A Birthday card and some extras about yesterday's card

Whilst piling Len's recent Birthday cards up I was looking for upcycling potential - here's the result of one card I cannibalised:

I used:

- 7" x 5" white card blank

- image from shop bought card, trimmed down then mounted onto SU 'Smoky Slate' grey and then Wedgwood Blue card stock (yay, I found a few more snippets of that lovely blue!). What I loved about the image is the way it was divided up on the original card with faint chevrons behind

- the white backgrounds are one plain white card and then one embossed white panel, using SU's 'Chevron' folder - and then strips of blue and grey ribbon popped across . ...... to hide the join in the embossed panel :)

- the Birthday sentiment is also SU, stamped onto a strip of the faint chevron pattern from the original card using 'Smoky Slate' and mounted onto grey and blue card

I wish I could say this was quick and easy to make. It certainly should have been but every movement was painful here despite sitting with huge cushions to support me back :( And taking the photo from a half bent position was a nightmare.

So, back to yesterday's card - which if you remember was like this:

A few folk asked questions so here goes:

First of all, for Darnell, the blue background was die cut using a solid die which matches the swirly Memory Box 'Winterland' tree - I think it's a fairly recent release:

Here are the two dies together - with the solid one on the left. Now, although the solid die is a bit cheaper, it does almost double the cost of the original die - plus it's specifically for the 'Winterland' tree so can't be used to back other MB tree dies, clever move huh?! BUT, to be able to use a die I was shying away from I think it was worthwhile - imagine gold on green, gold on red - the list goes on.

Of course, you could trace around the outline of the swirly die and trim just inside the pencil lines if you have patience and a very steady hand - and you don't really need to include the swirly top bit at the very top of the tree on the backing.

So, that's the die cutting secret.

Then, Carol says she has the swirly tree die and it doesn't cut well. I might not have the solution but here are some thoughts anyhow. If the die truly isn't cutting through the card properly, leaving the die in place, run it through the machine again. You might have to move the die carefully across the cutting plate or perhaps add a shim of paper - one sheet at a time though 'cos you don't wanna overstress the die cutting machine. Taping the die in place to the card before you start can help to hold it firm. But, occasionally some dies, even from reputable companies, just aren't good cutters and it's worth checking back with the manufacturer or retailer. When you think how finely die cutting machines are calibrated I guess now and then there can be a bad apple or die in the barrel.

Another issue might be removing the cut out card from the die - and this die is a really tricky one - probably the trickiest one I have. Some people advocate candle wax rubbed onto the die or even a tumble dryer sheet rubbed over supposedly helps. I now swear by waxed paper between the die and the card - huh, although then you do have to carefully peel the waxed paper from the front of the beautifully and easily released die cut of course, most folk don't tell you that part! The swirls do take a bit of of poking out anyway, a pokey tool plus a teeny pair of scissors are what I use. The teeny scissors are because the swirls you want to release and discard can get tangled around the actual die cut image so careful snipping sometimes helps to release them from their determined cuddles!!

Another thing I learned the hard way - originally this card was going to be the pearlised white on the silver metallic backing card I used. Nope - not such a good idea. To adhere the swirly tree to a die cut or even plain background you need just little touches of glue/adhesive - I use a Quickie Glue pen here. And glue pens do not like shiny surfaces, they just won't stick, full stop :( Any thoughts of using the Xyron were also discarded - that machine does have limitations and this swirly die would mean far too many bits of excess adhesive to remove, and from metallic card you will actually get smears. Trust me, I've been down that road before. Hence the switch to the blue matt card background where it worked like a dream.

So do be aware that perhaps matt backgrounds and shiny swirly toppings are best for this tree die. Even adding double sided self-adhesive sheet before you cut would probably mean a nightmare when you try to remove all those excess pieces from the cut out die.

Pfffft, I bet you wish you hadn't asked now :)

Have a nice day - I hope I wake up feeling easier, getting fed up of being bent over looking at my feet for the first hour of the day!

Di
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Modern Christmas tree

Modern in my eyes (although my in-house critic used the BIG and very grown-up word 'contemporary' when he saw it). The blue is so like traditional 'Wedgwood Blue' - and I found it in the snippets folder:

I used:

- A6 pearlescent white card blank

- iridescent silver card, topped with a layer of pearlised white card which had been embossed using SU's 'Square Lattice' folder

- the tree was made in two layers, one using white pearlescent card and a Memory Box 'Winterland' tree die then the backing layer used the Wedgwood blue card snippet and the matching 'Winterland Background' die. I've had the scrolled 'Winterland' die for ages but only recently got the background die - that finally spurred me into using a die I'd always been wary of :) I can now see loads of combinations and uses for these - wahoo, money well spent

- the 'tub' for the tree was punched using SU's 'Large Oval', and the bottom trimmed flat

- sentiment is by Craftwork Cards, mounted onto the very last of that lovely blue card

- three clear sparkly gems in the bottom right corner

I'm entering this into the current Jolly Holly challenge, which is 'Oh Christmas Tree' this week. It's a new challenge to me and looks like good fun.

And it's also for Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra for November, where it's always 'Anything Goes' .

Doubled up wiv me back here right now, but will add more to tomorrow's post about today's tree in reply to some comments already left. See you then - grin, I might be lying on the floor typing though!

Di
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'Tis the season to be jolly

fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la- laaaaaaaaaaaa :) Aw, come on, join in. And despite many folk resisting, there aren't too many days until the big fat man in the red suit arrives. And maybe I ought to just whisper this, I just reached my target of 100 cards made for Christmas! As there are lots of challenges right now with the theme of Christmas, plus I do have loads of quite a few Snippets prizes connected with Christmas too - I'll just keep making 'em anyhow.

This card really does remind me 'decking the halls with boughs of holly'. I took a peek in the garden earlier and our quite young variegated holly bushes sort of cowered - they're still babies though so are safe this year.

I used:

- 6" x 6" square white card blank - still my favourite shape and size of the moment

- the image is from LOTV's pre-coloured Art Pad, called 'Festive Foliage' - bought on Sunday at the NEC, die cut with a round Nestie and then layered onto a scalloped round Nestie which was cut from green Core'dinations card

- the patterned backing paper is also LOTV, from their 'Classic Christmas' pad - popped onto more of the same plain green Core-dinations card

- added a 'belly band' which was punched from a snippet of the green card using Martha Stewart's 'Traditional Scallop' punch, topped with a strip of lace and then a red 'saddle stitched edge' bow added

- the sentiment is LOTV too, from their 'Christmas Grungy Messsages' set - stamped using SU's 'Real Red' then just rimmed and popped onto the card with sticky pads

- the corners started out life as gold ones, I 'frantaged' up a few a little while ago - here's a link to how I did them

- and the finishing touch was just a few red gems here and there on the wreath

Now, here's a little tip girls. To stick down the bow I would usually use ultra strong adhesive tape or perhaps the glue gun - but I knew I already had to work out how to stick the metal corners firmly as well, without glue clogging up the holes in the filigree and showing through. I picked up this idea from here on Bev Rochester's blog ages ago but this is the first time I've used Crafter's Pick Incredibly Tacky Glue:

It's white, not too runny like some clear strong glues but it dries clear, and truly is incredibly strong. To make life easier I did what Bev does and decanted some into a clean smallish glass jar - I think some sparkly stuff was the original occupant. Then you don't have issues with the top of the bottle clogging or even worse deciding it won't open at all - and you just pick up what you need on the end of a cocktail stick or an old pokey tool. It's great stuff and I'm very impressed with the results - it's made in the USA but can also be bought online in the UK from EBay and good craft suppliers (I got this ages ago and only just used it for the first time - shame on me).

BTW, I'm not on commission :) Chance would be a fine thing.

Di
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Playground Field Trip

I went to the NEC for the NEC Birmingham Hobbycraft Show on Sunday at the 'crack of sparrows'. This is what greeted visitors as they walked into the show:

The most amazing life sized tableau, entirely made from paper - bet there were a few snippets left after making this fabulous exhibit! The fur on the dog made you want to reach over and stroke him :) After that I totally forgot to take any more photos - there WAS a lot going on and it was almost overwhelming to see so much in one place.

Managed to snag quite a few excellent bargains as well as doing some 'craft celebrity' spotting.

Di
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Ode of Remembrance

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning,

We will remember them.

 

Di

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Pixies Snippets Playground - Week 98

Crumbs, we're almost at Week 100! And, there was another milestone here in the Playground this week................I finally made my very first 'white on white' card :)

I used:

- 5" x 7" white card blank

- lots of snippets of white pearlescent card

- the snowy background was embossed using one of the very first embossing folders I ever bought - Cuttlebug's 'Snowflakes' - sadly discontinued. Although I've discovered that Sizzix do a really nice 'falling snow' one as part of a double set called 'Christmas Words and Dots'. I know that a few of you have been looking for this particular folder so it's worth Googling. Prices vary vastly so do shop around, I've found the set available in the UK, USA and Australia

- the adorable reindeer were die cut using 'Deer Trio', by Memory Box and popped behind a die cut 'Lamp Post Frame', also by Memory Box. I might add some Stickles to the light/lamp itself, the jury is still out here :)

- the silver lettered greeting is by Craftwork Cards, popped onto a larger oval punched using SU's 'Large Oval' punch

- added a snippet of white pearlescent ribbon across one corner - I often use ribbons this way on gifts but have never thought to do it on a card. Spotted the idea on a blog this week - sigh, I can't recall whose blog to give it credit though :(

- and the final touch, die cut snowflakes, layered up and then a clear glass brad added to the centre - the dies are from Whimsy's 'Layered Snowflake Die Set'

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

Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge, where this week's theme is 'Outdoors'

Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra for November where it's always 'Anything Goes'

Allsorts Challenge - week 232 'White Christmas'

So, as ever, such a hard job to select a few 'Playground Picks' this week:

Today is Remembrance Sunday when here in the UK and across the Commonwealth there will be many local church services plus the Cenotaph service in London where we remember all those who fought and gave their lives so that we might live and be free. Jenny made this beautiful tribute.

Cathy R made this fabulous card featuring loads of snippets to make the gorgeous Christmas wreath. A perfect card I think.

 

Lynn brought this really clever mug to show, and there's also a link to a tutorial on her blog post - what a great way to give a gift of sweets. Or even snowman soup - watch this space, it's on my 'to do' list :)

Sam made this gorgeous layout, with a photo dating back from when she first discovered 'dandelion clocks' - soooooo cute. I love the clever addition of the clock face plus all the lovely stamping, not to mention the really sweet photo of course. Who'd have thought she'd grow into such a little scallywag :)

I just love this terrific altered box for Kim's hubby, just perfect for storing seeds in. It started off life as a cat food box :)

What a clever idea this is - AJ brought a 'Mousetrap Noteholder/Fridge Magnet to show. There's a link to Marks Finest Papers in AJ's post if you want to find out more.

ScrappyMo brought this amazing Masons Jar Candle Holder - isn't it great?!

I really couldn't leave this fantastic wrap around Christmas card out - made by Karen P. What really blew me away is those amazing sand dunes. So beautifully brayered and layered - (that rhymes!) I love this!

We have two new Playmates this week as well - please welcome:

Kyla, who made this beautiful card - and even made the little Buddha using air drying clay, something I'd love to try.

And Pat, who made this really cheerful chess pieces card. I see that Pat hasn't been blogging for very long so it would a terrific if you could call by and say hello. We all started off longing for visitors, I still love every single comment I'm left of course - it gives you such a buzz. Also, do please say Hi to Kyla too.

Welcome girls, hope you come back and play really soon :)

Phew, that was a marathon this week - we had 56 entries so I'm really hoping we hit the magic 60 in time for the 100 weeks milestone!

And the winner of last week's prize of the Penny Black stamp donated by Viv, and the My Mind's Eye paper pad is:

Irene

Well done Irene, can you please drop me an email reminding me of your address to save me hunting for it :)

And our prize this coming week? Two of the die sets I used on my card today:

The Memory Box 'Deer Trio'

And, the Whimsy 'Layered Snowflake Die Set'.

The Playground gates will close at 11am UK time on Saturday 16th November and the gates will open again at midnight UK time on the Saturday as usual. Maximum of three entries and please say 'No thank you' in a comment if you wish to still play but not be the winner of the prize this week, as shown above. In fact, you might want to play for only one part of the prize - both items do constitute one prize but if there's only one thing you'd use please do say in a comment and I'd just draw again for the second item as well.

Mr Linky is below - do please let me know if you have any problems linking, I can sort it out for you quite quickly and am always happy to do so.

Have a lovely week! I'm off on - a little trip up to the NEC in Birmingham to the Hobbycrafts Show. I

And just to keep you on your toes, I'm posting this at 10pm UK time on Saturday 'cos it's an early start in the morning and I want to be sure it's up and running and the gates are open for you OK :)

Di (and Parsnip of course, who is whispering ideas about how to celebrate 100 weeks of the Playground here)
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Saturday Supper - Chowder

This seems a bit cheeky as I know it's a very popular dish over in the USA and I bet there are some wonderful recipes used by our Playmates over the pond - but here goes anyhow.

Chowder

Serves 4 - once again I think this is more likely to fill two 'Hungry Horaces' than four people

2 tablespoons oil
250g unsmoked bacon chops - I used a gammon steak, no bacon chops to be found - trimmed of all fat and cut into small pieces
1 medium onion, chopped
375g potatoes, peeled and chopped into about half inch cubes
800ml hot chicken stock
325g (or thereabouts) can of sweetcorn, drained

Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large saucepan and cook the bacon/gammon for 4 minutes, remove and set aside. Add another tablespoon of oil, add the onion and cook until soft. Add the potato and stock, cover and simmer for 15 minutes.

Remove half the mix and set aside with the bacon. Puree the rest of the potato and onion with the stock and half the sweetcorn in a processor.

Season with pepper and return to the pan (and if you used an electric blending stick thingy as I did, wipe away the splatters from the cooker hob, glass splashback, tiled wall, front of apron and even your specs - sigh).

Add the bacon mix and remainder of the sweetcorn, heat thoroughly and serve.

Things I do: served it with fresh crusty bread, ate it and then washed the kitchen floor. Mental note, in future I'll use the food processor rather than go for the so-called easy option.

By the way, it was delicious - the two-legged mouse voted it a hit - after he stopped laughing at the huffing and puffing as I cleaned up the mess!! Mind you, it looked much worse until I realised a lot had hit my specs :)

Enjoy!

Di
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A modern Tipsy Tree

Both Jules and Sally used this fabulous stamp last Christmas, and being a greedy little piggy-wiggy I just had to have it too. Shame on me though, it just had its very first outing in the 11 months since I bought it :( It just cries out to be paper pieced and you can bling it up, do a modern twist as I did, make it 'country' - endless possibilities:

I made two cards while I was at it, just switching the tree layers round a bit.

I used:

- 5" x 5" square white card blank

- Woodware 'Tipsy Tree' stamp, the trunk was coloured with a Pro Marker and the rest paper pieced using papers from Wild Rose Studio's 'Wintry Christmas' Paper pack

- plain turquoise card, topped with backing and a 'belly band' from the same patterned paper pack

- sentiment was going to be a separate embellishment but in the end I got very brave and stamped it directly onto the finished image - without the aid of a safety net or even a stamp positioner - using a stamp from the 'Tipsy Tree' set plus Memento 'Elderberry' ink pad

- white Josy Rose nail heads

A couple of tips about paper piecing. One I bet you all know is to pop the glue onto the stamped image and not the little scraps you're trying to stick onto it - I use a Quickie Glue pen and learnt this trick from Jules ages ago.

The second tip is really how to cheat a bit. If you look closely at the top card you will see some white showing at the bottom edge of the lowest (purple) layer of the tree. It isn't there now - as soon as I saw the enlarged image I polished me specs and realised there were a few teeny white bots?!?!?!?! showing - so funny, I just left that typo, I meant to say white BITS!! Anyhow, they're easy disguised using a very fine liner to carefully fill in any small gaps - I used my Black Whispers pen which has a very fine nib at one end, or a micron pen such as you use for Zentangling would work well. That's one reason why I generally use a black ink pad when paper piecing.

Oh, and don't even think about using a Pro Marker or similar as it'll just bleed and you won't have a nice crisp line - sigh, another one I found out about the hard way ages ago.

I'd like to enter this into the current Artistic Inspirations Challenge, which is 'Anything Goes/Spots and Stripes'.

Yay, it's Friday and I bet many of you are on the starting blocks to let the weekend begin - have a good one!

Di
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Bling it up - in pink

The current challenge over at Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge is to 'Bling it up' and this card is pink because I had a load of pink paper snippets lying on my desk. Where I needed more thickness for the die cut star and the backing to the sentiment I just used double sided adhesive sheet to stick the paper onto some card before cutting:

 

I used:

- 6" x 6" square white card blank

- stamped background in 'Versamagic 'Pink Petunia' using 'Starry Background' stamp by Inky Doodles - the beauty of this clear, almost A6, stamp is that you can line up the edges so easily to extend the pattern

- the image is also by Inky Doodles from the 'Star Angel' set, stamped in SU 'Smoky Slate' onto white card, partially coloured with Pro Markers, cut out, paper pieced with snippets and then mounted onto the pink background

- SU's 'Smoky Slate' card as backing on the background and also the mounted image

- sentiment also comes from the 'Star Angel' set, again stamped using SU 'Smoky Slate' - love this colour as it almost looks silvery without any 'goo' that you get from some metallic pads. Die cut with a Nesties Labels Eight die and mounted onto hand cut pink backing

- the 'bow' was die cut using Memory Box 'Crisp Bow die' and then a pink die cut star (I used the MFT Die-namics Star set) popped onto the bottom. I love that the bows come in two styles and lend themselves to having all sort of goodies 'dangled' from them :)

- and then came the 'bling', Glamour Dust on the wings and also the star on the sentiment, lots of teeny sparkly clear gems and some Josy Rose silver star-shaped nail heads

This is also for Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra, where it's always 'Anything Goes'.

Di

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Livi's Birthday

Remember me making this card?

 I think it ticked all the boxes the other day :)

 

 Then it was time for the parcel we sent

Aw bless her, I did say the parcel was almost as big as Livi :)

And then, I think this was the star of the show on the day - Livi's very own 'pony' - with big sister Mia hitching a ride:

Apparently four year old Livi kept saying during the day 'is it MYYYY Birthday ??.... TODAAAY ??!!' Bless her little cotton socks :)

Their Mum, our lovely 'adopted daughter' Kai, sent these so we could see the fun and frolics. I wonder when the girls will want a real life pony of their very own?

Aren't grandchildren wonderful?! Thank you Kai!! Mwah xx

Di
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Oops, I did it yet again

Trotted off on holiday without making a card needed a few days after we returned home, and even worse forgot about it until the very day it should have been there last week. And EVEN worse, it was for a boy - which I always struggle with anyhow :( Kenny K to the rescue:

I used:

- 6" x 6" square white card blank

- pre-coloured and die cut Kenny K image

- papers from papers from the 'Quilting Bee' paper pad by My Mind's Eye, the red dog tooth check is the first cut into the sheet I ended up using as a snippet on Sunday's card - as I said then, although the fronts of most papers are sewing themed, the reverses are perfect for cards for chaps, young and old

- sentiment is by Craftwork Cards, popped onto more red dog tooth check paper

- red card candi dots

Card made in 10 minutes flat, literally. You can see by the blurred photo that I was hopping up and down with stress before running out to post it!

Di
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The Playground

EEEEK! Yesterday I don't really think I got any time to comment girls, and didn't even have time to craft at all :(

Will catch up as soon as I can. Brilliant to see the entries coming in already - it's very wet here in the Playground and we have a cute little frog out playing in the puddles :)

 

Di

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Pixies Snippets Playground - Week 97

Another busy week in the Playground, but I want to know just WHO picked all the pumpkins and left carvings all over the place without even a little thank you note, lit pumpkin or even a choklit bar?! Parsnip won't tell so I bet he's been bribed :(

My snippets card this week is for a little neighbour who will be five on Guy Fawkes night and who absolutely adores his bicycle:

I used:

- 6" x 6" square white card blank

- image is another pre-coloured one by LOTV

- papers from the 6" x 6" 'Quilting Bee' paper pad by My Mind's Eye, the red dog tooth check is a snippet from the pad and the grey is a whole sheet. What's great about this pad is that, although the fronts of most papers are sewing themed, the reverses are perfect for cards for chaps, young and old

- snippet of red card to back the main image and the Craftwork cards sentiment, die cut with Nesties scalloped dies

- I even managed to squeeze the number 5 out of the teeniest snippet of leftover red card, die cut using a number set by Britannia Dies

- then I just popped 'JOSH' on, using white card candy plus their tiny little lettering stamp set and SU 'Real Red' ink pad

Josh and his little brother Luke were amongst our Halloween visitors - bless, when I held the Halloween tub of treats out for them, little Luke (who's not yet two) smiled up at me and promptly dropped one of his own candy bars into the bucket :) He'll learn I know but it was so sweet and innocent.

OK, onto this week's picks:

Cornelia actually showed us two similar versions of this card, this one is my favourite but just by a whisker - so elegant. I have giggled this week a bit as I know that Cornelia would love to come and play more than three times in a week - I have visions of her twitching impatiently waiting for the Playground to reopen each week :)

The only reason I limit entries to three is to make the random draw fair. Even if I ignored fourth and fifth etc. entries my mathematical brain tells me that the probability/odds would still be skewed so we'll stick with three. Mind you, more than one snippets card in a single post but with just one link is still fine :) And I don't mind, if it 's within the weekly three, if folk link two different makes from the same post either - I really do need to write up them 'rools' to make it totally clear :(

I just love this card made by Sally, it's perfect in my eyes - right down to the little gems or touches of pearl drops on the musical notes. Err, our Sally is now a Karate Brown Belt - so any nonsense this week such as building a mahoooosive bonfire in the Playground and I'll be sending for Sally! Well done chick from all of us :)

And we have a new Playmate as well so please welcome Mary Anne K who brought this lovely card, with the most wonderful sentiment:

Hope you come back to play often!

So, onto last week's draw - and the winner of the poinsettia dies and the Winter Bunny stamp (drawn by Random Number) is the lady who made this fabulous card:

 Well done to:

Jenny

Can you please drop me an email (di_wray@hotmail.com) and your prize(s) will be in the post 'toot sweet' :) It's Jenny's first win so I'm extra pleased.

Which reminds me girlies, I did go out on Friday and post all your prizes that were drawn during and after holiday.

This week's prize is a mix of Christmas of and non-Christmas - first up it's this lovely Penny Black Slapstick 'Warmest Wishes' stamp, kindly donated by Viv:

as well as the same paper pad from me, well a new one of course, that I used in my snippets card today by My Mind's Eye called 'Quilting Bee', you can see what I meant about it being a mix of sewing and also good for masculine cards:

The Playground gates will close at 11am UK time on Saturday 9th November and the gates will open again at midnight UK time on the Saturday as usual. Maximum of three entries and please say 'No thank you' in a comment if you wish to still play but not be the winner of the prize this week, as shown above. In fact, you might want to play for only one part of the prize - both items do constitute one prize but if there's only one thing you'd use please do say in a comment and I'd just draw again for the second item as well.

Mr Linky is below - do please let me know if you have any problems linking, I can sort it out for you quite quickly and am always happy to do so.

Have a lovely week!

Di (and Parsnip who is sitting right beside me here waving at you)
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Saturday Supper - Squash Gratin

I really should have posted this recipe in time for Halloween:

Squash Gratin

Serves four - not on your Nellie, more like two!

1 tbsp olive oil
2 leeks, halved lengthways and finely sliced
1 garlic clove, peeled and chopped
6 sprigs fresh thyme
1 butternut squash, peeled and thinly sliced
150ml double cream
150ml vegetable stock, made from a cube
2 tbsp hazelnuts, roughly chopped
4 tbsp breadcrumbs

Heat the oven to 220°C/200°C fan/Gas 7. Heat the oil in a pan and cook the leeks, garlic and 4 of the thyme sprigs for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened.

Place a layer of squash in the bottom of each of four individual ovenproof dishes, top with a few of the cooked leeks and season. Repeat the layers until you’ve used up all the mixture.

Mix together the cream and stock and divide this between the four dishes. Top with the hazelnuts, breadcrumbs and remaining thyme leaves.

Cover the dishes with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for a further 20 minutes, until the squash is tender and the tops are golden brown.

Things I do: Or rather should have done :( The recipe implies that you pop whole thyme sprigs into the leeks and garlic at the start of the recipe. I did that and then realised that whole sprigs would be rather chewy so I removed them before layering the dish up - and I used one shallow dish rather than separate ones. To my mind removing the thyme made the end result a bit bland so in future I'll strip the leaves from the stalks for the whole of the recipe. I served this with seeded rolls but the two-legged mouse and I agree that it would go really well with bacon or a grilled pork chop.

Having said all that, it is one I'll try again!

Di

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Butterfly Hello

I needed some little cards to tuck in with Playground prizes, so I whipped up half a dozen of these very quickly:

I used:

- 3" x 3" cards, made from SU's 'Primrose Petals' and 'Pacific Point' card stock

- 'Butterfly' stamp set by Inkadinkado. The butterflies were stamped onto the card using 'Tuxedo Black' and then I stamped them again onto white thick paper using SU's 'Regal Rose' and Memento 'Teal Zeal' ink pads before snipping the wings out and adding them on top of the black stamped images just with a line of sticky tape down the line nearest to the butterfly body so that the wings stand up

- black pearls down the bodies - made by Papermania

- and then I stamped the little greeting in white - big mistake :( The Brilliance 'Moonlight White' inkpad I used came out all patchy - Dee Zarster! So, I just added some wiggly lines over the top using my Signo white pen

Not my finest hour and I almost threw them away, but I really do need to get the Playground prizes in the post today if possible.

Di
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