Sunday Snippets - 'Beautiful!'

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

I used:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I would like to enter the following challenges:

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

Darnell's NBUS Challenge # 71 HERE

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

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

Love from myself and Dudley, 

January Christmas Kickstart - phew, just in time!

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

I used:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sunday Snippets - Christmas card, also for Rudolph Days

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

I used:

- DL white card blank, tent style

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

- Darnell's NBUS Challenge # 70 HERE

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

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

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

Love as always, Dudley and yours truly,

Sunday Snippets - 'Love is in the Air'

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

I used:

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

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

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

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

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

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

- glued the die cut word 'love' in place

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Love as always, Dudley Dog and me

Sunday Snippets - 'Word Christmas Tree'

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

I used:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Love from myself and Dudley, xxx

Sunday Snippets - 'Three Little Trees'

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

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

I used:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Love from myself and Dudley,