Pixie's Snippets Playground - Week 156 & 157

Well folks, we reached a little milestone - this is post 156 since I took the Snippets Playground over from the lovely Jules, so we're celebrating three years of madness and mayhem over the next two weeks as a MASSIVE Thank You to all of you for being such fantastic playmates. Quite a few peeps say the Playground is a happy and fun place to come and play - and I always respond that it's all down to you lovely playmates! I just open and close the gates, hunt out hidden stocks of mulled wine at Christmas, console Parsnip when he has to wait in line for a turn on the swings - and keep the fire extinguishers up to date!

So, for the next two weeks the gates will stay open - you can come and play up to three times in total - and there will be three bumper Christmas themed prizes. Shaz in Oz suggested splitting the prize and to be honest it will split quite nicely into three - A, B and C - one prize for each year :) I'll explain more about how it will work later on in this post, but for now here's my first of three snippets cards featuring items that make up Prize A. And I'd like to enter this card into Merry Monday #139 'Winter Wonderland' challenge.

I used:

- 6" x 6" square white card blank

- a snippet of snowflake backing paper from the LOTV 'Frosty Christmas' paper pad

- the hillsides were die cut using a plain curved die from the Spellbinders 'A2 Curved Borders One' set, with Stickles 'Crystal Ice' along the edge

- the trees were die cut using a Marianne die (LR0136), snippets of white card covered with self-adhesive film which was peeled off after die cutting and sprinkled with Cosmic Shimmer 'Diamond Sprinkles'

- snippets of red and white card (plus a little scrap of white and red patterned paper for the long johns!) and the 'Santa's Laundry' die by Cheery Lynn, Then I attached the washing line to each of the trees and topped them with a Josy Rose silver star nail head

- the sentiment was die cut twice and layered, using a Crafts-Too 'Merry Christmas die'

Usually I wait until later on to show the prize contents but this week I'll also list what you can win after each of my three snippets cards. From the card above the following four goodies make up prize A: a Spellbinders A2 Curved Borders One die set, a Marianne Tree die (LR0136 ), a Cheery Lynn 'Santa's Laundry' die and the Crafts-Too 'Merry Christmas die'.

My second snippets make was such fun, using a Sizzix Hero Arts stamp and die cut set:

I used:

- A6 white card blank

- snippets of white card, one of which I embossed for the snowy background using a folder from the Hero Arts set of 2 folders called 'Christmas Words and Dots'

- the cute snowman was stamped and die cut using the Sizzix Hero Arts 'Snowman #2' set onto plain white and a patterned snippet (for the scarf), then pieced together (bought as a huge bargain over at Sizzix - and it's still on offer as I type if you don't want to risk missing out - £19.99 reduced to £4.99!!)

- final touch, the sentiment was stamped using a stamp from the Personal Impressions 'Many Greetings' set and SU's 'Old Olive' ink pad then punched out using SU's 'Large Oval' punch

As I said, this was great fun to make and would be a really easy 'batch bake' card.

So, three of the things I used make up prize B: the Hero Arts set of 2 embossing folders called 'Christmas Words and Dots', the Sizzix Hero Arts 'Snowman #2' set and the Personal Impressions 'Many Greetings' set. We have actually had the embossing folders as a prize once before, I had bought two for the Playground and then one went missing - found it the other week, wedged behind the back of a drawer here! Slightly crumpled acetate box but the folders are fine :)

My third snippets card was super quick and easy, mostly as I wanted to offer the Christmas stamp I bought for the toy box absolutely ages ago - along with something extra. And that has totally cleaned out the toy box of Christmas goodies - hooray! And, as this card truly was a last minute dash I'd like to enter it into Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge 'Whatever is still urgently needed for Christmas' as well as Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra for December:

I used:

- 5" x 5" square white card blank

- Penny Black's 'Mystical' stamp, stamped using VersaFine 'Vintage Sepia' ink pad

- tickles of Wink of Stella, which are probably hard to see, gold on the body, silver on the antlers and sparkles around them, and a clear line along the bottom

- a little snippet of the last of my red and gold ribbon to finish off

And if you didn't already guess, Prize C is a Penny Black 'Mystical Deer' stamp like I used today plus a set of three Wink of Stella pens in Clear, Gold and Silver.

So, that's a lot of Christmassy stuff to be won girls! I managed to get some good deals whilst shopping around and the purchases were spread out over time so it truly isn't bread and jam for Christmas dinner :)

Onto this week's picks:

I totally adore this very Scandinavian Christmas card, and all the more so as it was made by Jules, who started off the Snippets challenge in the first place.

This fabulous decoupage Christmas card made by Andrea really caught my eye (the good one!).

Such a gorgeous and so elegant Wedding Day card, made by Jenny H. Only the silver scroll used a snippet - but that's enough to come and play :)
 

I know, this is pick number four in an already busy post with a lot to digest. But I couldn't leave this wonderful 3D easel card out, made by Kitty!

No new playmates this week - just as well, with all the partying behind the bike shed and this comment left by Sarn 'Shy-eye-lent night (!) . . . ho-oh-leeee night . . . all ish kalm, all is bwighttttttttt . . . hic! No Mish, no hiccuping here Mish! Fancy a mince pie?????'. Then Sally left this comment just to add her two-pennorth 'Not shuuur what Parshnip put in the hot toddy, but it deffo is hittin the schpot, hic! We wishewww a mewee cwismus an a haaaaappppppppeeeeee neeewwwww yeeaaarrrr! Me an Sarn is goin to join a choir!'

Tee, hee, I rest my case!!!!! Anyone got some ear plugs?! Best move on while the going's good I think!

And the winner of last week's Memory Box 'Woodland Branch' die and the robin stickers is:

Karen P

Well done Karen, I'll pop the prize in the post for you as soon as possible, I already have your address :)

So let's just go over the slight change in the rules for the coming fortnight:

1. The Playground gates will remain open for two weeks,  and the Playground gates will close at 11am UK time on Saturday 3rd January and will open again at midnight UK time on the same day. Maximum of three entries over the two weeks.

2. There are three different 'bundles' on offer this week. I've labelled them A, B
and C for ease.

3. Here's how it'll work, I hope! As always, do make sure you say if you're playing along to be in the prize draw in a comment. You might already have some of the goodies on offer or just not fancy them - that's fine by me so don't think I would be at all offended if you say no thanks. BUT, if you want to be in with a chance for all or just part of the prize bundles (A,B and C) then please say which one(s). It's absolutely fine to say ALL - that's what this is about. But if you fancy just a couple of things in some of the prizes, then also say so - if your name is drawn for a prize first then you get first dibs! My plan is that at least three different people will be winners, maybe more if some of you only want part of a prize.

4. I think it might be a bit of a logistical nightmare for me but I'll be keeping an eye (the good one!) on your comments and building up lists of who's interested in what! Do let me know if this sounds like a right ole muddle - I've got it clear in my own mind - but then might not have explained it very well.

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 :)

Wishing you all a Very Merry Christmas and everything good in 2015!

Love from

Di and Parsnip
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Playground reminder

Don't forget, the Playground will close as usual at 11am on Saturday 20th December (tomorrow), then it will re-open at midnight that same day for two weeks. That gives you some time to come and play if you are lucky enough to have a little 'lull'. Personally, I love those quiet times during holiday periods when I have an hour or so just to play :)

There will be three bumper prizes to be won - to celebrate three years since I took over the Playground keys from Jules.

I'm very quiet on the blogging front here - rushing doing last minute stuff (we need to eat!). even finishing the Christmas decorations and also juggling prizes and my snippets makes :) But am still watching what's going on in the Playground :) Did I just hear a hiccup from behind the bike shed?



Di 
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Little Spike

This is not a very good image, but it was taken from a CCTV clip of 'Little Spike' the young Hedgie when he visited on Monday night. He's right at the back of the photo, behind his food bowl. You can see he's almost ready to curl up or run for home as he's so unsure of the spot light - tee, hee, this is one little chap that doesn't stand on his hind legs and do a little tap dance for the audience :)

What looks a little bit like another hedgie in the foreground slightly to the right of his food bowl is actually the lid that Len carefully covers the bowl with, with a little stone on top to stop any other wildlife from tucking in. Spike just flips it off with his snout - wise little guy that he is.

As you can see, there's always a dish of fresh water, plus Spike even has his own gazebo (aka an old garden coffee table) to protect him from the elements as he dines.

Bless his little cotton socks.  Oh - and he already dined this evening (Tuesday) as well 'cos he left his messy food flickin' bits behind :)

We're blessed that he comes to eat but also worried about how he'll cope with very cold weather as he really did ought to be tucked up snoozing right now. I still think we might be out in the snow at some point with a sieve to hand trying to scoop him up for our local wildlife sanctuary - help! Right now he's feisty and so fast we don't have a chance of rescuing him - silly little sausage :(

Di
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Less is More #202 - Snow

Having missed playing over at Less is More a few times lately, and even though it's a 'One layer' week (which used to terrify me), I made sure I found time to join in:

I used:

- 5" x 5" square white card blank

- the snowman stamp is by Penny Black and called 'Warm and Cold', stamped using Memento 'Gray Flannel' ink then coloured a bit with Pro Markers. Shame on me (yet again!), I bought this adorable stamp almost half price in Hobby Lobby with Kay in New Mexico, over two years ago now and this is his first outing

- tickled the snow with 'Crystal Ice' Stickles and touched up the snowflakes around the snowman image using a silver pen

- the snowflakes above the little chap (I think he looks as if he's juggling!) is stamped in Encore Silver ink using a Stampendous stamp called 'Snow Swirl' - with just a few sparkly gems added  

- sentiment is by Personal Impressions from their 'MAny Greetings' set, stamped using Memento 'Gray Flannel' ink

I do like Memento 'Gray Flannel' ink for stamping certain images, it's softer than black, as well as still being Pro Marker friendly.

That's it from me, short and sweet today! Aw, bit like that snowman :)

Whoops, almost forgot! Apparently the eye virus is subsiding, medication has been cut down to three times a day instead of five - and I don't go back to hospital for another two weeks. Yay!

Di
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Pixie's Snippets Playground - Week 155

Well, it's been a funny old week - little done on the Christmas preparations side of things but my eye is better than it was and will know more after hospital tomorrow afternoon. Plus, I caught up with Playground commenting as well as very quickly rustling up some cheque holders which need to be popped in the post 'toot sweet':

I know, dreadful photo, but to be honest I truly haven't felt like tinkering around much. Please note, the idea of perching the little robin stickers came from the very talented Helen, over at It's All Fiddle Fart. I'm a huge fan of hers and both her blog and Mum's Monkey (which I do believe Helen has a little hand in, wink) are my first call of the day.

Although this cheque holder would fit nicely into Hazel's latest challenge (urgently needed Christmas creations) I'm not entering it as it wasn't my idea in the first place. Besides which, Helen's version is so much better than mine :)

I used:

- 8" x 3" long pearly gold cards

- snippets of LOTV holly paper from their 'Classic Christmas' paper pad - just popped a strip inside the back part of the right hand side of the holder and then used corner scissors to round the corner to allow easy access to the cheque :) before sealing down the left hand end with DST

- the tree branch was die cut  using a snippet of brown card and the Memory Box 'Woodland Branch' die

- then I popped some of the Paperchase 'Fingerprint Robins' stickers along the branch

- last thing, a greetings topper by Craftwork Cards

I made five of these in one go - certainly not my finest hour but they do the trick!

Moving quickly onto this week's picks:

Kate made this fabulous 'Shadow box', complete with its own lighting. Great explanation of how over at Kate's too!

I know, it's not often I show two snippets makes from one playmate in the same set of picks, but this week I truly couldn't pick between two, so Kate gets a second appearance with this fabulous pop up card. Something Len has kept suggesting I should try and I can see why!

This card, made by Sandy J, just stopped me in my tracks. I love the layout and use of snippets - but it's how well everything goes together that got me - right down to that perfect ribbon.

I just love the amount of detail in this great card, made by Ileana. Tons of snippets used and they all work so well together.

Sarn always makes such beautiful cards, and this is one of my real favourites. Beautifully designed and made - and I love how you feel drawn into the magic. Just gorgeous.

As always, I could go on forever with picks! But let's move onto our new playmate this week:

Lovely card Lulu - and the interesting twist is the ring where the elf is perched. It appears that Lulu keeps the inner part of spent rolls of double sided tape and upcycles them! Clever idea!

Welcome to the Playground, and do please come and play again.

And the draw for last week's prize of the two embossing folders - our winner is:

Vinita

 

Well done Vinita! Can you please let me have your address (di_wray@hotmail.com) and I'll pop your prize in the post as soon as possible!

And of course this coming week's prize is linked to the cheque holders:

It's a Memory Box 'Woodland Branch' die plus a couple of packs of the Paperchase Robin stickers to play with. I really dithered about buying myself the branch die but am so pleased I did and can see all sorts of uses, wouldn't it look sweet covered with little punched flowers a bit like apple blossom for example? And Helen has used hers to dangle Christmas stars from - told you, she's got shed loads of great ideas! Whatever you do, it's likely to help you use up some of those pesky snippets!

The Snippets Challenge will run for one week and the Playground gates will close at 11am UK time on Saturday 20th December and will open again at midnight UK time on the same day.

Maximum of three entries and please say 'Yes please' (or similar) in a comment if you wish to play and be a possible winner of the prize. As always, if you're only interested in one or other of the items making up the prize, just say so and if you win then I'll do a further draw for whatever it is you don't want. But, please do go for both if that's what you'd like of course.

Mr Linky is below - do please let me know if you have any problems linking, it's easy for me to sort out so don't struggle on alone :)

We've been trying to catch better images of baby Spike the hedgehog here - at one point we did wonder if we had a very wily rat. However, on Friday evening, baby Spike appeared - nudged the cover off his food dish and happily tucked in, at least three times. Any move by us to even open the back door in an attempt to catch him was quickly met with a rapid scampering away into the darkness. We just have to keep on feeding him and hope that does the trick.

NB I've been thinking about how we handle Christmas and the Playground as so many of us will be busy over the holidays. What I propose to do is to leave the gates open for two weeks - from midnight on Saturday 20th December until 11am on Saturday 3rd January. And, to celebrate Christmas and New Year as well as the fact that it will be THREE years since I took the Playground over from Jules - the prize will be a bit of a bumper one - or I might split it, not sure as yet! Any preferences?

I think we'll probably stick with a maximum of three entries over the two week period, partly as you'll all be busy but also to ease the commenting for me.

But this coming week runs as normal of course!

Di (and the usual happy wave from Parsnip of course)
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Sneaked into craft room

 ........and made a Christmas card for our lovely Postman, Steve. He brings tons of post to us throughout the year in all weathers, never points out to Len just how many parcels are for me and is unfailingly cheerful. He always gets a generous tip from us at Christmas and I'd seen a 'post box' card over at Lucy's blog here which I loved! In fact, it featured as a Snippets Weekly Pick and you really should check it out over at Lucy's - I made a simpler version for Steve:

I used:

- 5" x 5" square white card blank

- snippet of silver holographic card for the frame

- snippet of LOTV 'Frosty Christmas' backing paper

- the image is by LOTV, from their 'Winter Wildlife' Bumper Art Pad and I unashamedly copied Lucy's lovely idea which was to snip right round the curved top of the post box taking away the little bit of blue background at each top corner. That means the image sits so well on the snowy backing paper

- final touch, three snowflakes, punched out of white card which was covered with sparkly film - and a little clear gem in the centre of each
 
Update on the eye, eye, Captain Birdseye!

Progress is slow my lovely friends, but I think there's some improvement. Not quite as red, angry and sore thankfully, but still not too good (and so not a good look either!), sigh :(

However, we think I've also got a bug of some sort - not to put too fine a point on it I'm very good friends with the loo at the moment. Thankfully not been sick, although am fighting that as well. Bet you didn't need to know that :) Camomile tea is going great guns here right now.

But hey ho, I did find some time to at least work out this coming week's prize from Sunday, albeit not quite how I planned.  With luck the Playground will close as normal and reopen as usual with a new prize and a prizewinner from last week. I've spent some time catching up on commenting and hope to cover the weekly picks as usual. But bear with me if things don't go quite to plan.

Thank you for all the lovely get well wishes and comments - and some of the cheekier ones, which have cheered me up no end :)

Di
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Word Verification fix - maybe!

I know, I shouldn't be sitting here at the laptop...........but, it's really been niggling at me that Word Verification is appearing on my blog when I don't have it enabled. Len just played with some of the laptop settings and it was STILL there.

But, I've just tried a little trick - and Word Verification immediately disappeared. I'm not saying it's a long term solution as Blogger are tinkering about a lot these days but here's what I did:

1. Went to my dashboard and selected 'Settings'.

2. Once that popped up I clicked on 'Posts and Comments'.

3. Under the heading 'Comments' there's a sub heading which says 'Comment location'.

4. I changed that to 'Embedded'. In effect that means it isn't a pop up or a new comment page - the comments just appear right after the blog post, and that seems to do the trick.

Teee, hee - I just bet someone now hops in to let me know that Word Verification is still there - but at least I can't see it. In fact I truly can't see it....... if I close my right eye :)

Di
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Reduced service in the Playground

Hi folks

Just to let you know things here ain't too grand on the vision front so commenting and crafting has had to take a back seat.

An old eye problem has flared up, which means blurred vision and pain in the affected eye, constant tears running down my cheek and basically I look like Len punched me in my left eye. Hey, what? Maybe he did?

In truth it's a virus from the same herpes simplex family which gives folk those cold sores - only sometimes it diverts down the nerve into the eye and causes ulcers on the cornea - and yes, it's very painful and just rotten luck. 

Been to hospital, got medication which usually works and  will be blogging ASAP. But am planning to take it easy for a few days if needs be. Be good and play nicely!

Di
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Pixie's Snippets Playground - Week 154

Not sure about you ladies, but blogging time is diminishing as we gallop towards Christmas. No doubt the point will come when we all breathe a sigh of relief and say 'What ain't done ain't gonna get done'. Just so long as that point isn't at around midnight on Christmas Eve!

My snippets card this week caused a lot of angst here, in fact I just don't like it but, as usual, it shows off this coming week's prize so I just kept going :( The mistake is the copper card, I don't like it in such quantity and neither does the 'in-house critic', white, gold or silver would be much better. I spied the main embossing folder on a pick of the week card over at Less is More, and folk did go a bit crazy over it - made by Loli. Anyhow here's my effort:

I used:

- A6 cream card blank

- snippet of gold mirri card as a 'frame'

- snippet of copper satin mirri card, embossed using Crafts-Too's 'Swirl Baubles' embossing folder

- snippet of cream ribbon tied in a knot

- gold Josy Rose nail heads here and there on the swirls

- and then I lost the plot! As I said, I really didn't like the copper but with little time had to soldier on, so I got out SU's Framelits 'Holiday Ornaments' die set and found a die that was close in size to one of the baubles. Using a knife I cut the bauble out of the copper card leaving a hole with the backing gold card behind

- my cutting wasn't too neat so that 'orrible 'ole had to be covered up. Some folk do carefully cut out all three baubles and then back the holes with pretty papers - they look fabulous! Or, just add coloured baubles on top of course - or easier still, choose another colour for the card!!

- marching firmly on, I die cut a bauble out of a little snippet of gold mirri card and then centred it on part of the pattern on another embossing folder (Couture Creations 'Constellations' and embossed it

- all that was left was to glue the embossed bauble into the 'orrible 'ole and take a photo which makes it look all ruckled/distorted, which it honestly isn't!

OK, enough of my deesasters dahlings, onto this week's picks, which were so much better:

This fabulous box card almost blew my socks off, it's stunning. Made by our Kath, and she went wild and even added some of her much loved (not) butterflies in for good measure :) Tee, hee - next thing you'll be trying out my Liver and Bacon Casserole recipe Kath!! It's here if you fancy a try :)

I decided to stick with 'fabulous' this week when picking the final makes to show you - and am sure you'll agree that this stunning Wedding card, made by Pat, is such a worthy inclusion! Pat always details just how she makes her cards and the amount of work here is quite something.

I love this chipboard based bauble, so beautifully decorated by Jane. It's going to be such a fabulous addition to the Christmas tree. And lots of lovely little snippets used in the process of course.

I know, I know!! My rule of three picks got broken again - but I just have to include Sam's Christmas 2014 album. To check it all out you have to visit her blog - the work in every album she makes is just phenomenal!

And we have one new playmate this week, SHartL over on Flickr. Such a shame I can't copy/paste her entries here but you can check them out by linking from last week's Mr Linky (numbers 50 and 51). Welcome and I hope you come back to play again soon! :

OK, so onto the winner of the Spellbinders 'Edwardian Door' and 'Holly Wreath' dies, and it's:

Karen Ladd

 

Karen only joined us very recently and her cards are also posted on Flickr rather than a blog. So, we have a bit of a mystery playmate, and I have no idea where you live Karen! Do please let me have your address (email me here:  di_wray@hotmail.com) and I'll pop the dies in the post to you this week. If you're outside of the UK, they will be posted Airmail as I always do but we're getting into last posting dates for Christmas overseas post of course - but with luck they will reach you in time for Christmas.

It goes to show, beginners can hit lucky - it's happened a couple of times before :)

Onto this coming week's prize, which will be no surprise of course:

It's two embossing folders, the same as the ones I used on my snippets card, the 'Swirl Baubles' plus the 'Constellations'.

The Snippets Challenge will run for one week and the Playground gates will close at 11am UK time on Saturday 13th December and will open again at midnight UK time on the same day.

Maximum of three entries and please say 'Yes please' (or similar) in a comment if you wish to play and be a possible winner of the prize. As always, if you're only interested in one or other of the items making up the prize, just say so and if you win then I'll do a further draw for whatever it is you don't want. But, please do go for both if that's what you'd like of course.

Mr Linky is below - do please let me know if you have any problems linking, it's easy for me to sort out so don't struggle on alone :)

No update on Spike, I fear this sudden cold snap might have made him hibernate, regardless of being so small.

I know that many of you will have seen my tribute/post earlier in the week here about our lovely Bernie. I had another lovely email from Bernie's sister, Lori, just yesterday and this is what she wrote:

Hi Diane,

Your tribute was so touching and sweet! Thank you so very, very much.  I read through all of the comments and cried my eyes out all over again. Please thank those lovely ladies for me. Their outpouring of love has touched my heart in ways you will never know.  

And after some personal stuff, Lori ended her email like this:

Thank you for making Bernie's life richer and for reaching out and touching my heart.

Hugs to you and all of Bernie's blogland friends, 

Lori

Wasn't that lovely - Lori is referring to you wonderful ladies. I'm so glad that Lori thought to check out this blog and found all your lovely comments, which obviously meant so, so much to her. Huge thank you hugs from me ladies - and I vote we make Lori an honorary Playmate!

Di (and the usual happy wave from Parsnip of course)
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Whatever next - an ice skating robin?

The current challenge over at Merry Monday is to have a bird (or birds) on your Christmas card. I needed to make my entry very quickly, in between loads of other things we're up to here - and this is the result:

I used:

- 3.75" x 3.75" square white card blank

- stamp from SU's 'For the Birds' stamp set, stamped in Memento 'Tuxedo Black' then coloured with Whispers pens plus gold and silver for the bauble

- final touch was to line up the card opened up and face down on my Hougie board and emboss a series of diagonal lines. Of course the board should really be used horizontally or vertically - but, by wedging two of the corners at an angle and then using a ruler to make sure the lines stayed true - it was a walk (or an ice skate!) in the park :)

I made two cards the same and that means I've reached my target, albeit four days late, of making 12 cards per month from January to November. Just need to label and write them now!

Edit: Sarah from Less is More says that this qualifies for the current challenge as Christmas is of course a celebration - so I'm linking in. I hate to miss LIM especially as it's the 200th challenge over there - think I was waaaay too fixed on working round the word 'Celebration' :)

It was so touching to see your lovely comments about Bernie yesterday, as you say, I just bet she'll be crafting away up there. She would be so embarrassed and humbled to know how much we love her, although I know that all of us did show that very strongly when she was her with us.  What was not to like? She was a star!!

I'm not sure how many of you know that Bernie's very first embossing machine, before her so much cherished Cuttlebug, was - wait for it - a second hand pasta machine! Now that's enterprising for you :) Bless her - always our thrift Queen!

Di
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Sleep well Bernie

 

I already emailed a few of you as soon as I heard the news yesterday (and deep apologies if I missed you out inadvertently) but for those of you who followed Bernie's Craft Closet I have sad news. Some of you will know that Bernie stopped blogging quite suddenly last year, we knew that she was battling lung cancer but it still took us by surprise as her last post in August 2013 was pretty upbeat. But that was Bernie of course.

Cutting a long story short, several of us have been writing and emailing to Bernie's address but with no response. The other day I thought  about going through old emails I still had from Bernie and looking to see who she might have copied in - and I hit upon a lady called Lori living in Maui (Hawaii) - where Bernie originally hailed from.

It turns out that Lori was Bernie's sister and she sent me a very sweet email, but saying that 'Bernie succumbed to her illness a little over a year ago, after a difficult and hard fought battle. She passed away at home with Jim. They had breakfast together, talking and enjoying each other's company, and a short while later she was gone'.

From that I gleaned that there is the blessing that Bernie was at home, with her beloved Jim and that it was possibly more sudden and less protracted than it might have been.

Isn't this a beautiful photograph of a wonderful, fun and caring lady? Just look at the happiness shining out of those lovely eyes. She did light up our lives for sure.

Rest well my very dear and sweet little friend Bernie - you touched our hearts and will be so very much missed.

All my love,

Di
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Little robins

I'm sure some of you know that I'm an avid follower of Helen, over at It's All Fiddle Fart - since well before I even thought about having a blog. I think she comes up with great ideas and this year she found some 'Fingerprint Robin' stickers that I fell in love with - they literally are the size of my small 'pinky' fingerprint. Helen has already been using her stickers brilliantly but I thought it only fair to not do a direct CASE but to try to put my own spin on the little critters:

I used:

- 5" x 5" white card blank

- a snippet of white card and a slightly larger snippet of red for the 'frame'

- a snippet of brown card which I then die cut for the tree. Now, I wonder if anyone can guess which Memory Box die I used? Answer is at the end of this post

- three sparkly puffy 'Fingerprint Robin' stickers from Paperchase - you get 35 stickers for £1 - absolute bargain

- the sentiment is by Personal Impressions from their 'Many Greetings' set - stamped and smudged using SU 'Real Red' ink. That meant I had to restamp it onto a little snippet of white card, punch it using SU's 'Petite Curly Label' punch and cover up the boo-boo

These would be such fun to make in batches, but I'm slowing down a bit on card making here. Partly because I've almost hit my Christmas card target (and will have cards left over for sure), but also as there just aren't enough hours in the day right now between preparing for Christmas, keeping on top of the Playground and various other little things that are going on.

Almost forgot, did you guess which Memory Box die I used? It was this one:

Yup, the Memory Box 'Arboscello Tree- which I die cut and then just carefully snipped all the leaves off.
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Blogger playing up anyone?

I spent ages yesterday fighting with Blogger, when I click on links in the dashboard or the Playground Mr Linky it's just that interminable circle going round and round before it kicks me out. Tried on Len's PC as well, same thing there. Getting to other websites seems to be OK, it's just Blogger.

So I ran away and did a shed load of ironing instead - couldn't even be bothered to make a card. Things are bad when housework and ironing are much more attractive than playing!! Normal service will resume as soon as possible :)

PS - We think it might be overload on the Internet, although we're on the fastest connection available here, Len has also been having problems buying online - Christmas eh!

PPS - Yup, we realised this morning that it was Cyber Monday yesterday, normal service has been resumed - phew!

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