Sunday 3 May 2020

Pixie's Snippets Playground - Challenge #377

Hi again! Things are looking up here - we finally have eggs, yeast, strong flour for bread making and even antibacterial hand soap. I'll keep this short and sweet - running a bit late once again, sigh.

Here's my snippets card for this fortnight, and let's hope the sentiment is 100% right, both in reality as well as metaphorically:

I used:

- 4" x 4" white card blank, side opening

- a snippet of  deep turquoise card stock onto the top portion of which I stencilled some raindrops (badly at that - so badly that with time against me I had to go over the droplets using a white marker pen, which didn't really work very well either). The stencil is by Clearly Besotted, called 'Rainy Day' and I used a Hero Arts 'Unicorn' white ink pad

- trimmed the blue background to 3.75" x 3.75" and set it aside for now

- then stamped umbrellas and flowers using Memento 'Tuxedo Black' ink, the Misti and stamps from the Clearly Besotted 'April Showers' set of stamps - which is now discontinued and replaced by a very similar set with a couple of additional sentiments added in

- coloured the stamped images using Pro markers

- then die cut the umbrellas and flowers using a set of matching dies. It looks to me as if Clearly Besotted are no longer having dies made to match their newer stamp sets - such a shame as they do work together so well for crafters with dexterity issues

- then I could work out where the stamped wording should go by placing the umbrellas temporarily onto the stencilled panel, using the Misti to place and lift the words onto the lid, removing the umbrellas and then stamping the words

- glued the stencilled panel onto the front of the white card blank, using Collall All Purpose Glue

- added the umbrellas then the flowers, using a Zig glue pen - finished!

I loved making this card mostly as the umbrellas were such fun to colour in rainbow hues (very topical right now!), although given more time I would have scrapped it and started over for a few reasons. I mucked up the rain drops - partly as the lovely stencil wasn't held in place firmly enough so it lifted before I'd applied a decent amount of ink and then I went over the droplets with a white gel pen, which spoilt the effect IMHO. Then I could only really salvage a small panel for the card front, which meant less space to work on of course. It would have been so much wiser to have applied pale blue droplets on a white background in the first place - but I needed to use more than just white snippets so opted for the blue snippet - caught out by my own over zealous interpretation of the rules there as white snippets are perfectly acceptable! (NB I edited this as it originally implied that white snippets don't count - they do, whether left white or coloured over. Sorry for the confusion Liz!). I also wanted to use/showcase all the umbrella images - and I think the end result is too crowded. Not to worry, it does the job :)

I'd seen the set of stamps, with and without the dies, being used in Blogland for some considerable time before I got round to buying them - and even then I sat on them for ages. One of our Playmates uses hers quite frequently and in a much less crowded way than I did. Hope over to Jane W's blog HERE and then just type April into the search box at the top left of her home page and some lovely examples will pop up.

Shame on me for not using them sooner - but it does mean I can enter this card into our lovely Darnell's NBUS Challenge #14 HERE. I do encourage you to join in if you haven't done so already - now is an ideal time to crack open some Never Before Used Schtuff and this current challenge runs to the end of May.

And here is the prize for this fortnight:
The stencil packet is sealed and my own stencil is tucked away again, but here's an image from the Clearly Besotted website so you can see properly what it's like out of the packet:
 Rainy Day Stencil
It's Clearly Besotted's Rainy Day stencil with their 'April Showers' set of stamps and matching dies.

As always, the Snippets Challenge will run for two weeks and the Playground gates will close at 11am UK time on Saturday 16th May. 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.

Dudley is doing fine, still totally free of matts and now allowing me to hold his front legs one at a time to groom them - much easier than the prancing act! Then, to have his 'undercarriage', tummy and such brushed and combed - he's learnt to sit up on his hind legs rather like a bunny rabbit, with his front paws outstretched as if in surrender! It looks really cute - would be so hard to take a photo as I reckon he'd sit back down if I wasn't brushing and fussing him - and I only have two hands - but I'll see if I can manage it sometime soon. Len hasn't seen him doing it yet - looks so, so sweet, but he's easily distracted so Len keeps out of the way when it's 'groom o'clock' each afternoon!

This afternoon's grooming session will be fun - Len just mowed the back lawn and Dudley's favourite game is to roll in the freshly cut grass if he can get away with it! 

Edit: After Dudley got himself covered with little pieces of stray grass, Len had decided to brush him before he came back into the house. Not long after that, Saturday, I'd lifted Dudley onto his grooming spot and remembered to say to Len, who was fetching his basket of grooming tools for me, that he absolutely had to see his latest trick. 'I know already' said Len - 'Dudley sat up like a rabbit in the garden to be brushed so I thought Mama had been teaching him some new moves!'. No secrets in this house! x

Stay safe my lovely friends. It's proving to be a long haul and so many things have had to be cancelled or put on hold for now. Many friends have had to miss Birthday celebrations, holidays and other fun things, as well as being unable to even meet new babies born into their families. Two lots of people I know have had to postpone their Weddings. It's a tough time - but one we will get through with patience and common sense. And the occasional G & T perhaps!

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


52 comments:

  1. Oh Di, I'm not which is sweeter...this card or the picture of Dudley sitting up in position for his "undercarriage" grooming (love that wording by the way). Sounds like he's definitely maturing into a fine young dog with great manners (at least most of the time!). Lucky that he only got bits of grass on him and didn't also turn green from the mown lawn as Toby does.
    YES PLEASE to this fun umbrella set and stencil. Stenciling is something that I'm still learning how to do as well, and I need to remember to tape it all down with washi so I don't have the stencil moving all over the place. Your raindrop background looks just fine, and you can always try it again. Those rainbow colored umbrellas would cheer up any rainy day blues.
    Yes, this shut down is going on much longer than I had expected but seems like the panic buying has settled down at least. My sister and I have birthdays this month, and my niece is due to deliver her 2nd baby in the next week or so...so celebrations will have to be tailored to fit the new normal. I know that we will pull through this eventually though, and am grateful that my family and I are remaining healthy and intact so far.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Yes please for the prize - so cute!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Glad to hear the grooming is going so well & I can just see Dudley sitting up! Thank goodness products are more available. I got some flour, too. Of course, now they say we're going to have trouble with meat & chicken since so many workers at the plants are sick. What a cute card with all those sweet umbrellas! Please put my name in the draw this time.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Your umbrella card looks great, and I like the assortment of colours!

    Thank goodness that you have Dudley to keep you happy and entertained! He sounds like a little fireball of fun!

    Will be back later with a snippets card. I am working on Sympathy cards at the moment as my cousin passed away and with the delay in the mail I just got the letters from England. Trying to finish up 9 cards to be ready to mail on Monday! Then I will finish my snippets card!!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. This is a fabulous card and how appropriate your sentiments are hopefully May will prove to be just that at the moment it’s doing just that love the showers on the background so creative stay safe enjoy your day x

    ReplyDelete
  6. Your regular Dudley reports really brighten up Sunday mornings!
    Playing for fun today as I already have those super stamps.

    ReplyDelete
  7. What a sweet and fun card with all those umbrellas! I don't believe I own any umbrella dies or stamps, so I would love to have you enter my name into this drawing!
    I'm glad you're able to find the supplies you need to bake bread during this lock-down. I'm so tired of this "solitary confinement" that I'm ready to go out into the front yard and start screaming at any given moment! LOL I guess Dudley just doesn't like his pure white fur coat and wants to tint it green for a new spring look?! Hah! I'm so glad you have him for a companion to keep you entertained and smiling. He's such a cute pooch! Take care and have a good week ahead!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Lovely bright card! It is a cheering one. I’m glad Dudley is keeping you busy with his shenanigans. Keep on keepin on! (PS, I would love to be entered for the prize.)

    ReplyDelete
  9. This is an adorable card! I AM definitely playing this week for the darling umbrella prize!!! And YOU ARE SOOOOO LUCKY! Dudley seems to be so well behaved for grooming... Maddie gets soooo mad at me and tries to run away or nip at me when I try to get her under carriage and my groomer is opening May 1st but I can't get in until the 27th!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love animals, and your dog is so sweet. Unfortunately my past away 3 years ago, since then I have cat.I still missed my dog.
    Your card is beautiful and Yes for the prize please.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Love your colorful umbrella card... and a YES PLEASE for the prize packet this round. (I know that I need umbrellas, because I dug through my stash to find an umbrella stamp for the last TwoFer Challenge. Luckily I found one... but would like other options!)
    Yay for grooming progress on your little cutie!

    ReplyDelete
  12. So much to Chris's annoyance I have been singing "Any Umbrellas, any unberellas to mend today"

    Kath x

    ReplyDelete
  13. What a sweetie your Dudley is!
    Yes please to the prize, thanks Di.
    Stay safe
    Blessings
    Maxine

    ReplyDelete
  14. A fabulous card Di and I would love a chance to win the prize please.

    Dudley sounds such a cutie - and very smart too!

    Kath x

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hi Di, what a great and cheery card, I love it. Glad to hear you are restocked at last. Dudley is such a cutie, bless him. Yes please to the prize and I will play very soon. Stay safe and well, hugs Jxxx

    ReplyDelete
  16. What a great set this is! Lovely card using all the colors of the rainbow. ;-) I'd love to play for the awesome prize, ty! That Dudley is just so precious. Maybe he wants to be a bunny in his next life?! lol

    ReplyDelete
  17. I love all your pretty coloured umbrellas, and some great raindrops too on the stencil and dies to cut them with too and the sweet little flowers decorate that bright blue background perfectly. Glad Dudley is keeping you amused and learning new tricks too so combing his belly is whole lot easier. I must admit the gin is disappearing a wee bit quicker than normal and quite a few evenings we have one before dinner...only the one mind you..lol. I am a 'yes please' for this wonderful threesome prize. x

    ReplyDelete
  18. What a bright & cheerful card!
    Helen x

    PS - I'm playing just for fun...and snippet mountain reduction this time

    ReplyDelete
  19. Dudley is so adorable! I bet he looks so cute performing his new trick. Love your card, the umbrellas look great in the bright, vibrant colours. I'll be a Yes Please for the prize. I was about to link up my card, but after reading your post again, I'm not sure it qualifies so I haven't linked it up yet. I only used white snippets, but I coloured them with Promarkers to get a specific colour I needed. I've looked in the rules and I can't see anything about having to use more than just white snippets - unless I'm having Senior Moment and I've missed it. LOL! xx

    ReplyDelete
  20. Love how Dudley is coming on with his grooming. You card is lovely and crowded, would like to be in with a chance of this lovely prize as well this fortnight. Even got a card sorted before the last day of the Challenge go me lol

    ReplyDelete
  21. What a cheery colorful card, Di! You are too hard on yourself. I love this delightful design! Thank you for sharing at NBUS and for the shoutout! You're so sweet! And thank you for sharing all your Dudley stories, especially since I don't have any trouble picturing exactly what you are describing, lol! This isolation would have been so miserable without our fun and funny dogs! Also, glad to hear you are getting supplies. Things are opening up over here, but I'm nervous that it's all going to backfire. Take care and keep safe! Hugs, Darnell

    ReplyDelete
  22. Cute card, Di, and of course the mental image of Dudley is cute too! xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  23. Hello Diane!
    I hope you are doing very well.
    Thank you for great challenge and chance.
    Your card is so beautiful! Love the coloring!
    Have a wonderful day!
    Hugs,
    Gloria

    ReplyDelete
  24. Incredible card. I love the colours and all those umbrellas.
    Yes for the prize please.
    Hugs, Valerija

    ReplyDelete
  25. Oh, Di, your story about Dudley sitting up for grooming of the undercarriage (lol) is so precious! You must find a way to take pictures to share with us. Wonderful card and I'm tossing my hat in the ring for the umbrellas. :-D

    ReplyDelete
  26. I love your umbrella card and it's perfect for the day we are having. A gentle spring rain. So much nicer than the snow and cold weather. Sounds like you are becoming quite the groomer. Congrats. This Stay at Home isn't always fun, but we are learning new skills. My SIL learned how to fix the vacuum and replace the rollers on the dishwasher tray. She said she flunked radio repair. Tell Dudley I'm proud of him for learning a new trick and one that is helpful to his mum. I will say no this time. I need to start using what I have. This one was hard to say no to. Hugs, Mary

    ReplyDelete
  27. Managed to come out to play again Di!
    Enjoyed your post as ever!
    Lovely prize but I am in Australia now!!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Love your umbrella card! yes please for the drawing. Finally got a card done on time.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Oh, that Dudley is a total sweetie-pie, isn't he? What a cute shot of him
    Love your super-fun card, Di. I can imagine how fun it was to color those umbrellas. Yes, please, to the prize this time around!!
    Thank you for another lovely challenge to help keep our minds distracted while still staying at home. Hopefully soon things will be slowly easing up. We have been very, very fortunate in our part of Idaho. So grateful for everyone using common sense!!
    <3 J

    jwoolbright at gmail dot com
    HerPeacefulGarden.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  30. What a wonderful creation! Love those colorful umbrellas, they just pop out from the blue background.

    YES PLEASE for the prize. Will be popping back later today to add my card for the challenge.

    Hugs,
    Eemeli

    ReplyDelete
  31. Such a cute card! Those umbrellas are so happy in the bright colors; perfect for cheering up any rainy day!! I'm going to play just for fun this time, thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Your card is so sweet and so spring-y! Finally we have a nice, spring day today but just yesterday I had to wear my winter coat and gloves while out for a walk! I love the gorgeous prize and I would be grateful to be a YES, please. It's always fun to read news of Dudley! Please stay safe and stay healthy!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Love this cheery card and I've just added my card - nice to see you have lots of entries already. Playing for fun this time around because I had a similar set free with a recent magazine (also from Clearly Besotted).

    ReplyDelete
  34. Oooo what a great way of using the fabby image & sentiment, luv Sam x

    ReplyDelete
  35. My rabbit was sitting up like a rabbit yesterday so I know exactly what you mean. Glad Dudley is enjoying the grooming and entertaining you at the same time. Your card is bright and beautiful. I would love to be entered for this prize draw so Yes Please. Take care. Hugz

    ReplyDelete
  36. It's a wonderful card with all those lovely coloured umbreallas and not at all overcrowded. I've been a bit of a naughty girl buying new goodies and the cupboard is getting a bit full (maybe time to buy a bigger one?!) so I'll be playing just for fun. Take care xx

    ReplyDelete
  37. such colourful card, I love it.
    yes for the prize, please.
    crafty hugs xx

    ReplyDelete
  38. Hi dear Di.. lovely card, stamp and die set.. well done... but will say no thanks very much.
    Loved the story of Dudley learning the correct grooming postures... so cute! He's certainly chahged your lives.. for thd better! 😁

    Thanks for sharing your smiles, and may God bless and keep you and all whom you love, in these different times.
    Prayer hugs, Shaz in Oz. X

    {Wonderful Words of Life - Shaz in Oz}
    {Calligraphy Cards - Shaz in Oz}

    ReplyDelete
  39. I love reading your blog posts, they just brighten my day - and your pup is just adorable! Yes, I'd be interested in the prize. Thanks for the fun challenge and the reminder about NBUS challenge, I had forgotten about that one and I have been trying to use my stuff!!!

    ReplyDelete
  40. Hi Miss Di

    Pleased to read that Dudley is settling down nicely now after his previous bad experience. I can just picture him posing for his grooming session.

    Loving your beautiful card with all those multicoloured umbrellas.

    A wonderful prize for someone.

    Just playing for fun here and to use up some of my snippet mountain.

    Love Jules xx

    ReplyDelete
  41. Yes please to the prize, thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Hello! I'm back in the land of Blog and enjoying visiting old haunts. Thought I'd share my card with you it uses an offset from all the post cards I've been making and send. Just playing for fun lots of other people need new stash much more than me. Take care and have fun x

    ReplyDelete
  43. What a fun and cheery card, and perfect for the weather this week with our off-and-on drizzles. Yes please to the prize!
    I just love hearing about Dudley's antics, and hearing how you and Len are getting through this crazy time. We're lucky to be staying well, with husband able to work from home. Now home-schooling is another thing..lol, but it's going well.
    Thanks for continuing the challenges to keep us distracted and creative Di!

    ReplyDelete
  44. Great card - and I needed one of those brollies yesterday whilst queuing to get into the supermarket. Talk about deluge. Today I need one of them for a parasol as the sun is out!
    Loving this prize Di - so yes please to the entry in the draw.
    Hugs. x

    ReplyDelete
  45. Thanks for the challenges I love the prize so it's a yes.

    ReplyDelete
  46. Yes, please, for the prize. Thank you. [Bunny]

    ReplyDelete
  47. I absolutely love your bright brolly card Di but I'm playing for fun this fortnight as I have lots of umbrella stamps (isn't it weird what you end up with!) Love that Dudley is getting used to his grooming and has a new way of sitting - rather like a child holding their face up to be washed! Clinks G&T glass with yours, Vicky xx

    ReplyDelete
  48. You'd think that not being busy and gadding about, that time would drag... I don't honestly know where the time goes each day and I'm just now getting my card done when it's nearly time to close, lucky I have a huge stash of snippets .. this awful virus is messing with all of us one way or another, but I'm pleased to know that you're all ok over there in the UK. Dudley is cute as and I think he's a similar small fluffy type of dog like our daughters - they have two Toby and Molly
    Anyway, love playing along Di, take care, see you next time Robyn

    ReplyDelete
  49. FAB make from you and YES PLEASE to an entry in the draw this time around. Love to hear about the lovely Dudders, just wish I lived close enough to see him (and his antics) IRL!

    Yes, we're living through difficult times right now and history will show how well or badly each country has dealt with this pandemic. My vacation has been cancelled, my birthday will be rather more muted than planned and my surrogate daughters wedding has been postponed but .... we're still safe and well right now so I'm calling that a result.

    Stay safe people

    Kathyk

    ReplyDelete
  50. A lovely and cute card, Di! I also love the notion of Dudley's rabbit pose! Yes please to lovely prize. Keep safe and well, hugs xx

    ReplyDelete
  51. Sounds like you're making it through okay Di (and the rest of the household). YES please, count me in. CarolG

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much if you take the time to comment!

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.