Sunday 30 October 2016

Pixie's Snippets Playground - Week 253

Crumbs, that week went fast! And we've just  changed the clocks by an hour here in the UK overnight - you did, didn't you? That means darker evenings earlier of course, just in time for Halloween tomorrow.

Thank you so much for all the kind comments and get better wishes re. 'shingles'. Thankfully the rash is already clearing nicely, most probably as I went onto medication the very same day - which was a fluke as I only mentioned it during a routine appointment. The back is on the whole less painful too - getting in and out of my car is a nightmare though. Little by little is how I'm handling it - trying to keep moving seems to be key, loads of fluids and thinking happy thoughts :)

Anyhow - here's my snippets make for this week:
I used:

- 4.25" x 5.5" white card blank, tent style

- a snippet of SU 'Marina Mist' card stock, embossed using a SU folder called 'Happy Heart'. Trimmed to just slightly smaller than the card front and then glued in place

- the little elephants were great fun to play with as I used the 'mirror technique' for them. The stamp set I used is called 'Love You Tons' by Lawn Fawn and it does actually come with two slightly different little elephant stamps which face one another but I wanted to do a mirror image of  just one - to prove it can be done really!

- the secret is over here on Jennifer Maguire's blog and it's much easier for you to see how she did it than for me to explain

- so, I stamped both elephants onto a snippet of white card facing one another, following Jennifer's video. I used Memento 'Tuxedo Black' ink and a stamp from the Paper Smooches 'Mirror Blocks' set, plus a little elephant from the 'Love You Tons' set. Found I had to work very fast. Jennifer recommends using VersaFine ink as it doesn't dry too quickly and I can see where she's coming from on that one! 

- then coloured both elephants using a grey Pro marker before stamping a little heart above (from the same set) using SU 'Real Red' ink

- then I stamped the sentiment from the same set directly underneath the elephants and would you believe there was a teeny bit of fluff caught up on the ink pad so I ended up with a bit of a smudge - sigh :(

- not to worry, I just stamped the sentiment again onto a different piece of card and slightly rethought the card design :)

- trimmed a snippet of SU 'Real Red' card stock plus the image and the sentiment then popped them onto the red card using a tape runner rather than glue (not sure why and it was daring in itself!)

- added the image/sentiment panel to the card front using fun foam to raise the panel - finished

My card design bears more than a passing resemblance to one of Jennifer's cards on the blog post linked above - I really liked the idea of the red, white and turquoise blue together, with embossed hearts on the backing panel.

Of course you can achieve good results using just a piece of acetate and no Misti - I've done this in the past, especially for 'reflections' in water or on snow when you want to 'flip' the image. But IMHO the Mirror Block stamps and the Misti do take a lot of the 'risk' away. You get the chance to stamp over the image again totally accurately if you aren't happy with the first 'press' and the Mirror Blocks are much less likely to 'smudge' as they're made of polymer just like clear stamps rather than slippery acetate.

But there again, we always managed to cope doing it the old way didn't we? I often stop and wonder when the craft world will run out of ideas to tempt us into spending more money - not likely for a good while yet!

Lets move straight onto the weekly peek at the picks, I've kept the numbers down this week - purely as am limiting my time spent at the desk:

I really love this card, made by Sue T. A fabulous way to use up little snippets of mirri card and I, for one, can't bear to throw away even the smallest snippet of any sparkly or shiny card :)

Kath shared this really elegant card with us. I love the way she used vellum with a gorgeous peel off - perfect use of a vellum snippet and also for Less Is More's challenge for last week which was to 'use vellum or acetate'.

Just had to include this wonderful note pad, made by Alice. It sums up Autumn perfectly and really is something I'd love to try making at some point in the future. My understanding is that Alice used the outer cover of a hard back diary or similar as the starting point - so it's clever upcycling too!

Lovely to see Bozena playing along with us again - and what an inspirational Christmas card too! Some wonderful 'colour smooshing' on the blue panel there as well.

Sonia flew in with this marvellous pop up slider Christmas card to show to us. As always, it's an absolute delight and there are loads of details over on Sonia's blog if you want to have a go yourself :)

And, Sue and Roy tied the knot on 22nd October! After his illness and such a worrying time it was really heartwarming to see so much happiness on their special day. The official photos should be on Sue's blog before too long (I hope so Sue?) - meanwhile here's one to keep you going :) Such a pretty outfit as well!

We had two new Playmates last week - and 57 of you came to play in total. As always, such wonderful inspiration from all of you!

This is the sweetest bookmark, made by 'Paperpapier' - I think it's so pretty and very clever how it slips over the corner of the page.

Helen hopped into the Playground to share this beautiful card - I love the 'camouflage' technique and this really is such a perfect example!

Welcome to both of you and we hope you come back and play really soon!
 
And it's prize draw time, for the prize from last week. Our winner of the Tonic Studios 'Scotty Dog' die and the Inkylicious sentiments stamp set called 'Seasons Greetings' is:
 
Well, that gave me goosebumps when Jenny's number popped straight out of the Random Number thingy! First of all, Jenny's card last week featured Scottie dogs and tartan as my own snippets card did - by pure coincidence. And, Jenny's nickname at school was 'Scottie' so she has a real affinity with Scottie dogs!! Well done Jenny, I'm sure everyone else will agree that this prize is just perfect for you.

Can you please drop me an email with your address in and I'll post your prize off as soon as possible! My email address is on the right hand side bar. 
 
Sadly, no-one took up Penny's kind offer of tickets to the Crafting Live Show at Peterborough on 11th/12th November. But it was really kind of you to offer the tickets Pen!

This coming week's prize is:
One set of Paper Smooches 'Mirror Blocks' stamps (the largest stamp is 2.5" x 3.5" by the way) and also a Lawn Fawn 'Love You Tons' dinky little set of stamps. Just like I used for my snippets card today.

The Snippets Challenge will run for one week and the Playground gates will close at 11am UK time on Saturday 5th November. The gates will open again at midnight UK time on the same day.

A maximum of ONE entry and please say in a comment if you wish to play and be a possible winner of the prize. Once again, I think both items work really well as a pair but if you have a burning desire for just the 'mirror blocks' stamps or the 'Love You Tons' stamps then please feel free to say and if your name pops out then I'll do a second draw for the item you don't want. Please also link back to the Playground in your blog post to be eligible for the draw.

Mr Linky is below - please let me know if you have any problems linking, it's easy for me to sort out so don't struggle on alone :)

Have a lovely week!

Parsnip (aka the little white peril) is in disgrace after doing a practice run with green eyeshadow ready for Halloween. But he sends a wave from the 'naughty corner' anyhow!

61 comments:

  1. aww! thats such a cute card Di :) love it .... the top picks are breath taking!! I especially lovedddd the elegance in Kath's white and silver card, so so pretty. Would love to play along this week for the prizes.
    Hugs
    Preeti D.

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  2. Hi Miss Di, and the lovely Parsnip.
    Wonderful featured cards this week, and I am a very happy bunny to have won this lovely die and stamps.
    Your card is fantastic, and you are very clever mirroring those images.
    Love the hearts embossing on that blue card also.
    Will be back later with my entry this week.
    Lots of crafty love. Jenny L.

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  3. I'm so glad that you are getting better Di...take care. I absolutely adore this card and the techniques..it opens up so many possibilities. I would love to win the prize if I come out of the hat. Congratulations to Sue...how heart warming. Lovely picks as always. It's going to be sooo dark tonight..eek! Have a lovely week and thanks for all your hard work. Hugs xxx

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  4. Hi Di, thank you very much for having picked my work! :D All the other picks of the week are just amazing, love them all, expecially Sue's card.... how brilliant and perfect for Christmas! Love the dotted background that feel as falling snow!
    Congrats to the winner, enjoy your prize!
    Also here time has changed, and the clocks have been back by an hour.
    I'm not happy of this :( I hate short evenings!
    Glad to hear that your back feels well.
    Your inspirational card is a delight with these supercute elephants and the elegant embossed hearts!
    Hugs, hope to have time to enter

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  5. I'm pleased to hear you are feeling a bit better - continue taking care and don't overdo things. As my DIL is really into elephants I'd like to be included in the draw this week please. Great card and thanks for the link which I'm off to check out.

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  6. So glad to hear you are feeling better, and like me you caught your shingles early and the medication works. Take it easy. Lovely card and thanks for offering the tickets. :)

    xx

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  7. Thanks for choosing my card as one of your picks this week. Love your cute card and will be in the playground later in the week for a chance to win the fab prize.
    Kath x

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  8. Cute elephant card with great embossing Di.
    Great picks too, and congrats to Jenny on her win.

    Good to hear you're making progress and feeling better.

    Hugs, Sarn xxx

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  9. A lovely photo of Sue and Roy!

    Very cute card with the elephants and great picks, take care Di, hope the back will be better soon. I'm here for the fun :)

    Love and gentle hugs
    Maarit

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  10. Just uploaded my own entry and YES PLEASE this week.

    Lovely pic of Sue, your make and selection - good to read that your shingles is going along OK and the rash has cleared - hope you will soon be feeling better

    Kathyk

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  11. Glad you're starting to feel better. I remembered to put my clocks back - but of course my body didn't so I woke up an hour early.
    Yes please to this week's draw, I'm really amazed at how clear your reverse images look. I've always used my brayer for reversing images, which not only means you are restricted to an image no bigger than the circumference of the roller, but also gives quite a faint image, more suited to a reflection than anything else
    Jane

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  12. Happy to hear that you're on the mend Di! Your heffalump card is so cute!
    Fabulous selection of picks (again!) - thanks everyone for the inspiration!
    Helen x

    PS - I'm a 'yes please' for the adorable prize :0)

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  13. Glad to hear that you're on mend Di. Your card is gorgeous, love the elephants. I'm playing just for fun this week.

    Sue xx

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  14. I entered with my project and yes, please, for the lovely prizes :)

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  15. I love this mirror stamping Di, and yet another great reason for buying the Misti and those LF elephants are so cute and a great sentiment too. Wonderful highlights again this week and congratulations to Jenny for winning last week. I did see that Scottish dog in a shop recently and it is so cute and such a good sized die I might just have to go back and get it. I would love to go into the draw for the cute stamps and mirror blocks, so 'yes please' from me. So glad there is a little improvement in the Shingles Di. x

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  16. Hoping to make it to The Playground this week--would like to win just the blocks. How neat is that--perfect winner of the Scottie Dogs! So glad your Shingles are better & hoping your back improves, too, Ms Di! Love your card & the picks are amazing!

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  17. Hi Di, I'm very glad to hear that you are beginning to feel a little better. Hopefully being diagnosed early will clear it up a bit more quickly.

    Your card is really sweet. I have this set so only playing for fun this week. Congratulations to Jenny on her win. Again a lovely selection of lovely and inspiring entries that you've picked this week. Welcome to the new playmates. Barbxx

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  18. Hi Di, me again would love a chance to win your stamping items. Take care and well done to Jenny great selection of cards again x

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  19. OMGoodness, Di, both of the stamps in the prize today have been on my wish list for months! Woohoo! Very excited about this prize! Please count me in! Your card is soooooo cute! I love those little elephants! Awesome job on the mirror imaging! I remember seeing this technique on Jennifer McQuire's blog too and and have been wanting to try it! Congrats to all the picks - there are some real beauties this week! Big congrats to Jenny on the win! I'll be back later to link up!

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  20. I just linked up my tag! It's all die-cuts so I used a lot of snippets! Thank you for your playground - I love playing here! So happy to read that your Shingles are healing nicely! Hope it's gone soon! Have a great day!

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  21. Hi Di

    Pleased you are feeling a little better .. .. hopefully you will be sorted soon!

    Great card and technique. Found the heart no problem LOL!!

    Just playing to reduce my snippet mountain .. .. but someone is going to have lots of fun playing with your lovely prize.

    Love Jules xx

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  22. l just love your image Di great technique too! another selection of amazing picks well done all and many congrats Jenny enjoy your win .....pleased to see your on the mend Di take care sending lots of love once my card is loaded l will be playing just for fun xx

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  23. Glad you started the medication early and are improving, Di. Remember to not overdo it!

    Really cute card, the elephants are adorable. Love the embossing folder too. Super picks and gorgeous photo of Sue on her special day. The prize was perfect for Jenny, so glad that her name came out of the hat.

    I'm playing for fun this week. xx

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  24. Right, where do I start, well the first thing that really had me cracking out laughing was, 'loads of fluids and thinking happy thoughts' - been on the wine again eh!
    But really glad that the 'shingles' have been sorted pdq.
    Love your card with all the hearts and the super elephants.
    To be honest if I'd have been here and you had not picked this card by Sue T then I would have had something to say. I have got this die and it is not easy to use at all, so a huge, huge congratulations is in order from me and I shall pop along to tell her so, especially as I couldn't do it before due to being in Bonnie Scotland.
    To be honest I am shattered.
    Keep up the good work, lovely Lady.
    Sorry for not commenting on any of your cards for last week no internet.

    Kath x

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  25. Just for fun this time Miss. loving your ellie card. feel I should add an elephant joke here.
    What do you call an Elephant at the North Pole?
    Lost!
    What do you call an Elephant in a phone booth?
    Stuck!!

    Ok. Ok I'm quitting whilst I'm ahead.
    Hugs Mrs A.

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  26. Beautiful picks and your card is so cute! These stamps will be going to the top of on my wish if I don't win them, so yes please Miss, I had forgotten about that video from Jennifer so will hunt it out again and hunt through my wooden stamps to see if I have something I can use instead Karen xx

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  27. Hi Di, the weeks do fly by, but it's I like Sundays, especially if I can link a snippet card :) Your card is lovely - I like the greeting from the elephants. I read with interest how you mirror imaged them and will be following your link to see how it's done. Fab showcased cards again this week. Glad to hear you are recovering from shingles, I hope your back eases soon. Take care. Hugs, Elizabeth xx

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  28. Hi Miss Di & the lovely Parsnip.
    I am back with this weeks entry, but only playing of fun as I mustn't be greedy as I won last week, and mustgive other playmates a better chance.
    Lots of crafty love. Jenny L.

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  29. Awwwwwww.....what an absolutely cutie one this week. Love it!

    It has been so hectic lately. Realized I am hitting the deadline for this month's progressive challenge at Outlaws. Made a quickie one (all white cardstock pieces are leftovers/miss-cuts from making card bases -- definitely snippets) and of course I am joining the fun here at Playground.

    Yes please for the prize/s.

    Hugs,
    Eemeli

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  30. Such a sweet card Di and the technique sounds so clever. Yes please to being in the draw this week and will try and visit some of those gorgeous picks soon too, Cathy x

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  31. Aaaah so adorable, Luv Sam x

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  32. This is such a sweet card, Di! The embossed hearts and adorable elephants double the message!

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  33. Adorable card Di ... and great job with the Mirror technique. Have not tried that. I imagine the blocks would make it much easier. :)

    Glad you are feeling a bit better. Take care. xx

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  34. Congrats to the winner, and you're right that she was the perfect pick to win the Scottie dog die prize!! So many beautiful picks this past week, and a really sweet card from you. Your mirror technique was a hit Di, and I'll have to check out the video to see it was done. Yes please to the prize package and hope you are feeling better every day

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  35. I am so happy to hear you are doing much better...back and shingles...no fun!
    Your picks are just gorgeous. So much creativity. TFS Di. I would love to have your prize. Happy Stamping...on Snippets! Hugs, nancy

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  36. Whoops..I accidently entered your Pixie Snippets Playground url on my 1st photo. I just entered my url correctly. That is what happens when I am in a hurry. Hugs, nancy

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  37. Great ellie snippets card, Di! I never have mastered that mirror technique so I need to have a look at JM's video. You are becoming my personal teacher/advice giver re techniques! You really picked the cream of the crop this time (congrats to our Miss Jenny L!) and what a treat to see a photo of Sue and Roy on their wedding day!! Thank you! I'm glad to hear you are feeling better and I hope it continues apace!! Love and hugs, Darnell

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  38. More fab MISTI advice - I went and watched the video. Love your card, that embossing background looks fab. Just playing for fun. L x

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  39. Sweet card Di, so glad to hear you are starting to feel better, love the mirrored Nellie's and the embossed background!
    Lovely prize, thanks for the chance to win!
    Hugs, Hazel x

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  40. It's good to know you're feeling better, and I hope you continue on the road to a complete recovery and good health once again. Your card is so sweet and I love all the hearts in the embossed background! Congrats to all of your weekly picks as well as Jenny L for her win! Have a great week ahead :)

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  41. Gorgeous card and fab picks. I'll say yes to the prizes too, please.
    Hugs,
    Em xxx

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  42. Hi Di your card is gorgeous I love the elephants they are so sweet. Yes please to the prize. Take care. Hugs Jackie

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  43. Hi Di, your elephants are adorable. I would love to have a chance at the prize. I'm off to see how you created the mirror image of the elephant. Thanks for sharing the link.

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  44. Thanks for sharing your tons of love card with the elephants. Tons of fun too. I never had luck with the mirrored images back in the day so I'm not sure I'd fare much better now. I do like the concept of it though. When you said you got a bit of fluff on the greeting and made a smudge I was surprised to learn that. I thought only those of us who live in houses filled to the brim with cats had that problem?!

    If I play with week, I'd like a chance at the prize. I'm not sure what I'll come up with this week and if snippets will be involved.

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    Replies
    1. The piece of fluff turned out to be from a baby wipe PJ!

      xx

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  45. Gorgeous card and fab picks. I'll say yes to the prizes too, please.
    Hugs, Majda xo

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  46. Oooh what an adorable card you have made Di and Thank you so much once again for picking my card...such an honor always and I do love your picks this week...will be visiting each one soon
    A yes from me for the prize!!
    Cheers
    Dr Sonia

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  47. Lovely works by all playground folks and you, also Miss! and yes please to the yummy candy,
    Shaz in Oz.x

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  48. Hi Di...what a cute card you made, beautiful picks.

    Yes for the prize.

    Hugs xx
    Meena

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  49. Your card is adorable and so cute...those little elephants just grab my heart...so yes for me. Great picks, always fun to see, and sorry I didn't mention my grandson to you, it has been such a whirlwind and the news isn't too good from the DR's, but the kid is determined to get back on his feet and I just keep praying that will be what will happen and he will be 'the exception'...he has/had so much going for him, 3rd year of college and he is only 15!.

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  50. Gorgeous card, so cute! I would love the to win the fabulous prize, thank you for the chance! Fab picks - love Sue's photo's and congrats to Jenny! xxx

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  51. Hi Miss Di, glad to hear that you are on the mend again, my physio recommends hot water bottles for back pain, it works if a little slow... playing just for fun this week... have a great weekend... Megan

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  52. Di another lovely selection of cards, love your cute elephants.
    A super wedding photo to of Sue and Roy.
    Managed to make time to come over and play again, making the most of it before the Christmas rush at work.
    Happy crafting, hugs Erika. x

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  53. Hello all, so good to see you in the Playground this week. I'll be adding my entry tomorrow morning but will be playing only for fun this time around. I do love the little elephants on your card, Di! So sweet. :-D

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  54. As always, a great selection of cards Di, and I love your elephant card! Congratulations to Jenny too.
    Janice x

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  55. so cute and adorable, Di.
    yes for the prize, please.
    big hug

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    Replies
    1. aha, now I see your mirror technique, brilliant idea and perfectly done! congratulations to sue and roy!
      ... I've almost missed your challenge because of the clock change ;)

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  56. I sourced the mirror stamps as soon as I saw them here, Di.
    Still practising with the technique. Part of my stamp won't show. Not sure why. Need to practise with a different stamp, I think!
    Maybe I'm not quick enough...
    Love this card, btw. X

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This is a public blog. Those leaving a comment on any post on this blog or entering a piece of artwork into a linky do so in the knowledge that their name and blog link are visible to all who visit this blog and in so doing have published their own personal details and consented to my use of that personal information should they be selected as a winner or to accredit work.