Doodle

- then used an unbranded 'Seagulls' die (NBUS) to cut an aperture into the top layer. It was slightly tricky as it's a solid die but I solved that by running a strip of low-tack tape right across the die where it splits into parallel cutout lines to make sure it sat level on the card

- then added a piece of patterned paper to the back of the aperture, slightly trimmed from full size, so it's not a snippet, using a glue pen. It's from a lovely paper pack called 'Sea Wave' from Amazon. Just ask if you would like the link folks!

- next came the silver sentiment, which came from my little stock of ready-foiled sentiments. I made a few using the laminator, WOW Fab foil and sentiments from Julie Hickeys 'Assorted Sentiments #2 Die Cut Foilables' set (116 in the set!) 

- added the whole completed scenic panel to the card base using narrow strips of self-adhesive foam - finis!

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

- Allsorts Challenge #829 HERE - the current challenge is 'Animals'

- Darnell's NBUS Challenge #77 HERE - the seagulls die was having a first outing

Dudley Pupdate: I did my usual 'ten rounds in the ring' with Dudley the other afternoon - also known as a grooming session. Trimmed around his eyes - his blonde eyelashes are so pretty - gave him a really good brush and comb from nose to tail and his coat looks so fluffy and white, especially lovely right now. Quick spritz of doggie freshner and he was good to go! 

Remember, the results from Sarn's Challenge #511 are now published in the Snippets Playground HERE.

Do come and play with us in the Playground - refreshments will depend on the weather over here in England. They do say the temperatures will soar this coming week - out with the paddling pool again! Summer isn't done with roasting us yet it seems!

Love as always, Dudley and yours truly,

Sunday Snippets - Penny Black Christmas

Here's my snippets card for today! Penny Black Masterpieces to the fore - and I actually made four cards in the same design but all different images and switched the plain card snippets that I used for the frames and sentiments to pick out colours in the images:

I used: 

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

- a Penny Black Masterpiece image from one of their Christmas themed sets - I still have a bunch of images left to use even after making four cards

- die cut the image using a die from Hunkydory's 'Extended Hexagons' then backed it with a die cut layer using the next size up  hexagon die, in pearlescent pale blue - cut from a snippet

- die cut the sentiment (double layered) using my favourite Christmas sentiment die - Tonic's Mini 'Merry Christmas' (sadly it seems to be discontinued)

 

- then thought -'hmm, the white card blank is gonna look too plain' and so I used a neat little trick that I recently spotted over on Darnell's blog and added a few embossed lines down one side. I don't know how Darnell did hers but here's what I did - flipped the card open and on the inside of the card front I added two strips of half inch wide coloured washi tape along the top and bottom edges. I could have drawn fine pencil lines instead but the washi tape left no sticky behind and no need to use an eraser of course as the inside of the card is visible to the recipient. Then used a scoring board and tool to add score lines, using the edge of the washi tape as my 'stop' markers. I do love the effect - thanks so much for the idea Darnell! lt really made such a difference

- finally added the image panel to the card front using narrow foam strips and glued the little die cut sentiment in place - finished!

I confess that I forgot to save my snippets! And I ain't going hunting for them as I know they were very small and were thrown out.

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

- Allsorts Challenge #829 HERE -  the current theme is 'Animals'

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

Dudley Pupdate: over the week we've had lowering temperatures and Dudley in particular is pleased about it! Heavy rain is forecast, although right now it looks as if we'll skip it in the South of England. I hope it misses us as we need a jemmy to lever Dudley into the garden when it's damp as he hates getting his paws wet! What a big girl's blouse he is, but adorable of course!

Hope to see you on the swings in the Snippets Playground!

Love as always, Dudley Dog and me

xxxxx

Rudolph Days - July 2025

Here's a Christmas card using pre-printed images from Etsy:

I used:

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

- the pre-printed images on white linen card from Etsy caught my eye and the Craft Addiction Square slatted dies from a lovely crafting pal popped straight into my mind

- the images come in a pack of 10, two of each design on with each die cut into a neat stitched square - stay with me though, there is a hitch 

- lined up the top layers of each image BUT also carefully checked edges to edges to see how precisely the images were printed, and some were not aligned 'bang on' for my plan - gasp, shock and horror! 

- and so, small adjustments were made, leaving two total wrecks behind - but I did end up with three decent slatted layered images at least - memo to self,  print your own images/downloads in future! I would have expected total precision - without which, the effect of the slatted image is totally spoiled

- having die cut the 'slotted' top layers, I then glued them onto the bottom layers to form what Len calls a 'Venetian Blind effect' - nice turn of phrase there!

- then dug out snippets of Tonic Mirror 'Inca Gold' card to trim a slightly larger frame for the image - only an eighth of an inch on all sides and then glued them together

- at this point I thought the image was intricate enough so added the whole image panel onto the card front using glue

- the sentiment is from a much loved Uniko set of Christmas sentiments called 'Simply Said Blocks - Christmas' - stamped using VersaFine Clair 'Nocturne' black ink

- then covered the uncut stamped sentiment with self adhesive 'laminating film' to add some shine, before trimming it down and running a black Tombow brush pen around the edges - I have a few in my little snippets pot

- added the sentiment to the card front using a glue pen and called it a wrap!

I made three, almost the same, to boost our 2025 Christmas card numbers, hobbling along like a three legged donkey here - yee-haw! 

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

- Rudolph Days July 2025 HERE

Phew - almost missed the end of July deadline for Rudolph Days Challenge - squeaked in by a gnat's whisker.

Hugs

Di xxx

Sunday Snippets - 'Peace Love and Belly Rubs'

We celebrated Dudley's 7th Birthday with him during the week - and this is the card I made from Len and myself for the little pickle:

I used:

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

- snippet of the same brand of white card for the image panel - trimmed to 5" x 3.75"

- stamped the image of puppy and parrot onto the panel using a VersaFine Clair 'Nocturne' ink pad  and coloured it using polychromos pencils before writing a 7! x onto the balloon. The stamp is from a long discontinued SU 'Bella and Friends' stamp set - SO Dudley!

- then die cut the sentiment twice using a NBUS fun die by Poppystamps called (naturally) 'Peace, Love and Belly Rubs' - using a snippet of paper from the Altenew 'Enchanting Washes' paper pack

- when time came to double layer the sentiment, it was going to be very tricky to totally line up the two layers - so I just glued one layer onto the image panel. It's such a detailed die cut but the design thankfully keeps its shape well

- then popped the fallout from the heart shapes in both die cuts above the sentiment

- glued the image panel onto a 5.25" x 4" snippet of plain toning blue card

- finally, added the completed panel to the card blank using narrow foam strips

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Darnell's NBUS Challenge #76 - HERE. The sentiment die was havibg its first outing!

Allsorts Challenge #828 - HERE. Under 'Anything Goes'

Dudley Pupdate: Dudley Dog had a lovely Birthday - many thanks for the good wishes, cards and even some doggie treats! As usual he's been keeping us, mostly Len, on our toes. I slept right through the performance but during Friday night Dudley was very restless and eventually climbed on top of Len in bed and stared right into his face. Once shooed away he apparently then insisted on standing on his hind legs beside Len's bedside and tapping at him for attention. He'd just been out into the garden but off they went outside again - just in case. Eventually he settled down - and then this morning Len found one of Dudley's favourite bedtime treats laying on the top of his bedside cabinet. It seems he'd forgotten to give it to Dudley - but that little guy knew fine well it was there waiting for him!!

Very importantly, the results of Challenge #508 are now published HERE. 

Do please come and play in Sarn's current challenge over in the Snippets Playground - just scroll down - there's a lovely prize bundle! 

Love from myself and Dudley, xxx

Sunday Snippets - 'Simple Floral Bundle'

It was serendipity when I chose to make a floral card as my Sunday Snippets card - Allsorts challenge, I'm on my way!

I used: 

- 5.25" x 4.25" white card blank, side opening - odd size due to the PB die not being A2 compatible/balanced

- die cut a snippet of white card, using a die by Penny Black from the 'posted cut out' set of outline die and set it to one side

- next  used a snippet of white card and a Poppystamps die called 'Simple Floral Bundle' to die cut all the elements for the arrangement in one go - thanks to the die shapes all being on just one very neat plate. I might have spotted this being used by one of you lovely girls and rushed off to buy it not so long ago! 

- used my Zig pens to colour the die cut foliage and flowers - so quick and esy to use!

- then glued the floral bundle onto the white panel front and left it overnight to have more of a 'think'

- next day, I backed the white panel with a trimmed snippet of Tonic Matt satin effect 'Soft Amethyst' card and also set that aside

- now I knew where the sentiment needed to be stamped so I did that step using VersaFine Clair 'Morning Mist' ink and a stamp from my very elderly and much loved let of sentiment stamps by Stampendous. called 'Happy Messages'. Plus the Misti of course! I just looked at the stamps packet and it was made in 2011 - still a favourite, and I think I originally copied Sarn when she used the set

- glued the 'stamp' shaped panel onto the amethyst background 

 Finally, added the whole floral panel onto the card front, using narrow foam tape for dimension

Sorry, what few snippets were left did end up in the bin. Little tip when using a stamping platform such as the Misti to stamp something right into a corner. You can buy a set of 'corner extenders; or just use the little trick of turning your platform and the card the other way up, position your stamp (I always use a clear marked plastic grid for alignment). That  means you will be stamping in the middle of the platform and keeps you away from fighting corners!

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

Allsorts Challenge #828 HERE - my entry is for the current challenge of 'Pretty Flowers' 

Darnell's NBUS Challenge #76 HERE- the Poppystamps 'Simple Floral Bundle' die was having a first outing

Dudley Pupdate: Once again, it was changeover time for Dudley's beloved Honka Duck - never easy to see his anxiety when he can't find the rancid old one - even when a new one is right beside him.However he is now fully settled with 'new' Honks and all is well in his little world. All the more so as he's discovered that the back garden door is generally left open in the current heat - and he can quietly play peek a boo around the door ........... before diving across the garden to 'meet and greet' one local bird killer cat in particular. Said cat is way too fast and appears to be in training for the pole vault event at the next Kitty Olympics - over a six foot high fence in one leap, from a crouching position AND without a pole. Impressive!! Dudley just sighs and comes back indoors to flop down and cool off ................. until the next inkling of Killer Kat! 

Dudley is seven years young on Tuesday - how time flies! We have small plans for the day depending on the weather. He will have some cheese and bacon flavoured treats, a card and a new Birthday Boy Bandana. Plus some cards from wondeful friends as well! He has a whole ton of toys, many of which he just ignores, so a new toy would possibly be like me giving my Mum a new tea towel on Mothering Sunday. I didn't KNOW and didn't stop to even think, OK?

We have a new Challenge #511 being run by our lovely Sarn, over HERE. We did spend ages cleaning and refilling the paddling pool to beat the hosepipe bans- only to see that rain is meant to be on the way!

Love from myself and Dudley,