Pixie's Crafty Snippets - Challenge Number 7

It's been another manic, frantic, chaotic busy week in the Snippets Playground - with a few newcomers and previous playmates joining in as well :)

My snippets card for today is a little pink, to say the least:

The little girlie sitting is a pre-loved 'Sitting Tilda' and has been patiently waiting for me to be brave enough to have another try at die cutting an image so that part of it is outside the die cut area. The first attempt ages ago with a different stamp was a spectacularly total disaster failure and I lost interest in trying again.

However, a tutorial popped up on Penni's blog Lazy Cats Cards, which was very helpful - and I also looked at Jak Heath's tutorial here. Between the two I managed - yay!

I have to say that mouthless girlies aren't a favourite of mine, although Gorjuss girls (also mouthless) seem fine. Weird :) However, I did buy this stamp, just because she was sitting and seemed fine for the technique.

I used:

- 6" x 6" square white card stock

- 'Sitting Tilda Angel' stamp - I've no idea of her proper name though. Coloured with Pro Markers and Flex Markers then die cut with a circular Nesties and layered onto a scalloped lacy edged Nesties die. Just a smidgen of Glamour Dust added to her wings :)

- backing papers are all from the snippets folder, although the pink gingham came from a Wild Rose Studios 'Gorgeous Ginghams' paper pack

- blue gingham ribbon and pearls from stash

- little butterflies punched with a Woodware punch and topped with a pearl

- sentiment stamped onto pale blue card, trimmed and then layered onto punched plain and scalloped circle. The sentiment is from a lovely new set by Maya Road, called 'Spool Sentiments'

Enough about that and on with the roll call for the past week - and what a week!

As soon as the gates opened, almost within minutes Mary shot in with this absolutely beautiful card. It was made as a thank you for someone who helped Mary out with a replacement part for her trimmer - I bet she was delighted to receive such a pretty thank you - lovely papers and the most gorgeous flower! And, at the bottom of Mary's post you'll see a couple of Christmas cards, also using snippets. These are also great and Mary is on a quest to see if she can find any more of the papers she used - if you can help please do leave Mary a comment, they're Bo Bunny Christmas papers from 2010. I've searched online over in the UK and can't find any stockists who still have them :(

Next in, with two offerings in quick succession, was Jackie - her first card is a 21st card that's perfect in funky blues for a chap and her next card is a black and white 60th Birthday card here - they're both terrific Jackie! Later in the week, Jackie popped back with a totally different card, all pink and feminine - following a brilliant sketch too, go here to see and to check out the gorgeous butterfly, plus some really yummy snippets. I did intend to follow that sketch but time got in the way this week.

Then Brenda arrived with her Less Is More Aqua card - so lovely too! And of course, being Brenda, she's added a touch of red to 'make it pop' - and it worked really well. We had some more visits as the week progressed - with this great Christmas card - we did ascertain that the image is an Elzybells one and the papers are lovely Brenda! Then how about this next one for a card to make you go 'Aaaah' - so, so sweet. House Meece certainly have a lot going for them and I think Brenda possibly has a whole load of HM stamps, lucky girl! Beautifully done too.

Jules brought two cards with her - despite being so busy it's great to see Jules still finding time to play. And wow, as always, absolutely gorgeous cards - yikes, writing this and linking up I've spotted that one card uses pink gingham paper like mine does today. Don't tell me that I'm now being subliminally hypnotised into digging into my stash for gingham! The flower stamp is absolutely beautiful - I'm quite glad that Jules doesn't list what she uses on her snippets cards as I seem to be forever adding things I see on Jules' blog to my wish list!! Jules' other card is sure to make you smile - the sweetest penguin on a Christmas card - perfectly matched/complimenting colours and papers of course. Ha, ha - I also peeked at the other comments left on Jules' snippets posting - and I see that Brenda has been telling tales to our Patron and Founder about me :)

Then Elizabeth brought this really great layout - look who's in the middle one of the three photos :) Fabulous papers and the poinsettia is a perfect finishing touch for a Hogmonay/New Year layout (I think that's still being debated, huh Elizabeth?). I did laugh, Elizabeth had been watching Barbara Grey doing demos on Create and Craft TV - so had I down here. I think I shocked Elizabeth by admitting it was the first time I'd seen Barbara Grey - but it won't be the last as she's great fun and a very talented lady. You might like to know that neither of us spent any money - although both of us were tempted, ha, ha - Elizabeth says she sat on her hands!! :)

Linby brought two cards with her which you can see here. Both using tags but very different - the first is all pinks and love and the second one is greens. Both are beautiful makes and super use of snippets of course - do check out the cute little Westie on one of the cards :)) Linby says she got one of the tags as a freebie - brilliant find girl!!

A very happy Sylvia-Anne hopped in next with this lovely and very 'classy' card. She was almost already flying at 30,000 feet, doing last minute preparations for a much needed holiday. As she says, why do we need what seems like 3 million T-shirts for holidays? :) But, she'd made time to make a snippets card which will inspire you for sure - do hop over and check out those flowers and buttons - brilliant! Let's hope you're having a great time Sylvia.

Still on last Sunday (it was a busy day on the swings in here!) , Robin had tried to sneak in with a card but the playground gates were closed. She must have literally hit on the half hour maximum that the gates were closed 'cos I was frantically typing as the gates closed and posted the roll call very soon after before going to bed. Sorry Robin! Anyhow, undeterred, she scampered back with two terrific cards using SU's 'Sprinkled Expressions' stamps - both very effective indeed - you can see them here. And, it confirmed that my choice of this stamp set as a giveaway in SU's current Salebration sale is right - now all I need to do is whittle all the other things I'd like down to a manageable list.

Banners and bunting are very 'on trend' (oooer, get me!!) right now - and Liz came up trumps with some cute labels to make a very clever card with the theme of 'Love' - which you can see here. As I commented at the time, super use of snippets and it almost looks as if some of the punched out hearts floated up and landed on the top corners. Check it out if you haven't already had a peek :)
We did have another late visit from Liz, but a very welcome one, in the shape a card in pink and white, which as she rightly says is so very popular right now. This one, go here, is a six way one which I think you'll love!

Hazel was in and out of the playground like a little whirlwind this week with a load of offerings to show - at one point I was getting a bit dizzy :) Lots of cleverly recycled Christmas cards - firstly, how about this robin, followed by another one featuring music here , a Christmas Dove one here , a beautiful sepia scene here, a jolly Father Christmas here and a beautiful recycled die cut Christmas tree here. I think all of these followed sketches which gave such an added dimension to Hazel's work, phew - all brilliant! Then this next card followed - made primarily for a challenge in which you had to echo a photo - I thought this was simply perfect! And, as I type, finally a lovely gold card with an angel here to set the scene for Hazel's own challenge CHNC........nope, I was wrong, so funny, another little visit from Hazel as I'm typing this just popped up :) with another gold angel card. So far I think Hazel holds the playground record for submissions this week - the least I can do is to make a card for her challenge, which is to use an angel or a fairy on a Christmas card.

Something struck me whilst perusing all of Hazel's Christmas card offcuts - I forgot to take ours to recycling and they're still here :) Mind you, no way would any hand crafted ones we were sent be pulled apart!

Irene arrived next with such a fresh and crisp card in white and lilac, which you can see here. As always, so beautifully designed and put together, Irene used a SU stamp set perfectly for her card. To see what she made, hop over and have a little peek - check out the flower too. This stamp set is firmly on my list for the SU Salebration! Irene came back later in the week with another fresh and crisp card here - stunningly simple and so, so effective. In fact, it wouldn't have been whipped up in no time when you look at all the elements but the overall affect looks very simple and classy to me.

Next into the playground was Gilly, who made the fabulous rose I pointed you all to last week - you did go and peek I hope. Anyhow, Gilly had some other flowers she wanted to use up and I'm sure you'll love this card. Not only is it absolutely lovely, but what a great idea to use a card divided into four squares with three elements plus a sentiment. To see what I mean do hop over - and check that rose out too - it's further down the posting that this link will take you too!

Beryl came along next with this card - do take a look - it's totally elegant! Really eye catching the way the red just pops and see how the sentiment background picks up the flesh colours too. Quite funny how a few people said that the shoes are gorgeous and then went on to sadly comment that they can't wear shoes with heels like that now. I'm with them on that one too :( Being 'vertically challenged' I used to love my high heels!

A sad tale on this next entry - Karen was snowed in and had to miss The Creative Stitches and Hobby Craft Show due to last weekend's big dump of snow :( But, she made a lovely Christmas card using scraps of material which you can check out here. Snippets can include ribbon and material of course - not just card and paper, we have few rules here, except for no pinching and pulling of hair! While you're there - you'll see some wonderful photos of her little 18 month old grandson playing in the snow for the first time. I think that probably easily made up for the disappointment Karen :)

Sandra H arrived next and I got a bit confused, she added two links but one was already covered last week (29th January) - and I've had a good search but can only find one card referring to Challenge Number 6 - ie. this last week's. It's a little cracker too (love the eyes!) - made for a first day at school and you can see it here. It's lovely and my heart went out to the little recipient as it was also her birthday the same day! Let's hope she quickly made some nice playmates like we have here in our little playground :)

This next card was brought by Lyn - see, I said that bunting is 'on trend'!! Super card and a terrific way to use up snippets. The addition of a beautiful butterfly was a lovely finishing touch - plus Lyn used some ribbon that used to be the hanging straps on a top, clever! I know that some of you have been to have a peek but it would be really nice if you have the time to hop over and say 'hello' to Lyn. Encouragement means so much, especially as you're starting out in the blogging community.

Carol had made such a super card, which you can see here. Her snippets are gorgeous, much better than most of my 'proper papers' :( And the LOTV image is a great favourite too. Every little touch on this card is just so lovely - lots of inspiration and the co-ordination is just perfect. Go and see for yourselves!

Our next playmate was Tammy - with a very welcome sight, a card for a man! I always struggle with cards for chaps, maybe lots of us do, but just go and see here how to do it right! It's an 80th birthday card and, as Tammy says, a real classic. The background is pure inspiration and such a clever play on classic! Brilliant!!

And now, a little drum roll please as I'd like you to look at a card - yup, an image partway down the roll call I know but this blew my little socks right off:

In fact, I almost fell off the swing in excitement. It was made by one of our newest playmates Carys who has just started blogging and made this Valentine card using snippets woven together - so clever! And, the reason for me almost falling off the swing is that Carys is 14 years young!! Bless, she would like to know how to attract more visitors and I think we can help that a bit? If you hop over - here's the link to her blog - please go and check her wardrobe cards out too, amazing! Welcome to the snippets playground Carys - you're off to a flying start I hope :)

Andria hopped in next with this stepper card that truly rocks, in all ways! Another one for the chaps too and a real stunner. Customised right down to the name of the band her nephew plays in and, as I commented at the time, (no pun intended) it's sure to be a mahoosive hit! You can almost hear those drums too :) Absolutely great.

A really beautiful card was next, brought along by Lynne on her first visit to the playground since Jules stepped down - take a look here to see what I mean. No image needed at all, such a clever combination of papers, ribbon, trim and a sentiment really makes for a card to stand out in a crowd.It's really pretty and very Summery - just what we need to remind us that temperatures should rise sometime! Lovely card Lynne.

Maggie must have been feeling the cold when she popped into the playground - she suggested that we ought to play hopscotch :) She had three cards with her - the first two are decoupaged photographs, something I would never have thought of doing but so effective. The third card was made using a couple of heart shaped punches to make the flowers (a few of us have been at that lately!) and they are stunning. To check them all out, and the interesting post that Maggie wrote - go here.

As I said to Maggie when I commented, hopscotch could well be on the 'cards' - if only so that we hop up and down to keep warm! It's soooo cold here today (Saturday at the moment). As a kid I remember my Mum playing a game with me if we were waiting for a bus in the freezing cold - she used to chant 'Jump, jump, sugar lump' time after time and yours truly used to hop up and down in time to her chanting. It's only in recent years I've realised that it was her way of keeping me warm, occupied and probably to stop me whining :)

Right, I digressed there, sorry and back to the roll call.

Craftilicious flew in next - literally as she was hanging onto a couple of kites! Another one of Jule's' previous playmates so welcome back! Get a load of this bright and breezy (ha, ha) card here. Paper piecing used so beautifully and a really happy and cheerful card Craftylicious. Plus, the sentiment is perfect!

Sandy arrived next from Oz. and her card is just perfect for a teenage girl - go and see what I mean here. Get that 'Egg Chair'  and I bet loads of you with families can relate to this fabulous card :) plus the inside is also decorated perfectly. Great work Sandy - it's got to be a real hit for the lucky recipient.

Oh no - there could a trouble brewing - we now have two sisters in the playground! I'm waiting for Sarn (where ARE you this week?!) but meanwhile Shazza arrived for her very first visit with a lovely card here using a stamp set that I love to pieces called 'Faith In Nature', plus a stamp from another set that I crave. Beautifully stamped and coloured too - that pear is so gorgeous, my eyes went bright green :) Hope to see you back Shazza, but no ganging up with your sis., else I'll separate you!

Ha, ha - I just knew it, Sarn whipped in at the last minute with a little beauty of a card - here. Do go and see, it's a gorgeous die cut 'birdie' as the main feature and the most delicate colours you could wish for. Like me, I think Sarn squirrels freebies away and her sentiment if perfect. OK, so you can join your sis. on the see-saw - but just behave, perleeeeease! It's early Saturday evening as I'm typing - I wonder how many others will squeak into the playground for a last whirl?

And, the very last playmate to make it into the snippets playground was Hettie (aka Sam) with these adorable baby cards. Both very similar with bootees and hearts, but there are differences if you look closely - Sam always manages to make cards etc. with a vintage look and a lot of style. My attempts have just ended up looking like a real mess :( So glad you made it into the playground Sam!

I don't want to curtail what's written here but, now and then, it might be easier for me to have a give away and write less - then again, we don't want 'Everyone and their Auntie' hopping into OUR playground to try out the swings and enter just for a little prize so for now we'll see how things develop :) What do you think - it's your playground?!?!

Phew, and double phew - the roll call is all done for this week. I hope you stuck with it (trust me, it took forever to write and link this marathon, so I hope I covered you all OK - shout if I didn't perleease) and I also hope that you manage, or already have managed, to hop over to see the truly inspirational work on your playmates' blogs (I do feel very privileged to see your lovely work linked in) -  and that you'll join in again this coming week.

Have a great week, stay warm and safe - Mr Linky is below as usual.

Di
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