Sunday 18 June 2017

Pixie's Snippets Playground - Week 283 and 284 - results

Hello again! Time for the fortnightly round up of  the Playground which includes our latest Guest Designer, some 'picks' of the fortnight and of course the prize draw.

As our Guest Designer this fortnight we have a lovely lady who did need a teensy bit of coaxing - our Val of 'Aquarius Blog' is so delightfully modest!

This is the snippets card that Val made:
Isn't it absolutely gorgeous? Love the background Val made, using the credit card technique which is very popular right now and the whole card is so, so pretty. This is what Val said about her card and herself - but please hop over to her blog HERE to say hello and find out a bit more:

I spotted a tutorial on Karen’s blog (http://snippets-karen.blogspot.co.uk/2017/05/swipe-your-credit-card.html) showing an interesting technique for using Distress Oxide inks and an old credit card. I was sent in the direction of this tutorial from Loll’s blog. I coloured a fair sized piece of white card using this technique and I’ve used a left over snippet of it  behind the window on my card and used various snippets of white Centura pearl card for the layers, corners and of course the blossom.  Some time ago I acquired a supply of Centura card in the A3 size, originally for making boxes and of course this has left me with some quite sizeable snippets to use as well as the inevitable small bits which I can never bear to throw away. 

I suppose I’ve been making cards for about 15 years or so and thinking about it has made me realise just how much the equipment and availability of materials has moved on since then.  My first die cutting machine was an original Sizzix which was tiny, red and worked on a sort of press/lever method and the dies were very simple shapes, quite small too. Any more intricate cutting was of necessity done with scissors – and patience!! We are so fortunate now to have so many resources at our fingertips to be able to produce professional results.  I really enjoy the challenge of working with what I have, combining colours and techniques to produce unique cards – I doubt I’ve ever made the same card more than once and would just hate to work on bulk production.  I’ve been blogging for some years but not sure quite how many – probably about eight. I’m always on the lookout for different techniques to try and of course blogland is a great source of inspiration as well as putting the ‘buy now’ temptation in front of us all.

Thank you so much Val for agreeing to be our Guest Designer this fortnight. Val enters the Snippets Challenge every single time and her work is always such a delight.

These are my picks from this past fortnight - the usual difficulty in whittling a very long list down to three picks - tough call as always:
Just take a look at the snippets background on this adorable card girls! It absolutely blew me away - and so many of you commented how much you also loved the very clever technique of piecing snippets and then filling in the gaps with heat embossed EP. So creative, and just what we've come to expect from Carol L too - And, worthy of her second Gold Star I'm sure you all agree!

My next two picks are a bit similar and I couldn't have one without the other - both are lovely and are a perfect reminder that Summer is finally here, with a vengeance here in the South of England as well:
Viv made this fabulous gift as a thank you for some people who kindly lent them the use of their static caravan down on the South Coast. It meant that Viv and her hubby could relax for a couple of days during a year of travelling so much as Bowls England President. How lovely to even include shells collected from the nearby beach!

And Tina also made a beautiful beach scene - I love the inclusion of the hessian 'mat' and the deck chair. You feel as if you want to tuck your skirt into your knickers and go for a paddle!

It's absolutely beautiful weather here as I'm typing this - let's hope that it's lovely and sunny when it publishes on Sunday. No doubt UK will go silly and everyone will be running around in little vest tops and shorts - and that's just the menfolk!

That's my three picks - I do hope they will inspire you as well girls. Of course we had loads of fabulous ways to use up snippets, so I do recommend that you grab a cup of coffee (or iced tea even!) and spend some time visiting blogs - the thumbnails with links are always there for you to look back over.

61 of you joined in this past fortnight - with one new Playmate:
What a fabulous card, made by Maria of 'Ivy Leaf Crafts'.

Welcome to the Snippets Playground Maria, and I do hope you return to play again soon.

Prize draw time now and our winner of the W Plus 9 'Doodle Buds' stamps set and the Avery Elle 'Postage Elle-Ments' die set is:
 
Well done Karen - can you please drop me an email with your address in and I'll post your prize off as soon as possible. My email address is on the right hand side bar.

Keep those snippets entries coming girls, you still have a week left to play HERE remember! And the prize is a Spellbinders Spellbinders 'Borderabilities A2 - Curved Borders One' set and Clearly Besotted 'Baby Shower II' set of stamps with little matching dies. I will split the prize if you only want to play for the elephants or the border dies.

Love from the little white peril - and of course from me too





27 comments:

  1. Great picks as always, it must be so difficult to select just three from all the lovely entries each time. Congratulations to the lucky winner and thanks again for inviting me to be a guest designer. Enjoy the summer weather!

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  2. What a gorgeous card Val made...oxides are a real game changer and I'm thrilled to see her playing...there are more 12 more colours coming out soon..eek! Need to save my pennies! Lovely picks Di I do love seaside themes at this time of the year and well done to all. Keep cool... 32c forecast today.Phew! Take care xxx

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  3. Absolutely beautiful card by Val, and the top picks are stunners. Sitting out in the garden at the moment in the shade with a coffee before I will myself to do a spot of gardening. Hugs Mrs A.

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  4. Wow, a stunning card from Val and some amazing top picks! I hope Parsnip is managing to stay cool in this hot weather x

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  5. Such a stunning card from Val and great picks too.

    Sue xx

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  6. Gorgeous card from Val and super picks again this week, A big Hi to Maria and what a fabulous card she made - just popping over to have a closer look after I've been to see Parnsip.... word is he's taken on the job of ice-cream monitor/salesman (or should that be salesbear!) xx

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  7. Beautiful as always and many congratulations all xx

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  8. Wow!! Amazing picks!!! Great inspirations!! And I'm so glad for the second gold bow of Carol, she surely well deserve it!!
    Congrats to the winner!

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  9. Thanks to Val for being the GD and I love her card using that great technique. I must try that tutorial she shared soon! Congrats to Karen Ladd on her win and thanks for including me along with Viv, Tina and Maria among your top picks. I'm wearing that gold star on my forehead just as I did in Kindergarten :)

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  10. Let's try this again without the typos. 😂
    Val's card is gorgeous! Missed that technique, but will have to give it a try. Great picks. Congrats to Karen and the top picks. Have a great day, Di!

    Trina xx



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  11. Wow!! Those picks are amazing, and the card by new playmate, Maria, is absolutely gorgeous! I love the embossed background and combination of white and water colored die cut elements. Thank you so much Di, for always inspiring me to pull out those scraps and turn them into cards. How is it that I end up with more scraps, even when I try to use them up? I am excited to be the winner of your last challenge prize and am off to email you. Have a wonderful week ahead!

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  12. What a brilliant background (and card). That technique is new to me, one to add to my list. Stunning picks this week, I'm so impressed.x

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  13. Great picks Di, and Val's card is a stunner!

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  14. Some fabulous picks Di, and a great card by Val.

    Kath x

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  15. A wonderful showcase Di...all are fabulous!

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  16. Congratulations to Val on her Guest Designer spot and what a gorgeous snippets card she's made. Great picks again this week, I especially love Carol's snippets background, so clever. xx

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  17. I adore the new oxide inks that Val has used on her pretty card and congratulations to the picks this week and the winner of the prize Karen. I have never tried the mosaic type technique and the embossing in between the pieces of paper looks stunning. x

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  18. Hi Di, a gorgeous card by our lovely Guest Designer Val, love the colour of the background and another technique to have a look at, glad to see Carol L as one of the Picks of the week, I was quite impressed at her card. Have a wonderful week... Megan

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  19. Huge congratulations to my crafty pal, Karen, on her win!! YAY!! Such a lovely prize and one she will use over and over!!!

    Fabulous cards by the Guest Designer, Val, and the Top Picks and the New Playmate!! Such a treat to see everyone's lovely work and get some great ideas. I am not having much time to create anything this month at all. Hope to get a card in sometime soon, but it might not be in the current cycle.

    Happy Summer to all my Northern Hemisphere friends!!!
    <3 J

    jwoolbright at gmail dot com
    HerPeacefulGarden.blogspot.com

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  20. ooh, I am honored to be among top pick, thank you very much! congratulations to the other top picks and to the winner, absolutely stunning creations!
    have a lovely day, I have to make a lot of thank you cards for our teachers and kindergarten teachers :)
    hugs xx

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  21. Congrats to Val on being this fortnight's Guest Designer. Her cards are brilliant and the one added to this post is no exception.

    Love the 3 picks you chose too.

    Waving hello to the newbie.

    Off to play at the beach with my bucket and spade at the ready! Blistering down south today!

    Hugs, Sarn xxx

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  22. Wow, so much talent in this post. Val's card is so lovely and all your choices this time are fantastic. Congratulations to all the ladies.

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  23. Hi Miss Di and the lovely Parsnip.
    congrats to Val on her GD spot her card is so pretty and wonderfully created.
    Congrats to the top picks also and what super creations they were too.
    Lastly a big congrats to Karen on her Win.
    Lots of crafty love. Jenny L.

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  24. A wonderful selection of makes this week Di. Congratulations to Val on being Guest DT and to Karen for her win.
    Janice x

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  25. What great picks again this week and Val,s card certainly is a beauty. Congratulations to Karen on her win. Barbxx

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  26. Gorgeous top picks, congratulations ladies. Fabulous card from Val x

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