Sunday 1 January 2012

Pixie's Crafty Snippets - Challenge Number 1

First of all - HAPPY NEW YEAR! I hope that 2012 is a great year for you all!

For the past year, the lovely Jules of Always With a Heart has been running a really fun challenge - to dive into those leftover bits of paper and card (aka as 'snippets') and use them up. I only began doing this in July 2011 but was very quickly hooked, not least due to the encouragement of Sandra of Stamping For Pleasure and the inspiration of Jules and all the other 'Snippeteers'. I had such fun and my snippets folder became the first place to check when making a card - the extra bonus was that I made a load of other terrific bloggy friends as well as picking up lots of new ideas.

So, when I realised that Jules was going to lock the Snippets Playground Gates after a whole year of hard work on her part, I was truly worried :( Where would the playmates all go with their snippets? With a lot of trepidation and some coaxing from Jules I've taken over the keys to the Snippets Playground, that's them above, aren't they cute? No way can I hope to emulate the gorgeous cards that Jules makes, but I'm going to at least facilitate the challenge! Jules has promised to drop in, and no doubt knock our socks off as always, and I do so hope you will also drop in to play.

There are no hard and fast rules, just make a card or anything else using up some snippets from that languishing stash! The snippets can be tiny or fairly large - patterned or plain, you can enter as many times as you like in a week and of course also enter whatever you make for any other challenges. The main idea is to share makes and ideas - and to try to reduce those snippets mountains :) There are no prizes - just the fun of joining in and sharing what we've made which is a prize in itself.

As Jules did, I'll leave the gates open until Saturday at midnight and I'll publish the playmates links to their posts each Sunday. Any ideas for how to reduce the heaps of snippets we all have will always be gratefully received - we're a nosy lot and love to see anything at all which would help in the reduction drive...err, a photo of a blow torch or a shredder in action probably isn't quite what we're looking for :))

I truly hope you feel inclined to continue/join in with the Snippets Challenge - if so, please leave a link to your offering in the Mr Linky do-dah at the end of this post :)

So, here's my use of snippets for today:
I really wanted to make a New Year card for you all but this is the closest I could find in the sentiments right now - this place needs an Elf and Safety warning! I guess lots of you will know the patchwork trick, but it's the first time I've used it. Just cut a square of background paper and then a couple of strips of contrasting paper the same length as the background but only one third of the width of the background. Then stick them down in a cross centrally over the background square and cover with an image, sentiment or whatever. There isn't enough room for me to dig out my little craft sewing machine right now so I just did some 'faux stitching'.

I used:

- 4" x 4" square white linen card

- all papers came from the snippets folder (the patterned ones are scraps of First Edition 'Sweet Owl' papers)

- sentiment from the Hero Arts 'Live Life' sentiments set - stamped in Brilliance Pearlescent Chocolate

- flowers punched from snippets with Josy Rose nail heads in the centre

- faux stitching using a very fine Whispers brown marker

So, as John Wayne would say 'Wagons Roll'!!!

Di
x


Pixies Crafty Snippets Challenge #1 Participants - Challenge now closed see Challenge 2

1. Irene
2. Sarn
3. Hazel
4. Hazel
5. Jules
6. Lisa H
7. Hazel
8. ~Tammy~
9. Robin
10. Hettie
11. Hazel
12. Hazel
13. Sally M
14. Sandra H
15. Sally H
16. Amanda
17. Carol
18. ~Tammy~
19. Linby
20. Hazel
21. Jackie
22. Sandy How
23. Elizabeth
24. Karen
25. Karen
26. Hazel

29 comments:

  1. Fab card Di, congrats once again on keeping this challenge going. The mat on my card was cut in my cricut with elegant edges cart, wish I had bought this ages ago as it s fab. Happy new year, hugs, Amanda xx

    ReplyDelete
  2. That looks like a good start to me Di. Good luck with your new venture.
    Hugs,
    A x

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hello Di

    Happy New year to you and your Family.

    Brilliant card Di, luv the patchwork tut and your papers are gorgeous.

    luv
    irene
    xxxx

    ReplyDelete
  4. Fab card Di . . . I didn't know the "patchwork trick" but I do NOW! Great idea.

    I shall definitely be joining in . . . just off to make a card with snippets . . . see you later.

    Hugs, Sarn xxx

    ReplyDelete
  5. Love the card Di, its gorgeous!

    Wishing you and your family a very Happy and Healthy New Year, I hope that 2012 will be a good year for you all, Luv Karen xxx

    ReplyDelete
  6. The patchwork trick looks great.. i'd never seen it before! Will definitely be trying that out! And the snippets challenge, I will certainly be joining in :) M x

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi Di

    Love the card what a great idea better than trying to stick little squares all over the place, must try it. Wish you a great New year and good luck in you new venture.

    ReplyDelete
  8. HAPPY NEW YEAR to you and yours!!!! Great snippet card! Love the faux stitching, I really must get my snippets out later and make a card!! After my yummy lunch out and annual trip to the Theatre to see snow White!!!

    xxxxx

    ReplyDelete
  9. Happy new year to you and yours and what a start with such a great snippet card Luv Sue x

    ReplyDelete
  10. Happy New Year to you Di!
    Not tried this Snippets Challenge before but I do have a few...er...Snippets, from which I may be able to use to keep me going a week or two!!! LOL!!
    See ya later!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thank you for taking over the keys of the snippet playground - I've really enjoyed joining in with Jules and intend to continue to do so here - in fact, I'd already prepared some crafty resolutions in which I mentioned Jules, so now I've amended that to point in this direction - you can read about here x

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hi Di

    I just know you are going to do a brilliant job .. .. you certainly open up the gates much earlier than I used to .. .. which is always a good sign LOL!!!

    I shall definitely be playing along .. .. lots of snippets still needing to be used up in my craft pod.

    Loving your patchwork technique.

    Happy New Year Di!!!

    Love Jules xx

    ReplyDelete
  13. Di!

    I look forward to playing along and so glad you took the keys over! I have enjoyed playing in the challenges when time permits and I have mountains and mountains of scraps, so thank you for keeping this going it challenges me to dip in my scrap pile first!

    Happy to be a new follower!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Wish I'd thought about this yesterday, when I posted my scrapling cards as they were all made with snippets! I'll definitely be joining in as often as I can, gotta reduce that snippet mountain somehow! Hope you have a brilliant 2012, and I'm sure the snippet challenge will thrive in your hands.

    Hugs
    Brenda

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hi Di, Your card is fabulous great to to be able to use up snippets to make something as lovely as you have made here! this is going to be a great snippet challenge and hopefully lots will cotton on and join in, l'm hoping to do just that as soon as the festive period is over, hope you had a fabulous new year :) Sandra H

    ReplyDelete
  16. Well done Di, looks like you are off to a good start. Love the keys.

    Kath x

    ReplyDelete
  17. Snippets, what a fab idea!!!! Thanks so much for taking on the "job"!!!
    Hugs
    Lisa xx

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hello Di, and thanks for taking over the keys to the snippet playground ... I certainly intend carrying on making my snippet creations too. Your card is super and I like the patchwork technique - one to try out. Happy 2012 too. Elizabeth x

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hello Di, although I didn't always make it to the playground every week, I liked to pop in when I could, so it's great to know that you've taken over the keys. I love your patchwork design & such a simple idea, thanks for sharing.
    Sally x

    ReplyDelete
  20. Hi Di I'm another who doesn't always make it into the playground but I will try and just wanted to thank you for carrying on the challenge.
    Happy New Year to you and your family. Love the cards you've made to start off the year.
    Ann xxx

    ReplyDelete
  21. Hi Di. I didn't manage to get involved last year though I am trying to clear up some of my copious snippets, so I will try to join in with you. Well done for taking it on this year. Kate x

    ReplyDelete
  22. What a pretty card! Thanks very much for the tip, it looks much easier than punching squares and trying to get them all lined up neatly!

    I'm off to pick bits of paper off the floor of my craft hovel - I knocked over one of my snippets boxes and there are snippets everywhere!

    love Mags B x

    ReplyDelete
  23. Wow... Just discovered your site. What a WONDERFUL idea! thanks to all of you who started this and are continuing it. Hope you don't mind a fellow stamper from the states playing with you all!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Hi DI, Entered my card and forgot to mention which was the snippets won't back link as l don't think that's right so my snippets where backing paper which is really old and in my stash box gems which are as old as the hills.........lol and that's about it enjoyed your challenge and will be looking forward to the next:) Sandra H

    ReplyDelete
  25. Hi Di
    Love your patchwork design. I have had some playtime and managed three cards this week. Hope I make more regular visits than I managed last year. Lord knows my snippet collection is way too LARGE and needs reducing!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Great card. I never managed to enter whilst Jules was doing the challenge, so this is my first of hopefully many entries.
    Linbyx

    ReplyDelete
  27. Oh Di...look at you! Such a big kind heart my friend and good for you taking on and keeping the life of the Snippet Challenge. Once I get back into the swing I'm going to join in! Looking forward to it!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Hi, my first time entering into the snippets challenge, have been a follower over at Jules blog but never joined in with the challenge. Hope to use up some of my scraps more.
    Good luck running the challenges,
    Sandy

    ReplyDelete
  29. Hello Di, here's my first snippet creation for quite a while ... couldn't possibly let your first week pass without entering :) Elizabeth x

    ReplyDelete

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

This is a public blog. Those leaving a comment on any post on this blog or entering a piece of artwork into a linky do so in the knowledge that their name and blog link are visible to all who visit this blog and in so doing have published their own personal details and consented to my use of that personal information should they be selected as a winner or to accredit work.