Pixies Crafty Snippets Challenge roll call for week 40

Sorry it's so late, but at least the Playground gates are open and lots of you are still playing along. I bet some of you have already forgotten that you linked some absolute beauties into week 40 though.

First to come and play was Elizabeth with a brilliant 'Taj Mahal' notecard. Fabulous image and edge punched backing strip, and when you hop over to take a peek do be sure to enlarge the image to see just how lovely the gold embossing on the image is - as you say Elizabeth, this would be great for either a lady or a gentleman! Elizabeth called back again later in the week with a great card for a cat lover, all in Autumn shades. It's super Elizabeth, and if you go to peek (which you should as there are some very inspirational touches such as the date circled behind the main image) do enlarge the photo and look at the little silver charm - it made me smile and sums up just why the puddy tat looks so contented!

Next was Mary Mac, waving her new Spectrum Noir pens in glee and bringing this lovely Christmas card to share. Isn't it just great - I love the stained glass effect with poinsettias, which is then echoed in another poinsettia underneath the window, plus a lovely ribbon bow. Love it Mary, and it's a good job that stamp dates back about 16 years else I'd be on the hunt for one!

Irene arrived next with a few things to show. First was her snippets card, and using little squares to such great effect too - so pretty Irene and such a great way to use up those little snippets that are much too cute to throw away. Also a lovely scarf and lastly some baking - which all looks delicious. I did smile at the fact that Irene still uses her late Mum's Bero baking book - I'm sure I still have one somewhere here and the recipes never seems to fail.

My Mum had one of the original ones, in sort of sepia printing, but eventually it fell to pieces so I bought a more up to date copy. I bet lots of us remember the wonderful smells on 'baking day' too :)

Next was Bernie, bringing us, well, basically. nothing!! Do hop over to see these adorable little jars of nothing - perfect for folk who always seem to say 'nothing' when you ask what they'd like for Christmas. I just bet these will sell at your craft fayre Bernie - and do be sure to let us know how things go please. Bernie knows that my one and only experience was an unmitigated disaster - I think I sold something like three magnetic bookmarks but the friend I did it with and I were next to the cake stall and we came home stuffed full of cake and waaaaay out of pocket :(

Jules whizzed in next - and as always her card is just fabulous. It uses scalloped squares of 'book print' snippets so effectively, topped with a lovely circle of possibly another snippet and the flower is a great finishing touch. It's brilliant Jules and a super take on the sketch you followed. I bet there will be a few little feet scampering to find old books or suitable papers/stamps now! My QCME magazine arrived yesterday but I haven't even had time to open it and see what you've been up to this month - in fact I just put it to one side and don't even know what the free gift is - just shows things are busy here :(

We had two visits from Tammy this week, the first card is bound to make you smile, even on the dullest day. Lovely vibrant colours which all go together so well - and I adore the cheeky little bee Tammy! And then Tammy brought us such a clever '10 minute craft dash' card - again such lovely colours and I do think the way the peacock is slightly off the page is really clever. If I did that it would just look as if I stamped badly. Ha, I just nipped over to check out the challenge and you literally get your timer going and get to work - no waaaaay, I'd still be rootling round here long after the 10 minutes was up, without a single thing even having been stamped, cut, glued or even found in the first place!

Sandra H was next, and really on a roll lately with wins and DT spots too - go Sandra! This week we have two lovely traditional Christmas cards, and it's the second on one Sandra's posting which is her snippets card (and it won a prize over at Hazel's too). A great Santa image and lots of pretty embellishments too - I love the idea of using acetate over the image, you almost feel as if you're peeking through a window Sandra. Ha, I wonder how many of us tried to lie awake waiting for Santa? I failed every year.

Next, skipping in came Darnell with such a perfect 'Fall' card - it really is quite breathtakingly beautiful. A leaf is the main focus, but what a leaf! Do check it out to see what I mean, and the card stock is just perfect Darnell. The names of the colours, pumpkin, moss and wine sound divine - and just see how well they all go together too!!

And a little tale about Darnell - Mr Postie arrived this morning with a delightful card from Darnell, enclosing a terrific wee bat stamp which I'd said I loved on her blog. Now, how kind is that? Thank you so much Darnell - and also I came so close to dropping one (but not as nice!) into my cart whilst shopping online the other day but I didn't in the end (basically I forgot before checking out!) - so it really was serendipity :) Happy little skips here!

Gilly was next with such a cute Christmas card - and it also features Santa (plus a snowman) and such a fun sentiment. Does that mean that a lot of men upon realising that would be jumping up and down shouting 'But I do believe, truly'? Love it Gilly and you did a brilliant rescue job too, in fact I can't see what you referred to. As always, a lovely creation from Gilly. 

There are more and more Christmas cards making appearances on blogs lately - but it's just toooooo early for strings of lights in the Playground yet, sorry!

The irrepressible Sam screeched into the Playground next, waving two Christmas cards (see, even more!) both of which are 'snowy scenes' but very different. Do go and take a peek - I love both of them but do enlarge the second one 'cos those twinkling lights on the tree are so realistic.........no Sam, I said NO strings of lights yet please. Anyhow, I thought you and Sarn were busy with the chikkin' coop? But, I digress - 'cos Sam's next visit was to bring this hilarious card. Talk about chikkin' soup - it's great Sam and the look on the chook's face is priceless!! And, ain't it odd how 'someone' managed to sprain her ankle just as she and hubby were embarking on a redecorating project?! Only sayin'..........but get well soon anyway Sam.

Lynn A hopped in next, and yup it's another gorgeous Christmas card from Lynn as well. I just love the fresh, contemporary colours Lynn and those SU Christmas trees are just perfect. Now, I've been sat sitting here gazing at all the lovely snippets makes this week and am still gawping at yours Lynn. I love the banner and the two circles - and it's almost like magic the way the banner disappears into the turquoise circle and comes out the other side underneath it. I think I know how it's done but it's such a clever idea.....go and take a peek girls. Work out how it's done and I just bet you'll be using this idea yourselves!

Next was Rach, with a very 'oriental feel' to her card. Like me, Rach sometimes struggles with some of the large designs on SU papers - but really they can be used in a wide variety of ways, it's just a matter of inspiration striking and away you go as Rach showed so well with her card. And, the vases are actually SU bauble dies with the bottoms cut off - how clever is that?! One single stem in one of the vases is such a perfect finishing touch too Rach - love it!

Aw, next was our Sarn 'Queen of the Sunday Roast' bringing us a card that did make me laugh out loud. You can't help but smile when you see the really clever way Sarn matched the sentiment to the terrific image of Snoopy and his pal Woodstock! And the fresh mix of white, black and turquoise is perfect Sarn. In my eyes this should have been an outright winner in the Pan Pastels challenge - if it was based on the card itself and not a random number thingy. Keep going Sarn, your turn will come I'm sure!

Mary H was next, coming along really well after her op. to repair an Achilles tendon. She's gonna be playing chase before long girls! And this is the lovely blues and pumpkins colours card for Thanksgiving that Mary brought along to show us. I do love to read just how things have been done, when you have the time to write about it (no wonder this roll call takes ages) and Mary is no exception - even down to confessing (as I always do too) where she had to do some rapid recovery work by using a butterfly - and it works perfectly Mary!!

And last, but not least, was Hazel with her card to start off another Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - the challenge is still running girls and the theme is 'Carol Singing'. So Hazel's card features Carol Singers (err, naturally) - such a lovely traditional image too Hazel and I love the papers you used, including the script vellum which is gorgeous. So, as with Sarn's Rudolph Day Challenge, you can make your Christmas cards and join in the chance to win a little something at the same time girls :)

Sheesh, apologies again that this is so late - I havealmost three free days before trying to find time to do the next roll call to get back on track!

Remember, I did publish a new Mr Linky back here if you want to use up some snippets, and there's a bow maker to be won as well - the Playground is open until noon GMT on Friday 12th October.

Di
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