Pixies Crafty Snippets Playground - Week 79

On Friday I had the urge to sit and make a bright and colourful card to brighten the day so I rootled round in the bulging snippets folder, dug out a few strips of brightly coloured card - and this is the result, my snippets card for this week:

I used:

- A6 white card stock

- a snippet of SU 'So Saffron' card stock

- snippet of blue card stock

- snippets of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet card (ha, the violet has washed out to almost white in the photo, despite me trying it out in different lighting) - all die cut using MFT's 'Chevron Stripes' die. A first outing for it although I bought it ages ago - thought I'd better use it before chevrons go out of 'vogue' - not that I can see that happening just yet!

- sentiment was printed using the printer here and then die cut with one of MFT's 'Cloud Trio' dies. I'm sure you'll all know this trick but just in case - what I did was to cut a cloud template using some spare card and the die. The cloud template I wanted to use was placed over the sentiment where I wanted it to be and then the die itself was slotted in place, cutting side down of course, over the top to cut. I found it easier to gently slip the template away before running just the sentiment and metal die through the Cuttlebug. I know, you probably already know this trick anyhow!

I really thought the sentiment so appropriate after all the lovely comments you left this week - thank you all so much!

So, this week in the Playground - lots of lovely makes as always, and I've just picked a few to show you:

Karen P has been busy with her droplets stamp and the fish stamp she won recently - clever idea to cut the background into four!

And look at this different take on using the droplets stamp - I'd never have thought of doing that Maureen! But at least we've both been thinking about rainbows :)

Brilliant use of little snippets here by Kimbo - a perfect example of 'random placing' looking just right. If I did that it would look as if I'd just thrown stuff onto a card :(

Sue rescued a smudged image and came up with this gorgeous card - really clever idea too.

And last, but not least, we have a new Playmate - welcome Roudi, your card is just perfect for the Playground but don't let the naughty girls lead you astray :) This image really does conjure up images of little scallywags taking a break whilst plotting their next bit of mischief!

I'm stopping there, although there are more terrific droplets cards and all sorts of great snippets ideas if you peek at last week's entries!

And last week's prize of eight sheets of Penny Black Stickeroos was won by:

Hazel

Wahoo - great choice Mr Random! Hazel is one of our most prolific (today's big word) card makers, she runs two great Christmas challenges and makes loads of cards to raise funds for her local church. Plus, she rarely misses a week in the Playground so after 24 weeks of me giving away prizes - it's Hazel's name that finally came out. I'm sure the lovely Stickeroos will be put to great use. Can you please drop me an email with your address Hazel - di_wray@hotmail.com. Thanks, and well done!

This coming week's prize girls - you might not be at all surprised to learn that it's sets of the dies I used today - 'Chevron Stripes' and 'Cloud Trio' by MFT:

Both sets will make up this coming week's prize - first person drawn by Mr Random who hasn't said 'no thank you' as usual.

PLUS, I posted yesterday here about an extra prize - three of them in fact. To read more just go to the link, but they really are the closest thing I think you'll find to Couture Creations' 'Tied Together' embossing folder. Made by Crafts-Too and called 'Lattice':

All you have to do to be 'in it to win it' is to make a total of THREE snippets entries over this week and next - so that might be three in one week, two one week plus one in the other, it's up to you. Of course you can still make a maximum of three entries in one week which would also count. Then, it'll be the sunhat draw. I DO only have three of these folders to give away - was lucky to get those if you read my previous post - so it won't be like the Ryn stamp giveaway where I had more up my sleeve :)

Talking of Ryn, guess what she only went and did? I do have a different water stamp of hers to give away soon - and the little sweetie noticed that I'd only ordered another one for myself of yet a different water stamp so she added an extra one of those in as a prize from her. How sweet is that then?! Watch this space - there will be two Ryn stamps coming up over the coming weeks!

The Playground will run as usual this week with the gates closing at noon UK time on Saturday 6th July. Maximum of three entries and please say 'No thank you' in a comment if you wish to still play but not be a winner of this week's prize, the two sets of MFT dies. And of course you can start building up your total of three entries over the next two weeks for the 'Lattice' embossing folder. Mr Linky is below - have fun!

PS I've added a Bloglovin' button to the sidebar - I use my dashboard to follow folk so at least that ought to be fine still but just in case any of you use Google Reader the button is there! Belt, braces and double knicker elastic, that's me!

Di
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Heads up for the Playground

I had a great find the other day over at MaddyLisa Crafts. I just bet lots of you crafters know about the rumpus caused when Couture Creations discontinued their gorgeous and very elegant 'Tied Together' embossing folder? I did manage to get one on eBay but they've been going for absolutely crazy prices and some folk actually stockpiled them and are 'drip feeding' them on eBay and making HUGE profits. Maybe it's me, but I think that's a bit of a low trick - but then I guess I'd never make a retailer anyhow - would just give stuff away if it made folk happy :(

So, this find - well, it's an alternative to 'Tied Together'!! It's the same size (7" x 5") although the pattern is smaller and also squarer, as well as being an exact repeat -  whereas 'Tied Together' does have some variation in the centres of the pattern.....................but it's brilliant! It's made by Crafts-Too and called 'Lattice' - take a look:

*

Betcha know what's coming - yup, I bought five. Had to explain to Anne, the owner of MaddyLisa, what I was up to and she has now said you can only buy two as folk are desperate for them (see my **edit below) but I was allowed to buy what I wanted :) So, make sure you check the Playground out tomorrow as (similar to the Water Droplets stamps) I'm setting you a little challenge for the chance to win one of the three folders I have on offer. One is winging its way to a lovely lady in Sunny Spain (our Kate), one is for meeeeeeeeeeeeeee and the other three will be on offer :) So you'll need to get using your snippets - or hop over to MaddyLisa's if you can't wait. At £3.75 each they really are a snip, normally selling for £4.99 - grin, I bet you'll be tempted by lots of other very reasonably priced goodies too.

** Edit: Ike just left a comment, thinking that MaddyLisa only sells to wholesalers. Don't worry, that isn't the case. Her mention of wholesalers on the shop website refers to the fact that she normally only sells a maximum of two of the same items at a time to shoppers. Apparently some wholesalers are concerned about people buying up vast quantities, draining the stocks and then making a killing on eBay later on when items are unavailable - a bit like I said at the beginning of this post. As a crafter herself, Anne likes to think that we play fair and aren't in it to make ourselves huge profits - plus, some wholesalers will 'blacklist' retailers who allow this to happen :)

Di
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With a cherry on top :)

I admired a delicious shoe stamp over at a friend's blog a while ago - and bless, she sent me some images to play with:

I used:

- 6" x 6" square white card stock

- Stampendous 'A la mode' stamped shoe image, coloured with Whispers pens with a tickle of Glossy Accents on the cherries. Die cut with a plain Nesties circle and layered onto a scalloped Nesties circle

- pink card came from the snippets folder - man, that thing is fit to burst :( I had to 'gut' the main piece of card but infilled the scallop I die cut out of it with a piece of scalloped white card - what the eye doesn't see and all that jazz but it satisfied my concern there might be a ridge

- papers were sent to me ages ago by Dee, the striped one was punched along the bottom edge with MS 'Traditional Scallop' punch

- snippet of pink spotted ribbon

- sentiment is SU, from their 'A Word for You' set. Stamped in Memento 'Tuxedo Black' and then either end was die cut using  the brilliant smaller MFT Bracket Duo die and a snippet of pink was die cut using the larger size

- a few pink pearls added as a finishing touch

Edit: I got home very late yesterday  evening after  a really beautiful and quietly 'elegant funeral'. I think, no I just know, Pat would have been smiling to herself and would have approved. I can still smell the white lilies and roses from the huge spray on her coffin, quiet grieving from family and friends and yet joy at the wonderful things she brought to all of us in caring, friendship and total unselfishness.

Thank you all so much for your sweet messages, which I'll read in 'slow time'. It means so much - you really are 'The Wind Beneath my Wings'. 


Di
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Such a true sentiment

Today is the first one of two funerals I'm going to in this coming week, both people I classed as good friends - sigh:

 

I used:

- 6" x 6" square cream card stock

- papers from the 'Fairy Rhymes' paper pad by Prima - part of a lovely prize I won from Caz recently :)  I used one sheet of butterfly paper and part of another sheet ('cos the pink is a perfect match) for the solid layers of the butterflies, along with a snippet of pearlescent cream for the top layers

- butterfly dies are by Memory Box, the solid one is 'Isabella' and the matching 'lacy' one is 'Pippi' - I totally adore these!

- sentiment is Penny Black's 'Friends matter', stamped using 'Toffee Crunch' Dewdrop ink pad onto a snippet of cream the same as the main card to be sure of a match, then die cut with a Nestie

- and just a little row of pearls added to each of the butterfly bodies

I'd like to enter this for the current Oldie but Goodie challenge, which is to use something at least six months old. The theme is 'Butterflies' and my 'oldies but goodies' are the Nesties die, the Penny Black sentiment stamp and the snippet of pearlescent cream card for the lacy butterfly wings.

I'll be travelling for about eight hours in total today  - think it'll be beans on toast this evening when I finally get back home :) Quick and easy comfort food!

Di
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Totally inspired by Debby

I follow lots of blogs, and every single one shows some really lovely work. There's one blog in particular that I look at, admire the stunning makes and think 'I could never do that though, sigh' - and then wander off to 'do my own thing'.

The blog I'm referring to is 'A Scrapjourney' owned by the super-talented Debby. If you don't already know about Debby's beautiful cards, although I know that several of you do, then do hop over and have a peek. Her colouring is amazing, such beautiful designs and always perfect down to the very last detail. And she's also totally 'cracked' white on white cards, double sigh.

Recently though, Debby showed some cards that I thought perhaps I could try and this is my take on one of those cards:

I used:

- 6" x 6" square cream card stock

- red card stock for matting

- backing papers from My Mind's Eye's 'Sunshine' pad

- snippets of red and green Core'dinations card from the snippets folder

- Memory Box 'Fresh Foliage' die

- Joy! 'Daisies' die for the red flowers, which were then folded in half and a green small circle folded round the base (punched with SU's 'Itty Bitty' round punch)

- 'vase/bowl' cut using SU's 'Holiday Ornaments' die and trimmed down

- sentiment by SU from the 'Sincere Salutations' set, stamped in black ink

Debby's cards always have a lovely 3D effect, and I just spotted that she has a tutorial on her blog showing just how she does it. The closest I got to 3D was to flick the top layers of the flowers up :)

I absolutely loved making this card, thank you for the inspiration Debby.

Di
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June's Rudolph Day is here

Just been counting up and really you only have another five Rudolph Days after this one - so why not make a Christmas card and hop over to Sarn's with it? In fact, I almost got caught out as I thought the 25th was Wednesday - although you do have until the end of June to enter. There was a bit of flinging round of craft stuff in here yesterday afternoon to finish this I can tell you!

Also, the current challenge over at Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge is 'Christmas Greenery' - hope the little pine needles count:

I used:

- A5 cream deckle edged card

- image is a Woodware stamps called 'Fir Cone', coloured with a mix of Pro Markers and Whispers pens. Then I added double sided sticky film, a layer of very fine micro beads, backed it with green card and then popped it onto the card with sticky pads

- green backing card by SU - 'Always Artichoke'

- backing paper by Magnolia called ''A Christmas Story - Angels Calling' (love this paper)

- ribbon from my ribbon box, bought in Germany. It was wired down either side but never let that put you off if you really like a particular ribbon and have tweezers and strong specs handy - 'cos it can be pulled out, with a bit of Percy Veerance

- the gold sentiment label is a very old one, possibly Lakeland, and it doesn't show up too good in the photo, sigh. Mind you - the creams look washed out as well :(

Am also entering this into Craftyhazlenut's Christmas Challenge Extra for June, which is always 'Anything Goes'.

That makes 45 finished Christmas cards in the box - wahoo! 

Di
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Playground update

The lovely Kim is going to send me a sheet of the Penny Black Stickeroos from her 'toy box', same as the one I used yesterday. So, that will also be added to this week's prize making eight sheets in total :) I think it's one of my very favourite Stickeroo sheets:

Thank you so much in advance Kim - aren't our Playmates lovely!

Di
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Pixies Crafty Snippets Playground - Week 78

First of all, I made this card for Len, for Fathers' Day a week ago. Grin, it came from Spike the hedgehog  and all the birds that Len so diligently feeds and waters :) I know, I know - I think a trip to the 'shrink' could be in order for me:

I used:

- 6" x 6" square white card stock

- Penny Black Stickeroo from the 'A Bunch of Love' sheet, popped onto a snippet of white card then cut with an oval die and mounted onto a snippet of SU's 'Not Quite Navy', cut as usual by drawing round the outside of the die I used for the image and hand cutting

- backing paper is from DCWV's 'Juniper Berry' stack - love the way this looks a bit like strips of Washi tape. Mounted onto another snippet of  SU's 'Not Quite Navy'

- sentiment by Craftwork Cards, mounted onto a punched oval snippet of SU's 'Not Quite Navy'

It really didn't need anything more, the backing paper did all the work

And here's a story about the dandelion - it's the Flower of the Military Child:

'Like the dandelion, military children bloom everywhere the winds carry them. They are hardy, resilient, and upright. Their roots are strong, cultivated deeply in the culture of the military, planted swiftly and surely. And ready to fly in the breezes that take them to new adventures, new lands and new friends.'

I quite like that, having gone to 15 schools and followed my Dad all over the World when he was in the British Army. We certainly had to be resilient and ready to fly in the breezes!

So, what's been going on in the Playground this week - lots of you came to play, which is great. Here are a few 'picks': 

Brenda hopped in bright and early in the week with this terrific CAS Christmas card, LOVE the adorable image and the way Brenda beautifully coloured it to match the paper snippets perfectly.

 

Another Christmas card, this time from Maudiroff (Maureen) - love the colours and such a lovely design.

Sorry to those who don't like to think about Christmas just yet - but can I please remind you that it's almost Sarn's monthly Rudolph Day challenge over on her blog here - starts on Tuesday 25th June.

 

Amanda brought this beautiful paper pieced card - I love the way Amanda's paper piecing always reflects the background so perfectly. If you go and peek, and I hope you will, be aware that you'll find loads of lovely things you really just HAVE to have over there :) Yup, ask me how I know!

Elizabeth has been away on holiday this past week, but all her scheduled posts used snippets so I decided to link a couple. Imagine the little shriek from me here yesterday morning when I found this card:

Look familiar? It's only the same Stickeroo I'd used for Len's card over a week ago now (at the top of this post) - and blues as well. Kinda spooky huh?! Love the added glitter!

Right, that had to be a really fast canter, I spent a lot of time yesterday sorting out other things and after this is scheduled I'll be running out to the supermarket, between rain showers.

Here's the draw for the Memory Box cake dies and stands, kindly donated by Mary Mac - and the winner is:

Sarah (Sazzle Dazzle)

 

Well done Sarah - can you please drop me an email with your snail mail address in and they will be in the post to you right away!

And this coming week there's a chance to win seven sheets of Penny Black Stickeroos, if you remember as far back as 20 weeks ago I offered the first seven, and here are the final seven (different) sheets:

There are some hedgies on one of the sheets, but sadly (despite just searching all over the internet here just now) I can't get hold of the sheet that both Elizabeth and myself used as I hoped to add one of those in as well. Everywhere is out of stock :( Mind you, the frog stickers are such fun!

The Playground will run as usual this week with the gates closing at noon UK time on Saturday 29th June. Maximum of three entries and please say 'No thank you' in a comment if you wish to still play but not be a winner of this week's prize, the Penny Black Stickeroos shown above. Mr Linky is below - have fun!

Di
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Birthday card for a Chook Girl

Thankfully this card did arrive OK and on time, so I can post about it now:

I used:

- 7" x 5" white card stock

- 'Happy Birthday' backing paper from the snippets folder

- turquoise card stock, again from the snippets folder

- image is Penny Black 'Coop Party', coloured with Pro Markers then little punched butterflies and some pearls added

- a snippet of lemon ribbon, topped with a bow then bows of green and turquoise cord with a butterfly charm

- flower made using one of my very first die sets by 'Joy!' called 'Daisies', fastened together with a green SU 'Everyday Enchantment' brad (thank you again Victoria) and the leaves punched with a Carl Craft punch and a teeny snippet of green

Hope you had a lovely day 'Chook Girl' :)

And hope everyone has a great weekend, it's raining in the Playground here though.

Di
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A few frames

The current challenge over at Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge is to have a frame, window or aperture on your card. I've been trying not to miss this great weekly challenge but with less crafting time I had to sort through cards from last Christmas to upcycle. And guess what, I found a large square card with not only a window on it but also a framed mirror - reflecting the window :) I know, I know - really I stretched the definition of window and frame a bit! However, I chopped it down the middle and ended up with these:

Tee, hee - that be me arms holding the camera and some of me 'ead reflected in the mirri card :)

I used:

- white DL card stock

- gold mirri card plus some red behind the chopped up card

- upcycled card as already explained

- strips of gold embroidered red cotton edging, bought in Germany

Two super-quick cards - and I'm also entering this into Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra for June, which is always 'anything goes'.

Di
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One for Annie's Friday Smile

A wife, being the romantic sort, sent her husband a text: "If you are sleeping, send me your dreams. If you are laughing, send me your smile. If you are eating, send me a bite. If you are drinking send me a sip. If you are crying, send me your tears. I love you!"

The husband, typically non romantic, replied, "I am on the toilet. Please advise."

Adding this to Annie's Friday Smile for this week - it amused me anyhow :)

Di
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Ghost stamping technique

I stumbled across a technique which sent me scurrying for my white ink pad. Now, the term used was 'ghost stamping', although I do know that can also be applied to stamping using Versamark as a 'resist technique' before brayering colour over. So I'm not sure which is really correct, but this was the result, and can I please be allowed to say I was delighted with the outcome? :)

I used:

- 4.75" x 4.75" cream card stock

- snippets of SU's 'Soft Suede' card stock

- a snippet of SU's 'Baja Breeze' card stock, embossed using SU's 'Square Lattice' embossing folder

- the image (a flower and stem from SU's 'Everything Eleanor' set) was stamped using a StazOn Cotton White ink pad first and then the image was repeated, just slightly 'off' using a Dewdrop 'Teal Zeal' ink pad

- sentiment is also SU, from the 'A Word for You' set, stamped using SU's 'Melon Mambo'

- three baby blue pearls, which look almost white in the piccie I see, added to the bottom left corner to finish off

NB - There's news of Bernie in the post below!

Di
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News from our Bernie

I had an email from Bernie and she is just out of hospital after a bad bout of pneumonia.Various other issues are cropping up related to all the treatment she's been having and things are tough for her right now. Jim is doing everything he can for Bernie and she also says that she's still keeping her spirits up.

She sends her thanks for all your get well wishes and cards too and will be in touch once things have stabilised.

On Monday I sent Bernie flowers from all of us in the Playground, and also all her Bloggy friends - they arrived fine and she's delighted :)

 

Some of you may know that blue is Bernie's favourite colour - I clearly remember that was her only real request when I set her blog up :) So that 'our Jim' isn't faced with a sudden challenge to learn 'instant flower arranging', the flowers should have arrived in a vase, as shown.

A little thank you email from her today says they now know that that some of the side effects are due to vitamin deficiencies after the chemotherapy - so hopefully that can be rectified soon.

So girls, keep those prayers and positive thoughts coming - our little friend needs them more than ever right now while she gets over the aftermath of the treatments.

Love you Bernie!

Di

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Pixies Crafty Snippets Playground - Week 77

A day late as already explained, but it's a new week in the Snippets Playground girls - wahoo! Here's my snippets card:

I used:

- A6 white card stock

- a snippet of pale pink pearlised backing card, embossed using Crafts-Too's 'Scrollwork Frame' folder. I really wanted to use pale blue but it just wasn't the right shade of blue so I defaulted to my old favourite - pink

- Wedding cake made using a brilliant new die set sent to me, for my very own use, by the super-generous Mary Mac (currently on her trip to Oz). The cake was cut from a snippet of white card that's already 'flittered' (from Hobbycraft originally), and the stands were cut from a snippet of matt silver card. Just added small pearls from Mei Flowers (took flipping ages too) plus a flower and pearl on top

- small strip of matt silver peel off 'cos the cake looked like it was being levitated, and still does a bit, snort!

- sentiment stamped in silver is from SU's 'Congrats' set and it just fits into SU's 'Word Window' punch, which was then layered onto another snippet punched using SU's 'Modern Label' punch and another little snippet of matt silver card. A couple of pearls either end to finish it off

Job done!

And the Playground has been really busy this past week, thank you all so much for coming to play! As always, I really could show every single one of your lovely makes, but am just picking a few:

Mary H made this beautiful card for Maddy - I absolutely love it Mary!

 

Kate P hopped over from Spain with this amazing card. Just look at all those little snippets, perfectly framing the great image!

 

Debs has been playing with drinks cans and the cardboard tubes from inside toilet rolls - claiming it wasn't her who pinched all the loo rolls from the Playground 'facilities'!

 

And Maureen whizzed in with this super little mermaid - I totally love how the starfish and the 'sand dollar' have been cut and embossed - just brilliant!

That really was a very quick scamper through so do please remember to look at last week's Mr Linky thumbnails - there are lots of gorgeous makes and techniques to give you inspiration.

And we have a new little Playmate joining us this past week, do hop over and say 'Hi' to Lynn - she made this lovely card, and also has real life dachshunds too - I promise you that Rambo will steal your heart when you drop in:

Last week's prize of the 'Tube Wear' stamp and those lovely fresh-looking embellishments donated by Sue was won by:

Sandra H

Now that's a very good choice Mr Random 'cos I know that Sandra loves to use ribbons, flowers and buttons on her cards :)

This week's prize was donated by Mary Mac - and it's a set of the fabulous Memory Box 'cake' dies I used today - it's two sets in fact 'cos the cakes and stands are individual sets! Of course, you don't have to use them in tiers as I did - Mary made this card recently, with them in a 'window':

Beautiful isn't it?

The Playground will run as usual this week with the gates closing at noon UK time on Saturday 22nd June. Maximum of three entries and please say 'No thank you' in a comment if you wish to still play but not be a winner of this week's prize, the cake dies donated by Mary. Mr Linky is below - have fun!

I'm scheduling this on Sunday early afternoon having just washed all the downstairs tiled floors.They've now dried and Len is due home soon from archery so before he left I did warn him about 'little piles' left on the field yesterday by ponies and horses. 'That's OK, they were on the cricket pitch' said he smugly.  Err, I happen to know there's one HUGE pile donated by the Shire horse......... right in the middle of the archery area so, trust me, his feet will be inspected before he even puts one toe inside the front door!

Have a lovely week - and keep snippeting!

Di
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Old Basing Village Carnival

I know, I said I was cutting back a bit but just wanted you to share yesterday - but put your waterproofs and warm clothes on first - such a shame about the foul weather but we still had a fun time!

A lovely Hampshire Shire horse, pausing for a rest - and it also left (err) plenty of 'rose manure'.

A tiny little American Kestrel, absolutely no weight to it at all - huge happy eyes and apparently as tame as can be in the home and loves watching TV on the owners' shoulders!

Having a little stretch of the wings as these birds just love to 'hover' - see, no need for even  a glove :)

 Archery - the 'chaps' looking for overshot arrows in the undergrowth!

 I just like this as it shows all the lovely colours of the 'fletchings' - feathers in 'old speak'.

A lovely day, despite the weather - brilliant people and such a great community. Where else would you get a cider stall trading a few bottles (which we gleefully consumed) in exchange for a 'have a go' on the archery - hic?!

Di
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