Pixie's Snippets Playground - Challenge #320

A lovely blogger (Sandra) who we all know and love, has moved house recently. And what better reason to make a card!

So, today's snippets card was for Sandra and we all send you our love and best wishes for a happy time in your lovely home!

Anyhow, this is my snippets card for this fortnight: 

I used:

- A6 (about 6" x 4") white card blank, tent style

- then I sort of built from the top downwards by die cutting the HOME word using a snippet of aqua coloured card, backed with Stick-It adhesive sheet and a Sugar Pea 'Home Sweet Home' die

- set that die cut to one side and then die cut just the house (plus a bit either side) part of the die again, using a snippet of Christmas red card, also backed with Stick-It adhesive sheet and set it aside

- then I took a bigger piece of white card (snippet again) and did some rough calculations with a wavy stitched edged die and the HOME die cut - plus a stamp for the sentiment

- once that was all worked out we were ready to roll

- first of all I stamped the sentiment itself using Memento 'Tuxedo Black' ink and the Misti along with a sentiment from the Sugar Pea co-ordinating 'Sweet Sentiments 'Home' stamp set

- then die cut the white panel using my Creative Dies 'Wonky Stitches Nested Rectangles' set, took the full HOME die cut (aqua) and adhered it to where I wanted it to sit (bit of a ruler, pencil and eraser job here folks!)

- then snipped off pieces from either side of the red die cut HOME house and stuck the red house on top of the aqua one, pressing it down really firmly

- added the little leftover aqua heart, windows and also a little red heart die cut to the front panel and now the main panel was done, sigh of relief

- added a narrow Christmas red layer behind the white panel - another snippet

- die cut the next size up in the Creative Dies 'Wonky Stitches Nested Rectangles' from some more of the aqua card snippet and layered it onto a narrow frame of Christmas red

- glued it all in place  and then onto the card front and job done!

So, here's this week's Snippets Playground prize:

I enlarged the photo so you can see the variety of sentiments. It's a Sugar Pea 'Home Sweet Home' die and also the Sugar Pea co-ordinating 'Sweet Sentiments 'Home' stamp set. Loads of variations to choose from in the stamps and the die is such fun! You certainly could inlay this one quite easily - but I'm still recovering from my last inlaying marathon of that scribbled glittery heart!

Remember, as a general rule, I won't be splitting prizes in future - so these make up one single prize. I've already said, if you enter the draw really only wanting one item, and you win, then feel free to give the other one to a friend. Although, I would hope you agree that both items are a lovely 'pair'.

As always, the Snippets Challenge will run for two weeks and the Playground gates will close at 11am UK time on Saturday 3rd March. The gates will open again at midnight UK time on the same day.

It's a maximum of ONE entry and 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're wanting to be in the draw 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' - just in case you're playing only for fun. Thanks!

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 :)

Be sure to call back next week to see the winners of last fortnight's 'Lil'Inkers 'Love You More Than Words Can Say' did and the pack of XCut Adhesive Glitter Sheets. Plus a Guest Designer and fortnightly picks of course.

By the way - I did give Len both Valentine's Day cards in the end - and yes, he was tickled by the play on his surname!


Love from Parsnip (he's still swooning over all his Valentine's Day cards. Odd really, it's the same familiar bear-like scribble and kisses plus a few smudges of his favourite choklit on each one - aw, bless him)  and of course from me,

Cuttlebug Mania Challenge - 'New Home'

Time for another Cuttlebug Mania Challenge and the theme this time is 'New Home'. Blame me if you don't like it :)

NB! Edit to say that the new challenge wasn't yet up and running. Jannie has now sorted it out!

You do have to use a manual die cutting/embossing machine for Cuttlebug Mania entries (it doesn't need to be a Cuttlebug but it must be manual, not electronic). And, you can't mix the two, it must be all manual please. Then make your entry, link into the challenge, link to the challenge in your own blog post and and make sure that you also say what products you used for any die cutting/embossing.

Details of our sponsor can be found over on the Cuttlebug Mania Challenge blog.

This is my DT card:

I used:

- 4" x 6" white card blank

- a piece of SU's 'Real Red' card stock, trimmed slightly smaller than the card front then embossed using SU's 'Elegant Dots' folder and glued in place

- a piece of white card stock, stamped using Memento 'Tuxedo Black' ink and the main stamp from Woodware's 'Bless This House' stamp set

- coloured the image using Pro markers then die cut around it using a Spellbinders 'A2 Distressed Rectangles' die

- used one of the two sentiment stamps from the Woodware set and Memento 'Tuxedo Black' to stamp 'All the best in your new home' 

- die cut the sentiment using a smaller die from the Spellbinders 'A2 Distressed Rectangles' set

- glued the image and sentiment panels onto the red embossed card front

- final touch, a tickle of clear 'Wink of Stella' on the pinky-red roses, red front door heart and the birdies red heart shaped wings - it's just added that extra bit of interest for when it's turned and catches the light

We'd love to see you over at Cuttlebug Mania and the challenge runs for two weeks. It's always useful to have a new home card on hand, I've been caught out a few times in the past when a 'we've moved' card has arrived here out of the blue and it's been a scramble to make a New Home card!

Less is More - Week 228 - Home

The current challenge over at Less is More is 'one layer' with the theme of 'Home'. I turned to a NBUS Stampin' Up set of stamps I bought a while ago and made this:

I used:

- 6" x 6" square white card blank

- all stamps came from the SU 'Holiday Home' set. First I drew a pencil line for placement and then stamped the three houses plus street lamps using Memento 'Tuxedo Black' ink

- then I drew a black line right across the card to 'ground' the street

- next came the two hearts coming out of the chimney topped with the sentiment, both stamped using SU's 'Real Red' ink

- and then, my hand went to some markers to colour in the houses - but I bottled out. Even considered colouring just the doors red but again, I bottled out

So now it's a very simple row of purely stamped houses with just the pops of red above the centre house - and you know what? I'm happy to leave it just like that :)

Di
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Another new home card

It's a bit late as I lost the recipient's new address, but the thought is very much there!

And so weird, I picked out a house stamp and set to making this card - only to discover I'd coloured it exactly the same as a previous card, with a red front door and also die cut using the same die set. But, the hearts coming out of the chimney are a new idea as is the sentiment ('Welcome to your new home' is just a tad too late!).

I used:

- 5" x 7" white card blank

- white backing layer, embossed using a Darice 'Argyle' embossing folder

- image stamped using Memento 'Tuxedo Black' ink pad and a Stamposaurus Stamp called 'Town House - small'. The image was coloured with Pro Markers and Whispers markers and then die cut using a 'Stitched Rectangle' die by Lil'inkers, then I added the three little hearts as smoke from the chimney using a teensy heart stamp from Lawn Fawn's 'Bee Mine' stamp set and SU 'Real Red' ink pad

- SU 'Real Red' card stock for the 'frame' for the image, also die cut using a 'Stitched Rectangles' die

- sentiment is LOTV from their 'General Greetings - small' set, stamped using a Brilliance 'Coffee Bean' ink pad

The three hearts are quite significant as this card will be winging it's way to a lovely young couple and their baby daughter.

The other day I got rather excited (once again to be honest!) over the Fiskars 'Compact Stamp Press' - and a few of you kindly commented and emailed me. I did subsequently find it on Amazon, shipped from the USA, but it's also in stock at Oyster Stamps (UK) for £9.99 and free p and p!! I think that's quite a bargain price, it arrived on Wednesday and am already totally in love with it :) Isn't it strange, I keep thinking that there can't be anything new left to play with in the manual tools line, and then along comes another surprise!

Snigger, the biggest surprise of all could be when the walls of this craft room suddenly explode outwards, due to the amount of schtuff in here.

Di
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New home

A bit like Sympathy cards, New Home ones (when folk let you know they're just about to move house) can catch you on the 'hop'. So this card is for my standby box:

I used:

- A6 white card blank

- image stamped using Memento 'Tuxedo Black' ink pad and a Stamposaurus Stamp called 'Town House - small' (bought at Newbury the other week). The image was coloured with Pro Markers and then die cut using a 'Stitched Rectangle' die by Lil'inkers

- plain brown card for the main backing layer as well as a 'frame' for the image, also die cut using a 'Stitched Rectangles' die

- the plaid backing paper is by LOTV from their 'Country Gent' paper pad

- sentiment is an Elzybells one, stamped using Brilliance 'Pearlescent Thyme' ink pad and layered onto a rectangle of brown card

- finishing touch - white Josy Rose nail heads

I've been asked about the Lil'inkers dies - made in the USA. Unfortunately they don't export the stitched squares or rectangles to the UK (as yet and I suspect it's unlikely they will do so in the future) but there is one UK stockist who does have some of their other goodies including stitched hearts, ovals and other shapes . They also have some Winnie and Walter stamps, yay!. The stockist is 'Make The Day Special'  . Do be aware though that they're often out of stock of stuff but certainly worth a first try if you're not in a hurry for something.

So, I ordered my Stitched Rectangles dies from the USA directly from Lil'inkers. In fairness the girls were very good and reduced the postage to $10 when they realised I was only ordering one item - I'd done that so as not to be stung for import duty. Hey, ho though - the customs declaration included the postage (ie. the full invoice amount I'd paid) and I DID get stung for customs duty. What was double annoying was that Royal Mail charge £8 to process the flipping charge!

So, if you UK gals do order from Lil'inkers can I suggest that you add a little note to the effect that they really shouldn't include the postage in the value of the parcel. That's what took my order over the top, sigh. And that, girls, is why I'm using the dies as much - need to get my money's worth outta them!

Di
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Good luck in your new home

....and not a Christmas card! I missed out on sending a few friends New Home cards and felt really bad about it - so this one is for any of you who moved recently, and it's also going into my box of standby cards. Who knows when things can take a turn so that you don't manage to crawl to the craft room at short notice:

I used:

- 6" x 6" square white card blank

- turquoise Core'dinations backing card

- paper from the Teresa Collins 'Sweet Afternoon' paper pad - I love that these are double sided

- the pre-coloured image is by Little Claire from sheet LCD09

- ribbon from the ribbon box

- sentiment is an Elzybells one, stamped in SU 'Baja Breeze' and punched out with SU's Large Oval punch then popped onto a scalloped oval

Short and sweet today, I finished off all the Christmas card inserts and boxes just gotta write them now - anyone fancy nipping round to help? Thought not :(

Di
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New home card for Dee

A crafting friend just moved house so I made this:

Couldn't think which house stamps would be suitable and then I found this ready coloured LOTV image :)

I used:

- 6" x 6" square white card stock

- plain pink card from the snippets folder

- LOTV ready coloured image, love those bunnies in the bath with the duck looking on :) Punched the corners of the trimmed down image with Woodware notched corner punch and just wound some pink and white bakers twine round the notches before adhering it to the pink backing with sticky pads

- the patterned papers came from a lovely paper pad, sent to me a good while ago by Mary Mac (I'm using them sparingly!) by Teresa Collins called 'Sweet Afternoon'

- embossing folder is SU's 'Honeycomb' folder with little infills of the patterned paper cut to size

- ribbon from the ribbon box

- sentiment is an Elzybells one, stamped with Versa Magic Chalk 'Pink Petunia' ink pad. Punched with SU's 'Large Oval' punch and layered onto a pink oval punched using SU's 'Scalloped Oval' punch

- three pink pearls in the top right corner

- then, sigh, I was left with an imbalance of too much lemon spotty paper so a quick rootle through the charms for a double heart and a pink pearl brad soon fixed that

- as everything was attached to the card when I added the charm and brad I just backed the inside of the front of the card with a piece of white card that I'd trimmed so slightly down from 6" x 6"

Now, I'm saying nothing, but the house move does mean that The Glitter Pot Craft Store is only a short drive away from Dee's new home :) Oh Dee, clever move!

Just spotted that we already have 45 Snippets Playground entries and there are still two and a half days to go. Well done girls, keep 'em coming, although it could be standing room only at this rate :) And Happy August!

Di
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A 'corking' idea from Katina

This month's Quick Cards Made Easy magazine had another great article by Katina, using cork on cards. I practically CASE'd one of Katina's lovely cards and made this:

I used:

- 6" x 6" square white card stock

- turquoise card from the snippets folder and a snippet of yellow card for the sun, punched with a round punch

- cork backing and a little house made from cork - the house shape was just a 2" x 2" square with another square the same size, sliced diagonally for the roof, plus a snippet from the other triangle I was left with for the chimney (it's already cut at the same angle so that reduced some fiddling about. The cork is DCWV adhesive cork and I bought mine from EBay where the seller had just six sheets in packs - a nice amount to play around with

- the roof, windows and door are all cut from snippets of Pink Petticoat 'Wild Blossoms' collection paper - the door was actually punched using SU's 'Modern Label' die with a bit trimmed off the bottom

- a snippet of KanBan'Green Grass' card along the bottom with a white die cut border using La La Land's 'Tulip Border' die. I then die cut more of the border using another paper from the 'Wild Blossoms' collection and  snipped the heads off and glued them to the flowers - plus a few along the bottom...........really need to get out more!

- the sentiment is an Elzybells one, stamped with Brilliance Pearlescent 'Sky Blue', then punched out with SU's 'Large Oval' punch and matted onto a cork oval which was punched with SU's 'Scallop Oval' punch

- hand drew the birds and then fished a teeny scrap of cork outta the waste basket and using about an eighth of an inch hand punch just punched little centres for the flowers along the bottom of the card - and a door knob :)

Looking at the amount of snippets I used, this would have been more suited to yesterday's Snippets Playground post!

There's another card in the same article I'd like to play around with, using die cut flowers. While the cork is still on the desk that could my next little venture - in between making those reunion bookmarks :) Mind you, I did make a bit dent in them yesterday which is a relief 'cos I do now know it's achievable without sitting up half the night for the next couple of weeks.

Di
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New Home card - I was out yesterday

.........at a friend's where there is a HUGE wedding on Friday, the one I made the invitations for. The sun shone for us in the garden, we had a lovely lunch, talked for ages plus the groom's Mum (my friend Joy) and Sybil, the Groom's Grandmother, (who is a fabulous lady, I want her to adopt me!) both showed off their wonderful outfits and such brilliant hats too. You couldn't help but be caught up in the excitement :))

Must make a Wedding card PDQ here!!

But, I did find time to make a card before I got in the car and hit the road for lunch:

As always on a Saturday, as I'm gearing up for the Snippets Roll call, a quick and easy card.

I used:

- KanBan card called ''Stone Wall', from Hobbycraft in with another one I was after - I just measured to DL and folded it

- topper bits also from a different KanBan set

When I got home, The Head Gardener had been at work - I'm not even asking why, but these roses were on the patio table:

I do suspect that someone went a bit mad with the strimmer - but even so, with a glass of wine waiting and a sheepish grin what can you do? Snort, especially if they're in a huge Gherkin Jar with the label still on...............and Len smiles so nicely I had to giggle! 

Di
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SU New Home card

On Wednesday I burbled on about the 'pre-loved' SU sets on my desk - this was made using one of them:

I used:

- 5" x 7" white card stock

- SU's 'Good Neighbours' stamp set - stamped using Brilliance DewDrops, as I didn't have browns in the SU ink pads here. I think the fine detail in the set really does need less 'gloopy' ink pads than the Brilliance ones though, or a quick tap first onto scrap paper before stamping onto the card

- sentiment also stamped using a Brilliance DewDrop and a confession - it 'glooped' big time, and that was right at the end of making the card!! So, I re-did it onto white card and die-cut a pennant shape then firmly stuck it over the smudged sentiment, no way was the card going in the bin after all that positioning and stamping :( The sentiment stamp came free with a magazine BTW

The SU set is so flipping cute, it comes with little houses and separate roofs so you can mix and match, as well as the trees and clouds - I love it! I see there are some other fabby mix and match sets in the current SU Main and Summer catalogues too :)

Busy day for me here writing up the snippets roll call, I've just closed the playground for fear of a last minute scamper of feet which I just couldn't cope with - send wine later, I might be ready for it! Err, perhaps add a funnel to the order :)

Di
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New home card

My blog posting yesterday mentioned moving home and that reminded me that my little stock of ready made cards didn't include any New Home cards. Often people send you a change of address and it's a scramble to whip up a card and post it off so I usually keep some on standby.

Also, a lovely card arrived in the post from Gill who sometimes drops in here and comments.That gave me another prompt - embossing lines around cards! This is the card from Gill, isn't it gorgeous - thank you! I love the little birds - so cute:

So, out came the Eazi Score board and I did a quick make:

It's an 4.5" x 6.5" cream pearlescent card, lines scored round the edges, topped with a Core'dinations die cut oval and then a very simple image (which came from Craftwork Cards ages ago) coloured - again very simply as I doubt if there are many houses that look like this one :) - with Pro Markers.

The sentiment is a clear stamp which came free with a magazine. I had fun with this one I can tell you - my 'thinking head' was having a rest day today (it's this hot weather I reckon) and when I did a test stamp I was convinced that the stamp had been wrongly cut and was a mirror image. Silly Billy, after fiddling around on acetate thinking I could use that somehow, I realised I'd stamped it upside down on the test piece of scrap paper. A good job I'm timid of stamping straight onto cards and always do a test stamp first!

Although I used a snippet for the brown oval, I have plans for something else to enter into Jules Crafty Snippets Challenge that's a bit more taxing - once I find my 'thinking head'.

That's my 'simples' offering - I'm off to stand under a cool shower for the second time this morning if this weather continues. Shouldn't knock it though!

Di
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