Sunday 1 September 2019

Pixie's Snippets Playground - Challenge #360

Mixed week, some nights almost too hot to sleep and now it's dropped in temperature a bit. To be honest we're very grateful - and no doubt Dudley is as well. That little chap took to sleeping in the downstairs loo/bathroom at times. He'd obviously worked out the coolest spots in the house.

Good news on the gout front. The latest blood test showed the uric acid level to be just in the clear zone. To be on the safe side the dose is being upped one step further. I've had a few slight twinges to be honest, but that's to be expected as the crystals disperse from the joints in my feet and ankles........... and a quick gobble down of a couple of Colchicine pills knocked it on the head. Long may the good news last say I! For a while it felt as if every flipping blog post was gloomy on the health front - and that's not why you come here to play.

Plus, the new washing machine is brilliant - although I still have to refer to the instruction booklet at times. Sometimes appliances really are too clever and offer too much for their own good.
 
And here's my snippets card for this fortnight:
I used:

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

- almost a whole sheet of 'bokeh' style paper for the background, from the fabulous Carta Bella 'Beach Day' paper pack, trimmed to the exact size of the card front

- snippet of lime green (for the edge of the striped snippet) - both found in the back of the pad in an envelope pocket where I always store snippets

- layered the lime green topped by the striped strip using a small tape runner and set it to one side

- pulled out a selection of little snippets from the same paper pad and set to making the little gift bags using a snippet of black card for the handles. I used a super little die set by MFT (seems to now be discontinued, although I bet stockists might well still have them in their clearance) - called 'Gift Bags'

- I needed to make the little bags first so I could plan where to stamp the sentiment - I made the bags up using a teensy bit of very narrow red line tape to adhere the handles to the backs. On a couple of the bags I also added a handle dropping downwards and added a little bit of glue using a Zig glue pen to hold it down against the bag itself

- then I could check for the sentiment placement/spacing and of course used the Misti and Memento 'Tuxedo Black' ink along with a Happy Birthday stamp from MFT's 'Brushstroke Expressions' set of sentiment stamps

 - ready to assemble the card now so added the striped band to the background using a tape runner - letting the strip overhang on one side (I left it too long deliberately) so I could trim it right at the edge from the back of the sheet which ensures a nice straight line


- then glued the background sheet, now with striped strip and sentiment already done, onto the card front

- added the little gift bags using glue for a couple at the back and thin sticky pads for the two at the front - finished!

The card is more vibrant in real life, with very rich tones - sigh. It's a good idea to use little snippets from the same paper pad when using this die set as they would probably all complement one another nicely. And, I reckon the same design would be good to make Christmas cards as well - the bags could be cut from patterned paper (the pattern needs to be quite small), plain colours or even metallic or pearlised papers. Or even create your own using Distress inks or alcohol inks. Lots of potential - and of course you can switch the orientation of the bags around as you wish too! My card is similar to one I found on line, needless to say 😉

So, the prize this fortnight is:
An MFT 'Gift Bags' set of dies and an MFT 'Brushstroke Expressions' set of sentiment stamps. Both items make up the one prize BTW, I don't want to split them. Our postage seems to have rocketed for posting abroad and I'd rather not have to face possibly two lots of overseas postage for one single challenge as you never can tell what the Random Number selector will pick.

As always, the Snippets Challenge will run for two weeks and the Playground gates will close at 11am UK time on Saturday 14th September. The gates will open again at midnight UK time on the same day. 


It's a maximum of ONE entry, please say in a comment if you wish to play and be a possible winner of the prize. Please also link back to the Playground in your blog post to be eligible for the draw.

Remember, if you link into the Playground and don't say clearly that you want to be in the draw in a comment on here, then you will be bypassed if your name comes out of Mr Linky. I'm sure you all know I ask for a positive 'yes' on the blog post itself - just in case you're only playing for fun - otherwise I don't add you to my little list.


We've been removing more of the barriers to allow Dudley to roam more freely round the house when we aren't watching him. Fingers crossed that he really is totally toilet trained, has been for quite some time now, and isn't interested in chewing things indoors that he shouldn't. The garden is a different matter entirely - he loves to dig and also find stones and twigs to play with.

I managed to take a quick photo of him in between writing this yesterday (Saturday), lying in one of his favourite places now that the barrier across the top of the stairs has been taken away. He has a good view of the front door from his vantage point, across the first step down - where he also has a good chance of making you fall over him!:
Ha, he also has an appointment at the groomers on Friday (that came round quick) to look forward to, tee, hee! Not sure why I'm laughing, I have an appointment with the dentist on Monday - just the hygienist, but even that gives me the shudders.

Edit - sorry, I totally forgot to add Mr Linky. He's up and running now! Thanks for the heads up Val - have linked you in!

Lots of love from us all - Parsnip, Dudley and of course me,

 

59 comments:

  1. Oh golly--that may be my favorite Dudley picture! Must say--you're a brave soul, Di--haha! So happy to hear the gout has stayed under control--a victory for sure! Such a clever, cute card & perfect way to use up some snippets! I'll just play for fun this time.

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  2. A great photo of Dudley and he looks so cute and cuddlesome Di, don't know if that is a proper word but it sounds right for him...lol. So pleased your gout is responding so well to the meds and hopefully you will have seen it off completely shortly. I love your card with the large sentiments and the sweet little parcels and really super papers you used for the background and parcels too. If I get a card in I am a 'yes please' for the prize. x

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  3. So happy to hear that your health is going better, even if you have to be a little patient with the next step. Glad to hear of Dudley new free zones, too! The highter stair is the better place for the Boss of the home :D
    Brilliant card, so unusual and surely a clever way to use little scraps!
    Hugs

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  4. I could gaze into Dudley's sweet little face all day...but then I'd never get anything done so that's the end of that! Yes please to this fun set of stamps and dies and I am so happy to hear that the gout is getting the heave-ho. I'm sure you're looking forward to an autumn and winter that is pain-free, so that you aren't slowed down at all for the holidays!

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  5. Brilliant die set for using up snippets and your card is super - shame the set is discontinued though. Good news about your gout problems - lets hope it stays well away from now on. Another adorable Dudley picture even if he is a trip hazard - what would 'elf-and-safety' have to say I wonder!!

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  6. Wahoo! Great news about the gout.
    Great picture of the pup
    Great card and prize
    It's all GREAT!

    Have a great day! Xxx

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  7. It is a yes please from me for a chance with this handy die - couldn't find Mr Linky though!

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  8. Hi Di, aww it’s like having a new baby in the house with stair gates and barriers lol he looks just so content such great company he looks, your card is as alway a good one using up lots of snippets and so pleased for you regarding the levels coming down and the meds that have finally kicked in don’t over do things enjoy your day sending lots of love x

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  9. Good morning Di I am bright and breezy here today. What a super card you have made and yes it would be fab for Christmas designs too. Yes please to the lovely prize. I am glad the gout is settling at last and the Dudley is growing into a good boy. Happy September lovely sunshine again today. Hugs xxx

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  10. So glad to hear that your gout is going, going, GONE! Hope it stays away for good this time. Love your Dudley reindeer and your sample card using the gift bag die and sentiments set. (Which, BTW, I'd love to win.)

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  11. Hi Di your card is so cute I love it. I am so pleased that you are feeling better. I am here just for fun this time. Take care. Hugs Jackie

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  12. I pray the Gout stays away. Thank goodness for cooler weather for y'all. I must be the only person in the world that likes going to the dental hygienist. They have a great saying. "Ignore your teeth. They'll go away". It makes me laugh.

    Love your great snippets card. So cute. [Bunny]

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  13. Sure wish I could jump through this computer and give Dudley a hug....I'd give you one too of course! That's great news on the gout! Hang in there with it all.
    Love your cute and fun card. I'll have to try and play along again this time too.
    Lynn

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  14. Good news on the gout front, Di, hope it continues that way. Dudley looks so angelic in the photo, but perhaps he's just planning his next mischievous adventure. 😊 Great card and the dies are perfect for using up the tiniest snippets. Love the font on the sentiments too. I'll be back to play later and I'll be a Yes Please to have my name in the hat for the lovely prize. xx

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  15. I LOVE your little shopping bag card! Fab make and a super pic of Dudders too.

    Just playing for fun this time - your prize looks great but I seldom die cut, so it make sense to have someone else win it!

    Happy Monday

    Kathyk

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  16. Pleased to read the gout is improving, a really painful condition, Yes please love the dies

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  17. Hi Di - so glad you are finding relief from the gout. Just had my first flare yesterday. Oh, MAN, it's painful. My Honey gave me lots of foot rubs and when he would get to *the spots* I almost screamed out KELLY CLARKSON!!! hahaha Never realized how much it impacts, walking, sitting, sleeping, etc. Lucky for me, mine is caused by osteoarthritis mashing up with my other arthritises (rheumatoid, fibromyalgia and 2 spinal forms) and causing changes to my joints. So, while painful, the massaging does help. Gonna check into that Colchicine. What mg and how much you take? I see it's sold on Amazon.

    Lovely card - your tiny gift bags are adorable. I'm doubting my fingers could handle those handles without WW III starting up. Ha! So kudos to you! xoxo

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  18. Oh, I dearly love those bags, Di! What a great set of dies. I agree that they would work fabulously for Christmas cards. I guess I'll have to throw my hat into the ring for the prize this time.
    Dudley is his usual adorable self. :-D I'm so glad to hear that the gout is nearly gone. I know how painful it is, having suffered bouts of it myself in the past.

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  19. Di, what an adorable card! Love all those bags...and the little handles just complete them. Wonderful way to use snippets. Yes, please, to the lovely prize!!! And I thank you for all the work you put into all of this!!
    So glad to hear the gout is much, much improved. Be careful not to trip on that most adorable stairway ornament!!
    Thank you for another fabulous challenge!!
    <3 J

    jwoolbright at gmail dot com
    HerPeacefulGarden.blogspot.com

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  20. I'm so happy to learn that you're holding that nasty gout away, and feeling much better. That kind of pain you can live without! As for Dudley, I love how comfy he appears to be on the step where he can keep a watchful eye on all the goings on in the house! He's too cute and very smart too! Hugs to him and to you both! Yes please to the prize this time around - I love the little card you made with those cute gift bags, and the sentiment dies will always be quite useful for card making! Thanks much for the fun challenge again!

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  21. A lovely card Di and I would love a chance to win the prize please.

    Glad to hear things are improving with your gout and I love the latest Dudley photo - he's so cute!

    Kath x

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  22. Fab card, Di. Glad you're feeling better too xoxo

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  23. Lovely design on this cute card. This is my first time visiting and participating in your challenge. I'm glad to hear that you are on the mend. Have a great week!

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  24. That's excellent news Di, I'm so pleased that you're continuing to feel better. Bad health is no fun whatsoever!
    LOVE your handbags card, yes please to be in your draw for these goodies :)
    And Dudley is gorgeous as ever - him and Ruby must be on the same schedule as Ruby is off to get smartened up tomorrow!

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  25. Hi Miss Di

    What a cute card .. .. you could use the smallest of snippets with that lovely prize.

    Sorry to hear your gout has been playing up again. Hopefully they will have it sorted this time with a little more adjustment of your meds.

    I see Dudley is still as cute as ever!

    Just playing for fun .. .. but a great prize.

    Love Jules xx

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  26. I love you Dudley! Glad the gout is getting better! Entered for the prize :)

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  27. Glad to hear you're on the mend Di - it must be such a relief!
    Love your card - those wee bags are so simple, but yet so effective!
    I'm a 'yes please' for the prize draw.
    Helen x

    PS thanks for the adorable Dudley photo...he just gets cuter & cuter!

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  28. What a "good news" post, Di! It's left me smiling both because of your great news about the promising gout report and that adorable photo of Dudley on the top step! Do tread carefully!! I love your colorful gift bag snippets card! Hugs, Darnell

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  29. Shopping and cute pups are my favorite thing, so Yes please to this prize package! Dudley looks cuter every time I see him and I'm glad that he's behaving for you as well!

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  30. Glad the gout is clearing up and our cat is also pleased the temperatures are lower, although now it's starting to feel very autumnal and I really haven't finished with summer yet. That said my snippets thing is xmas themed this time so say la doo dah. Lovely card Di. Please include me in the draw. Hugz

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  31. Gorgeous picture of Dudley Di, and a wonderful card - please DON'T include me in the draw for the prize, having just won one!
    Blessings
    Maxine

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  32. Wow, your Dudley is so cute. Love your wonderful card too.
    Yes for the prize please.
    Valerija xx

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  33. Hi Di! So good to hear that the gout is on the mend - it's so hard to live in constant pain and sometimes you only realise that when it's gone. I totally agree on the washing machine front - just a button that says 'wash, rinse and spin please' would do me!

    Love your snippety card with that fab bokeh paper and the bright striped border and those adorable little gift bags! Santa hasn't arrived with a Big Shot yet so I'm wistfully going to say no to the draw, but someone is going to be very lucky!

    I'm so glad you're at the 'allowing a little more freedom' stage with Dudley. It's much more fun when they can choose to come and find you and follow you about! He looks such an adorable little chap! Eva is my little shadow, but if I'm out she lies in the hallway, at the bottom of the stairs so no-one can sneak in without her knowing!

    Vicky x

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  34. Hello Di! My gout is better, hope yours has vanished without a trace! What a cute card with packages. Dudley is his usual adorable self and they sure know a lot more than we give them credit for, also cats! xoxox

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  35. Oops, forgot! Yes, please for prize drawing! xoxo

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  36. What a fun card to use snippets, the dies are perfect for those tiny little bits of scraps. You've made a very pretty girly card Di, who doesn't love handbags and shoes.. wink, wink. I'm playing just for fun this time :) x

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  37. I'm so happy you are feeling better. Love your card with the little gift bags. Yes, please to the prize.

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  38. So happy for you that you are feeling better.
    And Dudley just gets cuter and cuter.
    very clever design, I love your card.
    yes for the prize, please.
    have a great week.
    crafty hugs xx

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  39. What is it about pets and stairs? Do they actually WANT us to plunge over them and break our necks? He does look sweet there though.
    Just playing for fun this time.

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  40. Yes please. Thanks for the challenge.

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  41. Glad to hear you are doing better, it has taken a long time. Please enter me into the drawing, thank you!

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  42. Great to read your gout is improved Di, I can sympathise well with you at the moment...broke my leg, but all good, managing ok and I get lots of craft time. Cute pic of Dudley too, enjoy your week cheers Robyn

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  43. How cute!!! And what a great way to use up some little snippets of patterned paper (my favorite thing to do, of course!)! And of course, Dudley is just adorable!! I think I will play for the prize this time, thanks!

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  44. Just managed to squeeze a card in, glad your gout is improving and love the picture of Dudley on the first step, so cute.

    I would love to in with a chance of those cute gift bags, your card is stunning with with.

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  45. Glad your "footing" towards better health :-) Dudley is, as always, the cutest, he really does look like a sweet little fellow. Yes please for the prize draw, I LOVE those dies, and the sentiments look perfect - your card shows it all off so well :-) Donna xx

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  46. I love your card, that die set is almost as cute as Dudley! (almost!).
    Glad to read your gout troubles may soon be over too.

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  47. me again just to say I would love to play along this time x

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  48. Hi this is my 1st time entering and would love to considered for the prize

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  49. A super card Di, cute dies, ideal for using up little snippets. I certainly keep the smallest of snippets "just in case" and these would be perfect. Another lovely picture of Dudley, I think he must like having his photo taken. Ours always seem to move just as I'm about to click! I would love to be a "Yes please" for the draw, thank you x

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  50. Yes, I would love to win!!! What a beautiful picture of Dudley!!!! I love it, he looks so inquisitive!!!!

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  51. Jumping in at the last minute!! Yes please for the prize

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  52. This is such a great photo of Dudley - such a handsome dude.
    YES please put me in the draw.
    CarolG

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  53. Love those tiny gift bag dies AND your fun card. Super cute! I'll play along for the prize this time too.
    Dudley is SUCH A CUTIE! Rambo sends him a hug.
    Lynn

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  54. Entered in the last days... I'm returned again at work (sigh)
    Yes for the prize
    Hugs

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  55. Love the colorful card and the bokeh background. Yes, for the prize.

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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.